Here’s the Scoop…

Dear Blake,

You just turned 2!  We had an ice cream themed birthday this year, and it was a lot of fun.  The festivities started early on the morning of the 26th with presents.  You LOVED unwrapping your presents this year.  You got lots of new clothes from the Cornell’s, golf clubs from the Banks, and bubbles and a tennis racket from mommy and daddy.  Not surprisingly, the golf clubs were your favorite, followed closely by the tennis racket.  You love to “whack” balls and are actually a pretty talented little athlete!  You loved blowing out your candles on your birthday brownie, and then you ate all the frosting off the top.  The next day we had your combined birthday party with Zach and Bridger.  You are the three cutest two year olds I know!  I made you cute little matching shirts, and we had a fun BBQ at the Wilsted’s with an ice cream bar for dessert. All the kids piled the toppings high!

Blake, you are such a sweet, happy little boy.  You always have a twinkle in your eye and and mischievous smile on your face.  You love anything that has to do with a ball, and you can already hit tennis balls out of the air.  You also are quite fascinated with the iphone.  It is a surefire way to calm you down and to keep you still for a few minutes.  Your favorite foods are smarties, cheetos, and cookies.  Yes, you are a very healthy eater ;).  Something funny about you is that you ALWAYS take off your left sock and your left shoe whenever we get in the car.  Your favorite toy is your Bullseye doll, and your monkey pillow pet.  You love to read books, and some of my favorite times are snuggled up in the rocking chair reading books before bed.  You also love to chase the bunnies out in the backyard.  Outside is your favorite place to be.  You love the movie “Cars” and you call Lightening MQueen “ka-chow.” (And yes, that is the correct spelling according to the Urban Dictonary).  Blake, continue to be the fun, bubbly, special little guy that you are and I know you will accomplish amazing things—even as a toddler!

I love you baby boy!  Happy 2nd birthday!
Love, Mommy

  (He’s holding his two favorite things—smarties, and the iphone. It was the only way I could get him to smile.) (The Birthday Boys!  Zach, Blake and Bridger.  These cuties were all born within a week of each other!)

Preschool graduation #2

And there’s also going to be a #3.  Little Joshie is going to be a preschool expert by the time he finally makes it to kindergarten.  This was my second year doing a preschool co-op with my friends, and it is so much fun!  There were four of us this year, so we just taught one week of the month.  The kids have such a good time, and it is so fun to be a part of their learning process.  They progress so much over the course of the year, and it’s neat to look back at where they started and then see all the amazing things they can do now. 

Today we held a little graduation party where they got graduation certificates, photo books, fun graduation leis, and bags of smarties because they are all such smartie pants.  Way to go my tiny preschoolers!

Ezra, Josh, Teya, and Morgan

Here’s some pics from their photo books:

 

Hanging up my shirt (for now)

After 5ish years of teaching group fitness classes and personal training, I am hanging up my shirt and devoting myself to the ranks of full-time mommyhood.  Even though I was only working a few hours a week there at the end, the combination of me working, traveling husband, Young Women, and 3 kiddos was enough to make life feel very hectic.  In an attempt to find more peace and balance in my life, I decided it would be best to put this on hold for a little while.  I hope to go back someday when I have a little more time and energy.  I will certainly miss it, as some days, going to work was my saving grace, but I know this is the right choice for me and for my family.  The Erie Community Center has been such a fun, motivating place to work and I am so glad for all the opportunities I’ve been given there.  So for now…..sayonara to the fitness field, and hello cleaner house!  (one can only hope)

Redline Running Club

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to join the Redline Running Club.  Our good friends, Josh and Kristin, have recently joined the ranks of full time entrepreneurship, and are expanding their running company to include not only fabulous race directing, but race training, and race gear (coming soon!).  It has been so much for to run with this club.  At the moment, much to Josh’s chagrin, we are almost exclusively women.  (Personally, I think the guys just can’t keep up with us!)  We meet twice a week—Tuesdays at 5:30am (no, unfortunately that is not a typo) and Saturday mornings at 6am. I have learned so much from our coaches, Kim, Josh, and Doug, and I have a BLAST running with my friends, both new and old.  I am so inspired by these women.  Who else could make me run 11 miles in the freezing rain this morning?  Only my running club gals.  I’ve already improved so much, and I am so excited for this summer’s racing season!  GOOOOO Redline!

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

Top 5 reasons I love being a Mom:

1. Never in my life have I been greeted with such enthusiasm as when my kiddos pounce on me in my bed in the morning.
2. I have to opportunity to develop talents that I never knew I had or needed, like scrubbing vomit out of carpet, or sprinting across grocery stores to catch glass bottles before they shatter on the floor.
3. Unexpected notes, hugs, and kisses. Or my favorite, Blake's "I Love Lou!"

4.Watching my kids grow, learn, and achieve their goals. There is nothing better than the joy on a little face when they do something they thought they couldn't.
5. Instant forgiveness. I mess up all the time, but my sweet kids are quick to forgive and never hold a grudge. I love that about them, and want to be more like them!

Thanks kiddos for making me a Mommy! I love you!

I just love these M.O.M.'s!!

Here's our Ragnar video. Kristin did an amazing job. When I'm old and gray I'm going to watch this video and remember the glory days ;)

Ragnar So Cal 2011 from Tara Banks on Vimeo.