Things I am really into right now...

1. Synergy drinks at Whole Foods


Not a lot of calories for a healthy, yummy drink. So good. I'm always trying to find something to spice up my water and coffee boring-ness. This does it and I don't feel super bad about it. To bad it's like $4-$5 a bottle.

2. Julian's Henna tattoo. Ha!


Actually, it's Sons of Anarchy that I'm into. We have been watching all the seasons on Netflix. But at the Point Pleasant jazz and blues festival, Julian wanted to look more "Sam Crow" (a Sons of Anarchy member) so he got a tattoo that washes off. He makes me laugh. And I'm glad he chose a henna tattoo over getting a real one or a motorcycle.

3. Being a first grade teacher! After coming back from a year off for maternity leave, I was put in second grade. I really enjoyed teaching 2nd and felt like I could move up a grade if it was possible. Well, a fifth grade position opened and there were rumors that's where I was going. Thankfully, prayers were answered and I'm not moving to fifth. I am still a first grade teacher and I couldn't be happier about it. My spiritual gift has nothing to do with 11 year olds. Or lattice multiplication. Of that I am sure.

4. My misto sprayer!



You just fill your sprayer with whatever type of oil you use- and pump. No more Pam for me!! And since you shouldn't heat up olive oil, this helps with using other oils.

5. Life Chapel - our church is beyond amazing and I feel so totally at home when I am there. We spend a lot of time with our church/at church with all the activities we have been a part of and I'm so blessed for the new friendships that have formed! Between softball, softball parties, VBS, meetings for young life, mens morning meetings, etc Julian and I have spent a lot of our time there.

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VBS, visitors and sickies.

This past week and a half has been nuts. Saturday night, Eloise was wheezing and coughing so badly that we eventually took her to the hospital.  Thankfully, the hospital was dead and we got right in.  I was so worried about my little girl.  She was diagnosed with croup and we were told to give her baby motrin and do the breathing treatments.  We followed up with our doctor and she said that it had gotten worse. (Sick baby = no sleep for anyone).  It was a really bad couple of days, but we made it out and now she is practically perfect again :) I am sure she got it from the Atlantic Club nursery because that is really the only other place we go that has a ton of kids in it.  So we won't be dropping her off there anymore. I know that getting sick builds their immunity, but seeing your child sick is the worst thing. I am going to avoid it at all costs.
This was only Eloise's second time being sick.  She had the same sort of thing (not as bad) when she was 6 months old.  Croup and such runs in Julian's family (he had it bad as a child, his dad had it bad as a child).  I really hope it is not something I have to do again.  I am just so blessed she is better :)
Not only was Eloise sick, but Julian's family (his mom, his sister, and our nieces and nephew) all visited   for the week.  They came Monday and left Friday.  That made things even more hectic.  It was a nice visit but things were crazy.
VBS was also this SAME week and I had to be at the church every night, Monday through Friday, from 5:30-8:00. Which meant I had to rely on either Gigi, Keri, and/or Julian to give Eloise her medicine, take her temperature and give her a breathing treatment before bed.  I know they are all capable but I was kinda bummed I couldn't be there to take care of her. Oh well.  VBS was amazing and all the kids had a fabulous time.  I took Kate and Olivia with me and I think they enjoyed singing the songs and hearing about some of the 'champions' of the bible.  I think even Eloise now knows the dances/songs because we were always practicing :)

whew. I am hoping this upcoming week is really boring :)

Sweet Sweet Summertime!

Sweet Sweet Summertime you are going by too fast! I can't believe how time is flying by! Anyway, I am truly enjoying my life these days.  I am reminded constantly of all the wonderful things I am thankful for and I feel so totally blessed beyond belief.  Eloise is having a great summer and I love watching her grow up to be a kid. (She only has a tad bit of baby left in her).

Our summer so far (and probably until it is over) has been go go go.  Ellie girl takes 3 hour naps and I have to go in and wake her because we having something else to go go go to.  Poor thing. We have been going to the Atlantic Club and having fun in the pool, my mom's house for the beach, and just random field trips (the teacher in me calls outings 'field trips').  We went to Sesame Place which I think Eloise was a bit young for.  We thought it was a bust, but then came the Elmo Rock N' Roll show. Now, Ernie used to be Eloise's favorite. OH, but not anymore.  Elmo has won over Eloise's heart and now  pretty much 75% of our conversations these days have to do with Elmo.  She loves him.  And the show was no exception. SHE LOVED IT! I haven't seen her smile and dance so much. It made the trip totally worth it. Julian was even chosen to go on stage and be a backup dancer for Elmo.  It was really cute and seeing her that happy almost made me cry. (ok, maybe a tear or two escaped, but soon the laughter tears came due to watching Julian shake it with Sesame Street characters).

The only thing I have been worrying about lately is when I am going to hear what grade I'll be teaching next year.  A second grade teacher retired, and they are supposedly adding an additional 5th grade teacher to our school.  Also, today I just heard that one of our kindergarten teachers moved schools.  I hope I hear soon.  I am really blessed that I have a great job AND I get summers off to spend with Eloise.  I feel really lucky to have chosen this profession.  But, that doesn't make my patience any better :)

I also wanted to document some of the things Eloise is saying these days.

"I love daddy"
"I love boats" (it sounds like boots---she took her first boat ride and I am pretty sure it wasn't her favorite thing, but my dad taught her to say "I love boats" anyway)
"Beastbelle" is her term for Beauty and the Beast and it sounds like baseball.  If you don't know her well, you think she is asking you to turn on the game
"Beach"
"WaWa" for water
"Snack"
"Night-Night Mommy"