Happy Wednesday! It’s the first Wednesday of the month and I am linking up with Jennifer to share five things I am currently doing. Each month we share five different things and I think it’s a fun way to think about what’s going on. I am also linking up with Joyce for 6 questions in Wednesday Hodgepodge. Let’s get to it!
I am loving…
This “fall” weather! I am loving how warm and sunny it has been. I try to get outside every day, even when it’s cold, but this weather is making it so much easier. We just set a record for longest time without measurable rain, so I know it needs to rain, but I’m loving this weather! I spent a good bit of time outside around the house yesterday. A few weeks ago, I was certain my flowers were dying but they aren’t. My begonias, geraniums, and marigolds are still blooming!
When I was inside yesterday, the windows were open and I was wearing a tank top and shorts while watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. Happy summergivingmas!
I am looking forward to…
Holiday lights!! I usually wait until the Friday after Thanksgiving to put my Christmas decorations up, but that is this month!! Christmas lights are coming! I think I am going to put the candles in my windows this weekend. In years past, I’ve put them up on Black Friday and keep them up until the spring time change. I am ready for them now with the time change last weekend.
I am smelling…
Fresh air and apples. I opened up the house on Tuesday and love that fresh air blowing through our house. I always have a seasonal candle on our kitchen counter and right now I have the Trader Joe’s honeycrisp apple out. It smells so good!
I am preparing for…
The next 55 days. Jeff and I sat down yesterday to have a 56 day planning session. We looked at dates to put fun things on the calendar, school and sports commitments, holiday shopping, the remaining balance on our FSA, and other end of the year things.
I started preparing for Christmas decorations this week. I used a few strands of lights with my Halloween decorations and I didn’t put them away. I wrapped part of our porch railing while the weather was warm. I won’t turn them on and you can’t really see them, but I know that Black Friday Sarah is going to be pretty happy that those lights are out.
I am thankful for…
I am thankful for Jeff!
Our schedule has been nutty lately and we are only making it work with total teamwork. Even though Jeff may look at me sometimes and think “I don’t have the energy for you today” like Rip from Yellowstone, he is always willing to give it a go together.
I am thankful for our public library! Our public library is an incredible resource for our whole community. They partner with schools every single time we have an idea. The library is a place for families to spend time, but not money, and have access to great books, magazines, and programs. I use the library for school all the time, checking out books, getting ideas for books to add to our school library, and to collaborate on programs and ideas for the students. As a family we use the library all the time, too. We read eBooks on our kindles, we check out books, and attend programs. I joined the Friends of the Library a few years ago and am proud to support the great things our library does!
I am thankful for a night at home. The stars all aligned last night and we were all home to eat dinner at 5:45 and in for the night! The boys didn’t have much homework and we enjoyed time together playing video games, watching tv, and chatting about anything on our minds.
I am also thankful that the election is over! I am so tired of the political ads and very happy to say goodbye to them!
1. What is one good thing you often take for granted? I really try hard not to take it for granted but our parents are a very good thing (I felt like Martha Stewart there 😆). My parents were traveling for most of October and Jeff’s parents were traveling at the same time. It really hit home how lucky we are to have healthy parents that live close to us and want to spend time with their kids and grandkids. I really enjoy spending time with our parents, even though we don’t get as much time to do it as I’d like in this season of life, and I am so grateful that they are as close as they are.
2. What’s the boldest piece of clothing in your wardrobe? Well, maybe that wind suit I wore on Halloween. Honestly, I wear a lot of bright colors and prints as a true Lilly girl. I am not afriad of a bright color or a wild print. A few weeks ago, I was getting dressed for high school open house. I wanted to look nice, keep the attention on Luke, and not be too warm. I put this on and it just didn’t feel right for me. I texted my sister and friend asking if it was too boring. Everyone said it was a nice outfit but not really me. Ha! I changed into a hot pink cardigan and gold shoes and felt much better.
3. Do you think common interests or common values are the key to people getting along? Elaborate. I think they both help, but compassion and respect are the keys to people getting along. Having compassion for others and respecting differences makes it so much easier to be kind and have positive interactions.
4. November 6 is National Nacho Day…do you like nachos? How do you like yours? Do you make them at home or only order out? Oh boy, I love nachos! We make nachos about once a month at home for a quick dinner. I prefer sheet pan nachos because the toppings get spread out over all the chips. I love nachos from a restaurant, too.
5. Have you spent any time in Washington D.C.? If so what did you think? If not, is that a place you’d like to visit? What do you think about politics as a career choice? A career in politics is not for me. It takes a special personality to take that on. I always hope that people enter politics to make a difference for their constituents and all Americans, but it doesn’t always seem that way. I’d have a hard time with the give and take to make a deal.
I have been to Washington, D.C. a lot. It takes about an hour from the time we leave our house until we are parked and ready to explore. We haven’t been in a few months so this is a good reminder to put a DC visit on the calendar. We’ve taken the boys to the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln/Jefferson/Washington/MLK/WW2 memorials, the Smithsonian museums (Air & Space in DC and in Dulles, Natural History, American History, Zoo), the Mall, and various other spots and historic restaurants in DC.
One summer, my mom and her friend decided that we were going to visit DC. Every Monday we all loaded up in a van and went somewhere new. We have so many fun memories from this summer even though I did not love getting dressed in “nice” summer clothes and heading out. Some of our most memorable stops are the FBI building, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and Hard Rock Cafe for the first time.
6. Insert your own random thought here. I voted all alone yesterday. It was the first time I have voted all alone since 2008! I always take my kids with me to vote, but no one was around yesterday. Jack had school and Luke had his shadow day at Jack’s school. I always cry a little when I vote because I am so grateful for the right and the privilege to participate in our democracy. It’s a big thing!
That was a fun way to kick off November! We have a half day at school for the end of the quarter and the high temp is 80! Teachers can work from home so I will be outside as much as possible soaking up that sunshine. The great part about working from home as a school librarian is that reading is a big part of my job and I can do that on my deck! I hope you can find the sunshine today! Have a great day full of sunshine and books!
