Moments

Sometimes, well, most of the time, life is about the small moments that you savor. So for you now, a few of my special moments lately...

Ellis helping his dad make meatloaf for dinner. I love spending time in the kitchen with my boys. It's pure happiness.

My dad starting construction on our new half bathroom. We live in a mini house with only one bathroom. I'm so excited about having another half bath. (It's the little things, right?)

Owen reading all by himself. Hearing him read is the sweetest sound. He currently LOVES anything Dr. Seuss.

It must be spring if the bubbles are out.

Two of my favorite boys snuggling on the couch. I love their eyes. I love them dearly.

These are the moments I will remember.

My Boy's Grandfather

I love my dad. He's been an amazing constant in my life and I feel like I am more like him than almost anyone else in the world.

After raising 4 daughters he finally has 3 little grandsons and he (and they) are loving life. The two oldest grandsons' (currently both 6 years old) love to follow their Papa around the back yard, the work shed, the lake house, etc. and "help" when they are needed. For my youngest, little 2 year old Ellis, his affection for Papa is starting to blossom.

This weekend my sweet little Ellis found a toy cell phone and has started calling Papa all the time. Yesterday the boys wanted to ride their scooters around the block. On the way home Owen fell and scraped his knee. Once we got the boys inside the house and Owen cleaned up Ellis picked up his "phone" and called Papa. His conversation went like this:

"Hi Papa. Brother fell down hurt his knee. Bye Papa."

Tonight at dinner my oldest soon managed to ram a straw into his gum which caused a good bit of pain. He had tears in his eyes and his little brother was quite concerned. Ellis immediately found his "phone" and called Papa. And his conversation was very brief:

"Hi Papa. Brother hurt his mouth. Bye Papa."

My Dad stopped by the house this afternoon for a quick visit and was gone before I got home from work. As soon as I walked into the house this afternoon Ellis ran to me and said, "Papa see me. Papa my house."

I love that my boys have a great relationship with their grandfather. He's the best Dad, and Grandfather, that anyone could ask for.

The ABC's of Me

I took this idea from my friend Michelle, but I liked the concept.


A~Age: 31

B~ Bed Size: Queen

C~Chore you hate: Taking Out The Trash

D~Dogs: None, but my boys are slowing wearing me down, maybe for their birthday or Christmas

E~Essential Start your Day Item: A shower

F~Favorite Color: Yellow

G~Gold or Silver: Silver

H~Height: 5'3"

I~Instruments you play: I played the recorder in 5th grade - does that count

J~Job Title: Associate Director, Administrative Manager

K~Kids: 2 growing boys - Owen is 6 and Ellis is 2

L~Live: Atlanta

M~Mom’s Name: Cheryl Ann

N~Nicknames: None, sorry...

O~Overnight Hospital Stays: 3, two for the kids births plus one last fall due to a severe ear infection that caused facial paralysis

P~Pet Peeve: People who are constantly over-reacting. “You’re a grown up, and it’s normally not that big of a deal, so just calm down.”

Q~Quote from a Movie: “Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void.” - You’ve Got Mail

R~Right or Left Handed: Right

S~Siblings: Two biological sisters. I’m the middle child. When I was in college my parents adopted my youngest sister Autumn, so now there are four girls.

T~Time you wake up: Whenever the boys wake up most days. But I’m working on getting up at 615 a few days a week to make it to the gym.

U~Underwear: Depends on the day and the occasion...

V~Vegetable you Dislike: Brussel Sprouts - They are horrible! And bitter.

W~What Makes You Late: The kids

X~X-rays You’ve had Done: Is an MRI an x-ray? I did have one x-ray a few years ago when I thought I’d broken my foot. Perhaps more when I was younger but I don’t remember.

Y~Yummy Food you Make: My husband is a great cook - he makes a great pulled pork.

Z~Zoo Animal Favorite: Elephants. Always the elephants.

My 100 Day Challenge

At work we've got several people throughout the south east that are participating in our own 100 Day Challenge. We started yesterday, March 1st. I'm very excited and am hopeful that this will be the motivation that I have been needed to get moving. Last week I joined a gym close to my house and a free gym in my office building just opened up. I'm hopeful that between the two gyms, my amazing friends at the office, and my boys energy I'll be able to keep myself on track.

Day 1 - 10 minute walk on the treadmill and 20 minutes of strength training after work.
Day 2 - 30 minutes on the treadmill before work. I'm on week two of the Couch to Five K training.

Today I'm exhausted and my arms are a little sore but I feel great! Tomorrow I've got a lunch date with my friend Nancy at the gym. Wish me luck!