Days 188-191: The Mountains Never Disappoint

Last Thursday, we all doubled down on getting every conceivable scrap of work finished because we had big plans for the weekend. We grabbed lunch at home Friday, and then we jumped into the car for a weekend in the NC mountains. We love fall in the mountains, and we found the perfect cabin, which we will absolutely return to for years to come. We had seven acres to ourselves and zero cell signal. We did have wifi, so we could stream family shows, but we completely disconnected--no email, no calls. It was lovely.

When we got to the cabin Friday, we settled in, and the boys fell in love with this arcade table in the basement: 

Brad loved introducing Evan to some of his old arcade favorites:

And Evan enjoyed trying to figure them out:

Issa and I had a blast making dinner, and then we gathered on the deck for Uno:

It was freezing, but it was so fun to sit under the fairy lights and play cards:

Once it just got too cold, we moved inside and turned on some tv. Shortly after, Issa saw a little mice family run out from the fireplace--the price you pay for being in the middle of the woods. The house was so clean we had no clue we might have visitors. When we went to go to bed, however, Brad and I found a little pile of acorns under our pillow. We contacted our host, who was mortified, and pointed us towards clean sheets and a night refund. We were laughing hysterically. With us being there, we some them stick their noses out a couple of times in the morning or evening, but there was no other sign for the rest of the weekend. The kids did name them, though, and it will likely be one of my very favorite memories.

Saturday morning, we got up and enjoyed coffee on the deck:

And we loved watching these wild turkeys: 

Two groups met and had a little turkey stand-off, which was hysterical!

Before lunch, we went for a hike on one of the trails on the property, which gave is a great chance to snap a picture of the cabin from across the creek:

We loved having the running water to listen to while we were on the deck, and Brad even splashed in the cold, clear water.

We managed a family selfie at the top of the trail:

After lunch at the cabin, we went apple picking at Altapass:

This orchard specializes in heirloom varieties, so we picked yorks, which are tiny and tart:

The kids had a blast using the picking stick:

And racing up and down the hills to get the best apples:

It was a perfect day for apple picking:

We came home to the cabin for dinner and a camp fire. We actually stopped at the store to get a hatchet so the boys could reclaim fire wood from the trail:

There were smokes and shadow puppets and much fun had by all.

Sunday morning, we had one last breakfast before we packed out. The kids accidentally twinned in their new orchard sweatshirts:

And Brad and I remembered to grab a selfie:

We packed in enough time to just enjoy the deck one last time. These are my favorite people:

 I'm so incredibly grateful for a weekend away to just laugh and be. It was just what we needed.

Day 187: Extra Attention

For obvious reasons, our fur babies are getting lots of extra attention this week. We are all hyperattentive, and they are getting spoiled rotten. But, when they are this cute:

 How can you help it? She has taken to tucking herself in with Squish the Pumpkin, and we are here for it.

Day 186: New Art

A friend sent me the website of a new artist she found, and it may be a very dangerous thing. This woman, Stefanie, is incredibly talented, and she has a compelling story about how she found painting and herself in it. 

As I was looking through her site, this piece immediately took my breath away:

There is something about the reflected light and the trees in the background that I just find so compelling. I have no idea where it is going, but it's coming to live in our house.

As I was looking through the site with Issa, this one caught her eye:

 

It is coming to hand in her room. 

And now I have to walk away from the site before I cover every scrap of wall I have.

Days 184-185: Goodbye, Sweet Friend

This weekend was a tough one. We had to say goodbye to our sweet Tumbler:

We've know for the better part of the year that her kidneys were not in great shape. She was 18, and her poor little paws had arthritis. But...she happy and comfortable and ours. We've been loving her and indulging her a bit more. She started getting wet food on demand every morning, and she would scream until she got it.

Laps were her for the taking, and Brad learned to work with her curled in his lap:

The mask basket became an extra snuggly bed:

She was still as flexible and tumble-y as ever:

She and Frosty would still curl up:

But...she has been slowing down. She hadn't been upstairs in week. And this weekend, the moment we knew would come did. Saturday morning, she climbed in my lap, but when I tried to pet her she screamed; she did the same to Brad later. We watched her get in and out of the little box with no success. We found blood near her food dish, and then she did it in front of us on the floor. It was time.

The rule at our house is we will never let our fur babies suffer or put them through invasive treatments to buy time. We knew we had to say goodbye. She let us hold her one last time, and we sent her to snuggle Nuzzle again.

It's so hard, and it still hurts. The mornings are too quiet without her screaming, and I keep waiting for her to climb in my lap. Tumbler brought us so much laughter and love, and we will be forever grateful she was ours for so long. Goodbye, sweet friend...it still wasn't long enough.

 

Day 183: So We Work

Several weeks ago, I ordered a new set of masks. Now that I'm on campus more, I needed some new masks, and I decided to use it as a motivational message. I'm even more grateful I ordered these:

The loss of RBG has been profound for me. She was a voice for so many, and she was brilliant in the way she negotiated the establishment to enact real change. She has been an inspiration to me in so many ways, and I mourn and fear her loss on the bench.

But, I can't sit in that mourning. I'm finding myself more driven to be the change, to fight for what I believe in, and to carry her legacy forward.

 

Day 182: This is What Work Looks Like

This kid:

 She danced for hours last night, including her first class on pointe. She came home, and sat straight down to do homework. Her toes were tender, so she sat there with her feet soaking writing an essay. We chatted while she wrote, and not once did she complain. 

She is the most driven human I know, and I simply couldn't be more proud. 

Day 181: Cozy Snuggles

One of my favorite parts of fall and the chillier temperatures is that our furry friends get a little snugglier. This girl has been particularly sweet and hysterical this week:

 She is the absolute queen of rearranging pillows to get comfy. 

On Sunday, buddy scratched his leg in our back yard. He does this often because he is the clumsiest stick carrier I have ever seen. Brad wrapped it in gauze just to keep it covered while the bleeding stopped, and this girl had to have her paw wrapped, too. There was no way Neela was going to get less attention. Brad actually did wrap it, which was hysterical and the path of least resistance. 

I may get tired of wiping muddy paw prints, but I sure can't imagine life without them.

Day 180: I Intentionally Made Something!

I got to go to the pottery studio again on Sunday! I'm managing to get a slot about once a month, which is great timing. My project don't dry out, and I can accomplish quite a bit in three hours. 

When I got there I had a bowl to trim, and then I sat down to throw. Generally, I just throw and see what comes out. I was quite delighted when this happened:

I'm hoping to add a handle and use it as a gravy boat this fall.

After that success, I decided to try to actually set out to make something. I had seen some bud vases that others in the studio had made, and I decided to give it a try. I watch a few YouTube videos, and set to work. Tada:

It's a little candlestick-ish, but it is definitely a bud vase! And it only took this many flops:

I can totally reclaim that clay and use it again, which is why I'm never afraid to try to stretch myself a bit. It was really fun to intentionally make something. Now I just have to decide what's next.
 

Days 178-179: Very Festive

This weekend was the perfect blend of productivity and rest. Issa had a Master Class on Zoom Saturday morning, and the boys had their first training session back inside the dojo. Issa reaffirmed that she doesn't love hip hop, and the boys reaffirmed that they do love their dojo. There were only eight people on the mat, and they still only train with the partner they bring, but they both said it was so good to be back.

Saturday afternoon, we carried out the Halloween decorating! We are waiting to do outside until October 1, but the inside is very festive! With all of the reorganizing and redecorating, we had to find new ways to decorate! I love the festive mantle: 

And yes, we did watch The Great Pumpkin while decorating!

Inks loves have the big pumpkin to snuggle in her perch:

Our table is a fancy spooky this year:

And Gram's witch kept a place of honor:

Even our mask basket got festive:

And Issa was most proud of her spider placement:

We had dinner with Shannon and Nana, and then we came home to get in our new Halloween jammies and watch The Nightmare Before Christmas:

We didn't get a picture of the boys, but it was lovely to all snuggle in and watch the movie together. Evan plays along, but Issa loves this time of year, and it is always fun to see her so happy.

 

Day 177: Bring on the Weekend

 We are just on short work day away from the weekend, and we have big plans. We are usually a strict no Halloween until October family, but this year, we are starting early. Time is so amorphous that is just seems fair to use that to our advantage.

We are planning a big Halloween movie marathon. While Issa and I were at the store this morning, we even found some Halloween pajamas to wear! I'm thinking hot cocoa will also be necessary. Bring on fall!

Day 176: Tropical Storm Sally

 This morning was a struggle. The remnants of Tropical Storm Sally are blowing through. It's rainy, and there is a chill in the air. All of us are working from home.

For the first time, we had a hard time getting going this morning. It was just a little too cozy eating breakfast and sipping coffee. Evan made himself a bug mug of tea to take to class; Issa made a latte. I'm working from the couch, which I almost never do. 

We're all enjoying this silver lining. Being able to take a few extra sips because there is no commute. Making mugs of cozy beverages on breaks. Blankets while we work. Watching the rain on the leaves. It's quite lovely.

Day 175: Thanks Goodness for Fall

 It finally feels like fall around here. Today, I'm in booties and a sweater, and it was 54 degrees when I got in my car to come to work. It's lovely.

This is actually day number two of cooler temps, and I'm so grateful for that! I took the kids to the dentist yesterday morning, and we had another surreal Covid moment. We fully expected the waiting room to look different, and we knew our temperatures would be checked. I was not at all surprised by how well the kids' dentist was handling all the new safety measures, and the kids are totally used to going back to have their teeth cleaned while I sit in the waiting room. However, I was not prepared to wait in my car for the kiddos. It was a beautiful morning, and I didn't mind rolling the windows down and enjoying a little fresh air while I worked. It was odd, though, and the kids said it was really weird being walked out the back door by their hygienist and brought to the car. 

That said, for the first time ever they both got great reports, no referrals, and it was just a regular trip to the dentist. I'll take it.

Day 174: First Pointe Shoes

As if having a birthday was not enough, Issa earned her first pair of pointe shoes last week! She has been doing pre-pointe training for a year, and she passed the test to actually be able to start on pointe! Traditionally, all of the girls who pass go together to get their shoes. That was clearly not an option this year, but it was still super special. Mrs. Lauren face-timed in to the appointment so she could coach Issa and help find the exact right pair:

It really is an amazing process. Ms. Tami, the pointe shoe specialist, spent time just getting to know Issa's feet. She watched her tendue and plie barefoot, and Issa lit up when she told her she had good feet. Issa tried on about seven different styles of shoes, and I was absolutely amazed when she just went straight up in the shoes:

Ms. Tami was pretty impressed, too:

It says a lot about how hard she has worked to build ankle, foot, and knee strength, and we are so grateful to be a studio that has trained her so well. And at the end of the appointment, she said yes to the shoes:

This week, she will sew in her ribbons and elastics, and then she will start dancing en pointe in the studio. We couldn't be more proud of our favorite bun head!

Days 172-173: Happy Birthday, Issa!

Saturday, our girl turned 14! She woke up to a fun curtain on her door:

And balloons in the stairwell:

Evan gave her two candles with jewelry hidden inside:

And Brad and I gave her an Ipsy subscription:

She was a little excited:

After breakfast, we went to get our nails done, and Issa got her first set of acrylics. When we got home, I wanted a good birthday picture. Issa decided 14 was a very big number:

Frankly, I can hardly believe she's 14, either:

The big surprise was a movie in an actual theater, though:

Silverspot is renting out their theaters right now. Your rental fee goes towards food, and you can use any streaming service you have to watch something on the big screen. We watched Mulan over dinner, and it was so fun! Issa was beyond surprised and loved every minute of it!

When we got home, we had her cake--chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and all of the leftover candles from the years of cakes:

She has been planning this since May, and it was fun to relive all of the cakes as we placed the candles:

Sunday, we had her requested birthday dinner:

She wanted to make her own sushi and vegetarian General Tso's. She also did fashion shows with her gifts from Nana and Aunt Shannon and did a lot of online shopping with her gift cards.

She says it was a pretty great birthday, and I'll take that! Happy birthday, baby girl, and may all your wishes come true.

 

Day 171: Remembering

 It's hard to believe that 19 years ago we were in a different state of weird. 

Both kids had assignments this morning to talk with us about what we remember about September 11. With each year, the strangeness of Air Force 1 flying over my house and military choppers being scrambled to my football field seems less bizarre. I guess the repeated telling has numbed that a bit. I still remember watching the second plane hit in real time, and I remember being completely unable to turn of the footage for days. We just kept watching--trying to understand.

As the years pass, though, what I remember most was that September 11 was a turning point for me. If I have to pick a single day when I became an adult, it was that one. My mentors didn't protect me from the reality that we didn't know what was happening or if we would be okay. I became the teacher who had to tell her students it was all okay, with a forced smile and an attempt to be normal because that was what they needed. I was 21.

Now, I spend my days working with kids that age. I watch them make those same transitions with different triggers. What has put a lump in my throat today, though, is realizing that Issa isn't that far away from that transition. She is already grappling with real world issues and asking critical questions. She's figuring our who she is and what she stands for. I love seeing that. But I pray with all my heart that she can't point to a day when tragedy struck and she felt like an adult. I pray that for all our kids.

Day 170: Back at the Studio!

 Last night, Issa got to dance back in the studio for the first time in seven months! The dancers and teachers are all masked up, and they have boxed off dancing spaces in the studios. There are no hugs or cuddle puddles, but they are back to dancing together in one space. She is thrilled.

It felt so incredibly good to pull up to the studio and watch her walk out last night. She was full of stories and laughter and light. It really is her happy place, and I'm so very grateful that the staff has worked so hard to bring them back.

Day 169: Simple Endings

 Yesterday was kind of a crazy day. I had a million meetings and a couple of errands to run, and then I had to teach last night. Brad had a ton of meetings, and both kids had the regular school stuff. By the time we sat down for dinner, we were exhausted. Issa made killer turkey meatballs, and it was good to just sit together.

It was so good, Brad suggested we end our day with a trip to Whit's for ice cream. It was a sweet ending to the day, and somehow it made the rest of the day feel less crazy. Sometimes it really is the simple things.

Days 166-168: Holiday Week-ending

This weekend actually felt like a holiday weekend. 

Saturday, Brad and I went for a two mile run:

Had you told me a month ago that I would run two miles soon, I would have laughed my head off. I loved it, though, and it was so fun to do it with Brad.

Sunday morning, Brad set out to redo our garage again, and the kids and I took off to the visit Jennifer and John at the lake. They talked the entire way there about playing on this mat:

They love balancing and running on that mat, and they also loved paddle boarding:

Evan got really good and was on his feet moving very quickly, but I didn't get that picture. Issa also had a blast paddle boarding around the cove:

We spent the day floating in the cove and talking on the dock. We then went out for the traditional sunset boat ride:

Evan and John swam, but we girls thought it was way too cold:

This is Evan's best life:

Issa loves the lake and watching the sunset:

We also did a bonfire and smores to end the day:

I had a work meeting Monday morning, but the kids went with Jennifer and John for one more boat ride and swim before we headed home. It was a lovely, quiet weekend with friends, and I think it is exactly what we needed. Brad also loved having the house to himself for the first time since February.

We had mom over for dinner last night, and we all collapsed into bed early. Now we have another full week ahead that ends in Issa's birthday!
 

Day 165: 11 Minutes

 I promise this is not about to become a running blog, but I ran 11 minutes straight this morning. Here is the amazing thing: it felt really good after the first minute. I find it takes the joints a minute to get going, but then I'm starting to find a rhythm that works. Brad is a great coach, which also helps.

Saturday, we will get up early to do a long run. The goal is 30 minutes. Apparently, after 11 the jump to 30 is really just mental. I think we can do this!

Days 163-164: It's Fall Y'All

 On September 1, we launched fully into fall around here! 

We've been dipping our toes in the last couple of weeks. Spaghetti has returned to the dinner menus. Pumpkin spice lattes are back; Issa has become quite the barista.

Yesterday, though, fall launched. We have pumpkin spice soaps in the bathrooms. We have acorn spice aromatherapy, which makes the house smell like the best walk in the woods. Issa made a killer pasta dish with chicken meatballs and roasted vegetables for dinner. I broke out the booties. 

Fall is our favorite season around here, and we are launching into it with great abandon!