Question 4: What did you and your family do this past week?

I always, always find the minutiae of my friends’ lives extremely interesting. I really DO want to know what you ate, where you went, what you bought, what you watched, and what you read. For the two of you who care to know these kinds of things about what my family’s life was like this past week, read on…

Monday
Boys to St. Johns to play in pool and play games
Ginger and girls to Costco and Trader Joes
Carvana delivery of Pilot
Bauer Ultimate Frisbee League (cancelled because of rain)
Dinner: Cozy Autumn Soup (TJ, Ginger, Cash) , Leftover Risotto (Bauer, Story), Leftover Black Beans and Rice (Sailor)

Tuesday
Bauer starts 10th grade, in person, at Greenville High School - ride with Silas on the first day!
TJ leaves for Ohio
Dinner: Pork Shoulder Braise over Rice/Cauliflower Rice, Roasted Potatoes and Carrots, Salad

Wednesday
TJ in Ohio
Story’s first piano lesson of new school year
Go to Ms. Bobbie’s pool after Bauer gets home from school
Dinner: Leftover Pork Shoulder (kids), Leftover Soup from Monday (Ginger), Kale Salad Kit from Costco

Thursday
Cash to TR Bike Pump track with friend for an hour while Ginger and girls go to TJ Maxx and Staples
Ginger go to Walmart alone later in the day
TJ gets home from trip
Ginger ski in afternoon!
Dinner: Super Stuffed Tortillas, Chips, Roasted Kale

Friday
TJ day off!
TJ, Ginger, and kids to Tandem (Bauer at school)
TJ help with vacuuming and cleaning under boys’ beds
Ginger wash boys’ sheets
Jones family here for lake and dinner
Dinner: Chicken Paella, Cornbread, Salad, Veggie Tray, Fruit Salad

Saturday
TJ to Florida
Ginger wash girls’ sheets and help girls clean out and organize doll stuff
Dinner: Leftover SS Tortillas (Ginger, Bauer, Sailor), Leftover Chicken Paella (Cash, Story), Blanched Broccoli Salad, Roasted Zucchini and Squash

Sunday
Ginger Prayers of the People and Altar Guild
Cash Crucifer
Boys to Youth Group
TJ gets home from FL
Dinner: Sloppy Joes, Chips, Salad

There are so many daily things that happen that don’t appear above. I run or lift weights, shower, read my Bible, listen to The Bible Recap, water the herbs, pick the figs, check the garden, make muffins, MP Natalie, do memory work alone and with the girls, do grocery-related tasks (meal plan, shop, chop), do laundry, Norwex the stairs and floor (dog hair), MP Natalie more, text friends, write letters, braid Sailor’s hair, help Story with piano practice, wish to ski, wait for TJ to get home to take me skiing, watch Jeopardy with the kids after dinner, make snacks and more snacks, read before bed….and this is what my life is built on. I am grateful to have the health and desire to do these little jobs on my list.

More minutiae:
Bo started sleeping in Story and Sailor’s room this past week (still in the crate). Story LOVES having him by her bed, and I love not having him in our room. Wow. This is next level on the puppy journey.

On the dog theme, Story’s last prize for memory work for the summer was her choice of a dog toy, so that’s why we went to TJ Maxx on Thursday. Story chose a poop bag holder and a bandana for Bo to match her visor (photo above). Sailor wanted pool toys for her prize, after playing with a certain toy at our neighbor’s pool, so that equated to a Walmart trip that same afternoon. Errands are the minutiae I would like to delete from life, but money sure can buy happiness for a day.

One of my favorite nights of hosting, ever, was this past Friday night. I have been trying to figure out, and put into words, why hosting the Joneses felt so special. Shared love of words + shared love of names + shared love of food + engaging and fun conversation + getting to know new friends = A gift I do not take for granted.

Bauer’s first week of school went well! He figured out where his classes are, he got his Student I.D. and Chromebook, and he has the same lunch period as his buddy Silas. After the first day, Bauer said, “Well, I think I would like that once a week but every day….I’m not sure.” It is a big adjustment for him to be gone from home five days a week for so many hours after the past eight years of University Model and/or Virtual School. Cash especially misses Bauer being around the house all day. We all miss Bauer’s music (wait for Question #5 for more on this). Bauer is driving himself to school and that is a HUGE help!