I'm raising dreamers

I literally feel the wind knocked out of me and tears forming everytime I think about Wyatt starting pre-k. It seems like it was just weeks ago that he was 3, and I was telling myself that we had a whole year before he would start school....pleeeeeenty of time before I would have to face dropping my last little sidekick off every morning to spend the day without me. Now, here we are...less than a week before his first day of school. 

Just punch me right in the stomach. 

Wyatt is the third child of mine to have his very first day of school. However, when each of my girls started school, I didn't have this feeling of sadness. And it's funny because Wyatt has a much stronger personality than Annslie or Madilyn did at age 4. Maybe it's because he is my last, my baby, my only son. I don't know. I do know that walking him into school next week, his tiny little hand in mine, is going to be a challenge for me. I will find a way to mask the tears until after I reach the parking lot, and then I will call Robby and cry all the way to work. (And probably a little at work too)

 

 

There is no doubt that Wyatt has the confidence of a super hero, and he will be just fine. He is shy at first but quickly warms up to people -- something he did not inherite from me. I know it's time to let him make friends and start becoming his own little person. That is the point of being a parent, after all -- right? Letting them go, baby stepping, into the world bright eyed and curious....teaching them to be bold and that they can be whatever they want to be. Of course I can't hold his hand and walk with him forever, but at this very moment, there is nothing I want to do more. It's a big building for such a tiny little guy, and it's a big day for such an emotional mommy. 

Four going on fourteen going on twenty. Trust me, I know how this works. You teach them to tie their shoes, and all of a sudden, you and your spouse are discussing what kind of car you're going to buy them when they turn 16. 

My sincerest hope is that I can make Wyatt feel at ease and excited about his first day, even if I am (kinda) faking the smile, pushing it through my quivering lips. It's selfish sadness....the kind moms tend to experience when they want time to slow down. {I know with 100% certainty that he will have fabulous teachers.} I ask him often, "are you ready for school, buddy?". He just looks at me with the look Robby and I recognize so well. The tight lipped "I don't want to talk about it" look. Then I remind him that he will have a fourth grade big sister to walk him in everyday and that he is going to have so much fun coloring and learning and making friends...oh, and using scissors. Something about using scissors makes 4 year olds feel so accomplished. Encouraging him and loving him are two things I know I do right. 

On the other hand, I am writing this anxious report about my baby boy on my first born daughter's 15TH BIRTHDAY! Fifteen short years go today, I was an 18 year old youngster in a hospital bed with a baby girl who I was, quite frankly, terrified of. What were those nurses thinking leaving ME alone with this teeny thing, I remember thinking. This teeny thing with the most perfect chubby cheeks I had ever seen.

I asked my own mother "What if I don't know how to be a mom? What if I mess up?".

 

Little did I know just how often I would, in fact, mess up. Who doesn't? Let's face it, motherhood is trial and error. Here we are, 15 years later, and I can say that I have taught my own children what to do when they "mess up"....you get back up, dust yourself off, and keep on moving. It is all just a part of our Happy Chance lives. Also, I had no idea that becoming "mama" was the most natural thing I would ever do.

Happy Birthday to an enormous part of my heart, Annslie Rain.

I'm raising dreamers. How could they not be? It's a characteristic they come by honestly. Whether they are starting pre-k, turning 15, or whatever life chapter they are book-marking, I hope they will all have the courage to let go a little at a time and dream up what comes next -- the kinds of dreams that keep them up at night. They may have to pry their fingers from my hands, but I seriously can't wait to watch them soar.

xoxo

hey, remember the very first time we went camping?

We went camping.
Tent? Oh no, no, no, no, no....we got a camper. 

Robby and I took a 14 (15 this week) year old, 10 year old, 9 year old, 4 year old, and a dog out into the deep deep woods, amongst wild animals, where we had to use our keen survival skills to make it through the weekend. Just kidding. We went to a campground at a lake about 40 minutes away from home....and took our Keurig. We did see deer and frogs though. Oh, and Madilyn in a coon hat....that counts as a wild animal, right? Trust me. She's wild. 

The little kids caught frogs, hiked through the woods, turned into mermaids in the lake (the kind of graceful mermaids who sling mud from the bottom of the lake at eachother), found crystals (which are what I call rocks), made s'mores by the fire, and mastered rock skipping. Annslie (the oldest) sat in chairs. Seriously, every picture I have of her is of her just sitting in a chair...with her phone. Love her still. 

It all felt a little too rushed, but we made the most of the weekend, and we gained memories to store away for years from now when we are all sitting around and someone says "hey, remember the very first time we went camping?".

 

Behold! Mud slinging mermaids.

 

Robby in pajama pants. You're welcome, RJ. :)

The rattiest hair in all the land...Both mornings the little kids would wake up and have a little scooter sesh in their jammies.

The kids decided to make their own fire. Annslie even participated in this little activity. This, folks, was the smokiest fire EV-ER. Ever. They said they were sending smoke signals. Which I kinda don't doubt.

As I said, I have several pictures of Annslie sitting in various chairs. They pretty much all looked like this though. 14, going on 15, is rough, y'all.

The thing I love most about our little tribe is that they are truly best friends. They love each other so much, and they make everything an adventure. That's how childhood with siblings should be. I know mine don't realize it now, but they are so blessed to have this bond....and we are so blessed to have these little souls as part of our journey through life.

In other important news, I found "Brothers and Sisters" on Netflix. Man, I loved that show. I have been obsessed with catching back up with The Walkers. It has pretty much made my year.

 

xoxo

Spring & Happy Chance Apparel

Baseball, softball, and golf have started. Which, pretty much, means that we will not sit down for the next several months! BUT...it also means that Spring is just around the corner, and I'm more than okay with that.

Wyatt started t-ball this year. If you know Wyatt, you know it can take him a good hour (or 5) to warm up to people for the first time....sometimes the second and third time too. Unless he's dancing. That boy would dance for the President if you gave him a good beat. Anyway, with his shyness usually present, I really thought our first t-ball practice would be a disaster. My little guy totally proved me wrong. I was so proud of how he marched out there with his big boy baseball gear and did exactly what his coaches told him to do. It was like it's the day he had been waiting for his whole 4 years of life. I am really excited about this season for him!

Annslie is on her high school girl's golf team, and both of the little girls play softball. So, get ready for sports picture overload in the coming weeks!

In other news, Happy Chance Apparel is going to be sold in The Avenue Boutique in our hometown of Rockmart, Georgia! I was thrilled when the store's owner, Elyse, contacted me about being a part of her Spring line up. Elyse has impeccable taste, so naturally I said yes! The trendy boutique will carry exclusive colors of Happy Chance classics! The Avenue Boutique is located at 256 W. Elm Street in Rockmart, and you can follow them on Instagram: @theavenue_boutique.
I also will be reopening my online store, with new items, very soon! I will no longer be using Etsy, but you will be able to click on the "shop" link above to access my new store. Fun things happening around here!

I will leave you all with...yep...pictures of the kiddos. We had blue skies and sunshine last Sunday. The kids were able to stay outside for hours. It was marvelous.

Trampoline hair is the best hair.

scarves and mittens and boots and snow

SNOW!

We never get snow here. We NEVER get snow here. School dismissed early, worked closed early...it's glorious.

Did I mention that we never get snow here?

It's so much fun to see the kids' reaction to it. They couldn't wait to get their layers upon layers of clothes on and wander out into the magical land that used to be their boring yard.

Pictures, so far:

A little runny nose with that snow? :/



I love this picture. This little church (and it's blue door) is next to our house. If you look closely, you can see the white cross through the tree branches.



We have this old little building on our property....and one of these days, I will find something to do with it.

Captured this red headed, red cheeked guy in mid snowball throw. He was mighty proud of himself.

 

 

Selfies in the snow.

 

And this man.

 

It's still coming down pretty hard. School is already closed for tomorrow, and my kids have officially declared this the best day ever! More pictures to come, I'm sure. Happy snow day, y'all!