Weekend update

We are all SICK of the rain around here.  I feel like it has been raining since last fall NON STOP.  It actually wasn't as bad as it was forcasted for the weekend, so we did enjoy some outside time, but man....please bring on some sunny skies!!!

I started off the weekend by posting this....

I agonized for months whether to do so.  And then I realized, I am selling my self short.  

I came to the realization that I am good enough.  

For so long, in so many parts of my life, I have questioned myself, felt inadequate, felt like I wasn't as good as others.  And I decided that now is a good a time as any to stop thinking that way.  

Am I still insecure?  Of course, who isn't?  

Am I going to get cocky and toot my own horn all the time?  Lord, I hope not - call me out if I ever do!  

When I opened my etsy shop, it was an easy way for me to share my passion, be creative, and make a little money.  It was vulnerable, but it was selling to strangers...it was much more comfortable for me.  I rarely mentioned it to friends - partly because I see my friends as "friends" and didn't ever want them to feel like they needed to buy things from me.  And partly because I was worried - worried they would judge, not like my pieces, etc...  EVERYONE is making jewelry these days...and it all looks the same, honestly.  So, I know what the market is like.  But I also know I love doing it, and if others want to buy it, they will.  It's not my decision to make.  

So, here's to a new summer resolution - finding the right balance in sharing my passion and creativity.

Friday night, we met some friends at the Rooftop Bar at the Durham Hotel.  It was AWESOME!  The weather turned out to be beautiful, and it was such a cool place.  I will definitely be going back there.

We were celebrating Dana's birthday - so we had drinks and appetizers.

The whole group....

We then decided we needed more food so we walked to Pompieri Pizza -which was delicious. I am still amazed at how cool Durham is...such a transformation from 15 years ago.  We stayed out past 11pm (WHAT!!!????) but had such a great time!

Saturday, Brent had to work, and Emma and I finished up some etsy orders.

I am loving these pieces we made this weekend:)

Then, my sweet mom took us out for a girl's afternoon of shopping.  It was such a treat, and it meant so much to me.  We had a great time, and I treated us to iced mochas from JoeVan Gogh afterwards.  They make THE best iced mochas ever.

Sunday was low key - I did nursery at church, and then we spent the afternoon doing chores and getting ready for the week.

This is my last week of work before the summer and I am pumped.  I like working, but sometimes logistically, it is just really hard to get it all done.  I am really looking forward to some laid back, do whatever we feel like days with Emma!

Weekend ramblings...

I am coming to the realization that Emma and I have only 2 more summers before she is off to Kindergarten.  I am terrified....for her and for me.  I literally want to keep her home with me forever.  But I know that would be unhealthy for us both - partly because I do need some time away every now and then.  And also...I would be the worst home school teacher.  There would be a hilarious movie about it, truth be told.  While I am a "teacher" by day...I would probably let Emma watch TV or the iPad, or just do whatever most of the day because I am not that disciplined.  

Anywho, I worry about Emma adjusting.  She's always been in daycare (sniff, sniff mom guilt), but she is shy and reserved.  She prefers one friend over a whole group and can get clingy.  I think she gets that from me, for sure:)  It takes her awhile to warm up, and she's not the child that goes up to strangers and makes friends all the time.  None of these traits bother me, and I love who she is and how protective she is of her feelings and her friendships.  She makes you earn it, and she doesn't just give it out easily.

I worry about all this because I am taking her out of daycare again for the summer.  So, she'll go from 3 days a week to 0 days a week.  Then, in August, she is going back 3 days a week.  And then...just to make sure she hasn't adjusted too much to all this change, I am pulling her out of daycare and putting into a wonderful, terrific preschool that I know she will love.  But it's everyday until 12.  New place, new teachers, new friends, new time, new everything.  I know she will adjust and need little to no therapy in her adult years because of it:)

I've been agonizing about this for a few months.  And then, 2 things happened that completely changed my heart and put me at ease.  

They were little things, but there were so reassuring.

First, Emma had a birthday party at Pump It Up over the weekend.  She knew the kids there, but I was worried she would cling to me the whole time and not play with the other kids.  Past experience says this will happen.  

But Emma completely surprised me.  She basically ran away from me every time I tried to hang out with her.  

She had the best time.  She didn't need me by her side at all, and she seemed SOOO grown up.  I was that mom that stayed in the corner, watched from the sidelines, and hardly intervened.  Every now and then, Emma would look back at me and flash a smile and a wave, just to say 

"hey mom, I'm glad you're here, but I'm ok!"

And then yesterday, I took her to yoga at Kidzu.  I had heard about it through a friend who went and thought we would try it since it was rainy out.  

Emma walked right in, took her boots off, and sat down right in front of the teacher and next to the other kids.  She didn't hesitate, she didn't look back.  

She jumped right in, she laughed, she was a great listener.

I sat back, took a million pictures, and beamed with pride. 

Emma was growing up, she was becoming her own little person.  Sure, she's still shy, and she'll probably never be a social butterfly.  But, she's becoming such a smart, funny, and caring little girl.  She's not a toddler, and definitely not a baby!

I know the changes coming in her daily schedules will be good for her, and she will undoubtedly adjust just fine.  

And I know, for sure, that I will cherish every single moment with her the next 2 months.  

Every tantrum, every eye roll, every ignoring of me, and every whine.  For with these times, I also get every snuggle, every smile, every kind word, and every hand hold.  

So bring on the summer, and all the memories I get to make with my Emma bear:)

Friday Favorites

A few things I am loving lately!  I haven't done one of these posts in quite awhile, so I have lots to share!

Pandora Doug Stone Station - this 90's country station makes me so happy!!  I've been listening to it at work since all the kids are gone and I can blast whatever I want in the library:)

 

 

Oventure Key Ring - I asked Brent for one of these for Mother's Day - and I got the red croc one pictured on the far left.  So far, I LOVE it.  I can wear it on my wrist, or push it up my arm to be more secure.  It's also super easy to find in my purse.

 

 

 

Gap tencel top - I love this top - such an easy piece that goes with so much.  I love denim, but summer isn't really denim-friendly.  This tencel is perfect!

 

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base - I used a lot of Bobbi Brown products in the past, and decided to go back to their skin care this spring.  I LOVE the smell of this, and it feels so lightweight in my skin.  It's not quite heavy enough for the winter, but it's perfect for summer.  It's also a great base for your foundation - so you can skip primer (like I have time to do that anyway!)

 

H & M Girl's Dresses - I bought Emma some of these in the sleeveless and short sleeve styles.  They are perfect - cute, comfy, and only $5.  Emma isn't into wearing shorts a lot, and prefers dresses, so these are a win-win!

 

 

Books for Emma - some of our favorites from the library.  These are really cute!

 

 

 

H2o+ milk lotion - When I was in highschool, I went to Las Vegas with my dad on a business trip and found myself roaming one of the many, awesome malls out there.  I first bought this lotion out there, and recently saw it again in Ulta.  I LOVE the smell - perfect amount of scent to be worn alone or with perfume.  I always love the idea of unscented but somehow, unscented smells more like EWW on my skin...anyone else agree?  This is perfect - trust me!

 

Here's to my last week of work for the summer!!!! Woohoo!!!!

The start of summer...

It's officially summer for us!  I am working in May, but will be off in June and July.  There are no students on campus at work, which makes for quieter days.  It's a lot less stressed, with a more relaxed atmosphere - which is really nice.  It's also nice to really be able to pick and choose the days I work.  I typically always worked Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  Now, I can do whatever works best, depending on the weather, other plans, etc...

Monday was super cloudy, so I decided to go into work.  I wanted to take Emma to the lake one day, and the only "nice" day was looking to be Tuesday.  I am a bit over the rain....we have had soooo much.  I feel like I live in a swamp....

Tuesday, I woke up and it was still pretty cloudy.  That was fine, because Emma woke up pretty congested and I had a ton of Etsy orders to start on. So, we spent the morning beading and laying low.  I will say that I love making pieces, but sometimes it feels like a chore (especially when I get orders and my week already seems too full to add anything else into).  But sometimes I also get in the zone and feel super creative.  I cranked out these beauties - some orders, some new...

About 10:30, I looked outside and the sun was shining bright, so I quickly packed up and got us in our lake gear.  Emma had been looking forward to this since I told her over the weekend, so she helped me pack a cooler and was super pumped to get her swimsuit on.

When we got to our normal spot, I noticed the lake was WAY up - we have had so much rain that the lake was almost flooded.  All our beachy spots we normally go to were underwater:(  UGH.  We had to set up on the public beach part (I know, first world pains), with all the other people (and I will say there were some real "interesting" folks there....)  I really like the other areas because they are more secluded, have shade, and are just prettier on the shoreline - and I can play my country music as loud as I want without worrying about annoying others).  Oh well.  There was also not much beach left.  As soon as we set up, the sun went behind the clouds.  It wasn't cold by any means, but I was not wanting to swim in cool water with cloudy skies.

Emma didn't care though!  She was having a blast.

She wore out quickly though - her cold is a nasty one.  She wanted to snuggle with me and get warm.

She even asked to take her suit off and get dressed to take a nap.  What???  Who is this child?

We ended up leaving after about 2 hours.  Emma normally never wants to leave, but she actually asked to.  Poor thing:(  She fell right asleep in the car, so I took the long way home (via Pittsboro!) and enjoyed the country drive.  I used to do this so much when she was younger and refused to nap at home.  I remember driving around for what seemed like hours, only to look at the clock and see it had only been 30 minutes!  

We made hotdogs for dinner, with corn on the cob, and baked beans....a great summer meal!  

{Emma ate 2 hotdogs!}

This summer will be a bit different for us, so I am trying to get excited the best I can.  I am glad to have off work, but I will not be skiing as much, and that bums me out A LOT.  I am sure we will be at the lake often, but that also makes it harder.  We have a million house projects that need to be done, so I am hoping we can tackle those this weekend.  I currently have an entire guest closet with a broken closet rod on the floor.  (That happened at about 6am one morning - the wooden rod just broke in half with a loud bang of everything crashing to the floor...)  I have tried to get a new one, but that closet is 10 FEET long - and it's been hard to find a 10 ft. closet rod.   We are also making a lot of changes in Emma's and our guest room, and I am currently in clean out central mode.  I have already made 2 trips to Goodwill in the last month (and I have another bag in queue..)  I feel a bit overwhelmed with it all, but I think once we get started, I will feel a lot better.

So, here's to summer - filled with lots of water, sun, de-cluttering, and SMILES amidst change!

Weekend update

We had another busy weekend, but I am grateful for every busy minute spent with friends and family!

Brent went to the movies with some friends Friday night after work, so I was solo all day with Emma.  It makes for a LONG day, since my princess doesn't nap anymore.  I treated myself with some shrimp cocktail and a salad made mostly of tomatoes and avocado:)  I put Emma to bed at like 7pm, and just relaxed the rest of the night.  Sometimes, it's nice to get a little alone time.

Saturday, I attended Peace's graduation.  I processed with the other faculty and staff, and loved watching all my students walk across the stage!  

I had a student who would have graduated this year, if she had not lost her battle with sickle cell.  I had the honor of presenting her mother with an honorary diploma, rose, and Bible after the ceremony.  It was such an emotional moment, and I can't even imagine going through what this family has gone through - having a terminally ill child, and then losing her to illness.  My heart breaks thinking of it.  I was so glad I could offer some closure for them.  Jasmine passed 2 years ago, but she was such a special girl.  Always smiling, always joking, and had such an innocence about her.  Her friends and family kept assuring me that I was her favorite teacher, and I am beyond honored and humbled to hear that.  My prayer everyday when working with my students is that somehow, I have made a difference in their lives, somehow.  To know that I offered that to Jasmine is so comforting.

Saturday night, we went to our dear friend, Emily's graduation party.  Here is Annie and Emily with Emma.  I used to babysit these 2 girls, and now they babysit Emma!  

Brent met us there because he was taking his concealed carry permit all day with my dad.  So, yes, watch out...they both be packin now!  (I'm so hip)  Emma made Brent listen to Kellie Pickler the whole way home, and I snapped this photo at the stoplight while she jammed out.

Sunday was Mother's Day!  I woke up to lots of hugs, and a new robe.  I had desperately needed a new one - my other one was 10 years old (gross).  After church, I was craving Bojangle's - so Brent and Emma rolled out the red carpet and treated this mama right!

Brent took Emma to the grocery store, and I stayed at home to clean alone.  That sounds like it sucked, but really, it's what I wanted to do!  I have a million house projects, and it was nice to have some uninterrupted time to get some things done.

I didn't snap any photos the rest of the day. Brent made my parents and I an awesome lobster tail and steak dinner:)  It was absolutely delicious, and I loved spending the time with everyone.  As hard as motherhood is, it is such a joy.  I am honored that God would trust me to love and care for a child.  And I pray I always remember this, in all the good and bad moments of parenting!

Strawberry pickin'

We made plans with some girls from church to go strawberry pickin Wednesday morning, then play at the park.  It was a beautiful day - perfect weather for being outside!

Emma was super excited to go - I actually had never taken her (mom fail).  She got ready without any fight, and got her baskets all ready.  She did ask, however, if she could wear a dress - and I said NO.  SO then she asked if she could war a tutu - again, NO.  She hasn't quite mastered outfit functionality yet.

This big girl also made her bed all by herself and was so proud!!

We went to Waller Family Farms in Durham - a cute little place!

Emma's friend from church, Ruthie, and her mom and sister.  

Just two girls being super cool at the strawberry patch:)

Moments like these melt my heart!

I was afraid Emma might be the only girl because we have a ton of friends with all boys, but I was wrong!!!

We had to stop to pee on the way to the park, so of course, Bojangles was the best option!  Boberry biscuit for Emma, sausage biscuit for mama.  It was worth every calorie!

We went to a park next to Githens Middle School, and it was pretty cool!

We had a wonderful day with our friends, and I felt very blessed to be able to spend the day this way!