Y’all …I am still sick. I can’t believe it. Friday afternoon I was feeling better and by Friday night, my throat was super sore and my body aches were back. I barely slept that night. I went back to the doctor on Saturday morning because I assumed I had strep. She didn’t retest me, but said my throat and ear looked infected. She gave me antibiotic and steroid to cover all the bases. I’m frustrated because I feel like I got “behind” on whatever this was. Had I gotten meds on Thursday, I think I’d be back to feeling better.
Also, my family won the lottery —because I currently have no voice!
Anyway, moving on to today’s post.
Here are some memes that made me laugh recently:
1.
I sent this to my friends, and we all had a chuckle.
2.
Somebody check on Travis 😆 I’m not the easiest patient. He did make me mac and cheese for dinner on Saturday night, but he got the “side eye” from me when he brought me my cup of Gatorade with no straw. What was he thinking? haha
3.
Us this weekend…because of course a volleyball tournament starts at 8am. That being said, Travis was the real MVP (what’s new?) and tackled the early games.
4.
Literally me.
5.
I’m the mom. If I leave a voicemail, it’s a long one. Also, when you call a doctor’s office and leave a message, do you repeat yourself? I always say my name, phone number, whatever I’m calling about …and then my name and number again. I’m sure this habit stems from pre-caller ID/cell phone days.
6.
*forties ….and relateable.
7.
On a recent group text at 10pm, a friend actually said, “Jen’s probably asleep already.” They weren’t wrong, and I replied back at 7am.
8.
This one just made me laugh.
Anyway, I hope you had a great weekend. We only have this five day week standing between us and Spring break!
Well, this Saturday post kind of snuck up on me. Next Saturday will be April 1st. How is that possible?
Anyway, since it is the last Saturday of the month, I’m linking up with Jennifer for her fun end of the month post.
This month I’m…
Loving:
Two new bracelets that I’ve add to my stack. I added the rose gold bangle first a few weeks ago. I loved it so much that I purchased the silver cross bracelet next. These are less than $12! Can you believe that?
So far, I’ve worn them both almost 24/7 with my other Daily Gold bracelets. That being said, I take them off before I shower just because I’m not sure how they will hold up. Otherwise, they’ve been the perfect addition.
I loved my black SSYS quilted tunic so much that I purchased it in grey (size large). I think grey is mostly sold out, but they also have it in pink and navy in more sizes.
I can’t wait to wear it even more in the spring.
Reading:
I’d read the first book in the American Royals series, but had forgotten about the other books. Majesty was available on the Kindle, so I added it recently. I’m enjoying it, and might just go ahead and read the third book after I finish this one. I see the 4th book is coming out later this summer.
It’s been a while since I quit on a book…but I was 40% through Family Remains and just couldn’t do it anymore. I will share more about my thoughts next week when I share my March books.
Eating:
Oh my word…we tried a new recipe earlier this week thanks to Andrea, and it was so good. ThisTaco Pie was perfect and hit the spot. We had it for dinner Monday and Tuesday along with green beans and salad. Then, I still had some for lunch on Wednesday.
You know I love a recipe if I take the time to write it on a recipe card to save forever which is what I did on Wednesday.
Ordering:
Well, Easter baskets hit different when you aren’t a little kid: {sigh}
With only two weeks until Easter, I need to order a few things. Of course, in their baskets, I put some candy, but then I always pick up a few others things. Gone are the days of sidewalk chalk and bubbles, but I’ve always picked up a few things for summer like swimsuits, flip flops, or goggles. Any good ideas on what I should get my teens? I think I’m going to make a list this weekend and place and order or two.
I hope your weekend is off to a great start. See you back here on Monday for some of my favorite memes!
This week was the first time we’ve had five days of school in a while. That being said, I had to take a sick day yesterday and today because I feel awful. I was negative for Covid, flu, and strep. I didn’t feel this bad when I had Covid…it definitely feels more like the flu, but I guess it’s a virus.
Hopefully, by tomorrow, I will feel better.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Today’s Friday Favorites post is a bit different. I wanted to share this earlier in the week on the first day of spring, but I also wanted to share a recap of the weekend on Monday. So, I just pushed this post to today to share some favorites about spring.
Honestly, spring is probably my least favorite season. As a teacher, the springtime is so busy with testing and finishing up school. Also, spring feels extra busy with my kids’ activities, but I do love a good day of sunshine and 70 degrees for sure. I also love the grass turning green and flowers blooming.
Here are my Top 10 faves about spring:
1. The weather
Once March hits, I don’t want it to be cold, but I do love warmer days but also still being able to wear light sweaters and sweatshirts….you know..kind of easing into summer.
2. Kids’ sports
Well, this spring has already started off differently with Hayden not playing baseball. As busy as we are, we are definitely less busy with no baseball. We’ve hit a “sweet spot” with both kids having track right after school which frees up our evenings…until the meets start. Hadley still has dance a couple nights a week, but we are used to that since she’s been doing that all year long.
I really love outdoor track season because both kids are doing it. It’s fun to watch them improve each week and have fun with their teammates.
3. Keeneland
I’ve shared a few posts about Keeneland, and it’s still one of my favorite places. You can’t beat a sunny day at the track, and Keeneland is such a special atmosphere. We always have fun whenever we go.
4. Oaks/Derby
There’s nothing like the first week of May in Kentucky. The city of Louisville comes alive for the week of Oaks and Derby. While Travis is usually busy with work that week, we often go to Oaks. Sometimes, he will go to Derby too.
5. Outside
Once the time springs forward an hour and the weather warms up, my kids are outside playing quite a bit. Once they started middle school, I wondered if my kids would be outside as much as they did when they were little, and they are. They still ride bikes, play basketball in the driveway, hang out at the playground and more.
We have a great neighborhood full of kids, and not all of them go to my kids’ school. I love that they all run around and hang out together when they can.
6. Grilling out
Dinners get easier in the spring. We’ll often grill out which means I’m not really cooking. So many times when we grill out, it’s easy to throw together side dishes like pasta salad, baked beans, fruit which I appreciate.
Many times, Travis and I end up eating dinner together on the back patio because we can’t convince the kids to come in from playing. I’ve decided to embrace that too.
7. Front porch sittin’
I love sitting on our front porch in the spring. It’s the perfect spot to hang out, sip a glass of wine or read a book.
8. Baseball
Of course, I grew up in Kansas City, so I’ve been a fan through the (many) bad and the good years. Now, my brother and I stream their games using the MLB app. Even if they are having a bad year, I still like having the games on when I can. Just having the game on as we do other things makes me feel nostalgic because the games were always on our tv at home growing up.
While we live about an hour from Cincinnati, we don’t follow the Reds. Even Hayden prefers to cheer for the Royals.
9. Flowers
Whether it’s the flowers at Trader Joe’s or our front porch flowers, I love how pretty they look. Also, for Mother’s Day, my gift is always the hanging ferns for the front porch. I look forward to that tradition.
10. Almost summer
Well, spring also means we are on the downhill slide to summer.
As of today, we have 40 days left in the school year! I can’t believe it. Summer will be here before we know it.
What are your weekend plans? If I can, I hope to have a Share 4 Somethings post for tomorrow! Hadley has one more weekend of volleyball, but otherwise, we don’t have much going on.
What’s your favorite things about spring? I hope you have a lovely spring weekend.
Well, this post came about due to a recent (sad) Facebook memory of saying goodbye to our boxers Shiloh and Scout in 2018 and 2019. I still miss them, and it got me thinking about the dogs I’ve had in my life.
We are dog people. Well, I always have been one, and Travis has grown to be one. I grew up with dogs, and Travis didn’t. After we’d been married a year, we brought home our first Boxer, Shiloh.
Today, I’m sharing the dogs who have been a part of my family through the years.
My first dog was Maggie. My parents got Maggie before I was born. She was a German Shepherd, and I believe my uncle got her for my parents either as a wedding gift or as an anniversary gift. I don’t have a ton of memories of her, but I do remember her and we have a few photos. She was a good dog, but she passed away when I was in the second grade.
Between Maggie and our next dog, I got a cat. I begged and begged for a cat, and finally got one. I named her Foggy because she was gray with white paws. She was an indoor cat and lived for many years. Crazy enough…after leaving for college, when I would come home, I would have itchy eyes and sneeze. Through the years, when I’ve been around other cats, I have the same reaction. A few years ago I actually had allergy testing done because of my seasonal allergies, and I am also allergic to cats…horses and dogs too. Obviously, the dog allergy is mild whereas the others I had a more severe reaction. Anyway, she passed away after I graduated from college.
I remember in school during my 4th grade year, we had to make a book that told a Christmas story. I wrote about a little girl who wanted a dog and woke up Christmas morning with a puppy from Santa. Well, let’s just say fiction didn’t turn into reality. 😆
That being said, the spring of that same year, my brother and I came home from school and were surprised by a Doberman puppy. My dad named him Jake. My dad was a policeman and at the time he was working nights. I think he wanted to make sure we felt protected at night when he was gone. Jake was a great dog and was very well trained. We only had him for eight years as he got sick quickly and died right after I graduated high school. My dad loved him so much that he has a tattoo of Jake on this arm! The loss of Jake was a difficult one for our family.
After Travis and I had been married a year, I told him I wanted to get a dog. That summer after our anniversary, we started talking about it. On a plane ride home from vacation, we saw a Boxer puppy on the plane. The man said how great they were with kids, and that pup was so cute that I thought it might be the best type of dog for us. And…I was planning ahead for when we had kids. Later that summer of 2006, we looked in the newspaper (yes, newspaper) and drove out into the country to look at a litter of Boxer puppies. There were three left, and Travis picked Shiloh. I had my eye on the runt of the litter, but Travis played with Shiloh and thought she was the best one. Of course, I agree now. 😉 We chose the name Shiloh after a bar (#keepingitclassy) in Columbia, Missouri where Travis and I first started talking. She was the sweetest pup and a good addition to our family.
After having Shiloh for a year and a half, I thought she needed a friend. Travis didn’t agree, but of course I got my way. We looked in the paper again, drove out to the country to look at Scout. He was the only pup left and I could tell we were “saving” him from his situation. It didn’t seem like the best circumstances. We named him Scout because of my love of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Kind of like when people say their first child is perfect and the second is more of a handful…that was Scout. As soon as we got him home and to the vet, we realized he had mange and he had some digestive issues too. After a few months, all of that passed. Shiloh tolerated him at first, but they did become two besties.
Where I joked Shiloh was known for her RBF (rested b$%^& face), Scout was happy go lucky. He was loyal and would follow you anywhere. His underbite was too cute, and was a goofball. One time, he got his head stuck in the fence!
Top left: Shiloh, top right: Scout
Travis doesn’t usually like this photo of him, but I joke that Shiloh and I look young and fresh, so that’s all that matters!
Once we had the kids, both pups tolerated them so well. The kids loved on them, followed them around, laid on them, and they were so good with them.
Scout passed away suddenly in 2018. He was only ten and had never had any real health issues. While he had slowed down a bit, we didn’t realize he had cancer until it was too late. It was a very sad time and our kids first time dealing with a loss. Thankfully, we still had Shiloh.
Through the years, she had cancer twice, once in her leg and once in her jaw. She had to have part of her jaw removed which made her tongue hang out. She did recover from those health issues, but for the last year of her life, she had neurotological problems in her back legs. She held on for about a year after Scout died. Honestly, I held on too long. It was a difficult decision to make. Finally, in the spring of 2019, I realized it was time. While it was sad to make that decision, I was grateful to be able to buy her one more ice cream from Dairy Queen and be with her as we told her goodbye.
I remember being so sad, and Travis said when the time was right we’d get another dog. I told him I wasn’t sure if I could do that, and he said, “We are dog people.” I reminded him that I “made” him a dog person, and he agreed. ❤️
I missed having a four-legged friend, and to be honest, I was used to having a dog bark when the door bell rang, and feeling at least a sense of protection. Plus, we felt like we were missing a part of our family. I had a few friends tell me about the Petfinder app, so a couple months after Shiloh passed, I started looking for a puppy. Travis was on board with getting a dog, but he wasn’t sure about a puppy. At the time, the kids were in the 3rd grade. I wanted them to have that memory of getting a puppy just like I did when I was their age.
On my Petfinder search, I filtered it for a lab mix. I just couldn’t bring myself to get another Boxer knowing they are prone to cancer. There were a couple of dogs I kept my eye on and showed Travis. They typically were adopted quickly. Then, I found Homer. He was at a rescue near Cincinnati called Tails of Hope. He was one of three who were found on the side of the road. His adoption name was Glorious and his brothers were Notorious and Victorious. In his adoption photo, his little leg is shaved where he needed fluids and medicine.
We were approved for his adoption, and we surprised the kids that morning. In the car, we went back and forth on what to name him. Hayden eventually suggested Homer (due to his love of baseball…not Homer Simpson), and we all agreed. Obviously, I like an “H” name To this day, if Homer gets in “trouble,” the kids say, “Homer Glorious White!”
I joke that I didn’t read the “fine print” on Homer as he definitely sheds more than I prefer. After having two Boxers who never shed, I’ve given up wearing dark clothing while near Homer.
My brother told me that there are DNA tests for dogs, and we did one for Homer. He’s 25% lab, so there’s that! When we first took him to the vet as a puppy, the vet thought he had Husky in him, and he does. I’d never heard of Great Pyrenees, but I can definitely see that in Homer for sure.
He’s been a great addition to our family, and we all love him very much. He’s spoiled rotten. He’s our first rescue and his demeanor is different than Shiloh and Scout’s. I do feel like he knows that we rescued him. He’s a people pup and wants to be near one of us at all times.
The kids occasionally mention wanting a puppy, and I remind them that we have Homer.
These past couple of years have been the first time I’ve realized what people mean when they say they are too busy to have a pet. Thankfully, Homer is at a great age where he doesn’t need a kennel or let out often. We can finally trust him. We’ll see. I have thought about getting Homer a friend in the next couple of years because I’ve realized Homer’s age along with the timing of an empty nest might make me sad. I’m not sure if we’d get a puppy again. We are home more than I think, but it’s not the best time right now.
Dogs (pets) love us unconditionally, are there for us when we need it, teach responsibility, and really are a part of the family…at least in our family that’s how it is anyway.
I didn’t intend for this post to be so long, but now I have all my favorite fur family in one post.
What about you…are you a dog person or a cat person?
I know teaching might not be a “dream” job to some…but it is what I always wanted to do. My mom was a middle school Language Arts teacher. I always “played” school with my Barbies. I remember helping my mom grade spelling tests and thinking I was so cool. I always had good English teachers, and really never thought twice about being anything besides a teacher. Also, it’s a wonderful profession for raising a family. I’m home with the kids on snow days, on breaks and in the summer. While I have definitely had some difficult years, I really do think this is what I was meant to do.
Obviously, my dream job would be to hit the lottery…and never work again…haha
That being said, if I really had to start over, I would love an at home editing type job. I think it would be fun to read and edit content written for publication. I always wished I could be an author. I guess this blog takes the place of that dream just a little bit. When my mom retired, she worked at the public library. I could definitely see myself doing that a couple days a week when I retire (in less than 10 years!)
That being said, if I didn’t have to work, and could just volunteer, I would spend my time in schools…probably elementary just to help out wherever needed. I’ve never been able to do that since I’ve spent over twenty years with high schoolers. I think it would be fun to help teachers whether it’s make copies, help with testing or reading groups, serve lunch, go on field trips, and more. I would also volunteer at the Humane Society and hang out with dogs all day. Is holding NICU babies still a thing? I would hold a baby all day long if I could.
What’s your dream job?
17. Favorite Childhood Book
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love reading. I’ve shared before that both of my parents were (and are) readers. That habit was modeled for me often and from a very young age.
I loved the Madeline book when I was little. I even had two dolls. I got the second one because the first one I carried around so much it was dirty…and I think was missing an eye.
See…I really loved my Madeline doll.
Other reading memories:
In elementary school, some of the first books I remember listening to my teachers read to the class were Island of the Blue Dolphins in the 3rd grade and Z for Zachariah in the 4th grade. Dear Mr. Henshaw is one of the first books I remember checking out from school library. I also loved Ramona and Amelia Bedelia books; they are perfect for young readers.
I loved the Babysitter Club series. Loved it. I remember buying the books whenever a new one was published.
In middle school, we read Where the Red Fern Grows in 7th grade and The Outsiders in 8th grade and enjoyed them so much.
In high school, my 9th grade English teacher assigned The Great Gatsby to read over winter break, and I didn’t enjoy it. Then, I read it again in college, and I absolutely loved it. (I also made note that when I became a teacher to never assign a book for students to read over a break) 😉
In college, one of my favorite classes was all about young adult books. Every week, we were assigned a book to read, and then we created lesson plans for the books. We read: The Outsiders, The Giver, Chocolate Wars, The Great Gatsby, The Call of the Wild and more.
My first year teaching, my 9th graders read To Kill a Mockingbird. I had never read it which is pretty surprising to me looking back since it’s such a classic (9th grade) book. I had to read it to prep for the unit, and I loved it. Freshman still read this book although many teachers have started using the graphic novel. Of course, I prefer the original, but I will say the graphic novel does do it justice and holds the kids’ attention.
Guess who is a “bad” English teacher and doesn’t love teaching Shakespeare? This girl! Also, I haven’t read a single Harry Potter book, but I distinctly remember the 2004-05 school year, and I had so many students who loved those books. Obviously, they are still popular, but so students who never loved reading really loved those books. Hayden has read the first few, and he really enjoyed them.
I’m very grateful that I have a love of reading. Whether I became an English teacher or not, I think I would still be an avid reader.
I’m linking up with Holly and Sarah to tell you all about ours.
We had a three day weekend with no school on Friday. I stayed up a late on Thursday night watching some of the basketball games since I knew I didn’t have school the next day.
Friday was St. Patrick’s Day. I slept in a bit (by my standards!) before getting up and having a couple of cups of coffee while watching tv and reading blogs.
I let the kids sleep in a bit, but then I made our traditional green pancakes for St. Patrick’s Day.
The kids had an indoor track meet in Louisville, so they prepped for that before Travis got home from work around 11. They left, and I decided to get a workout in before driving to their meet. My dad was visiting, so we just decided to drive a bit later and have less downtime at the meet.
This was a USATF meet, and both kids ran the 800. Hadley had a PR while Hayden won his heat and had a PR as well. They run in the 13-14 age group, and there kids from all across the country at this meet.
We watched a couple other races of kids that Travis coaches and snapped a few pics before heading home.
Yes, we spent more time in the car than at the meet. haha
We got home around 4:30 with plans to go to my brother’s house around 6. So, I read a bit, took a quick nap, and showered. Travis and Hayden went to the high school sweet 16 basketball game while my dad, Hadley and I went to my brother’s house.
We just kept it simple and ordered pizza. We watched the UK basketball game, and then headed home. It had been a long day, and I knew I had an early alarm on Saturday morning, so I went to bed at a decent time.
*Ugh* My alarm woke me at 6:45, and I didn’t get a good night’s sleep. I woke up around 3:45 and had trouble falling back asleep. When I did, I felt like my alarm woke me up.
I was moving pretty slowly, and I had to wake Hadley around 7:15 for her volleyball tournament.
Hadley had two early morning “pool play” games. My dad went to the morning games with me while Travis and Hayden headed to Louisville again for track.
Hadley had games at 9:00 and 11:00. Her team had to do scoreboard/line judge during the game in between, so I got another cup of coffee and did my Kroger Clicklist order.
She was finished with pool play around noon, and requested Chipolte for lunch. We picked that up and got word that she didn’t have a game until 4:00 which meant we could go home for a couple of hours.
Hayden was running the 1500m race at the track meet around that time, so Travis was keeping me up to date. He had another PR and ran 14 seconds faster than just two weeks ago. It was so good to hear Trav tell me the results because I know Hayden was nervous before the race.
Hadley’s volleyball team had two afternoon games, and they played so much better than they did in the morning. Maybe they just needed time to wake up that morning 😉 They ended up winning their bracket. It was fun seeing them gain confidence and come together when they needed to.
We got home just in time for the MU game. My brother came over to watch it with my dad and me. Unfortunately, they lost, but they had such a great season. I enjoyed watching that group of guys.
Dinner was whatever anyone could find around the house. Some had leftovers, and I had two bowls of Lucky Charms cereal. Sometimes, cereal is my “dessert” at night.
After a long day, I went to bed around 10.
I was up around 7:30 on Sunday, and by 8:00, I had our corned beef in the slow cooker.
I drank my coffee and started this blog post. Then, it was time for church. After church, Travis picked up our Kroger order.
We unpacked the groceries while my dad, Hayden and my brother watched an F1 race.
Hadley started to make our March cake. While the cake baked, I decided to make lunch that could also be my lunch a couple days this week: taco salad.
After lunch, I watched some of the F1 race, added to this blog post, and made the Irish soda bread.
Then, it was time for the traditional front porch pic with my dad and the kids which is always his request.
Hayden played outside with friends and Hadley went to youth group.
Of course, we watched the UK game which was another tough loss for this house.
Hadley and Layla put the finishing touches on our cake during halftime. {*Hadley was silly this weekend wearing my glasses.}
We enjoyed dinner and cake and then watched a couple more basketball games.
That was about it for our Sunday evening, and we prepped for the week ahead.
Overall, it was a busy and good few days.
We have two weeks until Spring Break. Even Travis is asking me if it’s later than usual this year. I don’t think it is, but it sure feels like it!
Also, happy St Patrick’s Day! We don’t have school today, and I’m glad to not be there on a day when people like to pinch if you aren’t wearing green. haha
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Well, we’ve been in a weather slump this week…this meme is appropriate:
Losing an hour of sleep has made me feel extra tired this week.
That being said, here are some favorites from the week:
Favorite Food:
I decided to embrace the colder weather and plan some hearty meals. This week we ate:
*Hadley brought home some artwork this week. You know…in middle school, they don’t bring things home like they did in elementary school. I thought her sea turtle was so cute.
*On Monday, I had my annual mammogram. While I don’t love that appointment, I felt relieved to receive good results. Friendly reminder to make that appointment.
*Most evenings this week we didn’t have much going on past 6:00. It was a brief reprieve from what sometimes feels like a non-stop schedule.
*Both kids made the track team this week! They were excited and are looking forward to a fun season. Track meets don’t start until after Spring Break, so we’ll have a couple more weeks of mostly free evenings.
*My MIZZOU Tigers won their first game of the tournament. Who knows how far they will go, but they are such a fun team to watch. I’m glad they’ve made it another round!
*Last night, Hayden’s basketball team had their end of season banquet. It was fun to celebrate them after a successful season.
Favorite Kid Quote:
I’ve said before that Hayden and Hadley couldn’t be any different if they tried. Hadley still has lots of energy at the end of the day. Wednesday night, she was showing us a dance routine and telling us what a great day she had.
Hayden walked in the room, and without missing a beat, she said “Hi! best friend.” He definitely gave her the side eye before rolling his eyes 😆 Sometimes, he doesn’t know what to do with her.
Favorite Mom Meme:
This is very relatable:
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday
In honor of March Madness, here’s Hayden with his bracket in 2016. He still love this time of the year.
Weekly Recap:
Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one:
What are your weekend plans? The kids have indoor track and Hadley has volleyball this weekend. On Sunday, I’m going to make corned beef, cabbage, and Irish soda bread. We can’t wait!
Hello and happy Thursday! This is a Thursday that feels like a Friday which is so nice. We don’t have school tomorrow. Since we still have a couple of weeks left until spring break, I’ll take the extra day off!
Recently, on Instagram, Ashley was answering some questions and one of them was “What do you miss most about your kids being little and love most about them being older?”
This question really “hit” me…To be honest, I’d say this past year (2022) was probably the toughest parenting year so far.
First of all, I have teens now. That’s probably all I need to say. 😂
That being said, last year started with a health issue for Hayden. While we were pretty certain the source of the issue, we still had a few months of uncertainty and tests to rule out major issues. My “mama heart” stayed worried during that time which of course caused me to feel stressed and anxious. Thankfully, things are much better now, but it was a hard season of worry to navigate.
Also, I think I’m just very aware of how quickly time is flying by. Recently, I said to Hayden, “I can’t believe I only have five more years with you all in the house with us.” His reply: “I can just live with you when I’m in college too.” Well, that’s the thing…I don’t necessarily want that either…You know, I want to get them to the point of independence. Of course, if they are in school and want to live at home for a year or two, I wouldn’t say no. It’s just I know I need to maximize my time with them while also raising productive members of society 😉
I also think Travis and I have done a good job setting boundaries and expectations while also giving them some independence as well. Now, do they give us credit for doing those things? Not always! 😂..,but I know they know we’re just trying to help them in the long run.
They like to take turns keeping me on my toes. Truthfully, I know that most of what we deal with is “normal” middle school behavior. That being said, there have been some trying times and season of growth. Again, it’s probably typical “growing pains” (literally and figuratively), but sometimes I just feel like I’m doing this parenting thing all wrong. Also, since I’m with teens at school all day, I try not to let my patience be spread too thin at home after a long day, but sometimes that’s hard. Thankfully, Travis balances me out. I feel like we make a great team.
And…we are just very busy. I always say, “blessed to be busy,” but this is just a very busy season of life. There aren’t many nights when we are all home for dinner at the same time, and sometimes I feel like I only see the kids when they are just waking up in the morning and tired or very late at night when they are tired as well. Sometimes, I feel like I’m just fussing at them to use their time wisely or get things done. Then, there are nights they do everything they are supposed to when they are supposed to, and that’s amazing!
Anyway…
So, when thinking about the question…
What do you miss most about your kids being little?
When they were little, they loved me so unconditionally. I miss that. I miss them sitting in my lap. I miss their little voices. (A Facebook memory popped up with a video of Hayden’s little 2nd grade voice, and it stopped me in my tracks). I miss them wanting me to read to them, toothless smiles, and much more.
I feel this deeply:
If that meme doesn’t sum up thirteen year olds, I don’t know what does!
But…
What do you love most about them being older?
Of course, I enjoy who they are now. I can really see who they are becoming as people, and I love it. Also, it is nice that they have more independence and responsibility. They can pack a suitcase with minimal help (I still provide a list!), they can run into the grocery store with my debit card and pick up a few items we need, they can turn the lights off if I go to bed before them, I can trust them with their friends (I hope that’s always the case), and I’ve enjoyed seeing their relationship develop through the years. (Of course, if they want to quit fighting in the bathroom in the morning, I would be ok with that too!)
Anyway, I’d love any words of wisdom from those with older kids. I’m trying to enjoy this season the best that I can. Thankfully, they still hug me and tell me goodnight. That’s the good stuff, for sure! It just feels like they went from this…
Well, this month feels like it’s flying by! I always love when Shay and Erika host this monthly link up because it’s fun to see what others have to share!
This month, the topic is all time favorite Amazon finds.
Well, is there a more perfect post for me to write about?
This is a SUPER-sized Amazon post filled with some faves and even seasonal favorites as well.
All-time faves:
I purchased flameless candles back in January, and they have been perfect for decor, but they also came in very handy at night when we didn’t have power last week. I’m really glad I picked up the seven pack. At first, I wasn’t using them all, but then I put a couple downstairs on the built in, and they are perfect there.
I don’t see my exact ones anymore, but this pack has over 10,000 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 star reviews.
I’ve been drinking my morning coffee out of this mug for years. I don’t use it as a travel mug…just my at home mug.
These slippers have become an all time favorite because they are fuzzy but don’t make my feet hot!
When I bought this electric tea kettle, I wasn’t sure how much I’d use it. Hadley uses it the most for warming up water for her mac and cheese or ramen! We also use it for water for hot chocolate. I got my mom one last year since she drinks tea. Anyway, it’s definitely a purchase that we love.
This tissue box cover is something I love so much I gave it as a stocking stuffer/gift last year. The tissue box on our kitchen counter was an “eye sore” for me, but this one is perfect to blend in the tissue box on the counter.
These packing cubes are a must for me, and I always use them when we travel.
My Kindle is probably my all time Amazon fave. I read so much more because of it. I still often have a book I’m reading, but I always have books on my Kindle too. I love it.
Winter Faves:
These Ugg dupes have been perfect to wear this winter.
I wear this sweater often and it comes in a variety of colors.
I purchased this sweater two years ago in a variety of colors, and I still wear them all often.
Spring Faves:
I have this cardigan in two colors, and wear them both all the time. They are perfect for the springtime over a dress.
I picked up this purse last spring, and I love that the strap is interchangeable, and it holds just what I need to go to church, Keeneland, or on vacation.
I picked up this midi dress a couple of years ago, and it’s one I pull from my closet often in the spring.
These joggers are great because they are light weight and a bit more on the capri side.
Summer Faves:
This swim cover up is the best. I have it in light blue and navy. It looks like they have a short sleeved version now too.
I purchased this swimsuit two years ago and have two of them. Cute, stylish, and comfy.
I love these rose gold Birk dupes. I did size up to a 10 instead of my regular 9. Hadley has them in white…she actually got them first 😆
Fall Faves:
Once the weather gets colder, I usually switch out my purse from something smaller to one that holds all the things. If I’m not carrying my Barrington bag tote, then I’m using this hobo style one:
This fuzzy cardigan is one of my favorite things to wear in the fall and winter:
These Amazon joggers can be worn year round, of course, but I love them when I don’t want to wear leggings.
Shew! I know the topic was “all-time” faves, but I’ve been a fan of Amazon for years, so I guess that means I have lots of faves. All the seasonal items I shared, I think I’ve had for at least a year…and most I’ve had for longer.
Next month’s topic is: our biggest pet peeves. Uh oh…this could be opening up a can of worms. haha!
{This post contains Amazon affiliate links…Thank you for supporting my blog!}
Well, I’m tired of going to the grocery store. I “pride” myself on the fact that I use Clicklist/Kroger pick up, and if I have to go in the store, I’m in there for 10 minutes or less.
Well, like I mentioned yesterday, I’ve had to restock our fridge + meal plan for lunches and dinners, so I’ve been in the grocery store more times than I’d like over the past week.
One of my grocery trips included going to Trader Joe’s for a few “staples” that needed replenished, and I thought I’d share with you what I picked up in only a few minutes in the store. Most of these things are items I get almost every time I go to TJ, so they are our “tried and true” must haves.
Well, flowers are typically something I pick up most times I go to Trader Joe’s in the spring and summer. I just love that they have quite the variety, and flowers are an easy way to freshen up the house.
These are two of our favorite chips to buy. The kids especially love the blue corn tortillas chips. I love the “dippers” with the buffalo chicken dip.
Hadley loves the cinnamon raisin bagels for breakfast. While I don’t eat breakfast, I love these “everything” bagels for a snack.
The bag of Honeycrisp apples are one of the main reasons that I went to Trader Joe’s this trip. Then, I went ahead and picked us up some strawberries and then a couple of avocados for my avocado toast that I like to make.
The Jasmine rice is probably the second most bought thing I get at TJ (besides the apples). Even though I don’t eat it as frequently, I usually have a box of the organic brown rice on hand as well. Hadley loves the white cheddar mac and cheese, so I always pick up a couple of boxes when I go. The buffalo dip is so good with veggies, crackers, or the “dipper” chips.
These “pickled pups” stopped me in my tracks, so I decided to give them a try. Newsflash: I had some for lunch on Sunday, and they were soooo good. I dipped them in some yellow mustard. The only negative is there were only nine in the bag! Travis wanted some too, so we split this pack. I will definitely buy them again.
St. Patrick’s Day:
While I’m talking about food…St. Patrick’s Day is on Friday which means I will be making corned beef, cabbage, and Irish soda bread this weekend. Here’s my recipe for both:
We actually don’t have school on Friday, so I think I will treat the kids to some fun green pancakes topped with Lucky Charms like I have the past couple of years.
What are your “staple” items you pick up when you go to Trader Joe’s?
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