Week in Review

Wow, this week has gone by fast! And here we are, Friday already...

The kids and I spent the first part of the week visiting my sister, Krista in Savannah, GA. We made the most of the hot weather and spent the days at the beach and swimming in a pool and playing in a water splash park area. The kids had a blast and Krista and I distracted ourselves with the kids from the crazy chaos in both our lives right now!

Tuesday night we headed to a local park for a National Night Out picnic.

Nate and Jules loaded up on hot dogs and brownies, made new friends, ran like wild, played like the day had just begun and later, slept soundly all night...it was great.

Today, I am cleaning the house, heading to the library, getting some other errands done and getting ready for our upcoming travel/visit to Birmingham, Alabama. Hope your Friday is enjoyable!

Saturday Morning Thoughts

I love a nice quiet Saturday morning... The husband is still asleep, the kids are playing in the family room and I am sitting down with some toast and coffee, carousing food and "living" blogs, getting lost in the inspiration of other people's daily ongoings.

Why can't I just whip up some braised beef short ribs or a lemon souffle pudding? Oh why, oh why, do they make it look so yummy and easy?!

We finally got our rain yesterday! And I was only too happy to send the pleading kids out into it! They excitedly put on their rubber boots, donned their new slick raincoats and I, with my own broad grin, watched them happily skip out into the falling water...

The pure joy of being a kid; no responsibilities other than making the most of what the day brings to you...you sure can't beat that.

They had a blast, and really, so did I just watching them!

I hope your weekend is wonderful!

Today....

A look out the window: Blue skies, 90's, afternoon storms predicted- I am so hoping for Rain!

I am feeling: Motivated

What's New? My mom is now blogging!!! Visit her over at Maggie's Wanderings to see what is new and exciting in the life of a traveling social worker.

Today I am working on:
1. Creating a daily/weekly schedule for the kids at home learning
2. laundry
3. Re-discovering the Domestic Goddess in me...She has been MIA for a while now!
4. Cleaning the kitchen
5. Getting erands done
6. Getting thank you notes, make me smile mail, and birthday cards out in the mail
7. a quick stop at the grocery store

I am reading: The Time Traveler's Wife- love it! And I am looking forward to seeing the movie, anyone want to make it a date with me?

What's for dinner?: Chicken Enchiladas

Doing That Balance Thing

After such a great start to my day yesterday (with an extra early rise and a great run) I knew I had to make the most of the rest of the day as well. So, before I could give myself much time to deliberate, I packed up some lunch, towels, buckets and shovels, loaded the kids up in the car, and headed to the beach.

The kids swam, made new friends, saw a turtle swimming underneath them, and made sand castles.

I sat close to the water, did a little reading, and enjoyed a few hours of "getting away" from it all.




When Pete came home from work last night he and the kids took an opportunity to indulge in some of Pete's method of "getting away" from it all...

(He and Nate chasing Kamilah around the house)

Ready...

Set...

Go!!!!!

I so wish I had waited just one more second to snap this photo! It would have been great to see little Nate's entire look!

Off and Running

Ahhhhh....I have finally been able to start my morning off the way I have been hoping to for weeks now, with a great run!

It felt so good to be outside making my way through the neighborhood, my path illuminated by the random streetlights, the stars still floating in the sky above and sounds consisting of crickets, sprinklers and the quiet hum of running air conditioners.

I feel good. I feel like I am ready to face the day in a way that I haven't in a little while.

Happy Tuesday everyone...

Monday, Monday...

Not much to report today. I am doing my best to stay focused and keep us all preoccupied and (me) non obsessed with the upcoming relocation. It's so hard to find that healthy balance that we all strive for- especially during crazy, chaotic times like these! Any suggestions on how to stay on top of that would be so appreciated!

We had a good weekend- we played hard and worked hard! Saturday we roller bladed across the dam again and then hit the Lake Murray beach. The kids had a great time playing with new friends while Pete and I just enjoyed the rare chance to sit and relax.

Sunday we worked in the yard, cleaned the swing set and power washed the deck- all in preparation to sell the house.

Nate has had this weird obsession with the power washer for the last two years, he is always asking Pete if and when they can use it! He was so happy on Sunday when he got his chance again!

Jules decided she would pitch in by sweeping the deck...then after a minute or two, she was officially off duty for the day!

Now I am researching (stressing) over Alabama preschools and hoping and praying that we can get both kids into a great one...funny, I am having a deja vu from last year, oh right, it was this time last year that I was doing the same thing for preschools in SC... I am trying my best to remind myself that all will happen as it is meant to be...it will, won't it?

Happy Monday everyone!

Our Tour of The South Continues...

Well, it's (nearly) official. Pete's job is moving to Birmingham, Alabama...

And it looks like we are too.

Let's just say that after the last year of looking for a new job for him, packing up our stuff and moving out of Dublin, GA, selling our house there, finding a new job (one that was described having little to no travel involved-yeah, right!) and settling in a wonderful suburb outside of South Carolina's state capitol, making friends, starting at a new preschool, and getting involved in the community in many other ways....I am really not looking forward to having to do it all again, so soon.



I am mad, I am disappointed, I am feeling robbed of time and an ability to utilize that time to accomplish productive things with my children or working on my thesis, rather than planning another re-location...

But I am trying to stay positive. I'm trying to be hopeful. I will say in all of my research and in talking to people who've been there the Birmingham area is actually pretty nice and very beautiful as well.

So now the challenges begin and the ideas of a South Carolina future fade away.

Does anyone have any good connections near Birmingham or positive things to share about their experiences there? Please do, if so!


I'll be sure to keep you updated on the progress of things, it will certainly be interesting!