This Weeks News

I'm not ashamed to admit that in writing this from the comfort of the car, which is parked in the garage.  I just dropped McKenna off at dance, drove home, and discovered this...

Greaaat....a sleeping three year old at 6:40pm.  What do you do with that?   Eleven years and three kids later, I have no clue.   So I decided to chill in the garage until it's time to go back to get the girls.  Then I'll decide.

Today was a big day at our house.  For me especially.  While mindlessly browsing emails and watching Big Hero 6, I discovered an email from Drexel that contained my admission decision.   It took me a few minutes before I could open it.  I wasn't expecting to hear from them until May or June.  I was confident that I would be accepted but for a moment or two I had to prepare myself in the event that I didn't get in.  

I am equal parts excited and nervous.  It's been a long time since I was writing papers and taking tests.   But the opportunity is huge and I know I'm meant to do this.    

Other things I was meant to do is cut my hair!

For the past year or so I've very much wanted to grow my hair out.  I even did it...well, it was long for me.  But it wasn't me.  These curls were meant for a short style and so yesterday I went back to my favorite cut.  I feel like myself again and I believe I'm over the long hair phase. 

Enough about me!   

Kinley has been acquiring many new skills lately.  This week we've been working on using scissors.  I love her little open mouth and the concentration on her face.  She must have cut 10

Pages of paper into strips by the time we were done.   She is able to trace

most letters using correct technique and can almost write her name.   

Yesterday it was nice enough to take the babies for a walk.   The sun felt so good. After we met the big kids at the bus, Cooper and Kinley donned their snow gear and spent over an hour in the snow.  We are all definitely looking forward to more time outdoors in the near future.  

My most recent picture of Cooper, snuggling with Kinley while they watch a movie.  He filled his sticker chart at school this week and chose show and tell for his reward.  He packed a bag with a football, basketball and his pressed penny collection.   What an assortment. He's most excited to be sleeping over at Mimi and Pappy's this weekend. 

And this girl, she somehow eludes my camera these days. She is so busy with friends and activities and just being an all around good girl.   I'm so lucky to be her mom and most days I wish I could be more like her.   

Wow!  I didn't realize that I had so much to say.  I guess that's what happens when I have more than five minutes to put a thought together!  Happy Weekend!

Little Things That Mean the Most

Would you believe that we had more snow this weekend that caused us to alter our Saturday night dinner plans.  Lucky for us, Brigit was available Friday night.  Earl and I took the opportunity to try out a new restaurant.  We loved it!  The food was great but spending a couple of hours together, alone, was the best.   After dinner we went to Wal-Mart. Well!  We were expecting snow!  And we didn't want to go home. 

Brigit accompanied us to Cooper's basketball game on Saturday.  She is simply too sweet to our kiddos.   Cooper sat at the window for 20+ minutes waiting for her that morning.  You would have thought it was 10 years since he had seen her and not a mere 11 hours.  It meant so much to Cooper that she would come to cheer him on.  Brigit, though a supportive fan, is ready for Cooper's soccer games to start.  I found out Saturday morning that the four of them have plans all layed out for visits to Boston and trips to Disney World.  I refused to listen.  I'm still in complete denial that she's leaving.  

Tonight we are gearing up for a fresh week of school and work.  Hopefully an uninterrupted by cold, snow or ice type of week.   We have a fun weekend waitin for us that includes Friday dinner with a bunch of friends, Saturday basketball and bowling and Saturday afternoon visit with out of town friends.  

For Real Friday

Last week I saw a Facebook article where someone proposed the idea of posting "real life" on Friday's and not just the good stuff we want people to see about our lives.   I used to love 'Not Me Monday' and so I thought this would be fun.  

Let's start with the condition of my living room lately.  My too-small-for-the-room carpet spent the majority of the week literally covered with doll house paraphernalia.   I didn't bother to clean it up, deciding to live with the mess if it meant that Kinley might be occupied for 5 minutes the next day. 

Add to that the huge bowl of milk that I dropped on the floor and we had one mess of a room...

I'm happy to say that Carolyn comes on Monday to save my sorry self.  That woman has such job security here.  

I prepped a bunch of healthy food yesterday.  Earl and I got some new workout DVD's this week.  Piyo has been good to us but we are feeling a little bored.  We decided to challenge ourself with 21 Day Fix Extreme.  Since we are being real you should know that I almost had to go down the stairs on my bum yesterday because I was so sore! 

This is my "day 1" picture.  Yes, Kinley cut my head off.  

We really made Valentine inspired shirts this week using dollar store t-shirts.  The girls loved them.  

Cooper wanted a shirt also and in an effort to save him from being beat up for wearing hearts, we made this Pinterest inspired design.  It served the purpose. 

So, there you have the down and dirty real life happenings from our week.  We have some fun Valentine's Day things in store but I'll save that lovey post for another day!

Dragon Dash 2015

For most, February brings about thoughts of Valebtines Day and love.  But for us, it means it's dragon dash time. 

The kids donned their running gear today for the 15 minute gym jog.   Today was McKenna's very last dragon dash.   Hard to believe and just a little sad.  Her elementary years are just three months from being over.   

I'm proud to say that in 7 dragon dashes, neither kid has had to walk.   I couldn't even get a good picture of Cooper because he was too fast.  He was really excited about the event this year and proudly donated five dollars of his own money to his sister.   He continues to melt my heart with his thoughtfulness.  

For Kinley, the day is marked by seeing the dragon and maybe giving him a high five.   She was smitten today when he stopped long enough for a photo.  

I didn't "run" at all today unless you count the sprinting I did between two dragon dashes, two dance classes and the grocery store.    But I'm one lucky girl to be able to drop everything for the three littles I love the most.   

Super (Toothless) Cooper and a Super Fun Weekend

Can you guess what's different about this kid?  

He FINALLY lost a tooth.  He's been waiting and waiting and waiting.   Saturday was the big day when the tooth was ready to come out.   Oh how I will miss that perfect baby smile.   It's hard not to share in his excitement though. 

Saturday evening we hit the rock gym with the Bailey's.  Cooper has been anxious to get back there.  

It didn't take him but about 5 seconds to get back in the groove.   He climbed for an hour and a half!  He may be part monkey. 

Kinley made good use of the soft mats to practice her tumbling and running.   It was a sure fire way to tire her out.  She loves to be part of what the big kids are doing in any way that she can.  

McKenna spent the evening with a new friend.  They had a play date and then attended a ballet performance at Bucknell.   We missed her at the rock gym but it's exciting to see her growing in her friendships and having opportunities to do fun things. 

On Sunday morning I made a quick trip to GMC to make assignments before we 

headed to church.  Since Kinley is no longer taking naps, we stayed for our first ever puppet show and luncheon.  Lunch was great but the company was better.  The kids enjoyed themselves and I didn't have to rush home to make lunch. 

Now here we are, it's Tuesday night already.  It took me two and a half days to finally finish this blog post and get it posted. It's amazing to me the rate at which the weeks fly by.  Before we know it, it will be the weekend again.  

What the Snow Blew In

Look what the snow blew in!  Blake came for a visit on Monday so that his daddy could go do some plowing.  I

He is getting so big.  It's hard to believe that he is six months old already.  I think he will be sitting up by himself pretty soon. 

He is the most pleasant baby I have ever met.  He rarely "fusses", if you can even call it that.   He loves the kids almost as much as they love him.  They are head over heels for him. 

They love the fact that he interacts with them, smiling and talking up a storm.  He's going to be running around trying to keep up with them in no time.  

We were so happy to spend a few hours with him!  Love you, Buddy!

Weekend Recap

As per usual the weekend has flown by.   It didn't help that we had a bazillion things squeezed into 48 hours.   It always amazes me what can be accomplished in that span of time. 

The painters finished on Friday.  I am loving the new color of the kids bathroom and the new place to hang towels.  I need to get one more hook and the new mirror hung and we are in business. 

While I was home Friday I came across this gem   New Kids on the Block.  Vanilla ice?  Yes, please!   You can find me at this concert in June with 5 other very fun loving people.  I can't wait!!

In an effort to attempt to be a bit more refined and cultured we went to the ballet on Friday night.  Jessica and I had been planning this surprise for the girls for months!   They had a blast.   Our seats were as amazing as the dancers!  

I can't get over how grown up they are becoming.  

Saturday after a successful basketball game I cuddled up with Cooper for a movie.   I don't get to spend much time with him.   He's always into something sports related or out playing with his friends.   We watched Charlotte's Web together.   Cooper said, " I dropped two tears watching that.  It's so sad."   He may look like his daddy but he wears his heart on his sleeve like his mom! 

Saturday evening was Earl's work party.  It was a fun night out.  I met a lot of new people and hung out with some of the old gang, too. 

Tonight we tucked in and watched the Super Bowl.  Earl won the bet and the rest of us were sad at the way the Seahawks lost. 

We had a fun night being together and eating bad food and staying up too late!  No worries though because tomorrow is another snow day!  Blah.  I'm using the time to pack for Florida.