What A Week

Yesterday was better than Wednesday.
Thank you so much for all of your comments and encouragement, I really appreciate it.
It's really nice to feel like I have my very own little cheering little section, it makes me feel better.
This is all just a big change and we will be fine, I just keep telling myself that.

Yesterday morning I decided I needed to get out of the house for a while.
First I made a quick coffee stop, then a couple of thrift stores where I found a couple of really good things
that I was excited about.
Then a drive through the cemetery, camera in hand.

After that I came home and picked up around the house and did a little shop work.
I listened to music and edited pictures and took pictures of some things to go in my shop.
I tried to enjoy my quiet time and not worry about what was going on at school.
I watched Tv... like grown-up Tv.
I never, ever watch Tv until about 9:00 at night after everyone is settled into bed and I don't have to
worry about what they might see/hear.
I watched/listened to a few episodes of American Dreams while I worked because I LOVE that show.
Did anyone else out there ever watch it? I think I was the only one maybe .
Oh man, it is such a good show. Love that time period and the clothes and music...all of it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And now a few of my FAvoRitE instagrams form the past week...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This New Gig + Shop Update

Hey there.
Well, it's Day 2 of school and I have a confession;
It's really quiet.
Like really quiet.
I really miss the kids and wasn't sure if I was ready for all of this, BUT,  the upside is that this whole free time thing is
pretty cool, too...
I'm not gonna lie.
I can sit out on the front porch or just be in the front of the house and hear all the kids playing
on the playground.
I really like that, it makes me feel better.

This morning I worked on listing shop stuff and edited pictures while watching old re-runs of
I Love Lucy while drinking my coffee.
In the complete quiet.
It was really nice.
So here is my humble opinion; it's tough letting your youngest start school and have both kids back
in school after being home together all Summer long and kind of stepping into a whole new phase in your life, really --
but there are definitely positives, too.
It kind of all balances out.
If you would have seen me before Wyatt started school you just wouldn't believe that I am handling
it this well this time around.
Seriously.
I think I cried on and off for a few weeks before he started and then was a hot MESS the first day
of school.
The fear of the unknown, wondering how it's going to go, how they will handle it, how things
will change and all that...it's scary.

And you know what else?
It felt so good to sit down at the dinner table last night for a family dinner and hear all about the
kid's day. It really did.
We always ate dinner at the table together when I was growing up.
Always.
Until we got older, then we would be at different functions and activities, then it was a little different.
So one of my many, many goals for myself is to put more time and effort into dinner and meal planning.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


I updated The Shop today but I still have more to add- including more jewelry and a few
table cloths.
It.takes. forever.
Who knew?

Geeeeeez.

Click on the link above to go shopping.

Hope your week is off to a good start.

Happy Tuesday.

Eeeeeeek!

This was last week.
Now we only have 5 days.
Five days, folks.

A Confession :: I'm That Stay-At-Home Mom

Hi there.

Good morning and happy Tuesday.

Every time I post on a Tuesday I feel like I should be having Virtual Coffee here and I plan

to again-- I'm thinking the first week in September will be a good time to get it going.

So last week Kim talked about the whole working while your kids are in school thing and I outed 

myself about what I really used to think about that.

I have to say, it's funny how a change in perspective and circumstances makes all the difference, 

huh?

>>>>>>>>>>>>

So I have been staying at home full time with the kids for about 3 1/2 years now.

Up until that point I as working about 13 hours a week, that was part- time for my position with

our school district.

Before I went to part-time I was working full-time which was about 27 hours a week.

So I have done full-time, (which wasn't nearly a full 40 hours), part-time and at home.

Now my youngest starts kindergarten in one week and both of my kids will be in school.

Hmm...now what?

Well, I will be the stay-at-home mom whose kids are in school.

I have to tell you that when my kids were much younger- maybe around 1, 2, 3-- I wondered just

what the stay-at-home moms did if their kids were in school?

I mean, didn't you just go back to work when your kids were in school, unless of course you

had no financial worries and you never had to work in the first place?

Isn't that how it was supposed to work?

And what in the world did those people do all day?

I might have rolled my eyes, or just mentally rolled my eyes, when they called themselves
stay-at-home moms.

I might have imagined those moms getting their nails and hair done, shopping because they had

nothing else to do and lunching with friends every day.

Like I said, I may have been a little judgey and I might have been wrong.

I have a feeling I won't be doing a whole lot of the above....I still won't have a huge income 

and my other sahm mom friends still have their kids at home or work themselves...so lunch dates?

Probably not a whole lot of those.

I see a lot of time to help out in the kids classrooms and to get involved in our new school and the parent co-op there.

I see myself walking over to sign the kids out so they can come home for lunch.

I see getting my errands and shopping done during the day by myself.

I see myself watching my two nieces one day a week.

I see myself working a lot on shop stuff.

I see myself not having to take off work every time someone is sick and not having to miss

things at school.

I see myself being the one that is responsible for all school things, for all appointments, for all 

volunteering and the one that has to be home to get the kids to and from school every single day.

Eric works long days and commutes to work so he is never home to help out with these things.

So roll your eyes if you must, I won't blame you, but I am the stay-at-home-mom whose kids are
in school. Yep, that's me.

I am looking more forward to this school year than I did when Wyatt started school.

It makes me sad and a little mad that time goes so FAST but I am also excited this time around--

Charlotte is so excited that I can't help but be, too.

And knowing they are right across the street and that I will be able to see them out on the 

playground with binoculars(they think I am kidding, I am not) gives me a lot of comfort.

For some reason the closeness is really giving me a little peace in this big change.

When I stop to think about it I could get completely overwhelmed--
My baby will be in school, I am entering a whole new phase of MY LIFE and I don't know if
I am ready for it....we are starting a new school and I hope(!!!) we made the right decision....
BUT, I am trying to focus on the positives and not stress myself out over all of it.
We are really excited about both of the kids' teachers and the possibilities + plans they have
at our new school sound really cool.
It is exciting.
BUT.
Parenthood is hard.
Motherhood is hard.
Change is hard.
Letting go is hard.
Trusting is hard.





and just because i love this video so much...
the sign language is amazing.
gives me goosebumps every time.

Have a great day!

Waitin' On The Freak Out

So.... my little girl starts kindergarten two weeks from tomorrow.

Just two weeks, that's just 14 days.

I'm trying to figure out if I am in total and complete denial or if I am going to handle it better than I 

did with Wyatt.

The jury's still out on this one.

Two weeks before he started school I was a mess, crying and sad and yeah, just a mess.

This time I am really trying to focus on the positive and the good things that will come with this huge change.

I decided that I can make myself miserable over it for the next few weeks or try to look on the 

bright side and make the most of our last two weeks of Summer vacation.

>>>>>>>>>>

ps- all these pictures are from my Nikon, not a single iphone picture here. 

that doesn't really happen a whole lot anymore!

{Last Day}

Just a few quick pictures this morning.

It's really here, the last day of school.

My boy is done with kindergarten.

Where did the time go? The year go? The last six years go, for that matter?

And yes, he was taking this apple to his teacher-along with the little book he made her.

Can you say brown-noser?

He made the book after he went to bed last night and then came down and showed us.

My favorite part is where he wrote; "it is a pleshur to be in your class".

hahaha...I love that boy.

If you were reading this little blog of mine last summer, or when we were about to start school in the Fall  you will remember that I was very, very apprehensive about Wyatt starting school.

Ummm...very. Like bordering on basket case.

I don't consider myself that much of a "hovering parent" but this whole school thing I was

 just not ready for.  I wondered if it was the right school and was generally just not ready for the big step of all day kindergarten. Anyway, he had a great first year, truly a wonderful experience mostly thanks to his awesome teacher. Oh, how I love you,  Mrs. Allen.

We go back on Tuesday for report cards and that is it for this year.

We are officially on Summer vacation as of 3:40 today.

It is bittersweet, the ending of the first year of school for my first child in school.

 But at  the same time, I am so ready for vacation!

The whole summer ahead of us with nothing much planned at all, I love it.

 So this morning Wyatt picked cinnamon rolls, bacon and orange juice for his special breakfast and 

after school we are meeting my sister-in-law and her girls at the little bakery by us to celebrate. 

We are always looking for a reason to celebrate and today is the perfect excuse, if you ask me.

*****

Hope everyone has a great day today.

Any big plans for the holiday weekend? Is school out for you yet?

Happy Friday!

Mrs. Bramer Goes To Kindergarten.

We had our Parent Teacher conference the other night.

I was anxious to hear what the teacher had to say about my little kindergartener.

Not too worried but in the back of my mind did hope

 there wouldn't be any surprises, ya know.

When we (Mr. & Mrs. Bramer) walked in she said she was happy

 to be ending the evening on a high note.

She told us Wyatt was doing very well and is very bright,
his report card was great,  

he gets along great with the other kids, is able to express himself and his feelings,

and she can tell he has been read to a lot.

We thought we knew he was just where he should be academically
 but I have to say,  more than that

I loved hearing what the teacher thought of him, of his personality.
The best thing she could have said?
That he's a nice boy.

She said she thought he was a really neat kid and that she could

 just take him home with her.

Can you just see my heart melting here?

I think that was even better to me than hearing how he was doing in school, where

 he is compared to the other kids.  Actually it was better, much better. 

Just knowing that she is spending a good part of the day with my
 boy and actually likes him, 

and sees in him what we do...makes me feel really good about school.

For this mama, who dreaded this school year with everything in me, this makes me happy. 

Very happy.

And proud of my little guy.

And content in our school choice. 

A good teacher, a really good teacher, makes all the difference.
And for that I am so grateful.

Today was Mrs. Bramer's day to volunteer in the classroom.
I love that I am able to do this because I get a little
 sneak peek as to what is really going on in the classroom.
I get to see Wyatt interact with the other kids and them with him.
I get to see what he is working on day-to-day, the process of it, not just the end result.
It's funny and interesting.

One boy asked me if I was there to make sure Wyatt was being good today.
I hear; "Mrs. Bramer....Wyatt's mommy... Mrs. Bramer, Wyatt's mom?"
over and over and
 I can only imagine what the teacher hears in just one day alone.

A couple of weeks ago when I was volunteering in the class this was
my conversation with one of the little girls--my favorite so far :

Her: Wyatt's Mom, do you like my skinny jeans?
Me: I do like your jeans.
Her: Look, Wyatt's mom, they have sparkles on the pockets.
Me: Oooh, I like those.
Her: Wyatt's mom? My stomach and legs hurt. Bad.
Me: They do? (knowing good and well why they do)
Her: Wyatt's mom? I told my mom these skinny jeans were too tight on me.

Now.
What I wanted to do was write Little Miss Skinny Jeans' Mom
 a note and slip it in her backpack.
Like adults, not all children should wear skinny jeans.
I still cannot figure out how she got into those jeans,  let alone sat and
bent over all day in them.
She had to have been miserable.
She belonged in skinny jeans no more than I do.
Which is absolutely, positively not....not ever.

*****
Hope you all are having a great week so far...
I'm glad tomorrow is Friday and there is no school due to conferences.
Yay!

{My New Life as Mrs. Bramer}

I am still getting adjusted to my new role as Mrs. Bramer.

That might sound like I just became Mrs. Bramer, like I recently got married and

 changed my name or something, which is most definitely not the case 

sinceI have officially been Mrs. Bramer for ten years now.

I am talking about the role of Mrs. Bramer, the mother to a school-age child.

A kindergartener. 

I knew that Wyatt starting school would be a big change for him and for little sister 

and I at home but I didn't quite realize the new role I would be taking on.

Oh, the responsibility.

The remembering.

The getting up on time.

The important dates, the field trips, the wear red to school day, 

the day snacks need to be turned in.

Milk money, lunches packed, water bottles, gym shoes, clean clothes.

The forms, the physicals, the paperwork.

The volunteering in the classroom.

The papers signed and sent back.

Coordinating Birthday treats for his class.

Wow.

Some days I think I am doing really good to be responsible for myself.

This is all kinda new to me.

Preschool didn't quite prepare me for this, for which I am now glad.

Driving to school, picking up. I already did that three days a week for one year.

At preschool we were very spoiled though

 and the kids were picked up and delivered right to our cars.

I loved it.

This was done due to lack of parking and we could go in to pick up if we

 wanted to but we did not have to. 

I liked this because I did not have to chit-chat with all of the other parents.

And that is exactly one of the reasons I don't like pick-up at school now.

Ugh...the chit-chat, the small talk.

Wait... did I just say that out loud? 

I know.

 That sounds really wrong of me.

I'm just not good at that, not a fan of the small talk.

And it's not that I don't want to know the parents of the kids in my child's class 

because I do...not just that well, and not every day. 

I don't like having to be presentable for pick-up and

Some days  I just don't feel like having to make Charlotte look presentable either.

Now that's just pure laziness, I know.

Put a bra on, wash the calamine lotion off of my face, take off my raggedy yoga pants.

Really I just want to get my boy and get back home. 

And this just prolongs things a bit more.

And really? 

If one more mom asks me, or Charlotte, why she isn't in school 

I am going to be seriously annoyed. 

But that's a post for another day. 

Every time Wyatt's teacher calls me Mrs. Bramer I want to look over my shoulder,

 wondering what in the hell my mother-in-law is doing at school.

Oh, she's talking to me.

That's right.

I've tried to tell her just to call me Amy.... 

And how did I get here so fast, anyway? 

Mrs. Bramer;  the mother of a kindergartener.

Wasn't he just born like a couple of years ago?

It all just takes a bit of getting used to...and I'm getting there. 

Slowly.

With my clipboard, my dry erase board, my list of sight words to practice at home, 

the lining up babysitters so I can go on the field trip next week, the alarm clock.

The yellow shirt already washed and ready for Yellow Day tomorrow.

******

I did say slowly so I must confess that Loser Mom showed her face last week when

 I went to pack Wyatt's lunch and realized we were out of bread.

Oooops.

So the pb & j was made on a hamburger bun and he didn't seem to care.

I guess Mrs. Bramer needs to make sure there is always a loaf of

 bread frozen for back-up. 

Oh and as far as the little man goes? 

He has adjusted to his role as The Kindergartener quite well. 

We are very proud of him.

{365}

So I might be a little crazy for this but I am finally committing to doing a 365.

As in one photograph a day for 365 days.

One whole year.

So, it's official... I have already started this journey.

I have thought about doing this for about a year now and all I needed was a little, tiny nudge.

And really,  I almost take at least one photograph a day already anyway.

Almost.
But not quite and that's the part that counts.

I am excited about this for  a few reasons...

* I think the timing is perfect. I just had my birthday last week so it seems like a
 great time to start. I can look back at this whole year in pictures on my birthday next year.

* I have a friend that I know will inspire and encourage me to keep going.

*I need this to push me into really, truly learning how to use my camera.

* I just realized  the other day that this time last year I started this little blog of mine.
When I look at my photos from one year ago I feel like I have grown and improved quite a bit.
I can't wait to see what this year brings as far as improving my skills even more
and learning more about photography, my camera...and myself.
So, wish me luck!

This morning I am sitting here drinking super-hot coffee and eating toast with apple butter.
Yum.
I am so happy the weekend is here!
Although there are many, many things we should be doing around here this weekend,
 instead we are headed down to the Cabin for the night.
I really need to get packing.
It's been a while since we have been down there so
we are all excited and the weather is cooperating,
it should be perfect sleeping weather.

*        *        *
The first full week of Kindergarten was a success.
When asked how the first week went Wyatt says; "great" or "fantastic".
I must say, I am so relieved to have that week behind me.
Much more on that later though  along with pictures of my little big guy.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!
I'm looking forward to fresh air, walks in the woods and being unplugged.
How about you?

{school supply love...or: how i'm really dealing with kindergarten}

I have a confession: I love school supplies. 

I do.

I love shopping for school supplies and it is the one thing I have really been looking 

forward to about having a child in school.

I love a new box of pencils.

I love fresh crayons.

New boxes of markers.

Pencil boxes.

Glue and scissors.

Erasers.

Paint sets.

Pads of lined paper.

We had to buy everything on Wyatt's list and then some for home.

Because us girls need our own supplies too, right?

Maybe we didn't need that many boxes of crayons but I just don't think you can ever have enough. 

Oh and have you seen the new Crayola markers made from recycled plastic?

These are made on a Solar farm from recycled bottle caps, 

so you know I had to buy extras. 

I wish school started after Labor Day here so I could go crazy shopping for 

jean jackets, all things corduroy, orange and brown along with some cute brown boots. 

But that will have to wait just a little bit longer. 

We will be lucky if it's not 100* when school starts next week.

And what exactly is it about buying school supplies anyway? 
Anyone else share in this love with me?

I think it is the anticipation of school starting.

The fresh start that the new school year brings.

It is the nostalgia of our own school days.
New schedules, new routines and new friends.
Oh, the possibilities.

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. 
I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

-Joe Fox, You've Got Mail
*     *     *     *     *
I know we're nowhere even close to Fall yet but I do love that line from You've Got Mail and it is helping me get through this. Well, that, the shopping and maybe the margaritas. Whatever works.
Happy Friday everyone!
Hope you have something fun planned this weekend...
have you started your back to school shopping yet?