What I'm Loving Wednesday

Is it just me or is this week flying by?  

Here is what I'm loving this week:


*  I'm loving that Chris and Logan have started school.  They were so excited and both of them had a great first day yesterday.  I was a little worried about Logan since he has some behavior issues but he got a great report from his teacher, so I'm relieved about that.  Let's hope he can keep it up ;)

*  I'm loving that I have so much free time during the day now.  Maybe I can finally get caught up on my to-read pile that just keeps growing.  

*  I'm loving that I'm starting the application process of going to college.  I'm going to submit my financial aid app today then go up to the college on Friday to apply.  I'm getting excited!  

*  I'm loving that we are meeting up with some friends at the skating rink tonight.  The boys love skating with their friends.  

*  I'm loving that I've been selling a few things to make a little bit of extra money.  We sure need it right now since Eric has been losing so much work.

*  I'm loving that the Hunger Games DVD is coming out soon.  I never got the chance to see it in the theater, so I'm looking forward to renting it (and buying if it's good!).  

*  I'm loving that Chris will start going to Cub Scout meetings soon.  Next week the scouts will be having a camp-out sleepover at our local baseball stadium and we're hoping to be able to send him to that.  It would be his first event as a Cub Scout :)  

*  I'm loving that Chris and Logan have both picked out their themes for their birthday parties this year.  Chris chose Batman earlier this year and still wants that.  Logan has been back and forth between themes at least fifteen different times in the past month.  Seriously.  No lie.  He has finally (hopefully) settled on Spiderman.  I need to get on the ball and start buying gifts and supplies.  

*  I'm loving that fall is just around the corner.  So excited for some cooler temps!  


What are you loving this week?

Growing Up

Tomorrow is the first day of school.  Chris will be a first grader and Logan will be in preschool.  Logan is my last baby so this is hitting me particularly hard.

How could he have possibly gone from this

7 months old

to this

4 1/2 years old

in what seems like such a short amount of time.  People aren't kidding when they say that the years just fly by when you have children.


It's even hard for me to believe that Chris has gone from this

2 years (maybe a little younger, not sure of the time frame on this one)

to this already.

6 1/2 years - meeting his teacher at Sneak Peek today

I shouldn't have a first grader yet, should I?  It seems so unreal, but this is my reality.


My babies are growing up...whether I want them to or not.

What I'm Loving/How Pinteresting Wednesday

Happy August everyone!  

*  I'm loving that Chris and Logan are starting to get the hang of skating.  They had so much fun when we took them skating last night.  We are going back again tonight with some friends.

*  I'm loving that school starts back next week.  Yes, I'm saying it again ;)  Chris and Logan are both so excited.  Yesterday we got the letter in the mail telling us who Chris' teacher will be this year.  He didn't get who I was hoping for, but I found out from a friend that his teacher is super sweet, so that eases some of my worry.  

*  I'm loving that I'm going to be going back to school in the spring.  I've got to get the financial aid and application process going so I'll be ready in time for registration.  I've decided to go for Medical Office Administration.  Woot woot!  

*  I'm loving that Eric is going to go back to school, too!  He is going to be getting his degree in Automotive Systems.  We started the process for him today.  Mine is going to take a little longer since I have to get ahold of my high school transcript, etc.  

*  I'm loving that I'm not having as much trouble breathing as I was last week.  We had some really bad air quality and I was really struggling.  Having asthma makes it worse :(  

*  I'm loving that I now have a facebook page for my blog.  Head on over and check it out to stay up-to-date on my posts :)  

*  I'm loving that Chris' birthday is quickly approaching.  I need to start planning his party and buying gifts.  

*  I'm loving that the Fab 4 is getting the kiddos together one last time before school starts.  The kids all go to different schools so they probably won't be able to see each other as much.  

*  I'm loving that I'm getting together with the girls this weekend for a movie night.  Those are always fun.

What are you loving this week?

Here are some things I'm loving on pinterest this week.

I totally do this.  

Chris and Logan figured that out a long time ago

haha, I so do this

It's just how we talk down here ;)

Scares me every.single.time!

Cute idea for the last day of school. 

Chris and Logan would love these

This looks so yummy

In Their Own Time

I have one of those obsessive/controlling personalities where when I want something done, I want it done on my time.  When you have kids, that just flat out won't happen more than likely.  


Earlier this summer I signed Chris and Logan up for the Kids Skate Free program.  It's a wonderful program.  They contact skating centers all over the United States and encourage them to sign up with their program to allow kids to skate for free this summer.  Luckily for us, our local skating rink signed up, so I was able to let Chris and Logan participate.  Each week, they get two vouchers that can be used on days determined by the skating rink.  


We have been taking Chris and Logan to skate at least once, if not twice, a week since the beginning of June.  Before that, we hadn't taken them skating very often.  It can get pretty pricey.  


Since the boys were not able to skate very well, they both started out in the plastic baby skates that you strap on over their shoes.  A couple weeks after that they graduated to the skates that have wheels that don't roll very fast.  They stayed on those for a few weeks.  


Then a couple weeks ago they graduated to regular skates.  They really struggled with those at first but finally got to where they could stand up in them without falling and even got around the rink while holding on to the wall.  


Enter said obsessive personality.  I encouraged them to let go of the wall and skate.  It was okay if they fell, everyone does at some point.  In my mind I'm thinking, "Shouldn't they be able to let go by now?  Why aren't they doing it?"  


Now, I *know* children do things in their own time.  But there's just no reasoning with said obsessive personality.  


I kept encouraging.  Kept reminding.  It didn't do any good.  They sailed around the skating rink....holding onto the wall.  


I have two of the absolute most stubborn children you'll ever meet.  So finally, I stopped saying anything to them.  Told myself to relax.  Breaaaaathe.  


We took them skating tonight and at first they were both doing their usual hold-onto-the-wall skating.  I was cool with that.  Then all of a sudden Chris disappeared.  I found him in the "kiddie" skating area, practicing.  Hmmm, interesting.  When he ventured back out into the main skating area, he took his hand, pushed off of the wall, and did this.....

Ohhh how my heart filled with pride.  He LET GO!  


Of course, after seeing his big brother doing it, guess what Logan decided to do?  

Those little stinkers.  


Note to self:  Chill out, obsessive personality.  They *will* catch on to things.  In their own time.  

Annoying Sounds

Monday Listicles.  This week is 10 annoying sounds. 





We all have those sounds that drive us absolutely out of our mind, right?  You know, the ones that nearly drive you to needing one of those special jackets that make you hug yourself?  Surely it's not just me, right?  ;)


Here are my top 10 annoying sounds. 

1.  Any kind of sound associated with eating - slurping, smacking, silverware scraping against a plate, etc.  Might as well be nails down a chalkboard.  Just thinking about it makes me cringe and shudder.

2.  Dog barking for hours on end.  Seriously? 

3.  Whining! 

4.  Chris and Logan playing so loudly it sounds like they are reconstructing their room and making additions to the house.

5.  Construction.  Especially in the early morning hours.  There's nothing like being woken up to a jackhammer going outside your window. 

6.  Music playing in a car so loudly that it vibrates *your* car and you are several ahead of them.  Hmm.  I didn't know my van came with vibrating seats.  :) 

7.  SNORING! 

8.  Teeth grinding.  Oh, how this hurts me so.  It's seriously almost painful for me. 

9.  Sniff....sniff....SNOOOOOORT.  Yuck!  Blow your nose, please.

10.  Janice on Friends.  Oh.My.God. 


 

Friday's Letters

I know, Friday is almost over.  But never late than never, right?  :)







Dear Joanne, thanks for having me over tonight.  I enjoy our Grey's Anatomy marathons.  Let's do another one again soon, k?!

Dear yellow jacket, sorry if I scared you when I screamed bloody murder, but I tend to do that when being attacked by gigantic bees!  Sorry hubby killed you.  Well.... I'm not really sorry, actually.  I have no desire for me or my two kids to be stung.  I'm sorry that I'm not sorry you're dead now? 

Dear Jenkins and Oakwood, seriously?  School starts on the 7th.  Can you hurry those letters along?  I'd like to know who Chris has for a teacher and would like to know when they have orientation.  Chop chop!  :)

Dear Eric, good luck on finding a new job.  Hopefully one will come along quickly.  I'm sorry you are having to leave Pierre.  I know you really liked it there.  With no more hours than you are getting in though, they haven't left you any other choice. 

Dear readers, I'm so thankful and appreciative of each and every one of you :)  To the new ones, welcome! 

Dear weekend, so glad you are finally here.  For some reason this week just seemed to drag on. 

Dear Crystin, congrats on your new baby boy!  I am so happy for you :) 

It's Okay Thursday

This is my first time doing the It's Okay link-up.  And what a great day to start, too!  Today is the one year anniversary of It's Okay Thursdays :)  Click the button above to go check it out. 


It's okay......


that I am totally not a summer person and I'm really not enjoying all of these hot temps we've been having.  Bring on fall and winter, please! 

that Eric is going to have yet another bad check this week.  He keeps losing more and more work.  But we'll get through this. 

that I'm looking forward to school starting for Chris and Logan.  They are so ready and mommy needs a break ;) 

that while I'm looking forward to school starting, I'm also a little sad.  I won't have anymore babies at home :( 

that I have major baby fever.

that I had McDonald's for breakfast because we didn't have anything else in the house to eat and I had to run out the door this morning to get Chris to the dentist. 

that Chris gags every.time he goes to the dentist and had to be given nitrous.....again.  Some people just have a strong gag reflex, I guess. 

that I'm a total nerd. 

that I can talk to someone online for hours and see them in person and clam up.  I'm extremely shy.

What's okay with you this week?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

*  I'm loving that I got to make another trip to the site where District 12 was filmed in the Hunger Games movie.  District 12 was filmed in Henry River Mill Village in NC.  It's not very far from where I live.  My friend Abby hadn't been there yet so we decided to go up there together to look around.  It's so awesome getting to be in the same place a movie was filmed. 

Me, Abby, and our kids standing in front of Peeta's family's bakery.  This building did actually use to be a bakery so it was perfect for that part of the movie. 

my boys

had to be a nerd and take a pic with the sign ;)

*  I'm loving that I got to see two of my best friends today.  Abby went with us to HRMV this morning and then we saw her again as well as my other bestie Erika when we went skating this evening. 

at the skating rink this evening.  My sons Chris and Logan and Abby's daughters Brooke and Rachel.  hehe, Rachel is being silly

*  I'm loving (still) that school is getting closer and closer to starting.  Chris and Logan are getting so tired of each other, haha. 

*  I'm loving that payday is almost here.  Gotta pay those bills. 

*  I'm loving that Eric is looking for a new job.  He isn't hardly getting any hours so they really haven't left him any other choice. 

*  I'm loving that I'm going to see my bestie Joanne on Friday night.  I'm going to go over to her house so we can have another Grey's Anatomy marathon.  Yeah, we're cool like that ;) 

*  I'm loving that the above ^^^ means that I'll have seen everyone in the Fab 4 this week!  Woot!  For those of you who don't know, the Fab 4 is my group of best friends.  There are 4 of us, hence the name ;)  Abby, Joanne, Erika, and myself. 

*  I'm loving that so many of my friends are getting ready to have a baby.  I'm so excited for all of them. 

*  I'm loving Cookout's Oreo milkshake.  Y-U-M!  Speaking of milkshakes, I need to make a trip to Rita's to try their new ones. 

What are you loving this week? 

 

PS.  You should head on over to see Amanda at Bringing Up Allie.  She has an awesome giveaway going on right now so be sure to check that out!  

Back In Time

I went on a little walk back in time tonight.  I came across this pin on Pinterest that listed 290 reasons why being a 90's girl rocked.  This brought back sooo many memories.  I had a lot of fun looking through all of them. 

Here are some of my favorites. 

What's a childhood without some Doug?!  :)

I would play with this thing for hours. 

F.R.I.E.N.D.S!

Now and Then.  I love that movie

I literally had hundreds of these things.  It makes me cringe a little now to think about how much money was spent on them.

Scrunchies!  What little girl didn't have these?

Lisa Frank.  I had just about every Lisa Frank item imaginable.  All the girls in my class were jealous :)

Oh my gosh, these things were SO good!

Quints!  I absolutely loved these things.  I had a girl set and a boy set.

I remember riding my bicycle to the store just to get the newest magazine :) 





Friday's Letters



Dear Abby, congrats again on your first link-up!  Can't wait to see you join more.  We are so super cool ;) 

Dear Check Engine Light, you've been around for a week now.  I think it's time that you move on, don't you think? 

Dear allergies, *you* have been around for wayyyy too long.  You have overstayed your welcome.  Please find somewhere else to go.

Dear Pierre Foods, thanks for being such a sucky company and making it so hard for us to pay our bills.  Eric is looking for another job now.  See ya!!!

Dear Mr. Black, thank you for listening to my concerns about the bully from last year.  You sounded a little preoccupied though so I hope you were right when you said you were pretty sure the boy would not be in the same class as Chris this year.  Because if he is, we're going to have a meeting.  Very soon.  That's for sure. 

Dear homeowners insurance agent, thank you EVER so much for making my children sad when you made us get rid of their trampoline.  Pretty much the only thing they had to play on outside.  You've gone down in their books as a "very mean man".  At least it's nicer than what I called you ;) 

Dear readers, sorry I haven't posted much this past week.  I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things.  (and welcome to any new visitors!)  :)