How we spent our weekend

We started our weekend with a visit to the doctor for Reed. Friday morning I was getting ready to take the kids to school, and went to wipe Reed’s face, and I cupped my hand under his chin, and felt this HUGE lump there. I kinda freaked a little. It was seriously the size of a walnut! I called the doctor right at 8:00 and after calling back at 10:15 and 2:00, I finally got a call back at 2:30. They didn’t tell me when I called at 8:00 that our doctor was gone. They didn’t give the message to the other doctors’ nurses and our nurse was coming in late. The office people were supposed to tell the nurse if someone called more than once. I was more than just a little furious with the office staff. If they’d told me at 8:00 that our doctor wasn’t there, I could’ve just requested an appointment or decided to take him to a walk-in well before the day was over. Zach got him and took him to the walk-in clinic after work. Diagnosis was a sinus infection and infected lymph node under his tongue. So, he’s on meds and will hopefully be back to normal soon.

Friday evening, we watched our friends’ children. Back in November, my sweet friend Amanda offered to watch our kids so Zach and I could go out to dinner for our anniversary. Between sick kids, schedules, etc, we hadn’t had the chance to repay the favor until now. I was SO glad we were able to do this for them though, because she told me it’d been over 2 years since their last date! And this sweet girl texted me and asked me if she could bring anything OTHER THAN the chocolate dipped pretzels she had made! She is the best sweets maker – cookies, cakes, you name it!

We had a little pizza picnic party for the three older kids. Their sweet little 11 month old was using Reed’s chair, so Reed got to eat with the big girls and he was SO excited! When I told them to sit down, he ran over and was the first to plop his bottom down!  

The kids all had so much fun and we did too. The kids were so well behaved and were excited to have playmates here! We will definitely have to do this again.

Saturday we woke up to a rainy day. I did a little work around the house and then Zach left and took both kids grocery shopping with him! WOOHOO! I took advantage of the alone time and…. did absolutely nothing! ha! When they got home, we all took a family trip to Sam’s. The kids love going there and honestly, so do I! :) And then this happened on the way home…

Ava stayed asleep and Reed did not. It was noon by this point and he wanted lunch. Even after lunch he didn’t want to lay down. He wasn’t feeling the greatest so I took advantage of him wanting to be held and snuggled him until he fell asleep.

While they were sleeping, I got to work on cleaning out our closet.   This was mid-way through and thankfully it looks a million times better!

While I was cleaning, I got this text:

While I’ve known this would happen, I’m so not ready for it. I’m really sad that we will be far away from all of our immediate family. It is SO hard for me to accept help from people, even from my mom. But she often insisted and we would take the help (because sometimes situations just call for back-up). I know there are people here who will help us in a bind, but I feel so guilty or like I’m putting people out! Not looking forward to the day they actually leave. :(

Sunday we had to go pick out a new toilet – fun, huh? We’ve had issues with the commode in our bathroom for the longest time and I just finally had enough. Zach tried to fix it on Saturday and there was just too much wrong so we ended up with a new one. Not fun spending money on that, but I’d say it’s kinda necessary. ha!

While he was getting the toilet installed, I took the kids to Target. Look at them – this is their mug shot and I’d say they are pretty guilty looking!

I was trying shoes on Ava and at that point, Reed was in the front buckled in and he somehow managed to stand up. As this was going on, a lady working noticed us (I don’t know how you could’ve missed us!), and she told me I was brave. I replied with “Or stupid!” ha! She said she had one toddler and wasn’t even brave enough to venture out with him. She then asked if popcorn would help and went and got them each a cup! God bless her! I had about 5 minutes of quiet. ha!

All in all, we had a good weekend. It was the slowest and least busy one we’ve had in over a month, so it was much welcomed!!!

What we did last week

I’m so good about sharing my photos on IG but I’m not always so great about sharing them here. I just don’t always have a lot of time to blog during the week so I end up posting stuff way later! Oh well!

Last week, Reed was a very sleepy boy. He was also a tad bit cranky (which we now know was b/c of a sinus infection). He looked so peaceful sleeping one night. I love sleeping babies.

Sometimes I look at myself and Ava and wonder how she’s mine. I just think we look so different physically. I think she definitely resembles her daddy, though as she is growing I do see a few more physical features that are mine.

Last Tuesday, I got to go to the Razorback Club meeting here in our city. My work had a table and I was lucky enough to attend. Our new head coach, Bret Bielema, was speaking and Tyler Wilson, our former quarterback, was receiving an award! I went to take a picture for my cousin who was getting their autographs and ended up getting one from each of them, too!

Our new head coach was HILARIOUS! I mean, SO funny! We laughed the whole time he was speaking. I am SO excited for the fall and Razorback football! I think we will see good things from this coach!

When I got home, Reed was asleep and Ava was awake. She was happy to see me. About an hour after I got home, Reed woke up crying. They were both awake, not wanting to sleep, so I spent some time with them in Ava’s bed. Some days you just need extra snuggles with your babies!

My kids love to be goofy in the mornings on the way to school. One morning while we were waiting for the garage door to close, we took a picture. I love how Reed has his tongue out! 

Wednesday afternoons are dance days for Ava, and Zach called saying he was running a few minutes late. I went to pick up the kids from their classrooms to save Zach a few minutes. They were happy to see me and they were happy to get to sit in my front seat for a bit!

And y’all. Let me just tell you about this. When I was in high school, I had a friend introduce me to a peanut butter fudge shake from Sonic. It was my FAVORITE! When we would drive on weekends, we’d stop and have on of these. Well, they ended up taking them away. And I was bummed. Big time. So, imagine my delight when I saw that for their summer shake line-up, my FAVORITE WAS BACK?!?! 

And not only that, but after 8pm they are half price!!!! WOO-HOO! I saved my big cheat for the week for one of these and oh, was it worth it! It took me back to those summer nights driving around and I can guarantee I’ll be having a couple more of these this summer!

They have some other flavors back too! Is your favorite on the menu?!?!

Weekend days

We had planned to celebrate Zach’s birthday with dinner on Friday night, but the kids were so cranky and tired that morning, we decided dinner wouldn’t be very fun or enjoyable so we just decided to do it another time. Zach ended up playing in a golf tournament Friday afternoon so it was just as well. We had a low key evening. Reed and I enjoyed goofing around with the camera.

Saturday I went to an open house to sell Pampered Chef. I knew it wouldn’t be overly busy so I took Ava with me and she enjoyed having some time with me. She also enjoyed “cooking” with my tools.

That evening we went to a birthday party. It was eventful. Ava washed her hands in the bathroom and tossed the towel up on the counter. Well, it ended up on top of a lit candle. I walked by about 10 minutes after (I’d been in there with her and didn’t even notice), and the bathroom was SMOKY! I saw the towel lit and smoldering! I grabbed the towel and threw it in the sink and turned water on and thankfully put it out. The towel had a huge hole in it but thankfully all was ok! WHEW! We may not get invited to any more parties! :) The kids (and adults!) had fun!

 

Sunday we met Zach’s family in NWA for lunch to celebrate his birthday with them. We had a good visit and ate some yummy food. We also stopped to say hi to Stephen and Leslie since we drove right past their house on the way home. The kids had fun being the center of attention and were definitely put on performances all afternoon!

We got home and started getting stuff ready for the week. The kids have been playing SO well together lately, but it only lasts for a while before someone ends up crying. That day it was Ava. Reed has been bitten several times at school recently and has picked up the habit as well. They were playing so well in Reed’s room and we hear him start to squawk about something and then bickering started and then we heard Ava howl and start crying. He bit the back of her arm and left teeth marks and a bruise. He got punished and he had to tell her sorry and give her a hug. I’m thinking the days of physical fighting are just starting!

We have a low key weekend coming up and I’m SO grateful after the several busy ones we’ve had. Sometimes it’s nice to just sit at home and be!

Build em up: Friendships

Linking up again today with Kelly’s Korner, Blue-Eyed Bride, Life in the Green House, and Lil Light O’ Mine for the Build ‘Em Up Series.

“I’ve heard it said, that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. I know I’m who I am today because I knew you. Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But, because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” – For Good, Wicked

These lyrics from the musical Wicked pretty much sum up friendship. Our lives cross paths with certain people for a reason, and every person that touches our life, helps shape who we are for the rest of our life.

I would say that I have never been very good at making friends. I’m very insecure and don’t feel comfortable in situations where I don’t know people. I’m not really brave enough to just walk up to someone and strike up a conversation.

Growing up, I had a hard time making friends – I was shy, self conscious, and looking back, unapproachable. Sure, I had friends, but it was a long time before I felt like I found my niche. I wasn’t the girl that felt confident enough to talk to people. I wasn’t the girl that stood out in a crowd. I wasn’t the girl that people were clamoring to know. And often times, I still feel like that girl.

I had a core group of girl friends starting around ninth grade. We went all through high school, and even some of us through college, and we were inseparable. Some of my greatest memories from that time are from the fun times we had on trips, school functions, or just hanging out at each others’ homes. We had classes together, went to prom together, and grew up together. Some of those girls I don’t keep in touch with anymore, some I am friends with on facebook and we check in now and then, and others I talk to more regularly. The relationships have changed over the years and none of them are what they were, and sadly are not as strong as they were. But as you age, everyone changes and what once fit, doesn’t always fit anymore. And as hard as it is, sometimes it’s necessary to move on from a friendship. But those people are never really gone – they’ve impacted your life, and because of them you are forever changed.

I would count myself lucky to have a wide variety of friends. I have different groups of friends and am thankful for all of them as they all serve different areas of need in my life. I’m SO grateful for the people who have opened their hearts and lives to me, who share life with me, and who allow me to do the same for them. I have friends who allow me to laugh, to cry, to whine, to pray, to support and so many other things. I have friends from work, friends who are family, friends from church, friends from college/high school days, blog friends, and others. I think you tend to gravitate toward people who are in a similar place to you and commonalities lead to friendships.

So, you have friends. Now, how do you keep them? I think one of the BIGGEST things that affects friendships is that one party often feels like they are giving more than they get. If one friend is constantly the one texting, calling, making plans, etc, they will begin to wonder why they are doing all the work. Does that mean the other person doesn’t care as much? My friendship mantra is pretty much summed up by these words from a Tim McGraw song: “I became a friend a friend would like to have.” I try to be the type of friend that I know I crave. If I’m your friend, I am the most fiercely loyal friend you will ever have. I will be your biggest cheerleader, supporter, and advocate! I’m an encourager (it’s just in my nature), and I know how much encouragement pumps me up so I like to pump out plenty of it myself!!!!

These are some of the ways I try to let my friends know I care:

• Random texts, emails, etc to see how they are doing.
• Surprise notes or cards in the mail! I know I love getting mail and I love surprising others with these.
• Listening when they have something going on and praying for them. We all need someone who does this for us.
• Surprise them with a favorite thing – maybe their favorite drink, a lunch, any little thing that will make them feel special.
• Be supportive! SHOW them you care about what is happening to them and give them the support they may need at the time.
• Most important – BE INVOLVED. Be involved in their life. Know what’s going on with them. Make an effort to support them in whatever they are doing/have going, etc. Just be there for them.
• Make time for them. People are busy. We all are. But never making time for a friend makes them feel unimportant. Don’t make them feel that way.
• If you mess up or hurt your friend, admit it and make it right. Sometimes friendships end over very silly and trivial things. Sometimes the end has validity, but if it’s something small, step up if you are wrong and fix things!

Dymanics of friendships are different. What works for one, won’t work for another. Make time to KNOW your friends, and take the time to really invest in them. Great friends are hard to find so hold on to the ones you do find.

About a year or so ago, I wrote a post about friendship and I ended that one with these words, and think they are still so fitting today for making and keeping friends:

Be you. Be the real you. And treat others like you would like to be treated. If you mess up, apologize. Real, true friends can be so hard to find, so be thankful for the ones you have. Be the kind of friend a friend would like to have. I think it’s as simple as that.

The days of our lives

So, I’m a little behind on things. Last Monday, Reed had one shot first thing in the morning. I got a call around 10:30 that he was running fever and just didn’t feel well. I went and picked him up and got him home. I checked his temp and it was 97.9. NO fever. While an afternoon at home with my baby isn’t bad, I hated to waste part of the little sick time I have for an occasion when it wasn’t really necessary.

That evening, we had dinner outside and it was finally warm enough AND dry enough for the kids to drive the jeep around! They had a ball!

Tuesday afternoon, Zach dropped Ava off to me so I could take her to gymnastics and girlfriend was red, sweaty, and HOT! I couldn’t believe how gross she was!  

I took her to her gymnastics class and she was the only one there from her class that night, so she and her teacher joined in with the class above her. Her teacher said she kept up really well and did a great job! She really loves gymnastics! Here she was doing a roll!

My favorite part of the morning is when I get Reed out of his bed. He’s usually standing yelling “MAMA! DADA! A-yuh!” I guess he thinks eventually one of us will come get him!

Ava’s dance recital is coming up and last week she had to dress in full costume for pictures. I snapped one while she was posing for the photographer and my heart almost can’t handle the way she looks here. SO grown up looking.

Thursday was Zach’s birthday. Ava told him what his present was before he got it.

 

He originally had plans for after work to meet up with someone to discuss some work stuff so I’d just planned on surprising him with his requested birthday dessert: apple dumplings. His plans got cancelled mid-day so we ended up getting to have dinner with him and having a little celebration!

 

I never know what each is going to bring! Last week definitely didn’t go quite as planned, but was good nonetheless. However, with so much tragedy around our nation, it’s good to stop and remember to be thankful for our blessings and to pray for those who are hurting and suffering. Also, live life fully. We are not promised tomorrow!

happy birthday zach!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZACH!!!!

I am excited to welcome you to 29! :) (Zach is eight months younger than I am and he LOVES to remind me of that fact!) 

We love you so much and we hope you have a wonderful day! We are looking forward to celebrating YOU!

Thank you for being our leader, our supporter, our  rock, and the one that keeps our house sane! 

We are so proud of YOU and everything you do! We hope that your last year in your 20s is filled with blessings beyond measure and more happiness than you could ever hope for!

We love you!!!!!

Sarah, Ava, & Reed

Silly kids

It’s no surprise I love my kids. I mean, duh. But, oh, sometimes those babies just melt my heart!!! Here are a few of the moments from last week that did just that!

As Reed was attempting to learn to blow bubbles, he had several eat the wand moments. I finally poured the bubble solution from his little bottle back into the big one and filled it with water so his belly wouldn’t be filled with bubbles!

I know this is blurry, but sometimes Reed can be such a ham! I love his goofy little self! I mean look at that cheese!

This girl is KILLING me with how grown up she looks lately. I am in such denial that she will be FIVE in less than six months. I just cannot even believe it.

Reed had his 18 month wellness check last week and he decided he needed to wear his sunglasses. He wore them into the building, up the elevator, and all the way into the doctor’s office. Everyone we passed got a good chuckle!

 

Our kids LOVE being outside so on the days our weather has been warmer, we’ve been having dinner outside. They absolutely LOVE eating at their picnic table!

For the longest time, we always dropped Reed off in his class first. Recently, Ava has asked that she go first some days. One day she was SO proud to show Reed his classroom. Reed was just scared he might be staying in there!

My mom tries to pick the kids up a couple days a week, especially if it’s a day that Zach has something to do after school so that they don’t have to stay until 5:00 when I get off. I was greeted to shouts of “MAMA!!!!!” one day last week. Nothing better. Also, they don’t like pants, or really clothes in general. The less the better.

This boy. I cannot get enough of him. That’s all.

I ordered these cute tumblers for the kids and they were SO excited when we got them!

I wanted to give them a quick wash and Reed kept standing there yelling “MINE!” and “DINK"!” until I could get it in his hands!    

I feel so blessed that I get to be the mom of these two. There are moments that are HARD (like Saturday night when Ava woke up at 2:15 crying because our baby-sitter was gone and proceeded to wake me up for the next hour), but I could not be more thankful that I have two healthy, happy little kids. I am so, so grateful for their little lives!

Weekend Wrap Up

We had such a great weekend! My FAVORITE days of the week are Fridays when I know that I have a whole TWO days ahead of me for family and just doing whatever it is we want to do!

Friday night I met up with Gwen and Brockette for dinner. These are two fairly new friends of mine and it was SO fun to have dinner. We sat and gabbed for three hours! I’ve gotten to know Gwen just from reading her blog and then twitter/IG. Brockette’s little girl started taking gymnastics at the same time as Ava and we spend the hour chatting. And it turns out the Gwen and Brockette send their children to the same school so they knew who the other was but didn’t really know each other. We laughed SO much and it was just so great to spend some time with new friends. I’ve really spent a lot of time praying about this area of my life and I feel blessed that God has been sending new sweet friends my way! Here I was heading there – excited for some mama time!

Saturday we got up and did some things around the house and grocery shopped and all that jazz. As I was picking up around the house, Reed came to me with a boy and kept saying “bow. bow. bow” and putting it up on his head. So we put it in for him. He then thought he needed some lipstick!

That afternoon Zach played golf while I helped do some setting up for a surprise birthday party for my friend/boss. We had to pick up balloons and a cake and then while we were there and I was pulling the balloons out, her husband drove up in HER car and I think my heart jumped out of my chest! After we set up, Ava felt the need to do some posing for me!

That night, we hired our first non-family baby-sitter. Except she is really family because it was one of my younger cousins. ha! But it was the first time we had someone come to our house and stay with them and put them to bed while we were gone. When we walked in Reed gave her a glare, and then he ran to me crying “mama!!!!!” and I got neeeeeeeeeeeeeervous. We had first planned to just have her come shortly before we needed to leave around 7:15 and put Reed to bed. Then we changed our minds and decided to meet my cousin (who is also my co-worker and friend of my boss as well) and her husband for dinner. So I was super nervous about leaving someone to put Reed to bed. But, we were able to get him to warm up to her in about 10 minutes and they went to play in Ava’s room and we snuck out!!!!!!!

I was sooooooooo relieved! He did cry a little around bed time and wandered around looking for us, but overall he did GREAT! And so did Ava. I’m so glad because this means that maybe Zach and I can get out a little more. We’re not great about date nights just because we’ve been nervous about having a sitter the kids didn’t know all that well. And even though she was my cousin, when we’re at family get togethers, she’s not the one they are around since she’s 15 and they are busy playing. And the only down side was that Ava woke up at 2:15 crying and asking where Emily was.

We had a good time out and the surprise party was really fun! However, I told Zach he better not do anything like that for me b/c I would never want to experience the terror I saw last night! 

We woke up and went to church early on Sunday and then had breakfast. I loved the dress Ava wore so I made her take a picture for me!

The kids both stayed up a little early on Saturday night so they were really tired. We all laid down for naps around noon. I slept for about an hour and then enjoyed some quiet time in the house while everyone else slept longer!

We spent the rest of the afternoon doing a couple of errands, taking care of some projects, and playing outside. It was a wonderful weekend and I’m hopeful for a week just as wonderful!