Tuesday, April 4, 2023

April Showers

So. The storms on Friday were pretty good and severe. There was even a 2-hour early out to make sure everyone was home and they closed after care. (That's how you know it's serious.) Luckily, we didn't sustain much damage. There were widespread tornados and the tornado warning was fairly lengthy, however. Lots of opportunities for prayer. 

I am not going to discount the fact that when we got home, I holy watered our big tree, the garage and the lawn things that wouldn't fit in the garage. I also hung a rosary on our front door as I went about preparing. (Which basically consisted of putting the external battery and some flashlights in the basement.) 

When all was said and done, the yard looked like this. But, no major damage, and for that I am thankful!


My parents were in town this past weekend too. I had very specifically told them to get to town early to beat both the blizzard they were having (They've gotten 98 inches of snow this year. 98. Not a typo.) and our severe weather. They did in fact beat the severe stuff and got to hang with us during all the warnings and fun. 

They also went to take C to get a new snail. I am pleased to introduce you to Sheldon. He is going to eat all the algae and gosh darn it has he done a bang-up job so far. He is like a little roomba in a shell let me tell you. 


And Waldo doesn't mind him one bit. 

And it's Holy Week. Which feels like a lot this year. Lent was very Lenty but also I can see all the good that came from it. 

Today we are expecting nearly identical storms to Fridays. I am hoping that we can skip the tornados this time. I am not holding my breath that M will have her first soccer practice though. 

Friday, March 31, 2023

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

March is definitely ending liony. We are expected to get some severe, strong storms today. Everything is closing early. School. Work. Etc. 

The kids are out of uniform today because the Hawkeye Girls are in the Final Four. 



March was pretty insane actually, based on where we started and where we are ending. So I am okay kissing it goodbye and welcoming April in tomorrow! 


Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Things That Make Me Happy

On this Wednesday here are a few things that make me happy. Pink Salt Riot bracelets for me and my best gal. 



$5 Tulip plants that bloom in my kitchen. I love tulips and they really do make me so happy. 


And new adventures also, generally, make me happy. During this month of craziness, Husband accepted a new position. Today is his first day! Here is his first day of "school" picture. 


While we are happy and truly we feel as though this is where we have been led, there is some bittersweet aspects of him leaving his old position. His thoughtful team got him (us) this cookie bouquet. 


And we all enjoyed it. 


It's a very weird mix of emotions. New beginnings are good. But leaving people behind isn't that much fun either. 

On this Wednesday however, we are going to decide to be happy! And just find the joy!


Monday, March 27, 2023

March, What the Heck?

 Oh, March. What a month it has been. 

Saturday morning, we woke up to a surprise 6 inches of HEAVY wet snow. Well... actually, if I am being fair, I woke up because all of a sudden my room got very quiet. Because we had lost power. 

Because of the heavy wet snow. 

Then there was a loud crash. 

Because now the tree limbs were crashing down. 


And it was still snowing. 

And by the time we went to bed... it was green grass again. And the power had come back on. Except to our garage because the limb knocked the line out and we haven't yet gotten that taken care of. 

So that's the fun we had on Saturday. 

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Livin' In a Lonely World

 


Last night, it was finally Christmas! Husband gifted me tickets to see Toto and Journey and last night was the day! 

What we hadn't accounted for was my fancy new accessory: 


The walking boot. Which coincidentally, makes it possible for me to walk, not necessarily easy for me to walk. (Just a pretty darn good sprain and the boot will come off next week.) 

So his original plan with dinner reservations and then walking to the arena wouldn't play out as he had hoped. So instead, before the sitter even came, he brought home a take-out dinner and we ate together as a family. Then headed out to get a parking spot in the main lot before it was full. 

Here's the thing: we had a nice time. But I much preferred Toto to Journey. And I wasn't necessarily expecting that to be the case. 


We had fun and I really enjoyed our date. It's funny, we haven't not done things together recently, but often it isn't just purely recreational like this was and so I am glad we got that opportunity. We need to find fun things to do together more often. Not just couples groups and such. 


They in fact did bless the rains down in Africa. And they were funny, because they know their audience obviously. And they were like, "So, wanna hear that song?" And then went right into it. Turns out, yes, we all did want to hear that song. 

After a short break here came Journey. And I took no pictures of them specifically... just a video. And then this picture of these two women who were in front of us. I will call them Heather and Shari.* 

They did not sit here during Toto. They showed up with their two beers each during Journey's first song after the lights were down. And they were MAD our section wasn't up dancing. So they waved their arms and got all boppy in their seats. 

Admittedly, with my boot, I was quite glad we were in a section that permitted me to sit and still take in the concert. Shari almost head-butted my knee several times. After they had finished their beers, they scoped out some empty chairs in the lower bowl where everyone was up and dancing. I did not miss Heather and Shari. 

*They are more than likely not actually called Heather and Shari. 

After Journey had sang Faithfully lots of people started leaving. (Which was after Open Arms and Don't Stop Believing had been played as well. My top 3 songs.) I leaned over to Husband to ask when he thought they'd sing Any Way You Want It. Then realized that someone somewhere has posted their set list on the internet. So I checked and that was the finale of the Encore. 

We had talked before we came that I would prefer to leave early. Going down steps isn't really all that easy for me and I didn't want to hold up a whole bunch of people. It was a sold-out concert and there are a lot of steps! We decided to skip out then and beat the crowd. I have only minimal regrets. I would have liked to hear that song but not enough to walk down all the stairs like a toddler in a large crowd.

As it happens, walking down the stairs like a toddler was still a big enough pain because there was a grown adult man sitting at the bottom of the steps by the handrail. So I had to let go of the handrail and circle around him walking down one step at a time.  It was precarious and I didn't care for it. PSA: Don't sit in public stairwells at crowded events. Especially blocking handrails. 

And that was my experience at Toto and Journey. A fun night!

Friday, March 17, 2023

Pavlova

We had the most lackluster Spring Break ever. Don't get me wrong. It was exactly what I needed and wanted. Especially since I was working from home the whole time. (And going in for a few hours daily) But from my kid's perspective, I am sure it wasn't that great. 

But we did make a Pavlova yesterday. Because they love that Bluey episode. We also made sure to eat Edamame Beans with dinner before the showcase dessert. 

Here's the thing, it was surprisingly easy and delicious. I would make it again! 


So whether or not the kids have anything to report about their Spring Break, they can at least say they made a Pavlova! 



Thursday, March 16, 2023

March Kept Marching

Well Hello. 

It's been a while, hasn't it? I am sorry about that. I'm not looking for loads of comments about missing me. We all know that my little blog about my pretty normal-ish life isn't that fascinating or important. But I do like keeping track of what's going on. 

The past two weeks have been an absolute rollercoaster. And yet... there isn't actually all that much to tell. 

I never mentioned, I don't think, that Husband was directing the school musical. Well, the last two weeks were the storm that was getting that to production and then the aftermath.



It happened. We went. It is over. Only there were a lot of other things going on last week that made it one for the record books. Every family has those weeks right? The extreme hustle and bustle that seems like something right out of a sitcom? 

That was our last week. 

And even though it's the THURSDAY of Spring Break already, I still don't feel rested or caught up. 

So anyway, that's where I've been. Hopefully, I will have something of interest to share with you again soon.