The Color Run

My mom, Amy, Liz (a friend of mine), and I participated in the Color Run.  It is a 5k.  You wear white.   People throw color on you as you run.  It is SO fun!

 Here we all are before the run started.  At the last minute my mom decided to make us tutus.  I think they are so cute.  She knows us so well: of course I want pink and Amy wants purple! I know girls who like pink are so cliche but I don't care.  I love pink!

 Liz and I ran together and finished in about 32 minutes. Amy and my mom walked/ran.  It was fun because Liz and I were able to go back and find them so we could all finish together.  Everyone did great, especially Amy who had to power through some serious knee pain!

 Here we are all covered in color.  We were so messy - it was great!

 We hung around for awhile enjoying the music and dancing.  It was such a fun way to start the day.  Participating in these big events is so addicting.  I always leave on a high note wanting to sign up for another event.  Who knows what might be next?! Liz and I talked about a 10k and then maybe a half marathon?  I'm not so sure about that but we'll see...

 I had a little color left over and couldn't resist giving my wonderfully conservative mom a little colored boobie grab :)  Sometimes I wonder if we are really related.  She was shocked.  I was laughing.

Thanks for doing this run with me girls and thanks for the tutus Mom - they rocked!

Valentine's Day

We tried to keep Valentine's simple this year.  It was perfect!

I gave Chad a box of cookies.  On the front it said, "Chad - I love you more than..." Then I wrapped a piece of paper around each cookie that had something I loved him more than.  They were all random, but things he knows I really love :)

• I love sleeping in on the weekends.
• I love Chipotle burritos and cake pops.
• I love buying a new pair of shoes.
• I love going to lunch with the girls.
• I love watching Grey's Anatomy.
• I love California beach vacations.
• I love getting my hair and toes done.
• I love a tidy house.
• I love Haagen Daz Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream.
• I love stealing the water in the shower.

 We decided to give everyone a pair of Valentine's shoes.  I found the cutest matching Nike's for the boys and I couldn't resist.  They are so freaking cute!  I needed some new black heels so it worked out perfect for me too :)  We also gave each boy a little bag of goodies and small toys.  Chad gave me Modern Family season 3.  I told him my only wish for Valentine's was to cuddle in bed and watch Modern Family.  I have been missing him lately.  I just wanted quality snuggles and time together which was just what I got!

 We cut out 20 hearts (10 for each boy) and put reasons why we loved them on them.  Then we taped them in a path from their bedrooms to the kitchen where everything was laid out.  Vance had fun reading them and Keller had fun pulling them off the floor and walls.

I used food coloring to dye the milk pink and then we all ate cereal in heart-shaped bowls.  It was a great Valentine's Day.

I hope your day was filled with love too!

Joyride

                                       
                          So. Dang. Cute.

Keller is getting more and more fun everyday.  His personality is really starting to develop and he is quite the character.  He'll do anything for a laugh.  He is playing by himself more and more.  Keller is finally getting easier and this mama couldn't be more excited about it!

Birthday Celebration

Vance wasn't sure what he wanted to do for his birthday.  I didn't really want to do a party so here's how I posed his options: we can do a party, go do something cool with a few friends, OR have Colton over and go to Panda Express (his favorite), bowling (another favorite), and a sleepover (his absolute favorite).  He chose the fun night with Colton...I'm sure it had nothing to do with how I posed the question :)  It made for an easy celebration for me!

First up - Panda Express

Vance could hardly wait to order his own orange chicken and chow mein kids meal.  Colton and Keller were loving it too!  Vance wouldn't even stop eating to smile for a quick picture.

 Next was bowling.  I got a Groupon for 2 hours of bowling for 5 people (only $15 including shoe rentals).  Love it!

 I am in love with the picture of Vance holding the bowling ball.  His face says it all - he is having the best birthday celebration ever!

 It's official - I am a horrible bowler.  The only person who did worse than me is Keller.  Keller...the 18 month old.

 We started a second game.  The boys decided to throw their balls this time and Keller wanted to lay down to watch the ball roll down the lane.  About 3 frames in they decided they were done bowling so we left.

 I went out to dinner with my aunts, sisters, and cousins so Chad was a solo act the rest of the night.  They got pizza for dinner and played the Wii and iPads.

 Since my parents had guests, Chad and I were sleeping in the motorhome.  We let Vance and Colton watch a movie and sleep out there.  They were in heaven!

The next day they went to church, played, and then everyone came over the monthly FHE/birthday celebrations.  Vance was BEYOND excited to finally open the presents he had been looking at for like three weeks.  First up was money from Grandma and Grandpa Waldron.

 Then he opened presents from our family he got money, a bike helmet, Skylanders, a piggy bank...

 piano books and flashcards (now he gets to start piano lessons), Hotwheels, an allowance jar with money (now he gets to earn an allowance), and a remote control car.  He loves all of it.

 Vance requested a very specific dessert: brownies with three scoops of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, whip cream, and one cherry on top!  Aunt Leslie indulged him and he loved it!

 

 Finally his actual birthday rolled around.  We decorated the living room and kitchen while he was sleeping.

For his birthday breakfast he requested pancakes.  An extra birthday surprise was that Daddy went to work late that day.  Chad made breakfast and made Vance's birthday morning extra special.  My boys love their Daddy!

Later we went to Burger King for a lunch date and then he got to stay up extra late.  So late he got to see Dad again before he went to bed (Chad has been studying/working extra long hours this week).

 

The last part of the birthday celebration was at preschool.  He wanted to take a cake to share with his preschool friends, so that's exactly what we did ;) 

Happy Birthday Vance!!!  I hope you had a birthday celebration just like you wanted.
Love,
Mommy & Daddy

PS - I don't feel like we did anything too crazy to celebrate.  Nothing took very much planning or preparation.  Nothing was very expensive or stressful.  AND he loved every minute of it.  This was a lesson to Mommy that sometimes it's the simple things that matter most.

Vance is 5!

My sweet Vancey-pants is 5! Oh how time flies!  It is so cliche but it really seems like I just had him yesterday!  I already have visions of him leaving for college and walking down the aisle.

I just love, love, LOVE Vance!  He has so many positive attributes but here are 5:

1 - He is SWEET.  He is very cautious about other people's feelings and how his actions might affect others.  He is usually quick to say "please" and "thank you."  He gives people lots of compliments and is over the top with his flattery (he gets that from his dad). He is quite the diplomat and won't admit to liking someone more than someone else.  He still has a sweet innocence about him.

2 - He is SMART.  He just has an aptitude for learning.  Sometimes he asks questions and before I answer I assume the explanation will be over his head and I will be wasting my breathe, but usually I am wrong.  He constantly surpises with me his ability to quickly grasp new concepts.  I am very excited for him to start school next year because I know he will thrive at school!

3 - He is FUNNY.  This is the hardest one to explain for me.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but Vance just makes you laugh.  He says the most hilarious things.  Sometimes it's because of the way he says it.  Other times it's because it seems like something a 20 year old would say, not a 5 year old, and other times it is the way he chooses the most perfect (honest) words to make his point!

4 - He is CHARISMATIC.  This is going to sound really arrogant, but I think it's just a plain truth.  People like Vance.  I can't tell you how many moms have prearranged weddings with Vance and their daughter :)  His teachers (church, preschool, sports) always stop me and say how much they genuinely enjoy him.  At home sometimes he talks too much, but in other situations it seems he says just enough to let you know he is eager to participate but no so much to drive you crazy.

5 - He is ENTHUSIASTIC.  Vance never just likes anything.  He LOVES it!  I have to admit sometimes this is exhausting as his mother, but I do think it is a great trait to have.  He gets excited about everything.  When he talks about whatever it is that's exciting him that moment, his face lights up.  Literally his entire countenance just screams, "This is amazing! Could my life be any better?"

 Vance - I love you so much and feel so blessed to be your mommy! I can hardly wait to see what the future holds for you.  Happy 5th Birthday Buddy!

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Happy Valentine's Day from my two little sweet and mischievous boys!