Five Brown Kids

I planned a service afternoon at the food bank for my work team.  We had such a great time packaging up potatoes and onions and visiting about non-work stuff. 

A weekly biking adventure with Mom and best friend - through the woods, along the greenway and a stop for boba! Science fair testing - Does it Float? Science fair project with another best friend  More soccer Weekly Sunday walk with Rosie and a pup cup from Dunkin Donuts More biking  More horses

I was nominated for an Award for Excellence by my boss.  I got to go to a fun ceremony and hear my nomination read out loud.  I didn't move on to the next round, and rightly so... so many more qualified, hard working people than me.  But it's nice to be appreciated.  Dr. Vouk, Vice Chancellor for Research, me, and Dr. Puente, my favorite co-worker I had my annual performance review the next week. Five institutional goals and five personal goals. I sent my boss a document a few days before listing all my accomplishments related to each goal. In our meeting he just blanket gave me “exceeds expectations” on everything. Wow!  I am competent and capable and will grieve for the rest of my life that I was funneled into a Mommy track instead of a career.  I have so much to offer!  And I could have done both. I didn’t need to put every ounce of my brilliance and energy towards a man's career. But I love my kids and I enjoy my job, and my life feels low stress- ...

The Ricks and Cleverly's came down for Easter Weekend. The weather was warm, the sun was shining, the kids are so grown and independent.  It was a wonderful weekend. We've been friends for 20 years now.... when we first met Taye was a toddler, Jaxon was a walking baby, Riley was a pre-schooler, Andrew still sucked on a soothie and Madeline was yet to be born.  Now we have a kid working on a PhD, three kids in college, one who just recently graduated and is job hunting, three high schoolers, two middle schoolers and Blythe... Arepas for lunch at Guasaca.   Meeting Rosie for the first time.  Courtney loves dogs!  I made pesto chicken for supper.  It's a fan favorite.  So many March Madness Basketball games.  Three local teams made it to the Sweet 16.  Hike along the lake.  Kids played so much pickleball.  Including one night until the lights went off.  Dinner out for grownups.  Waffle bar Easter breakfast followed by a ...