Hello Monday: #backtoschoolhustle

Our last week and weekend before we headed back to school today was actually really great.  We finally made it to the splash pad, and road our little park train one more time.  I taught a few essential oil classes this week, and people said I did a good job!!  It's fun doing something that you like to do!  I gave up my sleep fight with Nola and she has been sleeping in Nate's room on her mattress or she finds her way to my room at some point.  I was trying to remember what Nate did that was weird with sleep, and I was reminded by my mom that he slept on the floor for a few months!!! (kids are weirdos)  Friday we went to the pool with our friends Maggie and Liam, and ordered Jet's pizza (LOVE).  Saturday we hung out with Nana and saw Aunt Abby.  Saturday evening we went to a cook out.  And Sunday I cleaned and got ready for Monday.  I finished up a class I taught on Facebook and mailed out samples of peppermint, lavender, and wild orange essential oils.  (enjoy friends!)

So Sunday evening we did the best thing, probably my favorite thing all summer.  We took a little family walk around the block.  I watched as Nate and Nola got ready, put their shoes on, got so excited to ride their bikes.  Terrance suggested our walk, which warms my heart.  While we were walking, I lagged behind, mostly with the slow biker, Nola.  Pride fills my soul to watch my boys talking and walking.  Creating memories.  Enjoying fresh air, while listening to Terrance's encouraging words.  I don't care how fast or slow we walk, I don't care how hot we get, I don't even care if I have to carry a bike when a kiddo gives up.  It's just being together and doing something for free.  Joyful moments

ps  Nola is a terrible bike driver.

This week I'm saying hello to #backtoschoolhustle

hello EARLY mornings.  I'm trying to be up to do something active at 5:30.  First day I failed.

hello to packing lunches

hello to sitting in meetings and getting my new classroom set up!

hello 3rd grade!  I'm moving up with 13 of my students from last year!  I'm excited, especially about my new friends to work with.  I'm most worried about is teaching 3rd grade math... eek!

hello missing my babies, a lot lot LOT of multi tasking, and schedules!!!

hello to making goals and sticking to them... Must keep losing weight!  4 lbs gone, so far!

The school year is my new year.  Its fresh and new, and comes too soon every time.  I'm thankful for fresh crayons and designing a new classroom, but mostly that I have figured out how to make this job work best for my working mama heart and soul.  Grateful for the strength I've been given, and the grace to persevere.

hello monday

hello monday- Total Head Case

h e l l o   m o n d a y

I had a great opportunity to spend some time on a rain weekend on a beautiful farm in Va.  Smith Mountain, VA anyone?  I had never heard of it either... I was able to learn a lot, but also meet some new people.  New people who don't know my story, don't care to judge me, some new people that I may never see again.  There was no apologizing for time alone, resting or sleeping in.  There was healthy, delicious food to enjoy.  Showers optional.  :)

I'm thinking why I've failed at creating the healthy habits that I been pursuing for so long.  I'm still processing.  However, I think I'm saying hello to some pretty big things this week.  


hello to being self aware of why I give up when I get discouraged.  Why am not able to keep trying through the rut, yes life keeps going, weight stays on my body, but what is my emotional connection in all of that?  

hello to saying out loud how afraid of failure I am, especially when it comes to my body.

hello to putting a plan in place.

Then I have two hellos unrelated...

hello to the last week before school starts.  It has been a very challenging summer, with saying goodbye to Kim, and a lot of what ifs, and possible changes.  I shut down in these moments.  This time I tried to just keep going.  I realize what I can and can NOT control.

hello to transition time.  transition to a new sitter, to a new grade level, to believing I can be successful in my weight loss. 

Obviously, I'm a total head case.  :)  It's a club, right?  

hello monday... Countdown

This was us last week... and now the countdown begins.  Summer is slowly ending... (it better be slowly) and apparently this Charlotte 65 degree weather is invading my sunshine.

hello monday...

this week I'm saying hello to..................

1) Counting down to the end of my vacation week... I have to make the most of these next two weeks.  Then I'll have a week of work days to get us back into the swing of things.  I'll keep the number to myself, don't worry.


2) Catching up with some friends that I haven't gotten to see this summer yet!  We will not allow ourselves to be reduced down to only instagram friends... SAY it's not SO!   We'll plan a play date together before I head back to busy busy busy!

3) A weekend of essential oils education! It's been really exciting to get a few Facebook messages with oil questions and be able to share what I've learned... I also loved hearing my hubs talking to Nate when his tummy was hurting telling him he needs to try some peppermint (look who's learning!!!)

4) A going away party for a sweet friend who is a traveling nurse.  She heads out this week to California for three months... so all of our friends are planning karaoke and margaritas.  Sounds about right to me!

5) Celebrating my 9th wedding anniversary to my groom! 9 years did not fly by.  We worked hard for them, and I can tell you I love that guy more today than the day I walked down the isle in a white dress.  I'm sure I'll be mushy on Wednesday. Muah!!!

I'm linking up with Lisa Leonard for hello monday... What are you up to this week?

Hello Monday... Tuesday

Here we are in Fripp Island, SC. 

It's more beautiful than we expected.  We still feel like we are in low country, yet it is a resort.  

The beaches are stunning and very child friendly.  They can run for miles! These first two pictures are from the internet... and give a great idea of what the island looks like. The last few are some memories we have already made! 

My sand crab girl.

Open sand.  The beach has become more blissful as my kids have gotten older. 

Golf cart silliness.

There is a pool that meets the ocean.  When you look down there is this view. 

This is our view from the dinner table.

I guess it was either 3 or 4 years ago.  I can't remember if Nate was born or not yet.  We were in Litchfield and Adelaide saw an add in a magazine with these adorable kids who were holding hands facing the beach.  So she made her brother pose and take the picture.  It was so cute.  Last night I decided I needed an updated shot.  Next year we'll add Meiomi. 

What am I saying Hello to this week... 

salty air

beach views

rocky clifts

warm breezes

sunny days

breakfast mornings with family

watching cousins fall in love

precious alone time

resting

unstoppable laughing 

quality time with my hubs...

hello monday... Fear

I think I'm pretty good with change.  Until a GINORMOUS change decides to rear it's ugly head.  Then, I am not so great.

look, I'm a fixer.  So here is what happens to me when CHANGE decides he is gonna act out.

fear... Fear sets in.  What am I going to do?  Why me? Why us?

sadness... Mourning the loss of the fabulousness that I had.  Sad that the CHANGE has come into my life at this point.

anger... WHAT if this had been different, then I wouldn't have to handle the change, find a place to put the change, make the change work out for me.

solve... Time to fix the things that the change broke.  I need to pick up all the glasses that fell down, glue the broken ones, and clean it all up.

Then I have to get used to way they look now, cause the change, well... it changed them.

SEE? It's hard.  I realized this time, by the end of all that, there is stuff about me that I thought I worked out before.  It resurfaces, and it stabs me a few more times.  I give it back to God, again and again.  Please, take this, take this struggle that I have, that I can only give to you.  Please, Jesus, please do not let me feel so much worry and pain.  Fix the broken pieces. Be the glue. Make the change, be the best thing for us.

so hello this week to...

change and asking for help

not letting the worry drown my ship

dealing with the broken pieces

being thankful for the miracles

trusting in the unseen, unknown, and even the unwanted.

                                                                          (Source)

It's Pensive Over Here... hello monday

We arrived home this past week and it was a great week after we got all settled in. We hit the pools, the sunshine felt wonderful, we had a spend the night and Nana and Papa's house, and I relished in a few hours to myself.  I worked out with a sweet friend at the Y.  I had a dinner with some girlfriends at On the Border, and then a Sunday treat at a favorite place Heist.  Thank you girlfriends, for the much needed laughter, and secret sharing.

So this week we are saying hello to...

hello...   The splash pad!!  We will make it this afternoon!!!

hello...   Allowing my heart to open to some deeper friendships. Why is it so hard to make new girl friends... you know you still need them after you get married.  I want to be able to text randomly, not always have to make a phone call, be able to call with any issue and not be judged but get some honesty.  A friend who is supportive and funny and that we have stuff in common... really, is it too much to ask for?

hello... oil meetings-- What a strange hippie thing to say!! These oils are the real deal, and my whole family is using them now.  Crawford Party of Four, are healing, detoxing, weight losing, heart rate monitoring, pink eye fighting, sleep inducing, anxiety monitoring, headache beating doTERRA oil users.  and I love it all!

hello... Sam Smith he sings and he is good.  My two favorite songs are Stay with Me and Latch. His voice is dreamy...

hello... changing my blog around?  I'm thinking, new design, new name... some fresh spiffing up.  Anyone purchase a pre made blog template, they are cheaper than having your own blog template created for you, and look really cute, however other people can purchase them... and look the same.  I'm thinking... oh, what to do? Currently, my new brainstorm name for the blog is NamelyCourtney instead of JustCourtney, or EspeciallyCourtney, or CourtneyParticular, or CourtneyLately (hello Chelsea Lately, that won't work)  MY other idea is WakingCourtney, this blog is all about discovering who I am... Waking my true self up... any thoughts?

hello... puzzles I HATE PUZZLES. I've banned them, unless they have a case that they can be kept in. Guess what N & N got from NANA... Puzzles with a case.  Isn't she smart! The 5 different puzzles have their own little section in a box, and then she got a case that has a lid and the puzzle box fits in there.  Genius... although the whiney whiney whiney "I need help" is giving me a headache.

hello monday... on the road again

It's time again. Drive time. I knew it this morning when I woke up to thunderstorms and extremely winey children. 

They are done. Done socializing, done with late nights, done sleeping in the same bed. We had a great trip, lots of family time, bbqs, and now we are ready. 

Hello to...

Driving back tomorrow!

Our own beds!!!!!

Our own house and space. 

Cooking in my own kitchen. And own grill- I learned I'm very spoiled my husbands grilling expertise and the seasonings we use when we grill. 

To coffee!!!!!!! My coffee. With caffeine. I did go Duncan donuts one day... 

Hello to...

Pool time with friends. 

The beach in a few weeks! 

I'm taking these winey kids home! That's exciting. 

We had a lot of fun while we were here though...

hello monday... rest and reset

This week I'm trying something new... linking up with some other blogs to say hello to a new week!  Its fun to write about things that other people are writing about.  It is also fun to be given a topic and let your words do the walking.

Hello to my first full week of summer. Hello, I'm a teacher.  Welcome Teacher.
seriously, where is the support group?  The sunshine greets me, and so does the lack of a schedule.  I'm looking forward to my vacations that are all set up in July.  June is kind of my recuperating month.  Lost of REST.  You just chuckled right... who rests with a 4 and 3 year old?  Still though, its rest.  I'm resting when I SIT down and they play in the pool.  I rest when I fall asleep during nap time.  I rest and reset when we laugh and play with no place to be.

Hello to GOODBYE of a rough allergy week.  I didn't realize they could be so hateful.

Hello to pink eye for Nola... and lots of applications of doTERRA lavender and melaleuca oils to help her heal. Fingers crossed I'm saving myself ANOTHER trip to the pediatrician (dislike).

Hello to having my energy back to get a work out in EVERY DAY! I hate getting to the place where I feel contentment in my lack of working out... I wish my skin would cringe with the thought of it, but I get sinfully content in not working my body out.  And YET still do not like the fat on my body and still tell it to get off of me all the time... see the problem? Hello Jillian Michaels... let's do it all summer!

Hello to my little lady turning 3.  We celebrated all week.  She is such an amazing little girl.  On her birthday she had a lot of phone calls.  Each time...

Nola the phone is for you.
Oh. Hello?  WHO IS THIS???
and then we all laugh.

Hello to being at home with the hubby and the kiddos.  Gosh, I just love parenting together.  I feel so much more frustration and anger when I'm parenting alone for long periods of time.  I do not know how single parents do it... you guys are freaking rock stars.  Of course I do realize that you do it, because you have to, and because you love your children, and hopefully you have an amazing support team... because it take a village... a globe, even.

Hello Monday!(Let's be real, my summer mondays run together...) 

Linking up with Lisa Leanard and Happy Little Lovelies.