Ugly T-shirts & Father's Day

The night before Father's Day my ward had an EQ activity.  It was an ice cream social & an Ugly T-shirt contest.  Brad being the great dad that he is got out some white t-shirts for the boys & asked where the glitter glue was & made shirts for Blake & Sonny.  Thank goodness he was on top of it cuz I don't think I would've thought about it til it was too late.  Here's Blake's as Sonny was opposed to taking another picture.

Genious...I know!!!

Here's a picture of my 3 boys with their ugly t-shirts.

Now....I know that Brad's Twilight is far from ugly but it was funny because it's my

shirt & just a little too tight for him....hahaha.

(2 more days!!!

oh my gosh are you so excited!!!)

Well, we had fun socializing & eating ice cream....although it was unusually breezy on this particular evening.  It's nice to have opportunities to get to know members of the ward a little bit better & maybe make a new friend or two.

Now....on to Father's Day!!!

This is a sign that I had the boys help me decorate & the card I made by Shutterfly.

Now....I always have a difficult time shopping for my dear Brad.  He's tough to shop for & I never feel like my gifts measure up.  This year I was paying attention.  He's been playing a game called "Fallout 3" & mentioned that he really liked the music that played throughout the game & he'd like to have a cd.  Well I started searching the web & it was difficult & it took many days but I was finally led to the playlist.  I wrote everything down & finally ( I know...procrastination is my middle name) started putting it together after the ice cream social.  I wasn't able to get all of the songs on the cd only because the free songs I downloaded wouldn't transfer over...but they are on a playlist that can be synced to the itouch & ipod & I did get 13 songs out of the 20 onto the cd.  So there you have it...he knew what I was doing only because I did it while he was in the other room but I still think he liked it nonetheless.  We had a nice day at church & then after we went to Grandmother & Grandad's for a BBQ & some swimming.

We had a fun time visiting with family. 
And I just want to say that I myself am grateful that I have a great dad!!  I'm grateful for all he's done for me while growing up & all he continues to do now & being a great grandpa!!  I'm grateful to my husband Brad for being a good Dad & I'm happy for the fun stuff he does with our boys.
I know it's a week late but
HaPpY fAtHeR's DaY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We ♥ U!!

Sonny's Talk

About 2 weeks ago Sonny was assigned to give a talk in Primary.
Since this was his 2nd time giving a talk I knew what to do.
Do not whisper to him because he will just whisper into the mic & then
everyone will think it's cute & laugh & then he will get mad & think they are making fun of him.
This happened the last time.
And make it short & sweet. Not hard to do. I had his talk memorized.
I also gave a talk in Sacrament meeting on the same day. Mine however, was not memorized.
Soooo...Sonny & I gave talks on the same day.
Well...Sonny was so excited when it was his turn to speak.
We went up to the little podium in the Children's Primary room & he said very clearly into the mic..."Heavenly Father"
(this is how we begin our prayers at home). It was so cute & then I proceeded to tell him what to say & he did it.
He did so well & I was beaming from ear to ear.
We have a small primary so it seems that Blake & Sonny are giving talks or prayers almost every month.
I don't mind...I think it gives them good practice at public speaking & they will be ahead of the game when they have to speak in front of their classes at school.
Anyway...I took these when we got home from Church.
He's 3 years & 8 months old...he's growing so fast.

120 Miles *Update*

This week was an ok week for my CHALLENGE.  But at least I still got myself out there & moving.  Which was hard because now I don't have to get up quite so early since school's out.  But I did it & that's what counts.  I also finished day 3 of week 5 on the Couch to 5k program!!  That means I walked for 5 minutes (for warmup) & then jogged for a full 20 minutes (out on the street...not the treadmill) & then finished up with a 5 minute cooldown.  I am proud of myself :)  It's also nice to go in the morning right after I wake up.  It's nice & cool.  I did also go for a walk in the evening & had Blake ride his bike while I pulled Sonny in the wagon.   I think I also really dropped 1 more pound so that puts me @ 6 pounds lost. 

Slow & steady wins the race.

My update:  I walked or jogged 8.81 miles this week.

I am at 31.49 miles toward 120 miles.

My Little Ragamuffins

Thank Goodness I have a sister that is a hairstylist!! 
Thanks Amelia!! 
You did a great service to my family for going to beauty school
 (I know that's why you did it). 
If not for you I might be one of those mom's that just never, ever cuts their kids hair...ok...I'd just buzz it off but you always do such a nice job.
If you haven't noticed by now my boys are the exact opposite of eachother when it comes to their physical features.  One has dark & curly hair,  dark eyes,  olive skin.  Blake.  The other one has light & straight hair, light eyes & light skin.  Sonny. 
BUT....they both have tons of hair regardless of the color & texture. 
I tend to just let it grow out for a while in between cuts & this is what it ends up looking like...

This.....

Don't we look like ragamuffins...

all long & shaggy!!

After. 

Sonny does not like cutting off his precious locks of hair. 

He did a great job sitting on my lap but afterwards he acted as if we threw out his best friend. 

He got over it after a while & then thinks his hair feels really cool & then wants everybody to "feel" it. 

He looks like a different kid.

Here he is with a happy face!! 

Isn't he so cute!! 

How could you not love this face?

 After....

  Blake always prefers to get a "trim" as opposed to a "cut".  This time I had Amelia trim it even shorter than normal for the summer.  And he went for it.  Now the boys have nice cool haircuts for the summer.  I got my haircut too but have yet to take a picture of it yet.  I finally let Amelia do a true a-line cut & it's shorter than it has been for a long time.  I'm liking it but still trying to figure it out.  Eventually I'll get a new picture...(one where my face doesn't look fat...haha) & put it up for all to judge  see.

Sonny with a Bowtie

A couple weeks ago we got Sonny to wear a bowtie to Church.
The last time he wore this bowtie was at his Uncle Bryan & Aunt Kimi's wedding.
That was almost 2 years ago.
Doesn't he look so cute :)

 

 

He's carrying a lunch bag because I substituted in his Sunbeam class & the lesson was on how we can

"smell & taste" things. 

It was a fun lesson & we took a long walk. 

 Hard to drag out a lesson when there's only 2 kids in the class.

I'm NOT tired!!!

I soooo LOVE it when I try to get Sonny to take a nap &
 he won't do it but then an hour later
he's doing this!!!

THE CHALLENGE**120 Miles in 3 Months**

Ok...so there's this blog I follow...4 Nuts in a Nutshell & she has been on an amazing weight loss journey!!  She's been doing great & decided that she needed to do something more.  So THE CHALLENGE was born.  There's a whole group of us that joined THE CHALLENGE to walk/jog/run or even elipitical our way to 120 miles in 3 months.  That's a lot of miles you might say but extremely achievable!!  I trained for a 1/2 marathon last year & probably did that many miles just in training...I just never kept track.  This is just a way to help keep us motivated to get out there & MOVE!!  When I read this I was sooo excited because I just needed something to work for & this couldn't have come at a better time!!  Back in May I decided that I needed to take a break from drinking as much soda as I did & that I needed to really lose some weight.  I had been walking Blake to school in the mornings & started wearing my pedometer just to see how far I was going.  The combo of the 2 had to be helping me.  I'm happy to report that I have lost 5 whole pounds!!!  I know it's not much but it's a start.  I am not completely off of soda but I can say that I am only a "social" soda drinker instead of a raging soda-holic now!!  My husband thinks I'm crazy but I think it's great & I can drink a soda when we go anywhere & then I fill my cup up with water.  I like it.  Walking has been great.  I would usually get 1 mile to & from the school & on somedays a little more.  The CHALLENGE began on June 1st & couldn't have come at a better time because school was ending on the 11th & I definitely needed a reason to get out & walk...outside or at the gym.  I got my sister Amelia to sign up & a few other friends from around here too.  So cheer us on & leave comments telling us how great we are doing & to keep it up.  I'm hoping that I will lose more weight in the process & I just need to make little goals instead of expecting big things in a small amount of time.  Maybe I'll be able to post before & after pics to be proud of.  Anyway...go check out the blog..she's so funny even when not talking about THE CHALLENGE. 


Since June 1st I have walked/jogged:
21.54 miles!!
I will try to update my blog every Thursday with my achievments...that's when we report.

My Annual "No Excuses" Memorial Day 5k

3 years ago I signed up for my 1st 5k & it was this one. 
"Buzz Oates-No Excuses 5k" held on Memorial Day at William Land Park.
It is so fun &
I have made quite the improvement on my time in the last 3 years!!
My friend Sarah C. & I said we would do it together but after my family dropped me off I could not find her anywhere.  I looked & looked but she was nowhere to be found.  DANG IT.  Brad & the boys were nowhere to be found either.  I found out later he took them to have breakfast.  So I had to carry my extra shirt & my camera in my hands while jogging/walking.  Crap!!  Well, I started in the back of the pack with the walkers & the stroller pushers thinking it would give me just a little more time to look around to see if I could find my jogging companion or my family to hand my stuff off too.  No such luck!!  Oh well, I wasn't going to let that hold me back or slow me down.  I crossed the start line & off I went.  I'm happy to report that I stinking jogged the whole 1st mile without stopping!!!  Yay for me!!  I was so proud of myself!!!  After that I continued to walk & then jog for the last 2 miles.  It was great.  When I was almost at the 2nd mile water station I finally saw Sarah C. on the other side & I was so happy I'd finally found her.  I thought...maybe I can catch up to her but even if I can't if I can just keep her in my sight I know I can get on pace with her.  Well,  I wasn't able to catch up to her because I'm sure I would've died trying to run while she was doing her intervals but I did keep her in my sight & I crossed the finish line not too long after her.  My official chip time was 41:08!!!! 
I actually finished just a little bit faster than my friend because she crossed the starting line before me & your time doesn't start until you cross the line.  I keep thinking if I could've caught up to her I might've been in the 40:00 minute range. 
Next time...July 3rd...
I'm coming for you 40 minutes!!!! 

Here's me after.  Don't I look awesome??!! 

 I had to call Brad on my friends cell because I had no clue where he was & he said...wow...I thought I had more time to get back...which just goes to show that I am doing awesome!!!  After the race we met up with a bunch of friends to have a picnic & let the kids run around & play.  It was a PERFECT day!!  Not too hot & sunny but not to cold either :)

 

Here's me & Sarah C.

The squirrels were not afraid of us at all!!

Random pics walking back to the car.

Goodbye Red Sox!! (for now)

All I can say is that Blake had an awesome year in Coach Pitch Baseball this year.  I could not be happier with the progress this kid has made.  He hits the ball almost every time & he's getting better & better at fielding the ball.  He had some great plays at 3rd base a couple times too.  Wow!!  Way to go Blake.

Here's some pics of his last game.  This was a crazy game to say the least.  3 teams showed up to play & so our team was split in 1/2 so they could play their last game.  CrAzY!!  At least they got to play...the game 1 day before was rained out.  There have been more rained out games this year than in the last 2.  Even though it was weird at 1st it was still fun!!  Blake has the "red" belt....didn't want to go out & buy a blue one & the coach said it was totally fine....plus it made him easier to find amongst the other kids :)

(click on images to see larger)

The end of the year/recognition party was a week later & it was really nice.  The weather was great & we had great food.  Everyone pitched in to make it great.  I'm so happy with the coaches we had this year...especially Coach John.  He was really great with all those boys & I'm hoping that we will be on the same team next year too.  That would be great for the boys to continue playing with eachother.

Here's a few pics of Blake with his Coach & his trophy & Sonny just being a cutie...(he even got a goody bag :) he was soooo happy).

(click on images to see larger)

Can you find the spelling mishap on the cake? 

The mom who got the cake said she didn't think she would have to spell out

S-o-x...

.it was funny...

so of course I had to capture the moment :)

Blake's Incredible Month of May

MAY has come & gone but it sure was a good one for Blake!! 
He accomplished so much last month!!
So here's the rundown.....

Here's Blake in his suit for Church. 

I have never been the type of mom that made/makes my boys wear a suit to Church but I have always insisted that a collared shirt be involved.  I do however, insist that Blake (because he's 7 now)  wear a button up shirt & either a tie or a sweater vest.  I do this because I feel it completes the outfit & want to give the appearance that YES...I do care what he wears to Church.

Anyways....he chose his suit for the special occasion of giving his talk in Primary.  This was not his 1st talk, BUT, it was his 1st talk that he did not need mom or dad's help in the Primary room.  Brad was good enough to tackle the writing of the talk & having Blake practice before Church.  I'm usually still preparing everything I have to do for my class.  Thank you Brad!!!  He did great & didn't even need help on the tough name of Mosiah because we practiced all morning :)  Yay Blake & I'm so glad that he knows that you should always dress your best...especially if you are speaking in church.

Next.....yes my Blake is 7 years old but he

FINALLY

learned to tie his shoelaces on his own!!!! 

I cannot tell you how awesome that is for me!!! 

He's left handed & I think it was weird for him to watch me do something that looked backwards for him.  You should see it...it's very weird to watch BUT...he can do it on his own & they stay tied & I don't have to do it anymore!!!!

(sorry...no pics)

 

And FINALLY!!!!

Blake "mastered riding his bike"

(his words not mine)

I know a lot of kids learn to ride 2 wheelers way before the age of 7 but...

better now than never!!

He got a totally cool bike for Christmas & we went out a few times but he was just too nervous.  I even had the training wheels taken off of his "Rocket Quest" just in case he might be comfortable with a smaller sized bike.  Still...he just didn't want to do it.  He preferred to ride his scooter everywhere.  Ok...it's not like I was going to "force" him to ride it.  It's not going to make or break him...I hope.

Then one Sunday in May...after Church he decided he wanted to ride his bike.  I said...don't you mean your scooter...and he said No...my bike.  Ok I thought.  About 10 minutes later he ran in the house yelling MOM, MOM!!!  I just mastered riding my bike.  Really I said?  Then I went outside to see & I'm proud to say that YES, he had mastered it. 

We went in to get dad & the camera for proof. 

NOW

I can't get that kid off his bike. 

He even rides it to school!! 

He's even tried out other kids bikes &

 eventually he will get more comfy riding the bigger bike

 (it really is too big for him).

I'm so proud of this kid & all he's learned this past May!!

Now let's hope he doesn't drive me too crazy when school's out for Summer!!!