Category: Life

Bucket List: 2017 Edition

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Happy 2017, everyone! This past year will certainly be hard to top. In 2017 I want to make the most of time this year by spending it with family and friends and soaking up each moment together. In addition to selecting a list of fun, must-do items, I have also chosen a word to serve as a focal point and core value.

After mulling over several choices one just seemed to stick. Embrace. Yes, I want to embrace all aspects of life this year, the happy, the sad, the routine, the mundane. I would normally learn towards stronger, more intense, more direct and forward terms, (i.e. strive, intention, drive) which is why I purposefully chose a softer, more compassionate gentle term to balance out my type-A, driven, obsessive bent. I want to embrace life, embrace others, embrace gritty, raw, real life. Only God knows what is in store for us, and only He can can prepare us for 2017. Here we go!

Here’s the List:

  1. Write my own manifesto (from Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project)
  2. Write a letter to my future self
  3. Celebrate my last day of my 20’s
  4. Plan (and have) a spa day
  5. Do Adult Disney
  6. See the Rocky Mountains
  7. Fly fish
  8. Sand surf
  9. Stay in a Deluxe Disney Resort
  10. Hang Glide
  11. Sleep in a tree house
  12. Learn about floral arts
  13. Take a cooking class
  14. Master the art of the sugar cookie
  15. Plant bougainvillea
  16. Reach goal weight (finally)
  17. Pay off student loans
  18. Develop a “big girl” skin care routine
  19. Visit a new state
  20. Visit a new country
  21. Explore Universal’s Harry Potter World
  22. Complete a Reading Challenge
  23. Learn Spanish (again…)
  24. Prepare for an emergency (so we won’t get totally caught off guard by something like Hurricane Matthew again.)
  25. Attend Dragon Con
  26. Plan and implement seasonal bucket lists/monthly challenges

 

What’s on your list? Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!

 

Addie is Three Years Old!

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In her own words, Addie’s birthday was the “Best Day Ever!” Waring’s cousin, Katrina, always does such a fabulous job with the themed food, decoration, and festivities! This has been the year of princesses for Addie (could be due to those Disney Annual Passes), so Addie was Rapunzel for Halloween and had the same theme for her birthday. Addie’s birthday was truly a blast, and I grateful to everyone who came to join us in the celebration!

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I thank God each day for this sassy little girl with her big personality.

Saturdays With Addie & Friends: Drive-in Movie Edition

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Recently, Addie and her cousins shared another “first” together as they watched a movie outside at the Highway 21 Drive-in. We arrived early in time to play on the playground in front of the big screen, order dinner, and comfy before the movie started. We borrowed my father’s truck, which turned out to be perfect for the trip. Three kids and two adults were able to get cozy and watch the movie under the stars together.

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The kids had a blast, experienced something new, and just couldn’t hang in there with us for the ride home! I think that this Fall Bucket-List item will be a keeper for years and years to come!

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Letters to Addie: Bathroom Sink Conversations

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Sweet Addie Faye,

You both broke and melted my heart tonight. After you went to the restroom you reminded me that we needed to wash our hands. We walked up to the sink and you said, “I can’t reach.” I told you that you were almost there, and you said “almost, but not yet.” I told you that it was okay that you couldn’t reach because I didn’t want you to grow up. You replied, “yes, but I need to grow up.” I asked you if you wanted to grow up, and you said “yes, I want to be big like you so that I can see you and talk to you.” Wow. My heart is in a million pieces. I love that you are putting it all together. The things and ideas that come out of your head and mouth amaze me each day. I can’t wait to see the woman that you will grow into, but I also want to freeze this very moment as you are snoring on the couch next to me.

Love,

Mama

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How To Be A Fun Mom…Or At Least Not Boring 100% of the Time

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Sometimes in life you just have to hunker down and wash the dishes. No, those clothes will not fold themselves no matter how long you wait for the laundry fairy to come. I don’t know about you, but at least at our house, we are in constant cycle of making and cleaning up our messes each week. Here is pretty much how it goes. Sunday….Ahh clean the house before small group gets here. Monday….man it sure is nice to come home to a clean house. Tuesday….hmm should I was clothes tonight? Wednesday….let pick up a little or maybe watch Netflix instead. Thursday…I wish it were Friday. Friday….PARTY. Saturday…PAAARTY. Sunday…AHHHH small group is coming MUST CLEAN EVERYTHING.

With the constant and continuous flow of activity throughout the week it can be exhausting just to keep up, let alone trying to be a “fun” mom. Then I look at pictures like this one below, and I remember how fast she is growing. Pretty soon it won’t matter if I am fun or not because her friends will be like waaay cooler  than me.

As I am literally about to fall sleep over this keyboard, I pray tonight that God will give me the energy to be the mom who says yes to tickle tackles, one more bedtime book/song/story, exploring the back yard on leaf hunts, serving tea for two in the bathtub, coloring one more picture, and staying up for one last bedtime snack. I want to say yes more  each day than I say no. Yes is such a small word that opens the door to amazing opportunity. There are instances each day when no has to be the answer (no, you can’t swing from the countertops/cabinets or ride our chihuahua like a horsie), but help me to remember to let her be little. Help me to remember to have fun. She is so much fun. I want to be like her when I grow up.

 

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Mommy Milestone: I Love You.

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From the moment she was born I said it. I whispered it, prayed it, sang it, and repeated it over and over and over again. Even though those three little words couldn’t possibly describe my emotions bottled up inside, I said them anyway. “I love you.” From the moment she was born and for no reason at all I loved her. (It is in these moments that I feel I can see a glimpse of our Heavenly Father’s agape love towards man. We are nothing and could not possibly earn his favor, yet he so richly lavishes his love upon us.)

God has blessed our family with a sweet, sassy, silly, social butterfly named Addie. She has turned our world upside down, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Since she was born we make sure to tell her we love her each and every day so that it will be one of those undeniable truths that she can hold fast to when she becomes a teenager and thinks she knows it all, or her world is rocked by some unforeseen future or lingering doubt.

Most of our professions of love have been monologues spoken over her as she lie asleep, during late night rocking chair sessions, or fleeting and hurried moments throughout our time together. One day something different happened. She said it. Not “I love you too” as in a reply, but just out of the blue.  “Mommy, I’ll always love you.” And at that moment my heart grew three sizes and burst into a million tiny pieces all over the floor.

Now don’t forget, she is two…so shortly after this heartfelt moment she can usually be heard demanding another snack, drink, or negotiating five more minutes of playtime before her bath. But, in this moment I realize that another milestone of motherhood has come and I love her more with each passing day.

 

Painting pet rocks from the stones she collected at Granny Layne and Papa’s house.

 

Addie and April Take Over Summer 2016

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Well, week two of Addie & April Take Over Summer is almost in the books. I think that I can speak for us both by saying that we are having a blast. Last Summer was complicated for many reasons and I didn’t get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked, but oh we are making up for it this year in true list-making, adventure-seeking, task-oriented, action item crossing-off fashion! When I look back on this Summer I don’t want to say…we sat around and watched TV. I want to make memories and grow closer together this Summer. Not trying to brag, but you should be jealous because…we are on a roll! 🙂 In all honestly, my prayers each night seem to be summed up in two simple words (Thank you.) Thank you Jesus for the blessing of this sweet time. Thank you Jesus for this crazy little girl that you have entrusted to us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Check out our progress below!

Summer Bucket List—2016 Edition

-Go see a $1 movie

-Make homemade ice cream

-Go camping

-See Sesame Street Live- check! Addie is in love with ELMO!


-Tiedye t-shirts– check! When the Tori and Mariah came down for the weekend we snagged a quick opportunity to tie-die a few shirts! This was so much fun, and the best part is that Addie and I still have some left over!!


-Pick black berries- check! Okay, so it was a little warm today when we finally got out to the farm today, but it was still fun. Addie is fighting a little Summer cold and doesn’t like to be sweaty, so she told us that she was “really, really thirsty and ready to go to Addie’s house” about 15 minutes after we got there. She DID love eating the fruits of our labor at lunch though!


-Make jam & can tomatoes

-Host a yard sale- check! We didn’t make a ton of cash, but we had a lot of fun trying! It was nice to spend a Saturday morning together with the family and get rid of some clutter in the process. 

-Get play make-up and have a makeover night- check! There really is no limit to the fun that $1 makeup from the corner Dollar General can provide!

-Paint Pet Rocks/Character Rocks

-Go to the Library– check! Addie absolutely LOVED Story Time at the library. I can’t say that I am not a little bit proud that she took a seat in the front row and tried to be Miss Star Student, even if she did tell some of the other kids to “shh….because this is a library.” 


-Finish Thanksgiving table cloth

-Make flash cards

-Homemade pizza night

-Oatland Island nature walk

-Throw a Tea-Party

-Make a Pillow Fort & hold a Disney Movie Marathon- check (sort-of). We haven’t had a full-on Disney Movie Marathon, but Hubby and I have been binge watching Black List while Addie watches a plethora of different DVDs in the evening time. By the end of the day the Summer heat has gotten to everyone and nothing is better than some lounge time in bed with the whole family!

-Make a Stepping Stone- check! The stepping stone turned out to be the cutest thing ever, thanks to the help of my Papa, Granny Layne, and Aunt Jenny. I can’t wait to make this a Summer traditions and get to see these precious pavers in the yard for years to come!

-Take swim lessons- check! Addie had a blast swimming with Mrs. Loren. She talked and talked about her each day until we finally arrived for her lessons!




A Few Saturdays With Addie (and Crew)

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I am not trying to brag here, but the last couple of weekends have been pretty amazing. A girl could really get used to this. School is out. Summer is in, and a whole lot of fun is about to be unleashed in the Harvey Household! We have some catching up to do!

A few weekends ago, Addie and I had visitors of the best sort! My most best-bests came into town for a Mini Friend-cation. We spent literally five minutes at the beach, ate some fresh local grub, and headed home for a night of tie-dye, take-out, and Disney movie marathons. Yes, this weekend was quite perfect, especially because of who we shared it with. No matter the distance or time between visits, spending time with these gals is always my favorite.

The follow weekend was equally fun-filled. We went to….Disney’s Animal Kingdom with my mother and grandmother. I can’t think of much more special than getting to take a four generation picture at the base of the Tree of Life. There were rides to be ridden, faces to paint, characters to dine with, showed to see, and of course food to be eaten. We all took naps and then ended the night at Magic Kingdom. Addie had a blast, and so did we!


This past weekend we hosted a five-family yard sale. To be fair, it was five different households, but we were all in the same extended family! Although I was happy to get a few items gone, I can’t say that we made a ton of cash. We did have a lot of fun. We ate Little Debbies, drank Coke, and sat in the shade talking (gossiping), laughing, and relaxing with each other. When it was all over we packed up the remaining items and sent them off to GoodWill and a local ladies’ charity organization. It feels nice to have a little extra cash for Disney World, a donation tax deduction, a good deed done for charity, and a little less clutter in the home.

So, as you can see….this Summer is stacking up pretty nicely. I am soaking up each moment of this precious time. Bring on the next weekend!

2016 Summer Bucket List

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Never mind that I haven’t finished my traditional annual bucket list for 2016…. IT IS SUMMER! I am always a sucker for new beginnings, which is one of the reasons I know I am meant to be an educator. Only in education are you afforded the opportunity to create new year’s resolutions/plans/lists at the beginning of the calendar year AND at the beginning of the new school year. But, if you are crazy like me…you also stretch your new beginnings, planning, and list-making by creating new plans and adventures each Summer as well. I don’t know what it is, but there is so much sweet satisfaction in crossing items off my list. I have a problem….I know!

Last Summer was full with a new job on the horizon and working Summer School. This year will be busy as well, however I am eager to spend some much needed quality time with my mini-me! Here is a list of what we hope to accomplish during our time together. Don’t worry, we will keep you updated on our progress!

Summer Bucket List—2016 Edition

-Go see a $1 movie

-Make homemade ice cream

-Go camping

-Tiedye t-shirts

-Pick blue berries/strawberries

-Make jam & can tomatoes

-Host a yard sale

-Get play make-up and have a makeover night

-Paint Pet Rocks/Character Rocks

-Go to the Library

-Finish Thanksgiving table cloth

-Make flash cards

-Homemade pizza night

-Oatland Island nature walk

-Throw a Tea-Party

-Make a Pillow Fort & hold a Disney Movie Marathon

 

Can you think of anything we are missing? What is on your Summer Bucket List?yos

Saturdays With Addie: 1 Staycation & 1 Weekend Away

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I can’t deny that the month of April was a bit of a blur. Working three weekends in a row and then going out of town for the other didn’t really leave a great deal of time for family adventures and fun. With a new month ahead of us we wanted to make sure to take advantage of the warmer (but not scorchingly hot) weather. The last two weekends have been very different, but equally exiting.

Weekend #1: Staycation

-Savannah Scottish Games (complete with Celtic dancing, traditional highland games, fairies, Scottish soda, and lots and lots of plaid)

-Mother’s Day (we went to church and had lunch at my parents and hubby’s grandparents)

Weekend #2: Adventures Away

-Walt Disney World (We left Friday after work and spent the day at Magic Kingdom on Saturday. We saw the princesses, rode our favorite rides, and hit the rode around Addie’s nap time.)

-St. Augustine (We arrived in St. Augustine in the early evening, and spent the rest of the day walking along the river, San Marco Castillo, and downtown. We had delicious pizza at Pizza Alley and homemade popsicles at Hyppo. The next morning we made sand castles at the beach and went on walks for sea shells.)

-Grandma’s (Like many Sunday evenings we spent the last bit of the weekend at hubby’s grandmothers house eating good food and enjoying random conversations with family. Addie and her cousins even found the time to make “mud angels”).

Was our weekend busy? Of course, but we wouldn’t have it any other way! I can’t wait for many more weekends just like this one of the next few months!