My Story

I'm always posting about our kids and things they have been up to, but this post is all about me.

Did anyone else sort of lose themselves after they had kids?  

Ok...maybe it was just me!

Once Luke was born I was so completely in love and consumed with this little guy that

I didn't leave much time for me.  Not long after Luke came Kailyn and then

survival mode began :)  It really wasn't that bad!  They were wonderful babies and

are growing up as best friends!  I wouldn't want it any other way.  

These two do almost everything together...LOVE!  

There I go talking about the littles again.  

When Kailyn was about 4 months old and we were celebrating Luke's 2nd birthday

I was ready to do something for myself.  I have always loved

working out and it HAD always been routine for me.  

After being pregnant and nursing for nearly 2 years straight my body was....well...

less than desirable in my opinion.  

It wasn't so much about the way I looked because I do not think I was really overweight.

For me, it was all about self confidence.  

Somewhere in the midst of pregnancy, kids, life I curled up into my little shell and

became VERY comfortable in there.  Comfortable...yes, satisfied...no.  

I have been blessed with an A-MAZING husband and extraordinary children, but I was not

happy with my lifestyle.  I got up....took care of kids, did laundry, and i'm not exactly sure what else.  

Back to Luke's second birthday.....that was when WE decided to make a change.  

Mark and I purchased P90x and committed to doing the program TOGETHER.  

At 8:00 every night for 90 days we went down to our basement and pushed play!  

It was such an incredible change for us.  It was something that we were doing together

and having so much fun!  I was gaining more energy by the day and finding myself able

to do even more with the kids.  Mark and I both had a great transformation.  I ended up losing

about 20 pounds, but most importantly changed my outlook on life.  I find myself wanting to be in pictures with my kids and family.  We are forever changed and will never look back!  I have completed several other Beachbody programs since that time and am loving every minute of it.  

I have became a Beachbody coach almost 2 years after we started P90X.  I truly have a passion for health and fitness.  More about me on another day! 

Kailyn starts Preschool and Dance

Ok...so she actually started at the beginning of September!  

She loves school and all of her new friends!  

She has also started dance class.  It is a combo of ballet, tap, and tumbling.  

She has her first performance at the beginning of December...she can't wait!!!

 I'm pretty excited too!    

Our House

We've moved!  I guess I can't use the "we just moved" excuse anymore when asked about 

updating the blog.  We have been here about 3 months and are loving it!

The kids love their new schools and we absolutely love our

neighborhood!  We finally have neighbors for the kids to play with...yay!  

Our favorite things about the house:

Mine - KITCHEN, front porch, attached garage

Luke - the cool spider web in our window well (it really is amazing, i will have to post a picture)

Kailyn - her room

Mark - the open kitchen (he did not like the fact that i face timed him while he was upstairs and i was down to ask him this).  lazy sunday afternoon....don't judge!

We have a lot of little projects that we would like to do EVENTUALLY! 

Right now I am focusing on organization.  Does anyone else get overwhelmed with the plethora of organizational supplies out there!!!  Whew!  I need a plan of attack!

Back to School

I was all prepped for Luke to do another year of preschool this year.  I was organizing and planning

lessons for he and I to do together on his days at home.  I knew he was so ready for 5 days/week, but

Sherman just didn't have that option.  

 About 3 weeks before school started I found out there was a spot available in the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class.  I was thrilled, excited, and oh so sad all at the same time.  

I knew Luke would do so well in the program, but what was I going to do without my boy

all day long.  

We are started our third week of school and Luke is LOVING it!!  He woke up this morning

all dressed and said he was ready for school....Labor Day!  He was bummed

that he would have to wait another full day before going back to Mrs. Shanle's class.  

I hope he continues to love school!!

Luke's favorite things about school:

The bus

Lunch (he eats there almost everyday)

recess

PE

 

 Daddy praying for Luke before his first day of school

 waiting for the bell to ring

 all ready to go at his seat!

He's home!!!

Luke Turns FIVE

My little man is five years old...sniff, sniff.  We have decided to red shirt Luke this year :)  He will be doing another year of preschool before going to school full-time!!  Luke has grown tremendously over the last year!  He is much more confident in himself.  He has this crazy sense of humor like his father and grandfathers.....prayers appreciated :)  He is the sweetest little boy that tells me that I'm beautiful all of the time.  He is a wonderful big brother!  Kailyn adores him....they do most everything together!
Luke's favorite things:

food - pizza, cake, and ice cream

tv show - america's funniest home videos

color - green

place we visited last year - going to NASA 

favorite thing to do - finding rocks on the shore at Pappy's boat

 book - star wars and super heroes

What happend to May and June?

I've completely fallen of the blog radar for the last couple of months.  It has been a busy busy summer going to the lake and packing for our upcoming move.  Yes...we are moving to Sherman (about 15 minutes north of Springfield).  We are excited to move to a smaller community with a wonderful school district.  We hear the neighbors are pretty cool too!!  So....I need to catch everyone up on what we've been up to.  Ready....set....GO

LAKE

POOL

POOL

week on the LAKE

POOL

Packing

LAKE

4th of July

Luke turned 5!!!!

LAKE

packing

 Yes..KC tries to touch the water while she is tubing

 they love to tube!

 snow cones after emmy's softball game

He is FIVE (He will get his own post tomorrow)

 Stars Wars Birthday party...kids with their light sabers

Spring Soccer 2012

 Warm-up

 Luke and Chase

 Daddy and KC

 KC and Ace

 This cracks me up....Luke and Chase are soo ready

 Luke and Audrey

 Max and Luke

 Cheerleaders

Luke is in the middle of his spring soccer season through the YMCA.  He has several of his friends on this team this year!  It has been fun to see this group grow up together!  Lots of fun memories!! 

Butterflies

We ordered our butterflies (caterpillars) a couple of months ago!  The kids absolutely LOVED
watching them go through their life cycle and then letting our painted ladies free.  They are pretty sure whenever we see a butterfly it is one of ours!  I don't have the heart to tell them they only live for about 2-3 weeks.  Luke is confident that one of them flew straight to Shelbyville to visit the lake and his cousins.  Pretty sure we will see him this summer!

We LOVE SPRING!

My kids are outside every minute they can!  They are typically playing pirates

digging for worms and rolly pollies, or some other imaginative play.  

I love to see how their imaginations work at this age!

I complain about their frequent wrestling escapades, but I 

they play unbelievably well together and I am so thankful for that!

 

 Playing outside in his church clothes

 We are reading the Peter Pan chapter book to Luke right now

 he's going in for a cartwheel

and my baby girl pushing the swing

 

Easter