Spring Visit with the Fam!

On Mother's Day weekend we had the PA fam come for a visit. Deb & Al were able to get the condo again for the week and the rest stayed with us. Saturday was spent hanging out at our house. The boys chopped down some trees and planted me a Mother's Day surprise; a beautiful new cherry tree for the front yard! The kids had fun playing in the rain and that evening after the little ones all went to bed the adults had an epic time around the dinning room table. The conversation was flowing almost as easy as the wine… and the only thing I really remember is "HANESSSS!!!!"

Sunday we had a really nice Mother's Day brunch. It was so nice to have both our mothers there to celebrate with. Later in the evening we got to visit Deb's condo and swim in the amazing pool there. It was like a theme park!

All the helping hands.

My new tree and attempt at a nice group picture… maybe next time!

The following week I headed to Nashville for a business trip while the kiddos got to stay and play with Gramma, Aunt Jackie, Cameron and Callie. I know they had so much fun! Friday Wyatt got to go back to PA with Gramma for a special trip to Sesame Place with the other cousins. Ava stayed home with me and I have to say it was really nice to have her one on one for a little bit. But believe me I sure was happy when Wy Guy returned home!

I LOVE OUR FAMILY & THE TIME WE SPEND TOGETHER!!!

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny came to our house last night and left just what you'd expect. It was an egg-cellent day! Egg hunt, Easter baskets, church, another egg hunt, home, another egg hunt, breakfast, naps for everyone, play, dinner, another egg hunt, rock painting, egg dying, movie, bed - PHEW!!

Play Ball

My company had a corporate, family night out for the opening day of the Richmond Squirrels Season 5. Marnier and Ava had a girls night in while John, Wyatt and I went to the game. The weather was perfect and we were all happy to go. Wyatt hasn't ever been to an event that large - I think the crowd really got him excited. We did all the major stuff - cotton candy, gift shop, cheered, fried food, walked around the stadium, and made it all the way to the fireworks at the end! He was great, I was so proud of him!

Are We Having Fun Yet?

I recently got the idea that Wyatt was old enough to start playing soccer. I mean, it's in his blood, right?! Our neighbor clued me in on a good starter program in RIC called SCOR. 

Week 1: Off we went for the 9:30 Lil' Kickers class. I signed Wyatt up for the Hoppers (3 & 4 Years). Granma, Ava, Wyatt and I arrived and Wyatt was SUPER excited to kick a ball around. As the session began he was into it. All the kids sat in a circle around the coaches. The Coach rolled the ball to Wyatt and asked "What is your name and favorite movie?" Wyatt stood and in a proud, loud voice answered "WYATT RUSSELL MARSHALL and I like TRAINS!" I thought to myself, well - okay - at least he is enthusiastic. It lasted for about 5 minutes. Then I spent the next 40 minutes chasing him around the facility, begging him to rejoin his class and getting absolutely no where. The only ones running around more than us were Granma and Ava. FINALLY Wyatt clued into an activity the Cottontails (2.5-3.5 Years) class was doing. He really played well with them and had a great time the last 10 minutes. It was just enough to make me think the experience wasn't totally lost. 
 -- Left feeling exhausted, flustered and hopeful. --

Week 2: After reassessing the situation I decided to put Wyatt in the Cottontails class that includes parent participation and begins at 8:30. Even though he is a full head taller than the other kids in his class, its right for his age. The class size was much smaller and this time John joined us. Wyatt did 10x better than the week before! He was happy to have his Daddy playing along with him and besides taking 10+ trips to the water cooler, he did pretty good. I chased Ava this time. In the last 10 minutes she got interested in the Bunnies (18 – 24 Months) old class. The coach was blowing bubbles and Ava was hooked. After practice we took the kids to River City Diner for breakfast and for a walk around the Main Street Train Station. 
-- Decent day, feeling like this may work. --

Week 3: This is where I really must have lost my mind! I enrolled Ava for the Bunnies and Wyatt for Cottontails. Now all four of us had something to do. John and I bounced back and forth with the kids. I have now realized Ava just loves bubbles. As soon as they were put away she could have cared less about the class and I spent the rest of our hour there chasing her from one end of the facility to the other. As for Wyatt, he has made the big jump in to underpants and insisted that he had to go to the potty twice during a one hour class (cloud have something to do with the lil man's obsession with the water cooler). 
-- Frustration rising! -- 

Week 4: Reassessed again. Ava is NOT ready for a structured class even if it is with other little ones her age. So we sat her class out. Wyatt is still on Cottontails. When we got there he acted happy to begin with.  Then SCOR combined the Cottontails and Hoppers because of a coach shortage - that's where it all fell apart. Wyatt went from a class of 3 to a class of 15. He just couldn't have been any less interested if he tried! Yes - my kid was the one laying down in the middle of the field while all the other kids ran around playing. I hated that I felt the glares of other parents wondering when I would step in. I tried so hard not to force him to play, but it was HARD… This is suppose to be fun right? I finally gave him two choices - 1) Play with the other kids on the field and have fun. 2) Sit on the bleachers and watch. In 5 minutes of my ultimatium we left. Wyatt cried all the way to the car. But I'd had it!
-- DAMN! I want to shake him! --

Week 5: THANK YOU GOD, we went out of town and didn't have the choice to go.

Week 6: THANK YOU JESUS! Closed for Easter!

Week 7: To go or not to go? That is the question.

Wyatt's First Story

Wyatt said to me "Mommy, sit down and if you are really quite I will tell you a story."

Once upon a time there was a dinosaur that lived in California.
He was very strong and had a long neck.
One day he reached down and ate an elephant.
The end!

Well that was creative…

Ava's First Day Out In The Snow

Our first snow day this year!

Mom came up and watched the kiddos while I worked from home. Ava had never been out to really play in the snow before and had never been on sled!  She loved it, Wyatt was too excited. I had so much fun watching them get started. All was good and Marnier was getting her work out, the two kids learned how to take turns sledding down the hill in our front yard. All good until Ava took off down the hill after Wyatt and face planted in the snow. The little marshmallow couldn't move!

Happy Anniversary to Our Home & A Little "Me" Time

I'm home alone this weekend. Which has a few benefits, one being I finally have time to catch up on this blog and everything we've been up to this winter. A year ago yesterday we moved into this house, which has now become home. Although Wyatt still refers to it as the "New House". All the boxes are unpacked, pictures hang on the walls (not as many as my Mom may want to see - haha) and the old house is FINALLY rented to a couple that has expressed their desire to buy, eventually. So we can breath a sigh of relief, for now.

Our home in the snow last week.
Taken at twilight when it was quiet and peaceful.

If nothing else I think John and I have learned that through good times and in bad we are resilient people. We get though it together. Even if all the cracks we're left with take a gallon of glue to fix.

A few weeks ago I had what can only be described as a "Mommy-Meltdown". The stress of the bills, houses, daycare, work, family and so on came crashing down and left me in tears, pouring my heart out to John about how stressed I was and how unhappy I felt. After our talk that night I woke up the next morning with a new resolution to get "me" back. I realize this may seem ridiculous if you are reading this… I have a loving husband, two amazing kids, a supportive extended family, fabulous friends and a steady job. Please don't get me wrong I am INCREDIBLY grateful for all of these gifts that God has granted me. However, a person needs to have time to breath and I haven't been able to catch my breath. Here is what I'm trying to do to get some air:

1. Realize and appreciate that I matter too. Parents reading this know what I mean - It is so easy to loose yourself in your family and work. I'm guilty. Most Mom's I know are too.   
2. Loose all this baby weight! I have to feel confident in myself so that my kids see that side of me. I also can not afford a new wardrobe, so time to get back into the old one. I don't have time in my schedule to do a traditional workout, instead I've decided to eat better, count calories and be more active with the kids. It's good for all of us!
3. Get out every once in a while! John has been so nice about this. I've gotten a good start. So far I've joined a great friend, Jessica, for dinner out and had a morning shopping trip with Mom to a architectural salvage shop. Then there is this weekend… It's nice to have a little alone time, but I miss my PA family something fierce and wish I was with them, so this is a toss up! 
4. Try, as hard as it is, not to worry so much. I want to distract myself by focusing on the present, the moments that are worth enjoying. 
5. Give up trying to find that elusive thing called "balance", there is no such thing. Just deal with what requires my attention in the moment I am in.
6. Done is better than perfect. 

Alright, now that I have proclaimed this out to the world maybe it will help me on my journey to stay focused. Making me a better mommy, wife, friend and career women. I'm glad I've typed this out… feels more like a mission now, I like a good challenge.

Cheers!