Spring Break '18

Love these two!

Ahh, spring break. That little tease of the fun and excitement that lay ahead after a mere nine more weeks of school. And, as in typical fashion, we managed to have another memorable adventure.

The last day of school before the break just happened to be Lissie's birthday, so naturally we kept the celebration going throughout the course of the week. Because of the timing, she even got a birthday trip this year (usually reserved for Xavier since his birthday falls in the summer). We spent a good chunk of the break in the Smokies at our favorite waterpark. We even invited the grandparents along to enjoy the festivities and birthday fun. Since we had just been in the Smokies a few months earlier (over Christmas break), we felt like old pros. We went to our favorite place to eat (that will always remind me of my dear friend Stacy). We hot tubbed and swam (a lot). We played board games and card games. We enjoyed good eats and treats both in our suite and at the resort. And we even had time to fit in Xavier's only Spring Break request: bowling.

Justin's a trooper -
he rode these slides countless times since I'm not a fan of them!

Although they did get me on Runaway Canyon -
many, many, many times!

As close to a beach as we'd get this break, but we'll take it!

Enjoying some "me" time while Justin took the kids to play mini golf

With Lolo and Lola

<3 Family <3

Aren't they the best?  

Realizing real bowling is way different than Wii bowling.

But at least he beat big sis (albeit on the tenth frame by one point)!

Treats, treats....


And more treats!


Bennett's BBQ - a must-visit!


She spent the majority of the 3+ hour drive (all four times!) with her nose stuck in a book

We headed back home on Thursday and enjoyed a fun family day on Friday - we had our first picnic of 2018 and spent most of the day enjoying the great weather. We also realized that we had somehow neglected to bring home the bag that contained all of our shoes. As such, we started devising a plan - well, maybe we should drive the three hours back to Sevierville to pick up our shoes and, I suppose, we should make it worth our while, so why don't we just spend the day at Dollywood while we're at it (since it literally opened the day after we came home from our trip)? It sounded like the best plan...until, after several phone calls, it was determined that our shoes were, somehow, not there. But...well, wouldn't it still be fun to go to Dollywood?  And, so, on Saturday, we woke up crazy early to drive back to the Smokies (yelling "hello" to our lost shoes as we drove right past the waterpark) and spent a fun day at Dollywood.

They just kept getting soaked and soaked by this waterfall
on the "Grizzly River Rampage" (as it will always be called by us thanks to Opryland!)

The kids and I rode this three or four times before I finally told them I was done getting drenched!

There was even an impromptu mini-parade for Dolly herself!

Taking a selfie while our kids rode the coasters.  Can you see them both in the first car with their arms up?  Haha.

Isn't he a handsome one? 
He had an Ireland shirt to wear for St. Patrick's Day,
but he insisted on his favorite "avacuddle" shirt for the trip.

Cheesy photo-up demands cheesy pics.

 The icing on the cake was that since my car has been in the shop all week, we drove to the Smokies (twice) and didn't even add wear and tear to my own car...and, instead, we used the amazingly fully-equipped and brand new dream loaner car that they gave us in its place. As for the shoes, most of the ones that we had lost in this journey were on its last legs anyway (though, RIP to Lissie's cowboy boots...), so they were bound to be replaced sooner rather than later, anyway.  It turned out to be a win-win all the way around!

Also, now I don't feel so bad about spending money on that Dollywood Season Pass!  (In fact, you can bet that I'm already planning our next day-venture trip out there!)

Gotta love my family and the crazy adventures we find ourselves in!

Xavier woke up this morning and immediately felt compelled to write this sweet thank you note to Dolly herself for such a fun trip:

Thank you
Dolly Partin
Love Xavier
to Dolly Partin

Dollywood
Dolly Partin
(He wrote Dollywood with the signature butterfly logo
and the "l"s like it is in the Dollywood signs)

Dear Lissie - Seven Years

Dear Lissie,

Sweet, smart, shy Lissie.  How'd I get so lucky to be your mama?  You've always been an easy child - easy to read to know what's bothering you, easy to teach important life lessons, easy to please.  Of course you have your moments - the time you told your class the very untrue statement that I was going to be their second grade teacher, thus leading to a very harsh discussion about gossiping and spreading lies.  Or the time when you told the girls in your class that you were having a big sleepover when we had told you to chose two friends (though you claim you didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, so I sort of don't blame you on that one).  Or those moments when you and Xavier bicker and argue and get on everyone's last nerves.

But, seriously, in general, I've truly hit the jackpot.  You have the most caring heart - you're always thinking of ways to help others.  You are bright and inquisitive, and I can't get you to stop reading - you've pretty much read all of Roald Dahl's works already and have made pretty good headway in the Babysitter's Club series!  You think about things on a whole new level, and it reflects in your writing and your work.  Sometimes it boggles my mind that you're just in first grade based on all that you've accomplished already!

Yet, you are on the timid side (you were so shy in anticipation of having to stand up at your school's prayer service to tell everyone that your birthday is this week!) and the thought of being destined to the YAC (for 7-12 year olds) at the Y instead of the Y-Play (ages 6 weeks-6 years) terrifies you to no end (although that's a great excuse for me to not workout, right?  Ha!), but boy when you are comfortable, you know how to let loose!  You are hilarious, and your laughter is contagious.

And, still, your love of your faith is inspiring.  So often your favorite thing on Sundays is going to Mass.  You cannot wait to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist (one more year!).  And you love learning about the saints and Jesus.  You've even made it known that your goal is to go to St. Cecilia and be taught by the Dominicans.  You've also mentioned that if your plan for being a vet doesn't work, you wouldn't mind being a sister.  I wouldn't doubt that you'd make a great one!

Regardless of what you end up doing with your life, you are definitely bound for great things.  And I cannot wait to watch you do them.

You amaze me.  Always.  I love you more than you could even imagine.

Love,
Mommy

Here's my interview with a 7-year-old:





This year's likes:

• reading, reading, reading
• road trips and vacations
• swimming all year round
• church
• puzzles
• Lola's pancit and egg rolls
• macaroni and cheese
• riding your bike
• crafts
• asparagus

Dislikes:

• when plans change at the last minute
• radishes
• speaking in public
• talking to people you don't know
• when Xavier annoys you

It seems the main themes of Lissie, age 6, are reading, swimming, and extracurriculars as can be seen from the hodgepodge of Lissie pics from the past year:

Her latest reading assessment has her reading at upwards to a fifth-grade level!

She always has been a water baby!

Cello lessons started this past summer

Stylin' in those boots.  Always.

Taking care of a sick Rupert

Another year of cross-country down

The year she became a girl scout

Her grand finale as a ballerina

And her big kindergarten graduation

2017: A Year in Review

Oh, 2017.  A year of transition and change.  A year of uncertainties and even more prayer.  We went through two huge job changes (one for me, one for Justin - and both stories about how we got our current jobs are emotional roller coasters in and of themselves!).  Our extension plans for our house were put on a hiatus.  Xavier proved to all of us that he needed to go to Kindergarten instead of part-time pre-K like I had originally intended.  And my mom beat cancer not just once, but twice in the span of four months.  Talk about a whirlwind of a year!

But, in the end, even with all of the above transitions and changes, we've come out on top.  Something that I attribute highly to faith and prayer.  Justin and I are both mostly happy at our jobs, and that's definitely made home life easier.  Our plans for our home extension are back in the picture again.  Xavier is thriving in Kindergarten, and I know that we made the right decision in putting him there.  Lissie is pleased as punch that Xavier and I are both at her school now, and she's doing awesomely in her own right.  Mom's outlook on life has never been better.  If it were me in her shoes, I don't think I could've handled waiting on different diagnoses and recovering from two surgeries in three months with such grace.  She is definitely a beacon of strength in my eyes.  

Now that we've survived 2017, it's time to look ahead.  Looking forward to 2018, my ultimate goal is defined as one word: balance.  Between family, work, "me" time, kid activities, adult responsibilities, and just living a healthy life, that's a lot of balls to keep up in the air!  And, to help with that balance, I'm also adding a secondary resolution: 500 miles run by the year's end.  In the past, when I've tracked my miles, I've done 700-900.  It'll be trickier now that I'm working full-time and family-ing full-time, but it's all about maintaining that balance..... A healthy mom is a happy mom - isn't that the saying? 

So, thanks for the memories 2017.  Let's bring it on, 2018 - I hear a Disney cruise calling my name!  Happy New Year, indeed!

Side note: January 1st, 2018 is going down as a chill day.  After realizing today wasn't a Holy Day of Obligation, we started off at the Y (got my first 4.86 miles of the new year!) and then negated the workout with homemade Loveless biscuits with our brunch.  The rest of the day is being spent playing games with the family and lounging at home before creating a seafood feast for our first dinner of the New Year.  

Justin had gotten a Loveless Cafe biscuit mix from Santa
that we made in our cast iron skillet!

Fall 2017

I'm not going to lie - Fall 2017 was a difficult one.  Even bracing myself for the transition of going back to full-time teaching, there were many nights where I came home questioning my decision.  It was hard getting into a routine - between the kids' extracurricular activities (cross-country, cello, girl scouts, basketball) and my extracurriculars (cross-country, liturgical choir, forensics, parish council), lesson planning, homework, cooking, cleaning, it was difficult to maintain a balance and some sanity!  I missed my mornings at the gym.  My time to sew or blog or read or be.  I missed being able to fully be present to help with homework or reading.  I felt frantic.  Always.  Add into the mix finding out that my mom was sick.  And then Justin started a new job himself.  It was almost unbearable.

But, somehow, (gratefully!) shortly after Fall Break, I started getting into a rhythm.  An imperfect groove.  I even found that it was possible to leave work at a decent time and, shockingly, still make it to the gym at least once a week.  Yeah, the laundry is often waiting and the cooking has had to be limited to "easy" or "instant pot" most days, but we're starting to get there.  And, I must say, I'm happy overall.  I have always loved teaching, and I am grateful to be back in the classroom - especially at a school that I love and where my children are - and, thankfully, it just took a little time to get back in the figurative saddle again!

First Day of School Pics:

It was my first day, too!

This picture makes my heart melt. 
She was so happy he was going to be at the same school as her!

Labor Day Weekend:  We planned a quick getaway to a small Georgia lake resort with Lissie's godfamily!  It was such a relaxing weekend with good company, conversation, and - of course- the beach!

My birthday:  Another low key birthday in the books.  It's getting to the point where I sometimes forget how old I am.  Has another year really gone by?  Haha.  We celebrated with lotsa cakes and, of course, noodles for a long life.

Fall Sports:  The kids and I did cross-country this year, and Xavier decided to forego martial arts to try a new sport - basketball.  In October, Justin and I ran the Bourbon Chase relay race with friends.

Running through the bourbon trail and stopping at a few distilleries en route!

It was a hilly course, but look - horses!

A celebratory shot of bourbon at the finish!

Camping: We took two fall camping trips.  One with friends to a lake in Kentucky to jumpstart Fall Break.  It was a rainy weekend, but we did manage to stop by Mammoth Cave.  The other trip was with our church at the not-so-far Montgomery Bell State Park.  We opted for one night at the last minute since we weren't up for another soaked adventure!

Halloween: Despite not knowing anything about Pokemon, Xavier has been fascinated with Pikachu and somehow ended up being him (it?) for Halloween.  Lissie opted for a fairy.  We did Trunk or Treat at school, which was rained out so we had it in the gym.  We also did Haunted Museum again.  And, thankfully, I had somehow convinced the kids that that was enough candy and we didn't need to go out on the actual night of Halloween for more goodies.  (I'm pretty sure I won't be able to get away with that again!)

We also ventured to Cheekwood Harvest and Franklin's PumpkinFest to roundout the pumpkin festivities.

Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving was very lowkey.  Mom had just had a second surgery, so I opted to purchase a precooked turkey and a Honeybaked Ham so I could focus on the sides I like best anyway.  At the last minute, we invited some close friends who were not feeling up for cooking, either, and we all enjoyed a lovely feast.  Xavier, more than all of us as he somehow forgot his "full" button and literally ate until he got sick.  

Other Random Pictures:

At a Sounds Game with church, and they made it on the camera.

Not so bad after just a few months.

She finally got over her fear of ponies/horses and got on one at the Greek Festival

The Arndts came!

Opting to read at our annual Ryan/MBA rivalry game

Taking care of Mr. Mikey, his class pet

Rockin' those cowboy boots

My little girl scout

And scientist
(they did a few Vanderbilt Research Studies)

Skating!

Just a couple of dogs