Alive and kicking!

Time for a little catch-up eh?

• I think I mentioned I went back to school last summer for my reading certificate. It's every other Saturday for the most part, except for the last three Saturdays in a row- urgh! I absolutely love everything I'm learning, however-

The program is only a year, and that means we cram a lot in.  A LOT! But I love the opportunities that it looks to be bringing in the future.

• I'm currently addicted to puffins. MMMMM, so good! We just sold these as our fundraiser, since I was the advisor in charge I was rewarded three packages. They're not the healthiest, but my goodness are they delicious. 

At this point I just want to eat them up so they're gone.

• Ryker's second birthday is coming up, and this guy is our mascot. Ryker loves everything Elmo. He hasn't watched Sesame Street, or really anything, but he likes this guy.
  
• We've been pretty busy around here lately, and I got to the point Friday at school where I felt like things were closing in on me. My amazing husband reminded me I have to ask for help and not try to do it all at once. 

• This year I tried the Erin Condren lesson planner instead of the Life Planner. In all honesty, I won't order it again. our school requires Google calendars so all my lessons and assignments are on that. Due to the lack of space I wasn't writing down and keeping track of things like I used to. So I made some adjustments. I cut my lesson planning pages out 

then attached them behind the month they belong. The three columns make it easy to break up my teaching work, graduate work, and home needs. So much better. 

• Lastly, Easter is coming! I love the spring outfits, Easter egg hunts, and family time. I'm hoping to see one of the boys in this- 

 

Maybe with a light green or blue underneath? 

Happy Monday! 

Ryker 20 months

At this point I could wait until 24 months but I've got time and I don't want to forget anything!

This little guy is growing so fast!

Your favorites are mandarin oranges, pears, mashed potatoes, and fruit snacks! We actually have to limit you to two a day otherwise you would eat them non-stop.

You still nap once a day 1.5-2.5 hours. You're a great sleeper, but you're such a mover so no one can lie next to you for too long. You have no problem sleeping in the car, I wonder who you get that from...

You love, love, love reading! You're favorite on Sundays is climbing up in Grandpa Hummer's lap with books. You pick the same ones over and over again. Lately, you've also started "writing" and coloring, so cute!

You really don't care for veggies- AT ALL! We keep trying them but you really want no part in them at all.

You loved Halloween this year! Once you figured out that people were handing out candy you would knock on the door before your brother got the chance!

You love your brother and enjoy following him around. You try to climb into bed with him every night and I think he'd let you stay if we let you. You've also mastered climbing in our bed! Luckily you sleep 9-7 or 8 so we don't mind you popping in each morning.

  Ryker you keep us on our toes! You've emptied a wipe container or two, and love shredding tissues. You are very sneaky and quiet!

You also get so excited when we bring in Bane. You squeal in delight when he gives you kisses. You love to lay down just so he can get closer.

 You're about 24 lbs. holding pretty steady on that lately, but you've been growing much taller and getting leaner. You're in size 18m- 2T pending on the brand but still in size 4 diapers. I have a feeling potty training will come earlier than your brother, you're very interested in the potty!

You really don't say a whole lot words, mama, dad, ball, up, and almost grandpa. But you know SO many! I think by two you'll be non stop talking! We'll see soon!

We're ALIVE!

We've been a little crazy lately (who hasn't) but tonight the time just seemed right. Plus all three boys are asleep and I don't want to wake The Man by digging gifts out of our closet to wrap. We've been up to a lot, like I said, and making the right things a priority as been a struggle.

• I've been training for a half-marathon since the end of September. November 30 was the race and it was amazing!
• The Man has been applying for jobs in the law enforcement field, luckily they keep popping up, but hate the frustration he feels sometimes. 
• Tucker turned eight! EIGHT! And with that seems to come all these new little quirks. 
• Ryker is growing constantly! Into everything and going everywhere. 
• I'm working on my reading certificate which I can not get enough of!
• My class this year ROCKS, they always do, but it's so great to have a class I look forward to everyday. 
• It's Christmas time!!!

Our two trees- 

We didn't put all the decor up this year, I didn't want Ryker to be tempted. I saw this tree and I knew I wanted to make it. It's right next to the other tree but Ryker knows he can do whatever he wants with the pieces and its kept him occupied. We'll see what happens when presents start appearing under the tree. 

So there's a quick catch-up. Hopefully more to come!

Update on 30 Before 30

September marked my 29th birthday, meaning I have a year to finish my list. Um, I had some pretty lofty goals I guess, but then our lives have gone a little different direction than where we were two years ago when I made the list.

Here's how we're looking-

1. Paint the inside of our house. We have one color in every room, it was ideal when we were building- not any more. We've painted our living room and master bedroom, I'd still like to maybe get the bathroom.

2. Take Tucker on a family vacation.
South Dakota was a blast!!

3. Conceive #2.
Hey, hey, Ryker!

4. Finalize our will. We need to get this one done soon!!!

5. Buy a wonderful pair of designer shoes.

6. Go to another NASCAR race. Don't hate!

7. Host a holiday get-together at our house.
I hosted Christmas for my Dad's side in 2012

8. Stop worrying about what everything thinks, maybe shorten the list to what some people think.

9. Teach Tucker to tie his shoes. He's got it! 

10. Continue yoga on a weekly basis.
Switch to run and we're sitting good.

11. Another trip to Kentucky- its been WAY too long!

12. Paint an original water color for our living room wall.

13. Go on a ride-along with a local police officer. I'd like to have a real idea of what the Man will be doing at work.
Done! Unfortunately it was boring but we talked a lot.

14. Completely "do-up" my walk in closet!

15. Go somewhere hot and sandy with the Man only. 

16. Set up Tucker's education fund.

17. Play a round of golf with the Man- it's not that I can't golf, but that's a lot of golf and I have a short attention span.
We did this and it actually went well.

18. Another tattoo?  in celebration of #2 of course. 

19. Pay off my car. 

20. Read, read, and read some more. 

21. Run a 10k. Sunday, Sept. 15 it took 1:04:41 loved it!

22. Win more than $4 from our Power ball tickets (this leaves more to chance, but I can try)

23. Lose the weight from #2. Done! Thanks to running!

24. Finish our basement completely.

25. Spend a night at a B&B up north.

26. Cook a whole meal from scratch. Shockingly it was easier than I thought, bacon wrapped chicken, veggies, with a banana pudding poke cake. 

27.  Die my hair- or highlights. I'm not sure a color, but the Man has kind of hinted and I'd like to try something different even for just a little bit. 

28. Add landscaping to the front and back yard. 

29. For one year, see a movie in the theater each month- I miss going to the movies.
August- Despicable Me 2

30. Do something spontaneous- this is open-ended I know, but I'm a planner. I don't usually just "do things".
My 10k was spontaneous, we called my parents up to watch the kids so we could do a little run, I miscounted and went 8k, so I said what the heck and went for it!

I'm getting closer but it's going to be big year! 

WIWW

Yeah! I finally remembered to start taking pictures again!
Here are some of my recent outfits:

Top: NY and Co

Capris: Limited

Necklace: Very Jane

Odd Smile: Cali Original

Blazer: Gap (old)

Tank: Target

Pants: Old Navy

Leopard Belt: Forever 21

 Weekend outfit, plus outtakes (although they're all outtakes)

 Top: Very Jane

Jeans: Gap Always Skinny

Shoes: Target leopard print (unfortunately not shown)

This is what happens when your husband takes the pictures and cracks jokes the whole time! Love that guy!

Slow it down!

Wowza! Um, fall is here. We're in the third week of school. I have 57 posts to read according to Bloglovin'. I have two grad assignments due next weekend. I'm slightly behind on grading. I have some interventions to put together and then implement.

But! Tucker is in soccer two nights a week and loves it! I put in my notice to Gap. I know all my students names and most personalities. Our daycare is moving but I've found a new one who's one street away. Ryker has been sleeping in a day bed for the last two nights, plus naps, and doing wonderfully- he's getting so big.

Busy is good. But I can't wait for upcoming days and just taking time to enjoy scenes like these-

Mmmmm, I love the sights and smells of fall!

Five on Friday!

It's my second Five on Friday but what an amazing day it's been!

5. I'm ready for fall! I brought some stuff out last weekend, but this weekend I want to get all my fall decor out and set. I don't go too overboard but I would love to have something similar to this eventually. 

 

4. Last night was a fabulous run! I was dog tired all day but told myself that I had to get this long run done. And let me tell you, I felt so good. I actually added a little bit so that I made it the whole five miles. While this might not sound like a whole lot, it's a great distance for me.

3.  This morning I called in to our local radio show and won!! They host a game called, "Fact or Bull Crap", they give you a statement and you say if its a fact or bull crap. the topic was football. Nothing about players or teams, but average punt returns, number of safeties, way out of my league, but I guessed myself through it and won.

2. I started our cleaning list in the middle of August, but it's no where near done. Cleaning with two boys in the house wasn't worth the struggle somedays. This isn't just a vacuum and dust list, this is my extensive, top-to-bottom touch everything list. Hopefully I'll finish before the next time I hope to start it.

1. Today marks the end of our first week of school! Whoop, Whoop! One week closer to first break. Only kidding, I think I have a good class this year. We'll see how they all shake out throughout the year.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!