march misc:

Catching up on March miscellaneous happenings before I post about Isaac turning 6! 

Parent night.  Naomi will be entering high school in the fall!  Manny and I were Class of 1993, and Naomi will be class of 2023!

Another manicure, spring-themed.  I always want it a little shorter, but she insists on giving me longer nails.

Got my hair cut and dyed as well, but you can't really see the dye.  I'm doing highlights in the summer.  2019 is going to be a big self-care year for me.

He's being sad next to the spot where I used to keep the recycling.  He thought that was his toy bin.  He does this pretty much every day unless I give him a piece of cardboard to tear and chew.

Nacho looking for a place to hide his beloved pig ear.  They were his favorite treat (maybe tied with cow hooves), but I probably won't get them for him anymore, because he is starting to try to swallow them whole and then he throws them up.

Lucas still enjoying the Fliker from Grandma.

Chinese lion's heads (pork meatballs) in the Instant Pot.

Lucas putting his Subway giftcard from Grandma to good use.  Always a footlong roast beef with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and olives.

I won the ESPN NCAA Tourney Challenge against Manny's college buddies (and one of their sons).

Naomi is out many weekends at friend's houses or birthday parties.  This one was a birthday party at Shoreline Park.

Naomi made the perfect (for us) soft-boiled egg.

Watching a late-night showing of Captain Marvel.  Thank you, Manny!

j's memorial service:

In early March, I got a message from a friend that another friend J. had suffered a massive heart attack, and that it did not look not good.  I was shaken.  He was in the best shape of his life, only three years older than me.  His wife is one of the beautiful women inside and out that I have had the privilege to know.  A couple of days later, his wife (also first initial J.) messaged me about it.  Friends started a round-the-clock prayer chain, and on the 16th, he passed away and went home with the Lord.

  

The church was packed.  There were many familiar faces at the funeral.  I went with my friend Y.  They supplied tissue packs on the seats, and they came in handy.  I guess one could say there were several eulogies, delivered by his pastors, his friend, sister-in-law, and his wife.  It was poignant and touching.  One thing that was repeated was how J. gave off a certain stern vibe but he was truly a kind and caring person.  I still remember the first time I met him, they had come to a church picnic where they were selling sandwiches as a fundraiser, and he said, "Five dollars!  This better be a good sandwich!"  I thought it was deadpan humor at first and laughed, but then I realized he was serious.  Or maybe he was being funny, but he sure kept a straight face.  But, yes, over the years I found that he was a thoughtful guy.  He was really nice to Lucas.  From what J. said, he left on a high note, in a good place in his job, marriage, and health.  It's hard to believe he's gone.  Life is so short.   Too short to not appreciate what we have and, for Christians, to strive to live more for Him.

The most beautiful moment, when J. shared about her husband.

Packed courtyard

i's birthday party:

This was not Isaac's party, but another I.'s birthday party at Pump It Up, a giant indoor bouncehouse and entertainment place.  These are always fun for us (although sometimes less so, depending on the kids invited--we had a pusher/shover in the group this time).  For some reason, they no longer do the rockclimbing and haven't in years.  Maybe short on workers/supervisors.  They do have a new game where you press the soft buttons that light up and see which team can get the most.  

One of Lucas' favorite.

Balloon drop!

Lucas sliding into the wall of balloons the other kids built.

Isaac on the left.

Pizza time.  Also healthful snacks.

Happy birthday!

cc weeks 19 and 20:

We were on vacation for Week 18, so I had a substitute for the first time all year.  Thankfully the new units started in Week 19.  We began new Orchestra combined classes, with myself and the other tutor alternating as lead of the classes.  I also taught the History Timeline song with handmotions all year to the entire community.  We also had a combined science class for Week 19 (and will have two more following).  We continued with family presentations on ancient civilizations.  Not sure if I've mentioned before that the combined classes take place downstairs while the individual classes are held upstairs. The weather also finally let up a bit so we could go outside at the end.

Combined science class on crystals.

Lucas and S. like to keep their backpacks on when they bring them down, for some reason.

Lying down while listening to Handel's Water Music and identifying instruments or families of instruments.

Drawing the cross section of the geosphere on cut styrofoam balls.

Outside for review time and lunch recess.

spa shower:

The first Saturday of March, a friend threw a shower for a mom who was expecting #4, and she wanted to do a spa day rather than receiving any gifts.  I'd never been to a spa day before, and neither had some of the other moms.  It's just generally difficult to justify the time and cost, but I have learned, ladies, the adage that you need to take care of yourself so you can take care of others, however that works for you.  And with my rough feet and stressed face, a pedicure and facial were in order!  Our group was split up by whatever spa service for which we'd signed up.  I think there were 10 of us total.  They had accommodated two of us who preferred the morning (because our husbands had to work in the afternoon; very thankful Manny watched the kids).  And best of all, I got to have a nice conversation with some other moms, sharing updates with some of the ones I'm closer to.  So glad to celebrate our friend R., and this was a wonderful, relaxing way to do it.  

Some treats.

Mimosas and fruit.

One of the moms is a professional baker and came up with these spa/baby shower cookies.

Relaxing after our pedicures, three of us after our facials.

Nice to see my feet again!  (They had been cracking and peeling like crazy.)

february misc:

So to catch up on other happenings from February: 

Lucas has completed his goals and is graduated from speech and language therapy, social group therapy, and his audio processing therapy.  He just has to continue with reading/dyslexia help.  He is pretty well-coordinated, so he likes to play dance games, and he's the jump rope king at church.  He also has exchanged the violin lessons for singing lessons.

Nacho is a great dog, perfect for our family, as Lucas puts it.  Isaac still would have rather had a cat, though.  He still stays away, but at least he thinks Nacho is pretty cute.

  

Whenever I see a rainbow, I think about the promises of God.  People break promises, but while human love is flawed, God's love never fails.  

My director took me and the other instructor out for lunch at Starbird after our last training session.  I got a chicken salad and a seasonal lemonade.  It was really nice, and I am very thankful for this school year and this great job I had.  I My contract ends in May, and we will not return to the program next school year.  I am starting to look at the future, at what else I can do for income and still be there for the kids.  We shall see how God leads.