summer selfiness

I haven't written since the first day of school last fall.  I've had ideas and things I have wanted to share, and things I longed to get out, but wasn't brave enough, or disciplined enough to put down my phone long enough and open my computer to get my thoughts out.

But here I am.

I am spending my summer at home with my not so little any more, guy, Ryder.  He is 6 going on 7...how can that be?!  Early on this summer I found myself doing nothing, because it was summer and I told myself I deserved to relax a little bit...and not do much of anything because I was a teacher and "it was summer!"  I wasn't getting anything done because there was always "tomorrow to get that done."  I became discouraged and angry with myself that I was letting the time pass right before my eyes and I wasn't making the most of my days with R at home with me.  How selfish I was being.

I know there will soon be summers when him hanging out with his mama, is one of the last things he'll want to do.  I told myself I wanted to make this summer, and how ever many summers I have left where it will still be cool to hang out with your mom left, to make the most out of things and provide him with as many memories as I can.

I read another mom's statement she wanted to create/have such an awesome and memorable summer with her kids that they wouldn't want to go back to school.   By this, she didn't mean sending them to extravagant camps each week, spending money on stuff, or going on fancy vacations, but just making solid memories, that they created...together.  What a thought.  

By mid August I know I'll be "ready to go back to school" (but just for a lil while ;))...just because I thrive on routine, and summer does NOT provide that for me...But what an idea, to make your child's summer so memorable and fun for them, that they truly don't want to go back to school.  Not that I want him to not enjoy or dread having to go back to school, but I want him to look back on these summer days that we got to spend together and think, "Wow, those were fun."  I want him to remember his mom getting in the pool and playing with him.  Rollerblading beside him while he biked along the bike trail.  Swinging on the swings with him at the park...heck going to the park in the middle of the day!  Taking him to the track to run to prepare for a triathlon.  Inter-tubing with him out on the lake.  Climbing to waterfall she hasn't hiked to since she was in much better shape.  All things I may or may not have done with him in the past, but things I want him to know I want to do with him...I don't want him to do them alone.  I don't want his memories of these things to be with me in the background.  I want his memories to be with me by his side, as long as he will let me.  I will soon be in the background because it won't be cool to have your mom by your side any more.

Time is flying too fast...I know every parent can relate.

More to come on my brave boy as an only child...

monday thoughts

Sunday night.

As I prepare to go to bed, I am feeling extremely blessed tonight.  Sundays seem to fill me with such joyfulness and goodness as if they are a "fresh start" to each week.  Going to bed on Sunday nights, I know that tomorrow starts the beginning of a new work week.  I don't know about you, but each Monday I feel like it's my chance to "start over" and to "do better" than I did the week before.

So many people moan and groan about it being "Monday" but I'm choosing to look at it as a good thing, and I challenge you to do the same. 

Throughout the work week, so many times I look at the pile of clean laundry waiting to be folded, and say to myself, "Oh, I don't have to do that tonight, I'll get that done this weekend."  But then when the weekend rolls around...doing laundry is the last thing I want to be doing on my one day of the week I get to spend the entire day at home with Ryder, doing whatever we please.

Every evening after we get home from work and school...all I want to do is crash and spend time with R.  But there is laundry to do, homework to tend to, papers to grade, and more lessons to plan...not to mention making dinner, trying to "play" Legos with Ryder even though I completely suck at it and have no imagination like he does, what so ever.

Once again, I tell myself...those things that can wait.  And...there we go again--they are always getting pushed back to the weekend. 

This week I am going to make a point to get those things done done, before the weekend...so that come Saturday I have no unwanted "weight" on my shoulders, or house hold "to do lists" in the back of my head that I know I need to tend to, if they're ever going to get done.

Whether this means getting up earlier, or staying up later, I'm going to get more done with the time I'm given throughout the day.

We all have 24 hours in our day.  I just want to chose to use the time I'm given more wisely.

friday ramblings

Popping in to say hello on this wonderful Friday!!!  We've had a fun, yet semi busy week!  Trying to soak it all in before summer leaves us!

I also want to let you guys know I've added some more options of ways to enter the giveaway from yesterday!  I didn't fully work right the first time...so if you "already entered"...GO ENTER SOME MORE!! ;)

R isn't really concerned about books as the library as much as he is about playing!!!

I love being a mom and all the surprises that it brings to every aspect of life! ;)

We visited the fountain downtown for a little picnic lunch the other day!

& I've been visiting the coffee shop every chance I get!  I can't explain the way it makes me feel really...I leave so calm, collected and refreshed!  It's good for my soul!

...not to mention the coffee is top shelf!!

Happy Friday Friends and don't forget to enter my SHE READS TRUTH Hebrews Study Pack GIVEAWAY from yesterday!

Ramblings...

• I miss my regular blogging!  This is my last week of classes, and then finals next week and I am free!!--for a week until I start May Intercession!  Ha!  But surely it won't be too bad!  :P
• A classmate of mine (who is also a single mom) was saying how she can't wait till summer just to be able to clean her house!  I was like OMG-me too!  I'm not even kidding!  If you take any sort of look at my house...you will know that I prefer sleep over a clean house!  :P  I have to get a decent nights rest or I literally am useless the next day!  But bring on summer time!!
• I can't believe this is my last semester as a real "student"!  All I've got left is my Internship in the Fall--it's a bitter sweet time I tell ya!
• Have you heard me talk about She Reads Truth and how amazing it is?!  Well...we are starting up a new plan, TODAY!  It's going to be over Hosea!  This caught me off guard and I wasn't even sure what to expect, but I read the intro at the beginning of the book of Hosea in my Bible, and I am super excited, to say the least!  You can read all about how to join in on this wonderful time with the Lord and woman from all over the world HERE! 
•  Between now and next Thursday, I have to take a World Lit final, write a World Lit paper, write a math unit summary, take a comprehensive math final, take an advanced science concepts final, write a science lesson plan, write two papers on two different articles, and write a "nature of science" paper...and I think that's it!  I think I can, I can think I can!  ;)
• R is getting so big so fast...I can't even believe it.  He looks like a school age KID!  Wow!  He has a birthday party to go to on Saturday for a friend of his from his old school!  He's pretty excited!
• He is also WAAAY excited about the pool opening up for the summer in a month or so...and I also signed the kid up for swimming lessons yesterday!  He's taking a two week long course, that's four sessions each week, so he should be good and ready to go by the end, I would hope!  ;)
• We get to worship for the first time in our new church sanctuary Sunday morning!  I took a sneak peak of it last Friday night at the Taco Supper, and amazing doesn't even begin to describe it!  I honestly remember when we moved into the FIRST sanctuary there--and I thought IT was huge! God is good and doing great things!
• I'll be back soon!  I've missed sharing life with you guys!  =)  Hope you  have a GREAT Wednesday and let me know if you decide to join me in the Hosea study with She Reads Truth!  

Happy Friday Love Cats!

So glad today is Friday! I love my weekdays because I get to follow a routine, but I need that break every once & a while...{uhhh...maybe every five days?!  :P}

I didn't sub today...instead I went to do a whale presentation with one of my professors.  It really is fun & BONUS POINTS!!  WOOT!  ;)  R was ready to see me when I got him from school.  I got him his Friday Sonic sweet tea before getting him and he was excited!  They had a birthday party at school today, and for R's Friday letter this week I got him a Jake & the Never Land Pirate's "handy dandy notebook" {like from Blue's Clues} and wrote him a note inside...he thought that was way cool!  Worth all 100 pennies!  ;) :P

 {All teachers need one of these every once & a while...had to steal it from one of my mom's co-workers when I saw her drinking one of her own! ;)}

 {Minus the bruised part...this little booger was GOOD!}

 {One of our favorite reads!}

 {It was SO cloudy the other day, ALL day...on my way home from getting R, the sun was trying to peak through the clouds!  Great site to see!}

{Most Mama's drink wine at night...I drink coffee!!  ...and paint my nails, put blog posts together, try and put together a bachelorette party and think about doing homework!  ;)}

HAPPY FRIDAY LOVECATS!  HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

In Denial...

I think I am in denial that Thanksgiving Break is over and I have to teach a lesson tomorrow.  A lesson that I haven't even thought about.  Once.  Ha!  Oh...and an integrated unit plan due Thursday that I've know about for 4 weeks, that I haven't touched either.  Sigh.  I see lots of coffee and computer time in my near future.

Thanksgiving Break was such a little tease!!  It was so nice not to have a set schedule or routine going on...and me & lil bit could just go and do as we pleased!  Now, I just gotta push through these next two weeks of class, and then a week of finals and I will be on my way to another nice little holiday break!  =)

My list of things to accomplish in school prior to Christmas Break:

• Math/Science Lesson Plan
• Integrated Unit
• 3rd Journal Reflection for Internship I
• English Language Learner Reflection
• 2 journal articles for Advanced Science Concepts
• Written Science Lesson Plan
• Math/Science Final
• Build a heart and lungs large enough to walk through with my class! ;) {This should be FUN--but counts as our final!  WAHOO!}

On top of...decorating my house for Christmas, wrapping presents, going to Christmas parties for me and R, participating in Bethlehem Revisited at church, organizing our North Pole Breakfast...oh and ya know...shopping for Christmas gifts etc. etc.

This truly is a magically time of year...but I will NOT be upset when I am out of school and can truly enjoy it with my friends and family, and of course my little man!  ;)

Saturday Randoms

Just a few random things from our week....I can't squeeze it all into Project 365!

I'm not one to brag/post about grades because I usually, honestly don't do so hott--but this was a test for a teacher that everyone warned about because they had had him the previous semester--& said his tests were so random and you never knew what to expect!  Well, I didn't quite get to the study as much as I would have normally wanted because of all of Ryder's birthday festivities...BUTT I still made one of the highest grades in the class!--Not to shabby for me!  ;) & it ended up being an A...so even better!  {All my nurse-y friends will probably look at this & think it's the easiest test EVER, but hey!--I'm just trying to be a middle school teacher!  ;)}

Miss Holly from The Doughmestic Housewife makes some of the most fabulous iced sugar cookies!  I love just about every single of one of them...but this one might be my new favorite!  I can't wait to have to order a batch from her someday for a shower or party!  ;)  She can honestly...do it all!!

I don't know if I've ever shared this picture before....but I LOVE it!  It's from Luke & Tonya's wedding photo booth back in May & I think he just looks so sweet & innocent.

I printed this last weekend to save for a later date to see what Ryder could do & he wanted it then.  Next thing I know he had done the whole thing...He's been in school 5 weeks people & I am seriously SO impressed!  & he JUST turned 3!  We sure do LOVE Snuggle Bug!  =)

Some late nights at the computer with my planner & DC working on my lesson plans!  ;)

I have always wanted to believe that Nelly the Lockness Monster is TOOOTALLY real-my friend who "believes" too sent me this the other day!  Couldn't help but laugh! ;)

Got out my Fall wreath the other day...this might be all the Fall decor I get around to, but that's okay!  It's one of my most favorite wreaths I've ever made!

R drew a "giant" on our pantry door the other day.  My mom was impressed when she saw it & said that it's very common at that age to not draw bodies on stick people, just a head & legs!  Ha!  Pretty funny!

Just a typical day in my Advanced Science Concepts class...we were all given tubes & some of us were infected (I was not...) we went around & shared some of our "germs" with other people...and & ended up getting "infected"!  Hence the pink tint at the top!  Ha!  I was a little upset about it too!

Hope y'all have a wonderful Saturday on this first day of FALL!  How nice & enjoyable!  =)

Ramblin' Thursday

• Today was a fabulous day!  I had my first lesson observation in my fifth grade classroom!  It seriously couldn't have gone any better!  I had a blast teaching & my students did GREAT!  
• Wanted to share a neat little story.  So for the passed week I was going to use a SMARTboard lesson from online as part of my lesson.  But last night I decided last minute, I didn't want to use it & just wanted to make my own Power Point, because it would practically be the same thing...but better!  ;)  So I stayed up doing that.  This morning, I was like, "Oh, I'll just e mail it to myself & pull it up on the computer at school."  Then I told myself, "No, put it on your flash drive just to be safe."  So...I get to school.  An announcement is made saying that internet is down and it will be for the remainder of the day.  BOY was I glad I had a) decided to make my own PP & b) put it on a flash drive.  I told my mentor teacher...and she said, "Are you a Believer?"  I said, "Yes mam."  She said..."That was the Holy Spirit taking care of you!"   I LOVED that & it meant so much to me that she even said it!  It hadn't crossed my mind that way yet, just the fact that I was lucky.  But I wasn't lucky, I was taken care of.
• I picked R up from school as soon as I got back into town....he was happy to see me!  We came straight home & laid down for a 2 hour nap (what he regularly takes at school...& when he doesn't have one now, it's bad!) before going to get his hair cut with Ms. Jennifer!
• We got to have dinner with Mr. Kyle at Chick which was so much fun & so good to see him!  =)
• Ryder had Puggles tonight & I went to my Daniel Bible Study which is just...amazing already.  
• I plan on taking R to the fair tomorrow night after school just to see the animals...but we'll see how it goes!  I've never had the chance to take him before put I'm pretty sure he'll love it!
• We don't really have any big plans this weekend, but I'm just looking forward to a little bit of relaxation with my sweet boy!
• Hope you guys are having an enjoyable week!  This was just a little brain dump for ya!  ;)

Just some randoms...

 R playing out in KeeKee & Poppy's tree!  Uncle G used to climb this tree when he was little!

 One of my favorite pictures of me & parents!--From a wedding back in June!

 UMM...HELLO!!  ;)

 He seriously LOVES the toy store here in town!  I just wish I could afford one of everything in there for him!  He has a blast when we go!

 He is always so thirsty after I pick him up from school...so I usually try & have a Sonic drink waiting for him in the car!

 At Mimi's before going to school!  His crazy binoculars!

& this is what happens when mommy goes & picks you up from school early because she misses you & you don't get a nap in!  :P  He fell asleep on the way to dinner & Puggles the other night!  Poor baby!

No....I did not buy these for my {soon to be} three year old.  I bought them for myself...to try & redeem the fact that I had coaches for History my whole HS career & can maybe name 15...TOTAL.  Sad, I know.  At least I can admit it!  :P  Gonna try & see what I can learn!  ;)

What we've been up to...

It doesn't seem like much has been going on with us...but it sure does always feel like we are awfully busy!!  Before I know it, each week is over & it's time for us to relax for a few days & then get back at it again!  Anybody else feel that way??

Here's a little bit of what our weeks look like...

Taking sweet boy to school with my coffee!  =)

 Mommy taking notes for what feels like ALL DAY!  :0

Trudging around campus in Hurricane Isaac..nasty, wet, rainy & cold!  

 A few late night homework/blogging/tweeting sessions!  :P

 Wrapping presents for Ryder's friends' Birthdays at school!

 Fridays are mail days at Snuggle Bug...& you can send a treat for all the kiddos if you want!  They all go out to the mailbox before nap time & get their "mail" & then are all read their individual letters before laying down for nap time.  This is also a great way to keep a little journal for them while they are in school.  

Enjoying a beautiful lighting show from the aftermath of Isaac on the way home from LR with the top down...

 Doing some reading in Proverbs with #shereadstruth --I don't want it to end!!

  & a little bit more of homework time...this time at Starbucks while R was at Puggles (AWANA) before my Bible Study starts back up next week...

&...is this really happening???   :(

Nothing too exciting really...but it's what we do!  =)  Happy Friday friends!

Friday Brain Dump

edit:  I am also linking up my post on contentment with #shereadstruth's first week of #sheshares.  So head on over there & check out what God is teaching some of these fabulous woman.  

• I saw these new color sharpies at Kroger & had to have them!  It's all I use to write with in my EC planner...so some color is always fun!  

• Sweet snuggles with my baby boo...who I am missing!  He has been away camping with his Mimi & Pawpaw!  I know he is having an absolute BLAST though!  It has been a BIG week for little man!

• It has kinda always gotten on my nerves that I have to buy R's milk in half gallons.  I usually have to buy 2-3 a week...which gets kinda old!  I literally squealed in Kroger the other day when I saw these!  MUCH easier!

• I snagged up these cute bulletin boards at the dollar spot at Target earlier this week.  I can't wait to hang them around my desk & computer area...I thought about painting them a cute color thought first?

• I'm taking an online AR History class & just noticed the other day one of the authors of my book was one of my parents best friends in college!  He was actually at the hospital when I was born!  How fun is that?!

• I also found this fun washi-tape to use in my planner at Target in the school supply aisle!  I got a turquoise-y set to match my planner!  I also like the fact that it's removable & not like pen if I draw a big line through my week of what we've got going on!  

• We hope you've had a good week & aren't we all grateful it's FRIDAY!?!?

PS.  Poppy is having surgery today on his foot...this will be his THIRD surgery this year on three different RANDOM things!  Poor fella!  But left him up if you get the chance!

PSS.  #shereadstruth started up a new plan just YESTERDAY...so it's not too late to jump on board!  I just finished "Living the Surrendered Life" with them & seriously loved every minute of it, & some days wanted to do more than one day--it was THAT good!  This plan is 21 days and is on what scripture says about prayer.  I have done it all through my phone which is so nice & it's FREE--so check it out!  It's some GOOD STUFF!  =)