Summer Lovin, Had Me a Blast.

This is my last week of summer vacation.

School is right around the corner.

But, actually, I am looking forward to it.  Summer is great, but I think most teachers agree with me when I say we have the type of personality that can't sit still for too long.  I love being able to start a fresh, new year.  Not many jobs can you finish up, then get ready for a new year with a refreshed, motivated attitude.  I miss the kids too and the people I work with.  I am anxious to get started with some new ideas that have been stewing in my mind all summer.

but....

I will miss this sweet face.  

It is an absolute blessing to get to spend every day this summer with her.  She's my best friend in the whole, wide world.  I love being there when she makes new discoveries and I love watching her play with the excitement only a child can have.  I miss her more than words can express while I am at school, but it makes it a lot easier knowing that she is in such capable hands and with two other people who love her as dearly as I do.  (my mom and mother-in-law)  

Sometimes I feel guilty that I am not a stay-at-home mom.  It makes me wonder if moms who do stay home, think I don't love my baby as much because I don't stay home.  Disclaimer: I don't really think stay-at-home-moms are really thinking that AT ALL, but that's what mommy guilt will do for you.  There are many days that I wish I was home with my little one right next to you all, but let's be honest, there are also days when having some time to escape to work, doesn't sound too bad either.  Staying at home, is work!  Hard, hard work!  

I go back in forth with this argument in my head all the time.  I do find comfort in the fact that my mama was a teacher most my life and I think I turned out just fine.

I heard once that mamas who teach, are choosing to spend their days with someone else's children, because their love for all children runs deep.  My little baby will be in school soon, whether I want to admit it or not.  When that happens, I want her to be loved by those teachers, men and women who have chosen to be in the classroom and love someone else's kids too. 

So here I am, pouring my heart out and being pulled in two directions.  

Two purposes.

For me, I really think my job gives me a sense of purpose, so does being a mommy, but my job is just my OTHER purpose.  

I think I can have two.  

Thanks for reading if you made it this far.  I know I don't usually have such meaningful posts, but I know my audience of readers is small and I really want Blair to look back at this some day and know what my thoughts were.

Favorite Things Party

Today I am sharing one of my favorite things that is under $10.  My mother-in-law picked this up for Blair and we tested it out at Matt's softball games last night (even though it was unseasonably cold).

It's $5.97 at Walmart 

I also found it on Amazon and Toys R Us, but it was $11.99.

It put out a lot of air and it is soft, so when she sticks her fingers in there, it doesn't hurt.  Brilliant!

I clipped it onto her canopy of her stroller. 

Weekend Recap

Our weekend started with a bang on Friday because....

Auntie Emily and Cousin Olivia were here.

We had a fun filled morning with breakfast at Panera, helping my mom with some errands at Lowe's, then a trip to the Farmer's Market.

Then, we went our separate ways so every one could get some naps and commenced at 3:00 with swimming at our friend's house.

These babe's are all within 9 days of each other.  So fun!

We ended our busy Friday with a delicious dinner of grilled burgers at grandma's.

Saturday morning, we played at home until our nap time.  Then, we headed back over to grandma's to get a little more play time in with Olivia and to have lunch.

We went home and had a dance party.

(I could get the video to work, but follow me on Instagram and I'll show you!)

We ended the night with a date-in by renting some manly Jack Ryan movie.

Sunday morning, we headed to church.

Little Miss would not sit still long enough for a picture.

Matt's parents took Blair after church, so Matt and I could head to help my parents move my Grandpa's stuff out of his current assisted living place in Kansas.  We moved him closer to us, so it'll be much more convenient.  I went and picked up Blair, we played, and ended our evening with a Mexican dinner out with my parents, aunt, and uncle.

Such a fun weekend and so glad I got to love on that sweet niece of mine.

Friday Favorites

This week I thought I would just share my favorite pictures of the week, because that's what I want to look back and remember most and most of you like keeping up with little Miss Blair the most anyway.

1.  Matt's parents came back from a Rhine River cruise this week.  They spoiled Blair and brought her these fun gifts from Amsterdam.  Check out her cutesy wooden shoes.

2.  We had fun swimming with these sweet girls.

 3.  I think I perfected the over-easy egg.

4.  We are getting some curls like mama.

5.  She may be getting older, but she still likes snuggling.

6.  Eating a big girl lunch.

7.  I just love that sweet face and her new outfit made by grandma.

Just call me Monet

A couple weeks ago, my friend, Andrea, and I decided to test out our artistic talents.

We have a place in Joplin called RSVPaint, it stands for Relax, Sip, Visit, Paint.

Andrea was so sweet to drive her preggo self over from Springfield to do this with me.

It costs $35 and that includes the canvas and all the supplies.  You can also bring your own drinks, including drinks of the adult variety.

There is a teacher and he kind of guides you along, but allows you to have your own creativity with colors and things, so not everyone's looks exactly the same.  The paintings are on their website calendar, so you can pick to go on a day that you like the painting.

It was so fun and a great way to spend a couple hours with a best girlfriend!

My masterpiece

Andrea's masterpiece

Tasty Tuesday- Spinach and Mushroom Frittata

This was a easy, yummy dinner.  Hubby, Baby, and Mama all loved it.

Ingredients:

 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, and squeezed thoroughly to remove liquid

(I only had a huge bag, so I just eye-balled it)

4 eggs

1 cup ricotta cheese

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 cup chopped portobello mushrooms

1/2 cup finely chopped scallions with some green tops

1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings

1 pinch salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.  In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients until well mixed.  Spray a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray and fill with the mixture.

3.  Bake for 30 minutes, or until browned and set.  Let cool for 20 minutes, cut in wedges and serve.

• 
  

Weekend Recap

Our weekend started with a trip to Matt's choice for dinner Friday night...Hu Hot.
This was my creation.

Blair enjoyed people watching.  She's a nosy little thing.

We came home, played for a bit, and Blair went to bed.  She's getting sooooo close to walking!

Then, I went on a run outside, on a full belly.  Probably not the best idea.  I'm doing Couch to 5K, and I am to the part where there are no walking intervals.  I NEED MY WALKING INTERVALS!

I came home, took a way-to-long shower, and plopped in front of the TV.

Someone woke up at 10:00 with a case of the giggles.  It was totally random, but hilarious.

Saturday morning we were up bright an early.

We just had a quiet morning and headed off to Matt's second cousin Eve's 8th birthday party in the afternoon.

In the evening, we headed to my parents so Matt could help move some of their bedroom furniture, so they could finish painting.  We were rewarded with steaks on the grill.  Not too bad!  Especially considering I didn't help at all.

Saturday night ended with another game of Sequence and another loss for me.

Matt 3, Ashley 0
Seriously...

Sunday morning, we headed off to church.  We get done around 10:30 and Blair usually naps around 10:00, so I always have to sit in the backseat and pinch her to stay awake until we get home...no really, but I do keep her awake.  If she falls asleep in the car for 5 minutes, she thinks that counts as her nap.  No ma'am, it doesn't.

"Please Mommy, let me close my eyes!"

Matt picked us up some lunch, then I headed to the gym to do my run.  Still no walking intervals, but I made it the whole 25 minutes without stopping.  That's big for me.  I'm a runner-hater, trying to learn to like it.

I made The Pioneer Woman's Philly Cheesesteaks for dinner and they were yummo!

The rest of the night was spent chilling and enjoying my crazy little gal.

Friday Favorites

I am linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals and Erika at A Little Bit of Everything Blog to share my Friday Favorites!

I decided in honor of blogs, I would make my Friday Favorites my favorite blogs.

These are the top blogs that I check every morning.

I love reading about Andrea's sweet family.  She's also a working mama and a teacher, like me.  She also has an adorable little girl about Blair's age.

Erika is friends with Andrea and also has three sweet kids.  She's a Missouri girl, like me, but currently lives in Texas.  She really does write about a little bit of everything.

Shay is married to a boy from my hometown and is Sean from The Bachelor's sister.  Not gonna lie, that's how I originally found her.  She writes about her adorable family and everything else that you can possible imagine.  She also has her Mix and Match Mama blog where she shares her amazing recipes.

Amber write about her adorable twins and life with them.  She shares great, healthy recipes that are always very tasty.  She keeps me entertained with all the stories are her little girls.

Courtney lives near me and we have a few mutual friends.  She write about her sweet daughter and everyday life.  I love checking in with her and seeing what her sweet family is up to.

I have a few more blogs that are on my "regular" list, but I didn't want to overwhelm you!

Maybe next Friday I'll do more!

Toodles!

DIY Tablecloth Fringe Banner

Today I thought we'd do a little crafting.

I made this fringe banner for Blair's birthday out of a vinyl tablecloth.

Here are the supplies you need.  I used two tablecloths to make 4 rows of fringe.  One tablecloth makes 2 rows.  Don't you love my Christmas wrapping paper scissors.

Here's the size.  I think I got this at Wal-Mart for like $1.99.

Open it up and cut along the center seam.  My scissors are showing the center.

It'll look like this, minus the cat probably.

Fold each half in half (hot dog style).  There was already a seam to follow.

Fold each in half (hamburger style)

Then fold in half again.

And again.

Put the seam at the top and cut from the open end to about an inch or two to the top.

It'll look like this when you're finished.

Then, just unfold it and you'll have a row of fringe.  There will be a seam across the top, so it's 2 layers of fringe.  Each table cloth makes 2 rows.