post spawn

I had a great chat today with one of my best friend's daughters...she's an incredibly talented, smart early 20 something.  It was an incredibly fun chat!  Thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly her take on the public education system, and her encouragement to me about what I can do with my desires, "talents"...I wouldn't call her an old soul.  I'd call her an insightful soul.

What started out as my laughing about my hair post spawn, it was super straight before I had kids and is now beyond wavy, ended with me thinking about who I am not only as a mother, but as a wife, a date for my husband, and a contributor to my own soul and mind.  We find peace in what we enjoy doing.  Sometimes it takes the youthful take on the world charm of a beautiful young person to remind us of that.

So, I'm taking a quick poll.  Straight hair or wavy?  Just kidding.  Topic focused blog, or continue with my daily, realistically weekly, thoughts?

to do

I started a to do list...I thought about doing a "39 before 40", since a few of my friends are doing that, but I decided it's a to do list, period.  I've had fun writing it!

Almost every entry includes my husband or my family.  When I was younger, I would've told you that I was a loner.  I was never really a loner, but I always fancied myself one, and thought I was misunderstood and brooding.  I am the farthest thing from a loner.  I need people I love and people that love me around me.

The list is a fluid document, I guess.  I imagine I'll always be adding to it.  Time to get started, I guess.  THAT'S exciting.

Today would've been my dad's 68th birthday and my granny's 89th birthday.  We celebrated - Stephen and I took the kids with my mom & my sister and her family to the cemetery to visit dad, and we told him happy birthday in the rain...I brought a little flag to put on his grave, and mom and Andie brought flowers.  We had lunch at Beef O'Brady's, then Stephen and I and the kids went to get my stepson...glad to have him back for a few weeks.  The weather remained wet and nasty, and we got home a few hours ago.

I can't wait to add things to my list tomorrow!!!!!!

bestie therapy

Me.  My bestie.  Our kids.  Siesta Key Beach.  Bestie therapy...

In the last couple of summers, I was getting my other daughter to say "y'all".  Now if I can get my bestie, her mother, to say it, too.  She is so close........

Sometimes vitamin D and your bestie is all you need to make your day(s) okay.  To be reminded that Florida girls float in the gulf & talk, and know everything is okay.  To laugh and confide and joke and love, and know that that hug is always there.  That sometimes life is strange, and that's okay.  And sometimes we just need to say, "ugggggggggh!!!!!" and that's okay.  And sometimes we need to say, "yaaaayyy!!!!!!!!" and that's okay.

We all piled into my van today and headed south.  Sarasota found us, or we found it, and we plopped our shit down on the pretty, white sand.  What a wonderful day.  Thank you, bestie

passing the torch

The big, brown bag with an eagle "blinged" on the front was the torch, and I passed it on today to an amazing volunteer.  My days as a PTA officer at the elementary school are done.  Mixed emotions, but mostly glad...this year will be my 10th year at the elementary school, and I'm proud of our school and have loved every minute of PTA, even when I loathed some minutes...I really loved all of it.  I want to work in the classroom, chill, have fun this year...and, I have to say, I met with the new president this afternoon, and, I didn't know her before today.  What an amazing volunteer she is, and next year is going to be a blast.  I can't wait to help out here and there!

In the last 10 years, I've served as secretary, VP of programs, VP of Volunteers, treasurer, and president at the elementary school.  I absolutely love our elementary school and am proud to be a part of it.  I look forward to great things for all of the eagles!

It's weird not to see the big brown bag sitting next to me, but it also feels kind of good to not see it.  And to know that a great group of volunteers is going to bring a lot of awesomeness to the school next year.

I've learned about myself, and I can scream it out loud now, that I don't do well with change.  This change, though, I consciously chose, so it's different.  And exciting.  Take a backseat, focus on our senior, which is amazing, and our dedication and time needs to be with her as she starts her adventure as a senior.

I can't wait!

chillin on a dirt road

laid back swerving like I'm George Jones...smoke rollin' out the window, an ice cold beer sitting in the console.



Okay, I'm not swerving, smoking in the car, or drinking in the car, but I am chilling on a dirt road, cold beer in my hand.  Happy Mandy.  I love Alabama.  Our roots run deep!

Other than occasional drama from my kids, it's been a great week.  Hugs, food, hugs, play, hugs, work, hugs, & wine.

Missing my dad a lot, missing my granny a lot, kind of don't want to go home, kind of am more than ready to go home...all normal stuff at the end of a visit to LA.

Hug your family tight, friends!  In your actions, mind, thoughts, all of it.  <3

teachers

“The real heroes are the librarians and teachers who at no small risk to themselves refuse to lie down and play dead for censors.” 
― Bruce Coville

Having children in the public school system for 12 years now, I adore teachers.  Being a product of the public school system, I adore teachers.  Love, respect, honor, LOVE teachers.  If you have ever taught any of our four children, thank you.  If you have ever taught any child, thank you.  If you have done this from the heart with everything you have, THANK YOU.

Teaching is under appreciated.  We all know this.  As the school year wraps up, THANK YOU to everybody that teaches our children.  Classroom teachers, music teachers, P.E. teachers, art teachers, principals, assistant principals, librarians, aides, anybody that has a hand in helping our children learn.  Thank you.

sweet home

This week has been... *smell own breath*...yep

Don't get me wrong, I've brushed my teeth every day this week except today.  I turned 39 Monday - that's worth brushing my teeth.  Dinner at Jo-To's with my babies, my mama, my sissy, and my brother-in-law & nephew.  Stephen is out of town for work.  He'll get to see me in all my 39 year glory when we get back from Alabama.

Tuesday was our son's band concert...I brushed my teeth for that.  Dinner at Chili's with...see above.  Glad family could come out and enjoy the concert.  It's been a blast watching little man's interest in music grow.

Today - didn't brush teeth.  Did I mention baby girl went to the doctor Monday?   Bronchitis & ear infection.  Today was day three of her missing school.  Breathing treatments & two medicines by pill (which is fun when a kid is learning to take a pill).  I had a PTA meeting tonight that I almost forgot about...and don't feel bad that I didn't brush my teeth.  I don't.  It's been a long assed day.  It's been a long assed few days.  Glad to be home.

Yesterday was particularly hard...had a little breakdown.  Little man's pants for the band concert didn't fit, and I bought them a few months ago.  I was missing my dad a lot yesterday.  I lost it.  Laid in bed and cried and cried.  Over pants.  I think?  Called myself world's worst mom.  Over pants and bronchitis.  Cried and cried.  Cleaned myself up, gave little man some jeans, and went to the concert.  Had a great time.

I realized today that I hadn't cried like that in a long time.  Maybe I needed it.  It was a rough day, for whatever reason.  Tears feel good sometimes.

This weekend is family reunion in Alabama.  I cannot wait!!  Home away from home.