My Summer Bucket List

Yesterday I shared Jack's summer bucket list and I'm back today to share mine. With only 5 school days left I'm the perfect mix of exhausted and elated. Here in Arkansas we are gearing up for a beautiful weekend. These next few days are going to be our summer trial run. Like our stretches before the big game. So after writing, thinking, scratching out, rewriting, thinking, scratching out (oh my poor brain!) I have finally decided on my summer bucket list.

1. Go swimming a lot. We have a local spot called the Boys Club that Jack and I are going to become a member over this summer. I plan on doing lots of swimming. 

2. Learn to sew. I've always wanted to learn to sew so I decided that this summer I am going to take the time while Jack is in daycare to finally teach myself. I'm gathering supplies and getting really excited. 

3. Watch Big Brother with my BFF. I've been a fan of Big Brother for forever and tomorrow. My bestie is also a huge fan so we are working on some plans to watch together. It is always so much fun and something I look forward to every summer. 

4. Go to the eye doctor. The summer can't be all fun. It is also necessary to get those appointments done so you can save your sick days for actually sick days or the much needed mental health day.

5. Get teeth cleaned. Yeah, another one of those have to appointments. 

6. Lose lots of weight. If I manage to lose any weight I will be overjoyed. I do plan on working out hard at the gym and don't forget all the swimming. Fingers crossed on this one.

7. Make a Jack photo album. Very few people make actual photo albums anymore and I'm one of those people who does not have an actual album with pictures of my baby in it. I'm going to rectify that this summer. 

8. Send my Secret Pal a gift over the summer. This is the third year I have hosted the Secret Pal exchange at work. It is so much fun! We are drawing names on Tuesday and I'm ready to see who I get. I'm going to send her at least one gift over the summer. I know she will love getting a package in the mail.

9. Get a new car. As much as I love not having a car payment, it is time to get a new car. I have no idea what I'm going to get. My dad always pretty much just tells me what I should get. I'm not a car person so I really don't care.

10. Get hair done. I love my length but it needs trimmed and I need some color applied. I love getting my hair done but I hate shelling out the 100+ dollars that it costs. 

11. Attend the I love the 90's concert. I have purchased my ticket and am pumped about it. It is not until the end of July but I'm so excited that the anticipation is well worth it. A bunch of my gal pals are going and I know we are going to have so. much. fun.

12. Go to Riverfest. This is a yearly festival that the girls go to every year. I'm not always able to join but I'm going this year. We are overly excited about seeing Chris Stapleton. 

13. Take videos of Jack. My parents would take videos of us kids. Some of our fondest memories were captured on film. I do take some videos of Jack but they are on my phone and I want them on some type of disc. Another project I will feel good about once it is complete. 

14. Make homemade ice cream. It is something I've always wanted to do and summer is the perfect time. I have zero idea of how to make it but thank goodness for Pinterest. 

15. Read three books. Three books makes it one a month. I hope to read more but I at least want to shoot for three. I have a few picked out that have me excited. 

So there is my list. What a busy summer I am going to have if I do all of these things. I'm hoping I don't end up on the couch watching the rest of Parenthood. However, I am sure a couple of days like that are bound to happen. 

What is on your summer bucket list? 

Jack's Summer Bucket List

Oh May

May is such an odd month for a teacher. You are working but everything feels extra hard because summer is within reach. Each day at school there is something going on-field trips, programs, awards, field day, testing, and celebrations. The days feel long because the finish line is within your grasp.

The kids are over it and so are the teachers. It really tests your endurance.

It is also exciting. Being around these little people who are enjoying all these fun activities makes for a joyous heart. Plus, in May it is like the school takes a simultaneous release of air and everyone can breathe a little easier.

We are down to eight days. Eight days!

Although I fail at summer, I'm starting to gain a new perspective. Sometimes writing it all out is just what you need to see your solution.

I'm actually getting excited about summer. I'm making lists of things I want to accomplish and things that I think will be fun. I can't wait to get started on everything and share it with everyone.

I learned that I was looking at summer the wrong way (which I typically do). I was seeing what I was going to lose- the schedule, the structure, the motivation, and not focusing on what I will be gaining-the freedom, the time to focus on me, and the opportunity for fun.

Summer, in eight days I'm coming for you.

Jack (3 1/2)

I wanted to take a few minutes to document Jack's life. He is three and a half today. It feels like he is changing daily and I wanted to remember this precious time.

• He is still obsessed with trains but is loving Chuggington more than Thomas lately
• Loves sounding out words, he is truly hooked on phonics
• Wants popsicles all the time
• Would live outside
• His favorite toy is his railroad tracks (first thing Saturday morning he asked for them)
• Favorite book right now is Pete the Cat Wheels on the Bus
•  If at all possible he is going to find mud
• His favorite movie right now is this phonics video (personally it drives me nuts but he loves it)
• He has started to say "thank you much"
• Potty training has still hadn't happened. He is more likely to poop on the potty than pee. For the first time he came to me and told me he needed to poop. Usually we have to encourage him to get on the potty. Last night he pooped twice in his pants so yeah, real progress over here
• He loves to come up and kiss me. He'll kiss me wherever. He just runs up and kisses. My leg has gotten lots of love lately.
• I've witness him push two different kids and right away will say "sorry, give me a hug"
• His favorite person is his cousin Bennett. They fight and love each other like brothers. 
• He repeats everything you say, and I mean everything
• He enjoys sneaking the stool and climbing up onto things he isn't suppose to, so basically he loves giving me a heart attack.
• If he sees the dogs water bowl he is going to dump it out. 100% of the time.
• Sleeping is so much better. He doesn't sleep very late but at least he sleeps through the night

Life Lately

As much as I want to get back into this space full time I have learned that right now I just can't. I need to let other things take center stage and survive well for the month of May. It is just a crazy month. I have tons to do at work. When I get home I'm exhausted but I have to contend with a 3 year old who has to have lots of attention. He refuses to go to sleep unless I'm laying beside him and I don't know about you but if I'm forced to get into bed for 30 minutes I'm probably not going to make it out until morning. As much as I lay there and tell myself to stay awake, I just can't. It would be so great to be able to get up once he is asleep and do things I enjoy but I seriously can not make myself stay awake.

But I did want to stop in say hello and give a quick life update.

Today I'm a fill in mother for our 5th grade Mother's Day Tea. Every year the 5th graders do a program for their mothers. Everyone cries and it is beautiful. A few kids have parents that can't or won't attend (don't get me started) and those kids ask someone to be their mom for the day. This year I've been asked. I haven't done it in a couple years and what is great is that the last time I filled in for a mom I was this siblings mother. So I'm basically the official school mother for this crew and I love it. I'm gonna cry, like blubber cry. Last time I cried like a big ol baby and I wasn't even a mother then so I've been preparing myself.

Over the weekend it rained and rained and rained. We were stuck inside but I've learned a little trick that makes Saturday a little more pleasant. Jack loves his railroad tracks. They take up a lot of space but they entertain him for hours. I've learned to get them out Saturday morning so I can have a little peace. he'll play the majority of the morning and then off and on the rest of the day. Sunday when he wakes up they are gone. He'll ask about them but I distract him the best I can. Getting them out only on Saturday helps them to stay current and it gives me a little break.

We finally made it outside for a few minutes on Saturday. We had to wear our boots and no pants because that is just how we do things in Arkansas. We love muddy puddles!

This little rascal got into my brand new mascara and did his own make-up. Y'all I had to laugh. You can tell he has seen me do my make-up but he totally ignored the other eye. However, he did not ignore his arms. But let me tell ya, my Simple face wipes got that mascara right off with ease. He was so proud and I was proud of myself. I didn't get mad. I didn't freak out. I handled it with grace and I count that as a parenting win. 

I'm working on some big mental hurdles right now and I'm doing good with it. I'm actually starting to look forward to summer and I have some big stuff planned. 

Things are looking up my friends!

May Goals + April Goals Recap

April Goals

1// Continue with the couch to 5K program. I'm still doing the couch to 5k program! I will say there have been a few challenges that kept me from going to the gym every other day but I'm still working the program and super proud of myself.

2// Work on Jack's discipline. The timeout mat arrived today and so did the supplies to make some calm down bottles. So funny to read this goal now. I was so optimistic. The mat I bought is awful. I basically paid $15 for a lightweight piece of plastic that Jack just wadded up. The calm down bottles were also a joke. I made one, showed it to Jack, and he was completely uninterested. 

3// Keep my car clean. I cleaned it up real well over Spring Break and I would like it to keep that pristine look for April. I'm still rocking this one. I've always had a pretty messy car (super proud moment right here) so keeping it cleaned out is a big deal. I've been more intentional about taking stuff out of my car when I get home from work and throwing out the trash when I stop for gas.

4// Work on my 101 list. Thanks Holly for the idea. I've worked on this list and have been able to mark a few things off. I completed my weekly task for my 101 list, which was buy my mom something for no reason. I got her a decorative lawn stake that I heard she wanted but didn't want to spend the money on herself. I still have a few more items to make my list complete. I thought I had my list complete until I looked it over and realized I had a few repeats.

May Goals

1// Continue with couch to 5K.

2// Survive this month with a good heart. May is super busy as a teacher. I'm looking at my calendar right now and there is something on it every. single. day. I don't mind being busy (I actually thrive on busy) but sometimes I can lose my good and happy heart along the way. I need to stay intentional about treating the people around me with grace. 

3// Get all my sewing supplies together. I've decided I'm going to try and learn how to sew this summer. It is something I've always wanted to learn and I've been complaining about not having anything to do this summer so I figured learning to sew would be great. 

4// Work on potty training with Jack. It seems we keep taking one step forward and two steps back. I'm not being consistent and I've gotta work on this. I got a new potty chart that I hope I can stick with. 

5// Finalize my plan and schedule for summer. I'm starting to look forward to summer (just a little) because I'm making a game plan. Gosh I sound so pathetic. Just know that I acknowledge this fact. I want to mix in some accomplishments with some fun. At the end of the summer I want to feel like I've done some great things and had some fun with Jack. 

What is your biggest goal for May?