Happy Birthday Darrin!

Darrin's birthday is today.  We had the opportunity to see my family at Darrin's game on Friday night, and Darrin's family at the game on Saturday.  We also went out to eat with Darrin's mom & dad last night.  Unfortunately, I did a terrible job of taking pictures all weekend.  We had some friends over tonight and I did manage to get a few pictures of our Minute to Win It games that we recycled from earlier in the week. 

Miles & I made some birthday signs yesterday morning....

I love that Miles reversed the 3 and the 8, so it says '83'...

They love each other a lot...

We had several of Darrin's favorite foods for dinner...ranch burgers, Ramen noodle slaw, grape salad, pineapple casserole, chips & ranch dip, tortilla chips and sausage enchilada dip, and cake, of course.  

After cake, it was time to get our game faces on and play some Minute to Win It games...

Rachel, Christa, and Aaron were the big winners, but Carrie wins with the photo bomb...

Happy Birthday, Darrin!  We love you very much & hope your day was half as great as we think you are.  Thanks for loving us so well.

We Create Busy

Darrin called me in the middle of the day to say that he was giving the girls off practice on Tuesday.  Instead of enjoying a quiet night at home, we decided to cook dinner for the team and organize a Minute to Win competition.  We are officially crazy. We invent things to do, thus creating busyness.  It's a sickness...and just when I think we are cured, we digress. 

Dinner was grilled chicken, roasted veggies, green beans, Dorito salad, and rolls.

After dinner, it was game on.  I can't give away all my secrets b/c Darrin's birthday is Sunday and we've invited some friends over for the same night of games.  A few sneak peaks of the games...

The girls seem to have a good time.  There were lots of laughs...

This group gets the award for the loudest team Darrin's ever had.  At one point, Miles was covering his ears.  All in good fun.  It was totally worth any work that went into the planning, which wasn't too bad.  I have to say, Darrin & I have gotten much better at having people over without all the stress....even when it's cooking for 20 people.  This blog post, which I found via Pinterest, helped me plan the games in no time. 

Now, my bed is calling my name.  I start my management meetings tomorrow...and I'm one day closer to Friday....and time for volleyball!!!  Almost half way there.  I can do it, I can do it.  If you are coming to my house on Sunday, hope you bring your A game!!!!!!

Weekend Wrap Up

Our weekend kind of started last Thursday b/c that's when Darrin left for his last preseason tournament.  He was in Chattanooga from Thursday until early this morning when they finally made it back to Martin.  They had a very successful weekend, winning the tournament!  I was able to watch all the games online.  Hate that I missed being there but glad they had such a good weekend.

As for mine & Miles' weekend...in no particular order...

Miles hung out with Mr. Cliff & Kohen while I shopped at my friend, Shannon's 31 Party.  I bought a few Christmas presents and a couple things for us.  I can't wait for everything to come in.

I bought $2 worth of Halloween decals at Dollar General and let Miles decorate our sun room door. 

I knew he would love it and he did... 

We went to eat at Snappy's with Hunt, Hayes, and their Aunt Stephie.  Hayes was way too busy to participate in our picture.

I straightened up our detached garage and hung a sign that my mom bought for Darrin.

Miles told me to take this picture and post it on Facebook...

...and this one...

I went shopping by myself in Jackson this afternoon.  Every now & then, I enjoy doing that. Today was not one of those days. Miles & I both needed some fall clothes. I wandered aimlessly in most of the stores, but did manage to get a few things. My favorite purchase of the day was these little acorn salt & pepper shakers.  They caught my eye.  I have no idea.

My trip home from Jackson was wonderful b/c fall is in the air.  My favorite smell ever...tobacco barns...

The sunset was pretty too, even through my buggy windshield...

Miles & Cambry had a movie night.  They ate pizza, popcorn, and grapes.  They could not agree on a movie.  I could hear them upstairs arguing, but I just kept telling them that they had to agree...and I refused to mediate.  They were so proud of themselves when they finally agreed on Bolt.

Just like his Daddy...can't take his eyes off the TV...

Of course the 5k and Fun Run were also squeezed in this weekend.  We missed Darrin, but enjoyed some one on one time.  Conference games start this week and I have a two day management retreat, so it's a big week in our house.  I see you Friday...and I can't wait!!!

Fun Run

I signed up several weeks ago to help my sorority with the AOII Run for the Roses 5k. Miles and I had to be there at 6:15am, so I set my alarm for 5:20.  Unfortunately, I set it for PM instead of AM. I woke up to Stephanie calling me at 6:48. OH MY. How frustrating that sleeping until 6am is usually late for me and somehow today I was still sound asleep well past when I was supposed to be somewhere.  I jumped out of bed, quickly got ready, and pulled up to the 5k around 7:15am.

While I was helping with registration, Miles started saying that he wanted to run.  He was dressed in jeans and a long sleeve shirt b/c in my frenzy to get ready, I didn't realize it wasn't cold outside.  Another major fail of the morning.  I didn't take him very seriously b/c a spur of the moment activity like this isn't really Miles' thing.  He typically needs time to mentally prepare.  I'm learning though, that not preparing him might actually be better for him.  Giving him time to think just stresses him out.  So anyway....I kind of blew him off, telling him that we would sign up for the next one and we would practice at home. 

He was pretty insistent....and  soon we found ourselves at the starting line of the one mile fun run with one other little girl.  What a perfect scenario for Miles.  His outfit killed my soul b/c I believe you should never, ever exercise in pants or shorts that have a zipper.  Jeans are the worst in my book.  I really wanted to seize the moment with him, so I overlooked it.

The high school cross country team ran with the kids.  It was a little unnerving sending my 5 year down the street...alone...running a mile....in jeans.  I wasn't sure how he would do or if he could even do it.  

We could see his little shirt running in the distance and it appeared that he was still running at the half mile mark, where they turned around and started back.  

He slowed to a walk with 100 yards to go and the two boys that ran with him encouraged him to keep running. 

He picked it back up and crossed the finish line strong. 

I told him to put his hands up like he was victorious, but it came across more like a hold up...

Stephanie hooked him up at the hospitality tent...

He finished his mile in 11:47.  His medal didn't arrive in time so they are going to get it to us next week.  He is so excited about it.

I am so proud of him.  He tends to miss out on things b/c he's scared of the unknown. He's afraid he won't be able to do something or that someone will make fun of him.  I asked him if he would like to do another run. He said, "that was a long way."  He sure has been proud of himself all day though.  I think accomplishments like this are key for him to gain some confidence.  On the way home, I was telling him how proud I was and that he ran a long way for a little boy.  He said, "little folk can do things that big folk can do."  Apparently that came from a book at school. Extremely proud of our little runner today.