One thing that has kept me and Michelle going through a year of pandemic, homeschooling, work from home, Church responsibilities, and house projects is date night. Our older kids reached the magical age where they can babysit about a year and a half ago, so it's more doable financially, and we now go out every single Friday. It's the absolute best.  We have eaten at a lot of yummy places over the year, most of them sitting in the blue car in a parking lot. Some of our favorites have been Slap Fish in Farmington, El Pollo Loco, Hook and Reel, Crown, Taste of India, Lucky Slice, Pad Thai, and Cafe Sabor. Least favorite is a tie between Taco Time and Rumbi Island Grill (but the latter doesn't really count because Michelle was sick and ordered white rice, macaroni salad, and unseasoned shrimp). We didn't eat inside a restaurant for more than a year, but a couple weeks ago we got reservations at our favorite place, Rooster's. We ate in a booth and ordered round after rou...

A couple overarching observances from the mama/teacher. I have always appreciated teachers and school staff, but homeschool has taken my appreciation to the next level. I am so grateful for teachers, administrators, custodians, cafeteria workers, and those who appropriate funds for schools. Their work is so important. Also, the homeschool life is really hard. In some ways, I've become a working mom. That's both working and momming all the time. I haven't figured out how to balance things, still, and  our house and yard and dinner menu are suffering because  of it, but I honestly feel like I'm doing the very best I can figure out how to do. I'm grateful to have Nate on board in such a hands-on way. He is such a support and a strength to all of us. We're firmly committed for the year, though. And every once in awhile there will just be a sublime moment when it feels so right and amazing. But mostly it's really, really hard and Nate and I both live on the edge ...

In June we got all adventurey and headed out one day with some friends to scope out the poppies. It was a delightful trip, and I was very proud of it for doing it just me and the kids while Nate worked. We oohed and aahed over the flowers, explored the woods, ate, got eaten alive, got covered in mud, and headed home in time for Emmie's nap.  A couple interesting facts: 1. Poppies are so tall. Taller than Emmie! 2. They look spikey, but they're super soft. 3. Poppies have purple pollen. Say that 5 times fast!