A Monday.....

Our Monday started out a little crazy with unexpected changes, but it got a whole lot better!

Dave left Sunday afternoon about 1:30 to go to work.  He was supposed to work til 11:00 p.m., then have Monday off.  

I am going through some trainings at work and we have met on and off first semester.  The last date we had on the schedule was February 12th.  I was totally looking forward to that date.  The trainings begin immediately after school and last until 7:00 p.m.  It is a long, hard day and it is usually stressful because I have to find someone to pick up the boys from daycare, bring them home, feed them dinner, give them baths, and get them ready for bed.  Thankfully I usually make it home before Reese actually falls asleep.

Well last week I had training and we made the schedule for the rest of the year.  I thought we were done so I was not happy.  Now we meet EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. until the end of the school year.  I wanted to cry.  

I had a training this afternoon and thankfully Dave was able to get the day off.  He mentioned to me that he would just keep the boys home with him all day to play.  So.....my Monday would start out with not having to iron so many outfits for this morning, getting to sleep just a little bit later to help with my long day, and even with sleeping later I could get to school a little bit earlier to get a few things done since I didn't have to make the stop at daycare.  Just a few little things that would help me out on this long day.

Sunday night I had showered, ironed my clothes, and was ready to get a few things done before bed when I called Dave at work to say hi really quick.  Then he told me.....mandated at work and wouldn't be home until 7:30 a.m.  I tip toed into each boy's bedroom and found outfits for them, called the sitter to tell her that they WOULD be at daycare today, and reset my alarm for quite a bit earlier.

Despite the last minute change the boys got up and were happy this morning and we got out of the house actually a few minutes early.  I got to work and opened my email....eMINTS training CANCELLED for today!  

I knew Dave was already asleep and had his alarm set for 2:00 p.m. so he could get up and go get the boys from daycare, so I waited for a text from him this afternoon.  He was on his way to get the boys and I told him my meeting was cancelled.  I got a few things done at school and headed home to spend the beautiful afternoon with the boys.

We enjoyed some time outside......in January.....it was great!

A wagon ride...

Reese....

the wild lawn mowing man...

Dane was just so, so happy to be outside!

On their way home from daycare Dave and the boys stopped to buy some milk....boy are we glad it isn't $8 a gallon...we drink about 4 gallons a week right now!  Dane picked out some Spiderman Graham Crackers. See little Reese man in the back going through the bags!

We have a bad addiction here....our new cake pop maker.

Pancake bites on Saturday mornings and today we tried LOWFAT Brownie Bites.....

Dane added frosting to his cake pop.

He really wanted sprinkles on it too.

Such a fun, unexpected afternoon with my boys!

Staying Busy

One of my goals for the new year was to blog more about what we were doing in our daily lives and not just when we had something big going on.  Our daily lives are just so busy that it seems that we walk in the door at 4:00 and then next thing I know it is midnight.  I say "busy", but it isn't like we have ten places to go after school, it is just chasing after two toddlers that keeps me hopping.  I am still working on getting better at blogging though.

Last Thursday I had the day off to take Reese to his 15 month checkup.  I was really glad I had it scheduled last week.  These boys are coughing and have running noses.  No fevers and they don't seem uncomfortable, but I was happy to have Reese's ears checked and his lungs listened to.  Dane enjoyed some time with Aunt Katie.  They picked up some Pretzel Boys and head to her house to hang out for a bit.  Reese had a great appointment and is still a happy and healthy boy...97% for height and 80% for weight.

We have been struggling here since going back to school in January.  These sleepy boys are hard to wake up.  Thankfully Dave has had some mornings that he has been able to take the boys to daycare a little later.  They usually get there by 8:00 for breakfast, however last Friday they didn't get there until 9:00.  We have to work on this because Dave is going to be leaving at 5:45 am starting February 5th so no more late mornings for these guys.

Reese was taken out of the tub first the other night and while Dane was getting out Reese was on the run.  Looking so cute in his little giraffe towel.

I can totally see the 97% for height here...he looks like a giant!

 

The boys wanted to play in Reese's room after they got their pjs on the other night.  I ran to get my camera to get some shots of them playing together.  Apparently the rocking chair is where they wanted to play because this is what I came back to.

Reese standing on something, what a surprise!

Giving his big brother hugs...

Then Dane tried for a hug....

Silly Dane..

Then Reese was done and things got a little crazy!

Reese was supposed to be "calming down" before bed.  I was filling sippy cups with milk and Dane yells, "Mom, look what Reese is doing now!"

It's always something!

Sunday

Sunday we went to the St. Louis Zoo with my parents and Aunt Katie to see the Penguin March.  On Sundays in January, when the temperatue is below 50, the penguins come out for a walk.  It was pretty crowded this week.  We found a spot at the end of their path and waited.  We had to wait for a bit for them to get down our way. 

Dan was really excited.

The North Star Mascot lead the penguins.

Dane sat down and waited and he really waited Reese to sit next to him and wait as well, but Reese just wanted to get up and walk around.

Here they come....

Dane absolutely loved it!  He kept saying, "I want to hug them."

He was really good and didn't touch them though.

I couldn't believe how close Dane was to them.

Reese was getting hard to hold on to and wasn't really interested in the penguins so he went with Papa for a walk to see the ducks.  We went and caught up with them afterwards.  Reese was really wanting to touch the duck.

Dane played on the rocks outside the entrance to the zoo for a bit while we waited for Aunt Katie to go get the car for us.

After the zoo we went back to my mom and dads to get ready for birthday dinner for Uncle Darnel.

The boys both took naps and I went to pick up the prize we won a few weeks ago.  We won a free Notre Dame pretzel for the game on January 7th.  It was a Monday night and we weren't going to be in St. Louis, so they let us pick a late date to get it.  We brought it back for an appetizer.

We had a delicious dinner, then Darnel opened presents.

Darnel is running for Kirkwood School Board, so Taylor, Delaney, and Trey surprised him with special shirts to wear to support him.

Aunt Amy brought the cake over and we sang Happy Birthday.

Dane loved the cake and had two pieces, then asked for another, but I had to say no.

Happy Birthday Uncle Darnel!

Riding Bikes on a Beautiful January Day!

It was so nice this afternoon that we headed down to the Marina with the boys' bikes to let them ride around.  It was 63 degrees and sunny at our house.  Supposed to be 32 tomorrow.

The geese were at the Marina when we got there.

Dane is great at riding his bike.  He always tells me to watch him go "super fast!"

We took the tricycle down for Reese to ride around.

He was so excited.

He really just sat around on his bike most of the time, but he loved it!

He also loved to watch Dane ride around.

Daddy tried to help him pedal.

He didn't really care if he was moving or not though.

Cute boys out for a bike ride!

Dane kept telling me he was going to fast to stop and see me, but I finally got him to.

They boys had a lot of fun playing outside.  We are warm weather people and are ready to get through this winter so we can play outside!