All the Little Things

The past weeks since school started have had a lot of transitions – transition to school responsibilities, transition to a volleyball schedule with games, transition with another kid in the house, and more.  But we are making it, and things have actually gone really well.

The girls have worked to get to know each other – looking at yearbooks, playing volleyball with neighbors and each other, going out for drinks, riding to and from school together, and more.

Pepper has adjusted with the times – sitting nicely with Madison! and eyeing where Angele went… he has his eye on her a lot… in a good way!

    

Angele is not playing a sport this season although she did play volleyball in France!  So, she has done a nice job blending in at home – she takes Pepper out for short walks after school, helps with the chores, and has time to cook a meal during the week.  (The girls will take this on in the winter in their off season!)  She made a pasta dish for us with noodles, parmesan, oil, bacon, and a raw egg on top.  It had a very good flavor – and looked pretty!  She made us crepes two nights ago.  A very French thing I am sure, but it is just a different name for what we eat called flap jacks.  Call them what you will – they are good!

    

We have tried to introduce her to some things here as well.  She had eaten marshmallows before, but never as a s’more.  I think she enjoyed it.  Corn on the cob was a new treat.  We all loved the corn Chuck and Patty gave us – so good!  The Dariette  for ice cream and some photos in the new big chair.  We also made her waffles with white sauce, but it was not our best effort because I used the wrong type of flour for the white sauce (white whole wheat vs all purpose).  She wasn’t necessarily a fan of the white sauce, but it makes sense because she doesn’t like pudding, and it is the same texture.

         

And we had our first HOME football game.  Ellie had some girls over to get ready.  Angele joined in on the fun – USA was the theme and they went all out – body paint, hair stuff, and more!  There was a lot happening, but they managed to take pictures and eat tacos before heading out.

    

These are things that just happen – eating, hanging out, making food, being together.  And while I don’t think everything needs a picture, these remind me that even in the mundane, life happens, relationships grow, and we have opportunity to find joy. 

Pepper and More

Steph R introduced us to a new seasoning, Pepper and More, while we were on vacation.  So, I had to use the name in the post that is mostly, but not entirely about Pepper!

I really don’t have much to say.  When we were in Indy, Ellie and Grandma and Grandpa juggled him.  While we were in Sandbridge, the Combses, Tessa, and even Sandy helped handle his care, but mostly Tessa.  He is mostly annoying with visitors and vehicles outside our house.  But sometimes he is very low-key and easy to like. 

He enjoyed father’s day with us on the patio.

    

He also just looks mellow, sad, lonely, or just tired. 

The “and more” part is that the girls wanted to run another 5K a little closer to track season.  I think it was far enough out from track that they weren’t in the same shape, and it was hot, but not as hot as it had been.  They ran in the Kidron Days 5K on some country roads.  I ran/walked a 5K on the sidewalks and park paths of Kidron which were shadier.  And we all had some fun.

And last image to leave you with… my mom shared this sunset a few nights ago that is currently the wallpaper on my phone. What a stunner!

A Lot of Little Things…

Things just happen.  They don’t always add up to an entire blog to themselves, but I like to at least remember that it happened.  So, here we go…

Early February: We (well, probably mostly the girls!) were invited to Elena’s 5th birthday party.  Elena is Greg and Maggie’s daughter and the girls have had a blast getting to play with her when we visit at various times.  They were honored to be invited along with Elena’s other age-appropriate friends.  Here they are with Nora and Elena opening the gift we got for her.

End of February: We bought tickets for the Leanna Crawford concert at the Thanksgiving Day sale.  She is a Christian music artist that the girls like, and after the concert, I liked her more.  She was just so heartfelt in her music that you couldn’t help but let it draw you in to worship – the point of Christian music, right? 

Early March: I decided I was tired on waiting for some free time in the kids’ schedules, and I was just going to buy a plane ticket and fly to Kansas to see my people.  It had been awhile – especially since seeing Sherry and Bruce.  I took a personal day on Friday and Monday so I could have a long weekend.  My flight was delayed, canceled, rerouted, and moved.  I finally made it out and arrive mid-afternoon to Kansas City.  It was so good to see Kristin at the airport.  Friday night, she, Matthew, and I at some Thai food out, talked, and relaxed.  The next day, we went on a walk, did a little shopping, and had the most delicious grilled salmon (Matthew grilled it!) that I have ever had.  Sunday, we headed for the morning, lunch (funeral burgers!), and early afternoon to Sherry and Bruce’s place.  Sherry was having shoulder surgery about a week after I left and was really in a lot of pain.  Bruce showed me his art and his work space; he does great work!  Some day, Jeremy and I will need to pick out a barn painting to buy for our house.  The evening went quickly by and then I was packing up and heading home.  It was exactly what I needed, and really should treat myself more often!

         

Mid-April: I turned 48 this year.  Another year in the books.  For the most part, I feel like I am not getting older, but every once and awhile, my body says otherwise or I suddenly realize I could be the new teacher’s mother!  But life is good.  And so is Mexican food with my parents and family at Que Pasa!  Even got the royal treatment with the song and sombrero!!

Shortly after, Jeremy, Madison and I took the recycling to the dumpsters and were greeted with a beautiful full DOUBLE rainbow.  It was gorgeous. 

On the other side of beautiful, we were headed to the Dariette one night and were stopped by this scene.  A fire had started in an apartment above Ambolina’s flower shop in town.  With all the connected buildings, it is amazing it didn’t spread quickly.  There were over 10 fire departments providing support.  It is tragic.  That side of the street had been working to gain new businesses, improve the store fronts, and survive.  This will be tough to come back from.  Thankfully, no one was hurt.

February and May: Madison has worked on an English project each nine weeks this year for Mrs. Augspurger’s (“Augs”) class.  She is required to read a book of her choice, but in a variety of genres, write a paper, and create a project that relates to the project.  Her first project was a scrapbook that tied to a memoir written by the assistant to Jackie Kennedy.  The second project was a old time journal with tea stained pages and a string and button strap that detailed a character’s life tied to a classic, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.  The third project were sketches of the dresses that could have been worn by the main character in Powerless along with a dress she sewed for a Barbie. 

The final “wow” project was for the book In the Kitchen with a Knife, a “clue-like” story.  She used the game board from Clue along with the book to lay out a floor plan.  Then, she built the house with foam board, rugs, wallpaper, furniture, etc that depicted the first floor.  It was incredible and tiny and time-consuming and her favorite project. 

She ended the year with the Academic Awards Ceremony, earning a 4.o for the second year.  This one was a doozy to maintain. She worked her tail off this year, and I am so proud of her – not just of the 4.0, but of the way she learned what worked for her, how to study for tests, how to take notes, how to juggle and prioritize her time.  I am hoping those skills carry her through her academic journey.

   

Pepper… is Pepper.

    

Late May: Last, but not least, we were invited to celebrate the marriage of Isaac Himes and Courtney Nolt.  This made me realize my age (a little) because my classmate’s (Kevin) son was old enough to get married!  They make a good couple and seem to support each other well. 

Oh, the many things….

It snowed.  I mean it really snowed.  Like it snowed almost a foot of snow.  It was also cold.  Like really cold.  So cold we called off school – multiple days.  The snow was beautiful and deep and I loved it.  Strangely, for the first year in awhile, I did not get out to go sledding.  However, I did shovel lots of snow.  In January, we had school for only 11 days.  11 days!  Crazy. 

The girls put on a fun, just-for-themselves fashion show.  Here are a few fun pics.

    

And the snow….

         

Of course, that much snow would be wasted if you didn’t make snow ice cream… multiple days in a row.

And the cutest scruffy dog in the house  While he enjoys the snow, this was difficult.  He was very frustrated while trying to find a place to go poop – can’t go in the deep snow, doesn’t want to go on the sidewalk or the street – oh, the dilemma!  The driveway/sidewalk was good enough occasionally, and thankfully, some people had shoveled snow in the yard for their dogs and Pepper could go there!

         

For your enjoyment, me on Wacky Wednesday at school.