High Five for Friday (9.16.16)

1. I planned to purchase a particular coffee table for our new family room but put off actually buying it because I still had a few decor details to work out. Last week I returned to the furniture store and discovered, much to my dismay, that the table I wanted had been purchased, my local store had no additional tables, none of the store franchises within 300 miles had any tables, and the company was no longer making the table. I didn't realize how badly I wanted this specific piece of furniture until the employee who "assisted" me (by being neither friendly or helpful) told me I couldn't have it.

This is the only picture I have of the table. Not sure either of
the salesmen I worked with understood what was going on here.

After stewing in my car at Will's soccer practice for a few minutes, I decided to do a little research on my own. I couldn't find the table online, so I started looking up store franchises in cities close to where my relatives - in particular those who occasionally drive to visit us - live. I eventually tracked down one floor model in Peoria, Illinois, about 15 miles from my sister's house. After multiple phone calls and two complicated conversations with salesman Ross, I had paid for the (discounted!) floor model, convinced my sister to drive to Peoria to pick up the table and then store the table in her garage for a few weeks, and convinced my mom to drive by my sister's house on her way to visit me and then bring me the table.

The new table (and my parents) should roll into my driveway this evening and I can't wait!

2. Our biggest elementary school fundraiser kicked off last week and, after 10 full days of character building and fitness fun, wraps up this afternoon with a school-wide fun run party. I love this program and the way it supports and strengthens the physical, emotional, and mental messages already communicated to our students by teachers and administrators.

Want to know why I support school fundraisers? I wrote this piece last year, after a school's "non-fundraiser fundraiser" went viral. 

3. Speaking of schools, on Saturday our elementary school hosted its first service day. Students and parents turned out in droves to help revive our once-thriving butterfly garden and turn the larger space into an outdoor classroom. I couldn't attend because Will had a soccer game in Houston, but Hallie tagged along with friends and had a delightful time pulling weeds, planting flowers and milkweed, spreading soil, and painting rocks. I can't wait to eventually share pictures of the finished product!

4. On Saturday night I sent my sister a picture of me, just before I went out for a friend's birthday, to make sure she thought my shoes worked with my outfit. She texted me back in the affirmative, and to share that she too was going out that night...wearing the exact same outfit.

We're not twins, but we dress like twins and, on occasion, seem to have a twin-like connection!

5. Happiness Highlights:

A(nother) fabulous visit to our winery, this
time for a wonderful friend's birthday party.

Sometimes she's just so happy. (Like when she's freshly showered
and fed and climbing on the bleachers during Will's soccer practice.) 

This kid replaced his first lightbulb last weekend.
He can pretty much take care of the house now, right?

Happy Friday, Chasing Roots!

Linking up with High Five for Friday here: