Start To Summer

Well here I am--finally posting again! This past year was quite an adjustment, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! There were many hard moments, but the good far outweighed the bad. I am happy to be back in the classroom. This summer I feel such a weight lifted off compared to last year. This time last year I was unsure if I would for sure have a job and had interviews and all that! 
Anyway we started summer break on Friday! The kids had Awards Day. I am so proud of them both. They both racked up on the Awards. Lindsay got Alpha Honor Roll for 4th Quarter and all year. She also got Perfect Attendance for 4th Quarter along with a reading award. Colby got 4th Quarter Beta Honor Roll and Beta Honor Roll for the year. He also received the President's Award! After Awards they went home with my parents b/c I had a Teacher's Brunch to attend. I was happy to get to hang with my teacher friends and just relax a bit after quite a busy week. After Brunch Wendy and I left to go to TJ Max. It was spur of the moment and very quick, but I am happy we had that time. We laughed and giggled like school girls. She was supposed to spend that night with me and we were going to drink wine and watch movies, but she had a doc appointment and went home with really high BP. I was super disappointed. We have so much fun together. In fact this year has been so fun b/c of having each other. Well I finally decided not to sit around and mope all night. Instead I went over to Kristen's Going Away party. This was a little out of my comfort zone b/c I haven't been around these people in years. I was happy I went though and I think it meant a lot to them that I was there. I got in that evening and just tried to soak up the alone time. Oh yea...Austin brought the kids to Hattiesburg. I felt like this was sort of my Mother's Day gift. Now with teaching..and especially teaching Lindsay...I went months without ever being alone. That's what I miss most about the stay at home life. I miss just having time to myself. Anyway I ended up not getting bored and I think it was honestly good for me to just slow down! 
The next morning I got up at my leisure...I ended up running errands before Austin and the kids got home. I dropped a happy off at Wendy's house. After being together nearly every day and then going to not seeing her at all...I missed her so much! Anyway Austin and the kids got home shortly after I did. I was so happy to see them!! I really just needed that time away from them. We went and ate a quick lunch at Firehouse then went to water the garden at the church. The rest of the day we spent around the house. It was quite nice to just have that time as a family. Weekends during the school year always feel so full of stuff and rushed! That evening the kids played in the pool and we just enjoyed some quality time together. We even grilled burgers and sat around the table and ate! 
Sunday was church...this was a short day for us. It was nice to just go to first service once again. I missed catching up with friends at Lifegroup though. I got to see Wendy briefly, but we really didn't get to chat much at all. We left church and went across the river to eat at McAlister's. That was a nice change of pace. Afterwards we went to Dick's to get Lindsay a new bike. I hated we didn't do this at Christmas, but honestly I didn't realize how much she needed a bike until after! Now that its summer and we are outside more I knew it just needed to be done. After the bike buying I was hot and ready to come home. I came home and took a short nap, then left again to go visit my friend Melissa who is about to move to Texas. I stayed at her house about an hour. Once I got home the kids spent some time outside and we cooked again and just enjoyed a family night together. 
Monday was Memorial Day. It was nice to wake up and have everyone home and not have to rush out the house. Austin worked in the yard. We got ready and went to my parent's house about 11. We were all able to take a quick swim before lunch. It felt a little rushed b/c the kids had swim lessons in the afternoon. We had a yummy lunch then came home. It was nice just getting to visit with everyone though. The kids did great for their first day of swim lessons! They have been dreading it, but I think they were both pleasantly surprised. I think deep down they enjoy it! That night we just picked up dinner and had a low key night!