Commando

What is it with boys and going COMMANDO?
Is it just my boys?
Maybe it is just my boys but we have a rule...if you have school or church the next day...sleep in undies!
I can not tell you how many times we have changed for Taekwondo...no undies...REALLY.  I even caught Samwith out a time or two...how he got them off and put his britches back on who knows. 
Last night, both of the boys took baths then put their jammies on by themselves.  I looked over and noticed that undies were still in the "get ready chair".  I asked the boys to stop playing legos and put their undies on because we had church in the morning.  I came back in to this...undies over both of their jammies.  Me oh my...BOYS!  When I asked about it both of them looked at me like "what mom"...love them.

(sorry...the ipad takes worse pictures than the iphone)

birth-DAY turned birth -WEEKEND

Soooo this weekend I turned the big 3-2!

I can not believe I am old enough to be steadily climbing in the 30's!
Chris and I celebrated my birthday a night early with the boys because he was working Saturday (he ended up only working an hour or so:). We went and got sushi around the corner...we love it because it's fast and LOUD! Sam ate his first piece of sushi...welcome to the "sushi eating club."

Saturday morning, I was pleasantly surprised by a cup of coffee from my favorite coffee shop...Poplar and Perkins. In my book that was PERFECT way to start my actual birth-DAY.  I headed out for a "long run" on the trails...it took a little pep talk to get out the door...it was freezing on Saturday morning!

A great trail run is measured by the mud on your shoes! I really love when the trails are muddy...love going the day after it rains:)

My new birthday running shirt from the boys is pictured below...it's so me. I wonder what the "hardcore trail runners" think about me when I run in ruffle skirts or hot pink ruffle shirts with my turquoise and yellow trail  shoes?? I typically don't do all at once but you see what I mean??  I have a slight obsession with Lululemon...it is making buying gifts for me easy right now...because it's my favorite! I'm obsessed with  the Run: Inspire Crops...they have secret pockets for all of your "running junk!"

from birth-DAY to birth-WEEKEND

I expected my birthday day to be over but Chris ended up being home most of Saturday so we spent the day as a family, they even shopped with me. Chris' parents stopped by on Saturday to bring me my birthday gift and offered to keep the boys overnight Sunday...WOO-HOO!!

Some sweet friends called us to come over for dinner Saturday night so I called my parents last minute to babysit and as always they said yes...see the DAY extending into the WEEKEND!!!

We started a new class on MARRIAGE in Sunday school. It is so nice to be able to laugh together at the joys and trials of our marriage.

We ended my birth-WEEKEND with dessert at Sweet Grass...my favorite restaurant in ALL of Memphis.

Whew...I am one lucky girl to have such sweet friends, great family, adorable boys and a thoughtful husband...THANKS FOR MAKING A GIRL FEEL SO SPECIAL!!

BONUS...bc the boys are staying spending the night with Nana and Pops tonight...I will get a very early trail run in tommorow with my new Garmin.  Can't wait...the new one will beep at me when I am going too slow.  Somebody has got to hold me accountable...thank goodness for a Garmin:)  It is a runner's best friend!

time management

time management...with technology

I let Tanner have FREEDOM with his techonolgy over Christmas...we'd been sick so I had gotten nothing done...it was kind of nice if I'm being honest. I'd been telling him when school started we were back to "No Screen Time on School Nights." I told him I'd probably make some card to help us monitor his time...
so he made this!
Too funny...he gave himself 3 30 minute cards for his DS3
and
Sam...3 30 minute cards for his LeapPad


(he taped them to the fridge)

I made some extras that could be earned...the toothfairy also brought a "ds3" card for the tooth he lost on Friday night.  I love technology...I probably need cards for the Ipad and my Iphone but they are little and I'm old school in my thinking technology can be taught to any old dog but the basics like reading and math and loving science and history are so crucial.  I also believe all the reports that say kids can not attend and focus if they get too much screen time...haven't you read "The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV?"  I am thankful for boys who love to be outside, love board games and like to make messes!Thankful also for a husband who overlooks the messes because he loves that I play with our boys:)

***This has been GREAT for me also because the "ds3" cards can also be LOST...if we make poor choices!

2012

GOals for 2012

I am not a New Years Resolution maker however I do love a good "list"! Nothing overwhelming just goals to grow in my faith, family and self over the next year.  If I only run a 1/2 on the trails or just make it to Luke in the Bible...at least I will know I am that much closer to my goals. This year I added 32 goals since I will be 32 in 12 days.  Some of the goals are for me, some for the family, some house, some financial...you get it. So here are the first few from my "list"...

1.Read the bible cover to cover

2.READ 12 BOOKS

3. ENCOURAGE MY BOYS

4. WRITE DOWN ONE PRAISE EVERYDAY

5. PLAY INTENTIONALLY with my BOYS everyday

6. PRAY FERVENTLY…JAMES 5:16

7. Take a Photography class

8. PRAY FOR CHRIS DAILY

9. DRINK MORE WATER

10. RUN a TRAIL mARATHON

11. TAKE A SEWING CLASS

12.make a quilt

13. PRACTICE CONTENTMENT

 

the party aka "boy heaven"

The BIG 6

We had Tanner's birthday party at the Special Kids and Families Therapy Center.  It is amazing, I must say...so many fun things for every age.   Climbing wall, trampoline, slides, basketball...what more could a boy ask for?  Add some Nerf Guns for favors to be used during the party, of course, and 400+ bullets...HEAVEN! This party was a breeze...we just showed up!  I did end up having to clean my house..ugh...bc we had the parents drop the boys off at 4:30 and pick up at 8:30...the boys just rode with us to the center.  So "type A" me needed it sparkling for the 5 minutes each parents saw it...Can we say "I have issues?"
After we played, it was time for pizza, video games and strawberry cupcakes.  It cracks me up that Tanner wanted pizza bc he is very lactose-intolerant but he loves some dough, sauce and sausage!  Of course, he choose a pizza joint with oodles of video games so we brought lots of quarters for the boys.  I felt like they were playing lots of games with there $3-4 when I realized my Dad was parked by the coin machine putting $10's in and passing out more quarters!  It brought back memories of the arcade in the Hilton at the beach from when we were little...lol!  Needless to say the boys had a great time...I hope the parents enjoyed their 4 hours and hopefully their kiddos went to sleep as quickly as mine!!

birthday boy

The BIG 6th Birthday


Today was Tanner's day. He had lots of big ideas for how to spend his 6th birthday.



Donuts were a must.  This is a really sweet tradition we stole from our friends.  On the boys birthday mornings we go to Howard's and get a donut...Chris always joins us even on work days. It's fast, easy, cheap and the boys love it.

The new bike was a big hit.  He was sooo excited.  This was a gift from us and both sets of Grandparents. Tanner loves to ride his bike and we wanted to get him a really nice bike for those long rides heloves so much.

Forts and Nerf Guns

The other view of the fort

Aunt Shelley brought GiGi's by the house! Lemon is a favorite.

The zoo...he is running away so I can't take a picture.

Very tired family...it's time for dinner.

sweet boys
You should see the other photos from trying to take this one...it looked like "wrestle mania!"

123456

Happy 6th Birthday to my sweet Tanner.
I can not believe my sweet baby boy is turning 6.  You are so polite, extremely particular and so motivated.  You are a precious friend and a very generous big brother.  You are so hard headed yet so very sensitive. You are perhaps the most hard-working little boy that exists...you would spend your entire day helping people if you could. I see so much of myself in you maybe that is why I am so protective over your sweet heart! No matter what you do or become...I will always be your #1 fan!! I love you so very much.

What you asked to do on your birthday:
For Daddy and Sam to stay home.
To go get donuts.
Then to drink a smoothie for some energy.
To ride your bike.
To go to the zoo with the family and Aunt Shelley.
To do some work around the house.
Then to do some more work around the house...paid this time.
To go to Target and "browse" with his $.
To ride some more bikes and maybe to go look at new bigger bikes.
To go to Taekwondo.
To buy nerf guns for all of his firends coming to his birthday party.
To eat strawberry cake.
To have a swordfight and a nerf gun fight with Mom, Dad and Sam.
To play outside.
And now you're thinking but you assured me there was more!




Things you love:
Magic Tree House books
Magic School Bus Books
RobinHood
StarWars
Knights, Dragons and Castles...battles
Mac and Cheese...made with almond milk
Swordfighting
PillowFights
Shut the Box
Taekwondo
Yolo..bc they always have a dairy-free choice
Pineapples
War...card game
Cooking especially if the rolling pin is involved
Bike riding
Central BBQ
Chucky Cheese
Wild Kratts
Monopoly
any science experiment
the History channnel

You told me you want to do or learn:

Lose another tooth
Stay up later than Sam now because he's 6
Run a 5k
Ride in a bike race
Read the next Magic Tree House book
About the stars..."Can I stay up late and watch the stars?"
Why a jet is faster than an airplane
If we can make dairy free cheescake
Play the violin
Have all your friends over for a playdate at the same time
Spend the night with a friend:(
Have a friend spend the night
Spend a whole weekend at Big D and DeeDee's
Teach Jackson to fetch...good luck!
Go duck hunting