The crazy train keeps on rolling

So let me go on and apologize. I'm not off to the best start on my blog. I put out my first blog post and you all were nice enough to read it! And you told me you liked it! Wow! So after your kind feedback, I was full of starry-eyed, hopeful expectations about how I would blog every other day or at least 3 days a week....and then life intervened. I started 2 more posts...one about Easter and spring time and how glorious it all is, but I never got the pictures downloaded to post with it. So then I moved on to another post of random things that I couldn't get out of my head...and got sidetracked again. Hmm. Clearly, finishing a post and actually getting pictures posted onto the blog will be my challenge.

Well today I'm just going to post a quick update on what's going on in our lives. It's MAY, people! I mean, "Where did the school year go?" Gigi is almost finished with 1st grade. Cray-cray, cause I feel like I'm still struggling to get our school schedule down...and it's MAY already! Maybe that's just proof that it is possible to "fly by the seat of your pants" all year long and still survive. (I'm so sorry Mrs. Prowell! I really meant to be a better room mom and have it all together this year!) I mean I did send snack for the whole class this week...on Wednesday...and it was supposed to be there on Monday....and if Mrs. Prowell hadn't sent me an email reminding me...the kids would not have had snack all.week.long. Cause I had no clue it was our turn again! Worst Room Mom Ever!

So on top of being a terrible room mom and student mom in general...I volunteered to be the chairperson of the school's annual Kindergarten orientation breakfast which is at the end of the month!  So that's another BIG project that I have to coordinate ASAP. Just thinking about the "to-do" list for that gives me anxiety!!! Granted I did volunteer for that before I decided to go back to work full-time in October.

Speaking of going back to work full-time...well let's just say that endeavor was more than I could handle. I am in the process of working out my final two weeks at my job, so things are really busy training my replacement and wrapping up loose ends there. I love my job and the company I work for! My company feels like family to me and I am sad to be leaving again. But the stress of managing our household, all 3 kids' schedules, my obligations and Dear Husband's errands while working a full-time job just became overwhelming. I felt like I had neither quality nor quantity time with my littles! And I just missed them too much. I missed being there for everything...from the school EarthDay recycling exhibit to the Barnyard field trips to seeing the new playground go up in our neighborhood! Precious memories I can't get back. So, my hat if off to all you working Mom's out there whether you have one, two or 8 children. Working and being CEO of a household simultaniously is HARD WORK! And it requires sacrifices that sometimes feel like they are too much to bear for a Mommy's heart. Please truly know I am in awe of you!

Since I'll be back home in a couple of weeks, I already have a list of projects and things to tackle once I get home....like cleaning our the girl's closets and potty-training Buddy-love! Not looking forward to that one, but I am soooooo ready to be out of diapers for good! So if you have some advice on potty-training boys, let me know.

Lastly, here are a few pictures from Easter to show what we're looking like these days...

Sweet babies before church...we all know those headbands aren't likely to last....

After church with Granna and Grandad

Look at those expressions! I mean, we never catch all 3 smiling and looking at the camera.

On the stone bench at Papa and Mama E's. It's an Easter tradition.

I'm gonna get started on my to-do list now....
Rachel

What's in a name....

So friends, It's my first official blog post!!! Pardon me while I happy dance for a moment! Silly I know, but this has been something I've wanted to do for a long time and I finally decided to go for it! I mean I'm throwing caution to the wind and jumping in feet first! 'Cause I have no idea what I'm doing! But when I read other blogs, I keep saying to myself, "I could so totally do that or I'd love to do that!" So then I thought, "Why not? What are you waiting for?" Umm...how about, I have no real talents, my interests run in a million different directions, and my life is super-uninteresting aside from the drama and chaos that revolve around my little entourage! Nevertheless, I can talk your ears off and I can spell (although typing is another story! Thank goodness for spell check!) You'll find out soon enough that I'm a big dork...so really what have I got to lose?


Still with me? I'll have to work on the rambling...


In an effort for you to get to know me, I thought I'd explain the blog name. I read (during my minimal research) when starting a blog that you should choose a name that's unique (not too generic) and that either describes your content or describes your personality. I think I got 2 out of the three of the above. Since my content will vary by what interests me that day...I opted for a name that's unique and descriptive of my personality.


Southern: I was born and raised in the South and have the tell-tale Southern accent.  I heart sweet tea, smocked children's clothing for both genders, manners, fireflies in mason jars, monogrammed any and everything, Sunday dinners, cotton fields, tanned legs and cowgirl boots.


Turquoise: It's my favorite color.  It's the color of water next to a white, sandy beach; the perfect pair of teardrop earrings; Annie Sloan's duck egg blue on any piece of furniture, Tiffany jewelry boxes, Essie's nail polish "Resort Summer",  But it's more than just the color also about the feelings that it evokes...vibrancy, happiness, contentment and relaxation. It. Just. Makes. Me. Happy!


Noise: Well this one is pretty self-explanatory. I'm constantly surrounded by noise! With 3 small children constantly demanding my time, energy and attention, the noise level can (and usually does) hover somewhere near ear-splitting range! (You may also decide this blog is nothing but noise...But I hope not!) Sometime the noises are joyful and full of life, like listening to the kids laughing while having pillow fights and jumping on the bed. Other times they are sweet and tender while other times they are born of frustration or broken hearts. Whether it's listening to my sweet Littles singing hymns on Sunday morning or comforting them as they cry over a pet that's passed on, these moments of noise are what truly define me. They make me stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving for the beauty that comes from noise.


So that's a little insight into me. If I had to describe myself in 3 words, I'd use: Southern Turquoise Noise.


xoxo,
Rachel