Lately

 Hello friends!

A quick update is coming your way during my blogging time here... there aren't too many updates right now; we are mostly just staying hunkered down at home, doing school and all the regular things.  So I'm hoping that after posting a few pics and thoughts here I can use some of my time today to draft a homeschool curriculum post that I've been meaning to write since the year began!

Just makin' waffles on a Saturday morning.

We have had plenty of cold weather here, but not much snow.  I have been thankful that, if we bundle up, we can be outside for things like walks in the woods with Daddy!

My latest coffee addiction-- the Nitro cold brew.  It's "carbonated", but with nitrogen, so that makes it frothy and creamy even without any dairy products added.  Perfect for those January resolutions after consuming many a 360 calorie latte back in December.  Even the "nitro cold brew with sweet cream" (my fave) comes in at merely 70 calories-- a sensible choice.  Do I sound like a commercial yet?

Speaking of resolutions, it is true that I have re-activated the MyFitnessPal app on my phone and I'm trying to keep better track of things.  At my checkup with my PCP in November (which was delayed nearly six months due to the pandemic) I was dismayed to find that, like many others, I had gained my COVID-19 (actually, it was more like 10 or 12).  It seems that, despite having a running pal and keeping up really well with exercise last year, being home a lot with free access to snacks sort of undid some of those fitness gains.  C'est la vie.  As I get older the weight seems to fly on with surprising ease, and taking off those pounds gets more and more difficult.  I've talked about it before.  I think I have somewhat come to terms with all of that, though.  I find myself always within a healthy range for weight, but on the upper end of that range.  As my doctor put it, "just don't gain any more weight".  😬  I'm committed to that... perfection is not necessary; I'm not really after a bikini body right now, and anyway that really isn't realistic to expect of myself, given my crazy homeschooling working Mama lifestyle.  But I am keeping track of what I eat as best I can, allowing myself calorie overages here and there, but also saying no to plenty of things I might have said yes to a couple of months ago, too.  That feels like enough right now, as I slowly crawl away from the losses of 2020 and begin a new year.  "Just don't gain any more weight."  Just keep swimming.

Speaking of crawling away from 2020....... the inauguration, right???  How hopeful was that?  I think the swearing in of our first female vice president was the most sob-worthy moment for me, along with The Hill We Climb.  Definitely felt like a huge weight was lifted on that day, for me.

We had a whole bunch of Christmas presents arrive this week, after being delayed by the postal service. They were sent by our family after we decided not to travel for Christmas at the last minute.  It has been a real pick-me-up in the middle of January to have some nice things to open!  The girls' new Barbies have been assisting them a lot with their school work, and there have been a few days of super-focus so we can get school done quickly and move on to building new Lego sets.  Spreading out Christmas cheer isn't a bad thing, I say!

I have been feeling SO much better about our homeschool trajectory for this year lately, and I think that is mostly thanks to my wonderful Dad, who agreed to step in as math tutor for a daily session with whatever girl needs help.  We have been meeting with him over Zoom for a couple of weeks and it is just what I needed to feel a bit less like I'm drowning and not able to give everyone what they need.  Above is C's "homework" assigned by Grandpa, which she completed and photographed to send to him, along with a cute cool alien drawing :)  I am so very thankful that he is willing to spend so much time and help us out.  It takes a village, right?

Planning homeschool on the weekend (which I only seem to be able to stay a week ahead of despite grandiose goals I set for myself of planning six weeks at a time), drinking hot tea, warming my feet by the fire, next to a little friend.  Can't complain!!!

New looks.  It's freezing and I have on four sweaters and she wears a summer dress and tells me she's totally fine and not cold.  *shrugs*  You pick your battles.

After reading the entire Narnia series aloud during the last year of quarantine, we have started dipping into Tolkein lately, The Hobbit first of course, to scratch our fantasy itch.  C made this amazing drawing of Bag End the other day that I just have to share!  My girls are all very artistic but C especially so.  Their drawings always bring me joy.  ;)

That's it for today!  See you again soon!