not necessarily in this order

 Hello friends! It's been a minute, right? The Mr. and I have been talking about how it was wild enough that we got a puppy last fall when we already felt like we were running on fumes between Lil Momma's extracurricular schedule, working on my aunt's estate, work being oof, injuries... only for me to throw this MLIS class into the mix. It's taken literally almost the entire first quarter of the year for me to feel like I have a modicum of control over my tasks and house and life, but I'm back with a catch up and hopefully back here and in your comment sections on a regular basis, too.  Yes, Maysie, I’m sitting here   For now, some catching up on what I've been catching up on: School I think I had left off saying I felt so much better once I dropped that second class that I was supposed to start mid-March. I also feel so much better because I have a better perspective on what I am trying to get out of this experience. I think I was putting in inordinate amount o...

This month, I tell ya! <<gestures to the state of the world>> Work getting worse before it gets better. My first paper in my MLIS program. February school vacation with the week after having no school because of a blizzard. So much overwhelm.So much functional freeze. AND the   February FIG challenge   that has been such a bright light. Here are my final FIGs of the challenge, which include some stories about being back in school, parenting, puppies, and smiles. 14   How well Lil Momma did when school was canceled for the entire week after February vacation (sigh, thanks Blizzard of 2026 and the 30+ inches of snow in my backyard). School vacations are hard for only children and then to have another week off while the Mr. and I had to work was rough - but, she totally rallied! One day, we made a deal if she got 10k steps on the treadmill she could have ice cream for dessert, 12k and she could have fast food for dinner, and 15k to choose what we watched on tv fo...

Why would we get a dog right now? Honestly. Everything is wildly chaotic and I live in a constant state of overwhelm. The news this week has been so horrifying and that’s on top of the sad and awful it’s been. Why would we get a dog right now? We just survived the back to back of the Mr. and my 20th dating anniversary and Lil Momma’s 12 birthday. For our anniversary, we saw it was the year of “metal” and pulled the plug on buying new kitchen appliances (much needed), including our first working dishwasher and a fridge with water (with water!! So fancy!!) that arrive tomorrow. We have to take a cabinet down tonight somehow and then find a place for the fridge contents. I’m sourcing ice and coolers. Don’t even ask me about the ballet barre and turning pad we got LM; no clue where those will be stored. Why would we get a dog right now?  School starts next week. Besides the fact that LM is 5 feet tall now and 12 years old, the idea that she’s in 7th grade seems unfathomable. This yea...

It’s been a wild July and I feel like I’ve been scattered all over the place. I figured I’d start the week off with some quick updates! Weighted dance Dino and hotel room ice cream!   PT Update I’m in this weird space where I feel like I should be progressing faster, but I’ve also come so, so far. I have to keep reminding myself that I started weight-bearing at the end of May and got out of the boot and back to driving at the start of July – it really hasn’t been that long!   Now that I’m more comfortable walking (and less terrified my ankle/foot will shatter into a million pieces), my PT is all about building strength, balance, and endurance. I’m finding that I can walk for a few minutes in good form and then I start to limp– and, the limp leads to my right hip and lower back hurting. This was exacerbated by going back into the office 2 days a week (which is so much walking) and sitting in awful chairs on the weekends for Lil Momma’s performances. So, I’m also doing a lot of ...

Yesterday, Lil Momma asked to make a treat she saw on Kids YouTube that falls into a category the Mr. and I call “a mess that won’t be worth it”: Basically, you pour a flavored seltzer into a zip-top sandwich bag and seal it. Then, you put the sandwich bag into a larger freezer bag filled with ice and salt and shake it for a bit. The result was to be a flavored, bubbly shaved ice.  My doubt came from the fact that isn’t rock salt in the bag. I grew up making “kick the can” ice cream where rock salt was the magic ingredient. The Mr.’s doubt wasn’t really doubt but more of an aversion to a mess or a disappointment while he was working in the room next to the kitchen (where she’d make it) and living room (where she’d eat whatever came out). However, we both remembered that this was a summer of building independence for our girl (and how much mess can a seltzer make compared to other baking and crafting “experiments” she’s done?!), so we gave the go ahead and tapped out as she rustled ...

 A handful of thoughts from the end of June chaos… One Poor Lil Momma had a freak accident last weekend, but luckily it was more annoying than painful. Saturday night, she was headed upstairs to get ready for bed and remembers hitting her palm on the railing - but not hard enough to say anything (and she would say something, haha!). When I came up to hang with her, I noticed her ring finger was bent down and asked her about it. We quickly realized she couldn’t raise it without her other hand or assistance. Strangely, I didn’t even have to ask Dr  Google what it was (although I’ve googled a lot since haha!): When LM was a toddler, she randomly developed “tr!gger finger” in her thumb that had to be released via surgery; here’s hoping this one will have some other options. A trip to Urgent Care left her with a splint and an appointment at the orthopedic surgeon’s next week… Two …which leads us to the camp she was supposed to attend this week and next saying she couldn’t come un...

I  started PT  last Thursday! It feels so good to be doing things! Yet – it is also hard to do things when the only thing I’ve been doing is keeping my foot elevated for the last 6 weeks. I had read so much of this is mental and that really is true. My first PT activities have included doing the ankle alphabet (literally drawing the letters with my big toe) and dorsiflexion with a band a few times a day to increase mobility and TAKING 20 STEPS AN HOUR!! (in the boot) (on crutches) (at 25%). The steps took me on a journey. First, it’s hard to step down when the whole point wasn’t to step down for weeks and weeks. Next, it’s hard to recognize what 25% pressure feels like. I did the whole thing with the scale and figuring out what it feels like, but it’s hard to know in the moment if I’m putting enough pressure on it. But, all good steps (haha) in the right direction and I’m excited to do more at my 2 PT appointments this week! Lil Momma had a tween sass-induced tech break for 24...

It is a Friday night and LM is at the school dance and the Mr. is at a bar next to the school dance with all the dads just in case someone wants to leave early. I just finished a book and am sitting in a quiet house, which is a gift but I have this busy mind, haha sigh. Here are some hot takes and real talk from this moment! The bee paper I found at my aunt’s seemed to point at my buzzing mind, haha! I am two weeks and change away from this ankle and foot surgery. Is it bad that one of the things I’m most worried about is not working for 2 1/2 weeks? Since the pandemic, I’ve talked a big talk about having better boundaries with work and not having it be my identity… but, the idea of not working is really freaking me out! I haven’t taken 2 weeks off in a row since I had Lil Momma and was on leave. Obviously, I have more work to do (pun intended, sigh)… Things are moving on clearing out my aunt’s house, but I am at the point where I have to make big important decisions about whether or n...

  Hello from our deck on the first warm weekend day to really appreciate it! Nothing like a romance novel and a super soaker to prevent the squirrels from taking out my birdcam again to set the Saturday vibe! Honestly, I’m sitting here like a plant soaking up some sun and avoiding my to do list. Lil Momma is running around the yard in socks, practicing her dance solo, and chattering away. The Mr is cleaning our gardens and making plans to take down a small tree that is allowed the squirrels to take out the antenna on our other birdcam a few weeks ago. Last night we went and saw Alton Brown’s final tour in Boston.The Mr and I have seen every tour he’s done and his shows (television and live) have really been one of those constants in our almost 20 year relationship. Lil Momma joined us last night, which made me super happy to do something fun as a family before everything gets crazy. (Crazier) In this very moment, she’s having her yearly realization that she loves being outside and ...

  Lil Momma is a chatterbox and has been on fire lately with her questions and comments. Here’s a sampling:   “What time is it?” (She’s wearing a watch) “Hold me closer, Tony Danza!” (sung) “What’s a saga?” “Have you been to the Pink Pony Club?” “Why did Dad give me 4 slices of bell pepper? Four?!” “Ideal Oreo proportions are a personal choice.”  “Do you ever think about Steve Harrington’s hair?” ( She’s deep into a Stranger Things rewatch even though we just finished season 4 ) “Did you sleep well? Was it sound?” “Road trip snacks are a joy!” “Will you switch shoes with me?” (When she wore Crocs to a strength workout class)  I can’t believe what comes out of this kid’s mouth - and that we can wear each other’s shoes?!? Time is wild, friends. 

 I was going to share a PT update today, but my yesterday was so strange that I feel compelled to document it here. Let me start off by saying both Lil Momma and I are fine. My car needs a new bumper, but I’m not stressing about it .  A silly reminder from LM’s Christmas haul  On Fridays, I pick up LM after she walks back from school and we go to our local supermarket to pick up her dessert first Friday treat. I had had one of those work from home days where everything feels like a lot after having PT before work which also felt like a lot, so I was excited to grab my girl and go get a treat. I live in a university town. The parking lot at this plaza is notoriously a bit wild - we always approach it with caution. I turned off the main road and took a couple turns to go down one of the center aisles when I saw a car cutting across aisles and not slowing down. Luckily, it was on my side and not  LM’s passenger side. I started honking my horn and tried to stop with the ...