A few new blogs

I've added a few new sites to my favorite blogs list. Go check them out! Tara is my BFF...I've written about her a few times :) (I'd link to those posts, but I just can't figure out how to do that!). Tasha is an old friend. I haven't seen her in years, but she is a former news anchor and a fabulous writer! She is now a SAHM to two adorable little boys, Latham and Reichen (aren't those great names?!). So, what are you still reading this for? Go! Happy reading!!

I'm working on it...

Before school even started, I made sure I would have time for lesson planning and time for my first job...mom. Unfortunately, for a first time teacher there are A LOT of things I wasn't planning on. Last week, I started coaching basketball too. Thankfully, I'm at a small school, so I only practice twice a week for an hour and a half. My mom has to pick up the boys. When I left practice at a little after 5 last Monday, I headed straight to her house to see them. This was the scene: First, they cried because they weren't ready to leave Nana's. Then, Tanner tells me he likes it when Nana picks him up because then they're not the last ones at daycare. Are you kidding me? I feel like the worst mother ever! Yes, I've noticed they get to daycare before other kids, and there aren't many there when I pick them up, but I have to be to work earlier than most other parents. I mean really, who works just 8 to 5 anymore? Every parent at my boys' daycare apparently!!! All I can say is I'm working on it because it breaks my heart to hear my child notice that he's the first one dropped off and the last one picked up :(

Cruisin' Cousins

One year ago my best friend, Tara, gave birth to her second beautiful daughter. Olivia was born with Down Syndrome and in honor of her, I will be walking in the first annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk. Will you join me? Please click on the title of this post "Cruisin' Cousins" and sign up! If you can't make it to the walk, would you please consider making a small donation. Tara and her husband, Eric, are amazing parents to two amazing little girls. I know they would feel truly blessed by your support. Thank you!

It's been awhile...

We've been busy these past few months. I finished both my classes (I've since started two more!). We went on vacation (sort of), relaxed at the pool, and started and stopped potty training (it wasn't very successful). Now, Barry and I are back at work, and the boys are back at daycare. Tanner is anxious to start pre-K, Jackson shows no desire to potty train (which is frustrating, but I know he won't go to kindergarten in diapers), Barry's keeping busy with athletic director duties on top of coaching, and I am overwhelmed with lesson planning. In fact, I need to work on those now and spend some much needed quality time with my boys :)

P.S. Jackson is no longer tanning ;), and he is sleeping until 6:30! PTL!

One minute I'm putting him in time out, the next I'm on the floor laughing

Jackson has this crazy idea that he needs to get up at 5:30. 5:30 A.M.! Are you getting what I'm saying? This. Is. Insanity. Especially, when I have been up since 1 A.M. working on homework. You may be thinking, instead of blogging, I should take this time to do school work so that maybe, just maybe I won't be up until 1 in the morning! Well, my friends, if I did that you wouldn't be able to read about my ornery, independent, fun loving little boy's antics.

Wednesday, I was holding Jackson and I noticed he had a little dirt on him. I thought it had been a few days since he last had a bath, but I didn't really worry about.
Thursday comes, the boy still hasn't had a bath. I am a busy mother, taking classes...don't judge me:) Anyway, I walked into my room where Jackson is because I heard him rummaging around. This is never a good thing. This time was no exception. I really should have had my camera to document it. He was putting lotion all over his face, legs, knees, arms...you get the picture. Only this wasn't just any lotion. It was my self-tanning lotion!!! That is why he looked so dirty! We headed straight for the bathtub.

Friday morning, Barry's phone starts ringing a little after six. He's getting ready for work, and I'm still trying to sleep before Jackson wakes up. I yell at him, "WHO IS CALLING YOU THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING?!!" He looks at me, slightly confused and says, "you are." We just start laughing! We know who the culprit is...sure enough, he was sitting on the couch in the living room holding my phone in his hand. Hilarious!

Happy Father's Day to my husband

Happy Father's Day! 4 1/2 years ago, we became parents for the first time. You were a natural from the start! You and our boys have such a special bond! A bond that has grown because of your loving and nurturing ways. Today, you are spending the day (your day) with them at the movies because I have a ton of homework to finish (yet, I still have found time to play on Facebook and type up a blogpost!). For the past few weeks, make that past 4 1/2 years, you have gone above and beyond the call of parenting. You work incredibly hard at several jobs to provide for us. You are the most wonderful husband, and you are an incredibly, amazing father! I am so thankful God made you the father of our children.
I will love you forever!

Each Day is a Gift

Today is my birthday. My 31st Birthday. I can not believe it! I really have not been looking forward to it. 31. It seems old. It means I am officially in my 30's. You may argue I've been in my 30's since I turned 30 a year ago, but no, now it is official. I. AM. IN. MY. 30'S. I'm telling you...hard time with this fact. That is until I past the church sign that states "Each day is a gift." Yes, yes it is. My best friend's daughter will undergo open heart surgery in just 2 short weeks (check out her blog at teestoll.blogspot.com and you can find out about 9 mo. old Olivia) and another close friend's father found out he had skin cancer and it could even be bone cancer, her mom is in remission since being diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago. Please pray for these families today. We don't know what God has planned for us, but we do know He is with us. As you go about your day today, remember each day is a gift and know I'm thinking about the 3 of you who read this blog. I'm missing my bloggy friend from Florida, I'm thinking about another bloggy friend moving to Tulsa, and I'm envious of the bloggy friend who is going on a vacation to Florida! Have a blessed day!!! I know, I will!