Welcome to the final link-up for Week in My Life 2013! The linky is below- just link to your post! 

Can you believe it’s the last day? Whoa- what a week! I have some parting words at the end so keep on reading!

Today started off nicely. I actually got eight hours of glorious sleep. The kids woke up a little before eight and our plan today was to go to Sunday School at 9:50 then church at 11 am.

The kids sprawled out blankets, stuffed animals and pillows onto the couch. Noah opened my computer to watch a Rainbow Loom video. When he went to the bathroom, Ethan got the loom and I asked what he was doing. He said, “I’m making a lightning bracelet for Noah.” He just made that up. LOL.

Unfortunately, we realized that our dog Trajan didn’t have enough insulin to get through the morning (thought we had one more dose). He developed diabetes about 3 years ago and went blind after that. Since the pharmacy didn’t open until nine, we couldn’t make it to Sunday School. Daddy Roo went to get the medicine and I stayed home and made Pumpkin muffins (from a Trader Joe’s mix).

We did make it to the service at least. For some reason I didn’t think to get pictures of church! But after church we changed clothes and headed outside to work in the yard. I always say our backyard has great bones. It’s a good size and fenced in, but it needs work. The kids picked up sticks and Trajan even joined in. He can’t see but he grabbed a twig anyway and started trying to pull it out of the wheelbarrow. So funny.

After that, Ethan and I ran errands while Daniel and Noah worked on their necklaces for Y Guides. Luckily, Daniel can draw! His Y Guide name is Laughing Crow and Noah’s is Mighty Phoenix (since he was born in Arizona). Ethan and I went to Ulta, Target (again, I forgot to get pictures) then came home to drop off the groceries. I had forgotten to stop by the Y to see if Ethan’s cup was there (he left it at Noah’s basketball practice). He was quite excited that it was! We then went to Harris Teeter to get a few things that I didn’t get at Target. For dinner we had lasagna- yum!

After dinner, we got the kids to bed. Each of us takes a kid and tonight I was with Noah. He loves to do make-up stories where we take turns stringing along a story. He wanted it to be about he and his friend at the basketball court. I ran with that and said the lights mysteriously went out so the boys were alone in the dark. Then they heard a ball bouncing in the dark. I tried to make the story spooky– Noah seemed to like it and started added to it.

Then Ethan came in and photobombed. The “wrestling” picture below is after Ethan wanted to give Noah and hug and kiss. Noah chasing him, then tackles him and starts to kiss him but inevitably turns it into a zerbert (you may call it a raspberry). Ethan giggles the whole time then we (parents) get fed up with it taking so long and pry them off one another. Good times. Heh.

Final Thoughts

Wait, does that sound like something Jerry Springer would do?

Seriously though, thanks for following along and participating this week. Whether you participated but didn’t post, just did a couple of days or did every single day, I’m proud of you! You will cherish these memories so much. I learned new things about myself (namely I need to be more organized) and day after day saw proof as to how blessed I am. We have a messy, hectic, wonderful life. I looked back as to what I said last year on this day and found something that made me think, “yeah! that’s exactly it!”

Here’s what I said: “Each day becomes not a day, but a memory. I do this to give those memories color. So I can see them as they were, not just remember them as I think they were.”

Isn’t that the truth?

Welcome to today’s link-up for Week in My Life 2013! The linky is below- just link to your post! 

Whew! Just one more post for this year’s Week In My Life. Today I’m going to ke

Kids were up earlier than they had been all week at 7:15. This sucked considering I went to bed at 1:30 (dumb move!)

We slept until 8:45 am with many interruptions. The kids wanting this and that, arguing over shows, etc. so it was broken sleep. Since we have a downstairs master they pretty much right outside our door.

We got ready then got ready for Noah’s first basketball practice. Go team Thunder! Noah did really well at practice, though he was goofing off a little with his friend. Ethan was a handful though- trying to play with Noah and rolling on the floor. He will be so excited to play next year!

Each year we head to the NC State Fair. It seems like everyone in the state converges to this place during it eleven days it’s open (I read over a million people go). I’d love to go during the week but Noah just got back into school after his break so we can really only go on the weekend. To call it packed is an understatement. I went to Disney in May and this felt more crowded. The lines weren’t as long but there isn’t as much space to weave through so you basically shuffle through the crowd.

Nevertheless, the kids had a blast and we ate some yummy food. Our favorite stop is always the Wisconsin Cheese place. This year we opted for their mozzarella sticks. The kids enjoyed riding most everything, though Ethan was too small to do some kid rides without an adult. On the rides the kids did alone, Noah was so sweet helping his little brother.

They begged and begged for candy apples and somehow we ended up with the blue ones instead of the classic red ones. 

One of our favorite things was one of the ferris wheels. Don’t ask me why but this one was decorated like an Easy Mac container and was called the Cheese Wheel. Guess advertising has found its way into everything!

The only thing that disappointed us was our dinner. We ended up at a place that had Philly Cheese Steaks for us and hot dogs for the kids but it was all pretty gross. We’ve never really had horrible food there before (I mean it’s all bad-for-you food but usually it takes good) so Daniel and I left feeling pretty unsatisfied. When we got home and got the kids in bed we had popcorn and hot cider. That helped but man I wish I had some ribbon fries!

Welcome to today’s link-up for Week in My Life 2013! The linky is below- just link to your post! 

 Today isn’t quite our typical Friday, but I got some great pictures and the day was extra fun.

On the way home he fell asleep. As I pulled in, I saw our cleaning lady was still at the house. She usually comes on Thursdays when I’m at the office so today. It’s the best money I spend all month. In fact, we don’t have cable and I don’t care if I can keep her. 🙂 I decided to drive to get gas and have the car washed. Ethan slept the whole time.

I came home and she was still there so I just came in and said hi. Ethan was on my shoulder and of course he woke up (that’s why I didn’t go in earlier). From there, he had a CRANK FEST. He laid on the landing of the stairs and asked for a snack but wouldn’t tell me what he wanted nor come with me to look in the pantry. After a while, I decided I’m plop him back in the car and drive to Starbucks so he could chill the EFF out. He of course screamed and cried the entire way there. You guys, he was demonic! He rarely gets like this but wake up abruptly from a nap and he’s insane.

Once he snapped out of it he was happy as a clam.

After we picked up Noah and they had a snack, we took Trajan our dog for a walk. He’s blind from diabetes (been blind a little over 2 years now) so taking him and two kids for a walk is no small feat. But he needed it and we had fun.

After that, I decided to meet the hubs at the gym. My goal is 4-5 times a week but lately it’s been 2 and occasionally 3. Since dinner was already cooked, the routine after the gym would be easy. I ran for about 20 minutes then we did weights. That’s me trying to look like I’m NOT taking a picture. LOL.

 After dinner, we broke out a game I got at the Type A Parent Conference from Time to Play Magazine. It’s called Headbandz and you put a card on your band and one person or everyone tries to guess it. We played the game LOOSELY but man, did the kids have fun! I love seeing them get excited about getting answers right.

Tonight, I’m curled up on the couch with a glass of wine and my trusty Mac. Only 2 days left of the challenge! Can’t wait for tomorrow- we’re going to the NC State Fair!

Welcome to the first link-up for Week in My Life 2013! The linky is below- just link to your post! 

Um, I’ll just be honest. This morning was a HOT MESS.

One thing I’ve been trying to work on is being more organized for our morning routine. Sometimes it flows pretty nicely. Other times, I just can’t swing it.

It started off because Daniel slept in since he had a doctor appointment. He got up to shower around 6:45. I SHOULD have gotten up then, but I decided to snooze and slept through the alarm radio coming back on. Next thing I know it’s 7:15. I get up, get showered and the kids wake up around 7:40.

It was at that moment I realized Noah should have had Lego Club this morning at 8 am. They do it every other week and for some reason it’s not in the calendar. He’s pretty much forgotten about it by now but I am determined to get him there next time.

The morning consisted of a lot of the usual. Noah watched Rainbow Loom videos (and he declared, “Why do they always say ‘across like so’? I hate that!”). We pack lunches the night before but that’s E’s lunch. Noah buys twice a week so today is one of those days. The kids noshed on dry cereal for breakfast. That’s the only food I allow in the living room. Our dog Trajan stalks the kids and usually Ethan will get up and give Trajan the golden opportunity to eat his cereal. Surprisingly, that didn’t happen this morning.

On the days that I drive the 22 miles to the office, I always heat up my coffee and transfer it to a to-go cup. That one’s from the Disney Social Media Mom Celebration from earlier this year. The coffee will be important in a minute. Just hang with me.

Since it was so cold this morning, I got the kids’ hats out. They were super excited. I explained to Ethan his was the abominable snowman. He wore it to brush his teeth, then said, “He’s a funny bundle snowman!” Oh my cuteness.

Getting out of the house this morning was excruciating. We didn’t lay out clothes again so I scrambled to find them warmer clothes (to my credit, I JUST got warm clothes from the attic last weekend). Then I had to pack my lunch and pack my computer up to take to work. Then it was harping on the kids to get dressed. Ethan refused to brush teeth earlier so we got that done RIGHT before we left.

I usually take my purse, computer bag, lunch and Ethan’s bag to the car first before getting the kids. Then I grab my coffee cup and Noah grabs his bag and we head to the garage to get into the car. I sometimes put my coffee cup on a little ledge in the garage while I buckle Ethan in. That’s what I did today and what turned this morning from a hectic morning to a hot mess.

We get down out of our neighborhood and I realize I didn’t have my coffee. No way I’m driving 22 miles without coffee! So, we drop Noah off and I decide to swing back to the house to grab the coffee cup. Ethan was in the backseat playing a game on my phone.

As I was turning to the main road (his preschool is about a mile away), Daniel calls to tell me how his physical went. We talk for a few minutes then I hang up using the phone controls on my steering wheel (Ethan still has my phone).

I think to myself, “I guess I won’t listen to a podcast today since Ethan has my phone — ack, Ethan is still in the car!”

While I was talking with Daniel, I habitually turned onto the highway instead of dropping Ethan off! We luckily only got to the next exit 3 miles away before I realized this and turned around.

Oy vey.

I ended up 15 minutes past my usual, which isn’t terrible considering my stress levels by that time. At the very least, I captured a funny, but short conversation in the car between my kids.

*someone finds Willy Wonka wrapper*

Noah: I don’t like it. I don’t like Willy Wonka [he’s seen the original movie.]

Ethan: But Noah it has the golden ticket!

Priceless!

Okay, I’ll keep the rest of this short!

My boss asked me to go to lunch with her and a co-worker so how could I refuse? I rarely eat lunch out- maybe once every two months. So, it was nice to sit and chat away from the office. The picture below is my boring desk. There’s a smattering of Burt’s Bees products laying on it and a picture of our family. I only sit there 10 hours a week, but dang it needs some oomph. I plan to print out a couple of picture this weekend to liven it up!

After picking up Noah, we ran to the store to get a few things. We don’t shop at HT unless it’s quick stuff just because it’s pricey, but it’s the closest store to our house. Noah got his customary cookie and on the way out showed me how he could carry a bag with one finger. Impressive!Ethan got dropped off at 4:30, then we had dinner before heading to the gym (well, I ate after the gym). I also convinced the kids to help clean the playroom up. Ethan “Tasmanian deviled” the place yesterday so we had to pick up because… the cleaning lady is coming tomorrow (oh glorious day!) More about that tomorrow.

Welcome to today’s link-up for Week in My Life 2013! The linky is below- just link to your post! 

Well, well, well. It’s day 3 of WIML and I’m beat! But I’m chugging along and already loving the notes I’ve taken and little moments I’ve captured!

This morning I was PLANNING to get up early and work on my new course, but I just couldn’t do it after three nights of going to bed past midnight. The kids slept until 7:45 this morning though so I was able to proof my Momcomm post at least before they got up.

Morning and work was the usual (though slightly busier). When Ethan and I get home a little past 1 pm, sometimes he refuses to go inside and wants to play outside right away. I usually oblige at least for a few minutes, especially if it’s nice out. Today he wanted to get out the beach shovels and shovel the area around the tree (that USED to have mulch around it). What were we digging for? Gold doubloons he told me.

The afternoon was pretty uneventful so around 3:30 we headed out the door to get Noah from school. I have a carpool tag for each kid’s school and have to make sure I switch them out. Otherwise, I might pick up someone else’s kid. LOL. The carpool line was extra long today.

Ethan fell asleep (which would prove torturous later). Noah got in the car and was SO excited because he got a “blue” on their behavior scale. On the way to Ethan’s game, Noah was a total chatterbox telling me about school. I let him talk away since when *I* do the asking, he usually responds “I don’t remember what we did today.”

Soccer for three year olds involves itty bitty shin guards and cleats and a whole lot of chaos. Sometimes people say “your THREE year old plays.” I explain that it’s all for fun and he gets so tired that he’s out like a light at bedtime. They usually nod their head, suddenly getting visions of their three year old falling asleep like that. HA.

Today, the crankiness continued to the field.  They practice 20 min then play 20 min — he spent the first ten or so minutes crying and pouting. It was a little chilly so he was cold, then when I got him a jacket, he STILL just sat in the grass and whined. I finally left him along and watched his eyes lift up to watch his team practice. He WANTED to be there; he was just being stubborn. I walked back up to him and asked if he wanted to just up and down to get warm. We did that and then we went over to his team. After that, he was back to his normal, soccer-loving self.

He got to play two friends from preschool, which was cute. Afterwards they got trophies, which he was so proud of! I promised them snow-cones this time (actually I tried to bribe Ethan at one point to get back on the field-ha). They were giddy! Daniel took Ethan home and I took Noah home since we were in separate cars, but Ethan dropped his snow-cone is Daniel’s floorboard right as they turned down our street.

Of course, he was crying since he didn’t get to finish it. I asked Noah to share a bite with him and he let him have a few. Sweetness. (Although short-lived since five minutes later, Noah threw a toy of Ethan’s and made him cry. Go figure).
Finally, Noah found a cool tutorial online to make a minion from the Rainbow Loom! I had to help with the eye, but isn’t it cute? And as I took a Box Top off a can of soup tonight, I decided it was about time to turn them in. We buy a lot of brands that don’t do Box Tops so it takes a while to accumulate sometimes. But Noah has 32 to turn in which isn’t too shabby!