New Year, New Challenge --- February 11 - February 17

We've enjoyed a few days off this past week plus a few more next week with mid-Winter Break and it's been super nice not to have such a demanding schedule.

I love my job, but I also love our breaks. Teachers need time to re-charge (and so do the students)!

52-Week Blog Challenge --- Week 7 - My Biggest Pet Peeve
Lack of preparation. 100% my biggest pet peeve. 

My type-A personality does not understand or accept not having a plan/process/to-do list. I'm a hand-written calendar person, so whenever something new pops up, it gets added to the calendar. At the beginning of the month + at the beginning of each week I make sure I know what's coming up schedule-wise. I can't stand surprises when it comes my schedule, so making sure that RA and I are on the same page about events, school drop-off/pick-up, traveling, etc. makes life so much stinkin' easier.

This pet peeve even plays out in my classroom as I give my students an assignment sheet at the beginning of each unit that maps out EVERYTHING we are doing within that unit - class assignments, readings, quizzes, tests, essays, etc. - in an attempt to help them learn to manage their time.

With all of that said, I'm not so type-A that if there's a change to the schedule/calendar that I freak out or have a melt-down. I'm really good about making adjustments when/where they are needed, but knowing that we have a general game plan (and a routine...I like routines) in play makes life so much less stressful for my little family.


Photos of Our Week

Monday, February 11 ---  Naps

Ellis was still a little under the weather Monday, so an afternoon nap was just what he needed to get him back to his silly, happy self. 

Tuesday, February 12 --- Artwork

I love getting artwork from the boys. This one is from Ellis and I LOVE his descriptions of our family members!

Wednesday, February 13 --- Bedside Table

Books, a houseplant, earbuds, a LEGO creation, Vick's vapor rub, a sweet note from RA, and a coaster. 

Thursday, February 14 --- Happy Valentine's Day

Gummy bear valentines for their friends, a John Deere valentine truck, smiles from E and RF at E's ice cream party at school, and my favorite - my gift from RA - a map of where I'm from, where he's from, and where we are making our lives together. :-)

Friday, February 15 --- Coffee Cup

With a to-do list as long as mine, this is is how I'm feeling...

Saturday, February 16 --- Snuggles

Luckily they are cute because they are super lazy. 

Sunday, February 17 --- Fort Pulaski

Today was an adventure day for us, so we headed over to Savannah to explore. Our stops included the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, The Pirate's House for lunch, Fort Pulaski, and Tybee Island Lighthouse - a total boy fest for my three guys. 

New Year, New Challenge --- February 4 - February 10

This past week felt L-O-N-G. I'm not sure why as it was a pretty normal week, but on Wednesday I could have sworn that it was Friday.

52-Week Blog Challenge --- Week 6 - Ten Years From Now...

• I'll be 43. 
• RA and I will have been married for 21 years. 
• I'll have a 16 year old and a 14 year old.
• I will be in my 22nd year in education.
• I will have earned my doctorate.
• I hope to be doing work with curriculum and instruction as it has become my passion through my work with A+ College Ready. 
• We will have purchased our weekend home in the mountains of North Carolina. 
• We will have traveled west to visit the national parks on my bucket list as well as to Great Britain and Ireland, also on my bucket list. 
• And there's no telling what else we will experience and accomplish in the next ten years...

Photos of Our Week

Monday, February 4 --- Socks...

This is what happens when you put off and then put off again and then put off again matching up all of the single socks that come out of the dryer. An entire laundry basket of socks. What an aggravating task.

Tuesday, February 5 --- Missing Nana and Babu

 I went looking for E to get him ready for school and found him sitting on his bed staring at his pictures of Nana and Babu. He loves his grandparents a whole, whole, whole bunch. 

Wednesday, February 6 --- Favorite Podcast

 I've become a big podcast listener in the last few months. Multiple times a day you will find me with my earbuds in and I'm usually listening to one of my favorite podcasts. I spend my 15 minute drive from RF's school to EHS listening to one every morning and was able to finish Rachel Hollis's most recent episode on her RISE Podcast where she interviewed John Maxwell. It was an amazing interview about success and leadership. 

Thursday, February 7 --- Southwest Chicken Egg Rolls

 Super simple + super yummy! 

Friday, February 8 --- Sick Little Guy

 E ran a fever Thursday night, so we kept him home from school on Friday and as soon as I got home from work, he and I snuggled up on my bed to watch cartoons and rest. Friday night was pretty rough, too with more high fever, but we are crossing our fingers that we have turned a corner and that the fever will begin to subside. I hate it when my little guys are sick.

Saturday, February 9 --- Archaeologists

 My two little guys love archaeology (i.e. digging in the dirt), so when one of their Little Passports activities dealt with excavating a surprise inside of an Egyptian pyramid, I knew they'd enjoy it. E even sat up for a few minutes (sick on the couch) and helped/watched as RF and I tried to find the treasure. 

Sunday, February 10 ---  Flowers

Daffodils are blooming in our yard and we love vintage bottles (the one on the right RA, RF, and E found in a creek along a trail in Oxford) in the Hawk house, so it's nice to be able to create a little bouquet of happiness using our antique finds. 

Hope everyone has a great week! See you all next week.

New Year, New Challenge --- January 28 - February 3

Check out January 28 - February 3 for the Hawks below!

52-Week Blog Challenge --- Week 5 - My Favorite Holiday
I definitely don't think I can pick the one holiday that is my absolute favorite...

I love Valentines Day with all of the Valentine creations - Valentine boxes for the boys + Valentine treats for their classmates + red roses + chocolate.

I love Mother's Day/Father's Day because of all of the handmade crafts that the boys make for RA and I.


I love birthdays...any excuse to plan a themed party is definitely fun to me!

I love Halloween/Thanksgiving because of the cooler fall temperatures, costumes, and cooking for family.

I love Christmas because of the fun of Christmas events - breakfast with Santa, holiday parties, yummy holiday snacks + fun crafts, picking out gifts for everyone/seeing excitement on their faces on Christmas morning, decorating the house with all of the Christmas decor, oh my goodness - so much fun!

Any excuse to celebrate is exciting and totally worth it for me. The planning process is fun and somewhat cathartic as I get to be my version of creative + do something that makes other people smile. :-)

Photos of Our Week

Monday, January 28 - Sunset in GA

Gorgeous sunset in GA on Monday!

Tuesday, January 29 - Post-Dinner Activities

A warm fire, a sweet puppy, and an episode of The Andy Griffith Show makes for a great Tuesday evening in the Hawk house. 

Wednesday, January 30 - FabFitFun

I love surprises. And new products. So, enter FabFitFun - a box full of surprises four times a year! 

Thursday, January 31 - Repeat of Tuesday

We pretty much have the same routine every night, so it makes sense that these two got comfortable for their post-dinner episode of The Andy Griffith Show. We instituted a no screen time during the week rule at the beginning of the school year, but we make one exception and that's to watch one episode of TAGS every night together as a family.

Friday, February 1 - We Made It To Friday

Warm fire, warm blanket, and a glass of wine to round out a LONG week...

Saturday, February 2 - Fire Pit

 It was warm enough to fire up the fire pit and eat dinner outside. The boys played well past dark while RA and I sat by the fire and chatted. 

Sunday, February 3 - LEGOS

 Sunday morning LEGO creations. The Hawk boys love LEGOS and will spend hours building + creating storylines that go along with what they've built. I absolutely love seeing their imaginations at work. 

Moving into the first full week of February with the excitement that the next two weeks are half weeks due to Mid-Winter Break. Gearing up for some fun adventures mid-month! We hope you and yours have a great week!