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...

random spring/summer

R at the lake with his friends...

I've been lovin' some scrambled eggs this summer!

Yes...he is wearing Christmas pajamas in the middle of the summer, but he was excited about his new color changing straws...I was too! ;)

Just some Travs baseball...I think he was mad at me, so moved down away from us!!  Ha!

We made our way to a few UCA baseball games...we were out in the outfield with Poppy and R was throwing his hat up and catching it.  Of course it fell on the field...during the game.  I was so embarrassed!!--but luckily we got it back! ;)

mother's day 2015

This was our last Mother's Day celebration at Snuggle Bug.  They are always so sweet to their mamas and I'm so lucky I've gotten to celebrate with my lil man there for the past three years. 

R has been keeping watch on a bird's nest out in his "tree stand" and it had two eggs in it.  They both eventually fell out.  We found one of them and put it back in the nest, but I think the mom had already forgotten about them.  He was pretty pumped to have found it after it had been "lost" though!

Who knows what he was doing out there...

The Little Red was so pretty on this particular day...it was warm, yet it felt so cool down on the water.  You could feel the cool-ness blowing over you.  

I asked Karleigh to give me a lil fishtail braid!

What a beautiful site to drive home to...

...and I love this little one.  Who isn't so little any more.  

cousin Cooper's graduation

Cooper graduated in May and we got to attend his graduation dinner before the actual ceremony at his school.  It was very special, and yummy and delicious!

Nana and Papaw with their 6th grandchild graduating from High School.

He doesn't look to happy to be there...but he was! ;)

school district fish fry

My school district put on a district wide family fish fry--a) I love some catfish b) I wanted to go to meet some of the people I work with's...families c) this was especially important because most of them live in the community they work in, where I don't...but going to "family" stuff like this just me and R is HARD.  But I signed up to go...so we went, and I was glad we did! 

Hopefully it is something that Ryder looks forward to going to each year!

purple cow after school date

I guess me and R go on lots of after school "dates"! ;)

This day was to Purple Cow!  

He went with boring ole ice cream with M&Ms and I had to go with a Purple milkshake! ;)

blue sail date with R

My then boyfriend at the time gave me a Blue Sail gift card one weekend while he was traveling...which I thought was one of the most thoughtful things!--Of course me and R had to put it to good use on a lovely Friday afternoon!  BS is not Ryder's favorite place to go...but there's nothing he can do about it! ;)  I put up with him, so he can put with me!

It was one of my first iced drinks of the season...YUMMY!

AWANA cubbies

R was so blessed with AWANA Cubbies this year.  We tried it two years ago and it just didn't go so well.  We tried again this year, and R asked what night was Cubbie's night every night of the week.  He learned and said his verses like a ROCKSTAR!--way better than I was every able to do.  I hope his love for scripture memorization continues for the years to come...he challenges me and I'm so thankful for that.  

Next year...it is off to Sparks!

church day...

I love waking up and getting to go to church with this one on Sunday mornings.  He is my drive and my happy.  I tell him all the time that I do everything for him, and I hope he never forgets that.  

Even with all the attitude he gives me...it just proves he's mine.