Five on Friday - Life Lately

Happy Friday!  This has been an emotionally taxing week as Jacob graduated from preschool on Wednesday.  He’s officially out for the summer and he’s officially on his way to being a Kindergartener.  All week I’ve been feeling a little blue… probably because time is marching on despite all of my wishes and efforts to slow it down.  I’m obviously not just now realizing this, but for some reason this week it’s been hitting a little harder than usual.  And if I’m feeling this bad now from a preschool graduation then heaven only knows what I’m going to be like at high school graduation.  Oh man, I don’t even want to think about that right now.

Here’s what’s been going on in our world lately…

O N E – Jacob’s Preschool Graduation

The graduation was Wednesday morning at 8:30.  He, along with all of his classmates and the other pre-k class, walked up on the stage and sang a few songs first.  Jacob, typically the class clown and funny man, has apparently inherited his mommy and daddy’s stage fright.  While all of the other kids were singing their little hearts out, he barely even moved his lips.  We did get a few shy smiles out of him, but he looked relieved when they exited the stage to come join us in the audience for their slideshow.  That sweet boy. 

I held it together during all of their songs (mostly because I was so concerned with the fact that his shirt was untucked – haha) but once the slide show started, I couldn't help but tear up.  Being a mother sure is sad and terrifying and amazing and wonderful all at the same time.

T W O – A Mommy and Jacob Day

After the graduation, the class was released, so I took the day off to spend with him, just the two of us.  We went to Walmart for a couple of things and I let him pick out a Hot Wheels car, we met B for lunch at Jason’s Deli (Jacob’s choice), and then we ran to Bath & Body Works for me followed by Barnes and Noble so he could play at the train table.  After that, we headed to our favorite frozen yogurt shop, and I let him go all out and get all of the toppings that he wanted.  His choice?  Cotton candy and vanilla froyo with gummy bears, sour patch kids, and gummy worms.  He loves everything gummy!  After that, we spent some time outside and then headed home to play with his new Hot Wheels car on his Hot Wheels garage.

He has been a bit emotional this week as well, maybe from the impending changes looming or maybe because his mood has been reflecting my mood.  Who knows.  But it was a good day with my favorite little boy, and one that I’ll hold close to my heart forever.

T H R E E – New Landscaping

Our back yard is huge.  Huge.  We originally left a large natural area at the back with the intention of planting some shrubs one day.  Turns out a natural area is even harder to maintain than just having good ol’ grass, so we recently hired a landscaper to come and sod the rest of the yard as well as add a few new things around the front yard – an Emerald Green Arborvitae in the front bed for some height, a loropetalum by the front porch for some color, two tea olives flanking the air conditioning unit to one day provide some shade, and some roses similar to knockout roses (I can’t remember the actual name) and another loropetalum by the mailbox since there was nothing there previously.  

The guys also pulled up all of our old cedar and put down fresh pine straw to complete the look and they even trimmed our trees and shrubs.  The yard looks fantastic right now, and I’m hoping that everything (besides the weeds) will continue to grow and grow.  As I’ve mentioned before we do not possess green thumbs, so I’m praying that we don’t kill everything. 

Since we had the yard sodded, we had some construction equipment in the back yard for a few days, so the kids were in heaven.

F O U R – Olivia’s Personal Beauty Parlor

A couple of months ago, a new teacher joined Olivia’s class, and apparently she loves to do hair because Olivia has been coming home with a new hairstyle every single day.  Top knots, ponytails, pigtails, twists, you name it.  Olivia is absolutely loving it and she is constantly talking about Miss Amanda and how she does her hair every day.  I guess I need to step up my game because I struggle doing other people’s hair.  I have no problem doing my own, but it’s hard doing somebody else’s!  

F I V E – A New Toy for Moi

B and the kids spoiled me on Mother’s Day this year and bought me an iPad.  I’m fairly certain that I’m the last person on earth to have one (or any kind of tablet in general), but I didn’t want one for the longest time because I didn’t see a need for one.  I used my laptop when I needed to do the big stuff, and I used my phone for my casual internetting in the evening.  However, blogging and everything that comes along with it finally brought on my desire for an iPad, and now I’m wondering what I ever did without it!  It is fantastic!  And it’s rose gold and soooo pretty.

Well, that pretty much sums up what’s been going on ‘round these parts… what’s new with you?

*Linking up with A Liz Adventures and Carolina Charm for Five on Friday, A Little Bit of Everything for Friday Favorites, Living for Naptime for BFF Friday Link-up Party,  September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday, and Meet @ the Barre for Friday Favorites!