5K

Saturday, April 4th, Tom and I ran a 5k. Yeah, just a measly 3.1 miles but for me it was tough because it was only my second time running in who knows how long! Tom on the other hand has been running so for him it was simple. To make it a little more of a challenge we had him run with a jogging stroller pushing both kids!

My goal was to run the whole race without walking!

Tom was a great supporter and motivator! He normally runs a lot faster but he wanted to help me finish so he stuck right by me! I kept telling him I would be ok if he wanted to run on ahead but he didn't. When I wanted to give up he was right there cheering me on. I couldn't have done it with out him!

Not to get all sappy but Tom is that way in our every day life, my supporter and motivator along with many other things! He is a wonderful husband and I could not have done better! He fits me perfectly! I love him with all of my heart! Thank you sugar pie honey bunch!

Ok, I got a little side tracked there now back to the race.

I ran it in 37 minutes and came in 17th place for my age group out of 24. Not great but all that really matters to me is that I did it and that I met my goal, Barely!

Tom came in last in his age group and that is only because he stayed behind with me! He was first place in my book! (yes, very cheesy)

I also have to mention that our friend Mana was in charge of the whole run and so he also designed the t-shirts. Mana you did a great job! Thanks!

Front of the t-shirt

Back of the t-shirt
(a list of the sponsors are also on the back)

Right before the race started
(notice we are crouching)

here we come!

Tom's big finish!

End of the race
(no more energy to crouch without falling over)

~~~

After the race we took Cole to the park and let him play for a bit. He was climbing, hanging and sliding on toys that were meant for 3 years and older and loved it! I couldn't believe the things he was doing!

Fearless!

Tom getting his play time in!

and down we go

One Year!

This month is our one year anniversary of living in Houston. It amazes me how much has happened in this past year. Cole started crawling then walking and we celebrated his first birthday. We evacuated for two hurricanes, moved from an apartment to a house, sold our beetle and got a CR-V and we welcomed our little Texan, Avery, into the family!

What a great year it has been! Tom has enjoyed his job, I've enjoyed being at home with our two little monkeys and we have made lots of new friends along the way!

The time goes by so quickly that I need to remember to be grateful for each day and to enjoy my children while they are still little!

Here's to the many years still ahead of us!

Memories

Missing in action!

The week Tom was gone at scout camp I was kept busy by different friends. The kids and I went to a birthday party, we went to the rodeo, I had a friend come over one night for a little girl time and on another night I took the kids and we met two friends for dinner and then went back to our house for a movie. We missed our papa very much but had a fun time while he was gone!

At the rodeo.
We stood in line for a pony ride and Cole loved watching the other kids taking their turn but once it was his turn he screamed when I tried to put him on the pony. I took him down and had him pet the pony in hopes that it would help with his fear! No luck, he was NOT getting on that pony!

I thought where he didn't even want to sit on a pony that it would terrify him to be in with a bunch of free roaming animals but I thought I would give the petting zoo a try. He LOVED it! He kept crouching down to get closer and he really enjoyeed feeding them. I really enjoyed watching his excitement! I wish Tom could have been there to see it!

So serious!

Adorable boy!

"No Binky" Update #2

Thursday's nap, Cole went down and slept the whole three hours. That night he cried for a few minutes and then fell asleep.

Friday his nap went well at first but about an hour into it he woke up screaming and screamed for about an hour until he fell back to sleep then slept for about another hour. Friday night was a good night, he went right to sleep!

Today's nap he went right down and is still sleeping!

Another problem I thought we would have when we started this is that Avery has her binky and so I was afraid Cole would try to take hers and use it but he hasn't, not once, that I am aware of. He can be pretty sneaky sometimes!

~~~

I think it it safe to say now, the reason I chose this week to wean Cole off of his binky is because Tom has been gone the whole week with the scouts camping and I thought it would be a fun surprise for him to come home to.

I didn't want to post that my husband was going to be gone for a week and have some crazy person just happen to read that and some how find out where we live and come hurt us or something. Not that it would happen but it could so I just wanted to keep safe. But Tom is coming home today! Yeah!! I can't wait to tell him that Cole no longer needs a binky!

"No Binky" Update

Cole is doing quite well to my surprise!

Tuesday afternoon for his first nap without his binky went a little more of how I thought this whole experience would! He screamed for about 40 min. before he finally fell asleep. Then Tuesday night he did just as well as the first night, slept straight threw til morning!

Wednesday morning he had a bit of a melt down! He was screaming and putting his hand to his mouth where his binky should be! I could tell he wanted it but did not give in! I had to keep telling myself to be patient it would all be worth it in the end! Once we got threw that melt down the rest of the day was good.

Wednesday we had had a long day at the rodeo and so when I had to wake him up to get him out of the car and into his PJ's he didn't like that, which I can't blame him, so he started screaming and didn't want to be put into bed. I layed him down gave him his Dangles and left the room and let him scream. Normally we could just give him his binky and that would calm him right down so it was tough to just walk out. The screaming only lasted for about three minutes before he settled down and went to sleep. Thank goodness!

All I can say is, "Ahh...another day down!"

Fun and play makes for a great day!

Yesterday I took the kids to Monkey n' Around. We met some of the other mothers and their kids from our ward there. Monkey n' Around is this cute inexpensive indoor play ground that has a bunch of fun big toys for kids to play on. I am convinced more than ever now that we need to get a big toy for Cole to have at home to climb on and slide down because he LOVED IT! I must say I enjoyed it as well. Cole entertained, Avery happy and content, me having adult conversation what's not to love!

I also loved sitting back and watching Cole seeing just how much he has grown! Things that he once was unsure of or scared of now are things of the past! When did he go from being my baby to my toddler? I guess for me he will always be my baby!

This boy makes me so happy!
Wee...!!

Good Bye to Binky Boy!

This is the week! I have decided to wean Cole off of his binky! The reason I chose this to be the week? I will explain this weekend.

~~~

We have been wanting to do this for quite some time but just haven't done it because of the instant gratification. Looking back at so many pictures where he has a binky in his mouth and the fact that he is almost two really made the decision, well that and I didn't want it ruining his teeth!

~~~

Yesterday, Monday the 16th, I let him have his bink for the last time during his nap. After waking up and having lunch I took his binky and a sucker and gave him the choice of which one he wanted. He chose the sucker! I then told him that he would have to throw his binky away to get the sucker. He did, he threw his binky in the garbage! I later went and got the bink and cut off the nipple so I couldn't give into the temptation and give it back! Ahh....! I must be crazy but it must be done!

That night we went over to Mana and Annettes to help celebrate Benjamins 2nd birthday. On our way home Cole was tired and cried the whole way home! I was really starting to wonder what I was getting myself into!

When we got home I took him to the garbage can to help him remember that he had thrown his binky away. I grabbed it out, it was just sitting on a bunch of papers, and showed him that it was "broken" he then tried sucking on it and couldn't, obviously. I told him that he was a big boy and didn't need his binky any more and asked him to throw it away again. He did but got frantic and grabbed it again and tried one more time to suck on it. I then told him that it was broken and that it didn't work any more and that big boys didn't need binkys so that he should just throw it away. He once more threw it away. I then took him to bed.

When I put him down in his crib I gave him Bo Dangles, his Monkey that he sleeps with every night, had him wrap his arms around him and told him that Dangles would comfort him. I stroked his head for a min. told him I loved him and what a big boy he was.

As I left the room I thought for sure he would start screaming because he usually does when he doesn't have his binky but not a peep! I was so proud of my boy! The only noise I heard during the night was a cry for about a minute and then he fell back to sleep! I was so happy! Maybe this isn't going to be as bad as I thought it would be!

So long binky days!

In loving memory!

*updates to come throughout the week.

Cole Boy!

Cole has always been quite the little climber but now he has upgraded to moving swinging objects!

Love the face!

~~~

One night after bringing in the grocery's Tom and I had left the kitchen to go put things away in other rooms and came back to find this

He loves to stack and as you can see is very good at it! The other day I had out my sewing thread and he was stacking those as well.

He is always amazing us! He may not talk yet but his brain is constantly working! He's going to be an engineer just like his papa!