It's Been A While!

It's been a while. I hate it when I let the time go too long between posting.

Things here are in their usual crazy state, but not alarmingly so. This is, of course, overwhelming (because when is life not) and underwhelming (crisis free is so...CRISIS FREE! A girl could get used to this!) all at the same time.

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In a little over two weeks from now, the big boys turn eight. I could go on and on about how this blows my mind, but I think we all feel that about our kids. :) While this time of year is usually a minefield because of the events surrounding their birth, I had thought I was doing well this time. I remembered but didn't dwell on everything, and frankly, I was feeling pretty good about how I was handling things. Then FB reminded me that this is the date that my water broke eight years ago, and Bam! It all came back.

Sigh.

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The big boys are in second grade this year, and things are going very well. I got to the point of regularly pinching myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming, it was going that well.

Two weeks ago brought the first issue - a big one, actually, that brought my mama bear out in full force. Just as that was resolved a new, equally significant issue was discovered. The second issue is resolved for the time being, but the whole thing has left a sour taste in my mouth.

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We have started the process of refinancing our home loan. We will consolidate the second loan we got to pay for baby making while we're at it. I am wildly excited about the whole thing, as it will save us quite a bit each month. Yay.

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I have been blessed with a student teacher this semester. It took us a bit to click, but at this point I'm feeling really good about having her in the classroom. (Now, remind me of this when I give over "full control" in a few weeks. That will be the hard part for me!) It's exciting to be a part of a new teacher's journey to their own classroom. :)

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In July we put out a few milkweed plants in the hopes that we'd be able to "raise" some monarch butterflies. I can't tell you how much fun it has been to watch the monarch cycle. We have the whole shebang going on right now - eggs, caterpillars, and even chrysalises. We've had caterpillars eat several plants down to the stems, and we've bought just as many new plants to feed our caterpillars while the other plants regrow. There are monarch butterflies that will come to our plants even when we are right there.

I love how calming it has been for all of us. Each day we head out to check on our caterpillars. We find the new eggs that have been laid. We search for the caterpillars who have left, sometimes finding their chrysalises, and sometimes not. The boys often go over on their own and talk to them. Fun!

We love it all so much that we got my mom her own milkweed plants for her birthday. She's now just as hooked as us. lol.

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I don't know if anyone is still around any more. I hope so. I'd love a wave if you get the chance. :)