Weekend Update

Eddie left on Thursday to go on a surfing trip in Costa Rica (please, feel sorry for him), but I was invited to go on a trip to Pinehurst with some friends! They rented an amazing house and while the boys played golf, the girls went to the spa...and it was FABULOUS! They were kind enough to let me come without my hubs ;) My sweet mom kept the boys and Tricia and Tommy were SOOOO kind to keep the dogs! Love them all!

I headed down Saturday morning and checked out the house.  This is the back yard-- big hot tub, huge fire pit, etc.... it was pretty amazing!

We headed over to the spa and got all checked in... and had an amazing day.  We got there around 11 and we didn't leave until 5.  It was heaven!

They had a little reserved table for us for lunch-- how cute is that?

After the spa, we headed back to the house for dinner and fun.  

As usual, I took wayyyyy too many pictures! I am only sharing a handful here, but there were quite a few to choose from.  

 We hung out by the fire and laughed...a lot.

 Here was the group! So many fun people... too bad this take was such a fail.... hahaha

This one was better....

My girl!

Some of the boys...

This last one sums up the weekend! 

So thankful for good friends! We had a wonderful time and loved every minute of relaxing at the spa.... ahhhhh


 

(ANOTHER) Snow Day

The news last week started talking about a big snow storm set to hit over night on Wednesday into Thursday morning.  Honestly, I didn't believe them.  We had already had some snow-- I thought they were off.  Turns out, I was the one "off."

We got loads of snow (for North Carolina).  School was canceled...again.  Westminster was already out for the day for a teacher workday, but I wasn't heading to work in snow like this!

Bruce wasn't sure what to think.  After the ice storm we had before, he wasn't sure how to walk in this stuff that sinks. 

Lots of trees were down and tons of my friends were without power... thankfully, we never lost it.  It was a cold day to not have power!

Eddie was heading to the airport for a surfing trip to Costa Rica, but he wanted to have some play time with the boys before he left.  

They trucked it down the street and Bruce was excited to get to go too!

Had to get a picture of the house....

Eddie left and we came in to warm up a bit, and then we headed out.  We went over to the golf course to go sledding on the 18th hole.  It was packed with kids and everyone was having a ball.  Andy wasn't going to go, but once the big kids left, he hopped on with Cal and LOVED it! I took videos of them going down the hill laughing hysterically-- makes this momma happy! They would sled down and then walk up together, talking about how fast they went-- so cute watching them together...

And then they were ready to go again!

This winter has been brutal, weather-wise.  We have missed SO MUCH school! We woke up this morning to some freezing rain and I am pretty sure you could hear all the moms in Chapel Hill scream nooooooooooooooo! I am sure we will have school tomorrow.... we better!


 

Friday Favorites

I loved all the responses from the last Friday Favorites post-- makes it fun!

Here are some more of my current favorites:

Favorite 1: Author, Liane Moriarty

The first book I read by this author was The Husband's Secret:

I was hooked on the way she told her story.  The characters are great and the plot twists are incredible! It is a light read without feeling like a fru fru story, if that makes sense.  A perfect beach read!!!

I have also read these other books by her:

 Loved, loved, LOVED What Alice Forgot, and would highly recommend it!!! Just finished The Hypnotist's Love Story, and while it wasn't my most favorite of her books, it was still really good. 

And, one of my faves of her is Big Little Lies-- this post makes me sound like I am obsessed with this author...and I guess maybe I am! I just love the way she tells a story!

We are going on a spring break trip soon and I am planning on downloading several of her books for the trip.
If you are looking for a new author or a new book to read, I highly recommend these books!

Favorite 2: KidsPop!

I make no secret of how much I love popup workout.  I love doing the workouts, I love how I feel after I workout, and I love the positive encouragement from all of the people in the class.   I honestly feel like a better version of myself when I leave a popup workout.  A while ago, the idea was born to do a kidspop class, basically a popup workout class, but for kids! I wanted it to be positive-- ending classed with high fives all around--, and fun!

The first class, I wasn't sure how it would go-- there was just no telling if people would go for it... but we ended up with 31 kids!

I had soooo much fun teaching the class.  Like, a stupid amount of fun.  The kids had high energy and they were all just so happy to be there... it totally made my morning!

We tried it again a little while later and had a similar turn out...

and I left again feeling thrilled with the whole thing.  I just loved it!

We had soooo many snow days last week and the kids were beyond antsy to get out.  So we had a regular popup class and a kids popup at the same time:

I have fallen in love with this little class-- well, this class wasn't little.  36 kidspoppers came out and we got it done out on the patio!

Because this class makes me so happy, it has become one of my FAVORITES!

Favorite 3: Pout Pout Fish books

 Have y'all head about these books?? The boys got some for Christmas and we are all obsessed with them here! They are THE cutest books and the boys request them every night. 

You can find them all on amazon-- in case you are looking for a new book series for your little person!

 Bruce enjoys hearing the books too!

Favorite 4: Zella Pants

OMG, I am ob-sessed with these workout pants.

 I have tried many, many kids of workout pants, because, let's be honest, I basically live in the suckers.  While I like athleta pants, I don't feel like they hold me up through an entire workout.....these zella pants zip me in and hold me in the entire day.  I looooove these pants.  Plus, you can't beat the price point.  I usually buy these when Nordstrom does their annual sale.  They have some really cute prints too. 

Favorite 5: BLOGS!

I love reading people's blogs and I have several I check daily.  Wanted to share some in case you were interested in reading some new blogs that you might not already be reading:

http://shullfamily.blogspot.com/
http://www.momfessionals.com/
http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/
http://designerbagsanddirtydiapers.blogspot.com/
http://astringofpurlsnc.blogspot.com/
http://pinteresttoldmeto.blogspot.com/
http://heathcottpartyof6.blogspot.com/
http://reaganmae.blogspot.com/

Reading blogs has become a FAVORITE pass time of mine!

Here are the Friday Favorites for the week!!!


 

ANOTHER snow day

Andy (STILL) doesn't sleep through the night...and when he woke up Monday night, he said "mommy, there is snow!" and I didn't believe him.  I think my exact words were "if you wake up the dog, you are going to be in trouble." #momoftheyear

Well, sure enough, we woke up and there was a LOT of snow (for NC), and it was still coming down- hard! I am not sure I have seen it snow so continuously for a whole day.  I kept thinking it would stop, but it didn't. 

After watching the news for delays and then closings, we spent the day at home! We have had soooo many days off this month! It is crazy! I was supposed to teach today and didn't, obviously. 

 So here is a look at our snow day!

The boys had quite a bit of iPad time...Hank had quite a bit of snuggle time.

Bruce played a killer game of hide and seek....

And then we finally started the process of getting outside.  I swear, the whole getting dressed process takes forever and wears me out every time! It is exhausting! haha

Literally the second the garage door went up, Andy dove on the ground to make a snow angel (and then he cried because snow got down his coat....)

Cal is not the least bit bothered by the cold.  I think he could have stayed out there all day.  

We went in the back yard and Andy wanted to eat some snow:

Bruce found a stick and was so happy! The dogs had THE best time out there running and playing.  They spent the rest of the day worn out napping.  They ran and ran and ran.  Loved seeing them having so much fun.  

Once Andy reached his too cold level (because, let's be honest, Cal could have stayed out forever and the dogs were super happy and I wasn't even cold yet), we all had to come in.  We shed all of our layers in the garage and came in and warmed up.

Cal missed school last week because of the ice so his teacher sent home some "homework" for the class to do.  He got to work on that while I prepared lunch.  

I also made a cookie cake... I shouldn't have.....but I did.  Why do I do this to myself?!?!?

Andy facetimed with his buddy Lee and asked him all about sledding in the snow. 

And Bruce decided he couldn't hold his head up for another minute.  He crashed right next to me. 

Hank was asleep on the floor so I joined him and then Bruce came and made his way right in the middle of us.  Eddie got this picture-- how sweet are they???

Once Eddie got home, Cal asked if he wanted to build a snowman (cue Frozen, please) and Eddie agreed... they made the cutest little guy:

Cal named him Ninja Kick, because, what else would you name a snowman?

 Funny random story about the snowman... Cal's teachers gave them a book for Christmas all about a snowman who comes to life at night and has a little party decorating the center of town with Christmas lights, etc... At bed time tonight, Cal said "I am going to wake up in the night and check out the window to see if Ninja Kick is awake and moving and having a party! It was just so sweet and innocent. Love that kid's mind.

While the boys were building a snowman, I made myself a little beverage and sent this picture to some girls on a group text-- we were all "toasting" each other.  I love my friends.  Have I mentioned that???? LOVE.  

After showers, the boys really wanted to just have some relax time on my bed.  I was fine with that-- they needed to start calming down.  Bruce jumped up there and both boys were laying all over him, completely smothering him.  Andy goes "you should take a picture, mom!" And Cal follows up by saying, "oh yeah, this could be the most perfect picture!" Think they know me well??? ha!

 We survived another snow day-- and I honestly had ZERO idea this was coming.  Not even a little idea.  I thought maybe there would be something on Thursday...? uhhhh.....
Mother Nature best get her act together!