Category Archives: Uncategorized

A look back….a look forward

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Some of our best decisions as a couple and parents this year:

– make date nights a priority (and start trusting kiddos to be home by themselves more)

– weekly schedule planning sessions

– go after career goals and support each other through promotions and moving on

– invest in quality therapy for kiddos and not just what was right in front of us at the time

– talking about our values as a couple and analyzing if we’re sticking to those or not

– scheduling in self-care (massages/facials monthly for me, chiro/hunting meet ups for him)

– quiet times/morning times to highlight what I’m grateful for and get set for the daySome missing pieces that we’d like to change next year:

– being more intentional with how we’re showing love to our children (love languages, quality time, etc.)

– accept where they’re at

– commit to a trip together without kiddos

– attend a personal development conference together

– more transparency about mental health struggles in hopes that stigma goes down in families around us

– host more things at our house….we love our space and want more people in it with us!!!

Excited to see what 2019 has in store for this crew of mine and all of our collective hearts and minds!

My kind of holiday…

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As most people know, I’m not the most comfortable working my way around a big holiday meal or (even a small meal) in our kitchen. Since Scott was on shift on Thanksgiving, I decided to take on a turkey in order to give my family some resemblance of traditional food. However, as the day ended and the timeline didn’t work out much…..
4:30pm – stuffing/mashed potatoes done and demolished
5:00pm – pumpkin pie…..we couldn’t wait any longer!7:30 – the turkey was finally done……and no one was hungry anymore to eat it. Sad face.
And although NONE of those domestic markers of superiority worked out…..a lot of other things did work out that day which mean way more to me than what my kiddos eat for dinner on this specific Thursday in November.

I volunteered to help serve a community meal in Ferndale earlier Thursday and brought all three kiddos along….they served without any complaining and joyous personalities, even when some of their “customers” weren’t the nicest. I loved seeing everyone love on them and watching their smiles brighten days just like they brighten mine. I also loved their commentary afterward, knowing that serving others has the BIGGEST impact on ourselves….in hopes these feelings and act of service continue on their own choosing.
Throughout the day, we got to see lots of friends both big and small swing by our house for short little visits. Loved spending chunks of the day with both our biological and chosen family….from 6:20 in the morning to 12:30 at night, we had visitors along for our holiday activities (yes watching Hallmark romance movies is a traditional Thanksgiving activity in my book). Ending the day with a soulmate visit with her loving on my kiddos (and kitten) was the best….made my heart so happy falling asleep that evening.Now it’s on to Christmas decorations…..so excited to fill our home with holiday joy and lights and trees for our cats to destroy. And I will sacrifice my time in the kitchen to sit down and have a beverage or two with you and let Scott take care of the cooking for all of our sakes!!!

All good things…

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Must come to an end. Excerpt from Instagram:

It’s been hard for me to capture what this season meant to me….but it means a whole lot more than our place in league, districts or state. It’s the family we created, the trust these players and families gifted to me along the journey, the packed gyms and a supportive community, an amazing coaching staff to help guide this crazy crew, and above all an entire 3 months filled with joy, laughter and LOVE. #unicornszn #forever #ferndalevolleyball #coachlife #ONE #clockingout

Parents of teens support group….

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I’ve seen (and commented on) multiple posts of parents of teenagers reaching out for support and community. And while I totally FEEL that all over the place and hope to make a splash in this arena through my future job at FSD, it just doesn’t seem to be an available option right now.

But until then….this podcast is seriously a MUST LISTEN!!!! Every episode is real, insightful and you walk away with real tactics or mindsets shifts you can use right away with your teens. The show is based on a real life moms relationship with her sons (who committed suicide three years ago) therapist. Her fire was lit to help save other teens from that outcome and talks each week with an amazing counselor (y’all know I’m hard on counselors typically) on how to connect with your tween/teen in the most vulnerable years of their life.

Check out the podcast now!!!! (Also perfect to listen en route to your family vacay WITH your spouse while the kiddos have their headphones on)

Hint: the “DM episodes” are quick snippets of them answering listeners’ questions and you can listen to them in any order.

The real episodes might be better in order as the beginning episodes really build on each other.

And the wonder of first experiences….

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Along with our first camping trip with all three kiddos (5 people meant two cars, two ice chests and way more smores supplies needed), we wanted them to experience some fun FIRSTS as well. I had heard and read about the Blue Fox Drive-In and since we were so close at Deception Pass, it was the perfect opportunity to try it out.

Even Scott had never experienced the drive-in when he was younger…..I love when I know how fun something is and the suspense of them about to experience it…..momlife win!!!They happened to be open all week, so the Monday evening showing was perfect….wasn’t too busy and we got a perfect spot to set up shop in the back of the truck for the show!!!This nostalgic drive-in has go-karts, the actual movie, an awesome snack bar and a full arcade which keeps everyone entertained before dusk and the movie starting. I can’t imagine people staying for both movies – we were tired and ready for bed after just the first showing!First go-karts for all three kiddos!!!Also fun….we watched Hotel Transylvania 3 which included this fun crew of monsters heading on a summer vacation cruise. The kiddos transferring some of the movie plot to our recent Cruise-mas vacation was a fun walk down memory lane as well.

Happy Christmas!!

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Or as we have been referring to it….happy Cruise-mas. ???

And a funny picture I couldn’t NOT share. And on a serious note….I am so incredibly grateful for all of your love and support to our little team and our journey throughout this year. I read every single comment and love the engagement I’ve been able to cultivate through this blog. More shenanigans to come in 2018!

….and we’re off!!!

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Some of my plane to-do list includes:

– read lots of personal development books (can’t get enough)

– feel bad about NOT reading because….naps

– keep the kiddos anxiety at bay by providing them a free ticket for unlimited screen time (and hella peace oil)

– brainstorm blog topics that contain better content than what my current mental health is concocting:

1. Hey look (again)….my cat is cute. And also….the Christmas videos of kids crying when unwrapping their new puppy? Tears. Every time. I’m officially a pet person.

2. Work is hard. Hot tub is easy. Rinse. Repeat.

3. ….on why I click every Facebook quiz I see and then never post the results because I’m so embarrassed that I waste time on that.

4. Why do cats like Christmas trees so much? (I have no idea but I would like to research this topic – my current theory is my cat really wants to escape outside but we wont let him so the tree experience is similar to what we feel when we think about laying on a sunny beach somewhere)

5. ….on my brothers’ girlfriends and my hypothesis on the link between how cool they are and their hair color (don’t worry I won’t actually blog about this BJ and Jakeepoo but they are cool….and brunette….just sayin)

And obviously I’m completely kidding about having a to-do list for the start of what will be the most relaxing, amazing holiday vacation of all time……or not.

….on waiting a year

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We’ve been anxiously waiting for our Christmas cruise to be here and now it is!!! The big kids have been counting down to relaxation and family time….the little Wonders are unfortunately counting down towards the doom and gloom of our plane crashing and there not being enough life boats on the cruise ship (noted: dont let your anxiety-ridden son research titanic the same year you’re taking him on a cruise). ?

We’re ready to tackle their anxiety with the best strategy I know – real life experiences that will reassure them that it will all be okay and that we will help them through it. That traveling outside of what we “know” is something to look forward to – not be scared of. And that creating family memories sometimes means we have to leave the house (or the country!).

Please pray for our littles and their anxiety – although I tease about it, I know their fear is strong and it is real. And we will struggle getting them through it and then we will. We will enjoy each other and the trip and use it as a “success story” for our next trip.