Teacher Appreciation All Year Long

I decided that each month I wanted to send some snacks to day-care for the teachers.  My mom did this for our teachers so I wanted to do the same for my boys' teachers.

 

In January I forgot so at the beginning of February I sent a variety of crackers.

Then in the middle of March (supposed to have been for February) I sent these brownies.

 

Now for March I decided to do something easy so I got a variety of chips.

 

 

This was my 'clever' note. I tried a couple of different notes but Kyle thought they were corny.  I am not sure this is any better.

 

 

Hopefully this was a nice little surprise that the teachers enjoyed.

Friday Favorites/Randoms

I am linking up with Erika for my Friday Favorites

 

1. I shared this shirt on Facebook last week and I still love it.  It washes and then hang to dry perfectly.  I have it in the purple but very tempted to get more!

 

2. It feels so good to be back on the wagon with working out. Tuesday I went on a walk with the boys. Wednesday I went for a run without the kiddos (thanks Kyle) around the neighborhood.

 

 

Yesterday I went to the gym for my first workout.  I took this picture and sent it to my sister saying I was ready to be done after just 12 minutes.  It wasn't that hard I was just mostly bored because I forgot headphones and was too scared to ask the front desk to get theirs.  The good news is that I lasted 30 minutes and felt great afterwards.  I did the elliptical because I am not ready to brave the treadmill yet and maybe one day I will start the classes.

 

 

3. I love that it has been 15+ years since Coach Brent was my gymnastics coach but he still motivates me! I needed a little tough coaching when I didn't want to head to the gym yesterday.

 

 

4. I shared this picture with my mom.  This Duck Pond pin was from Cooper's first birthday.  It has been repined on pinterest 2844 times! The funny thing is that the ducks didn't really float so they game didn't really work.  But people still love it.

 

 

5.  When I got home yesterday I told the boys I was taking them to the park, but Cooper insisted he run inside first and get something.  He came back out and said 'I brought this for you, but it is sad now.' It is a wilted dandelion.  He threw it on the ground but I grabbed and kept it.  This is the first time he has picked me a flower that I can remember and it just melted my heart.

 

 

6. It was windy yesterday but since I had already gone my workout I decided we should head to the park.  This park is about 4 minutes away from our house and this is the first time we visited.  It is shaded and perfect.  I am considering having Cooper's birthday here since they have a pavilion too.

 

7. When I got home Kyle had installed these 'light switch levers'.  I have been wanting to buy something to help Cooper for a while but finally did it.  He had a stool in his bedroom but we needd something for the bathroom and playroom.  This way he can pull on the lip at the bottom to turn the lights on or off.  They are not long enough for Casen yet but that is fine with us.  If you are interested we got them here and it was only  $12 for two (now they are 2 for $18).

 

8. This weekend we are celebrating Easter with my dad's side of the family and I can't wait.  I just love my family and have so much fun with them.

 

Have a great weekend!

Getting Healthy Update

 

So back on Thanksgiving Day I ran my first 5k.  It was great experience and I really enjoyed it.  I was not a runner and never thought I would enjoy it but I really did.  I enjoyed the competition/motivation I had with my friend Tiffany. I became a runner!

 

 

 

Then the next day it was over.  That weekend we moved into our new house and then we had the holidays. We had so much to do and with it being dark so early I just didn't find the time. Then it was January and it was just so cold and dark.  I had plenty of excuses.  Except the cold weather wasn't a good excuse because back in September or October I had won a free gym membership for a whole year through work.  The gym doesn't have many locations so I would only be able to go before work, during lunch, or after work.  But seriously it was free and I had no excuses.  But then I decided that I didn't want to join the gym right after the holidays and look like a New Year's resolutioner (that is probably a word except the red squiggly line under it tells me that it isn't.) So I literally didn't run at all for 3 months. 

 

Then I decided I wanted to get back on track.  Mostly the competition/motivation kicked in from Tiffany who signed up for multiple 5Ks in Feb, Mar, and Apr.  Over the past 3 weeks I have ran or gone walking about 5 times.  I planned to run last night but Cooper wanted to go with me to drive his gator and there was no way baby brother was going to let us go without him.  Unfortunately baby brother doesn't like to ride in the gator much right now so I have to buckle him in the stroller.  And oh my goodness it is tough running with a stroller! We only made one lap before we ran out of time.  We stopped to give the two neighbor boys quick rides on the gator (which is a whole other story) and it was time for me to make dinner.

 

I am hoping to run tonight because I made a meal in the crockpot that will free up my time.  However I know Kyle has some yard work on his list so we will see. But....

 

I went to the gym today at lunch and joined.  I am excited but also nervous.  Because this gym is in downtown, one block from work there will be a lot of coworkers. Have I ever mentioned how clumsy I am.  I just know that I will embarrass myself.  I am not comfortable on a treadmill however I really want to run.   I did get two free personal training sessions so hopefully I can do those soon and learn how to use the different strength training machines.  I am always intimidated by those machines and how to use them.

 

 

And you know what.  The guy at the gym knew I was feeling intimidated.  At the end as he walked me out he said 'we are glad to have you' and I said 'thank you.  I will see you around.' And he responded 'No, I will see you tomorrow.' So I guess I will be going to the gym tomorrow....

 

 

 

And I signed up to do another 5k on April 11th and Kyle will be doing it with me.  So I have to get back on track.

 

Friday Favorites

I am linking up with Friday Favorites to share some of my favorite moments this week.

 

Tuesday was St. Patrick's Day which is also my Meme Sylvester's birthday.  She would have been 75. I told Cooper of the two events that day and explained that Meme was in Heaven with Jesus. And we had this conversation

C-but if it's her birthday we need cake!

M- um yeah I guess we should.  I will pick up cupcakes.

C- no mommy we need a real cake

M- (mostly thinking out loud) ok I will get us a little cake

C- NO Mommy! We need a big cake for her! And we need candles and wood things to light it! (matches)

 

I tried to get a picture of them in their matching shirts before school. Ha!

 

 

On my way home I picked up a cake that happened to be a yummy ice cream cake which I didn't realize until I got to the checkout. And you see the blue candles. 3 for Cooper to blow out and 1 for Casen (based on their current ages).

 

Cooper does this goofy eyebrow thing that cracks me up.

 

I love how Casen watches his big brother.

I love this sweet pic.

 

And reminding baby brother not to touch the cake.

Singing

 

Eating the yummy cake! The good thing about buying a big cake is that it lasts several nights (smart kiddo!)

 

Wednesday when I got home I changed and went for a run.  I thought it would be a good idea for Cooper to drive the gator and keep up with me.  Turns out I run faster than the gator so it wasn't the bed idea. I was just excited that I run that fast! Ha! We went 1.3 miles and I could have gone farther but he was done. Casen stayed with Daddy this time.

 

Yesterday Casen insisted on wearing his hat to school and he just looked too cute.  Except for this 'I-smell-something-stinky' face!

 

We have had a great week enjoying this weather.  We have spent every evening outside, used the grill, went for a run, and pulled weeds.  It's raining this weekend which is disappointing, but I am looking forward to the weekend.

 

Happy Friday.

Weekend Recap

Friday we had speech therapy and Casen was in his pjs because of pajama day at school.  Casen did really well and loved playing with the bubbles.  He showed Ms. Lori that he knows how to say more, up, please, and started saying bo (blow).

 

 

Saturday we went to lunch with cousins before heading to the Pickle Parade and Palooza.

 

7 kids and 3 adults was fun!

 

Saying our prayers.

 

Ready for the parade

 

Wearing my glasses thanks to eye issues. Casen was so busy before the parade that I wasn't sure how I would keep him from getting run over. 

 

Sweet Carleigh Reese.

 

Mac and Carsyn

 

Tinsley ate the entire time.

 

Cooper was so excited about the parade.

 

He jumped up and waved for the longest time until they got to our end.  I loved seeing how excited he was.

 

Once the parade starting Casen (in the red hoodie) sat down and enjoyed the show

 

These Elvis impersonators on little motorcycles were quite entertaining.

 

Monster truck ambulance

 

Still waving

 

It was pretty windy but we had a great time.

 

The closest we got to a pickle.  You see someone dropped the ball and the only pickles after the parade was one stand with fried pickles and the line was ridiculous.  All of us were very disappointed in the lack of pickles.

 

Pickle queens but with these red wigs they looked like drag queens.

 

After the parade we stopped for a picture and had some ice cream instead of pickles.

 

After the parade MacKenzie stayed to spend the night for the first time at our house.  They were both so excited.  They did some dancing.

 

We had a yummy dinner.

 

Lots of playing and they play so well together.

 

Since it was a spur of the moment sleepover Mac didn't have any clothes. She borrowed Cooper's pjs (and underwear) while I washed her clothes for the next day.  I happened to have two sets of the same pjs so they got to match and they loved it.

 

They have socks on their hands because they were pretending to have gloves like Mickey and Minnie.

 

MacKenzie loved Ranger and I told her she could have him as a souvenir. Her mean mommy said no. Ha!

 

Sunday I went to the early mass and brought home donuts for the kids.  Melisa got Mac and then we headed to FW for fun with Mimi and Grandpa. Casen looked too cool with his hair and shades.

 

Kyle and I went to the gun show (second time in 30 days! #wifeoftheyear) while the boys stayed at their grandparents' to play.  Then we got back and all headed to the park.

 

We went on a walk and Cooper drove his gator on the trail and Casen mostly rode in the stroller.

 

Then we stopped at the little playground and had it to ourselves most of the time.

 

They loved climbing these fun things instead of the stairs.

 

Casen thinks he can do anything his brother can do.

 

Cooper mastered climbing and getting cross to the playground by the time we were done. (He also peed in the woods because of no other choice)

 

We such a fun weekend with family and the amazing weather.