Lazy Day

I helped in Princess's Sunday School class today.   I watched the sermon online while I cooked.

Carey and her family stopped by.  I had made them a meal after learning of the death of her father in law.

We went to see Kung Fu Panda 3.  We enjoyed popcorn and a bottled water with the movie...for almost free.

I made tortilla soup for myself for dinner.  Champ asked to try some.  Then he requested seconds.  He gave me many compliments on the soup and asked to have it for lunch tomorrow.

The kids played Lego Friends and Guess Who together.

Lego Friends has a character with my name, but it is pronounced differently.  I told the kids they needed to pronounce it the right way.  The rest of the night was spent with the kids pronouncing my name the Lego Friends way, which would lead to lots of tickling and a little chasing.

I liked drawing pictures with Champ before bed.

Training My Children

Princess has been so exhausted from our daily runs that she has fallen asleep quickly and stayed asleep.  She even took off her pjs when she got hot without coming out of her room.

I made vegan vegetable soup for my assistant after her nephew passed away. 

Last night I took a Zumba/HIIT class.

This morning we cleaned the house in order for the kids to earn money.  

Then we divided our payment.  10 cents of every dollar is Jesus money.  20 cents of every dollar now gets put in your bank account.  The remainder is spending money.  So, Princess helped me sort her coins.  Champ and I counted out the money.

I taught Champ how to fill out the deposit ticket and registrar.  After exercising at the gym and eating lunch, we took our money to the bank.

Next, we bought groceries at Aldi because our money stretches further there. 

Champ had his first basketball game of the new season.  Champs team won, 48-38.  He scored 6 points.

We played outside for a little bit with the neighbors because it was a little warmer today.

We visited Grandma.  Champ did a good job of talking with her.

We went to Bonefish Grill tonight to spend a gift card.  Delicious food! We got to talk about sitting in our chair and not double dipping.

We went to Meijer so the kids could spend their cleaning money.  Princess picked out Lego Friends and Shopkins.  Champ picked out Legos and sports' trading cards.

Now we are snuggling on the couch as we watch Inspector Gadget.

Favorite comment of day:  When champ and I were playing an app game early this  morning, he asked me to look at his hands.  I asked why.  He said because he thought they got smaller during the night.

Revelation

Princess and I have run a mile together several times in the last week.  When we do this, Princess falls asleep quickly and stays asleep throughout the whole night.  Score!  Princess loves asking my friends at the gym if they are rooting for me or her.  They all say her.  She gets a kick out of that.  

What I Do

After school on Friday, I ran a mile with Princess while champ played basketball.  Princess made six baskets on a lower goal before we left.  After taking Champ to game night Friday evening, I cleaned a lot of the house.

Saturday morning I ran 3 miles in the gym with Vanessa.  We walked a few laps too.  I walked a couple miles at the gym with my mom too.

I went to Kroger to get a new Kroger Plus card.  I received one dollar bills and dimes at Chase to help pay allowances.  I picked up most of my groceries at Aldi.  I visited my grandma in a long term care facility.  I dropped off donations at Goodwill.  I dumped recycling off at a local church.  I bought the remainder of my grocery list at Meijer.  I dropped off a nephew's birthday present at my parents' house.    I bought the wrong furnace filter at Menards.  I made bacon, muffins, pancakes, taco meat, brownies, French toast sticks, and granola bars.  I did a lot of laundry.  I had a sleepless night again because of pain.

Today I helped in the five year old Sunday school class, but  I watched the sermon online.  I vacuumed, swept, mopped, cooked turkey burgers, made PBJ sandwiches, and put chicken in the crockpot.  I went to a Celebration of Life ceremony with a coworker for a former coworker's mom that had recently passed away.  I worked at school.  I returned our library books.  I returned the wrong furnace filter and bought the right one.  I attended my small group meeting.  I completed one last load of laundry and cleaning the kitchen.

Joy in the Midst of Pain

On Thursday evening, my shoulder hurt really badly.  After I put Princess in bed, I laid on the couch with an ice pack on my shoulder.  I quickly realized I would soon fall asleep, and I told that to Champ.  He covered me with blankets.  When I woke up a few hours later, I saw that he had fallen asleep on the other couch.  It was so sweet.

What are Nostrils ?

I don't even know Princess asked me that question tonight, but I love that I get to teach her those things.

Princess ran 7 laps tonight at the gym.  She had a pattern: run a lap, get a drink, repeat.  

Champ began basketball practice tonight for this next season.

MLK Day 2016

I think a wonderful opportunity on MLK day is to go to museums that ask for a canned donation instead of admission.  

We began at the Indiana State Museum.

We toured a hospital's health fair.  If you went to at least 8 booths, you got free tickets for opening day for the Indians.  Score!

Bet those were both home runs!  I love when we got to the healthy food booth.  Champ said, "my mom is all about this stuff."  Plus, they each got their healthy eating trivia question right.  I must be doing something right!

We went and saw Hubble at the IMAX theater.  We split a pretzel and bottled water from the concession stand.  I thought the movie was fascinating.  Princess probably asked about 5 times when the movie would be done...not her thing.

We ate the lunch I packed in their cafeteria.

We created!  We built!

The sign here challenged you to figure out how much corn you could lift.  It showed you how much force you would have to excerpt to save a 165 pound man stuck in the corn. None of us could move it far enough. As we walked away, Princess nervously asked, "So, someone is stuck in there?"  I reassured her that it was pretend.

Next, we bundled up and walked to the NCAA Hall of Champions.  We split some popcorn there.

I taught Princess how to start a running race.

Princess practiced jumping as if she was jumping in a pool.

Champ was not happy with me when I first requested that the kids try their exercise program.,,,he just wanted to shoot baskets.  However, there were warm ups and races that he loved.

I loved that parking was also free today.  I think I saved about $55 by doing these activities today rather than another day.

This evening we brought a fruit plate to one teacher's house.  My team was putting together a meal for a former coworker whose mother just died.  I tried to explain to champ what I was doing and why....another teachable moment.

Then we went to the gym.  Champ played a lot of basketball before playing ping pong and running a few laps around the track.  Princess ran a couple of laps too.  

I made pizza for dinner before we snuggled up on the couch to finish watching Inspector Gadget 2.

I think both kids fell asleep quickly!  

Last Week

Princess finished putting together all her Frozen puzzles that she got for Christmas.

Look!  They can get along!

Princess does great with the song they have been working on in dance class for the ballet portion.

Princess finally got to be the person with the special job of controlling the radio during the freeze dance portion of dance class.

Princess has been taking random photos of her mom at the gym.

Look what finally arrived and was hung on the wall!

I love Princess's face when she saw that the letters and her Frozen picture had been hung.

Champ was thrilled to see his new bedspread had arrived.  

Going to the Outback

I made Princess a bear for breakfast yesterday, thanks Pinterest for the idea.  She loved it.

Last night I took a Zumba class.  I replied to their post on Facebook, and I am now enjoying 5 free classes.  

This morning Vanessa and I ran while Champ had basketball evaluations.  I also later did some running with Champ and Princess.  This afternoon we ran errands.  Tonight we ate at Outback, thanks to a generous student and her family.  Trying to encourage manners and patience at a nice restaurant is a challenge.

Naked Butt Day

I'm sure you celebrated in your own special way!  I learned of this holiday after Princess got out of the shower today, started shaking her butt, and sung repeatedly about naked butt day.  Oh, how that girl cracks me up!

This is her doing some crazy rapping in the car with My Little Pony headphones hooked to nothing.

Guess Who?

This morning I helped in Champ's Sunday School.  As the day progressed, I'm sure he got sadder and sadder that I had helped in his room.  Through volunteering, I learned that they are studying self control this month.  I found plenty of ways to incorporate that topic into lessons throughout the day.  

After a trip to Aldi, I made Flying Saucers for lunch.

We went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip at the movie theater.  We had earned a free small soft drink and small popcorn.  The kids split the small drink that was large enough for Princess to need one restroom break and Champ to need 2 restroom breaks.  All three of us split the small popcorn that was really big.  The movie was cute.  Princess had big belly laughs during a bar scene.

Princess put together several of her Frozen puzzles this afternoon.  On the other hand, Champ put together a new Lego set that he had bought with his money at Toys R Us today after the movie.  

Tonight the kids played Guess Who for about an hour, which is a super long time to have the kids getting along together.  This was the first time they played Princess's new game from Christmas.  The game has changed a lot since I last played it.

2016 Begins

This is how I found Princess asleep in the morning on New Year's Eve.  Rough night, I guess.

Princess practiced her photo skills.

I taught Princess how to play Battleship, Champ's new game.

Champ wanted to do a photo bomb.  I told him you don't announce it to Princess before you do it though.  That led to screams.

Princess has been busy making crafts.  This is one of her bracelet masterpieces.

We wrapped up 2015 by going to Penny's house for dinner.  The kids began a love there for American Ninja Warrior.  We brought a cupcake clock for dessert.

She has "crazy eyes."

A rare moment...peaceful and they are playing Princess's toys.

Princess loves putting together puzzles.  This is 1 of 8 Frozen puzzles that she got for Christmas.

Princess likes to kiss the princesses on her new bike on her way to the car.

Today Princess made her first two baskets ever with a real basketball going into a lowered goal.  She listened to my advice and did it...twice!

Champ was the ball boy at a U Indy men's basketball game this afternoon.  He did a great job of paying attention to the game and supporting the team.