Day 2092 | Skateboarding
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Just working on our sweet skateboarding skills over here. They’re getting pretty good. I hope the interest lasts. We definitely need more reasons to be outside as the weather warms up.
Day 2091 | Robbe Turns 7!
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It was *kind of* a big day around here. The little one is already 7. And somehow, even though we’ve had practically zero days off of school this year that weren’t holidays or virtual learning, today was a legit day off. We made the most of it, as you might imagine.
Here’s what a day of celebrating looks like for our new 7 year old:
A morning tv show (that never happens!)
Poppyseed pancakes for breakfast
Mid-morning present-opening involving a sweet new Lego set and a skateboard
Lego building (no time to waste)
French toast and berries for lunch
Video game virtual hangout with one of his friends from school
A walk in the sunshine to give the new skateboard a whirl (both boys did great!)
A trip to a thrift store for some treasure-hunting. I think it’s been exactly a year since Robbe was last there. And it was a good hunt with the bonus of grandma coming along!
Another quick gift opening to reveal marshmallow shooters. That kept everyone occupied until dinner, obviously.
Mini pizzas for dinner
A final gift opening with a few family FaceTime calls
Brownie sundaes for dessert
A family marshmallow shooter bedtime battle (mom + dad vs. Chase + Robbe). Epic.
It was a really good day. Probably the best it could have been under the circumstances. Our little guy felt very loved and spoiled all day long. What more could a mom ask for?
Day 2090 | Birthday Eve
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This is what all parents do on birthday eves, right? Right?!? Just remember…the things you do one year turn into a tradition. Haha.
The boys love coming down on their birthday morning to see doorway streamers and their photo collage and their birthday mantle. Also, a stack of presents.
I’ll let you in on a secret: I love it, too. My babies!
Day 2089 | So Long Kittens
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Great news! Potato and Gravy got adopted today. It was another sad set of goodbyes, but now we know that we’ve had two great experiences in a row and are just excited about the next friend (or friends) that will come along. Potato and Gravy were really so much fun to have around—playful, snuggly, curious, crazy. It’s going to be much calmer around here now. I hope the new family is ready for all the excitement.
Day 2088 | The Van
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After a week of exhausting back and forths with two different car service shops (I’m talking 20 phone calls, no joke), we finally have the van back. Long story short, we’re hoping Honda is going to cover a big fix that’s going to need to be done in the next year so we’re trying to get everything together to make a solid case for the fix.
Talk about a lesson in appreciating your privilege. Turns out life is much harder with just one car. Not to mention, this little van hiccup has consumed SO MUCH TIME over the last week. I’m thankful to have the flexibility to be able to manage all the running and phone calls and emails, but what about folks that can’t?
I’ve just never appreciated this minivan more.
Day 2087 | Mom Paragraph
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Robbe decided he’d rather write about me than his actual writing assignment for remote learning today. I don’t think it had anything to do with him trying to make up for the fact that he fought me on every assignment and was feeling a little guilty. Either way, I’ll take it.
Day 2086 | Kid-Free Weekend
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You read the subject right. Chris and I managed a kid-free weekend thanks to my parents (and the Covid vaccine). Man, it’s been awhile. We tried to come up with something really epic to do, but it turns out it’s still Covid and none of the options we brainstormed were quite right. We stayed home instead and did a day trip to La Crosse. It wasn’t terribly fancy (the city or the outing as a whole), but it was lovely. And quiet. It turns out the boys fill a lot of the silence in our house.
We really appreciated the solo time and I know the boys were thrilled to be at grandma’s and grandpa’s for their first sleepover in over year. Thanks again, mom and dad!
Day 2085 | Winter Hiking
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How beautiful is this? For 4-H, we hosted a Covid-friendly community service event where we split up into family units and cleared sticks from the hiking trails at Beaver Creek Reserve. We didn’t find many sticks, but it was a lovely walk with falling snow and some pretty amazing scenery.
Day 2084 | Kitty Snuggles
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Is there anything better than this?
Day 2083 | Barista In-Training
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Chase and I were working together this morning (him: virtual school, me: book festival). At one point I was out of coffee but couldn’t go for a refill because I had the cutest sleeping cat on my lap. Time for Chase to learn how to pour coffee, obviously. Home schooling is a time for practical life lessons, too, after all. And he did great! No spills or anything. Having kids is totally worth it.
Day 2082 | Winter Landscape
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Robbe asked to stop and take a photo on the way home from my parents’ house on my birthday. Of course, I had to take one, too. It might be [way too] cold, but it sure is beautiful.
Day 2081 | Birthday [Part II]
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The work/school day made a big bday celebration for Chris a bit difficult, but we tried our best to have some fun tonight and celebrate our favorite person in the world. He really is the best, you know?
Day 2080 | My Birthday!
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It was a different day than I expected due to school closing because of a -35 degree windchill. So instead of Chris and I having a kid-free day (he was off for President’s Day), we spent our morning doing virtual learning. Then the party started with a game of Pandemic and a frigid hot tub dip. My boys (mostly Chris) worked so hard to make today special and I fully appreciate it and acknowledge how they had an up-hill challenge this year. Covid birthdays…you get it.
A heartfelt thank you to all of you who sent me messages today. Texts, cards, videos, gifts, calls, Facebook posts…I enjoyed every single one. I’m feeling very lucky and very loved.
Day 2079 | Happy Valentine’s Day
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It was a bitterly cold but love-filled day. I guess that’s all you need.
Day 2078 | Meet Potato and Gravy
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We’re back to fostering! We’ve got five-month-old kittens this time. Potato and Gravy have been at the shelter for three months now and just need a little extra love. They’ve never even been in a house! I forgot how much fun kittens are. Potato is low-key and snuggly. Gravy is high-energy and super playful. Such a great pair, right? Don’t you need two super-sweet kittens in your life? They’re ready for their forever home. :)
Day 2077 | Screenshots
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Our six year old has discovered funny animal photos and screenshots (this is his collection of photos on his iPad). Quite a glimpse into his little mind. It makes me chuckle.
Day 2076 | 100th Day
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Robbe celebrated his 100th day of school today. Instead of bringing 100 of something to add to a class trail mix (the pre-Covid tradition), he brought in his own mix of 100 items. I have to say, it did look pretty good.
Day 2075 | Terraforming Mars
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Chase and I spent a good part of Friday and Saturday learning the rules for Terraforming Mars, a board game that has been in our cabinet for two years because of the excessive amount of time it takes to figure it out. Thanks to Covid and negative temperatures, it was the perfect opportunity to invest the time. It’s a bit hard to tell with new games, but now that we’ve got the hang of this one, I’d say it definitely has potential. I’m relieved it wasn’t a total waste of time at least. Ha!
Day 2074 | Farewell, Wally
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We did our job as a cat foster family. We nursed Wally back to health. We have her extra love and snuggles. And then we said goodbye when she found her forever family. It wasn’t easy to walk away, but it was totally worth it. I enjoyed watching the boys care for a cat more than I expected and she was a great reminder to slow down and savor quiet moments in my day. We look forward to our next foster friend and, in the meantime, we’ve got lots of photos of Wally to keep us company.
Day 2073 | Sledding
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It brings me so much joy to peer out the window and see the boys frolicking in the fresh snow together. Apparently Wally feels the same way. She joyed watching them, too.
