Home for the Holidays!

So it's been too long since my last post....that is because school has started so I'm back to the grind.  In addition to my personal blog, I have a classroom blog going, and a grade level blog that I "co-parent" with another fabulous educator.  I just can't seem to keep up in all the hustle and bustle with the postings!  When I finally sit down at night, I just decompress and feel like doing.......ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!  Does this make me lazy???  Sometimes when I look at the state of my house after a day, I think yes, why yes it does.   Then I think about all the things that I have going on.  Here is a run down of a day in the life of me
5:00-5:15-1st alarm (yes, first because usually there are more to come, but my husband has recently banned my snooze button.....so I have devised a different plan)
5:15-Go downstairs and brew coffee (it has a prebrew setting....but I never feel like preparing it at night (remember the sit around and do nothing?!) )and set second alarm because I then fall asleep on the couch while I wait for my coffee and get some extra time in
5:25-5:35- maybe get up or one more snooze
5:35-6:15-shower, do make-up, get dressed and throw hair in a bun (because I have snoozed too many times to actually wear it down)
6:15-Wake up Logan and get his stuff ready for him to get dressed
6:20-Get his breakfast and lunch ready
6:30-Make sure he is brushing his teeth and do his hair
6:40-Out the door (HOPEFULLY!)
7:00-Drop Logan off at school
7:15 Arrive at work and try to make another pot of coffee to get me through the busy day that will commence
7:35-Get kids from gym
7:40-2:40-Teach my little heart out
2:40-3:00 Dismissal
3:00-3:45- is usually one of the following activities depending on the day-tutoring, meetings, or newspaper club.....Friday is the only time that I have this period to do whatever needs to be done.
3:45-4:45-This time is usually spent lesson planning, copying, grading, emailing, and prepping for the next day
4:45-Go pick up Logan
5:00-Go pick up Carter
5:30ish- Come home and then begin to start cooking dinner
6:30ish-Eat dinner
7:00ish-Bath time
7:30ish-Carter gets bottle and then bedtime
7:45-8:00ish-Logan get stories, prayers and bed time
And that is pretty much what ever single week night looks like to me.  Luckily Chris just got a shift change, so he arrives around 6:30 to help with the later part of the evening.  Prior to the change, it was all me, all night.  So after reading that....I'm sure anyone would want to just sit and do NOTHING!  Not to mention 3/4 of my Saturdays are spent managing the vaccine clinics.  So I leave around 8am and return around 6-6:30pm on those days.  
Lets just say that being home for this week is truly rejuvenating. I am trying to do all the things I need to do around the house....but again I just want to relax!  The weather is so cold....I just want to sit around on the couch and drink coffee!  What's wrong with that?!  Well my kids don't appreciate the relaxation efforts....so today we will do something fun!  I think we are going to make Santa Claus handprint ornaments that I found on Pinterest so we can have some quality time!  Tomorrow, we are making some adorable turkey cookies and baking my favorite dessert.....cherry pie!   I also have been doing some online Christmas shopping!  It's great to not have to venture out into the cold to get some things done!  I will post some pictures of how our ornaments and cookies turn out!

Taking it Easy

I can't believe that today is the 19th of July!!  That means that teachers return to work in exactly one month from today!  I don't know where the time has gone!  I have really enjoyed this time with my family!  The last two summers I taught summer school, so I don't think that 3-4 weeks is really a "restful break."  During the school year, I don't get to spend but 2-3 hours a day with my own children before bedtime.  I usually leave work after 4:00, go get Logan, then go get Carter, cook dinner and then it's baths and bedtime.  Chris doesn't get home until close to 10:00, so not only am I doing everything with the boys alone, by the time he gets home, I am so exhausted from the day and getting up at 5:30 that I am sleeping or ready for bed.  On Saturdays I work vaccine clinics all day, so my time is few and far between.  A comforting thought is that after this coming school year, Logan will be going to Kindergarten at my school!!! Then Carter won't be too far behind.  We laid low this week due to all of the things we did last week.  Carter started going back to school on Tuesdays, so when we picked him up, we stopped by my Oma's house to see her, my dad and brother for a little bit.  While we were there, my brother was in the garage.  Logan went out there, and the next thing I knew, when I looked out the window, Uncle Adam was showing him how to skateboard!  It was the cutest thing.  I didn't really want him to do it because I am a helicopter mom, and I think the sport is too dangerous, plus he didn't have a helmet.  It just melted my heart to see my brother holding Logan's hands and helping him.  He did really good and eventually slowly coasted across the floor with no hands!

Also, I decided that when we aren't out and about doing things, Logan needs less TV time and more school type activities.  Although, doing it with him made me realize how much fun helping him with homework in the future is NOT going to be!  He is whiny and acts silly even though he is perfectly capable of doing everything.  He knows all his colors so we worked on matching the colors to their spellings.  We also did some counting and number recognition.   We are continuing to practice reading and popcorn words.

I gave him a sticker on each one which he totally loved!  I am so proud of him!  I hope he has a love for school as kiddo.  I think he will because all he talks about is going back to school and seeing his teacher and is always talking about what he is going to take to show-and-tell.
The most eventful part of our week was going to the Mckenna Children's Museum in New Braunfels.  I bought a Groupon back in April or May, so we went with my friend Erica, and her daughter Reagan.  I LOVE this place.  It is so open (unlike San Antonio's) and tons of stuff for them to do.  I like the outdoor area.  It has a giant water table area, musical instrument area, a climbing structure, and a few other things.  Aside from Carter tripping and busting his lip open, we had a great time!

I realized I didn't get any pics of the 3 kids together because I was busy chasing my boys in 2 different directions and continuing to put Carter's shoes back on!  We had lots of fun and then took them to McDonald's after.  That was the only time in our day when Erica and I got to chill and talk!  After a 30 min nap for Carter he was woken up and him, Logan and I headed to BJ's to meet up with my team and meet our new special ed inclusion teacher.  We had a great time, but the boys were a handful.  I am surprised we stayed for the amount of time that we did!  Probably because I was missing my friends!  Now I have the joy today of cleaning house, doing laundry, and dealing with an overtired Carter.  I am being punished because I haven't done housework in a couple days so the house looks like CRAP!!!  I don't understand how people can have immaculately clean houses with kids.  I know some people have a maid that comes a few times a month, but that luxury isn't in our budget, so woe is me.  I guess I have spent enough of a "break" on the computer.  Back to the housework it is!!!

The Puppy

I always wondered if my kids would ever have a stuffed animal that they are really attached to.  Logan didn't really have one.  For about 6-12 months when he was around 2, Logan was attached to a horse that he named Gallahad.  He doesn't seem to really care about it anymore.  Every now and then he will play with it.  It does sleep in his bed, but it doesn't have to be there for him to fall asleep.  Carter on the other hand has a puppy that he is attached to.  The puppy is actually a part lovey (small soft cuddle blanket) and part puppy stuffed animal.  He got it when he was about 5 weeks old from my friend Ellen.  I can't remember when the attachment started, but it's been going on for a while now!  For the past year, it's been a staple in our daily lives.  He has to have it.  He sleeps with it at night and can't sleep without it.  He cries if it isn't with him.  When he wakes up in the morning he takes it out of his crib and brings it with him throughout the day.  Sometimes puppy has to "watch" him do stuff because Mommy doesn't want puppy to get dirty.  Carter calls him "Whooo Whooo."  This is the barking sound he makes whenever he hears/sees a dog, however, it's what he says when he wants his puppy.  Despite how clean I try to keep this puppy, it isn't quite the lovely blue it used to be....I'll leave it at that.  Until recently, he never had a problem when puppy got a "bath."  The past 2 times that I have washed his puppy, he has been very upset!  He waits at the washer calling, "Whooo Whooo"  and hits it with his hands.  I have to find constant distractions, and even when he is distracted, a few minutes later he will remember and run back to the laundry room.  
He is at school today and brought his puppy and paci in the car.  When we got there this morning, I told him that his puppy and paci would be waiting for him when he got home from school.  I took out the paci and he put it back in.  I layed his puppy down and he picked it back up.  Then I got him out of the seat and them took both and placed them in his carseat.  He didn't really like that, but thankfully, no fit!  He hasn't been to school since the last day for teachers on June 7th, but it easing back in with just Tuesdays since it's a water day.  He cried.  Hopefully he will be all smiles at pick up time when he gets his puppy and paci back!

The tactic that was very helpful during the wash cycle was his cinnamon honey pecan cream cheese bagel!

Boys Will Be Boys

I must say that I love having little boys!  They are so much fun.  These boys are also super silly.  I love all the time that I have gotten to spend with them this summer, because each day reminds me how blessed I am to be their mom.  Logan discovered, pretty quickly might add, that the t-shirt quilt is perfect for a fort using the pack and play.  He had the great idea of getting in there with Carter and then putting the quilt over the top.  They had a lot of fun inside.

 

They had a lot of fun.  Another thing that I love to witness is the brotherly love.  They are getting a better bond since Carter is old enough to play and interact with Logan.  Along with the brotherly love has come the not so loving bonding consisting of biting, slapping, tackling, and the list continues to go on. Carter is talking SO much now!  Every day he says something new!  Today was "awesome" and "Carter"

Today Logan was signed up for a workshop offered by Lowe's.  The Build and Grow workshop was going to be constructing the truck from Pizza Planet.  It said it was free and that they get goggles, an apron and the materials to make the car.  Despite some minor inconveniences, Logan made it with time to spare!  Logan and his dad went for some father-son time.  He came home with the biggest smile on his face and told Chris, "Thanks for helping me build my car Dad."  His apron also came with a patch to iron on it and a certificate!  I love this kind of stuff.  I am glad I signed him up for the next one, because after looking online today, the ones in San Antonio are all filled!  He is going to get all the patches now!! 

This evening Chris grilled some steaks.  He is quite the chef, especially when it comes to the grill.  This was his Christmas present from me last year

Its was a great choice, and the smoker has been awesome!  It's nice that I get to reap the benefits of this gift!  Tonight's steaks had been seasoned yesterday afternoon and then marinated today.  I am so lucky to have such a grill master!

We finally have the mosquitoes in the back under control, so the boys and I sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air. 

I was enjoying one (or more) of these little babies.....if you have never had one, I HIGHLY recommend it!  They taste better than chocolate milk and before you know it, it's gone!  Mommy needed to relax after yesterday's vaccine clinic.  It was super hot and my shoulders are soooo sore even though I have worked the past few weekends.  I was happy to work with my friend Kayla!  We had a good time as usual!   No heartworm positive dogs (that were tested) so that is a celebration!

Hoping for a relaxing week and to get caught up on some housework since we have been busy with too much fun lately.

Fun-Filled Summer Days and Nights

We had really planned to go to Six Flags Fiesta Texas on Wednesday.  I received a free ticket for inputting my students reading hours, and in with their hours, I submitted a reading log for  Gwen and Logan.  We were doing the exact thing I wanted my students to do at home, so I didn't think it was a big deal since they are encouraging reading.  We were just exhausted from the beach trip and didn't really do much on Wednesday.  The thought of spending all day in the hot sun with children that were still pretty tired, plus taking Carter, left us wanting to lay low instead.  We did some housecleaning and unpacking.  I really wanted to still have something fun planned for the kids.  We toyed around with the idea of the Witte Museum but they closed at 5.  Carter is a late napper so we wouldn't have been able to spend the kind of time we would have liked.  Miraculously on a whim, I was able to arrange for my sister to watch Carter.  He would be going to bed, so I didn't want to deal with the hassle of having a tired baby at the movie.  The only thing was since it was so last minute, she already had plans to workout with a friend and couldn't be at my house until 8.  The best movie time we could get was 7:45.  That is where the stars aligned....my dad and brother agreed to be here at 7:30 and watch him until she got there.  We were running late to the movie and sat down right as the last preview was finishing.  We still found good seats.  Despicable Me 2 is TOTALLY ADORABLE and funny.  If you liked the 1st you will like this one also.  I really liked Vector's character from the 1st movie, so I was a little disappointed he didn't make it into the 2nd movie.  My husband said, "they left him on the moon."  Good point.  However, I would have liked to see some creative way that he was worked in.....just sayin'!  This was only Logan's 2nd time in a movie theater.  We had taken him to see the Lorax right when he turned/was turning 3, so it's been awhile!  He just needed a few reminders that he had to be quiet and not to shake the chairs in front of him. 

Chris wanted to wear yellow so him and Logan could be like the minions and match wearing yellow.  We are so thankful that my my dad, sister, brother, and friend Brianna who pitched in and helped us take out the kids!!
Today was quite uneventful in the sense that we didn't venture out anywhere.  I finally finished my t-shirt quilt!  It looks so good.  I don't remember where I left off in my directions, so I'm not even going to go there.   I added a border, bought batting and a solid blue broadcloth for the back and then sewed them together.  I couldn't be happier with the product!  It is so warm and cozy!  Plus it looks great too!  I wasn't sure about the kind of fabric I wanted for the border and I am really happy with my choice! 

 Stormfly, our kitten, was trying to help out with cutting the fabric border!

 

I cut 4 border strips that were 7" wide 

I added the verical border strips.

 Then I added the horizontal border strips

 And tada!  The finished product after I added the batting and the solid broadcloth to the quilt top.  I love it!  While I was finishing the quilt, Logan was running around with some scrap fabric saying that it was his cape.  He asked if I would make him one.  It just so happens that I saw the directions to make a homemade cape using......wait for it...t-shirts! It just so happens that I have about 8 backs to t-shirts just sitting around!  I then made Logan a cape sewing 2 of them together!  First I put them right sides together and then drew the outline of the cape with a Sharpie.  Then I pinned them together along the lines I drew.  Then I trimmed out the shape (kind of like a wife beater).  I sewed the majority of it with my machine and then turned it inside out.  Then stitched the opening closed.  When I finished, I painted his superhero name he came up with on the the back and then a symbol.  He was so happy when he woke up from his nap!  He kept saying, "It's perfect Mom.  Thank you!"  This then sparked him to decide that Carter needed one to play superheroes with him.  So then that led to me making Carter one.  30 mins later, Carter has a superhero cape.  I didn't paint it because it would have to dry, so maybe I'll do that tonight.  Each boy wore it until it was time for bed...well actually Logan lost his because he wasn't eating his dinner...and we all know that superheroes eat a well balanced diet, so he couldn't wear the cape if he couldn't eat the dinner.  I now have a new and effective form of punishment in the house when it comes to Logan.  Taking the cape.  I am very pleased with the project, and again have big shoutouts to give to Pinterest!  

Well Martha Stewart if off for the night!  I think it's time to put up the sewing machine, curl-up under my t-shirt quilt, and read a book!

Beach Bound it is for the Morris Family

We were so excited to go out of town to the beach for a quick getaway.  I was excited to see how Carter would react since it was his 1st time and he is now very aware of things going on around him.  This was Logan's 2nd beach trip.  The last time he was just a little over 2 years old, so I figured he would enjoy it even more.  They both had a blast.  At first Carter was a little apprehensive when a wave would come and he would turn and run the other way.  He eventually got braver the more time he spent beach side.  We were unable to really relax because Carter kept getting pummeled by waves even at the edge so you constantly had to keep your eyes on him and at your side.  Also, there seemed to be an abundance of jellyfish washing up on the shore, so I was a little on edge about one of the kids getting stung or even ourselves!  We found some cool little clams and sea snails that we collected and watched.  We tried to play in the sand and build a castle but it didn't work as well as we wanted and Carter kept running off.  Logan finally got to fly his Lightning McQueen kite that he got for his birthday!  He was so excited!  Gwen met some little girls that pulled up next to us on the beach and played on the boogie boards with them.  Finally we had been beat up by the sun and headed to the hotel.

Here is a little clip of some of our beach action....I noticed when I watched it there was a lot of me filming water toward the end...that was because I was worried about Carter going under!!

The last time we visited the beach as the family, we stayed in Corpus instead of on the island, so we didn't get much beach time and then were trapped in a tiny hotel room with no kid friendly programming and it was TORTURE!  This time we stayed on the island and were just blocks away from the beach, shops and restaurant strip in the heart of Port Aransas.  The boys had NO nap so we were setting ourselves up for failure taking everyone out to dinner and then to 2 souvenir shops (picked by the inviting jaws of a gigantic shark that lured Logan to them).  Surprisingly the evening went pretty well with no major meltdowns!  We wanted to eat at Moby Dicks because it has a pirate them inside with all kinds of cool pirate stuff that I thought Logan would enjoy, however they are apparently closed on Mondays.  We ended up at a seafood grill called Castaways and sat out on the patio.  We had an awesome dinner with which I enjoyed a tasty Alotta Colada out of a pineapple!!  I could go for another right now! 

I think everyone was too tired to misbehave!  Everyone just snacked, showered and watched some cartoons. 

 The worst part was taking an over tired Carter back to the hotel room.  We tried to put Nemo on the portable DVD player and lay in bed hoping that would help-wrong! Then we tried no Nemo and patting him-wrong.  Then we tried TV out and everyone quiet-wrong again.  We stayed that way for over an hour, rocking, patting, walking around and everything in between to get Carter to sleep, and finally after an hour he was out.  He wasn't sleeping very soundly so I adjusted the brightness on my phone and played around on fb.  The entire night he tossed and turned, at one point Logan came in our bed.  I think the only person in the hotel that got a decent night's sleep was Gwen, who had the bed Logan abandoned to herself!  The hotel had a really awesome continental breakfast the next morning.  After that we packed up the car, checked out, and drove down the beach on our way back to San Antonio.  I can't wait to go back next summer, when Carter is a little bit older and Logan a better swimmer.  I would also like to stay more than one night, so we can have another play day on the beach.  We opted not to go before we drove back home so everyone wouldn't get all sandy and yucky from the water and any more sun exposure.  We all came out pink despite our best efforts at putting on sun screen!