Easter 2014

Here are some pics from the most laid back Easter ever! We went to church came home and did our own easter egg hunt. I am going to have to do a better job of finding hiding places next year. They are too good! I wish they would have the same finding powers when they are looking for their shoes in the morning:)

This is what I call rubbing it in

What a magical picture this would have been if not for the old grill in the foreground. I've got to give that thing the boot.

You can never have too many family pictures that look half way normal :) You just never know when the chance will come again.

Going Back to Work: 4 Things I Will Miss and 4 Positives

About a week ago I accepted a position at a company. In other words after a long wait (SIX months!) I GOT A JOB!!! I was so happy. But this week especially I have started to look back on these last 6 months and realize what a blessing they were. I was there for all of the breaks, thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring break. I was basically there for all of Kate's first year at school. This was such an awesome experience to be able to go to all of her parties, school assemblies and especially to have lunch with her every Friday. So here's a list of what I will miss and the positives of going back to work:
1. Having no schedule. I know that some Moms keep their schedule jam packed but in our cirsumstance we didn't. Our typical day went something like this:
Wake up Kate and Carson
Get Kate off to school
Relax with Carso at home
MAYBE go somewhere, but most times we just stayed home
Exercise/Running
Mondays were library days after we picked Kate up from school
Come home after school pick up and just enjoy being with each other
Go to bed
Easy Breezy. I could live that life forever

2. School pick up. Because of the short distance of my work to home(amazing blessing) I still get to drop Kate and Carso  off at school but the pick up for Kate will be done by our daycare bus. Picking up Kate at school is one of the, if not the best parts of my day. I love the seconds before she sees me and Zachary (our SUV. Yes we named our car.) She is looking for me and then that second she spots me  is just priceless. I really think that it's only something that I can enjoy. Oh how I will miss it.

3. Going places with just Carso. Carso and I have so many great days just us together. He is a hilarious and compassionate kid. Although I already knew that , I just really got to enjoy it more over the past 6 months. I knew I was already in love with my kids but these past 6 months have just embedded that feeling deeply in my heart.

4. More Sleep! I can fairly say this now because I have been a stay at home Mom, worked from home and worked away from home. You just get more sleep when you stay at home. It's just a fact. Next week I am going to alter my schedule in the morning so I can get in my work outs so as not to take away precious time at night. So for 3 days out of the week I will be getting up around 5ish so that I can get us all started off on the right foot.

And now for some Positives:

1. Carso will be going to Kindergarten in August (don't get me started on that one.) He needs some structured environment to be in before he hits the big K so going back to his school is definitely a positive for him. In truth he has been asking me when he will go back. We went back to his school last Monday to secure his spot and when we went to his class room all of the kids rushed him shouting "Carson!" He was remembered and he felt all special,  pulling the Barney Fife shy guy routine. It was hilarious but comforting for us both I think.

2. Kate gets to ride a BUS! Now I expect this little joy to wear off pretty quickly but for now she is SO excited! Ever since I was laid off I told her that when I get a job she will be riding the daycare bus after school. Maybe she thinks it's cool? Or maybe she just likes the difference of it but she is psyched!

3. My house and life will be more organized. It's a truth with me. When I work (especially away from home) my house is cleaner and my life has a structured schedule for the simple reason that it HAS to. I cannot rely on the fact that I will have time to do things tomorrow (as I tell myself when I stay home) because there are no guarantees. So I do the things that need to get done (laundry, dishes, cleaning) when I have the time.

4. The JOB! The job that I chose is very new to me and will be very challenging. A challenge that in my newbie perspective I am very much looking forward to. I know that a couple weeks in  I will be saying "Why did I do this?!!?!" because that's just my nature but I will also enjoy all of the other things that go along with a full time job. Like a steady pay check, excellent health insurance, and that indescribable  feeling of productivity.

This and That

I'm trying to make a bargain with God to slow this time down. I do NOT want this girl to grow up anymore. So far she just keeps growing.

Where do they see these big girl poses? I've never posed this way. Must be inherently girl. :)

Carso brought this to me the other day telling me that he drew a picture of me. I've always wanted curly hair. :) At least he drew me smiling.

I have a secret. I became a Vegan/started to eat Vegan about 5 weeks ago. It was an adjustment to say the least. Vegan means that you do not eat meat (not a huge deal), eggs (really not a big deal) or milk products (No CHEESE???? Now that's a big deal. But I have survived the initial stages and feel so good. SO good. Yes I have lost weight (about 10 lbs) but here's what it really did for me: it steered me away from my horrible sugar addiction and processed foods. I'm not going to get on a high horse about it because I know that it's not for everyone but I really enjoy the way I feel and how much it helps my running/exercising. So this is a typical meal for me now Spinach, corn, black beans,sun dried tomatos, red bell peppers, raisins, and hummus.

We have found the magic of window markers. After a big lecture on only writing on the windows and not the wood around it Kate and Carson had a field day.

More Soccer!

We have lived in our house for 7 years and have seen some pretty fierce storm, but this baby storm blew in the other night and blew our fence down.

Fierce goalie stance

The face off

Scooooooooooore!!!

I have no idea WHY I invested in a good set of patio furniture last year but I am SO glad I did. It survived the icy winter like a champ and is ready to go for the spring/summer.

Do you see that little guy hanging on the door. I stepped out the front door to get something and turned around and saw this guy and I almost jumped out of skin. He looks so REAL! And he was just looking at me. I decided to test it out on Kate and she had the same reaction...and SHE was the one that put him there!

There are more electronics going on at our house than I would like so when I see the kids actually using their imaginations and playing with their billion toys I praise them all day long. I caught Kate with this set up the other day..3D glasses and all:)

Because I Don't Want To Forget

I said I would never do it but I am in fact doing it. I always told myself that I would never use facebook to record memories with out transferring them to my blog but I have been doing just that. So here is a make up:)

1. I had the following convo with Carso today. He is always talking about when he grows up to be a Daddy:)
Carso: Mommy will I be able to tie my shoes when I get to be a Daddy?
Me: Yes (I hope so)
Carso: And I get to marry Kate right?
Me: Well no you get to marry a great woman who will love you very much.
Carso: A great woman who loves me very much? Awesome!!!

Yep, and I'm already praying for that great woman;)

2. Yesterday I drove past Kate's school and she happened to be outside. We spotted each other right away. She started jumping up and down and waving wildly. I was waving wildly as well and honked my horn. I wonder how many years we have before that kind of scene will embarrass her? I cherish every little moment


3.I love this age. It really is about having fun and not how many goals that were scored.

 

 

4. Carson always comes up with new ways to tell me how much he loves me. Last night he said, "Mommy, the love I have for you is NEVER gonna get out of my heart!"

 

5. Today as I woke her up for her first day back to school from Spring Break  she asked me if she was going to school. And when I said Yes she said "I'm really going to miss you Mom." My girl! 

6. Kate unfiltered. Here are just a few of the things that come out of her beautiful unfiltered mind:

The other day I was exercising with a work out DVD and I was struggling so I switched to a modified exercise. Kate came in the room and said "Uh Mom you are not doing what those other girls are doing." Yes dear i know. And then later during the stretching segment she informed me that "those ladies are stretching out a LOT more than you Mom." I think I will take motivating personal trainer off of her list of possible careers.



The other day she was examining my hands and said "Mom, you have Grandma hands."

And who could forget the memorable day she patted my stomach and said, "Now what are we going to do about that big fat tummy?"

7. I looked over and Carson was pushing all these teenagers around on the play ground. I could not stop laughing!

 

 

8. The other day Kate got in the car after school pick up and Carson asked her how her day went. She was able to proudly tell him that she had a great day with all smiley faces. Carson's response? "That's my girl!"

Come On Spring....You Can Do it!

We have been coaxing spring to come our way. It seems like Spring is a little bird that we are trying to get to come closer but the weather keeps making big sudden movements and scares it away. I'm a master of analogies. :) We have had some great days here and there, but I am waiting for the continuously warm days where we never have to question what to wear. We just know its shorts and t- shirts. Bam! Done. While we're waiting for Spring/Summer to decide to make a permanent entrance here are some pictures on warm days.

The kids love our ADT sign and always use it as a prop when they are playing in the front yard.

This is a 5 year old boy look that I know all too well

There is so much to love about my Carson.

When I accepted this wagon from a friend I really didnt think we would get much use out of it but boy was I wrong.

Carso's bubble gun from the Stockyards. Seemed like a good idea at the time but it was no match for his rough and tumble play and broke soon after this pic was taken. Live and learn.

Happy girl right after school!