Time......

     I found this photo on Instagram and it sums up how I feel lately.  I have always been into photography and have albums full of photos.  When I was pregnant with my first child, my photography was put into high gear.  Photography then morphed into scrapbooking because they go hand in hand.  I enjoyed the time I would spend matching photos with paper and stickers.  Then, I would journal about the photo, how I felt, etc.  This continued as our family grew and I found time for it even with three toddlers running around.  When my youngest went to school, I had all these dreams of the time I would really be able to devote to scrapbooking.  That just did not come to be as I started volunteering in classrooms and enjoyed doing other things.  My crafting time would be in small spurts, usually when the kids were off from school and we weren't running around all the time.  Years went on in this way until I decided to go to school.  It's been three years and I cannot tell you the last time that I held photos in my hands and made a layout.  I still take tons of photos, but now they end up in folders on my computer waiting to be printed out. 

     I still cannot pass up some gorgeous supplies and kits in hopes that one day I will have time to create something.  I even went as far as buying into the stress-free way to scrapbook where you add photos and cards into pre-divided page protectors.  There are cute kits where you record your entire week and journal about your daily life and what happens in the small moments that no one else sees but you.  I have the kit, I took the time to take all the photos, now it's a matter of printing the photos and putting it all together. 

     Like the photo says, "I just want to make pretty things and get enough sleep" is what I really feel deep down.  I know all this coursework will lead me to a place where I will again be able to do those two things.  And I love my classes and learning new things, but there is still something wonderful about how good your body feels after several days of good sleep.  And there is something magical about creating a keepsake you can look back on.  I just need more time in my days........



Work Day

     You know your coworkers feel the same about surviving the day when your Starbucks order is bigger than anyone else's.  Since I take my oldest to zero hour at the high school, I go right by the Starbucks.    As everyone texted me his or her orders, I always feel bad for the girl taking my order.  And I feel bad for the people behind me because I know they want their morning coffee fix as well.  I know a lot of people feel that Starbucks is frivolous and expensive.  While I'm sure it does fit into those categories, for me, it's worth the money.  I cannot duplicate that same cup at home and having someone else make it for me is the icing on the cake.  

     The Starbucks here are only inside other stores like Target and Fry's.  I really wish that someone would open a stand-alone building with a drive-thru.  The one nice thing about going inside is I can also shop for other items as well.  While it really isn't a big deal to walk inside and get my coffee, there is something nice about sitting in my car in my slippers and not having to get out.  

    I also love when the seasons change because the covers on the cups change. My favorite one so far is the fall theme.  The other one I really like are the holiday cups.  In the end, it doesn't matter if I have to walk in or drive in my car; a nice, hot Starbucks is a nice comfort.

Another Race

     After all the years I've sat watching my kids race, it never gets old.  I love watching the anxious swimmers warm-up, always afraid that the water is going to be ice cold.  My view usually includes a gorgeous mountain backdrop.  This weekend, we had the added rain in the forecast.  Thankfully, it was very small amounts or rained for short periods of time.  

     Up until a year ago, it was just Victoria that I had to worry about dragging out of bed and driving over an hour to compete.  But now, Gabriel also swims.  It's a good thing they are older, throw clothes on and climb in the car.  Most of the time they pass out as soon as get out of the driveway and it's just me and the radio.  

     On Saturday, Victoria was not herself.  She added time to her events and just looked out of it.  I was very worried that she was getting sick.  Gabriel on the other hand dropped time from all his events.  He has improved so much in the year that he has been swimming competitively.  

     Victoria did much better on Sunday for her events.  I think that she just didn't get enough sleep before her races on Saturday.  She just amazes me because even after each lap, she still has enough energy to turn it on for the last leg home.  

     I think that our favorite part is after the meet.  We get to stop at Eegee's before heading home.  We don't have one where we live, so any chance to get one we are there.  Lucky Wishbone is also one of my favorite places to eat.  If only I could have all these places at my fingertips. 

Technology Era

All the years I spent playing around on my parents' computer has prepared me for this digital age we live in. I could spend all day on the computer and love teaching kids all about it. But all this preparation could never have prepared me how to stay 10 steps ahead of my own kids. I want them to enjoy having all this information at their fingertips, but not at 11:30 at night. There are many days when I wish they wouldn't have so many options and had the non-digital age I grew up in. But then I realize that they must learn how to handle all this so they will have the tools to raise their own children. 

Softball

I was so against adding one more sport to our list. But my youngest kept insisting she wanted to play softball. Of course she loved it and took to it like a duck to water. It's been two years and she has grown into an amazing player. Our weekends now include hours of watching her so her thing on the field. 

Summer

What a year it's been. And by year I mean school year. There's been many ups and downs and all the while learning that I cannot plan as much as I would love to. I work at my kids' school and love every minute of it, but I think this was the hardest year yet, emotionally at least. I'm so glad I can close that book and reflect on how things can be better next year, but also to not worry about it. Summer started off with sleeping in which we all needed especially after date night ended at 1am lol. Today is about cleaning up and trying to get our minds and house ready for some purging so there can be relaxation. I'm looking forward to us being home together and slowing down just a little bit.