Hi! Howya doin?

We're still around...and I have had very good intentions on blogging.  (Does anyone read this thing anymore) but we have been oh so so so busy.  Between me teaching aerobics 4 nights a week, working full time, running to and from sports and swimming lessons with Dalton, chasing an almost 2 year old (less than two weeks to go) potty training said 2 year old, I've barely had time to do the laundry and wash the dishes let alone blog.  But I miss this place. I still read all my favorite blogs and think I'll get back here, but it's hard ya'll!  So in a nut shell here's what we've been up to.

Rocky coached Dalton's soccer team...they only lost 1 game (but really it's rec soccer so we weren't keeping track)

We've played outside

We went to DeAnna Rose Farmstead

Had rootbeer floats

Gone for motorcycle rides

taken naps

Family vacation to Omaha

Ran the Color Run with friends

Gone fishin'

Enjoyed the County Fair and rode the "big kid" rides.

School will start in just 19 days and I'll be the mother of a 1st grader, somebody please tell me how this happened?!?!? We still have a mother son shopping day planned, a day to schlitterbahn and a week off with dad before school starts, but soon we'll be back into the routine of packing lunches, nightly sight word/reading/spelling time, washing soccer uniforms and bedtimes. As I know one little boy is sad to see summer end I know he's really looking foward to being back in school again.

Big Girl Bed

It's become apparent that our little girl is in need of a Big Girl bed.  So when a friend offered her bunk bed to us for free we jumped.  Now I know what you're thinking a bunk bed for an (almost) 2 year old.  What kind of parents are we? We most definitely do not plan on her having access to the top bunk.  So the quest began to find out what we could do with this bed to make it fun and lair for any little princess to lay her head. To Pinterest  (follow me) I went. And honestly I was hoping for some ideas than what I came up with. However I found one that I really love!

And I totally think my talented husband could pull this off...but right now he's building a shed so who knows when he'd have time. 

So now I'm thinking some sort of bed canopy.

(Source)

Then the thoughts on color schemes...because I totally want her to have a sophisticated room...and we're moving out of the baby stage so I could see whatever we chose to last until she's like 5...right?

Apparently I'm thinking some sort of blue hue for her. I'm making this my summer project and I'd really like to have it complete before her birthday...so basically I have two months and 2 weeks! Yikes! Guess I better be getting busy.  If you have any ideas for that bunk bed contraption I'd love to hear them. 

Oh, the Places You'll Go!!!

Congratulations!

Today is your day

You're off to Great Places! 

You're off and away

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decided where to go.

~Dr. Seuss

Not long ago I found this pin (though I can't find it now) to have each of your child's teachers sign this book and then give it to them for high school graduation.  I instantly fell in love with the idea! And being the fact that Dalton was in the midst of his Kindergarten year I felt as if it was a project I could tackle! I'm proud to announce that yes I...Tiffany Evans actually went through with it too! Let's hope I can keep it up for the next 12 years...and do it for Sophie as well!

Today is the last day of Kindergarten for Dalton {Insert Big, Big tears}.  It's been a great year.  A learning experience for all of us.  I'm proud of the him and the way he has grown through out this year.  He was the kid crying everyday for the first month of school when I dropped him off...but now he's the big kid who has his seatbelt unbuckled and out the car door before I barely have time to tell him goodbye.  He was the kid who could care less about learning letters and numbers and writing his name...but the smile on his face when he wrote to 100 for the first time and got an Applebee's gift card from his teacher was priceless. He's sounding out words and reading to his sister, counting everything from the fish in the pond to the days of the month.  He's officially a BIG kid and so excited about what first grade has to offer!

I'm so excited to watch him morph through the years and see all the places he'll go!!!

30 Really Isn't all that bad!

My Good Friend Donna called me last week and said we should make a commitment to each other to blog again.  So today on my 30th birthday...I'm gonna give the blogging thing a try again

The 20's were so so so good to me.  I married the man I lusted after in high school, we bought a house, had a beautiful baby boy, completely remodeled that house, had a beautiful baby girl and bought our second house. We went on vacations, made and lost touch with friends, celebrated 10 years out of high school, celebrated marriage milestones with our grandparents and sent my oldest to school.  The 20's were filled with lots of beginnings for this crazy life of mine, lots of things I can't wait to watch flourish and grow in my 30's.

So today on this 30th birthday of mine I will not be sad that I'm leaving my 20's behind. I'll celebrate all that they brought to me and look forward to the future...because 30 is the new 20 anyway...right?!?!?

Pardon me while I thank my mom for getting me reading again...

I think I fell in love with reading sometime in Jr. High and couldn't get enough of those Baby Sitter Club books.

I would delve in and imagine being these high school girls.  The were best friends who had their own baby sitting club. In what I remember being one of my favoriets (though I no longer remember the title) where two of the baby sitters got to go somewhere tropical with a family and I'm sure there were boys involved too.

That theme has continued with me through the years. I can read while watching tv...listening to music...while my kids are bathing...just not while driving (bummer me...eww car sickness).  But in all honesty I haven't had much time to read since having kids.  I did read the whole Twilight series in a matter of just two or three weeks but other than that I haven't read anything regulary.

This year for Christmas my mom told my that my sister had mentioned that she might want a nook.  I was quick to say I want one too! AND I LOVE IT!!!!!! I've finished two books since Christmas which might not seem like a lot but it's more than I read all year last year so! I'm currently reading the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.  I'm on book number 4 of 18 but I have a feeling I'm going to fly through them. So if you have book suggestions to share with me...start sending them! My nook (I feel like I should name her) and I have a lot of stories to explore...I have a feeling it's going to be a very long and lasting relationship!

So mom thanks again for the nook and for reinstating that love of reading and making it easier for me to let my imagination roam into these other worlds.  I love you!



nook is owned by Barnes and Noble...you can check them out at www.bn.com .

Six years and a few days ago...

I gave birth to the second love of my life...he weight 6 lbs 3 oz and was the most perfect little man I had ever seen.  Now someone tell me where the last 6 years and few days have gone?!?!?!? How did my teeny tiny little baby turn into a big kid...a wrestler...a 6 year old!!!! I couldn't be more proud of the kid Mr. Dalton has become.  He has the kindest heart of any boy I know.  He plays with his sister and makes sure she's always well taken care of.  He smiles the entire time he's on the wrestling mat.  He reads me books at night and is always begging to make me a new piece of art.  He's my best friend! I can't imagine not having him as my first born...we have that first born-mom-son bond that words just can't describe.  I'm looking forward to watching him continue to grow and see what kind of big kid, teenager, man he becomes but right now I'm living and loving the moment we're in. He reminds me every day how lucky and blessed I am to have him and his sister and I'm cherishing everything about them that I can.

Merry Christmas

Because I know I will be away from the computer (rightfully so) for a few days I just wanted to take a moment to say Merry Christmas.  May your family find peace love and comfort this Christmas.  Let's work on getting back to this blogging business next year shall we?!?!?!?

Merry Christmas Friends and God Bless!!!!