February love: skiing, swimming, shows, and Valentines...

Life continues unabated.  (And despite my general state of exhaustion right at this moment, you know I wouldn't have it any other way) Beyond our usual frenetic pace of living, there've been some extra things to deal with this past few weeks and the cumulative effect is that I am a good three and half weeks behind on this blog...

First, a brief recounting of some of the things that I am NOT loving in my life right now, lest you have the mistaken impression that my life is nothing but busyness, fun, and cookies. 

One of the biggest things we are facing right now is handing my mom's health.  After her hospital stay at New Year's, she has been on an extended rehand stay in skilled nursing and has not yet been able to return to her assisted living apartment.  She has lost even more mobility and was struggling with swallowing for a while.  She has rallied on that front but is now dealing with a suspected kidney cancer diagnosis.  Through it all she has remained remarkably content and peaceful, and she continues to enjoy watching TV with Kirk, visits from friends and family, and the opportunity to enjoy Scrabble- and I am so grateful for that.  For those of us trying our best to manage her care, deal with insurance, and make the best healthcare and financial decisions we can on her behalf... well, it's been a lot to handle to be honest. 

Top that off with frustrations at work (a boss who micromanages much more than I am accustomed to, and students who continue to be adorable but utterly needy and exhausting) plus my usual busy schedule- and I've not got many reserves left right now.  Somethings got to give and those things right now are regular exercise (what is that running thing I used to do??) and, it turns out, Ski Patrol.  After finally soldiering through that OEC course I had thought that the ski skills portion of this whole gig would be easy for me.  Not the case.  It turns out that I am NOT a quick study on learning new physical skills and also could NOT handle the glacial pace of my progress (or lack thereof), and every Saturday training session was an exercise in frustration and self-loathing that culminated in me seriously considering just selling all of my ski gear and giving up the sport for good.  Also, it turns out, I am terrified of actually having to provide care on a real call, and of actually transporting the toboggan that I was training to use. So, I let go of Ski Patrol.  I'm serving my shifts for the rest of the season (which won't be long with the weather we've had!) because I don't want to shortchange anyone.  But I've stopped going to trainings and I feel better already.  Nat is motivated and to succeed and enjoys the calls and has so much more perseverance than me, so he's sticking it out and we will get our family benefit Epic Passes through him.  Aside from being extremely disappointed in myself, I think this was the right move.  I have to meet myself where I am right now. 

Anyways.  When I haven't been stressed out to high heaven (can we talk about the tension in my neck right now?) here's what I've been enjoying in my little corner of the world this month...

Going to see shows with my honeys!  Beetlejuice with Ivy-  We LOVED it.  So witty and fun.  This kid wants us to add a thid ticket to our Broadway series next year and I am thrilled to do it. 

Making slow but steady progress at Lucknow.  New subfloor, final clearning of the old kitchen, about to lay new vinyl floors and figure out what the heck to do with the bathroom.  At least we're not paying much for it while we move at a snail's pace...

The snow's been less than ideal this year but we've had some nice times out.  My patrol shifts have been easy and uneventful to a one so far.  Ivy and Vio enjoy coming along and hanging in the Hut.  Hoping I can get over myself enough with this whole thing that I can enjoy accompanying Nat on his shifts next season, maybe making dinner for the patrollers, hanging out.  Because that part is really nice. ( the gear is fun too.  Gonna miss the gear.)

Unseasonably warm termperatures make for poor skiing but excellend afternoon cocktails on the pergola.  Sunniest time of year for this yard. 
 

A wonderful visit from Becca.  It was a gift to have her town for a long weekend- to help with mom, to hang out with, just to know she was there.  I'm always so joyful that she has found happiness in Tennessee-- I just wish it were closer...

I don't have a lot of time for relaxing around my house these days... but when I do these are a few of my favorite views. 

Morning coffee in the dining room...

Evening cocktails on the porch...

The girls have switched their riding lessons to Hope's Haven barn, which is about a half hour closer to us (yay!) and we now have a consistent riding schedule.  I was finally able to be the driving parent last week and it felt great to get back to our routine of  driving and talking and riding. 

It's hilarious, the horses they used were Belle- a draft horse who did not want to move faster than a walk-- and Misty- the zippiest tiny pony.  It was a great combo.

Happy Valentine's Day!  Celebrated with my loves at 10 pm with cookies and gifts, because it was the first time we'd all been in the house at the same time all day.  (Just another day in our lives!).  One of my favorite moments of the celebration was when the kids opted to pass out cards before opening gifts.  Raising them right. :) 

The silver lining to an unseasonably warm and dismal ski season--

days like this one at the lake.  What even. 

February has brought the tail end of Jack's second season of swimming for Heights High.  He's had a great year, dropping time consistently all season.  We had a wonderful (if long) day at sectionals cheering on this great group of kids... 

Then found out our season would be extended by a week when all of our girls and boys relays qualified for districts, and Jack qualified in the 100 Breast.   Not done yet!

Haven't had a night with these ladies in a WHILE.  We made up for lost time with all the cocktails and animals and singing and I'm just so grateful for neighbors like these. 

Thinking of cocktails... I've made it to cocktail choir two months in a row and I'm so happy about that.  I just love Kevin and Nate, and singing with strangers who immediately become friends.  It's my jam.

Snuggly mammal break.

This little doggo was super sick for about a week this month, with a vet visit and xrays and blood tests that were inconclusive. After rehdration and a course of antibiotics and vitamin K she is back to her spunky self, thank heavens.

While its been a rough ski season on more than one level, we have gooten some nice days in.  At least, Nat and Ivy and I.  Between weekday practices and weekend meets Jack has hardly been out this season at all.  Welcome to the wonderful world of trying to do it all, kiddo...

Annual trip to the Home and Garden show.  As overwhelming as always. 

This crew just headed off on their own for most of the time, returning with gnomes and cacti and free swag galore.  I love these children.

Date nights with my honey.  Life gets in the way of our fun time together a whole lot these days...  but we've gotten a couple of lovely outings in.  MIX at CMA (crowded and a little underwhelming but we had a blast mocking the terrible representations of infants in the medieval art section. And it was an excellent excuse to dress up!) and Hadestown at Playhouse square. A lovely production in one our favorite spaces. Grateful to my city for these wonderful places to go-- and to my wonderful  husband who likes to go to them with me!

And then it was Districts!  Kids swam their hearts out and did a great job. No state qualifiers this year... which is a bit of a relief, lol.  I think everyone can use a break from the hard work of the season.  Gonna miss cheering on this group, though. Swim kids are the best kids. 

Lots of love this month, when I slow down long enough to notice.  Love to all of you....