You Know You're a Mom When-sdaze!

You Know You're a mom when...

you sit outside in the heat to fill up 24 water balloons for your 9 year old to take to a pool party.

you drive back and forth between home and the pool three times in one day so no one is cold or missing their swim goggles for practice.

you promise to have make your own sundaes at a moments notice.

your idea of a fun evening is sitting on the deck with a cold beer watching kids run around in a sprinkler.

Shutter Love Tuesday: Summer Fun!

This one of my all time favorite pictures!  The kids were having sucha  good time running and jumping into this hole at the beach.  I just love how Mutt has his arms up as he flies through the air into the sand!

Post it Note Tuesday

Workout Woes

The last few weeks have been absolutely crazy around here.  I had a hard time recovery after my half marathon and have not run since due to the pain in my knee.  I have scheduled my surgery and even though it is a month away on July 27, I am already freaking out over the possibility of it not working and the fear of the pain afterward.  I have gone on a couple of bike rides.  But, I hate riding so I am not consistent.  I was going to swim one day and there wasn't enough time.  The kids started their swim team practices so between shuttling them back and forth to the pool and everything else in our lives, I just never had the time to commit.  So, now school is over.  No more work for me until the end of August, surgery on the 27th of July, what to do in the mean time.  Well, as always I lean towards running.  I know I have not had my last run.  I have to get out there at least one more time before my surgery.  The bike is there and with more time on my hands, maybe I can put in the miles.  I just don't feel like the results come quickly on the bike.  And then there is the question of toning which I guess lifting will address.  I should join a gym, but time is limited and I only have one month before surgery so it doesn't really make sense.  I look at all these woman in the athletic catalogs and think I would love to have my body look half that good.  So one month to improve my physique and overall strength and hopefully it will result in faster rehab for my hamstring and knee. 

Post It Note Tuesday

Mixed Emotions

Today is the last day of school for my kids.  Crazy that the school year goes on as long as it does here.  Hubby and I still have four days next week too.  Ugh!  So, it is difficult being a teacher and wanting the year to end so badly it makes my head spin.  And my kids have mixed emotions about the end of the school year.  Monkey told me last night that she is 50/50 on today being the last day of school.  She said she is going to miss her friends and her teacher.  Her teacher is amazing.  Indy didn't way in, but asked me at dinner last night why the school year has to end so that pretty much said it all for me.  I think he gets bored during the summer sometimes.  He is the oldest and pretty much gets dragged to everything under the sun including toddler activities for ESPN.  His favorite library program is no longer being offered, which he doesn't even know yet.  I have to find some activities for a 4th grader!  OMG, 4th grade!  Wow!  So it is with mixed emotions that I will set up my welcome to summer celebration for the kids after school.  I have not even painted the banner yet.  Mutt dove into the summer I bought for the kids yesterday so the celebration is a little anti-climatic.  But, it is with mixed emotion non-the less so I don't think anyone will be too upset that the packages are ripped open! 

Somethings gotta give!

It's official... I am over-extended.  Thankfully this realization, which has been coming on for about 6 months now has finally proven factual.  I have received email after email and phone call after phone call about the various commitments I have made.  I have raced back and forth to and from work and this kids school more times than I can count this week and it is only Wednesday.  And now in the midst of it all, I have an epiphany.  I am over-committed!  And now to determine the best course of action to resolve this predicament.  You ask, how did I finally discover what so many people have been telling me for years.  I ordered my husband's 40th birthday cake from Costco.  The simple act which took all my strength to muster sent me to this place.  I am incapable of making my husband's birthday cake.  I am incapable of personalizing it that way I feel it should be.  I am letting myself down.  Thankfully, he will praise me up and down for recognizing that somethings gotta give and that I am moving in the direction to resolve it!

You Know You're a Mom When-sdaze! Boo-Boos

You know you are a mom when...

you have more white wash cloths that are blood stained than not; due to all the bloody noses, boo-boos, and fat lips.

you know where every ER and urgent care are within a 25 mile radius and the rating the hospital received in several different areas.

you know a child that has attempted to shave.

you have seen a child run into a wall and thought 'oh no concussion, then upon seeing the blood think no; stitches'.

you have told the triage nurse to just throw out the towel.

Shutter Love Tuesday: All Smiles

All Smiles!  ESPN was so happy to get out on Grandaddy's boat.  He had such a great time running around the island and in and out of the water!

Post It Note Tuesday

It's a Crazy Life!

This week has barely begun, but is proving to be just as crazy as every other week.  I am finding myself questioning my decisions to get my kids involved in all they do and whether I need to get involved in all they do.  I admire those moms that can stand on the sideline and be happy with the little accomplishments, like making it out onto the soccer field or just diving into the pool.  I am not one of those moms.  I am the one on the sideline screaming faster, harder, get in there.  I am the "crazy" mom.  I should just line the magnets up on the back of my car... soccer mom, swim taxi, I break for basketball.  You name it I should have it.  whatever sport my kids get into we dive right in.  And, it seems to make our lives more crazy rather than enhance it.  This week, they are at track camp.  We do it every year.  While there is a youth track club in our area, we opt to do other sports while it is offered and take advantage of the track camp when it is offered.  It is offered at a really inconvenient time though.  And my kids are missing swim practice all week to go to it.  Oh well, what can you do.  What makes things more crazy is that is it a 20 minute drive down there and it starts at 6:30 p.m  which means we have too eat dinner at 5:00 and I have to race to put it on the table after work.  One more week is what I tell myself.  But, will I make it through.  I need to run to the grocery store this evening to get chips for Indy's class picnic tomorrow.  I will race from work to school to take pictures and then race back to work to get in a full day.  It will be crazy!  But that is how life is.  One big crazy whirlwind.  Would I have it any other way?  Hmm...

Saturday Shout Out: A Little Late!

This week's shout out goes to Indy and Monkey for their fabulous performance at Time Trials this weekend.  They both worked really hard, listened for their event numbers and did not need any support from mom!  Great job guys!

You Know You're a Mom When-sdaze! Travel-wise

You know you are a mom when...

there is a smell coming from the back seat.

you know where every children's museum is within a 50 mile radius of your destination in case of rain.

a rest stop consists of a visit to Hershey's Chocolate World.

you can't see out of the back window of the minivan because trash is piled up so high.

you have to ask before you pull out of the garage if everyone is wearing shoes.

you have invested in a pair of ear plugs to wear while traveling on long car trips.

you have an emergency stash of organic lollipops in your glove box and Goldfish in the trunk.

that rattling coming from the back of the car is a sippy cup full of old milk.

your car looks more like an elementary school lost and found than a motor vehicle.

Post It Note Tuesday

Saturday Shout Out

I have a couple of shout outs this week.  The first goes to ESPN for being super cute and saying the most adorable things and for also loving the river and chasing the big kids all weekend.  Makes me want to spend the summer down there. 

The second goes out to Mutt on a great soccer season.  Way to go.  Let's score some goals today.  You don't need to score six like two weeks ago, just one or two so we can get ice cream!

Third, and lastly to Monkey who didn't want to do swim team after winter swim was over.  But, the other morning told me she couldn't wait for swim practice because it was fun!  That's my girl!

A Little Down Time

I love me some down time!  However, I love it in the morning.  After a shower, I enjoy coming downstairs, making a cup of coffee, getting the kids set up in front of the t.v. and vegging out on the computer for a bit.  I check email, Facebook, and blog.  It is relaxing and gives me that needed down time to get through my hectic days.  Sometimes I don't know what I would do without my mindless mornings.  By 7:30 I am ready to hit the ground running.  I am most productive in the mornings so I multi-task my way through until the kids get on the bus and I head to work.  By the time I get home I am spent and can barely muster enough energy to make dinner.  Running has helped as has the warmer weather, but if I don't have either of those it is a lost cause.  I usually hit the couch by 8:45-9:00 p.m. and fall asleep most nights somewhere around 10 p.m.  I always wonder if my house were more organized, would I have more down time?  Maybe this summer I will find out.  My mission organization project sort of de-railed so I will institute summer organization in a couple of weeks.  This time I will enlist the help of my husband.  Oh the joys of summer!     

What is it about summer?

What is it about summer that we love so much? There are far too many things, I can't even think of all the reasons why I love summer. Here are just a few.

1. No work for my husband or I. We spend everyday with the kids all summer long!

2. A glass of wine or a cold beer on the deck.

3. Swimming everyday!

4. Fruit picking!

5. Time to bake and try new recipes.

6. Craft time with the kids!

7. The beach.

8. The river.

9. The feeling of being a SAHM. Even for just 2 1/2 months!

10. Day trips.

11. Relaxation

12. Sleep in days

13. Sun dresses

14. Tank tops and rosy shoulders on the bunch!

15. Not having to pack backpacks or lunches.

I think I will try to spruce up my blog a bit and add a fun summer section. We do so many great things in the summer. I would love to share. I have noticed several other blogs doing the same. Happy reading!

Shutter Love Tuesday on Wednesday!

"Labrador Retriever" I took this picture this past weekend while at our family's vacation home. This is our dog. He absolutely loves to retrieve the stick and will bring it to anyone who will throw it even a few feet!

Post it Note Tuesday!