If you're gonna do it, make it worth your while

Back a year ago, my supervising professor and I sat down to discuss my thesis topic.  I really had no idea as to what I wanted to do and I can now say that my brain was not prepared at that time to answer that question.

So, she suggested a topic and I went with it.  It was something I could easily observe in my school district.  I didn't love the topic, but it had components that interested me.  (At the time, I also didn't know I needed to love my topic...)

In my class last spring, I did my literature review as part of a class I was in.  I had NO idea what I was doing or for that matter WHY I was doing it.  I was given criteria and I followed them.  (I was definitely playing the "schooling game.")

Here comes this semester...  I'm taking a research methodology class... It explains WHY I did everything last semester and why I was wrong with a good portion of it. :/

So, I revised... and revised... and revised some more.

Tonight I sat down with my professor to talk about my topic - He asked me why I was passionate about my topic.  I explained.  Then he said, "So if your passion is technology and elementary school students, why are you going to observe high school students??"

I explained that it was because my students hadn't received the technology yet...
I told him everything I am doing this year to get them ready for it for next year... How most nights I don't sleep because I am up researching just trying to find any information I can about it.

He looked at me and smiled.  "I think you have your research topic right there."

You get what you pay for, right??

I have become a HUGE fan of Groupon.com
I love trying new places, but more than anything, I love a good deal!
Always have.

So, earlier in the year, I purchased a Groupon for $32 for a $329 picture package for a family picture.
The boys and I haven't had professional family pictures in several years.
I just couldn't justify it... because I have a nice camera.

But, I also, couldn't pass up the great deal.

But see... I'm kinda a procrastinator.
So... here I was at the end of August with my great deal and an expiration date looming.

So, I call to make an appointment.
The photographer told me that she didn't have any openings before the expiration, but that she would honor the coupon. (YAY!)

The day came for our photo shoot... Colby wakes up with a fever. (of course)
I read the fine print and it says you have to cancel with a 24 hour notice.
I consider calling, but I decide we are gonna tough it out.
(I also considered calling because I hadn't heard from her, but I didn't want to seem too OCD.)

So that afternoon, I leave directly from work, race to pick Sam up from school, race to pick Colby up from his dad, make them change clothes, and race to the meeting spot. (We were taking pictures on location.)

We were to meet at 5:30. We arrived at 5:20. We wait... and we wait.
Finally at 5:40 I call and say, "Um... hi ______Photograhpy. This is Dawn. Am I at the wrong meeting spot?"
There is a pause.
Then, "Who's this? I don't have anyone on my calendar today."

Yeah...

Well... let me just tell you... the boys and I don't dress up for nothing and since the photographer was an hour away, she rescheduled... and we headed home.

But then I stopped.
I couldn't do it.

I turned the car around and headed to a location I knew about...
and we had our own photo shoot.

Not bad for doing it myself, huh?

Pictures of a what I find comfort in

I arrive ready to take over.
It's what I do.
A baby is born... and I am ready and willing.

It happened a lot when I was a teenager.
I was known as the resident babysitter for most of the families in my church.
When events occurred, it was a race to see who could book me first.

I especially liked it when there was a new baby in the house.
There is just something about it...

When mine were young, I didn't get to enjoy it in the same way.
Something about being so exhausted that you can't remember what day it is kinda takes away from the magic of it.

But here I am... back to the place that I once knew so well.
A place where after a baby is born... I am there... ready and willing to take over.

I walk through the door, scoop my niece up, hang her upside down and give her kisses.

 

Then I set my sights on my nephew.
My SIL hands him over.
She understands my love for babies and is gracious enough to indulge me.

Then I send my brother and his wife to bed.
I tell them I have it covered.
I tell them I will get Gracie to bed and get up with her if needed.
At 5:30 a.m., Jackson is up.

After he is fed, my SIL pleadingly looks my way.
"Go. Go. I've got this covered." I smile.
"Thank you." she mouths.

I am in my comfort zone.
Shortly thereafter, Gracie is up.
We play dress up while Jackson swings.

At 10:45 a.m., my brother and his beautiful wife stumble into the living room.  They look like they might actually be able to take on the day without a fog hanging over them.

It is time for me to go...I have done what I came to do.

I'm surprised I have had time to sleep

You'd think around this time of the year I would know to slow down and to say no... but instead it seems to be just the opposite.
Here's the last four days in a nutshell:
Thur. Night 
Went to a friend's house for a bonfire and cookout.
Intended to stay an hour... stayed three.
Ended up being up till midnight baking cakes.

Friday
Day off from school.
Intended to sleep in.
Got a prank text from my bestie's husband at 7:30 am!!!!
Couldn't fall back to sleep. UGH!!
Cake decorated for a Sesame Street themed party.

Got done just in time to head to my friend, Ellie's birthday dinner and then out to watch The Lucky One with Zac Efron.(Okay... I didn't watch it with him... he is just in it... not that I would have minded it ;)
Swoon!

(This doesn't classify me as a cougar, right?  I mean 24 is a respectable age, right? :)


Saturday
I was supposed to get up at 4 am and go photograph the sunrise with a photography group, but I just couldn't get bring myself to get up at that time.

Instead I got up at 6am and spent the day watching my boys and their friends play ball. (A much better sacrifice for sleep)

They played their little hearts out and got beat every game.
By the end of the day, we all needed some relaxation, so we decided to have a cookout with the whole team.
I volunteered to bring dessert. (Hey... it's what I do.)
I got home and realized that I had LOTS of left over cake scrapes but not much else.
So I grabbed my cake scraps... looked up how to make ganache and stopped by the store for cool whip and strawberries.
To say it turned out wonderful, would be an understatement... one of the moms coined it "Heaven"

Sunday
When the alarm went off at 6 am again I was starting to wonder what happened to my wonderful weekend??
I made to the ball game on time and am proud that we play with families that are Christian. We had a quick devotion before the boys played since we all would be missing church.
The boys got taken to the cleaners.
It was UGLY!!
I can't say I was disappointed though... because I then had the rest of my Sunday to me!

Okay... I lie.  I thought I would... until I remembered ALL of the stuff that I have to do this week...
So, instead, I ran all over town price comparing basketball goals.
Found one.
Bought one.
Store guys put it in my car...
Drive home.
Hmmmm... no store guys to lift it out of my car...
No neighbors around on an early Sunday afternoon.
So I did it.
Yep, little ol' me... all by my lonesome.
(Of course, my retired neighbor, Johnny, got home just as I finished sliding it into place.)

I wish I could say my week is going to slow down... but me sitting here sharing with all of you has been the most I have sat down. Not that I'm complaining... just don't expect to see me around till this time next week. :)

The truly important things

State testing begins next week.
My house is a mess.
My lawn is only mowed because the neighbors took pity on me.
But none of that matters ...because this little one decided to grace my family with his presence this week.

This is Jackson, my nephew.

I worried about if I could love him as much as I love my niece, Gracie. She has such a special place in my heart.
But this is all it took to win me over.

He looks just like my brother, Nick. (which I love)

Nick and I joked that we have good strong family genes... I mean have you seen my son, Colby??  Spitting image of me! :)

The boys, of course, loved him immediately as well.

I was so happy that I got to be there to see Gracie meet him for the first time... such a special moment and I was glad I was allowed to be part of it.

This couldn't have happened without my wonderful sister-in-law LeaAnn... the only person that I know that is gorgeous after having babies.

So... who cares that the rest of my life is in disarray??  I think everything is perfect right now.

Taking on Nature ...and I think nature won

The boys and I went out on Sunday to enjoy the wonderful weather... friends of our had told me about a new "biking and running" trail.  The one we currently go on is paved, so this one (in my head) should be as well.

I loaded the boys bikes up into my car and headed there.  I planned to run while the boys rode.

When we arrive, Sam notices that the trail is pea gravel and dirt instead of paved. (Sam still has training wheels.) I reassured him that the trail looked raked and that it would be fine.

...and it was.... until it wasn't.

About a half a mile in, it turned to woodland. Like dirt bike trails. Like rocks and tree stumps and mud puddles.

I was determined that we would be fine.  I kept encouraging Sam to press forward (I, of course, had a death grip on him because he insisted!!)  Colby was eating it up!  He was jumping his bike and splashing through streams.

About a mile in, we stopped to take a break. I was getting more of a workout than I had planned.

Two guys on their mountain bikes came up from where we were headed.  They looked at me all red faced and then at Sam's training wheels. "First time here?"


"Yeah." I laughed. "What's down that way?"


I think they must have thought I was past the point of rational thought.
"Down there?  You don't want to go that way!! It is MUCH harder than what you just came down.  You should probably go back the way you came."


That was all the confirmation I needed.  I glanced back the way we came and noticed that there were two paths not one. "What's that way?" I asked pointing toward the path we hadn't came from.

"Oh that?  We haven't been on that one... but we think it is a short cut."


"Okay... we'll try it out. Thanks!"


Thinking back... at the beginning of the trail there had been 2 options. The "easy" course that we took... and the "advanced" course (aka "the short cut").

Yep, you guess it!
We ended up going through streams and over tree roots and major muddy pits. Of course Sam couldn't ride through this, so I ended up carrying his bike. (Again, another workout I hadn't planned on!)

When we were back at the car, we were all filthy. Colby was not done though.  He convinced me to head to a trail that we hike all the time.  I agreed on one stipulation - no bikes.  :)

I pulled my camera out instead and sent the boys on a scavenger hunt for wild flowers.  They did a wonderful job of finding them off the beaten path.

They also found this:

They decided that they could definitely hear a Who from Whoville on this!

Despite the dysfunction of the beginning of our afternoon, I was quite please with how wore out we all were... the sure sign of a good day... and seeing their smiles was another sure sign. :)

Too busy to notice that I'm too busy

Well... I'd like to tell you that I know where all my time has gone...
I mean... I do know where my time has gone...
What I'm trying to say is that I have been busy.

The last two months have been just plain craziness with basketball ...and snow days ...and Homecoming, ...and, ...and, ...and.

But you know what?
Looking back through my pictures... I have realized that things are flying by.
Time with my boys is flying by.
I won't ever get this time back.

So... I'm gonna be a reminiscent mom today.
These are the things that propel my life forward... that I'm glad I took the time to take notice... because those days are gone and I will never be able to get them back.

Basketball - Basketball has filled our weekends to the point that I need a weekend from my weekend... but I love to see my boys active and part of something.

Snow days - despite our crazy warm weather, we were graced with 2 quick snow days.  The boys colored their snowman and we had cuddling time inside.

Homecoming - Sam was given the privilege of being the crown bearer. It makes my brain fast forward 10 years and see Prom in his future... which makes me want to hyperventilate... because wasn't it just yesterday that he was a newborn??

Nature- I have tried to take time with my new camera to capture some of the beauty of the world around me... maybe when I have more time...

Warm days - And just like the Homecoming pictures made me fast forward for Sam... these made me fast forward for Colby... He looks so grown up. He acts so grown up. He is no longer my little one who sits on my lap and rubs my hair.

Sigh.
Yes. I think my world needs to slow down.
Yes. I think my children need to stop growing up so fast.

Santa might be late, but he is NEVER wrong

Thanks to the help of a wonderful friend... I was able to get something I have been wanting for a long time.

Fun Filled Weekend

I don't know about the rest of you...  but I had an AWESOME weekend!!!

Throughout the school year, weekends mainly consist of:
~laundry
~cleaning house
~grading papers
~any unpleasant chore you can think of

But summer... summer weekends consist of:

~Staying up too late to play 'Minute to Win It'

Yes, Laura PROUDLY balanced 3 golf balls!!

~ Going zip-lining with my son

Ready to go!

Colby going down by himself!!

~Helping my niece celebrate turning ONE!!

She LOVED the cake!

Yummy!

Yeah... I'll take a summer weekend over a school weekend ANY day!!