5 Things

1. A couple of months ago I broke down and hired a house keeper. I've never wanted to do it because I could think of a hundred other ways I would rather spend my money. However, every Saturday morning I would turn into a raging youknowwhat when I would have to spend hours cleaning my house only to have it a mess again by the afternoon. Now I feel that a house keeper is about the best possible use for that money...I no longer feel anxious as I see the dog hair piling up and soap scum forming in the shower. I feel free and happy and not burdened by a messy house! If I notice my floors need a scrubbing, I know that will get done eventually and not by me! It's amazing!!!

2. Justin's business is growing and doing well. It has been a blessing and there is nothing better than seeing your husband work hard and be successful! This is a dream he's had since I met him and he's finally seeing the pieces fall in place. He has had to hire employees and as a result he needed something larger than our home office to work out of. As of Monday, he has been working out of a new office building here in Mansfield! I'll miss coming home to him, but honestly he would not get a thing done this summer with all of us home all the time. We already tried that little experiment over spring break and I think I about drove him off a cliff.

3. I love to shop, but right now (and lots of times...thank goodness for my wonderful friends at work who give me tons of advice) I just don't understand how to put all the pieces together and look cute. I bought this adorable lace shirt the other day and got home to realize it is basically a crop tee. What do you wear underneath...is the shirt supposed to stick out below? Help me here!!

(Caroline's face makes me laugh in this picture.)

4. The other afternoon Caroline was playing outside and all of a sudden she comes running in with a "snake" in her bug catcher. Actually it was an earth worm, which I am thankful about, but those things are still really yucky. I'm wondering if Caroline is going to be a down in the dirt, critter loving and protecting child. She was really concerned about where we were going to find him a new home and not afraid to touch the slimy creature. If my little girl is this way, I'm sure I

can look forward to Carter coming home with bull frogs in his pockets.

5. Finally, as everyone around here knows Tuesday was a crazy day. I spent about 2 hours in duck in cover with my students while I had Pete Delkus blaring on my computer keeping us informed of the weather. Twitter was also incredibly helpful as it gave me minute by minute updates to where the tornadoes were spotted and damage that has occurred. Being the weather nerd that I am, I was aware of the tornado warning before the school made any sort of announcement. I was trying to continue teaching, but finally just quit and sat at my desk watching updates. I tried not to freak my students out, but that wasn't too successful. I basically had them prepared before any we were mandated into duck and cover. I'm a pretty big baby when it comes to storms, but not being with my own children is what made me the most nervous. Once I felt like Caroline and Carter were out of harms way, I was able to relax a bit. I stole this picture off Facebook so I have no idea who to credit, but this shows the tornado in the Martin area. Most of the damage is about a mile away from my parent's house. Seeing the damage in person yesterday was alarming and made me more thankful that nobody was killed. Scary stuff!