magic school bus...a date

Saturday morning, we took the boys to see The Magic School Bus at the Orpheum.  The tickets were a Christmas present from Chris and I per Tanner's request.  We had a blast...the boys love the books so we knew they would love the musical. I kept hearing people talk about the TV show but I had no idea it was a TV show.  I even heard a boy tell his mom he didn't like it because Mrs. Frizzle did not sound the same. Hum...maybe he should check out some of the books?  We have checked out all of the ones our library has plus we have several of our own...thanks to my mom who was formerly a "science lab" teacher! It was actually a Magic School Bus book about habitats that made Tanner talk us into not grinding a tree stump...so he could see the bugs, rot, fungus, etc.

We stopped at Trolley Stop, our favorite restaurant, on the way home.  The hummus wrap is excellent!  They also have great coffee and according to the boys great sweet tea:) The monkeys behaved so it was a great day.

sleepin' boys

I caught these 2 snuggled together...so sweet! Makes my heart melt!

obsessed with smoothies

We are obsessed with smoothies. The boys eat them for breakfast, lunch and for snacks. Our "special" ingredient is SPINACH. The boys think that it is so funny that the spinach makes it green and then as we add the other fruit it changes back to an "edible" color.
To make the spinach taste go away, I make the smoothies in this order:
almond milk...plain
vanilla protein powder
1/2 banana
(this is the base for all of our smoothies)
blend
then spinach (about 2 cups)
A little honey
blend
add fruit...frozen works best
we like
1)strawberry/oranges 2)strawberry/blueberry/raspberries 3)apple/blueberry 4)almond butter/honey
*when I'm out of fruit I've frozen I just add fresh fruit then add crushed ice until icy!

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