What's Been Flyin' Around?!

 So, I only blog one time a year now. Typically, I do it in the summer because that's when I have time to sit down and do it. So here is my life, Summer 2025 to Summer 2026

In June, we had a free concert in the park thing. The band Lit (ya know...from the early 2000s) played and raised money for victims of the May 16 EF4 tornado that came through London, KY. 

                      

We also went to Richmond Pride with Apollo, her wife Sidney, our "adopted" son Olly, and a friend they no longer talk to. It was Sidney and Olly's first time at Pride. I was honored to experience that with them.

Here's a random picture of my BayBay

Dude....those cicadas...they were assholes, right?

Met author Greer Rivers

So, at the end of the 24/25 school year, I was pink slipped because of budget cuts and I didn't have my actual teaching certificate. I was waiting to pass my Praxis, which I'd been struggling with. I decided to change my direction a bit and, instead of being certified to teach middle and high school, I attempted to get just my middle school certificate. So I took just the middle school Praxis and I PASSED! After I passed, I was offered my job back, which made me happy. I also got my teaching certificate and became a full fledged teacher. 

We saw The Band Perry in Renfro Valley. I wore a dress for the first time in FOREVER. We took Apollo...it was our 3rd time seeing them.

We saw in the parking lot of the local movie theater and watched the fireworks. 

That night, my little cousin was found drowned in the pool at their house. A lot of things followed with that. He was 16 months old.

I know you're seeing this stuff and thinking "Sarah, you have older kids...why do you have all of this stuff?"

Well, like I said...there was a lot of stuff that went down after my little cousin died. His older brother, who was 2, was removed from his home. We were asked to take him, which he said yes to. So, meet Sam.

He came to live with us for good on July 30th. This was taken at Sebastian and Apollo's 21st birthday party.

Yes, my oldest babies are 21 now!!! I know, I can't believe it either.

Like I said, Sam came to live with us on July 30. July 31 was back to school for teachers. I got zero time to adjust to having a toddler. The 25/26 school year started on August 6.

August 25th, my baby turned 16!!! I can't believe my baby is 16!!!!!!

Sam didn't really get to experience a lot of things prior to coming to live with us, so we wanted to make sure we could give him some awesome memories. Here's Sebastian, Sam, and Caleb at the Lexington Children's Museum. He had a blast!

Speaking of Sebastian, he got his Associate in Arts degree!

We went to the World Famous Chicken Festival in London, KY. It was Sam's first time. 

In October, Sam turned 3. We threw him a birthday party at the Palace and he got to have all his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandmas come see him.

While the weather was still nice, we took a family trip (30 minutes away) to the Cumberland Falls.

Caleb and I decorated cookies for Christmas. It was so much fun just hanging with him and decorating!

We went to the Christmas Park and walked around, let the boys play, etc. They had fun looking at the lights. The tree had gotten hit by lightening and it wasn't playing music, which we love watching, so that wasn't fun. 

Here's Sebastian, Matthew, Caleb, and Sam.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Took an EPIC couch nap with Sam and Caleb. It was AWESOME.

Decided to treat myself and get my hair did. This is called an "oil slick". It took all day to do, but I absolutely loved it.

Took Sam to the graveyard to see his brother's grave and decorate it for Easter.

For the first time since getting Samuel, Matthew and I went out on a date! We went to the movies to eat and watch Scream 7.

I FINALLY got my own office! It's a shed that Matthew painted purple. I absolutely LOVE being out there and making it my own space.

On Spring Break, we went to the Newport Aquarium and Cincinnati Zoo. We had SO MUCH fun. At the zoo, we got to see otters, which, naturally, I sobbed while watching. We spent a few days in a hotel and just had a little vacation. Here's Sebastian, Caleb, and a terrified Sam "in" a tank.

Got my 2nd Masters degree! Went up to Rank I, which comes with a pay raise. 1 more Masters and then I'm working on my doctorate!

Remember last year, when I told you about the cat that attacked, then had kittens? We rehomed 2 of the kittens and kept Socks. He's part mountain lion we think, because he's MASSIVE. He also sleeps like he pays the rent.

Finally, I got some new ink!!

Well, that's it for this year! It's been...a weird year. lol I never thought we would go from our youngest being 16 to our youngest being 3. Yet, as we are coming up on 1 year of having Sam, I can't imagine NOT having him. 

Now buzz off and see what my friends have for you. Make sure you come back next year to see if we take anymore kids (we aren't! lol)

Baking In A Tornado

Menopausal Mother

On the Border

Oh, We Flyin'!

So, I only blog once a year now.

I just don't have it in me to do it any more than that. I don't really have anything super interesting going on that warrants blogging. Plus, ya girl is kind of busy.

So, let's see what has happened over the past year...

In July, Sebastian and Apollo turned 20.

In August, Caleb turned 15.

Also in August, I started my first full year teaching.

In September, we got a new van. Our car, Lola, got repoed because I just couldn't keep up with the payments due to low income. So we saved and paid in full for the van. Meet Dorothy, or Dotty.

I found these random pics of me in my high school yearbook. These are 10th and 11th grade. I'm not sure which is which though.

  

 

Here's a family picture...taken in November.

In December, I finished my first round of Grad school. Yup, I finished with a 4.0 GPA and was awarded my Master of Arts in Teaching.

In January, the world wept as the Mango Mussolini took over the role of President. It's just been a shitshow since then.

I moved up to Rank II in January, meaning I got a pay raise. 

Random picture of me...

But then I decided to chop off my hair...

In March, we made our way to Columbus, Ohio. We took Caleb to see his favorite band, Deftones. It was his redemption show. The first time he saw them, we had to leave early because he puked. He was SO EXCITED and that manifested in anxiety that made his stomach upset. He redeemed himself this time, though. Maybe the nap he took during the The Mars Volta set helped. But he was on cloud nine seeing Deftones. I was on cloud nine watching HIM watch THEM.

 

In April, the cat that lived outside, Lucy, snuck in the house and attacked our cats. I went to grab her and she scratched up my hand really good. I had to go to the ER because, being that she was a stray, we didn't know what kind of germs she had.

The next day, we figured out what was wrong with her...she was looking for a safe place to have her babies! She had 3, one was black with white paws named Socks, the other two are striped and named Wasabi and Sriracha Bob. Socks is male, the other two are female.

This month, on May 2nd, I walked across the stage for my college graduation. My hand is wrapped because one of the bites/scratches I got from got super infected. The day of the graduation, it popped and was oozing. Didn't wanna ooze all over the President of the University. lol

May 5th, I started on my second Masters degree...I'm going for Rank I, which is the highest rank you can be as a teacher.

Sadly, May saw some devastation. An EF-4 tornado tore through London, KY, about 15 miles from where I live. It took out so many homes and businesses. I think the last count was 21 lives lost. It was about 8 miles south of where Apollo and their wife live. They called me when the sirens started going off, sobbing out of fear. I wanted to go rescue them, but I would have been driving through the tornado, so I didn't. 

Here's a picture of Princess and Sam, covered up and taking a nap on the loveseat.

Here's a picture of Sam in what we call The Circle of Safety and Solitude. All the cats run there when they get scared.

I end this year's Fly post with a story of tragedy, betrayal, and fear...

One day during this year, I made a sammich...

A turkey sammich with cheese, tomato and mayo on honey wheat bread.

I grabbed a Mountain Dew to wash this delicious sammich down.

Sat down on the couch to eat.

Took a bite of the sammich.

Opened the Mountain Dew.

Took a swig...

And tasted vegetable juice instead.

I was confused.

I was in shock.

I was a little scared.

I admit, I didn't read the can, because I know Mountain Dew green when I see it.

Mistakes were made.

Lessons were learned.

And my husband laughed at me. One of these cans is Mountain Dew. The other is V8 Vegetable Juice...

Alright, that's the update for me...now buzz off and see what's happening at other people's houses...

Baking In A Tornado

Menopausal Mother

On the Border