7 Quick Take - Corona-tine Two and Three

Linking up with Kelly ... weeks two and three ran together as we are finding some normalcy and sticking to routine

---1---

This week seemed strangely normal. Everyone knew the drill, everyone whined a little but overall the unknown of two weeks before was gone because we KNOW we are in this do-everything-from-home situation for the long haul. 

Things I am thankful for: being able to check work emails with this guy, flexible job situations, a job, a husband who walks in the door from work and showers and cleans up the daily ravaging of the house, teachers for checking in on their kids, local restaurants, friends who are checking in, GORGEOUS weather yesterday, our house chapel. 

---2---

Late breaking news... 

We caved and got a pet. Or rather found a pet. Last week it rained and washed a turtle up close to the garage and we decided to keep him around. He is currently living in a 5 gallon bucket in the laundry room sink. The girls have installed a swimming pool complete with rock features, lots of dirt, moss, sticks and flowers. We take the bucket outside in the morning for him to get some sun and I take him out a few times a day to walk on the driveway or grass. I am legit worried C or A will step on him. Right now he is called The Turtle, Yertle and my vote is Corona though I wouldn't be opposed to Frank or Francis. 

School work from home is going well-ish. I know why I don't homeschool and work at the same time because it is basically really hard. I encourage the girls to get their stuff done in the mornings so they don't have stuff to do in the afternoon and finish up things by Thursday so Friday is a free-bie day. We still maintain The Schedule on Fridays but if there's little to no schoolwork then it is kind of like a weekend day? E wanted to work on an AHG badge which involved making a rain gauge, anemometer and barometer. No biggie except R was studying for a religion test, M was doing math sheets and I was placing orders for work and she kept asking for supplies that we didn't have so she kept searching for different ways to make these weather machines with stuff she knew she could get her hands on. Definitely applauding her effort and determination. 

---3---

After breakfast, getting ready time and prayers it is time for what I like to call - the morning torture session

Also know as taking a walk. In the past three weeks (that I have been home) we have gone on our morning walk all except one day. Just for the record on the mornings Lee has been home they've only walked one third of the days. : ) In his defense those days many have been chillier BUT that's what coats are for. 

I enjoy the jaunts around the neighborhood. The kids usually get over the fact we are going by the time we hit our mailbox. Then there's debate over the short, medium or long walk path. Basically no one is ever happy with the decision but it is usually quickly forgotten. There weren't as many dandelions this week much to A and C's disappointment. But on these walks I have seen my kids flutter down the street without a care in the world and as much as I would like things to be normal again, I love the things I can see because of our current situation. 

---4---

The outside time has been great.

I love our little street that has about one car per hour going down it. The trash truck came the other day and I got a bit nervous from my work perch so I ran out to check on everyone and of course everything was fine. One morning A and C wandered and C found a puddle and came back with wet brown shoes but that's not bad for three weeks of this. They were scolded and haven't left the yard again. 

They may complain that I force outside time but once - move forward with your life - (said often around here) they can have quite a bit of fun. There's fighting too mind you but that goes with the territory. 

How about all the food the kids eat? It is a good time The Schedule notes feeding times because they would snack all day. At lunch I'm amazed at what they eat. Sometime after TV time on the way out to (more) outside time I cave and let them have an afternoon snack. 

---5---

I've been trying to eat some higher (good) fat foods. Nuts, whole milk yogurt (YUM!) and avocados... 

Nothing more disappointing (okay that's a lie) then cutting open and avocado and it being pretty gross. Super annoying. I think the brown parts are edible but I guess I don't like the idea of it but I also don't like the idea of wasting the food either so. 

The higher fat foods are for this guy who up until a few days ago didn't want any part of baby food. Now he at least opens his mouth for it (but spits it out almost immediately). We do think he is actually eating some of it but the initial response is spit instead of swallow. 

---6---

Evidence of a fun, late evening with neighbors

Which probably won't happen again because we aren't supposed to be in groups over ten and our family is at 80% capacity : ( and it is probably just not a great idea BUT it was fun while it lasted. Having completely FREE weekend schedules instead FULL Saturdays has afforded us a few weekend dinners and it has been so fun and so great. 

---7---

Puzzles. Let's talk puzzles. I LOVE a puzzle. Usually we have zero time to do them plus where to we put them? 

The presidents puzzle was the first puzzle we did and finished in about 2.5 days. I love it for its history and makes me wish I had retained more about the order of presidents from US History. E and I got Lee hooked because he LOVES presidents. Also, I ordered this puzzle and an NC puzzle right when all the shutdown stuff started - now there is a black market for puzzles and you can't order this puzzle anymore? My dad reports the WSJ had an article about the shortage of puzzles right now!

Then in was onto this puzzle which has proven to be a bear but we are nearly done with it after almost 2 weeks. There are probably 60ish pieces of Vader that are completely black so it is going to take trying every piece individually in order to finish. Lee cut this 3x3 board which has been great!

Other puzzles that are in the works... Everyone is laying claims for which puzzle they want hung in their room. Seuss is going in Js room I think. We might save the lighthouses for the beach though there is another beach puzzle that I am eyeing so we will see. I think once Star Wars is done the Old Well is next which I would like to put in our room. The top middle puzzle I'm thinking for entryway - that one is 550 pieces so it should be a cakewalk! Basically we will have no bare walls once all this corona is over and we can get these puzzles framed!

Six Months of Baby J

This guy has been with us for 6 months (plus 3 days) 

He is so cute and quiet (except when he's hungry). He has been enjoying going to work with me - which up until 2 weeks ago - was every day. He has been known to sleep through the night and adores all his big siblings doting. 

I've never had a kid who is so uninterested in baby food or puffs. He just spits it all out one way or another and puts his middle finger and finger without a name (next to pinkie) and sucks on them until I stop trying to feed him. I booted C out of the highchair in the hopes that J seeing everyone else eat will make him think it is a good idea. Nothing like a little positive peer pressure, right? 

 To think he has been here with us for six months is crazy. The girls have reminded more than once that it was around this time last year we told them a new sibling was on the way. We had just done a ton of yard work and I told them I hope you can help us more in September when we have another baby and everyone erupted with squeals and excitement. 

Corona-Quarantine One Week In

So here we are. I remember last Thursday I didn't think coronavirus was going to be too much of an impact on our family/community/life? A week ago something changed. Everything changed. Here is our new normal: 

Right now I am thankful I have a job. Thankful I have a job that I CAN work from home. Thankful for so many many things amidst this seeming chaotic new normal. 

We went from zero to 25 million degrees this week. J needed a little something to go on one of our morning walks. Now I'm about to embark of the task of changing fall/winter clothes to spring/summer. And now I have PLENTY of time to do it. 

What happens when mom just wants you and younger sibs to 'go play' - you build a light-up lego tower to the ceiling OF COURSE. I think they are called Brix Stacks or something. We have gotten a few sets over the past several Christmases and they are neat and fit into Duplos. If I could just figure out how to keep the base plugged in all the time then that would be good. 

School is in session several different times a day. Working and schooling and chaos-managing everyone in the house is A LOT. Everyone was thrown into this boat all of a sudden so I think it is alot of finding what works and appreciating our situation. 

C has been all about Wayne - her dog-cousin who lives an hour away. We have a few videos of Wayne and we FaceTime Wayne. They have a number of striking similarities so we keep them in good communication

This is how I feel at about 12:15

We've been going on twice daily walks during our mandatory outside time. You'd think I was torturing them most of the time but grumbling and vitamin D go oh so well together. 

The helmet. The face. The scrape. 

All the outside time with a COMPLETELY clear schedule has got us emptying out the garage of all bikes, scooters, helmets, balls, tools, chalk. Afternoons are a (welcome) slow period compared to just last week we were hustling to swim practice and soccer practices were supposed to start this week.

Here's to more family time, more exploring, more adjusting and maybe a few more scrapes. 

Lice - A Modern Day Plague

It has been several months our house was plagued with lice here are my thoughts: 

When we had lice at the end of the summer it was bad. I was 250000 weeks pregnant, pool season seemed like it was never going to end, I had a work trip and left our sitter to tend to nitpicking. I became quite skillful at nitpicking and probably did it more often then I needed to just because I was totally paranoid.  It was bad - but we got through it. 

Flashforward two and a half months and we had a 3 week old baby, we were finally getting into the groove of school and activities with our new brotherly addition (with this posterior tie tongue that is causing some feeding issues) and bam. One morning in the preschool parking lot as I'm pulling C's hair back for a messy bun there is a louse (that's the singular version of lice. Louse, mouse, lice, mice). My heart sinks and my mind races. I collect the big girls from school and do the whole lice shampoo and nit picking treatment (which they just LOVE sitting through). That afternoon as I'm stripping the sheets right before my friend who came to hold J leaves, she asked me if I wanted her to check my hair for lice. 

Y'all know what happens next. 

She didn't even try and look. She pulled over part of my hair and was like... yeah you got them. 

Insert screamfest. 

It was nearly 3 in the afternoon and my hair is definitely not the shorter variety and I knew Lee wouldn't have the patience to nitpick my hair. 

Did you know there are professional nitpickers? Because there are and they come to your house. They are expensive but I knew with a 3 week old it was my only choice. I felt pretty good about the big girls hair but C would not sit still for me. So the lady came with her bag of nitpicking tricks and went to work within hours of me calling. She was great. So great. I think she finally clocked out of our hour around 9:30 or 10 after lots of olive oil, Dawn and combing. 

Over the course of the next 2 weeks we had at least 5 days of olive oil and combing the night before and showering and Dawn and blow drying the next morning - me, 5 kids and a newborn - well J didn't get the treatment but it get everyone ready for bed it was a 2 hour process and the morning process was another 2 hours. 

It was INTENSE but took care of them. 

In the days during and week following I routinely would grab the nit comb and Listerine and spray down and comb my hair any time I felt an itch on my head or I saw one of the girls scratch their head. It was terrible. It seemed all consuming. 

Advent started and we were doing the Jesse Tree and we read about the 10 Egyptian plagues and I couldn't help but think the lice were a window into the (way more) AWFUL plagues of Egypt. 

So now I will still occasionally grab the Listerine (because the yellow kind supposedly does something to lice eggs - apple cider vinegar might too but Listerine smells better) and comb through my hair just for kicks. One time I couldn't find my trusty nit comb and I ordered a two pack on Amazon because I couldn't bear not having one - now I have three. We use the Fairy Tales detangler spray and rotate the shampoo into our shower soaps. I've added several EOs to all our shampoos (because supposedly the smell helps repel lice?)

So while I'm more well versed on lice than I ever care to be, I have found there is a community of people who have lived to tell their own lice tale. It is not a huge topic of conversation because there's the stigma of lice being dirty etc etc but I've been surprised how many people share their story when it does come up. We definitely did not have it growing up. 

We lived to tell the (expensive) lice tale and hope to not relive anytime soon or ever again. 

Thoughts on Lent During a Half Marathon

Recently (ish), I ran in my first half marathon since 2016. Somehow I got an email on New Year's Eve that there was going to be a price increase the next day for this small(ish) race in Raleigh in two months. I had already started running again and so this seemed like the perfect race. 

My training basically consisted of running once a week - so it wasn't really training in my book. It was running just enough to know that I'd finish. After my final 12.5 mile run I thought I was in trouble because I had this terrible foot pain which possibly was a stress fracture? Who knows. Anyways, I powered through that and then it was looking like it might snow the day of the race - but it didn't though it was COLD and the coat I brought had a broken zipper that I discovered as the fam was booting me out of the van. 

My goals for the race were

1. Don't die

2. Finish

3. Finish in under 2:30 

- When I left the house one day during my 'training' Lee told me - 'don't fall out' aka don't die, for anyone who doesn't speak Eastern NC. A then followed with ' don't fall over... and get smushed by a car' 

All week I knew I badly wanted to finish in under 2:30 but I kept wondering what if I stayed with the 2:15 pace group, could I keep up that kind of pace? 

So in my moments before the race start I decided I'd give the 2:15 group a try. The worst thing that could happen was I wouldn't keep up with them and I had like a zillion hills (lies) in the runs I had and this route wasn't nearly as hilly. So we were off to the races. 

There's lots to think about when you run. Even with music in the background, my mind wandered. I kept my eye on the little blue flag with 2:15 on it. The guy who won the race passed us 40 minutes into our 135 minute journey. That was insane. As the other pace groups made the loop and headed back to the finish they passed us on the trail. We passed other groups behind us as we made our way to the end. It was kind of neat getting to see everyone in the race moving at their own pace. 

Somewhere around mile 10 I couldn't push through anymore. The pace group kept on getting further and further away and I couldn't keep up. I was frustrated but glad that I started running with that group in the first place. I finished in between 2:15 and 2:30 so I actually surprised myself. 

All the while during this race I kept equating a half marathon to Lent - I guess that's what happens when you run a race right before Lent begins? What pace group am I going to be in for Lent? Am I going to push myself to be a more rigorous pace group? Pace groups might include - prayer, fasting, almsgiving, Stations of the Cross, Presanctified Liturgy, reading the Bible - any combo of those or many other things. Maybe I should push myself to be in a more rigorous pace group - I might just surprise myself. 

BUT what is required is signing up for the race. Even the person who was the last one to cross that finish line still got a medal but the important thing is that they SHOWED UP.  Which then made me think of St. John Chrysostom's Paschal homily: 

If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.

If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.

If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.

If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.

If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.

If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.

If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.

If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.

For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.

He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.

He both honors the work and praises the intention.

Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.

The rest of the homily is here.

Anyhow I meant to post this three weeks ago but you know, we've been busy Lent-ing up over here. Presanctifieds have been going well. Hopefully we will be hitting Stations this week (Lee took A and C last week while I had everyone else at a swim meet). As much as Lent means more driving back and forth to church and more meals on repeat, it is a good time to get back down to the basics and peel back some layers and do some introspection and prayer.

Valentime's Day 2020

Valentine's Day this year has come and gone

Lee and I went out the night before and I grabbed heart donuts on the way home for in the AM

They were a hit

The girls got their flowers 

to go with the donuts 

and A and J got balloons : ) 

Then came the class party sugary goodness

ALL OF IT.. the big girls had a half day so EVERYTHING was unloaded and looked over all at the same time 

My first Valentine : ) who had to go to the doctor for a check up and shots : ( Also, we did cards at the end of the day because I still am getting up when the kids get up (instead of getting up earlier to have time to collect my self/thoughts/life) and wouldn't you know I could not find the crazy Valentine's Day cards I had bought just the day before and put my hands on that morning!!!!!!!!

Infuriating people I tell you! And just for the record I still haven't found them. So thank goodness for blank cards I got for writing E letters at camp over the summer! Once I find those cards I'll be all set for next year!

Eight is GR8

That grin!

R turned eight the other day. We had her party over the weekend. She requested spaghetti and meatballs - which was a crowd pleaser! She chose to invite her friend from preschool even though they aren't in school together anymore because she said - they're still best friends.

She doesn't love being the center of attention : ) 

So we ate and R opened her presents - Legos, American Girl stuff, Barbie stuff, a scooter, an art project and an art kit! - all everything she really really likes.

Then it was time for birthday cake (made by Grammy)

On her actual birthday R requested waffles for breakfast - another crowd pleaser!

Dinner that night was tacos (her next favorite dinner after meatballs) and leftover cake which she had one piece of her piece that she didn't finish and she wouldn't let me throw it away 'because it's too good to waste it'

7QTs - Hard Rice Krispies, Dances, Outdoor Habitats

Linking up with Kelly ... first week of February 

---1---

This week has been an interesting one culminating with some whacko weather yesterday afternoon that canceled everything. The wind was pretty scary. Today the big girls had school and the preschoolers were on a delay which meant we did not opt in for preschool. So they enjoyed a morning of PBS and general fighting and bickering and snacking while I attempted to get work done pretty well if I may say so myself. 

Also this week, much to E's great disappointment the AHG summer camp she went to last year is not operating this summer - I'm telling you last summer she had the best summer and didn't even know it. So that was a tear-filled conversation which is strike number two against summer 2020 because her (and mine) favorite local drama camp also got axed (we found out about that late last year and she was depressed for a week). So I had high hopes to try a non-AHG camp that is only an hour away and after careful coordination with her friend from school and getting R on board... E got in and R and her friend are on the waitlist!!!!!!! because registration opened last week and I said no to this camp originally because of the AHG camp. The irony of it all. So we are crossing fingers for two openings. 

Finally in other I don't want to hear it news... we met with the builder about our addition plans, cut the fat and talked about a bare(-ish) bones addition to the kitchen and laundry room - I mean the whole thing is truly a want as opposed to a need but you get the point... before he left I asked him if he'd do what we were talking about and he basically said no. For a variety of reasons, sinking money into this house... trying to live in a house without a kitchen for AT LEAST 45 days... nothing major or anything. 

ALL

THE

SIGHS

So now I will stop the whining and because there's a whole lot more to be grateful for...

---2---

Tonight is the Daddy Daughter Dance at school 

M insisted Papa not see her until she was ready

E insisted that she not match her sisters 

R, along with the others, was thrilled for the flowers and the dab or two of lipstick I let them wear

LOVE THEM!!!!

2019 - didn't post pics!?!?!
2018
2017
2016 - I think they went?

---3---

Today was Pizza Lunch at school which it is required of each class once a year to do the treats for pizza lunch. I have and probably will always do Rice Krispies - because I'm OCD like that. No deviation, please. So E's class had treat duty two months ago and there were reports of crunchy Rice Krispies, which normally would mean nothing to me but Lee said something about them and how they were REALLY crunchy... too crunchy (insert all the annoyed-ness because he's probably right, and nobody has EVER said anything about the texture before and heck I'm making homemade treats instead of getting Zebra cakes people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) nothing against Zebra cakes or anything but you know

Eating the last one...

Well, let me tell you. If you Google hard Rice Krispies then you will know the problem because I am always running short on time. Turns out if you power-melt your marshmallows your Rice Krispies will be rock SOLID. Well you know what happens if you DON'T rush through the marshmallow melting process... 

THEY ARE WAAAAAAAAAY better. 

So after five years of making Rice Krispies for pizza lunch treats, guess who won't be rushing marshmallow melting EVER again. MOI - it is worth the wait and makes all the difference!

---4---

Why can't all the bananas have stickers?

This girl might just drive me over the edge with her sassiness at school. Continuing to try and reign her in but not break her spirit because I love her. 

This guy might be driving me crazy but not taking his rests nicely so I'm trying to figure out alternatives for afternoon break time.

---5---

I'm pretty sure boys were meant to exist outside. I really think that outdoors is A's habitat. He loves to be outside and the warmer weather this week has meant even more outside time. 

He loves to dig a hole and this week he decide to dig a hole by the gutter to which I asked him if he thought Papa wanted him to dig right there and he said 'probably not'. But he did find a 'sleeping snake' - an earthworm. Then when all the rain came it was filled up with water to A's delight. He would have been outside all day today had I let him but it was blustery and cold so I nixed his hole digging plans. 

---6---

I mentioned here that I evicted J from the nursery bed. Well that didn't last long but he is falling asleep in the crib now so I have the bed to myself for part of the night. 

---7---

On tap for the weekend is practice and pancakes, church, celebrating R's #8!!!!!!, and hopefully running 12(ish) miles. The half marathon is two weeks away and I finished the 12.5 miles last weekend so I know now it is possible to finish - maybe not in the time I'm hoping for... but then my crazy foot decided it needed to hurt but it has been getting better over the course of the week so I'm banking on a solid run before the party. 

Next week is R's actual birthday and Valentines Day with all the valentines that are needed for school plus dinner with Lee and our third wheel J because he still doesn't take a bottle because nobody's tried... 

I'm Sleeping Alone

Tonight I'm sleeping alone.

For the first time in 12 and a half months I'm sleeping alone.

Sleeping without you.

For nine months you slept on the inside. I knew you were there before I could feel you and you were our little secret. Then there was lots of excitement and anticipation and kicks and elbowing.

A little more than four months ago out you came and doubled up our brother population.

We've been basically inseparable for four months. We've been bunking up despite the pediatrician not loving the set up - but this time they never asked what the sleeping arrangements are - maybe because they didn't want to know.

Over the past few weeks you've gotten bigger and are taking up more of the bed and don't like covers and I need space and covers so we are having a bit of a conflict.

I wasn't ready for the crib yet. You are still so little. I want you to stay little forever but I know better. You are a growing little bean and before we know it you'll be going to kindergarten.

I wasn't ready to put you in the crib but I knew it was time because we both needed to not wake each other up.

So tonight I'm sleeping alone and so are you. I'll be an arms length away and I'll be checking on you like crazy and I'll miss my little bed mate but I think we'll both sleep better. Maybe with a tear in my eye because I'm not ready for you to be this big.

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

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

---1---

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.