Girl Mom Series: Ashley, Everything's Hunky Dorey

Hi everyone, my name is Ashley! I am a wife to my high school sweetheart, Sean, and mama to Wyatt (2) and Stella (6 months). We live in LA, but not that LA, Lower Arkansas where I'm a stay-at-home-mama. I am a born and raised Arkansan with a deep love for the Razorbacks, chocolate, and Sonic Diet Dr. Pepper. You can find me blogging over Everything's Hunky Dorey about our crazy, fun, and everyday life! 

I've only been a girl mom for a little over 6 months now and it really is so different than being a boy mom. I never really gave it much thought when I was pregnant; I assumed it would be no different than being a boy mom. Oh, but is it different. 

 

 When our sweet Stella was born she was perfect. She was petite and dainty, and screaming. Man that girl had some lungs. Even the nurses made comments about how loud she was. In all the 18 months that Wyatt had been alive I'd never heard him scream as much or as loud as she did for the first month. We could tell immediately who was taking charge of our house. 

But when she wasn't screaming, oh my, she was (and still is) our cuddle bug. This girl knows how to cuddle and it melts our hearts. She would let me sit and hold her all day if I would. She would sleep on me every nap and night if I let her, and I love it. 

And then there's her daddy. That daddy-daughter relationship that everyone tells you about. I really didn't believe it would ever happen in our home. Sean spent so much time with Wyatt in the beginning that she really didn't have time to bond with him. But now, there is no one that can make her smile like when her daddy walks in a room. There are times when nothing else can make her happy but her daddy. It really is something special and something amazing to watch. It only makes this mama's heart beat a little faster.

And what is it about girls that makes you want to dress them up (and change their outfits about every 10 minutes)?? There have been days where I've changed her clothes no less than three times, just for fun. And the pictures, oh the pictures. I honestly wish I had time every morning to do a photo shoot with her. I really don't know what it is about her. I'm just glad she's quickly figured out that the camera is her friend and she loves it! 

And then there are the clothes. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy dressing Wyatt up and making him look adorable too. But there's just something about creating an outfit around accessories. I've seriously spent 20 minutes piecing an outfit together just because of a bow. I am already looking forward to when she's old enough to enjoy shopping with me and picking out her clothes together. If she's anything like her mama we'll be taking lots of day trips for shopping! 

I'm looking forward to so many things with my girl, pedicure dates (we've technically already been on three), girls trips, shopping, sleepovers, dances, and so much more!! All of those girly things that I know she'll love! 

 

 Thank you so much Beth for having me on your Girl Mom series!

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Thank you so much Ashley for sharing Stella with us. It was fun to read about how different things have been since having a sweet baby girl. Stella and Wyatt are adorable y'all. I love the photos and sweet moments that Ashley captures and shares.

Make sure you stop by Everything's Hunky Dorey to see more, and say hello while you are there! 

If you're interested in sharing your story about being a girl mom fill out this survey and I will be in touch. 

OKC Memorial Half {Race Recap}

Last week I shared about my emotional visit to the OKC Federal Building Memorial, but I almost completely forgot to do another post sharing details about the memorial race. That would have been a shame since I have never had so much fun running 13.1 miles.

Let's start at the beginning.
Saturday morning we loaded up and headed out of town, OKC bound. This was a girls only trip that was bound to be fun, exciting and quiet. 
Ah yes, a mommy get away indeed.


I guess I could  go ahead and insert a joke about us being willing to run 13.1 miles just so we had a reason to get out of town :).
We arrived in OKC and headed to packet pick-up.

I obviously wasn't the least bit excited....obviously.

We found this AWESOME photo-op, how cool is this?!

Then we walked around the expo where we gathered a random aray of goodies including: pancake mix, good bars, sunglasses, a box of rice and some other random items. Who doesn't love freebies?

The rest of the day/evening was spent in Norman, OK. Anna has a cousin there and they were amazing hosts who let us stay with them. We had great conversation, laughter and an awesome Italian dinner. It was wonderful.

We headed to bed early and about 4:00 a.m. our alarms went off. Rise and shine? I have never been so glad that I am already an early riser 4:00 a.m. is brutal. 

We headed to downtown OKC where we caught our first glimpse of the memorial before heading to the corrals.

Next up were our obligatory pre-race selfies. 

Some traditions will just never die.

We had company this race too.

Anna's cousin Jacy was running her very first half marathon. 

It is so exciting when someone sets out to do something they never imagined them-self doing. 

I can't even begin to tell you how large the crowd was. Imagine 26,000 runners if you can.

Is your mind blown? Mine sure was.

That was something this "small race girl" was just not used to. Usually the first mile or two of a race is pretty crowded. Not in OKC. There was a mass of people behind and in front of you for the entire race!

And it wasn't just runners the streets were LINED with spectators for nearly the entire race. You were never alone where there wasn't someone cheering you on. 

Now we have to talk about the course. It was # 1) beautiful & #2) amazingly flat. Joplin is anything but flat and our half marathon course here is brutal. 

I can now officially say with my whole heart, "I LOVE Oklahoma."

The pace we ran wasn't our normal pace. We averaged about 2-3 minutes a mile slower than we usually run. But sometimes races are about more than an PR or a great pace.

Never leave a fellow runner behind. Anna and I learned that the hard way on one of our first ever LONG runs. Ever since then she and I have stuck together like glue. This race wasn't going to be any different. We had no plans of letting Jacy fall behind

So I danced, I sang and I had more fun than I ever imagined 13.1 miles could be. I was able to really soak up this AMAZING race. When the last few miles got tough I was able to see Anna be the encouragement for someone else that she has so many times been for me. That was awesome.

With the finish line in sight and a huge goofy smile on my face....

We all crossed together.



As for a finish time we wrapped it up in about 2:39. I went to OKC with different goals in mind but I walked away with an amazing race experience, a beautiful medal and a few lessons learned.



The first lesson is that people and relationships are so much more important than a time on a clock.

The next lesson is one about myself. I have said many, man times that the day I cross a half marathon line and feel like I could keep running I'll think about running a full marathon.

Well guess what? It happened. It may not be soon but I definitely see myself attempting one.... let's say in the spring of 2017.

For now I am content that I finished half marathon #3

Which also means 3 half marathons with this girl by my side.

As for OKC I will most certainly be back. I already have made plans of running the half again next year and taking Russell along to run it with me. He must really love me to agree to do something like that. I just hope that I can keep up with him. 

I have one more half marathon planned for this year. The Joplin Memorial Run on May 16th.

Even though the course is going to be hard I know the company, as always, will be good.

I can't wait.

Tuesday Talk: Ask A Home School Mom {Q & A Part Two}

Welcome to Tuesday Talk!

We are so glad you're joining us this week. 

A few weeks ago I started a series on a subject that is near and dear to my heart
Home School
I shared about our story. Home school  was never something we expected to do, but here we are 2 years later and it all just seems so perfect now. If you want to catch up on the series, you can read my 'First Q & A' post and get a glimpse of a normal day by reading our 'Day In The Life' post.
Today I plan to wrap up the series by answering the rest of the questions my readers asked.

Let's get started.

What do you do when you don't understand a concept you're teaching?

I really haven't had to deal with this yet since we just wrapped up first grade (thank goodness ;).) But I have put a lot of thought into what I am going to do when this happens, because I know it eventually will. Let's just say that math has never been a strong subject for me. 

So many home school moms have really encouraged me that it just works out. You study, you research, you learn together. You find videos, online resources and if all else fails there is always tutoring. 

What is your daily schedule/ How long is your school Day?

I kind of answered this when I did a DITL post but here it is more black and white.

Monday-Thursday

8:00 school starts with prayer and bible class

8:30-9:15 Bible

9:15-9:45 Math

9:45-10:00 Break

10:00-10:30 Handwriting

10:30-11:00 Yoga

11:00-11:45 Phonics/reading

11:45 Break for lunch

1:00-1:30 Piano

1:30-2:15 S.S or Science (we do each twice a week)

2:15-3:00 Art or special projects if we have anything going on. 

2:15 or 3:00 School is out

Friday we have co-op all morning until 12:00. Then we come home and play catch up if we are behind or we take the afternoon off. 

As for our school year we keep thing structured just like a regular school with 4, 9 week quarters. We start in early August and get out in early May. 

Our state requires us to provide at least 1,000 hours of instructed education a year (the "same" number the public schools provide). The catch is that home school is such a small setting, it takes only a fraction of the time to cover the same material that a class of 25 would. You also should know that I can only count the hours we are actually doing school work, unlike the public schools who get to count the entire time the child is on the school property. It is pretty easy to why home school kids usually come out ahead. Every state has different laws and requirements for home school families.

How do you juggle everything?

The easiest and most honest question I can give is that I just don't. My friend Keri from Living In This Season wrote a GREAT article about this. I would highly encourage you to read it. 

I have to pick and choose what I do. During the summer I am more free to play have fun and do more activities outside of the home. There is more time for friends, play dates, and things that I enjoy like crafting or my garden. During the school year I have to be selective. I just can't do it all. I give up hobbies that I enjoy and friend time is really scaled back. We are teaching the girls now that you just CAN'T do it all. Marissa gets to chose one activity to do, which is currently Awana. We refuse to deplete our recovery, rest and family time just to be involved in "everything".

As for the basics of running a house I have found it very easy to balance things out. That may look like folding a load of laundry while giving a spelling test, cleaning a toilet while she's on break or answering emails when she reads a book. It requires balance and planning but it is manageable when I keep my expectations realistic.

What are suggestions for those who don't have full family support in making sure this is the best route for your individual family?

It would depend on what part of your family you are talking about. If you are referring to a husband I feel it is CRUCIAL for both of you to be on the same page. Home school isn't a hobby, it is a way of life. I may be the girls teacher, but Russ is the principal. We have to be going through this journey together even if I am the one doing most of the teaching.

Outside of that I would encourage you to do what God leads your family to do even if that means grandma and grandpa aren't exactly thrilled about your choice. Trust, believe and maybe with time God will change their hearts.

How long do you plan on home schooling, through high school?

Honestly, I have no clue. I would like to say I know but home school really is a year to year decision for us. At this point I feel pretty confident that we will most definitely home school through all of elementary. I would also say that I can't imagine putting a kid into public school for the first time in the 6th grade, but who knows. Where God leads, we will follow.

Do you think you could home school if you had more children?

This is a rough question. Mostly because I can't imagine myself having more children. I am pretty passionate and open about my feeling in this department. I have no desire to have more kids, I do love babies though so I will happily snuggle and play with the babies of others... until they cry.

I would love to say yes, but I just don't know. I do know the dynamics of home school change if you have a larger family especially if they are close in age. Things seem to flow more like a class room where you can teach multiple kids at once adapting their work a bit to make it more suitable to their level.

I'll leave my answer at this, I would certainly give it a try. But this is something that I just don't ever plan on finding out first hand.

How do you stay sane spending that much time with your kiddos without a break?

Of all of the questions I was asked this was my favorite. Thank you Jenny for being bold enough to bring it up. This is the question that everyone really wants to ask.

Some days it's easy other days it's just not. I've lost my temper, gone outside to cry and taken naps while Russ is home on his lunch break. I've had my battles with depression too. To say it has all been fantastic would be a big fat lie.

I have a few responses to this question.

1. Running helps keep me sane. Exercise has been a HUGE outlet for me. 

2. I have to make me time and that usually means leaving the house alone a couple times a month, even if it's just for an hour.

3. I have so much support from my amazing friends and a great family. Life would be so much harder without them.

4. As challenging as it is, it is 10 times more rewarding.

5. Most importantly, the grace of God. He called us to take this journey. Time and time again I have seen evidence of His grace in my life through those difficult times and days that I just want to quit.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting this series.

I know that home school isn't a perfect fit for everyone but it has been for us. It has been such a privilege to share about what has been such a huge part of our lives for the past 2 years.

If you have any remaining questions please ask them in the comments and I will answer them there.

Now it's your turn to share. Grab the button and link up!

An InLinkz Link-up

Monthly Goals {May 2015}

With April packed full another month went by so fast. I made my goals for the month and never gave them a second thought. I guess I really should start printing the list off so I remember what they are. 
Let's see how I did.
 Blog- *Continue blogging 4-5 days a week.  *Grow my Instagram account to at least 500 followers. I feel this one isn't really possible... but who knows, I might as well try! *Write a Q&A post on homeschooling & my gallery wall, that is finally "complete."
DONE!  I can't believe I grew my Instagram that much. I am actually REALLY close to 600!
You can check out my home school & gallery wall posts by clicking the links.

Family-

*Work on completing our spring bucket list.
*Have at least 2 Family evening walks/bike rides. *Have one movie night with the girls.   DONE!
The spring bucket list isn't done yet. But we still have until the first day of summer to mark them all off! 

Fitness- *Exercise at least 5 days a week including my 3 runs. *Finish my half training and complete my first of 2 half marathons this summer. *Run the Amazing Grace with Russell.
*Do a one mile fun run with Marissa and Emily. *Keep logging calories on My Fitness Pal
I almost got all of these. I logged for over half the month on MFP then I stopped. I am planning to pick this back up after I finish my May 16th half marathon

Spiritual-  *Pray more. For my girls, my husband and that God would help us to find a new church home. *Start reading again, again. Praying I would hunger for words of truth. *Listen to more worship music. Find some "kids" worship music for the girls. 
Always my biggest struggle. Marissa and I did a lot of reading in the bible this past month for Easter. It was really good. At one point I was reading a story to her in the Jesus Storybook Bible (the best kids Bible EVER) and I was so overcome by emotion I couldn't even read. I just sat there and cried. Man, I hope my girls don't think I am crazy. 
Home School- *Enjoy the rest of spring break! *Finish strong, May 7th is coming fast. *Have more fun.
We definitely had more fun this past month and guess what, who needs May 7th?! We finished early. TODAY is our last day of first grade!

Random- *Finish my first photography course... this IS the month *Continue garden planning and prep. *Make Finish a new pallet sign. *Have a girls night out with my BFF
I officially give up on ever finishing that course.... it just isn't going to happen friends.
The garden was planted this weekend. I am still feeling uninspired to finish my sign.
On Good Friday the BFF and I got some hang out time in, it was good like always. 

 Blog- *Continue blogging 4-5 days a week. *Grow my Instagram account to at least 650 followers. * Support Keri from Living In This Season during her E-book launch. So excited for her.

Family-

*Finish our spring bucket list.
*Get a pool pass, go swimming!!! *Milk shake date as a family at least once.
Fitness- *Exercise at least 5 days a week including my 3 runs. *Finish my last half marathon for this year on May 16th. *Do another one mile fun run with Marissa and Emily. *Start "The New Rules" weight program later this month.  *Buckle down on my diet when I start my new exercise program.
Spiritual- Same as last month *Pray more. For my girls, my husband and that God would help us to find a new church home. *Start reading again, again. Praying I would hunger for words of truth. *Listen to more worship music. Find some "kids" worship music for the girls. 
Home School- *Enjoy our very deserved summer break.
*Start lesson planning for the 2015/2016 school year.
Random- *Try and plan a mini vacation. *Make Finish a new pallet sign. *Work on mini home make-over stuff. *Have friends over to grill out.

May is going to be an interesting month. Our schedule is finally free for the first time in 9 months. School work is done, Bible study, co-op & Awana are over. We are no longer held to a daily routine! I am also getting ready to make some major changes to my diet/ exercise program as well. The freedom of summer and some challenging changes are in store for this month. I couldn't possibly be more excited though.
I am Praying God uses this month to refresh our family and challenge us to grow!
Do you have any goals for May?

Friday Highlights 5.1.15

Good morning Friday!

Another great week has passed and I am so excited that it is MAY! Maybe the weather is going to get its act together and finally act like spring. We have had such a cloudy, cool, wet spring around here. I am so ready for some warmer weather and tan lines.
Plus school is almost out... like we have 3 lessons to finish and we are DONE!  Our last official day was supposed to be May 7th but it looks like we might just be able to finish everything up by Monday.

On to this weeks Friday Highlights.

{ONE} May Day
It's the first day of May, May Day! Every year I have thought it would be so fun to make a May day basket or two but we never do it. Maybe this will be the year? Okay, it probably won't. But at least I remembered before May Day was over! #progress



Have you ever heard of May Day?  You can catch up on the history here. 
{TWO} Blog Highlights
This week I shared...
Our very first day in the life post.


How we share our faith with our children.

Thoughts about visiting the OKC memorial.

{THREE} Field Trip Fun
There once was a naive girl who thought that first grade would be fun and games, life would not be busy and we would be able to take tons of field trips. Boy was she ever wrong.

The field trips this year just didn't happen like I hoped they would and when we FINALLY decided to make one happen it felt like the whole world raged against us. It took us just over a month to actually go. Rain, cold weather, being busy. We dealt with it all.

The good new is we finally were able to go! 

I'll share more about the details on that soon enough though.
{FOUR} For The Love Of Dunkin
If you follow me along on Instagram. You will eventually learn that there is a very, very, VERY special place in my heart for Dunkin Donuts. Sadly, the closest Dunkin Donuts is about 50 minutes away in Bentonville, AR. In the long run this is probably a HUGE blessing though.

This week I got to make not only one....


But two trips to Dunkin Donuts

I must be dreaming, pinch me... just not on the love handles. 
{FIVE} Girl Mom Series
I was so excited to have Jenny from The Chronicles of We share as part of my 'Girl Mom' series this week.

 Jenny is a great blogging friend who I met shortly after the beginning of this "Blog Land" adventure.
 
Make sure you check out her post to read about the amazing things she wants for her daughter. 
If you're interested in sharing your story about being a girl mom fill out this survey and I will be in touch.
Friday Linkup Parties

To see where I am linking up check out my link-up tab.
Have a great weekend!
We will see you back here on Monday.