The Jaguars

This Thursday will be the end of the spring season of soccer, Bella’s second season. She played for the same coach, with many of the same players but they changed their name to the Jaguars. I am not certain she’ll play another season, but I think she enjoyed her time playing as well as learned some important lessons in both team work and hard work. And maybe she will surprise us and ask to play a third season.

Here are a few shots of her playing hard.

  

  This last one makes us laugh. Notice her tongue in her cheek. I have many shots from her games like this.

I guess that is what she does when she is really working hard.

Mother’s Day 2012

I have written and deleted many Mother’s Day posts over the week.

And now that Mother’s Day is actually here all I can say is – I am one lucky momma.

These 3 are the best, and I am more than blessed to call them mine.

My Ethan

This is my Ethan. Ethan is now 3 years and 10 months. Ethan is fun. Ethan is tiring. Ethan is silly. Ethan is wild. Ethan is loud. Ethan is determined. Ethan is smart. Ethan is musical. Ethan is stubborn. Ethan is cuddly. Ethan is happy. Ethan is my baby boy.

Anthony pointed out to me that the next few weeks are my last with just Ethan by my side all day. The girls will be done with school for the summer and next year when school starts again he’ll be going right along side them. Shoot – how did the time pass so quickly? I swear it can’t be happening yet. As much as he wears me out and frustrates me there is so much more good than bad.

I am going to miss my little buddy next year. But until then I have 4 more weeks to make the most of and get all my snuggles and alone time in with my little boy while he’s still little.

Natalie’s Big Night

Natalie began taking piano this past August.  We recognized that she had some musical abilities and decided to see how she would like it. Much to our delight she loves it. And I mean LOVES it. Her teacher asked them to practice every day for 100 days, I wasn’t sure how she would do with that challenge, but she took the challenge and not only did she complete it but she made a goal to practice every single day of 2012.

And, best of all, her practice is paying off. I haven’t been able to get the video to upload to my computer, but she did so well at her recital. Hardly a mistake at all and didn’t seem to be one bit nervous. She played “Do Re Mi” from sound of music, “It’s a Small World” and “The Copy Song.”

If you haven’t heard of “The Copy Song” it’s because Natalie wrote it herself! It is so cute.  We weren’t sure how she’d do with writing her own song, but her teacher asked her to. So, one night while I was gone Anthony told her to go work on it and when she came back she had the cutest little song that made sense and sounded good! She called it “The Copy Song” because the right hand would play something and the left hand would then copy it. I will save that piece of music forever.

She had so much fun at the recital and so her love piano only increased. I hope she sticks with it because she really does have musical talent to go with it. We are so proud of her!

A Cure

Last week I had a particularly grouchy day. Don’t really know why, but I do know I was more than impatient with my kids. So, at the end of the day I decided to do something productive and we cleaned our back porch. It needed it. And being productive helps me feel better about grouchy days. This time, however, it wasn’t working. The kids were complaining about the work, and I was getting impatient with their complaints. Then, as I was spraying off the porch I accidentally sprayed the girls, and the giggling started. Next Ethan was standing next to them begging for me to do it again. So I gave in, and sprayed him on “accident” too.

This quickly evolved into 30 minutes of giggling, screaming and 3 wet kids who were suddenly happy as can be and who had completely forgotten about their grouchy mommy. Thank goodness for water hoses and kids who easily forgive. (And watching them helped cure Mommy’s grouchiness too!)

Why I am Running

I have a goal.

In 2012 I will: Run a Marathon.

Seriously.

I began running about 5 1/2 years ago while Anthony was in law school. I needed something to relieve the stresses of life so I began working out, and it all started with the Couch to 5k program. When I started it was hard, but in no time I could run a 5k on the treadmill. Then I translated it to outdoor running and I ran in my first 5k that July. That September I also competed in a Sprint Triathlon. It was so much fun, it was so gratifying, I wanted to do more. But then, well, I found out I was pregnant and ideas of more had to wait.

Since then I’ve been an off again on again runner. Never really finding my grove again. I did do a half marathon in 2011, but no other races. When I began running the idea of a marathon sounded nuts. Why on earth would anyone want to do that? I didn’t know. But about 2 years ago I watched an episode of Biggest Loser where they ran a marathon, and the bug hit me. If they could do that, I could too. And if I could do that, well then there isn’t anything I couldn’t do.

I have made excuse after excuse to keep me from doing this, but inside I’ve held that desire to run a full marathon. So, I finally decided enough excuses. I am setting the goal and doing it this year. But, then I set the goal and kind of kept it quiet so I could change my mind. I could opt out at the last minute because I wasn’t really prepared. What if I couldn’t? What if I didn’t train enough? What if I disappoint myself? What if I disappoint others?

But about 2 weeks ago I decided enough excuses. I am doing this. And as of last night I have a training schedule all planned. But as I was struggling through 2 miles yesterday (because when you take a 5 month break from running 2 miles is hard)doubt re-entered my head. How on earth did I think I could run 26.2 miles if I was currently struggling through 2? This just couldn’t be possible. I should give up.

And then it came to me. My moment of inspiration that I know will carry me through all the hard trials and doubts that will surely come as I train.

I am running a marathon for many reasons, but not the least of them is because I tell these 3 they can do anything they set their mind to. I tell them to set their goals high and settle for nothing less. But, if I can’t live that advice, if I can’t find it within myself to think big, reach high and in the process stretch, grow, push and then accomplish – how then can I expect them to take on the “marathons” in their own life?

And so, for that and many other reasons, I run. I am choosing to leave fear behind and just run.

Toothless

Natalie lost her 2 front teeth about a week and a half ago. She has lost 2 other teeth (last summer) and her left top tooth has been loose almost ever since. The funny thing is that she lost the RIGHT one, which hadn’t been lose, first. Then, less than 24 hours later the right one finally came out.

I don’t know about other parents, but I find it a funny stage when they’re losing teeth. Its like they’re transitioning from one stage of childhood to the next and it makes me a bit sad to see her toothless grin. But, she’s so happy about it I don’t stay sad for long.

The Weekend

Last Thursday I took Bella to a church activity that she now attends twice a month. Its nice to be the one driving her because then you get some rare one on one time with her. On this particular night she was noticing all the different restaurants we were passing and she said something about T.G.L. Fridays. So I corrected her, “No honey its T.G.I.Fridays.” “I? Really? It looks like an L.” “Yes really. It stands for thank goodness its Friday.” “Thank goodness its Friday? Why would you be glad its Friday?!” Laughing a bit I said, “Well because Friday night starts off the weekend and most people don’t have to work on Saturday and Sunday so they look forward to that part of the week.” She thought for a minute and said, “Well Friday isn’t my favorite day. I like Wednesdays.”

I for one do not agree, but I guess I am glad that her weekdays are fun enough that she doesn’t live for the weekends. At least not yet.

This past Saturday was a busy day. First the girl’s had a birthday party at a local mini-golf place where they got to play in the arcade, feed alligators and play golf.

And what is it they were feeding the gators? Hot dogs!

We had to leave the party a little early for Bella’s first soccer game of the season. She has the same coach this year, but he had to miss out on the first game so Anthony and another dad from the team filled in. Their jerseys are blue this year which is Bella’s favorite color – so she’s happy about that although she’s already told me she wants the green color next season.

I didn’t get many good shots at the game (didn’t come prepared with the best lens for being far away), but I plan to bring my camera again tomorrow.  From now until June we’ll be out on the soccer fields every Friday and Saturday night. Bella is really loving it and now she has her little brother asking when he can play soccer too.

7 Weeks and Counting…

…until SUMMER!

I am dreaming of the lazy days of summer. Not having to set my alarm or rush out the door. Having time for fun projects with the girls, or spending the afternoon laying around watching movies. Daily visits to the pool. Weekly visits to the beach. Tanned kids, popsicles in the afternoon, late nights and lazy mornings. Its all coming in 7 short weeks. I have been pinning on pinterest fun summer activities for weeks. I. Love. Summer.

But, I must say, I love school too.

When August rolls around I’ll be ready to return to the routine of school. Ready for the schedule, ready to meet new teachers, see my kids experience new things, ready to see what they’ll achieve in the coming year.

We have been at this school thing now for 4 years. Next year all 3 kids will go. I can’t believe ALL My children will be in school. I look forward to being free to volunteer at the school, being free to get my runs while they’re at school, but mostly I look forward to seeing what they can achieve. To see what interests they find, what friends they’ll make, and what experiences they’ll have. I see school as an adventure.

This year Bella has really excelled. She likes to tell me she doesn’t like school because “its too much work” but, then she goes and asks her teacher for additional assignments like a report on ants. Her reading has progressed to a really great level for her age and she plans to spend the summer reading a whole list of great books. Their school has a reading program called AR (Accelerated Reader) where they read books and then take tests over them and earn points. Each grade has a different point goal and the teachers encourage the students to participate and reach that goal. Bella’s goal this year was 50. She reached that by Christmas and to date she’s just under 150. I can’t believe next year she’ll be in 3rd grade. I have been told that the jump from 2nd grade to 3rd grade but I am confident she is up for the challenge. She is also playing soccer again this spring and I believe it is helping her gain some confidence in herself. Her first game is this Saturday and she is so excited.

Watching Natalie embrace school and enjoy Kindergarten to its fullest extent has been so much fun. She loves school. She loves her teacher. She wakes up each morning with such excitement and is always so sad if its a day off or she’s sick. She’s really blossomed into a good little reader, she’s beginning to like to write stories and her artwork is pretty great for her age. She also has been taking piano since school started and has amazed us at how well she is doing. I will write more about that in a few weeks when she performs in her first recital.

Ethan isn’t in school this year, but next year he will be. I can’t believe I will have all 3 of my kids in school. I worry about him in school because he has been such a handful, but I think he will do just fine. He is so excited to go and is already insisting that his backpack and lunch box be his favorite color – green. The only issue right now is he is insistent that I stay with him there. He doesn’t understand that I will go home and when I try to tell him that Mommy will come back to get him he just says, “No, you will just stay with me.”

So, I love summer, I love school. But whenever one is coming to a close I am ready to move on and enjoy the next part of the year. And as far as the year goes I need to make a new resolution…take more pictures. I can’t believe I have been bad at that this year, but I guess with us running this way and that I just haven’t taken the camera out as much as I should. I need to capture these kids how they are now…today…because they are pretty darn amazing. I can’t wait to spend my summer with them.

Getting Things Free

I know I haven’t blogged in forever. My once a week goal is not going so well, is it?

Starting over, again. We’ll see how it goes this time.

So I opened my blog today determined to blog and leave it open until I did. I figured I’d tell some really cute story about my kids, or talk about how proud I am of them. B/c I am! But, my thoughts today have been on my new obsession: Getting things free.

Maybe it isn’t an obsession, but more of a challenge. With gas being so high I have been sticking to home a lot as a way to save some money, but also I have just been watching what I spend in general. I am couponing again after some what of a hiatus (which when I think about how much I spent instead of saved it makes me sick). I still use savingsangel.com. And love when I see items for free, I practically want to run to the store to grab them, whatever they are. But I have yet to reach the status of “Extreme Couponer” like the show, and am not sure I want to be. But, I have come to the conclusion that there are many ways to maximize my spending power in other areas of necessity (and some wants). So I am trying to participate in all that I can and use the rewards for needs instead of silly little extras.

What am I talking about?

Things like mycokerewards.com provided us with a free movie and dinner for Valentine’s day. (Granted we didn’t use them for Valentine’s day, or even yet, but I included them in the card to Anthony as my gift for him, so I count it as Valentine’s day.) Oh, and yes, I do consider time alone with my husband a need and not a silly little extra.

Recently I have discovered, or actually rediscovered, Swag Bucks. Its a website where you do different things (daily polls, play games, search the web, take surveys, etc) to earn points. You can then exchange points for merchandise and gift cards. My exchange of choice will be $5 Amazon gift cards which go for 450 points. In 3 days I have enough for 2 of them. I don’t have a specific goal in mind, but I do plan on using these gift cards towards Christmas and I’d like to have at least $200 in gift cards from Swag Bucks to put towards Christmas this year. But I may raise that goal depending on how much I am able to earn in the first month.

If you’re interested in trying this out go here: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/jcraiker

Speaking of Amazon there is also a new feature for trading on Amazon. Its reselling your books and movies (maybe other things I am not sure) directly to Amazon. They credit your account and send you shipping labels. All you have to do is put it all in a box and send it to them. Easy. The other week I calculated how much I had I wanted to trade and that alone was nearing $200. Not too bad for just getting rid of a few things around the house we no longer wanted or used. This too is in the plan to go towards Christmas so that would be about $400 I don’t have to save up for for Christmas. Or “free.”

The last thing is that I made a goal in January to have the coming 2012-2013 school year supplies cost us nothing. $0. Three kid’s school supplies at no cost to us, with the exception of change from the bottom of my purse, and seriously, I rarely use cash so there is hardly any change at the bottom of my purse. The idea came to me when I received over $20 in store checks from an office supply store I frequent to get Anthony’s office supplies (he works from home in case you didn’t know). When I was trying to decide how to use it it dawned on me that my children’s school supply list is posted all year long and has not changed in the 3 years we’ve been attending the school. And that while the items would be priced higher this time of year I could still shop the sales but use the store rewards I receive to get the items at no cost to me.

So I started school supply shopping in January. I watched sales so that the reward checks would take me as far as possible. And now I’ve started to watch more closely how I shop for Anthony’s office supplies to maximize my store rewards. I have finally started recycling his toner cartridges (man, I feel bad for just throwing those things away for many reasons), and I get rewards from that. Plus if you watch the sale circulars there are times you get higher rewards for that than others. I will buy different brands of items so long as the item is comparable in quality and price if there is a reward attached to it. And I am careful to watch my rewards checks as to not let them expire, while still holding out with the best deals to use them for.

To date I have all but 6 items on their lists. Out of pocket cost? $0.24. Literally change from the bottom of my purse. And in my book that is still free b/c I NEVER use that change (until now).  And I have $25 of rewards waiting to be spent. I’m certain I can get the last 6 items on their school supply list along with getting the supplies we’ll need at home for homework, etc. And, if I am really good with future rewards in the coming months they may just all get new back packs too, so long as it is FREE to me.

Anyone else have some awesome reward program they use to get free stuff? Tell me about it!