I mentioned yesterday that last week took on a different role for Avery, and myself. 

January 13th, a day I will remember for a long time. The two days leading up to that day were a whirlwind, and an emotional rollercoaster to say the least.

 

Avery has been asking to go to "big" school since the middle of October. But, due to her illness back at the end of June we chose to keep her home and safe.

 

Since Christmas break, and especially the beginning of last week, it was becoming very clear that she was needing a change. And, this change would break my heart. So last week we submitted her paperwork for public school. She went on a tour with her counselor for 1st grade, without me. Without me, because due to covid, parents aren't allowed in the building. I cried the entire time. She came back to the vehicle smiling and so excited to tell me all about her new school. And before we made it back home, I received the call that she had been enrolled, and could start the following day. The lady on the phone gave me a little info to get us started, and gave me her teachers name.

 

I immediately came home to check the teacher list to see and read who would be taking on the roll as her new teacher. More tears fell, but this time it was tears of JOY. Y'all her teacher could not be more perfect for her and our family. And I'm certain Avery will love her.

Her teacher was out last week, but Avery insisted she wanted to go ahead and start so she could meet her new classmates. Lenley and I dropped her off in the car rider line and before we left the school Len said, "mom I miss Avery" and little did she know, I was crying too! 

That first day I got an email from her teacher with the cutest, and biggest smile I've ever seen on her face. Well, the only other time was when she met Rosie for the first time. So all the tears, all the worry, all the stress... it just kinda melted away with this one picture. When I picked her up her exact words were, "this was the best day ever!"

She was very excited to go back to school the next day, and that day had some emotional moments for her. Her school day is now 7 hrs and not the 3.5 we were doing at home every weekday. Her day starts earlier, as in she was used to getting up at 7:45, not being in her class ready to work by that time. 

Some things however have improved. One, Terry is home when we have to get up and he helps get the girls up and moving. I'm not a morning person, he is, and that's made a big difference for the girls, and me. Avery is loving the interactions with her classmates, and has even shown an interest in eating from the cafeteria. She said her favorite day will be mozzarella stick day.

Lenley is not a fan of the afternoon car rider line. But I figured out Friday that she could bring their Switch in the car, so that made the time go by a little faster for her. It also kept her from talking my ears off.

All of the events of last week were a HUGE change for all of us. I'm hoping the routine will set in soon and it will become second nature to us all. I'm most excited about hearing how her first day with her teacher is. We watched her welcome video and Avery is really happy she is in her class. We've also been working with her this weekend to get her used to some of the work they are doing in class. Common core will be a learning curve for all of us. Hopefully we will all adjust and catch on quickly.

Prayers for another good week. Prayers to keep her healthy and safe. Prayers for an easy adjustment in our daily schedules. And prayers for this mama who is no longer in control.

Weekend Update...

This weekend was supposed to go differently than it did, but that's okay. Avery was excited to go to my parent's house, and at the last minute she decided to not go. I truly think all the changes of last week with starting a new school, a different routine, and not being with me 24/7 had her wanting her mama. More on that later...

Friday evening we ordered pizza and chilled. The week was emotional, and we were all exhausted. We stayed up an hour later and called it a night. 

Saturday morning Terry and the girls let me sleep in. It was needed and felt great. I think the only reason they woke me up at 9 was because they wanted cinnamon rolls, and daddy didn't know how to make them. We spent the morning snuggling and having tickle fights before getting ready for one of their friends birthday drive by.

Saturday afternoon was full of sugar and sweets from Brayden's birthday. They had fun seeing him, and getting all the sugar. They got to ride in their daddy's work SUV for the drive by, and I'm pretty sure that made their day. We spent that evening grilling and hanging out in the living room. Not to mention we let them "wing it" and that's always a treat for them. (Wing it means a wipe down, and not a bath or shower.)

Sunday morning we used the hot chocolate bombs that we got from Brayden's party and holy moly they were good. The girls thought it was fun to see the marshmallows pop out, and to have green hot chocolate. Once the girls got settled playing, I tuned in to a church service back in Mississippi. I didn't make it through the first five minutes without crying. The pastor's wife passed away at a very young age from complications of covid the day before, and the entire congregation and worship leaders — you could just see it on their faces. The sadness, the hurt, the emptiness they felt, it was there and hard to see. I still see the joy on her face that I always saw when I saw pictures of her, and that's what brings me comfort — knowing she is showing that smile in the presence of Our Lord and Savior.

Sunday afternoon and evening was spent with some friends at their house for a cookout. Sometimes you just need a minute with adults and to let the kiddos play. It was nice to relax and have some laughs. After the heaviness of the week, and weekend, it was needed. And let's not forget all the food, it was delicious. I think if I always have the choice of what to have for a meal, it's finger foods and dips, and appetizers. A variety of yummy food always makes for a happy and content mama.

And here it is Monday morning... there is no school today. Avery was up at 6:45 ready for the day. (Who wants to place bets on if she does this tomorrow morning?) She stood by the window waiting to see if any friends were coming out to play. Lenley was like me, still in pjs and just wanting to sleep some more. Now their friends are here playing, and it's giving me a moment to catch up on laundry, some organizing, and well, writing.

Tomorrow starts Avery's 4th day at her new school. She also meets her new teacher tomorrow morning. While last week had it challenges, I'm sure more challenges will come. I'm just thankful for my tribe who keep me sane and uplifted. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it last week without them.

         

Organizing the chaos

2020 will be known for most who were at home as the year of home projects. If you drove by a Lowes or Home Depot, those parking lots were full of vehicles just waiting to be filled with the items needed for the projects at home.

We really didn't do any major projects. Terry cleaned out the garage, we tried to organize a few things, but really it was mainly just two parents trying to survive with two little girls who wanted to constantly be doing something—usually outside.

I got a gift card to amazon for Christmas, one of my favorite places to order something and have it arrive fast. And I decided to get a few things to help organize the refrigerator, weirdly enough. I'm a Coke Zero kinda girl. When others say they have to have their coffee first thing in the morning, well, don't talk to me until I've had a few sips of my Coke Zero. Seriously. The outcome is much better with it in my system than without.

I have a running list of things I would like to purchase on Amazon. Did you know you could do that? You can even share it with people when they ask what you'd like for your birthday, Christmas, etc. So I started adding some organization things back in December, and took the plunge at the end of the year to we can get a few things organized. And to kick things off we started with the fridge.

This plastic turntable is perfect for all Terry's different pickles, and salsas. I purchased two, but so far we have only put one into place. I'm kinda thinking I might us the second one in our master bathroom for under the sink for some organization there.

And to get rid of twelve pack boxes in the fridge, I got these can organizers. It came as a four pack, so we have two in our main fridge and two in the fridge downstairs. Just makes it a lot cleaner to look at in the fridge in my opinion.

Trust me, we have plenty of other things to organize in this house, but I feel like that's a good start. I have two more of those turntables in my cart now because I'm thinking I might use one in the spice cabinet, because it's a mess. And maybe one in the pantry. Oh, and the can organizer would be good in the pantry too, to get those green bean, cream of chicken and rotel cans from taking up so much room. 

I'll holla at y'all later... just gave myself some more ideas for organizing. I'm pretty sure Terry will be flipping out in a second. 

Happy New Year, y'all! And happy organizing!