March

 

Austin was beyond excited to spend the evening with Erin and Evan, "I am going to have so much except for the boring basketball game and terrible pizza." The expression on Erin's face was priceless. She picked up the boys for a fun night out and he shot it all down in one declaration. Despite the premonition, they had a great time. 

They ordered beer cheese with pretzels and Austin freaked out on Ty for eating it. "You cannot have that! You aren't 21." This child misses nothing. He was so irate, Erin had to text me assurance Ty was not consuming alcohol.

Each of his classmates wrote something about Austin on his Happy Birthday board at school 

We celebrated Austin's seventh birthday throughout the weekend. He was so excited about the theme of a golden birthday that he insisted upon a golden hammer he saw at Harbour Freight. Dean had it engraved with his name to make it more special. His dad sent large fake gold chains and a hat with a gold dollar sign. He looked like a little thug but was glowing. We suffered through terrible pizza so he could sit by the train and then enjoyed a gorgeous day at the zoo together. Our favorite human is seven. This seems completely impossible.

She said she needed a new hobby so I introduced her to my knitting needles. At first, she was certain this was a disaster but quickly got the hang of it. Now some little friends are placing custom orders.

Paw Patrol 

Ty and I still slip away for dinner on Wednesday nights. The time invested is decision I am beyond grateful for as he opens up and lets me in on his worries, joys and humor. Feeding him is expensive but the reward is priceless.

He recently shared how he became friends with Elijah. They had the same Spider-Man hoodie in kindergarten and wore it on the same day. Then Elijah beatboxed a song about them being twins on the bus. Fast forward nine years; they ride bikes to school together and secretly still like Spiderman.

Ty had some blood work run this month and his vitamin d was so low his pediatrician laughingly asked me to send him to Florida. We elected a high dose supplement instead but the idea of soaking in some sunshine sounds very appealing. Ty looked so hopeful as he pointed out, "doctor's orders." This is the same office where the now retired lead pediatrician used to insist upon ice cream for sore throats. My kids loved him.

The hardest hitting hail storm any of us have ever experienced blew through here early one Saturday morning and left a mess of damage in it's wake. We are currently navigating insurance claims adjusters and contractors for jobs that weren't already on the lengthy repair list. 

A few hours later, Greg and I left town to visit a friend and saw this on the way out of the neighborhood. It is not snow. It was sixty five degrees. The hail pile on our porch lasted over twenty-four hours despite the warm weather. It was wild. 

I accepted an internal job change and started with an Immediate Care Center working three days a week. Twelve hour days are long but having weekdays off to manage life is a refreshing change of pace. I am keeping the same benefits in a smaller facility with a strong management team. The decision was an easy one for me to make despite having some friends as coworkers at the Neuroscience Institute. Some of those friends had some feelings about me leaving. 

I was warmly received at the Immediate Care Center. The management team seems strong and the coworkers are thus far welcoming. Walking in my first morning to streamers, gifts and a welcome sign blew me away. I was already thrilled with the schedule and now I am also delighted about the team. 

Ty goes out for lengthy bike rides and sometimes reports his adventures with video evidence.....

He makes me nervous; yet, has no idea why I would oppose a motorcycle. 🤦

I'm glad someone appreciates the cozy dog bed. Diesel finds it insulting.

We gathered for brunch to celebrate Erin and Greg. Birthdays since Erin's birth have been mostly in her favor. Greg has accepted this unconditionally. He gained a daughter thirty years ago and has since hosted tea parties, shared pink cakes and gone with the flow of whatever she decided. They spent a few years having a drink over wings too. I love their relationship. But this year, my parents and sister joined us and the laughter around our table was perfect. 

Mr. Potato Head Casserole for the win. (Hash brown casserole, scrambled eggs, sausage, queso, shredded cheese, salsa and sour cream. Layer as you choose.)

Some kittens were sent to timeout over the table decorations. They aren't allowed up there but flowers proved entirely too tempting.

Lemon cake with "30 & Fabulous" topper.

All animals love my dad.

Ty and Austin were on Spring Break my first week on my new job so I had two days off to hang out with my favorite boys. We had lunch, went hiking along an abandoned train track and stopped for a treat on the way home. We all enjoyed the day. The flexibility my new schedule provides is pretty awesome.

Greg and I wrapped the month with a quick road trip to see his family. It was a quiet day for a long drive and quality time together. His parents are suddenly aging despite their very active retirement. It's a bit unnerving to witness the decline. At times we wish we lived closer to help shoulder some of the caretaking that's landed on Brad and Jessica. One daughter recently reflected, "Grandma and Grandpa are more human in their vulnerability." The relationship has been difficult to navigate over the years so this just adds another layer to sort through. We hope to always land on the side of grace. 

This little peanut needed nine month photos taken and was an absolute pro. By the end of the session, she was ready to be behind the camera too. I am grateful to her grandma for capturing the moment. 

February

We entered February puppy sitting Nali. She had just turned a year old and was very much still a baby. Her energy remained at crack head level the entire weekend. We woke to the living room rearranged and a wrestling match at four in the morning. By six, zoomies in the yard and parkour throughout the house exhausted all of us. Diesel slept for days after she left. But Kate and Riley had an awesome weekend away and we owed them for keeping Diesel for us a few times. 

Ty started the month with the flu and just a week later, a stomach bug. He is pretty self sufficient in managing his own symptoms; however, make-up work stresses only his mother. The organization required to get back on track is beyond his ability as a freshman. His wrist is healing well. Four week images revealed he was stable enough to step down into a splint. We are optimistic March x-rays will free his arm and hand altogether.

In other news, we had a balmy 70 degree day and Ty was absolutely determined to take a bike ride; his pleas relentless. I finally declared that even as a relaxed mom, I had to draw a line when he wanted to cross his left hand over to the right handlebar to power the throttle on the motor of his ebike. Can you imagine the judgement of ER docs when a teen wearing a cast enters with another inevitable injury? He did not win his case. His life is hard. 

We finally got to spend a day with Austin once all the germs running through different houses in our family ceased. We spent the day playing, painting, baking and snuggling. We missed the little stinker. 

Kate and Riley stopped by for cookies and devoured several. We got to keep Kate for an overnight visit while she puppy sat for friends around the corner. She and Ty slipped out for pizza after my early bedtime and I loved hearing about their time together afterward. They are close, now that they don't live together. 

The first time both kittens and Diesel all relaxed in the same room. Oliver was off sulking somewhere.

His feelings are still frequently hurt because the kittens don't want his kisses. This particular moment was captured by Ty when Diesel interrupted yoga to pout on my lap.

Frankie also likes yoga and loves bedtime too. If I don't get everyone shut out of my room, I will laugh my way through poses as I am bound to get kisses, nose bumps and my mat taken by one of the many four legged trouble makers living here.

Makenna wrapped her student teaching and is now licensed in both elementary and special education. She loved her time in the second grade classroom alongside a teaching legend who is over 70 years old and still as sharp as ever. That spicy little redhead reminds me a lot of our own little teacher. Rather than take the first teaching role offered, she agreed to nanny for a friend who is taking excellent care of her while she eases into the next season of her life. She ended her relationship with Noah on good terms but could no longer live in his house. So we have a daughter in our home again. She brought a long her two male kittens with manic energy. Frankie and Freddie are the addition Oliver is absolutely certain we did not need but like all transitions, we are going to pull through this colorful chapter of life. Moving day started with a thunderstorm, transitioned into snow and ended with a single digit wind chill. Welcome to February in the midwest. 

Despite all the illness attacking Lauren's house, she has had a celebratory month accepting the role of PE teacher in Austin's school. She had been the building substitute for the last two years but loves having her own program. Listening to her plans and incentive programs for reluctant students has been a joy. This is a good fit as she and Dean often have Austin out on runs or are walking the dogs. No matter the weather, they are outside moving and are mentally healthier for it. Ms. B is often seen at basketball games cheering for her students while Austin shakes down Dean at the concession stand. 

Erin celebrated four years cancer free and invited us all over for Sunday afternoon soup. There was laughter, kitten shenanigans, some ball practice in the yard and I even slipped into the guest room for a short nap. Erin hosting is absolutely on my top ten favorite list of having adult daughters. She makes it look so effortless so I am able to fully relax and enjoy our family. 

I am not sure who called this meeting but suspect it may have been Oliver so he could steal someone's spot on Ty's bed while everyone else was occupied.