Mother's Day Gifts

Need some gift ideas for moms? No clue what to ask for for yourself? This is a random list--all things I would love to have myself (or I already do have and I love love love!)
Here are some ideas for ya...

This necklace:

This Book:

(especially for moms with daughters...!)

These pajamas:

This lotion:

 These shoes:

These glasses:

This candle:

These shades:

This Bag:

This robe:

What's on your Mother's Day list this year?? Do you get gifts?



 

Life Lately

Way behind over here! Here's a look at life lately up in here:


I finally posted the weekend update late yesterday, so if you missed this kid biking, running and swimming you can read about it here!

 This dog loves his crate.  I mean LOVES it.  We find him in there often during the day-- like he just sends himself there to have some quiet.  And I don't blame him. I would like to send myself to time out many times throughout the day.  We have tried to have him sleep out of his crate, but he can't get comfortable- he is always looking for his crate to curl up.  He is the best sleeper in this house... I might look into getting a crate for Andy....

Andy sleeps hard....on our floor.  Still.  I had a conversation with a friend today about how long this has been going on.  Ummmm, forever? Then we discussed ways to break this habit.  It is going to require a whooole lot of no sleep.  I don't know what to do.  Any of y'all have any advice? Send along, please!

Last week, after soccer, Cal decided he really wanted Jersey Mikes for dinner.  We had to send Ms. Rebekah this picture.  We love that crew and we looooove some Jersey Mikes! That dinner did not disappoint!

 I have said it time and time again: Andy is hard.  He has fits that last for hours. He whines. He is stubborn. He is dramatic.  He can be mean as a snake.

But then, every once in a while, he will be the sweetest, most kind human being you have ever met in your life.  This is usually after a really good trip to the bathroom (sigh), and he's a new kid.  He was that sweet guy on his way to tennis last week.  He got out of the car and waved at me as he walked to the courts.  This picture made me tear up-- I know, cheese fest (and I wonder where he gets his dramatic flair from...?), but his smile is so sweet, and he really doesn't mean to be difficult.  If he had his way, he would have great trips to the bathroom every single day-! And he would love to have his bad days be few and far between.  I see this picture and I see the sweetest boy in the world- those eyes, that little tongue just almost sticking out... and I melt.  ahhhh, parenthood: the best roller coaster of your life. 

This week is teacher appreciation week (as I am sure it is at your schools too!).  On Monday morning, we met at the main entrance of school to cheer on the teachers.  They work so hard and they give SO  much.  It was an honor to be there early to thank them as they walked into school.  We cheered and wished them a happy Monday:

Cal has been begging for crazy hair lately.  I have no idea why.  A boy on his soccer team came to practice with his hair spray painted some crazy color, so he's been wanting that lately.  He talked Eddie into giving him a mohawk Monday night.  He woke up Tuesday morning and it was still somewhat in place.  

 I went to work Tuesday morning under the assumption that it would be washed out/brushed down.  Eddie texted me later that he sent Cal to school with a mohawk.  Good stuff. 

The boys are loving the fun of a playdate lately.  They ask for them constantly.  Andy loves them to kill the time from when he gets out of preschool until Cal gets out of school.  Cal rarely gets them because he doesn't have a whole lot of time before we have to get to afternoon activities. 
On Monday, we were picking up Cal from school and he asked if Jackson could come over and play.  We didn't have anything until soccer (and it was supposed to rain) at 5.  Rebekah, being the saint she is, asked if Andy wanted to go over to her house.  So we did a kid swap and it was magnificent.  The boys played outside: basketball, flag football, tag, baseball and who knows what else.  They came in and played even more.  I could have had that play date go on for a lot longer.  It was fab-u-lous!

Andy, no longer the shy kid he once was, walked up to a friend of mine at pick up last week and said "excuse me, can I please come over for a play date some time soon?" Sarah about died and couldn't believe it.  I couldn't believe it either, when she told me about it.  So she immediately scheduled a play date! We had that on Tuesday after school and Andy was SO excited!

She sent me this picture:

She said she was terrified that Andy would end up with stitches again- ha! I picked him up at 3:15 and then we went to get Cal.  It was a great afternoon for Andy and he would love for me to arrange a play date every day for him.  Anyone want to come on over???

A whooooole lot of randomness for you this week, but it's a look at life lately!



 

Weekend Update: TRIATHLON!

Happy Monday! (HA! I planned on this going live Monday morning...but life got in the way and I have been SO SO tired! So, I am just now getting around to finishing it....so, Happy Whatever Day it is!)
 We had very little plans this weekend and it was pretty fantastic! We did have soccer games on Saturday and a carnival at Cal's school Friday night, but other than that and the triathlon for Cal on Sunday morning, we had few other plans.

Friday evening, we headed to the school carnival- this was a much anticipated and MUCH talked about event! If only they served alcohol there....

One event was the silly string war--- Cal was ready to go:

And so was Andy...

They got in the pit and went to town. 

There were bounce houses and all kinds of activities for the kids to do.  Cal had a blast with all his school buddies-

Saturday morning came along and I scooted out for a quick popup workout.  I spied these two as I ran out. 

I left the class at 9:45 to make it to Andy's 10:00 game.  Sweet Tricia came to watch him play.  I remember watching Cal play last year and realizing that it was starting to "click" for him (I have written about this before), and Saturday's game is when I really saw it starting to click for Andy.  He was dribbling really well and shooting (often....).  We need to work on him passing and not taking the ball from his own team.....but he is really loving soccer right now and I love that he loves it!

Cal had a game after that and it was starting to rain and was pretty chilly so I didn't take any pictures there.  After picking up the triathlon race packet, we headed out on some errands.  We stopped at a cheese steak place for lunch... it was delish.  Not on the diet, but really good.  I got to sit across from this cutie:

and next to this mess:

The boys were in desperate need of new cleats.  They both could barely fit their feet in their current ones.  So we went cleat shopping-- they like the loudest, brightest shoes in the place.  Eddie begged them to get solid black ones-- not happening, Ed.  They are like their momma: the louder the better!

Te rest of Saturday was spent pretty lazy.  I did a bunch of chores around the house and knocked some things off of my to do list. 

Sunday morning, we were up bright and early! I was in the bathroom getting ready and Cal came in wearing his socks only-- carrying his bathing suit.  Once he got his suit on, I had to take a picture. He was ready!

Ready to run! ....and bike....and swim....

We got there and Cal was a little more than a little nervous... it was a BIG event and there were people everywhere.  They had the transition area where you dropped off your bike and all your belongings, but parents were banned from this area.  So we got Cal set up and then had to scoot out. 

I grabbed a quick pic before a volunteer asked me to exit- hahhaa.  Doesn't he look terrified?? He was. 

They had a whole "fun zone" set up with bounce houses and other fun stuff-- this kid was loving it!

Once Cal calmed down a bit, he had a great time... this picture makes me laugh...

Almost time to go! The long course racers went first, then the short course, then Cal did the mini course. 

The mini racers all lined up!

And he's off! He started off swimming one lap (the water was freeeeezing.....),

Then he hustled up to the transition area where a sweet volunteer (who happened to be the mom of two of his friends!) helped him get his shirt on and all his stuff for the next leg:

the bike!

They had to walk their bikes down the hill and then start at the bottom...

at the bottom of the hill, the volunteer checks helmets before letting them go-- Cal's was apparently loose.  She spent forever tightening it up! Guess we should have done a better job of checking this before we went! I swear he was here for 5 minutes (it was really probably only 1 or 2 minutes...) fixing this. 

He biked for a mile-- here he is on the way back. 

At the end of his bike!

He hopped off at the same spot where he got on and ran the bike back up the hill back into the transition area, where he dropped his bike off and started his run!

He ran half a mile and finished strong- coming across the finish line!

By this point, I was screaming like crazy (anyone surprised??).  I was just beyond incredibly proud of this kid.

Sweet Sally got some pictures for me-- I was on the other side of this red finish line (next to the blonde), and I am so glad she did!

love love love this picture!!

He did it!!!! This event was just incredible and we will 100% participate next time it is in town.  It was well-run and just so much fun! Cal was scared at first because, I think, he didn't know what to expect. But after it was all done, he was proud of himself and his accomplishment. 

Brad participated too-- the boys did amazing and their moms were CRAZY proud of them!

 My little triathlete!

 After the race, Andy was busy getting his hand painted-- a tarheel, of course. 

We headed home and I made a trip to the grocery store... we seemed to be out of everything.  When I pulled back in, it was downpouring and these fools were having a big game of something in the garage-- it involved wearing their cleats and kicking a ball as hard as they could.  But they were really happy.  So, whatever.  

Notice Cal still in his bathing suit.  It didn't come off all day.  And the shirt remained off the whole day too.  After they played a full game of whatever they were playing in the garage, they came in and wanted to do a lego set together while it was raining out.  We got to work together and made one half of the creation and then the rain stopped and they were outside in a flash. 

 We had a birthday party to go to on Sunday and the weather Gods cooperated since it was at a park! They had a water balloon fight and they had so much fun. 

 When we got home, we ate dinner and then it was shower time... this one insisted on wearing a necklace in the shower-- in case there was a party.... as if we haven't had enough fun in that tub this week......

 Sunday night, I sat down to plan my class for Monday morning and to create a new playlist.  I was supposed to have a book club three way call with my two girlfriends, but by this point, I was fried.  I had zero energy left and absolutely no brainpower.  I had to cancel on them and I am grateful for true friends who GET it!

I didn't know why I was so tired Sunday night, but after completing this post, I kinda understand why... we were busy!!!

The fact that I am not publishing this post until Tuesday evening tells you something... I'll be better, I promise!