Life Lately.....

I love Life Lately posts that just give a little peek into what's been happening lately....here goes my first try....

Fall Color is in full swing here in the Mitten State! This gorgeous tree is on my school's playground and I love seeing it change!



Drew (yellow shirt) is a sophomore and just finished his JV year of football. I have watched these kids play since they were little guys and can't even believe that next season they will be VARSITY. It's so exciting and heart pulling at the same time. (Also, my husband doesn't look tall anymore compared to these guys!)



I feel like my classroom is looking this constantly but you know what....the kids are so happy and love these projects!



This is my beautiful niece Sydney. She graduates high school in June and I was lucky enough to take her senior pics. I am so excited to see how Sydney changes the world!



Last weekend we had our end of the season party for Addison's 4th Grade Cheer Team and we had a great time bowling - can't wait until next season!



Not pictured is Alex - he tried out and made the 7th grade basketball team last week and we are so proud.

This week is crazy -- Halloween in the middle of the week should not be allowed! Can't wait to post a few pictures of our celebration though!

Weekend Top Ten

Around here we had a much needed "easy" weekend. Football ended on Thursday for Drew and on Friday night for Tim's team. Hard to believe but the next time Drew plays he will be a Varsity football player and will have his dad on the sidelines coaching!

Decided to follow one of my favorite blogs with a Weekend Top Ten!

1. COFFEE. IN BED. SATURDAY MORNING. NO ALARM. GLORIOUS.

2. How to make my Saturday morning even better? Doughnuts. 

Texts from a teenager....I love getting to communicate with him this way and see the bottom text, yes, I texted him in his room that there were donuts. I can't tell you how many times I text him to come and get food. It always works though...

3. Grey's. After coffee & donuts I moved some laundry around and then hid downstairs for a bit to watch Grey's and work on a crochet blanket I am making my niece for her high school graduation. Working on the border now and am going to add tassels to each corner.

4. Addie has been asking for awhile to get some materials to make slime so we went to Michael's. Had to stop and look at all the cute Christmas decor!

She found this cute sushi ornament...

Thinking this adorable mailbox might have to make it's way to my classroom!

A few of the things I couldn't live without....

I'm not a huge Halloween fan but I do love witches - not creepy, scary things.

5. We had a snacky lunch while watching the Michigan vs. Michigan State football game. (Practically a state holiday here in Michigan) Tried to be healthy but note the oreos in the corner...

6. Slime Success!

7. After our team (Michigan) came through with a win we decided to celebrate with our favorite pizza - Cugino's!

8. Addie and I made a Pumpkin Spice Latte cake from Mix & Match Mama and it was SO GOOD! Super easy and insanely good. Link here for the recipe!

9. Sunday morning coffee with a new book to start....

10. We ended the weekend with some time at the lake with my parents and sister and her family to celebrate my dad's birthday. Caught a pic of the boys playing together on the trampoline. This didn't even end with one of them mad at the other....Also, you are never too old to play on a trampoline.

Hope you had a weekend that was filled with just what you needed!

My Love/Hate Relationship with a camera.

I am a recovering wedding photographer.

It's weird to say that because for awhile I was obsessed with weddings and photographing them. My goal was to be "SOMEONE" in the photography field. I was successful, if by successful you mean a constant lineup of clients, enough money to help support my family, creative freedom and oh, working all hours of the day and night and constant anxiety about it all.

I somewhat abruptly left the photography field a few years after my daughter was born and mostly haven't looked back. The thing I am most sad about though is the fact that I hardly ever pick up my "big camera." I do realize that iPhones have taken over, they are so much more convenient, but #sorrynotsorry, there's nothing like the click and quality of my Canon.

Occasionally, I take some photos for people that I know or former clients and that has been good for my soul. Occasionally I feel the fire inside to create beautiful images for people full time again but I feel intimidated to start again and overwhelmed with putting myself back out there as an artist.

Life is so weird. You think you have it all figured out one day and then all of a sudden, you don't.

hello there.

Welcome to my world....

I'm finally doing it. I'm writing a blog. I'm getting my thoughts and ideas out in the world. If you know me in person, you might know that I am talkative and outgoing with a lot to say. The truth is I am so introverted. I keep a lot of my thoughts in my head and need a lot of "no people" time. I seem to absorb a lot of what people are feeling and the energy they put out and it's exhausting. I'm hoping that if I can have a place to write (not something I've ever felt inclined to do) then maybe I can process these thoughts and ideas.

This year I turned 39. I keep thinking about the fact that next year I will be turning 40. It seems surreal. Like a second ago I was a 24 year old new mom and then I blinked. My oldest turned 15 years old in May of this year. Conversations about college are regular, we talk about driving a car, possible careers. My husband and I feel like taxi drivers a lot of the time as we transport our children to school and their activities. I'm not complaining. It just feels like a blur sometimes.

I teach preschool at a wonderful school and get to love on 40 adorable 3 and 4 year olds. Not all at once!

My brain is a constant whir of ideas about taking care of my family, my husband, my students and somewhere in their a few thoughts about keeping myself sane.

What's going on inside your brain lately?