19 Years!

Today is our nineteen year anniversary! It's also the week before vacation and my first week teaching summer session two, which means life is crazy. So...we decided to sneak in a breakfast date this morning. I was trying to be sneaky and get a picture of him, but he caught me:

And then made fun of me:

And then took a good picture because he knows how much I love capturing these little moments:

We have been through a lot together. Last night we were trying to remember where we thought we would be in 20 years when we got married, and we couldn't even remember. We had dreams of a home and children, but we never would have imagined the careers we are in or thriving through a pandemic. It has been one wild ride, but I can't imagine being on it with anyone else. Here's to many, many more years...
 

A Very Fun Weekend

We had another really fun weekend! Friday, Issa's dance team decided to meet up for lunch for a little team bonding. There girls are already a tight group, and I love hearing her so excited about being with them:

After they finished lunch, we went to Raleigh to visit two stores that are only open on week days. I picked up some herbs to make a few more things in my apothecary, and we all picked up way too much Italian food. We had quite the feast Friday night!

Saturday, we had big plans for a beach day, but Issa woke up not feeling great. We threw in the towel and spent the day watching movies and snuggling. In the Heights is absolutely incredible, but the way!

Sunday, we took Mom and Rachel back to Springhaven to see the goats! Brad and Issa were butterflies, first:

And because it was an off day the cows and donkey had free range, too! Issa was in heaven since the fluffy cows are her absolute favorite:

I still love snuggling baby goats:

We finished up there and went back to Mom's to play D&D and have a fiesta! Now we have one more work week until vacation!

 

My Heart is Full

 Yesterday, I had teenage girls back in my house. Every Wednesday this summer, two of Issa's friends and Ms. Stephanie are coming over on Wednesday for Pointe lessons. For the first fifteen minutes of their lesson, I sat on the couch, listening with tears running down my cheeks. 

The four of them were laughing, and Stephanie has such a gift for teaching and coaching. I got to see the end of the lesson and my girl en pointe. She is so strong, and she is so happy when she is up there.

I have missed having the kids' friends in the house, and I have missed getting to see Issa's lessons. It was such joy--especially seeing her filled with so much joy dancing again.

The Best Laid Plans

 I'm still laughing about how sideways yesterday went.

We had big plans for lunch at the Nickel. It was pouring rain, but we set out with our umbrellas. As we were walking through the parking lot, I fell. Like...laying flat on my face fell. I had on flip flops and my foot just slip out from under me. No real damage done, but it was not my finest moment. Looking up and seeing Brad's totally confused face looking down at me still has me laughing. 

We finally make it to the door, and they are closed. They were only opening for dinner yesterday. 

So...we went to Maggiano's. We had a lovely lunch with the fastest talking waiter of all time. he about drove Brad crazy. We drove home in a storm that would have made Noah think twice. By the time we got home, my body was so stiff I just resigned myself to the couch.

By mid-afternoon, the weather cleared up, which was great because Issa had her first hip hop class, which is happening in the Farmer's Market Pavilion until the studio is finished. She was actually having a blast until she got stung by a yellow jacket. Thank goodness her teacher travels with Benadryl.  She finished class, we got her fed, and then we rolled her into bed. 

Everyone is feeling better this morning, and it really was a basically good day--just not at all what we planned.

Today is the Day!!!

 It's official! The whole family is coming into the out. Everyone is fully vaccinated. 

We will still be doing some tip-toeing. Both kids need to readjust to being in crowds, and our family of introverts gets exhausted pretty quickly these days.

But...I did spent the last couple of days getting some tickets. We are going to see the aquarium and baby goats this weekend, and we are planning our vacation to the mountains with some tubing and hiking. 

It just feels lovely to make plans that feel solid again...and we are going out to lunch today to celebrate!

Day 449-450: A Very Big Weekend

This was a very, very big weekend around our house.

Friday I went grocery shopping by myself for the first time in about forever and definitely for the first time since the mask mandates were lifted. I actually shopped with a latte in my hand:

It was lovely. Brad and I went out to dinner Friday night and we actually ate inside one of our favorite places. I might have cried.

Saturday morning, we finally went to the Hillsborough Bakeshop to get pastries for our D&D game:

Everything was so good, and we had another great game! Evan is loving running this one, and we are enjoying playing every weekend.

Saturday afternoon was huge, though. Brad tested for his Brown/Black belt, and we actually go to go watch. It was the first time I was back in the dojo since before Covid. Evan wasn't testing, but he helped Brad warm up:

And Brad did great!

He has been doing some extra training with this group, and it was so fun to watch them get their new belts together:

While we were doing that, Issa was at her first Kaleidoscope Team gathering. These five high schoolers are already bonding and planning for the year:

 

It is so lovely to hear Issa so excited about dance again!

And Saturday for dinner we had a little extra fun:

Somehow nachos are just more fun when they are one pile on the island. This may be my new go-to when the kids have friends over.

Yesterday, we spent the day celebrating Brad. We made all his favorite meals and just piled on the couch all day. We had big outdoor plans, but the weather didn't cooperate. At the end of the day, though, no one was sad.

And...this will be the last day count on the blog! Tomorrow the kids will be fully vaccinated, and we start life in the after times...

Day 448: These Two

When we brought Tora home, We really hoped she and Inks would be friends and that Inks would fill that big sister/mama cat role. Boy did we get everything we hoped for on that one. Tora wants to follow Inks everywhere, and Inks generally lets her--although sometimes it's reluctantly:

Inks will share her window, but she keeps the middle and lets Tora squeeze in the edge.

Last night, I found them staring into the fireplace:

 

There was nothing there, and I really think Inks was just waiting to see how long Tora would look with her.

They bring us great joy, and I'm awfully glad they joined our family.

Day 447: A Walk Across Campus

I actually had meetings with people, face to face, around campus yesterday. It is so, so good to be back at a physical table with colleagues, and this just happens to be one of my favorite times on campus. The hydrangeas are blooming:

The dogwoods are bursting:

And the magnolias are starting to open:

It is all so very, very good.
 

Day 446: Big Steps

 Yesterday was kind of a lot.

For the first time, I dropped Issa off at the high school and got a lump in my throat. She is doing a week long "camp" with her interior design teacher where they are doing all of the hands-on things they couldn't do this year. As it should be, the teacher has communicated directly with Issa. I dropped her off not knowing who was going to be there or what exactly the plan for the week would be. Given that we have pretty much been together 24/7 for over a year, it was really odd.

The great news is she had a blast! It is just she and one other girl there this week, and Issa loves her teacher. They are building models of rooms they design, and she came home last night all excited to work on her sketches so she would be ready to start building today. 

Then, I was checking instagram while the boys were at the dojo, and there was a picture of Brad training with another adult. For the first time in over a year, he and Evan split. Evan trained with his buddy, Collin, and Brad worked with another adult. The both had a blast.

It's all just a little surreal--this return to life as it will be. I'm letting myself have all of the feelings for a while...

Day 445: She's Really the Big Kid

Last summer, we had a high schooler, but with Covid and everything being locked down, we didn't feel the shift. Even during the school year, we didn't feel a huge shift. Sure she was taking high school classes and the academic demands grew, but with one a few exceptions she did school in her room and didn't miss a beat. This summer, though, I'm feeling it.

A lot of her friends and 15 and old enough for real jobs. She can't get a work permit, but she is cobbling together odd jobs this summer. She had a plant watering gig, but now that school's out the family has more time to garden and paused Issa coming until they get too busy again. She has already lined up a few pet sitting gigs throughout the summer. 

Last week, though, she took dance lessons for one of the little neighbor girls. She comes here one a week so they can use Issa's barre and dance floor. It was so fun to watch her prep:

She is choreographing a little dance for the end of summer show, and she has made a whole playlist of music for their classes. She even assembles a sticker basket for the end of class. Their first lesson was yesterday, and it was so surreal for me to watch Issa really teach. She is so good with littles, and this little can't wait to come back next week.

Somehow, Issa just seems older and more mature this summer. It is so fun to just sit back and watch her become who she is. 

Days 442-444: A Very Big Weekend

We had a super fun weekend! Friday afternoon, I took the kids shopping. Evan needed some dress clothes, and Issa needed some dance clothes. I'm still not sure about this whole shopping in the men's department thing, but we had a great time, and they both made great choices!

Friday night, Brad and I went out to celebrate my birthday! Issa helped me get ready:

He had made reservations at the Siena Hotel, and we had a beautiful room:

I love the look of these chairs, but they aren't so great for actually sitting:

We also had dinner at their restaurant, Il Palio, and it was absolutely the best meal I've had stateside. We started with crostini, and the chicken pate and whipped ricotta with honey were both incredible. We shared an antipasti of prosciutto with fava beans, Cavender cheese, and arancini oil that was killer. I had an absolutely fabulous Bolognese over hand-cut pappardelle. We both ended with almond cake, and I had Vin Santo--one of the very places I've found it outside of Italy. Our waiter was from Napoli, and it really did feel like being back in my second home.

Saturday, Evan started our D&D game, and we all had a blast! It's so fun to watch him take on this new role.

Sunday, Brad decided it was time to redo the office. We dumped everything:

We started my cleaning out the coat closet so the hall tree could move in there. That cleared a lot of space and opened the room. We also took down the Roman shades and replaced them with some sheer curtains we had from before we redid the living room. We removed some bins and an end table, moved all of the furniture, and the end result gives Brad a move open desk space:

The piano is more of a focal point when you walk in:

And the doorway is more open:

Moving the bar also opened up this entryway, which is lovely:

It was a lot of work for one day, but we are all thrilled by how much more open the downstairs feels, and Brad is much, much happier in this space.

 

Day 441: Settling Into Summer

We are soaking up the first week of summer vacation. During the school year, lunch breaks didn't really line up, so we are enjoying family lunches with occasional board game:

The kids did yoga with me Monday night, and we have managed to sneak in walks every day:

Issa and I got facials yesterday, and the boys have been going to the dojo more. It's lovely to have less on our calendars and more time to just be.
 

Day 440: Second Dose!

Yesterday was a very big day:

 Look at those vaccine Band-Aids! We are in the two week countdown for going into the out, and we all couldn't be more thrilled! (Although Evan was pretty sure we didn't need a picture to commemorate it.)

Day 439: Yoga Buddies

For the past several months, Brad and I have been doing Sunday morning Best Friends Yoga with Stephanie at Monarch Movement. We log on at 8:45 with a cup of coffee, catch up with a pretty regular group of people, and then start an hour long practice at 9.

For about a month, we have also been doing a Monday Night Slow Flow at Monarch Movement with Becca, who used to be one of Issa's dance teachers. Last night, the kids joined in:

Becca was so excited to see Issa again, and it was a great practice. 

Monarch has become a home for our whole family, and it is so lovely to connect with people without having to leave our house. 
 

Days 437-438: Closing One Chapter and Opening Another

This weekend was spent closing one chapter and beginning the next. Ten years ago to the day Issa had her first dance recital at To the Pointe:

Here she is in her last:

It is amazing to see how much she has grown as a dancer. She has always loved it, but she has gotten so strong...and she has a bit more stage presence:

Ballet is still her favorite, and she loved dancing with Ms. Kathy this year:

And she still had her usual cheering section:

Although Dad is now learning to strike her poses:

After ten years, though, it is time to make a move. We will always be grateful for the technique and foundation she gained at TTP, but the increased focus on competition just isn't for us. The good news is some of Issa's dance friends are moving with her:

And Sunday we officially became Monarchs, so we celebrated with butterfly nails:

 

Issa will be part of the Kaleidoscope Team, and we are so excited! She will compete, but only three times and only one group dance and a solo. The focus will be more on community performances--some that will be designed for specific spaces. Their first opportunity will be designing a piece that will be danced in the sculpture garden of the Nasher Art Museum. It will be recorded and become part of their collection, too!

Issa is so excited to get to continue dancing but to be able to focus more on the art and joy of it again. And we are all excited for this next chapter to begin...

Day 436: That's a Wrap

Just like that we have a seventh grader:

He was truly flummoxed as to why I might want a picture to commemorate this event hence the face. He is also in what I'm sure will be his summer uniform: pajamas. He will dressed to leave the house, but even backyard fun can be done in pajamas.

We are so proud of him. In a crazy, pandemic, first-year of middle school, he earned a 4.0. His teachers left really strong positive comments on his report card, and he is ready for seventh.

Now, summer officially begins!

 

Day 435: Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday was my 41st birthday. Last year, I published my stance on all the things. I still stand by those, and I've spent the last year speaking those more boldly. I'm unapologetically who I am, and I've enjoyed getting to know myself and taking care of myself better. My 40s are shaping up to be a fabulous decade.

Yesterday, my family gave me an absolutely perfect birthday. I woke up to packages on the bathroom counter. Guess which one was from Evan:

It made me laugh so hard.

Issa and I started the day by picking strawberries:

The baskets always look so small in the field, so we picked way too many berries:

We had Nickel for lunch and I opened my gifts. Issa gave me this black bracelet. It says "Bad Ass Mom" in Morse code:

I love it! The kids went together on this cool gift box:

And Evan totally forgot what the box said and got me this mug:

It made me laugh so hard. 

The whole family pitched in to make me nachos and strawberry shortcake for dinner, and I was asleep by nine. A perfect day!