Kindergarten 101 - Letting Go

Whoever says Kindergarten is easy, is not telling the truth. It's hard, emotional, scary ... but that's just how I feel. Bailey is fine. She loves her new school, her teacher, her class, everything. Me, on the other hand, I'm riding the emotional roller coaster of setting my firstborn free. It's hard. This is one of those moments when you know that there should be a detailed manual telling you exactly what to expect, but you get nothing. This is real life. It's amazing. And, sometimes it's amazingly hard.

In preparation for the school year, we prayed through the summer for blessings over Bailey's new school and her teacher. We were excited to find out that my mom (a retired teacher) already knew Bailey's principle and she also taught with Bailey's teacher. Huge prayers answered. We knew our little girl was in good hands.

Day One (last Thursday): Greg and I both took off work to be able to take Bailey to school and pick her up. She was so excited to get to class that morning so we couldn't let her see how anxious we were as parents. She put her bag in her cubby, picked a seat, and began coloring. We said our goodbye's and we left. Whew, we made it. We got in the car with Lou and Parker and headed to a restaurant to eat breakfast. Ok, we cried all the way to the restaurant, but we didn't crack in front of her and that was our unspoken goal.

Day Two (last Friday): Bailey informed me on the way to school that I could just drop her off at the front. Without crushing her brave independence, I informed her that her sisters and I would be walking her in that day. Um, hello, she's 5 and this is only day two. While waiting for the school to open, I told her to lead me to her room once we got inside so that I would know that she knew where to go. As the doors were being opened, the principle said that on Monday they would go back to the regular rules of going to the gym and then they would be released to class at a certain time. So, we switched gears and I asked Bailey to lead me to the gym and then to her class. Along the way, I pointed out all of the Safety Patrol kids and told her that she could ask them questions anytime if she wasn't sure where to go. She proudly walked into class and took a seat next to three other girls (she's on the top right). Lou, Parker, and I walked back to the car, and I cried on the drive to my parents to drop off the girls so I could go on to work.

Sunday night: Bailey talked big all weekend about school and about how she was going to walk in by herself on Monday, but while I was laying in bed with her that night, her voiced cracked when she told me that she was a little scared and she wanted to know if I could walk her in on Monday. Of course I could. I told her that I would still give her the option to be dropped off or walked in the next morning.

Day Three (Monday): Bailey decided to be dropped off until we got in the drop off line when I could see the uncertainty on her sweet little face. I anticipated this happening so I offered to get out of line and walk her in. She was so relieved. Once we got in the doors, we were told that Kindergartners could go straight to class until Thursday (not the gym - ugh - this switching around is stressing me out). However, the parents were to say goodbye at the start of the hallway, which I thought was a great idea. Bailey's class was at the very end so I'm sure that the hall seemed forever long to her. I hugged her and she just stood there. She seemed lost. It broke my heart, and I started to crack. Thankfully, a female (maybe a counselor) took her hand and offered to walk her to class. I cried as I watched her walk down the hall. Did I mention how hard this letting go process is? I'm a very "it is what it is" kind of person, but I've also never had a child start Kindergarten so this is all new to me. If you've walked in my shoes, then you can relate. If you haven't, then be warned.

Day Four (today): Bailey chose to be dropped off. Yay! This would be a big day for both of us. I told her that she could go straight to class, but that she could also ask any adult if she needed help. The Safety Patrol opened the door and she hopped right out. As I drove off, I didn't see her go in the building so I pulled into one of the parking spots and watched her. She stopped to ask a Safety Patrol a question and then she walked in. She made it! I made it! I cried again!

Last Sunday, a sweet friend prayed with me at church and she said "it's time to let Bailey become the person that God made her to be." I couldn't agree more. Letting go is hard. It's hard to allow others (teachers and peers) to mold her for 6.5 hours each day. It's hard watching her grow up, but it's so worth it!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."

Kindergarten - Day One

A little over 5 years ago, we were blessed with the birth of our first daughter. And, a few weeks after she was born, we made a life changing decision. We chose for me to go from full time work to part time work so that I would have a few extra days at home during the week to raise our little girl. That precious newborn face stole my heart from day one, and now, in the blink of an eye, she's starting Kindergarten.

I will miss my extra days with her during the week. I will miss our playdates with friends. I will miss her helping me with chores around the house. I will miss her bossing her sisters around. I will miss taking her to the park. I will miss taking her to run errands. I will miss her, a lot.

But, I'm also very proud of her. She's smart. She's funny. She's a great leader. She's willing to try just about anything. She's a go-getter. She's learning how to read. She loves math. She's really good at addition. She can count to 100. She's more than ready to start school!

So, I pray that we raised her right. I pray that we instilled the right values in her first 5 years of life to lay a solid foundation for her future. I pray that she's kind to others. I pray that she helps those in need. I pray that she makes friends easily. I pray that she spreads her wings and flies ... because I know that she's ready.

Jeremiah 29:11 - " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "

No Bucket List

I decided this past weekend that I won't have a bucket list anytime soon, if ever. Had I written such a list, I guarantee you that preaching a sermon at church would not have been on it. However, that's exactly what I did this past Sunday. Since I can't rate myself, I will have to believe others when they say that I did a good job. Way to go me! Oh let's be honest, it wasn't me at all. I spent a lot of time asking for Gods guidance in preparing my sermon. I asked Him to allow me to speak a clear message with a calm, steady voice. I asked Him to let my words be His, and not my own. And, only by His power was I able to do those exact things.

As the worship songs were being played, I was getting ready. I felt as if I were preparing to play a soccer game, so I did what any athlete would do ... I swallowed a few drinks of water and I took off my shoes. Yup, I took off my high heel shoes (shown in the picture above) and I preached barefoot. I mean, if I was going to step out of my comfort zone then I might as well step out comfortably. Right?!

After the sermon, we closed with a few more worship songs, and during that time, I thanked God for allowing me this opportunity. I thanked Him for anointing (defined as: to dedicate to the service of God) me and allowing me to share some of my personal struggles that ultimately brought Him glory. Did I feel equipped for the job? No. Did I doubt my abilities? Yes.

Even Moses had his doubts - Exodus 4:10 - "Moses said to the Lord, 'Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.' "

But God helped Moses - Exodus 4:11-12 - "The Lord said to him, 'Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' ”

Trust me, when God is on your side, there is no chance for failure! You may not preach a sermon at your church, but you can change the world by simply talking to the people you come in contact with on a daily basis. Just trust God and allow Him to work through you...

Romans 10:14-15 - "...And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news?' "

Now go. I guarantee you that someone needs to hear your good news!

Great Deals Coming Soon!

Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE saving money? Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE making money? Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE Rhea Lana? Well, I do I do I do!

You can read my first Rhea Lana (RL) blog post Here. Since that time, I've been hanging, pinning, and tagging lots of little girl clothes. The below picture is one of three sets of clothing that I've prepped to sell. I can't wait to get these items dropped off so I can regain my closet space. Speaking of, the Drop-Off dates are only two weeks away (Sept 4th-5th).
Consignor Tip: Plastic hangers are required and they can be purchased in sets of 10 at Wal-Mart for $1.

Don't forget about Halloween! RL is a great place to buy and sell your gently used Halloween costumes. I will definitely be shopping for my girls' costumes at RL.

Shoes, shoes, and more shoes! It seems like our kids grow out of that brand new pair of shoes we bought them before they even step out the front door, right?! RL is a great place to buy and sell those shoes.

Did You Know?

• The Average Consignor made $280 at the Spring 2013 RL event!
• Consignors earn a minimum of 70% of their sales ... or more!
• Consignors are invited to the Private Pre-Sale on Saturday, Sept 7th!
• Consignors pick up their checks the day after the sale ends (Sept 15th)!
• RL guarantees items against loss. Meaning, if you show up on Pick-Up Day and one of your items that didn't sell is missing then they will pay you for the lost item. That's amazing!
• Each volunteer and consignor receives a set of passes which includes 2 Guest Passes (a Guest pass allows friends/family/co-workers to shop the Pre-Sale at 6pm on Saturday, Sept 7th!) Write your first and last name on the back of your Guest Passes and hand them out! All Guest Passes received at the Pre-Sale on Sept 7th will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 RL Gift Certificate! That's a BIG deal! $50 goes a long way at RL! Win-Win-Win for Consignors, Volunteers, and Shoppers!

Facebook Contest: Click Here to "Like" the Rhea Lana's of Broken Arrow facebook page. Then "Share" the below picture (must be a public share to count!), and comment that you have done so and your name will be placed in a drawing for a $25 RL Gift Certificate! It is that easy to get some free money for our event!!!

 

 

Like I said in my first blog, feel free to ask me any questions that you may have about buying and selling at RL. Whether you would like to be a consignor or a shopper, I'm here to help. Or you can email the owners of the BA Rhea Lana, Debbie (debbiew@rhealana.com) and Kristin (kristin@rhealana.com). They are wonderful ladies!

 

 

Saving Money at Target

The girls and I made a quick trip to Target this morning for a few good deals. Here is the breakdown:

• Two boxes of Pampers Cruisers were $34.99 each ($69.98 for both) and one box of wipes was $1.97. I had two $2.00 off manufacturer coupons for the Cruisers, one $2.00 off Target coupon if I bought both Pampers diapers and wipes, one $0.50 off manufacturer coupon for wipes, and one $1.50 off manufacturer coupon if I bought both Pampers diapers and wipes. And, I got a $15 Target gift card for buying two boxes of Cruisers.
• $69.98 + $1.97 = $71.95 - $2.00 - $2.00 - $2.00 - $0.50 - $1.50 - $15.00 = $48.95 (or $0.20/diaper). I usually pay around $0.16/diaper, but I literally had less than 10 diapers in the house so this was a great deal for a purchase that wasn't planned out very well.
• Two Reach flosses were $0.92 each ($1.84 for both). I had a manufacturer coupon for $1.00 off the purchase of two.
• $1.84 - $1.00 = $0.84 (or $0.42 each)
• Two Head & Shoulder Shampoo's were $4.99 each ($9.98 for both). I had a Buy One Get One Free manufacturer coupon and two $1.00 off the purchase of one manufacturer coupons.
• $9.98 - $4.99 - $1.00 - $1.00 = $2.99 (or $1.50 each)

Retail price: $83.77 + tax
After coupon price: $52.78 + tax
Savings of: $30.99

That's not a bad savings for an unplanned trip. Honestly, I was only going for the diapers, but I decided to skim through my coupons before heading to the store to see what others items I could purchase for my stock pile while I was there. Money saved & mission complete!

Cookies vs Carrots

I workout. I run. I try to eat healthy. I love my family. I work hard. I go to church. I finish what I start. I am competitive. I can multitask like nobody's business, but ...

Sometimes I:

• Let unfinished projects sit around the house for months
• Forget to print family pictures that are stored on the computer ... for over a year
• Wear a sports bra and comfy clothes to run errands instead of dressing somewhat "nice"
• Pick up dinner on the way home from work instead of cooking my pre-planned meal
• Lose my temper with my kids
• Lay in the recliner all evening instead of running
• Fall asleep while praying at night ... like 95% of the time
• Buy things that aren't in the budget even if we don't have the money for it
• Put off cleaning the house until tomorrow, or next week
• Tell my kids "no" because it's easier than saying "yes"
• Eat cookies instead of carrots

All of these things are true. Sometimes I fall off track and it's ok. Afterall, life is short, so we need to enjoy every day that we have whether it's a day of good choices (eating carrots) or a day of not so good choices (eating cookies). And, if it happens to be a day of not so good choices, then you better enjoy every single bite of those cookies!

Ephesians 6:3 - “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

More than Milk

Before couponing, I never would have known that the Borden milk at CVS was priced lower than the exact same brand at Wal-Mart. With three small kids, we go through two gallons of milk a week so this was valuable information. Each week, I look at the CVS deals to see if there is anything that I can pick up on my weekly milk run. On my last stop, I bought three boxes of Puffs tissues and two Disney Gummie Vitamins. Here is the breakdown:

• Milk $3.49 each with $1.00 each (limit 2) back in ECB's (Extra Care Bucks). The ECB's are shown in the picture, and can be used on my next purchase towards anything. $3.49 + $3.49 = $6.98 with $2.00 ECB's to use next time.
• Puff's tissues retail for $1.99 each ($5.97 for all three), but were on sale for $0.99 each, and I had a buy three, get $0.25 off manufacturer coupon. $0.99 + $0.99 + $0.99 = $2.97 - $0.25 = $2.72
• Disney Gummie Vitamins are $7.49 each ($14.98 for both), but CVS had them on sale for Buy One Get One Free, and I had two $1.00 off manufacturer coupons and one $2.00 CVS store coupon that printed at the kiosk near the front door. $7.49 + $0.00 (free one) = $7.49 - $1.00 - $1.00 - $2.00 = $3.49
• I also had a $3 off coupon that was emailed to me.

Retail $27.93
I paid $10.19 and got back $2.00 in ECB's to spend on my next trip!

It's that easy!

Weekend Fun

We went on a quick family vacation this past weekend with my parents and we had a blast! Let's face it, you never know how overnight trips are going to go with three kids ages 5 and under (and a total of 7 people), but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the nice break from reality.

We left town on Saturday morning and headed to OKC. Our first stop was the bombing Memorial, which I had not seen before even though I remember that day well. We didn't give the girls a lot of details, but they do know that something bad happened, and that we rose above the tragedy. The below pic on the left is of the reflecting pool (which is very tempting to little kids), and the pic on the right was a coed Boot camp that stopped to do push ups while carrying backpacks and an American flag. I was impressed with their dedication in the heat so I gave some of them a high five and a "good job" on my way to take the big girls to the restroom. Sometimes a little encouragement is all that we need to keep going!

Our next stop was Toby Keith's Restaurant in Bricktown. Even though there's one in Tulsa a few miles from our house, we've never been there. It only seemed fitting to drive two hours to finally see what all the fuss was about. I love the below pic of Lou, Parker, and my dad. So sweet! In the bottom pics, Parker is yelling "hi guys" to everyone eating on the other side of the wall, and Lou is doing .... well, I'm not sure what she's doing so I had to take a picture. Silly girl!

After lunch we got tickets to ride the Bricktown River Boat. Lou was petrified of the boat and got herself all worked up while waiting our turn so Greg carried her onto the boat and she quickly calmed down and LOVED it, of course! The ride was hot and sweaty, but fun. We met some new friends and two girls that were from Fayetteville, AR. We found out that they are frequent shoppers of my brother's store, The Mustache Goods & Wears. Small world ... especially since my dad and I were both wearing mustache shirts. Below is a pics of our Boat passes.

After the boat ride, we went to our hotel (the Hampton Inn in Bricktown) to check in and cool off. My parents picked the hotel since they had stayed there before. We highly recommend it if you have young kids. The pool is a lot of fun, and our rooms overlooked the baseball field.

Once we were cooled off, we headed to the outlet mall for some Tax Free Weekend shopping ... with everyone else in OKC. While pulling into the parking lot, we made a deal to drive around one time and if we couldn't find a parking spot then we would leave. Wouldn't you know, we find a front row spot right next to the mall entrance. Shopping heaven! I'd like to say that we shopped til we dropped, but in reality, we hit 3-4 key stores and then left before anyone got grumpy. It was nice!

Since it was getting later in the evening and all of the fancy restaurants were packed, we chose to hit the hotel pool and have food delivered to us. The girls LOVED the pool! I'll be honest, I kind of liked it myself!

Once the kids were water logged, we headed up to the room to eat dinner. We put on our PJ's, grabbed our food, and huddled by the windows to watch the baseball game. I must admit, it's pretty awesome to watch a game in the A/C with good food and a clean bathroom just steps away. The OKC team won 24-5. After the game, we all crashed and slept great!

On the way out of town Sunday morning, we drove past the Capital building so the girls could see it.

Then we were off to Stillwater! Once we got in town, we parked and showed the girls the campus (our old stomping grounds). I loved seeing all of the improvements to the school. Since Eskimo Joe's was packed (no cheese fries - so sad), we decided to eat at the original Hideaway Pizza and then do a little shopping next door at Chris's University. There's nothing like hitting up your Alma Mater and deeming it necessary to buy all three of your girls Hello Kitty OSU dolls. We realize that brainwashing school spirit starts at a very young age.

Above is our family pic in front of the school library. Yes, I would say that was a VERY successful weekend trip. When do we go again?!