10 Things That Happened in April

Well, we’ve officially reached the spring to the end of the school year. I don’t know if it’s like this for everyone, but as soon as April hits, I feel like we go into hyper-speed. Between school activities and state testing and PTA stuff and just life, this time of year always flies by. I have no doubt that May will be just as fast, and then it’ll be summer break! I’m equal parts excited and nervous – I always question if I’ll be able to sloooow down work enough to truly enjoy the time with the kids.

But, we’ve got time to ponder those questions. For now, let’s recap one of my favorite months of the year.

10 Things That Happened in April

• I gave Jackson’s closet a huge makeover! It honestly feels a little shocking to me that this happened just a few weeks ago. It feels like it was always meant to be like this. Jackson’s closet has always been a bit of a disaster, and earlier this month I ripped everything out and started fresh. He keeps things so much more organized now, and he’s so happy with how it turned out. Which means I’m so happy with how it turned out!
• We went on tons of family walks post-dinner, did a few puzzles, played some games, and embraced all of the spring vibes. Including the itchy eyes and sniffly noses that come with outdoor walks this time of year, haha.
• Corey and I watched Fallout (on Amazon Prime – have you watched? It’s incredible!) and immediately started playing the game together, too. He’s played it before but I haven’t, so he started me with Fallout 4 and we’re having a blast. A few nights a week we hunker down to play a bit after the kids go to bed, and playing the game gives me a whole new appreciation for how great of a job they did on the show.
• I ran in the Cap10K! Every year, Austin hosts (what they claim is) the largest 10K in the states. This was my third year running it and it was my first time running it solo. I had such a great time and set a PR for my 10K time (56:38).
• Spoiler alert: I painted our ceiling!! This is a project I’ve been thinking about doing for years now, and it felt really good to just pull the trigger and get it done. Our room feels even more cozy now and I think I’m probably going to have to go back and paint the trim and doors at some point to really finish things off. Keep an eye out for the blog post later this week.

• I spent an inordinate amount of time planning for teacher appreciation week! It’s next week and it’s kinnnnd of a big deal around here. I’m one of the co-chairs of the committee and we make a thing of it every year. I’m equal parts excited and nervous – hopefully it all goes off without a hitch! Keep an eye out for a recap post when it’s all done, it’s something y’all have asked for for years!
• We watched the total eclipse! We live right in the zone of totality for the eclipse this month and it was a big deal for a lot of people around us. Corey and I weren’t particularly hyped up about it, but the kids talked a lot about it at school and almost everyone we knew had people in from out of town to watch. We pulled the kids early from school to watch it at home and it was truly such a special memory!
• Jackson got an idea for his room and I let him run with it. Last week we started painting a giant rainbow stripe mural on one of his walls and adding some shelving for his LEGO displays. It doesn’t go with his room at all, it looks a little chaotic, and he loves it with his whole heart. And really, that’s all that matters.
• Last week Jackson played Pumba in their school’s production of The Lion King. They worked so hard on in all semester long, and it was so fun to see all of their efforts pay off! He absolutely loves all things theater, and seeing him in these little school productions gets me extra excited for when he can do it in middle and high school!
• We spent our weekends cheering Grant on at soccer, then heading home to snuggle and recover from the crazy busy week. I love this time of year so much, but man, it’s exhausting! I can’t wait to see what May (and then, the summer!) has in store for us.

Top 10 Finds This Month

1. I became obsessed with tennis dresses last summer, and this year I was determined to find one that I don’t have to take fully off to go to the bathroom. I ordered this one and it’s PERFECT! I got the bright red color (so fun!) and it’s so comfy. I recommend going up one size as it fits a bit small.
2. Apparently red is my color this summer because I also ordered this red one-piece bathing suit. I had tried it on in black earlier this year when I was looking for a suit for a trip, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It feels very Baywatch, and I can’t wait to wear it.
3. I’m going all in on faux plants for our backyard this year, and these hanging flowers are the MVP so far. They’re gorgeous and look so realistic!
4. Grant decided to start refusing to use the toothpaste dispenser I bought for them, and insists on getting it straight from the tube. He’s 5, so I’m sure you can imagine how that’s going. I grabbed some of these self-closing toothpaste caps that help reduce the mess, and they’ve been such a sanity-saver.
5. Every spring and summer I get on a big dress kick, and this is another one I ordered recently. It’s super casual and comfy, has pockets, and is the perfect length to let me chase kids and sit on the floor without worrying.
6. I stumbled on this planter that looks like a stack of books and immediately added it to my cart. It’s the cutest and it makes me smile every day. I think we should all have more things in our house that bring that kind of job!
7. Every morning I try to add some powdered collagen to my first water of the day. It helps a lot with some joint paint I get from all the running, and it’s also supposed to help with a ton of other things. I definitely notice a difference when I’m consistent with it! I swapped to this brand this month and it dissolves 100x better than the one I used to use, and seems to be more flavorless.
8. I’m always looking for soft, comfy shorts to wear this time of year. I’ve been seeing these everywhere and decided to give them a shot. They’re so comfy, a great length, and are structured enough that I’ll totally be able to wear them in public.
9. Quick shout out to my favorite basic tank top. I have it in several colors already and added this charcoal gray to my wardrobe this month. I think it’s the perfect basic tank, and eventually I’m sure I’ll have it in every color they make.
10. I added a water filter to our shower head this month, after many of you recommended it. I’ve absolutely noticed a difference in how clean and soft my hair feels, and I’m so glad I did it! It’s a great, simple solution if your home has hard water! Not quite as effective as a whole-home softener, but it’s a really great interim option while we save up for the real thing.