Moms' Night Out

Ok so first off...
I thought this movie was about just that. A moms' night out. I saw the preview once and thought it would be a great comedy.
So I wanted to watch it on a night that I was needing some laughter. I ended up with a couple of teary eye.
Not a bad thing.
It had a wonderful message.

I obviously don't live with other mommies and I can't speak for anyone else but...
I know I am extremely hard on myself.
Recently my husband was kind enough to come home one day after work and just said
"Get ready, take a shower, and just go out. Go to the store and walk around. Do something for yourself."
At first I was in shock. Not because it's something that he wouldn't do it's just I have never though of just doing something for myself. The first time I ever really did anything for myself was when I chose to move to Utah. It wasn't long after that when my brothers moved there with me.
This was going to be the first time in a LONG while that I was going to be out by myself.
As I showered I kept trying to calm my anxiety and guilt.
It's not that I don't trust my husband. It's not that he can't do it without me.
It's the fact that I know that it can be overwhelming for me at times.
And anxiety because again I will be alone.
But I needed it.
It may be different because I wasn't with friends.
But honestly, I couldn't think of a better night.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my kids, my husband but I enjoyed the silence.
Sometimes I just need time with me, myself, and my thoughts.

I haven't had a time since then but that is by choice.
Since I was a teen I decided that when the time came and I had a little girl, I would have a Mommy-Daughter night.
When she was younger an she was the only one we had, it was easy.
We only had her and I spent all day with her.
Now, she had two younger brothers.
Both of them need me for everything.
The other day I was so busy and so caught up and it hit me when Eliana said "Mommy, I just want you to talk to me."
She has been acting up recently and really I don't blame her.
So I texted Casey and asked if it would be ok if I have a Girl's Night Out with Eliana.
Being the wonderful husband he is, he agreed since it would give him a Boy's night as well with the little men.
We hit the library, she picked some movies, GASP! Movies? Yea well she has books that she checked out days before that. We went to Braum's, had dinner there (greasy but yummy) and shared a chocolate shake. Okay, so I only had a third. She had been wanting one for a long time. Then we hit one of our favorite stores JoAnns. She knows her stores. As we were close she said "I see it mommy! We are almost there! YAY THE FABRIC STORE!" I seriously can't wait to teach her how to sew and other crafts.
Last night we needed groceries so I decided to take her with me. Casey said I could take as long as I wanted if I needed. I was suppose to go alone but living in a single bedroom being our living room, kitchen, and bathroom for 5 she can go insane too so I took her anyway.
We love Home Goods as well. So we took  a trip there. I love shopping and window shopping but because we have no space and low on budget I decided to take pictures of the items I love.
I am obsessed with Journals. I almost bought one but left it last minute.
Target is a must almost every time I'm out. As I was parking Eliana said "Mommy I want to go into that one. I want to go in the red store."

I find that these moments, she may or may not remember, but are important to me and were important to me when I was younger.
No matter how busy I am, I want her to know that I love her that she is important to me. During this time there was no phone, no internet, only to make sure Casey and the boys were alive.
I even learned something new. She loves Giraffes. It's her favorite animal. Who knew?

When I was younger, all I wanted was to watch a movie with my mom, uninterrupted. To learn something fun from her. To take an interest in who I was. I wanted to get to know her. I feel that when I give her my full attention she loves it. I am more excited than ever to continue this with her.

August

"TOT" School

This was the month that everyone went back to school.
I kept seeing people share their children's first day of school pictures so I decided to take one of Eliana as well even though we had started a while back.
Excuse the chaos in the picture but we still had a lot of our things in storage. In fact, we were planning on taking a trip to the storage room that day. That's why there is a big change between the first and second picture. I organized that day more than anything. I have also added more shelves since then.

 I always liked the idea of becoming a teacher but I wanted to be a stay at home mommy more than anything so yes I have decided to homeschool my children.
Yes, I have heard the "You can't protect your children from this world." No idea why they would think that that is my motive but I always wished that I was homeschooled instead but my mother worked hard in her home office so she would not have had the chance to do so. I want to homeschool just to say "Hey my children are learning from me. I am an awesome teacher." I just hope I survive through it.

She knows her full name.
She knows how to count to at least 15. Sometimes she is silly and will mess up and just laugh.
She knows over 8 nursery rhymes she sings by herself.
She knows the letters E L and I are in her name. She recognizes those. She has known "O" since she was about 1. Though she has gotten better at recognizing "I" it is where we are at the moment since she confuses it with "T" and "E". "E" because the "I" in her name is the "E" sound.
She loves painting, puzzles, playing pretend and gluing pictures.

I love letting her get messy so I set her up and let her paint in the bathroom.
All of her school things are in one area of the room. That corner.
She spends the majority of her time with everything there.