Ten on Tuesday

1.  Last week, Makenna overcame (again) her need to have her lovey Alfie with her during the day.  Limiting Alfie to bedtime also limits her thumb sucking since they usually go hand in hand.  And guess what....she did it with flying colors!  Surprisingly it was really quite easy. Yea MC...way to go little girl, we are so proud of you!

2.  And this week, my goal is to rid Rylan's pacifier, except for sleep. I thought this may be a bit tougher, but honestly it's gone pretty smoothly so far!  He occasionally asks for it but with the gentle nudge of, "you are such a big boy, that you only need the ba ba for sleep," he continues on with his day.  It certainly helps that he can reason with you and seems to really understand as well. Yea Ry!!

3. I can hardly believe we are in the last dog days of July already.  Although we have spent a lot of time indoors lately because of this crazy heat and humidity, August can't be here already, can it?  M starts school in just 4 weeks...so hard to believe!  We still have so much we need to do to cross off of summer to do lists.

4. We are planning our first family driving vacation and are so very excited!  Charelston, South Carolina here we come in just a few weeks.  A week spent together will be a bit of heaven!  I think the kids will do well in the car, although I am sure there will be moments where Scott and I will be wondering why the car was a great idea, anyways.  "Are we there yet?" will be asked 939475032570347 times and I am sure there will be many, "can we please use our inside voices in the car" spoken, but we are excited to see how it goes and see the land by car.  Wish us luck!

5.  Weight Watchers lifetime program just added another member to their list.  Woot woot for me!  I am so very excited and now those dollars can be coaching dollars as I am continuing my training for one last duathlon right before heading for vacation and then the Half Marathon in November.

6. I spoke with my coach today and she asked me if I had ever been a runner before?  Umm...NOPE! I actually have always hated it with a passion.  I did do a few 5K's and maybe an 8K once or twice in my late 20's, but I didn't really like it, just liked what it did for me.  So, in response to her question I asked, Why?  And her reply made my day..."because do you realize how fast you are running, and how far you are going..and how you have accomplished so much, so very quickly?"  Well, yes and no...but her saying those words to me made me smile and happy all day long.  Thanks Val.

7. My picture a day album is still going strong.  I had to play a little catch up with the layouts but they are all coming together.  I have updated it through May and I hope to have it all current by the end of the week.  No small task, for sure..but when I look at all those daily captures of our lives, it just makes me happy!

To miss documenting these everyday moments???  NEVER....

It's worth all the time and effort, ten fold.

8. While the weather is nice to us (read: warm and sunny, but bearable), we have been busy playing at the zoo.

9. And when it's so HOT outside, we melt, literally and the humidity makes it difficult to breath...we play indoors.

10.  Although life is far from easy and has it's ups and downs, life is good and these two remind me each day to live it to the fullest.  Hope you are having a wonderful summer, having fun playing in the sun and never forgetting the child within us.  Happy end of July!

Words that inspire me today.


live with intention. walk to the edge. listen hard. practice wellness. play with abandon. laugh. choose with no regret. continue to learn. appreciate your friends. do what you love.
live as if this is all there is. 
-mary anne radmacher


And these two inspire me everyday.

lunch at the park today.

Life really is good.

Ten on Tuesday!

1.  We just about lost this house yesterday in the storms.  The kids melted in tears as it flew off the patio, but thankfully it seems to be ok.  Phew..  I thought I was actually have to go out and buy one!

2. We spent today at Kids Town. Awesome place for toddlers and preschoolers and for the first time, I was able to play with the kids and not worry or be stressed about where each one of them were.  It is a nice closed environment...big enough for the kids to roam, but small enough to know where all your kids are too.  For all you local parents, you might want to check it out.  We will definitely be back!

3. With the temperatures getting a little more pallatable outside the latter part of this week, I think we might take in the zoo tomorrow or Thursday. I love taking the kids places and they just soak in every moment of joy that is available.  And I love that.

4. After spending 5 hours at Kids Town today (yes...all afternoon, which is also a first for us), we made a run to Costco to get our fruit and milk and everything else we buy there.  I planned on a pizza dinner in their little cafe before shopping, but come to find out their cafe only takes cash.  Oh man... With only $2 on hand, the kids split a piece of pizza which left momma hungry.   ( I felt like the boxcar family...read those books??) When we got home, I was starving..chew my hand off hungry.  Leaving the kids in the car, I unpacked our purchases and relished the quiet for a few moments.  And still so very  hungry, I decided to grab a yogurt and a plum and devour it. In the quiet of the house.  While the kids were still safely buckled in their car.  In their car seats.

5. Tell me I'm not the only mother to take advantage of a few (extended) moments of quiet?? If you aren't a parent, don't judge because I would of thought the same way before starting on this journey of motherhood.

6.  It was nice..I felt like I at least got something quick to eat to stop the knawing, and it was quiet.  Ahhhh....
I went back out to the garage, and the Makenna was happily sharing her stickers with Rylan, giggling away.  See...all good!!!!  :D

7. MC and Rylan play so nicely together these days.  It's great to see their relationship blossom and become buds, friends and close siblings.  Of course, they still have their moments of annoyance with one another, but most of the time they play great together and look out for one another.  Today at Kids Town, anytime Rylan lost sight of his sister, he would look around for her,  saying "seeester??" until he found her.  One time he was so excited to see her, he ran up and gave her a big hug.  L.O.V.E.  Moments like this make me feel like I am doing something right.

8.  Makenna is all about her sundresses.  Really, that is all she will wear and her shorts and t-shirts and even her skirts, lay quietly in her dresser drawers.  If only I knew that before I bought her summer attire..  :-D

9. Scott is supposed to race on Saturday but with the projected heat index of over 100 degrees, it is now in question.  I am so glad he is not one of those people who believe in toughing it out, despite the weather conditions.  So, we shall see!

10. Hope you are enjoying your summer with some fun times, and of course, with Ice Cream! xo

There's work to be done.


On Saturday, mom calls me.
"Hey Kel..there's a little tikes playhouse in the garbage at a house across my street.  Do you want it for the kids?"
me..."sure, I'll come over and get it!"

And that is how this all started (and no, I don't make it a habit of garbage picking but somethings I'm willing to make the dive for.)

The kids woke up and saw this beauty on the patio.  But it needed a good wash so 2 volunteers eagerly stepped up to the task.

They made it their own and they had a great time!

At the end of the morning, Rylan already understands that when the work is done, it is very important to sit back and admire your hard work.

(thanks for the great find Nana!)

Happy Monday everyone..have a great week! 

BREAKTHROUGH

Swimming Lessons haven't always been Makenna Claire's favorite thing.

Actually, that's not completely true.  She always wants to go and is very eager to get in the water and loves the pool, but has had a hard time doing things on command of the teacher. 

 (Imagine that..MC wanting to be in control???)   

However, in the last couple weeks, her confidence in the water has soared and now she does it all...eagerly and happily!  She is swimming independently with the help of a kick board or a noodle and will even try to swim on her own, although with that she still needs help.  But..she is doing great.  This past week she was also wanting to go first with each skill.  "ME

We are so happy for our little fish and grateful for this breakthrough!

YEA MC...pretty soon you'll be able to go down those big water slides you have your eyes on!

Ten on TUESDAY...

1. Happy Birthday America!   Celebrating our freedom, grateful for our safety and security and so thankful for all the sacrifices undertaken by those serving and their families.  Yesterday, and everyday, we honor you.  AND Thank you.

2. Yesterday after Scott and I rode a metric century(62 miles) on our bikes, we headed to the Bolingbrook Golf Club for our village's annual festivities.   Popcorn is all American, isn't it?

3. This?  Not so much, and not even sure if I want to ask.  LOL =))

we sure know how to have fun!

4.  Seriously...we had so much fun on a beautiful evening. 

5.  This past weekend we also visited the Lisle Balloon Fest.  I have been wanting to do this for years, and it always seems like something else is going on, so it was great to finally go and see what it's all about. We had a super time walking the air field and spending the evening with our great friends. Here's a little video montage Scott put together.



{ The kids have our old iphones and their favorite thing to watch on them are these videos Daddy creates.  They watch them over and over and over.  They love Daddy's creativity (and so do I)}

6. I am wrapping up with my eight week photography class.  I have learned so much and have had a few AHA! moments.  If photography is a passion of yours and you are looking to expand your knowledge and skill set, this class is definitely worth every penny.  Look no further... Karen will not disappoint!

7. I have several scrap booking layouts to share soon.  I recently did a bunch of paper layouts and it was so much fun to work with paper supplies again.  I definitely enjoy both the traditional paper as well as digital scrapping worlds.  I now just need to take pictures of them so I can show you!

8. Scott and I are continuing on our fitness goals and moving right along.  Scott has a couple Olympic Triathlons in the next month and I have a another Duathlon.

9. AND....I signed up for a Half Marathon.  Who me?? Yes, me.   I still find myself a little surprised by it and on days I don't run, I wonder.  But then I lace up my shoes, put on my tunes and hit the streets or the track, and say...yes I can do this and I will do this and I love THIS.   I am up to 7 mile runs so I am already halfway there!

10. Lately I have been back to my ways with cooking.  Or let's say, lack of cooking.  This week I vowed to my kids and my super totally understanding husband, that we would eat at home for the week.  Well, eat at home at least Tues (thankyouholidaymonday) to Friday.  First day...check!  Chicken pot pie, corn on the cob and watermelon.  So far, so good!

Better post this before Wednesday! G'night..