The End of 2013

I have totally been slacking in keeping up with this blog. I have decided I am going to get back on track and use it as my outlet, as well as a way to keep up with life events that go on for our little family. I take lots of pictures on my phone, but other than post them to Facebook, I do nothing. I have made several books on Shutterfly, but have failed to print them off. When I sit down and think about it, I have time to do these little things. Especially if I do a little along the way. I do not want to wake up five years from now and not have a some type of memory book to show S. When she was first born, I printed off several books and my blog. I guess then life got in the way. We have memories and I want to be able to look back on them. I feel like I have been rambling, but again, these are just my thoughts :) I have heard and read in the past not to make resolutions because there is a slim chance you are actually going to keep them. The top one on most people's list is to lose weight. I am not going to say I don't need to loose a few pounds, but I have already joined an exercise class that I attend at least 3 times per week. I have also become a runner. Not a fast runner, but I can and do run. I have been running since March of 2013. I really want to run the Mercedes Half Marathon in February, but over the holidays I have not done my part of practicing. This my friends is about to change. I have mapped out my schedule and I am going to make it happen! Hopefully, by putting this out there I will receive some encouragement :) Here are a few things I did in 2013 (not all grand or great, but done) -Became a runner! Completed a program similar to Couch to 5k - Ran four 5k's -Had Sawyer's third set of tubes put in and her adenoids taken out -Joined a ladies small group -Joined a couples small group -Had Sawyer dedicated on her third birthday -Celebrated Sawyer's third birthday -Rafted the Ocoee and watched Spencer be baptized -Join the consignment committee at church May God bless each and everyone of you in 2014! Hopefully, my next blog post won't be a ramble! :) https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1074482_10201569668868685_862332204_o.jpg

What we have been up to lately!

So, I am incredibly behind on blogging.  I seemed to have just pushed it to the back burner.  I really wanted to use my blog as a way of keeping up with Sawyer.  Since my last post, Sawyer has turned three, we went on a family trip to the beach, Sawyer started K3, and I started my ninth year teaching. 

Sawyer has grown and changed so much since the summer.  She is becoming a young little lady and not a baby at all anymore.  She has her own opinion about most things.  She even refuses to let us pick out her clothes.  Currently her favorite outfit is skinny jeans and boots.  She is her mother's daughter. 

Here are a few pic of the last few months.  Hopefully, I can go back and catch up a little :) This is a pic from her three year old photo shoot. 

Birmingham Barons Game

Our nephew, Owen, wanted to celebrate his birthday at a Barons game this year! It was adorable. The Barons have now moved to downtown Birmingham and the stadium is fabulous. So open, clean, and you can see the skyline of Birmingham. Here are a few pictures of Sawyer at her first Barons game!

Running

First of all let me just say: I HAVE NEVER BEEN A RUNNER. But, something inside me decided to change. I had a colleague ask me to start running with her in the afternoons after school. She started using an app on her phone to help us get started. I then decided to download an app too, just in case she couldn't run when I could. I actually became addicted to running. It pushed me just enough to keep on going. I had never even ran a mile before much less, three! During the month of June I ran three different 5ks! The first one I ran was the Color Run, which wasn't really a true race. They didn't even time you they just threw color bombs at you. It was fun though! My other running buddy then encouraged me to run a true 5K, so on the next Saturday we did. It was at a small church and the proceeds benefitted missions. It was great! A few weeks ago, several teacher friends and I ran the local 5k that benefitted the fire department where we teach. It was a lot of fun! I even came in third place in my age group! With all that said, I have become a runner. I enjoy it! Some mornings it is difficult to get up, but I do. I also listen to my body when it says to rest! I haven't lost as much weight as I would like, but I am going to keep pushing myself.

Tubes: Round 3

So, Sawyer's left tube came out in February. With all the pollen she became very congested this spring which led to an ear infection. She was unable to get it cleared even with two different antibiotics so I called her ENT. He scheduled for her to have her third tube put in her left ear and the right one replaced. He also said it would be best if her adenoids were removed. We set up surgery for the next day. Once we arrived and they called us back to check her vitals they came to the conclusion her O2 levels were too low for the surgery to be done at Children's South. So, thankfully the doctor had scheduled OR time at Children's downtown so we were able to go the next day. Once surgery was over they still decided to admit her for observation due to congestion and low O2 levels. It was awful!! I pray we never have to stay at Children's again. 

Spring Photo Dump

Sawyer's First Official Hair Trim

Sawyer's hair had finally grown to the point that something needed to be done. She needed a 'shape-up.' My hair dresser agreed to try. If she didn't behave she wouldn't do it. However, Sawyer wasn't a behavior problem. She actually did very well. You cannot tell that much was cut off, but somehow it looks better. Her bangs are now even! Here are a few pics!

Here comes Peter Cottontail!

We had a great Easter weekend! We went Saturday morning as a little family down to the Farmer's Market on Finley Ave. We bought some yummy fresh veggies and some beautiful sun ferns and peace lilies for the front and back porch. I also picked up a geranium for the plant hanger on the back porch. Once we got home we worked in the yard, cleaning up and picking up sticks. You don't realize how big your yard is, until you start working in it. Little Miss even joined in this fun activity.

Sunday was quite the busy day! We left the house at 8:30 and did not return home until 5:30! Needless to say we were exhausted. We worked in the nursery for the first service and then attended the second service. Then we headed to my grandparents for our traditional Easter lunch. Which by the way was FANTASTIC! (as usual) We hunted eggs in the house, then decided it had quit sprinkling so we headed outside for some more egg fun!

Here are a few pics of our weekend. The pink hat is not part of her outfit. Mimi gave her and Mary matching bonnets.

Sunday Afternoon Fun!

Up until this week the beginnings of spring have begin to show. So every chance we get we try to spend some time outside enjoying the nice weather. The past few Sunday's have been pretty nice so we took advantage of it.

Sawyer Begins Gymnastics

Well, it has happened. I have enrolled Sawyer in her first extracurricular activity and she LOVES it! She talks about going to gymnastics almost everyday. She loves to put on her leotard. It is seriously one of the cutest things I have seen. I am quite impressed with the place where she is taking. It is a mom and tot class, so I am there to help her. She would listen a lot more if I weren't but I understand why I need to be. She begins with a warm-up of stretching and songs on the carpet mats. We then move to stations. We rotate about three times through at these stations. She practices forward rolls (she cannot do) handstands, balance beam, jumping, cartwheels, backwards roll, and a few others. We then move on to another set of stations where she practices holding herself on the rings and bars and some other balance beam exercises. Here are a few pictures of her practicing and modeling her leotard.