Weekend Wrap Up

I think the last time I was as physically exhausted as I am now was when we moved two years ago. We had a busy weekend, like we always do, but for some reason, neither Darrin nor I have been able to bounce back. Friday, I took off work a little earlier and we raced around to get to the ball park for a travel ball tournament. We won easily and headed home at a decent hour. We were able to get both kids in bed by 9pm and we weren't far behind them. After the kids were asleep, we did manage to get a few things done around the house, like laundry, dishes, and straightening the house. I told Darrin that the key to me surviving travel season with minimal damage for everyone is to do a little bit everyday instead of letting everything go all weekend and then scrounging Sunday night. I just can't deal with that.

Saturday morning, we had to be back at the ball park at 8:15am for a 9am game. Carson was great at the game.

I pushed him around forever at the beginning of the game. He wouldn't give it up, but then fell asleep in Darrin's arms.

We lost and then went home to mulch the front flower beds. I think this is where the exhaustion occurred. We fed Carson and put him down for a nap. Then, the three of us worked on the flower beds for 2.5 hours while Carson slept. It was perfect timing and he complied so well. He's good like that.

A lot of parents don't let their kids do much when they have games that night, but Miles gets way more tired by laying around all day.

We moved in two years ago in June and had never addressed the landscaping.

 
Last year, we painted the shutters and changed the light fixtures by the front door. This year, we did the mulch and have a few other little things planned. Next year, I hope to buy some furniture for the front porch and hopefully extend the landscaping around the house. There is so much we want to do, but time and money are prohibitive. We cleaned up the existing bushes and put down new mulch. I took a few breaks b/c I just couldn't hang.

Darrin talked me into black mulch and I'm so glad he did.

You can't tell much from the pictures, but it looks a lot neater and cleaner. I can't wait to add some flowers and ferns to the front porch, as well as a new American flag. 

Even though we only worked for 2.5 hours, it was hot and we worked fast. It really took a toll on us. We rested for a while and then I went grocery shopping while Darrin watched the boys.

Then, it was time to head back to the ball park. Unfortunately, we has the last game of the day which didn't start until 9pm. That is the craziest thing to me that kids play baseball at that hour, but that's what happens these days. Thankfully, Stephanie came over and watched Carson. I wouldn't have taken him and I didn't want to miss the game. So glad she helped us out.

When we got to the ball park, the game before us hadn't even started. Our game finally got started at 10pm. There is a minor league team that plays nearby. When their game ended, we got to watch their fireworks while we waited on our game to start. 

One of the dads took this picture of the moms. Quick thinking and one of the funniest pics I have seen in awhile. I like to call this momma-razzi. I got to know some of these moms last spring. I'm so happy to be able to spend more time with them. They are becoming good friends.

Unfortunately, we lost quickly and headed home. It's the first year for our travel team and we are learning. The only way we will get better is by playing good teams. Our boys are showing some signs of improvement and they are having fun.

Today, we spent the day doing the usual...church, meal prep, laundry, small group, and get ready for the week ahead. I started working out at home in the mornings last Monday. I worked out six days straight and it's been quite a sore, struggle to work my way back into shape. More on that one day soon. I think that could have been a reason I've been so worn out. I took today off and plan to get back to it tomorrow morning, so I really need to go to bed. I'm not even proofing this. Sorry for all the typos, but let's be real, my proofing doesn't really help anyway :)

Top Ten

In an effort to get some random pictures off my phone and on this blog for memory sake, I have ten things to discuss tonight. Shall we?

I was laying in bed with Miles the other night and he informed me that he had 80's day at school the next day. It cracks me up b/c he has no idea what 80's day even means. We did the best we could.

This picture is blurry b/c I was cracking up. Miles opened the car door and said, "Carson has a question." He stayed like this forever. We were all laughing so hard.

Miles finished his first chapter book tonight. It was a Magic Tree House book. He used to love reading and then he totally did not. He seems to be back on it a little bit, maybe b/c the longer books are more interesting. We really bragged on him. I would love for him to be a reader b/c I am most definitely not. I have always had a strong opinion that good readers = good standardized test takers, also something I was not.

I was going to write about how good our dinner was tonight and Darrin just walked by and informed me that he didn't like the chicken. I thought it was amazing. We had green leaf lettuce (my favorite kind of lettuce) with strawberries, slivered almonds, grilled chicken, all topped with balsamic dressing.

I marinated the chicken in this overnight. This is also the dressing that we used on top. Very easy dinner that at least I recommend.

We've tried several different ways to contain Carson during ball games. This seems to be the most successful. Sitting on a blanket playing with toys is his favorite thing to do at home, so we moved it to the ball park.

It got a little chilly the other night. Poor kid is having to spend more time than I like for him to watching baseball. Darrin and I just hate to miss Miles' games.

Miles and Darrin stopped by my office. Miles found some cups in my drawer and had to show me a game that he played at school that day. 

When I picked Carson up from daycare the other day, he had on a sleeper that was way too small. I hadn't brought any replacement clothes in a while. The teacher had to put his feet through the snaps on the legs of his sleeper. I think he was embarrassed.

Carson is finally big enough and steady enough to sit in a high chair when we go out to eat. I think he likes it. Big brother likes it too.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Weekend Wrap Up

Just a few things to say about the weekend and then a lot of pictures. I stayed home with Carson on Friday. He did fine with the new medicine and seems to feel better. He still has a terrible cough, but he's sleeping better and isn't grumpy anymore. It rained ALL weekend long, so baseball was cancelled. Miles was able to attend one of his best friend's birthday parties and we caught up on a few things around the house. I took several pictures over the weekend, so let's get to that.

He prefers his toys stacked on him.

He smiles like this even with a double ear infection.

He seems to enjoy breathing treatments this go around.

Playing on his knees like a big boy. 

He pulled up like a big boy in the bathtub. I love his big belly hanging down :)

After his bath, I always sit him like this while I dump the water out of his tub. I just wanted to remember this one day. He is the cutest little thing.

Better than me at selfies.

Attending Gaige's party was definitely a perk of the baseball tournament being cancelled. Several boys got to come that wouldn't have otherwise. It was a swim party at an indoor pool. They had a blast.

Miles and his friend, Mason. Miles refers to him as his "best friend Mason" every time.

The kids sang in church this morning. Miles was so uncomfortable the whole time. He did it, but he doesn't like the spotlight at all.

While in Target, Miles accused me of buying the socks that were in his stocking at Christmas. Apparently they sell them at Target. He's always been amazed b/c they have an "M" on the bottom. He was impressed when he saw the same socks but they had an "S". Then, he saw others with S, M, L, XL...

He and I ran a few errands after the birthday party. We ran up a bill in Dick's buying random baseball stuff. On the way to the car, I asked if he was excited about all his new stuff. He said, "Yes, especially the Big League Chew". I'll remember that next time.

We went shoe shopping. He wanted some exactly like Darrin's. We found them, but they didn't laces, only Velcro. That wouldn't do, so we will have to order some online.

He spent his money at Target to buy two "light savers". 

There was also some early morning game playing on Saturday while Darrin cooked breakfast and we waited for the official text saying that baseball was rained out.

This boy loves books. Marmee bought him the cutest book called Dear Zoo. We read it over and over.

In other news, we booked our family vacation this weekend. We leave in six weeks. The original plan was to leave Carson home with the grandparents and take Miles. After all, we took Miles when he was the same age and it wasn't fun. This sums up how Miles felt about the beach.

When we told Miles that we were going to leave Carson home, he immediately started crying. I tried to explain that Carson would have more fun at home, but Miles was not buying that. I do not think he would have been able to have fun b/c he would have been worried about Carson and missing him. So....we are all going. I think Miles is right though. We are excited to have our first vacation as our family of four. We booked a first floor condo that steps out to the pool so, it will be easy to go in and out for diaper changes and feedings. And, we are only staying four nights, so it won't be completely exhausting for anyone. Carson goes with the flow more than Miles did at that age and he doesn't sleep as long as Miles did either. I think that will help a little. Since the beach is six weeks away, some sort of diet and exercise plan begins tomorrow. I'm putting it on here to hold myself accountable. If you know me, please text me and ask me how I'm doing.....and tell me to step away from the cookies and chocolate :) Off to bed now to get ready for a productive week ahead.

Sick Baby

Last night, Carson started looking a little puny just before bed. His cheeks were red and he didn't seem to be his normal, happy self. Sometime during the night...I have no idea what time b/c the nights run together with a baby...he started crying and I had to put him in bed with us. That's unusual and it happened the night before that too. I decided then that he was going back to the doctor today.

Darrin took him this morning. He hasn't run a fever, but he's been grumpy, needy, and pulling at his right ear even though the left ear was the one that was infected last week.

His visit revealed a double ear infection and a wheezy chest. They gave him a steroid shot, an antibiotic, and breathing treatments. The antibiotic is supposed to be really strong. We start it tomorrow. The pharmacist scared me a little with the warnings. She said to watch him for an allergic reaction, don't put him straight to bed, and also give it to him after a big meal since it can be hard on stomachs. Sounds like a fun medicine. He did great with his first breathing treatment tonight...much better than the last time we did them.

I think I'm going to stay home tomorrow and try to get him better. He's pretty needy right now and seems to be uncomfortable. I plan to start his antibiotic after his lunch and then hold him most of the afternoon. Hopefully a day at home and some TLC will do the trick.