lil bit of this and that...

In the wagon... the lil K's

Dustin and I are hosting our first daycare BBQ/art show this week. The kids and I are getting ready to make some fun arts and crafts this week for our displays for the moms and dads.
We are so excited...

But, because we want our displays to be special and seen for the first time, I can't post pictures of what we did today. Or even this week.

So, for the time being, I will post pictures of some of our free play time... like when we are outside playing with sidewalk chalk-

We had to go out front to gather up "supplies" for one of our art pieces.... so we stopped and decorated the outside while we were there.

Such a fun morning. We had a blast getting ready for our party this week.

Parents: No asking what we did today!!!

First grilling of the season...

Dustin's new toy... we have been married for almost 11 years now and this is our first grill we have ever purchased. We have never had a problem using hand me down grills but after last summer, our grill needed some repairs. It was actually cheaper in the long run to get a new one.

Our yummy meal being cooked!

Relaxing on the deck - that still has not lost it's awesomeness!

After being outside pretty much all weekend, I was tired and ready to just sit... and after dinner, that is what I did!

Everyone was so excited to eat outside and grill! This is really one of the kids' favorite thing to do at home.

Even Kenni enjoyed the family time outside too!

Gaby's Awana Grand Prix

This was Gaby's first year to participate in Awana Grand Prix. Dustin and Gaby did a really good job of taking a block of wood from a car kit and making it into a racing car.

As the races started, Gaby became nervous- I have never seen her like this before. She really has a "great if I win or it's okay to lose" attitude. Gaby has always been that way.

Gaby's first race she was neck and neck for 2nd place- but ended up in 3rd. She was bummed. The second race, her car started shaking towards the end slowing her down and she was 4th place and finished racing.

You could see it in her body language that she was upset. My heart went out for her. Even though she is such a great sport, as a parent I want her to experience how it feels to win as well. Gaby, as she does, became very quiet. Her face wasn't smiling anymore.

On the way home, Dustin took her to get a special treat- an ice mocha ( can I just say that Dustin has got Gaby loving coffee too-shesh). As the day went on, Gaby was happy with her ribbon and already started planning out her car design for next year! With everything we do for the first time, it is an learning experience. Win or lose, I am so proud of my Peanut!

My TnT girl, Gaby!

race day...

The day has come... something I thought I would never do.
My first run!
Saturday was my first time to put all the running and training into play- I actually started running 7 short weeks ago. I downloaded an application, couch to 5K. It is a great tool to get non-runner type people running.

I must say, I have had tremendous amount of support through this running process. In this picture is Ericka, she has spent countless late nights running beside me at the gym. We went to high school together and our paths have crossed through our children attending the same school as well as FB. I have said this before and will say it again, there is a hand full of SHES moms that run at the gym- they have held me accountable and I love them for that! E signed up at the same time I did for this run, and even though she is faster then I am (finished in 20 minutes), I am so proud of this girlie and all of her hard work! She rocks!

Before the race- I am still smiling!

Another friend Kim. She has been running for a while. This is one of my sister friends- I love this girl. She always has a big smile on her face and a huge hug to give you! Kim (and Darlene- taking the picture), were such rocks for me- always giving me positive feedback and encouragement when it came to getting ready for this race. These ladies play such an important role in my life.

Getting ready for the race... I thought I was going to puke. I have talked about this day forever now. I was excited, scared, nervous, and just unsure of myself. I have ran 2 miles several times the past 2-3 weeks. This should have been a somewhat simple task for me. The day of the race every bad thought I had ever had about running was filtering through my head- the devil was in my head- and I think he was winning for a while.

I thrive on listening to my music- a dear friend of mine made me an awesome "running" cd that is on my Ipod. I know the song order, I count the songs to help keep my time, and I use the beats to keep my pace. I am dependent on my music. I get into a zone and I am able to run. This race, however stated, no headphones. As it was my first race, I left my music off. I think that was my first huge strike for me.

As the race started, I tried to pace myself... I did fine. I know I am a slower runner and I would not be staying with the people I knew. The route took us through the back side of campus at Washburn University and then on to the side walk. I am running, I stayed focused on my E's pink shirt- as long as I saw her shirt, I was doing ok. As the ran continue- she was kicking butt and I lost her shirt! (Again, I am so proud of her)

During the race... I was keeping at a good pace. I knew I was doing okay. However, not having my music going really started messing me. I had all this time to think about things. How I felt tired, my legs were starting to feel sore, my breathing is off, ect. I even started digging back into childhood memories... how I hated running the 1 mile timed run for the President PE testing, and how I hated running games in school because I could never keep up. Then I flash forward to today and I think, "I am not keeping up anymore". It was that moment I was flooded with emotions, tears were flowing and I stopped running. I had to walk.

I was upset! I had nothing to gauge my time, how slow or fast I was going, or if I was keeping up or not! I was flustered, overwhelmed, and ready to give up!

I turned a corner... I heard the WU cheerleaders cheering and knew I was getting close. At the end of the cheerleaders, I saw my personal cheerleader Darlene. She kept telling how close I was and that I could finished this. Still emotional- Kim and Darlene stayed with me until I finished.

As I entered Moore Bowl, I heard times being called out- I thought for sure I was over 30 minutes for what I thought was going to be this simple 2 mile run. I saw I was close to 23 minutes. With my friends at my side and in the stand (Thanks Kelli for the support girl), I finished my first run. When I crossed over the line I finished at 24.15!

After the race... I was upset! I felt like I had disappointed myself because I had to stop to walk. I thought I was so much slower then I really was. And, I thought I wasn't good enough! I was embarrassed because I never knew running would bring out such an emotional side. Crying at a race, what is that about? But finishing something I never thought I would ever be able to do, is an emotional thing.

After the race was finished, I reflected on the morning- now I can say I am happy with my time. I am good, no... I am great enough to do this, God has blessed me with some uber awesome friends, and I will cry whenever I want to! My hope is that everyone in life will get to experience an event or situation that just brings you down to your lowest point, makes you doubt everything you have ever known and then you look it in the face and find the strength, faith, and courage to overcome it!
Humility, faith, support, encouragement, prayer, strength, emotion, love, exhaust... these are all words that crossed my mind a million times since yesterday morning! I am so pleased to say I finished my first run... it may not have been pretty, but I did it - and in 2 more weeks, I will finish my first 5K.

Today we talked about Letter L some more... coming up with more "L" words and practicing the "L" sound.

We even made "L" out of our pretzel snacks.

Thursday is our "L" bag day. Each kid brings items from home that start with the letter "L".
We had some fun items: lions, lids, lambs, Leo-Leo, leaf, lip gloss, Larry Boy, lotions, Lava girl, Lightyear... just to name a few.

This week has been opposites week. We have talked about fast/ slow, loud/quite, in/out, under/over. To help with these concepts we have been reading Olivia's Opposite book.

Today is a good day...

I hate posting without a picture so here is Mia yesterday- it was great weather outside and she is sporting a fun spring outfit... no jackets, no hoods, no coats, no gloves... Spring may have finally arrived!

Today is a good day- not that everyday isn't a good day but today is just a bright, chipper, full of sun type of day! We played outside this morning, did some art (battery died so I have to get pictures of daycare doing the project over again), and I don't have to cook tonight. Which also means, my kitchen stays clean since daycare has finished lunch. Little things are what make my world go around!

I started my day at the gym this morning- I have a friend that is meeting me up there 3x a week in the am for accountability. I love working out at night and will continue to do so however there are times I am rushing to get to the gym or Jazz class and if had worked out in the am it wouldn't be as tough - plus it allows for more days to get a second workout in too- I hope.

It's only 1:30 and I have burned 2260 calories already- love seeing a high number so early in the day. It shows that I really do not sit down until nap time most days.

This weekend Dustin and I went shopping- he has lost weight also and needed new work shirts that actually fit. I hate shopping with this boy- but his mom took the girls for us and we went out! I'll do anything to get hubby time, even if it means shopping! We went our different ways for a while, I picked out a couple of things- I met up with him at the dressing room and I kid you not, he had over 25 things to "try on". Holy cow! So, we took the big dressing room and I helped the hubs make good choices- he probably wouldn't have bought the smaller sizes needed if I hadn't been in there- he is used to wearing his stuff baggy! But the boy is hot and needs to show that off too! I am proud of his progress and he is stepping it up too by counting calories with me!!!

While on the hubs topic- I am just over the top in love with this guy! He has so much going on with house projects, my grant projects, coffee projects... the boy is just amazing! I am blessed to have him, still be so in love with him, and be in awe of him. After almost 11 years of marriage, I am so excited to share that we still have all of this! It is a lot of work, mainly the kid part but when it is this fun to be a part of the work is so stinkin' worth it!

The weather is just awesome... all I have to say about that!

I just finished an online training for daycare hours- that was an awesome time! It was a fun topic and I didn't have to leave my house to complete it. I wish more trainings were like this!

My heart is just full- is that corny? I dunno! But it is. Is my life a struggle, some days, you bet. It isn't always going great but it is how you look at it that makes all the difference in the world.

Gaby is doing state testing and that is the topic of her conversation right now. How they get cool snacks and gum too. I have really noticed this year that Gabs is doing some growing up. More freedom and independence is needed for her- that is a hard one for me- but God willing, Dustin and I will know how to parent her.

Kadyn is doing great. The past few months she has struggled in school. I know, she is a kindergartner. It finally came to me that Kadyn and Gaby are different kids, learn differently, and school won't come as easily for Kk as it did Gaby. You would have thought I would come to that realization a lot sooner- never claimed to be the perfect parent, ya know! We started a homework calendar-mainly for me as a reminder that I need to put things like house work on hold and make sure school work and homework comes first. Yes! She has always done her work but some times it is last minute or after dance or church activity. That is where I needed to re-group and start over with how we approached this. After the calendar has been in place- I feel like we have balance now. Even Mia has to work on flashcards too! It's a good thing!

Mia... oh Mia, where do I start. This girl is the source of many laughs and tears all in the same moment. If I remembered how I was as a young child, I would think Mia is just like me. Her speech is just awesome- she is talking in full sentences and understands and can hold conversations. She is starting to know right and wrong even though wrong seems to be where she sides most of the time. Just thinking of this girl makes me smile! Staying home with my kids makes my days good (for the most part- not gonna lie, there are days). Seeing how she has developed the last few months just makes me happy!

Kendal Wendal is almost 24 hours of being bottle free. One more step towards saying good bye to infants in my home. Does this make me sad, oh course, but I am ready and excited for our next stages in life that God will open for us. With the wee ones becoming older, Dustin can work on his coffee business more, I can work at the kids' school more and get back into PTO as well! I am not saying I want Kendal to grow over night- I cherish every day of my 1 year olds life but it is nice that I am at peace with the fact she will be our last.

Today is just a good day! I don't know what else to say- I know, you are probably glad I am wrapping it up. Anyway! I hope you are having a good day too! I have to finish up around the house before nap is over! Then dance, soccer, and church!

Happy Wednesday!

L is for Ladybugs...

Today we jumped back into our letter of the week...

We used our thumbprints to make little ladybugs.

Our little ladybugs are so cute.

Random picture of my little girls...

We also talked about other L words like; lion, lamb, Laura, Landon, lemon, lollipops.... lots of fun words start with the Letter L.