Happy happy Tuesday!
It’s a 10 RANDOM THINGS: MAY EDITION!
It’s another batch of 10 RANDOM THINGS, and as always, we’re covering a smorgasbord of topics.
But first…
…yesterday, we had a fun little Kindle giveaway!
The winner is…
…AMY MAGINNESS!
Congratulations, Amy! I emailed you this morning! Please email me back ASAP to claim your prize!
Okay, from Charlie to teenagers to my random thoughts, why I love working from home, and more, it’s all right here…
10 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT:
10 random Charlie facts:
1: He’s just so cuddly.
The older my dogs get, the less “cuddly” they want to be. Frenchie and Yankee will still cuddle from time to time, but Poppy would much prefer to sit near you and not on you. Charlie is in that super sweet cuddly phase.
2: He’s sleeping like a champ!
Getting a puppy at almost 5 months old is much easier (we have now learned) than when we brought home 8 week old pups. He’s sleeping great!!
3: He LOVES to pounce on the other dogs.
They are less than thrilled with this boy pup pouncing on their heads/backs/tails/you name it, but it doesn’t deter Charlie one bit. He loves to “get ’em” with a pounce.
4: During the day, he sleeps too.
All four dogs come up to my office every day and play a bit before settling into really long naps. I am such a dog mom that my heart melts EVERY DAY when I look at four dogs sleeping in my office.
5: We’re only a week away from walks!
Charlie has been to our vet, and he’s only one week away from being able to take on walks. I am so excited to take him out with the rest of the pack.
6: He loves sleeping with Ashby.
These two are already sleeping together…and loving every minute of it.
7: He’s a people dog.
I find that he’s so happy and super content as long as he can see people. We don’t even have to be talking to him specifically, he just likes to be near.
8: We’re crate training.
All of our dogs are crate trained, and for us, it’s been the best thing. The three older dogs love their crates and get in there voluntarily to nap and hang out every single day. Charlie is learning right now too.
9: He just turned five months old!
His birthday is January 3rd.
10: He is fitting right on in.
Charlie jumped right on in like he’s always been meant to be a Shull.
10 random thoughts on raising teenagers:
1: Their moods change on a dime, and I’m learning to just ride it out.
They’re so happy. They’re so sad. They’re annoyed with me. They love me. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, and I’m learning to ride it.
2: They’re so funny.
Geez they’re funny. I crack up constantly at their wit and humor. It’s FUN to have these moments with them,
3: They love their grandparents.
Their emotions might be a bit up and down with me, but they adore their grandparents, and I’m thankful they’re always happy around them. My kids have always really liked their grandparents, but right now, I feel like my big two are especially into them (and vice versa!).
4: They sleep a lot.
A LOT!! During the school week, both bigs are up before the sun which makes them go to bed early at night and sleep in on the weekend. They’re back to sleeping like they did when they were two. Bahaha!
5: They are wise.
It’s startling sometimes when I’m sad/frustrated/worried/etc about something and one of them says something so wise. Sometimes they say exactly what I need to hear at that moment. It’s really amazing how they can cut through it and just speak truth.
6: They still need me.
Oh they’re big, but they both still need their mama. I’m leaning way into this too because I know it’s fleeting.
7: They’re FUN.
So much fun! Going out to dinner or hanging out by the pool, no matter what we’re doing, they’re just extra FUN now! When we were on our vacation over spring break, it was fun to do the “bigger” things with them that they used to not be tall enough/strong enough/brave enough to do (water slides, jumping off of boats, etc). It’s like Andrew and I get to hang out with some really likeable “mini” adults, and we love it.
8: They require just as much attention as they did when they were younger.
They do. They might not need me to bathe them or tuck them in, but they need me to stop and listen to their stories from school. They need me to just sit with them on the couch and not say anything. They still need a lot of hugs. They would tell you that they still need me to do their laundry 😉 . (I disagree with that one!)
9: They are really becoming “who they are going to be”.
I get these little glimpses of who I think they’ll be as adults, and I LOVE it! I can already see bits of what I think their interests and hobbies will be, what kinds of jobs they’ll have, how they’ll interact with their own families, where they’ll live. It’s so fun to watch little kids evolve into full blown adults. We’re still in the middle, but I see that it’s happening.
10: They are full of surprises.
Always. I’m surprised sometimes by the thoughtfulness, and I’m surprised by the poor decisions. I’m on my toes constantly with these teens of mine.
I posted this little photo booth video on Stories and took a screenshot so you could see. Behind silly Mades and silly Andrew is me sitting at the table with not one, not two, not three, but FOUR teenagers. We took our other two favorite teens Ebby Lee and Nixon to dinner last week and had the BEST time with all four. They kept us laughing and entertained the whole time.
10 things I love about the May:
1:Baseball season.
Yeah, baby! Listening to baseball on my TV just sounds like spring. I love this time of year when the kids are at school, and I can catch a day game on TV while I work.
2: My garden.
My little lime tree doesn’t seem to be making any progress (tips appreciated!), but my tomatoes are coming in nicely!
3: Everything is green.
I love looking out my windows and seeing all the GREEN! I feel like McKinney went from bare to GREEN overnight. I love it!
4: The temp.
You know how on Game of Thrones, they say “winter is coming”? Well in Texas, we say “summer is coming”…because it is, and we will all complain about the heat every single day until mid-September. Right now though, the weather is gorgeous!
5: I’m motivated to clean and purge.
Nothing makes me clean out a closet more than this time of year. This month, I tackled the upstairs linen closet, and even though it’s not normally a spot I frequent daily, it gives me great joy when I open it to grab my kiddos’ sheets on laundry day(s).
6: School is almost out.
I’m ready. I’m so ready. I’m tired of bed times and wake up times. I’m tired of looking at your folder and signing your progress report. I’m tired of being beholden to a school day. As much as I’ll be so ready for them to head back in the fall, I’m equally as ready to wrap things up.
7: Everything is winding down.
I feel like our calendar is now filled with all the “end of year things”. Field Day, the final orchestra concert, the 3rd grade choir show, the middle school athletic banquet…the whole year is coming to a close.
8: Eating dinner outside.
Every single night.
9: Long walks are better.
The birds are chirping, the air literally smells delicious, the flowers are blooming, and it’s not hot. Walks are just better this month.
10: I can work with my patio doors open.
And this brings me great joy 🙂 .
10 things I love about working from home:
1: I get to be alone. 😉
I just think better when I’m by myself. I’m distracted less. I’m more focused. I don’t know about you, but I talk to myself constantly and over the years, I’ve come to realize that the only company I need during the workday is myself. Ha! My team members all give me a hard time about talking to myself because when they do come here to work, I spend a great deal of time talking to not just them but myself too.
2: My dogs are with me.
Who doesn’t love having pups at work?!
3: I can go outside whenever I want.
I like my outside time, and I love to be able to pop out whenever I need a minute of fresh air.
4: I have flexibility.
100%!
5: It’s easier to make it to work on those “blah” days.
On days when I don’t feel well, don’t want to get up and get going, don’t want to shower or get dressed…on those blah days, I can still work. I can work from my bathrobe or dirty gym clothes and no one is the wiser.
6: I can do a chore or two.
Should I need to do a chore or two around the house, I totally can if I’m working from home.
7: I’m here for the packages.
One of my greatest pet peeves is being required to sign for packages. I don’t care what you’re sending me, for the LOVE, please don’t require my signature. Thankfully, I feel like this doesn’t happen nearly as much as it did “back in the day” but goodness, I’m glad I’m here to sign when necessary because I absolutely detest getting one of those little notes on my door telling me that now I have to drive to the post office, park, get out and walk inside, wait in the long line, claim my package, walk back out, drive back home and open it to find a pair of socks I ordered Smith off the internet that for some reason required a signature. #whyohwhydoesthishappensometimes
8: I don’t have to wear shoes.
It’s a perk!
9: I can make my lunch in my kitchen.
When I worked in an office building, making my lunch every day got really old, really fast. I love being able to make my lunch at lunchtime and not the night before/morning of.
10: I control the temp of the room.
Because this is important! I don’t want to work when it’s too hot or too cold.
10 random finds you loved in April:
What did you guys like the most on my blog last month? Right here…
#10: THESE really are the only pens I use for everythingggg!
#9: March’s BOOK CLUB pick was a fave this month!!
#8: My BEACH HAT! I understand why, it’s really cute, priced well and comes in multiple sizes!
#7: You guys, THIS DRESS is only $39 and comes in SEVEN different colors!
#6: THIS TOP is oh so cute!
#5: I also love this TWO PIECE OUTFIT. It’s great for traveling and for running errands.
#4: I love that so many of you are reading THIS BOOK too!!
#3: MY SHORTS are too too cute for summertime and/or vacations!
#2: My own mom texted me that she bought THIS TOP too this month!
#1: And this didn’t surprise me one bit! I legit wore it just today! I can’t quite THIS DENIM JACKET!
Just for fun, I thought I’d share the TOP 10 BLOG POSTS OF APRIL with you too (which I always find so interesting!).
Here they are:
#10: Scheduling Wellness Appointments PSA
#9: A “short” story, Daffodil and Bingo!
#7: Let’s Look: AT OUR DAILY QUIET TIME
#6: Top Five, Bottom Five: ICE CREAM FLAVORS
#5: Walt Disney World with Ashby & Madeley!
#4: Intermittent Fasting: PART 2
#3: Southern Caribbean Cruise 2024: Lovango
#2: Charlie-Nobadeer
#1: Kitchen & Great Room REFRESH
Happy happy Tuesday, friends! I hope you all have the BEST day!!!!
If you have any future “10 random things” topics, please feel free to share below!
Okay, friends, after today, I am out! Andrew and I are taking a little trip to celebrate our 20th anniversary before the kids get out for summer break, so I am going to pause blogging and enjoy time with my hubby. If you’re looking for me, I’m sure I’ll be on Instagram.
I hope you have a wonderful day!
I’ll see you back here next week! xx
Elspeth says
Enjoy your vacation! Can’t wait to see where you head to!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Kristen Thompson says
I love simple posts like this! Charlie looks like the sweetest!! Have an amazing anniversary trip!
Traci M says
Have the best trip with your hubby!!
Kelly M Sites says
I always try to zoom in on your book stack behind you (on the floor and stool). I’d love to see what all is on the stack 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m looking at it right now and there is Outlive along with another IF book and two “French” reads 🙂 .
Lisa D says
Fun content this morning!
Wait a minute, is your new pup 4 or 5 months old?
Happy anniversary!
😊
Mix and Match Mama says
I clearly needed that vacation 😉 .
Natalie Lyles says
Shay I am dying lol… I totally missed the “random facts about teenagers” line and thought you were still talking about the fur babies loving their grandparents etc .. it took me a minute until I realized. 😂I thought what in the world. Haha. Heaven help me.
Kathie says
Enjoy each other and your time away. Best thing you can do for you and your relationship.
S says
I really appreciated your point of: STOPPING and listening to your kids. I’m often listening to them, while I’m doing 10 other things. The act of stopping and giving them our full attention is a wonderful gift we can give them.
Somewhat related: do you have any tips for encouraging sibling bonds? My kids (10, 6, 2) love each other deeply, but the bickering can be non-stop some days. If you don’t have any tips, at least PLEASE tell me that the bickering is totally normal!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh gosh, we say this all the time but if my kids were only children none of them would ever get into trouble. They are zero trouble on their own but a whole lot of trouble when you mix them together, ha! The only time I’m getting on to any of them is for touching/picking/bothering/tattling/messing with their siblings. The bickering never ends at our house!
Erika Slaughter says
I completely agree! In many many ways I think this age requires me more but on all the emotional levels. They want to chat. They want to tell me about their days. They want to have me help solve their problems. And I’m here for it!
Rea says
I just love reading your blog as part of my morning routine. Thank you for blogging. It is just happiness.
That is all.
Rachael says
Super random, but where do you keep your dogs’ crates? I have the hardest time finding a good spot for ours!
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re in our bedroom…not aesthetically pleasing, but it’s just the most practical for us.
Sarah Hickman says
Hi Shay! Love your blog! If Charlie was born on January 3rd, then he would be 4 months old. Math is hard sometimes 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Did I say five months? Geez, I needed that vacation 😉 .
SS says
Shay,
Your comment about the teens…cracks me up. We have one not a teen anymore, a teen and a preteen. Whew! They all have their that was the funniest thing…and is it a center child thing? I tried on a shirt and center kiddo…”Are you going on a picnic?” Thanks!! Lol
My favorite nothing right now about May is our wild cherry trees are in bloom and honey suckle, so the smells when we walk dogs…ooh so sweet. Plus, my iris flowers are starting to bloom and I forget where I planted some of the colors because we divide and move them, so it like Xmas to see the surprise!!
Anneka says
Enjoy your anniversary trip! We just did Europe this fall for our tenth. The Vienna Christmas markets were amazing!
Beverly says
I love the striped top your mom bought. but can’t open the link due to SafeSearch. Can you list the brand naame so I can google it & find it online? Many thanks.
Also, lost 25 lbs with Intermittent Fasting, really works. Once you get over the initial shock it really helps. curb the craving for junk.
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s Amazon!
K.K. says
I’m really surprised your book day isn’t a top post!! It is for ME!! 🙂
Happy traveling!!
Mix and Match Mama says
It was a busy month in blog world!!
Angela says
This question goes with the teenager topic… how do you manage/deal with your teens and their screen time on their phones? Do they have limits? Any phone limits/boundaries for when you go out for supper? I’m finding it more and more challenging because our sons need constant reminders to put their phones down and be present. Also, does Smith have anXbox? Again, our sons love to play games with their buddies in the evening, but not sure how to manage this. Sometimes I think I’m too harsh, other times I think I should be more rigid. Ugh, such a balance! I’d love to hear how you are managing technology & any tips you have for us moms of teens! Thanks, Shay!
Mix and Match Mama says
They do have limits on their phone. The phone basically shuts off and then turns back on at set times during the day. When we go out to dinner, they almost always just leave them in the care because we have a no phone policy at dinner (Andrew and I included), but of course, girl teen likes to take pics, so she’ll sometimes bring hers along for a photo. We made the decision when they were little not to bring any sort of gaming device into our house and haven’t looked back. My friends with older kids often commented that the gaming devices were just a huge complication for their families, so we never introduced one. I am POSITIVE you’re doing your very best. This is a tricky, tricky season…our hardest!!
Angela says
Thank you for sharing what you’re doing! It IS so hard!! I do the screen time hours and time block, too. I will keep doing that as it’s hard for me to regulate and I’m an adult!😅 And I love the phone in the car idea at dinner! Thank you for always being so positive and so real with all of us!! Have the best day!!
Katie Hahn says
I would love for you to tell my one and three year old that they can sleep like a teenager! 😉 Sleeping in never seems to happen in my house!
Kacey says
I love random things!! This is always such a fun post to read through. Puppy pounces are the cutest – the smell of Spring is everything – WFH is the best and I talk to myself all day too LOL, but how do you work with the doors open without a screen?! I would be terrified of critters getting in or with my luck a bird flying through the door – ahh!
Laura says
Have a great trip and happy anniversary!
Kay says
I love these posts! And yes, yes, yes, on all things teenager. You nailed it. I have three (14, 16, 18) and it is ups and downs all over but also wonderful. I’m especially focused on making the most of the “last” events this year as my oldest is headed off to college this Fall (NYU/Tisch!). I can’t believe it. Honestly. Sometimes I’m looking around for my 5 year old son and this MAN walks in the kitchen and I think…when did this happen? He is a little boy!! Anyway, thanks for the fun post and have the best time on your anniversary trip!
Stephanie says
A couple of random comments and questions:-). Is Charlie full grown or will he get a little bigger? Our last dog ( a cavalier King Charles spaniel) was the same age when we got her and it was so easy !! I completely agree about teenagers and grandparents. Maybe because grandparents love is so unconditional and they don’t have to discipline! When I had teenagers I found that they needed me almost as much as toddlers, but for different reasons. They wanted to know I was available to talk to, for rides etc. I made sure I was home when they got back from school and found if I was baking cookies or something like that they would sit and visit more than if I was busy cleaning.
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m not sure if he’s done growing or not. Frenchie (his blood relative) is our smallest, so there is a chance he’s done (they’re about the same size), but he’s male, so *maybe* he’ll get a little larger?
Sheri says
Hi there. Do you have rules for your teens phone usage? My 14 year old does not have a phone but thinking this summer it may happen since she will be in high school and I am nervous about it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mix and Match Mama says
They do have rules and settings and so far, we haven’t had any negative issues, but geez, it’s like having extra children. We babysit those phones and take care of those phones (what’s on them) as much as we do the children. It’s a lot of work (or at least it is the way we do it…carefully!), but we haven’t had any problems.
Penny says
Ideas for “10 Random Things:”
1. Favorite Bible Verses
2. Favorite Podcasts
3. Favorite Vegetable Dishes, inc. Salads
4. Favorite Memories of Grandparents
Happy Anniversary Trip!
Beth says
Our new Shih Tzu puppy came to us at 4 months old, crate trained and slept through the night from the first night. He is our fifth Shih Tzu and our first male. We find him much more affectionate than any of the females. Now that we have had a male, don’t think I would ever get a female again. Enjoy your new addition.
Grace says
Have a wonderful break and Happy Anniversary!
joanna says
I’m not going to lie, you work dang hard for your money. It would have taken me approximately 12 hours to write this entire post with all the links, pics, thoughts, etc. Hahaha. I can only assume it did not take you quite that long, but it is a lot of info.
Thanks for keeping us entertained and for all the random thoughts, cute clothes, and fun pics. The puppy is adorable!!
Carissa says
Love random things!
How about:
10 things about Nantucket that you love
10 things you miss from the 80s/90s
10 things you love about Jesus/being Christian
10 things you love about your favorite 10 restaurants you’ve been to (which ones make your top 10/stand out and why, which ones do you come back to again and again, is it the food, the atmosphere, the service, the people etc.)
For your Top 5/Bottom 5 would you consider doing ones on:
– songs
– inspirational quotes
Those would be fun!
Also, love all that you said about teenagers! Did your kids or are they doing “club sports” or just town sports? Where I live I’ve heard from other moms that “if your child doesn’t do club there is a 1% chance they will be able to play on the high school team for whatever that sport is” because it’s so competitive and the club kids get the spots and often the high school coaches are also coaches for a local club team and favor those club players he/she has etc. I’d love to hear your experience with this and any thoughts on the club sports world from you, Andrew or your kids. Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you, thank YOU for this great list!!!! I was writing the post in my head as I read your comment. Club sports are a really big deal here too. Kensington played club volleyball through the beginning of 8th grade (but once she decided not to pursue volleyball in high school, she stopped) and Smith played club baseball until he decided to switch to crew instead (and now does club crew). I would imagine 100% of the kids on our high school volleyball and baseball teams played club sports at some point before they got on the team. I would be pretty shocked if they didn’t.
Sheaffer says
What a fun post! And I totally agree that teenagers are just straight up FUN!
Kacy M says
Love that the kids appreciate and visit their grandparents! It’s not often you see that anymore. I just lost my 100 yr old grandpa in March (last living grandparent) and he was everything to me…cherish those memories!
caitlin says
When does the travel feel like to much?
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh gosh, it runs deep in my blood. I’m not there yet 🙂 .
Jillian says
I love that the kids love their grandparents!! Kenzie is beautiful! what a beautiful family! You raising nice, polite, and respectful children!