SEVEN

Theo's shoe got chosen for the 9th grade biology bacteria swab. How exciting.

2025 week seven

Playing with new settings on the phone. 

On Valentine's Day we had some friends over for dinner and then all the girls threw a wedding for Kip and Salem. 

It was so fun they decided to immediately have another wedding. 

Pickles was thrilled to be the groom, clearly. 

This lovely little spot of color on our late winter table is a reminder that spring is almost here.

Quotes:

Theo- Sigh. "I wish I lived in the time of unlimited shrimp at Red Lobster."

A boy at school asked V if she would be his Valentine. She told him, "I'm too young to have a particular, special Valentine. But you can be my 'Pal'-entine." 

T- "You're in your 30s?! I thought you were at least in your 40s! ...Not because of the way you look... or anything... it's just because... you seem... much.  older. " 

Me- "Look! My tulips are going to bloom tomorrow!"
V- "What if I kill them first?"

Watching The Sound of Music. Me- "V, will you come sit with me?"

V- "I'll sit on your lap but please don't cry on me." If Gretl is on the screen, there can be no promises.

SIX

 

Veronica's mural was finished last weekend. She loves her giraffe print wall. Matt's dad does such great murals. If you're ever interested in your own mural, I'll happily send along his information to you.

2025 week six

Science experiments at school. 

Your students may have made you Valentine's cards before, but has a student ever made you a Valentine's tomahawk? I thought not. 

There are probably a hundred similar photos of Theo making silly faces into my phone. He thinks he's pesting me, but I'm not upset at seeing his little face. 

One of many blanket forts the kids constructed this weekend. 

They even slept in the fort in Theo's room. They were comfortable until the cats thought they could prowl along the top and it all caved in on them. 

Matt and I did a lot of yard work this weekend. Matt finished this final raised bed for me. I'm hoping to have a permanent strawberry patch. 

Quotes:

When I sing V's bedtime song, sometimes I pretend that I'm singing the song to the dog or the cat. She hates it and keeps getting in between me and the animals and wont let me look at them. The dog loves this weird game.

V- "Do you know why I don't like raisins? It's because one time I thought I was eating a raisin but I ate a beetle instead."
T- "Mama, tell me the truth! Do you EVEN CARE about Zelda?"

Me-"Veronica, you don't need to be touching animals! Just handle your business."
T- "Yeah Veronica, you have to stop touching yourself!"

FIVE

 

Funyun got a new castle hide courtesy of Grandpa. 

2025 week five.

Grandpa has been busy doing crafts for us. He also gave Theo this camo wall.

Matt wired up a tiny dollhouse porch light on the cat flap in the closet so they can always find their way to the litter box. 

On Tuesday night we got to see V perform in her acting class skit. She had a really fun time and is looking forward to being in two different school productions this spring. 

V's friend came home with us on Friday night so we could take them to a different friend's party. 

How V went to the party. She discovered that Matt's old Gameboy can play some 8 Bit music, so she plugs in her fuzzy headphones to listen to old Mario tunes while she reads. 

On Saturday night V had her very first school dance. She and I went with her friend J and her mom to buy a dress at Dillards last week. 

V and J being the cutest long time friends. They have been friends since they were matching baby bumps on their mama's. 

V and friends at the Middle School Social. When we picked them up the talk was all giggles and tween boys being dumb drama. 

Quotes:

Theo, often- "Sadly, but sorry..." As in, "Sadly, but sorry you're too late."

Theo- "Was Papa more handsome when you married or now."

Me- "Now."

Theo- "That's not true! He was so young and fresh and handsome!"

Me- "I like him better now."

Theo-"I think you just have to say that."

FOUR

 

V got to be Julius Casear in class while they were reading.

2025 week four

She said it was fun but awkward to lay there and even more awkward when everyone had to wash their hands in her blood so they were all just petting her.

Kip hard at work. 

This year's Pinewood Derby Cars. Veronica's was the chocolate bar named "The Brown Streak" and Theo's was the "z" named "You snooze you lose." Even though after our book club book this month (Why We Sleep) we know that it really should be "You snooze, you're far better off." 

V got 2nd overall for the sibling class.

Theo didn't place, but his overall time was much faster than V's. 

Because V won a prize, Matt, Theo, and I all got french fries and she had to be happy with her medal. But we all donated some to her, so in the end she probably had more fries than the rest of us. 

The kids built a pirate ship outside on Saturday afternoon while I pruned all the plants and Matt built me a new raised bed. 

Almost done. This will be half compost, half asparagus. 

THREE

 

V got to go ice skating with her cousin/friend for her birthday. 

2025 week three

These are literally the only photos we have from the week and we didn't even take them. Ha.

Quotes

V- "So, turns out our science text books make perfect sleds!" A patch of snow remained on the field for the entire week of school. And apparently the 6th graders had a great idea...

V- "If I ask for something green can I have it no matter what?" Nope. 

Me- "Why did I hear you had a pencil up your nose in class?"

V, unabashed- "I had a booger I couldn't reach... But don't worry, I had the eraser side up!"

Theo was interviewed in class for a biography project. When he was asked what he wanted to be when he grows up, he said, "Married." His teacher texted me because it was such an unexpected answer from him. Sweet, but unexpected. 

TWO

 

Kip loves to lay at my feet while I cook dinner. It is just passive begging -hoping I'll drop a tasty morsel. 

2025 week two

School was canceled for Thursday and Friday this week because we had a huge snowstorm predicted. The 9-10 inches ended up being about 3, but it was enough for us! 

I love that I caught Theo's snowball in the air headed straight for V. 

V built a little snowman. Kip LOVED the snow. She was constantly asking to go outside and just bound through the snow like a little arctic fox. She was so sad when it started to melt. She would find a little patch of snow and bite it and rub her face in it. 

Driveway sledding. 

The chickens also loved the snow. They trouped around in a little group digging up the snow to find little treats. 

Theo basically refused to wear an actual jacket the entire time. My kids did not really understand the snow day rules and kept going in and out in and out getting everything soaked and then being mad when I wouldn't let them go back outside with dripping wet gloves and socks. 

This is how I spent much of the two snow days. 

Once the roads cleared, the delivery trucks were able to make it through. Our beautiful new rug from Ruggable arrived. I'm so happy with it. It reminds me of a medieval tapestry. 

Quotes:

Theo mad about me sending him to bed early because he was intolerably rude during dinner, "Can you please respect my body and not touch me?" He refused to surrender to a goodnight hug, kiss, snuggle, handshake, etc.