sunday happenings!

First weekend to relax after being back into the grind.

I'll be honest.  I was ready to get back to work and in routine, but boy was I glad for the weekend to be here!

Last Sunday night, I was up every hour...paranoid that I wouldn't wake up to my alarm Monday morning...like I did Saturday morning when dad was supposed to come pick us up at 8 o'clock to go somewhere, and I woke up to the sound of him banging on my bedroom window.  OMG is right.

Monday and Tuesday I was up and at'um when the alarm went off.  The rest of the week...not so much!  All that enthusiasm, GONE.  It doesn't help that it's FREEZING outside.  I just want to stay in yoga pants, a Patagonia and my Uggs all day!

Ryder gets bored at home sometimes...and I think he was tired of me, and his behaving was showing that.  So it was time for him to go back to school too.  But sure enough, but the end of the school day Tuesday I was antsy to get my baby back.  As much as I was ready for a "break"--I missed being with him too!

Monday night when I finally got him down to bed, I missed him.  We went and ate dinner with my parents and he was a WILD CHILD.  I was counting down the minutes until bed time.  Then bed time comes and I lay down with him...and he won't close his mouth (it's a real problem y'all).  He asks me, "How do you just fall asleep mom?"  "Ryder, please try to quit thinking about things and just close your eyes and GO TO SLEEP."

Not five minutes later...silence.

And then...I miss him and wish he was awake!  Why is that?!  I guess we always want what we can't have, no matter the situation.

Anyways...this is major brain dump.

I'm excited to started Kelly Minter's "What is Love" studying 1, 2 and 3rd John!  I've never done any other studies at church other than Beth Moore (which I've LOVED) but I am excited to try a new author!

Recently...well the past 6 days, when R hears me tell someone that he starts Kinder "next year" he corrects me and says "No, mom...THIS YEAR"  How is that so.  I've known he would start school in "2015" since he was born...but how is it already here?

We called my dad's dad, Papa John.  The other night we had pizza and I over heard Ryder calling the Parmasean cheese "Papa John cheese"--it sounds right!

Happy Sunday Y'all!  I'm eating some of my mom's Wild Rice soup, watching the Packers and the Cowboys play, grading some papers and trying to stay warm!  ENJOY today before we get back to the hustle and the bustle tomorrow!  

Half Way Haul

• It's been a good week!  I love waking up on Monday mornings knowing I'm going to sub and not having to go to class to sit all day long!  I subbed for keyboarding on Monday, so that was fun!  & I had two prep periods, and a lunch!  Woot!


• Who bought the new JB CD yesterday?  I have always been a fan of his My World Acoustic version better than the original and I think I feel the same way about this one!  Go get it if you haven't already--it's really completely different than the regular Believe CD!

•  Currently obsessed with fruit.  Raspberries in particular.  Goodness gracious!  YUMM!!  I just wish my child would eat fruit now like he did when he was a baby.  He will go a few days and eat the heck out of some fruit, and then the next day he's over it.


• Is tomorrow really the last day of January?  WOW.  2013 is already flying by...and my baby will be 4 this year!  Tear!

•  In science class the other day, we took old pennies made of copper (older ones, prior to 1982) & mixed them with zinc to create an alloy--of brass!  We pretty much made our pennies look like gold. It was a lot of fun!  We are always doing crazy cool stuff in there!  So thankful for such a wonderful teacher!

•  Ryder's school is on the COMPLETE opposite side of town, so I have to get up, take him over there, and drive back to pretty much right by our house to sub and go to class, so most of my mornings consist of a yummy cup of joe!  I'm glad I have to time to enjoy it though as I make my track across town...twice!  ;)

•  You all know I love me some math!  This is a little bit of what it looks like during math class on Tuesday & Thursdays!  I love it and seriously can't wait to hopefully teach it one day!


• R is seriously so funny right now!  I said "yella" instead of "yellow" the other day and he told me, "My Poppy says 'yella' too and I don't know why he says that instead of 'yellow'...it's like he's trying to trick me or something."  Oh my word...


• I am at a really happy point in my life right now, and I am really trying to soak it all up, enjoy the moment so that I can look back and be thankful for it.  I am loving being in schools teaching and interacting with the age I enjoy most, classes aren't too bad, I have my first Internship II meeting in two weeks, my relationship with Christ is growing on a daily basis and I feel like I can't soak up everything I'm learning and wanting to learn fast enough! And to top it off I have the sweetest boyfriend who takes better care of me and R than I could have ever imagined anyone doing, and am just extremely blessed! =)

Half-Way Haul

• Not a lot going on around here!  Yesterday was an adventurous day...I am on campus ALL.DAY.LONG and it started to snow right when I had to walk the farthest on campus.  Boo. The banks were closing, so dad came & got my keys to get R's carseat out of my car so that he could go get him from school.
• They had a big go time together...went to chick for lunch, got Poppy a Starbucks, went and said hi to the people still working at the bank, & tried to go to the toy store but it was closed!  :/

•  I came home after that class so I could snuggle up with my boy!  I couldn't stand the thought of him not being at school & me not being with him!
• I could tell by his voice last night that his "barking" cough was on it's way back...sure enough around 2 am, it make it's appearance.  Hate that thing!  It makes R cry (& he hardly EVER cries about anything!) & he just looked at me and said, "I know there's nothing you can do to help me..."  That sent me into instant cry mode.  What a HORRIBLE feeling as a mother, but honestly, what do you do?
• I decided to stay home with him today.  I didn't already have a sub job lined up, and I looked at that as a sign, even though I had to turn one down a job this morning.
• We had a good day at home together...and he actually hardly coughed at all!  It's just at night.  Boo.

•  He cracks me up...this is a cash register he got for Christmas, and he calls the mic button "Siri"!  How funny is that?!

• This is my new favorite snack...(& strawberries too).  I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier, but YUMM!!  
• Tomorrow is a new day...two more days in the "school" week!  Looking forward to the weekend, just hoping R's cough clears up, I hate it for him!
• I haven't watched The Bachelor from this week.  Or Scandal from last week.  And now I'm behind on Nashville from tonight as well.  But...who got time of dat?  Not this Mama!  & I actually kinda like it that way!  ;)

Half Way Haul Brain Dump

• Tomorrow I'll start my last full semester of class (besides student teaching in the fall) in college!  I am so ready for this next step and to put all these classes behind me!  When I went back to school after having Ryder in January of 2010, the list of classes that I had to take to graduate seemed like so many!!  Yet, here I am only lacking 18 hours of class!  I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and when people ask "When do you graduate?!"  I can finally say, "In less than a year!"  WAHOO!!  
• R went back to school on Monday and is seriously loving it...I know he missed it and he was so bored with me at home!  ;)
• This week was also his "Star Week" where he gets to be the "leader", call on call on kids to go wash their hands, go outside, etc. etc.  He has been waiting to be Star Kid since he started in August and his week is FINALLY here, and it's ALL I've heard about! ;)  They also take in some pictures of themselves to hang up for the week, which he really got into.  We went through the blog and I let him pick out which pictures he wanted to print to take in.  I also got to go in today and read a book to him and his friends and give them rice-crispy treats for a snack!  I think he liked having me there, and I enjoyed it just as much!
• I am also about to start subbing here in town!  I can seriously NOT wait!  I only have class 2 days a week, so I'll be doing this the other 3...hopefully, as much as I can!  
• Oh yeah...have you gone to look at my Valentine's Wreath tutorial over at Charmed Bliss?!
• I never thought I would actually be ready to go back to school...but I am in much need of a routine in my life!  I find myself taking random naps during the day--when I'm not tired, just because I can...BLAH!  I would rather be busy than and stuck at home!  {I know I may regret saying this in 2 weeks!  ;)}
• I am taking all education classes this semester except for one...World Literature.  {ENTER-cry fest here}  This will be my second time to take this...well, let's just say...it's not my thing!  ;P  It's my only gen. ed. left...ahhh!  I can do this!!
• So...I watched The Bachelor on Monday night...I just LOVE Sean!  I wish he lived closer honestly!  HUGE fan of his, but those girls--I just wasn't all the impressed!  Yes, I'll still watch, but I honestly kinda hope his wife isn't in that room...not for my own sake, but I just wasn't impressed by any of them.  We will see though!  =)  What did y'all think?
• PS.  Have you heard about #shereadstruth?  I know I've mentioned it before, but it just keeps getting better!  Hop on over to the You Version website and search for "she reads truth" and get started on the Fresh Start daily devotional today!  You won't regret it, I promise!  and all of their other plans are just as fantastic!  What a difference it makes in my days reading His truth.  

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!  =)

Contentment

edit:  I actually wrote this post before I knew about a link up on Friday, but I am now linking up with #shereadstruth #sheshares week 1.  Hop on over there & check out what God is doing in the fabulous woman's lives.  

I read this for the first time almost three months ago & it has constantly been a reminder at the back of my head many times since then.  It hit me like a ton of bricks how ungrateful I am for everything in my wonderful life.  Too many times I find myself thinking in my head about what I don't have instead of what I do have.  I blame part of this on reality TV--Keeping up with the Kardashians, all of the Real Housewives shows etc. etc.--if it weren't for watching those shows, I would never know what I "didn't" have when it comes to extravagant things & I wouldn't find myself in the place of wanting more, or wishing I had all the things that they had, or the freedom that they have with money.  Why I am sitting around worrying/wishing I had more when I have more than enough things to take care of me in life!  How selfish & WRONG of me!  

This has recently helped me to not take such simple things for granted.  I heard once, if you have $10 in your pocket, than you're richer than most people in the world.  WOW.  Think about that.  As I grow older, I don't want to take anything for granted, the rising of the sun, this wonderful country that I am blessed to call home, my beautiful & healthy son, the fact that I get to go to school, our freedom of speech, the outdoors...& I could go on & on....but I know so many days we look passed all those things & don't stop & say a simple THANK YOU--too often because we are worried about our latest wants.    

Too often we find ourselves thinking about all the things that we don't have, & it takes our focus away from what we do have--& that's not how it should be. 

This brings me to contentment.  While doing Day 4 of #shereadstruth a while back, it touched on contentment & the fact that we always find ourselves wanting "more".  More...money, nicer things, more things, more clothes, more living space...etc. etc.   At what point are we going to stop & finally be happy with all the wonderful things that we do have?  

Philippians 4:11

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  

This is my goal & my wish for myself.  I don't want to sit around all day thinking about all the things that I want....I want to be happy & completely content with what God has blessed me with today--no matter what.   

We have a choice to make...we can either be content & grateful for all the wonderful things we have & don't deserve, or we can choose not to.  By choosing not to, you will spend your life harping on what you don't have & you will always be left wanting more & you will never find yourself truly happy with your life.  I would much rather choose to be content & grateful then life a life full of unhappiness!--Wouldn't you?  

Where are you not grateful where you could/should be?

Also...what would make you more grateful?

Ten things I am grateful for...& that I don't want to take for granted.  What are ten things that you want to say thank you for today & every day?

1. My parents & all that they do for me, my brother & Ryder

2. Ryder & the blessing that he is to me each & every day

3. My parents' jobs

4. My brother & the role he plays in Ryder's life

5. Getting to go to school

6. A roof over my head

7. A car...& the $ to put gas in it

8. My friends who are always there for me & are great listeners! 

9. The Freedom that we have in this country

10. LIFE!  

Spring Break Brain Dump

• Our Spring break hasn't gone quite as planned...just because of ALL.THE.RAIN.  I pictured us playing outside all morning, making lunch, eating it outside...playing some more outside, coming in to take a bath and crashing for naps.  Hasn't happened.  :/
• Typing on my lap top keyboard is an adjustment from my desktop.  Weird...I know.
• R has actually done really well being cooped up in the house.  I have limited out TV time & he has really been doing well!  I know he misses school and his friends though!
• Speaking of friends...he confessed to kissing a girl in his class to me tonight.  I asked him to show me how he kissed her and he showed me and I literally fell over from laughter!  
• Tonight his prayer was, "Dear Jesus, Thank you for my Papa's leg.  Tell the doctors to fix it and tell him to feel better.  Amen.  I love you Poppy"  Seriously, so sweet.
• We slept in way to late this morning.  Poppy called and asked us to lunch at Panera.  Dad told us to go to Jump Zone or Play World but when I drove by those places the parking lots were TOO full for my liking (and I had already told R that's where we were going) so I talked him into a "ten dollar toy" inside WM instead!  ;)  We never cruise the toy aisle, so it was kinda fun to see what he was interested in that he doesn't have!  We ended up leaving with a 5 dollar golf set!  =)
• Mama got some SkinnyGirl lip plumping lip gloss & I like the color and it definitely makes your lips tinkle, but was NOT a fan of the chip packaging and hard as a rock plastic applicator.  Who wants to rub that all up on their lips?
• When I "think I get hungry" I'm trying to just go fill up my water bottle with more water!  {Have I mentioned I haven't had any Sonic cokes & only a few cokes in general from restaurants here and there since Valentine's Day?  This is seriously HUGE for me.}
• I'm trying so hard not to think or care about the projects I have due next week.  :/
• Last week I was all into DrawSomething.  Yeah, I'm already over it.  It was fun, but way to time consuming and I got all the colors I could get and I didn't really have anything else to work for.  Ha!
• I pulled out all of R's spring clothes today and oh my word!  I thought he didn't have "any" and was seriously gonna have to go naked half the time.  Negative.  I am almost embarrassed.  A lot of it is 2T stuff and I figured it won't fit half way through the summer anyways though, so I guess we're okay.
• If you want some true weight loss inspiration and some brutally honest truth {and every once and a while a chance to see two cute lil boys, one of which shares the EXACT birthday with my baby boy} then head on over to Mama Laughlin's blog and catch up on her amazing story!  
• It's not supposed to rain again today, but since it's so wet outside I think we're gonna stay in and try and do some fun arts and crafts...which should get interesting!  Just making memories with my boy!  ;)

Random Wednesday Brain Dump...

• Ryder stayed the night with MiMi & PawPaw last night so I went out with the girls for some wonderful hibachi dinner, & then we went over to some friends' house & watched Something Borrowed!  Everybody that hadn't seen it loved it!  =)
• I slept in a little bit this morning & as soon as I woke up I started reading The Hunger Games where I left off last night...I was almost done & wanted to finish it before I got R back this afternoon so I could spend all my time with him, & not wanting to selfishly read that dang book!

•  My tabs on my Life Planner have started to get pretty messed up, & their only card stock, & with carrying it in my purse all the time, in my car & being drug in & out of the house & my backpack, those poor lil tabs get a lot of wear & tear on them!  I had seen someone else on here or Pinterest & knew I had to go get these tabs & try them out!
• & they worked just as magically as I thought they would!  So...if you're having the same problem...go getcha some of these lil tab-a-ma-jigs at WM!  They were about $2.50 if I do recall.  They are meant to slipped on top of regular paper with writing already inside the tab, so they do have to be ripped in the middle to be able to fit rich ton top of the tabs.  I also had to go back with scissors & trim them up a bit, but it didn't take long at all!  

•  EBATES!  Who has heard of it?  I hadn't until early December, & I was so glad I got to do most of my Christmas shopping on there...& earn myself CASH BACK!  Sounds crazy right?  But it really works!  I just got my first check in the mail today!  It's not much, but I mean I'm $21.78 richer than I was yesterday!  ;)  It's quite simple!  Sign up HERE, & get to shopping!  They will keep track of the amount of cash back you receive in you "account" & when you are ready for your check, you just let them know & they mail it to you just like that!  6% cash back may not seem like a lot at the time, especially if your purchase isn't all the much, but over time it can add up!  My 21 dollars only came from 3 or 4 different purchases!  Most stores are listed on Ebates including Wal Mart, Target, Macy's, Victoria's Secret, Barnes & Noble etc.  I needed to get a few things from WM, & I ordered it all off of WM through Ebates so I could get my cash back, even though I could have driven to the store to get it all...NOT a bad deal especially when shipping is FREE!  

•  I was so happy to get my lil man back today!  He tells me he's a "country boy" not a "city boy" & today he sure did look like it in his boots & dirtied up jeans!  ;)  I love it though!  He is cheesing like this because I told him to stop saying "cheese" & just SMILE!  Ha!  He's a ham!

• Back to school for lil man tomorrow!  We tried to get back into our routine of dinner by 6, bath by 7 & bed by 8 tonight!  I had him in bed by 8:05...not to shabby!  :P
• Mama is getting her teeth cleaned tomorrow & then I'm going to work on getting stuff together for the Rhea Lana sale coming up OH SO SOON...(more on that later! ;) )

• & this lil booger...my mom told me I would want to have the 2nd one AS SOON AS I finished the first, & she was right, but I'm making myself finish our thank you cards before I start reading it!  We'll see how long that lasts...or I better just get to writing!