Father's Day was a lot of fun for our Daddy. With his busy schedule at work plus his side gig as a DJ, Scott doesn't get a lot of time to do "fun" stuff so I planned for us to go golfing in the afternoon with a couple of our friends.
The day started, though, with breakfast and REAL bacon . . . I don't eat pork so just by default, I don't really make a lot of pork. On Father's Day, though, Scott got to eat real bacon, eggs, and biscuits.
The kids made homemade cards and he opened his Father's Day gift . . . a Draftmark complete with a package of Budweiser.
After letting it charge for a bit, Gaga was ready for his first beer.
Next we went to see my dad and to let the kids swim. We left the kiddos at Mama and Papa's and then headed out to golf. It was a gorgeous day but it was H-O-T. I loved the course that we chose. There were so many deer. They were everywhere!
We had so much fun together on Father's Day. I picked the best guy to be my kids' Daddy.
I realize that I haven't been on here and posted in forever. If you think this blog is bad then don't even look over at my food blog. I haven't posted a new recipe on there in forever.
What's been going on with me?
1. I am still learning how to be a work away and at home mom. While I only go in to the travel agency a couple days a week, I have quickly discovered that mine is not a 2 day a week job. I probably spend a minimum of 4-5 hours a day either booking clients, taking webinars, or doing research for a future trip. It still doesn't feel like "work" to me and I am still loving it.
2. I am still trying to unpack, wash, and put away all of the clothes from my Jamaica trip last week. You can read about it HERE.
3. I am trying to plan some fun things to do with the kids this summer. I can't believe that we are already in the middle of June. Before we know it, I will be buying school supplies again.
4. I am trying to find the time to workout. I manage one good day a week and then the rest of the week gets away from me.
5. I am feeling a little overwhelmed with everything that I have to do and feel like I am not getting to do very many things that I want to do.
6. I am still doing my merchandising job a few hours each week but find it harder and harder to make the time for it.
7. I am in the midst of coordinating our Race for the Cure team again this year. I have the t-shirts ordered but have some other odds and ends to tie up.
8. I am dreaming of our family vacation in August.
9. I am still working on the last of my 10lb weight loss.
Well, I just got back from my first trip to Jamaica and I am counting the days until I get to go back . . . as a 100% tourist.
As a travel agent I get to go on familiarization trips to different locations, this trip happened to be Jamaica. While in Jamaica I toured 10 resorts in 3 days, had a dolphin encounter, and a snorkel/catamaran ride. The point of these trips is so that I can now come back and be more knowledgeable about the various resorts when I have clients who are interested in visiting Jamaica.
Jamaica is a beautiful country but very different. The Jamaican Tourism Board (JTB) has a slogan that says, "Jamaica-Once you go, you know" and those words are so true. Jamaica is a very poor country that is full of happy people. The Jamaican people are so laid back and go-with-the-flow with that "No problem" attitude.
There were some amazing resorts in Jamaica. I was able to tour resorts that were budget-friendly, family-friendly, adults-only, and couples only. Each of them had their own perks and reasons to choose to stay there.
Because this was a working trip, I didn't get to lay around on the beach or pool nearly as much as I wanted to so I'm already planning my own first Jamaican vacation as a traveler instead of a worker.
Thinking of a destination wedding or family vacation to Jamaica? I can definitely help you plan it.
Last Friday was Kanin's last day of 2nd grade. I can't believe how fast this year flew by. I guess it was because we only had 1 snow day. I also can't believe how my little baby boy is already heading in to 3rd grade. I need the time to S-T-O-P!
The last day is a big deal at Kanin's school. We have an end-of-year parade and the streets are packed. One of the dad's has attached the school mascot, the Eagle, to his truck for the last 8 years. His last daughter is graduating over in to Middle School this year so this was his last year to do it.
The first class to come down is always the 5th graders. This year Emily was a part of that group. She'll be moving on over to Middle School next year :(
Each grade is assigned a color. 2nd grade's color is purple. Look how happy Kanin looks.
Here comes the 4th graders . . .
The subdivision behind the school is shut down and the entire school loops all the way through it. I'm telling you this parade is a BIG deal. Firetrucks, police cars, and hundreds of parents and family members show up to watch.
Since it was the last year that Mr. O'Brien would be carrying the Eagle, we made signs and these parents held them up when he drove by. He was really touched.
Here is Kanin's class coming back to school.
After the parade, the PTO bought enough popsicles for all of the students and their families. Here were Kanin's best friends in 2nd grade this year, Cody and CJ.
Mrs. Saeger was a great teacher!
Kanin loves music class and I think it is because of Mrs. Wolf. Kanin told me all year long that she was really sweet.
Kanin's very favorite teacher was Mr. Trost, the P.E. teacher. Mr. Trost only teaches K-2 P.E. so Kanin will have a new P.E. teacher next year and he is not happy. LOL
Coming out of the school as a 2nd grader for the last time!
It always makes me happy when there is a Cardinals game on Mother's Day. Kanin's very first Cardinals game was on Mother's Day 2005. Here we are all these years later still carrying on the tradition of going to the ballpark for Mother's Day.
This year we met some of our friends before the game and had lunch.
Of course, one of our favorite things to do at the Cardinals game is get our picture taken with Fredbird. I love Fredbird!
This picture was taken in the 4th inning. We were trying to hurry up and just get a quick picture snapped and didn't realize that Kanin was squinting so much. Oh well, such is life with three kids.
After the game, we went to my mom's house. She had chili and stew waiting on us and my sister and her kids were there, as well. I am so bummed that I didn't take a picture with my mom. I told Scott when we pulled up that I wanted to get one.
Yesterday I had one of the best days ever. I honestly don't know if I have felt that special in a long time. Kanin's school has a tradition of the second graders celebrating Mother's Day with a little event they call Muffins with Mom.
When I got to the school, Kanin was waiting for me out in the hallway. He led me to his desk, pulled out his chair for me, and asked me what I would like to drink. Each little desk was decorated with a plate of muffins and donuts, napkins, and a little activity.
Kanin also made a corsage out of tissue paper and he put that around my wrist. He gave me a card and then I got to open my present. In art class, all of the kids had made ceramic cups. I was already a little misty but the card and cup just pushed me right over the edge.
Kanin took this picture so it is a little blurry but I love how excited I was. If you look right behind me, the mom behind me has her corsage on. So sweet!
Kanin was really proud of his mug and very happy that I loved it.
Next we played a little game. Each kid had drawn a picture of their mother and on the back there was a list of 20 things about their mom. Mrs. Saeger, Kanin's teacher, picked 4 or 5 questions out and read them out loud and we all guessed who the Mom was. It was very funny to hear some of the answers to these questions like "If my mom won the lottery she would . . . go crazy!" "My mom's favorite place in the whole world is . . . Six Flags." LOL
Here's the picture that Kanin drew of me.
Here are the questions Kanin answered about me:
1. My favorite book to read with my mom is Potty Time
2. Mom's favorite television show is Dateline
3. If my mom won the lottery she would go to Mexico without me
4. an expression or saying that my mom always uses is no backtalk
5. My mother always gets angry when I don't bring my folder home
6. My mom doesn't like to clean the playroom
7. My mother's favorite foods are popcorn, salad, and Weight Watchers
8. I like my mom to cook vegetable pizza because she does such a delicious job of it.
9. My mother's favorite restaurant is Stefanina's
10. If my mom had a ticket to any place in the world she would go to Germany with me
11. My mom has a funny habit of trying to act like LMFAO
12. My mom really looked beautiful on the day she got married
13. My mom really looked funny on the day she was doing the shuffle
14. In the good old day when Mom was little she used to play army
15. I make my mom happy when I be helpful
16. My mom doesn't know about the time I ate Nutella
17. When she has free time she likes to play sports
18. My mom's pet name for me is baseball hero
19. My favorite thing to do with my Mom is Mom and son time
20. The best advice my mom has give me is if they are a bully that means he or she are jealous
I figured out the picture was of me when she read popcorn was my favorite food and about going to Mexico. Ha!
By this time my heart was already full but there was more. All of the moms were asked to go down to the gym where there was a slideshow and the kids sang three songs to us. Oh my goodness. I don't think there was a dry eye in the gym. It was so sweet.
Kanin and I often butt heads and I know that we each can be difficult but yesterday he made me feel so special. It was the best Mother's Day present that I could have gotten.
Happy Mother's Day to my mom and to all mothers (aunts, grandmas, and anyone who sacrifices themselves to raise a child) reading this!
Since starting with the travel agency (you can read about that here), I feel like time flies by. It is definitely taking me a while to get the hang of going from home mode to work mode. Even though I'm only working part-time, I still spend several hours a week at home working and researching and I've got to say that I am still loving it.
So last week I checked my work email from home and got an exciting offer. I was literally jumping up and down and yelling. Jeanne, the owner of 5 Star Travel and Cruises, offered me a fam (familiarization) trip to Jamaica!
What does this mean? This means that this Mommy is going to Jamaica . . . on May 30! How incredibly awesome is that?!?!
I have always wanted to go to Jamaica. I wanted our honeymoon trip in October to be to Jamaica but at the time there were no charter flights from St. Louis and I didn't want to spend one whole day on both ends of the trip traveling and it was cheaper to go to Mexico. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Excellence Riviera Cancun (you can read my review on Trip Advisor HERE)and would recommend it to anyone and would definitely go back but Jamaica has always been a place that I wanted to visit.
I leave St. Louis on May 30 and return on June 2. During this time I will be visiting the following:
