Good Golly...Miss Molly

GOOD GOLLY PHOTOGRAPHY

My best friend, Molly is a very talented photographer actually a talented baker, painter, writer, singer...you get the gist. When you've got it you've got it...she calls it a curse but I am lucky to have such a talented friend of 30 years...yes friends since 2.

It was time for Sam's 3 year old pictures and I needed updated photos of the boys together so I signed up for her mini-sessions...a very affordable option for those of us on a budget. She is A-mazing...my boys are wild, growly and just a plain ole mess but she got some unbelievable shots. She was making them laugh talking about boogers and bugs. She managed to get a shot of Sam in his "fancier" outfit on a brick walk...I the crazy mom had requested this because I have a similar one of Tanner and wanted to get a 20x24...she did it and I even have choices!

The mini-sessions were at the MBG so we stayed to play afterwards...the boys actually choose to feed the fish and walk the gardens instead of going to My Big Backyard! 

After Sam finished petting yes touching the fish...we ate lunch at Fratelli's.  If you have never eaten there it is great...we were early birds so our timing was great.  It tends to be a quieter eating place when it's in full swing...meaning a meet the girls for lunch kind of place.  The Fratelli's tea is the bomb.

before school

Now that the weather is nice, I can kick the "early birds" outside.  When it's cold out side, WRESTLEMANIA is shown in my living room from 7am-8am daily.

For some reason the boys have been getting up extra early...like completely ready before 7:30 early.  We don't have to leave the house until 8:40 for school...so I am trying to enjoy my mornings with these WILD boys.  I know next year we will be rushing to get across town by 8:00 so for now I will enjoy my coffee on the porch while yelling at the boys to be gentle!

Shrinky Dinks

Did you make these when you were little?

They were a "staple" craft at the Tanner household.

Now they are a "staple" craft at for the Phillips boys.

The little market down the street from our house sells just about everything on styrofoam trays...broccoli, chicken, grapes, pecans...since I frequent the little market we have a big pile of trays.

You have to use sharpies when you are coloring.

***Side-note...if you leave them out your child may draw on the cream walls in his room with a lime green fat tip sharpie!

Oven on 250-300.

Put on a pan.

Takes only a minute or 2...WATCH...they will roll up then flatten.

When you take them out they are hard.

At Christmas, we poke a hole in the top and add ribbon...Viola-ornament!

date night with Sam

Me: Sam where do you want to go for dinner with Mommy and Daddy?

Sam: I want Cheetos from the gas station.

Um...who's been feeding my child gas station Cheetos???

Friday night, Tanner had his 1st "lock-in" at his Taekwondo school.  We dropped him off at 5 and did not have to pick up until 9. Chris and I thought about getting a sitter for Sam but quickly decided that Sam needed a little "date night" with us.  His next choice for dinner was spaghetti which sounded much better to me than Cheetos.  We headed to Dino's the best Italian restaurant in Memphis. I always get the eggplant...it's delicious! Next up was putt-putt UNTIL we realized we had misplaced Sam's "B".

Oh my...we looked all over...it was no where to be found. So fast forward to tonight...3 hours to get him to sleep.  It was really sad...I think he probably feels how I feel when Chris is out of town. I laid in bed with him for awhile telling superheros stories, singing the letter sounds song and acting as a human blanket.

Back to date night...my baby is too big! It was so much fun to listen to him...his funny stories, creative ideas and bossy britches:)

the Cheetos smile

my precious little date

spaghetti eating machine

After dinner we headed to the park, feed a few ducks, did some rock throwing and then headed to Yolo because all of that work worked up an appetite in our date.

a lazy spring break

This week was Spring break for Tanner, Sam and I.  While I had intentions of exploring Memphis, the boys really just wanted a lazy week, which was fine by me! My sisters were home so we had some visitors which is always nice. A whole week of no plans, mornings in our jammies and amazing weather...heaven!  I should mention my dad and Shelley BRAVELY took the boys to Chuck E Cheese...I showed up in my running clothes, dropped of the boys and hit the trails for 2 hours!

growing bouncy balls in water

making chocolate chip cookies

rocket balloons

a play date

baking soda, vinegar and jello powder

hammering real nails into foam

dancing raisins

a little green play dough making

racing cars

reading Dr. Seuss books a hundred times

a snake Daddy found

days warm enough for sprinklers



Land btwn the Lakes...Updated

Land Between the Lakes Trail Run 2012

Chris and I headed out Friday morning for Land between the Lakes In Kentucky. We stopped on our way (at the recommendation of a friend), in Murray and Hazel, to do a little antique shopping.  This was a little treat for me because with 2 boys I rarely make it to shops full of breakables!  I picked up a few jade plates and some salt/pepper shakers to add to my little collection.  It was so nice to spend a weekend together...our marriage needed some us time. Talking to each other without interruption was such a gift. 

We headed to LBL so I could run my 1st trail run.  It was a 23k which is about 14.5 miles...super exciting since I thought it was a 25k and trained to 16 miles. I was really nervous since I was quite sure what to expect. I have terrible race morning jitters!  Chris planned to run the entire run with me which was not only helpful but such a treat to do something we enjoy together.  He is running a 50k in 6 weeks so it was a good training run. Our time was 2:50 about 35 minutes slower than my road 1/2 marathon time.

 I discovered trail running about a year ago when Chris pushed me out of my comfort zone and took me on a trail run "date".  I am in LOVE...it is so different than the roads.  For me it is therapy, quiet time, it challenges me, it pushes me out of my comfort zone and a hobby I share with Chris.

What I loved about a trail run:

1)the small size

2)everyone is so friendly

3)you make friends with people running in front and behind you

4)the aid stations rock...oranges...yummo

5)the challenge...you can't know exactly what to

expect so trying to run a certain time is

really hard...it's more about endurance

and pushing yourself personally

6)though my thighs hated the giant hills the trails are not

as hard on my body as the road

7) its just BEAUTIFUL

Kentucky Lake is gorgeous.  We stayed in a little community called Lighthouse Landing...we were able to park our car and walk everywhere! Our little cabin had a breathtaking view with sailboats to the left and the balcony looked out on the lake.  There is something to be said about a mini-vacy in a quiet setting...with the exception of the race we had no plans just free time...Hallelujah!!  We watched the sunset 2 days in a row.  I can't remember the last time I let myself slow down enough to watch a sunset.  We walked back down to the race after showers and breakfast/lunch to watch the ultra-marathoners come across.  TRAIL RUN LESSON...bring you own adult beverages with cooler.  The county was dry...those more seasoned in trail races than us walked back and got their coolers!

Super sexy...is how I look after I run!  On Friday, Chris and I ran about 6 miles on the trails to see how they were...VERDICT...rocky and hilly! 

So now Arkansas for Chris 50K in April and MAYBE??? Chatanooga for my next in May??? Anyone want to join me???

1st big tournament

We packed up the boys and headed to Nashville this weekend for Tanner's 1st Taekwondo tournament. Somewhere around Jackson, TN we remembered Jackson the bulldog at home and realized we had not gotten anyone to watch him. Not a big deal until we realized whoever we called would need a key...Toot-Berries(i'm trying out some new profanities)! We had to turn around and go back to Memphis. Needless to say we got on the road much later than expected so we finally made it to Nashville around 9.

The boys are pretty good travelers even without the DVD player that was broken. My mom always packed us little gifts for road trips, to be opened throughout the trip. So this trip they each opened a Lego Ninjago sticker book, new twistable colored pencils with sketch books, Tic-Tacs and new Batman books. It held their attention on the way to Nashville but it was DS3 and LeapPad the whole way home.

We stayed with our precious friends, Kathryn and David, who are excellent hosts. They came with us to the tournament(after making a Starbucks run) and even watched Sam so Chris and I could go over by Tanner without a very busy 2 year old. I stay with K&D every year for the 1/2 marathon and somtimes just for a "girls weekend".

Tanner won 3rd place in his age group for his Sparing Kicks. We are SUPER proud of him.  He was really embarrassed because they said his name over the loud speaker. 

Our little family minus a face!

Getting lost heading landed us at this little burger joint...Gabby's!  Yummo!  We had to order Tanner a 2nd burger...the couple at the table next to us thought it was hilarious.  If they only knew how much our boys eat in a day.

We headed to the Nashville Science Museum after eating lunch.  The boys had a great time.  There was an exhibit called BodyQuest with an area called Down the Hatch...basically digestion and bodily functions.  The boys LOVED it!  It was lots of fun and we will certainly make plans to return.  Next time I think we will go during the week because they weekend was crazy. 

Oh Mrs. Frizzle...I imagine when Sam likes girls one day they will look like Mrs. Frizzle...red-headed!