Friday Favorites: Almost Back to My Old Self Again

 This week has shown huge strides in my post-op recovery!  I made it out of the house for two walks (not hikes yet), a few errands, and lots of driving Alec back and forth to school.  I went the whole day yesterday without taking any Motrin or anything until bedtime so I definitely call that a win!

I had my two week post-op visit on Friday because of the Columbus Day holiday on Monday (my actual 2 week date) and I took it nice and easy until then.  We had a beautiful misty sunrise over the lake.  I was up nice and early with Alec making sure he was all set for his day at school.

My mother in law drove him in and my sister offered to pick him up after school since I had my doctor's appointment.  He was pretty bummed he didn't have time in one day to build, paint, and finish his entire Weasley Burrow but no one else did either.  Typically they'd have 4 days in each shop to do these projects but they're trying to shorten the process up this year to just 2 days to cycle these kids through quickly before/if we have to go all virtual.  I assured him it was still pretty impressive; it's made of Butter Board-- a special architectural material (and we now know he got a 99 on his 2 days in architecture!).  

I was craving something sweet and chocolatey and while I didn't have saltine crackers to make our favorite Saltine Toffee Bark I tried making it with graham crackers and it was just as good!

I had a great check-up at the doctor's and came home to heat up a turkey pot pie we had in the freezer for dinner. 

I spent Saturday writing up a grocery and Bj's list.  I worked on a fun Cricut craft for fall and made a few cards too. Ian went to work with my husband and I helped Alec made some more 2 ingredient bagels. 

I changed the sheets on our bed with Evan's help and we even ran to the library to pick up books we had on hold.  By the time I finished lunch I was ready for a nap.  Alec went with my husband to BJ's to do some shopping. 

After napping I helped prepare dinner. We had marinated chicken, rice, broccoli, roasted squash and salad.  Then we watched Back to the Future together. My husband surprised me with some roses.

After a late breakfast Sunday morning I talked my husband into letting me go grocery shopping with him.  It felt wonderful to do something so normal. 

As soon as our shopping was done and he had everything put away we worked together to make all our fall apple pies.  Alec rolled out the dough, Ian and my husband worked to peel and cut apples, and I mixed up the rest of the filling.  They smelled amazing! 

I made a salad and some dressing to go with our steaks and baked potatoes for dinner.  We finished our night with some apple pie, ice cream and Back to the Future part 2. 

With Columbus Day on  Monday, Alec didn't have school and I didn't make the other two boys do any schooling either.  I spent most of the day in bed watching TV.  I did manage to get some laundry done (with the help of the boys).  I got all our photos put into albums and cleaned up my scrapbooks.  I even started on my Christmas shopping!

Evan and I went for a short walk just before I started heating up the lasagna my girlfriend had brought over after my surgery.  We had that with salad for dinner. 

I was feeling good enough on Tuesday to drive Alec to school.  He had his first day of hairdressing where they learned how to give shampoo/conditioner massages, blow dry hair, and set curlers.  Ian was off to work with my husband and so that just left Evan and I at home.

We finished his schoolwork pretty quickly-- reading/history, spelling, math, grammar, & science.  We even began a science experiment.  We covered up one of the leaves on our plant to compare it with other leaves that still get sunlight. 

For dinner we had pineapple teriyaki chicken fingers, rice pilaf, and salad. Then Alec headed out with my husband to get their hair cut and Ian went with my mother in law to his driver's ed. class. 

I drove Alec to school again on Wednesday morning and then the other boys and I settled into work.  

They got their schooling done in just a couple of hours and then Evan and I headed out for a walk at the Thompson Dam.  I made it a full hour before feeling tired.  

This puddle "face" in the path made us smile

A red squirrel

I picked up Alec, helped him with some of his schoolwork, and then he headed off to karate with my mother in law.  

My husband came home and we made burgers, hot dogs, French fries/tater tots, & salad for dinner.  

I didn't sleep well and was up super early on Thursday.  I am trying so hard to go with the flow on all this public school virtual stuff but we've really been struggling with getting the tech. side of things to work and we had received word that Alec had gotten two failing grades (he still has an overall A in the class but still...) we struggle to turn in the work in a way that the teachers can "see" it.  He does his assignments and does them all on time but the computer doesn't always read it as being turned in.  With his email down right now (we are waiting to hear back from the tech. department about this) there isn't much we can do.  It's so frustrating but I keep trying to reassure myself that he is doing awesome with all of his overall grades and I'm pretty sure when every other grade is literally a 100 the teachers can see it's not "him" so much as the "situation."  

I finally just shook it off and brought Alec to school for the start of his two days in culinary.  He was so excited to finally be back in the kitchen at school!!  Ian was picked up by my father in law to head off to work so it was just Evan and I home for the day.  We tackled a bit of schoolwork.

When he was finished we headed out on another walk and ran a few errands too.  

I picked Alec up after a quick run to the grocery store for some fruit.  He chatted excitedly the whole way home.  He had been put on the salad station today and came home with a yummy recipe we'll be trying (and sharing!).  Once home he tackled some more math homework-- the only real subject they cover every day of the year whether they are in shop rotation or academics.

We made dinner together; pesto pasta with mixed vegetables.

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