Life Lately

Last week began the second week of summer break.  Two Mondays ago my sister started a new running challenge over on MapMyRun.  Being that the kids are now home with me all day for summer break and that I can no longer go for mid-morning runs alone we decided to lace up our running shoes (put on our biking flip flops ;) ) and get to work!

Henry did his stretches.  Eliza buckled her helmet.  I turned on my Greatest Showman running playlist...and we were off...!

At one point Eliza decided she wasn't going to wear her sweater anymore so I got stuck running while holding a sweater - fun, fun. ;) Seriously, I could've bet money that was going to happen.  Ha!

After we finished our run, we headed over to the park for a bit and then walked/rode over to the sledding hill so that we could get in some good hill rolling in before lunch...

On Tuesday we enjoyed an impromptu boat ride/tube ride/swim!

I practiced french braiding on Eliza.  As you can see, I'm not showing you the back of her head.  It wasn't good guys, it wasn't good.  I have A LOT of practicing to do...A LOT!

On Wednesday the neighbor boys came over to hang out and play some video games.  Their mom gave all the kids gum and it was cracking me up watching them chew and try to blow bubbles...

Jon's 38th birthday also happened to be on Wednesday!

The kids and I didn't really get him anything this year - aside from spending about $20.00 on greeting cards that played music, a couple of cat themed cards and one from the cat, himself.  LOL!  BUT - we did decide to go pick him up a slice of carrot cake AND we bought 38 candles...however I DID have to buy four packages of candle to which I giggled about, but then was immediately humbled by the fact that I'm 35 and I'm in the last year only three packages of candles are needed...and that my birthday has already passed... Anywhoo, I digress.  Gah!

We added some candles and I must say THIS right here was pretty darn funny...

The kids and I decorated the house, the bathroom and the car with balloons and streamers from Eliza's Little Mermaid party.  We also did a balloon drop for him in the basement!  LOL!  Jon loved it and, of course, the kids did, too!

We took him to eat at our local root beer stand!  So fun!

We came back home, lit the candles and sang, Happy Birthday...

I love these people!

The next day we headed to the gym.  Henry decided he was going to be my coach for the running challenge and informed me that I had to run 5 miles.

I did it.  It hurt.  Coach was happy.  My legs were not.

I made this yummy salad for dinner and you guys - it was/is sooooo good!!!  I'll have to share my recipe on here sometime...

We went for another tube ride and swim in the lake...

...and on Friday we went Strawberry picking!!!!

There's just something so sweet (pun intended ;) ) about picking strawberries.

Later on Friday we went out to dinner with some sweet friends and the next day we attended a pool party for some friends from Eliza's preschool class.

You guys - Look at Eliza's hair!  It's so long!

Also in this picture - Henry jumping off the diving board into the deep end and swimming off to the side for the FIRST time - without a life jacket!!!  At first he jumped in, came back up and swam the length of the pool.  He was so proud!  We told him to just jump in and swim to the side so that he wouldn't exhaust himself.  We were thinking that he was more confident to finally take the leap into the deep end because he was one of the older kids at the party and there was only one boy older than him.  He wasn't under any pressure and he just wanted to have fun...

The after party back at home looked a lot like this...  LOL!!!!

Jon and I also did some landscaping in front and around our new concrete.  To say I wan't pleased to help out in the landscaping department was an understatement.  I despised having to do this.  To be fair we've already landscaped this space twice before and let me tell you that I DO NOT have a green thumb.  I try.  I really try, but most plants end up dying.

HOWEVER, back on Jon's birthday this was what he wanted - to get the landscape in, so I obliged and came up with a game plan in my head.

We put down weed mat, dug holes, planted our plants and filled it in with mulch - all in about two hours and I can assure you I complained the entire time.  I was NOT a happy camper...not at all, especially considering it was a katrillion degrees outside.

We did it though.  We were covered in dirt, sweaty and tired - but it was done...

Now to add one more plant over there in the front right corner, keep the grass growing and eventually add a little more decor and we should be good to go!  Phew.

All in all, the second week of summer break was a good one!  We've been getting things accomplished and staying busy, that's for sure!

I'll keep all ya'll posted on which plants live...  Hahaha!

Thanks for stopping by.

Marie :)

I'm linking up over at Welcome Wednesday!

Life Lately - First Week of Summer Vacation

So, over the weekend I decided to play catch up on all things life.  It wouldn't have felt right to go on about my summer without having had blogged about some pretty significant events that had recently taken place in our lives.  If you've got lots of time on your hands and feel as though you want to catch up on life over at Marie's, please go right on ahead and do so!  If not, believe me...I totally get it.  It was a lot for me to even blog about, but like I said, it had to be done!

I caught up and blogged about:

Henry's 7th Birthday

Eliza's Last Day of Four-Year-Preschool

Henry's Last Day of First Grade

Eliza's 5th Birthday

Eliza's First Dance Recital

As for what we've been up to lately, well both kids are now out of school and those first couple of days were glorious!  Nowhere to be, no plans, no agenda, no lunches to pack, no need to turn off the cartoons and no frantic rush out the door.  Just me and my babies.  Glorious.

We had just come off of Henry's last day of school, Eliza's first dance recital and Eliza's 5th birthday party which was held two Sundays ago.  We slept in on Monday and decided later that morning to head to the library to sign up for their summer reading program and we loaded up on more books than I could carry!

Henry was really wanting to read a bunch of Berenstain Bears books, so once we arrived back at home we cuddled up on the couch and I kid you not, we read for over two hours!!!  I know this because the library switched our reading program from "pages read" to "minutes read," so we had set a timer to keep track!

Eliza kept herself busy during the last thirty minutes or so and busted out some wigs and dress up clothes while I finished up with Henry...

Tuesday consisted of me neglecting any sort of housework that had to be done and then unfortunately by Wednesday I was feeling pretty under the weather.  Sniffles, cough, sore throat, you name it...  I'm thinking it was, and still is, an extreme case of allergies.

By Wednesday I finally decided to start in on a project - organizing our front closet and finally putting away out winter gear.  I had washed the kids' snow pants, coats, hats and mittens with the intent of putting them away for the season waaaaay back in April, but then the cold weather and snow just wouldn't give up, so I finally threw in the towel and never put any of the gear away...that was until Wednesday!

I also decided to be extreme and only keep and put away what we use year after year.  You guys, I got rid of soooo many mittens, boots, hats and scarves!  Goodwill will be receiving a shipment of winter goodies from me later today!  It feels so good to know that when I open that tote again this fall that it's organized and only full of what is needed.  The process, however, was a messy one!  Hey, it had to get worse before it could get better, right?!

On Thursday I decided that although I wasn't feeling 100% that that didn't mean I should keep the kids home and inside the house for another day.  So we woke up, I sucked it up and we headed to the zoo!!!  I had originally planned on hitting up some Target on the way home (you guys - I haven't been in one in over a year!!!  So sad!), but we were all pretty tired, so we did the next best thing and found a drive-thru Starbucks!  Such a fun day...

Friday consisted of just hanging out, cleaning, playing and basically just taking it easy.  Henry received Jenga blocks from Grandma and Grandpa Koyl and although I've showed before how to play the actual game once before and again on this day, both kids seem more interested in building with them!

On Saturday one of my favorite stores opened up for a few hours so we headed a couple towns over to see what was new in the shop...

This bathroom!!!

I tried on this romper and it was incredibly comfy and so, so, sooo cute.  Just not sure it's me or if I could pull it off.  I'd love to wear this kind of stuff, though!!!

Later on Saturday I got picked up and headed to one of my girlfriend's house for a pool party.  It downpoured the majority of the time (we did manage to hop in the pool once the storms passed by) so we set ourselves up in the garage and oh-my-gosh, it was so much fun!  It was just what I needed.  I love these ladies so much!  I can't tell you how grateful I am to have them in my life...

So good!

I was given a ride home the night before, hopped into bed at around 1 a.m. and fell fast asleep.  The next morning (Sunday) was mine and Jon's 12th wedding anniversary.  We usually don't do a darn thing for each other for our anniversary, so this year I didn't even buy Jon a card. 

Go figure - as I woke up, I saw this...

He gets me.  ;)

Later in the evening we decided to head out to dinner.  Mama was tired and it being our anniversary and all we decided not to cook.  We seriously have maaaaybe ten sit-down restaurants in the area, so we picked Buffalo Wild Wings as our place of romance!  Haha!  Hey, I was all for some onion rings! LOL

I love him...

As everyone headed for bed, I turned on the Tony's and this kid was the cherry on top of my weekend!  Did anyone else see this?!  I was dying!!!

Aaaaaaaand that's it.  Whew.  I think I'm all caught up!!!

Hopefully now I can blog some home tour stuff and DIY projects!

Thanks for sticking around, friends!!!

Love,

Marie :)

I'm linking up over at Hello Monday!