The Daily Hailey

This is our annual town clean up week! I’ve never really made use of it. To me, its marked by people leaving all of their old metal appliances on their lawns on the weekend, waiting for pickup. But this year, I was gunning for it! I have heard of the huge garbage bins outside of town office, waiting to be filled with aaaaall of the garbage from our home that indeed will not ever make it into our bin.

And today I learned that I was misinformed 😔 While there indeed are bins downtown for us townies to use to dispose of things, its specific to hazardous waste collection. Which is GREAT for those who need it!!! But here I’ve been thinking its for household materials, and alas, I am deeply mistaken.

And BUMMED. I had SO much I was aiming to be done with this week! Some of it will end up on the lawn on garage sale day, I suppose. But lots is just crap that need pitching. Excessive cardboard can go to the recycling depot in Lawson Heights area of the city. But we have broken bed frame pieces. Old building materials. Rejects from getting our bathroom done. Old light fixtures. A broken playpen or two. So. Much. JUNK. And all I want to do is make my garage useable 😩

Anyway. I’m annoyed. Which I don’t normally splash all over the blog. But now you know, hahaha! When you get a peek inside my garage and see how bad it, now you can know that I, too, know how bad it is, and it makes me grumpy.

At least garage sale day is right around the corner. One of my favorite days of the year! Just hoped I could clear out some crap before I added more 😅 Ah well.

Brady and I have been racking our brains to find a better way to made the bus work for him. Its a whole thing, but we’ve been working at it for a while. We recently spoke to a community OT who reached out to Telemiracle to inquire, and sure enough, they are considering vehicle modifications this year! Some years, they don’t, as they are SO insanely expensive. But this year, they are! So we got an appointment with the vehicle department at Motion (formerly Golden Mobility) to have the van assessed, and to brainstorm what exactly we should be seeking quotes for.

Brady left work.
Our OT met there.
I came into the city with the bus itself.
All three babies sacrificed nap time.

And the guy we had an appointment with would not even come outside to look at the van. He said our vehicle had basically no options without removing seats. The end.

There was a lot to unpack. I’m not especially quick to anger, but MAN. I was wiped. All three babies were just wailing. And for what? Jack all. At least everyone could sleep on the way home, right?

Except no. Everyone was so far gone, they cried the entire way home.

I don’t know if its the weather, or my period, or fatigue, or just straight up disappointment, but I am pretty over the day. I could just scream.

But I won’t. I’ll take a few more minutes after I post this to breathe some deep breaths into my brain. I will pray for God’s strength to run through me. I will put socks on. And I will return to the living room and see where I can help out my family. I’ll find something for them to eat, and if everyone is cooperative and content, I may even sit in the recliner for a bit this evening and let my body rest. I am toooooo wound up.

Such is life. Not every day will be easy.

Back to scrolling Facebook Marketplace for a handibus! 😅

As a foster parent, I’m required to refresh my first aid training every two years. In the last two years, Brady’s mobility has changed greatly, and he now is exempt from the course. Which makes sense. But mine isn’t allowed to lapse at ALL. No flex. So today was that day. I was both really wishing I didn’t have to go while simultaneously being happy for the break away from home.

I liked this location better than the one we went to last time. It was a nicer building with newer equipment, and a really clear instructor. She seemed a bit abrasive at first but she warmed up and let down after a while. She was able to keep things really professional but less stiff. It was a good balance. I was also seated in a group of women who all clicked pretty well. There were only twelve of us in the class. It was nice and relaxed.

It was a good refresher. I forgot how much of these things are common sense. Also, I forgot how many of these things I have used or experienced in real life. Not CPR, specifically, but others. It was good to go back and get my memories sharpened.

I did rip up some blood vessels doing CPR, though 🤣 And that stupid dummy didn’t even start breathing!

All in all, we went through ALL the things, and I passed the test with a solid A.

I’m officially allowed to say the words “I’m a first aider!” 🤣

Seriously, though, a big of a strange way to spend a Sunday, but I’m not mad at it 💜

Same time, 2028 ✌️

It was a really beautiful day out today. Is the sun finally here to stay?? ☀️ I hope so!

We walked to the pancake breakfast, ate a ton, visited with people we love, and checked out all the fun trucks in the parking lot.

We walked home, and then Laela and I made our way to Cher’s for a quick drop off. Walked back. Lots of nice time in the sun! We lost Rowan along the way to a friend, haha! Still nine of us going strong, though.

We got home and immediately lost Solly to the kids down the street. Down to eight.

We spent a little time just hanging around but it wasn’t long before everyone started to fade from all the fresh air. So small, snacky lunches happened for the eight of us. The three babes went down for naps shortly thereafter. Only five of us now.

Wavy ate as fast as she could and went to chase down Sol and his buddies. Four.

After eating, Laela went to invite a friend for a run. Her friend wasn’t around, but she went for a walk anywhere. Three.

Probably two minutes after Laela left, Dekker left to go bike. Down. To. TWO!

It was a very brief moment in time before kids started showing back up for one reason or another, but it was still nice and peaceful, even if it was just short. Brady and I sat together and rested. Watched a show. I started crocheting the blanket for the camp auction this summer. We drank coffee and ate a little Christmas chocolate that somehow is still living in our fridge. We shared a little peace. I liked it. He slept through some of it, but I think he liked it, too 😏

Everyone did regroup eventually come back together. We ate cereal for supper because most of the group wasn’t hungry and certainly no one wanted hot food! I added a little whimsy…

Yes, the milk did turn pink.

Cereal down.
Peaches down.
Milk down.
Kids back outside.

I could get used to this kind of springtime.

Another shorty post, but a pretty one. A springy thingy post.

Behold 🙌 Some quintessential spring things.

Kids are prepping for all the closers. Specifically, in this case, piano lessons. Recital to come!

Chunky chicken salad is SO much better on hot days!

Obviously not one of the best parts of warm weather, but also 🤷‍♀️ I’m not mad at the occasional scraped knee!

Casual crocheting that gives a brown eyed susan vibe 🌻

Maybe – maaaaaaaybe – it can be Spring now 🤞

I tried a new recipe today. Pineapple chicken. I kind of just played with it, though. I can’t even tag the recipe here because I strayed WAY too far from it. Aaaaanyway. I threw it all together and let it cook up bit by bit.

And then I added the sauce.

The recipe I was loosely using said to let it simmer for a while to cook it down. I looked down at my food and instructed it to simmer down.

I was alone. Which made me feel embarrassed, even though again, I was alone. I’m used to providing commentary through the day to the youngens, but not this time.

However, the sauce obeyed, and it did cook down. A little too far, in fact. We are sauce people. I would make more next time. But alas, the flavor was still delicious and I think itll make a comeback.

Just another good excuse to consume pineapple!

I’m ready for this whole winter thing to be done. You guys, too? Thats what I thought.

I’m positively cooking in my house at the moment, but its not time for AC just yet.

I’m looking at schedules for track and field day, trying to plan ahead.

I’m making a packing list for our setup at camp.

Kids are ready to size up their wardrobes but I’m waiting until the season is good and changed so I can pull relevant things out from storage.

I want the driveway to be completely dry so I can run out in my socks.

Or! Not wear socks at all!

I’m excited for garage sale day.

The new summer playlist I’m putting together.

Lightweight, holey cardigans.

Sandals.

Iced coffee and iced tea.

Maybe even a patio in the backyard, somehow, some way.

God knows all the things. And I don’t want to wish days away. Not at all. I’m just actively anticipating SO much good yet to come!

This morning, I found myself in just the loveliest scene. I only wish I could share the pictures publicly, but bear with me.

All three babes are in high chairs at this point. Munchie Mix joined a little later, but they had some nice overlap of all three being put up at once. I pulled them all up beside me and I crocheted a little at the table. I read them the pattern I was working on. They repeated numbers after me. It was all very cute and entirely low key. But the older babes were ready to get down. Crocheting around little ones is not easy, and I rarely do it, especially if I have to concentrate on a new pattern or something more challenging. However. Today was SO special.

I sat at my spot at one end of the table with my crocheting. Spoons sat on one side of me in a chair, and LD on the other side in a chair. They each had grabbed a book, and were flipping the pages, pointing out things they recognized or saying sentences they remembered from prior readings. Meanwhile, Munch was still in a highchair, and successfully drank formula out of a straw sippy cup!! Woohoo!!!

So we all did our things, together, but separately, and peacefully! What a HUGE win!! 💜

I am so incredibly grateful for our group of children. All eight of them. It is not always peaceful by any stretch of the imagination, but their dynamic is beautiful. Completely amazing.

Thank you, Lord!

Not actually, though 😂

Yesterday during bedtime hugs, Wavy and Spoons cracked heads. Which happens, because love and also rowdy. Spoons cried and rallied immediately. Wavy not quite so much. She cried in total silence for a nice long while before taking a deep breath in. She was REALLY upset, but did manage to rally when we reminisced about Dekker getting his tooth whacked with a fidget spinner. That also really hurt.

Wavy headed downstairs for bed, but suddenly was back upstairs, crying in my lap again. She had touched her eyebrow where the two had collided and felt a pretty good bump. I checked and yes indeed, she had a teeny albeit solid goose egg. I reassured her, and she very easily got back to herself and went down for night.

This morning, she got up and looked oddly very put together. Well. Halfway.

Somehow, this little girl makes a black eye look GOOD! 😍😅

Don’t worry, I’m not a jerk. She also thinks its VERY funny and she’s not in pain. I think she’s stoked to go to school and show her friends her battle wound.

Moral of the story: Cute aggression has consequences sometimes. Worth it.

The kids are chatting as they eat. It is SO funny to listen to. I’m not contributing. Just listening.

Laela: Kidnapping is my favorite crime.
Dekker: I dunno, I think embezzlement is pretty cool.
Me: 😳 What. Are we talking about?
Both: Hardy Boys!

The hysterical laughter that followed was absolutely excellent. Dekkers laugh in particular is changing quick, and it is SO funny to listen to 🤣 It is ALL over the place. And when it cracks real good and he’ll laugh even harder. Its amazing. I love it SO much.

It feels like it’s going to be a nice day. I really hope so, at least. There was some overhanging tension for a bit last week and today I would so love to ride the wave of rest.

Happy Sunday, friends. Thank you for following along through all the things 💜