Friday Update

We have officially made it to spring break!  I desperately needed it too... I had flu type A this week and am still recovering.  I'm glad it hit me this week instead of next week though.  The boys like to be busy, thanks to their mom liking to be on the go, so I've got some fun things planned for our break.  I don't want us to be overly busy though, so there's a fine line we're walking.  Anyways, here's what we've been up to lately.

• Cooper is so excited for spring break.  This morning, as I was dragging him out of bed, he asked me if he could sleep "until whenever he wanted" next week, and I told him yes. Unfortunately, he's not a late sleeper, so that probably means he'll sleep until 6:35 instead of 6:30 when I wake him up for school.  On a different note, Coop's never been a bike rider.  He's never shown any interest, and even though we've bought him bikes, he's just never cared enough to really learn.  Well, we love riding bikes, and he's getting way too big for me to pull behind me, so we're kind of making him learn to ride one now.  It was ugly at first, but I ordered him some pedal straps to help with his feet.  He's using training wheels, too.  I took him to a flat parking lot yesterday, and he turned into a little pro!  He was so excited!  I don't know how he'll do once he encounters a hill, but I'm just happy he's excited about it now.
• Clark is as wild as ever!  Last week, at his soccer game, he almost got in a little fight!  He knocked a little girl flat by accident, and a kid on the other team kept yelling at him that he did it on purpose.  Well, Clark didn't like that, so he pushed the little boy in the chest with his finger and said, "I did it by accident!"  The ref had to intervene!  I got so tickled I about died!  Hopefully that won't be issue anymore and we're not raising a bully.  Clark has mixed feelings about spring break because he loves when my mom keeps him.  Hopefully I'll suffice or it may be a long summer!  He went on a field trip this week with my mom, sister, niece, and nephew to Mayfield Dairy, and he absolutely loved it!  That's all he's talked about this week.  We're going to my friend's dairy farm next week, and he can't wait!
• Abel finally seems to be back to his happy little self.  I think he's finally over the flu, teething, and the exhaustion that came with both of those.  I know the happiness may only last a day or two at this age, but I'll take it while I can.  He's mastered going down the little slide we got him for his birthday all by himself today... he thinks he's big stuff!  As soon as he comes down, he starts clapping, which means he wants us to clap for him.  He's a ham!  He's still being a great eater.  Anything I fix for dinner, he'll eat.  It's nice having one child who likes what I cook.  I know that probably won't last either, but I'm hoping it will.
• I haven't had the flu since high school, and I forgot how miserable it is.  I started feeling bad Sunday night, but chalked it up to a sinus infection.  By Tuesday evening I couldn't take it anymore, so I headed to the Minute Clinic.  By the time I got there, I had the chills terribly and could hardly walk, so I was worried it was the flu.  Sure enough, my test lit up right away.  Clark and Abel had type A last week, so I'm sure that's where I got it from.  I was miserable Wednesday and most of Thursday, and I still have absolutely no energy.  I missed two days of work, and both days we had field trips.  Thankfully I have awesome coworkers who made life easy for me, but it was an inconvenient time to be sick, that's for sure.   Andy and Cooper have avoided the plague so far, and I'm praying neither one of them come down with it over spring break.
• On one of my sick days, I finished Parenthood.  Let me tell ya, I cried HARD when it was over... like ugly, hysterical crying.  I guess it didn't help that I had a fever and felt like I was dying, but I cried like a baby!  That's the absolute best TV I've ever watched.  I highly recommend it to anyone!  It's on Netflix.  I don't know what series I'll watch next, but my goal for the next few weeks is to get done with the first season of This is Us and catch up with this season of Scandal.  
• I bought the boys Moana a few weeks ago, and they are obsessed with it!  It's all they want to watch and all they want to play.  I've heard it all in the van, but have only seen bits and pieces.  It's really cute and the music is great.  I got it on eBay for $7.99 brand-new.  I've found that eBay is the cheapest place for Disney movies, and they're always real and authentic, despite being so cheap.  We've built a great Disney collection thanks to eBay.  Speaking of Disney movies, I'm determined to see Beauty and the Beast over spring break.  That's my favorite Disney movie of all time, so I'm very upset that I haven't seen it yet.  The boys want to go too, so I'm hoping we'll get there soon.

Alright, we've got early soccer games in the morning and I need all the energy I can muster for those.  Good night and happy spring break!

Friday Update

We're up late this Friday night watching Kentucky play their Sweet 16 game.  We're desperately hoping they win!  It's been a few weeks since I've had a little family update, so I'll jump right in!

• Cooper and Clark have both started soccer.  They had their first games last week.  Cooper is really enjoying it, and is much more aggressive and into it than Andy and I ever imagined he'd be.  We're really proud of him!  Our schedules are really busy with this, but rain and sickness keeps cancelling practices for us, and we're tag teaming them, so that helps.  Cooper also wrote an informational book about Washington D.C. this week, all by himself.  Andy and I didn't help him with any of it, and he did it all at home.  I'm telling you, it's amazing (I have the first page pictured below... he literally filled up a whole composition notebook writing it)!  I know I'm his mom and am biased, but the brilliance of his little mind just blows me away.  I hope he keeps his love for learning as he gets older!  He's still loving school, but he's really looking forward to summer.
• Clark had the flu last week and was pretty sick.  We went to the doctor at the beginning of the week and he tested negative, then went back later in the week because he just kept getting sicker, and he tested positive then.  Each time we were there, Dr. Meredith commented on how hyper and overly talkative he was... tell us something we don't know, Dr. Gary!  He recovered in time to play in his first soccer game though, and let me tell you, it was hilarious!  Anyone who knows Clark knows he never shuts up, but we didn't think that would be an issue during a soccer game.  Well, he played on the huge field at Finley Stadium, and talked to us the ENTIRE time he played... he even yelled at us to watch him throw the ball in when he was on the other side of the field.  I don't know what we're going to do with that child!
• Abel is recovering from his second round of flu in a month!  He had type B right after his birthday, and he got type A this week from Clark.  I didn't know if was possible to catch the flu twice so close together, but leave it to our kids to do it.  Thankfully both rounds weren't too terrible on him, and he seems about back to normal now.  He's turned into a little terror here recently when it comes to destroying and getting into things he doesn't need to.  I'm sure they were, but Andy and I keep saying we don't remember the other boys being so destructive.  He's also started pitching fits, mostly with me, where he throws himself back screaming.  When he does this, we gently lay him on the floor and just walk away until he's done.  Thankfully he's still really sweet (most of the time) and cute, or we'd be in trouble!
• I did my first triathlon a few weeks ago.  It wasn't as impressive as it sounds, but I finished it and didn't come in last overall or even in my age group, so I'm pleased with myself.  I did it with two great friends, and we had a really good time.  I was extremely sore for a few days, but I bounced back quicker than I thought I would.  
• I've only got three episodes left of Parenthood!  I'm so sad!  Andy jokingly said I'd have to cancel my Y membership when I finish since that's what I watch faithfully there.  I know I say it with every show I watch, but this is truly my favorite TV show ever... I don't think anything will live up to it.  I'm up for suggestions though... I need a new series to watch at the Y.
• I'm slowly trying to switch the boys' winter and spring clothes out, and I hate this every single season.  I've got some shopping to do for Cooper, some digging to do for Clark, and some donating to do for things Abel has outgrown.  Our house will stay in a state of disarray until the weather stays warm more permanently.  
• I'm in desperate need for spring break.  Everyone is going crazy at school, and we all need a little time off.  We're planning to go to Atlanta for a few days while we're out.  We're going to go to the Georgia Aquarium and Atlanta Zoo.  It's just a small trip, but I'm looking forward to it.  I know the boys will love it.  Abel has really started getting into animals, so I think he'll enjoy it, too.  I'm looking forward to the Master's as well, which also falls on spring break.  Andy and I have already chose who we think will win, and I have a feeling I'll beat him.  I'm killing him in the March Madness bracket, so I'm sure I'll beat him in golf, too.

Alright, I'm off to cheer for my Wildcats.  Have a great weekend!

Spring Bucket List Update

Here's a little update on our spring bucket list, along with some pictures of our fun activities.  They're calling for snow tomorrow and a cold week ahead, but I'm hoping it won't be long until the weather turns warm for good.

• Go to the zoo
• Family bike ride
• Dye Easter eggs
• Easter egg hunt
• Make s'mores and sit by the fire pit
• Spring pictures
• Family hike
• Family picnic
• Get ice cream downtown
• Walk on the walking bridge
• Play at a playground/park
• Go to the Aquarium
• Visit a farm 

 Family Bike Ride

 Trip to the zoo

 Playing at Miss Libby's playground

 Walking on the bridge

 Getting ice cream at the Ice Cream Show

 Spring pictures

Making s'mores

Spring Pictures

It's almost spring time, so I got the boys outside for some pictures.  We borrowed some baby chicks and got busy.  It was an absolute miracle that Abel didn't hurt any of them, but the big boys were great with them.  We are definitely ready for spring in our household!