STRIDE 5k Practice

I wouldn't normally write about just a 'practice', but yesterday was kind of a big deal... or ended up being a big deal in my eyes.
Kayson is in the STRIDE running program at school... and they are working on running and getting ready for their first 5k. 

Yesterday was an official practice.  Friends/family could come run and/or watch the kids... so we did (watched!).  Ryan's folks came up too, which was nice.  Anyway, Kayson started off great... then near the end of his first lap around the school, he fell/stumbled/tripped (not exactly sure), but he bit it hard!!!  :(  His hands (both) were all scraped up/bloody... his one elbow was all scraped up and bloody, and his one knee was cut up too.  It was a mess!!!!  And he cried... hard...  but he wanted to keep running and he did.  I've never been so damn proud of my kid!!!  He did so well... fought through that 'scare' and potential pain...  so proud of him.

He finished well... did 4 laps around the school (which is apparently close to the 3.2 miles).  He looked exhausted, but was hardly winded at all!!  So good.

 

 

Weekend/Flag Football

Friday:
No school day for the kids.  Cora's first field trip - on a bus!  :)  They went to a nearby pumpkin patch, had a beautiful day, fun... and got to bring home their own pumpkin.  I think it was a good day for both of them. 

I worked til about 1ish (we aren't very busy right now)... came home...  did a few things... and got the kids around 3:30.  

Friday night Ryan took the kids to the Iowa Wild hockey game.  I didn't want to go... so he took the kids.  I stayed in... ate Chinese... watching a movie and enjoyed every second of it.  I guess sometimes I just need a break!

Saturday:
Ryan worked.  Kids and I just hung out.  Nothing too thrilling, that's for sure. 
I tried to keep Cora busy without driving me crazy...  and Kayson was glued to electronics.  :(

It was a day that I thought hard about Mom - 2 years ago that day we buried her.  I made it through the 2 year anniversary (on the 23rd), with some tears and just missing her... but Saturday morning was rough.  She's just always on my mind... even along with all the other crap in my head!!!
Anyway... 
We grabbed lunch out... then I had a hair appointment.  I don't normally get my hair done on Saturday's cuz I don't really like doing that on a weekend, but it was the only time Lacey could squeeze me in, so I took it.  What was actually wonderful about that - was Colleen was there as well.  Just us three, and wow - that was fun.  

Headed home... did some random stuff...  then Mike and JeanAnn came up.  They watched the kids Saturday night while we went out for supper with Jess, Lex, Mindy and TJ.  We tried a new place (for us), and it was good...  nice change, but man, I was tired by 8:30!  Home around 10ish. 

Sunday:
Church.
Pretty quiet afternoon...  a little laundry and grocery run. 
Kayson had his last flag football game too... for the championship!!!  And unfortunately, it was not a win.  Bummer.  K got down on himself a couple times, for some mistakes he made...  I hate seeing that... knowing he was trying hard, and knowing he doesn't want to disappoint his Dad.  But in the end... even with a loss, he was smiling, and he had a good little season. I'm glad Ryan and Jarren coached...  they did really good with the boys.

Quiet Sunday evening...  not really ready for another week.  

Fam at the hockey game.

Flowers from Lacey - she knows another year has passed... :(

Perfect pumpkins!

Cora playing Hangman with Papa and Grandma

i9 Flag Football - Bucs

Love this picture.

Mother/Son Ball - at the Science Center of Iowa

About 2 months ago... maybe longer, Jen Hummel reached out to me and said that we should take the boys to a mother/son 'ball' that was happening in October.  I read some stuff about it... and figured - yah, let's do it.  Soon enough, it was here before we knew it... and I had to get clothes for Kayson.  The dress attire was listed as "formal".  And when I looked at past posts on their site - the mothers were wearing prom dresses.  NO JOKE!!  I told Jen - "I'm not going that far!!"  We agreed - just nice dress, but the boys can wear dress pants/tie, etc.  Deal.

The boys had flag football before we went... and they were TIRED before we even got out the door.  I knew it would be a long night for Kayson - I know him.  He had had a super busy weekend... and that just doesn't go over well!

Anyway, we arrived a little late... walked around the Science Center, tried to find food (which was all out - and our kids were starving!!!). But we survived.  We danced a little... not much, then walked around some more.  The boys really just wanted to play at the SC of I!  Which I don't blame them.  I had never been there before, so I was intrigued. 

We did a little more dancing, and then by 8:15, we were checked out.  It was about a perfect amount of time... but totally wish this would have been on a Friday or Saturday night!!  TOO much for these Momma's and boys!  But good memories were had.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend

Friday:
Taylor's and Hummel's got together... at their house.  Quick, easy supper... s'mores were had in the cold and wind... and many laughs.  Super nice evening.

Saturday:
Ryan and Kayson were up early to head out to the Iowa game.  It ended up being a super windy day...  don't think Kayson (or Daddy) were really dressed warm enough, but they fought through it!  Kayson was a tired kid... snoozed on the way over, and the way home.  I worried he was getting sick... but I think he was just wiped out.

Cora and I hung out in the morning. She actually slept til a little after 8!  
She played super nicely... quietly for a couple hours!  Not going to lie, it was great!  
I woke with a sore throat...  huge bummer.  So I poured oils on me, tried a few different options... and it did help! 
Then we met Tricia, Greg, Hope, Logan and some cousins (Monette, Gary, and their daughter Shanna and her boyfriend) for lunch. Great visit with them.  Thought originally they were going to stick around longer than lunch, but they didn't... it was ok.  We had a nice time.  But Trish and Greg hung out with sis and me for a little...  we did a few errands, then back to our house to just hang.  Hope and Logan came over too... just a great little afternoon.  So many darn laughs with them.  Cora was pretty good for me too...  she kind of loved on Uncle Greg a little, which was fun!  ha. 

Ryan and K got home around 5:30...  ordered pizza in... and that's it.  Was a super great day.
By 9pm, I was a zombie...  my throat felt a ton better, but I was just beat.  So were the kids.

Sunday:
Church... and we enjoyed a celebration for Pastor Appreciation day/week.  We are pretty lucky to have Pastor Loren with us.

Our afternoon consisted of not much.  I didn't even go to the grocery store!!  I just didn't feel like it!  But K still had flag football... so him and Ryan did that.  Sis and I stayed home...  too windy, just didn't feel like going. 

And our evening was the Mother/Son Ball at the Science Center of Iowa!!!... that gets it's own post peeps!  :)

A few weekend pics:

 

 

Weekend

Friday:
Friday night we stayed in... but had visitors. Our friends Holly and Mike (and boys) came over for pizza.  We just hung out... kids played well, and us adults just chatted for several hours.  I was however, exhausted once they left.  It had been a long week!

Saturday:
Ryan worked in the morning.  Kids and I hung out...  (does this sound like a repeat from the last couple weekends!!?!?)  I thought for sure the kids would sleep til 7:30 at least... nope - 6:50.  Bummer.  I layed around and just vegged.  I was tired, slept terrible Friday night. 

I finally perked up... did some cleaning, laundry - normal Saturday stay home stuff.  We watched the Iowa game at home, which was nice.  Just kind of relaxing.  About 2:00, Kayson was picked up for the ISU game.  Yes, the Iowa State game.  That little boy, Hudsen, invited him to go... and K was all in!  They had an amazing time, and Kayson was beyond exhausted (when he got home at 11:15 pm!)  

Meanwhile, Cora, Ryan and I went to Ryan's work fall party.  They've been holding a fall party the last year, and it's been working out well.  Winter is hard for everyone to get here to DSM.  The weather was super chilly, but the kids had a blast -- with a huge obstacle course and bounce house.  We had a nice couple hours with Ryan's co workers.  

Cora was pooped when we got home, but she really wanted to watch a movie.  So we did about half of a movie, then she was out!!  

It was a nice day. 

Sunday:
And this was the morning that the kids slept in!!  Imagine that.  I had to wake them at 8, and I believe both would have slept til 8:30 or so!  Poor kids. Just can't get that planned well!  ha. 

Church. 
Then home most of the day, which was great again.  The weather was SUPER cold... and it snowed!!!  It didn't stick to the ground, but it definitely came from the sky!

Mid afternoon, Grandma JeanAnn came and took Cora to the Disney Junior Dance Party at the Civic Center.  I believe they had a good time...  Cora was a little stinker when she got home, and continued through the night (she was super tired), so we'll talk about it later this week I'm sure.  ha. 

Here's to another weekend that went super fast... and to another week (almost a whole week) on my own. 

A cute picture of the kids bundled up before school

K and Hud

I freaking love this!!!

Cora reading to me... she does a great job.

Super cute.  Thanks Grandma!

Scary Mommy post - "This Is What Parenting Feels Like When Your Spouse Travels For Work"

A friend of mine... one of Ryan's co-workers wives sent this to me today.  During the men's busy season... it was a perfect fit of what it truly feels like to be a solo Mom while our husband's travel.

I know our kids are older, and self-sufficient for the most part, but I still worry - I still have everything (it seems) to do and keep a house clean and 'good'. I'm very thankful that I don't have a job that requires me to do work at night - I have a simple 8-5 job, that gives me the ability to do the 'everything'.  But it still sucks when Ryan is gone.

When your husband is away traveling for work or for whatever reason, it sucks, plain and simple. Beyond the mushy “a part of me is missing” feeling and a desperate sense of loneliness, when you have children you’re pulling double duty. And when those kids are little and ultra-dependent, it’s next to impossible to keep up with everyone and everything.

Add in a layer of extreme anxiety, and you wish you could crawl into the deepest darkest hole and wait out the storm until it’s over, except you can’t because your littles and life’s demands depends on your existence. Pushing on is the only answer.

The simplest actions seem so much harder when you’re alone. In the mornings, in addition to getting myself ready, I must get three children up, changed, ready and out the door to school. As I race to get to work on time, I’m thinking about everything depending on me and only me. An overwhelming sense of failure can’t help but set in as the worst case scenarios race through my mind. What if I get a flat tire or worse, I get into a car accident, and my partner isn’t home or even in the same state to help? If something were to happen to me, what happens to the kids? I’m the last line of defense and that scares the living shit out of me.

While working, my mind is already in fast forward mode preoccupied with plans of school pick up, dinner, bedtime, and routine household chores (those zillion cups that need washed!) that need to be done — because I’m the only one. I’m on guard for any calls from school requiring my immediate presence and regardless, I must leave work early to beat the bus drop-off and pick-up the other children from school.

School pick-up is no picnic as I’m shuffling three children and their never-ending bags of shit out the door, praying they all comply and don’t run off to chase a butterfly. As soon as we arrive home, after-school madness commences. I make everyone dinner, pack lunches for the next day, bathe three uncooperative tiny humans and get them all to bed while somehow managing to squeeze in a load of laundry, take out the garbage, and pick up the tornado of chaos, only to repeat it all the next day.

And when the kids up in the middle of the night? Mom is on it.

I’m also the sole provider of comfort, love, caregiving and everything else we as parents provide our children. I’m their only source of security and discipline, dividing my attention more than ever. Three littles require all of me and, even with my best effort, I always feel like I’m failing. The weight of it all can be suffocating as I’m drowning in it all unable to breathe. And me? There is no me, or any ounce of self-care during these times. I’m in pure survival mode, and anything beyond isn’t given a second thought.

When nighttime is upon me, that’s the worst, as the quiet and solidarity gives way to some serious emptiness and sadness. This is when anxiety creeps in and has no intent of lifting. What if someone breaks in? What if something happens to me in my sleep and no one is home, leaving my children all alone crying out for their mommy? What if I don’t hear the baby cry in the middle of the night? What if the furnace goes out or car stops working? There is no check and balance when you’re by yourself and although, I’m independent and resourceful by nature and more than capable, it’s an additional stressor I carry the full weight of by myself.

No, I’m not this damsel in distress incapable of doing things by herself. I don’t need my husband, but rather life feels more complete and full when he’s around.

Weekend

It was another week without Ryan around.  Man, that's getting old! 
We survived. 
Thursday after STRIDE and dance, we at a quick supper, then the kids begged for Rita's ice cream.  So we grabbed Olivia and headed up there...  it was good, fun and really a much needed little 'break'. 

Friday:
Ryan got home... and we stayed home.  I made supper, then ended up baking most of the evening.  I baked some goodies for our church craft/bake sale.  I was wiped out...  I'm not made to stand in the kitchen for hours!  ha.  

Saturday:
Up and at em...  the kids and I headed out to the craft sale, along with Ryan meeting us out there.  He helped the men cook and serve lunch.  The kids and I walked around a little and met up with JeanAnn.  We shopped a little... then the kids got bored!  Grandma JeanAnn took them to a movie for something to do... which was nice.  I stuck around the sale for a little longer... seeing a few friends that had stopped out.  So it was a good day. 

Then Holly and I ran a few errands together... which included getting crafts for us to teach Sunday School!  We had a good time, lots of laughs.  :)

Saturday afternoon we just hung out a little... did laundry and played a little.  Then Hope and Logan stopped by... ate supper with us and hung out.  Always fun to be with them.  

Sunday:
Church... and a super rainy, soggy day.  Kayson got to play on the PS4 for hours, literally.  Grr.  Cora went over to Olivia's for several hours.  I sat and watched a few of my recorded shows.  And it was fantastic!  

Kayson's flag football game was cancelled, which was great... just an afternoon in.  We had a good day... but I'm ready for the week to start.  I normally don't say that, but I am kind of ready to get the kids to school...  bad Mom?  Eh... Cora kind of drove me crazy today!  ha. 

I took SOME pics...  gotta get better!!

Rita's with Olivia

all my baked goods!

Seriously... she looks 13.

Olivia did her makeup!

Cora's bedroom

Let's go way back... like back in early August, I reached out to an interior decorator to get some ideas for Cora's bedroom.  I was at my wits-end with how small it is (I know there's nothing we can do about the actual size of her room), but she needed more space if she's going to be in that room for several more years.
The interior decorator was great...  she gave us some great ideas, and put together an idea board for us.  I messed with it a little...  gave some of my feedback, and in the end, we pretty much landed on something that I was "a-ok" with!  So then... it was up to us to make the changes.  No real need for her to do the work (and pay her more!) 

BEFORE:
She had a full size bed in there... and a long dresser.  This was part of her baby bed furniture - we did the convertible type bed (crib to toddler to full size)... cherry finish.  Don't ask me WHY I thought that color was good for a girl!!!  Anyway, it was a great set, pretty... but BULKY!  So, that was the first thing to be switched out.

She had brown curtains.  Again - what the heck!?!  ha.  But they were blackout and PERFECT! 

And a few 'baby' decorations.

AFTER:
After a hell of a ride with ordering furniture online, getting that furniture delivered, and into her room...  her room is 90% done.  I still don't have any updated items for her walls, and I would like to get a rug.  But, she has more room... and it's more girly and will grow with her for several years.

For what seemed like forever - about 6 weeks, she slept on an air mattress, and then her new mattress (but no bed). And then we lived out of Rubbermaid containers for her clothes!!  It was a hot mess!!!