An Update

• Summer is busy but its almost over and I am starting to wish it were a few weeks longer! However, I am really looking forward to fall! One of my most favorite seasons!

• School enrollment is this week! Its official...my baby is going to kindergarten. I'm not ready for her to be gone everyday but I know she's going to love it!

• I spent this past week at my grandparents house. I'm so thankful to have a place to go "home" to. Its always hard to leave but my grandma and I had such a fun time sewing and spending time together. I have always had just one set of grandparents growing up but my own grandparents make up for that. I love them and wish they didn't live so far away. My cousin from Texas met me there. Its always great to spend time with her there in the summer..it makes me feel like we're kids again and we don't have a care in the world! My most favorite memories from my childhood are spending summers at my grandparents house with my cousins!

• After visiting several churches, I think we have finally found one that feels right. Its so hard to move forward and leave everything you know and love but I have faith that we're moving in the right direction. I'm so thankful for God's provision and love!

• Matt's sister, Michaela, has officially moved in! She will be spending the next year here with us in Topeka while she attends cosmotology school. Even though she will have a busy schedule, I am thankful for the extra hands of help around here! Its fun to have someone older than the age of 5 to talk to everyday. If my very own sister were still with us, I feel like this would be something that we'd do for her, too. Michaela is such a blessing to ourselves and our kids! We love her!

• Even though we haven't been searching too hard lately, we've kind of been taking a break from the job hunt. I feel like there is so much pressure for a college graduate to find a job right after college when in all reality, the job he has is a great one! I'm so thankful for Matt's job but I am open for change! Its fun to explore and dream about where God will take you!

• A great friend and fellow MOPS mom and I have joined together in starting a MOPS group for Teen Moms here in Topeka. I have a HEART for teen moms! I think about how I can help them almost every day. We are still in the brainstorming process but I feel like I am one step closer to opening a home for teen moms!

That's all...for now!

Random Truths

1) At the age of 24, I am just barely starting to feel comfortable in my own skin. From something as simple as what I wear to my parenting techniques, I'm just starting to realize that what others think isn't the most important thing in the world. Its okay to be who I am and its a wonderful thing to have the confindence to be who God made me to be!

2) I love reality TV. Its my guilty pleasure. Given that some of it is staged, I just love seeing into other peoples lives.

3) I'm terrified for my girls to grow up. I'm so nervous to raise two teenage girls and I often don't think that I'm cut out for the job. I was a very easy teenager (atleast I think so!) I may have been sassy at times but I was never into any trouble. I take pride in dressing modestly and I want my girls to, too! I want them to be Proverbs 31 women! I want them to serve others. I want them to be modest and kind and loving and know how beautiful they are. Being a teenager in our society these days is hard, especially for girls but I want them to rise up and beat those stereotypes. Through prayer, I have faith that they will be just fine!

4) I'm addicted to Sonic, Target, and Hobby Lobby.

5) If I could, I would eat ice cream everyday. I love it. My grandpa used to eat Butter Pecan ice cream every night so I'm sure that's where I inherited my love for ice cream!

6) This girl has become one of my closest friends. She understands me, encourages me, and makes me laugh. The sad news? She's moving in just over a week. I'm so sad but I'm happy that her family will get the opportunity to be close to loved ones.

7) I'm so excited to say that I will be leading my morning MOPs group this year. Its such a great opportunity for me to serve others and grow closer to a great group of ladies! I'm so excited!

8) I have been thinking a lot about going back to school. Before Chaseton was born, I was still taking online classes through FHSU. I needed to take a break to concentrate more on my kids but lately, I've really been thinking about what I would like to major in. My first major was Hospitality and Tourism. I love traveling and planning vacations. After learning more about myself, I am now considering majoring in the area of Social Work/Physchology etc. I'd really love to be an adoption and pregnancy counselor. If you remember, one of the items on my bucket list is to open a home for Teen Moms who are either homeless or need direction. I also still have thoughts of becoming a Marine Biologist. That was one of the main things I wanted to be when I was little. We'll see where God directs me when the time comes! :)

9) I wish my brother knew how lucky he is to live 5 minutes from my grandma's house. I had always dreamed of my kids living close to her, just like I did. Instead, I followed my groom and we now live 5 hours away. I get more and more homesick everyday. My grandparents house holds some of my deepest, safest secrets and memories. My grandma has deeply impacted my life and I hope she knows how thankful I am for everything she taught me and how she loved me.

10) I'm certain I have been blessed with some of the greatest friends ever. New and old, I love them all the same. They have blessed me and changed me in a way that they will never know. I'm so grateful they were put in my life! 

the First Year Adventures of Chaseton Pollock

This weekend has been full of celebration for our family! On Saturday, we celebrated Chaseton's first birthday! And today is Matt and I's sixth anniversary! We have been surrounded by family and friends and have had such a fun time! For now, Chaseton's birthday recap!

Chaseton had a "Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn" inspired party. I wanted his party to be full of nature, outdoors, and centered around the times of Tom Sawyer. I thought it turned out to be the perfect party for a little boy and I hope Chaseton is just as adventurous as Tom Sawyer!

The invite:

We had Chaseton's party at the perfect location; the Kansas History Museum! It is woodsy and full of nature!

These are two of the picnic tables where our guests sat. The lantern is one that I borrowed from Matt's mom. The jar I found at the recycling center and made my own 'hobo bags' for decoration!

We had a Scavenger Hunt, Potato Sack Races, a picture opp, and a boat building contest!

I found this Scavenger Hunt list on the internet. I stapled it to a plastic baggie and added a pencil.

Potato Sack Races!

A photo opp in front of Tom Sawyer's white-washed fence.

Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn made and floated on log rafts that they made themselves so I thought our guests would enjoy building a boat of their own!

Our supplies for our boat building contest! Everyone loved this part of the party most of all!

I found all of the supplies from items I had at home, from my yard, and from the recycling center.

A birthday banner made from burlap.

The pie table. I made the name cards from paper and sticks.

Instead of cups we used Mason Jars for our drink ware. Placed inside are the handmade napkins that I made. I wanted to use handkerchiefs but it wasn't in my budget so I did what my grandma taught me, I sewed them!

The pies! Instead of cake, I had my mom make pies. We went crazy making pies but everyone loved them! We served peach, pecan, cherry, apple, and blueberry pie, all homemade!

For supper we served fried chicken, corn-on-the-cob, baked beans, biscuits and cornbread with jam and honey, sweet tea, lemonade, and water!

Our birthday boy eating his dinner!

Chaseton's friend, Aria, came to his party!

Addison

Uncle Marty

Chaseton by his Uncle Scott.

It was so hot out! I ended up having to take Chaseton down to his diaper because it was just so hot.

All of our guests. Mostly family and a few close friends.

So refreshing on a hot day!

Jaelyn and Addi building their boats.

Chaseton and Papa Loren.

Allison, Aria, and Addison with their boat.

Aunt Melissa and Uncle Scott.

Allison and Logan

Building, building, building!

My mom and Finlee. They could be twins!

Emily and Chad. Chaseton loves Emily and often prefers her over me.

Grandma, Finlee, and Papa Loren building a boat!

Some of the boats.

Matt, Michael (Matt's brother), Chad, and Uncle Marty

Potato Sack Races.

The little ones wanted a try.

Chaseton loved watching the boats in the creek. He loved hearing everyone clap and he often joined in on cheering and clapping!

Floating the boats.

Chaseton's blueberry pie.

He nibbled on it a little bit but wasn't too interested.

Love these kids!

Chaseton,

I can't believe you are one-year-old! You are the happiest baby and have completed our family so well. Having you as a son is something I will cherish every single day. I hope you know how much we love you and how much joy you bring us every day! Happy birthday, brother bear!