Last Day of School

Today is the last day of school and I am soooo excited! We have kids until 11:30, then it's goodbye. We still have work days the rest of the day on Wednesday, then Thursday and Friday, but then I'm free! I'm so looking forward to getting to sleep until 7:00 (my kids are up with the chickens), but hey, it's an extra hour! I think we'll plan to go to to the zoo one day and start going on walks again each day. It will be glorious!  

I recenlty got these sandals from Rocky4EurSole. These shoes are specifically designed for women on the go. They are built for not only comfort, but also for durability and slip-resistance.  There a tons of different sandal and clog options available, but I landed on these sandals, because I'd been wanting a new wedge for spring and summer. These are a combination of leather and hemp, and I am really looking forward to getting a lot of use out of them!

Being on my feet so much as a teacher means I really need comfortable shoes. I will say that on my initial time wearing these last week, they did start to rub on the top of my foot. I emailed Rocky4EurSole and they were really surprised and suggested I tighten the straps. I did, and that fixed the problem, I think it's worth mentioning. I really like this feature, instead of the "one size fits all" that I'm used to with most shoe widths.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?- Book Review

I'll tell you what, lately I feel like I've been reading all the wrong books. Our last two book club book were flops, which was super disappointing. I don't know about you, but reading a few bad books in a row doesn't encourage me to pick up another book and try again.  Then I saw this Free Library that popped up in my neighborhood and I was soooo excited.



Inside were quite a few books that I've been wanting to read, but I decided to leave The Last Anniverary and take Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, which has been on my reading list for quite some time.

I'll tell you what, it was exactly the book I needed to read to rebound from the past two duds. It was light, funny, and it made me wish Mindy was my best friend.  This book wasn't necessarily a memoir or biography, but more or less essays and vignettes into parts of her life, her thoughts on things, as well as a peek into what life was like on the set of The Office.

I laughed out loud countless times, finished it in less than a day, and told about a dozen people they needed to read it.  Although it does have a few cuss words in the book, Mindy writes about her life in a way that is relatable and not that different from what I would call a typical middle class upbringing.

The last month of school is definitely the toughest, so this was the perfect light-hearted read in the midst of just trying to get through the year.

I've already gone back and traded books for another one, The Girl Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. I'll let you know what I think!

Linking up with:
Tuesday Talk

Sibling Love

When Brian and I were discussing the idea of having another child after Grant was a few years old, we had no idea how Hannah would change all of our lives for the better.  Brian was pretty content with just Grant and let's face it, our lives were pretty easy.  Grant was past the "baby" phase, we could go just about anywhere and do just about anything without much hassle.  It was smooth sailing in the parenting department.

I, on the other hand, really wanted a sibling for Grant.  At the time I wasn't thinking about how Hannah would impact Brian and I, I was thinking about Grant. We had a dear friend a few years back whose wife had cancer, his mom had a stroke, and his father's health was beginning to fail.  All of this is beyond awful, but to top it off he was an only child without cousins and had to tackle all of this alone.  This made my heart heart so badly.  The thought of Grant having to go it alone when Brian and I got old, gray, and senile was more than I could handle.

Now, I will add, we have a very small family. My sister and I don't have any cousins and Grant has four cousins on Brian's side, but they are all high school age and older.  I know sometimes having a second child is not an option for families due to secondary infertility, finances, etc, and I don't want to upset anyone by sharing my thoughts, but this is where I was coming from.

After getting pregnant the second time pretty easily we had a miscarriage, then we had a hard time conceiving again.  When we finally got pregnant with Hannah I was so fearful we'd have another miscarriage. I relied on God to get us through and here we are today!

From day one Grant has adored Hannah and within a the first month Hannah has become enamored with Grant too. I think the age gap actually plays to their favor, as they'll always be in different stages, so hopefully not competing.

When Hannah wakes up, but I'm in the middle of something Grant happily goes and entertains her until I get there.  It's pretty adorable. He also loves playing with her in living room too. Although we've had to remind him to be gentle at times, the second Hannah sees Grant her face simply lights up.

Grant is also is great with her in the car. She's such a happy baby most of the time, but if she starts to fuss in the car Grant is always first to the rescue.

I seriously had no idea who Hannah would change all of our lives for the better and I am so looking forward our years ahead.

Linking up with:
Still Being Molly and Written Reality

Baby Girl

Even though I never thought it would happen, I have forgotten so much of what Grant was like as a baby, I never thought that would happen! Today I thought I'd share some of my favorite things about Hannah as a baby.

1. Gummy Smiles- She is so stinkin' happy an I love that her face lights up when she sees Grant and I. She's not quite there with Daddy yet, when he walks in the room, but will smile like crazy when they "play" together.

2. Baby Giggles- These are the best and super contagious. If she starts giggling we all do.

3. Baby Talk- Hannah has found her voice and has a lot to say all the time. Now if I only knew what she was saying...

4. Girly Clothes- Back when Grant let me pick up his clothes I had fun with this too, but baby girl clothes? They are the best! It takes all my energy not to over-buy.  I've found that about 14 outfits is more than enough- that gives two outfits a day, if need be without having to do laundry.

5. Snuggles- As Grant has gotten older he's enjoyed snuggling while we watch a movie, but as a baby he was not interested- there was too much to see and do. Hannah, on the other hand will happily wind down for the day sitting on my lap.

6. Play time- Hannah has already seemed to pick some favorite toys, like Sophie the giraffe and her taggie blanket. I love to see her beginning to make choices!

7. Sibling Love- Brian and I went back and forth on if we'd have two kids. Life was pretty easy with one, but I kept thinking about the day we'd be old and gray and Grant would have to deal with us all on his own. That was initially why I really wanted two kids. Now, to see the love they already have for each other- the same love I have for my sister- is simply the best. I can't imagine life without Hannah!

Linking up with:

Creative Home Keeper

The Now

It's not secret that I've been looking forward to summer break for quite awhile. The kids at school are the same way, and one of the teachers has a countdown board up, so there's no guessing how many days are left.

I find myself constantly looking forward. Forward to the school day being over, forward to the kids' bedtime, forward to my bedtime, forward to the weekend.

In the midst of all of this, though, I can forget to enjoy "the now." I can miss the beauty in "the now" and the experiences in "the now."  Obviously this is not true all the time, I think I'm at my best when I'm home with the family trying to spend quality time with them. However, I'm still looking forward. Forward to Grant getting older, to Hannah talking and walking....you get the point.

I mentioned last week how I'd graduated from high school nineteen years ago, but I remember so much of it like it was yesterday. I don't want to blink and have my own kids leaving for college. I actually feel myself panicking as I type this.

So, what's the point? I don't think there is anything wrong with looking forward to the future, but I want to miss celebrating and enjoying each moment because I'm so focused on the future.

God placed me and you on this earth during this time for a purpose and I want to make sure my eyes are peeled for whatever comes my way and not miss a thing.

This top continues to be one of my favorites! Today I paired it with my Merona pencil skirt- this is over three years old and still one of my favorites, and a basic Old Navy cardigan, which is over two years old and continues to still look black and hasn't pilled at all. It's simple combos like this that make me feel great and put together so easily.

Life Lately

Here's a look at life lately that I've shared on Instagram!

Little Sis and I have been twinning on the reg. Seriously, I'll get her dressed, then look down and realize we match. It's so crazy at a subconscious level!

How to Shop ThredUp for Kids

It's no secret that I'm a hug fan of thredUp (use this link for $10 off your first purchase.) For the past few years most of my clothes have come from thredUp using credits or have been "gifted" to me through the blog. I realize how lucky I am, that's for sure. Being I need more clothes like a hole in the head, I've started using my thredUP credits on Hannah. I've always been a big proponent of buying second-hand, and although I've found some great things at our local Big Wheels to Butterflies, they often times don't have pieces that are "special." Although, Carters play clothes are great, I really like to have a handful of outfits for both of the kids that are for church or special occasions, that's part of the reason why I'm loving thredUP for kids clothes.