Little Indian

A few iPhone pictures from Jones' school program last week. I'll post from my camera soon! 

He practiced his songs for weeks - he is still singing them! 

Love this sweet Indian and love his school so much. I love his awesome teachers, sweet friends and great memories. I struggled with sending him at all when I started staying home, but I know we made the best decision for everyone by keeping him in preschool half a day. He loves going and is learning so much. 

Thankful, thankful! 

Miles and friends

I am training for my first 1/2 marathon with four hilarious, equally insane friends. 

Since we all live hours apart from each other, we can't run together.  We needed a way to keep each other accountable. 

Enter the brilliant idea of virtual training - in the form of post-run selfies sent to the group. 

Some are so golden that I briefly thought about breaking the friend-selfie-code-of-rules and leaking them on my blog, but that's much too risky with my selfies floating around. 

Some selfies have included wine (screw running!) and milkshakes (protein!) and each selfie makes me more excited about our girls trip/running debut. 

As I was running this morning, I thought about these hilarious friends and I thanked God for putting people in my life that are easy. They don't take life too seriously. They laugh at themselves. And make fun of each other. And keep me grounded. 

I am thankful for time with a different, non-training friend yesterday that was simple and real.  

I love no-fuss people. 

I'm thankful for such a wide group of friends from all points in my life. I just wish I could magically add more time to my day and fewer miles between our homes. 

Just a few random, post-run thoughts on friends, God love them. 

10 months

Anna Joy is ten months old as of November 8th.  Double digits! Seriously, I need a pause button.

She has her first cold, which is both pitiful and adorable.  She is extra cuddly.  But she is also fussy for the first time in her life.  She can't breath through her nose which bothers her to no end.

She still has two adorable bottom teeth and no teeth up top.  I introduced baby yogurt to her this month and she is a fan! Sleeps great most days, with her morning nap being her longest of the day.  Has figured out crawling this month! Although she only stays on her hands and knees for a few seconds, then it's back to stomach.  She pulled up for the first time on her 10 month birthday.  Bittersweet. I thought about pushing her down.  She is on the move and doesn't want to stay still too long, though she still loves the stroller and loves to swing.  Her favorite thing in the world is Jones, with her daddy a close second.  A daddy's girl for sure.  Bless his heart - he is mush for her. 

She remains the sweetest thing in our life.  I can hardly fathom that it's almost time to start planning her first birthday party.  I am desperate for her to stay my baby forever!

A few pictures of her, sick, on her 10 month birthday....snotty nose and puffy eyes in full force.

Love this sweet baby girl. 

Puzzle

I don't want to forget how much he loves puzzles. 

He looks so peaceful right at this moment working so hard on his Toy Story puzzle, in train conductor accessories compliments of a birthday party.  

He's so very wild, but he can be still. And sweet. And I don't want to forget. 

Mythical creatures

Well slap me silly and call me Ranger Rick. Woodchucks do exist. 

You know how I know this to be true? 

Because this mythical creature appeared at my back door yesterday. 

What the dirty word kind of joke is this? 

Trey had been out of the state for less than 24 hours and our home was being threatened by odd mythical creatures. 

After our mouse horror, I was convinced this was the mutant king rat coming to haunt me into a slow and unusual death. 

After some reasearch (Wikipedia) and a consultation of an expert (budget and finance guy at the university. Best I could do on a short notice) the conclusion was made that the creature was a woodchuck. 

I told my mom the only woodchuck I want in my life would be chilled and in my fridge. 

I don't think she got my jokes. 

We live smack dab in the middle of town. Can you imagine if we lived in the county? Or worse yet...a farm? 

There are few things I hate more in this life than critters. Critters and Walmart. 

Truth be told I only really like animals in a zoo. What with their homes behind fences and trained (albeit crazy) professionals tending to their feedings and poopings. 

I can't stop looking out my window in search for the darn thing. Might as well be a unicorn in my yard. 

Hurry home, Trey. This is not battle one should have to fight alone. 

Let's play I spy the woodchuck. 

My friends are comedians. Enter Amanda's texts to me. Caption- "our yard has woodchucks too". This coming from the same girl who sent me scary pictures of mice after our nightmare this summer. Thanks, Amanda, for always showing compassion and concern for my trials and tribulations. 

Dino Jones

Jones remains the funniest human I have ever known. He is so full of energy, but maybe (just maybe....) we are learning to channel some of that energy in a positive way? 

He might have accidentally kicked trey in the mouth and cause a tooth through the lip, but at least it wasn't on purpose, right? 

Anyway, lately he has been super into dinosaurs. His love for all animals remains,  but he has taken a special interest lately In the Dino. Someone gave him Dino Dan DVDs. I was skeptical, but he loves it. Watches it almost every night before bed. It's a Canadian show with real people and they sometimes use phrases we don't. Jones has picked up on some of these and uses them in everyday conversation. It cracks me up. 

Yesterday at breakfast he said "mom, we need to talk. Actually, I need to know. Where EXACTLY did you get this oatmeal from?"

Ha! He was satisfied with my Kroger answer. 

One night recently he asked me how big my....ummm....tinkler was. I simply said mama didn't have one and that wasn't a question we asked people. He responded: "why did you say that? I just simply don't understand".  (Another Dino Dan phrase!) 

I'll let Trey answer next time. 

Last night he was working on a puzzle (his favorite) and he suddenly stopped mid-puzzle and said "whew! I'm exhausted. I'm need to rest. Turn that lamp off. What a day!" 

Is he 3 going on 43? 

Trey is out of town for the third weekend in a row. Anna Joy has her first fever, so we are laying low. Thankfully Laura asked if she could come help! I talked her into a spend the night party. Three cheers for making a palet, eating popcorn and watching Christmas movies with Lala on a Friday night! I seriously thank God everyday for family thirty miles down the road. 

Big girl!

Look who just pulled to somewhat of a stance? She may not be crawling off her stomach yet, but this big girl is on the move! 

Testing the upgraded Blogger app on my new phone since my old phone died a slow and painful death.... 

Hooray for blog posts on the go! 

October

I am going to attempt to update the month of October in one post.

It was a full month of soccer, school parties, friends parties, hayrides, Jones' first school field trip, church events and fun with friends and family.

Trey is in full swing of school, and we are both counting down the weeks for this semester to end. It's been great, but we are tired!  He is away right now for the second weekend in a row.  He will be gone again next weekend, but then we are home free until after Thanksgiving. 
We celebrated my sister and Clay's wedding this past July by having a reception for them a couple of weekends ago.  It was so fun...pictures soon!

We also got the announcement this month that they are expecting! Baby Armstrong coming early June! That will make 6 babies in 7 years from the Tomlinson sisters.  Both of my sisters are pregnant right now. Lots of babies around here.
We also welcomed a sweet boy into a dear family's life after months of praying for him to get home.
It was so sweet being able to welcome him home at the airport.  So happy for the Gordons! Welcome home, Max.

Three of my friends had babies this month and I have only gotten my hands on one of them.  I am itching to love on these sweet new babies.

October was my first full month staying home full-time so it was both full of adjustments (big and small) and wonderful.

On to November! Whew...this year.  Slow the bus down.