Don't Jump

1. Play dates

We had a last minute play date with Erin last night.  It was nice to just sit and relax.  I LOVE their new house.  I snapped these pictures while the kids were watching Jess build a quick fire.

 

2. Eating lunch
I love food.  I don't miss any meals.  None.  This was our lunch last Friday.  Yes, that was size of my salad.  It was good.

 

 

3. The fire pit

We had a great fall day today. I ran 21 miles (holy moly...I know) and then we went to the Apple Orchard and got pumpkins, apples, and my all-time favorite...apple cider.  Anyways, tonight...we made a fire and roasted marshmallows.  Very fun.  Oh, and we also got a few chores done including mowing the lawn and grocery shopping.  Yes, we are beast.

 (This is a picture of us trying to get Cameron's splinter out.)

4. Map My Run
I use this app to do GPS and figure out how fast my mile splits are -- it's one of my favorite apps.  I know there are many different ways to do this, but this one is my favorite. 

5. "Don't Jump Nash"
When we pull into the driveway the boys both start saying, "Don't jump Nash" over and over and over.  They don't stop for awhile.  Cameron persists longer than Owen but it has still become pretty routine in this home. 

we are ALIVE

And.....it's back on???  I stopped doing the blog because my photos were not linking over.  It became a HUGE headache and something that I didn't have time to figure out.  Over the course of the past year (I had my phone stolen and then accidentally losing all my pictures again a few months later) (yes--I had a melt down) I decided I needed to start the blog up again. 

 

A LOT has happened.  A LOT.  First, the boys are huge with major opinions and giant personalities.  I am just going to pick up with today and since no one reads this anymore....it doesn't much matter what has happened these past months.  Let's just say we have been BUSY.  extremely. busy.

 

1. Trader Joes. 

First, who could not love this store.  My kids push the carts AND they give us pumpkin ice cream, stickers, and cheap---AMAZING food. 

 

2. Fresh Flowers
Holy moly look at my roses this morning.  Usually Mike gets me flowers from Trader Joes (yes--we are obsessed with their savings) but these are from Kroger.  I haven't had roses open like this in awhile.  BEAUTIFUL.

3. Haircuts
This evening we had our family pictures taken.  We are trying to grow out the boys hair so it is in a bit of an awkward phase.  We haven't been to Cookie Cutters in a LONG time.  They don't even have balloons anymore.  BUT they do have a play set and we were in and out in a quick second.  Easy Peasy.

4. The Dentist
It went VERY well.  My dad actually brought them over and I met them there.  This was not our original plan, but it worked great.  Both boys were in a chair in the back and my dad was in the waiting room reading a magazine.....WHAT???!!!  I went back to see Owen and he said, "mom, can you go back and sit down please.  We are almost done here."  Ummmmm.......I know I wanted them to be independent and I am growing them to be strong men BUT I think that he was trying to have a date with the dental hygienist.

Anyways, they did great.  Doesn't Cameron look HUGE in these pictures!!

5. Good company
My wonderful, future husband.  That's it for now.  He is great.  Terrible at Monopoly --- but great at almost everything else. 

6. My "free" days
I got a new job.  I will REALLY miss my free days during the week.  Last week this was what we were doing early in the morning.  I was folding laundry and the boys were watching movies on the IPAD.  I am really looking forward to....REALLY REALLY looking forward to my new job, but I will miss these leisurely mornings that I go to spin, catch up on laundry, and spend time with the boys. 

I feel great

1. My old life back

This week I have had a few days off because I am covering the weekend.  It has been absolutely beautiful out.  I have made it to the gym four days in a row and I have stayed on top of laundry, mowing the yard, and I even cleaned out some of the garage.  I have been able to play with the boys, make nice dinners on the grill, and do a play date.  I have been HAPPY.  Don't worry---I am not going back to weekend nights, or even weekends at all.  BUT I did decide to try three 12 hour shifts instead of my 4 days a week.  It would cut down on childcare cost, I would spend time with the boys, AND I still think feel fulfilled in my job.

 

2. Holy moly

Cameron loves to say, "holy moly pack a poly."  That's it.  I love it.  So stinking cute.

 

3. Erin & Jess

This week Jess got a new job.  It has been a bit stressful over at the Harris household.  I watched the little ones for less than 2 hours so they could have a quick dinner....with just adults.  Sawyer was a handful.  He wore me out.  I loved spending time with them and so did the boys but HOLY was I exhausted by the end.  Glad that you guys are actually still alive.

 

4. Baths

Good thing that we have a bathtub.  These boys are getting SOOOOOO dirty this summer.  It is pretty gross.  Their entire body is covered in dirt.  This is not much of an exaggeration.

 

5. Shades

Five years ago when we first moved into this house we were robbed.  It was  (Owen just put his arm around me to cuddle. I am in a very awkward position but I LOVE his sweetness.)  So anyways, we were robbed. (I said, "thank you, I like your arm around me.  Does it feel good?" He said,  "yeah, that is what best friends do.")

 

Ok...back to my story.... The house was broken into during broad day light.  At that time my sister started insisting I get window coverings.  And it has slowly started to happen.  She eventually gave up the fight (I mean 5 years is a long time).  Well I am proud to say that ALL windows have coverings. 

 

 

 Thanks to the Fang Family for the Jeep!!

 "Breakfast in bed"

Yes....I am spoiled.  I have fresh flowers all over my house.

Rain rain rain....

These boys are getting HUGE.  It is amazing to see this growth right before my eyes.  I am looking forward to summer and enjoying these crazies more and more. 

 

Here are five things that I am grateful for.....

 

1. Mulch

I have added this to the list a few times before and on Monday night as I laid 60 bags of mulch and pulled weeds for an hour and a half I was feeling grateful that soon the mulch would be finished...and I could enjoy it all summer.  The sad part is that I still need 30 more bags. 

 

2. The old schedule

I am going to work this coming weekend so I have many days off this week.  I am REALLY looking forward to going to Lifetime, the library, playdates, sleeping in, and spending time with the boys.  VERY excited.

 

3.  Vacation

Tomorrow I am going to book a condo in Rosemary.  Very excited.

 

4. Meal time

Still my favorite time with the boys.  We all sit down and eat together.  Usually being pretty silly.  The other night they actually ate clams. 

 

5. Steph Fang

Grateful for our friendship & our talks. 

 

I took the side rails off the bed to test out how they would do.  When I went into wake up the boys Cameron was laying down parallel to his bed.  I was waking up before I could snap the picture but it was pretty funny.

I thought that I was giving them paint stamps to play with.  It was actually paint that stains.  Awesome. 

 The boys tipped their playhouse updside down and then proceeded to take most of the toys from the toy room and put them into the house.  This was last week.  It just keeps getting more toys.

 

 

I think that these next few pictures might be my favorite for awhile.  He is so fun to be around....when he is not being absolutely crazy....

 I took this picture on Monday.  I had a meeting at work so I picked up 20 bags of mulch and unloaded them all before 730am. 

 Crazy boys at family dinner. 

I had a giftcard from my birthday for Starbucks.  I have been able to buy people some drinks and enjoy a few myself.  I think that buying the drinks for others is significantly more fun and makes my day wonderful!

Spring

Second posting of the month...and it is happening at 4:22 am.  I woke up this morning and had a hard time falling back asleep so I decided to make the most of my time and get some of more chores done.  And boy do I have a lot of chores.  My washing machine is in a constant state of "on."  The boys are growing like weeds (yes....pulling actual weeds is also on my list).  I went through all the clothes that don't fit and realized that I actually needed to buy some new basics like socks, underwear, and jackets. AND I needed some for myself.  Not only is my wardrobe becoming a running joke...it is also becoming not functioning.  Anyways....back to being grateful.

 

1. My car

My car has been pretty wonderful.  It costs an arm and a leg but it is reliable, comfortable, and very great.  Ha.

 

2. Power Rangers

I think that the boys have an obsession.  And maybe I do too.  I have never sat and watched a show BUT they do...and they LOVE it.  I am able to have 25 minutes of pure engagement into the television.  I know, many parents would not want their child to sit, but a full 25 minutes in this house is GREAT.  I can also use it to bribe for good behavior.  (Yup...adding up parent of the year points) 

 

3. Spring

My favorite season is here!  I am in spring cleaning, updating, and pulling the house together mode.  I am also loving the time we can be outside.  THOUGH we took the boys on a walk last week (they rode bikes) and half way through....they were done.  So bikes were carried back.  I did learn to just stay close to home. 

 

4. The grill

This falls in line with my obsession with spring.  I already have the tank switched and ready to get the grill ready for the season.

 

5. Stories

My dad tells the boys stories when they go to bed.  He sits in the middle of the room with the lights out and tells them a classic.  I on the other hand usually read books in my bed to them.  A few nights ago Owen asked me for a story before bed.  I told him to go pick out a book.  He said, "No a real story, not a book story."   

 

This dude ALWAYS has bedhead.  ALWAYS.  We are starting to wet it down first thing in the morning but I have a feeling this will be a thing his entire life.

 I had to add this picture of Barbi because Cameron got really excited and said, "Mommy it's you!!"  I asked why and he told me because of her hair!  hahahaha. 


We went to visit Kelly in SouthBend and while we were there I locked my keys in the car.  When we were waiting for AAA we put coats on the kids.  I wanted a picture and asked them to put their hoods up.  (All three of them wearing girl coats was funny to me).  Instantly I knew that this was going to be a problem because Cameron didn't have a hood. 

So here is how the pictures go.  Cameron is on the side of this first picture crying.....then we get him a hood and he loves life again.  Oh that child is a pistol.