The Porch That Quarantine Built

Despite my incessant complaining about the weather, I really do enjoy spending time outside. I'm just a little more particular than most, in that I strongly dislike temperatures above 80 degrees and I HATE all bugs. There are ways to remedy or improve these conditions, however: beaches, swimming pools, and sprinklers make the heat more tolerable, and staying on the opposite side of screens from mosquitoes makes them less annoying.

When it became apparent we'd be spending A LOT of time at home this summer, we set up an above-ground pool on part of our patio. And when it became apparent we'd be spending A LOT of time at home this fall, we started looking into turning another part of our patio into a three-season screened porch.

Funny side note: while giving me a quote, the owner of the company we chose - more on them in a moment - mentioned to me how much people in Texas enjoy their three-season porches. I laughed, and then explained to him that while yes, I planned to use the porch three seasons out of the year, it wouldn't be the same three seasons as other Texans use their porches. Summer? NO WAY. Winter? HALLELUJAH. 

We opted to use Solar X of Texas, a locally-owned and -operated small business here in Bryan-College Station. The owner did all of the work himself (with a little help from his wife), and we were incredibly happy with their price, their professionalism, the amount of time the project took, the quality of their work, and the overall finished product. 

I took on furnishing and decorating the space, and while I'm not great at furnishing or decorating, I love how the space turned out. I know we will spend a considerable amount of time outside on the porch each of us on our own, as a family, and with friends...and I'm excited to actually sleep out there (with an air mattress, of course) once the nighttime temperatures start dropping into the 50s!

I think the space looks the most fun at night, with the lights on, so that's why the majority of the pictures were taken around dusk. During the day, you can barely see the screens looking from the inside out, and from the outside in, they look dark to block some of the sun and heat.

Only one detail has yet to completed...Tom needs a television on that far wall. 😉 

Linking to a few of the items in the photos below.

• Sofa (in Natural Stain/Mocha)
• Chairs (in Natural Stain/Mocha)
• Table
• Rug (in Red/Beige)
• Lights

High Five for Friday (9.18.20)

 

One

Last Thursday I woke up to discover an outside temperature of 63 degrees. SIXTY THREE DEGREES. Y'all, the nighttime low temperatures haven't dipped below 75 in weeks (months?), and when I walked outside at 6:30am and didn't immediately break into a sweat, I nearly cried. I also nearly went back into my house for a jacket, but because I'm a tough Wisconsinite I decided against it...and I'm glad I did, because I was quickly reminded that when exercising, 63 degrees isn't actually all that cool. But I was sweating within five minutes instead of five seconds, which is a win in my book.

That day could best be described as fake fall, in that it made us believe fall had arrived (it hadn't - summer returned a short 30 hours later), but OH, was it heavenly while it lasted.

Two

Most of my collegiate teams opted not to play football this season and the Aggies don't kick off their season until September 26th, so while none of the games on television this weekend included teams I root for, THERE WERE FOOTBALL GAMES ON TELEVISION THIS WEEKEND! 

Prior to moving to Texas, I lived almost exclusively in Big 10 college towns - Madison, Wisconsin; Iowa City, Iowa; and Ann Arbor, Michigan - so "my" teams are the Wisconsin Badgers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. I also root for the Michigan Wolverines and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and I root against the Ohio State Buckeyes nearly as hard. Since the Big 10 essentially shut down their football programs for the fall, I have no one except the Aggies to root for or against.

Tom and I watched portions of a few games, while he ate his usual "super Saturday sandwich", and it felt delightfully "normal".

Three

We've been in school for weeks here in Texas, but my sister, niece, and nephews are just getting into the swing of things after starting last week. Aren't they cute?!

Four

You want to see pictures of kittens, right? 

Last week Scrump helped Hallie make her scientist poster...

...and present it, via video, to her teacher.

Playing some tunes during Tom's class.

This is my desk chair. It was a gift from my parents, it's
really nice, and I love it. I won't let Tux sleep here, but M
and S two have decided it's their favorite places to nap and
I can't seem to make them move. (It's also their favorite piece
of furniture to climb, so if they were staying with us forever
I'd have to police the chair a little more strictly.) 

Another day, another nap.

Five

Happiness Highlights

No caption needed.

Ace!

Only in Wisconsin.

True story!

Happy weekend, friends!

Kids Say the Darnedest Things

Inspired by @LiveFromSnackTime on Instagram, and in need of a good belly laugh, I went in search of one particular funny story about something Will said as a nearly four-year-old a decade ago. On my quest, I found quite a few Will-isms - and Hallie-isms - that made me laugh out loud, so I decided to make today a flashback post and share my favorites.

Ewww, Gross

One morning Hallie came into my closet while I was getting dressed. She does this frequently, and likes to comment on what I've chosen to wear and my appearance in general, so I didn't consider it out of the ordinary when she ran her hands up and down the arms of my soft sweater, stroked my hair, and held my face between her hands to inspect my chosen color of lipstick. She complimented my choices for the day, and then wrapped up our encounter with a quick but sincere, "oh Mommy, I love you so much".

And then, as she pranced out of the closet, I heard her comment to Tom, "I really should go wash the poop off my hands now."

I got back in the shower.

Put Down the Scissors and Step Away From My Head

On Friday mornings when she doesn't attend preschool, Hallie watches me talks incessantly at me while I dry and style my hair, apply my make-up, and get ready for the day. On occasion I curl her hair, or allow her to put a little blush or lipgloss. Then one day I was feeling really generous, and I let Hallie put make-up on me (flashback to the kindergarten Mother's Day Makeover Will gave me a year ago). She took her time applying blush, powder, lipgloss, and lipstick, and then she brushed my hair as gently as you'd expect a four-year-old with Hallie's zest for life to brush. (Not gently at all, in case that wasn't clear.) Then she took a deep breath and exhaled a quiet, "well…" I asked her to repeat what she'd said, to which she replied "well…" once again. As I turned around I saw her - twinkle in her eye and scissors (where did she get scissors?!) in her hand - standing at the ready. "Well…" she continued, "I guess the only thing left is to go ahead and cut off your hair."

Super Powers

Will: Do you want to know what my super power is?

Erin: Sure!

Will: I can be invisible.

Erin: Cool!

Will: What’s your super power?

Erin: I can fly.

Will: No, that’s not it. Your super power is singing while you’re eating. And Dad’s super power is driving with his eyes closed.

Happy Birthday

Will: Mama, I know it’s not your birthday today, but I have a present for you anyway.

Erin: Really? What is it?

Will: It’s a sticker with a number four on it. Because I’m four.

Erin: That’s very nice of you, Will. Thank you.

Will: Whew. Now I don’t have to get you anything for your birthday.

Donuts

There were two donuts left, and I offered the one with chocolate frosting to Hallie (you never know if chocolate has dairy in it, so lucky Hallie always gets the one of anything that has chocolate on or in it) and the blueberry one to Will.

Will: How come I get the blueberry one?

Erin: Because it has your name written all over it.

30 seconds later I realized Will still hadn’t taken a bite and was turning the donut around and around in his hands.

Erin: What are you doing? Don’t you want to eat your donut?

Will: Not yet – I want to find my name first!

Safety Manual

Last month we traveled – via four-hour airplane ride – to Washington for a wedding. Once on the airplane Will required very little of his parents’ time and energy; thanks to his Leapster and a few snacks, we heard from him only when he had to go to the bathroom. Hallie was a different story, needing an endless supply of books, art projects, cartoons, and snacks to distract her from kicking the seat in front of her and screaming at the top of her lungs.

Toward the end of our flight, a restless Hallie desperately wanted Tom to read to her but was less-than-thrilled about the books in her backpack. At that moment she discovered the seatback pocket in front of her, pulled out the safety manual, and handed it to Tom.

Hallie: You read dis.

Tom: (Reads Hallie the entire safety manual while Hallie listens intently.)

Hallie: Now seen (sing) it.

Tom: What?

Hallie: You seen (sing) it to me.

For the remainder of the flight, Tom sang the safety manual – cover to cover – to Hallie. Now if you ever hear her singing about lifeboats or oxygen masks you’ll know why.

Losing

Will's fairly obsessed with winning these days, to the point that he somehow trained Hallie - who has no idea what losing actually means - to think that losing is cool so that he can always be the winner. We've recently heard all of these exchanges between the kids:

Will: I’m the winner!

Hallie: I da loo-ser!

Jammies

Tom wore a nice pair of plaid dress shorts and a polo shirt to church. While the choir was singing, Will tugged on my arm and motioned for me to lean down so he could ask me something.

Will: (in a whisper) Mama, why did you let Daddy wear his jammies to church?

Erin: Those aren’t his jammies, Will. Those are his shorts.

Will: Hmm. They look like jammies to me.

Not VERY Pretty

Will, Hallie, and I were sitting in the car, waiting in line to gain entry to a parking garage. A young women - likely a college student at TAMU - was collecting money at the gate. As we crept closer and Will could see her out his window, he commented to me that he thought she was pretty. I knew that if I was that young woman I would appreciate knowing that a sweet little boy thought I was pretty, so when I finally reached the entrance to the parking garage I told her what Will had said.

Erin: I have to tell you, as we were pulling up my son (gesturing to Will in the back seat) told me he thought you were very pretty.

Young Woman: Really?!

Erin: Yes. I just thought you'd like to know.

Young Woman: Thank you!

Then, as we were pulling away but while my window was still down and the young woman was still within earshot, Will yelled at me from the back seat.

Will: MOM?!

Erin: What?

Will: I said she was pretty, not VERY pretty!

Wrinkles

A commercial for Neutrogena’s new Anti-Wrinkle Cream popped up on the television.

Will: Mom! You gotta get that!

Erin: Why?

Will: It’ll make all your wrinkles go away!

Erin: (near tears) Do you think I have a lot of wrinkles?

Will: I don’t know – what are wrinkles?

Driving License

Will: Mama, when will I get a driving license?

Erin: When you’re 16.

Will: (defiantly) Ha! I’m going to get a driving license when I’m 15!

Erin: Actually you can get a learner’s permit when you’re 15. You can’t get an actual driver’s license until you’re 16.

Will: How do you get a driving license?

Erin: You have to take two tests – first a written test, and then a driving test with an instructor.

Will: What’s a constructor?

Erin: An instructor is a teacher.

Will: Will you come with me with the constructor?

Erin: No, you have to take the test with just the instructor.

Will: (with tears beginning to well in his eyes) I don’t want to go with the constructor by myself!

Erin: Then you don’t have to. We won’t make you take the test to get a driver’s license. But you can’t get a driver’s license without taking the test. It's the law.

Will: (with tears streaming down his face) But I want a driving license!

Erin: Will, this isn’t something you need to worry about right now.

Tom: Will, how old are you?

Will: (bawling, holds up four fingers)

Tom: So you don’t have to worry about getting your driver’s license for at least 11 years.

Will: (still bawling) Mama, how do you get your kid back after the test?

Erin: Well, I’ll take you to the DMV –

Will: (through sobs) What’s the DMV?

Erin: The Department of Motor Vehicles. (At this point I couldn’t hold it in any longer and I started laughing because the conversation was just so ridiculous, and I had to take a moment to compose myself.) I’ll take you to the DMV, you’ll take your tests, and then we’ll leave together.

Will: Did you have to take the tests?

Erin: Yes. Grandma Brenda took me to the DMV and waited while I took my tests; then we drove home together.

Will: How do you find your kid after the tests?

Erin: Moms wait in the lobby for their kids.

Will: What’s a lobby?

Erin: A room where people wait for other people or to be called for appointments.

Will: Are there chairs?

Erin: Yes, there are chairs.

Will: (having calmed down and gotten undressed for his bath) Look Mama! I’m buck naked!

Happy Tuesday, friends. I hope these brought about a laugh or two!

High Five for Friday (9.11.20)

"The real differences around the world today are not between Jews and Arabs; Protestants and Catholics; Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The real differences are between those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it; between those who look to the future and those who cling to the past; between those who open their arms and those who are determined to clench their fists."

~ William J. Clinton, 1997

I honestly believe that the truest way for us - as individuals and as a country - to remember and honor those who lost their lives on September 11th is to embrace peace, look to the future, and open our arms.

And now, our regularly scheduled programming...

One

Since he grew out of "youth" soccer, Will has wanted to coach youth soccer. He loves kids, and coaching is both a dream of his and one of his strengths as a player, as he sees and understands (and attempts to manipulate) the entire field like he would his pieces on a giant chess board. 

Two weeks ago Will was finally given the stamp of approval to help with Cavalry Soccer Club's Junior and Youth Academies. Rain cancelled practice his first night on the job, but last Wednesday he was able to start helping. I snuck out to the fields to watch for a little while, and though I couldn't get a read on how Will felt about his new volunteer role from my seat in the air conditioned car, when he got home that night he asked if he could help at two practices a week instead of one. I love that he's enjoying this new endeavor, and that I get to drive to the soccer fields four nights a week instead of three. 😉

The kiddo whose face I didn't blur out is our friend Cullen, who is SO thrilled to have Will as one of his coaches and would definitely want me to keep him in these pictures.

Two

Hallie received an Amish Friendship Bread starter from a friend (yes, we've reached the bread-making stage of quarantine), and after 10 days of nurturing, last Thursday afternoon she turned that starter into starters for three of her friends, one starter for us to keep, and two loaves of bread. We kept one of the loaves for ourselves, and shared the other with a friend of mine. The starter ended up being such a fun gift to receive, project to complete, and gift to share!

Three

What an incredibly welcome holiday Labor Day turned out to be this year. (Well, for the three of us whose schools observed Labor Day...TAMU never does, so Tom still had to work.) We always enjoy a three-day weekend, but after the last three weeks of virtual school we desperately needed a day without an early morning wake-up call, multiple athletic practices, and 718 different attendance check-ins, discussion boards, Loom videos, Zoom meetings, Nearpod lessons, virtual worksheets, and online tests. Tuesday dawned brighter and felt considerably less laborious thanks to Labor Day!

Four

This little buddy had some eye issues at the end of last week and through the weekend (his eyes were fine when he laid down for a nap one afternoon, and by the time he woke up they were A MESS), but he seems to be on the mend and for that, we're grateful.

In other news, the kittens still love school!

All three cats are on the bed at the same time! (Not for long...)

Five

Last but certainly not least, these sweet girl - our niece, River (who we haven't seen in forever because she lives in Vancouver and because COVID-19 kept us all from gathering at the Lodge this summer) - just turned ONE. Happy birthday, baby big girl!

Happy weekend, friends!

We Won't Forget the View

When schools closed back in March, the four Ferri, like most people, stayed home. As in HOME. We did curbside or shipping for absolutely everything we needed, and when we left the house it was only to exercise outside or pick up those curbside orders. 

Side note: I used to HATE curbside grocery pick-up, primarily because it didn't allow me to shop the sales the way I could while walking down the aisles of the store. I may have finally figured out an online shopping system that works, however, and now I don't know if I'll ever go back!

After three or four weeks, my friends Jenn and Mandi and I decided we could safely socialize - us and our girls - if we parked rear ends together in the driveway, opened our trunks, and stayed in the back of our vehicles. After a couple more weeks, and after talking through how much and what kind of risk we were all planning and willing to take as individuals, parents, and families, we decided to create our own quarantine bubble. 

 

We also decided we were safer outside, so we chose swimming at Jenn's as our activity of choice. And so for the next however many weeks, we spent three or four hours a day, three to five times a week, in her backyard. The kids swam and snacked while the moms periodically floated on our own rafts but mostly sat at the patio table - facing the pool to see the kids - talking and laughing and worrying and planning and drinking iced coffee, sparkling water, and on Fridays, a little Prosecco. 

Creating this quarantine bubble saved us. After existing for weeks with very little socialization outside of our own immediate families, everyone was desperate for a change in scenery and interaction with friends. I credit our bubble with keeping the kids - and me - (relatively) mentally healthy, and I would not have wanted to weather the last 25 weeks of life without these these two women and our outdoor sanctuary.

Now that school has started, we no longer have time on the weekdays for the kids to swim and the moms to sit at the patio table. But we can fondly remember the countless hours we spent in the pool and on the patio, thanks to my favorite quarantine gift (and one of my favorite gifts ever): a watercolor painting of our view from the patio chairs, painted by Jenn herself. 

When the passage of time makes the days and weeks and months of quarantine and pandemic life a distant memory, we won't forget this view.

High Five for Friday (9.4.20)

One
Last Friday we said a tearful goodbye to Lilo but welcomed Mahalo and Lilo's brother, Scrump, into our home! We absolutely, positively can't get behind his name - we've taken to calling him Scrumpy, which is maybe a little bit cuter and more appropriate for a kitten? - but he's a sweet buddy. It's really fun to watch the kittens start off nervous in this new place, but eventually come out of their shells and into their real personalities once they feel comfortable. We have both Mahalo and Scrumpy until September 17th, and then they're off to the vet to be neutered and then on to their forever homes!

Right before Lilo got picked up (at 7:30am - I
was sweaty and Hallie wasn't quite awake yet).

Scrump!

Two
On a related note, these kittens, while certainly adding to my/our workload, really have lifted the kids' spirits on harder, darker days. I can recall multiple times when one or more of our furry friends have served as emotional support for Will, Hallie, and/or even Tom, and I'm so grateful. 

Coexisting! But not really. Tux didn't know Mahalo was
there, staring intensely at him. They are NOT friends.

Sometimes you have to nap during the day. (Like when
you get up at 6:15am for cross country practice and don't get
home from soccer practice until 9:45pm. Or if you're a kitten.) 

Three

Every fall, Will's soccer team plays in a "warm up" tournament prior to the start of their regular season. They choose different tournaments every year, but regardless of the tournament, for the last three years they've ended their warm up weekend just shy of an overall victory. (They would win their bracket, move on to the final, and then come up short in that game.)

But this year, they finally pulled it out. They won in spectacular fashion - one of Will's teammates scored off of a Bend it Like Beckham corner kick with less than a minute left in the game - and were thrilled to come home with medals around their necks. 

Four

This is my sister. And my brother-in-law. 😂
(I didn't ask her if I could share this picture so I hope she's
not mad at me for doing so. Receiving it was such a highlight of
my week though, so it had to find a place in the high five post.)

Five

Happiness Highlights 

Hallie made me this adorable glitter bookmark. If
you need art projects for your kiddos during this time of
virtual schooling, we are still loving Annie's Creative Club!

Hoping for a full porch update next week or the week after that!

It's the little things... 😂

I LOVE her summer hair.

I mean, come ON. They're so cute and little.

Playing disc golf in a torrential rain storm is
the best. Seriously though, we all love the rain. 

My boy doesn't care much about clothes or accessories or hair...but he cares
A LOT about shoes. (And has since he was itty bitty - he always wanted to buy
the "fastest" shoes in the store.) Crossing our fingers this pair is super fast
on this season's cross country courses!

 Happy weekend, friends!