Days 161-162: A Different Kind of Restful

I had big plans around the house this weekend, but I spent the entire thing either in bed or on the couch. I'm not a fan. It seems I had a bit of a sinus infection, and we learned I can not take Mucinex-D. It 100% kicked my illness, but I was apparently very entertaining and have no memory of any of it.

From the couch, though, I did get to watch the last half of Issa's Aunt Shannon Fashion Show:

She was in this cardigan when I left for work this morning, and I have a feeling she will be living in it:

Strike a pose:

She had so much fun trying on all the clothes and then rearranging her closet and drawers. 

Evan also made cut sugar cookies all by himself this weekend, and most of the flour made it in the cookies:

He really is becoming a very good cook!

I'm so grateful for a family that took care of me, and I'm glad that seems to be behind me! I am saying I'm done with colds for the year now.

 

Day 160: Dress Up

Aunt Shannon is moving, which means she cleaned out her closet. Yesterday, a giant box of clothes arrived for Issa, and she is still on cloud nine. Every break she had she spent some time trying on clothes. Of course she started with the fanciest pieces:

But this tank top made an appearance in her afternoon classes:

She can't wait to go back to the ballet to wear this one:

And Dad has almost recovered from this one:

There were so many great pieces, and we have more to try on today. The things that don't fit her or she doesn't love are going to out career and formal closets on campus, which is lovely. Now we just have to be able to leave the house so she can wear these things....

 

Day 159: 150 Workouts and 8 Minutes

 Since January, I have been trying to make small, manageable changes in my life for my health--one change per month.

In January, we cut way back on meat. We eat vegan at least one day a week and vegetarian at least two more. I don't miss it, and I started to feel better.

In February, I started increasing my water intake. I now miss it if I don't get enough.

In March, I started using a fitness app to get in a workout every weekday morning. They are 20-30 minutes each. When I started, I struggled through the basic workouts. I didn't use the optional weights. Gradually, the workouts increased intensity, and I can hang. I invested in weights, and I've gradually increased the load. Yesterday, I completed my 150th workout in the app.

Over the next few months, I started making green juice as my afternoon snack. I drink more tea and less wine. I started meditating. I sleep at least seven hours a night. The order of those events are little jumbled for me, but I know each has had a positive impact.

This month, I added running three times a week. Brad has become my running partner. I'm using an app to help me safely build up strength and endurance instead of my usual over-do and crash option. Today was the first time I had a long solid block of running: eight minutes. It's not that long, but I didn't know if I could do it. I did, and I could have kept running. When the tone signaled it was time to walk, I cried. I did it. I felt good.

I'm down 20 pounds and four inches, and while I would love for those numbers to be bigger, I'm constantly reminding myself that's not what it's about. I feel better than I have in years. I opened a pickle jar last week without a struggle. I cut down and hauled to the curb a tree this week and could have kept going. When we went to the beach, I could tread for an hour in the ocean and then play frisbee in the sand. We are planning on hiking in October and I'm not worried about slowing my family down (except for my plant gazing). It feels good, and I can keep going one small change at a time.

Day 158: The Perks of Virtual School

 Now that we are rolling into week two of virtual school, we are starting to see a few perks.

Honestly, Evan has always been a fan. He loves the breaks in the day, and he loves not having to put on shoes. He is a man of simple pleasures.

Issa was a harder sell, though. Yesterday, we went to the school in the middle of the day for her to pick up some things and get her yearbook/ID picture taken. Parents waited in the car, and students had to sign in and be checked before they could go through the halls in the most elaborate pick-up experience ever. I have never laughed so hard. Issa came back to the car with a bright pink slip of paper and her Class of 2024 t-shirt. She had this priceless look on her face: "I had no idea what I was doing, and everyone kept saying, 'Oh, honey.'" She finally got the full freshman experience. She decided online might not be so bad. 

This morning, she had an ortho appointment and desperately wanted to run through Starbucks on the way home. I knew we would be cutting it close to make it through the drive-thru and home in time to start her first period. Then we realized: she had her phone and notebook. She logged onto class right after we got our coffee. When we got home, she moved to her room without missing a beat. Another perk.

It may not be ideal, but it is nice to have some flexibility and be able to learn from the comfort of home. We'll take these silver-linings.

Day 157: Nothing of Note

 We are just clipping away around here. The kids have settled into school routines, I'm getting used to actually going to campus again, and Brad is his usual up to his eyeballs in work. We are settling in to new dinner times to accommodate dance and the dojo, and I'm still sneaking in some time to keep chipping away at thinning our backyard. 

Aside from the fact that we barely leave the house, fall seems pretty normal. I'll take that.

Days 154-156: Quiet Weekend

 We had a lovely, quiet weekend at our house.

We bathed all of the pets and cleaned all of the pantries. The boys got lots of good dojo time. We had Mom over for dinner Saturday night. We launched into fall baking with almond butter no-bakes and pumpkin breakfast bars. Issa and I got a lot of time working on her pom pom rug. The whole family watched the first three Twilight movies.

It was nothing special, really, but it was nice to have the down time. Sometimes, that is enough.

Day 153: Super Out of Practice

 Today is my first day working from home this week. Being on campus (for very log days) three days in a row was exhausting, and I discovered I am a bit rusty at the whole going to work thing. 

Monday, I walked out and left my keys on the desk. I had to call security to let me into my office on Tuesday morning.

Last night, I walked out without my computer. Thankfully, everything I need to do this week is on Drive, and Brad has an old laptop I can use. 

From here on out, I will only be there Mondays and Wednesdays, and I'm just hoping I can keep it together!

Day 152: A New Bedtime Routine

I always find the start of a new school year to be a time for new routines. This semester is shaping up to be one for the record books, and I'm finding myself pretty tired by the end of the days. So...Brad and I recommitted to a better bedtime routine last night:

 We had fallen in the habit of either working right up until we fell over or watching dumb television in bed. Neither of us having been sleeping well. So, now we head upstairs with a cup of tea, put our phones on do no disturb, and settle in like this. Books just for fun and the fireplace on the tv. We both slept better, and I feel much more ready to dive in this morning. I could get used to this.

Day 151: Day One Done!

Yesterday was a successful first day of middle and high school!

Evan loves all of his teachers, and they did an awesome job of making him feel comfortable and prepared. He also was not upset that he got an extra break because he had done all of the orientation stuff. Well played, teachers.

Issa is loving her locker system:

She has all of her binders and writing utensils, so life is good! She hasn't been able to actually get into her Spanish class, but the other three classes were great! We knew there would be bumps, and here it is.

This is our back to school mantra:

 We are all learning how to do this semester. There will be bumps, and it's not what we planned, but it's working! Onward...

Days 149-150: Happy First Day of School

Today is the first day of school, and we spent the weekend getting ready. The school schedules are laminated and posted:

And we decorated our water bottles:

It's easy to tell whose is whose:

Evan got his binder all set up, which was hysterical:

He is not so sure about this binder business, and he really is not sure about the agenda.

Issa made sure she had all the links and was ready to go:

And this morning they took the traditional front porch pictures!

First day of middle school:

First day of high school:

Sibling love:

 I have no doubt this week is going to be bumpy, but we will make it!

Day 148: First High School Open House

 Last night, I sat beside Issa as she did her first high school open house. The school ran Zoom meetings on a bell schedule, and she got to meet each of her teachers and hear a little bit about their plans for the semester.

Every single teacher acknowledged how weird and awkward this is, and everyone spoke so positively about what they have planned and what they will be doing starting on day one. Issa feels so much more settled about the year, and I couldn't be more impressed with her teachers. Her civics teacher started the conversation with, "How lucky are you that you get to take civics during an election year?!" What more can you ask for.

Look out Monday, we are ready for you!

Day 147: I got to teach real people!

 Yesterday, I got to teach real students in a real classroom! I've been teaching online all summer, but yesterday I had 12 graduate students on campus for four hours. It was lovely. And exhausting. And weird. And I can't wait to do it again next week.

My 12 students we spread throughout a room that can hold up to 60, so it took a whole new level of energy to project with a mask, but it was so good to see them, and they were so excited to be on campus--even if they were masked. I'm also co-teaching with a great friend, so there are two of us to think through how to keep the class engaging and socially distant. It's like we are first year teachers all over again, which is kind of fun in a weird way.

It's our new normal, and I'll take it.

Day 146: Back on Campus

I am back on campus! This fall, I will be on campus two days a week, and I finally took the spring flowers and the away message off of my message board:

 It feels good. Students are moving back in, and they are doing an awesome job of wearing masks and social distancing. For the first time since March, I will teach this afternoon with actual students in the room. There are only 12 of them and we are in a room for 60, but still. I'm so grateful to be able to do something I love again.

Day 145: A Different Kind of Company Camp

Yesterday, Issa started Company Camp--completely online in her home studio:

The new marley worked perfectly, and I'm so impressed by how well the studio is mirroring the usual camp online.

This little one is less thrilled Issa is dancing all day:

 I can tell already this is going to be a great dance year, and my girl is quite thrilled!

Days 143-144: A Quiet Weekend

We had big plans of completing dumping, sorting, and reorganizing the garage this weekend, but then the weather started to look dicey. So...we channeled our furry friends and took it a bit easier:

These two pups made sure we slowed down and snuggled quite a bit this weekend.

Tumbler did remind us to stretch:

And Frosty kept us laughing:

We did spent some time cleaning the garage, which started by using up the last of the silly strong in an epic fight:

Evan assembled our new fan so we will stay a little cooler while working out or dojo-ing:

And we finished the board so Issa can use her marley in her room:

She was just a little excited! The original plan was to store the board in the bonus room when she didn't need it, but it's just too big to move that often. The marley rolls up and slides under her bed easily, so we decided to just get a rug to cover the board. Then Issa decided instead of buying a rug she really wanted to make a pom-pom rug:

We are about a fifth of the way finished, and the rest of the yarn will arrive this week! It is really turning out well, and it was a fun way to spend part of the weekend.

This is planning week on campus for me, and Issa has Company Camp online all week. It's a busy week filled with school orientations, too, so I'm so glad we had an easier weekend to rest and relax before we throw ourselves in full-force to fall.

 

Day 142: It's Coming!

 Issa and I made our weekly early Friday morning grocery run. We picked up the usual plus a fun basket for her to use as a locker this fall. It wasn't remarkable.

However, when we pulled into our driveway we just sat in the car for a minute. The leaves on two of our trees are tinged with color. We could see traces of yellow and crimson; fall is coming.

Issa and I huge fall girls, and we can't wait for the cozy soups and fires and sweaters. I never want to wish away time, but it feels so good to be excited for all that this fall will hold. Bring it on!

Day 141: Simple Pleasures

We are enjoying some simple pleasures around here.

Evan invested in a new video game and has made himself quite comfortable:

In the game, he is actually running a farm. He has learned how to budget to buy machinery. He knows how much it takes to raise a cow, and where you can sell wood when you clear a field. It's the closest thing to living in the country, and he and Brad have had some great conversations based on it.

Issa is still living in the kitchen. She is playing with cloud bread, and she helped me make a killer salad for dinner. Please notice the dressing mixing bowl:

I made that! It really is perfect for mixing up a quick dressing, and it's the first thing I made with a spout. It's far from perfect, but it's functional and it makes me very happy to see it used! Everything else I have made is either a cat dish or a candy dish, so this is a big jump for me!

Day 140: This is Happening

One, can we please notice that we are on day 140 of quarantining? Every time I type a number, I wonder if I should still be counting these days, but it also feels like I'm in too far. I think I will stop when students and teachers are reunited in classrooms. Until then...onward.

The kids and I finished back to school shopping. That was wildly different this year. They need so little right now since we will be starting online.

Evan is making the big move to middle school, which means his first binder. It makes his AVID teacher mother so happy. We ordered a good teal one online. I also opted for the plastic dividers with pockets; I know my boy. He had no strong feelings on the matter.

As Issa is making the big move to high school, there was no supply list. They just do what works for them. Issa is opting for a small binder for each class. She also wanted all manner of colored pens and highlights to "get my life straight." Deal.

That was it. We decided to wait on backpacks until they are actually going somewhere.

Since all of that seemed pretty anticlimactic, we developed a plan. I wanted to something fun to mark the start of school. So...we invested in really good water bottles. The kids have been begging for them, and we each chose our own color and a set of stickers to personalize our bottles. The Sunday before school starts, we will have a huge decorating party, and we will use them on the first day of school. We are all ridiculously excited about this.

It's funny, when the world doesn't give us solid turning points, we are creating our own, and it feels so good.

Day 139: Ready for Students

I spent yesterday on campus making sure the building was physically ready for students and faculty.

I started by setting up an adjunct office:

 It's nothing fancy, but it has a phone, office supplies, and each adjunct has a bookshelf.

I also made sure all of our rooms were arranged and labelled for social distancing:

Schedules are posted on the doors, and all of the sanitation stations are set up.

We are as ready as we will ever be!

Days 137-138: We Should Have Been on a Mountain

This weekend was brutal. It should have been Mountain Quest. Evan should have been testing for his black belt. We should have been on a mounting. None of those things happened, which we knew months ago. That didn't make this weekend any easier.

We made plans to camp in our backyard, but storms rolled in--insult to injury.

There isn't much worse for me than seeing the people I love hurting, and my boys were hurting this weekend. Poor Evan didn't really have the words, and I think the grief took him by surprise. We road the waves with him and did what we could.

What that ended up looking like was a family blanket fort across the living room:

We all slept in it Saturday night, including both dogs and all three cats. We had every blanket we owned either across the ceiling or on the floor. My back may never recover, but we were all together.

We also ate camp food: hot dogs, astronaut ice cream, and these horrible pouches that only require boiling water:

 Rehydrated eggs are apparently only good on the mountain.

It certainly didn't replace all that was lost, but I hope Evan will remember being well-loved:

The boys went for a really long hike on our local mountain Sunday morning. It have them time to talk, and Evan felt so much better when he got home.

And Issa ended the weekend with something fresh not in a pouch:

It was delicious.

Next year, we will be on that mountain watching both boys get their black belts, but Issa and I have decided we will be taking real food.