Also lost: desire to wear real pants

I am sitting here waiting for the movers to come and it appears they like to keep banker's hours because HULLO! it is almost 10:00am. Hope you can box up 2300 square feet by 5:00pm, assclowns.

Anyway, all of last week I was off work and it was pretty leisurely and lovely. I went with Iris' class to the zoo. Watched her class do swimming lessons. Got a cut and color. Hung-out with my ridiculous-and-dear friend. Tried to sell some stuff on Craigslist. I was also initially going to use one day to go over and register the kids for school but it turns out the public schools are closey-closed-closed until mid-August. Oh well. I did manage to call the school system's accounting/registrar office and at least get Ezra and Iris on the list for each of their respective schools wherein I'm sure "on the list" means some post-it note that will be addressed in mid-August.

Ezra will go into 1st grade at the "home" school closest to the new house and getting that squared away was easy. However, I've been going round and round with getting Iris into a pre-kindergarten/young 5s program as the "home" school is not an option due to not enough family interest in a young 5s program; the second nearest school to our home school filled up and it's uncertain whether or not a second classroom will be opened; so she is now registered at yet a third school. It bums me out a bit that I'll have to drive them to two different schools for the entire school year, but, hell, then I remember I'm not currently working and this is the sort of availability that makes this tricky business not as tricky. It'll be fiiiiiiine.

As for work, I do want to go back. Not currently having something--nor being shackled with the golden handcuffs from my old job--has been letting my brain start to think about what it is I *want* to do rather than what I have been doing. It's freeing. Like a lot.

In the course of putzing about and sorting-but-not-really-packing, I have lost my entire ring of keys and the kids' blow-up mattress. Like poof. Gone. My closets are tidy and nothing is in boxes so WTF are they? Oh, but I found their Halloween trick or treating pumpkin buckets so rest easy there.

Unrelated, but dimple-laden picture.

Protocol

Assistance, please:

What is proper protocol or etiquette with movers?

Background:

They will be packing our house on Monday and loading it onto the truck on Tuesday.

• Should I provide drinks? The weather isn't looking like it will be oppressive or heat stroke-y or even snowing, for pete's sake.
• Should I tip them after they load everything on Tuesday?
• Is providing lunch in order?
• Will they be pooping in my bathroom?
• Anything else I should know.

Gracias.

Code

Awhile ago T's office phone wasn't working--it would send people directly to voicemail. I largely took this personally (because I am a flower) (also because I was usually calling T to ask something ridiculous like did he see that cat GIF I sent him and why was he avoiding that in lieu of spreadsheets and earning a living), but T told me that the IT people were working on it and something something they had to "EC500 it." This cracked me up because it sounds like TPS reports. 




And while Google tells me that EC500 is a legit phone thing, it has become a euphemism between T and I for things that we want to eliminate, stop doing, or just generally ignore. "Can you take this into the kitchen for me?" "Why don't you just EC500 it?" "Okay."

Examples:

• Making dinner
• Idiots in roundabouts
• Dealing with assclowns on Craigslist
• Putting dishes away
• Feral children that are not my own
• Flaky people
• Rain all the time
• When green peppers sneak into my food
• That new apartment has a teeny fridge

Just EC500 it!

Planny plan plans

When the realization hit that I would be home the bulk of the summer with the small fries, I initially worried about looking like this:



Some of the worry, too, came from knowing that Ezra and Iris and I are creatures of routine and stimulation. Iris a bit more mellow than Ezra, but he wakes up asking, "What are our morning plans?" and then after breakfast, "What are our afternoon plans?" He and I are a lot alike. 

They do downtime well, but they also like structure and things to do.

So I thought that in order to keep everyone trucking along contentedly, that I would come up with some weekly themes and a short list of activities to accompany each theme. Nothing planned for each day or rigid in schedule, but enough to keep our minds and hands and bodies moving. The rest of the time will be filled with pooling and bike riding and books and exploring our new area.

I'm not here to homeschool (oh, for the love of pete, no--not a strength) but I hope to keep everyone from turning Lord of the Flies in July and August. Myself included.

Week of July 7 through July 11

Theme: Maps

Activities:

• Why we use maps + parable of the lost sheep
• Discuss and look at different kinds of maps: city, state, world
• Use compasses and go on a walk
• Draw a map to somewhere we want to go
• Read “Rosie’s Walk”

**Skipped a week here due to vacation**

Week of July 21 through July 25

Theme: Ocean

Activities:

• What we thought about and saw in the ocean + Bible story of God’s creation
• Making a chart with what we would find in the different kinds of types of water: oceans, lakes, ponds and even pools
• Octopus + counting with cereal activity
• Starfish craft + reading
• Read “Commotion in the Ocean”

Week of July 28 through August 1

Theme: Cooking and baking

Activities:

• Talk about our favorite foods; why food is important to our bodies + read Bible story of Joseph feeding his brothers before they know it’s him
• Decorate chef aprons for the kitchen
• Make something in the kitchen together--their choice
• Go to Farmer’s Market
• Read “I’m a Chef”

Week of August 4 through August 8

Theme: The alphabet

Activities:

• Talk about why we needs words and letters every day + Psalm 33:4
• Read “Eating the Alphabet” and take it to the store to pick out the items shown
• Tape letters on the floor and, to music, play Move & Groove
• Write letters on the sidewalk in chalk + use squirt bottles and water to trace/erase them
• Make letters shaped out of Play-Doh

Week of August 11 through August 15

Theme:  Service to others

Activities:

• Talk about what service to others means + read story of Good Samaritan
• Bake and deliver cookies to a local fire department
• Pick out an animal to donate on Heifer International
• Pick out school supplies and donate them to a school
• Read “The Giving Tree”

Week of August 18 through August 22

Theme:  Authors and books

Activities:

• Talk about what an author does + the books of the Bible
• Go to the library do a scavenger hunt looking for books/authors that we recognize
• Make our own books
• Do writing prompts/choose your own adventure
• Do Mad Libs

Week of August 25 through August 29

Theme:  Bravery

Activities:

• Talk about what we think bravery means (share quote) + read Bible story of Esther
• Draw a picture showing bravery
• Make bravery badges
• Read Bible story about Daniel and the lion’s den + lion paper craft
• Read “Sumo Mouse” and makes capes out of t-shirts
• Read “Bravery Soup” and make soup for lunch

I wonder

Have you ever had a "lightbulb moment" about your personality? I did a few weeks ago.

I have two younger brothers, E and A, and both live near me. E with his son, my nephew, and A with J the Fabulous Nanny-turned-Wonderful Sister-in-Law.

E has been going through some things the past year and, as a result, really growing and trying to figure out why and how he is the person he is. I'm so, so proud of him.  

He and I are only two and a half years apart in age, so I was in second grade, eight or so, when our birth mom died and E was in kindergarten, only five. I think about E's age when this happened because that's near Ezra's age, and mulling over that kind of loss for a child about does me in. I also think about T raising two children like my dad did. It's hard stuff, life.

So E has been coming over for dinner and hanging out in the evening every week or so while T travels. In the course of chatting, he shared something revelatory about himself and then said something to the effect, "But then I look at you and you have it all together and handled losing our mom at a young age so well! It didn't seem to affect negatively as you grew."

And without thinking, I responded with, "But, you know, I have no problem with saying 'goodbye' in most scenarios or simply walking away. I don't generally miss people once they're out of sight. I'm not sentimental about relationships that have run their course. And I'm not even sure what 'runs their course means.' Prior to getting married, I was never interested in keeping in touch with old boyfriends. It's easy for me to just be done. Maybe that was a coping thing."

That was months ago that E and I had that conversation and I think, at age 38, I maybe saw a glimpse into one way why the way I am. 

He processed the loss of our mother in one way for most of his life whereas for me it perhaps manifested itself quite another.

I would prefer to squash and be done with a relationship then have it linger and run out of steam. I don't cut and run and I'm terribly loyal, but when something is over for me, it's over. That's it. I'm not generally sad about it. 

It's just done.

Am I just ridiculously pragmatic and under-sentimental (if that's a thing)? Is it a remnant of a major loss at eight years old? I don't know. Maybe both.

Being a person is a complicated, that much I do know.

I'm the map

Confession: I use paper maps.

As in, I use Google Maps, put in the address where I want to go, and print out the directions. Or! Kick it really old school and pull out the Rand McNally.

T has long given me hassle for this and I've largely told him to shut it because: a) I've never gotten lost and b) I've never gotten lost.

But with moving to a new area, I need something a little bit more...robust. Before I needed maps to get me from Point A to Point B but now I will no idea about the points and need something to tell me where the hell I am and what's around me. I bet there's an app for that.

I would like an app:

• That will still coach me on where to go--maybe even with a nice voice?
• Will tell me, at any given location, what restaurants or stores or even gyms (I need to find a new gym) are around me.
• Basically keep me from getting lost

Recommendations?

Love/hate Friday

Love: People that smell nice.

Hate: That shorts make some people sad.

Love: It is Friday.

Hate: My nails are a hot mess.

Love: Because we are taking some furniture and things and putting less in storage, our storage bill will be reduced. Makes sense since they base it all on weight.

Hate: Worrying about forgetting something and packing it away. The storage unit is kinda permanent and they'll charge us to access the items. So now my default is to bring a bigger pile of "just in case" items. I can tell you that T is excited by this.

Love: T bought me a new tote and matching wallet for Mother's Day and I love it. I am pro-tote.





Hate: I'm kind of anti-small purse. I don't have a massive number of things I need, but what I do carry is in there for a reason. Small bags can't meet my needs. 

Love: I've been cleaning out my office at work and it's super cathartic.

Hate: I'm debating on what to do with my work files. Do I keep them? Toss? What makes sense?

Love: Selling the house means I am skipping mulch and woodchips and annuals this year. New buyers are their own with that noise.

Hate: My garden beds look a little bit hoopty in the meantime, but I'm mostly ignoring it.

Love: Lunch

Hate: Not eating lunch yet

Love: Foxes on a trampoline.





What are you loving and hating?

Random useless tidbits

Last week Ezra turned six and tomorrow is his last day of kindergarten. He is reading and doing double digit addition and subtraction. He still doesn't have knuckles on his hands and his cheeks are a little bit poofy still. 

His spirit is joyful and we love him.

****

With a transition to more home time this summer in a new place all together, I've been kind of rethinking what I'll be wearing. I mean, I'm used to getting dressed for work five days a week. Then on Saturday and Sunday in the summer, either wearing a bathing suit at the pool or a sundress to run errands in.

But with being home during the week and thinking of adventures and things to do with the small fries, I've decided to take it all down a notch. Eff the sundress and introduce activewear. Why the hell not, right? I can ride a bike, go to the farmer's market, explore stuff, get dirty (uuuugggghhhh), not see anyone I know, and then toss everything into the washer. Forget the dry cleaner all together.

So I've ordered some non-descript, sporty shorts from Target and some tank tops, too. Speaking of which, do you know how hard it is to find sporty shorts that are longer than butt cheek length? My lands. I'm only aghast simply because I am no longer tight like a tiger. If I were, I might be willing to go that route, but that's no longer the case so a gal needs some length to cover the jiggly parts.

****

I have become rather smitten with the shaken iced tea lemonade at Starbucks and have actually started skipping coffee all together. The iced tea gives me enough of a kick and they're much more refreshing. Plus the teeth and tongue are much less manky after iced tea lemonade than after coffee.

****

I am trying to figure out what to get T for Father's Day. He will be in Europe (much like he was for Mother's Day) so there won't be a big hurrah, but I'd still like to get him a gift or something.

Thoughts?

****

About a week and a half after we move, we are flying to North Carolina for a massive family vacation on the ocean. My grandpa is turning 90 (but is still pretty salty) and so there will be maybe 30 or so of us there. My dad and his three sisters. My aunts' children, my cousins. Ezra and Iris and their second cousins. 

The house is massive as all of us will be sleeping there. A pool and then the ocean steps away. 

We can't wait.

The out of doors

Yesterday I went with Ezra's class and another kindergarten class to a local teaching, educational farm place (it's not a working farm...) and it was fun. And I what I mean by "fun" is that I had to wear tennis shoes instead of sandals or ballet flats because they were kind of verboten due to poop and farm stuff and this was a struggle for me. Also, "fun" in that Ezra got really dirty and dusty, and whatnot poofed into my eye and I struggled internally, but smiled externally while I held a chick and patted soft bunnies. I also wrangled and carried a goat so that was something. I also learned things about hens and eggs and sheep wool. 

Yay outside.