Projects!

The boys have been busy bees at school this year.  Artwork, crafts, and drawings trickle in throughout the year.  I love their little creations.
J holding his caterpillar magnet:

Scarlet runner beans the boys brought home and are growing out of control in our pantry right now.

Homemade Mother's Day gifts-the best!

 Card and vase of flowers J brought home.

 Just a peek at some of their work in their preschool portfolios.  Their teacher got some really great pictures of them busy at school.

 Crazy hat day...

 Snow owl:

Self-portrait:

My Left Foot

I was so excited to resume running this year.  I have a list of races and goals on my bucket list to complete.  I have been diligently reading Runner's World (I am always inspired by the people featured in that magazine).  I have new running shoes.  I have been keep all of my running muscles lengthened and strengthened through yoga.  I have a great running playlist ready.  And I haven't been able to do a thing about it.

I have had chronic pain on the top of my foot now for months.  It is worse first thing in the morning or after I have been sitting.  Ha!  Maybe the solution is to run!

I rolled my left ankle sometime at the beginning of the year but I don't necessarily remember the pain starting with that.  So that could be it...I have rested it from any impact activity (still yoga-ing) for four months and I am still not pain-free.  My PT looked at it, a PA looked at it, I have had an X-ray and we still don't know what is causing the pain.  I could have torn a ligament in my ankle.  I could have sprained it badly.   My PA said that nursing can slow down healing so I have tried to be patient but am getting impatient.  I have an appointment this week with a podiatrist and am praying that we find out what is wrong or I learn something that I can do to heal it.  Hopefully it is something fixable.

I ran in a 5K at the beginning of February and that is the last cardio I have done since.  Running is such a big part of my life (and mental well-being!) that I am really missing it.  Missing that runner's high when I finish a solid run.  I feel better.  I sleep better.  There was a local race this past weekend that I wanted to run in but will have to wait until next year.  I was going to register the boys for the kid's fun run but just couldn't get everyone out of the house by myself in enough time to pull it off.  It was Geoff's work weekend so I just couldn't make it happen this time.  I am so inspired by my friend Amber who won the whole race (15K)!  The first woman to win overall in the 30 years of the race.  She is a machine.

It is funny how much you appreciate being able to exercise when you can't do it.  I have always kept that in mind as a workout inspiration for me.  I know there are people out there who physically cannot run or workout who would love to.   That thought has always motivated me out of the door.  I am in that "can't run" category now and have been there several times in the past eight years so I know what it feels like to have to watch and not be able to participate.  I have taken breaks from running due to my jaw surgery, two c-sections, a herniated disk, and now my FOOT.  C'mon foot.

Ahh.  I feel a little better after venting a little.  I welcome any prayers I can get to be able to run/do cardio again pain-free!

Baseball

Avery and I at our first baseball game here in town.

Have a great Monday!

Last Day of Preschool

I wasn't the one in school but this school year FLEW by for me.  Is it really summer?  Are the boys really starting kindergarten in a couple of short months?   Are they really old enough to have homework soon?  They had a program on their last day complete with a potluck, some singing, and even some choreography.   A few of the kiddos were absent on the last day:  one was on vacation and one was sick.  Last year, J and W chose not to sing.  This year they sang.  OH did they sing. When the music  started, J was facing away from everyone, and I figured he would remain silent (and hidden) through the entire program.  Um, no.  He chose to be the loudest one of the bunch.   

 J sang  shouted all ten or so songs with his own personal "megaphone".  He even made a dramatic entrance into the song by starting his singing shouting with the letter H of the alphabet.  This is hilarious.

The kiddos all made a card for their music teacher.  She volunteered her time on most Mondays and for the special programs for music.   

 Ms. Mary talking about W before giving him his portfolio.

 And J...

More on the portfolios and projects soon.  Good night!

Let's Go Fly A Kite

J and W's preschool had their annual outing to a park to fly homemade kites, play a fishing game, and have a picnic.  Geoff met the boys at the school to help with the kite-making while I was at a dental appointment.  It was also Avery's first time in a swing.  Big day folks.

The kites flew great.

 

 This picture.  There is something about it.  Seeing my baby boy in a big boy's body.  I tear up when I really look at this picture.  Where did those long legs come from?

 So proud of you.

 And proud of this guy too.   And blessed by this sweet baby.

Here is the crew showing off their fishing skills:

 We were really fortunate the boys had their same amazing teacher and a really great group of kids in their class.  Here they are rocking out their tie-dyed shirts they made at school.

the BaBy, the BoYs, and the DoGs

I found a bunch of pictures tonight and just picked some of my favorite to post.  I wasn't sure how to tie them together because they were so random and from a big time span.  So I am just posting them with a one-word description of each...the first word that popped into my head.   Start.

Dogs!

Brother.

 Careful.

Hands.

Feet.

Cheeks.

 Little.

Ready.

Up.

  Kiss.

 Blue.

 Snuggle.

 Proud.

 Hey.

 Sweet.

 Easter.

Loot.

Ahhhhh.

 Eat.

 Smooch.

 Laugh.

 Smoosh.

 Hold.

OK.

 End.