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.



MBG...fancy backyard

We love the Botanical Gardens...it's the perfect place for the boys to burn some energy! Tanner did Caterpillar Club for a long time and Sam will start soon!  We met some sweet friends and enjoyed the AMAZING weather! Sam decided he had no problem swimming in his jon-jon!  Our clubhouse is not quite as adorable as this one but I think we need to add a pulley system...I think I see a trip to Lowe's!

I have to admit when we were enjoying our time at the MBG, I couldn't help but be a little sad about it being my last week before Tanner started K. I'm 1/2 way through the week and it's been ok.  Luckily his days are short so we have plenty of afternoon time and even had time for a morning park stop this morning. I've run 2x already with just 1 boy in the jogger and I really am enjoying some Sam time! Sam really misses him (so do I) but I keep trying to remember we really prayed about this K year and this is where God lead our family more specifically Tanner. I can not wait to see how Tanner grows this year...he told me on the way to school "I'm ready to read harder books!" 

kinDerG...can't say the word

I can barely say the word Kindergarten!  Tanner, of course, is beyond ecstatic! I am just in utter shock that Tanner that my sweet baby boy had his first day of school this morning...it was just a half day and he doesn't go again until Friday but WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

We are so very proud of you, W. Tanner. 

 You are an amazing big brother,

Have the best helping hands around,

Are reading like a champ,

Can build anything,

Are so very serious,

You are the best listener,

A great friend,

You have such a thoughtful heart,

You are full of energy and so much life,

Are so very handsome,

You have God in your heart,

We love you so very much!

Sam...I will cherish every minute I have with you at home because before I know it you'll be in school too:(  Sam is so heart-broken when Tanner is not home..."Where's my Tanner?" is what I hear 100 times until Tanner gets home!  Maybe this year will be the motivation and encouragement I need to be confident homeschooling is best for our family!!!

STAR WARS key chains on Tanner's backpack!

Sam had to take his too...just to take Tanner to school!