School and Football Update

We've been busy! I've subbed 11 times in the last three weeks and probably have just as many days booked in the next three. Everyone is thriving at school. Thank you, Jesus!

Mrs. Tieman continues to send us pre-k pictures. Yay!

Nolan's 9 weeks award is for being a Brillant Builder. Way to go bud!

Ollie's was for all A's, Math, and Music. The music teacher fawns over him, much like at Waters. 

And the Hutto Lions saw their first win this past Saturday! Ollie was quite the quarterback, connecting with Owen multiple times for touchdowns!

Date Night!

Jon is continuing his reputation of being a lucky winner. He entered a contest and won tickets to see Shane Smith and the Saints live at the brushy creek amphitheater. We put Nolan to bed like normal and the big boys stayed up and watched at movie. We walked over to the show, with our cell ringers turned up high. You better believe I'm sighing with deep contentment over how easy the baby-sitting/night-out situation is turning into. 

It was a really fun evening! I don't listen to Texas country as much as Jon, but even I recognized a few songs. And if you are someone that is into a real mean fiddle, I would highly suggest checking them out. 

Masks off for pictures. ;)

Let's hold hands: LBK Guests

 A stream of people continues to visit us. It makes me feel so loved and my heart so happy. Our good friends Dan and Eryn were in town for other reasons, but we all were super glad they came over to see us as well. 

Lincoln and Noey were thrilled to spend time playing again. I love how they were unintentionally matching with black and red, and I believe Noey was even wearing hand-me-downs from Linc. Lincoln had a new stuffed animal he was bringing every where, so Nolan decided he needed one too.  

I don't need to tell you that I melted when Nolan asked Lincoln to hold hands. Gah, sweet boys. 

We have been going to church with Dan and Eryn and participating in community with them for over 6 years. (Maybe 7?) I knew Eryn before she ever ran a marathon. Our families have seen new kids, new houses, new dogs, new jobs, new diagnoses, new hardships, and new seasons of soccer together. I'm grateful for their faithfulness in both their love for Christ, and how they have steadily walked beside us. On the con list of moving, their family was high on the list. 

We have played a little game over the years where we try to hide a porcelain black box in the other families home. The box started as a loser's prize in bunko, which Jon rightfully had won, but since it was so ugly, I claimed the hosts couldn't take any prizes and we made Dan and Eryn (the second place losers) take it home. The most epic hides would have to be the time it was buried in a popcorn tin, and the time it made it's way into a moving box. When they came to visit I was planning to be on high alert because I figured they would try to sneak it in, but when they came I was so happy to see them that I totally forgot! When they were leaving at the very last minute, it crossed my mind and I got super suspicious when they were giving us a gift from a mutual friend. Dan casually said, "We don't have the black box." What??? I immediately assumed it meant that they got rid of it, because surely no sneaky business had gone on! Jon immediately assumed it was hidden in our house. But it never turned up! I didn't think much more about it until some other Lubbock friends confirmed that it is currently hidden in our house. I'm stymied! Where could it be? But I'm delighted. The game is afoot. Ha!

Love you, D.E.S.M.L.I! Come back and see us! 

Super Seth is 12!

To our first pre-teen, 

    It was so sweet to celebrate you this year! We rode our bikes around the neighborhood and handed out freshly printed invitations to 3 or 4 houses. It was the easiest but most successful birthday that we have ever had for you. Neighborhood kids piled in, ate pizza, ate cake, and watched you open a few presents. We tried to watch a Marvel movie, but everyone got way too wild so everyone chose to run around and play outside. The outside time was pretty much like every other evening. It was perfect. 

    We are so very proud of you, Seth! It's been quite fun to sit back and watch you continue to bloom. My heart is filled with joy, love, and exasperation daily. You are handling middle school like an absolute champ and when you come home and tell me stories about your day, my heart feels like it is going to explode. You are so bright, so strong. You desire to be helpful in all things.  

    This year you have requested participating in ninjitsu. I'm not 100% sure if we will re-join the realm of martial arts because it costs an arm and a leg and it is super time consuming. To us it seems that you are pretty much at your people limit with school and neighbors. You are in 6th grade pre-athletics and have said you hope to be on the basketball team next year. If you choose to follow through with that, they would be lucky to have you. You also got really excited about the idea of student council and applied to participate this year. No word yet on if you were chosen, but it speaks volumes about your desire to lead and serve.

We are always glad to be your second parents, Seth. We love you and are proud of you! 

Friday-isms

We have a huge mouse problem. Any tips out there? We've been putting out snap traps and poison with very successful results, but there seems to be no end in sight. When I walk the kids to school or go for a walk in the evening, I can hear skittering in the tall grass by the track field. Waaaay too much skittering. There is a spot on the front porch where they were nesting up, so I caulked the hole shut and then they chewed right through the caulk. It's time to shop for steel wool apparently. (Interesting tid bit: I dreamt about stealing steel wool last night. The brain design really is marvelous.) Mom, maybe it's time you passed on the mouse attack anniversary plate? 

I had my first day of subbing yesterday. It was easy and good fun. I'm looking forward to that being a regular part of my routine. And I'm looking forward to having a semi-socially acceptable reason to dress like Ms Frizzle. 

Some Noley Pie pics

I hung wallpaper in our pantry and I think it's so dreamy. I love it so much when random neighborhood kids reach in for a snack and comment on how good it looks. If you ever make your way to Minneapolis, you may find a twin pantry. (Thanks, Alexa for sharing your leftovers!!)

I've also been messing around with a gallery wall. I decided to hang up a bunch of stuff before painting because then I can eventually cover all my marks and all the mind changing holes. 

Calling all Avengers! We are celebrating Seth this weekend! Our good buddies, the Mikels, are also visiting this weekend. Whoop!!

Finally, Hippy and Go-Go wanted to show off their Halloween costumes. 

St. Edward's Park and Trail

 Another weekend hike, more water features, another swinging rope. We all thought this one was not as good as Chalk Ridge Falls though. Ollie: "Now this is what I call nature." 

The Smallest Whiff of Heaven

Back in Lubbock, Ollie was always jealous of our friends, the Hohbein's, neighborhood. (Laura, he didn't know about THAT family. AmIright??!) He loved their culdasac because it was so chock full of kids: someone was always out riding a bike, someone looking for a friend to play four square, kids with chalk, kids practicing home made talent shows. It reminded me of something from another era when families knew and spoke to one another face to face, rather than fb messaging.

I think we have stumbled on something very similar. 

I can't believe how much I love our new neighborhood. I never once thought Jon and I would be new construction people, but here we are and I couldn't be more happy. Our street is currently an enormous mess. In a three-ish block span, I bet 7-12 houses are currently being built, which creates a lot of noise, trash, and tradesmen trucks parked all over the street. But I say build on, because in one week or four months, that house will have a family. More kids for my kids to run around with, more families to get to know. 

So far we have met families from Wyoming, New York, St. Louis, Round Rock, Laos, Kenya, and Virginia. While our neighborhood is lacking in diversity of age, (it seems to be a whole slew of young families moving into starter-type homes) we are excelling in diversity of race, ethnicity, and culture. I hear spanish everyday and I love it. There is one neighborhood park that has been built (so far) and many days you can see 10-ish kids playing football, riding bikes, and swinging. They are happy to have found one another; most of the kids have been bored out of their minds because of a pandemic and then a move to a new neighborhood. These kids have many shades of skin, many types of hair. They are sharing languages and laughs. It does my heart so good to see this and I can't help but think of heaven. I'm reminded of Revelation where it speaks about every tongue, tribe and nation worshiping as one. I'm so grateful to be reminded of God's creativity in creating people and learning to love people as He does. 

Our neighborhood also is sandwiched between two schools to the north and a nature area with a creek and outdoor amphitheater to the south. After many cancelled concerts, the amphitheater has figured out a way to let the show go on. They have made these pen type areas around in a field, calling them pods. They are lining up performers again, and you can purchase tickets and attend as long as you stick to your pod. As you can imagine, if you are the neighborhood sandwiched right by this, plenty of folks are on their porches and in their driveways making the most of a night of free entertainment. 

This last weekend Snoop Dogg and Nelly performed Friday night with Josh Abbott on Saturday. The neighborhood kid crew has been planning a Harry Potter party/movie night for themselves for a while and thus the perfect evening was born. The house closest to the amphitheater hosted; kids inside watching the Sorcerer's Stone, parents in the backyard listening to Snoop and Nelly. I went for a run Saturday evening and didn't even need my tunes on my phone, rather enjoyed live music instead. I had already been ruminating on how diverse heaven will be, and let me tell you, this only drove home the point. I'm not sure you could get a further stretch on modes of entertainment than Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Harry Potter, and Jost Abbott. After covid, politics, and the fight for racial equality, this kind of diversity just makes me so happy. Come, Lord Jesus, come! I'm looking forward to the block party in heaven. 

Mandrakes!

Family Day, Swim Lessons, and a few School Pics

Look at our little Poley Pie with Miss Brooke at his first ever swim lesson. He wasn't super eager when we first arrived, but he warmed up quick. Also, let me just tell you that Nolan has been stealing my heart by wanting to hold my hand when we walk in places. Love that kid. 

I die! I'm guessing Nolan was huuuungry!

Bless the pre-k teachers who spend part of their day taking and sending pictures!

We recently celebrated family day by going out to eat. 9 years! Hard to believe! We forgot to take any pictures, but I did snap a quick one when the boys went to check out the pies. 

September 14th

 Oh me oh my. The kids are all Hippos now, (our new school mascots) and I could not be more pleased. The last day they attended school was March 13th, 6 months later we are back! A few nights ago Ollie said, "This was the best day ever!" (It was a totally normal day; absolutely zero special events, not even school.) "I feel like I'm doing a lot better lately. I feel... I feel... You know what? I feel happy." Hallelujah! 

Here's some back to school pictures. Again! Because why not? 

I've been enjoying the sun rise on our walks! (Let's be honest though. I would be enjoying this walk to school even if it were raining cats and dogs.)

Happy first day my little hippos!

The school schedule is perfect because by the time I walk Nolan and Ollie to school and return home, it's not even time for Seth to wake up yet. Elementary starts at 7:40 and Middle School at 8:35. All the kids eat breakfast at school, all the kids walk. I am living my best life. 

Seth's first in-person day at Farley Middle School. 

Go Hippos!

After drop offs Jon had the lovely idea to take me out to coffee before he went in to work. You could tell many other parents had the same idea. 

I have been loving doing my own thing. I got Seth's room painted, ran errands, and met an old uni friend for lunch. (And if you couldn't tell by the last sentence, I also have been watching plenty of British sitcoms.) I spent time with hippo HR to start subbing at Ray and have been sitting on my front porch watching houses being built. I feel like Ollie. Nothing super special, but lots of best days ever. 

Moiety of the Year

Does that even make sense? Can you use moiety in that way? 

(If you couldn't guess, this is a half-birthday post, but I got all wild and crazy and decided to look for a synonym for the word half.)

Nolan Riley! You are 4 and a half years old! 

You are a tiny pip squeak, but no one has energy or moves like you do.You are brave, curious, kind-hearted, and are quick to laugh. We love you, dear!

 Recently, Nolan was sitting in the dentist chair and said, "I'm pretty excited bout this." It made me laugh. 

School Update

Our little home-school experiment is wrapping up, but not with a bow. It looks more like a gift you thoughtfully bought, wrapped, and mailed only to find out that on delivery the box was smashed beyond all recognition and maybe even soggy to boot. And probably late. 

I think the best word to describe our experience would probably be "fiasco". 

Strangely, out of the four of us, I enjoyed homeschooling the most. This is not what I expected. I fully anticipated pulling my hair out and just putting one foot in front of the other because it seemed to be our best choice. But I actually really liked some aspects of our adventure! For one, I have a finger on my kids' pulse and know where they are strong and where they need a little extra support. Ollie and I (ok, mostly I)  have decided we are going to continue to work on math lessons to build his confidence. Last night he even told me he was grateful for the extra math help and said "thank you for teaching math to me". I hadn't even realized how much he was struggling/faking it last year. 

I also liked the flexible schedule and how for the most part they just got to be kids. Taking breaks to play, taking breaks to examine bugs, taking breaks to explore outside. They held pencils, needed paper, checked out books from the library, and did not sit in front of screens for hours. 

In hindsight though, one major problem we had was too much time together. The big boys worked on roughly the same thing at the same time, which caused more explosions than I anticipated. Of course hindsight is 20/20, but I should have saw this coming and tried to vary when they were working on subjects. I was trying to make it easy on myself and inadvertently made a mess for myself. Also, with both big boys busy working at the same time there was no playmate left for our littlest buddy, who did not appreciate being asked to play by himself, no matter how small the time increments.

Then there is the issue of having just moved. When we started the boys and I had zero friends, no community to speak of. We were isolated with no outlets. Who wants to play with the same kids that you were just yelling at during an ELAR lesson? Not the three Mot boys, that's for sure. 

Now, thankfully, we are spreading our wings a little in the area of people we know who have different last names than us. The kids have made fast friends with Sebastian and Santiago, two neighbor boys who live a block away and have re-kindled our love of Bey Blades. The Hohbeins also introduced us to some old friends of theirs, and they have been such a blessing to our lives. A friend for me, and one for Ollie. Plus I hear the husband is a die hard Chiefs fan, so we are going to have to explore that further.

Our district will open back up next Monday for in-person classes. Depending on your viewpoint, that is a month sooner than I anticipated. The way it sounded at one point made me think school would not start until October or November, with only a virtual option for months. (Also depending on your viewpoint, school is starting a month later than I expected when I was a naive person living in May 2020 and was told school would open in person on August 10th.) We are ALL signed up and ready to go! I think everyone was nervous about this at one point in time, but I also think the big boys know full well that we have been living a hot mess and everyone is relieved we are going back. Something normal. Something we have done before with a mix of people and friends to be made. 

In anticipation of going back to in-person school we enrolled everyone, which meant we had a week or so of virtual. This has actually been great, teachers have been excellent; kindness, grace, and patience have been the norm. This has put my big boys at ease. Seth told me a few days ago, "I'm not nervous about middle school anymore because I've seen how nice my teachers are." I heartily agreed. Ollie has not said anything like that to me, but I think he has been thinking it as well. 

And for me? I am like a senior in high school waiting for graduation. Like a child during the Christmas season. I love these boys, but I CANNOT WAIT to get them out of the house. I have 20 projects I want to do to our home (many involving paint and a desire for Noey to stay far, far away), plus I feel like this whole situation has confirmed how much I enjoy teaching. I have applied to sub and want to eventually get a full time job in an elementary school again. I feel like I'm ready to launch and can't wait.