How is this even possible? I’m honestly not sure if I’ve ever told their birth story here on the blog, but they were born at 30 weeks and just under 3 pounds each…
They quickly grew into chubby little babies that slept great and ate well as you can see…
Tom made their Halloween costumes out of felt this year – Barney and Fred Flinstone…
They laughed and laughed at us and each other. I would tickle one and the other would laugh – it’s a twin thing!
Once they could start talking, they were hilarious. I have all of their funny quotes recorded.
Quick Recall Academic Team was always so fun to watch:
They love each other so much and enjoy being together. They laugh and laugh when they are together even now!
They figured out how to sit in the back seat of the van and flip the seat back together – in the garage – not while we were driving!
Starting high school at my school with me:
Leaving for college:
I absolutely love the “look” on Ernie’s face as we are loading up the cars!
Jack has an extremely long day today – classes and an audition from about 8:00 a.m. until about 8:00 p.m. and I also have my school’s open house (as well as a normal school day) from 5:45 until about 8:00 p.m. We are doing take out Chinese food tonight at home and then I think we are doing a nice restaurant reservation on the weekend. In typical form they are fine with whatever, but I want to celebrate them and this milestone!
I am linking up with Sarah and Holly for a recap of my weekend. I know it’s not over yet, but let’s see what we’ve done so far!
Before I left for work Friday morning, I popped an egg casserole and a Krusteaz coffee cake in the oven:
I worked all day and Tom took the three German guests to his hometown to visit with his parents. They returned around 7:00 and we walked over to see an American football game!
They really enjoyed it!
Saturday morning, we went to Kroger for them to see the grocery store and to pick out some boat snacks!
Ernie got to go! He’s doing very well, you guys!
I don’t know that I have ever seen so many people in the cove. I counted at least 60 boats lined up in just this line right here:
After we had our fill of the sun, we headed home for showers and salad making and then had friends over for dinner to meet our guests.
We went with Boombozz pizza and we have the perfect structure next to our patio for a pizza buffet:
We ended the night with some chocolate ice cream!
Our friends left and then Jack did some guitar playing for us:
Sunday morning coffee:
I love this book and I’m almost finished:
Sunday we did some souvenir shopping and then I did a much-anticipated library pick up:
Sunday afternoon we headed to Tom’s sister’s house for some visiting and dinner:
Moritz and Mason deep in conversation. Jack had to sing in a mass at college and came late so I didn’t get any photos of him.
We had added two more Germans because the two sisters of the man staying with us had arrived (pure coincidence on the timing) to stay with Tom’s mom. The reason for the visit of our guests was their son’s graduation from an MIT Master’s program and the two sisters were finally re-doing their trip plan from April of 2020. So, it was nice that during the overlap of the two sets of German visitors that we were all able to be together. I know Tom values greatly the time he gets to see his cousins. We have only been there twice, but they have come here a few times each since I have known Tom.
What have you done so far?
I hope it’s been a great holiday weekend and that you have fun plans today! Two of our Germans leave today and one leaves tomorrow. The other two that are at Tom’s parents’ house leave next weekend. If you have lost count, as you are reading this, we have 5 Germans! Guten morgen!
Can you even believe it is September? August really flew by and it was a crazy month with trying to start school and then having to wait. Ha! It was a good month, too, though. I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites here.
First of all, Ernie has been able to walk on the playground again and has acted much more like himself. I guess it’s the Chinese herb we have been giving him? We will go with that!
Two Germans arrived Monday afternoon:
Tom’s sister and our nieces came over and we had a pasta bake, breadsticks, and salad. We had red velvet cake for dessert. For the pasta bake, I boiled penne, browned Laura’s Lean ground beef and added a jar of marinara and about a half jar of alfredo. I baked it and then put nice shredded mozzarella on top for the last 10 minutes or so. It also became my school lunch with Erica the next day:
Tuesday Tom took them around town and we had a simple dinner of gourmet grilled cheese, roasted potatoes, roasted green beans, and leftovers.
So, the German visit has also been a favorite!
Our school library is making posters to get kids reading (or scare them away from reading). I did Don Quixote and they made the poster in Spanish with the word “lea” meaning read – well, it’s the formal command to read.
Wednesday morning I made Trader Joe’s croissants before work and…
Chick Fil A style fruit salad – blueberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges, lime juice, and a bit of vanilla pudding powder. It’s delicious!
Erica made us taco salad for one lunch:
Wednesday night we went to watch the sailboat races at Captain’s Quarters…
the weather was perfection!
We got a table and had dinner and then…
our third German arrived by Uber. The couples’ son had a flight cancelled and then they decided since he was late that he would just Uber to the restaurant.
The couple is Tom’s first cousin (the husband) and his wife and the son is 24 and just finished a Business Analytics degree at MIT. He stayed with us when he was 17 so we know him quite well.
We came home and saw the super moon!
The super moon Thursday morning:
I have been making it a point to have my coffee outside during the week this week. I usually only do this on weekends, but it has made me feel great to do it during the week!
Thursday we took them wake surfing on the river and I just rode along:
Let me know if you want to buy a wake surfing boat – I can hook you up!
Here are a couple of purchases I have made over the last month.
The first is a jacket by Walmart Free Assembly. I have wanted something like this for a few winters now and I check Free Assembly and Scoop on the Walmart.com site from time to time. Because my Free Assembly dress has been my MVP this summer, I know that I want to add more of that brand to my closet.
This waffle weave tunic caught my eye at TJ Maxx. It’s very soft and not scratchy at all. I really don’t have any stripes in my wardrobe anymore and I think this will be great to throw on with black leggings or pants.
This style of Hoka caught my eye, but I haven’t jumped on them. They aren’t what I would call a “pretty shoe”, but they look like they have more support than the model I have.
Here is what I have worn…
Last Thursday I wore the above mentioned Free Assembly dress. It makes me happy every time I wear it and I get lots of compliments on the colors. Here is proof that I always have at least one change of shoes!
Nope, not wearing jeans on a Friday in 90 degree weather. I wore my Barbie t-shirt with a fun skirt. I threw on an old TJ Maxx light vest because I needed “the rule of three”. This is where adding a third piece pulls an outfit together. I wanted to cover the bum for school if you know what I mean.
I love wearing biker shorts for errands and for cleaning around the house. My phone fits in one pocket, my airpods in the other, and they just make sense.
Monday for school I wore my Old Navy dress. I have the blouse version in this colorway, in blue and white, and in black and white. I kind of wish I had done the dress in all three as well, but even I have limits. That would have been extreme, no?
Tuesday I wore my Target dress because it was a little cooler in the morning and I thought I could handle the sleeves. I was a bit hot at school, though.
And, that’s it for my fashion. I am getting all these dresses in and I am about finished with the ones I am willing to wear to school. Then, I plan to focus in on skirts and palazzo pants. In September, I will start to feel odd about my bright, colorful, tropical summer prints and that will be when I am thankful for lightweight clothing in more fall colors. Plus, I am tired of my summer clothing at this point. I have been wearing it since April! Are you that way, too?
Well, we had a pasta bake – penne, marinara, alfredo, Laura’s Lean ground beef, mozzarella – Monday night along with a Ceasar salad and breadsticks.
I made a red velvet cake – box mix but add an extra egg – with homemade cream cream frosting. That’s my trick – box cake mix and homemade icing. The reason for our German cousins’ visit is that their son graduated from a one year business analytics program at MIT.
I looked up the logo and this is the best I could do with the stuff in the tube:
Tom and I both laughed our heads off because we thought it looked like Hebrew and that I had made a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah cake!
For the rest of the visit, we have a mix of eating at home and going out.
What I’m reminiscing about…
I keep getting these cute little Facebook memories popping up:
What I’m loving…
The weather cooled down and I had a delightful few hours outside Sunday and several hours with our German company and Tom’s sister and her daughters Monday after school. We were under our covered patio for 4 hours and it felt amazing!
What we’ve been up to…
We all cleaned the house and prepared it for our guests over the weekend. So many of these things you can’t do until right before the company comes.
What I’m dreading…
I am getting anxious about Mason leaving for England. Don’t get me wrong – I am also super excited!
What I’m working on…
I’m working on learning my new school schedule – I change from one level to the next each period in the morning and then repeat the same classes I taught in the morning after lunch – example. I have Spanish 1, AP, Spanish 3, AP again, then two more Spanish 3. I’m working to teach them my routine and my expectations so the year will run more smoothly. This all takes me being on my game. I also am trying to grade and enter grades very quickly to set the tone. One student told me I had the most grades entered of any teacher he has so far. Hey, I will take it!
What I’m excited about…
Peep my bacon socks:
I think I’m excited about pants! He! I guess that’s how you know your life is boring. I’m excited about pants and pants weather.
What I’m watching/reading…
Bravo shows, Gilmore Girls always, and I am really into this book. It’s just the perfect chick lit story I need right now:
What I’m listening to…
I love the sound of my kids laughing together and it will never get old. I am really hoping they both do ok with three months apart.
What I’m wearing…
I am still cycling through my dresses, but I have also worn a couple of skirts and then I will throw in some of my flowy palazzo pants.
Well, I gave myself a pass because I couldn’t make myself open my computer all weekend! I spent the weekend cleaning, running errands, and cooking in preparation for our houseguests.
Friday at school my AP (Spanish 5) did a fun activity. I gave each student a cup of Skittles and a small group and they had to talk about certain topics based on what color Skittle they picked out of their cup.
I wore this Friday because one of my male students had on the “Kenough” t-shirt the day before.
I gave myself a huge pat on the back when I got home Friday. I made it through my first five day week with a pulled hamstring and while having the worries about my boy Ernie. Honestly, it was a good first week. It will take a while to get used to my new schedule, but I really like my new students and I have many that I taught last year.
I ordered Domino’s pizza for dinner. I did cook 3 nights so that was pretty good!
It started raining really hard and then it stormed. We needed it and I was hoping it would cool us off. We had our hottest week last week. I know it’s nothing compared to what some of my southern blog friends have had, but still!
Because I had gone to bed so early – 9:00 – I was raring to go on Saturday morning. I woke up to more rain and I went to my happy place.
I started this and drank my two cups of Kauai coffee on the patio. I abandoned The Boy in the Bookstore because it was predictable and I was excited to read this. I love Christina Lauren books!
I made eight breakfast burritos because I had a pack of eight low carb tortillas.
Such a good feeling to have these in the freezer. I used up all the Amy McMuffins the week before.
I threw this on for my early hair appointment, errands, and cleaning.
I got about 3 inches cut off and fresh highlights.
I went to Trader Joe’s, Kroger, TJ Maxx for pillows and a rug, and did an Old Navy return. For dinner, we had Chick Fil A.
Sunday morning was my ideal temperature. There was a hint of fall in the air.
After having a bit of time to myself, I started cooking for Sunday dinner, Monday dinner, my meal for Erica and I, and chicken for Ernie.
The weather stayed cool until about noon:
I worked, worked, worked on the house and also managed to get some grading done. I try not to bring work home, but the beginning of the year means I kind of have to to set the tone.
I finally left the house around 2:00 to get this from my library and to go to Kroger customer service about items they charged me for that I did not get and to get a few last minute items.
My hamstring pull is so much better. The bruise is turning yellow. I have this bruise and a bruise on the other side of the leg. Tom said my bruise is sliding down my leg.
Our sweet boy pepped up a bit over the weekend, but is still not super energetic. We are continuing to give him a small dose of the Chinese herb that clots blood, cook chicken for him, and love on him. He hates the heat and loves cooler weather, so I am hoping the heat was part of the problem.
Thank you for all of your sweet words on Friday and I am hoping to pop in at least this Friday for favorites but it might be more depending on how much time I have with our guests here. Look for my August Spending Diarly soon and I am working on a jeans post for next week and a recipe/food ideas post, too!
Ok, it’s Friday and they hit differently now – all the teachers and parents probably agree with me! I think most of us are now in school at this point? I am linking up here for Friday Favorites.
I’m not sure everything I will talk about will be a favorite…
First, can we talk about a French 75? This is the drink I ordered at the outdoor concert Saturday night. Gin is nasty. I just can’t. I used to drink a gin and tonic in my 20s because I thought it was sophisticated. I wasted most of the drink Saturday night. I now firmly stand by the fact that I don’t like the taste of gin. It’s ok if you do!
We took the boat out on Sunday from about 10:30-2 and Tom’s sister came along, which was great! It was so nice to still have so much day left and we had McDonald’s bacon egg and cheese biscuits on the boat – breakfast on the boat was a summer list item! It was nice to be able to both have some fun and have time to prepare myself for the week ahead.
Serious boating face:
So, school did go off without a hitch on Monday and I forgot a full outfit pic, but this is me during my planning period. Everyone seemed glad to be back and it seemed like the bus situation was at least – better.
I love teaching! I just don’t love the admin stuff that has become more and more each year.
That first night after school I knew I wasn’t going to cook. Both kids were at work, but I like to leave a plate for them. I looked on the Door Dash app and looked for $0 delivery fees. Outback Steakhouse had one. I ordered two meals that the four of us were able to split and it came out to $47 with tip so I was ok with that.
We rarely use Door Dash, but Monday night it was a life saver.
Tuesday night, I turned on my oven from the app on my phone – woohoo!
It was 110 when I got in my car Tuesday! We had our hottest week of the summer this week – go figure! Next week it looks to be low to mid 80s!
The meal I made in the oven was Amylu chicken apple gouda sausage, onions, zucchini, little red potatoes, and mushrooms. This was also lunch for Erica and I the next day.
Erica grows tomatoes and eggplant and made us eggplant parmesan with whole wheat linguine one day. This had been her dinner the night before. The eggplant held up really well and this meal was delicious!
We are back to splitting the lunch prep and it’s great! She comes to my room on my days for lunch and I go to her room on her days for lunch.
I was happy with Aldi’s sparkling water. I have only tried blackberry so far. Did you see my Aldi post this week? Yup, I’m shocked, too.
Ok, so this is not a favorite…on Sunday evening when I had basically finished cooking dinner, there was a small puddle of water underneath my freezer – probably someone dropped ice and it melted. My barefoot found it and I slipped and did the splits going two different ways – both ways that I was not flexible enough to do – and I landed on the floor. I pulled my hamstring really badly. I iced it and rested it and then went to bed and woke up in pain. Monday was rough and even walking was painful. Tuesday was better. Wednesday was better, but I developed a huge bruise. I’m naturally pretty clumsy.
Look at the devotional I read Thursday morning:
Yes, my foot slipped, but I was so grateful it wasn’t worse, that standing felt better than sitting and I was able to start school again because that’s where I needed to be.
Resting the leg after school:
I really want to show you a photo of the bruise, but I won’t.
Apparently not eating a balanced meal for dinner is a trend:
Ha! We’ve all been trendy for a long time!
Ok, I hate to end like this, but Wednesday Ernie wasn’t acting like himself, and it was bascially a repeat of last January when we found out he had internal bleeding, which led to a diagnosis of cancer of the spleen.
He perked up after that vet visit and has been great since then – thankfully. I have done an update here. I am so grateful for the time we have had since January.
At our August vet visit, the vet warned us that this was coming but it was hard to see with our healthy acting 10-year-old dog. He stressed again that he didn’t advise any interventions.
Wednesday night he barely moved and wouldn’t eat. My prayer had been for my kids to get to have time with him after the spring semester ended in May and that Ernie would have a good quality of life up until the end. We have had a wonderful summer with him. He has been on so many walks, has been boating, and has swum in the river.
I was also prayerful about the timing of Ernie’s passing in regard to Mason’s time in England. As I am writing this on Thursday morning, my heart is heavy with Jack starting back and our German guests coming on Monday.
It might be quiet around here next week depending on what the next couple of days holds for us. “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul”.
I don’t have a ton to share with you today, but I am happy to link up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files.
Let’s go back to last week when the weather was unseasonably cool. I wore this to one of our teacher workdays. This outfit is sponsored by Old Navy – ha! The white gauzy blouse is a consignment find – Old Navy new with tags – you have seen it on here a bunch. The jeans are from my quest last fall to try a straight leg. They are button fly which surprised me in a good way! As you can see the length is perfect. As you can see, they are tight, so I am trying to get back to where they fit a bit looser.
So, straight legs…now skinny seems weird to me and like my legs are in sausage casings. I didn’t get rid of my skinnies, but I am definitely only wearing a straight leg now. I also have a flare and a semi wide leg style in my closet. My jeans are Target Universal Thread, Wit and Wisdom from Nordstrom, and new to me Westbound from Dillard’s.
I did a tan rattan headband and my coordinating slide sandals from Target.
I didn’t get any weekend outfit pics. I think I just wore my cut offs Saturday night with a blouse.
Monday was our first day back and I wore my Old Navy blue and white dress with sneakers:
Tuesday I was prepared for it to be super hot in my classroom and wore probably my coolest feeling dress – this dress is from my spring Walmart dress haul. A lot of the teachers are wearing dresses right now with our high 90s temps and not super strong AC.
And yesterday I wore my old purple skirt, new poncho blouse, and new Crocs sandals.
I have some early fall inspo. I have been finding inspo in the Instagram ads I get. I am trying to use these to see what I already have to create that look.
I have things in my closet that are similar to this:
I really don’t have much J.Jill. I did go in the store this month, but nothing was appealing – I think it can be great for staples, though. I have a chambray blouse and I have mustard Matilda Jane pants and I think I can re-create this. I was drawn to the color combo.
Still crushing on gold shoes, but this style and this darker tone appealed to me for fall:
I also liked this look – the chambray on cut offs appealed to me:
I don’t have a short sleeve chambray, but I have been looking for one this summer without the high neck. Maybe I will still find one before it gets too cool for short sleeves?
What are you wearing?
What styles are you wanting to try for early fall?
I always love it when blogger ‘updates” me on situations, favorite products, etc., so that is what I thought I would do today…
My mom –
is doing great! She is still a working artist (former art teacher) and just had her art work chosen to display in my hometown’s downtown area and also had her own gallery art show. She is getting ready to take a trip!
Lume –
So, I bought the Lume starter pack that had the stick deoderant, the cream, the wipes, and a small cream. The smells were simply horrible – toasted coconut, tangerine, and baby powder. The worst was baby powder. Every time I put it on my pits I felt like I had just changed a diaper. But, it worked. I then went to Target after I ran out and bought the above unscented for not a low, low price. This small tube costs $15. Either the Target formula is different or it no longer works on my body, or the summer is no match for it. I smelled horrible so I am back to Secret Invisible where you twist and the deoderant comes up in the little holes. Erica feels the same about Lume not working for her anymore, either.
TikTok – I took a break from Tik Tok videos (making my own Spanish instruction videos in a very amateur way) over the summer. I had a good-bye for now video recorded but my mom had the stroke and then it seemed like I had waited too long. I did make my first Tik Tok money over the summer based on views. I made $55! I really don’t know what I will do with it this year. Part of me thinks I have used up my best material.
Mason – Mason went and helped his now four year roomie Jakob move in Sunday. Mason will join him in the spring and had many of their shared items housed at our house. They have a private bathroom in the senior dorm! Mason is working a few more shifts but then taking about two weeks off before England in mid-September. He is doing fall semester in the north of England.
Jack – started moving into his solo room in the same senior dorm with private bathroom last night. Mason helped him and had asked off work to do so. I suspect Jack will be sleeping at home (on the weekends) more than normal to spend time with Mason before England.
German Cousins – Tom’s cousin, Tom’s cousin’s wife, and their middle son are arriving Monday afternoon. I will be at work until 4:00 so I thought I would have a pasta bake ready to put in the oven and serve bread and salad. Any other ideas? I also might have a small charcuterie ready if they are starving immediately after traveling. They will be traveling from Boston after spending a few days there, so they aren’t fresh off the plan from Germany. I have to be honest that I am sad that I have to work and can’t get home earlier, but I am taking one day off. I have had it planned since well before August 9th and I had to tell myself that it isn’t my fault that the school district wasn’t able to make school happen.
Groceries – This month has been an experiment with shopping at Kroger, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and even Walmart for a few things. I am at around $700 for the month here on the 23rd.
School –
I forgot to get an outfit pic, but this is my face during my planning period. Yes, we got to start on Monday! It was such a good day and honestly, I felt like myself (my teacher self) again. The first day of school on August 9th really wrecked me, but I felt like I actually had energy after school Monday! I think the kids were glad to be back! I started my routine and taught new content. Now I have to learn 150 first names, last names, and Spanish names but I should have that soon!
I’m low key shocked to be writing this post. When a teen says “low key” that just means “kind of”.
I have gone to Aldi twice now in my quest for grocery savings. You may remember that my Walmart Plus June was an epic fail where I spent over $1600 on groceries. I think it was the just having college kids home, stress, convenience of being able to have groceries on my doorstep, and maybe a few other things. I cancelled my 30 day trial, but I think it was more me than them. In July, I did much better and almost exclusively did Kroger pick up. I do not think Kroger is cheaper, but I was much more intentional.
Since August started, I have done a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Two of my shopping trips were at Aldi. I had not been there in about a year.
Yes, you still have to put your quarter in the cart to be able to use it, but I always have a bit of change in my car so that is no big deal.
I remembered my reusable bags once and the second time I didn’t. I am ok paying a few cents for each bag and they are nice with handles so I can re-use them:
It is all self-checkout now and you can bag as you are scanning – woohoo! I like this much better than taking all of my stuff over to a counter.
Aldi is about 10 minutes away as opposed to Kroger that is like a minute away. Aldi does do pickup so if I knew the products more or I decided to learn their system, that might be an option.
There are lots of brand name items. I would still have to go to Kroger once every couple of months for a few things, but during my Walmart experiment I realized we are way less brand name or Kroger brand dependent than I had thought.
All of this was $130:
It included lots of meat/protein and I feel like this would have been almost $200 at Kroger.
They have a good version of Laura’s Lean ground beef that is way cheaper. I have cooked this once and was very happy with it.
The salmon looks a lot like Trader Joe’s for less. Remember that Trader Joe’s and Aldi are owned by same company. We don’t have a Lidl, but a lot of people like that store, too. We like the tie to Germany that Aldi has and Tom’s cousin who is coming works for a frozen food company in Germany that works with Aldi.
This is good! I will buy more of this and I didn’t get a big southwestern profile, so I think I could use it in place of my Costco grilled chicken strips.
This was really good and made a quick dinner – there are several options like this that I would like to try.
We have not tried these yet, but I thought they would be good in the air fryer.
This is a good sub for my Land O’Lakes:
So, anyway…who am I? Also, if you are doing a charcuterie board, their cheeses are so tempting with about as many options as Trader Joe’s.
I think Aldi has made big improvements in the last year and I can see myself trying to shop here at least for half of my trips.
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 