Monthly Medley (March 2022)

I'm a little late on the March Monthly Medley, but as I always say, better late than never!

Reading 

The library is killing me with their three week check out windows, y'all. I know I've mentioned this before, but where I grew up we could check out books for four weeks and that always seemed like the perfect amount of time. Three weeks is somehow never quite enough for me, so I always have either overdue books or books that I have to turn in before I've finished them. (Hallie is in the same boat, as she regularly checks out books and uses them for school projects...and then the books are due before the projects are due.)

Enough complaining...on to the books - yep, books PLURAL - I actually finished this month.

First, I read Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy. I admit to being slightly confused in the beginning, as I didn't catch that the story was being told from multiple perspectives, but once I got that straightened out in my brain I enjoyed this thriller.

Second, I read - because it came across my radar and I realized I'd never read it as a teenager - The Giver by Lois Lowry. I loved this story, but the ending...oh, I HATED the ending. I won't give it away completely in case you haven't read the book and would like to do so, but (slight spoiler alert) the ending provided almost no closure which is what I want and need out of every book. I don't want to imagine what might have happened next...I want to KNOW. And, I want all of the loose ends tied up neatly in a bow. Should I read the next book she wrote (Gathering Blue), or will I feel the same when when I finish that one? 

 

Watching

On a night when Hallie was gone (because it was rated R) and the boys were watching disc golf or The Simpsons or a Marvel movie, I watched Brittany Runs a Marathon all by myself. I've seen Jillian Bell in a couple of other movies and I really liked her, so I thought I'd give this comedy a try. It played out differently than I expected - I didn't find Brittany particularly likable in the beginning, and the storyline took a couple of mildly dramatic and slightly darker turns than I was expecting, but I enjoyed how it all came together in the end.  

Also on my own I've started watching The Endgame on NBC. I've loved Morena Baccarin since she starred in the remake of V years ago, and she's excellent in this cleverly twisty and excitingly suspenseful heist drama.

Hallie and I - because we have nothing to watch post-Friends - started both Saved by the Bell and The Haunted Hathaways. Neither are great. Any suggestions for us, knowing that we love Friends and that Hallie is at that really hard age for televisions shows? (She's too old for "kid" comedies and dramas, but not quite ready for the fully adult comedies and dramas...)

Listening To

This month I caught up with The MLK Tapes, listened to Gangsta Capitalism's second season 3 Bonus episode, and downloaded a couple of new podcasts to try in April - March was kind of a "catch up" month for me!

Following

I actually found quite a few new people to follow on Instagram this month, so I'll share two now, and hang on to the other two for next month in case I don't find anyone new in April. First, Shannon Payton (@officialshannypants) - she's best known for her reels in which she comedically mimics what other influencers are doing (packing perfect Bento lunch boxes, pulling together the perfect outfit) in their reels. She's hilarious, but also honest and real and I feel like we could be friends if our paths ever crossed. Second, V Spehar (@underthedesknews) - they share short reels about national and worldwide events, but does so in a way that is easy to understand and doesn't make me feel like the everything is crashing and burning around me (even when it is)...and they do it all from underneath a classroom desk. 

Trying/Using

In my last Alltrue box (was previously called Causebox), I received a face exfoliater from Symbiosis London. After using it almost every day (at first I was using it every day, but now I've switched to every other day to conserve what I have left) I can confirm that it is without a doubt the best and my favorite exfoliator of all time. It's called Ultra Fine Balancing Sorbet Facial Cryo-Exfoliator with Hyaluronic Acic + Papaya Glycolic Extract, and sadly, it's crazy expensive. So while I probably won't ever be able to buy it outside of this once through my Alltrue membership, I wanted to share it in case anyone was looking for this kind of product and has a facial products budget that's higher than mine. 

I didn't post about my Roomba right off the bat, as I wanted to make sure I really liked it...and now, after using it for about two months, I can confirm that I DO really like it her (we named her Reba the Roomba, and also after Reba McIntire). She's not quite as smart as I want her to be, but she's pretty darn smart. And she doesn't do quite as good of a job as I do, but she does a pretty darn good job. As long as she doesn't get stuck, run out of battery (because she got stuck or confused and then couldn't find her way back home), or get clogged while working, it's VERY nice to just send her out and then come home to clean floors!

Wearing

I'm bowing out of this category this month. Rather than shopping for shoes, clothes, or jewelry, I've been doing my quarterly clean/clear out in preparation for the upcoming change in seasons. Hoping we actually get a little bit of spring weather before summer takes over!

Eating/Drinking

Earlier this year I found the perfect peanut butter cake, and this month I found the perfect strawberry cake. With a little less sugar than the recipe calls for (and I didn't use the strawberry extract or red food coloring), and when topped with a homemade strawberry frosting, this cake is...*chef's kiss*

It works as cupcakes too!

I made my frosting up as a I went along, but it basically included 16 ounces of unsalted butter, 8 ounces of cream cheese, three cups of powdered sugar, and 1/4 cup strawberry puree that I had reduced by about half.

Feeling Good About

This bicyclist who saved a kitten while on a ride.

And a few screen captures from Instagram:

I love how the NCAA Women's Basketball
Tournament has grown. This photos is amazing.

Everything about this photo makes me happy.

This series of images really spoke to me.

😂😂😂

I would have LOVED to have had access
to a place like this when Will was a baby. 

Hope you had a great March!

~

Does anyone know - is there a way for me to save videos to my computer videos I've already saved on Instagram so I can share them here? I can't figure this out... 

When It's Dark, Look For Stars

From time to time it feels important to/for me to acknowledge that my high five for Friday posts are not a complete representation of our lives. The last week has been difficult for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons are minuscule - frustrating and disappointing, yet inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Some of these reasons are massive - devastating and heartbreaking, and life-altering for those we love and us as well.

Before Tuesday evening, I had planned to write my High Five for Friday post anyway, just with the disclaimer above. But on Tuesday evening a sweet little girl - a friend of Hallie's and the daughter of a friend of mine - lost her battle against the damage done by catastrophic allergic reaction and left this earth. And so now, even if I could muster up a high five or two, it doesn't feel right to share them. 

In a future post I will circle back around to darling Morgan; Hallie's relationship with Morgan, Morgan's sister, Tessa, and their family; and my renewed commitment to protecting kids with food allergies. But today, I'm just going to ask you to pray for Morgan and her family. She was a bright light...snuffed out far too soon.

  

One of my favorite shirts reads, "When it's dark, look for stars." 

Right now it's dark, so I'm looking for stars. 

13

Today she turns 13. 

It hardly seems possible, given that (it feels like) these pictures were taken just yesterday.

This year I held on to two short stories that I think sum up Hallie...the kind of person she is deep down inside, the shape of her heart, what she has begun to share and I hope will continue sharing with the world.

Hallie has a Six Kittens Rescue (the organization through which we foster) shirt with an inclusive rainbow kitten on it. She wears it regularly as it's one of her favorites, but on this day, she and her bestie, Kara, chose to wear their matching SKR shirts to school because of something unkind another student had said the day prior. Throughout the course of the day, FOUR different students approached Hallie, told her they liked her shirt, and - because they trusted her to be a safe space - shared with her some version or piece of their personal story. In every instance, Hallie listened and then responded with kindness and acceptance. She is ally in every sense of the word, and tries tremendously hard to lead with compassion.

There is another student at Hallie's middle school with Tourette's. Hallie doesn't know the student personally, only that she's the friend of a friend and that she - on occasion - works alone in the library because of her vocal tics. One day Hallie was in the library at the same time as this student, and while the student was working, she was also experiencing a number of tics. Hallie saw and heard two other students making fun of her, so she marched up to them and spat out, "that is NOT something to laugh about!" When she told me what happened, she explained that the behavior had made her SO angry that she just had to say something, even though she wasn't supposed to talk in the library. She's a rule follower, my girl, but she also isn't afraid to stand next to or up for those who need her support.

~

This thirteenth year was not an easy one, for Hallie or for me as her mother. 

Puberty is hard. Wild hormones and intense emotions. Physical changes and brain "remodeling". Shifts in identity, self-consciousness, sensitivity, values. Growth in independence, responsibility, decision-making. More changes than she could have imagined and than I remembered from my own experience. As one who has no desire to grow up, Hallie has not enjoyed this phase of life. And just like with middle school, she has stumbled and fallen quite a few times. But because she is willing push forward even when things are hard, she is emerging at the end of her 13th year with a strong, healthy, beautiful mind and body; a wide variety of interests and talents; two best and many lovely dance friends; and both an understanding and an acceptance of where life is taking her. 

Middle school is hard. More homework, more challenging assignments, more studying for tests. Interacting with teachers without (or with less) parental involvement, learning how to get and stay organized, balancing academics with extracurriculars. Meeting new people, adapting to changes in existing friendships, navigating a complicated social hierarchy. She has stumbled plenty of times, and she even fell once or twice. But because she is willing to push forward even when things are hard, she is emerging at the end of 7th grade with excellent grades, a few good school friends, productive and positive relationships with all of her teachers, and a reputation for respecting and accepting ALL kids. 

Dance is hard. Auditions, casting, leveling, placements. Constantly comparing oneself to others, frequently feeling not quite good enough, on occasion feeling like a failure. Achy joints, pulled muscles, strains and sprains, broken bones followed by braces, boots, physical therapy. Literal blood, sweat, and tears. She has stumbled and fallen more frequently here than anywhere else. But because she is willing to push forward even when things are hard, she is emerging at the end of her ninth (?!) year of dance still in love with the sport and willing to do what it takes to stay in the game.

~

10 years ago I began the tradition (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) of sharing a song - one that reminds me of her and encompasses what I hope for her as she grows older - with Hallie on her birthday. Two months ago I was listening to my first-ever episode of Glennon Doyle's "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast. When the podcast wrapped, I lifted my phone to close the app. But just as I did so, music started playing and I decided the lead-in was interesting enough to keep me listening just a little while longer. I knew by the end of the first verse that "We Can Do Hard Things" - written and performed by Glennon's daughter, Tish Melton - was Hallie's song. 

I walked through fire, I came out the other side

I chased desire, I made sure I got what's mine

And I continued to believe

That I'm the one for me

And because I'm mine, I walk the line

'Cause we're adventurers and heartbreak's our map

A final destination we lack

We stopped asking directions

To places they've never been

And to be loved, we need to be known

We'll finally find our way back home

And through the joy and pain, that our lives bring

We can do hard things

I hit rock bottom, it felt like a brand new start

I'm not the problem, sometimes things fall apart

And I continued to believe

The best people are free

And it took some time, but I'm finally fine

'Cause we're adventurers and heartbreak's our map

A final destination we lack

We stopped asking directions

To places they've never been

And to be loved, we need to be known

We'll finally find our way back home

And through the joy and pain, that our lives bring

We can do hard things

'Cause we're adventurers and heartbreak's our map

We might get lost but we're ok with that

We stopped asking directions

To places they've never been

And to be loved, we need to be known

We'll finally find our way back home

And through the joy and pain, that our lives bring

We can do hard things

My sweet girl, you can stumble and keep moving forward. You can fall and get back up again. You were made to be loved - to be known - exactly as you are: strong and brave and beautiful...and capable of doing all the hard things. 

Happy 13th birthday, baby girl. I love you.

~

This post will take the place of Tuesday's regular post. See you next Friday!

High Five for Friday (4.8.22)

 

One

WE HAVE KITTENS AGAIN!

Adagio

Bourrée

Plié

After a seemingly long lull, kitten season has returned and we once again have kittens in our home. We experienced this lull last year, but we still had Tux with us; this year, without him, the lull felt longer...almost painfully so. 

The Ballet Babies (Plie, Adagio, and Bourrée - named for Hallie and her dancing friends, many of whom have adopted kittens through SKR) were approximately 3.5 weeks old when they arrived, so we started off bottle feeding them. They're about 4.5 weeks old now, and while they are a HANDFUL*, we already love them dearly. 

*They are not great at bottle feeding, still can't figure out how to eat wet food, have A LOT of poop issues, and have a few vomiting issues, all of which are tricky on their own but when combined are especially challenging. And extremely messy. (I'm doing at least one load of kitten laundry a day.) I have cried tears of frustration over these babes, but also tears of relief and pride and joy when something finally goes right, they make progress, and/or they learn something new. 

Two

After spending the last week in Jolly Old England (London, specifically), Tom made it home last night. We missed him, and we're glad he's back! 

Three

On Saturday, Hallie competed in the UIL Oral Reading Competition and Will competed in the Bryan Collegiate Scholastic Chess Tournament. We were all three in rough shape that morning - we were tired from a rough nighttime kitten feeding and from having to get up so early on a weekend, I was overwhelmed with the sheer number of places I had to be and commitments the three of us had ahead of us that day, and both kids were nervous about their competitions. But we got ourselves in gear and started tackling one thing at a time, and as the day wore on, everyone relaxed and moods shifted. 

It helped that Hallie placed third in her Oral Reading competition...an accomplishment of which she was tremendously proud. She competed in UIL Ready Writing in third grade, but Ready Writing wasn't her category. In fourth grade she switched to Oral Reading, but she came down with the flu on the day of the competition and had to withdraw. In fifth grade the world shut down, cancelling all competitions, and in sixth grade she wasn't able to compete because she attended school virtually. She was so excited to be part of the team again this year, and to finish in the top three.

After Hallie's competition, award ceremony, dance rehearsal, pointe class, and yoga for dancers (and moms) class, Hallie and I rushed across town for the chess tournament awards ceremony. We were thrilled that - and he was surprised when - Will came in second and his high school won the entire tournament. It was so exciting, and I was delighted to meet the woman in charge of chess club as well as some of the other members of the team.

Four 

On Sunday, Hallie went to Kemah with friends for a birthday and Will guest played for another Cavalry soccer team. Another busy but good day - especially because we started it off in good spirits thanks to a little extra sleep (because of my adjusted-for-the-weekend kitten feeding schedule) and riding the high of the day prior.

Can you tell they're dancers?

Running through the fountains.

Hallie and her wheel.

Five

Happiness Highlights

Spring has sprung.

Molly has started climbing into and (thinking about)
napping in my mom's lap. Her progress is amazing.

Photo #159 in the "Will Sleeps With Kittens"
series. He is OUT on the floor of the bathroom.

Look at them... 😍
(Let's not dwell on what's likely on those towels
and blankets and that his face is pressed up against.)

Happy weekend, friends!

When in Wisconsin...

This picture was taken (by Kevin Wellons) on Lake Waubesa, just outside of Madison, Wisconsin, a couple of weeks ago.

Look closely...

Zoom in...

Only in Wisconsin will you find someone ice fishing and someone waterskiing...at the same time, on the same lake, just yards apart. 

I can't decide which of these activities is the poorer choice...

High Five for Friday (4.1.22)

 

One

Less than 24 hours after Will's high school season ended, he was back on the field with his club team. Three days after that, they won their first game of the spring season. I'm beyond grateful he continues to love this game. 

Two

On a related note, Will and close to 20 of his high school teammates came out on Friday night to support the Lady Tigers soccer team in their first round of the playoffs. The game was incredibly exciting - ending in a shootout - and AMCHS walked away with the W!

Will sat with me for about 10 minutes before his friends started
showing up, and those 10 minutes were the best. (I loved watching
the game by myself/with my friends, while watching him with his
friends, as well. It was a great night all around.)

The Lads during a calmer stretch of the game.

Victorious!

Three

Our weekend was FULL of dancing - pointe class, Sleeping Beauty rehearsal, performance at the annual Award Ceremony, movie night with the ballet academy, and two Peter and the Wolf outreach performances. Hallie and I were both exhausted by Sunday evening, but there were lots of beautiful, fun, and funny moments to be had. (Including drinks and tapas with friends - at our new favorite wine bar, Primrose Path - while the kiddos were watching movies and playing games.)

I'm in the pond.

Four

My most recent flowers from the high school Advanced Floral Design class are beautiful!

Five

Happiness Highlights

Bill and Molly are making SO much progress. 😍

If you're not following Chouchou's
amazing story, you should be. He's
one of my favorite parts of every day.

It's not much to look at, but this parmesan-crusted tilapia with 
potatoes, green beans, and mushrooms was just as delicious out
of a tupperware sitting in my car soccer practice as it would
have been off of a plate sitting at my kitchen table.

She chose RBG for Celebrity Day at school.

This year's winner: Hallie, for (we think) the first time ever!

Happy weekend, friends!