Family Time

In the midst of lots of deadlines and busy stuff, I have been enjoying some plain ole fun family time. No agenda, just outside togetherness. Maddie works on her leadership routine for Colorguard tryouts, Lexi shoots baskets and Kylie rides her bike, roller skates, or scooters!

I sit and watch, take pictures, "help" with the routine, get in Lexi's way, and chalk with Kylie. Kylie even learned how to fly a kite by herself this week!

Last weekend, Kylie and I went down to the trail and she rode her bike while I ran with/behind her. She made it the entire 3 miles! I was so impressed! And she didn't even have to stop and rest for awhile at the halfway point.

Doug was out riding his bike and met us on the trail for a photo op. :)

Kylie rode faster with her daddy. I ran faster trying to keep up! 

By the time we made it back to the starting point, we were hot and tired! It was an 80+ degree day.

We have also started playing in our backyard again! Three cheers for our new gardener (retired neighbor) who has made our yard incredible! It is so nice having a place to play. 

And yes, that is a hay bale on the ground in the middle of the yard. That is our "chia pet." It is Lexi's roping dummy, but the hay bale got left in one spot too long and is now part of the yard!

And that is what I have been doing in my free time. Nothing! This is the perfect time of year in Texas. We have to enjoy these high 70's/low 80's afternoons while we have them!

I take more "selfies" that my teenage daughter!

Yesterday at lunch, I took a selfie. I was wearing a new shirt.

Maddie rolled her eyes and said "Mom, you take more selfies that I do!" I laughed as Lexi said that I didn't. That Maddie just sent her pictures via snapchat. I told her my friends didn't have snapchat, so I had to take pictures to text them or instagram them or facebook them!

Anyway, that got me thinking about my picture taking.

And here is what I have to say.

YES!! I do take a lot of pictures of myself these days. And I am PROUD of it! For years I hated the way I looked and avoided pictures. I didn't want a record of what I looked like or proof of what I wasn't doing!

But now, I am proud of who I am and my journey.

So here is a week in my life.. through pictures.

Today (Wednesday): This was taken after I ran an 8:15 mile. Woohoo! I'm making progress.

Yesterday (Tuesday): My lunch selfie! I am wearing a size small shirt here! I haven't been this small since 10th grade.

okay, one more selfie for yesterday.. :) Cause playing at the park deserves a photo spread!

Monday: Post run. Feeling the burn after four days of scrapbooking and binge eating! (Don't you love Kylie's photobomb!)

Sunday: At the pool. In a swimsuit.

Saturday: My 41st birthday!

Friday: Not technically a selfie..

How about this one?

Thursday: At retreat!

(Taking the panoramic photo was fun! After a bunch of tries, we got it. I started the photo with Mindy on the left sitting and after I passed her and got around, she took the camera and got me in the photo!)

And back to Wednesday. At the Japanese Gardens.

So yeah. I take a lot of pictures. And I am proud of it! :)

Kylie the Kindergartener's Day

Can't imagine life without sweet Kylie Faith! She brings us so much joy each day.


Here is a glimpse at her day.


Kindergarten story writing...

"We work, I work."

"I like summer at the park."

Multiple costume changes are required.

A performance is usually included.

And maybe a little yoga.

All the while, she talks. She has SO much to say EVERY SINGLE DAY!

So finally, at night, when we get her to stop talking... she CRASHES!

Oh how I love this child.

She is growing up too fast! She even has a loose tooth.

Let us RUN

A Week of Celebrations

It was a busy week here last week.

On Tuesday, Lexi was in a school play. It was called "The Granny Awards" and Lexi was the Granny!! She was very cute!

I'd put more pictures in this, but I recorded the performance while others took pictures. That means I don't have pictures on my computer. Bummer. Just take my word for it, she looked like a little old granny on the stage. She even had fake glasses.

Then Friday was Lexi's 9th birthday! 

We celebrated as a family on Thursday night with a special french toast, whipped cream and strawberries meal. This is the second year that we have done this, so now it's a tradition!

Then Lexi got to open a couple of presents. Kylie picked out a great game called Kornered. It's all about colors and patterns and NO WORDS to read, so everyone could play!

The big gift were stilts. Oh how she wanted those things! And she knew that they probably wouldn't be shipped in time for her birthday, so she was so excited when she was handed the box!

Doug quickly put them together.

 And she was off!

We started her off on the lowest setting with the starter legs and we have been raising them a little. Even just a few days in and she is about ready for the legs to be changed to the "advanced" leg. 

Then on Friday morning, she got a couple more presents. A pink jacket from her Daddy, a book from Maddie and a card game from me.

Then we were off to school for end of the grading period awards. Here Lexi got perfect attendance, A honor roll and two different reading awards. 

As you can see in the picture below, only two students earned one of the reading awards that Lexi got this six weeks! She was so pumped and is already well on her way to her next goal.

We ended the day with Lexi and Kylie going to spend the night with my parents while Doug, Maddie and I drove two hours away to watch a high school football playoff game! The next morning we all went to a fun run (pictures to come...) and then Sunday celebrated Doug's birthday! He went and played golf and I ran a 5k.

Whew, no wonder I don't feel rested! :) What a great life I have! I get to celebrate my children, run races with them, play games and sing songs and eat cupcakes with my family. No time for rest, but that's the way I like it!

Snow Day!

It's currently under 20 degrees here in central Texas.

Winds are more than 20 mph.

And what are we doing.

Yup.  Playing in the snow covered ice.

Crazy.

 

  

Don't you just love Snow Days!!