Small Town Meetings, Big Life Moments

Weekly Reflection 03/30• 04/04 2026

Wait…I Thought Every Girl Wanted to Be A Small Town Committee Woman?…

**First Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting**

This is a lesser known fact about me: ever since I was a kid, I dreamt of being the PTO-mom. You know, the small town community-involved woman that we see in movies. I never thought of it as a serious dream (I always knew I’d be heavily involved in my children’s schools, but I didn’t think I’d actually be a “small town woman”), I thought that it was a fantasy I’d think about here and there while I lived my career-heavy city life as an adult.

If the opportunity ever arose and the right town, in the right era of my life ever came around, I did always know for certain that I’d love living in a tight-knit small community where I get to know every resident, support the small businesses, and get involved in local activities.

Skip to this last year and suddenly I am on the planning and zoning committee in the cutest, small town. I know all of the people, I’ve made a ton of friends, I attend every event, I volunteer at the school, I support local businesses, and I am a thriving. small town. woman. It actually happened.

Monday afternoon was the first planning and zoning committee meeting and I loved the feeling of being able to assist in making my hometown the best it can be for my family (and others) while protecting its small community atmosphere. I, unexpectedly, made a couple of new friends during the meeting (I thought I’d be the only one around my age to be participating), and ended up walking across the street (from City Hall) to my favorite (and the only) coffee shop in town with one if them. I have a hunch that I’ll be hanging out with her often and she only lives down the road from me.

It was a great close to my Monday afternoon. The sun was beautiful and walking to get coffee in the sunset was *chef’s kiss*. I am officially a small town woman who loves where she lives.

New Job, Who Dis? & “Finley Has Frog Legs!”

**Jonny’s Fresh Start at a New Job and 20 Week Anatomy Scan**

Tuesday was an especially eventful day for everyone in our family.

Fallon got to miss school to go with me to my anatomy scan appointment and Jonny started his new job!

The last time Jonny made a career change was when we were pregnant with Fallon and we both acknowledge (and appreciate) the fact that he made another big career choice right before our 2nd baby gets here.

After 5 years with his previous employer, he was completely unhappy and ready for a change, but Finley was the push that made it happen.

He loves what he is doing now, the managers and higher ups are way more respectful, and he has so many more opportunities to work towards. I, personally, am so happy for him and relieved that it is everything he was hoping it would be. In a couple of weeks he will be out of town for 3 weeks (aside from weekends) for training at a sales convention. This is already an exciting change for him and I think he will have such a good time. I love to see it! <3

While he is out of town, I told Fallon that her and I will have a 21 day sleepover and, needless to say, she is ecstatic. Everyone is in great spirits about the recent change.

Now, that all being said, the ONLY downfall of the new job starting the same day as Finley’s anatomy scan is that Jonny was unable to go and see the ultrasound. The silver-lining is that Fallon DID get to go and it absolutely melted my heart to have her with me.

I told her she wasn’t going to school Tuesday because we were going to see pictures of Finley.

My doctor is a little over an hour away, so we left early, grabbed coffee, and took out time to make the trip enjoyable. All morning Fallon made her jokes about how Finley will have “little frog legs” and “one big giant frog eye” (apparently she knows of some cartoon with a frog named Finley lol) and I would respond with things like “let’s hope not!”

What makes all of her jokes extra special is that we saw frogs, all morning, EVERYWHERE:

• First, we went to Starbucks so I could grab a coffee and she asked if she could get a cake pop. I asked her what kind and she said she wanted a seasonal one. I wasn’t sure they had anything seasonal, but when I asked, they said “ummm, yes, we have a frog!” I looked at Fallon in the rearview and she looked at me and we both knew it was a sign!
• Second, we were in the second waiting room of the doctors office (waiting our turn for the ultrasound room) and Fallon was playing her favorite game on her Ipad. She won a new character and it was the cutest little frog! We both got excited over that too.
• Last, after the ultrasound, we were in the doctor’s office waiting to go over everything and on the ceiling (above the gyno table so you have something to look at while you’re poked) there was a picture of a frog. Fallon pointed at it and said “another frog!”
  

We both knew these were all signs of Finley getting ready to be here and we were so happy about every frog, all morning. It all felt right!

During the ultrasound, Fallon loved hearing Finley’s heartbeat. She asked the doctor to play it multiple times and then she exclaimed “I can’t wait for my little brother to get here!”

I cannot even describe what this did to my heart. I was a puddle.

The doctor’s said that Finley looks perfect.

Side note memory:
When they were doing the scan and marking each body part, they got to the Kidneys and the doc typed “kidney” on the screen. Fallon read it and said “make sure he has 2…not like Pops.” I busted out laughing and when the doctor said “he has both Kidneys” Fallon sighed a sigh of relief and said “whew.” IYKYK. I told my dad as soon as the appointment was over and we were driving home. My sister said “Pops catching strays” when I texted her. It CRACKED ME UP.

Friday Mini Features

Friday was pretty chill, but it is mentionable that I registered Fallon for 5k. I cannot believe my sweet girl will officially be a kindergartner. It is just unreal when I think about it.

Aside from that, I worked as usual and then I went to my best friends house for our weekly movie night.

We always choose either a rom-com/chick flick or a horror movie. We landed on a chick-flick this week and it was such a vibe that we watched another. It’s the latest I’ve stayed up since I started feeling my pregnancy lol.

We made Buffalo Chicken Dip (my moms recipe that Brandee is obsessed with…I mean, same since I was a kid). It is pretty much tradition for us at this point. Maybe one day I’ll share the recipe.

The Saturday Before Easter

Saturday my sister and I took all of the babies to pick up Easter egg dye and they spent the morning decorating! Afterwards, Fallon and I went home and relaxed together.

Easter Sunday 2026!

This was such a great Easter.

The Easter bunny brought Fallon a Cinnamoroll-themed gifts to fill her basket. It was hidden under the downstairs bathroom cabinet and there were eggs hidden all over the first floor. She is currently obsessed with the Sanrio Cinnamoroll character, so she lost her mind! <3

I was originally bummed that we wouldn’t be able to make it to church service this year becasue of what time we were needing to be at my parents for festivities, but it actually worked out great. I found the cutest Easter story cartoon for kids on Youtube. Fallon loves it so much that she watched the whole thing while Jonny made her pancakes and bacon and I got ready for the day. She even wanted to watch it again later in the evening.

This is the one we watched and we will undoubtedly be watching more of their Christian cartoons:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx9c6RwFUHI

As we do every year since Fallon was born, we wore matching Easter outfits. This year we did Cream. Jonny wore a cream button up, it is definitely one of his colors. Fallon wore a cream lace 2 piece set (a skirt and shirt) and I wore a cream lace long sleeve dress. When I bought my dress, I knew I was pregnant, but I thought I’d be as small as I was when I was pregnant with Fallon so I bought a nonmaternity dress and let’s just say it was a little tight…lol. Fallon’s “dress” was too big. I got it all wrong!

Luckily, I was still able to squeeezeeeee into my dress and we were able to pin Fallons top and skirt to stay on all day.

Lunch was at madre and padres this year (normally it is at my aunt and uncles house). Everyone was there: grandma Ginny, grandma Debi, cousins, aunts, uncles, mom, dad, the entire family! It was rainy, but only sprinkles so the kids still got to do their Easter egg hunt.

The food was delicious and after we were all completely stuffed and full of Easter-cheer and happiness, we headed home for the night. I could barely stay awake on mom and dads couch (my iron is definitely not up-to-par yet). I napped and we all relaxed for the evening.

It was an amazing day full of family and Jesus.

• Weekly Highlight: Finley’s anatomy scan.
• Weekly Rating: 9/10. The only thing that made it a 9 and not a 10 was my energy levels. The low iron is still taking its toll.
• Goal Progress? Yes, progress was made towards my goals this week.