A Running Mom

It's official - I am training to run a 5K.

I am not sure what I was thinking when I told my husband, "sure I'll run a 5K with you!" I vividly remember that overly excited answer to his ridiculous question. Soon after making this crazy commitment, I took my giddy self to iTunes and purchased some new running music and updated the running app that has been taking up space on my phone. I was ready to begin running.

On July 11 I laced up my running shoes, hit the pavement and began my running journey. I started out with walk/run intervals. During these intervals I had many thoughts of quitting because lets face it, "Crissy, you are not a runner." But the stubborn girl that resides inside of me said "Suck it up." I did just that and kept on running.

It is now day 16 of my running journey. I have since given up the running app. It turns out I can run without needing to walk. I have ran a mile, two miles, and just days ago I ran 3.11 miles for the first time. I have done it twice since. Go me.

I am so enjoying preparing for this event. I have a drive within me that is pushing me to try and do better with each run. I have a goal in mind: finish in 30 minutes or less. I am determined to meet that goal.

5 weeks and counting until the official 5K run. Stay tuned.

Breakfast With My Boys

I had to hurry and make note of this happy little occurrence. Read on...

Over a year ago I blogged about being alone at the breakfast table and enjoying it. Need a refresher, read here. This morning the complete opposite of last years post happened...I was actually able to have breakfast with J & C.

A lot has changed, and a lot has not, since last years post. The boys are older, one has an appetite that has outgrown him, and the other, well, C still eats no more than cereal, toast or pancakes for breakfast. This morning I had one request for scrambled eggs (oh yes, this has changed since last year, J now eats eggs but only scrambled) and one for pancakes. I went with the scrambled eggs. C opted for toast. Anyway, after the eggs were scrambled and sausage was done, I got everyone's plates and drinks on the table, prayers were said, it was time to eat. It wasn't until mid conversation about some wild man television show that I realized we were having breakfast together. My heart melted just a bit. I thanked God for this time with my boys and told myself I would do this again.

There are still mornings where the boys eat and are gone from the table before I can sit. I still enjoy those mornings where I am alone at the breakfast table but I much prefer the moments of sitting with them and talking about whatever. Looking across the table at their messy little faces and their almost still sleepy eyes is something I don't want to forget.

There Was A Challenge??

Ok so the mom challenge ended up a flop. While I did begin the challenge with good intentions, I just got too busy. Yes, too busy to stop and look at the 8x10 sheet that was posted on my refrigerator door. I'd glance at it while opening the fridge and say to myself, "Oh yeah, I need to focus on that today" but as soon as I'd walk away from fridge I'd forget. It came up on the end of May and I removed the pretty mom challenge sheet from my fridge. It ended up on my desk. Now is lost amongst the piles of unopened mail and junk on the floor surrounding my desk. Yes, I know I need to clean this area around my desk, but who has time for that?

The mom challenge was good. It reminded me to laugh with my boys, do something fun with them (no, we never did make it to Chuck E Cheese), and to have some patience. That patience thing is a toughie. I know I need to practice that without the reminder from a challenge. So now I am moving on to something else. What's that, you ask? It's nothing. I have no other challenge lined up, unless you consider every day parenting a challenge. Some days I do. My focus for the remainder of the summer is to have fun.

Let the fun begin!

Four

My littlest man is 4! He is not a baby at all anymore. In the year since turning 3 he has completely given up the pacifier (thanks to cousin Colten for telling Cole "cowboys don't take binks"), he starting going to school two days a week, and he is enrolled to start Pre-K in the fall. Nope, all traces of baby are gone. Well, except for the occasional fit but who doesn't need to throw a fit every now and then?

This year for Cole's birthday we had a little party with neighbor friends. Seven boys ages 3-11 swam and played in the sprinkler in our backyard, sang happy birthday to Cole, and enjoyed ice cream and cake. Cole had a wonderful birthday party.

The party was held this past weekend. Today is my little man's actual birthday. Last night we was so excited he couldn't go to sleep. The trouble going to sleep thing happens most nights but tonight I let it slide a little longer than any other night. He asked me if he was going to look different when we woke up as a 4 year old. He thought he'd wake up as big as Bubba! Today he woke up ready to take on the world! He was so happy to have birthday pancakes and to have Jase and I sing happy birthday to him. It was a great morning.

At age 4, Cole: is still mommy's baby, loves his cowboy boots, loves t-ball, can ride his bike without training wheels, loves Batman, Lego's, and chips. He really loves donut holes, milk and swimming. I really could go on and on but I'll stop here. Perhaps now would be a good time to update that baby book that hasn't been touched since his first birthday. I am not proud of this. Anyway....

Happy 4th Birthday Coley-oley! We love you to infinity and beyond!

The night before his 4th birthday. He couldn't sleep. Was so excited & wanting to know if he was going to wake up different!

Birthday waffles! Whipped cream, syrup, chocolate syrup - all the sugary badness for the birthday boy and his Bubba!

He's 4!!

Brotherly Love

There is a song that comes to mind when I think of brotherly love. There is a line in that song that talks about two brothers fighting like tigers over a red bike. That song makes me cry because it reminds me of my boys. Fighting like tigers is something they are doing a lot of...over everything. So much so that I think I am going to lose my mind. Read on...

My boys are fighting/arguing constantly lately. And when I say constantly, I mean literally from sun up 'til sun down. They wake up arguing - over what to have for breakfast, what to watch on television, who's going to brush their teeth first, and they pick up the bickering right where they left off the minute we pick Jase up from school. IT IS NEVER ENDING. Exaggerating much, you ask? No, I am not.

Today was a breaking point for me. After an altercation between the boys that involved one aggravating the other and the other kicking the one in the face, I had to take a moment and have a little breakdown of my own. Yes, I did it behind a closed door, in the privacy of my bedroom. I had to cry otherwise I was going to scream and yell, and well I am doing my best to not do that. I realize boys, brothers, are going to fight. But what I don't understand is is it like this all the time?? Once I gathered myself, I talked and pleaded with them that they must get along. I think I even asked at one point if they liked one another and what would they do if they didn't have each other. Dramatic, Crissy? Yes, yes I am. But with tears in my eyes I told them to show the love they have for one another, laugh and play together, and to please (for the love of your mother!) quit fighting.

After some time away from one another, they eventually found their way back to each other and began playing. Jase even found the time to apologize to me for their fighting. That apology meant so much to me. So maybe, just maybe some of what I said did and will continue to sink into the minds of my boys.

The song I was talking about mentions how the brothers fought but how they looked out for each other, you know with brotherly love. My prayer is that my boys will be there for each other, look out for each other, and have a bond that grows as they grow. In the meantime, this whole fussing and fighting part of this brotherly love stuff is going to make me a crazy old woman, and fast!

Mom Challenge: Day 20

Today's focus: Patience.

I don't have patience. Today was hard.

Need to focus on patience everyday.

Mom Challenge: Day 19

Teach your child one thing he can do on his own today.

This morning I taught the boys to make their beds. I'll see if they use this learned skill everyday. I'm sure they will if I remind them everyday. I don't make my bed everyday so I don't see the daily reminder happening. But on a positive note, I did teach them something new today!

Mom Challenge: Day 18

Who is a mom you admire? What quality of hers can you live out today? 


Today's challenge was hard but yet it wasn't. See, I have a few different moms in my life and each have qualities that I admire so it was hard for me to narrow today's challenge down to just one mom. To list each mom I know and admire would take up a lot of space and time. Each mom I admire has touched my life and given me little tidbits of mothering that I keep with me. Strength, faith, determination, perseverance...just a few qualities from the moms in my life that I admire.

Mom Challenge: Day 17

Laugh with your child today. 


My boys make me laugh every single day. Today I laughed while they laughed at each other farting. Yes, farting. Gross I know but it's what I experience everyday, only today instead of letting it be known that I thought it was gross and stinky, I laughed with them. And then walked out of the room!

Mom Challenge: Days 1-16

I want to share with you a little from each day's challenge, so I thought I would just cram days 1-16 into a single post. Here we go.

1: Ask: "What is one thing we can do together, this month?" - When I asked the boys this question, both J & C immediately said "Go to Chuck E Cheese!" We have yet to make it. There are still 13 days left in the month.

2: Go the whole day without yelling at your children. - I say this with my head hanging and full of shame...this one was hard for me. I yell many times a day. I don't like it. Before this challenge I was already working on stopping the yelling. I am more aware of my  yelling since day 2. The yelling has yet to cease BUT I am doing it less often.

3: Hug your child three times a day. - I had no problem doing this. I hug the boys the second I see them in the mornings and hug them more than a few times when they go to bed. The one thing that stuck with me on this day is that my 6 year old boy is sometimes reluctant to give a hug or be hugged. I don't like this. Is it because he's getting older? I don't know but I am making a point to hug each child more often.

4: Kiss your child while they are sleeping. - This one was easy, and one I enjoyed.


5: Tell yourself, "He's only ___ years old. He's still a child."Then, treat him that way. - This challenge made me aware that I need to enjoy my 3 year old more. I need to quit treating him as if he is a 6 year old, although at times he does behave more like a 6 year old than a 3 year old.

6: Bake, make, or buy them their favorite food. - I made homemade chocolate chip cookies for them while they were at school. They came home to their favorite cookie, and said "Mom, you make the best chocolate chip cookies!" Melted this momma's heart!

7: Leave a sweet note for them. - I put a note in Jase's lunch box that read, "I love you. Hope you are having a great day!" After school, he did thank for me the note but then told me I needed to put an "I" in front of hope. I love how my kindergartner corrected my sweet note.

8: Calculate how many more weekends are left until your child graduates high school. - I did not do this one. I do not want to know. Knowing it will be here soon enough is enough for me, I do not need to see the number.

9: Picture yourself at your child's age. Try to remember how you felt.  - I don't (or try not to) remember much from when I was 6 years old. The best memory I have at this age is getting a baby sister for Christmas. I was happy, but then again, I wasn't. **I love you, Kaylee!** I imagine this is exactly how Jase would feel if he were to get a new little sibling now.

10: Today's mom focus: joy. - I just tried to find joy in (almost) every moment with the boys today.

11: Tell your child, "I am so glad you're my son/daughter." - Cole responded with a smile and a hug. Jase's response was a reminder I need hug him more often.

12: Pray for wisdom in mothering your child. - My everyday prayer.

13: Do not criticize your child today. - No name calling here. :)

14: Remember that being a mother is a gift. - Something I reminded myself of throughout the day while feeding animals and chasing boys around a dusty, dirty animal safari ride place.

15: Be firm when needed, but not harsh.  - Need to work on this.

16: Picture what you want your child to be like at age 25. Mother with that in mind today.  - When they are 25, I want my boys to know God, be respectful, and have been out from under mine and Jason's roof for at least 5 years!

On to tomorrow.

A Mom Challenge

I was a part of a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in NY. I loved it. I loved the moms in the group and I loved the time we spent together in fellowship. Needless to say, I miss MOPS. I miss the moms. However, thanks to Facebook, I can still somewhat be a part of the group. The awesome leader posted this 30 Day Mom Challenge and it could not have come to me at a better time.

30 Day Mom Challenge is indeed a challenge. A challenge to help me be a better mom and to help me be better to myself. I started it April 1...and so far so good. I am going to try and blog about each day's challenge and how I did (or didn't do) with it. So bear with me as I play catch up. Hope you enjoy reading about how I overcome each challenge.

Take a look the 30 Day Mom Challenge and start a challenge of your own!

First Day of Preschool

Today was Cole's first day of preschool! He was so very excited to go. He woke up ready to eat breakfast, brush his teeth and get dressed...I couldn't keep up with this kid! Finally, it was time to go to school and he beat me out the door.

Ready to go! 

Ready to get inside! 

Once finally inside, he's attitude about school changed just a little. He stuck right by my side, even when the kids were welcoming him to school. At this point I wasn't sure how my leaving was going to play out. I was nervous but doing my best to not let Cole pick up on this. It wasn't until one of the teachers pulled out a fishing puzzle that Cole's little smile returned and he left my side. He sat down at the table and began "fishing"...I took a small sigh of relief. I stood around for a few minutes watching Cole and chatting with the teachers. Finally, it was time for me to go. I told Cole I was leaving. He got up from the table and gave me a hug - the biggest and best hug ever. I will never forget that hug he gave me on this day. He lets go of my neck and tells me "I'll see you later!" with the biggest smile on his face. And with that, I walked out of the room. 

This is what he was doing when I left him on his first day of preschool. 

I walked out of the building with a lump the size of Texas in my throat. I was on the verge of tears but they did not flow. Yay me, right? I got in my car, drove away and spent the day with just me, myself and I. 

The first day of school was a success! Cole was so excited to tell me about what he did at school and the friends he made. Tonight as he was going to bed, he said he couldn't wait to go to school tomorrow. Sadly, in the morning I will have to break it to him that he doesn't have school, he'll have to wait one more day. 

My littlest man loves school. I am a happy mom. 

Accomplishments

My boys make me proud on a daily basis. I am so thankful that I get to witness their accomplishments - big and small. This morning Cole made me a very proud mommy. He finally did something on his own that we've been working on for a while now. Are you ready for this? He wiped his own butt!

With the first day of preschool on the very near horizon - tomorrow - I was a little worried what Cole was going to do if he had to poop at school. Thankfully, this morning he decided to do it himself. He didn't want my help at all. He did a good job - good to know he was listened and paid attention when we explained the "how-to's" of wiping!

This little accomplishment put me at ease and ready for Cole to start school. He starts tomorrow. Mixed emotions here. Stay tuned for the details of the first day.

Congrats to my littlest man for this step towards independence and making mommy's job one task lighter! :)

New Posts

Slowly but surely I am updating this neglected blog.

You are welcome, mom. :)

The updated few are listed below. Enjoy!

Basketball

Mardi Gras

100th Day of School

Sewing Projects and Babies

Have I mentioned I am going to be an Auntie?? An auntie times 2!! My sister is preggo AND my sister-in-law is too...I couldn't be any more excited! Well, I need to be honest, I could be a tiny bit more excited only if one of them were giving me a niece. But I am excited, really I am! The hubs is excited too! Two nephews! A family full of boys...it will definitely be a circus whenever we're all together! I honestly can't wait!

Anyway, I told you that to blog about this. I am sewing. Yes, you read that right - I am sewing. Santa brought me a sewing machine for Christmas. It's just what I asked for. Really, it is. I have surprised myself, and truth be known, my husband too by taking the thing out of the box, plugging it in AND actually using it. I have sewn patches onto the hubs' uniforms and I have made some window valances. Go me. Now that I have faith in my ability to use a sewing machine and actually complete a task, I am moving on to a bigger, albeit smaller, project: cloth diaper covers.

My sister and brother-in-law are going to use cloth diapers. So with me being the sometimes single SAHM looking for more things to keep me busy, I decided to make diaper covers. I spent 2+ hours in Joann's Fabric Store today (yes, my two boys were with me but thankfully so was my bff so I had backup) and left with material and supplies to make 5 diaper covers. When it's all stitched and done, we will see how many will be useable/wearable and if my sewing machine is still in one piece. :)

I am looking forward to my diaper cover project and to the arrival of my new nephews! Stayed tuned for updates on both!

The beginnings of the diaper covers.

Forgotten Post

Jase lost his first tooth.

This was from back in November. How did I forget to blog about this?? The look on his face says it all, he was so very excited! Although, the tears that were shed while the tooth was coming out would have told you otherwise! 

Basketball

Have I mentioned that Jase has been playing basketball since, umm...well since November? No, I haven't? Well, now I am. :)

As soon as soccer was done, we moved on to basketball. This was our first time to play basketball, and Jason and I wanted Jase to learn the basics...and a little competitiveness thrown into the mix would be a plus. Turns out Jase had a really good coach and assistant coach, aka dad, to learn from. Jase's team made it to the championships - undefeated! Yes, undefeated!

Sadly, our team had its first taste of defeat in the championship game. Oh well, we made it to the finals undefeated! Jase had a blast playing and learning, dad had fun helping out with coaching (when he was home), little brother had fun jumping up and down the bleachers and busting his chin on said bleachers, and me, well I had fun cheering for my boy and his team. I can honestly say that I cannot wait until the boys are older and playing jr. high/high school ball. Although, I will say this, heaven help my nerves when the boys are older and playing jr. high/high school ball.

Basketball was fun for all. I leave you with a few closing shots...until next season when both boys are playing basketball...enjoy.

 During warm-ups. 

 Jason doing some coaching with the Carhart on. Some coaches wear Nike, Jason wears Carhart. Hehe. 

 Setting up for a free throw. 

 Free throw shooting. I didn't get the shot but he did make this! 

Mardi Gras

I met this boy from Louisiana many years ago during the Mardi Gras season. No, I did not meet him while I was flashing certain parts of my body...hehe...no, we met thanks to some mutual friends at their house, not on a parade route. Anyway, since our meeting I have not once been to a Mardi Gras parade. This year, after being married to the Louisiana boy for 9 years, I finally got to go a Mardi Gras parade. This was the first for our boys, too. It was great!

First, and foremost, mine and the boys' first parade was a family friendly event - there was no flashing or showing of body parts involved. Had to say that before I say this: Jase collected as many beads as he could. All the beads were about to weigh my child down but he had so much fun getting them.

 Jase at the beginning of the parade. 

Jase towards the end of the parade with some of the beads he collected. 

I have to admit -  I had a lot of fun myself. The floats, the crazy people on the floats, and watching my kids have a good time. Jason bought me a purple boa and I caught a rose that some masked person threw to me from a float. 

 Our first Mardi Gras parade - February 2012 - so much fun! 

Cole had fun trying to catch everything thrown from the floats BUT he did not want any beads around his neck. 

My first Mardi Gras parade was with my husband, kids and family, and I could not imagine it any other way. Although, I almost froze to death (yes, in Louisiana), it was a fun night. I cannot wait to do it again next year. 

100th Day of School

To celebrate the 100th day of school, Jase's project was to create a poster board celebrating the 100th day using 100 items grouped into 5's or 10's. We could use beans, cotton balls, stickers, sticks or whatever you wanted. We chose pennies.

In my typical procrastination fashion, Jase and I did not get started on this project until the night before it was due. Side note: I honestly believe that I work best under pressure. I honestly will hate it if my child(ren) develop this flaw of mine. After all of my Jase's hard work of cutting out letters and gluing letters and pennies onto poster board, I we finished just in time for Jase to get to bed.

Jase wakes in the middle of the night with an ear ache. We (me, Jason and Jase) do not get any sleep. Jase stays home from school but his 100th day project does not. Thanks to me. :) I was not going to let my Jase's work go unnoticed.

I enjoyed doing this helping Jase with this first school project. I'm looking forward to the 1st grade timeline project...I've already got ideas!

Growing Pains - Mother and Child

Last night I witnessed some children being mean to Jase. I sat back and watched how Jase would handle the situation. He didn't. He did not know they were being mean. Or did he? He laughed as they were telling him to go away and were moving away from him. The looks on the faces of these kids were the complete opposite of Jase, which was happy and laughing. Clearly, the kids did not want Jase around them. Clearly, Jase did not pick up on this or was just enjoying aggravating his friend. And clearly, I was getting mad.

Before I knew it, the friend came up to tattle on Jase. He tells me he and his other friends don't want Jase to sit by them and then tells me "Jase is freaking us out." Jase walks up and hears his friend say this and burst into tears. He just wanted to sit by his friend. The friend, satisfied with himself for what he's just done, walks away to join his other friends.

I had to make a choice at this moment. It had to be a mature choice, not the childish one I really wanted to do. The mean girl in me wanted to surface and say mean things to the child for being mean to my child. Clearly, this was the childish choice I fought off. The choice I made was to comfort my child and be honest with him. In my head I'd like to think this was the mature thing to do. From now on, I pray that Jase will remember what it feels like to have a friend be mean to him so that in the future he knows NOT to treat his friends like that. My honesty with Jase was that not everyone is going to be your friend but that doesn't give you the right to mean to that person. Then with that said, I thought to myself how do I teach my child kindness but yet not to take any crap??? Sigh.

My heart hurt last night, and still does as I type this. I wanted to burst into tears as I comforted my child. This was the first experience like this for us - Jase dealing with friends and me dealing with the hurt feelings of my child. I pray there aren't many more.

Cole's World: Rough and Tumble

We were in Oklahoma a week or so ago...Cole came back to Texas looking like this...

This child 'o mine is a rough as they come. He runs, kicks, flips and wears his cowboy boots from the minute he wakes in the morning til the very last second sleep takes him over. And on most nights, he fights his sleep. 

This was his first black eye. No, he did not get punched by his big brother or by his cousin O. Nope, Cole took care of this one all by himself. He was running, got tripped up and fell face first into the bed. He's nose made a perfection connection with the bed frame. Thankfully, his nose was not broken. Sadly, this is what I had to walk around with...people giving me looks and all. 

Eventually the black eye cleared up but Cole's little tough guy attitude is still intact. The run-in with the bed frame did not slow him down. I hope and pray this is the only black eye my baby ever gets. :) 

Never Grow Up

I think it's about time I quit lying to myself. For the past 6 years, while truly trying to enjoying every minute, there were times I wished for the boys to be older. Not just so my load would be a little lighter but so that they were in school participating in activities and such. Well  now here we are - Jase is in school, playing sports and just turned 6. Cole, my baby, will be playing t-ball this spring, turns 4 this summer and starts pre-kindergarten this fall. Sigh. Where is that box of tissues? 


Yesterday was Jase's birthday. I went to wake him up - I just stopped and stared a minute. When did my first born go from binks, diapers and squishy cheeks to boxer briefs, big stinky feet and long legs? I actually did not cry here. Really. I just laughed at the thought and then Cole and I serenaded him awake with "Happy Birthday".

Sitting in the hair salon later in the afternoon is when I had a moment. A little boy around 2 comes into the salon with his mom and aunt. Hearing this little guy talk in his sweet tiny voice hit me in the gut. I was immediately reminded of Jase being that little. I seriously had big tears in my eyes and an even bigger lump in my throat. Thank goodness my stylist (yes, I have a hair stylist now and I do plan on visiting her more than once a year..hehe) was running behind and I was the only other person in the waiting area...I would not have been able to speak. Then last night, after boys are in bed, I came across a song that just did me in. Hit play. Listen.

My little men are no longer as the little men in the pictures below. They are growing up and they are doing it much too fast. Yes, I'm crying now. Dang Taylor Swift for this song that makes me cry.

So like I said in the beginning, I am going to quit lying to myself...I don't want them to grow up so fast. I want them to stay little and simple. Perhaps admitting this to myself, I will enjoy all the simpleness a little more.

Six

Jase turns 6 today!

We celebrated this weekend with a party at home. Jase invited his neighborhood buddies (6 of them) and they played for two hours straight. He had a wonderful day.

Today he will celebrate with his classmates with cupcakes. Tonight is dinner out - his choice.

He's 6.

Happy Birthday, Bug. We love you.

Hello 2012!

We have so much to look forward to in the new year. Wait, I feel like I just said that. I think I did. Read here what I said about 2011 if you'd like.

So anyway, our little family has a lot to look forward to in 2012. First and foremost, it's not a transfer year! Second, Jason & I both have siblings who are becoming parents for the first time! Yippee! We will welcome two nephews into the family in March. I am so excited that I can't really stand it! And C, well, there isn't really a C. I think reason number two is enough excitement to get us through the year!

Many blessing to you and your in 2012!