First Official 5K

Well.  I did it.  I ran my first official 5K. I have done other 'races', but normally walked, or just ran when I could, or pushed a stroller, but this one was different.  I had been training for the Nashville Half Marathon up until about a month ago but I decided it just wasn't going to happen this year.

However, 5K, I could do.   

It was a last minute decision to actually get up to do it.  But I had 2 motivators- 1- my mom was in charge of it, and 2- The Husband said I wouldn't.  Well.  If that's not enough right there to get you running, I don't know what is.   

My mom has put countless hours into this race.  She and Ronnie (my step dad) along with so many other wonderful volunteers were out there at the crack of dawn to set up and make this event perfect.  

I started at the back of the group.  I'm not trying to win, just finish.  I walked once- at the water station.  And.  I finished with a pace of 11:29. I'd say that's pretty good for a beginner.  I think somewhere close to 2500 people participated so finishing 375 ain't too shabby.   

I WILL do the Half Marathon next year.  I turn 30 in 2 weeks and want to do that in my 30th year.  So there.  I said I would, now I will.  I've got over a year to prepare, so lets get with it!



Two Year Molars & A Fresh Start

Last week was one of the most challenging weeks of toddlerhood yet.  The whining and clingyness was at an all time high.  The normal early morning singing that wakes me up right on schedule was replaced with grunts of an unconsolable toddler.  The nights of peaceful uninterrupted sleep from 8-6:30 were interrupted with cries almost hourly over the monitor. 

I chalked it up to a full weekend last weekend but that simply was not the case.  Wednesday he was all kinds of out of sorts.  Waking up grumpy at school, crying because Claire took his "choo choo", tears all the way home that couldn't be sung away. 

Friday it clicked.  Teeth.  Two Year Molars.  Why had I not thought of this sooner?  There were signs that I missed.  Wet shirt neck, diaper rash, fussiness, biting on things {luckily not children or people}.  I checked my ever faithful BabyCenter Toddler timeline and sure enough.  Molars.  He has one set but that second bottom set were on their way in. 

This make so much more sense now.  After a good dose of Motrin at night time, we are back on the road to happiness. 

A trip to Sonic always makes things better.  For him, a vanilla 'shake milt', for mommy, a Sweet Tea.  Sonic helps everything.  And, being with my boy at Sonic, and handing him back his ice cream, hearing him saying 'yummy shake milt' erased the past week of difficulty. 

Weekends are always good for naps.  For whatever reason, he insists on napping with one of us on the couch.  We tried the bed on Sunday {by his request to take a 'nap bed'} but it was a fail.  So, being the sucker that I am, I laid down with him.  The sacrifices I make for this child.  Oh.  You didn't know naptime on the couch for 2 hours= sacrifice.  Well, now you do.  

Some weeks are hard.  Some weeks are down right miserable.  Some weeks I too want to cry myself to sleep.  But.  The sun always comes up tomorrow, it might just be hidden by the clouds. 

Today is always a new day.  It started out with clouds, {literally} but the sun is shining now.  Praise the Lord for fresh starts. 

Mondays are good for fresh starts.

Happy Monday!

Easter Recap

This was our first Easter Sunday together at church! 

Easton's first Easter he was too little to go to and last Easter, he was sick.

I was sweating this Easter, hoping and praying we'd all be healthy and could attend our Easter service together!

And...we made it!

...after the Easter Bunny delivered a basket full of goodies.  A shovel, a watering can, a rake and a kite and a plethora of Easter candy that the dog didn't eat.  Good thing I had extra Jelly Beans because Kirby helped herself to MOST of them the first round. 

And.  Here's me with my boys. 

{Note to self- tan church wall is not a good background...we were going for the greenery, but as you can see, we didn't get much of that}

Oh well.  Smiling {most of us} family photo! 

 And this one is one for the books as well.

Sloan/Farrar family!

LOVE THIS!

 In the beggining there were 2.  Me & Brooke.

Then there were 5.  Us, plus our moms and my sister.

Now, there's 8 and our hearts are full.

{We missed you mom!}

 This little boy absolutely melts my heart.

 Honey put on an Easter Egg Hunt for Easton after lunch.

He had a big time hunting for all the eggs.
Skittles and money.
The Boy couldn't be happier. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

He is Risen.

He is Risen Indeed! 

First Visit with The Easter Bunny...and Egg Hunt

We ran into the Easter Bunny at the mall last weekend.

The Boy didn't sit in his {her?} lap, just gave her a five.

Enough to warrent a dum dum sucker that was in the basket beside of her for those brave enough to sit.

This time, however, was a success!

The cutest, most sweetest Easter Bunny made a visit to his school on Friday for their Easter parties and Egg Hunts. 

He wasn't sure about it at first, but as you can see, he warmed up quite well. 

Also, another first.

Our first Egg Hunt.

I think it's safe to say, he's not aggressive or super competitve yet.

We ended up with about 7 eggs and 1 pack of skittles.

The skittles were enough for him to be satisfied. 

I'd say we're off to a good start!

I have been thinking more about Good Friday and what it means.  Perhaps after having a child of my own, I realize the sacrifice that was made on that hill so long ago.  A sacrifice not because we deserve it, but because of grace.  To think of all Jesus went through on that day, for me, has me feeling very grateful but at the same time a smidge sad.  The pain and suffering He endured along the way was for us though.  He didn't come so that we would be sad, He came so that we may have LIFE!  And that my friends is reason for Celebration!

I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend! 

March Photo A Day

Meh. I missed a few days, but I filled in more than not.

Below are the prompts from FatMumSlim's PhotoADayChallenge

If you're like me, you take more pictures with your iphone than you do with your camera.

CLICK HERE for a link to FatMumSlim's blog showing you a few fun options you can do with your pictures!

I'm thinking I want to get the Keepsy, StickyGrams or the tiny book from Prinstagram!

Printing pictures gets put the back burner now with the wonderful world of digital, but this year, I'm vowing to print more pictures. 

At least 25 from each month that are my favorite. 

What do you do with your Instagram photos?

How do you organize your camera photos? 

Do you print or keep on your computer?

I'm annie_loo on Instagram if you want to follow! 

Embrace The Camera

Someone wanted to get in on the sewing action last night.

He sat so still while I got a few dresses sewn up.

He thought it was so funny that the needle was going up and down so fast.

He said it was jumping.

The Boy loves to help with anything right now.

Loves helping unload the dishwasher, putting wet clothes in the dryer, bring his clothes from his hamper to be washed.  You name it.  He likes helping.

I hope this lasts. 

It's nice having a little helper. 

And.  Here's 8 of 21.  Pinned and ready to be sewn.

All 8 got sewn last night, and will be hemmed and sashed this weekend...

if all goes as planned.

And, at some point I've got to make my chevron print Easter dress too...

Happy Sewing! 

Simply Sunday

We woke up a little late, but still managed to make it to church, and only a few minutes late.  There are some mornings, you just know you are supposed to be at church & this was one of those mornings. 

Being Palm Sunday, we worshiped in song the whole service.  It was absoultely powerful and breathtaking.  I had no where else to wipe my eyes by the end of the service. 

I love a good sermon, but there is something so peaceful and cleansing about praising the Lord in song and music.  So powerful.  A service to be remembered in my book. 

I felt the Lord really tugging on my heart.  I feel as a mom, I love so strong.  I love so hard.  I can bring myself to tears when I think of him sometimes. He's just that wonderful to me.  I know I'm not the only mom out there that feels this way.  But he's my first.  And the one who made me a mom.  And he's just special.  So special.    

But, in my loving, I'm also worrying. I'm wondering 'what if?' this and 'what if?' that.  I think 'what would I ever do if...?'  Fill in the blanks.  I'm sure I've thought whatever it is you've filled in.

But I really felt strongly the Lord saying 'Annie, he's Mine.  He is a gift I've give you.  Trust Me with him.  Give him to Me.'  And it clicked.

For so long now, I've felt like 'Lord, I can't give him all the way to You, because what if in doing so You take him back from me?'  But yesterday was different.  Yesterday it was clear. 'He's mine'.

So now, again, instead of focusing on the 'what if's' and the things that could never in a million years happen, I need to take these days I have with him and celebrate.  Choose Joy if you will.

I need to make sure that the little boy I'm raising see's Jesus in what I do.  I need to make sure that I'm teaching him to be happy and live each day to the fullest.  To know and see love in everything we do.  To respond in love.  To radiate love and light. 

It just clicked.  And I wept at the relief and the peace I felt during that sermon.  He's Jesus's.     

I'm so thankful that we made it to church.  Each Sunday is a test in patience as we try to get out the door, on time, but I'm so thankful that yesterday we made it.

On a lighter note, our afternoon was spent outside in the unseasonably warm April temperatures.  The boys napped and I worked on a dress.  I decided if I was going to work, I wanted to be in the sun.  So, I moved my sewing machine outside.  And I did just that.  It's funny how work isn't really work when it's where you want to be, doing what you want to be doing. 

 After nap, we washed our cars and played outside.  To say he's all boy would be an understatement for sure!  He washed and scrubbed and rinsed and washed again.  Cleanest little car I ever did see. 

 And of course, it wouldn't be any fun if we didn't find a puddle to jump in.  This provided a good 17 minutes of entertainment.  He'd run a figure 8 in the front yard through the puddle, across the driveway, around the water table, through the driveway and back through the puddle. 

We rounded out our Sunday with a trip to Target and Joann. I had to pick up some fabric samples because I've sold 17 {17!!!} dresses!  Let the sewing begin! 

This one's mine and this was taken BEFORE hemming...but they've been quite popular!

So, maybe I've found my niche. 

Happy Monday!