You all were amazing at encouraging me to join in on the comments, so here I am! Thanks for all of the warm welcomes and positive support.
I am two months post partum with my fourth son and it has been a doozy. Did anyone catch Allyson Felix’s return home video? I’m reminded her post about her struggle with returning to her athletic body after baby and I’m thinking dang, everybody’s postpartum journey is différent but I certainly didn’t win any Olympic gold medals after any of my pregnancies. Amazing.
Do any of you follow Jackie Hill Perry? She’s having some awesome teachings lately. I listened to her podcast 30 min with the Perry’s twice this week in Aliens and cackled both times.
My parents have been visiting us this past month for vacation and will finally leave this coming week. A month seems like a long time for parents but we live really far away and haven’t seen each other in person since 2018! I’ve needed all the hands on help with my kids and am a big anxious to see how I survive when they leave.
My oldest heads into first grade in few weeks and he’s been anxious about it all summer. I don’t recall ever having so much anxiety before starting school. I head praticing your schedule before starting helps but who wants to practice for school before school even starts? <—-not me!
I hope everyone finds some joy in their week this week, I’ll be on the hunt for it myself too.
It's been a rough season, y'all. I've been a little absent on the comments but the newsletter and the updates from lil swipes has been a sweet treasure during this time. Our sweet grandfather lost his 2.5 year battle with cancer last month (which, for me personally was the third grandparent I've lost in 6 months). We moved - which, as Erin mentioned, is truly exhausting normally, but even more so as I was in summer semester of grad school during the move. My husband works on commission paid two months out and we are in a super tight spot as the result of a bad few months with a terrible manager. I've dealt with chronic pain and fatigue for 10 years and it's gotten so much worse over the last two months. I'm on new meds and have to swap to a gluten free, dairy free diet. While both new meds and a diet change will likely help, it's putting further strain on our finances.
I'm just exhausted, body and soul. I am just so lost and tired and in constant pain. I'm trying not to break down at work everyday but the odds are not so much in my favor. I am deeply grateful for this community and sharing life with y'all - thank you for always listening and supporting a stranger on the internet.
It is 7:33 pm on Saturday and we have had a surprisingly relaxing weekend so far. I mean, we are still planning and researching and prepping for our move, but for some reason, it is calmer this weekend. Other than that, a lot of staying inside because CA is on fire. Again. The air sucks, but the sun is gorgeous through the smoke. My fun thing for the week was getting to start an email chain with the CA Li'l Swipes! Lovely ladies all. Thanks for the community spreadsheet, Erin. Looking forward to reading everyone's fun stuff.
from Half baked harvest photography is soo good and it has been for a long time. She's still pretty young! I think she started the page when she was 14 or something absurdly young and is now in her mid twenties. Fun fact: her brother won gold in snowboarding in the Olympics whenever it last happened. I am in denial about the covid surges happening and also have no opinion on the decision made last night by my school board to make masks optional. I no longer know how to feel about any of it...i don't want to think about it at all! I feel like I've been robbed of the last year and a half and I'm tired. We will take it one step at a time because that's all I can handle anymore.
Good morning Lil Swipes (well, it is still morning here on the West Coast haha)!
I have attempted to comment/read/interact the last 2 weeks in a row and got a little distracted. But I'm so happy to he here today! 💕
❤️🔥 Here's a mix of my treasures & turds lately:
👶 I got distracted because I spent those Fridays with a dear friend from college and her 2 kids (4 months and two years). It's really fun seeing the people you knew at 18 become parents!
🤰 Speaking of babies, I think I'm at the point where most of my friends have kids, and (some are having their second). We know we're going to have kids, (likely natural and definitely adopted), but we're kind of in this weird in-between time. I didn't feel any outside pressure when friends first started having kids, but now it's like I feel this weird internal pressure to fit in with my peers. Have any of ya'll experienced that?
👧🏽 My niece turned three this week and my hubs and I are driving 2 hours down to San Diego to help throw her birthday party tomorrow! She is the cutest thing on the planet, and I am very excited to see her. It also happens to be my dad's birthday, so we will celebrate him with another party at my parents' afterwards. It's going to be a looooong day with a lot of family. Hopefully it will be a fun day, even with all of the (probable) drama.
😻 I came back to work ~in my actual office~ this week! I work at a college in LA County, so we have been WFH since March 2020. It had literally been 502 days! Needless to say, I've been so exhausted all week. 😂 Students won't be on campus for a few weeks, so it's still quiet around here, but it's been so nice to get back into the groove of old routines (like stopping by a co-worker's desk to say hi!).
⚽️ 🎶 Ted Lasso season 2 and Schmigadoon are saving my life right now.
💣 Last summer I had the worst kind of friend break-up. I felt lost, betrayed, and a massive part of my world was turned upside down. I've tried to type out the details today, but it still feels too tender. I know that Jesus is guiding me towards forgiveness, so I could sincerely use some prayer for my heart. ❤️
💩🎢 I feel like my body image has been on a roller coaster lately. I found a great dress at Torrid (first time shopping there and omg I lovvvvve it) ⬆️. But then I went to the doctor's office and confirmed that I actually have gained 20 lbs since September ⬇️. And I realize I have SO MUCH work to do with how I see myself right now. And am trying to dismantle the external and internal message of "thinner-is-always-better". WOOF. (Also, I really appreciate all of the recommendations sent out for work clothing ideas! My betabrand pants have had lots of shipping delays, but will be here eventually 😂. You guys rock.)
🎸 And here is my favorite TikTok of the week. I was personally offended by these lyrics 😂
I am with you on the body image stuff. I am sure I have gained a ton of weight but when I go to the doctor I politely decline being weighed so I have no idea what i weigh. I also do not weigh myself at home. I feel like it's bad for my mental health to be focused on the number. At some point I realized that I didn't have to be weighed every time I went to the doctor for some random reason and started declining. Did you know you could do that?? I wish I had started years ago. I never thought I'd be wearing the size I wear and working through that has been difficult. I am not the same as I was when I was 21, why do I expect to wear the same pant size? working on it.
I just heard about that for the first time a few weeks ago! I LOVE that you are taking care of your mental health in this way! I thought about saying no, but didn't feel like I had the courage to decline just yet. *But* I'm choosing to be proud of myself for even considering it as an option.
Also, YES. I don't look the same as I did at 21, but I also (thankfully) don't feel the same as I did at 21 (I feel more secure and much more grounded). This is such an encouragement to hear Mona, thank you. 💛
Oh I want to normalize talking about friend breakups! It seems like it's a widespread thing, but feels weird to talk about. It's definitely tough, whether you're the breaker-upper or the ... breaker-upee? Hoping you continue to heal!
Yes to normalizing talking about it! The more I open up, the more I hear that others have gone through it too, as much as (if not more than) romantic break-ups. I have seriously considered writing a book about it. 😂
I would so read a book about this! I think one of the hard parts about friend breakups vs romantic is there's not the convention of DTRs - so there's that weird limbo where you start to drift apart, and then it's awkward, but you feel like talking about it would make it even more awkward ... Bleh. I hope you write one! :)
I totally get the baby feelings. I know it sounds bad, but I get really sad when I find out another one of my friends is pregnant because I know that our friendship will never be the same. It's soooo hard to make plans with my friends who are parents and I feel like I'm always patronized by them because I'm childless, even though I know they don't mean it that way. I'm just really tired of being made to feel like something is missing from my life because I don't have kids.
Lauren, it is so comforting to have someone to empathize with about this! I have absolutely grieved the known, impending friendship change once a friend gets pregnant. I've mostly felt guilty about it, but I've been trying to let myself naturally grieve the "end of a friendship as we know it" before trying to force myself to be happy about it (Enneagram 7 here, can you tell? 😂). It's really relieving to know that you've felt the same way. (Also your friends are dumb for making you feel less than. Even if they don't mean it that way. ❤️)
I'm so sorry that you feel this way sometimes! I can only speak for myself, but I have such a deep appreciation for my kids without friends. And I can't imagine thinking of someone as less-than for not having kids (although TOTALLY know that is a real thing that happens). *Stares at screen for several minutes trying to think of what else I can say.* Hoping you are able to minimize time spent with people who patronize you and make you feel less-than, and more time with people who value you as you are. :)
I can't remember if I've said this before, but truly, having these tweets rounded up is such a service! I feel like I get the best of Twitter without actually *having* to be on Twitter. Thank you!
It's that part of the summer where I feel like we haven't done all the things I want to do, but I'm so ready for the kids to go back to school & me to go back to work, & for it to not be so dang hot, but we still have 3 weeks to go. We haven't gone to the beach enough & I'm wondering how many more beach days we can cram in. No real news to report this week; my husband took the kids camping with his brothers this weekend, so I'm trying to clean the house and do meal prep before school/work starts back up. I've listened to all the old episodes of all my favorite podcasts, so have started The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner and am really enjoying it. :)
Good grief I feel that last tweet so hard. Currently nursing and even the mom websites are showing “good nursing dresses” with spaghetti straps. Good grief, do you know how thick the straps are on this nursing bra? Ain’t happenin.
Friday morning coffee is almost like a "gird your loins" we can do this one. more. day... Your newsletter is the highlight of my Friday morning coffee before the kids wake up and changes my mood. I am grateful to you.
I really felt that tweet about book characters being less annoying than people. Because sometimes I just want to hang out with those characters instead.
Treasures:
- I wholeheartedly agree with Erin about Tieghan's recipes. We've made a few recipes of hers so far, including this one that is on repeat around here (made it last night and omgyummmm)
- I've been unashamedly binging my way through Julie and the Phantoms and loving it so much. What is it about plucky kids (and ghosts) belting out anthems like it's nbd. It's not HSM2, but it's still got lots of heart and I'm here for it.
- We're going to the beach in about a week and a half and I have nothing planned whatsoever. Please help me: what does one NEED at the beach for 4 days with 3 small children under 5. Essentials only please (but lots of snack suggestions are WELCOME)
- My son and I got back from CA last week and I realized he's stuck his foot (then most of his body) into the Pacific before the Atlantic, which is wild for me, since I grew up in VA and went to the beach every summer. Life is weird friends.
- Finally, my older two kids are going to school for the first time in about a month and I just DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FEEL. I'm excited, but also terrified, anxious and nervous and filled with joy, all at once. What even.
That's what I've got for this week friends. We're off to see a butterfly garden, eat homemade pizza, and probably catch fireflies, hooray for the weekend!
Sunscreen, extra towels, water and SO MANY SNACKS - way more than you think you need, a few beach toys in case the water is cold and they don't want to be in it, floaties for safety, goggles if your kids are weird about water getting into their eyes. Saltwater especially. And school? I don't know what to think about school anymore 😭...just crossing our fingers for a good school year.
I agree with Lauren that lots of water, something to sit on (be it towels or blankets), and sunscreen are absolutelyyyyy necessary. An umbrella and bluetooth speaker are also worth it (IMO).
Also YES Julie and the Phantoms is AMAZING. I was surprised at how much it made me cry, and I love listening to the soundtrack! 😍
For the beach you NEED a collapsible wagon to carry all the things. A cooler. Lots of water. Goldfish. 50+ SPF Sunscreen. Towels. Chairs for adults. A blanket for the kids. Last year we purchased a "Cool Cabana" and it is a game changer: https://coolcabanas.com/ however it may not be worth the money if you only go to the beach once a year. At the very least you need some type of umbrella. If you don't want to leave the beach for lunch I think packing sandwiches and chips is fine. Floaties for kids. Bluetooth speaker.
ANOTHER ONE WHO LOVES JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS. it is so good. enjoy the beach! i am a fan of anything salty as a snack. sounds like a wonderful weekend and week ahead
My oldest kids starts kindergarten in 6 days and I was excited but now I'm just a mess. I can't sleep and I've had my first pimple in 5 years, like my body thinks I'm going back to school. The uncertainty is killing me, and I want to do some fun things with the kids to celebrate the end of summer but I also want to lock myself in my room. 😊
I’ve been absent for a while because of our move back to VA and Erin, moving is NO. JOKE. We had the toughest time with movers and a lot of different things, but we are moved in and it is over. Now to figure out where everything goes and figure out which things in this old house need fixing vs. which are just quirks.
- Really not loving the kids going back to school in less than two weeks without any word yet about mask requirements. Especially since we still have to have an IEP meeting and all that goes along with a new school on top of that. Trying to focus on the positive but it is nerve-wracking!
Treasures: One of my closest cousins lives about an hour away! They will move in May because her husband is military, but we get nine months or so of being in close proximity for the first time in our lives and we are going to take advantage.
I knew I missed home but I don’t think I realized how much. Now to juggle all the requests for meetups with Delta cautions, but it’s so nice to have people who actually want to spend time with us who aren’t related.
I’m excited to see what’s been happening with all the Li’l Swipes!
Another sad week for my family as my cousin’s husband, Jon, passed away from Covid as well. Their 3 kids and grandkids are just heartbroken obviously. Keri and Jon were such good people and the only consolation is that they're both with Jesus now. It just doesn’t seem real and I’ve been in the midst of it with them. Next Tuesday and Wednesday will be the visitation and funeral. Will you please continue to pray for our family?
Praying indeed. You are right, it is wonderful that they are now both with Jesus together, but I am so sorry for everything your family is going through, I really can't imagine <3
Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. Having lost a treasured loved one almost two months ago this gives me a pit in my stomach. My heart will be with you and your family.
My kids go back to school next week, so we’re leaving on Sunday & taking one last trip to San Diego to visit the grandparents and snuggle our brand new nephew!
Also on the agenda for the weekend is telling the family our big news…. I’M PREGNANT!! 😍🥳 We haven’t told our families yet, you’re all sworn to secrecy. 😉 It’s super early, but I’m not holding the joy inside, I just won’t do it. This is my 4th and hubby’s 1st and we’re just over the moon. We’re telling our kiddos tonight when they get home from their dads, and making a surprise visit to my parents tomorrow.
So this week has been crazy joy and a lot of naps. I forgot about that 1st trimester exhaustion. 😅
Oh that's awesome! We were near Balboa Park (and a little in Escondido), but I actually grew up really close to Santee (in Alpine)! I hope you guys are having a lovely weekend 😊
Weekend plans include a Challenger Little League tournament with just our local league because of Covid. Challenger is the league for kids (and adults) of different abilities. The highlight is the parents vs kids game! Looking forward to having my butt kicked by these adorable special needs kiddos. :)
You all were amazing at encouraging me to join in on the comments, so here I am! Thanks for all of the warm welcomes and positive support.
I am two months post partum with my fourth son and it has been a doozy. Did anyone catch Allyson Felix’s return home video? I’m reminded her post about her struggle with returning to her athletic body after baby and I’m thinking dang, everybody’s postpartum journey is différent but I certainly didn’t win any Olympic gold medals after any of my pregnancies. Amazing.
Do any of you follow Jackie Hill Perry? She’s having some awesome teachings lately. I listened to her podcast 30 min with the Perry’s twice this week in Aliens and cackled both times.
My parents have been visiting us this past month for vacation and will finally leave this coming week. A month seems like a long time for parents but we live really far away and haven’t seen each other in person since 2018! I’ve needed all the hands on help with my kids and am a big anxious to see how I survive when they leave.
My oldest heads into first grade in few weeks and he’s been anxious about it all summer. I don’t recall ever having so much anxiety before starting school. I head praticing your schedule before starting helps but who wants to practice for school before school even starts? <—-not me!
I hope everyone finds some joy in their week this week, I’ll be on the hunt for it myself too.
Cheers!
It's been a rough season, y'all. I've been a little absent on the comments but the newsletter and the updates from lil swipes has been a sweet treasure during this time. Our sweet grandfather lost his 2.5 year battle with cancer last month (which, for me personally was the third grandparent I've lost in 6 months). We moved - which, as Erin mentioned, is truly exhausting normally, but even more so as I was in summer semester of grad school during the move. My husband works on commission paid two months out and we are in a super tight spot as the result of a bad few months with a terrible manager. I've dealt with chronic pain and fatigue for 10 years and it's gotten so much worse over the last two months. I'm on new meds and have to swap to a gluten free, dairy free diet. While both new meds and a diet change will likely help, it's putting further strain on our finances.
I'm just exhausted, body and soul. I am just so lost and tired and in constant pain. I'm trying not to break down at work everyday but the odds are not so much in my favor. I am deeply grateful for this community and sharing life with y'all - thank you for always listening and supporting a stranger on the internet.
It is 7:33 pm on Saturday and we have had a surprisingly relaxing weekend so far. I mean, we are still planning and researching and prepping for our move, but for some reason, it is calmer this weekend. Other than that, a lot of staying inside because CA is on fire. Again. The air sucks, but the sun is gorgeous through the smoke. My fun thing for the week was getting to start an email chain with the CA Li'l Swipes! Lovely ladies all. Thanks for the community spreadsheet, Erin. Looking forward to reading everyone's fun stuff.
I love the Surviving Sarah podcast. Such fun.
Doing a tiktok drop n run this week due to mentioned exhaustion, but these brightened my day immensely 😂😂
I love her joke setups with Greek mythology and immediate real life application - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdwxTtvP/
The dogs at daycare and their ✨problems✨ft my fave song in Elf - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdwx7De7/
Me and Adrienne this week - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw44CB7/ (and here’s the swifties who cracked it - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4bJC5/)
And he doesn’t have TWO FARTHINGS TO SCRAPE TOGETHER - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4oMTJ/
Look at Michael - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4bYVf/
HPxLoki - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4bPUy/
My For You Page didn’t have to come for me like this - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4Kq6o/
Parent Trap reenactment - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4bk6U/
Storytime - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4wC3o/
Olympics corner - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4Kwfj/
Music corner - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4o86n/ // https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4Eugj/ // https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4teEs/ // https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdwV1jGC/ // https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4vFXK/ // https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4WEq1/ // https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdw4boB6/
I need to catch up on your TikToks from last week too! Please text me on Sunday if I don't hahahaha.
from Half baked harvest photography is soo good and it has been for a long time. She's still pretty young! I think she started the page when she was 14 or something absurdly young and is now in her mid twenties. Fun fact: her brother won gold in snowboarding in the Olympics whenever it last happened. I am in denial about the covid surges happening and also have no opinion on the decision made last night by my school board to make masks optional. I no longer know how to feel about any of it...i don't want to think about it at all! I feel like I've been robbed of the last year and a half and I'm tired. We will take it one step at a time because that's all I can handle anymore.
I'm exhausted too by all of this. You are not alone.
On the brighter side, I made a HBH Greek style meatballs dish a few weeks ago and it was amazing!
Good morning Lil Swipes (well, it is still morning here on the West Coast haha)!
I have attempted to comment/read/interact the last 2 weeks in a row and got a little distracted. But I'm so happy to he here today! 💕
❤️🔥 Here's a mix of my treasures & turds lately:
👶 I got distracted because I spent those Fridays with a dear friend from college and her 2 kids (4 months and two years). It's really fun seeing the people you knew at 18 become parents!
🤰 Speaking of babies, I think I'm at the point where most of my friends have kids, and (some are having their second). We know we're going to have kids, (likely natural and definitely adopted), but we're kind of in this weird in-between time. I didn't feel any outside pressure when friends first started having kids, but now it's like I feel this weird internal pressure to fit in with my peers. Have any of ya'll experienced that?
👧🏽 My niece turned three this week and my hubs and I are driving 2 hours down to San Diego to help throw her birthday party tomorrow! She is the cutest thing on the planet, and I am very excited to see her. It also happens to be my dad's birthday, so we will celebrate him with another party at my parents' afterwards. It's going to be a looooong day with a lot of family. Hopefully it will be a fun day, even with all of the (probable) drama.
😻 I came back to work ~in my actual office~ this week! I work at a college in LA County, so we have been WFH since March 2020. It had literally been 502 days! Needless to say, I've been so exhausted all week. 😂 Students won't be on campus for a few weeks, so it's still quiet around here, but it's been so nice to get back into the groove of old routines (like stopping by a co-worker's desk to say hi!).
⚽️ 🎶 Ted Lasso season 2 and Schmigadoon are saving my life right now.
💣 Last summer I had the worst kind of friend break-up. I felt lost, betrayed, and a massive part of my world was turned upside down. I've tried to type out the details today, but it still feels too tender. I know that Jesus is guiding me towards forgiveness, so I could sincerely use some prayer for my heart. ❤️
💩🎢 I feel like my body image has been on a roller coaster lately. I found a great dress at Torrid (first time shopping there and omg I lovvvvve it) ⬆️. But then I went to the doctor's office and confirmed that I actually have gained 20 lbs since September ⬇️. And I realize I have SO MUCH work to do with how I see myself right now. And am trying to dismantle the external and internal message of "thinner-is-always-better". WOOF. (Also, I really appreciate all of the recommendations sent out for work clothing ideas! My betabrand pants have had lots of shipping delays, but will be here eventually 😂. You guys rock.)
🎸 And here is my favorite TikTok of the week. I was personally offended by these lyrics 😂
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdwq2khT/
Friend breakups are so hard. I finally had to stop myself from returning to a “friendship” that was not
servingme at all-so painful and just plain sad. Thinking of your heart in this tender time.
Thanks Jenny ❤️❤️❤️
I am with you on the body image stuff. I am sure I have gained a ton of weight but when I go to the doctor I politely decline being weighed so I have no idea what i weigh. I also do not weigh myself at home. I feel like it's bad for my mental health to be focused on the number. At some point I realized that I didn't have to be weighed every time I went to the doctor for some random reason and started declining. Did you know you could do that?? I wish I had started years ago. I never thought I'd be wearing the size I wear and working through that has been difficult. I am not the same as I was when I was 21, why do I expect to wear the same pant size? working on it.
I just heard about that for the first time a few weeks ago! I LOVE that you are taking care of your mental health in this way! I thought about saying no, but didn't feel like I had the courage to decline just yet. *But* I'm choosing to be proud of myself for even considering it as an option.
Also, YES. I don't look the same as I did at 21, but I also (thankfully) don't feel the same as I did at 21 (I feel more secure and much more grounded). This is such an encouragement to hear Mona, thank you. 💛
Amen to Ted Lasso and Schmigadoon as lifesavers!
I was worried Schmigadoon was going to be bad and make fun of all the things I love about musicals, but it was been so funny and lovely!!
Oh I want to normalize talking about friend breakups! It seems like it's a widespread thing, but feels weird to talk about. It's definitely tough, whether you're the breaker-upper or the ... breaker-upee? Hoping you continue to heal!
Yes to normalizing talking about it! The more I open up, the more I hear that others have gone through it too, as much as (if not more than) romantic break-ups. I have seriously considered writing a book about it. 😂
I would so read a book about this! I think one of the hard parts about friend breakups vs romantic is there's not the convention of DTRs - so there's that weird limbo where you start to drift apart, and then it's awkward, but you feel like talking about it would make it even more awkward ... Bleh. I hope you write one! :)
I totally get the baby feelings. I know it sounds bad, but I get really sad when I find out another one of my friends is pregnant because I know that our friendship will never be the same. It's soooo hard to make plans with my friends who are parents and I feel like I'm always patronized by them because I'm childless, even though I know they don't mean it that way. I'm just really tired of being made to feel like something is missing from my life because I don't have kids.
Lauren, it is so comforting to have someone to empathize with about this! I have absolutely grieved the known, impending friendship change once a friend gets pregnant. I've mostly felt guilty about it, but I've been trying to let myself naturally grieve the "end of a friendship as we know it" before trying to force myself to be happy about it (Enneagram 7 here, can you tell? 😂). It's really relieving to know that you've felt the same way. (Also your friends are dumb for making you feel less than. Even if they don't mean it that way. ❤️)
I'm so sorry that you feel this way sometimes! I can only speak for myself, but I have such a deep appreciation for my kids without friends. And I can't imagine thinking of someone as less-than for not having kids (although TOTALLY know that is a real thing that happens). *Stares at screen for several minutes trying to think of what else I can say.* Hoping you are able to minimize time spent with people who patronize you and make you feel less-than, and more time with people who value you as you are. :)
Ugh I hate your friends make you feel like that. I hope I don't make my friends feel like that!
I can't remember if I've said this before, but truly, having these tweets rounded up is such a service! I feel like I get the best of Twitter without actually *having* to be on Twitter. Thank you!
It's that part of the summer where I feel like we haven't done all the things I want to do, but I'm so ready for the kids to go back to school & me to go back to work, & for it to not be so dang hot, but we still have 3 weeks to go. We haven't gone to the beach enough & I'm wondering how many more beach days we can cram in. No real news to report this week; my husband took the kids camping with his brothers this weekend, so I'm trying to clean the house and do meal prep before school/work starts back up. I've listened to all the old episodes of all my favorite podcasts, so have started The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner and am really enjoying it. :)
Good grief I feel that last tweet so hard. Currently nursing and even the mom websites are showing “good nursing dresses” with spaghetti straps. Good grief, do you know how thick the straps are on this nursing bra? Ain’t happenin.
Friday morning coffee is almost like a "gird your loins" we can do this one. more. day... Your newsletter is the highlight of my Friday morning coffee before the kids wake up and changes my mood. I am grateful to you.
I look forward to 8am when the kids are safely occupied to pour my second cup and read too!
That is literally what I was thinking to myself when I got up this morning to make my coffee, lol! Those first 30 minutes of the day are the hardest.
Happy Friday!
I really felt that tweet about book characters being less annoying than people. Because sometimes I just want to hang out with those characters instead.
Treasures:
- I wholeheartedly agree with Erin about Tieghan's recipes. We've made a few recipes of hers so far, including this one that is on repeat around here (made it last night and omgyummmm)
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/vegetable-burrata-sandwich/
- I've been unashamedly binging my way through Julie and the Phantoms and loving it so much. What is it about plucky kids (and ghosts) belting out anthems like it's nbd. It's not HSM2, but it's still got lots of heart and I'm here for it.
- We're going to the beach in about a week and a half and I have nothing planned whatsoever. Please help me: what does one NEED at the beach for 4 days with 3 small children under 5. Essentials only please (but lots of snack suggestions are WELCOME)
- My son and I got back from CA last week and I realized he's stuck his foot (then most of his body) into the Pacific before the Atlantic, which is wild for me, since I grew up in VA and went to the beach every summer. Life is weird friends.
- Finally, my older two kids are going to school for the first time in about a month and I just DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FEEL. I'm excited, but also terrified, anxious and nervous and filled with joy, all at once. What even.
That's what I've got for this week friends. We're off to see a butterfly garden, eat homemade pizza, and probably catch fireflies, hooray for the weekend!
Also bring a comfy chair for you to sit in and maybe one of those beach blankets that fold and zip up into a tiny square
Sunscreen, extra towels, water and SO MANY SNACKS - way more than you think you need, a few beach toys in case the water is cold and they don't want to be in it, floaties for safety, goggles if your kids are weird about water getting into their eyes. Saltwater especially. And school? I don't know what to think about school anymore 😭...just crossing our fingers for a good school year.
Your weekend sounds so nice, have a good one!!
I agree with Lauren that lots of water, something to sit on (be it towels or blankets), and sunscreen are absolutelyyyyy necessary. An umbrella and bluetooth speaker are also worth it (IMO).
Also YES Julie and the Phantoms is AMAZING. I was surprised at how much it made me cry, and I love listening to the soundtrack! 😍
For the beach you NEED a collapsible wagon to carry all the things. A cooler. Lots of water. Goldfish. 50+ SPF Sunscreen. Towels. Chairs for adults. A blanket for the kids. Last year we purchased a "Cool Cabana" and it is a game changer: https://coolcabanas.com/ however it may not be worth the money if you only go to the beach once a year. At the very least you need some type of umbrella. If you don't want to leave the beach for lunch I think packing sandwiches and chips is fine. Floaties for kids. Bluetooth speaker.
***I don't have children and have never been around them at the beach, I'm just assuming they need floaties. I really don't know.
just scrolled down after making my suggestions. I have four kids and you nailed it!
ANOTHER ONE WHO LOVES JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS. it is so good. enjoy the beach! i am a fan of anything salty as a snack. sounds like a wonderful weekend and week ahead
My oldest kids starts kindergarten in 6 days and I was excited but now I'm just a mess. I can't sleep and I've had my first pimple in 5 years, like my body thinks I'm going back to school. The uncertainty is killing me, and I want to do some fun things with the kids to celebrate the end of summer but I also want to lock myself in my room. 😊
Lol. The pimple. Why did we get one before every major event? The devil is real (jk)
I’ve been absent for a while because of our move back to VA and Erin, moving is NO. JOKE. We had the toughest time with movers and a lot of different things, but we are moved in and it is over. Now to figure out where everything goes and figure out which things in this old house need fixing vs. which are just quirks.
- Really not loving the kids going back to school in less than two weeks without any word yet about mask requirements. Especially since we still have to have an IEP meeting and all that goes along with a new school on top of that. Trying to focus on the positive but it is nerve-wracking!
Treasures: One of my closest cousins lives about an hour away! They will move in May because her husband is military, but we get nine months or so of being in close proximity for the first time in our lives and we are going to take advantage.
I knew I missed home but I don’t think I realized how much. Now to juggle all the requests for meetups with Delta cautions, but it’s so nice to have people who actually want to spend time with us who aren’t related.
I’m excited to see what’s been happening with all the Li’l Swipes!
Another sad week for my family as my cousin’s husband, Jon, passed away from Covid as well. Their 3 kids and grandkids are just heartbroken obviously. Keri and Jon were such good people and the only consolation is that they're both with Jesus now. It just doesn’t seem real and I’ve been in the midst of it with them. Next Tuesday and Wednesday will be the visitation and funeral. Will you please continue to pray for our family?
Praying hard!
Praying indeed. You are right, it is wonderful that they are now both with Jesus together, but I am so sorry for everything your family is going through, I really can't imagine <3
Will continue to pray. That is gutting.
Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. Having lost a treasured loved one almost two months ago this gives me a pit in my stomach. My heart will be with you and your family.
My kids go back to school next week, so we’re leaving on Sunday & taking one last trip to San Diego to visit the grandparents and snuggle our brand new nephew!
Also on the agenda for the weekend is telling the family our big news…. I’M PREGNANT!! 😍🥳 We haven’t told our families yet, you’re all sworn to secrecy. 😉 It’s super early, but I’m not holding the joy inside, I just won’t do it. This is my 4th and hubby’s 1st and we’re just over the moon. We’re telling our kiddos tonight when they get home from their dads, and making a surprise visit to my parents tomorrow.
So this week has been crazy joy and a lot of naps. I forgot about that 1st trimester exhaustion. 😅
Can’t wait to see what y’all are up to!
Oh! Congratulations!!! This is great news! I hope you all have the best time in San Diego.
YAY!!!! congrats!!
CONGRATS!!!!!
Yay yay yay Mandi!! We are also going to San Diego this weekend - where are ya'll headed? :)
Nice!! We’ll be in Santee!
Oh that's awesome! We were near Balboa Park (and a little in Escondido), but I actually grew up really close to Santee (in Alpine)! I hope you guys are having a lovely weekend 😊
Oh my gosh! My in laws are actually looking at homes in Alpine! What a small world!
Mandi! Wahoo! Congratulations! And San Diego is one of my favorite places on earth! Soak it all in!
Congratulations!!! How exciting!
Congratulations! I can feel your joy from here 😊
Weekend plans include a Challenger Little League tournament with just our local league because of Covid. Challenger is the league for kids (and adults) of different abilities. The highlight is the parents vs kids game! Looking forward to having my butt kicked by these adorable special needs kiddos. :)
I’ve watched a few Challenger games (my daughter is a BCBA). They are so precious and joyful.