Labor Day Weekend

Blake and I have enjoyed a much needed LONG weekend! And what better way to spend it than with family?! Blake was lucky enough to see all of his cousins on my side of the family and I was super excited to see my niece and nephew!

We enjoyed some wagon riding....

We enjoyed lots of snuggles...

 

We played some corn hole...

 

And we even made time for some bubbles and chalk...

 

What more could we ask for!?!? Does this weekend have to end? We love our family! 

Back to School

Last week was our first week back to the routine. I am back at school getting ready to start the new year and Blake is back at Dawn's loving his friends! Being a single mommy is tough, but I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. Picking up Blake is the best part of my day.

Although our schedules are busy, we are still making time for lots of mommy and son fun. While the weather is still beautiful we are doing weekly playground trips. This past week we had slide races,. He of course still loves the swings. He will stay on them for 15 minutes straight! :) Blake is honestly the biggest hoot. He has the best little personality and he only wants to have fun!! I know that this year will be challenging for me as a working single mom, but Blake is the best little buddy to help me through it. I love him more than anything and he makes me the happiest mommy in the world!

Bring on the new school year!

Country Living

This week has been somewhat tough getting back into the "work routine". Let me clarify... it has been difficult for ME. Blake has jumped right back in and has loved it. He is still going to Ms. Dawn's house during the day and playing his little heart out with his best friends: Seth, Kendall, and Finn. I on the other hand am just exhausted. Talk about one tired mommy... and the students aren't even back yet. I will really have to get some energy in order to make it this year. Being a single working mommy is a test of endurance for sure!

Luckily, coming home is one of the most relaxing things I could ask for. Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day, so after dinner, Blake and I went out to enjoy our backyard. We ventured out on the paddle boat and we also played with the hose in the yard. Something about it was just so simple and relaxing. Blake loved chasing the dog and playing with the water. I loved paddling around the pond and then sitting and watching Blake in the yard. Sigh... simple, country living.

Also just to sound a little redneck... Blake peed outside for the first time. HAHAHA!!! He is 100%... it was gonna happen at some point :)

Summer Recap

Sigh... Summer Vacation for us is pretty much over. I go back to school on the 12th for my Workdays/SGA./Staff Development. I know that part of me is excited to get back to the classroom and I know that Blake is going to love being back with his friends at Ms. Dawns, BUT nothing will compare to our Summer adventures! We've had a lot of fun!!

Blake's Summer Favorites:

• Gym Class - He loved it! It was his weekly spurt of activity in which he could just go wild! The swing was awesome and he wanted to do it all of the time.
• Lake Trips - Blake had a blast playing with his cousins at White Lake and he loved Papa's boat at Falls Lake.
• Park Trips - Blake wanted to go to the park on a daily hourly basis. :)

Sarah's Summer Favorites:

• Aloha Zoo - I loved seeing all of the animals and feeding the giraffe!
• Hillridge Farm - Watching Blake play here was so much fun. He just makes me smile.
• Potty Training - Ok, the process maybe isn't my favorite, but the outcome is! No more diaper changing for this momma! :) 
• Reading - Both Blake and I read lots of books this summer. Sadly, it will slow down for me once school starts

Summer may be over, but our adventures are not! We make sure to keep things busy around here. Fall is my favorite season and it is just around the corner. Blake and I already have some fun things planned and we can't wait to share them with you. :) Stay tuned! 

Strong Mothers, Strong Sons

Recently I have been struggling with some life changes. Without going into detail, I can express that this has been a rock bottom point in my life. I have had trouble understanding the "why" of the whole situation and the "patience" idea has been my worst enemy. My mind has been racing about what to do next and what my future holds. I have been my toughest critic and I for sure need "self cheerleading" lessons. Haha.

Oddly enough, it was in this lost state that I found a pure treasure - a book called "Strong Mothers, Strong Sons."  I know without a doubt it was an answer to a prayer. Reading it is giving me the purpose and direction that I need for my life right now.

As easy as it is to be selfish and crumble, now is not the time! I am a mom to a little two year old. Although he might not understand a lot of the "grown up" things going on right now, I know that he still sees me and he is learning from me. It is my job and my priority to be a strong mom so that I can raise a strong son. It is my job to show him love and happiness, hard work and responsibility, strength and courage. Do I know exactly how to do that? Yes and no. Do I have weak moments? Of course, I'm human! BUT... I know my job is to try every day to be a strong mom and teach Blake those values of being a loving and strong son. If nothing else in life, that is my goal...to do a decent job being a strong mom (no matter what life throws my way) and to raise a strong son! Really, my words do not do this justice...read the book!

So, I do not have all the answers to the start of my post, but I do know what my purpose in life is at the moment. I have my little home, I have a job (including motherhood as the main job), and I have a life to lead. The way I handle situations will teach Blake right from wrong. The daily attitude I have will show Blake how to see life. How I show him love will in turn be how he loves others. How I live life will be an example to how he will live his own. Strong mother, strong son! Forget the rest. Time will answer all of those other questions. As long as I stay strong for myself and Blake, I know I can't go too terribly wrong with life. :)  

Thankfully, and unfortunately, while going through this new "phase" I have learned that I am not the only one. A lot happens behind closed doors. We all struggle with one thing or another. As mothers, and women in general, we have to help support each other! We are those strong moms!

Happy Birthday GDaddy

Happy Birthday to GDaddy! The big 55! We are grateful to have him in our lives and as our neighbor!

Hillridge Farm Fun

First of all... I just have to say how GRATEFUL I am that I get the Summers off! I truly am the luckiest to be able to have a career I love AND get to be a stay at home mommy. I get the best of both worlds at different times in the year. Although this summer did not go as originally planned, I have still enjoyed every second that I have had with Blake. We have had lots of fun adventures! This week is our last full week of Summer Vacation so we decided to pack in as much fun as possible. Today we went to Hillridge Farms!

There is a GIANT slide here...you sit on burlap sacks to go down it. We struggled the first few times, but eventually figured out how to make it go fast! ;)

My favorite thing there is the corn pit. Blake wasn't a fan last year, but he loved it this time! It is awesome sensory play. They also have sand toys so that you can dig all around. Aunt T and Blake loved "making it rain" corn. The only down side of the corn pit is that you find corn kernels around the house for days. You wouldn't believe where all they get stuck. Haha. 

Blake's favorite part is of course the train. He was so worn out that he almost fell asleep while riding it. He gets so relaxed on things like this. :) We can't wait to come back at Halloween!

Blake is growing so quickly.  We have been to Hillridge Farms since he was about 8 or 9 months old. It is crazy to see how he has learned to love new things each time. He is becoming such an awesome little boy and I just adore him! I am so lucky to have him with me!