Turning a new leaf

I guess it's time that I told everyone what I made official last week: I'm "retiring" from my job at SVU.

Leaving, retiring, resigning, quitting, whatever you want to call it. After this Friday, my primary employment will be as a Mom.

All of you who know me can probably guess how hard this decision was for me. SVU has been part of my identity since 2003, first as a student, but for the majority of time (strangely enough) I've been an employee. To think that I'll no longer have to worry about retention, recruitment, or budget crunches is just weird. Part of me actually enjoys thinking about that kind of stuff. I like to have projects and improve things, and for weeks my mind has been abuzz with ideas for the summer and fall and possible improvements in the residence life department. The plan was to keep going until at least the end of the summer, after Logan was done with the academy and had gotten into his "real" routine with the police department.

But, as with everything in life, plans change. I hit a snag that made me re-examine my "balance" of mom and employee, and after fighting the thought for all of last weekend, I realized that the spirit was trying to tell me it was time to let go. It was SO HARD to admit that to myself. To realize that I wouldn't be implementing all of my plans and ideas for the university, and that I would no longer have a say in the direction it goes, was heart wrenching. My vanity also hated to admit that I might be replaceable...or that the university would possibly have the gall to survive my departure...or even be better for it...

But this is the right decision. I look at my little boys, and how fast they're growing up, and how desperately Tommy needs a routine (especially if I ever want him to stop wearing a diaper), and I know it's the right thing. It will be a weird adjustment, but it'll ultimately be a good one.

But it still feels weird. And sad.

Friday is my last day "in office." I'll probably still do some side work for the university until they figure out exactly where my different responsibilities are going (some of it is being delegated to other departments) but pretty soon things will be winding down.

And pretty soon Logan and I will know more about what's happening in Lexington than we will about what's happening on the Hill. How odd.

Easter Egg Huntin'

Tommy had a lot of fun this weekend hunting for Easter Eggs!

On Friday, SVU had an easter egg hunt on the front lawn, and there were lots of eggs, and lots of children! I was a little scared at first, because Tommy started to have a melt down during the "instructions" portion of the activity, but he came around in time to go looking for the eggs. He was soooo excited to see that Josh Cooper was looking for eggs too! They're two little peas in a pod. After he found his 25 eggs he got to meet the Easter Bunny, which he thought was exciting.

We had another easter egg hunt on Saturday with the Coopers, but Tommy didn't do as well at that one--he got a little distracted by the presence of a cute little dog, and was more interested in eating the contents of the easter eggs than in finding more eggs. It was pretty funny to watch, though. Tommy would find an egg, stop, eat the contents, and toss the egg on the ground. Josh would then swoop in and grab the egg (which, of course, is the purpose of an easter egg hunt), so at the end Josh had a basket FULL of eggs, and Tommy had very few...always an adventure with these kids!

Tommy searching for eggs at SVU

Nanna and Jack (and Cami :-) ) waiting for the activity to start

Tommy and the Easter Bunny!

Tommy and Josh going after the same egg (Josh won)

Tommy and Daddy before the search began...

Play time!

This past week the weather was GORGEOUS! On Friday we got together with the Coopers and took the kids to a park out in Lexington that has a large play structure. There were lots of kids there, so it was a bit crowded at first, but the kids had a blast! Tommy, as always, loved the swings the best, but he got a kick out of the slides as well. Some of those slides were pretty big for such a little guy!

Enjoying the swings

Jack (Mr. Serious)

Caleb (Mr. Pretty Serious)

Joshua enjoying the swings

Tommy, elated to be on the swings

What a fun group of kids! I'm so glad the weather is warming up. They've been cooped up in houses for too long.

Little Boy Pics

The boys have been getting a long really well lately. Tommy has been on a "Bob the Builder" kick, and Jack seems to enjoy the show, too. Here they are watching it together!

Jack is soooooooooooo close to crawling! He gets in the position perfectly, and looks like he's going to crawl forward...then he decides he's done and frustrated and just wants to be held! He "scooches", though--he can roll, turn, and "scooch" backwards and forwards. So he's mobile...just not crawling. Yet.
Soon!

The Kitchen!

Sometimes I think I should be diagnosed with CADD: Color Attention Deficit Disorder. I barely get a color on my wall, and I'm already thinking of what the next color will be! However, I think I've found a color for my kitchen that I really like--Red. Yes, I know what you're thinking: didn't you already paint your kitchen red? The answer is technically "no." I painted the TRIM red, and the living room was red, but the kitchen was cream. Now the walls are red, the trim is white, and eventually the living room will be "bungalow gold"...but that's getting ahead of the story.

Also, this weekend was a "half-off" event at a local furniture store, so we took some of our lovely tax-return money and bought a REAL KITCHEN TABLE!!! We're so excited. It seats up to 6 people; 4 in chairs, and two on a bench (more if those people are children). It's really cute. We have the bench in the living room when the table is in its "small" size, but we pull it over once the table has been expanded. We used it tonight to celebrate my brother JJ's birthday. Such a fun christening! It goes wonderfully with our cabinets. Once our new kitchen flooring is in, I'm going to LOVE that room!

You can kind of see the new wall color here...

Our fabulous new table! And your eyes are not deceiving you--the ends are not flat. The shape is technically not "rectangular." That's kinda why I like it :-)

Done!

I finally finished Tommy's 3rd Heritage Makers book! Here's the link if you'd like to see it:

Tommy's World, Volume 3

I hope it previews correctly...some of the pages didn't show when I previewed it, but I'm hoping that's just a blip!

Enjoy :-)

Cutie Patooties

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted! I always feel like I should have pictures with my posts, and lately I've been very bad with a camera! This week I decided I needed to stop being lazy, so below are the latest photos of some very cute fellows! The first few are from when Josh Cooper came over to play early on Saturday.

Tommy and Josh Cooper. That's what Tommy looks like when he wakes up!

Watching a move in the playroom

Josh and Jack (before Tommy woke up!)

I think Josh was wanting Tommy to wake up...

Jack learning how to crawl (not there yet, but close!)

Jack and his first celery stalk

A happy boy!

Jack and Logan, eating celery