Pre-K Farm Day

Yee Haw, ya'll!  Today is Pre-K Farm Day at Emma's school.  So, in spirit of this special day - filled with fun activities, food, and fun - I dressed Emma in a farm girl getup. 

Star Student

Emma was the "Star Student" in her Pre-K class last week.

How does one become a start student, you ask?

Simple. You have me as your mom.

HA! Juuuuuuuuuuust kidding. Not really.

Emma's teacher is fantastic, and she has started the "Star Student" program where every student gets to be the "Star" for the week. They get to take home a special backpack on Friday, where they fill it with items that they like and mean something to them. Then, for the entire week, they get to share these items with their peers. Not only does this teach them valuable lessons - like confidence, taking turns, and sharing - but this also allows them a chance to truly shine and feel special. And every kid needs that.

Some items that Emma brought in her Star Student bag were her soccer ball, her gymnastics leotard, her Rapunzel doll, a picture of our family, and an arts and crafts case.
 

Noblesville Homecoming Parade

Every year, the students at Noblesville put on a Parade through the streets of downtown Noblesville to celebrate their Homecoming Game. The students involved in extra-curricular activities create different floats, with all sorts of different themes. Some of the themes that they did this year were Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, and The Incredibles. The band kicked off the parade, followed by the football players and of course - the cheerleaders. They were a big hit with Emma.

It was a rather short parade, in comparison to a more "official" parade, but it was perfect. It was so cute to see all the kids on the back of trucks or convertibles. They're having the time of their lives and I just thought it was so cute to watch. Oh, how it feels like only yesterday I was wearing my "Senior Boxers" and acting like a hot fool! As evident below.

Waiting for the parade to start!

Always with a truck.
Always.

I think the coolest thing for the kids was riding on the gator!

Ah, yes.
The memories!

HSE Homecoming 1997.

Chris Brown Concert

I was fortunate enough to be given some pretty sweet tickets the Chris Brown concert Sunday night. Sweet as in VIP passes, which includes Greenroom access, premier parking and seats. I'm talking front-freaking-row! It was awesome. Aside from what you think of him personally, the kid can DANCE. I was amazed.

Here's the Green Room at Verizon Wireless.  It's so cheesy.....I don't think it's been redecorated since the early 90's!

CB's set.

This is how close I was. Seriously. There's no zooming action going on here.

The kid likes to take his shirt off. And I'm not complaining.

"Moving at the speed of light into eternity."

I Don't Know How She Does It

Have you seen the previews for this movie with SJP?!? I can't wait to see it. Not only because I'm an SJP fan (Carrie Bradshaw will forever hold a place in my heart), but this struck a chord with me. People often ask me, "How the heck do you do it?!?" Meaning how do I:

• work a full time job
• train for triathlons
• be an engaging Mommy to my 2 awesome kids
• be an awesome wife to an awesome husband
• all while still finding time for myself?!?

And here's my short answer.

I just figure it out.

1) I want to work. In fact, I like working. I love my job. (I know, I know. I've mentioned this before quite a few times.) But in all sincerity, this is key in my mind. You've GOT to find something that you enjoy doing. Period.

2) I want to work out. I want to lead a healthy lifestyle for not only myself, but for my children as well. This is a huge priority for Andy & I. Remember this post (click here)?!? Bottom line = I make the time to get a work out in.

3) I want to be an engaging Mommy. I have the two best kids ever. I love my Missy Lucille and my little man Drewbie. I can't imagine my life without these two little beings. So I make the time for my munchkins. And I make it count. I just don't sit around and let them watch TV. I interact with them. I do things with them.

4) I want to be an awesome wife. Do I succeed at this every single second of every single day? Hell no. But I give it my best effort every morning that I wake up. I made a commitment in front of my family and God, and I value that commitment. So I work at it. Every. Single. Day.

5) I still find time for myself. Uber-important. Even if it's only 10 minutes a day. Which - let's be honest - that's about as much as I get right now. Some days (okay, most days) this is achieved with item #2. Working out. If I go 2 or 3 days without working out, the whole world knows: Momma isn't happy. So it's imperative that I take the time for myself to re-focus my energy and priorities. I can't tell you how much this has improved my life!

Now, don't get me wrong. There are days when I feel like I'm not succeeding at one of these. Like: missing an outing at Emma's preschool because of other responsibilities. How much of a Scheisse-Kopf do I feel like that I'm not one of the parental chaperons at the visit to the apple orchard?!? Or like: going a whole day without so much as having a true "adult" conversation with my husband. But you know what?!?.....that's life. Everything is not going to be 100-freaking-percent at all times.

But you know what else? That doesn't matter. I lead the life that I want to lead with the man I want to lead it with, doing the job that I like to do. I've set my priorities in life, and when things go astray, I just figure it out.

Papa's Birthday Weekend

On Saturday, we spent the day with Papa, Grandma Ann, and J.D. to celebrate my dad's 62nd birthday. And naturally, Emma couldn't wait to get up there just so she could wear her "river shoes." I swear, that's all the girl could talk about.....wearing her freaking river shoes!

We had such a nice time. The kids had a blast exploring the river, taking "rides" on the back of the riding lawn mower, and discovering all the fun things there is to explore at their house.
 

The kids checking out the kayaks. They can't wait until they're older to go down the river!

Hey, safety first. Life jacket: check. Intertube: check.

And of course. What is Drewbie drawn towards?!?
The broom.

Cleaning up all the rocks!

Taking a ride on the back of the mower. I remember doing this as a kid out in Thorntown. I think Emma enjoys it just as much as I did!

Sheer delight!

Emma caught found a fresh water mussel in the river...

...So Papa opened it up. Big hit with the kids!

Happy Birthday Papa.  WE LOVE YOU!

Tuckered out. But not too tired to let go of his truck.
He always has to have a truck or a car with him!

Katy Perry Concert

I re-visited my teenage dreams last night by attending the Katy Perry concert. 

And it was such a fun time! 

She surely puts on a girly show, complete with the smell of cotton candy infused in the air.  Her stage was super-fun....it was set to mimic her "California Gurls" music video, which is basically a racier candy land.  Between the dozens of costume changes, pyrotechnics, confetti and foam wars, it was a fun concert.

(Only problem was that it was on a school night.  Getting home at midnight then back up at 5:30 is hard on this working momma!)

Outfit #1

Katy shot some foam out in the audience during her grand finale of "California Gurls."  It was super-fun!