Amanda's 2nd Mother's Day

This Mother's Day started off beautifully when Jon brought Jude in to tell me good morning. Jon said, "Tell Mom 'Happy Mother's Day,'" and Jude gave me the longest, sweetest hug. I got two sweet cards and a gift card for a pedicure at The Spa. The boys then took me to brunch at Zest. I had the crab meat frittata served with a salad, corn bread, and fresh fruit, Jon had the breakfast casserole served with fresh fruit and a raspberry scone, and Jude had the strawberry pancakes. Breakfast was delicious! There was a special menu for Mother's day, so we are hoping to go back and try some more from their regular menu.

On the way home we got a big surprise-a blowout on the interstate. We called C&A to pick us up when we thought the hubcap was not going to be able to be removed, but Jon muscled through and we were able to call off the rescue. Thanks C&A for coming out. We had an awfully lazy afternoon, followed by a trip to purchase a new tire. Jon made a great dinner, courtesy of Trader Joe's--salmon in a mojito sauce, sweet potatoes, and rice.

The total cost for dinner at home was only $9. We are really trying to track our spending on dinner and what of what we buy we actually eat. We want to reduce our wasted food, spend less eating out, eat more local and organic foods, and eat less processed food. We are having trouble with some of the organics because they go bad so quickly, requiring more trips to the store or farmers market during the week. We'll find a balance in there some where. I'm excited to see how we do.

This is going to be a long one...
In other news, Jon's job may be ending in September, so we are continuing to be more conscious of our spending habits. This is very hard with a 2-year-old whom we love to indulge in! We're hoping Jon can find something in this area. If worse comes to worse, I could probably live somewhere else and finish my last semester online because after the fall I would have all of my on-campus classes finished with only my masters paper and 2 electives to go. I also think I may have just finished my hardest semester, so that is good news too. If anyone is in need of an awesome psychometrician, evaluator, statistician, I know one!

I am currently working in a local middle school to complete my field experience hours. I am glad to be back in a school, but it is so crazy to try to learn an entire staff and meet all my goals in just 150 hours on site. The school has really welcomed me with open arms, and they are being quite patient with my learning process. I am so thankful they took me on, and I look forward to making some positive contributions to improve student learning.

Jude is doing really well, and he is talking sooooo much. He's really into football, tennis balls, basketball, fire trucks, motorcycles, and all things with wheels. He is really ready to turn 2, and get this next year started. He is having a joint birthday party with Tyler on July 17, so let me know if you need any more details now. Save the date--invitations to follow! As always, music and books are part of Jude's everyday, and he is enjoying his kitchen and cooking for his stuffed animals.

Jon's parents will be visiting soon, and we are excited to see them. The flooding in Nashville included their neighborhood, and we are so thankful they were able to go to a safe place and return to a mostly dry house. Water got under their house, and did some damage to the HVAC and duct work, but man-oh-man it could have been way worse. The loss of life is so tragic, and I am so glad people reacted quickly to keep one another safe and help their neighbor.

HOWEVER, if you call the flooding in Nashville "the next Katrina" to my face, I will smack you in the mouth. Sorry. The comparison is ridiculous.

Finally, to end on a nicer note. I am so very thankful to be a mother today. The details of Jude's birth day are forever in my memory, and I remember every moment that was so happy and so desperately scary. We got so much support when he was in the hospital-the longest week of our lives. I think so often of how many folks stepped in and supported us and supported our mothers. This Mother's Day for me was about all the "Moms" who prayed for us, thought of us, read the blog, loved us, and loved Jude. I share this day with you.