Weekend with Bernie

Champ was awesome in the strength training class on Friday night.  Princess lasted about 15 minutes before deciding to just play with a friend instead.

I love teaching my kids healthy habits.

Champ and I completed week 2 of a couch to 5K program.  After doing that and errands, he still had energy for his basketball game.  He made 4 points.  Plus, he had some good passes, rebounds, and steals.  Princess has so many people that love on her at the gym.  She is busy laughing the whole time.  

On Saturday, We also visited grandma at the nursing home and a friend at a hospital.  The kids had been good sports, so I took them to Applebee's for dinner.  I scraped my car against another car as I pulled into a space.  I said a cuss word.  Thankfully, I didn't see damage to the other car.  I alerted the staff to my error and asked them to find the owner.  The owner was an elderly lady who was super thankful for my honesty.  She didn't see any scratches and made sure to tell me that and tell my kids that I had done the right thing.  Champ was great about rubbing my back at dinner and telling me that it would be okay.  We had conversations about integrity that night.

I helped in princess's Sunday school class today.  Champ had Jonah over.  Princess went to Leah and Addie's house.  They had their bounce house out.  The boys went over there too.  I used this time when everyone was content and busy to work on lesson plans, as well as cleaning out and organizing Princess's room and the garage.  

Princess also got to take home the class stuffed animal (Bernie) this weekend.   We took him places, and I wrote about these adventures in the class journal.  Princess drew a picture in the journal.  I also printed the following pictures for the journal.

I noticed tha Princess was only interested in me reading her friends' journal entries if there were pictures of friends with the stuffed animal.  She didn't want to read about anyone's adventures that didn't put in pictures.

Cleaning Out Grandma's House

Today I was planning on assisting in the five year olds' Sunday school room.  Since the lead teacher became ill yesterday, I was asked to be the lead teacher today.  Then I went to service and sat with my friend (Kelly) and her husband.

This afternoon I briefly visited grandma in her long term care facility.  I always try to hold her hand and rub a finger over it too.  Becky and her boys happened to be there too.

Becky, Chris, Davida, and I looked through grandma's stuff at her house and determine what we wanted to keep.  I will now have more reminders at home of my wonderful grandparents. Tonight I enjoyed reading over some of the thank you notes that I had written to my grandparents over the years.  It was a reminder of so many thoughtful things they had done for me and given me over the years.  I also remembered the time when grandpa and I were both in the hospital at the same time.  I'm thankful that my grandparents treasured these notes from me.  I will miss grandma's house primarily because it was a place where I had created fond memories over the years with very special people.  I'm so thankful that my grandparents lived close and were always actively involved in my life.  

Weekend productivity

Yesterday I took the kids to the gym. I also did a strength class at the gym. Last night I cleaned the house.

Today I ran for 30 minutes with my friend Vanessa. Plus we walked for another 20 minutes.  I have done some loads of laundry. I have cleaned the shower liners and shower curtains. I have worked at school and on schoolwork at home for a total of about four hours. I have gone shopping at Aldi and Meijer for groceries. I went to target to get a new running shirt to replace the one I threw away. I also went ahead and got a Starbucks drink while I was there. I went to Champs basketball game.  I made all the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for champ for the next two weeks. I put carrots in bags so that they'll be ready for daily lunches. I have browned turkey meat and put it with some taco seasoning, beans, and tomatoes.  I also froze the meat mixtures with the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  I cleaned and changed the sheets on my bed.  I think I know why am tired. But I want my kids to see that I'm a hard worker, and I want to stay ahead of the game.

Thursday Accomplishments

Champ successfully completed week 1 of a Couch to 5K program that I found online.  I have offered him a good incentive to complete a 5K with me in April.  For the first workout this week, I let him do it by himself.  For the other 2 workouts this week, we did them together since I deemed his idea of moving quickly was different than mine.  Today's workout involved 10 rounds.  Each round included 2 minutes of walking and 1 minute of running, for a total of 30 minutes of movement.  At one point, he turns to me and said that he thinks I'm tricking him into getting in shape.  Bingo!  You caught on to me.  I loved when he let me hold his hand some as we walked around the track.  He wasn't the happiest kid  on the track, but his tune changed when he completed his goal.  He started telling people about his accomplishment, and he got positive feedback.  I heard pride in voice each time he talked of his achievement.

Princess completed 3 laps tonight.  She is still probably worn out from last night when she kept racing a gentleman named Jeff.  He got her to run a mile, as well as walk 2 extra laps with him.  

Tonight at 6 began the registration open window for church camp.  When I tried the site at 6:40, I was #124 in line.  40 minutes later I was able to begin registering Champ.  After another 25 minutes, the kid was officially signed up for camp.  Thankfully, Champ successfully encouraged Princess to take a shower during this time.  She beat her previous record...tonight's shower was only 5 minutes and 30 seconds.  I've been giving her a 7 minute time limit in an effort to reduce our water consumption and bill.  

Presidents' Day

I loved an extra day off with my kids.  We spent 2 hours at the gym this morning.  I love that Princess set a goal for herself (to make 6 baskets) and then kept shooting until she met her goal.

Later we played many games of Spoons and Barbie Uno.  As we played games together, I told the kids that I like creating happy memories with them.

I took Princess on some "airplane" rides (on my feet).  We took off and were flying smoothly until we experienced turbulence on each flight and made crash landings on the couch.  She loved it, but my legs could only handle so many flights.

Some of my favorite moments from the day included extra time to read with each child.

Valentine's Day weekend

Champ chose to have a movie/game night at home on Friday night rather than go to the high school basketball game.

On Saturday, we did a lot of errands...bank, Aldi, Meijer, gas, school, grandma, beauty brands, etc.  my sweet friend, Lori, came to champs basketball game.  We saw him make 10 points, his season high.  Then we worked out together with Lori.  I was impressed that Champ completed close to a mile on top of his game.  We finished the night with games and a movie.  We were really into playing spoons this weekend.

This morning champ kept his word and made us breakfast.  He came up with the great idea of a heart drawn out of honey on bread.  I, of course, had to help open the honey.  They loved their gifts.  Princess opened the card first and then opened Lego Friends.  Champ opened his Lego gift first before reading his card.

I announced that I was also making a "love potion" for breakfast.  They went to the play room to put together an old Lego set so they didn't see the secret ingredients in my love potion.  After drinking the potion, the kids fell in love with their mom.

I helped in Champs room at church.  Then I watched the sermon online.  We cleaned the house for money.  Champ shoveled the snow from the driveway for money...twice.  He was not a fan of the snow.  Today I spent a lot of time reading The Total Money Makeover.  I totally agree with his idea that kids should work on commission rather than get allowance, which is what I've been doing with my kids.  I've also been training them as we go as to what a quality job looks like.  Today they got paid too.  I divide the money up for them....Jesus money, bank, and spending.

I made fruit kabobs and cake for my small group.  However, once small group was canceled due to snow, we ate all the fruit kabobs ourselves.  Yummy!

I let the kids do extra tech time today, but I've also forced them to turn off electronics and play.  They put together their new Lego sets.  We played many games of spoons, plus we played a few games of Barbie uno.  I made fajitas in the crockpot.  We watched the  1973 version of Robin Hood tonight.  The kids also played Ballon Golf, which champ learned at after care.

Our Thursday

Champ made his hair look extra nice today.

Princess had her Valentines Day party at school today.  These were some of her favorite treats.  After she ate the applesauce, she left the container on the table.  I threw the empty applesauce container away.  She cried and cried when she discovered that I threw it away.  I was firm...we are not keeping empty applesauce containers..,that is why we took the picture!

Tonight Champ started on a Couch to 5K program.  I ran 7 laps with Princess.  Champ and I did 5 sets of 100 chest passes with the 4 pound medicine ball.  He also came up with the idea to climb the stairs.  So, all 3 of us did 3 1-minute sets of going up and down the stairs.  I was proud of Champ for going above and beyond what the program recommended.

Surviving the Cold

I made them heart shaped cinnamon roles that we ate for breakfast.

I've been training Champ on how to shovel the driveway. Everyone wins: I don't go in the cold, and I pay him money. 

Teachable Moments

Champ is enjoying the new space I created in the garage for him to practice basketball...just in time for avoiding the snow.

Princess was busy tonight writing her friends' names on Valentine's Day cards and putting her name in the from section.  I taught her how to cross a name off the list after a card was already made.  I was in charge of adding the tattoo, folding the card, and putting a sticker on it.  Too bad a few were ruined when she spilled her milk on her finished pile.

Super Bowl Party Manners

1.  Don't bite your toenails

2.  Don't stand in front of the TV

3.  Don't play too close to the fire

4.  Don't fart

5.  Don't say you learned to fart from your mom

6.  Don't bother him during the game

7.  Don't sit in the chair that he always watches the game in

8.   Say please and thank you

9.  Put your drink on a coaster

10.  Put your brownie on a napkin rather than get crumbs all over the carpet

Yep, I really went over all these rules with my kids at a Super a Bowl party at Penny's house.

Proud Moments

Looks like Princess took a selfie!

They learned how to do the splits at dance.

Each week the kids learn a little more of a dance to Butterfly kisses, and each week I can't get the song out of my head.

Princess is into dresses these days.  As the weather turned colder again, she decided to wear a sundress.  She even wore the sundress to work out at the gym.

Princess ran probably at least a mile and a half on this night when she kept racing a 12 year old.  Last night she raced two of my fourth grade students.  Princess is fast.  I tell her she has aunt Becky and aunt heather's running skills.  

Last night I got my hair cut before we got a treat at Starbucks.

When I cleaned out the car today, I found a long lost Barrett.  Princess wanted to put it in her hair right away.  She said, "Mom, my hair is out of control."  

Champ scored 8 points in his game today...his teams only points.  He made 3 2 point baskets and 2 free throws.

Today was my work day.  I picked up my contacts that I had ordered.  I graded some papers, did laundry, cleaned out the car, dropped off a library book, dropped off recycling, dropped off donations at Goodwill, rearranged some space in the garage to give Champ some basketball space, cleaned, ran 4 miles, visited Grandma, shopped at Aldi, and shopped at Meijer.  I made baked sweet potatoes, ground turkey taco meet, quinoa, oatmeal cookies, and potato wedges.  I froze some of those too.  I also put in individual containers for the week carrots, hummus, and chia seeds.  

Jumping Rope

Princess took her first successful jump over a jump rope.  I love that we exercise together, that I taught her how to use a jump rope, and that she ran over to hug me when she did it.  Princess, stop growing up...it is happening too quickly for Mommy!