Things I’m Loving Friday #382

Hi friends! How’s it going? I felt like my heart was all over the place this week with so much of the world facing so many heavy, hard things. I sometimes struggle with how to address current events on the blog because I know I’m not your news source. At the same time I also feel like I think so many of you do right now which is so disheartened and overwhelmed and heartbroken for everything going on in Afghanistan, Haiti and worldwide due to the pandemic. To put it simply, it’s a lot and sometimes it’s hard not to feel like it’s one awful thing after the next happening in a world that feels increasingly cruel toward each other and divided. If you’re feeling any bit of this, know I am, too. As for ways to help, here are some resources I personally found helpful: How to Help Afghanistan War Veterans, Afghan Refugees and U.S. Allies + How to Support Earthquake Relief Efforts in Haiti

As far as how things are going in our house this week, we have a lot to chat about because it felt like a big one over here. I’ll dive into all that jazz below but also want to wish you all a great weekend before moving into my weekly roundup of favorites. Do you have anything fun on the agenda? The only plans we have at the moment include a birthday party at a local park but with temperatures in the 90s again, I’m sure the pool and the lake will be calling our names, too.

Enjoy your weekend and, as always, I appreciate you making PBF a part of your Friday!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Chase’s First Day of Kindergarten

Chase’s first official day of kindergarten was yesterday and I think I got all my sappy mom feelings out over the course of the past week because he did great and, more surprisingly, I wasn’t a total mess. I think the fact that his school had a “lemonade drop-in” on Monday helped a lot. It was a sweet little event where the class came in small groups to sip lemonade and complete a little scavenger hunt around the room that allowed them to meet their teachers and some of their classmates while they located their cubbies, the bathroom, etc. All of this majorly seemed to help put Chase at ease and added to his excitement about his new school.

Prior to the first day of school, one day Chase seemed a little sad when he realized he wouldn’t know anyone in his class on the first day and asked me, “Mom, how do I make friends?” and “Mom, how did Claire become my friend?” To be honest, I was surprised at his questions because he’s super social and goes up to new kids at the park all the time but we talked about how most of the kids in his class will be looking to make new friends, too, and how some of the kids in his class probably love animals and bugs and soccer and playing outside just like him. That seemed to make him feel better — that and when we talked about how he’d get to play outside on the playground. Ha!

When I picked him up after his first day he talked a mile a minute on the way home. He was excited to share that they read a Pete the Cat story (one of his favs) and he told me all about how he met a little girl who also loves creatures. The icing on the cake was the fact that they got to go on the playground TWICE. It’s safe to say he’s all in on the whole kindergarten thing!

• One on One Time with the Boys

Something I never really considered before we moved Chase and Ryder into the same room at the start of 2021 was the fact that they would be pretty much glued at the hip from sun up to sun down with very little time apart during the summer months. Since bed time at night and wake up time in the morning happen together, it’s been a little challenging for Ryan and I to get some dedicated one-on-one time with the boys. This week I tried to be more intentional about it and oh my gosh it was SO nice.

Since we had a babysitter watching Rhett and Ryder during the Monday event at Chase’s school, I took Chase to lunch at Chick-fil-A afterward (his easy-to-please choice!) and sitting down and chatting with him with zero interruptions was so wonderful. He’s at such a fun age where he talks about so many things with such joyful passion and our little lunch date was so special to me.

On Thursday, after Chase’s school drop off, Rhett needed his morning nap, so I got some one-on-one time with my Ryder man as well! This kid is just a ton of laughs at the moment also so incredibly sweet and physical and intense and so very THREE. We played Trouble (he’s obsessed) and then, since Ryan is still working from home and was able to watch the monitor during Rhett’s morning nap, Ryder and I went to a little farm to visit with some animals. Even though Ryder was disappointed that the farm didn’t have any elephants or lions, we still had a lot of fun together!

And, last but definitely not least, since I managed to get Ryder down for a nap on Thursday afternoon, I had one-on-one time with Rhett, too! He’s just the most adorable little guy at the moment and watching him crawl and semi-walk all over the place brings me so much joy. He’s so giggly and loves climbing all over me and everything around him. He also started repeating “mama” this week (well, really it comes out more like “mamamamama”) and smiles so big and cracks up when we say it together.

• Early Morning Workouts

Any longtime blog readers out there remember the days when I woke up at 5 a.m. to work out? Those early morning wakeups fell mostly to the wayside after we had kids (with a few exceptions here and there) but this week I set my alarm for 5 a.m. and managed to get three super early morning workouts in before the craziness of the day set in. I’m not going to say this will be my new routine but it felt pretty darn amazing to kick off my day in such a positive way and free up any spare moment of quiet time in my day to work. It shockingly wasn’t that miserable to wake up super early and I think this is because I was only waking up to complete workouts I genuinely love — Burn Boot Camp strength workouts! If I had to set an alarm to go crush some sprints first thing in the morning, that might be a liiiittle harder. Haha! Anyone else on the early morning workout train these days? I’m hoping I can keep this one going!

• Friday Flashbacks

Grilled Scallops with Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad (If you’re a seafood lover, please don’t let summer slip away without making this dish!)

Chopped Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts Salad (A perfect make-ahead salad that won’t get all wilted on you if you prep it ahead of time!)

Question of the Day

What is one thing you’re loving this week?