Preschool Graduation (round one)

Keeler is officially a preschool graduate!  

Well, that is until he starts preschool again in the fall.  

He's been attending a local church preschool program for the past two years.  We love it!  His teacher is amazing with the kids and he's done so well.

Last year he went twice a week in the mornings and then this year he attended the 4-5 year old class in the afternoon Monday-Thursday.  We were considering sending him onto kindergarten in the fall with the rest of his class but after parent/teacher conferences this spring we all decided it would best to have him go one more year through the 4-5 year old program.  His teacher was once again amazing and agreed to hold his spot if this was our decision.  Only 12 students in our community get into this program (first come, first serve) so this was a major blessing!   

Since his birthday is late July he was the baby of this class.  He went ahead with their graduation ceremony yesterday knowing he was returning in the fall.  It was a precious program.  They sang about 4 songs, received their 'diplomas' and then we had a cookie and punch reception.

Keeler has made some really good little friends over the past two years so we hate that they won't continue on together.  But after much prayer plus visiting with other parents and teachers we think we made the best decision for our little cowboy. 

His teacher, Mrs. Winner, explained that time to time it does impact him that he is 'the baby.'  She said personally she wished she would have done the same with one of her son's with a summer birthday.  Waiting a year will allow Keeler to mature and really get ahead on learning/socializing.  He has stayed along with the rest of the class and only struggles time to time to grasp things as easily as the others.  However his teacher said when he does struggle - he really struggles because he's struggling.  Does that make any sense? She said he is really hard on himself and gets discouraged that he's struggling and then has to work to hold back emotion.  When she told us this I immediately understood because I am the same way.  

I want to give him the best chance in life.  Yes, this was a small decision in the big scheme of things but I want him to know someday that his father and I really thought long and hard on what decision to make because we want the best for him.

We love you Keeler.  We are so proud of you.  You are the sweetest little guy and we want nothing but happiness and success for your future.  I promise that I will hold your hand along the way and pray for you everyday.  And just think, you'll be leaps and bounds above the rest holding two diplomas before you head off to kindergarten in 2014! jk :)   

30 Day Challenge

This past weekend marked the end of my 30 Day Challenge.  

I am so proud of myself for sticking to it!  

I learned a lot about myself over the past 30 days.  Not every day was easy but most importantly I didn't quit.  In the past if I would've had one bad day then I'd throw in the towel.  Of course I would start again but the cycle always repeated itself without good results because I wasn't consistent.  Trust me, this time around I still 'cheated' and had a little chocolate time to time but counted it in my calories.  I learned to not dwell on a particular day if I went over 1200 calories (look at my Saturday ^ cake and beer, lol).  A good friend of mine that was very successful and lost over 50 pounds with myfitnesspal shared the best advice, "I don't worry about my daily average but concentrate on the weekly goal.  We all have bad days."  This made it so much easier for me this time around.  I CAN take the cake but just run a little further on Sunday.  Each day is a new day - just have a good balance!

Over the past 30 days I have gained a confidence about my body.  I can see a change.  I am more toned and actually excited for my new swimsuit to arrive in the mail. I could not have said that a couple weeks ago.  But I'm not done.  With fitness and wellness you're never "done."  It's a lifestyle.  

"I have always been conscious of my weight and a bit obsessive at times. I only have a couple pounds to lose but maintaining is work…perhaps even harder. I am tired of being fanatical and I am ready to achieve my goal of finding a practical balance for a healthier lifestyle." - this is what I wrote on my myfitnesspal profile over a year ago.      

  So as I close my 30 day challange I want to shout it from the rooftops - I have found my balance!  I'm going to keep tracking and training.  Want to join me?  

I'm using dailymile and myfitnesspal.   

Weekend Whoas

We had an amazing weekend celebrating my handsome hubby!  

All week we ho-hummed about what to do for his birthday.  We finally decided on Thursday evening to have a cookout with the neighbors.  We didn't want to do anything big.  But then we decided that we needed to include his cousin, Shalie, who's birthday is just a couple days after his.  Then of course we wanted to invite all the rest of the family and her boyfriend's family so needless to say, it turned into quite a big group.  I love that we have so many people close to celebrate with! #themorethemerrier

On Saturday when I finally had time to think about planning and shopping for the party - I started to panic and knew I needed to get lots of stuff. Keeler had luckily gone out to the farm with Tyler so I loaded up Kallahan and we headed to Sam's.  The closest Sam's is about 45 minutes away.  Kal did great riding in the car and was such a good little shopper.  He must get this from his mommy :)

  It worked out perfect that our neighbors were also in town shopping so we met up.  Randy helped me shop - he's great at throwing big meals together and then Cristen ended up staying with me to help with Kallahan.  

The party consisted of grilled chicken/steak/shrimp kabobs, beer and lots of laughs. Granny brought over two of her famous chocolate cakes and then Cristen decorated them.  I let Cristen and the kids handle the party decorating.  Since it was a last minute party my OCD party planning skills were put on the back burner.  It was progress for me!

Everyone seemed to have a great time.  It was so nice to have the neighbors involved because then my boys had some kids to play with.  We are the only family in town that has small children so parties sometimes are disappointing for the little cowboys.  But not this party!  The boys played outside and had a great time!  The kids also had a lot of fun helping Cristen decorate.  They decorated one of the tables and then chalked birthday messages and pictures on the driveway.  

Happy birthday Tyler and Shalie!!

On Sunday, after church, we all enjoyed a nice nap.  Everyone was drained from our fun Saturday night.  Once we all got around again Tyler wanted to do some work in the garden.  I worked in the flower beds and the little cowboys played in the yard.  We even played in the sprinklers for the first time this year!  After a fun afternoon outside we all needed a refreshment.  For Tyler's birthday I bought him Mexican Cokes (one of his favorites) but guess who decided they needed some?! 

I'll leave out the part about my baby spilling said coke not once, not twice but three times all over my newly cleaned kitchen floor.  But it made for some pretty darling photos.

High Five for Friday!

 Linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday

1// High Five - it's my handsome cowboy's birthday today!!  

I love this man. I admire his love and commitment to our family.  

I wonder everyday how I got so lucky.

 We plan on celebrating with a party tomorrow evening. That means tonight I have to bake a cake - eeek. Please send some positive baking vibes my way!

2// High Five for darling lunch dates at the park!

 3// High Five for great friends! 

I received this sweet message from a dear friend that has joined me in my fitness challenge. It's been so great to chat back and forth and encourage each other. My neighbor has also got on the wellness wagon and most evenings, while waiting on our husbands to get home, our kids play while she and I chat. We've even had some fun stroller workouts together, lol.

  "Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you HIGHER." - Oprah

4// High Five for my precious little cowboys and finally warm weather.

I'm also linking up with Jen for Health and Fitness Fridays!

  5// High Five for reaching my goal weight this morning!

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This week I've done great with working out and eating well.  I don't want to jinx myself but I feel like I finally found a good balance. 

Sunday:  Mother's Day - traveling home

Monday:  6 mile run (4 miles solo & 2 miles with Whitney)

Tuesday: 30 Day Shred / 2.25 mile run

Wednesday: 2 mile run - stiff

Thursday: 2 mile intervals with Cristen

Friday:  Rest

My right calf has been tight since Wednesday so I'm trying to take it easy for the next few days to prevent injury.  

I'm using both these websites - dailymile and myfitnesspal to track my progress.  
I'd love you to join!  #gettinsummerfit     

Weekend Whoas

Well our weekend started on Thursday of last week.  Yes, a nice long weekend and we packed in a lot of fun.  However, it didn't feel long as we traveled over 750 miles.   

 While packing up for our trip on Wednesday evening our town was hit by a thunderstorm.  Kallahan was really interested...  

"What's this mommy?" 

It's called rain baby! 
#thankfulhearts #KSdrought  Follow me on instagram here.

Our first stop on the road-trip was to my hometown of Panhandle.  My nephew, Jakob, was playing baseball.  It was so fun to watch him play.  

He pitched the entire game.  I was so impressed with his natural talent!

The little boys had a blast at the ball field.  Soon after we arrived it started sprinkling so we all ended up spectating from the car before they called the game right at the end due to lightening.  

On Friday, my sister, her two youngest, my mom with my little cowboys and I all headed further down south.  We went to celebrate my cousin, Megan's college graduation and attend another cousin's wedding shower.

Highlights from the trip:

1:: Playing in aunt Peggy's rocks (who would have guessed? - boys and rocks!)

2::  Meeting Harassing Stephen and Heather's cats

3:: Seeing a lot of family that we rarely see - wish we could do this more often

4::  Special memories made between our kids  

5::  Kallahan's screaming in the car

6::  Kallahan "mooing" at most anything out the car window thinking it's a cow.  Yes, little cowboy says "moo" at cows, horses and even pump-jacks.  But this mommy is proud.  He's starting to talk more and more each day.  Progress folks.  

We are so proud of Megan.  I have a special bond with this little chick, she lived in Kansas with Tyler and me when she first started off to junior college.  She'll always be kind of like a daughter or little sister to me.  She is such a smart and talented young woman.

 I made her this framed piece as a special gift.  It sums her up perfectly.  We also made her a money lei and presented it to her after graduation at her party.

Oh her party y'all, it was so nice!  Her mom, grandparents (a.k.a, Meme & Poppa) and aunt went all out.  They had such cute decorations and the food was AMAZING!  It was such a nice time.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for our little May-may.

To My Mom

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.  I'm a day late but luckily yesterday I was just too busy spending time with my own mom, my mother-in-law and with the two most precious cowboys that made me a mommy.  

I'm beyond blessed to have such a great mother and mother-in-law.    

I've read a lot of other blogs today where ladies have dedicated a post to their mothers and it made me want to do the same.  Yes, I spent the day with my mom and bought her a gift but I want to tell her how much she means to me.  

My mom has always been there for me.  My mom didn't work outside the home much while I was growing up.  She was always there to pick me up from school, to pack my lunch EVERYDAY - seriously y'all I never ate a single day in the school cafeteria.  It wasn't that she was just there most the time or because she fed me well either.  You see, inside that lunch box there was often a note telling me to have a great day.  When she picked me up from school, she was always there on time and parked in the exact same spot.  Again, a little weird but I was the type of kid that would panic if she wasn't there when I walked out or if I lost sight of her in the grocery store.  She knew this so she made a great effort at comforting me and reassuring me.  

She's our families backbone.  When my dad was unable to work due to serious burn injuries, she was the one that nursed him back to health.  She never left his side.  All the while I'm sure it was breaking her heart to leave my sister and I but she knew we were well cared for by my grandmother - also an amazing woman but that's a whole separate  post.  And then when my dad went back to school to get another degree after his injury, my mom took a night job to help support our family.  She never wanted our family to need or want.  And boy did she accomplish that.  I look back and my childhood was so secure and I never felt unloved or insecure.  I always felt like my mom had all the time in the world to hear about my day, to watch a movie with me or go on a walk.  She kept our house immaculately clean yet I don't recall her ever actually cleaning.  I'm sure she did it while we were in school but that was just that, she always had time for us.  And for all of this and for so many, many other reasons I know hands down I have the best mother in the world.  Yes, that sounds immature but it's true.  She is the best mother for me (crazy, little OCD me) and now the best to all her grandchildren.  
Thank you for all that you've done and for all that you do.

Love you mom!

Weekend Whoas

This past weekend Tyler helped his uncle Lyle out by working his branding.  Unfortunately, his uncle recently had a 4-wheeler accident so Tyler was more than happy to help.  My husband's annual branding is more 'old school.'  The cowboys wrestle the cattle and don't use a chute as they did at Lyle's.  Tyler likes to turn it into a big event for friends and family.  

 Tyler asked that I bring the little cowboys out.  Before heading to the  farm we went into a local store where we ran into one of Keeler's preschool friends.  Keeler asked if we could take him out to the branding.  I'm glad we did because the two had the best time!

 Kallahan on the other hand didn't care too much for the cold wind.  I stayed with him in the car most the morning.  I think he had just as much fun turning all the buttons in the car and pretending to drive.  What a boy!

 After Tyler was done with the first set of cattle he helped the little cowboys ride a horse.

 The big cowboys had more work to do so I took the little cowboys home right before lunch.  Neil stayed and played all afternoon.  They had a lot of fun.  

Kallahan slept most the afternoon.  I think we wore him out from Friday night's fun.  The neighbors and their 3 little boys came over and we stayed up too late playing games and eating pizza!

On Sunday, we went to church and then spent most the day outside.  We worked in the yard and even ended up planting a garden.  

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I'm linking up with Ashley today for Move it Monday Tuesday!  I was happy to see that she was running a day behind this week too.

I ended week 3 of my 30 Day Challenge right where I hoped to be.  

I managed to get my weekend 3-5 miles in and even surpassed my goal by completing 7 miles!  However, if I had not gone on my longer Sunday run I would have been over on calories.  Thank goodness for the ability to burn!  I tried to stick to my healthy eating this weekend but we made some awesome tacos for Cinco de Mayo and then you have to have a beer with tacos, right?  I've got one more week of my challange.  I should be down to my goal weight -- yippee!! 

Join me, I'm keeping track with dailymile and myfitnesspal.