I Love Mondays

 Mondays have become my favorite evening. It is the one night Issa doesn't have dance, and Brad and I really try to hold them open. That means that by 6 we are all home for the night and we can all actually sit down at the table for dinner. The rest of the week we eat in pairs. 

Last night, I made a killer dinner, everyone had a good day, and we actually sat around the table for an hour and a half and just talked. There was nothing remarkable or deep or really even memorable. It was just fun.

I'm savoring these moments a little more knowing that Issa will soon be launched, and I am so grateful for every one.

What a weekend!

Our weekend started with a huge pin for Evan:

He got a pin in the last 17 seconds of the final period. It is amazing to see how much he has grown in one season. This match was particularly fun because the high school team and coaches were with the team on sidelines.

Saturday night, Brad and Evan went to see Jim Gaffigan:

Apparently the opening act was funnier than Jim, but they still had a good time!

While the boys were there, Issa and I had a girls' movie night:

It was mostly a weekend of rest, which was lovely, and we are ready to take on the week!
 

Well That Happened

Thankfully, I always drive Issa home from school. We don't do the whole musical chairs in the carpool lane for the five minute drive. And I was very glad I was driving yesterday when this happened:

A car kicked a rock and a voila. We have an appointment to get it fixed, and thankfully it's still driveable. But the noise was terrible and both of us were a little shook when we got home. Thank goodness for thick glass and steady reflexes.
 

Smile!

Issa managed to capture what is my new favorite picture of Leo:

Look at that little tongue! He really does have so much personality!

 

A Different Perspective

I finished book number 2 of the year yesterday:

I read the first trilogy when it was popular years ago, and someone gave me this book when it came out. 

This book tells the story from Christian's perspective, and it was really good. I'm always so impressed when authors know their characters well enough that they can write from either perspective. It's even more impressive when they flip the whole book and actually develop the story further than a simple retelling. 
 

A Big Visit

Issa has been on Meredith's campus since she was a toddler, and she has said she was coming to Meredith since she did camp with Cece in elementary school. Now, she is beginning her college search in earnest. She plans to do special education, focusing on behavior, and Meredith has stayed the front-runner. This weekend, we did our first formal admissions event:

Brad has always said that he wants to be sure Issa explores all of the options and doesn't choose Meredith because it's familiar or safe. He went into the day looking for the reasons she should look elsewhere. Halfway through the  first presentation by the president, he leaned over to share how impressive the statistics were. The job placements and alumni stats are incredible, and the programs were compelling. Issa stayed for a students panel, and we attended the session with student services. He was impressed by the services and support. We went to the psychology session and he was amazed by all of the opportunities for undergrads. We went to talk with the honors and teaching scholars program, and he was impressed by how Cece started building her plan and offering her options.

At lunch, they asked a lot of questions. Chef came out, explained the day and the daily routines, and offered to talk with Issa anytime she had questions. They already have a completely separate area for breakfast that is only gluten free options--no need to think. By the time she arrives he plans to do the same for lunch and dinner. There are already always options that are there daily and safe. They both relaxed.

By the end of the campus tour, Brad was sold, and Issa had made the decision to apply early action. She looked so confident and comfortable on campus, and it was fun to see her start to meet people that could be her classmates. We stopped by the book store, and the campus gave her a t-shirt in addition to the sweats we bought:

We still have some tours to do, but I think we might have found her college home.

Look at that Smile!

Just look at that big smile:

 Evan got his braces off yesterday! He promptly ate airheads and orange gum and declared it the best day ever!

A Fun Surprise at Biltmore

We made our traditional January trip to Biltmore this weekend! This time, we went to see the da Vinci exhibit. We drove in Saturday, and for the first time we had rooms overlooking the winery and Inn:

We did our traditional settling in with a snack and bubbles before Cedric's for dinner. Evan loved his cheeseburgers this weekend:

Sunday morning, we got up and had breakfast before headed to the house. We did a little shopping and waiting before our house tour:

The big surprise was that the house and estate was still decorated for Christmas:

They are filming a Hallmark Christmas movie, and we are so excited to see it next Christmas and know we were there. In the meantime, we loved seeing all of the trees and garlands.

We grabbed lunch and then went to the da Vinci exhibit, where we took no pictures. It was really cool to see so many models of his inventions. Evan was most enthralled with the tank, and Issa couldn't believe the early scuba suits. 

On our way out, Issa happened to spot some windows down a little path:

As it turns out it was the costume department for the film:

We spent time checking out all the props through the windows. 

We spent the afternoon shopping and taking advantage of the holidays backdrops:

We ended the day with a great dinner at the Bistro, and we had another great breakfast before driving home yesterday. We laughed so hard all weekend, and being on the estate always makes me just relax. We are already looking forward to our next visit in March...
 

Book One

Late last October we got a sauna. Every morning, I now start my day with a yoga practice followed by 30 minutes sitting in the sauna. I read more books just for fun in the last quarter of last year than I had read in the past five years. It's blissful.

This year, I thought I would track what I read. I don't have a numerical goal, but I thought it might be fun to see what I read. I have literal piles of books I've been collecting and wanting to read, so I have plenty to choose from. My plan is to rotate between non-fiction and non-fiction. The one hard rule is I don't read anything connected to my work. This is just for fun.

Yesterday, I finished the first book of the year:

 I bought this when it was first published, and I'm so glad I read it. I appreciate her candor and optimism. I have always admired her, but I have an even greater appreciation of all that she did and is continuing to do for our country.

Another Pin!

 Evan got another pin last night against our cross-town rivals! 

I had to teach last night, so I got the video recap. We started with the video Brad took, but then Evan showed me the coaches video, which was really cool. I am so appreciative of these three men:

I can hear their coaching better on that video, which was cool. I also know how much they have helped Evan grow in just a few weeks. They model integrity and that winning isn't everything. They also really want to win, which is a nice balance. I appreciate their encouragement and their fierce protection of their team. 

I can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds.

They're Back!

Issa and Allison headed back to college classes yesterday:

They thoroughly enjoyed their winter break and not going to school until 10, so going to class at 8 yesterday morning was a bit painful. they are taking American History II and Intro to Psych this semester, and they sound like they are going to be great classes!

The next two weeks are going to be brutal, though. Second semester has started at the community college, but we still have two weeks left in first semester at the high school. Basically, they are supposed to be two places at once for second period, and they had to do some rearranging of exams so they can go to their college classes. It's not ideal, but I'm sure they will make it!

 

A Full Weekend

We had another full weekend! We started Friday with a wrestling meet:

Evan got a pin in 40 seconds, and his team won:

I'm getting better at watching wrestling, but there were still moments where I just had to look away.

Issa had rehearsals all weekend, but we did manage to go see Tina at DPAC Saturday night:

The woman who played Tina was phenomenal, and it was a great show. The first act was really had to watch, but so was her life. It made for a really powerful ending.

Sunday, I rested:

It's cold again here, and crocheting in front of the fire place was exactly what I needed.
 

A Parallel Universe

 I started a whole new morning routine this morning. I exaggerate, but I will now be leaving the house at 7:10 on weekday mornings to take Evan to optional wrestling practice. He popped right out of bed. I love that he is loving wrestling, and I'm so proud that he is taking advantage of these optional opportunities. 

It also means I have already cleaned out all of the inboxes, been to the grocery, and cleaned the kitchen. I think my new bedtime will also be 9:30.

Back in Bed

I am officially moved back into our bedroom! Brad is out of the masking window, and I deep cleaned our bedroom and bathroom yesterday. It feels so good to be back together and back in my cozy bed, which is made even cozier by this quilt:

Brad's dad gave it to us years ago, a quilt made by his family in 1936:

We had it in a cedar chest, but I was reading that the best thing you can do with old quilts is use them. They actually last longer that way. We keep a comforter over it to protect it, but I love the weight of it in the winter, and I love seeing the patterns whenever I change the sheets. It's just a little extra doze of cozy.
 

And a Happy New Year

Our week between Christmas and New Year's was even more quiet than planned because Brad finally caught Covid. That leaves Evan as the last man standing in the house. Thankfully, Brad's case was mild and we have a system. He sequestered himself in the master bedroom/bathroom and we delivered everything via tray left outside the door. The rest of us stayed healthy--just snuggled up in the house so we wouldn't risk exposing anyone.

We spent the week undecorating, watching movies, and just being. Issa and I did a little crafting; Evan did a lot of video gaming. This is the only picture I took on New Year's:

I love Christmas, but I also love enjoying how big the house feels once it's put back to rights. Brad was able to come out of isolation on New Year's Eve, and he joined us just for a little bit to enjoy a series of courses of appetizers and then watch the ball drop. 

Today is the first day he doesn't have to mask, and I'm deep cleaning the master suite. I'm so excited to move back in and be back in my bed instead of the couch, and he's so excited to be all the way out and about. 2023 is already on an upswing!
 

A Very Merry Christmas

I have not opened my computer since December 23. It has been blissful! I will spend this week recapping the end of 2022!

We had a truly lovely and very laid back Christmas. We did the annual sugar cookie baking at Nana's house. Issa got promoted to rolling this year:

And her friend Allison joined us! 

Evan won the award for most camera aware:

They were another round of very special cookies, but we did manage to make one tray that was normal enough to take to the neighbors!

The theme of this Christmas was Chopped, and Aunt Shannon had sweatshirts made to commemorate the occasion:

It's hard to see the fine print, but it says, "We're having a wonderful time!" in honor of Grandma Judy.

Christmas Eve we all donned Christmas jammies for Christmas at Nana's:

My children are so weird:

We had the now traditional mashed potato bar and played round one of Chopped--dessert. The kids were the judges, and it was Brad and I versus Mom and Shannon. We had to make a trifle including white cake, lifesavers, marshmallow fluff, and Hawaiian Punch mix. Mom and Shannon won that round. Brad and I went in too hard with the punch mix, resulting in a sweet disaster. Actually, neither trifle was great, and we spent way too much time just trying to get the sweet out of our mouths.

Santa came Christmas morning:

We had a quiet morning just the four of us with my first successful gluten-free overnight cinnamon rolls. Nana and Shannon joined for lunch, and then we had a fun afternoon of board and card games. We laughed way too hard at Family Cards Against Humanity, which may be a new family favorite.

Late afternoon, we did Chopped round two--appetizer. This round was bruschetta using baguettes, whipped honey, apple, and prosciutto.  They were tough judges:

Brad and I won this round, though!

It was just a lovely, stress-free, easy holiday--my very favorite kind.