5 on a Friday: Big Kids Are Fun (21/52)

 I spend so much time blathering on and on about how darling Minnie is that I sometimes forget to document how much I enjoy my big kids.

It is so fun to be the parent of big kids, you guys. And I am someone who adores newborns and loves loves loves toddlers and thinks elementary schoolers are darlings. BUT I ALSO LOVE BIG KIDS.

1. They can make their own plans. This is lovely. (It can be hard to throw them birthday parties, though. Jack is great at organizing his own parties, but we have been trying to nail down details for Harry’s 18th for weeks, and last year, he didn’t celebrate in any kind of organized way for the same reason.)  I like having kids over and doing nothing to make it happen. Dorothy even ran out of the house and jumped into a friend’s mom’s car the other night (a car with other giggling kids already in it) tossing over her shoulder that she was going to the park. SO CUTE! SO EASY!

2. Their sports are hands-off. So far, we have only experienced this with Jack and Harry because middle school sports are BANANAS (get ready, parents of elementary kids. If you thought lower grade travel sports were a lot, BUCKLE UP) and in our experience require the very most parent participation. (And Harry’s tennis team experience has been weird— parents are SUPER DUPER involved and even, like, organize snacks for the ADULT PEOPLE playing the sport. We are definitely the weirdos who pay zero attention to any of this and expect our kid to run his own sports life— but thankfully that’s an outlier). It’s wonderful to just attend events as spectators and not even worry about how your kid is getting to or from the field.

3. They stay up late, which can feel at first like it’s infringing on your off-duty hours, but they are genuinely fun to stay up late with and like normal TV and appreciate funny things and can talk knowledgeably about popular culture and world events. They’re like fun friends who live with you and want to hang out most of the time but also never bring any food and eat all of yours.

4. Speaking of food! They suddenly eat like normal people, and all the little kid food quirks and restaurant restrictions and general mealtime headaches go away.

5. They like to do what you like! For me this is shopping, going out for fancy salads, and getting our nails done. Plus movies. And errands— which they make more fun by helping with. IT IS MAGIC.

Minnie? DID NOT ERRANDS EASIER THIS WEEK. But maybe she made them cuter.

Summer!!!

 YOU GUYS. I am getting SO TWITCHY about my incomplete summer calendar. 

We are still waiting on Dorothy’s dance schedule- which is fine because classes don’t start until we get back from vacation, and she is spending the first week of summer at a hip hop intensive at a partner studio. BUT ALSO. I want to put it on the calendar especially since I now know Coop’s travel team diving hours, Minnie’s nursery school camp and swim lessons, Dorothy and Coop’s junior lifeguard lessons, Coop and Jack’s summer dive league, etc. 

The way it works at Dorothy’s studio is that summer— the whole 8-week session— functions as team tryouts for the following year. So, you don’t just sign up for classes. Instead, you fill out your team interest survey, and the director assigns classes based on the teams you are auditioning for and your skill level. This is a really smart way to do it because the classes end up being really really good, and the kids end up learning SO MUCH in terms of both technique and choreography over the summer. It also lets the director match teachers with teams, start thinking about themes and music, and prepare for the year, and it builds strong cohorts of dancers who end up staying with each other until graduation. As you can imagine, this goes a long way toward fostering team unity, making the competition season (September-June) even more fun, and helping kids freaking love dance, their dance friends, and their studio. I also love that using the whole summer for an extended tryout means no audition-day pressure and jitters and rivalry. 

Because I am a Dance Mom and have just sort of embraced the whole identity, I am also signing her up for private lessons which go quick, so you have to jump on those sign ups, even if you don’t actually know when your kid will be in class or how much they cost.

Anyway. These are problems of my own making— I get that.

But you can’t be anxious about every little thing without being anxious about EVERY LITTLE THING, you know?

SPEAKING OF DANCE. Minnie’s class tried on their hip hop costumes for the recital (they got their ballet costumes a few weeks ago), and the cuteness almost killed me. Minnie’s was too big (it is being swapped for a smaller size), and she was super worried it was going to fall off her shoulders, so she danced with her worried face AND I LOVE THESE PICTURES SO MUCH.

It looks like I will teach my class while Minnie is either home or at camp. Then I will come home from campus, get Coop, take him to dive (also on campus), come home and take Dorothy to dance, take Minnie to the pool or somewhere else fun, collect Dorothy and Cooper, go to Minnie’s swim lesson, take Coop to baseball, make dinner, collect Coop as needed, go to the pool again, put everyone to bed, repeat. Maybe I can shower Minnie at the pool and bring her home in her jammies? This would be awesome. Maybe some nights, Harry can let Dorothy and Coop close down the pool and bring them home when he closes for the night and they can play pickle ball or something while they wait for him?

I want to prioritize taking advantage of $5 Tuesdays at the movie theater to see any kid movie that comes out this summer. I want to do Sweet Treat Thursday this summer and Friday movie nights at home. I’d love to visit a new park every week and let Dorothy and Cooper host as many friends as they want any time they’re home (which won’t be that often LOL). I hope it gets hot enough to bake cookies on the car dashboard and fry eggs on the sidewalk. I hope Minnie sees her first fireflies (early bedtime— what can I say?).

Oh, summer!! I can’t wait! (and maybe I don't need the summer schedule from dance to know what I'll be doing...)

That one time I actually listened to the tornado sirens

Anyone who has read this blog for a hot second knows that I am an anxious person. I just rescheduled a post about how our lack of a dance schedule for summer is making me twitchy, for example. I RUN ANXIOUS. (Acupuncture todaaaaaaaaaaay thank goodness).

Something I am not anxious about? Storms. 

Sure, I do not like to drive in them and would prefer not to have to take shelter in, say, a walk-in cooler in a Walgreen’s back room (which is something the weather man actually advised people who were out and about last night to do), but once my people and I are all at home, I am not worried. I never even go in my basement when the sirens go off. Instead, I watch the radar and reserve real storm prep for tornadoes that are actually in my neighborhood. And? Spoiler: THEY ARE NEVER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

Except for last night.

I LOVED THAT TREE YOU GUYS.

This weather alert made me lol:

But Ben’s response was THE BEST:

The kids were CHAMPS. Except one kid  **cough cough** COOPER **cough cough** who was upstairs eating a snack just before we lost power for real (after 3 flickers that made us know power loss was imminent and wish we were the kind of people who had flashlights in the house) AND LEFT THE FRIDGE OPEN.

We introduced Minnie to Zingo, and she is a FAN

But then! We had to move from the random toy room part of the downstairs that has windows and sliding doors to an interior closet area because ACUTAL TORNADO IN OUR AREA, and Minnie decided she hated storms because it’s weird to be hanging out in a closet. With your whole family.

Still she Zingoed on.

Bedtime with no power was… like camping? No one washed themselves (quick hands, face, teeth), and everyone was eventually just super bored and fell asleep. Minnie kept telling me she could not sleep, but I played a lullaby playlist on my phone and gave her my book light (note to self: charge book light— and maybe get some flashlights? OR A GENERATOR), and she literally starting snoring as she was complaining about not being able to sleep. (She slept in Ben’s bed and snored all night long like a little white noise machine).

I woke up to power mostly on (had to reset some breakers) and this absolute bummer of an email

Also, I am very worried about my peonies underneath this portion of a different tree

Aaaaand I am not super stoked about going out to look at Harry’s car parked in the driveway durning massive hail or, you know, the roof.

But! Things could have been SO MUCH WORSE! These storms were terrible, and we were so lucky. We got local news through our CBS station via the Paramount+ app, and our newly ordered weather radio (besides making a terrible high pitched alert that sounded like a firework beginning to detonate and making everyone super duper tense) was a champ as well. Also, it arrived JUST AS the first severe weather alerts came rolling in— phew!!

I also have to know what people are EATING?!

 I mean, listen. Last night we had salmon burgers, corn, watermelon, and salad. Saturday, we were slated to have french toast casserole and made-to-order omelets in Jack's omelet maker, but Dorothy and Cooper invited a crowd for a water balloon fight, and we ended up feeding everyone Costco pizzas, chips, s'mores, etc. (Ben and I also ate salad).

Rain might disturb our routine for the next couple of nights (anyone else basically cancel all plans that require leaving the house when there's severe weather?), so I don't know when we will be home, etc. BUT. MEAL PLANNING DOES NOT WAIT FOR SCHEDULES. Here's what I can make:

Ham and swiss sliders on Hawaiian rolls

Slow cooker tomato soup with grilled cheeses (we did not eat this last week)

French toast casserole with eggs, fruit, etc.

Mini naan pizzas and salad

Black bean and cheese burritos

Shrimp tacos

I also have some Brussels sprouts that really need someone (me-- it's me) to cook them. Air fryer maybe? and a bag of spinach that probably wants to be a salad if it doesn't get eaten in omelet form.

Minnie got smacked in the eye with a water balloon and we thought for a second we might have to take her to urgent care, but otherwise, 12 kids and 1500 water balloons made for a super fun Saturday night. (Jack was on lifeguard duty, and Harry got the he ck out of here after getting attacked by 12 year old boys and taking a missile to the neck (that's what happens when your little bro has club baseball friends).

Like Harry, she was unprepared for the boys' enthusiasm. LOOK AT HER FOREHEAD AND CHEST.

 Tough little Minnie

My salad in a bag obsession continues.

Yes, our back yard IS all mud now-- why do you ask?

Dirty baby!

I sure do buy 2 or 3 of these at Costco on the regular-- that's normal, right?

5 on a Friday: THINGS I AM ANXIOUS ABOUT (20/52)

 1. Ben spending part of the week in Peoria. HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK, EXACTLY?? We went there yesterday to see his new office and (gulp) apartment and so he could get an ID, keys, etc etc etc. It was fun to set up his space and go grocery shopping for essentials for his fridge. It's always a kick to walk around campus and see Peoria and buy merch at the Bradley bookstore. We ate at a favorite place near campus, and I ordered the same thing I have been eating since I was in high school. BUT. A couple things: THE DRIVE IS ABOUT AN HOUR TOO LONG, and we are all going to miss each other a ton. The good for sure outweighs the bad by a lot-- but it is a new rhythm, and you know I like my routines.

2. FIVE kids home for the summer. I mean, I know this is a thing that happens every year, but 5 kids is a whole lot of kids when they are all home every single day. It is also getting trickier as they get older and busier because we used to do fun themes and activities that everyone looked forward to, but now the 2 oldest boys work at the pool, and Dorothy and Cooper have dance/dive/baseball every day/night, and it's basically a summer in the mom taxi with pool breaks.

3. What I'm going to wear to graduation. Finally! Something on the list that's easily solvable. Other things like this include when the heck will I have time for a pedicure and do I need to color my hair again  before the big day. You know, the important things.

4. STORMS now that we are all app-based in terms of our media consumption. It seems like our local CBS station on Paramount+ is the best way to get local weather. (Peacock says you can watch your local station, but when they go to national evening programming, the local weather warnings go away). Anyone else w/o cable solve this problem? Do you have a weather radio you love? Just use your phone? WHAT IS THE STORM PLAN FOR SUMMER 2024?!?!

5. Did I accidentally get mom hair the other day at the salon? There are lots of layers, and she thinned out SO MUCH HAIR from, like, the interior layers.

I think I am going to up my acupuncture to twice a month and see if that helps me relax. I could NOT sleep the other tonight and was just so WORRIED, but I was able to remind myself that I drank a 2 pm coffee (WHAT WAS I THINKING) and do deep breathing to calm down and sort of sleep-- and I think this space between me and my big feelings is 100% credited to acupuncture. It works SO WELL FOR ME for a variety of things from muscle tension to anxiety and? Has restored my stalled menstrual cycle-- take THAT menopause.

Campus is just made for the Gram these days

Dorothy and Coop demolished waffles the size of these platters, plus breakfast meats.

Ben, always getting the flattering shots

Better!

This is the cute little porch of Ben's new office building

MY OLD SORORITY HOUSE.

MY BESTIE LYDIA

Why and I always way happier to see her than she is to see me?

SO MANY PHOTO OPS

Ben, one meal into his newly declared ovo lacto pescatarian lifestyle EATING BACON LOL for ever.

Ben on his new couch

Ben's new office building! Forgot to take a pic of his office, but that cute front window with the shutters in his, and he has an excellent view of the street/people watching. His other window overlooks a fraternity house parking lot, which is probably also going to be entertaining.

Minnie immediately made herself at home at Ben's kitchen island, did an art project with glitter glue, and had a snack. She has never seen a place mat, by the way and called it A CUTE LITTLE CARPET SQUARE THAT IS A CIRCLE FOR MY PLATE

What about you? Anything stressing you out? How do you plan to solve it? Weather watching advice?

Baby Harry is a SENIOR?!?!?!

 I mean, I know this, really, but sometimes the realization is startling. 

On my birthday, his school had their honors convocation, and I insisted he attend SINCE IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY. It was the best event-- any kid winning a scholarship or a named scholastic honor was awarded a certificate, a packed auditorium's worth of applause, and their senior pic on the big screen; and all the honor roll kids could file across the stage and snag their honors cords for graduation.  I have known some of these kids since KINDERGARTEN, and there they were all grown up and amazing.

Two funny things: 1. these are the most academically successful kids at the school, and alphabetical order was tough all night long. 2. TONS of the girls wore their senior picture outfit at the ceremony, and it was like their picture came to life and started walking across the stage.

Harry was so poised and polished and let me take his picture AND ALSO posed for pictures with his scholarship donor family and made adult-level small talk-- I loved the whole thing.

(Also there were ELEVEN national merit scholars which seems like a whole lot from the same school).

Chance of his honors cords making it to graduation? LOOKS SLIM, GUYS. They are MIA as we speak.

I ordered favors for his family grad lunch, and that task also really made me realize he is leaving. (Will it feel real when I pay fall tuition? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME) GAH. I realized all the other preparation I have been slacking on (buying a dress and shoes for myself, finalizing the cake and menu) might be because I am in mild denial (that is definitely my MO).

In two weeks, the seniors wear their caps and gowns to walk the halls of their elementary schools, and I am already teary thinking about it. Harry will have Dorothy there, which is adorable. All the other kids will have a mini Minnie to see their walks (she'll be in kindergarten for Jack's, 4th grade for Coop's, and 5th grade for Dorothy's). And, I mean, I will be there sobbing on the school lawn taking pics, natch.

A SENIOR, YOU GUYS. Geez.

Cheers to 46!

 We went out for a literal boatload of sushi on Saturday (WHY DO WE ALWAYS ORDER SO MUCH??), and my drink even had an umbrella. 

Needless to say, I was feeling pretty fancy heading into my mothers' day/bday weekend.

Sunday, we went to Eau Claire to buy merch at a sporting goods store in a creepy mall, walk around campus, and discover a terrific sandwich place. I am trying to take lots os tiny trips to Harry's future campus to make everyone feel less worried about Harry being gone (ME. IT IS ME WHO IS WORRIED) and get to know the drive (a very easy drive except I guess when there is snow, which is probably just December-April).

Merch achieved:

Campus continues to be dazzlingly beautiful

And I can't wait to try the rest of the menu at the sandwich place. WHICH HAS BEER THANK GOD.

Fall in Eau Claire is probably EVEN MORE beautiful. I'M SO EXCITED.

Today, I woke up 46 (I actually woke up at least once when I was still 45 technically because we really wanted to see the northern lights but missed them AL THREE TIMES THIS WEEKEND, and I woke up to check the (cloudy) sky.)

I am still a baby, though, so I opened my present right away.

I can;'t decide if I want to wear it everywhere immediately and stuff it full of leaky pens and baby wipes and lipsticks whose lids fall of or keep it in the box and smile at it from time to time. Probably I should aim for something in the middle?

Birthday crew:

I made myself THIS cheesecake (only, for the crust, I crushed 2 cups of Kirkland brand mini choc chip cookies and melted a stick of butter to hold them together), and we will eat it at least ceremoniously when everyone gets home from school before the evening rush.

I plan to eat mine for real with champagne when I get home from Harry's honors convocation ceremony at his school where he is being honored for his grades AND his speech scholarship from his high school. SO PROUD OF HIM. 

He got a letter from Eau Claire last week telling him his Chancellor's Scholarship and the other academic scholarship he received were both increasing in the amount of the annual gift AND they are now both renewable (previously, just the Chancellor's scholarship was renewable). He's awesome.

Minnie thought it would be a fun treat to "take me" mini-golfing after preschool today for my birthday. LOL FOREVER.