Well, throughout August and the beginning of September I had a great blogging streak going! I was posting 3x a week consistently and had lots of content in my brain to share! And then last week I just…didn’t blog. It was kind of weird. I didn’t have a lot of time, sure. But I also could have made space if I really wanted to. And…I just wasn’t feeling it. So! That’s ok! I don’t regret it at all. I skipped a whole week of blogging and it’s totally and completely, 100% fine.
We are BUSY, y’all. But don’t hear that as a complaint. It’s not. It’s a joy to have life so full. And so full of so many things that we enjoy! I often hear empty nesters or older women saying THIS is what they miss. Now, I also heard a lot of people tell me that they miss the baby days with those cute and squishy cuddly kids, but I’m gonna be honest…I don’t miss the baby days! I love these busy pre-teen days and having older kids. Am I weird? Just me? Moms, what was your favorite stage? Or what stage do you miss the most? And what stage were you just dying to get out of?
So for today I just have a random hodgepodge of stuff for you. Kind of like a Friday Favorites…but on a Tuesday.
One – Blog Housekeeping
Why, oh, why does AI insist on inserting itself into everything? It has even started to take over this blog and gives me editing suggestions all throughout my writing. I’m annoyed. I don’t use AI to write anything on this blog, and I don’t want its suggestions! This blog has always been written in my own voice, and some people have even commented over the years about how refreshing OR annoying that is! I write just as I would talk- and AI does not approve. Good.
Another blog side note- I’m still sorting through comments that were left on my blog from months ago that went straight to trash. If you have ever commented here, I’m unearthing your comments very slowly!
Two- Spirit Week
Last week was spirit week at school, and if you remember my new “job” involves collecting school content for social media, newsletters, the website and yearbook. Spirit week is MY WEEK haha! I go in every day to take pictures of kids dressed up in the spirit day themes and then the week culminates in a powderpuff game, an alumni soccer game and of course the homecoming dance. I can’t/won’t share pictures of kids not related to me on this blog, but the dress up days were fantastic, the powderpuff game was fun and MUDDY, the soccer game was a blast and I didn’t go to the homecoming dance, but it looks like it was a good time!
One of the themes of the week was “Rhyme without Reason”- basically- you dress up as two or more words that rhyme. The creativity was astounding! Again, I can’t share pictures, but here is the list of rhymes I spotted at school:
And just to give you an actual picture, here is Theo’s group:
Best Dressed – Beach Fest – Wild West – Safety Vest – Treasure Chest
See? Clever, huh?
And a couple pictures from the powderpuff game:
Three- Cross Country
We LOVE cross country! It’s just such a wholesome sport. Everyone cheers for everyone else. It’s mass chaos from the starting gun until everyone crosses the finish line. It’s pure grit, and watching kids hit a PR (personal record) is amazing. It’s teammates encouraging each other, but also individuals just focusing on their own run. We love it. On Saturday, all three kids had amazing races- the weather was significantly cooler than it has been, and the course was fairly easy.
Our high school runners ran first, then our middle school runners and then our elementary runners. I just have to brag on my kids for a second- Tera finished her two miles in 17:20 – shaving a full 1:16 off her last 2 mile record! Kiah ran one mile in 6:45 and Ezra ran a mile in 7:46!!! I mean…I now have THREE kids who can outrun me. Life is wild, y’all.
Four- Does this Baby Look Good on Me?
Nope. Not my baby.
I did get to meet and hold the sweet baby that I got to doula for last week. Oh, my heart. Sweetie pie. The postpartum visit is one of my favorite parts of the doula gig. We get to sit and visit and kind of recap the birth, and I make sure that Mom and baby are looking/acting ok. Remember, a doula is not medical in any way- but as women, we can kind of tell when Mom or baby is struggling a bit, you know? This Mom and baby are doing great, despite the fact that birth was a challenge.
Five- Craft Fair
Local friends- mark your calendars! And if you know any vendors who are interested, we are still taking applications!
Six- Crepes
Tera and Kiah learned how to make crepes in their cooking class, and we enjoyed crepes for dessert one time! What is your favorite crepe topping? Mine is Nutella! And hold the fruit for me- no thank you!
Seven- Friends
I got to spend a couple hours catching up with a friend from high school. Actually, we have been friends since elementary school! We ended up walking around Cedarville’s campus, and Joy wanted some seeds from these gorgeous flowers to plant in her yard at home. I didn’t even know you could take seeds from flowers- I thought it was a whole process, but it turns out you can just pick up some of the buds and they have seeds inside. How cool!
Eight- Ezra is a Vibe
Ezra put this whole outfit together and I just LOVED it so much. I love how he often just marches to the beat of his own drum- and I love the drumbeat, personally.
Nine- LAST CHEMO
I’m signing off now to head to the hospital to meet up with my Dad and Mom to sit through my Dad’s last chemo treatment. The battle isn’t over, but this part of it is!! And we are so proud. If you think of it, please pray for my Dad and Mom this week. The effects of chemo usually hit on day 2-5, so Wednesday- Saturday of this week are most likely going to be pretty rough.
Even though it’s not the end of the battle against this wicked cancer, it is a moment to celebrate!
So much going on! I’m impressed that you blog as much as you do!! Life is full for you and I know you like that and don’t take it for granted. Congrats to your kids on their races and you on being an awesome doula. I like the rhyme for no reason dress up concept. How unique and a great opportunity to be creative. Keep on keeping’ on- you got this!!