~Meal Planning~

I have just started taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. It is something I have always wanted to take just never had the time to. I made the decision when I saw that it was being offered at church that I was going to make the time and do it. I am proud to say that I am not taking it because I am currently in debt. I have learned my lesson about debt (I hope) and will not go down that road again. I am looking for a better way to manage the little money that I do have. It seems with life constantly on the go I have a tendency to take the easy road and eat out quite a bit and make too many Quick Trip stops on the way home from practices. So, not only will I be changing my spending habits and taking a closer look at where every penny is going to be spent, it seems that now I will be adding meal planning to my list of weekly chores. I would love suggestions on easy on the go meals to serve the kids....picky ones at that. At the end of most days I am too tired to figure out what to cook for dinner so it will definitely be decided ahead of time. I guess that means I better start like grocery shopping....we are not very good friends.

~Vacation Time~

Three years ago we went to Amelia Island on a family vacation for the first time with Kelly and her family along with my parents. We had a great time but the vacation ended in disaster as well all got sick with some type of stomach bug.

Last year was not as eventful as far as sickness and again we had a great time.

We just got back from our week at the beach and we had a wonderful time. This year was a bit different as Mom and Dad were not able to go because it was Dad's first week of chemo. While Kelly was not sure that they were going to go at all because of Dad's diagnosis Mom assured her that they would be fine while we were all at the beach and if something were to happen then we could just come home. So, the kids and I packed up the car and headed down to Amelia on Sunday afternoon.  We enjoyed 4 wonderful days on the beach. The kids did lots of boogie boarding including one day where the waves were pretty rough and they loved it! We went out to eat a few times and enjoyed a river cruise around Cumberland Island. Every morning Drew woke up and Face Timed Dad usually before any of the rest of us were awake. I think Freddy got up one morning and Parker made an appearance one morning, Jordan however opted to sleep in and not join Drew and Granddaddy on their daily call.  I am so glad that we are able to spend as much time as we are with our family and that the kids have their cousins to play with and share life with.

~Baseball~

Freddy has been playing baseball since kindergarten. He has played every fall and spring season since then as well as a few summers of sandlot (laid back summer season) as well as this current summer of All-stars. This summer has been an eye opener for me and I think Freddy as well. As Freddy's baseball career has continued, I have become more and more involved with it eventually leading up to me being a head coach for 5 seasons now. I have even gone as far as getting elected to the board for the league we participate in.  Now that we have gotten this involved in the happenings at East Side...Freddy has decided that he wants to play flag football in the fall. I know that this will be good for him to explore other sports and I encouraged him to do it...but with it goes the little bit of community that we have been able to attach ourselves to. He promises that he will be back playing in the spring and I look forward to it. This will also be the first season that all three kids will be playing a sport at the same time. While I have always encouraged Parker and Jordan to participate as well neither of them have really found anything that they love and have moved around a bit and have not been as consistent as Freddy and baseball.  I look forward to meeting a new group of people as we indulge ourselves in the athletics at Mt. Bethel church this fall.

2014 East Side 10U Hurricanes

~Thoughts~

While I have not always been great at keeping up with the blog...I have 4 posts in 4 years...I have been doing a lot of thinking and searching the last few weeks and have decided to put some thoughts down and start using the blog for that.

As the kids are getting older and participating in more activities and forming new friendships I am struggling. I have a hard time with the fact that it seems no one ever wants them to come over and play. Is it because I work all the time and don't really have time to reciprocate? Is it because we don't make the first offer? I feel like my kids are missing out on being able to form these relationships outside of their activities. I feel it is important for them to have friends away from school and sports. Or am I just reflecting on my childhood when we played with people almost every day...maybe its not the same way anymore as much as things have changed since I was a kid. Regardless, I am going to make a better effort to leave work early once in a while and have them invite people over.

While on the topic of friends...why is it that it is so hard as a single mom to make friends? Now, I know that I am not what society would consider the typical single mother. I work at a place where I wear polo shirts and cargo pants, I coach sports and I do what I have to to support my kids. No, I don't like to get all dolled up and my go to outfit is jeans and a t-shirt.  However, this does not mean that I don't enjoy the company of other adults.  Just because I don't have a "better half" does not mean that I would not enjoy spending time with the parents of kids that my kids are friends with or any adults for that matter. I try to make that bond with the parents and then it seems that when it comes to adult time no one ever seems to think about me. I may not be the host type to invite people over and I get that it is usually a two way street. Again, it could be me and I could be missing something, but I feel that most of it has to do with the fact that I am a single mother.  Or, it could just be that people just don't want to hang out with me. Who knows. I have my kids and we will just continue to do what we do and make our memories ourselves.

~Baseball + Camera = Love~

I have always loved sports. I really can't remember my life without them. Now that the kids are "of age" we spend our days at the baseball fields and gymnastics center. I am coaching Parker's team of 5 and 6 year olds and having a blast. This is the first season that I have not been involved with coaching Freddy's team. I have not really known what to do not being on the field  so I have decided that I am just going to take pictures at all of the games and capture the games through the lens of my camera.

With this I have decided that I need a site in which to share my photographs with the parents on his team and any other parents whose kids may fall victim to my camera. Below is the link to my SmugMug Site and the baseball gallery. I hope to add all of my pictures here eventually. I just need to find the time to sit down and organize all of my pictures.

In the mean time please enjoy my pictures:  SmugMug Site

~Family~

I love my family! This picture was taken last April when my brother proposed on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at my Aunt and Uncle's lake house. We were lucky enough to be there and share their special moment with them.

My Little Golfer

While I am busy working, Parker is busy practicing up to support me when I am older. He absolutely loves golf. Whenever he hears people talking to Freddy about baseball he is quick to tell them that he is a golfer.