A Peek at the First Couple Weeks of School

Peanut and I have had a couple of dog check-ins with these two pups. Sophie, the smaller one, loves to play hide-and-seek and we've got her pretty well trained. She's awesome (and Brinkley, after 4+ years of us visiting, still won't come near us voluntarily, haha.)

This one spends a lot of time on homework now, although he also spends a lot of time getting sidetracked and diving deep into things that really aren't required. But the love of learning never stops.

Peanut and I took our read-aloud to the pool. Might be my new favorite spot to read.

Bob is coming along nicely!

We fit in an evening swim with dinner at the pool one night. Probably should have let Bug stay home to get started on his homework, but it was just too nice out.

I got out for an early morning walk, which I haven't been doing much of this summer, and was blown away by all the wildflowers down by our creek, which still has water in it! Unheard of at this time of year. It's really beautiful to see what a wet winter can do for our state. Maybe not quite as wet as last year, but it has made for some different plants popping up, or lasting longer than normal.

Peanut started LAC again--practices two time a week and he says he might do a couple swim meets this year. We'll cross our fingers that he's at least willing to give it a try. But I'm glad he gets the swimming time either way.

School water polo started again. Bug is a captain this year and trying to do everything he can to improve the team. He started a lunchtime club last year that meets one day a week to go over different rules and plays and just help the kids learn the game a little better. They're going to film the games this year and watch some of the footage, too.

First game could have been worse (and would have been if Amador hadn't pulled way back after being up like 15-2). 2 of those 7 goals were Bug. Our team just doesn't have the coaching to dig them out of this history of losing badly to most of the teams in the league (and our league happens to have a lot of REALLY good players in it--the ones who are going on to play D1 polo in college at some of the top schools in the country.)

Love seeing these cute moments with all the animals cuddled up in one part of the cage. I spent 3 hours doing a deep clean on the cage that morning and I think they were all so excited to snuggle into the fresh bedding downstairs in their stink-free cage. I love animals, but sometimes wish we had outdoor pets without cages to clean. Not sure what that would even look like, haha.

And finally, I'll end with this awesome burger that Peanut made for us the other night. He gets a monthly cooking kit and these burgers and drink were from a couple of his kits. He was actually testing out the recipe so he can make it again in a few weeks for some friends he wants to have over. I can't wait for him to be able to take over a night every week all on his own.

We've had some other fun these past weeks, but I'll give those days their own posts.

First Week in Pictures

I didn't take a lot of pictures this week, but the few moments I captured sum up our week pretty well.

We had a couple days of doggie visits. I only have one semi-regular client these days, but we love her pups (and cat) and look forward to the days she needs us to drop in and play with them.

Peanut has a new desk setup in the family room that we're both excited about. Hoping it gets some use this year, or, at the very least, gives us a place to put projects we're in the middle of.

Water Polo had their first scrimmage. It was an hour away, went way late, and we drove a few of the boys, so we didn't get home until after 9 and I'm already feeling how crazy this is going to make our lives for the next 2 months.

But it was fun to watch Bug play. The team isn't good overall, and they are working with barely a coach (more of a warm body than actual coach), so there isn't a lot of hope for a good season, but Bug enjoys the other boys and he is still trying his hardest to keep improving, so as an individual player, we're looking forward to seeing what he can do this year.

Peanut spent most of his "school" time this week working on the dreaded work samples we have to turn in to our charter each fall. He hates them, I hate them even more, but it's a pretty small requirement in exchange for school funds, so we do them.

However, he spent most of his time doing this. He's been flying through The Sisters Grimm series, and it's fueled a serious interest in fairytales and their history. I need to find him a few books that go over the original fairytales because he keeps encountering characters that he doesn't know much about.

I got a dinner date with Daddy-o to celebrate the fact that we survived this first week. I'm not going to lie, it was rough. Not pictured were the calls from Bean as she's trying to navigate her first week of college and roommates who think it's okay to party and vape in their room, the crying over work samples and assignments from the homeschool contingent, the late nights Bug is already putting in trying to keep up with the workload of AP Bio and IB Histories of the Americas along with his other two classes, and me trying to work because I did not get to much of the science planning I thought I would over the summer. School is back in session with a vengence!

Couple Last Things

 Bug has been working on his model boat that he got for Christmas. It's been quite the learning experience.

The miniature cannons are so cute, though!

Finally, just because they're so cute. . .

One of my dog clients has had to go back to working in the office and traveling, so we've gotten to hang out with her pups a couple times recently.

And we got a 3rd guinea pig! Bandit was one of Tilly's babies, and the family who took her ended up having a child with extreme allergies, so they asked if we wanted her back and since she was our favorite, we said yes. With that many pets, what's a little more poop? Really, it's been good because she seems to like Poppy, which makes us all happy. The other two pigs aren't always that nice to the bunny, so maybe she'll have more of a buddy now.

Get Outside

These first couple weeks of the new year have been full of little outdoor adventures. We've been more intentional about choosing to go for walks and to the park when we have free time, and it's been lovely. Having a goal has helped all of us.

The kids, especially Peanut, have been surprisingly cooperative. It's not that they don't like going outside, but they also like a lot of things that they tend to do inside, and without the goal and tracking their hours outside, they might have sometimes chosen to stay home when I ask about a walk.

The goal has also led me to ask more often--if they want to come with me for a dog visit, or to take a walk to the library. I love my alone time and had gotten in the habit of trying to sneak off as often as possible, but I'm now asking the kids and they are usually happy to join me, and it's actually been really enjoyable having their company.

I'm sure we are getting benefits from the extra sunshine and fresh air,

as well as all the exercise 

and mini adventures.

 

But I think the best benefit of all is from the conversations and chance to just be together, sometimes one-on-one, sometimes as a whole family, without all the distractions that come with our home and the screens and chores and to do lists. 

We've been trying to take a 20 minute walk after dinner most nights--nothing too long, and no real distance or speed goals, but just with the intention of getting outside a little more and beginning the wind down process of the evening. It's been such a calming activity and the newness of walking after dark has been great. Peanut has loved watching the moon get fuller each night, we've enjoyed the lingering Christmas lights around our neighborhood, and even found where the local rabbits like to come out after dark.

 It's amazing how much beauty a small change can bring into your life.

The First Week of Summer

Rounding out the week, after the swim meet, Daddy-o and I went to the Livermore rodeo (which was fun, but certainly not a have-to-go-every-year event in my book.)

Sunday was church and friends coming over for a Mexican feast. Daddy-o, with the help of his buddy, made authentic carnitas enchiladas, along with Mexican rice, beans, and pico de gallo. Yum!

Then, Monday morning, Bug took off for scout camp and these two had to find ways to fill the days. Bean spent a couple afternoons offering "spa" services for Peanut, who completely relished in the attention and pampering. He loves having his hair played with, his nails painted, and being fed special snacks.

There were also a lot of afternoons at the pool. Morning swim practice wasn't enough when it was hitting 104 degrees--we had three days in a row of unbearable heat and were so grateful to be able to swim each day. I worked out a pretty sweet deal with one of my dog clients so her dogs get to stretch their legs and pee in the afternoons and we get to swim and relax in this beautiful backyard pool. It's win-win for everyone.

Thursday morning we had the chance to volunteer with a cat rescue. A woman from church runs the rescue out of her home and has over a dozen kittens right now. 

The kids LOVED getting to play with them and snuggle them.

We had a lot of animal time this week between all the dogs, and the kittens. We almost don't need pets of our own.

And then, of course, we had swim practice. Bean has been helping out with Peanut's practice this week, which she says is exhausting! But he appreciates having a friendly face in the water with him, and the coaches appreciate all these older swimmers who stick around to help out with this group.

Finally, I'll end with this. Because this is awesome. There is nothing comparable to watching one of your kids do something scary that you know is really difficult for them. Those blocks are high. And diving is hard. But this little Peanut has been practicing diving both at practice and every afternoon, over and over. He looks so fearless. (And he swears that the belly flops don't even hurt ;) )

Puppy Tamer

One of the best parts of homeschool right now is definitely the daily visits to my doggy clients. Especially little Sophie, who has been the best entertainment this spring. Getting to watch her in all her puppy silliness has been so fun and a great break from the frustrations of math and projects gone wrong, for both of us. Bug has been so good with her and Lucy who is always down for some petting, and been patiently winning over Brinkley (on the right) who is really skittish, but will now come up to lick Bug occasionally. I've got a couple other kids who sometimes wish they weren't in school so they could come, too. There are trade-offs, for sure.

Puppy Love

I think we need a puppy. I have a new client and her 2 month old Aussiedoodle is bringing Bug and I so much joy each day. He's been coming with me every chance he gets because who doesn't want to snuggle with a puppy?

She is tiny--about 3 pounds--and hilarious. Constant movement and trying to get attention from all humans and dogs alike.

Watching her with the other two dogs in the family is so fun. Part of me is really sad that we can't go get our own puppy right now. And the rest of me, especially the part that feels like I am drowning in things I need to do, is really happy that we can come visit the puppy at lunch time each day, and then come back home to our dog free home.

The Beginning of the Trail

Back in the 90s when I lived in the Bay Area and used to go hiking with my dog frequently, I got a book about the Bay Area Ridge Trail.  I'm not sure how many miles were completed back then, but now, there are 375 miles of completed trails along the ridges that rim the bay. I've been talking for two years about hiking the trail, so I made a goal to see how much I can do this year and today, I did my first stretch.

My hiking buddies today--I love that I can bring my work with me while I hike (although in the future, I think Dandan will only be joining me for sections where there are no cow, and no cowpies.)

We did the stretch that is closest to us, which is also one, if not THE, shortest section--just 2 miles, but the views of the green hills and the south end of the bay were lovely.

On the way back, we looped through a different part of the park where we hiked through the trees and found moss growing everywhere.

But most of the hike was here in the rolling hills. 

2 miles down, 373 left to go! I'm a little behind, but I wonder if I can average 7 miles a week and get this done in one year? Hmmm. . .