Tuesday: lovies

I got an axolotl book at the library today, after I got groceries.  On the way home I decided to set up Snaxalotl so that it looked like he was reading it when Joshua got home.

This lead to setting up the other lovies too: Catnana with the bananas, Catcachino with iced tea mix, Creeper with the flour, and Grey Bear with the frosting (because he's so sweet).

After I got home from karate I commented to Isaac that there was a sock that kept falling out of the laundry basket - it was about the third time that I had put it back in the basket.  Later this evening the sock "had fallen" out of the basket again.  I haven't confirmed that he's the culprit, but I'm pretty sure he is.

Tuesday: the day

Today I went to the orthodontist to get my permanent retainer removed and get a removable retainer instead.  I've liked the permanent retainer, but I don't floss those teeth and decided it was not the right fit for me.

Afterwards I went out for lunch with a friend and we were rather chatty!  We had a nice lunch and covered a lot of topics.

Monday: fish

For the last 24 hours, there have been a lot of fish flopping around near the drain to the river.  They periodically flop over the rocks and swim away.

Anyway, when I went to actually investigate I see 7-10 fish in this small area and they're flopping around a lot.  I moved a few rocks so it was easier for them to get out and encouraged several to move towards the exit, but there were a few that refused to leave.  I left them because at least it wasn't overly crowded now.

Sunday: remembering

I remembered what I wanted to post about.

A few nights ago I was awoken from sleep by a crazy sound.  It sounded like one of the cats was dying.  I waited a minute and it didn't stop, so I got up and found both cats by the downstairs slider, perfectly ok.  I went to the furnace, because we get a lot of strange noises from that, but the sound got quieter.  I decided it was outside.

The next night, thankfully before I went to sleep, I heard it again.  I had the presence of mind to search around for it, and I'm pretty sure it was a fox.  It sounded just like the first sound in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHtmiL2fffY

Saturday: Lego Group

Lego Group was at our house today!  We had baked potato bar and it went better than expected.  Joshua was especially helpful today during cleaning time - he did a lot of cleaning without being prompted.

The kids decided to go in the lake.  All the adults were a bit surprised as the water is still cold.  I'm pretty sure that all the kids fell in the lake at some point.  They also played car tag with Lego cars in the basement.

The weather was nice, so we also sat outside for a while.  (Also because we try to monitor the kids while they're on the lake.)  It was just a lovely time.

Friday: Happy Anniversary!

Well, Ben and I were together today but he had a back procedure yesterday and isn't moving much today.  So here are some pictures of us from a long time ago.

New York - I think.  It looks like Watkin's Glen, so 2008?

After Joe and Dee's wedding (2003)

Joe and Dee's wedding (2003)

Graduation! (2004)

Honeymoon (2004)

Engagement pictures (2004)

Thursday: I forgot

There was something interesting to talk about today, but I've forgotten it.  I thought the interesting thought while I was at the kitchen sink.  Hmm.  I guess next time I should write it down.

I did a lot of running around today.  It did mean that I had a lot of time to read my book, which was excellent.  I'm really enjoying the series (Dungeon Crawler Carl) I'm reading right now, and it makes it so much easier to pick up the book instead of playing a game.  

Besides that I did a lot of normal chores.  I'm hoping to get a bit more on top of chores before the end of school, but I don't know if that will happen. 

Wednesday: flowers

Once again, I attempted to save my flowers over the winter.  It went better than previous years, but still not amazing:

The strawberry plant lasted until about February.

The succulent bucket lasted until early April, with the exception of one that is still alive

The big succulent lasted until early May, when I think I left it outside on a cold (but not freezing) night.  It might survive, but it is not looking good.

Anyway, we went to the greenhouse today to get some flowers.  The kids always enjoy this more than I expect.  I got some dragon leaf begonia because they are a hardy flower that can take some abuse.  We got some marigolds, snap dragons, two succulents, and a few small miscellaneous things.  I gave both kids about $20, and ended up with unexpected plants.  Isaac got something that is hopefully a pineapple plant and Joshua got a tall spiky cactus.  We'll see how it plays out!

Tuesday: semester finished

Grades are in!  It took a bit longer to finish up than expected, but they're done.  

Most of my graders are seniors (which is too bad), but two of them wanted more work during exam week so they graded almost all of the final exams.  It was lovely.

Monday: happy 8th birthday

Today was Horizon and Tornado's eighth birthday.

We got a screwdriver for Tornado.  He is always stealing Ben's.

Horizon just got some normal toys.

Sunday: Mother's Day

After church I had a few lovely presents to open, and then Tornado jumped into be a present too.

After my nap we went downtown to grab some food from a food truck for snack.  Joshua (and everyone else) tried Deep Fried Oreos and we all decided they were ok.  They were yummy, but not something that we would get again.

Joshua wanted to see the tulips, so we walked down the street and then up a street, and then we were at Centennial Park.  I'll be honest, I wasn't feeling it this afternoon.  But the kids kept being excited..."Let's go to the Gazebo and the Wizard of Oz book!  Oh! Let's walk around the statue!  We need to see the fountain!  Don't forget about the flags!"  "You really want to see the flags?"  "Yes!"  By the time we talked about the flags, Joshua was pulling my leg a bit.  I was a bit surprised about how many landmarks they wanted to see in a block of park.  Anyway, we ended up being lucky to only go around the park once - they also wanted to see the tulip windmill after we passed it but I told them it was mostly dead.  They said they still wanted to see it but I vetoed it.

 

Joshua made a fort at home, so we all read for a while once we got back.  Tornado was feeling extra cuddly and went back and forth between me and Isaac.

Saturday: bike ride

I had the kids bike to Lowes with me again today.  We needed to get a screwdriver, but I also wanted to look at curtain rods.  The hardware to mount the curtain rods was surprising expensive, so we just got a new one instead.  I thought this might happen, so I brought velcro to mount it to Isaac's bike.  He was a bit scared it would fall off, but I mounted it well.

Friday: Catnana

Today was Catnana's birthday!  Joshua got him out of a claw machine exactly one year ago and Joshua was so happy after getting him.

We also got this one of Horizon a few days ago.

Thursday: Tulip Time

I ended up walking with Isaac's band today.  The day was cool, but I was only cold a few times.  (I feel like I have a habit of chaperoning cold field trips.)  The sun was out and that helped a lot.  Unfortunately, we were in the last division of the parade so it took about 1.5hrs from when we needed to show up to when we actually got to move.

The band played the first few lines of the Imperial March.  So we picked up some red and black tape on our way to the parade and Isaac made himself some light saber sticks.

Unexpectedly (to me), Isaac also had the job of setting the tempo during the bridge between the song and the cadence.  

When all was said and done, Isaac said it went a bit better than he was expecting.  After walking back, we grabbed a treat from a food truck and ate it in my office.  (The treat was ice cream, but it was a bit too cold to sit and eat ice cream outside.)  Having an office near the parade was super nice - we used it as a base of operations and came and went several times as we also watched a friend Dutch Dance before Isaac needed to be in his spot.

Wednesday: cleaning

After a low-productive week last week and working the first two days of this week, things have fallen behind.  The kitchen was in a "how high can we stack dirty dishes?" mode.

I ran the dishwasher twice today, so the kitchen is back on track.  I did other things.  I wouldn't say that I caught up, but things are under control.  For now.

Tuesday: pictures

 Joshua made a large fort.

Giraffe finally got his birthday cake.  Ben had picked it up and managed to find one with grass.  Giraffe was really excited because he loves leaves.

Why yes, we did sing Happy Birthday to Giraffe.

Saturday: play

Today was the second, and last, performance of 'Freaky Tiki'.  The students did a great job.  Joshua did a great job with the lights.

Among the many things that Joshua did, he made this poster.  (At one point in the play someone thought it was a window and another actor had to say it was a painting.)

There was a really nice blurb about Joshua as the only crew member too.

Friday: lip

Well, the lip is getting better.

Wednesday I went right back to sleep after everyone left for school/work.  I slept for most of the morning and ended up going to the dentist around noon.  I thought the swelling was slightly worse and there was a bit of leakage/crusting.  The dentist gave me some antibiotics.

Thursday the lip looked better but what I thought was fever-ish symptoms turned into cold symptoms.  I don't know if they were related or if I just happened to get a cold at the same time.  I got through teaching, which wasn't all that hard because it was a review.  I got home and crashed, electing to skip my two activities that had been planned for the evening.

Friday the lip is looking even better.  I'm feeling a little better but the cold symptoms are still present.

In other news, Giraffe had his birthday on Wednesday.  He got a Lego set of a giraffe having a birthday party and it has been played with more than I expected.

Tuesday morning I took a picture of Joshua in all black, which he did not appreciate.  So I let him take a picture of me.  You can see my lip starting to look weird, but I'm sitting in my hiding spot in the kitchen.  It's really comfortable because it's in the corner and people don't see me readily, but I can see everyone else easily.