Where Have I Been?

So where have I been? On the struggle bus friends. On the struggle bus. 

When I wrote my last post Husband was going to be gone for the weekend on retreat and very busy. So busy in fact he didn't have time to go home and pack so M and I had to do it for him and meet him there. 

And the next morning, C woke up sick. Of course. But we made it through the weekend. And Husband came home on Sunday night and we were all exhausted. 

Monday, February 26 brought the most beautiful day. I went out at lunch and just sat in the sun and warmth. 

While out there, one of the preschool classes came out for recess and someone enthusiastically yelled "It feels like a summer!" God bless 4-year-olds. 

By Wednesday M came down with whatever C had but she had it worse. My poor little baked potato girl was fevering for a full 24 hours. And she got to stay home for two days because of it. 

By this point, our school was drowning. So many kids were out with Flu A, Flu B and Covid. We didn't ever test M to see which ailment she had. C's class was down to 8!! kids in it.

Thursday, February 29 was LEAP DAY! I got to go with the 5th grade to see Mary Poppins at the High School on a field trip. That's how low on subs they were because everyone was sick. It was also my friend's birthday when she turned 12! And to celebrate she had a party. That I took no pictures at. Obviously. 

The first weekend of March brought a lot of sleep. Husband got whatever the kids had and I had a migraine for 2 full days. 

We did manage to squeeze in finishing C's Chip costume between naps. So that's good! 

In weird timing, Tuesday March 6 was M's well check. And our pediatrician is pretty sure she had one of the flus based on her ears and her lungs. 

Everyone was still coughing except me. Lots and lots of coughing. 

The week flew by in a blur just in time for Thursday and Friday's performances of Beauty and the Beast. C was the absolute most darling Chip. I've seen so so many versions of this show and I know I am biased but he was SO stinking cute. Check it out for yourself! 

Seriously. The cutest. 

The good news everyone is that we are now on Spring Break and HALLELUJAH for that! I will be writing some catch-up posts to let you in on some of the fun stuff mixed into the crazy. For sure you will get a full Beauty and the Beast overview. And don't even worry... I have got a tale for you that you won't even believe about spoons. Yes. Spoons. 

Not Much to Tell

There is not a lot to report right now. It was a boring regular week that was also incredibly busy. 

The algae situation in Santiago's tank was out of control so the boys went to buy a snail and we ended up with two. That tiny circled thing is also a snail. They have actual names but I call them Bluey and Bingo.

C discovered Whose Line Is It Anyway. (Old school 1999 episodes.) He didn't like it at all. 

M got a new cardigan. 

I went to Home Depot twice and this was my progress picture of me working on C's Chip Costume. I have to go back to Home Depot a third time for sure. Probably more. 

It also has to match this. And it will. I promise. Say a prayer for Mrs. Potts. My poor bonus kid has an issue with her growth plate and more even than I want her in the show, I want her to avoid surgery. Her name is Grace! 

Third grade led the school stations of the cross on Wednesday. I got there early so got to watch them all line up. 

I actually just took a video of M's part so Husband could see it. So please accept this screenshot as proof she was there and read it aloud. 

Gift-giving is my best-offered love language. I had to run an errand last night as a surprise for Husband. Because it's a big weekend for him! But C was sad he was out of Apple Jacks so I stopped to get him some more. I don't know why I can only find these tiny little boxes... it makes me sad. I also found Apple Jacks socks. 

So M got a box of mini muffins which are her favorite breakfast treat. (And definitely not an all-the-time thing at our house!) She really doesn't like cereal. She got a panda scrunchy. And they got some Mini Carmex to share because their lips have been chapped this week! 

Husband got stuff too but I didn't take a picture of that. 

Anyway. That wasn't much to tell but that was our week! 

Wrap It Up!

Well, it's time for a little wrap-up of the week. On Fake Valentine's Day/Mardis Gras, we went to celebrate the feasting portion of the day at Cracker Barrel. My favorite. And we hadn't been in all of 2024 so haters like my M just kept their mouths shut. 

But in a true Mardis Gras miracle, we got a table right next to the fire!! #goals But like actually, I have always wanted this exact table and on Tuesday we got it!! 

Ash Wednesday came in as it does. Husband and I had a special Valentine's date of Mass. Which ultimately disappointed my kids because I didn't go to school Mass with them... so I definitely won the Ash Wednesday penance by hurting feelings award. 
 

Yesterday was the first time in a long while that C didn't have rehearsal but M did. So it was adventure day for the two of us. I took him to Burlington (the store not unlike a TJ Maxx not the town. Not that you probably know your Iowa geography that well to know that Burlington, IA isn't that far away.) 

He humored me by taking this picture. M has been looking for new bedding and we haven't found a wow yet. I still don't actually love this but it's $25 so... I like it enough for that! 

I genuinely don't know why it was this store that he wanted to go to. Because ours is a dump. It's so gross. And it's this MASSIVE warehouse and half of it is blocked off. But it is close to our house. 

We ended up with a Charlie Brown stuffy for my guy. Then we went and got shamrock shakes before going home. Not really a fancy adventure at all but good to spend some time together for sure. 

And now we've made it to Friday! It's a long weekend here since there's no school on Monday! Hey-O! I am not sad about it. 

Wishing you a very happy Friday! 

Happy Fake Valentine's Day Mardis Gras

Since Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent for a special VaLENTine's Day this year, the kids are having their Valentine's Day parties today for Mardis Gras. 

I am the worst mother and took no pictures of my kid's Valentine's boxes or C's valentines at all. So just go with me. 

I really screwed up: I bought a box of 36 little tote bags, easel canvases, and mini watercolors. ONLY it was 36 pieces and only enough for 12 kids. So I pivoted and ordered basic watercolors from Target, 11 of them. One for each boy. Then there was a boy and a girl Valentine. Though I think we can agree they're very gender-neutral. 

And Target had only 10. But that's okay because that still left me with 22 Valentines altogether and that's exactly how many kids are in M's class. So she kept a tote bag for herself. We called up one of our friends, who is a boy, to explain that he was going to get a valentine that was different than the rest of the boys but was the one originally intended for everyone. 

The cards say "Valentine, You Color My World." She drew it out the way she wanted it and had Husband designed it. 

Then for her Valentine Box we made a palette and put it on a brown paper-wrapped snow boots box. But the palette is the main thing and you can see that just fine. 

Now with C's I didn't take pictures of them at all. He was flipping through the Oriental Trading Catalog, and I am pretty adamant with my kids that our Valentines are not edible. We have done a few that are but for the most part I try to not. Anyway, he really wanted to do these Peanuts hacky sacks. 

So I ordered them. But since I didn't love them I also ordered some Peanuts pencils. And then I bought some Hershey Kisses and C ended up with little goody bags. (And they are little. A hacky sack, pencil and 4 Hershey Kisses each isn't that exciting.) But you'll have to picture them all by yourself. 

C also art directed his own Valentine's Card and they look like this:

Husband and I snuck out on Saturday for a drink together. He was ridiculous and was playing with his glass like it was a guiro with his toothpick. 

Both of the Valentine's Day special drinks were delicious! I had the Flirtini. 

And it was nice to spend an hour together not talking about anything special really. 

We really have no specific Mardis Gras plans. But we never do. So it's all good! I think there will be meat, however! 

Not Much At All

So because the trip gave me so much blog fodder it feels weird to not write. Except... I don't have anything much at all to report. 

Sunday was Husband's and I's dating anniversary. And thanks to Facebook, I could see on Tuesday our first couple picture taken two days later. 

Babies. We were babies. But like actually. 

The sun has been out this week. And OH MY GOSH. I love the sun so much. Look at these beautiful wispy cotton candy clouds?! 

We got Just Dance 2023 for the Nintendo Switch and have enjoyed dancing together. 

Please note there's no pic of all 4 of us rocking out... because we were all rocking out! Is it screen time? Yes. But dancing together is never something I regret. 

And quite by accident, my guys were twinning yesterday! Apparently, Husband needs to go to school. 

Honestly I don't know too much more than that. But that's all good. Happy Weekend! 

Hockey Night

Once upon a time, I lived in Minnesota. And in high school, I worked for my city's park and rec department as a warming house attendant. So I tied a lot of skates and moved a lot of hockey nets out of the way so the rinks could be plowed and flooded. 

But I really enjoyed it. And I loved to go see the Minnesota Wild play. 

And, I am a little ashamed to say, that I had never taken my kids to see a hockey game until Saturday night. 

We had a ton of fun in the cheap seats. I explained the rules as best I could between checks and bashes. They thought the "time out box" (penalty box) was funny. M DID NOT believe me when I told her there were going to be fights. She was shocked when there actually was. 

I am so glad we took them out to see a game. I had a great time and I would love to go back again really soon! 

Catholic Schools Week

We are wrapping up Catholic Schools Week. Not a single picture was taken at our house. 

Monday was pajama day. 

Tuesday, sports day. 

Wednesday was Dress As Your Favorite Holiday. (Halloween and Thanksgiving.) 

Thursday was in full uniform: no gym uniforms allowed. (Though it wasn't anyone's gym day anyway.) 

Full uniforms for the all schools Mass. Which I think is my favorite part of the week. When the 4 K-8 schools (though they send only 2-8 graders) all join together at the high school for a joint Mass. It's kind of amazing to look at the crowd and see all the youth together. 

Admittedly, it was like 50 yesterday AND the gym gets overheated and kids are consistently passing out or feeling dizzy at this Mass. So I had my kids in shorts and short sleeves yesterday. And they did just fine!

And now today is Spirit Wear day. And... that's a wrap on Catholic Schools Week.