Freezing rain, ice and remote learning! Oh my!

 What a week or two we have had!  The last couple weeks have been filled with less than ideal temperatures and weather for my two active boys.  While they have desperately wanted a good snow... all we got was freezing rain and ice!  Here is how we have entertained ourselves as we are counting down the days to spring!  Zander met one of his best buds, Christian, at the roller skating rink for an afternoon of fun! Zander was zipping around the rink and showed a huge confidence which was exciting since we haven't been to the roller skating rink since before the pandemic started a year ago.  Both boys enjoyed spending their money at the arcade as well!

Maddox requested gel one morning!  He gets his thick hair from his mama!  He did fess up this week that he cut a couple locks from his hair using daddy's beard cutting scissors.... he proudly proclaimed "it didn't hurt at all"! haha  I told him he will not be cutting any more of his hair in the future no matter how cute his explanation was! ;)  

Linds and I suited up for our first 10 miler of 2021.  We have a virtual half marathon we are running at the end of March so we are trying to increase the mileage in the next few weeks as we prepare for 13.1 again!  Ironically, our entire run was in freezing rain with trees falling in front of or behind us along the path.  It might have been one of the craziest things we have done lately but really made us feel like true runners who get out there in all types of weather!  When we got back to my car, it wouldn't start again! This would make the second time in a week and a half!  The last time the battery was replaced so we have no idea what is going on!  Fortunately, dad came to the rescue and the jumper cables worked this time!  Zack met me at the dealership and we got a loaner to drive while they figure it out.  As of today, it looks like it might be another couple weeks without my vehicle which I know and love!  Hoping they get it fixed and I get back to driving it soon!  (These pictures were taken prior to the car not starting.... where things got even colder as Linds and I waited for dad and mom to come rescue me!) 

As I mentioned, this past week was filled with freezing rain and ice.  This meant for lots of indoor fun.  We watched a little tv and cuddled while the kids played on their tablets for a little break for mommy! ;)  We also played Uno, Guess Who and a few made up games around the house!

On Saturday, the weather got up to 50 degrees for the first time in weeks so we headed to the science center for some indoor and outdoor fun that was not within our living room! haha  We enjoyed our day!  Zander decided not to do the carousel this time... I hope that he hasn't outgrown things like that just yet.... we shall see! 

Thursday was a no school day due to the icy conditions and fear of many power outages which meant both boys were with me but we didn't have to worry about getting schoolwork done.  Other than that, Zander and I worked from home the rest of the week.  Thanks to Grammy and Grandpa, my sidekick went to their house on Tuesday so I could get a few things done at the school.  I enjoyed snapping pictures of him working while I was also knocking out the daily to-do list. I have to say I am very excited we are going back to school tomorrow..... it just feels right for Z to be in class and for mommy to get her work done with a few less interruptions. ;)

To My Little Valentines

 To My Littlest Loves,

Well.... you are not so little anymore.... at five and seven years old, I truly cannot believe that you are in PreK and 2nd grade!  As I think back on the last year, I had no idea at this holiday a year ago, this would be the last holiday you would celebrate with your classmates for sometime.  By March 13th, you were with me full time until school started back in August for Maddox's Pre-K year.  Zander stayed with me full time until January of 2021, making ten months of remote learning for his first/second grade years.  Can you believe that we learned, played and mommy worked altogether for this long?  When I look back, I am impressed at how we juggled it all and am also hopeful you only remember the good.... the extra time to sleep or cuddle in the morning, the laidback attire, the bike rides to the school down the street to play at their track, field or courts to get some energy out between work sessions.  I pray that you always remember that mommy and daddy did everything in their power to give you great experiences while we were under a "stay at home" order.  Daddy went to work every day and both of your parents continued to provide for your needs and some of your wants.  We were still able to go to the beach, a mountain waterfall adventure and Great Wolf Lodge! We have made so many wonderful memories this year! I have enjoyed watching you grow, watching your love for sports get bigger and watching all that you are learning! Zander, it amazes me how you so quickly went from reading words and small picture books to whole chapter books this past year.  Maddox, it amazes me how you are able to confidently count to 100, read letters and numbers and how you can use your knowledge of letter sounds to put three letter words together through blending the sounds!  This all happened so fast and I am so proud of both of you! I love to hear you say your prayers at mealtime or before bed.  I love listening to you sing songs on the radio when K-Love is playing or to sing songs you learned at church in your sweet five and seven year old voices!  I cannot wait to see what this upcoming year has in store for my little valentines.  I hope you will always know how much you are loved and prayed for.  As Grammy mentioned on one of the hearts she put on your doors, you are the boys we prayed for..... prayers that started before mommy and daddy met, prayers that continued after mommy and daddy got married and prayers that are said daily since you have arrived.  You bring us all so much joy and we love being able to celebrate all the holidays with you!  You eagerly count down to the next one, giving us something to look forward to every month!  We love you!

Love,

Mommy (and Daddy) ;) 

**Grammy makes each holiday special.... she created calendars for each boy's bedroom with stickers to count down to this holiday of love.  She also wrote every single heart note that is on their doors (along with ones for us as well).  We pray we love like she does every day.  We are so lucky she is ours! ;) 

**Maddox had a Valentine party and got lots of goodies.  He even made his own valentine container at Grammy's!  Zander couldn't have a class party or exchange valentines due to Covid-19 restrictions.  He was able to pass out valentines to the other staff kids at our school which made him happy to give them out and also to receive a few in return! ;) 

On Valentine's Day, we went to church and then ate lunch at Arby's afterwards.....we enjoyed jamocha and mint chocolate chip shakes with lunch!  After lunch, the boys got fresh hair cuts for upcoming picture days this week and next!  We enjoyed a nap time and then watched the movie "Up" while the freezing rain continued from the day before!  After the boys went to bed, Zack and I watched "Psych 2: Lassie Come Home".  This movie was a spin off from a show we watched before the kids were born... it felt great to get some laughs in and enjoy some mindless entertainment just the two of us!  I truly enjoyed my relaxing day with my boys.... a perfect Valentine's Day with my forever valentine and my littlest loves!

Home and School Things!

First... the school things... both boys finished their 100th day of school for this year!  Maddox can successfully count to 100 and loves showing us his counting abilities.... I will always love the pause as he goes to the next set of ten when counting!  Zander also celebrated the 100th day and we dressed as if we were 100 years old.... this year has really aged us! haha  I made sure to get a picture of him with this teacher, Ms. Richmond, too! 

We also had superhero day at school, meaning my oldest and I matched with Spiderman themed costumes!  Maddox wanted to join in the fun so he wore a Captain America shirt that had a hood which completed his outfit! I know Maddox is counting down the days until he can be with us at school every day!  It won't be long now!

We celebrated the end of a long week with ice cream BEFORE dinner! Why not?! haha

Zander continues to love reading and has really enjoyed the series he started over Christmas break.  He finished the third book last week and has already started into #4..... I love that he reads while I drop Maddox off at this class!

Z also took his first spelling test!  He really wanted an "A+" as he said.  He got all of them correct and was so excited!  I cannot believe how big these boys are getting!

Also at school last week, I was honored to accept the "title" of Certified Instructional Support Person of the Year for my school.  Our district created this new recognition this year which made me so incredibly grateful that my colleagues voted for me for this award in the first year it was created.  I appreciated the flowers, chocolate cake and students clapping for me and giving me air high fives as I went through the building on the day it was announced! I love the people I work with and am thankful to be at the same school as Zander.  I cannot believe I will have both boys with me for the next few years!  I cannot wait!

Now to the home things....Zack and I celebrated our first date, 16 years later, with a date night to Waffle House... I'm glad I am a cheap date! ;)

I got to eat dinner with these ladies last week... first time out in months for dinner and it felt great!

Burke is on the mend after what appears to have been an intestinal parasite.  He was throwing up frequently.  We didn't know if it was the cancer or a food allergy.  The vet suggested a prescription to ensure he didn't have an intestinal parasite before looking at other options, and I am happy to report, our boy seems to be back to normal.... hope I didn't just jinx us! ;)

We have been doing a lot of "adulting" lately.  First, the whole working through a pandemic while also helping educate and transport your kids from place to place continues to feel hard.  On top of that, we got what I hope is the last bill from Maddox's ER visit in the mail on the same week that we had to get a new heat/air unit for our downstairs.  We went about a week and a half with no heat downstairs, and we are very thankful for heat now!  It is staying in the 40s as a high most days around here so I look forward to getting home and not going back out until I have to the next day! haha  Also, while getting ready to leave our nice warm house this week, my car wouldn't start.  I knew I needed to pick up Maddox since this was a work from home Wednesday and hurriedly asked dad to come over and try jumper cables.  They didn't work.  After a couple more hours, we finally had a tow truck come and take my newest, fanciest car I have ever owned to the dealership to have the service department look at it the next morning.  (I will point out that this is the first time I have ever had to have a car towed.... which is a blessing and somewhat ironic due to the newness of the car!)  Zack dropped all of us off at school/work that next day and picked us all up in the afternoon to get my car.  They changed the battery and while the car was there, I got an oil change and changed an air filter.... because who has time to go back to the mechanic with the crazy schedule these days?!   I am hopeful that the upcoming weeks will be a little slower pace in the "adulting" department!