Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Paint Party

Tonight I went to a paint party at my church. It was an event for women that was put on by our women's ministry team. I'm part of the planning team, but that's not why I was so excited about going to and participating in the event. Really it's because I love social crafting events like that. It's the third time I've done a painting event like that, and I knew I'd have fun.

We had delicious snacks: fruits, veggies, salami, chocolate-covered strawberries, and more. The snacks were some of my absolute favorite ones, which added to the fun of the evening ... no one likes crummy snacks. ;)

While the women were doing their paint event in the main sanctuary, the kids were having a movie night watching Monsters University in the kids' sanctuary. They had lots of popcorn and candy--a less sophisticated fare for their young palates.

So, 4/5 of my family had a great night. Travis completed workout 19.5 for the CrossFit Open, and I'm sure it wasn't near the amount of fun as what the rest of us had! :D

Monday, March 25, 2019

Bowling...That Almost Didn't Happen

Today (3/21) I really, really wanted us to go bowling as a family. Two of my kids had never gotten to experience it, although I knew Evelyn's tiny, five-year-old arms would struggle, even with a kids' bowling ball. Despite my desire for us to go, we had errands to run and the kids had to get their bedrooms cleaned. Cleaning bedrooms is practically a daily task for them because they just can't seem to put things where they belong. It's not like my husband and I go in their bedrooms and throw random stuff around. Nope, it's their own toys, books, blankets, laundry (not all of it dirty, even), etc. Well, thankfully they got their acts together after we went grocery shopping, because their rooms got cleaned in time to go bowling.

We went to Grace Lanes in Carthage. It was clean, quiet, and a nice environment for our family. Since it was Thursday, we got shoe rental and game price for half price (yay!) and splurged on two buckets of popcorn. It was a fun, inexpensive way to spend the afternoon as a family!

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Branson Day Trip

Today we decided to take a day trip to Branson to go to Silver Dollar City and a couple stores at Tanger Outlet.  It was cold-ish and dreary, which isn't honestly my favorite weather, but for Silver Dollar City it works quite well.  The park is not crowded at all when it's like that (unless it's Christmastime, then it's usually pretty packed no matter what the weather is), which meant we had very short ride lines, lots of open space to walk, and close parking.  Despite the low-40s temperatures, it was a fun family time.

After we spent a few hours at Silver Dollar City (don't worry, we'll go again and again to get the best use out of our season passes), we went to Tanger Outlet. We needed to go to the Kitchen Collections store there.  It wasn't the most exciting thing to our kids, but when you get "old" you enjoy buying household things that need replacing, like measuring cups and a rolling pin.  I've also been watching The Food Network a lot and making lots of fun, new recipes thanks to our eMeals subscription, and so I have been needing a meat tenderizer-hammer-thingy.  (That's the technical name.)  I can't wait to actually use it!

We got home around dinnertime, so we stopped by the grocery store and grabbed a couple frozen pizzas for the kids and relaxed in the living room watching the rest of Thor.

Tuesday Tax Day

Tax Day isn't typically synonymous with Tuesday, but that's what I spent a chunk of today doing, and it was Tuesday.

I don't really enjoy doing taxes, and I'm pretty sure not many people do (outside of those who choose that as a profession).  Despite my lack of enjoyment with doing them, once I finish my taxes, I do get a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for completing the task. Plus, it's been on my to do list for the past two months and really needed to be done this week.

I've seen several posts online about people getting less money back from their taxes this year, but we got more. The only thing I can credit that to is the fact that our kids were bigger deductions/tax credits this year, and we have three of them.  They cost us so much money throughout the year I'm glad I could get back an extra couple hundred dollars thanks to them. Hahaha!!

Monday, March 18, 2019

More Spring Cleaning

This morning one of my girls asked why we had to work so hard cleaning today. I simply responded, "If we work hard today when Silver Dollar City isn't open, we won't have cleaning and work to do on another day when it is open, and we'll be able to go." It's that simple, really. Just a matter of opportunity cost. If you have something to do now but choose to put it off, when something fun comes along, you might miss out because of the necessary task obligation. (That's not what I planned to blog about, so consider yourself lucky to get an extra little nugget of truth.)

Today I cleaned all the windows in our house, both inside and out, including the window casings. It's a job that takes a couple hours, but the sun was shining, the temps were deliciously warm, and a little music playing on my phone helped it to pass by as quickly as it could. While I did that, the girls played in their toy room and picked up their bedroom a bit and Travis and Coltin went to several stores to get necessary items for re-landscaping the front yard. We've been in this house for seven years at the end of the month, but it's been a few years since we did much landscaping. The front beds were looking kind of ragged as the mulch disappeared bit by bit. Today we remedied that by moving around a few established plants and bulbs, planted some new spring bulbs and roots, spread new mulch, and added two planters on either side of the mailbox. Travis and I worked side by side for several hours with sporadic help from the kids when they took breaks from playing, and it looks really nice. We'll be able to enjoy it immensely this spring and summer!

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Family Cookout

I love Sundays. I love Sundays even more when I have Monday off. It just makes the day that much more relaxing when I know the following day is yet another family day.

Today we took the opportunity to drive a little way across the Kansas border to Travis' parents' house in Neodesha. Since the weather has been warming up, the dogs needed a makeover to be rid of their winter coat, and my in laws have professional-grade hair clippers that they use in conjunction with their dog kennel. My mother-in-law and I worked together to get the dogs cleaned up while my kids picked up branches in the expansive yard and my father-in-law got burgers and dogs on the grill. Once the necessary cleaning was done, we all went inside to relax and enjoy the food.

After everyone ate, the kids put on swimsuits and hung out in the hot tub for a bit. Then everyone came inside to play a bit longer before we had to say goodbye and hit the road for the drive home.

It's always a fun time going to visit my in laws, and today was no exception as we enjoyed the first official cookout of the year!

First Official Day of Break

Today was a great start to the break. A few members of the family slept in and had a leisurely morning. Those who didn't sleep in were able to sufficiently take care of themselves so those of us who did want to relax were able to. ;)

Travis went to the store to rent a snake ... of the plumbing variety. We have an issue with our kitchen plumbing, and about once a year he has to snake from the kitchen sink toward the laundry room and garage. Water leaks in the garage, which indicates the need for it to be snaked out. I don't know the actual cause or if there's a more technical name for the process, but I do know that it takes care of the problem for the foreseeable future.

After he took care of that issue, I got lunch made for the kids and started in on my big task for the day. My job was to scrub the dining room grout. It's not the most fun job, but it's not particularly strenuous, either. I spent a couple hours sitting on my hiney, scrubbing grout with a throwaway toothbrush and Norwex cleaning paste. Other than taking some time and a bit of elbow grease, it was an easy job that makes a big impact on the look of the room.

Friday, March 15, 2019

True Confessions Day

If you didn't do your own responsibilities, you can't expect others to rush around in a panic to cover your behind.

Rest is a necessary aspect of our lives ... self-care is not for "if" we have time; we need to make time.

Children are a wonderful addition a parent's world, but it's not healthy for 100% of a parent's world to revolve around the child.

Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. You'll never be able to please everyone, so it's up to you to figure out what is important and do those things.

You are enough, complete.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Spring Break Plans - the Fun Ones

I also plan for us to do some fun things as a family. The things I'd like for us to do are as follows:


  • go bowling - my kids have never gone
  • visit Branson for the day - we always love going to Silver Dollar City
  • play some board games - maybe when I clean out closets, we'll find an old favorite we haven't played in a while
  • relax together - sleeping in and having a leisurely morning here and there is always a good thing to do
Despite my previous post, I do believe we'll still be able to have a fun, relaxing break ... even if it's also productive.

Spring Break Plans - Not the Fun Ones

My plans for spring break aren't the most exciting. Mostly, they consist of various house-cleaning tasks that don't get done but once or twice a year. I need to:


  • clean all windows (inside and out), including window casings
  • clean the dining room tile grout
  • shampoo the carpets if I can borrow a shampooer
  • clean out closets
  • organize/sweep out the garage
I also need to do our taxes and, hopefully, find time to relax. It should be a busy and productive week!

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Missouri History

I LOVE history. It's not my favorite subject, however I am fascinated by events in our history, especially local history. Tonight was the fourth grade Missouri history program for Eugene Field students. It's the twelfth time I've seen it, so I quietly sang along with the songs, did a few low-key actions, and mouthed a good number of the speaking parts. It's a bunch of nine- and ten-year-old kids doing a school program, so it's not perfect, but it's worth going to see one of these years if you haven't. You learn lots of things about our state and its events.

Did you know that more Civil War battles were fought in Missouri than in any other state other than West Virginia or Tennessee? Or that the St. Louis World Fair in 1904, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Louis and Clark Expedition was where ice cream first gained popularity? Well, I'm sure you can imagine how I know those things! Haha!

It's good to look forward, but we can truly learn so much from the past.

Holidays

Here's a list of holidays I love:

1. Christmas - it's a favorite of many people, and I love it, too. As a kid I loved waking up early and opening presents, but as a mom I love watching my kids open theirs. I do still love opening presents, don't get me wrong, but it's such an enjoyment watching them.

2. Easter - I love Easter church service and the festivities involved, including watching my kids hunt for candy-filled eggs and opening their Easter baskets.

3. Flag Day - This one isn't quite as well known or well loved as the previous two. However, I love history, and I was even Betsy Ross for Halloween in 3rd grade (that year everyone had to be someone from history). Plus, Evelyn was born on Flag Day, and if you ask her when her birthday is, she'll tell you, "June 14th, Flag Day." Not just anyone gets to share their birthday with a real holiday, and since it's not one known for presents, she doesn't end up feeling cheated, making it all the more fun!

Monday, March 11, 2019

Sleep, Glorious Sleep

Sarah is a night owl who
Loves to be able to sleep in.
Every year, Daylight Savings
Eliminates an hour of valuable sleep,
Providing me with sleep deprivation for several days.

The end. ;)

Date Night!

Date nights are a rarity in our house, if you're counting the outside-the-house variety. Saturday evening, my husband and I planned to go out and see Captain Marvel in theaters together. It wasn't actually just the two of us; all the couples from our life group went to see it, but it still counted as a date since we left the kids home with a baby sitter. It was our first kid-free outing as a couple since October, and it felt good. Nobody had to holler at bickering kids in the back seat. Nobody had to turn the radio up or down because it was too quiet or too loud. Nobody had to whisper a conversation because the topic was potentially too sensitive for little ears. Nothing. And it was glorious.

The movie itself wasn't as action-packed as a typical Marvel movie, but I did enjoy it. I'm a fan of Marvel movies--about the only movies my husband and I have in common--and I liked it. Some have complained that it wasn't as good as other movies they've made, but it's not the last time we'll see Captain Marvel. She will return in the next Avengers movie, and I am thankful for the back story provided. Plus it took place during 1995, so the soundtrack was thoroughly enjoyable! If you like superhero movies, you should go see it, too. :)

Friday, March 8, 2019

One week down

One full week is officially done with for Slice of Life 2019. Yay! :D

It's really not so bad, honestly, but I also don't mind being nearly twenty-five percent of the way finished with the challenge.

Today is the end of quarter three. It hardly seems possible for the school year to be this far, but the calendar tells me it's true. We still have so much work to do, and only a handful of class days left. For most, it's weeks, but since I only see each class once a week, I look at their time in days. Nine weeks of school is only nine days (or half days for grades two and three) of instruction, which I know will go by in a flash. We have units to finish, literature studies to complete, independent study projects and speeches to prepare and present--both in class and to parents during our parent nights--and more. The final quarter always feels like a frenzy of activity, but somehow we always get it done, and this year will likely be no different. Ready or not, here summer comes!

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Thoughtful Thursday

I'm full of thoughts on most days, but since today is Thursday and it gets some good alliteration, I'll share some thoughts with you today.

It's good to be grateful. Actively looking for things to be grateful for can help you be happier and more resilient in tough situations.

People should look for ways to genuinely compliment others. You never know what they're dealing with, either internally or externally, especially if they look like they have it all together.

Seeing the sunrise on my way to work is a pleasant way to start my day. I'm not looking forward to daylight savings because it makes me sleepy and takes away my bright, morning drive.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Winter

I'm still stuck on winter because I'm ready for it to go!

When the temperatures are cold
I get tired of bundling up and
Not getting to go outside.
The indoor recess days sometimes
Exceed my patience, and I
Really crave warmth and bright sunshine.

Truthfully, I'm partial to spring because it contains my birthday, but that's beside the point! :D

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Academic Awards Night!

My older two kids are so excited for the Academic Awards Banquet (AKA: MAP Banquet). Coltin got to go last year as a 4th grader, and ever since then Adelyn has been anticipating the chance to go as well. Well, last year on her 3rd grade MAP test, she scored advanced in both subjects, just like her brother had, and she earned the privilege of attending this year's banquet.

Last year we got a baby sitter for the girls, so it was just Coltin, Travis, and me who went because each student who qualifies can bring two guests. This year, since we have two kids attending, Evelyn will join us as well, and it will be a family affair. We always impress upon our kids that it's important to do the best they can and that education is extremely highly valued in our family. (How can it possibly not be when both Travis and I are teachers?) This special event put on by our school district is a fun reward for their hard work and achievement ... and a night I don't have to cook dinner. Win-win!

Monday, March 4, 2019

Liar!

Ugh ... Punxsutawney Phil is such a liar! I'm all for winter when it's time for winter (although I don't enjoy having days to make up, especially when I only see each class one day a week and snow days really make some classes get behind, but I digress ...), but now that it's March I'm soooo over these single-digit numbers. Done! Phil has royally disappointed me this year.

On the other hand, Doug Heady's largely inaccurate forecasts haven't bothered me one bit. My kids definitely wish we'd gotten more snow this year, but that's just how it goes some years. His "liar status" is just fine with me. Double standard? Maybe, but that's okay. Haha!

Sunday Funday

Today we enjoyed a relaxing day at home, courtesy of the not-so-big snow storm. We already had groceries (since Saturday is our normal grocery shopping day) and our church service was online only.

I read a good post-Civil War era book (A Time for Everything by Mysti Parker) and took a nap. Sunday afternoon naps, while great, are often taken because I've fallen asleep on the couch. It's not always the best sleep. This time, however, I actually laid down in bed to take a nap, and it was glorious.

Then I cooked a delicious supper, played chess with Adelyn, and then Pass the Pigs with all three of my kids. Sundays are made for relaxation and family. :)

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Family

I have a husband and three kids. I'll mention them off and on during the month, so here's a bit about them:

Travis is my husband. This June we'll celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary--though it hardly seems possible that much time has passed. He's a teacher and a football coach, and he loves CrossFit. He also LOVES Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. Despite a few of his wayward interests, he's a pretty great guy! :D

Coltin is my oldest child. He's super smart and very sensitive. He loves SW, HP, and LotR thanks to his daddy. Coltin also loves soccer and football and having family time.

Adelyn is my middle child, although she was the baby for several years. She's very smart and creative, artistically and dramatically. She definitely has a strong personality and doesn't let anyone run over her. Reading is her favorite thing to do much of the time, but she also loves playing soccer and watching movies with the family.

Evelyn is the baby. She's witty and is always making us laugh. She's super smart and knows how to get what she wants, especially from her daddy. One day she told me that a classmate wanted her to give him something, and her response was, "Those puppy eyes won't work on me, but if you use them with my dad like I do, he'll give you whatever you want." Point taken. ;)

So, there's my family in a nutshell. They're a bit wild and crazy at times, but I love them to pieces!

Friday, March 1, 2019

Ready for Round Three

Ahhh, it's March again, and I can say with certainty that the years fly by faster as life goes on. Never mind the fact that scientifically it's consistent; it feels like it goes faster, so it must be true. :)

For those who haven't read my blog before, don't get too excited or too attached. I only blog during the month of March as part of our Slice of Life challenge, and truthfully, it's usually nothing super insightful or earth shattering. That being said, you're welcome to join me on my month-long blogging journey and see how it unfolds.