back to the grind

Today was the official day of school starting for our Brielle. I can’t believe we have a first grader in the house. She is getting so big. She looked so cute in her new outfit (minus the hat, see my other blog post)! She had her shine new backpack, new outfit, sparkly white shoes, and a new trim (of the hair). She was ready for action, but was I?

I remember being so nervous the fist day of school: I couldn’t sleep, I had butterflies in my stomach, I just was so unsure, but not Brielle. I went in to wake her up at O’ dark thirty, really at 6:45 which is so stinkin’ early for us and she was sawin’ logs like this was a normal day, like nothing was happening. She didn’t want to get up for anything. When she finally rolled out of bed she got her outfit on and we were on the run. She was fine and ready for school. Me still a bit nervous just hoping all would go well. Would she like her teacher, would she have fun, yet learn a lot, would she meet friends, there were so many questions, but what could I do, but walk away and leave her to Mrs. Smith (her teacher) Who seem super sweet and super nice.

We hung out and took care of some stuff around the house and patiently waited for Brielle, which wasn’t long since it was early release, and then we headed out to get her. Colby, Cooper and I waited outside her door and out she came. Looking anything, but impressed. What did that mean? So we asked how was your day and she said okay. She said, they did a lot of going to the rug, then to the desk, then to the rug, then to the desk, then to the rug…. Okay, okay I get it. Well what was the best part of your day we ask? RECESS, she replies. Ugggg our little Brielle always wanting to play. We’ll see what the year has to bring, always a new adventure.  (I know the one picture is blurry cause I snapped it as she was running in, but I think it's cute how she still smiles and waves and doesn't mind having us walk her to her door, one day she'll be to old for that, but until then I'll keep walking her right up to her classroom door)

goodbye summer fun

It is so sad that our eventful summer is coming to an end. While all my friends are celebrating I’m sad cause I really love hangin’ with the kids and just playing with them and making wonderful memories that we’ll never forget.  We have had so much fun this summer, maybe too much fun. We have done so many fun activities and really just enjoyed ourselves.

Some of our fun activities we have done are swimming (and lots of it), craft rotations with friends, summer movies, backyard water fun, arts-n-crafts, phoenix children’s museum, Tempe town lake, playing with cousins, dancing, going to Oklahoma, going to Chicago, going to Jackie’s cabin, Amazing Jakes, Sunsplash, The Phoenix Zoo, Brielle’s Birthday, and so much more…

The summer is coming to an end and so are our adventures… I better start planning for next year!!!

it’s dark and scary out there…

Put together three woman and a bunch of kids and what do you get? A fun time. My good friend, Jackie, invited us to go to her family cabin in Pine and spend a few days just chillin’ out and playin’. So my family, my good friend Amy’s family, and Jackie’s family headed out for a three day two night adventure in the big dark scare (oh sorry I was getting my self worked up again) woods.

The weather was delightful, the company was splendid, the food was wonderful, and everyone had a superb time. We divided up what everyone was going to bring food wise, packed our cars and headed out. When we got there the kids jetted out and played outside the whole day just using their imaginations and enjoying Mother Nature. It reminded me of being a kid at the ranch, we had some awesome memories up there. I think the kids favorite thing was the porch swing they had, Brielle would push all the kids on it like it was a ride at a carnival. The other place that was so cool was the dried up creek, I thought it made the best pictures and the kids loved exploring and finding everything from flowers to lizards down there. Then to settle down at night all the kids would hunker down and relax and watch a movie in the nice dark living room.

It was sure fun and a great way to beat the heat. (Now let’s not mention nighttime and sleeping that was a bit of a disaster, but it can’t all be 100% perfect.) Thanks Jackie for inviting us to come along and make some wonderful memories with some wonderful friends.

mamas got a new outfit

Okay so it isn’t mama that got a new outfit it was Brielle. She used some of her Birthday money and went shopping and picked out an outfit that she thinks is so way cute. Basically how it happened was that we were school shopping strictly for jeans and a backpack.

We happened to run into Justice with my 40% off coupon and it was like a scene from the movie “Confession of a Shopaholic”. She was in shopping heaven. She was having the lady bring her in clothes, trying them on, posing in front of the mirror, dancing, smiling, until she said, “can I have it” and I said, "NO, not unless you want to use your birthday money". So she promptly headed to the cashier and said, “how much will this be with my 40% off coupon?”

At least she was all about the discount. Then after she found out the total she said, “is that expensive?” She did get the outfit and absolutely loves it. Let’s just say it’s not mom’s favorite, but whatever she’s proud of her purchase and she got it for a good deal.

Girls just wanna have fun

It was Chicago time with Pampered Chef. My annual trip that I get to take with Pampered Chef and it was wonderful. I love going to Chicago not only cause it’s super fun, but because I come back energized and ready to take over the Pampered Chef world. It always reminds me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it. It also reminds me of what an awesome company The Pampered Chef is and how lucky I am to work for it. I can pick my hours and stay at home during the day with my two wonderful kids, but also make money, it’s incredible.

Every year when I go to Chicago we always do some fun stuff, but we also do work stuff. This year we were able to go see another musical (last year it was Wicked) this year it was Jersey Boys. The cool thing about Chicago is that you can walk up to the window that day and get way cheap tickets to a Broadway Musical and have pretty good seats. We also did a double decker bus tour of the whole city. That city is amazing and is such a fun play for a family vacation. I hope to take my family there someday! Soon when I get rich with the Pampered Chef. ☺ The weather was just beautiful, 78 and not humid, it was perfect. We walked everywhere and enjoyed every minute of it. We ate delicious food and enjoyed wonderful shopping. Okay maybe not so much shopping as looking in the windows and wishing. Just the atmosphere of the hustle and bustle of the city was super fun. Then it was time for the real reason we were there, National Conference. Pampered Chef provided some of the best training for us. We had great speakers and even got to see all the new fall and winter products. I love going to Conference I feel reenergized in my business and ready to go out and take over the world. Okay not really the world, but drum up some Pampered Chef business. Anyone want to have a party???