A Small Hiatus

Hi friends! Long time, no see! Yes, I have definitely been on a bit of a hiatus. I'm baccckkkk though! Seriously, life has been so CRAY CRAY lately. It's been hard to find a free moment to stop and do much more than breathe. I have so much to catch you up on.  Since I last blogged, Chloe started her first dance class, one of my best friends lost her husband in a car accident, Chloe decided she wanted to wear 'bid durl pannies,' and Rusty decided my sweet two year old needed her very own Dune Buggy.

The honest truth is, almost two weeks ago when I got home from Chloe's first dance class, I was pumped and so ready to get online and make a post about it. While getting online to do this, I found out one of my best friend's husband had passed away. To be honest, I didn't feel like I should be sharing all these joyful, exciting moments, when she was going through such pain. It seemed kind of selfish. So, I just decided that maybe I needed to take a break for a week....which then turned into almost two weeks. 

So, dance class...I must say, my kid is shy. The first week she pretty much  clung to my leg.  However, she looked so dang cute clinging to my leg in her adorable little ballet outfit!  Week two was much better though.  Don't get me wrong, she still had her moments, but overall, it was a success! Miss Andrea, her teacher, ends her class with the Hot Dog song from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. This works to our advantage because this is Chloe's favorite show and song. Well, besides Blurred Lines, or 'Hey Hey' as she calls it. Back to the Hot Dog song though...when we walked in the studio on Tuesday, the first words she had for her teacher were, "I wan Hot Dog!"

Now, on to potty training.  Back in the spring Chloe had taken an interest in going potty in the 'bid durl potty.' She was inconsistent, but when her mind was in it, she was doing good!  It didn't last long though, and we haven't had any luck at all since she turned two back in June. That is...until last Friday! Jakki, her amazing babysitter, text me to tell me Chloe asked her to wear 'bid durl pannies' like Jenna!!! Ladies and gentlemen, let the potty training begin! We promptly went to Babies R Us on Saturday to spend our life savings on all things potty related. Chloe picked out Minnie Mouse and Sofia The First 'pannies,' a Sofia stool, and mom got a few pairs of plastic pants and pull ups for her just to be on the safe side. Who knew those plastic pants wouldn't really be needed?!? She has done EXCEPTIONALLY WELL! Most days, Chloe has been accident free. There have definitely been a few accidents here and there, but overall, my kid is doing simply fabulous. I am so super duper proud of her. :)

That brings us to today. Today is the day my kid became the only two year old in Texas who owns a dune buggy. Ya know, because she can reach the pedal and drive it and all. Seriously...pics to come. Daddy is "girling"'it up as we speak.

Up next, #picadayfriday!!!

Lori 

#picadayfriday

It's #picadayfriday! I'll be honest, though. It's been a busy, crazy week and I didn't take nearly as many pictures as usual! So, we will see how this goes...

Saturday: We went down to the lake house to mow. We were greeted with this beautiful family of deer on the other side of the fence when we pulled up.

Sunday: When its HOT and humid on the lake, sometimes you just have to make lemons out of lemonade. By that I mean, sit in the cold cooler!

Monday: Sick mommy, sick baby= Lots of snuggle time!

Tuesday: Open house night. Chloe joined us. I didn't get much this night. My cheerleaders watched her while I was with parents and one of them sent me this picture. She's looking like she's missing her mama!

Wednesday: I am so very, very grateful that I never sleep trained my baby girl! Every night at 8:30 I feel like the luckiest mommy in the world to get to rock my baby to sleep still! Not many mamas of 2 year olds still get this luxury.

Thursday: Chloe is a master picture taker. Just look at this sunset picture she took from the backseat!

Friday: This is how I'm spending my evening! I love, love, LOVE me some Tori Spelling. Nothing in the world sounds better tonight than a little Tori and Dean on the DVR.

I hope you all have a happy, cool, and safe weekend!

Lori

Dear Spanky

Dear Spanky,

Please consider this my formal notice that if I ever, EVER get up at 3 in the morning again only to step in a puddle of your dog pee, a puddle so big I could hear the splash, you will be officially homeless. HOMELESS. My floor is not, never was, and will never be your bathroom.

Kindly,

Your mom (at least for the moment)

The Case of The Disappearing 2 Year Old

This morning Chloe decided to sleep in past her normal 6:30am wake up time. I'm not gonna lie. I didn't wake her up and wasn't particularly sad that she decided to sleep in. After all, she had to take some Benadryl last night because her poor allergies were killing her. We all know how sleepy Benadryl makes us. This also meant I got to get ready for the day in peace without also corralling a two year old and using the phrases, "Chloe, no." Chloe, get out of the dog water." "Get off of Duke, Chloe. He's not a horse." and "Chloe, please don't use my brush on Spanky anymore. He's dirty."  These phrases are staples of our morning routine.  Around 7:00am, I decided to go open her door in hopes that the natural noise of the house and dogs would start to wake my little sleeping beauty.

When I got about half way down the hall, I noticed her door was open. Strange, I thought I closed it. Upon entering her room, I realized my little princess was already up! Her bed was empty. Where was she, I wondered? I scoured the house looking for her. I wasn't particularly worried. I mean, she had to be somewhere. I looked high, I looked low, I called her name, I offered her milk....nothing. After searching everywhere, I began to worry panic FREAK OUT. SOMEONE HAD COME INTO MY HOUSE AND TAKEN MY PRECIOUS LITTLE ANGEL! I just knew it. Heart pounding, hands shaking, frantically calling her name, I began running around like a chicken with his head cut off. That's when I saw it. The back door. It was shut, but only partially. It looked like when you close the door but don't push it all the way into the latch. As quick as I could, I threw open the back door and ran outside. What did I find? My precious, NON SLEEPING 2 YEAR OLD hanging out on the deck at the patio table.

 

Needless to say, I was beyond relieved. You know that feeling you get when all the sudden you've used all the adrenaline you had and now you're just plum tired? Yeah, that was me. After we got back inside, I had a talk with Chloe. I told her how if she wanted to see mommy grow old, she should probably never do that again because I almost had a heart attack.

 

Then we got dressed, brushed that mop on her head, and cleaned those dirty feet!

 

P.S. Don't judge me...I know my grass is tall. My lawn boy stood me up yesterday. :/

 

Happy Tuesday!!!

 

Lori

#picadayfriday

Time for a little lunch time bloggin' fun! #Picadayfriday is in full force!

 

Saturday: This sweet girl might not be feeling too hot. :/ I turned around from putting up all the food I got out to make her lunch to find her holding her head up with her hand and just looking plain pitiful.

Sunday: Sunday was a day of deep sleep. No doubt because she wasn't feeling up to par. This kid rarely NEVER just lays down on the couch and passes out.

Monday: Chloe had to spend the day with me at work. Poor girl...She was at work with me until 6:45! All things considered, she did fabulous, helped me destroy my room, and cleaned her boots up just like her daddy does. Oh, and found the pink pom poms for BCA month.

 

Tuesday: The first day of school!!! She still wasn't feeling herself. I couldn't get her to take her paci out for the picture or even lift her head up. :(

Wednesday: Mommy reinstalled "Elmo Calls" onto my phone. Some crazy 1 year old deleted it a few months back. You would have thought it was Christmas in the Thompson house. While I rocked her nite nite, Chloe and Elmo facetimed.

 

Thursday: I mustache you a question! Thanks to Mandi for letting me borrow these FABULOUS ice breakers to use with my homeroom babies! Each mustache had a random question on them. The kids were paired together, had to find out the other student's name and ask them the question. Then, they introduced each other to the class and told the answer to their question.

 

 

Friday: Today! Chloe told me this morning that she wanted to wear daddy's hat to Jakki's house. I don't know about you, but I think she looks way better in it than daddy does. ;)

 

 

Have a good great FABULOUS three day weekend, friends! We will be hitting up the lake and working on a nice, end of season tan.

 

Till next time,

 

Lori

An Unexpected Visitor

What a great day! Really, what a great week. Today was special though. This morning I woke up especially tired and was truly dragging. As I was preparing my class for the kids, someone walked in. When I turned around, it was one of my sweet boys that I taught 7 YEARS AGO! I seriously haven't seen him in years. He was probably a freshman or sophomore in high school the last time I ran into him. Caleb was a special kid. If I was to have a favorite, which of course a teacher NEVER would, Caleb would have topped my list that year. ;) 

This kid had personality for miles. He kept me on my toes but had me laughing the whole way. Needless to say I was surprised and SO thrilled to see him. He didn't think I would recognize him. Caleb was a little guy when I taught him. Not anymore. He's pushing 6'3ish. I recognized him instantly though. We talked for quite a while. Classroom preparations could wait. He said he was dropping his little brother off at school because he missed the bus and decided to come in and see me. 

My heart was officially full. This is why I do what I do. For a student, especially a boy, who I haven't had in my classroom for 7 years, to take the time out of his day to come say hi to me just because...it made my day. 

To all my teacher friends, don't think you're not making life long connections! We matter more than we know to these kids. Caleb and I sat there and talked as if only a few days had passed since he was one of my sweet babies. It was only after he left that I said, "DANGIT! I should have gotten a picture with him! This would be a great blog post!" Ho hum. :/ He promised to come by again when he's playing chauffeur for his brother. I'll be sure to get a picture then.

Tomorrow is #picadayfriday!  

Till then,

Lori

The First Day Of School

The eyes should say it all. It. Was. A. Long. Day. A good day, but a LONG one too. I'm beyond exhausted. The good news: for the first time in 3 years, I didn't have a single crying child! Usually I scare at least one. :/ The bad news: Today was easy. Tomorrow we start learning! That is why even though the hubs passed out at seven and my sweet, cranky, emotional Chloe took some Benadryl for her allergies and was out by 8, I am still up, still in my work clothes, planning away for tomorrow's lesson in a kitchen that smells like soured bulldog fart. Thank you, Spanky. My evening would not have been complete without your presence.

Oh, and, I didn't blog yesterday about my ESL test because I was frustrated with it. I guess I'm a high maintenance test taker, but I wasn't too thrilled with the testing environment I took my test in yesterday and was afraid I may not pass because I couldn't focus. I got my results today at lunch though and I PASSED! Praise you sweet baby Jesus! I really didn't want to have to take it again. Yay for small miracles! 

After work today I was greeted by the sweetest baby girl who wanted to be held. It was exactly what I needed after a long day. I missed her something fierce today! When we got home, she practiced the art of "selfies." I leave you tonight with the most beautiful, almost doll like selfie ever. Look at those eyes and that porcelain skin!

Nighty night, y'all!

Lori