Santa, Santa, Ho-Ho-Ho

Last night,we took the kids to Santa and Mrs. Clause's house. Yes, you read that right. There is a couple that lives about 15 minutes from us that decorate their house for Christmas. They also dress as Mr and Mrs. Clause. It is amazing! They have been doing it for 17 years. From what we've heard (and we aren't certain this is the case), this couple won the lottery and that's how they do this annually. There is no admission fee to walk through their home and visit with them. They are amazingly sweet people. Their home has 3 rooms in it. One is a train room. It has a great village w/trains in it. One is a Santa Clause room and the other is an angle room complete with navity scenes (my favorite). The outside is FULL of lights. Santa has his own room and they give out candy to the kids. Conner surprised Josh and I by NOT freaking out. He even told Santa that he wanted a farm tractor with a trailer. Santa told him that he thought a farm tractor with a trailer would be so much fun. Parker...well, he wasn't a big fan. haha!!!! It was still fun though.

Click to enlarge.

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Remind me

Remind me that I DO have a blog. Remind me that sometimes it's ok to stop working for other people and jot down things MY kids are doing. Remind me that I should take photographs of MY own kids. Even if it's not a perfect shot, remind me that I'm a MOM first, photographer second and to LOVE what I got b/c of the moment not the outcome.

Let's talk about my boys...

Parker...oh Parker. LOVE Parker. He's beyond cute.



He is a huge chatterbox, he runs, jumps, climbs. He can (we don't allow this) plug in the Christmas tree lights. He loves to laugh, loves hats, shoes and socks. He loves to drive Conner's jeep, slide and ride the lawnmower. He is starting to put 2 word combos together. list of words:, nah, ir would take all day.

Conner. Oh Conner. My little love bug...he's so funny. His facial expressions...



He is funny...the things he says, his silly behavior, the way he is animated when he talks. He is also THREE, which, IMO is a terrible yet fun age. He challenges me (not in a good way) every day. He fights with Parker. He loves all things candy and gum related. He adores his daddy. He loves cheese. He's precious...even on a bad day. He loves school and their Christmas program was so sweet. I cried a little bit watching him sing. I only have a cell phone video (that needs to be uploaded) b/c I forgot my camera.

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I promise (to myself bc I have lost all of my readers) that I will blog more often.  I need to document what my kids are doing. it's important.

 

ps sorry for the duplicate images. I don't know how to delete them from the slideshow and not the whole post.

hmmmm

so, the last time I blogged...it was about my half marathon. Nothing more, nothing less. I know I've been slacking but being a SAHM to 2 very active little boys and trying to run a business is no small task. Unfortunately, the blog  has taken a back seat. Since my half, Conner turned THREE (omg, so big) and we went trick or treating. The kids were pirates and so, so cute. Parker was so funny trying to keep up with Conner and Jack (the neighbor, he's five). They were so, so wound up though.

Conner's party was fun, but it was super cold! I think it was the fastest park party ever! He got lots and lots of craft stuff, which made me very happy. We have way too many toys and things like craft materials are always welcome here.

I started back at the gym. I really need it. I hate the way I look and feel. We already pay for it so...might as well use it. I'm really sore but I like it. It means I did something.

We went to Louisiana a few weeks ago. Someone special got married. It was so, so, so nice to see MY family (for a change). It has been TWO years since we have seen my Granny and other members of my family (aside from my siblings). It was very long overdue. I actually cried when we left. It's so hard to say good bye to people that genuinely love me and my kids and my husband. I don't feel that kind of unconditional love here (in GA). I think that Josh does but I certainly do not. I digress.

Conner is still going to school. He was loving it but then last night he asked Josh if he could use his truck to knock the school down so he didn't have to go...um yea. no. I don't know why he all of a sudden doesn't like it. He didn't listen on Tuesday and he didn't get a sticker but...knocking it down might be a little much. School IS at a church. LOL!

I did it!!!

Sunday was THE day. The half marathon. In one word....Painful. Seriously...it was pretty hilly. It was SO fun though. SO fun. My sister came in from Baton Rouge and brought my MOM! what a great surprise. Kim came down from TN to run it too but she's a real bad ass and smoked me and my dehydrated self (I'll get to that). First, I want to talk about mother nature. She's a real piece of work. Thursday and Friday it was amazing here...lows in the 50s...Sunday...um it was like 40 degrees when we started. Holy cold! We got over ourselves and ran. Katie stuck with me b/c Kim hauled bootie. It's ok, Kim, I sill love ya and am super proud of you! Kaite and I set a great pace keeping the miles around 11.5 min. We didn't stop at all until almost 8 miles. This is huge for me. I haven't blogged about it but my kids were sick, then I was sick and then I was just plain tired so...guess who didn't run for THREE weeks before this race...yea, me. stupid. really. Anyway, around mile 9, I started to get all crampy so I ate my jelly beans, drank my water and felt a little better. At the next hydration station (there were 7), I got 2 cups of powerade, Katie got 3 cups of water and I drank and drank. It did help. We ran/walked/ran/walked until mile 12 when I had to walk. I bummed a gatorade off of a spectator on the side of the road. He said that he brings them to races "just in case someone needs one". Thank God for that man. I really think without that gatorade I wouldn't have been able to run the last 200 yards over the finish line. I finished in 2:53:33. I wasn't thrilled with my time but  I finished! that's what matters!!! I could barely walk Sunday afternoon and I'm still sore but it was totally worth it. I had a wonderful time and I can't wait to do another one.

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The Fair

First of all, I can't believe it's been 18 days since I've blogged...well, yes I can. I know how busy I am. These two boys keep me running and cleaning constantly.

 

Anyway, the fair came to town so Josh and I decided that we would pack up the kids and take them for a few hours. To say they enjoyed themselves would be an understatement. Conner knows what rides are but he didn't really know what the fair was. He kept saying we were going to the circus.  We bought Conner a wrist band and then bought some tickets. Parker was in LOVE with the rides. Conner rode everything that he was tall enough for. He liked all of them, except the roller coaster. It was pretty bumpy; Josh rode that one with him. The only thing I don't have a picture of is the huge slide. I went down that w/him and Josh didn't think of grabbing the camera. Oh well. Next time...and it's fair season so there will be a next time.

There were too many images to put in individually. Enjoy the slideshow!

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Park Day

It's been blaring hot here this summer so when the days cool off just a little bit, we take advantage of them. The other day, it was 70ish and cloudy. I took the kids to the park to play. They had a great time.



I love his liggle (big) feet





Conner was all over the rock wall









Fun all around!

Conner went down this bad boy.



He was THRILLED!





 

In other news, I have been training for my first half marathon. D-Day is Oct 2. It's quickly approaching and I'm excited and terrified. It's going to be FUN though, that I'm sure of. I wish I could say that my training has helped me to lose weight but...it hasn't. I don't know why but it doesn't matter. I feel better, stronger, healthier. THAT is what matters, not how skinny I am. Fit doesn't always mean skinny and I'm perfectly fine with FIT!

I need to blog...

that's what I said to myself this morning. I have NO clue what I'm going to write about. Nothing has really been going on.

I guess I will just do some funnies from the kids.

First up, Conner.

"Hey Mom, guess what?" um, when did I get a teenager? Last time I checked, he was still 2.

"Just a minute, my talking to my daddy, mommy"

"My not a mean boy, my just ugly for just a minute"

"My all big; my don't need food" (we fight with him to eat every day)

From Parker

Take the boy's shorts off and the diaper will be off asap.

He LOVES his dad and every morning as soon as I get him, he screams, "DAD".

His vocabulary consists of the following words:

dad

mom

cup

ner, ner (conner)

dog

duck

hat

milk (mock)

bath

ball

truck

car

 

 

starting over...

I have (once again) neglected this blog. I mean I just posted Parker's ONE year post...yea a few weeks late, I know. In my defense, I started the post on the right day.

 

I'm sure that some of you are wondering what and where I've been and I wish I had an explanation. I don't have one.

My kids keep me super busy; they are needy. It is what it is.

I am training for a half marathon and I'm terrified I won't be able to do it but that fear isn't stopping me from still trying.

Conner starts 2 day a week school on the 17. I am excited about it but I'm nervous and not 100% ready but I know it will be good for both of us. He has been testing everything lately and it's very hard on me. He has even taught Parker how to not listen and to be mean. He doesn't share well at all and I really think he needs to be around other children and learn to take direction from other adults.  One of the days Conner is in pre-school, Parker and I are going to do a Mommy and Me class and that will be fun. I'm looking forward to that.

My photography is slowing down. It is a hard reality for me b/c it is something that I really, really enjoy but without clients, the business aspect isn't there. It makes me sad but I can't force people to hire me for their portraits.

I'm trying to think of what else I can say to update but I just don't know.

Oh, I went off of my PPD meds and guess what? I'm FINE. Yes, I still have moments of frustration (what mom doesn't) and yes I need breaks from my kids (what mom doesn't) but I'm doing fine. I'm thrilled too. I know that running helps me with that.

It's been so stinkin hot here; we've basically stayed inside unless we have had the hose/sprinkler out. Even the pool is hot; it's like bath water and that's not refreshing!

Here are a few pictures...just in case you care.

One year

One year ago today, God gave us Parker. He sure knows what we need. The past year has been amazing and challenging. It's been a time of happiness and adjustments. Parker has blessed our family and brought indescribable joy into our home. Happy Birthday to my Parkerooni. love isn't a strong enough word...

Gone Fishin'

For whatever reason, Conner has been very interested in fishing. He even told Josh that he needed to take him to the store and buy a little tiny fishing pole for Conner. After about 2 weeks of listening to him talk about going fishing, we headed to Target to get a kid's pole. He picked out a BARBIE one b/c it's pink but we talked up race cars and he finally decided he wanted the Cars one; Phew!! Off we went to the lake in my ILs neighborhood. Parker came too but I had to either hold him or let him play in the rocks. He really wanted to be on the dock w/Daddy and Conner but it just isn't safe.

They got worms for the hooks



They stood there and fished for a while.







Then...they caught one!



He was so proud and excited and CUTE. First fish ever.



They fished some more; I think we were there for about an hour.









Parker just either stayed in my arms or sat in the rocks. He wanted to run but Parker and water are a scary combination. He is NOT afraid at all.