Life Lately

It's Monday and I actually have a little life lately/weekend recap ready to share!

WooHoo!

Last week I finally read to Henry's class for "March is Reading Month."  LOL!  Better late than never, right?  Oh my goodness, you guys, it was so much fun.  Although, for some weird reason I was really, really nervous.  My shaking was visible and I had to hold my first story/book with both hands due to the uncontrollable shaking...in front of a bunch of first graders!  What's up with that?  Does anyone else get nervous like this?

Anyway, we had so much fun and I loved getting to see my little man at school...

On Wednesday I took Eliza to dance class.  Jon's been taking her on Wednesday evenings so that I can stay home and get some cleaning done and spend some quality time with Henry.  Eliza had asked me a few days earlier if I could take her to dance and I, of course, obliged.

It's always so fun to watch all the kids dance and I just love, love, love the studio!

On Thursday Henry's class took a field trip to a bowling alley.  Eliza attended his field trip with me and she was such a trooper.  She sat quietly as she watched Henry's class bowl for over an hour.  I was in charge of a group of five kids and they were all such good little bowlers.  They took turns, cheered each other on and I never had to remind them who's turn it was next.  They had it all figured out!

My little Henry was being so silly.  He was dancing and giggling.  Do I dare say he was being a little ham?  He's such a funny little guy lately...

Eliza and I went grocery shopping and she was adamant that we sport matching jean jackets and matching headbands.  She picked out bright pink for me.  I did take it off while in the store, but wore it the rest of the morning and into the afternoon.

Girlfriends...  :)

I recently joined a, "100 Mile Challenge."  My neighbor set up a challenge for a group of friends (and my BIL and sister) to run 100 miles by June 1st!  You guys, this challenge is going to be tough.  Not only do I have to log the miles, but more importantly, I need to find the TIME to log the miles.

After Henry's bowling field trip I asked Eliza if she wanted ride in the stroller while I ran in the park, but she preferred to ride her bike.  She was warned that I wasn't planning on stopping and that she couldn't go potty in the middle of my run.  She agreed to the terms.

We got to running/cycling and about twenty seconds into it, Eliza's bike became wobbly and I had to stop.  I may have had a bit of a "teenage Marie moment."  I was a little annoyed (not at her, but rather at her bike) and told her we were done and that it wasn't going to work.  She cried, I consoled her, I tightened her training wheels, she wanted to keep going, I gave in, we walked back to where we started and we gave it another go.

Eliza WANTED to ride her bike while I ran.  She was trying so head and I think she really wanted to prove to me that she could do it.  I tightened her training wheels about eight more times while out on the route and I just kept running and running.  Eliza giggled, encouraged me to keep going and kept her little legs-a-pedaling.  We finished at three miles and just under thirty minutes.  Eliza rocked it and I was so proud of her!!!

We ended at the park and our run/bike ride couldn't have turned out any better...

Eliza pretending to run.  For real, she told me to take a picture of her "pretending to run..."

She picked me some beautiful "flowers."

...I just love her...

 Jon and I have been loosely talking about changing out the siding on our house in a year or two.

We're getting new shingles any day now and a much needed new concrete driveway in three weeks.  It's been a long time coming and we're so excited, but I'm terrified that I'm making the wrong choice for our roof color, so I'm trying to think ahead to the siding to guarantee a future cohesive look.

I've known for a while now that I want...ahem - we want ;)...an off white color for the siding, but I'm just having a reaaaaally hard time finding exactly what I'm envisioning in that noggin of mine...

I bought this new light fixture from Wayfair when they had their Way Day last week!  I scored this  fixture for $76, not too long ago it was a little over $300!  Whaaaat!?!

Please ignore that messy table... ;)

On Saturday I ran a race and pushed the kids in my handy dandy running stroller.  Henry wanted to run, but I wasn't quite sure if I wanted his little body running an entire 5K.  I kept him in the stroller for the first mile, ran up one more hill and then told him that he could get out and run.

He was off!!!!

I thought for sure he was going to get tired and slow me down, but boy was I wrong!  He only got in the stroller once and then he was quickly back out again.  You guys - he ran just under two miles!!!  I couldn't believe it!!!

I hadn't actually signed him up for the race, but I'm thinking he should try out a one mile fun run sometime in the near future...

On Sunday we slept in, stayed in bed for far too long and cuddled.  The rest of the day was spent playing outside and moving at sloth speed.  It was perfection.

That's it for now, friends!  Thanks for stopping by!

Marie :)

Life Lately

Hey there and happy Wednesday!  Who's up for a "Life Lately" post?

There's a lot to share.  Here we go...

Let's head back to spring break.  Our spring break took place the week after Easter this year.  It was nice to go and visit family and not have to worry about rushing back to get the kids ready for a weeks worth of school.  We basically just relaxed and chilled out every morning and took our time while we were home.  Our mornings were incredibly relaxing, but by the time afternoon rolled around it made me realize that I'm going to have to really plan out our summer because bored kids make messes.  :0

We did have a little getaway planned for later in the week; we took the kids to see The Lion King!

But first we thought it'd be fun to head over to Grand Rapids/Holland, Michigan the night before the show so that we could go to one of my favorite stores, The Found Cottage, and to visit a boat store to check out a boat that Jon has had his eye on.  Once again, I don't think we'll be getting one anytime soon, but it's always fun to look.  

Had we had a way to transport this mirror it would've been ours.  Jon loved it just as much as I did...

When the mirror up top didn't work out, I found this one for our mantel.  I loooooved it.  Jon gave me the big N-O.  Guess I'll have to find something similar from Hobby Lobby.... womp, womp.

You guys, I bought one of these candles and it is my most favorite scent EVER!  I wish I could send the smell to you through the computer...

After a morning of fun, we decided to head to Kalamazoo to check-in to our hotel.  We decided not to valet and ended up walking all of our luggage/bags from a parking structure.  No big deal.  It wasn't crazy far away or anything, but enough to make my shoulders ache.  As Jon was checking in, I noticed another Mama with her family and they were dressed so beautifully, their luggage matched and I swear their coats even matched.  I looked back at my kids and our mismatched bags and dirty winter coats and just had to chuckle.  Am I the only one that travels like this?  I mean, we break out the good luggage for big trips, but for a night or two this is how we roll...

Classy, right?

We took the kids swimming, got dressed up and headed to dinner...

Eliza in the restroom at the hotel/restaurant.  I just love her.  She's so lively.

The show was amazing and we had the best time.  Our seats were located dead center and I was so worried the kids would have to use the bathroom at some point during the show.  They somehow managed to not have to go and I was soooo thankful for that.  They ate Junior Mints and Skittles throughout the show.  I had also purchased a tiny bottle of water for intermission, but I did not let them drink any liquids for up to any hour and a half before the show until that small bottle of water at intermission.  I'm still so thrilled with how they did.  Eliza fell asleep for the very last number, but she woke up just as the actors were taking a bow.

The rest of our break included having some friends over for dinner, I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned, the kids played outside and I made some homemade playdough for Eliza...that she played with for ten minutes...

Once spring break was over, Eliza and I were back to our usual routine of me being told what to do, reading, cartoon watching and nail painting...

On April 11th my sister had her baby!!!!!

You guys, I've never cried over a baby so much in my life.  Seriously, I don't think I cried that much for own children.  Maybe because I wasn't pregnant this time around?  Or I was crazy hormonal?  I have no idea, but I couldn't stop crying!!!

We made the two hour trip to the hospital to go meet my new little niece (!!!!!!!) on a school night and a work night!  It was soooooo worth it!

The weather was finally starting to feel like spring and this girl and I did some bike-riding...in style, or course...

This is how Eliza usually looks while at the school pick-up line.  She's so fancy...

Girlfriend was so excited to have another little girl in the family that she started pulling out and piling up clothes for her new little cousin.  This little girl's heart is pure.

We had a pizza night!

We made cookies...

The kids had their first sleepover with the neighbor boys next door!  They had THE best time ever.  Rumor has it there was Sprite, Gatorade, Fanta and Pizza!  Oh my gosh, these two had a blast!

Jon and I didn't know what to do with ourselves while the kids were away for the night, so I took selfies with my cat, naturally.

Why does he sleep like that?  Cats are strange...  

Eliza and I played Barbies, but I only got to play the way I was told to play.

#fouryearoldboss

I sent a text to my friend Sara asking why I was wearing a flannel in April.  It had felt like spring only hours before and then suddenly it was freezing.  Also, this picture cracks me up...I think I'm hilarious.

Eliza had her kindergarten registration.  You guys, KINDERGARTEN.  Please pass the tissues...

We visited a car wash.  Now you may be asking, "Marie, why are you blogging about taking your kid through a car wash?"  To that I reply, "Because my kids always have the best reactions to car washes and it makes me smile."

This little lady and I went shopping...

I had to paint her nails...again...

This time she wanted her nails to be painted in a "pattern" using the colors and order of colors she told me to paint them in.  I see no pattern.  I just do as I'm told.  ;)

Jon went skiing last week.  The water was 43 degrees.  I think he's still thawing out.  It looked rather painful.

We left town last Saturday to head up to our nephew's fourth birthday.  On the way we stopped at an awesome store that we haven't been in for quite some time.  Any store that has this much cheese is a winner to me.  I could live within those walls...

...and oh my gosh, a sea of pistachios.  I wanted to jump in!

I'm not a seafood eater, but I took this picture to show my parents.  Methinks they'll be making a trip to this store the next time the come over...

We traveled to the thumb of Michigan for the party and per usual, the windmills always intrigue me...

The kids played and consumed lots of flavored drinks...

On our way back home we stopped for dinner at our favorite restaurant in Flint, changed the kids into their pajamas and arrived home at around 10:30.  It was a long day, but it was totally worth it.

Last Sunday consisted of sleeping in and in the afternoon, I took Eliza to a another party.  Before I knew it, it was time for bed.  Phew.

Now I'm off to go read to Henry's class, pick up Eliza from school, grocery shop, do some laundry and dishes, pick up Henry from school, make dinner and take Eliza to dance class.  Wowza.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to breathe somewhere in there, too.  Ha!

Have a great one, you guys!

Marie :)