Friday, March 24, 2023

Five on Friday - Mills, Egg Painting, Girl's Night, Grady

ONE - Mills had chemo #2 on Wednesday and he made out well. He's not too phased by it! I love this picture Kevin took last week as we cruised into Ocean Isle. It's the salty air after not smelling it for 8 weeks!


TWO - Easter egg painting at the club on Wednesday night was so fun. Then we went downstairs for dinner. Easy and always good times seeing friends. 




I'm not sure who loved getting to play with Parker more - Kevin or Grady!





THREE - my friend Whitney put together a girl's night with ladies from our neighborhood. We went to Burtons. It's always so good. Hi Margot whose head you can barely see! 



FOUR - 
My calendar now has summer swim chaos in it combined with teeball and that makes my head be wild. Teeball isn’t the same day or time every week and I think that’s why it feels like such a commitment. Summer swim is also a new level of chaos but it’s soooo good for the kids. Grady is going to do it this year too so I’m excited about that.  

FIVE -
Looked in my rear view mirror one day and heard this boy saying I love you mama and he had made a heart with his fingers. Heart melted! He’s been soooo good this week and I’m extra thankful for his listening skills! Also, he can officially buckle and unbuckle his seatbelt as of a few weeks ago!! Whoop! He’s ready for school car line! 



Thursday, March 23, 2023

Dress to Impress

I’m craving some new fun dresses and maybe you are too!

ONE $35

TWO - find it here or here and the little girl matching dress


THREE - love the back on this swing dress


FOUR


FIVE

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

A 7 Year Old Girl

Listen, it's not all roses over here so please don't assume it is like most of social media portrays. I'm having a tough time with a little girl that lives with me. She's okay but whew she's testing my parenting in a big way!

The lack of listening is mind blowing. She thinks she can do everything her way and not listen to us (zero clue who else is like that!!!). It's one thing to not listen to us at home, it's another thing to not listen or pay attention at school. And honestly I don't know what to do about it. Well I'm working on it and have some good ideas but it's zapping me, I'll be honest.

I think there are two types of children - ones that change their ways with praise/rewards and ones that change their ways with punishment. Also, giving them more one on one attention. 

I've always gone the more praise route with both of my kids. I've taken stuff away here and there but nothing substantial that really mattered. Oh, cleaning our base boards was one impactful item that assisted us with cleaning too! ;) Taking screens away isn't that big of a deal to them because they don't watch much, if any, during the week. And I'm not going to take away after school activities because I do think those are important and to be honest - she doesn't LOVE every thing about those all of the time so it wouldn't be a punishment.

So we have a couple of things going on this week:

One, I'm taking them to a play this weekend and if she looks at one screen or isn't in bed by her bedtime every day this week, she doesn't get to go. And I will stick to that to a T and she knows it. And she REALLY wants to go to this play. I'm hoping this instills more structure into her evenings. I'll probably pick something else next week that I can take Grady to and she'd not be happy if she can't go...even if it's to a new playground.

Two, we talked about options (putting a bit of control into her world) and she asked if we could do a $5 reward (not food) at the end of this week if she paid attention and did everything right in class. This is a struggle that I don't want to get too into but I'm really stressed about all of the things with school. She's a girl and at 7 she is starting to find her way. I think it's a touchy situation and there are multiple layers to this. But yes we are doing the $5 reward and she is very excited about it so maybe it'll work! I hope so!

She has always gotten plenty of one on one attention but I'm being a bit more intentional with it - especially with our special journal and taking her to run errands with me even though she may not want to go. She told me last night that she enjoyed going to pick up Wal-Mart with me! It's the little things yall. 

Anyway, I almost feel better after writing this. Maybe you're in the same place? Maybe you've been here and done that? I can only imagine what age 13 will be like. We hear the older they get the bigger the problems get. Yikes. Hoping to build a solid foundation that she can always talk to us and we expect to hear the truth then we can help. Learning one day at a time yall! Us girls are not easy!

Monday, March 20, 2023

St Patty’s in OIB

Molly Anne got out of school at 11 on Thursday and was off Friday so we took advantage and headed to the beach. I know this sounds crazy but being at our house there on a regular business day is super helpful so you can have the exterminator come and meet with contractors about projects and that’s exactly what we did. 


But first, having a drink while I walked Mills. One of my favorite beach activities. 


We met our neighbors from home for dinner at Wing and Fish in Shallotte for dinner. It was fun for something different. Check out this view on our way back over the bridge. 



Friday morning we met with a guy to talk about redoing our back porch and stairs. Hopefully that happens in late April. Also going to install a new garage door and maybe redo the bathrooms. We will see on the last one. That may move to next year when we repaint the inside. These are the exciting parts of owning a beach house - the repairs and maintenance! Each year we are trying to do a big project there to keep it up! 

So yep, we went to the lumber yard to pick out composite wood then to Lowe’s to look at tile. 





I took the kids on a field trip midday to a marsh that you can walk out on to the intracoastal waterway. It was gorgeous and quiet out there. 


Oh yes Friday was St. Pattys day and the eight of us had big plans to go out but after some other stuff, we decided to hang at our house. Nachos it was! Easy. 


At least one chugged a Gatorade! 



Kevin and Drew ran up to the Perch for a drink then Hilary and I went and roamed around when they got back! That’s good parenting haha!!

This boy fell asleep on the couch. Probably the first time he’s ever done that!


Greer stayed the night with us and we all went to Causeway the next morning then to the arcade. These two are nuts together!!


Molly Anne went to their house and Drew took the girls to the arcade and to get their nails done. These kids are spoiled! Kevin and I got to have only grady for the day and it was so nice (and easy ha!). Anytime you’re down a kid no matter how many kids you have, it’s always easier I think! I never want to forget how much Grady loves grocery shopping and getting one of these carts! It’s super cute. 



Monster truck!


We headed to Sharkys for lunch. Showing off their nails!



Saturday night we went to their house for dinner - smash burgers on the blackstone! So good! Grady pondering life..!


We got up and headed back early to Charlotte because Grady had a friends birthday party! 


Hayden is one of his best buddies at school! They hosted at their CrossFit gym and it was so great for the kiddos! 




Back to it! Happy Monday!


Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Random Wednesday

I've been a busy bee this week. Running from one thing to the next. 

Had a day trip for work yesterday then ended up having to play tennis even though I was only a sub last night. Thankfully we won for the third week in a row! Oh and Grady had teeball in between all of that.

This morning I had a physical...only took 22 minutes start to finish with bloodwork. Thankfully I don't have much to talk about but I highly recommend having a Primary Care Physician keeping watch over you!

Kids have a short week of school so that's going to be a treat for all of us!

Mills has his second round of chemo today although he has an infected leg right now where they did the radiation so we are unsure if the chemo will actually happen or not. Grady and I dropped him off at 7:15am and Grady told the lady to please rub his ear during and after his treatment. It was ADORABLE!

The pollen here in Charlotte was a lot last week but then the rain came and washed it all away. I'm looking forward to cleaning up our porch for the Spring. I want to get some flowers out there in the next few weeks.

How is everyone doing?

Monday, March 13, 2023

Maggie’s birthday and Sports

Maggie’s 9th birthday party was on Friday night and it was 90’s themed with a hair gal that braided and sprayed color in their hair. So fun!







Greer spent the night while Maggie had some of her friends spend the night. We watched a movie then they stayed up until midnight ish. Crazy girlies. 




Saturday was tennis for both, lacrosse for Molly Anne and teeball for Grady. Allll of the sports. Molly Anne also had swim but we skipped that given only 5 hours of sleep ha!





Saturday night we had butchers market that Kevin had gotten with some neighborhood friends. It was a last minute easy thing. 

Sunday morning and another pancake bar! 





Sunday was raining alllll day so we hung around inside and didn’t do much. Sometimes you need a day like that! A big puzzle all by himself! It was hard for Molly Anne not to help but she contained herself haha!




Happy Monday!

Friday, March 10, 2023

Five on Friday

ONE - 
My friend Sarah shared this Ramen recipe and I made it on Sunday night. Our neighbors ended up coming over and having some too and it was a big hit! Very easy and I highly recommend! I didn't use the peppers so it wasn't spicy!




































TWO - 
I was walking in my neighborhood the other day and it was gorgeous. Look how pretty this grass is! Also, I fell on this same walk and skinned my knee in a major way. Thankfully my lulu leggings survived! HA!



THREE - 
Won a tennis match on Tuesday night at Carmel Country Club. Tennis has been so good for me. It's gives me the competition that I used to have growing up playing sports all of the time, but is still for fun! I really love it. 



FOUR - 
Get 'em cowgirl! It's been staff appreciation week at her school this week and the girls that were in charge of it have done such a nice job! The staff has had massages, lunch brought in, donuts and coffee, Thirsty Thursday, and they get to take home a Pasta and Provisions dinner for their family today. Such a treat of a week and they SO deserve it!



FOUR - 
Grady made art at school this week that had one of Mills' goodies on it. He loved showing it to him!


With his speech teacher he made a leprachaun hat! It was so adorable and he loved it. Yeah he probably doesn't 100% need to be in speech but I'm a big fan of early intervention! He's talking so well now. 



HAPPY WEEKEND!

Thursday, March 9, 2023

ONE:
I saw this skirt in the store the day it came out and it is soooo cute. See the pleats on the sides? I may have to add this to my collection. 



TWO:
You know I had to get Molly Anne this dress and of course Grady the matching polo! I only have limited years left y’all!! I always order her this dress in many sizes too big because these Polly dresses shrink! Don’t dry them! I got her an 11 when she wears a 7/8. 




THREE:
A classic springy look with this dress!



FOUR:
I love this bag for the summer. It is not a “beach bag” but it’s a cute bag for a day not physically at the beach. Y’all know I’m picky about what bag goes to the beach with us - this one always. 


FIVE: