Check!

It was another cool, but beautiful day. 

Thank goodness I didn't have anything on my to-do list for school or home. I filled it with other things instead!

Family pictures- check!

Worshipping the Lord- check!

Face Time with my family- check!

Lunch at Firehouse Subs- check!

Lots of laughs (and some tears)- check!

Digging for worms and watching my sweet boy so excited- check!

Running outside with my love- check!

Coffee/Smoothie Date night- check!

(Just may have been my favorite part.)

Lots of fun moments today!

Trains and Boats

This morning Sharon and I headed to Panera for breakfast and over to get pedicures. The boys went out to breakfast as well. We met back home within 2 minutes of each other; perfect timing! We then headed downtown to have some fun.

His face says it all! He couldn't be more excited to ride on the train. 

We rode Henry around the park. The sun was out, but the wind was chilly when we first arrived.

(The wind is the reason for my non-coordinating outfit.)

 Love my sweet boy!

Next, we rode the paddle boat. Grandma Sharon soaked up rays as we cruised around the pond.

Jackson loves to help steer too!

Grandma Sharon, Jackson, and Papa Mel

Our tummies were hungry once again, so we stopped by City Centre and ate lunch at Ruggles. Jackson must have been worn out because he never sits and cuddles anymore.

 LOVE spending time with family!

Thursday Thoughts

Just some randomness from me!

*Jackson has a new love in puzzles and can put these ones together all by himself! There are three different puzzles that are stored underneath and he loves doing each of them. I am so impressed that he figured out how to complete them on his own. He really needs a whole post dedicated to his silliness, stubbornness, and sweetness!

*It has been over 3 weeks since I have had a diet soda of my own. I have had a few drinks of Brian's root beer. But, I am really just trying to stay away from Diet drinks because I know they are not good for me, not that regular soda is either. It has actually been easier than I thought and I plan to continue drinking all natural H20. So far, I count this as a personal success!

*My students amaze me with their thinking (on some days). They came up with these shape diagrams for the water cycle and explained why the triangle or the square fit the water cycle better. They were even debating with one another. LOVE it!

*I love to bake! I tried a new recipe today and talk about crazy. I even modified the cookies and they were still huge. The pictures don't do them justice. They were, however, delish!

*My Dad had surgery today and all went well. I am so thankful for my Dad's faith. I have a lot to learn from him. Mel and Sharon fly in tomorrow. We are all looking forward to spending time with them and getting spoiled!

*A few verses I am clinging to this week:

Psalm 57:2 "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose, for me."

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe."

Sunday Funday

I try and do all of the laundry, cleaning, and school work on Saturday so I can relax and truly enjoy Sunday with my boys. 

Before we left for Church, I asked Jackson if I could take his picture and he said sure. I knew this meant he would actually smile nice, and he did!

Check out that sweet smile!

Love my little guy!



I got to spend an hour in Jackson's Sunday school class. There were only 5 kids today. I love that he is able to "retell" his Bible stories to us after.

Jackson spent his nap time running back and forth from the bathroom and singing. After an hour, I went upstairs to see if he was ready to go to the park. I am seeing nap days starting to disappear:(

The rest of the afternoon we played outside while Brian cleaned and washed the cars, and pulled weeds around the pool. 



And just for fun, Brian heated the hot tub and went swimming with Jackson. He was like a fish out of water! He couldn't get enough and swam back and forth the whole time.

Love that we can swim outside in January!

We took a walk afterwards and Jackson was asleep before we got back home. I guess the upside of no nap is that he fell asleep by 7:30 and didn't get up once.

It is always hard to go back to work after a fun weekend with my boys!

Two Parties

Saturday morning my Aunt's Church/preschool was having a Pancake Pajama Party. Jackson will start going to preschool here most likely in the fall. I think he is ready to be with all kids his age.

While I got ready, he played his favorite game on the i-Pad.

We drove through to pick Mommy up a coffee and then we were off to the Pancake Party. Despite the name, Jackson opted to make a waffle. He topped it with strawberries and whipped cream. He had half of it eaten before I was able to snap a picture. 

After the yummy waffle, they had different centers set up for the kids to play. Jackson enjoyed making his own waffle, building towers, and throwing feathers.

We headed home to change before we went to our second party of the day. Drew, Jackson's friend from Church, turned 3 and had a pirate party. Jackson wasn't that interested in dressing as a pirate at first, but loved jumping with all the kids on the trampoline. Thanks for the fun party Drew!

We were back home by 1:00. Jackson took an excellent nap and I was wiped out as well. It was fun partying the morning away!

An Open Road

The weather this week has been cloudy and windy but warm. Jackson loves to be outside. One afternoon he wanted to ride his four wheeler. He still can't steer great, but he is definitely getting better!

He was in a rather good mood and spent more time checking his controls, fans, lights, and parked cars than he did riding! I caught a lot of funny faces on camera.

This boy knows how to have fun!

Three Day Weekend

This weekend was low key and I loved every minute of it!

Saturday morning Jackson and I had a breakfast date at where else but McDonald's. He was so excited to eat a Sausage Biscuit like Daddy. After we ate, Jackson played for a long time!

I love these times that I get to take him somewhere just the two of us. I know he likes going with me know, I just pray he will still want to go with me when he is older. I wonder what kinds of things he will want me to do!?! Whatever it is, it will be special because it will just be him and me!

 When we got home Jackson helped me clean the house. If he can do the real thing he loves to help!

Saturday afternoon we enjoyed some time outside, played in the house, and watched some football.

Sunday after Church was football/ playing in forts with Jackson. We watched the Texans and the Packers play horrible and lose. I still can't believe how terrible the Packers played and that their season is over. The playoffs are so much more fun when a team I like is playing!

And, today I am enjoying the Martin Luther King holiday. Each year when I teach about MLK, I can't believe this was in the 1950/1960's. I am embarrassed to be a white person while teaching what happened to the African Americans. I try to instill in my students that even though we all go to school together now, there is still such a strong need for LOVE!

Cute MLK faces my students made

Jackson and I enjoyed some cuddle time, breakfast, and playtime at the park together this morning. I loved not being rushed by time. Perfect start to any day!

 Then, I had to drop him off at Miss Sandy's because I had a doctor's appointment. I was so sad, I couldn't spend the whole day with him.

I had a little bit of time by myself so I did a little shopping. I always forget how much easier it is to shop without a 2 year old:) I found him a few good deals on some shirts. My appointment was at Brian's new hospital, so I got to see him and where he works.

I picked Jackson up early and we made a little pit stop for an afternoon treat!

Spoiled!

 I really wish every week had a 3 day weekend!

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe." Proverbs 18:!0

What makes you smile?

I have had this video on my phone for a couple weeks now.  It is a great pick me up.

Those giggles never get old and bring a smile to my face everytime!

 "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The hings you planned for us, no one can count." Psalm 40:5

Climbing Out of the Debt Hole

One of our New Year's goals is to pay off my student loans and pay down what we owe on our house.

What better way to start the year, than to pay off one of my loans. This picture makes me very, very happy! I am no longer in debt to American Education Services and will not miss making that bill pay payment.

I can't be too excited because now we must work on the other one. My second one is larger so we are hoping to have paid close to 3/4 of it off by the end of the year. Well see how it goes!

I just may not get any new clothes or shoes this year!

The Zoo

I guess going to the Zoo is becoming a January tradition. The weather was just perfect for a trip to the Zoo yesterday. The animals were up and about, and we could walk around with out sweating to death.

Jackson wanted to start with the elephants. This one was the only one that was out the first time we went by.

 I have a lot of pictures of Jackson's back and Brian and I holding him up to see!

 Jackson was even more excited this year about all the animals. He would tell us all about the animal he just saw until we got to the next one.

 Playing some music with Daddy

 Jackson loved seeing a real turkey after we talked about them at Thanksgiving and he had made his own.

 Family picture in the "jungle"

 I must have really liked the monkey in the tree.

 Jackson would hold my hand on and off as we walked through the Zoo. So sweet!

We watched the lions for a while. The male was sleeping right in front of us. The female came out of nowhere and jumped on the male. Then they started playing. I wish I would have caught it on video. Jackson was still talking about that today.

We had seen the giraffes when we went through the African forest the first time, but we went back at feeding time so Jackson could feed them some lettuce. Brian tried to shoot a video of us feeding the giraffe, but the giraffes eat the lettuce so fast and we only had 3 pieces.

 It was a neat experience being up close and personal with the giraffes. I recommend doing this if you go to the Zoo, even if you pay $5 for less than 30 seconds.

 We were trying to get a family picture with the giraffes, but I guess they moved on for more lettuce.

 After feeding the giraffes, we went and had a picnic lunch. Then we enjoyed looking at some more animals. Jackson wanted to see the elephants one more time. This time the baby elephants were out. Jackson called them Peaches, like the mammoth from Ice Age!

Jackson didn't want to leave the Zoo, so when we asked him if he had fun he said "No!" But, on the way home he watched the video of him feeding the giraffe 30 times with a big smile on his face the whole time. He is such a character!

I love how the Zoo never gets old. No matter how old you are or how many times you go, there seems like I see or notice something new. Animals are such cool part of God's creation.