Weekend Recap Part 2

Part 1 of my weekend recap was running a little long so I decided to break it up a little. I guess I had more to say about my car and a birthday party then I realized. So here is the rest for ya.

Sunday
When school starts back you gotta have new school clothes. We decided to venture out on Sunday since it was the only free day we all had left. We drove to Monroe, LA which isn't too far from where we live. First stop was Target. I found nothing. I left so disappointed because I always can find something I want. Jack did wrangle himself yet another train but it entertained him during the rest of our shopping so it was well worth it.

Next we hit up the Pecanland Mall. Y'all I managed to find everything I needed at JC Penney. I left there with 4 tops, a pair of pants, a bracelet, a pair of earrings, and a pair of shoes for $184! I don't need a lot right now since I still have spring and summer clothes out and it is still too early to get out my fall clothes. I just wanted a few updated pieces to make it feel like a new school year. It was all things that can be mixed and matched with what I already have in my wardrobe.

The best part of the shopping trip was letting Jack ride the carousel that is inside the mall. It is two stories and he had the best time. It was so much fun for him that I let him ride twice. The first time he rode the elephant and the second time my dad insisted that he ride the deer. Jack didn't care either way. I had to ride beside him and I thought I was going to get sick. It's so sad that even a simple carousel ride makes me woozy.

Monday

Although Monday isn't technically the weekend I wanted to take a minute to highlight Monday as it started a new school year with Jack in pre-K. They were taking the kids pictures as they came in and I loved the little setup they had. I didn't bring my phone in with me so the director was nice enough to send me the picture. I hope Jack learns a lot this school year and I seriously pray that he potty trains soon. I'm starting to feel like the only parent that has an almost four year old who isn't going to the potty. He is too dang smart to not go. We tell him all the time "You can do xyz but you can't go to the potty". I think he is playing a cruel game with me at this point, like he knows that it drives me crazy so he doesn't go. Jack is the type of kid that he is only going to do something when he wants to and no amount of screen time, stickers, candy, or toys is going to do the trick. There will be a much needed celebration (for Mama) when he decides it is time to get rid of the diapers.

Weekend Recap Part 1

Y'all I had such a busy weekend and it looks as if things aren't going to be slowing down anytime soon. Bye bye summer, hello hectic. It's been lots of fun these past few days but it has threw me into a sort of shock. The lazy days of summer are gone and school hasn't even started back yet. Here is a little run down of what I've been up to.

Friday
My dad and I went shopping for my new car. I had my car paid off for a year and I really liked not having that car payment, but with driving so much for work I knew I had to get something more reliable. I had my options narrowed down to a Nissan Rogue or a Chevrolet Equinox. We checked out the Rogue first and I really liked it so I was ready to sign the paperwork. My dad is not like me and likes to weigh options. He wanted to drive over and look at the Equinox. One of the main reasons my dad liked the Equinox is that my sister had a really bad wreck in her Equinox where she was hit head on. She walked away with only a broken arm and her car was completely totaled.  To me (who is not a vehicle person at all) the Equinox had a lot of the same features as the Rogue so I really didn't care either way. He finally said it was up to me and I went with the Rogue. What was the deciding factor? The salesman. The Nissan guy wanted the sale more. It's a smaller dealership and he just seemed to have more respect for us and wasn't too pushy. The Chevrolet guy tried to use sales tactics that I don't like. You could tell he was so happy that we came back.

Saturday

It was raining so we lounged around a little that morning knowing that we were going to be babysitting my niece at 11 while my sister and her husband took my nephew Bennett to his first movie. It was at 2:00 and I'm playing with my niece when my mom says "I gotta get some paper to wrap Bennett's birthday present". I said, "You have plenty of time" (his birthday is Wednesday). She said, "How is 4:00 plenty of time?". I flipped out. I had no idea his birthday party had gotten moved to Saturday. My sister always throws him a huge birthday party but opted out of the normal party for the movies, a day at Jumpzone, and a small family cake/presents birthday party on his actual birthday. Well it ends up that Bennett's great grandmother could only come on Saturday so plans got changed and I had no idea. They had no idea that I didn't know. I had two hours to shower, dress, go find a present, get Jack showered and dressed, and wrap everything. It was chaotic for awhile and it all worked out. The cake was delicious which helped to calm me down a lot.

Part 2 will be posted tomorrow.

Confessions

I love a good confessions post and this week I'm in real need. It has been a tough one.

1// Jack hasn't been sick not one day all summer and my second day of inservice at school and daycare calls to say the stomach bug is going around and I need to pick up Jack because he has had three bouts of diarrhea. I had to leave early and it was a little embarrassing because it was only day two.

2// Jack found a blue sharpie and decorated a chair, my bedding, and himself. He was so proud but I was not. He said, "look Mom, it's soooo pretty".

3// I've already been looking on Pinterest for possible Halloween costumes for Jack.

4// Sunday I wore glasses for the first time since 5th grade. I put them on and not one person mentioned them all day. I felt like Chandler on Friends when the same thing happened to him.

5// I got up yesterday morning at 4:30 and made homemade brownies. I couldn't sleep so baking seemed like a good idea.

6// I hate when bloggers use the word digress. I'm not even sure why, but I do.

7// I had to speak up for myself at work the other day. It is something I don't like to do. I can be a pushover but something came over me. It felt good but still a little uncomfortable. I'm the Meg Ryan character in You've Got Mail. I need a pep talk before I have to confront someone. This was a on the fly kinda thing and I'm proud of myself. I was respectful but firm. Some people have no trouble stepping up for themselves and I need to be more like that. In this instance I was defending a coworker so it came easier for me. So one of my goals for this school year is to be more intentional about speaking up, saying no, and not being taken advantage of.

8// Over the weekend I had my sister's two kids. I couldn't find Jack and I found him like this. There was actual formula in there. How gross! He was being still and quiet so I just left him.

9// I got another job title at work. I am now also the technology coordinator for our school. It isn't much extra money but I'll take it since I've been doing the work for free anyways.

10// My mom wears dentures and I found this rascal in the bathroom the other day. Lord help me.

Best Parts of Summer 2016

It is now August 9th and summer is officially wrapping up. I can't say I'm sad. Although it is nice to get a break from waking up and getting dressed, I do love my job. However, it has been a great summer and I've really tried to be intentional about enjoying the summer. Here are a few of my favorite parts.

Spending time with Jack. Jack still went to daycare but we did get to spend more time together. I would take him late and pick him up early. I'd also pick up my nephew from daycare. Many afternoons we would go straight to Sonic to indulge in chocolate milkshakes or ice cream cones. Jack, my mom, and I went and saw The Secret Life of Pets and Jack and I spent numerous days at the pool.

Spending time at the pool alone. The days I worked I normally didn't take Jack with me. The pool we belong to operates on volunteers so I happily worked several days this summer. I knew I couldn't properly watch him while working so I often signed up to work when I knew Jack would be in daycare. After I do my duties that had to be done I would get to lay back and relax. I would spend some time in the pool and the other times sitting inside and reading. It was nice just to have that time to myself.

Learning to sew. I learned it and now I'm done. I didn't love it and so I'm letting it go. It was something I wanted to learn and I was able to do it but logically it isn't for me in this time of my life. I don't have the space or time. Plus, sewing has dangerous supplies and Jack kept meddling with them. It felt good to tackle something I've always wanted to do.

Spending time with friends. This summer has been the most time I've spent with friends since before Jack. My friend Brooke and I would meet up for lunch margaritas, we took a girls overnight trip to Riverfest, another trip to the I Love the 90s concert, I went and stayed overnight at my besties house, and a few times I went out with friends at night. We still have the beach trip coming up in September!

Reading and watching tv. I binge watched the whole Parks and Recreation series, watched countless reruns of 90210, read numerous books, and enjoyed my favorite summer show Big Brother. I very much LOVED Parks and Rec and even cried when I finished the last episode. My favorite book this summer was The House We Grew Up In. It is also the last book I read, which usually is my favorite.

What has been your favorite part this summer?

August Goals

How I'm feeling after today


Today I officially went back to work. I don't really officially have to go back until next week but I needed to get to work because there is tons to do before the kids show up on the 17th. I have to input all my 700+ students into three different databases.

I've been looking at names and numbers all day long but I wanted to stop for a few minutes to write out my August goals. One of my unofficial goals for this month is to write these goals down somewhere other than just here. I need them in my face. With this month being so crazy busy, I really need to write them down in a place that I see often.

Well here we go to big ideas and new school year dreams.

1// Finish detailing my car, get it sold, and get another. I'm thinking about getting a Nissan Rogue. My friend Brooke has one and has really liked it.

2// Get Jack and myself into a better night and morning routine before school starts.

 

3// Find my nephew a really great birthday gift and celebrate with him and my family.

 

4// Fix my lunch for at least 3 days each week.

 

I'm just now getting a chance to get back to yesterday's post. Very busy day yesterday....

5// Fit in one more pool day with Jack.

6// Get everything ready at work for the first couple of weeks.

7// Get a pedicure. The first month or so I'll be wearing sandals to work and I need my toes to look good. No one wants to see unmanicured feet.

8// Be more intentional about being a service to other women. Mom Struggling Well posted a podcast yesterday with an interview with Sophie Hudson and it really opened my eyes to what types of service we can offer each other. It is a great message and I encourage you all to go take a listen.

Well I need to wrap this up, swallow this last bit of coffee, and get to the pool. I'm working the pool from 10-1 today. The high is 99 so I figure there will be lots of people there today.

Have a great week!