Week 46

Monday, Nov. 9th

The only picture I have, sadly.  I tried a new recipe for knock-off Chick-Fil-A nuggets and they were aMaZiNg!!!

 

Tuesday, Nov. 10th

Two more pesky little projects at the apartment.  Dad came up with his tools to help me with the pocket door that wasn't closing properly and then we went to lunch.  A beautiful day to eat outside!  (side note: getting into the apartment a week and a half after handing over keys was amazing!  I was shocked at how settled they are, how much effort they've put into decorating and how beautifully they're caring for it.  I sent C pictures and he barely recognized it.)

Proper attire for the wrestling game they were playing.  Trevor has quickly out-paced Rocco, now weighing about twice as much as him, but neither of they 'remember' that until the point of tears.  He has figured out a work-around.

Wednesday, Nov. 11th

Thursday, Nov. 12th

Big day!  

We've had this van for 8 years and 3 months.  It has caused us zero problems.  We've created countless amazing memories in it.  Trips literally all over the country, big milestones like first days at high school, dance competitions, hockey tournaments, camping trips, beach fun, and many traditions.  It's also been a prayer closet.  I've shed more tears and uttered more prayers to God in that thing.  It has gotten me to the grocery store thousands of times.  It has safely shuttled short people, some times more than can fit.  It holds so many deep conversations with teenagers.  It has held babies, toddlers, teens, and aduts.  It has hosted many very loud sing-a-longs, and even some beautiful worship moments.  It can drive itself to the church!  It has delivered countless meals to friends who have lost family members or welcomed new babies or are recovering from surgery.  In many ways that van contains the essence of our family

I won't be replacing it with another van, but I'm not ready to not have a van, so for now, I'm holding on to it as long as I can.

Renna learned to work the hot glue gun, helping me with the kids' placards for Thanksgiving.

Every year I make place cards for the kids and adults.  It's fun to choose/create what I'm going to do and it's fun to have a little crafting time that is easy and quick.  Every year it seems like just the perfect little project as I begin to prepare to host my side of the family.

Friday, Nov. 13th

Jules was on YiaYia duty at the Cape all week, and since we didn't have any weekend plans here at home, she and I devised a plan for me to run up for a girls night out.  I was gone for 24 hours total, but we made the most of it!

Saturday, Nov. 14th

Jules and I went to breakfast at a favorite spot, walked down to the Point, found some pine cones for place cards, laughed some more, and then I headed out to get back home.  Short, sweet, fun, giggly, perfect little one-night girls' night.

Pulled in to see the gang working on the last of of the leaves.

Accurate!  In all my Eightness, which more often than not feels like a curse, or at the very least a constant battle to work on "areas for growth".

Rocco enjoyed a sleepover with his best buds for David's birthday.

Sunday, Nov. 15th

The Methodist church down the road has been having service outdoors.  I'm not a expert on their demographic nor am I a doctor, but it appears the average age of their congregation is white hair and temps at 9am have been anywhere from 35-50.  Each week I see them bundled and snuggled under blankets and I'm not sure how that is safer than spreading out in their sanctuary which is big enough to sit 20' from the next person.  It's also a very loud intersection at the bottom of Main and Hartford Rd.

I made about 30 matches and then threw the rest away!

Week 45

 Monday, Nov. 2nd

A FRIGID night to watch Trevor's home game (and the last of the fake season), but families were welcome and we got to sit on the bleachers!  It was painfully cold and windy, but good to see Trevor in action.

Tuesday, Nov. 3rd

BIG day-- Taco Tuesday, last.day.of.the.challenge!!!!!!, and the election, of course.  I posted this on the fridge that morning (typo and all!).  

Lisa and I persevered and finished!  First time I ever took before and after pics in a sports bra and bootie shorts, first time counting macros/calories, first time weighing food, first time intermittent fasting.  I learned a lot (like how much 4 ounces of deli turkey is!) and felt accomplished sticking to it.  I skipped part of one day when I just didn't have it in me, but other than that, did the best I could in this season of life.  Not sure if I'll ever put myself through that again, but if I do, it'll be in May to jumpstart my summer bod!  For sure the results were worth it!  (I'll spare you from the pictures!)  Thanks for doing it with me, Lis.  For sure reporting in with you held me much more accountable!

Wednesday, Nov. 4th

No picture.  Too much screen time listening to the news and watching more results.

Thursday, Nov. 5th

Round 2 for Trevor.  For now, just the top set.

Wednesday Wheels moved to Thursday.

A night in with some of my best girls.

Friday, Nov. 6th

No picture, just this:

Saturday, Nov. 7th

The Mites each take a turn trying goalie.  They practice it two nights and then play in the net during the weekend games.  This was Renna's week.  She loved it!

And Sweet Sienna

Faith and Football- C4, Nathanael, and Trevor all play on Saturdays.

He does a good job keeping up with the yard.

Rehabbing a new-to-me free dresser.

Church, pizza, then we checked...it's official!

Sunday, Nov. 8th

This is amazing to me.  I love it!  We'll have to hold this memory close now that our dictator has closed down all youth sports in the states.

Play date, shorts in November, and walks to the park!

Week 44

 Monday, Oct. 26th

Lots of apartment pictures coming.  I had 4 days to flip both apartments, so I recruited some help.  The family from the right side moved out, so the family from the left side hopped over to the right (with a second bathroom) and a new family came to the left side.  The right side was mostly just cleaning, cleaning carpets, and painting one bedroom.  The left was far more of a turnover.

I left the boys working while I ran out to visit Mom on her birthday.  Just a quick trip, but so good to all be together.

I spent the afternoon painting until I had to get back to the house to meet the washer machine repair guy.  (As I type 3 weeks later, it still is not fixed.  #sears #backorderedparts  At least it's still functioning in the meantime; it just sounds like a jet engine!)  So C3 drew the straw to watch Trevor's game.  They actually got to sit ON the bleachers.  Glory!

Here he is completing the pass and then getting pummeled, even though it's two-hand touch.

Tuesday, Oct. 27th

Texted Lisa all my things as our 30-day challenge continued.  I was proud of myself for sticking with it even during such a crazy, difficult, unpredictable, exhausting week.  

Wednesday, Oct. 28th

My sweet Dad caught wind of the flip, and without being asked said, "What time should I meet you there?"  The beauty of retirement!  He ended up giving me Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  He was such a practical help fixing all the the little things and installing this and that, but more than that, he was a huge morale boost!  His presence gave me confidence and encouragement.  It was a gift to work alongside of him and to listen to his 80's Christian hymns and worship.  So very grateful!

Meanwhile, in Cali...

Thursday, Oct. 29th

The morning started off rough with an urgent visit from the plumber and a bill that reflected so.  We were two seconds from ripping out the entire bathroom and attempting to finish in two days for incoming tenants, but made the judgement call to just make it "good enough" for now.  While the shower received CPR, the rest of the place was really starting to look good.

Friday, Oct. 30th

One more morning off to the apartment to do a walk-through with the new tenants and pass off keys.  They were so delighted!  The husband and wife, who speak no English, just kept repeating, "Perfect."

Weeks earlier, I had shown them the place (along with about 8 other families) and knew they were the ones.  They came from Honduras a year ago to escape the violence and simply want a better future for their family.  They didn't have the usual documentation to qualify, but I worked with them to figure it out.  They have a 19 and 21 year old and the 4 of them are working their tails off just trying get their little slice of the American pie.  They are thrilled with the apartment and have already made it theirs.

Big huge exhale on my snowy drive home.  Grateful for a successful turnover, pleased with the very happy incoming family, satisfied by a hard week's work, and relieved to have it all behind me.  Everything at home had been neglected, but the kids were really good about forging ahead with school and doing what they could without me.

Saturday, Oct. 31st

Between Covid and the fact that we need the church building for actual church on Saturday nights, all Halloween/ Hallelujah Night/ Trunk or Treat festivities went unplanned this year.  Bless!!  So it was a weird, quiet, untraditional, almost-no-acknowledgement kind of Halloween.  Rocco and Renna had hockey, Colombo and I ran a couple errands together, we went to church, drove through Chick-Fil-A, and carved pumpkins.

        

I saw many people on social media put MUCH effort into a Covid-friendly Halloween with candy launchers, etc.  I even saw one family send tootsie rolls down a chute from a second floor window that came out of a cardboard cat's butt!!!  People got creative!  One neighbor right around the corner from us had a table set up with full goodie bags, so I drove Rocco and Renna over to pick one up.  The perfect amount of candy to not feel like they totally missed out.

Sunday, Nov. 1st

I guess I didn't have a picture.  I know it was a low-key day of rest after a long week- Patriots, Daddy's Dinner.  Soccer is over (outdoor, anyway) and we're not allowed to attend Nathanael's games, so the weekends are quiet.  Maddy sent me this cute pic from her previous night.