Week in Review: A New Title, A New Treat and A New Tirade

Happy Friday of a long weekend, baby!  Ahhh those are the best, when Sunday feels like another Saturday and then the next work week is shorter.  Speaking of work, I haven't told you guys a secret yet.  

Are you ready for it?

Well now I feel like I am building it up too much and you are going to be disappointed.

Colleen, stop overthinking and just tell everyone.  

Ok, here's a photo clue:

That's the top part of my contract that I signed with Franciscan University to become an Online Professor for the Spring Semester!  I will be "teaching" one class, Managerial Accounting to 23 students starting on Tuesday.  I say "teaching" because I am more of a moderator; making sure everyone does their assignments, grading tests and homework, and leading the discussions in the forum.  The students watch pre-recorded lectures by a professor on campus (whom I used to have as an undergrad!) and I'm sure I will be re-learning a lot about Managerial Accounting alongside my students since I haven't thought about widgets or cost analysis in a long time.  It's very weird to be called Professor Martin (my husband is the teacher, not me!) but I'm excited for this new role.  This is supposed to be a very, very small time commitment each week, therefore I will be keeping my full-time job as well. And no, I do not get a tuition break for my kids...I would need to be a full-time faculty member for that.

These Core Power protein shakes are the best tasting we've ever had.  I love the vanilla and strawberry banana.  They are a bit expensive, but I can always justify spending a little more on healthy food when I know it will save me money on snacking and eating out.  I learned something this week from Janae - if you heat up the chocolate Core Power, it tastes like the most delicious hot cocoa ever.  This is my afternoon treat for the winter, yum yum yum.

Shia LaBeouf became Catholic!  He's had a tough life and made some bad choices, so I hope he can stay on the straight and narrow now, but we're called Practicing Catholics for a reason...so welcome to the club!  Very cool that he found God during his portrayal of Padre Pio in his last movie.

Chicken Shawarma was on the menu one night this week, along with Thai Coconut Curry Ramen and Lemon Chicken (recipe recommended by Elisabeth).  We eat a lot of chicken!  Oh we had burgers one night too!  Speaking of eating, I subscribed to Thrive and got a bunch of yummy, healthy snacks for 40% off and you can too if you would like to click on that link (you can cancel within 30 days).  

The FAFSA finally came out, and I completed it quickly for my one and only college student next year.  After that we should always have 2 to 3 college students for the next 14 years.  Woah.  Anyway the new and very delayed FAFSA form was indeed much easier than in years past, so that was good.  We also applied for financial aid from the Diocese for our three kids in elementary/middle school next year.  The Diocese had given a tuition abatement to employees who have kids at other schools in the Diocese, and then decided to reduce the percentage of help starting next year.  Womp womp.  Nothing like getting an employee perk and then having it ripped away.  I have to say that the financial aid application for the Diocese schools was way more involved than the FAFSA and cost $40.  I hope it's worth it!

We also completed a science experiment this weekend:

Alexander is testing if mints really cool (verb) or just taste cool (adjective).

My lovely mother had back surgery this week, and it went very well, thanks be to God!  She is 85 years young and her mind is sharp even though certain body parts are not holding up their end of the bargain lately.

And we got our first snow on Sunday.  Of course the little kids had to go play in it, which meant layers of snow gear that is still sitting in the stairwell to "dry" but really it's the same lazy excuse as leaving a pot to "soak".  I see you.

I stayed cozy inside and we put Christmas away until next year, God willing.

A simple winter mantel feels so nice after the Christmas busyness.  I love those Lighted Trees that are on a timer.

Declan (number 4) going for the shot

Basketball season is still going strong.  Declan (age 9) is getting so much more confident on the court and has scored a few points, which is thrilling when the games end with scores like last night's 8-5.  Brendan has started up with swim lessons each week now that his basketball is ending.  He has practice during one of Xander's four weekly practices, so it's not hard to get him there.  

Maggie and Eamon were both suspended from playing two games due to our vacation to Florida which made them miss practices and games for a week.  They knew it was going to happen and were not upset by it, but I just think the policy is stupid.  If we were taking our kids out of school to go on vacation, and having them miss practices/games while school was in session, I totally agree with a punishment.  But when we take our kids on vacation over Christmas break (time off from school to be with family and celebrate) I feel like sports should also take a pause for that week.  Optional practices, fine, but not mandatory.  

Soccer and Volleyball are fall sports, and there is no scheduled school break during that season, so it's a non-issue.  But Basketball is a winter sport, and the season includes TWO school breaks, one week in December and one week in February.  So families are not supposed to go away or visit family far away during two of the three scheduled school breaks if students play a winter sport.  This seems overboard to take away two "breaks" from the kids and make them have practices and games.  Am I right or am I right?  Haha!  Rant over.

This sweetie pie with his wee snowman was spoken to by his teacher:

Teacher: Declan, you are talking an awful lot today.

Declan: It's not my fault.  Have you met my mother?  She's a talker!

Of course his teacher had to share that one with me, hysterical!

Suzanne talked about Looking Tired and boy do I agree with wanting to look less tired and also not be told that I look tired...not helpful.  One product I hope is helping my wrinkles and sun damage (or at least not making things worse) is an inexpensive Age Rewind cream that has over 28,000 good reviews on Amazon.  This is my second bottle of it, which lasts a long time because they are HUGE, especially in the world of face creams and serums.  I mostly shower at night, and then slather this on my face and décolletage (oui oui) and encourage Phil to do likewise because why should I be rewinding my face while looking at his in fast forward?

I hope you all have a wonderful, cozy wintery long weekend!