New Year, New Challenge --- June 24 - June 30

A fun (albeit challenging) week for the boys and me. I really enjoy being home with them during the summer, but some days they step on every.single.nerve.in.my.body. Deep breaths...deep breaths...deep breaths...this too shall pass...this too shall pass...this too shall pass...#raisingkidsishardwork

52-Week Blog Challenge --- Week 26 -My Biggest Fears 
Definitely, 100% my biggest fear is something happening to my kids or husband. That mama bear instinct to protect is alive and well in my brain and heart. Social media exasperates my anxiety, so I've learned to not scroll through it nearly as much as I used to.

With that being said, I know that there is so much more good in the world than bad. Unfortunately, many times the bad/sad/traumatic/life-altering gets the media attention more than the good, so for me and my mental health I've slowly learned to back away and focus on the good that I have in my life. Don't get me wrong though, that anxiety rears it's ugly head every now and then (it happened this past week and I spent all night watching my kids sleep because I was so scared of something happening to them), but I've learned how to calm my anxieties better in the past few years.#workinprogress

Photos of Our Week

Monday, June 24

Another little harvest from our garden...

Tuesday, June 25

Seeing Toy Story 4...happy as a lark with his popcorn and Icee...

He loves movies!

Wednesday, June 26

They're cute, right? And sweet? Yea...30 seconds after taking this photo one of them sucker-punched the other...and ten minutes later one was bleeding from being scratched during a wrestling match...#lifewithboys

Thursday, June 27

Enjoying a nature walk at a local park...

Friday, June 28

Cool dudes ready for some summer pool-time fun!

Saturday, June 29

I love summer flowers and zinnias are one of my favorites...

Sunday, June 30

 No I'm not ready for school to be back in session next month, but our schedule is pretty busy between now and then, so I went ahead and got all of their school supplies and packed them so that we're ready to go to Open House...

 This is the only way I could keep straight what each kid needed...

 Kindergarten supplies for Ellis...cue the tears...

And 1st grade supplies for RF...

Looking forward to a fun week hanging out with Nana and celebrating the Fourth of July!

New Year, New Challenge --- June 17 - June 23

This past week was full of fun for both myself and the boys. I spent the week in AL working with middle school World History teachers and the boys lived their best life in Perry with Nana and Babu. :-)

52-Week Blog Challenge --- Week 25 -My Biggest Fashion Accessory 
I'm not a big accessory person - I usually have on a simple necklace, simple earrings, and my Lisa Leonard right-hand rings with the boys names engraved on them, but that's about it. I do love my Quay sunglasses, so those are usually close by on sunny days.


Photos of Our Week

Monday, June 17

Presenter dinner in Alabaster, AL at a local Italian place that had the biggest slices of cake I've ever seen...and it tasted as amazing as it looks...

Tuesday, June 18

Farming with Babu!

Wednesday, June 19

Day two of training! Ready to tackle the Classical and Post-Classical eras...

Thursday, June 20

Picking blueberries...

Friday, June 21

Last day of training at Thompson HS - it's been a GREAT week!

Saturday, June 22

Happy Birthday, RA! We love you a whole bunch.

Sunday, June 23

 Celebrating twelve amazing years as husband and wife today... :-)

A week with absolutely nothing on the calendar is upon us, so the boys and I intend on enjoying a few local adventures, some pool time, and lots of summertime fun!

New Year, New Challenge --- June 10 - June 16

What a fun week we had - hanging out at home, enjoying the cool weather (it's June, but it's been NICE in GA), visiting RA at his new office, and eating tons of popsicles. Thanks for checking in on us! A photo recap of our week is below. :-)

52-Week Blog Challenge --- Week 24 - Music of My Heart
I'm not a huge music person...I'll listen to the radio every now and then, but on long car-rides I'm usually listening to a podcast or NPR. Call me a nerd, but that's just me.

However, when I'm working I usually have Zen music playing. This is one of my favorite compilations on YouTube. It keeps me calm, focused, and relaxed.

Photos of Our Week

Monday, June 10 

Squash is growing in the garden!

Tuesday, June 11

First harvest of 2019 - two squash and a bell pepper!

Wednesday, June 12

I swear he thinks he's a human...

Thursday, June 13

Yes...teacher's have "summer's off"...right...working on lesson plans for one of my AP classes...

Friday, June 14

Post-pool silly selfie...

Saturday, June 15

I LOVE FABFITFUN! My summer box wasn't supposed to arrive until Monday, so when I received a notification that it had been delivered today I RAN to the front porch to grab the box and dive into all of the amazing products that were included in this season's box.

Sunday, June 16

Happy Father's Day, RA. Your boys and I love you so, so, so, so much. 

New Year, New Challenge --- June 3 - June 9

First full week of summer break recap is below! Thanks for checking in on our family. :-)

52-Week Blog Challenge --- Week 23 - My Childhood Memories
During a trip this week I was reminded of a very particular childhood memory.

I had the opportunity to stay at The Grand Hotel in Fairhope, AL this past week for a summer training event with my A+ College Ready teammates and as I was walking back from the gym one afternoon I heard a conversation that brought me right back to being 11 years old.

A woman was walking with her daughter and grandchildren and said, "I wish we could put the grandbabies in matching outfits and have a photographer take their pictures while they sit on one of the branches of these old oak trees."

I smiled and remembered all of those Sunday brunch events where my parents would take my sisters and I, in our matching Kelly's Kids outfits, to The Grand Hotel and before we indulged in the yummy food we would spend half an hour or so wandering through all of the oak trees. We'd climb up in the tree or sit/lay down in the grass and my dad would take our photograph.

I was at my dad's house this week and he still has those photographs of his three girls hanging in the hallway.

#memories

Photos of Our Week

Monday, June 3 

Not a bad view for my Monday afternoon workout...views of Mobile Bay are one of my favorite views in the world.

Tuesday, June 4 

Kicking off a week of teaching and learning!

Wednesday, June 5 

Of course it's a beautiful property with great restaurants and a phenomenal spa, but the #1 tell of amazing hotel accommodations for me (other than top-notch customer service) is a high-quality, soft robe. Gold star to The Grand Hotel!

Thursday, June 6 

Preparation and organization are vital to a successful week of training.

Friday, June 7 

For our last day of training, each participant in the social studies training academy had the opportunity to present a lesson and their peers as well as myself offered up their Glows and Grows. They did a great job and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to lead them through this process. #lifelonglearners 

#theresalwaysroomforgrowth

Saturday, June 8 

Early morning drive back home to GA...I love a good sunrise...

Sunday, June 9 

It's a rainy Sunday here in GA...definitely a great way to end a busy week of work and re-set for a new week of adventures with my two little boys. :-)

New Year, New Challenge --- May 27 - June 2

Hallelujah! School is out for summer break! And all the teachers said, "AMEN!"

Lots of lazy days, popsicles, pool splashing, and family adventures are on the list of things to do with our 8 1/2ish weeks off and we are going to enjoy every bit, because come August I'll have TWO kids in big-kid school (cue the tears...).

52-Week Blog Challenge --- Week 22 - Unforgettable Days In My Life 
Four days come to mind...

June 10, 2005 - The day I met him...
One of my best girlfriends from high school married one of his best guy friends from high school. I was a bridesmaid and he was a groomsman. And the rest is history, folks. :-)

June 23, 2007 - The day I married him...
I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I knew he was the one. When we re-watch our wedding video (which we do every year on our anniversary) I can't help but notice how calm and confident I was - not nervous, not scared, not teary-eyed (although there's nothing wrong with crying at weddings), but I was sure that the decision I was making was the right one. He's my person.

October 24, 2012 - The day we became parents and welcomed Robert Franklin into the family...
No one can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that is pregnancy and child birth. No one. Not your mama, not your best friend that had a baby recently, not the 146 pregnancy and child birth related books you've read since you first saw the positive pregnancy test. I labored for 24 hours and pushed for 2.5 hours, but when our eyes met and when I saw RA lock eyes with Robert Franklin for the first time, the world was perfect and I understood one of my most important purposes on this planet.

July 20, 2014 - The day we became parents of two kiddos and welcomed Joseph Ellis into the family...
Again, no one can prepare you for child birth the second time around, although you feel like you've got it because you've done this before, right? Not at all accurate for me. Ellis's pregnancy and delivery were polar opposites of Robert Franklin's, but one thing was exactly the same --- the moment our eyes met and when I saw RA lock eyes with Ellis for the first time, the world was, again, perfect and I was reminded of one of my most important purposes on this planet. And then seeing Ellis lock eyes with his big brother...what a day - definitely a day like no other.

Photos of Our Week

Monday, May 27 

Mad that he got out in our afternoon baseball game...

Tuesday, May 28 

Cooling off in the pool after a fun day at Aggie Academy - an agriculture camp!

Wednesday, May 29 

He had so much fun yesterday at camp that he was up and ready at 7AM today for camp.

Thursday, May 30 

Just hanging with mama in the hammock talking and listening to the birds...

Friday, May 31 

Beating the summer heat with a nap on the couch...

Saturday, June 1 

Spending my birthday weekend (celebrating the big 3-4) with RA at a bed and breakfast in the north GA mountains. That 85 foot waterfall was RIGHT outside of our bedroom window and the temperatures were so nice that we slept with the windows open and heard the falls all night. It was so peaceful and relaxing. 

Sunday, June 2 

Taking in the view from Black Rock Mountain State Park before heading home. :-)

I'm home long enough today to unpack the car from one trip and re-pack it for a week long trip to Alabama. The boys are hanging in Perry with Nana and Babu while I travel to Fairhope to lead a training week for teachers. Thanks for checking in on us and we hope you are have a wonderful week!