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EP 108: Back to School
1.8k Plays30 days ago
It’s officially back to school season, which means… new routines, new supplies, and yes—new germs. 🫠
In this episode, we’re talking:
- The back-to-school traditions we want to start with our kids
- What we’ve actually bought so far (and what’s still sitting in our carts)
- The annual brace yourself moment for the inevitable influx of sniffles, coughs, and colds
Plus, at the top of the episode, Candace shares why she’s officially entering her Season of “No” for the rest of the year. We’re talking boundaries, priorities, and saying no to what doesn’t serve us (with a little humor, of course).
Whether your kids are already in class or you’re still labeling supplies, this one’s a mix of real talk, laughs, and mom-life solidarity.
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**Questions/comments/need to vent? Email us at **momgroupchatpodacst@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction to Hosts and Podcast
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're going to get into it. What up, moms? My name is Candice, and I'm here with my best friend, Whitney, and this is the Mom Group Chat Podcast. Hey, my friend.
00:00:24
Speaker
I'm feeling chatty. You are hyper.
Coffee Habits and Energy Levels
00:00:28
Speaker
I think I, A, had too much coffee, kind And I've just had one of those mornings that's like, go, go, go. go go go go So I feel like I'm just like, let's keep it going. I'm an Energizer bunny. How much is too much coffee? like For me, it's only two cups. So you've had two today?
00:00:45
Speaker
Yeah. Okay, wow. I've had my one. i usually do one in the morning, one at like two to get ready for the kids. Yeah, if I'm really dragging, I will do it like,
00:00:59
Speaker
three o'clock cup of coffee, but I have to like, that's if I'm like sleep deprived and like really struggling. Now it, it literally lifts me up and brings me back. I'm like,
00:01:13
Speaker
All right. I'm ready to play. Yeah. yeah Um, yeah. i sometimes need it today. I should be okay. Although I am kind of tired. I went to bed late last night. My kids went to bed late last night.
00:01:28
Speaker
We had like a late night family event. How did they do
Managing Kids' Schedules
00:01:32
Speaker
with that? Like, We've been talking a lot about how Candace is really good about like she will skip a nap for an event or she'll push it And I'm like the opposite. I'm like, I have a ah high wall up and I'm like, absolute no. So I'm like, how how do they fare when you go to a seven o'clock dinner when that's like is that Evie's bedtime?
00:01:54
Speaker
Yeah. Like Evie goes to bed at seven and Alice at this point goes to bed at eight. So, um, to be honest, it's time by time. Last night they were actually quite good. They took a ah little turn at the end.
00:02:08
Speaker
I think the issue with Evie right now is she's just a runner. She's a runner. She's a track star. And literally she wants to get down and run around. yeah And luckily this restaurant we were at last night, like it was a Monday night. So like it, like it was kind of empty and they were just letting her do laps around this like dining room. And,
00:02:30
Speaker
There weren't that many people there and the waiters were all laughing and like thought it was funny, whatever. But like if we're at a restaurant that's like busy and we can't get down and like do that, it's not fun. like And, and, you know, we had a situation over the weekend where I'm not going to go into details, but we had a situation over the weekend where it was, I should have said no to something. And we stretched the girls too much.
00:02:54
Speaker
And last night was another proof that I should have said, you should have
Setting Personal Boundaries
00:03:00
Speaker
said no. Like literally I should have said no. And, um, I am starting a second half of the year um no resolution. Yes.
00:03:10
Speaker
This is my official announcement of the no campaign. And that is like, start saying no. I'm going to start saying no. If it doesn't serve me, if it doesn't serve our schedule, if I don't want to fucking do it, I'm saying no.
00:03:26
Speaker
I'm laughing. I say yes too much. You said this on Saturday. You're like, i'mnna start saying no. And then you went last night. Okay. But to be fair, I had already said yes to this event like before I learned. yeah yeah. This event had been planned for a while.
00:03:40
Speaker
But truly from here on out, y'all, I'm saying no. Yeah. Yeah. I thought about, you know, that trend on social media right now that's like, you look happier and it's just like you sitting. Oh, yeah. my It's going to be like, you look happier and it's going to be like, thanks. I started so i started saying no.
00:03:56
Speaker
That's literally. Honestly, that's a great one. Yeah. i So anyways, if anyone wants to be on my no journey with me, send me a message. Meet me in the Facebook group. We can hold each other accountable.
00:04:09
Speaker
If you want tips, talk to me because I say no to everything. Yeah.
Balancing Family and Social Events
00:04:13
Speaker
Oh, wait. Did I tell you about the the invite we got to Vinny's cousin's rehearsal dinner that is on Halloween?
00:04:24
Speaker
Oh, my God. So they're getting married on November 1st, and they are having ah their rehearsal dinner, which apparently we're invited to. On Halloween.
00:04:34
Speaker
On the evening of Halloween. That's not happening. And we got the text about it and immediately I texted Vinny. I was like, we're not going to that. Like, I am not missing trick-or-treating with the girls.
00:04:46
Speaker
We, just a reminder, we didn't have Halloween last year because we didn't have a house. So it was like, we kind of missed it last year. I mean, we did some things, but it wasn't like the true Halloween experience I wanted to have.
00:05:00
Speaker
And I said, i immediately was like shooting that down. I was like, no, also the dress code for this rehearsal dinner is, is Harry Potter. So because it's Halloween, they want you to, well, yeah.
00:05:14
Speaker
Yeah.
00:05:18
Speaker
I'm too skinny to be Hagrid now. Candice is looking thin. She is thin. I'm going to blow away. um I could be, ah who else could I? I could be a broomstick.
00:05:30
Speaker
You could be a broomstick. You could be a ghost because you are just away from me. You're actually that envelope, that screaming, howling letter because it's so thin.
00:05:46
Speaker
Oh my God, I'm laughing. I hope everyone and knows that we're like joking here. Okay. Jeez. um But no, the it's Harry Potter themed. They are very like nerdy. i don't know how else to say it. like That's not me speaking. like They just are into that kind of stuff. there Their whole wedding invite is like Harry Potter themed.
00:06:08
Speaker
okay i mean like yeah Cool. To each his own. If it weren't on Halloween, I would actually be excited. I would. but the fact i just My kids are only little for this like you know for this amount of time. like We're never going to get three-year-old Halloween back.
00:06:25
Speaker
They probably know that people with kids are likely not coming. Yeah. They probably had you on the, we're inviting them, but they're probably going to say no list. Yeah. I hope so.
00:06:36
Speaker
Cause I am, it's not happening. No, it's so fun to go trigger treating right now. Like last year was the first year. Graydon got it. He was like, yeah Oh, you know, I feel like this will be the first year that Alice, like she, and she already has taught. I mean, we've talked about it. She's talking about being poppy for Halloween. i think Mark is going to understand this year. I think she's going to be like,
00:06:58
Speaker
Oh my God, this is amazing. Cause she'll be too. So I'm excited. I'm so excited. Yeah. So anyways, I've already said no to that. I'm like not happening, but good for you.
00:07:11
Speaker
yeah That's an easy one. Yeah, for sure. But anyways, ah it is, i cannot believe it's August and we are coming into the back to school season officially.
Back-to-School Preparations
00:07:30
Speaker
And shocker, everyone, i feel unprepared. Alice starts school in one week from today. Okay, please ask me what I have and what I've done.
00:07:43
Speaker
Do you need anything? Like, do they send a list of things for you to have? Like they used Yes. Yes, they do. Although I looked at it today, like while I sat at a coffee shop and worked this morning, I said, I opened up all the papers and the emails and I was like, okay, I need to like get my head straight about this.
00:08:01
Speaker
The supply list is not like crazy. And it's like stuff I probably honestly have around the house. Honestly. um My biggest concern is clothing. Alice needs a back to school shopping trip.
00:08:18
Speaker
That sounds So I think one of the things I was going to like talk about on today's back to school episode was about wanting to start a back to school tradition with both my girls where they each get a like back to school shopping day or like back to school prep day.
00:08:38
Speaker
day. And Alice is like very into like doing her nails right now. She is a girly, girly girl. And I thought maybe we could like go and get her nails painted and then do some back to school shopping. Cause oh that's the other, we're dealing with a situation with Alice where she wants to pick her clothes every day.
00:08:57
Speaker
She's very into getting herself dressed. She likes to pick her clothes. And I think we'll have less of a struggle if I take her shopping with me and have her pick out the actual dresses and clothes she likes he within reason. I'm not going to let her like walk away with something fugly. Okay.
00:09:15
Speaker
But word, you know, within reason. And so I think I'm going to do that. I don't know how I'm fitting that into my schedule when I leave out of town on Friday.
00:09:27
Speaker
um but I'm going to fit it in somewhere, I guess. Yeah. Graydon's not allowed to go shopping with me because I'd be coming home with like, I don't even know, like Marvel And Pikachu type shit. And it's I'm not letting that happen just yet, which he loves. And I let him do pajamas like that.
00:09:51
Speaker
But I'm not ready for him to dress like that just yet. So I like I'll let him pick out what he wants to wear. But I know it's all cute because I picked it all out. So I'm like, pick whatever you want.
00:10:05
Speaker
So Alice is definitely the same way. I'm going to be strategic about where I take her for shopping. I feel like if we go to some cute boutiques. Yeah, you can't go to Target.
00:10:16
Speaker
No, I can't go to Target or like Old Navy. And don't get me wrong. I think I will still place some orders on my own of like random shorts and T-shirts and stuff. I buy everything from there, but I will never let him.
00:10:29
Speaker
Well, I will at some point, just not yet. But my thought is if I take her to some of my favorite like kids boutiques or stuff like that and let her pick out some like a couple cuter like nicer dresses that especially the the occasions I care about which are like the first day of school so we can take a cute picture and then picture day dress and I can plan ahead a little bit for things like that and then it won't be a fight. I'll be like this is the dress we bought for picture day and she'd be like yay. Mm-hmm.
00:11:01
Speaker
It's so funny. That's hope at least. um My friend's daughters started school. They said it was like insane. Like every little girl had all new stuff and they had like their hair braided for the first day of school. Like someone professionally did their hair really cool like the night before or something.
00:11:22
Speaker
this is New York. And I was like, oh my God, the bar is so high. like wow But I know that there's a professional hair braider here because at my friend Alyssa's baby shower, it was also the night of like this elementary school dance.
00:11:38
Speaker
And they there was like a hair braider there and there was like five little girls were getting their hair braided. was interesting. It was actually like really fucking cool. was like, I'm into that. i love that. i I'm really good at braiding. Should I start a business? I've never heard of that here, but like, I feel like it'd be booming.
00:11:56
Speaker
No, it was really cute. Like it was, um, and they would put like glitter right here and then like add like a fun, like hair tie or whatever. It was kind of awesome.
00:12:08
Speaker
And like, you know how you can like braid it backwards and then do like space buns. Like they had that. was like, i'm I'm impressed. I wanted that Margo someday. was like, this is so cool.
00:12:21
Speaker
I feel like also doing this little like back to school shopping trip, like obviously right now it's just to like get her excited and like have her choose some things. But as they get older, if I keep it up, like it could be a great way to like teach them about budget. Like, okay, we get $100 to spend on new things. Like you get to pick out what you want for $100. I don't know. I feel like there's a lot of good like good bonding opportunity but also good like lesson opportunity so we'll see gotta fit that in my schedule i'm i don't know when i'm doing that but i'm gonna figure it out
00:12:58
Speaker
i I mean, my kids are obviously like in daycare, so it's year-round, so I don't have like that back-to-school thing, but I'm still so influenced by all of the ads that are being pushed.
Navigating Seasonal Wardrobe Challenges
00:13:11
Speaker
i know know.
00:13:13
Speaker
Apples are freaking cute. So apples are on all the clothes and in all the ads. I'm just like... Oh, it's so precious. I will say the one thing I struggle with with back to school clothing is it's also fall based, lots of sweaters and like cute fall stuff. Right.
00:13:32
Speaker
The truth is, though, like we don't get fall weather here until like December 1st. Honestly, it is going to be continuously hot until. like really hot until ah through October for sure.
00:13:46
Speaker
we will get some cold spurts, very light cold spurts in November. So I struggle with like, Oh my God, this cute sweater with the apple on it.
00:13:56
Speaker
We're not wearing that till December. you know no um so I never like I never end up buying anything so I'm like that doesn't make sense but I probably will be once they go to kindergarten and stuff but um yeah this is your last what well it's like your last um back to school where he's not like we have to going in oh why did I think it was next year I guess next year he'll be four, but it's five, He'll four turning five, and then the next year he'll be five turning six, which is... Got it. Okay, never mind.
00:14:30
Speaker
We have two more years. He'll be in the same grade as Alice. Okay. I guess you're right. Damn. Yeah. I guess here, i gotre I mean, Alice is most likely going to go to private school and they start pre-K four.
00:14:46
Speaker
So she'll do that next year. Yeah, I'll be in pre-K year next year. But they also have um pre-K, but they call it like kindergarten boot camp at the school. So it's deciding if you want to keep them there next year or move them, which I don't know why we would. Yeah.
00:15:03
Speaker
Yeah. The only thing I have bought is my new inch bugs. like I like inch bug. Oh my God. Obsessed. They are so good. They stay on clothes and I think you told me water bottles.
00:15:16
Speaker
Yeah. Oh my God. They're so cute here. I'm going to open it up. I got Graydon. Do an unboxing has a little dinosaur on them. And then Margo's is the princess one. They had different themes than the last time I ordered. So let's see.
00:15:31
Speaker
I can't even remember what I did. Honestly. They are so cute though. There's just a lot of cute ones. um Like Olivia posted some that were really cool, but I think they were from Etsy or something.
00:15:46
Speaker
I don't know how the quality yes is. Yes, yes, yes. I did unicorns for Alice and donuts for Evie. and two They're so cute. Oh, are round. did like... Thin ones to wrap round one? These are like the tags for the backpacks.
00:16:04
Speaker
They just... Oh. oh Yeah, yeah. No, no, no. These are... Fun. And then I have... Oh, I did get round. I got the multi-pack. So I have round ones. I have rectangle ones. that take the ones And then I have the clothing ones.
00:16:20
Speaker
The little squares. I've never bought clothing ones. It's just so great to like... stick them in the tags or stick them on. Yo, I'd be writing with Sharpie.
00:16:35
Speaker
I'd be GW for George Washington and MW for Martha Washington. I also learned a lesson. The last ones I ordered, I ordered Evie's the same color as Alice's, just a different theme, but I learned very quickly. It's hard to like tell the difference. And so this time I did Evie's as like teal and Alice's as pink.
00:16:57
Speaker
Oh, so cute. Love that. Yeah. I love that part of it. i Oh, I did buy something. I was, um, influenced by a new backpack, but I needed a new backpack for Margo.
00:17:08
Speaker
One, I'm going to give it to her for her birthday, but two, I needed a bigger one because her sleep blanket and sheets don't fit in her backpack right now. And it doesn't have a side pocket for the water.
00:17:20
Speaker
So I'm like going into daycare in and out of daycare on Mondays and Fridays. Like With juggling stuff. Yes, with all the shit. And I was like, why don't I just make it easier on myself? So I bought her a really cute new backpack that I'm going to give on her birthday.
00:17:35
Speaker
So cute. I still need a backpack and I had planned to order like a state backpack. I didn't, I haven't done that yet. And now school's on Tuesday. So I don't know what I'm to Although someone told me recently that they, a lot of the time sell state backpacks in Nordstrom rack. So I may head to Nordstrom rack this week and see what they have.
00:17:57
Speaker
I still love that yellow crate and barrel one that said Alice in the pink letters. Wait, I might. Yeah. I still love that one. It's so cute. And I love, obviously, State is so cute.
00:18:09
Speaker
Yeah, they're so cute. I don't know. We'll see. I might get green one of those at some point. But yeah, Margo was in desperate need of a new one. yeah mom So crazy.
00:18:20
Speaker
Yeah. I'm trying to think if there's any other, I mean, I guess I'm a little bit like bracing for impact as far as like sicknesses go We've had a couple like summery sicknesses, but you know, back to school means like back to new germs.
00:18:35
Speaker
And I definitely am like, here we go. Here we go. Yeah, they'll be sick a little bit, but it comes with the territory, you know? I mean, mine will probably likely start getting sick. They've had a runny nose this week, and I'm like, oh, no, I jinxed the frickin' ear infection with Margo, and she's still going strong two months without one.
00:19:01
Speaker
Knock on wood. Yeah. um I don't know. i just We've been pretty chill with sicknesses.
Illness Preparedness for School Year
00:19:10
Speaker
but i also but I just know it's coming for us. But like, it's at least we've already done ah couple, like last year was our true first like school year of stuff. So, I mean, we definitely went through it last year with sickness. And so at least I feel like I know what to accept. And I have all the tools now, you know what I mean?
00:19:31
Speaker
I've got the nose bot. I know like all of the medicines that work and the, I don't know. I feel like I'm more prepared. Yes. I'm more prepared going into this year than I was last year.
00:19:45
Speaker
i remember you, y'all getting sick a lot and you're like, holy shit. Yeah. Yeah, it's hard. It like rocked our world for a second. But I also know like I was not having a unique experience. Like I know that that just comes with the territory of going back to school.
00:20:06
Speaker
But man, I just wasn't used to it. It's hard. They get so whiny and it's like not fun. But now, you know, like any like sort of whininess, if they're waking up at night at all, it's always an ear infection and it doesn't hurt to go get checked. So it just sucks. I hate that it has to happen to them. But man, like Margo and Graydon's immunity is so good now.
00:20:30
Speaker
Like Graydon, I swear, has not really gotten sick since he was 14 months old. Like to take out of school sick. Like he. Yeah.
00:20:41
Speaker
It's been because he's had a stomach bug. Otherwise, like he's been fine. So crazy. That's amazing, though. Like that's what I'm shooting for. And I feel like after this year of school, like I feel like we'll be in a better sick place because it'll be like two full years of. Yeah.
00:21:00
Speaker
You know, germs. Yeah. I don't know. The goal is like kind of how like ah adults get sick. Like you might get sick twice a year and it's like that's what I'm aiming for. Like maybe just twice a year for y'all. I don't know. Largo's already been sick like 15 times this year.
00:21:16
Speaker
But yeah, she's fine. Any other like tradition things you are wanting to start? Do you do any like special breakfast the morning of or anything? Well, I haven't really had like a first day back to school situation yet.
00:21:33
Speaker
um There, I don't know. I feel like we will. And I'm like on the other side of the spectrum. I'm like planning for Margo's birthday party. So I'm trying to think of special things like a fun breakfast for that. Yeah.
00:21:49
Speaker
And like trying to set up how I want to make that day just because I have the time to do it right now. Finally. Um, but I would love to go back to school shopping. Um, something else we're doing this weekend is my mom is taking Margo to the American girl doll, um, to pick out like a little baby. So I'm like, so excited to go do that. That's like so margo margo and i've been to them all alone together but this is like the first girly thing we're doing alone like with my mom and i'm like oh my god here we go this is too this is so exciting i don't think we i don't think we have one of those here that is so sweet well it used to only be in atlanta and atlanta was like where you went as a child like
00:22:38
Speaker
to go to a fancy store. Like, but I wasn't really into American girl doll that much, but I mean, obviously I went if I was in Atlanta, but I loved ah FAO, FAO Schwartz because they had, they had a wall of Barbies.
00:22:55
Speaker
Which is what I was... That's what I liked when I was little. I wasn't into baby dolls or, like, American Girl dolls. It was all about Barbies and, like, Betty Spaghetti and Polly Pockets. I was, like, into all of the Mattel stuff, so... Okay, wait. Did your FAO shorts have the tubes with all the floating... Barbie shoes. Mm-hmm.
00:23:13
Speaker
Yes. so The FAO shorts here in Tampa was pretty legit. It was so big. It's like so burned in my brain, the floating Barbie shoes. Like I swear if I think hard enough, like I can smell and think the same, like feel the same feelings I felt when I walked in there. I actually have chills like you saying that because it's like – Like you're about to go on a roller coaster. Like my emotion was so high. i was so excited to be there. And I think I only went twice. But like the first time I went was like I was in awe.
00:23:46
Speaker
And then like knowing, anticipating I was going a second time, I could have thrown up. I was thrilled. was so excited. honestly like they don't make Toy Stories like they used to.
00:23:58
Speaker
nostalgic. Yeah. I haven't been in one that has like. I mean, Toys R Us doesn't even exist anymore. than Target. No. That's not what I mean. I mean like a true toy store.
00:24:13
Speaker
I mean, there's one here. And then did you, like, they had a whole room of, like, stuffed animals with all the jungle things, and it, like, made sounds, and the lion would move. It was so cool.
00:24:25
Speaker
Oh, it was good. um it was good. Being a 90s baby was good. Whoa. And they had san rio store where all of the Hello Kitty stuff. Oh, my God. Okay, so, you know, my friend Keller, who I went on her birthday trip,
00:24:40
Speaker
I, in all of the gift bags of her like birthday trip, there was a bunch of like San Rio type things. And I was like, Oh my God, like I loved these as a child. Turns out her parents owned a San Rio store throughout their childhood. And I was like,
00:24:54
Speaker
I would have freaked out. I was like, what? So they knew all the characters and they had all this stuff. I was like, oh my God, I'm literally obsessed. Like that is amazing. I would have died for Choco Cat, which is a random character, but I loved that freaking cat.
00:25:11
Speaker
They have that store. There's a store in the mall now that's like, kind of like it it's it's a red box hold on i really thought she was the hello kitty was the cutest thing on earth i was very into it oh my god wow okay me oh yes mean
00:25:36
Speaker
i don't know say this miniso I don't know. it's It's at the mall here. um store known for carrying Sanrio merchandise, including popular characters like Hello Kitty. There's kind of like a new version of Sanrio store here in Tampa. I've seen it every time. I'll have look here. I mean, I don't go to the mall that often, so I have not walked around there in a while.
00:26:01
Speaker
um But since I'm going on Saturday, maybe I'll check it out. I don't know. Maybe I'll go back. ah Yeah, I haven't been in the mall in a while ever since I tried on all those shorts that one time and I was like, that's a no for me and I have not been back since.
00:26:19
Speaker
Other than Dillard's, which I will say still popping. So still slaps. I need, I honestly need back to school shopping too for myself. I know. I feel like I have so much coming up that I want cute outfits. Like I'm in a wedding next week.
00:26:36
Speaker
I mean, I have clothes I could wear, but I'm like, Ooh, what could I wear to the rehearsal dinner? And then for Margo's birthday, I'm like, what's a cute little romper I could wear or something. So I'm trying to like figure out what I want to do with that. Yeah.
00:26:49
Speaker
And then I have Graydon's birthday, which is going to be perfect weather. It's going to be in the seventy s Typically, when you were talking about like your October being hot, that's when it takes a turn here.
00:27:01
Speaker
Like the past three to four Halloweens that we've had have been freezing. So cold. Like I will never forget last year, I guess, Augusta.
00:27:14
Speaker
Was that Margo? What was she? Oh, she didn't go, or maybe she did go trick-or-treating, but her cheeks were so chapped and it was raining. Yeah, it was freezing. Maybe that was the first year she was born.
00:27:26
Speaker
But yeah, she was, ah she got a little chapped because it's just so cold. And then it ruins your costume. Like, have to put long sleeves on my Cinderella.
00:27:37
Speaker
Like, that's annoying. Oh, God. Yeah. yeah they don't like cinderella doesn't have a winter outfit she needs a coat she needs a winter fur you know yeah it was kind of like that growing up though josie just threw up on the carpet
00:28:00
Speaker
y'all i have two french bulldogs for sale um They're free. And please come take them because they have been the bane of my existence the past couple of weeks. Also, I need to note the cleaners just left this house literally an hour ago and now there's vomit on my carpet. So.
00:28:20
Speaker
I will say, i felt like when we visited y'all last um July, i felt like you and Vinny still love them so much though. Vinny thenny would kill me before he lost them.
00:28:32
Speaker
ah So Vinny loves them so much. Me on the other hand... I feel like you were so sweet to them too. And i was like, I do like them, but sometimes they're, they just add so much to my feet.
00:28:45
Speaker
Oh, I know. Chris is on new dog train. Oh, big time, big time. New dog train. Like next year. Another dachshund?
00:28:56
Speaker
No. Um, I think we're going for like medium. Okay. um I think he's picked an English setter, which they're like very silky. Okay. Some sort of hunting dog that he doesn't hunt, but um I'm still not convinced. Like I obviously, we obviously had Remy for 11 years, but I'm like,
00:29:21
Speaker
Wow, it's been nice. not like Because when you were describing the other day, um just like ah typical night, and it's already chaotic with the kids under your feet while you're cooking, and then the dogs were also under your feet trying to get food.
00:29:36
Speaker
It just reminded me how annoying they are. It's so annoying. And then like Remy was always like trying to get on Margo's high chair and then she'd accidentally scratch Margo's legs or i mean, you know. That's what happens And Remy would bite.
00:29:52
Speaker
them obviously but it's just like I'm not I mean I'm I would be going into this with child training like this dog would be likely way more trained trained than Remy was because we got her when we were 22 years old but it's like still I'm not ready and I'm gonna be the one taking care of it because I'm I yeah yeah that's the thing is like Vincent loves the dogs and he does take care of them, but like I'm the one home with them all day. I'm the one cleaning the vomit off the floor.
00:30:24
Speaker
I'm the one who's cleaning the poop smear from their butthole off of the floor. i know. And I just want to be ready. like I want to enjoy the experience versus feeling overwhelmed with it.
00:30:40
Speaker
Yeah. I want to be sweet and nice with this puppy and fall in love with it or whatever it is that we get. like... I know. Not there. yeah I definitely, after, which these guys have hopefully a pretty long life left. I mean, Finn's only four and, and Josie's only five.
00:30:59
Speaker
So and hopefully they've got a good seven years left. Yeah, probably. not, if, yeah, ideally. Yeah. Like 12 till they're 12 or 13 is probably like, yeah, hopefully it's just like, you know, yeah.
00:31:16
Speaker
Yeah. yeah But, um, I'm going need a break. I'm going to need doggy break. Yeah. Which honestly will be kind of perfect because ideally that will be that'll be right around the time we are going to want a new house. Like we've said five to seven years in this house.
00:31:35
Speaker
So it will be like time for a new chapter and we'll move to a new house and it will be like we'll take a break and then when we're ready to welcome a new dog in our new house, we can do that.
00:31:48
Speaker
I know. And that's what I was going to say. It was really hard after losing her, like way more than I expected it to be. But um since we had moved like right when it happened, it's like I missed her, but not the same way I probably would have missed her at my old house because I like was so used to the stuff happening around me there. But I used to like hear her little pitter patter.
00:32:12
Speaker
Like it was a ghost pitter patter. I would hear her running through the house. It was weird. Yeah. Oh, well, I'm trying to think if there was anything else I wanted to talk about with back
Seeking Organization for School Year
00:32:23
Speaker
to school. I don't really have much else to say other than like, I feel a little discombobulated and overwhelmed. Like I'm not super organized and I'm trying to spend the next couple days to do that. I emailed her school to be like, do you need immunization forms? Like do it? I don't know what I'm doing.
00:32:39
Speaker
Like I was like, I need you to tell me what you need from me. Oh, I was going to say if, um because this has come up a lot in my due date group is we have um the people that have kids that are Margo's age have like older siblings and they're already feeling overwhelmed with the thought of like packing lunches for school because some of them don't serve lunch. So i was going to say like reference back to that feeding littles lunches episode. Oh my God. That book is going to change your life. Yeah, because it's so perfect for like not overthinking how to put something together and they'll the kids will be happy and eat it. So I just wanted to reference that if you're feeling overwhelmed with lunch packing, which
School Lunch Anxiety
00:33:23
Speaker
I used to. Graydon's first year at daycare, they didn't feed lunch to, um I guess, like people his age until they were like at least one. So for like three or four months, I was packing lunches and I hated it mostly because I was...
00:33:37
Speaker
fearing the judge of the teachers. Like how weird is that? Like, like I didn't want to pay. I am too. Every day because I was like, Oh, they're going think I don't do a wide variety of foods. Yeah. No, 100% was thinking like this, like this teacher definitely is judging that I send the same thing every day or close to this. Like I will switch out the watermelon for strawberries. And other than that, everything else is the same, but hopefully I don't know.
00:34:08
Speaker
i I do want to go into this school year organized. that's why I'm like trying to set aside some time for this week. And she doesn't start till next Tuesday. So even next Monday, I'm like, maybe I should block a little time on my calendar and just like, maybe that's my day that I like label all the clothing and like, just get a, Oh, I know what I want.
00:34:29
Speaker
I want that thing that you sent me with the days of the week pockets oh yeah that's what taylor taylor wolhevik had i need that link i need that link i'm gonna hang that it's on e or amazon like it was easy like got had ah pockets for monday through friday yes i want to go ahead and choose the outfits for the week and if i can avoid that fight with alice like and just choose the outfits for the week that will change my life so true i do that but i lay him out on the top of the dresser so it's not as like aesthetically pleasing but i like have five outfits laid out so either like if i go
00:35:07
Speaker
get her in the morning or chris goes get her in the morning it's all just like there and you just grab and go but yeah having the pockets is such a good idea i kind of forgot about that i haven't i've been thinking about it nonstop and i've actually been meaning to ask you like hey i need that link yeah that was taylor's um just because if she goes because she travels a ton for work and so it's very helpful for her husband to have and she said she'll even like put the shoes to match i'm like how do you have that oh i would too i don't have that many that margot only wants jelly sandals right now she's ah in a jelly sandal mood
00:35:43
Speaker
we are actually i need a new i need new shoes for the girls that's like on my shopping list of a must that's what i ask my mom i was like margo needs that for her birthday new shoes because i think she's kind of a ah growing out of sixes and moving up to a seven they're still a little big but i think in time yeah you know how it is with kid shoes it's like all of a sudden or least this is what happened to us
00:36:13
Speaker
is that there'll be too big it's like oh this she's not quite the size and then i'll go back like months later and i'm like now these are too small no that's how it is i thought we like and we really deize i bought these really cute ones at home goods slash tj ma and um they still don't fit and i'm like maybe i should try those again but i bought them in the spring
Birthday Shopping for Margo
00:36:36
Speaker
they're so cut yeah and i need i'll let you guys know about my shopping trip i i'm gonna do that i'm goingnna scope out some stores to go to today and i'm gonna make a plan i just got
00:36:47
Speaker
set aside the time i feel like even if i just ask vinnie for like an afternoon like is vinnie sometimes gets home around like three or four o'clock i could one hundred percent take alice even from like four to six and we like do dinner yeah be a thrill outing oh fun and yeah speaking of shopping i went ham on margot's birthday like i had it had everything i wanted to get her and then i just was like ching ch ching like bought everything cause i i still
00:37:18
Speaker
have a ton of like stuff for her in a weird way like her and grayden play really well with all the things that he has and yeah that's new is like a baby doll so i'm like doesn't have anything so is she into like dress up at all like princess jesse i texted my sister she bought her like four or five different costumes and then like four or five different slippers i feel like for second birthday that was like the biggest hit of what alice got it was
00:37:50
Speaker
ah dress up stuff yeah so we did i told ashley to get her that we got the pottery barn chair to match gradden cause they fight over the the one right now then i got her the backpack i have got her a toddler duvet and pillow on the way to switch to that and hopefully transition her out of the sleep sack um my god i thought go to say the crib and i was like isn't graydden still in a crib i was like are you taking margot to a bed before you do gra grayden's hybrid he does both still he it's just like whatever he furs um
00:38:28
Speaker
i don't know i don't know what to do with that he's just is he he still doesn't get out of the crib oh yeah he comes down in the morning oh yeah but he doesn't like get out like what time um the light turns green at six so he'll come down at six or my child doesn't do the like my child will not she does not give a flying fuck about the the red light green light don't know she'll literally come to my bed and she'll be like mom the light's still red and i'm here i'm like what
00:39:00
Speaker
yeah he likes that um what else but um i wanted to buy her like a clothing rack for the dressup clothes to put in her room because i thought that sounded kind of freaking cute they have some cute ones that are like ah set and and cute looking i am on the hunt i need to hurry up and purchase it but i keep reminding myself i literally have til the end of the month we're having a party the weekend before just because her
00:39:30
Speaker
her but her party runs into um labor day so we we push i'm just so excited for the september catchup because we'll be able to recap her birthday and you're trying to ah in my trip that'll be such a fun episode to record i'm excited for that um we are entering well we not me like you are entering the williams big busy season yeah my busy season is like valentines
00:40:02
Speaker
to may like your it was like christmas to me yeah i guess because your birthday falls in there and new hourss and then january we've got a lot going on bit typically between like it's like yeah it's like the first six months of the year i feel like art and the minor yeah yeah yeah yours is like the back half yeah like july on is like full throttle a little bit yeah and that's why we're a match made
00:40:36
Speaker
always
00:40:39
Speaker
well this has been fun i really don't have anything else to say honestly um good i feel like i'm just excited i love this time of year i love the vibes the back-to-school gives like it's very nostalgic feeling and i love what fall brings with football and just autumn and don't know something about back to schools like and awakening so i agree the best i agree well enjoy your backtoschool season if you are doing some back-to-school shopping or
00:41:14
Speaker
um in need of any links of anything let us know i know we talked about a couple things like inchbug and state backpacks and like whatever we will probably link some back to-school things on our instagram story so check them out over there and we will see you guys by thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat new episodes drop every tuesday and don't forget the group chat is blowing up on our instagram page so make sure you're following along over there all right gotta go my toddler just put something in her mouth