a really great day

Despite the fact that I was extremely sleep deprived from being up all night working on a work grant...today was a really great day!  The kind of day, that despite no laundry being done, that makes you smile!  This morning, I made my usually rounds...coffee, EUMK drop then SKF drop off but today I had a full agenda!  Not errands or work but time spent with my boys at their schools.

First, I walked with Sam's class to the park down the rode. I love getting to see him interact with his little friends. Sam was sooo excited to go on a "fwild twip"! He kept telling Tanner "it's my fwild twip!" Gotta love the competition...it comes natural in our family.

 

When I left SKF, I headed over to EUMK to read to Tanner and eat lunch with him. Now this morning he was not sure if he wanted me to come for lunch. He basically said pack a lunch and we'll see...such a guy! I came early so I got to see Show n Tell before I read!

It's so funny to me...before I had kids I had hundreds of errands to run and required oodles of "me time" but I love that today was spent with the boys in their homes away from home!

I feel so blessed that I am able to be involved in both of the boys schools. Are you involved in your kids schools? Or do you give them space? I think I am soo that mom...the one who's always lurking around the corner but that's what God made moms for right? I feel like spending time volunteering, reading and going on field trips lets me keep my eyes on my boys!

***If anyone made it this far in my post...What do you think about my hair color??? It's mine...yes...natural well at least about 6 inches.  I'm growing out my color...I've high/low lighted it so long I'm not sure what color it is!!

Learning about Memphis

Tanner's class just finished studying Memphis! He has loved every minute of it.  If you drive by our house you may see us dancing to Elvis through the windows...Tanner can not get enough Elvis! They read one of his favorite books, John Philip Duck by Patricia Polacco, learned all about Elvis and the history of the bridge. 

For the field trip, they shopped at A.Schwab's, rode a trolley, saw the Peabody Ducks, had a picnic at Jefferson Park and did some other sightseeing!  At A. Schwab's they each got $3 to spent...hilarious! It was so much fun to see what all of the children bought! Tanner bought candy and a glow in the dark bracelet. 

I have always gone on Tanner's field trip but usually as a "rider" or a "tag-a-long" but this time I volunteered to drive.  Oh my, what a trip I picked.  I had to drop off, park and run back to the group 3 separate times...next field trip I'm driving!

Iphone photo...hard to take!

FUNNY SIDE NOTE

2 yes 2 fights occured at the Peabody

1...bc the EUMK students got to sit on the front row(we had called waaay ahead)

an older lady yelled at the kids then complained to the duckmaster sooo funny

2...a fight occur over my head

a younger lady asked an older lady to sit

the older lady said no that she was too old to sit

the younger lady pitched a big one

the EUMK teacher ended up switching places

I guess being from Memphis, we take for granted what a huge deal the DUCKS are!

All of the boys...except one and he's the twin of the cutie on the left!

Sweet Friends!

Small Fri Triathlon

Chris signed both of the boys up for the City of Germantown "Small Fry Tri: Preschool Triathlon.  It was so much fun.  Tanner spent the week practicing, cleaning his bike and thinking about the race. Sam, on the other hand, was not worried at all.  When we got their he noticed the snack station and knew it was "first race, then eat"!

The kiddos raced about 5 at a time.  Tanner and Sam were able to go together...I didn't plan very well bc it was difficult to get photos of everything.  I had to run to keep up with Tanner...he's fast! First, they rode their bikes, then they ran through a long shoot and lastly they ran through the firetruck water (this was the swimming)! We had a bike malfunction about 2 minutes bf START TIME...Sam's chain fell off. Sounds simple, but the chain was behind a metal bike part that had to be removed!  Luckily, my dad has taught us to keep random tools in our cars so Chris was able to quickly fix it!

Chris Jr.

All about his time... he gave 120%!

Stephanie Jr.

Slow and steady wins the race!  We can go the distance, it just takes a little longer!

They were soo PROUD! It really tickled us after the race bc they wanted "breakfast".  Of course, they had already eaten bf the race but they know from racing with Chris and I that you aways eat "breakfast' after a race.  We headed to The Bagel Shop, a family favorite! I would love to tell you that we went home and just laid around but it was off to Target then to birthday 1 of 2!

What a week

Oh my goodness...I have never been so grateful for FRIDAY!  After several great no awesome weeks in K and a phone call about how wonderful our child has been...it all ended on Tuesday when a note came home.  This was the first time EVER that a teacher had to talk to me about Tanner "misbehaving"...he's never gotten in "trouble" at school.

I should first clarify by letting you now that the "note" had 3 paragraphs...yes 3! It also went home to 3 other children...all boys!  Wrestling, crashing and the wiggles were all the basic gist of the letter.  I really wanted to cry...I am not sure why it just seemed like a good natural reaction.  We gave Tanner a consequence, a firm talking to and the expectation that tomorrow MUST be better. 

NO SUCH LUCK...well Wednesday wasn't "awful" but not good either according to Ms.H and Ms. H.  Apparently the boys have a tendency to "rev" each other up...there is not a ring leader!

So night 2 again we gave Tanner a consequence, a firm talking to but this time we sat him down and prayed.  We prayed about self-control, obedience and being our best.  Chris and I don't want Tanner to think "he is bad" (because he is a joy) just that his "choices were bad."  We talked to him about how Mom and Dad are not perfect and we make bad choices too about how God forgives us and how He will forgive Tanner too. 

Ok...DAY 3...GREAT GREAT...woo-hooo!  Tanner came out glowing with a big sticker...his teachers followed him out to carpool and both went on and on about how wonderful he was today!  As we were driving off, I asked Tanner why today was a better day?  He said, "I asked God like 40 hundred times to help...it worked...you know mom!"  PURE JOY...not only did Tanner have a great day but he is beginning to understand that God is in our hearts and all we have to do is ask Him to help us. TEARS again...really I am soo not a crier but it has just been an emotional week!

As a reward for Tanner's great day, he choose bikes and a picnic!

After our picnic on the MS River, we played tag!

We stopped by the UofM to see the tigers...really cool!  Each department decorated one...Tanner loved the fire on this one.

To end the night, we listened to a little bluegrass at the Levitt Shell.  Both of the boys love music just like Chris!

In case you are wondering...I am a reader when "issues"

occur.  So this week my nose was in the following books:

Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson

***B.U.B. is a MUST read for parents of boys, Chris and i refer to it ALL of the time

Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie O??

Love Languages for Children by Gary Chapman

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

cooPERaTION

My SWEET children have been at each other's throats lately...well at least last week!  Of course, to me a week of bickering has felt like an eternity.  Much to my surprise, Saturday morning they decided to rekindle their friendship!!!  Tanner is just like me...very particular about how things are done.  He picks up an area before he plays, organizes his toys for 30 min just to crash them...you get the picture!  This of course is a stark contrast to Sam...he loves to make a big mess!  Playing to him is throwing the blocks, crashing the cars and dumping the buckets (probably just organized by T)!  They put their differences away and just played...PURE JOY for this mama!

Notice the coffee mug and magazines in the background...ahhh! This mama was able to take a breathe of fresh air...from the bickering at least!

 

Sam style...

and Tanner style...notice a difference?

family time

The other day I posted about "our crazy life" and my attempt to sort of manage it...so today it feels very refreshing to post about some much needed FAMILY time...no chores, no errands, just us!  We love to ride bikes as a family so Shelby Farms was an easy choice.  We packed snacks, lunches, water bottles, footballs and "B" (Sam's blankie) and headed to Shelby Farms.  The weather was unbelievable...it felt like Fall! It felt so wonderful not to be in a hurry having nowhere to be!  An added bonus was going to eat dinner at my parents house afterwards around 4 so...I didn't even have to cook!

I love my family!

A little lunch break...

Chris always challenges us...today we rode on some trails.

T can ride all day as long as we take water breaks.

a little tackle football

all of this play...led to early bedtimes...bc of no naps...without complaints...perfect ending to a perfect day

Chris and I were able to enjoy a little at home DATE NIGHT...watching a movie, UNKNOWN and enjoying some popcorn!!

my 2 year old skateboards

So here we were thinking Sam would one day play football due to his girth and excellent arm but we might just have the next Tony Hawk.  He can do tricks too...normally I make him where his helmet not sure why it's off...he's sneaky like that!  This little boy loves anything with wheels!

roll TIDE roll

Tanner is OFFICIALLY an Alabama fan...in addition to the Tigers of course!!  On Friday night Tanner, Chris and Pops headed down for the Saturday morning game.  Tanner counted down the days all week...he asked me to wash his jersey about a week early!!  Tanner was soo exhausted when they got home but he could hardly sleep he was still soo excited. His favorite part besides the footlong hotdog he ate was watching the band play in the Quad and seeing the football players go into the game in their suits...that was really funny to him!  I think he felt really BIG to get to go out of town with Daddy and Pops for a ALABAMA game!

We LOVE football at our house...Chris and I got to go on a date to the first Tigers game...sad loss but we had a blast!  Ok here's my football secret...well if you know me it's not a secret...I'd don't really get football and half the time...I'm like "where's the ball?"  Ok so I know the basics and do get into the games but don't asked me what just happened if you missed it!! I love to tailgate, make yummy dips, search for the perfect outfit in my team colors and most of all I love to PEOPLE WATCH! 

busy...busy and a whoops

Life has been very, very busy...school, taekwondo, church, soccer, running, cooking, work, sickness, car issues, HOMEWORK and more.  I know this is NORMAL LIFE but after a LAZY summer I haven't adjusted very well! This is the first time in 5 1/2 years  that we have to be ready 5 days a week to be somewhere...it's tough!  I am slowly adjusting...only after I forgot my own child at school...yes I was THAT MOM!  I was only about 12 minutes late but I cried the entire night.  Thankfully Tanner took up for me and told his teacher "my mom is always early!"

I think I'm back on track...carpools are set, calendars are color coded, the "get-ready" chair is loaded at night, my dad and father-in-law are tag teaming Tuesday carpool and taekwondo, menu planning done, I even managed to work in some during the day runs!!

 Ok so it's really not that easy. 

Just as soon as I planned and organized this week...Tanner got strep and my car decided this would be a good week to cause some trouble! Luckily my job and boss are AMAZINGLY flexible and I have trusty "old blue" when my car goes to the shop. 

IPHONE photos...a little fuzzy but little moments from lately

In the midst of our busy-ness, I am so grateful for moments like these...resting together as a family.

So grateful for my SILLY Sam...he keeps me laughing!

Chris just finished the Field house at UM and is working on the CatHouse at the Zoo...lunch dates with Daddy are a weekly date for Sam and I.  Grateful Chris' jobsite has been close by lately.

Grateful for 1/2 day Kindergarten...so we can have afternoon park playdates!

I asked Chris to pick up a mop and bucket and Lowe's...grateful for a husband who helps with chores!

Grateful for cupcakes!

Grateful for an AMAZING school for Tanner...not so excited thinking about next year.

Tanner cut his hair...ugh...grateful...(this is a hard one)he's a boy so he already has short hair!!

The jungle gym...the boys do flips on Chris' back bike rack...grateful for ANYTHING that uses their ENERGY!!

And lastly I am really grateful for my mornings at home with sweet Sam...he wore his backpack ALL day today and carried his lunchbox most of the day!

These verses were in my devotions this week...so grateful for a God who takes the burdens of my anxieties, loves me unconditionally and forgives me when I ask. 

1 Peter 5:7

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:6-7  

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.