Prepping for Preschool

At this time next week Jackson will be in preschool!! We've spent this week getting ready. Yesterday I sat through an orientation that I swear I was too young to participate. School supply list? Permission slips? What?!?

Jackson's ready and I know he is. He is eager to learn new things and engage in learning activities-- the kinds of things that I am not as super great at as a mother. Preschool is just the thing we need around here... for his sake and mine! Fortunately, the school district has a free preschool for two mornings a week. I am just not ready to send him away for much more than that!

We picked up school supplies yesterday and Jackson got his backpack all ready. A Bible wasn't on the supply list, but he asked if he could take it anyway! Of course you can, Buddy!

This morning, we worked on our first "homework" assignment. 

As the day progressed yesterday from orientation, exploring the classroom, buying school supplies... my anxiety about his food allergy increased. Jackson's school is a peanut free facility, but Jackson's allergies are to tree nuts and they are extremely severe. I was on Pinterest yesterday, which is something I so rarely do, and I stumbled unintentionally to a blog post about back to school preparations for kids with food allergies. God is so good to even use blogs to help guide and direct us! :)

Using tips and resources provided on the post, I began putting together a better, more detailed allergy kit. Target has this first aid container that is the perfect size for all of the items I need to send with Jackson!

It has his epinephrine injectors, prednisone, his inhaler, antihistamine and his allergy bracelet.

I printed off this handy form that will be in his kit, along with the nurse and teacher. 

I purchased some Oreo packages to send with Jackson so that when people bring birthday treats, he can still have a special snack that is assuredly safe for him to eat. I feel much more at ease! The staff is great at the school and is eager to help in keeping Jackson as safe as possible. 

It's hard to relinquish control over every little aspect in the lives of my kiddos, but I know it's part of my job as a mom. Jackson is ready to spread his wings a little bit and it's just what he needs! This preschool preparation is just as much for me as it is for Jackson! :) 

Chiefs Training Camp

Earlier this week, we ventured up to the Chiefs Training Camp up in St. Joe at the Missouri Western campus.  It was a super fun morning full of watching practice, playing, and getting autographs!  Even though we were drenched in sweat, thoughts of cool, "football weather" flooded my thoughts and it can't come soon enough!

The team was scrimmaging when we got there

It didn't take long for the kids to lose interest (well, Belle was never actually interested to begin with) so we went to the kid zone to play.

Jackson kicked some field goals

And so did Belle!

Jackson threw some footballs and he did an obstacle course race too!

After practice, we stuck around for the quarterback and special teams autograph session and Jackson loved it. 

I didn't really plan ahead to bring anything for autographs, so I bought a pennant from the gift shop. It was perfect!

Jackson with kicker, Ryan Succop

Thomas Gaffer

Bradley McDougald  

Tight End, Travis Kelce 

Jackson did such a good job of being patient and waiting his turn and the other fans often helped him get noticed because he was easily overlooked because he was so little. This man picked Jackson up and helped him lean over to get the autograph of quarterback, Tyler Bray! Chiefs fans are the best (and loudest, of course!)

Jackson ended up with 8-9 autographs overall and he just felt so special. He especially loved the ones who put his hand on his shoulder when they took pictures. He looked at me and said, "That guy is my friend!" His pennant is proudly displayed on his bedroom wall and he has eagerly shown it off to everyone who has been over!  

Belle never really got into any of the activities of the morning, but as soon as we passed by some cheerleaders on the way out... she just lit up! She had been clinging to Grandpa Forrest, not even letting me carry her, but when I asked if she wanted to say hi, she walked right over and got on her lap for a photo! She would have sat there all day if they would've let her!

It was such a fun morning and everyone had a great time! I really appreciate the Chiefs for putting on such a fun event (for free!!) and for the players taking the time to sign autographs and take photos! We are definitely ready for football season!! 

The million dollar question

I'm done with grad school. I don't have my diploma yet, but I've already received my first student loan bill. Sallie Mae really doesn't waste any time. Par for the course, many people have inquired about my post-graduation plans. Ah yes, the million dollar question: So what are you going to do now that you're done with grad school?

Most people actually expect a short answer, but I don't really have a short answer. In the broadest of terms, I'd love to earn a paycheck. More specifically, I'd love a job using the skills I've been trained to do. Even more specifically, I want a job that doesn't really exist so I'm actually working on making that happen.

First things first, I need to become licensed. The timeline for the licensure process is as follows: Wait 4-6 weeks for my university to finalize my diploma. Once I have documentation of completed degree, I register to take the National Counselor's Exam (NCE), which is scheduled four weeks later. While I will know whether I pass or fail at the time of the exam, it will take 4-6 weeks to receive my official scores in which I can submit to the state for licensure. And quite honestly, I have no idea what the process is like for the state to approve the application. Basically, I have right around 12 weeks until I'm employable in a counselor/therapist role.

For now, I just plan to spend a lot of quality time with this study manual and it's companion audiobook set. So far, I've made it through 2 of the twenty CDs. 

As for finding my perfect job, well, it doesn't exist... yet! But, I'm working on it and I'm hopeful. My education, experience, and passion have me looking for ways to serve the mental health needs of our veterans in a civilian, community-based setting. I am hoping to work along side some of the established organizations in our area (and/or bringing successful organizations from other cities here into Kansas City) to provide psychological no-cost services to veterans. This would involve seeking funding from local businesses and individuals, reaching out into the military and veteran population, providing psycho-educational tools, and reducing the stigma of mental health issues. Once I'm licensed, my hope is to provide therapeutic services in a practice geared to serving veterans and their families.

So, this about sums up my post-graduation plans. Granted, I could go on and on (I wrote an entire 16 page paper and prepared a 90 minute presentation of the civilian role in military/veteran mental health needs, so I really could go on  and on...), but most people seem to check out at about this point in time, so I'll finish it up here. Though, if you do have comments or questions, let me know! And if you have tons of money just waiting to pour into past and present service members-- let me know. I'll put it to good use!

A Whirlwind Trip to the Windy City

When Julie mentioned she would be coming to visit this summer, I asked if she'd like to take a short trip somewhere to explore a little more of our country. I gave her a list of places that she hadn't visited yet within a 10-14 hour travel distance and where I had friends or family connections: Chicago, Nashville, New Orleans, or Colorado Springs. She chose Chicago, invited a friend from high school, and we ventured up for a whirlwind trip to the windy city.

Twenty hours of travel via an overnight double decker bus, 41 hours very touristy hours in Chicago, and of course a ton of pictures!

We spent $29 for round trip bus tickets, $60 on attractions, plus food (Chicago pizza-- YUM!) ... but the experience was of course, priceless! Especially considering that I got to meet up with one of my high school besties. The last time I saw Dana was four years ago and it was for a brief 15 minute visit. She's living the life up in Chicago in the cutest little townhouse and is beginning her doctoral degree this month! 

See those bags under my eyes-- that's what happens after an overnight bus ride that arrived before 7am the day before, non-stop tourism for two days, all while carrying my backpack that held everything I needed for the 4 day trip. Oh, an upcoming midnight departure for our bus ride out of Chicago awaited me just a few hours later. 

I'm quickly becoming too old for this sort of trip, but these are certainly my favorite. Reminds me of my trip to NYC several years ago with my college roomie. Or the time we traveled down to Texas to visit the Dr. Pepper museum. Wait-- who am I kidding. I'll never be too old to travel. I may be tired (still) and have terrible bags under my eyes in photos, but I'll be traveling as long as I'm living! :)

The SAHM adjustment

In a combination of finishing grad school and Derek being gone, I'm finding myself in a new funk as a readjust to stay-at-home-mom life. It's not bad, just different. For the past eight months, my life has been go-go-go that I'm not quite sure what to do with myself now that I have so much time. I have played, cleaned, and organized (and blogged!!!) more in the past few days than I have in the past several weeks put together. Oh, and I've gone to town on some creative projects (which make more messes and then I do more cleaning!).  

Today was a cool, rainy day. No complaints... we really needed the rain, but I was almost lost as to what I was going to do for a full day alone with my kids when outdoor activities were out of question. It's quite ridiculous, really. As I was feeling overwhelmed by trying to figure out what our entire day would look like, I decided it'd be best to just take it one step at a time. Turns out that it was a good approach and we had a fun day. 

The rain didn't stop my kids from wanting to play outside, so we spent an hour playing football in the rain. Jackson got really good at catching the big football! 

We came inside and Jackson asked to watch The Price Is Right (I boasted with pride at his request. I've been watching TPIR since I was his age!!). After the show was over, Jackson then wanted to play The Price Is Right, so I was Drew Carey and I said, "come on down!!!" Then, he'd jump up and down while screaming woo-hoo. I'd make up a money game and he'd guess "68" every time, which was always the perfect number to win a prize... and more jumping, clapping, and woo-hooing followed. The moment was far too fun to stop and try to capture it. These moments, I remember, are what make staying at home so great. 

I remembered half way through nap time that the local bowling alley has Buck nights on Mondays. I called up and invited my in-laws and we met up in the late afternoon. Jackson was beyond thrilled. He's been asking to go for awhile. I was thrilled because it was $8 for two games each plus shoe rental!

Belle was excited to participate for about 6-7 frames. At that point, she began crawling on the floor and "resting" on the shelves. 

I started out with two strikes back to back in the second and third frame in the first game. It went consistenly downhill after that. Especially in the second game. Jackson regularly beats me at Wii bowling and I have a strong stance of not losing to make my kids feel better. As embarrassing as it is to admit, Jackson did beat me (he did have bumpers and I didn't, FYI). Forrest only won by one point. No one is going to be calling us to join their bowling league anytime soon!!!

We finished out the evening with a movie, picnic dinner, and reading books. I'd say it was successful day as a SAHM! I'm off to cuddle with my little man. He shares a bed with me when Derek's gone. Belle isn't invited yet because cuddling with her is like trying to snuggle with a windmill. :) 

Julie and I are headed to Chicago overnight tomorrow. It's going to be a whirlwind trip, but I think it's going to be so much fun. And when we get back on Friday, Derek will be home!! Woo hoo!!!