Merry Christmas {2016}

What's Up This Weekend?

Here's what's up this weekend at our house:

• The Rev and I have a date night planned in the big city tomorrow. P.F. Chang's!
• And a trip to the city means that we can visit some stores that we need to and finish up some Christmas shopping. So close to finished!
• Next week is the last week of school before Christmas break, so I need to assemble gifts for Elise's teachers.
• If you have been hanging around for a while, you know that my least favorite part of Christmas is wrapping presents, but I have put it off for as long as I can and the pile is getting big, so this weekend I must wrap!
• And because Christmas is not busy enough, we are also in the middle of (finally) redoing Elise's bedroom so that it is a little more big girl and functions a little better for her. Moving furniture, assembling furniture and even painting furniture are in progress!
• Plus, we are going to see my Mom perform in the "Messiah" and surprise Elise with a trip to see the Christmas lights!
• And of course, it is not a weekend without the usual house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and meal prep.

What are your plans this weekend?

It's Not You, It's Me...

I know, I know, I haven't been around in 2 months! I didn't plan it, it just sort of happened. Life started to feel overwhelming -  work, health, weight loss struggles, threenager drama....something had to give. I did something that I never do, and that was just let some things go so that I could regroup. It is rare for me to give myself permission to not do it all, but I needed it. Thanks for giving me the freedom to do that.

I'll be back to posting this week and will try to get you all caught up on the last part of our summer and life since I last blogged.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

4th of July Recap in Photos

{Fireworks & Sparklers}

{A New Skirt}

{Festive Red, White, and Blue Drink - Sparkling White Grape Juice & Frozen Berries}

What's Up This Weekend?

Here's what's up this weekend at our house:

• Father's Day(s)! Since we are tied up all day Sunday, we are planning to spoil the Rev on Saturday with dinner, then follow up with gifts and cards on Sunday - he loves to stretch a holiday out!
• Assembling Father's Day goodies for all of the Dads in our church congregation.
• Sandal shopping - Elise is in desperate need. These are our favorites that we get every year, but her size has been hard to come by thus far this year.
• Some rest for Elise - she is doing an all day kiddie camp, 3 days a week, and having a blast, but no nap means she is a little grumpy some evenings. I am hoping that she can catch up this weekend because...
• Vacation Bible School starts on Sunday and that means that we will be at church until at least 8:30 every night through Wednesday. Exhausting!
• Countdown! Only 2 weeks of work left before I break for the month of July. Can't wait!
• And of course, it is not a weekend without the usual house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and meal prep.

What are your plans this weekend?

Weekend Recap in Photos

 

{Last swim lesson - oh, how far she has come!}

 

{Toe twinsies}

{Church trip to Zootastic}

 

{Daddy's Flower Girl}

She Is Listening...

The Rev is an extrovert, I am an introvert. He is a go out and do new things guy, I am a stay home and live safe gal. He loves to try new things, I love to stay in my comfort zone. He is spontaneous, I am planner. We are a true Odd Couple and somehow it works.

Elise is a true mix of the both of us - wants to jump in and do, but hangs back until she is sure. She loves the idea of an adventure and greets each day with a "Where are we going/what are we doing today?," but still wants you to outline the plan for her so that she is prepared. We try very hard to talk up any opportunity to do something different and get her excited to try new things, but she still hangs back a little. Up until 6 months ago, she wouldn't get in a bouncy house, and any slide bigger than what she is used to is usually a no go. 

Her friend, Ridge, had a birthday party this past Saturday - a dinosaur themed water party - her preschool friends, water guns, a small pool, and a giant bouncy water slide. I figured the slide was going to be a no, but 2 hours into the party, I looked over and there she was taking turn after turn on that huge slide, like it was no big deal at all. When we finally dragged her off to go home, I told her how proud I was of her for being brave and going down that big water slide. And in words that have come straight out of our mouths to her so many times she said to me, "I just told myself, "You can do it, you are a brave girl, you can do hard things."            

Someday, too soon in the near future, she will be a moody teenager and I will be convinced that she does not listen to a word that I say, so this is my reminder that she is always listening, even when it doesn't seem like it.

Photo credit to our friend, Brooke

 

Weekend Recap in Photos

{Volunteering at MerleFest - anybody want a turkey leg the size of your head?}

{Strawberry Picking!}

{ A sports themed Prom Photo Shoot}

{Lots of rain!}

Overwhelmed...

Where to start? I have been so overwhelmed with life lately that blogging has been the last thing on my mind.

Work - coming into the busy time of year (end of school year) and our deadline for scheduling next year's courses is 3 weeks earlier than normal. Not so much of a problem if I didn't need others to make decisions before I can do my part. Is it bad to want a job where you just work alone and don't have to rely on people to get stuff done?

Home - Elise is going through a bit of a testing phase. I think that she had more time outs last weekend than in the first 3 years of her life combined. Threenagers are tough! I wouldn't trade her for the world, but I wouldn't mind if this phase just passed us right on by!

Health - Coming off of a 4 day smoke smelling, massive headache spree. That combined with the fact that I can't seem to sleep and my body just hurts (some chronic pain, some from exercise) and I am just feeling blah.

Weight Loss - Stalled. Working as hard as I can at exercise, but having more struggles than usual with my eating.

My co-worker across the hall is always playing this song when she feels overwhelmed...words to live by and a much needed reminder of Who is in control of all of my circumstance (the good and the not so good).

I delight myself in You
Captivated by Your beauty
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

I know the power of Your Cross
Forgiven and free forever You’ll be my God

All that You’ve done is so overwhelming
I delight myself in You
In the Glory of Your Presence
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

What's Up This Weekend?

Here's what's up this weekend at our house:

• Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow morning! ( I hope that I remember to take the basket, I always seem to forget and the poor kid has to hunt with a grocery bag!)
• Birthday dinner for my Mom tomorrow night. Elise is pretty excited for cake and cousins.
• And a trip to the big city to see my Mom means time at Target and Trader Joe's!
• I need to round up accessories for Elise's Easter outfit while I am at Target and finish Easter basket shopping.
• I need some time to recover from 2 tough Boot Camp classes and a Cycle class this week. (Please don't ask me to lift my arms above my head or make me laugh - everything hurts!)
• And of course, it is not a weekend without the usual house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and meal prep.

What are your plans this weekend?

What's Up This Weekend?

Here's what's up this weekend at our house:

• Class party for Elise this morning - the Rev and I are in charge of cupcakes and making snack mix with 12 three year olds....
• Double Date Night with another pastor and his wife tonight
• Back to the drawing board on the pillows for Elise's Big Girl room, since she informed me that she wants them to have flamingos because that was her favorite animal at the zoo...#indecisivelikehermother
• More Valentine movies on the Hallmark channel!
• A special Valentine's Day breakfast for my loves
• And the circus! The Rev is about to come unglued. He is so excited to surprise Elise with a trip to the circus for some family Valentine's Day fun!

What are your plans this weekend?

What's Up This Weekend?

Here's what's up this weekend at our house:

• Family Movie Night at church on Saturday. I have some fun crafts and snacks planned for the kiddos!
• We will have a mini Super Bowl party on Sunday. Just the 3 of us and some goodies!
• Valentine movies on the Hallmark channel!
• Elise and I will put together her class Valentines and work on something for the grandparents.
• And I'll finish planning for the class Valentine party that I will be helping with next week.
• And no weekend would be complete without grocery shopping and laundry...

What are your plans this weekend?

What's Up This Weekend?

Here's what's up this weekend at our house:

• The Rev and I are taking Ballroom dance lessons this month as a part of the Rev's sermon emphasis to our church on dating your spouse. 2nd lesson tonight - it is actually quite fun!.
• And church activity for Elise tomorrow night means 2 date nights this weekend!
• Long weekend!
• Elise has been missing the decorations since Christmas was packed away so we are going to work on making and adding some winter decorations around the house.
• And she and I are going to do some Mommy & Me cooking, too! She loves to be in the kitchen and I found a few recipes that she can do most of the work for. I think that she will love it.
• Plans for Elise's big girl room are in full swing in my head. I'll share that with you soon.
• And maybe this will be the weekend that I finally get through all of the Hallmark Christmas movies that I still have left on DVR. Valentine movies will be coming soon!

What are your plans this weekend?

Merry Christmas {2015}

When It Hits...

Am I the only one who thinks that I have a really good handle on all of the Christmas stuff only to get to 2 weeks out and have the huge panic hit? I keep adding to the To Do and the To Buy list, if it weren't for Amazon Prime, I would seriously be going nuts! I am further along than normal, but it just always seems like next week is the busiest week, trying to get work, church, and school gifts bought, wrapped, passed out before I leave work and Elise finishes school on Friday. I know it will all get done and I just need to take a deep breath, but man it is a nightmare for us list makers and check it off-ers! Don't even remind me that I still have Christmas cards to address...

On a side note - Elise has a Christmas Countdown Calendar again this year and it has been so awesome to watch her sheer joy at opening her drawer for that day and finding a sweet treat or a fun activity to do. We are making Christmas ornaments and seeing the lights this weekend, so we will leave all of the stress behind and focus on fun as a family...that is what really matters anyway.

Second side note - Anybody have a great under $15 gift (not food or bath stuff) for co-workers who are friends but not really hang out friends, just work friends?

What's Up This Weekend?

Here's what's up this weekend at our house:

• Christmas Parade! One of Elise's favorite Christmas activities.
• A buttload of present wrapping and Hallmark movie watching (y'all know I loathe wrapping presents so I have to be armed with a good distraction from the task!)
• Deciding which picture will go on this year's Christmas card (family photos turned out great!)
• Select fabrics for Elise's Christmas outfit...yep, it's still on the list. I was all settled on gingerbread houses and then she developed a fascination with nutcrackers, wants to play with them in every store display, so I may use the nutcracker fabric. Thoughts?

• Groceries and laundry...EVERY.SINGLE.WEEKEND. Why must they expect food and clothing?

What's up with you this weekend?

What's Up This Weekend?

Here's what's up this weekend at our house:

• Finish the Christmas decorating (yes, I know it isn't even Thanksgiving, but with travel it is so busy over Thanksgiving break, so I am getting it done now so that I can enjoy it.) We set up Elise a little tree when I was off of work on Wednesday and you would think that we gave her a million dollars...she is already so excited for Christmas!
• Set the DVR up to record all of the Christmas specials that will start next week. I love some Hallmark movies over the holidays!
• Pick out clothes and accessories for family photos (they are next week - please say a prayer that the threenager cooperates...)
• Select fabrics for Elise's Christmas outfit...time to start sewing!
• Take a stab at making my own almond flour - that stuff is crazy expensive!
• Groceries and laundry...ugh...
• Start planning Elise's Advent activities.
• Cheat meal tonight...pasta, mmmm!

What's up with you this weekend?

I Have Seen The Future...

and it looks like this...

#nophotosplease
#threenager
#pardontheattitude
#motherplease
#ipromiseshehadfun

Currently...

 

Listening...to nothing...the batteries in my work computer speakers keep dying on me. I really need some music today!

Eating...nothing, but imagining all of the Halloween candy that I am not allowed to eat...

Drinking...water....lots and lots of water...

Reading...emails.

Wearing...denim cropped pants, green school polo (It's Friday - jeans day!) and brown flip flops...it's supposed to be almost 80 today so getting one more day of flops in!

Feeling...just blah...lack of medical answers and no change on the scale in the past 2 weeks has me down in the dumps.

Needing...to get some serious fall purging done at the house this weekend. My goal is to be finished with every room by Veteran's Day so that I can decorate for Christmas on that day off.

Wanting...Twizzlers...and a Reese's Pumpkin...in the worst way.

Thinking...that getting skinny ain't nearly as fun as it was to get fat (sensing a theme here?)

 

Enjoying...the fact that Elise FINALLY got in a bouncy house last weekend and had a blast! She will love Fall Festival at church tomorrow!

 

Mesothelioma Awareness Day

Today is Mesothelioma Awareness Day, an annual day to raise awareness in support of those who have been affected by this devastating cancer, as well as spreading information on the dangers of asbestos. I am always surprised to find that most of our older schools here, still have asbestos tile in them and that asbestos has not been banned. One of the scariest facts that I learned was that mesothelioma can lay dormant for years. Some veterans who were exposed between 1930 and 1980 are even just now being diagnosed.

Heather Von St. James was a mother to a newborn when she began her journey with mesothelioma and is now a 10 year cancer survivor. Her story (you can read it here) truly is inspirational. She is sharing it in monthly installments and I can't encourage you enough to catch up and get to know her. I know that she would appreciate your support as she works to advocate for those affected by this disease and work to get asbestos fully banned.

For more information, visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.