All by myself

Korra is spending the whole day with her buddy so I have the day totally alone. 

I vacuumed, mopped, dusted, changed the sheets, brought returns to Amazon and UPS, returned the rental car, and picked up the Prius from the shop- all before lunch!

PT

I went to Nate's physical therapy office this morning as a patient. The PT there was able to give me some good exercises to try out to help with my hip bursitis (including some for back strengthening). Hopefully it will help with my hip pain, but I know the thing that will help the most is if I finally train myself not to sleep on my side. 

Bad Genes

Korra had her yearly eye exam today. Both her eyes have gotten significantly worse, but her right one so much so that the doctor wants to undercorrect for now because the change might cause Korra to feel dizzy. We'll go back in a few months to check again and get an updated prescription. The doctor wasn't very surprised by this after looking at my and Nate's charts- we didn't exactly give her the best genes when it comes to eyesight. 

In better news, our insurance covers new frames (Korra was excited to pick out some blue ones) AND transition lenses- which should really help with Korra's light sensitivity. 

Groceries for Grandpa

I was able to order groceries online to be delivered to my grandpa now that he's back at home (but still isn't well enough to drive). Feeling really thankful for technology that allows me to help him even though we're so far apart. 

Book Update: Katie Edition

I've read 63 books since the pandemic started (I go by the last day of school- March 13).  I've read 81 books in 2020 (most of them novels, though a few memoirs).  Clearly a love of reading runs in the family.

Thirty-Three

Korra has finished reading 33 Warrior books (the ones about cats) since April.  Each book is over 300 pages.  She's also read lots of other books. This kid is a reading machine.

There are 22 more books in the series (not including the graphic novels, novellas, and field guides) and Korra intends to read them all.

Vaccinated!

Nate got the first dose of the COVID vaccine today!

I'll Accept My Award Now

I'm killing it at adulting today.  I dropped the car off at the shop for repair (Nate was in a fender bender a few weeks ago).  I fixed an insurance hiccup so that I was able to pick up the rental car.  I made a doctor's appointment for myself. 

I'm an adulting champion.

Merry Christmas!

Rainy Christmas Eve

 It rained all day, so today we watched lots of Christmas movies, did manicures, and played board games. 

Korra's Voting PSA Cameo

https://mobile.twitter.com/staceyabrams/status/1341895158724521984?s=20

Korra's Girl Scout troop helped Stacey Abrams make this voting PSA!

Butternut Squash Bread Recipe

I had a butternut squash that needed to be used so I made this bread and it's FANTASTIC. 

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/roasted-butternut-squash-bread/

I highly recommend you try it. 

Puppy Chow and Christmas Lights

Today I taught the kids to make Puppy Chow and we drove around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. We even got to see Santa drive by in a fire engine. 

I also remembered that I always eat way too much Puppy Chow and that it gives me a really bad stomach ache. 

Minecraft

These cousins are enjoying a very long game of Minecraft this morning. (They "slept in" until 6:15). 

No sleep for Cousins

It was after 10pm before we got all the cousins to sleep (Korra was the last hold out) and they were all up and giggling at 5am this morning. Even if THEY don't take a nap, I'm going to need one. 

This Nugget

Sibling Visit, Round 3

I'm 20 minutes away from seeing Laura!  That means I'll have seen all 3 of my siblings (in reverse age order) in 24 hours!

Sibling Visit, Round 2!

Stopped in Charlotte on the way to Chapel Hill to see Brian and Anna!  Another brief garage visit but so wonderful!

Sibling Visits, Round 1!

Today we had a little "garage living room" visit with Todd and Sarah. It was so good to see them. It made this weird, hard holiday season feel a little more joyful and normal to be together. 

Which is Worse?

I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music and I'm having trouble deciding which Christmas song I hate more: Christmas Shoes or Mary Did You Know.

Thoughts?

39/48

I've hand written personalized holiday cards for 39 students so far. 9 more to go. I really do love these kids. I hope they know that. 

Sweater and earrings

Mirror selfie of my Christmas sweater and earrings. 

Text Messages

I've texted 28+ people this morning (some of those were group messages and some I texted more than once).  I remember when cell phone plans used to have a limited number of texts you could send per month.  

She's so cute

Korra's teacher took these photos of her this week:

Another Negative COVID Test

We're one step closer to being able to see my sister for Christmas!

This is a radish

Our CSA said we were getting radishes. Instead we got this:

One enormous radish. The side of my forearm. WTF am I supposed to do with this?

Garden Lights

I saw that someone on Nextdoor was looking to sell their tickets to the Botanical Garden's Christmas lights event tonight. I made an offer and she accepted!  I ended up with "premium" tickets (easier entry and drink tickets) for what we would have paid for regular tickets. It was still an expensive evening, but it really was magical. It wasn't crazy crowded and masks were expected everywhere so it felt safe. I'm glad we went and celebrated Christmas together!  

Thank You Letter

This morning we did one of my favorite writing prompts:

Write a thank you note to your best friend, who gave you garlic and onion flavored gum as a gift.

The kids are truly hilarious in their responses.  

I got a very different Thank You note this afternoon via email:

Dear Ms B- thank you for telling my grandma that i'm failing your class and haven't done my work.  you've made my life a lot harder now because I got my phone taken and i'm gonna get my butt beat if I slip up anymore.  I'm gonna get all the work done dont text my grandma anymore pls PLS

Korra's first piano recital

Over Zoom, obviously.

She wasn't nervous at all- only impatient for her turn. She did really well!

Home Study, Round 1

Today a lady came to our house to interview Nate and I (separately) for our DFCS home study. It was actually really nice to talk with someone in person and she was very nice. She'll come back in a few weeks for a follow up and to interview Korra. 

Family Health Updates

Yesterday my grandma was released from the hospital to a nursing home for rehab. Though this seems like really good news (and in some ways it is!), her labs are still really concerning and we suspect the hospital is moving people out as soon as they are no longer contagious or needing a high amount is oxygen. She's still so weak. Please keep praying. No change in my grandpa but my Dad said he sounded more positive and in less pain. 

Yesterday was also the day of my mom's rotator cuff surgery. It went well and she's home. The recovery is supposed to be long (5-6 weeks before she can move her arm at all!) so please keep her in your prayers, too. 

9 months

People who got pregnant at the beginning of quarantine have infants now. 

We've been doing this for the length of human gestation. 

Former Foster Kids

Thinking about my former foster kids extra today. It's AL's 27th birthday and Danny has his court hearing today.  

Budding Vegan?

So Korra is sobbing because one of her teachers told get that milk cows have their babies taken away and they never see them again. Today is going to be rough. 

Christmas Earrings

On today's episode of Crafting to Keep Depression At Bay...

Stacey Abrams!

Stacey Abrams met with Korra's Girl Scout troop right before the pandemic. She's meeting with them again today over Zoom!

Guest Speaker!

My brother was a great guest speaker for my class today! 

They might have also enjoyed this picture of us from when I was in 7th grade. 

Perfect Distraction Novels

I just finished the second book in the Brown Sisters trilogy (by Talia Hibbert) and it was delightful. The best romantic comedy books I've read and exactly what I needed right now to take my mind off... everything. Bummed the third book won't be out until March but I know what I want for my birthday. :)

Christmas Bunting

I sewed this Christmas bunting today to hang on our mantel!

Snowflakes

During today's professional development, I cut out paper snowflakes and then taped them to my bookshelf so I have a more festive background. 

Difficult to Pronounce Last Name

One of the perks of having a difficult to pronounce last name: I rarely get called on in our Zoom meetings.  The presenters don't want to accidentally say it wrong so they just call on all the Smiths and Joneses.

Crafty Cards

I've been drawing and coloring and writing a few Christmas cards. Here's my favorite:

Ernest Saves Christmas

Yesterday we watched Elf. Today I introduced Korra to Ernest Saves Christmas.  She loved it. 

Pray for my Grandparents

Both my dad's parents are in the hospital with COVID. 

Recurring dream theme

In almost every dream for months now, there is a point when I realized, "oh no! I forgot my mask!" I can't even escape the reality of the pandemic in my dreams. 

Bookmarks

I made these bookmarks!  First I cut up some old jeans, then I did some freestyle embroidery, and finally I sewed on some backing.

I think I'm going to make a bunch more!

Chair Thief

Even when I practically sit on her, she won't move.