A week in the trenches

It was a week of meetings, follow-ups, covid updates, and basic insanity.  Jim has a week once a month where he has park and rec, city council,  city court, planning and zoning, and probably more meetings that I am forgetting.  Although his city council meeting got moved, he had meetings every single night this week.  I had a township meeting, and since Preston and Quincy are planning to play winter sports, there were meetings about that as well.  Add in kid activities, and work and I am done for the week!   Always happy to see a weekend show up!   Like everyone else I am sure!   

Saturday is Saige’s birthday.  Grandma gave her a camera she was wanting, as well as a giant can of Parmesan cheese!  Grandma knows this kid!  Saige was so excited to eat some of her cheese on her birthday pizza.   

Mrs. Wells shared a lot of pictures this week. Saige is doing a lot of project based learning and she loves it.  This week they made s’mores, had a fun Friday and attended a Veteran’s  day parade (outside).  I’m happy that Mrs. Wells shares pictures since the year is weird and parents largely being excluded due to covid protocol. 

I know that morning is not everyone’s favorite time of the day, and I am no exception when it comes to my desire to sleep in!   I do enjoy my morning alone time.  I have to drive around 15 minutes before I pick up my first kid.   Plenty of time for morning prayers, a moment of quiet, a little deep thinking, and a huge appreciation for the wonder of God’s great earth.  As covid cases continue to increase, and the talks have started about shutting stuff back down, I am abundantly thankful for all that I have been given.  Our school district now has multiple cases, something like 90 people quarantined, including several staff and teachers.  The superintendent sent out a warning email saying that it was getting difficult to function, and that we may end up having to go to remote learning.  He begged people to follow protocol, and wear a mask.  This is more difficult than it should he considering that we are in the middle of tRump country.  These people still think it is a hoax.  Or that it is a political game, or that the death rate is grossly exaggerated to stoke fear and gain control over us.  Meantime, hospitals are filling up, healthcare workers are begging people to take this seriously, and people are sick.   It is the most elaborate “hoax” of all time.  (Inset eye roll).  I like to think of myself as being accepting of people despite their views, but I am exhausted from just uttering the phrase “that isn’t how it works” hundreds of times a day.  You cannot build herd immunity to a disease you can catch more than once.  You cannot cure the town with the vitamin supplements you sell.  You cannot decide that you don’t have to quarantine when the county orders it    You are not having your rights violated by being asked to wear a mask.  And so much more.  It is exhausting.  Their  kids are repeating their narrative.  It is the craziest, most disturbing thing I have ever seen.  

And seriously Jack, your life is not one that the government is interested in tracking.  Not to mention you have a phone, a bank account, a job, a social security number, a loan.  What other information would anyone need?   It’s already done. 

Grandma sent Saige's birthday gift home with her.  there is no love like  Saige’s love for “Stinky cheese.” Tonight, Saige had her friend Lylah over to celebrate her special day.  They are pretty good kids and I get a kick out of them.  

They were putting on quite. Show.  Including singing “oh Saige can you see? If you can’t then you’re blind!!” And others.  Evelyn was here for a little bit.  We got a kick out her dancing to their crazy songs!  Always has to be in on what the kids are doing!  

Thankfully, the week ended and gave us the weekend!  

The weekend

Friday morning, I talked to Colin on the phone. He told me he was getting ready to go to the lake to go boating and fishing with a friend.  A couple hours later, he told me he was on his way to Holton to watch Gavin play in the playoffs.  Cameron was driving over as well.   Gavin’s team did not win.  I was told that Gavin was a monster on the field, making a lot of good things happen and working his tail off.  They had a great time watching!   It is his last game of his senior year.  

Of course that meant that Colin had some time to come by and hang out with us.  We smoked some ribs, and he took Saige shopping for oil changing supplies.  We also watched the cats game.   Cameron was at the game. He was there with an old school friend and Lauren.  It was not their best game ever, but we had fun hanging out.  

And the best part of the weekend was when I came in from checking the smoker to the news that Joe Biden was named as president elect.  Seriously, I am so relieved.   Maybe we can move forward as a country.  Maybe we can heal, maybe get covid under control. Maybe be kinder to each other.  I hope so anyway.  

Election day?

Jim and I took Evelyn with us to vote.  She was so good!  For the first time ever, we had to wait in line to vote.  It wasn’t a very long line, but still unusual!   Since she was so good, we took her to get some lunch.  She loves to eat bar food!  And so do we!  

On Tuesday’s, Madison works at the bar as a cook.  We have Evie until Andrew gets off work.  The kids love having her here!  When I got off the bus, they were playing outside with her!  We taught her to call the hedge balls monkey brains!  

We needed the distraction to keep our minds off the craziness of the election.  I cannot believe we still don’t have a clear winner.   I told the kids this would happen.   Although I was hoping for a landslide!  I’m still hopeful!  

October 32nd

The weekends never seem to last long enough.  I guess that is the theme of my life.  We had a fun, but busy one.  Cameron and Lauren dressed up with some of their friends as the Scooby Doo gang.  For some reason, it completely cracked me up!  Great costumes guys!   I love them!  

I hate to see October end.  I am just never ready for winter weather and that is what usually happens in November!  I proclaim this at October 32nd! 

I woke up this morning in a complete panic because I forgot to set the clocks back.  I hate the time change/daylight savings time.  I was freaking because I thought we were going to be late for church.  Turns out, “fall back” means I could sleep another hour!  I flipped out for no reason.  Haha.  Seriously though, we could do away with this whole thing and I’d be fine!  Another thing about winter that I don’t like- darkness. 

Tonight we had breakfast for Sunday dinner.  Harper is really picking up some good culinary skills.  She made the eggs!   Since there are none left, I would say she did great!   

When Madison and Andrew were living here, we all got pretty attached to Bailey.  She came to visit tonight.  She is a fun dog.  Carlos had fun playing with her and Olive!   I think I saw Jim slipping her a few bites of his dinner too!  

Evie wanted to go see the chickens.  I told her to ask her mom if it was ok.   She yells “it’s ok!” Then yells “Madison- it’s ok!”  So funny.  She is so smart.  Andrew and Preston have to have a wrestling match every time they see each other. Tonight though, Evelyn noticed.  She was not happy with Preston for messing with her daddy! Not sure they get to wrestle any more because nobody likes to see her cry!  

This week we have a lot of stuff to take care of.  And honestly I cannot wait for the election to be over.   I am looking forward to Wednesday!   Whatever the outcome, I just want to be done with the political commercials and propaganda.  

Happy Halloween!

Halloween 2020.  We had the debates.  We had the worries.  We decided trick or treating being an outside activity was safe.  Or safe enough.  We talked about keeping socially distant.  And then we plunged in because Halloween is my favorite, and I just couldn’t see not celebrating.   

Harper was a zombie.  I had so much fun doing her make-up!   

Saige was a puppy.   She wanted her hair sprayed white.  The white spray definitely doesn’t work as well as the other colors!  

My trick or treating crew keeps getting smaller.  Grandma still sent candy for the big guys though!  

I picked Quincy up from her job, and she got ready in my office bathroom!  She and her friends went off to do God knows what.  Haunted houses and a haunted trail and maybe some trick or treating.  Sometimes it is better to not know!    

Saige and Harper did trunk or treat at the lake, and then hit up every single neighborhood in town.  I enjoyed driving them around and my friend Dusty kept me company!  It was a fun night!   We ran to sonic for 50 cent corn dogs and are now getting ready to watch Halloween movies while we wait for Quincy to call.   

Since  we moved to the country, we really haven’t had trick or treaters.  But today, we had one!  She’s the cutest little “kunk” I have ever seen!   She knocked on the door, and then yelled “ween” at us.  So we filled her treat bag!   I am so happy she came to see us!  I love this little skunk!  

Best holiday ever!