LUCKY SEVEN

Yesterday, my B turned seven. I got an email newsletter that said this is a time in a child's life that parents usually really enjoy. The child is more independent, but still enthusiastic and wanting your nurturing attention. I agree completely. For the most part, our B is a happy, helpful, sweet little girl.

For her birthday we did our usual morning donuts with a candle and presents from the family. Since B's birthday is always during summer break, we can take the whole day and spend it together. Then last night we had a party with friends and one of those bounce house places. She even let her brother invite two friends and they were able to see their good friends one more time before we move next week.

I was telling B how when she turned two, we were staying with her grandparents. We had just moved to Omaha and had a couple of weeks between closing dates. Here we are, five years later, and we're on the move again.

At seven...

B loves Barbies, American Girl dolls, Disney channel, time with friends, swimming, and music. We've listened to a lot of Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez this summer. She is less enthusiastic about subtraction, riding her bike without training wheels (still practicing that one), and being outside when it's hot.

She's one of a kind and I tell her all the time, I'm so lucky to know her.

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Who Says You Can't Bake in the Summer

I've got these brownies in the oven right this minute. And yummmmmmm do they smell good!!

They were a little more work than my usual brownie-from-a-box specialty, but totally worth it. The batter was beautiful and the taste test was delicious!

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The Hubs' dad is one of eleven siblings. That's right, ELEVEN! They are still around and meet every five years for what they call a luau. It's on the land, at the house where they grew up. Hubs' uncle owns the place and they really do it right. There's a tent city, bounce house, tons of food, cousins, and cousins, and cousins. It's so cool.

We attended the luau this year and it was actually my third. I went to my first one when J and I had been dating for just five months. I camped out. I met family. I played 3-on-3 basketball with J and won the tournament with him (which is, I believe, when they all decided I could join the family). The memories are so rich, the family very strong.

I'm a lucky woman, to be part of two families, four really, that are all so wonderful, unique, and loving. What are the odds?!


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About Face - Forward March!

On June 28th I had grand plans to do all sorts of fun things with what we've got left of summer!

What has happened since then is that we have agreed to rent the home that we will buy when our home here sells and are looking at a move date of AUGUST FIRST! Wow.

So now it's a total change in thinking. What we can do for free (because hey, moving costs a LOT, did you know that?!) and how much can I get packed? So July is looking much different and we're going to have to do the fun day trips on our visits back because there's no way that it's going to happen this month.

The good? We are so excited about our new home. It has a ton of great features that will be perfect for our family. We love our new soon-to-be-hometown and are happy to think about all of the great things that come with this move.

The not-so-good? Still waiting for our home here to sell. Still hoping it will sell before school starts. Waiting and hoping, hoping and waiting.

More soon...I will not have internet in August for a while, so I've got to enjoy it while it lasts!

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What Happened to June?

Summer for us?

* Two trips to my parents' and a hotel stay in our soon-to-be-hometown
* concert/night out with my J
* trips to the school library
* picnics and playground time
* keeping the house TIDY for showings and open houses
* trying to sell our home, planning to move

It's a strange summer, but all good. My kids are energetic, happy, and healthy. I need nothing more!

Still on my list: Durham Western Heritage Museum, Bob the Bridge, SAC Museum, more trips to the pool, water park in Grand Island, Coco Key, a day trip to Lincoln and we've got to get to the zoo - we haven't been on Skyfari yet! The zoo trip will have to wait until after the College World Series.

It's a great summer - and we've still got eight weeks till school starts!

Summer Break: Day 1

We are two days in and it's my favorite summer break yet. I've probably felt that way every year.

What makes this year particularly special is the career to do list that has gone silent. At this point each year I am usually already on to the next. Planning, plotting, scheduling, stewing. Now? Nothing.

Yesterday we walked to the playground nearest our house, still over a half mile walk, and my head was full of super-deep thoughts. About how big my kids have gotten. About how much I love the trees at that park. About how different being a mom is now than it was four years ago.

It's a great time to sit back and savor this life. The blessings are everywhere, I don't even have to turn my head. My heart is full and I feel at peace. Thankful for this moment in time. It's one that I know I'm going to look back on with a smile.

Don't run too fast, mama wants to stay close...

A Little Lighter

My little joke today was that the checklist was like a scavenger hunt. Only really I was just turning in all of my teacher stuff. Faculty handbook, emergency procedures guide, etc. The bottom of the page was only for those teachers who have retired or resigned.

I guess I resigned...so I had to do that stuff too. Laptop. ID badge. Parking tag. Keys.

All handed in.

Now what?

It is strange. I have no idea at this point what is next. I only know we'll move to our new town once our house here sells and that I'm going to be on hand to be the best wife and mom that I've ever been.

The thought of that is so exciting and surprisingly scary and pretty much exactly what I had been hoping for this winter when Hubs started talking about a new job.

Hey - no use asking why when your prayers get answered, right?!

So I guess now it's time to put myself in action.

Mom. Wife. And still a teacher. Just not quite the same as before.

Free.

I like it.

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