7QTs - Soccer, birthdays, & other grateful things

Linking up with Kelly ... It only took a month to finish my seven summer updates. Here's to some more of the latest and greatest. 

---1---

I think I left off the weekend of Js bday which was action packed with soccer, a flat tire 

After choir practice, while Lee was in Raleigh for church. Very thankful for the boy who stopped me before leaving the parking lot - because I had no idea - before we were heading 20 min down the road for Mass. It could have been a disaster because I would not have known who to call. A friend whose daughter is in choir happened to be picking up her kids and was like - oh my husband can fix that! Insert all the praise. He came and was better and faster than AAA - which we don't have. He was telling the kids all the stuff he was moving around and super patient with the flurry of questions. God was watching out for us because we were rolling a zillion miles a minute that day. 

The next day was As bday but not without a swim meet first 

It was the first home meet we had since January 2020. 

It was a fun, fast and close by meet which are all PLUSES in our book. 

A swam and did well. He almost didn't DQ in backstroke - he flipped over on the last stroke and his 50 free was funny to watch because everytime the coach said something to him, he stopped and looked at her and took FOREVER to get down the lane. 

Then it was As bday celebration!

---2---

Last week was blessing of the pets... 

aka Es least favorite day of school because... dogs. But the Tortuga came and got blessed. E threw some fresh grass and leaves in his cage before - so it 'looked better'. 

Speaking of animals

See that hump in the roof - yes? 

Wasps were building a nest up there and separated the gutter away from the roof/house?!?!?! So random! I thought there were going to be hundreds but when Lee sprayed them there were maybe twenty or so? 

---3---

Lots of soccering without many pictures... Papa needs to step up his game!

I was conned into Italian Ice after one of M's games

But it was hot and she played hard. I took A and R out that night much to the other two's chagrin. C did not get the nod because she has basically gotten on the field and started crying. 

But this week Lady C held it together and played and got her post game refreshments for the first time this season! and scored a goal or two. Proving to me (and hopefully herself) she can do it but I think I'm going to hang up my C coaching hat in the spring : ) 

A celebrated his 6th! bday with his soccer team in a late night (for 5 and 6 yr olds) games. I brought cupcakes - in addition to the snacks - and his team sung him Happy Birthday! It was late but it was fun. 

These girls are so intense playing and super fun to watch

Ms friend from school is on another team but are all smiles when the game is over. There's alot of good action and games in Ms age group at the moment. I don't know if it is the energy of the coaches or the quality of the players but it has been a really fun season of games to watch - and there's still a few more games left!

 

---4---

H is embracing her role at the office... 

I think she much prefers hanging out in the bouncy seat or on the floor with toys and plants to look at than this swinging chair BUT it was cute while it lasted. I think she'll warm up to this and get some good exercise soon. 

---5---

I made a discovery recently while giving blood (I give for the cookies : ) ...

 

I'd never heard of it and neither had the other donors who were at the blood drive. Alkaline water. Apparently the pH is supposed to help your body hydrate better? I guess it has been around for a while and I'm late to the party (shocker) - more investigation required. It does a little bit different than 'regular' water. 

---6---

With all the time and energy going to carting kids to and fro and soccer coaching (which I do like but man it can get stressful), a friend's bday was an excuse for some me time

We went to a wine tasting and apparently they are every month so we might need to carve out friend more often. We had a fun time and tasted some interesting wine - some we liked and one really earthy cava that I thought tasted kind of like dirt. H behaved and Lee held down the fort and all its dinnering, showering, homeworking and go to bed glory. 

---7---

Despite all the busyness, I can't help but think of this family and how their world was turned upside down; pray for them. Their daughter was two days older than H. Between them and my niece who is still in the NICU - but doing great! - it causes Lee and I to pause and be grateful for our wild routine because every day is a gift. 

7QTs - All the Updates

Linking up with Kelly ... Here's the seven things I would like to write about... 

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We have a new family member! With a not so exciting birth story

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We survived the beach and got the boot a day early because of some intense tropical depression and lots of rain. 

---3---

School started!

 

---4---

Summer ended 

---5---

Regularly scheduled afternoon activities are coming into full effect

---6---

Summer swim team successes
 

---7---

The addition (or the additional as Lady C calls it) is D-O-N-E!

7QTs - Camp, Swim, B-DAY

Linking up with Kelly ... SUMMER!

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E was dropped off at the happiest place on earth on Sunday - and no it was not Disney. Week long sleep away camp that she’s been talking about since last year when it was broken into half week covid friendly sessions. I think she would stay all summer if we could afford it. I’m sure we’ll get tons of details when she gets back because it has been device free and contact free week - not that she has a device of her own to bring anyways…

This will be her last summer at CWS and will be able to go to CWR next summer 

She'll be back in July for another session because she eeked into two weeks of camp that fills of almost instantaneously upon registration opening - I literally told everyone in my office to not expect me to do anything from 9:58 to about 10:05 the day the camp opened.  

---2---

R and M got to go to horse camp for a few mornings this week. M wasn’t thrilled with her group because she wanted to be with her a friend but she did like her horse and I kept telling her she didn’t have to go back if it was THAT bad.

I had to dig out jeans from the fall/winter clothes that I still have not completely sorted from the clothes switch!

---3---

We celebrated family Fathers Day a whole week early this year because yours truly doesn’t cook for sport or attempt to out cook the man of the house so we always go out for brunch. On the actual day, my parents and brother will be here and we have two campers jet setting next week so early it was. Lobster Benedict. Check. Loads of chocolate chip pancakes and tea and one tummy ache later - we did quite well. Mostly because Papa tolerated holding J the entire time. J is a frequent visitor to Papas lap when he is eating. It is a terrible habit but J is so stinking cute so he tolerates it.

The girls wanted to wear shorts and their new shirts but I reminded them we rarely go out and this was for Father's Day and they change into more dressy clothes WITHOUT a whine or complaint - insert all the shocked faces. 

---4---

Last weekend we finally got R a new bike. Hers may have gotten run over by construction traffic so she’s been without a bike for a few months plus she legit needed a new one. Have you bike shopped recently? I don’t think it is as Hunger Games ish as a year ago but bikes and good deals are few and far between. R and M have stayed out riding bikes until dark this week and one night they caught quite a few fireflies. 

The evening weather was amazing this week and Lee and I sat on the porch several nights enjoying the non-humidity. I can't say this week will provide similar opportunities. I think the humidity is coming. Plus he's got 5 evening pool appointments in 3 nights and 2 more to schedule so M and I will be wallowing in evening loneliness next week - E and R won't be home so it could be an epically fun week for M or the worst week of the summer for her. 

---5---

The first summer swim meet of the year was this week. A and C swam pup squad though after night I’m hopeful A will get bumped to 6 and under in the next week or so - he can do it he just isn't confident that he can actually swim. Lady C was happily whisked down the lane and content with copious amounts of snacks. R swam with the usual suspects and finished in her usual suspect type manner. M rocked out her events and nearly got outtouched in back. I’m hoping they’ll throw her in IM next meet. With only 4 meets and an action packed summer schedule I don’t think all five Kibbes will be at one meet together : (

A little nervous

The reluctant cap wearer 

Ready to roll 

Miss Pink 

C refused to jump off the blocks even though I'm pretty sure she would have absolutely love it

She is such a fun swimmer to watch and smoked everyone in fly. She is missing her BFF competitor in crime this year. 

I didn't even notice M in the background! Cheering on her big sister. R has got great competition just in her age group on our team. I hope for her sake she can snag a blue ribbon but it will be tough. 

---6---

Lady C had a bday this week. Actually the night of the swim meet which was hilarious because she waffled on wanting to swim all week. E was still at camp and Papa was out of town for work - insert all the laughs - so we settled for post meet popsicles and a party the next day.

 

Everyone say Happy Birthday C!
 

---7---

Addition construction seems to have an end in sight. I’ve been able to hold it together a lot in regards to the stress of the disruption and disarray and everything but last weekend it really got to me. I think I just want my house back. I don’t keep the tidiest or cleanest house - I like to think we go for the more lived in style - but I do like order and when stuff has a spot even if it doesn’t always get there - there’s at least a place for it. I was hopeful the painters might finish this week but that’s not in the cards. We did get a firm date of 6/29 for floor finishing so I’m thrilled. 

7 Quick Takes - 5th children, Charleston, Polka Dots

Linking up with Kelly ... first quick takes of 2020 and fourth post of January

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Last week Lee, me and J went to Charleston for a work trip for me. It was a quick trip but a nice little getaway. We got bumped up to the concierge floor and the She-crab soup that was available on Monday afternoon was insane. INSANE

G&G and Jibbe held down the fort with kids so couldn't have done it without them!

---2---

Before Charleston was the second (and last) home swim meet of the season 

It was a pretty wild day that involved running 10 miles, going to the swim meet and doing a drive-by at the house to get Papa and the non-swimmers to go to church. Busy times. But the girls had fun at the meet and we won't be going to another one until March so it was definitely worth it. J was a good little 'running' companion as we worked the meet. 

---3---

This week was Catholic Schools Week

We love our school and it was probably 5 years ago that there was so much anxiety over schooling decisions and I really do believe we are in the best place for our family - which is the most important thing for every family. This day was polka dot day and E and M go do-a-dotted and R opted for a polka dot bow. 

---4---

Preschool mornings...

A, M and J and me have a strange window between big school drop off and preschool start. During the warmer weather we usually run later(ish) because I'm usually talking but during the winter that's not much of an option sooooo... we have more time to kill and the most optimal parking spots at preschool are taken (after nine years I still don't have my own assigned parking spot - this week marks our family's nine year anniversary! - all the gasps!!!!!!!) so we started going to the (retention) pond just to get out and stretch our legs and put on coats and collect flowers and scream at the school buses passing. It reminds me of things I would do with fewer kids so I'm glad we are being afforded the (cold) opportunities now. The kids look forward to 'seeing the water' every day!

---5---

Last Friday the big girls and J and me went to Uncle Kev and Nicole's engagement party

It was loads of fun with lots of food and a huge Jenga game. September or bust

---6---

J's still enjoying the tree and the lights. 

 

I took all the ornaments off it last week so now it is just tree and lights which is a personal favorite of mine. I guess we'll take the tree down this weekend because it is Candlemas and February. The tree has had a great run and I can still smell it at times. Definitely ready for a break from it though and ready for all the Christmas boxes to get back into storage. 

Speaking of storage, we had plans drawn up for 'want' plans to our house. Turns out the 'want' plans are more than we paid for our house so we are bummed. But there's nothing wrong with not getting exactly what you want. Lee convinced me to just go see what is out there even though I have no intention of moving. Last week we walked through two houses, one I would definitely move for but the price is in the clouds expensive and the other house was a mess. There were at least 7-10 different surface types/colors on the floors and countertops. We were basically dared to put in an offer on the house I'd move for so we'll see if we can just get the door slammed in our faces on that and put an end to it. 

---7---

Sweet baby J!

I love him so so so much. He's four months old and quite the chatter and sleeper. He hates having any form of blanket on his legs at night which does not work well for me because I'm usually cold. His siblings adore him. 

And speaking of siblings... how about kid number five. Talked to two moms today who said their kid number five is a firecracker and wild card and pushes all the parenting buttons we aren't used to. Definitely glad I'm not the only one who is kept on my toes with their fifth kid and definitely appreciate the preschool village of moms who can commiserate relate. 

7QTs - First Full Week of 2020

Linking up with Kelly ... the first week back

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Everyone seems to have survived the first week back at school without much ado. I really did like the schedule we had going over break... me go into work early, come home for lunch, Lee go out and do stuff, quiet-ish nights at home. That's all gone to pot with school starting back but ce la vi. 

---2---

The Wizard of Oz showed up in pajama form... 

Not be confused with this same crowd

Swapping the Wicked Witch for the Great and Powerful Oz and you basically have the same crew. 

There was numerous questions as to what and why J was... the tin man for Halloween. I mean clearly Dorothy and her crew would be absolutely incomplete without the tin man and he even has a tin man-ish hat on. 

---3---

Work has been super busy and after 10.5 years I'm finally moving on up to my own office - which is weird on a ton of levels but probably first and foremost that I have been working for a company for that long. Decorating updates to follow... maybe, maybe - I've got a bunch of soccer plaques that are in my current space plus my diploma is collecting dust at the house so thinking about getting that up in the office? 

---4---

Speaking of decor, Lee graciously hung/rehung pics in the family room (maybe because he got tired of me asking or maybe he wanted to get the new frame off the kitchen counter- either way it got done). I wish I had a before and after of tonight but here is the original before and after.... 

We had been in our house for five years before any pics were hung on this wall and the MAIN reason behind hanging photos was we hosted a Christmas party (for a small handful of adults) #adulting ... nothing like a deadline to make you get stuff done 

A decorator helped put my vision of the photo wall/collage into action because I cannot think outside the box and while I love a photo wall my OCD couldn't get past the different size frames and stuff. The wall has served us well over the last two years as I try to change out the big frames with a winter/summer individual pic of the kids and the smaller frames get freshened up about once a year. Well along came another Kibbe baby so we HAD to get another big frame up and filled. 

I'll see about snapping a pic of the new layout when I can get some natural light. 

---5---

I've got high hopes for putting up a few pics in the master bedroom using some bigger frames we got as wedding gifts and never survived the move and getting rehung in our house - which was nearly 8 years ago. I need one more non-photo piece to go with them so maybe once Christmas credit card bill shock is over then I'll snag what I'm eyeing. Also, I'm on the look out for lamps for the master bedroom. I got two lamps for the entry way a few years ago at a winter sale locally and I ADORE the lamps. So weird, I never knew I could like lamps that much. #iamold

---6---

On tap for the weekend is skipping a swim meet - but don't worry there's one next weekend. J is getting baptized/chrismated/communicated. Yay Chrism! A has been asking when J is going to 'get blessed' so it is finally here. I've got to get a 10 mile run in as on a 12/31/19 whim I decided to run in a 1/2 marathon at the end of February. A whim might be a bit of a lie but a 2020 price increase helped my cause. I'd been looking for a 1/2 marathon to run that was close and convenient time wise and this Raleigh 1/2 marathon literally came into my inbox on 12/31 and I had worked up to 7.5 mile runs in December so I just ran with it... more on that I'm sure. 

---7---

E insisted that we stay up until midnight on New Years and of course the big girls were all in on it too.

There was some intense train matches that coupled with tired siblings turned into tearful train matches. We made it down to the double fours before we called it quits. E wanted to watch the ball drop in NYC but I think the acorn in Raleigh would have been better - the local coverage of the acorn was better so maybe we'll do split screen next year? 

7 Quick Takes - August and September Catch up

Linking up with Kelly ... let's go in reverse order because it has been that long (and doesn't include any of the crazy from this week - that's possibly worthy of it's own post)

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Last Sunday... 

(A supervising the clergy : ) 

Our bishop came and blessed the grounds/site/cornerstone for the church that is being built. If you thought single parenting kids at church was interesting then you should give an outside church experience a whirl. Complete with blazing hot temps and a few fire ants smack dab in the middle of rest time. 

In reality it was a really good time and the kids did quite well - all things considered - and we got a special blessing for baby number 6 which was great. Last week I was kind of just blocking out L&D (because who wants to do that!??!?!) but I've really tried to shift my mentality and focus. 

Also, less than a week until a whole other person is a part of our lives??? I mean the baby has been a very real reality in my life for the last nine months but when you get to put a name with a face and a sibling with their siblings that's when the reality of a new baby can really hit me. 

---2---

M and the rock wall..

M made it to the top of the rock wall this week. Note the verb climb was not used. Well partially climbed but mostly was assisted all the way to the top. I think this might give her the confidence to actually climb it next time - but she was thrilled either way. 

---3---

E has some pretty high aspirations for swim this season... 

Which will require her to really work hard at and outside of practice. I would NEVER tell her not to try but it is going to be a huge stretch. She has taken to doing some exercises at home which R and M will sometimes get in on and C finds wildly interesting and she gets right in the way of her. 

I've encouraged her to run a mile once a week (or more) but I think half the thrill of that is getting to use my phone to track her run pace. I've thought about getting some sort of FitBit device but I'm not sure I'm ready to invite that into the house yet. 

---4---

M has her first take home project...

Y'all know me and a project. I've got to block out mental energy and patience to get through them. But this one is an easy one that big sisters remember doing so they had to see what was going on... 

The hot glue gun got us through and this was the final product!

---5---

AHG is in full swing:

This is actually from the kickoff meeting and the girls got their faces painted - which they thought was the best so we had to document it because it came off before bed. E moved up groups - which I think she was ready for and it already figuring out how many and who can help her with badges she wants to do. 

---6---

Fall activities are in FULL SWING... 

I love a schedule so we've been in the groove now for about a month and it feels pretty manageable. E and R started swimming in mid-August and M and A started soccer (with E and R helping me coach). Helping is very loose term but nonetheless they'll learn early to step up to volunteer. AHG for the big girls and we let E add children's choir to her line up of activities. Having a set dinner plan with quick interchangeable options is huge. I don't know why it took me until last year to see that but now I know the dinner drill requirements and it makes evenings so much less stressful. 

A opted to be the Sharks although the Chickens was a very close second - but I'm thrilled to not be shouting Chickens!!!!!!!! during out team cheer. M (and her friend) picked the Groovicorns - which if you don't know are way cooler than unicorns so check out the double sided sequins book - and I blame my friend (for buying her that book) ENTIRELY for having to yell Groovicorns for a park full of people to hear. I think I laugh every time with cheer : ) 

Yes I'm coaching (with some serious backup assistants). Yes I'm about to have a(nother!!!!!!) baby. Yes I'll probably take a week or so off from soccer but then I hope I'll be out there with new baby in tow. I make no guarantees but I sure do enjoy it. And aside from getting outrun by the kids it is going well. Between the boys and girls teams I've coach well over half the kids which is fun to watch them learn and way easier when you aren't starting from scratch because now they pretty much have a clue as to what I'm trying teach (that's another loose term too : ) 

---7---

All things school... 

This is from the day when C's bookbag came a while ago and she proceeded to march around the house shouting 'I pre-tee, I pre-tee' 

School is overall is going quite well. Everyone is happy with their teachers and figuring out expectations and all that fun stuff. M and C probably had the roughest restart runs. C had about a week stretch where she forgot how much fun she had and decided she needed to scream when I left. Which I hate leaving a crying kid but ever since that rough patch I open her door and she (tosses her bookbag to the floor) goes in like she owns the place. 

M was an interesting case too. New school. Lots of new faces. New schedule (hello all day!). New everything. So basically the first few weeks were really tough. She hated the towel I packed her for rest time - even though it was green - it was too small and the class was too noisy to sleep - she's definitely my best rester if she rests. Everything was a problem (or at least she wanted me to see it that way - to everyone else school was great). Honestly I did see a 180 degree different kid from the one who was here this summer - maybe not everyone else, but I could tell a difference. That first full week of school I finally saw the M I was used to out on the soccer field playing with her friends. It was good and it was relief. I put alittle reward on the table if she knocked some of her school stuff off her plate (but mine too because its K and basically everything at home is parent driven- HW, reading, sight words, spelling etc etc etc). She rose to that challenge - like I thought she would - and despite everything in me that says one sport per season (and an oldest child who has no problem reminding me of my policy) M went back to swim this week and is thrilled. Kindergarten is definitely a huge adjustment and now that we're a month or so in, I think M's found her groove.