Book 10

Yesterday, I finished book 10:

 When I started HERS, I never imagined they would ask us to read Marcus Aurelius, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It truly is his meditations on just life and being. It also sounded so much like Granddaddy it made me wonder if he read it.

First Meredith Celebration

The boys and I headed to campus last night to celebrate Issa's induction into Alpha Lambda Delta:

ALD recognizes outstanding academic performance in the first semester, and we were very proud of to celebrate ours:

It's highly convenient that she can her roommate are side by side alphabetically, too:

We went to her favorite pizza place afterwards, and it's always so good to have a family dinner. 

We didn't get home until well after my bedtime, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything.
 

Yes Trip Weekend

It was finally time for Evan's Fifteenth Year Yes Trip this weekend. Friday morning, he and Brad hit the road for Philadelphia and the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships:

The whole weekend was wrestling and eating. They got a later start than planned thanks to a screw in a tire (thankfully discovered in our driveway), so by the time they got there is was time to Grub Hub dinner and watch the second round on TV. Evan was delighted by his burritos the size of his head:

There hotel was very close to Reading Terminal Market, so the rest of the weekend they ate there. Aside from the melon, it was basically all carbs, meat, and cheese. There were so many gluten free options, including funnel cake, which was a huge winner. It was a huge topic of conversation when they got home that they needed to get online and order some of the mix. Right before bed, they realized they probably could have just brought some home, and then today I discovered this picture in the photo folder:

Bless. They enjoyed every bite so much they forgot how to shop.

Saturday was the main event:

By all accounts, they saw two once in a lifetime moments. They saw Starocci gets his fifth national championship thanks to his extra year of COVID eligibility:

They also saw the biggest upset in wrestling history:

Hendrickson pinned Gable:

It was so fun to hear all of their stories last night, and Evan thought it was absolutely the best weekend ever. They had a great hotel room to eat and watch live coverage until they went themselves, and they had great seats!

Meanwhile, I had a weekend all alone. I met up with friends a couple or times. I also went to the pottery studio and made my first lidded vessel:

And I actually went to book club:

I'm famous for reading the book but not actually going. 

Mostly, I spent the weekend tackling projects. I got the whole front yard spring cleaned, did the pruning in the back, and mowed for the first time of the season. I also cleaned all of the pantries:

And I packed up St. Patrick's Day and got out Easter. Buddy and I also found time for some front porch sitting:

I am so grateful for some time to cross things off my list, but I'm even more grateful that Evan had the Yes Trip of his dreams.

 

Spring Break-ish

Last week was spring break for Issa and I. I usually try to step completely away from the week, but events in the state and nation made that impossible this year. I worked Monday through Wednesday, but I did get some fun in there.

The first Saturday, Brad and I went to see Shucked at DPAC:

It was a light-hearted piece of fluff that I'm glad I saw once.

I also got some extra time reading and finished book 9:

I'm so mad that this is book three in a five book series and the other two haven't been written yet. I have so many questions and so little patience.

Issa helped me rework on the vines on my plant wall:

And Friday Brad and Evan took the day off, too, so we could have a whole family day, including a trip to the Greensboro Science Center. We were horrible at pictures. For the first time, we saw the Maned Wolves, and so many of the animals were out and about. Issa did snap once picture of me and my otter:

It might not have been as restful as I hoped, but I was a nice little break at the end, and we are headed into the downhill slide of the semester!
 

Here We Go Again...

 Last night, Evan and I sat down to get him registered for junior year. I blinked and he is about to be an upperclassman.

We is going to do dual enrollment like Issa did, so we are starting to really think about where he might want to go to college. I think it was the first college conversation Evan initiated, and it was definitely the first time we started pulling up websites and looking at curriculum. This one is following in Dad's footsteps: currently thinking a math major with double concentrations in data analytics and computer science. Right now, Western Carolina is the front runner, but we have a lot of exploring left to do. 

It's just wild to be here again. 

What a Weekend

 We had a super busy weekend after a quiet few snow days.

Issa came home for the weekend, and we spent Friday evening just the four of us catching up.

Saturday, Issa and I went back to campus for Scholars' Weekend. It is always fun to meet the students who will be joining us next year, and I love having some informal time with our current students. In my current role, I don't have as much of that as I would like!

Evan spent Saturday afternoon and evening with his friends, and Issa was with Kai and his family celebrating his birthday. So, Brad and I finally got to have our Valentine's Day date! It's been so nuts lately that it was really nice to have some time just the two of us.

Yesterday, I started the day with a former student coming over for brunch. She is like a big sister to Issa, and she is dangerously close to finishing her PhD. It's always fun to hang out with her, and I love listening to her banter with both of my kids.

Mom, Issa, and I also went to the ballet. They have a new choreographer who is playing with movement in silence, which is super cool. She is doing the whole program next month, and I can't wait!

This was just the kind of soul-filling weekend I needed. I have a short week before I head out to HERS, so it's going to be a blur!

Snow Days

We are enjoying a couple of snow days around here. Between yesterday and today, we are up to close to five inches. I've spent the past couple of days at the kitchen table working, and it's been gorgeous to watch the big fluffy flakes fall, and the cats have enjoyed it as much as I have:

The cardinals have been particularly gorgeous in the snow:

I've treated myself to pretty tea:

And candlelight:

And I finished book 8:

I I go back to HERS next week, and this was the book we are expected to read before then. It was glorious to have cancelled observations and classes so I had time to actually read it carefully.