It's been months since I've posted, and let me tell you, that break did me good! I had a restful summer and really tried to enjoy each and every moment. My urgent demands took a hiatus and I was a little bit lazy. I really feel like my stress level declined and I think I've made a new vow. I'm not going to allow myself to take on that much again. I have always been a people-pleaser and I have a hard time telling someone no. But at the rate I was going, I was going to eventually explode. That's not good. So I'm gonna chill a little and try to enjoy this thing called life.
Things that have changed since my last post:
~ I have thrown a couple great birthday parties. Big Sis turned 10, a noteworthy milestone. She had over a group of friends and I hosted her Mustache Bash! I set up my photo booth, made some awesome decorations, and planned a scavenger hunt. The worst part was that I got quite sick that morning and had a hard time pulling it all off. She had a blast though!~ Baby Girl turned 6 and had a Minecraft Birthday. If you've never seen it, you won't appreciate it. It's horribly ugly. But she loved every pixelated image and enjoyed eating the grass, sand, and mushrooms. She also broke her arm in late June and learned how to ride her bike just days after getting her cast off. She is one neat chick!
~ Son #2's Destination Imagination team made it to Globals in Knoxville, TN. It was an amazing trip and we has some awesome experiences! The Chinese kicked our tails and we scored pretty low, but the kids had a blast! If we ever make Globals again, I will make Hubby go with me. Traveling and rooming with other DI moms was kind of difficult for me. I was at the mercy of what everyone else wanted to do for a full week. I missed my family!
~ I did get to travel with my family as we drove the SUV through 6 US States! My cousin got married in June. I got to cross 3 new states off my bucket list! We visited New Orleans while down in the deep south and saw all the Duck Dynasty stuff. The weather was surprisingly chilly but the wedding was beautiful!~ Two great friends had babies and I had a large part in those baby showers. One of the showers was done in a moose theme and I slaved away decorating moose sugar cookies. We ate chocolate "moose" and some of the best shower food I think I've ever had!
~ I bought a Silhouette Cameo. Yeah, I'm trying to get crafty. The funny part is, I have found the one crafty bone that is deep within my body. Honestly, I actually bought it for the above mentioned shower. We needed a moose cutout for the centerpieces and I had been wanting one anyhow. (Boy, it sure would have made the mustache party easier....I cut out dozens of mustaches by hand!) I had the photo booth buy it because I'm going to use it to make stick props (I paid $35 for the last set I bought!) A friend of a friend was selling hers at a reduced rate because it was overwhelming for her. Since then, I've been making some cards and I'm really enjoying it!
~ I now have 4 kids in school! Baby Girl started Kindergarten a few weeks ago and all my kids are grown up. If you must know, I did cry. She did great though and hasn't given one objection! All my other kids were very young (and small) in their classes. It's kind of nice having a kid who is the oldest. I'm thrilled that it's going so well! I started a new tradition of taking her picture every morning on the front porch and texting it to Daddy and Grammy. I'm kind of loving that. Big Sis was accepted into the accelerated program in middle school! She was right on the borderline, which means she's going to have to work very hard. Because of that, we've decided to take a year off Bible Quizzing to focus on her studies. Although both things are extremely important to me, I realize that getting her started on the right track in education will help her in the long run. Plus, she's rubbing shoulders with the cream of the crop rather than the kids who only go to school because they have to. I hope she can keep up!~ 5 lbs. (well, maybe a little more). That's about how much I've gained. My skirts are getting a little tighter and I've got to nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand. I worked way too hard to lose this weight and I'm not going to get fat again. My 20 year class reunion (wowzers!) is this weekend, and I still look good enough.
~ I sort of got a new job! Yes, I'm still running the photo booth. I haven't had very many jobs lately, but I haven't really been working it. Hubby owns 6 rental units and, up to this point, has had them managed by an outside company. The company was doing a horrible job and was quite dishonest at times. We couldn't take it any more so we fired them. I took over the management of the properties. It was totally overwhelming at first because I didn't know what I was doing. But I'm getting the hang of it now. I just wish I could make these lousy tenants pay! We've already had one eviction and had to clean horribly disgusting stuff out of someone's apartment. I don't know how a person could move out and leave all their crap behind! The last few tenants that the management company put it were hoodlums. They weren't doing background checks. We have two great new tenants and two bad ones that will probably be skipping town soon anyway. People amaze me.
Things that have NOT changed since my last post:
~ People are still self-centered jerks. I got confronted by someone who asked me why I stopped following them on Instagram. Seriously. Then this person proceeded to make snarky, vague comments about me on my friends' pictures. Silly me, I thought MY Instagram was for MY enjoyment and pleasure. I thought I had the right to stop following someone who posted 22 photos (the majority being selfies) in one day. Next time I'll be sure and ask permission before managing my own social media.
~ Couponing and saving money. My kids have even given me a new nickname, which is a combination of my actual name and the word "cheap." I adore it! My grocery stockpile is bigger than ever and my grocery receipts say I've saved over $2,800 in the past twelve months! We got rid of our satellite provider and are really enjoying the $100 we save every month! I've missed television very little. We eat at home more often and have found little ways to cut costs. It sure adds up when we start listing the ways we're saving!
~ Son #1's attitude. He's still a bit of a punk. I'm ready for this stage to pass, and I'm being as tough as ever to keep him on the right track. Tell me my efforts will eventually pay off! He's officially taller than his mom and he'll be able to get his temps next month! Eek! He's in such a hurry to grow up. I wish he would just slow down.
~ I'm still trying to be Super Mom. But my definition of Super Mom has altered slightly. Super Mom is someone who is NOT always stressed. Super Mom doesn't yell at her kids all the time (I'm really working hard on that one). Super Mom doesn't have to impress all the other moms with her actions. She simply has to do what is best for her family and herself. I wish you all a Super Mom kind of day and urge you to regularly examine your priorities. Too many people in this world have their priorities mixed up and they're living for the unimportant. I'm trying really hard to make sure I'm living for what's important. Keeping it real...
1 comment:
Well there you are!! I thought you might be gone forever but I was hoping not.
So glad you've put some boundaries on your life's activities. You'll really appreciate the lower level of stress (as you've already experienced). It sounds like you're busy enough not to be bored but not so busy that you'll "explode" (to use your word).
Good to see you.
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