finding balance

I have been a bad {really bad} blogger. The school year has started and somehow I have missed Brynn's 9 month post and today she turns 10 months. The time is really flying by.

This summer I felt like we fell into a good routine with Brynn and I was finally feeling comfortable. Then in service week started and then school... now I feel like it's all I can do to keep my head above water. When I work on being a good teacher, I feel like a bad mom and wife. Then when I work on being a good mom and wife, I feel like I'm short changing my students. Being a working mom is hard. 

The laundry is never done (it never has been), there's always a load of dishes to be done... and let's not even talk about working out. At the end of the day if I can say; my students feel loved and Tom & Brynn are happy and feel appreciated then I did my job. But I am feeling weighed down. I am struggling to give it up and give it to God. My grasp is too tight. 

August flew by... but that only means that Fall is just around the corner. Hallelujah! 

Here's what we've been up to.

On top of getting ready for school Brynn and I decided to throw Tom a surprise birthday party. There was a lot of late night crafting going on. When your husband works the midnight shift the sneakiness can't start until 9pm. I am planning a separate post on this later... {hopefully} The theme was a 29th Beer Bash. 

Brynn is on the move. She is a speed crawler... pulling up on anything and everything... cruising furniture and chatting up a storm. I am working feverishly to catch up on her monthly posts so I can start working on her 1st birthday party... {I can't believe I just typed that} You bet your bottom that I have a secret board full of pins. And have had one for quite some time.

{that tongue is always out}

After creating my own chalkboards to document my pregnancy my mom started asking me to decorate different pieces for her, here and there. I created a few chalkboards for family friends and made a bit of extra money. Some friends, but especially my mom have always encouraged me to do something with my creativity but I've always brushed it aside. I am so not a risk taker... With a lot of help from my mom I have decided to take a leap and host my own booth at a local craft fair. So without further a due I present....

I picked my sweet friend's brain for a name for these chalked beauties. She {sprinklesandwrinkles} has always had a way with words. Magnolia holds a special place in our hearts. We have a magnolia tree growing outside our kitchen window in memory of Baby H. So the name has special meaning and is absolutely perfect. Thank you dear friend :) 

So along with party planning, school and chasing a mobile baby there has been LOTS of chalking. My husband has tripped numerous times over the frames and canvases lining our living room. So we are counting down the days until the craft fair on the 28th. Say a quick prayer... I am hoping for lots of interest. 

There has been lots of activity going on in our home. We are anxiously waiting for the cooler weather that Fall will bring along with Brynn's birthday and the holiday season. 

Love y'all!

One Sick Puppy & The Past 24 Hours

This summer my one goal, other than set up the nursery, was to break Kali of the kennel. She has been kennel trained since a puppy. With a baby on the way I did not want a huge kennel in the house when Baby Girl starts crawling... not to mention it was looking quite tacky in the breakfast area. Hence this summer's goal.

Kali has done so well, but we have to put the trashcan on the counter or else she demolishes the trash bag. I don't mean pulls out a few pieces, but somehow the trashcan stays in place and every piece of trash is in the next room by her bed. We wish there was a secret camera so we could watch this monstrosity. Well the other night it was worse than ever. We were over at my mom and dad's for dinner and we came home to a room full of trash, fruit peels & rines, and everything in between. Kali seemed to be okay except for a bruised ego and bum after a few swats. But the following day this is what our search engine looked like...

Yesterday she couldn't stop vomiting and there was nothing in her poor stomach. After a few hours of hurling, we were concerned about dehydration and at 1:30 in the morning after a call to the local emergency vet we were on our way. Man... Ill tell you what, I am in the wrong business! After a $120 walk in doctor's exam fee, a shot and fluids for our dehydrated puppy, at 3:30am our wallets were feeling a lot lighter. We left with a hunch back dog as well. They injected the fluids right below her neck and above her back and she had a huge bubble of fluids. (The picture doesn't do it justice, I promise).

As we pulled out a local police officer pulled into the gas station and came right behind us. When you're the only car on the road at 3:30am its inevitable... the lights came on. A sick dog, an emergency visit and now a ticket... Thankfully my police officer knew this policeman and after a 20 minute chat we were on our way. 

What a rough, ROUGH 24 hours for this family.

We have had a pretty lazy morning, afternoon ... well a lazy day! :) I reached for the non decaf coffee this morning. I know tsssk, tssk! That's what 4 hours of sleep will get you.

 This is what our day has looked like... Poor Girl! :(

 I took this opportunity to tackle and Pinterest DIY tutorial and redo a lampshade for Baby Girl's dresser. 

Reaction... I LOVE IT!

Looking back... I am thankful for 24 hour emergency vets, cloudy lazy days and a chance to relax before the craziness of the school year begins! And I'm definitely thankful to see Kali's tail wagging again.