Saturday, June 30, 2018

May and June Recap

I normally try to post monthly recaps, but the beginning of June was just so busy for us that I didn't get around to thinking about a recap until about halfway through the month. So this month you get a little extra bonus two for one special! To be honest, it's been nice to take a bit of a blogging break as we go through our summer. I've needed to relax, unwind, and unplug a bit. But that being said, it just feel good to get on here and write again. Here's what we've been up to the last two months!

MAY

In May, I finished up my 7th year of teaching. Where has the time gone?! I had lots of excellent, fun kiddos in class this year- many of whom I've had in class for the last three years. It will be weird to go back to school in the fall and not see their smiling faces in my room anymore. I'm definitely blessed with the best of the best when it comes to students. Aaron finished up his 5th year of teaching and will be tenured when he returns in the fall. We are both still teaching in the same school district, and having summers off together is the best!!


Year Seven: Last Day vs. First Day. This year was incredibly different and challenging. For 186 school days, I had to battle mom guilt, missing my boy, and pumping at work 😐. There were days I didn't know if I could make it. But I also got to teach all AP Lang and gifted kiddos, who were the absolute best. They made me laugh and helped me stretch my brain each day. I got to see my sweet boy every afternoon with a renewed appreciation for each second with him. We had snow days and breaks. I cut my hair. I ran four half marathons. I learned how to leave work at work for a change. When I look back on year 7, I may not see my best year of teaching. I may have had days I just had to make it through. But I will see a year where I was refined and shaped, where I learned just as much (or more) than my students did. And I hope and pray that I made a difference for at least one kid. Year 7, you were a good one. If you need me, I'll be sipping lemonade poolside and adventuring with my boys for the next two and a half months πŸπŸŽ‰πŸ’•! #summerbreak
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My Brother's Wedding 

Our biggest highlight of May came over Memorial Day weekend, right after school got out. My youngest brother, Kirk, married his gorgeous bride, Anna! It's crazy to think that there's another Blakley girl running around now- my mom was the only one ever since I got married and changed my name. Kirk and Anna had a beautiful wedding, and they are so perfect for each other. I definitely gained an awesome sister in law. Eli had a fabulous time staying up all the way until 10 pm and dancing the night away. We even brought along his little walker and he just worked the reception and dance floor all night. It was so much fun!




For the rest of May, we enjoyed taking Eli on his first swims of the summer, hitting up the park, and settling into the slower rhythm of this season. Eli also turned 15 months old, and I shared alllll the fun things about what he's up to these days in this post. Check it out if you haven't already (especially if you like seeing all the baby cuteness like I know I do!)

JUNE

June started off with a bang! On the 2nd, I ran my fourth half marathon, the Hospital Hill Half. The weather was predicted to be incredibly hot and muggy, and I was cautioned that I likely wouldn't be able to go for a new personal record (PR) on this difficult course. But the training and my competitive spirit paid off, and I was able to chase down a new personal best! 



5th Anniversary Trip

The morning after my half marathon, Aaron and I jetted off on a five day kid-free trip to the beautiful Puerto Vallarta in celebration of our fifth wedding anniversary. We slept in late, ate and drank anything we wanted any time we wanted, took low quality selfies, turned off our phones, ate fancy dinners without having to worry about anyone throwing food, and soaked up some serious Mexican sunshine. I let fish nibble on my toes, read four books, and had the best spa massage of my life. We played board games, walked the beach, and had long talks about our future goals. Boy oh boy am I grateful for the incredible time of relaxation and rejuvenation with my main man. We never want to forgot how this all started, with just the two of us. 




My parents watched Eli for us while we were gone, and I didn't have to worry one bit. He had so much fun he didn't even really want to come home! 


 Since our anniversary trip was a week before our actual anniversary, we ended up going out in downtown KC to celebrate that night. Highlights included our first visit to Repeal 18th, Gram and Dun, and also the Waffle Bar! We always try to go new places in KC that we've never been, and none of these disappointed! 



Highlights for the rest of June included a wonderful Father's Day, a family reunion, celebrating my mom's upcoming retirement, more pool time, playing outside, and having the best time with our sweet little man. He is such a good sport and he honestly makes everything that much more fun.





Eli's 16th Month

Eli has continued to talk up a storm, learning all sorts of new words. He has a new found love for turning light switches on and off around our house, and he begs me to hold him up so he can do so over and over again. Some sweet church friends of our passed on their cozy coupe and race car toy to us, and Eli loves sitting in his "car" and turning his steering wheel back and forth over and over again. He got in the race car cart at the grocery store and screamed bloody murder when we pulled him out to leave- kids loves steering! He also loves banging on the keyboard when I sit it on the floor for him, and he really boogies to the music as it plays. He's walking flawlessly now, and especially loves toddling around the splash park- this kid has no fear! He also has his mama's sweet tooth, and he loves ice cream (and pretty much any of the food Mama may have to offer). 



We finally put up his swing in the backyard, and he loves swinging in there and looking around while Mama and Daddy hang out on the deck. He had his first story time visit and parachute experience, and we are getting ready to make our first trip of the year to the zoo. He's so inquisitive, and loves trying to figure out how things works and watching Daddy work on cars. Eli is the best baby and he brings us so so much joy. I'm not sure how I'll ever be able to go back to work in August, so for now I'm just soaking it all in (and reading lots of books or taking naps during Eli's three hour afternoon nap). What a life! 


I hope you all are having a fantastic summer. If you made it this far in the post, congrats. I feel like you are truly my friend and maybe I should put a secret phrase here that you can text or message me just to show me how committed you are to reading- ha! (Secret phrase: no diggity. I look forward to hearing from you ;) But for real, I hope that you are finding lots of joyful moments to enjoy the sweet sun and beautiful memories that come along with this time of the year. Cheers to July! 

Currently,
Kelsie



6 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! You have the most BEAUTIFUL family!!!! I absolutely love that you really opened up, and showed us all a big glimpse into your world! All of your photos are darling! Also, HAPPY 5thANNIVERSARY GIRL!!! That’s a big, big deal!!! Have the best July and I can’t wait to Reads July recap!!!

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  2. Looks like you had an eventful 2 months! Love the floaties.

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  3. Looks like a great couple of months! The photos of your family are just so adorable!

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