P365 - 2015 - Day 333 - sweet reminders

P365 - 2015 - Day 333 - sweet reminders

Look what I found?!!  When we packed and moved almost three years ago, I had taken these frames down off of the playroom walls and packed them away with the kids' school papers.   All of a sudden they popped into my head today and this spot on the wall was perfect for them.... The art work may not be current, but it is appropriate and each were sweet reminders of a time not too long ago.  I'm so glad that I pulled these special frames out of storage and found a perfect spot for them in our home.

P365 - 2015 - Day 332 - be merry....

P365 - 2015 - Day 332 - be merry....

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care... along with all of the other decorations around the house.  This weekend was phase one of the decorating - getting the house ready and the lights out.  Next weekend will be the tree.  I love decorating for Christmas and bringing out all of the old and new decorations - everything has a story and a memory.  As I find a place for every little tree or Santa or angel I remember where it came from and how many Christmases it has been decorating my life.  It's no wonder that phase one takes all day.....  I love that Christmas is a season and not just a day.  I love that there is almost a month to reflect on the special time of year and all of the memories it holds.  I love that just decorating the house with some shimmering lights, lights up smiles on our faces and in our hearts.  Much like Thanksgiving is a time to pause and remember to be thankful, Christmas is a time to be merry....

P365 - 2015 - Day 331 - Sky Zone

P365 - 2015 - Day 331 - Sky Zone

The kids had a great time today at Sky Zone!!  It was a fun addition to Thanksgiving weekend and we made it home in time to see Santa arrive by boat to Barnegat Light.

P365 - 2015 - Day 330 - Happy Thanksgiving 2015!

P365 - 2015 - Day 330 - Happy Thanksgiving 2015!

We ended Thanksgiving Day by reading our thankful notes and remembering all of the big and little reasons we have to be thankful and grateful.  There are too many to list here (and I have been listing some daily on Instagram this year anyway....) but I would be remiss to not list a few in my Thanksgiving Day blog I suppose....  I am thankful for my family - the one I came from and the one that My Wonderful Husband and I have created.  I am thankful for every day that I have to live, learn, and love....  I am thankful for all that we have and all that I am able to share with others.  I am thankful for a wonderful Thanksgiving with family that ended with giggles, smiles, and silliness. Happy Thanksgiving 2015!

P365 - 2015 - Day 329 - High Honor Roll

P365 - 2015 - Day 329 - High Honor roll

Report cards came out for the LBI School today and The Boy earned High Honor Roll again with straight A's!  After the end of the year awards ceremony in third grade, The Boy told he that he really wanted earn, not only honor roll, but high honor roll in 4th grade.  He set that goal and last year, earned high honor roll for the entire year.  He came into 5th grade hoping to continue the same with the understanding that the work load increases this year...  I am proud to say that he has worked so hard to achieve his goal this marking period.  Keep up the great work!!!!  xo

P365 - 2015 - Day 328 - Student of the Quarter

P365 - 2015 - Day 328 - Student of the Quarter

I am super proud of The Princess for being named Student of the Quarter in her Language Arts Lab class. She works so hard and I am so proud of her academic accomplishments!

P365 - 2015 - Day 327 - sick today

P365 - 2015 - Day 327 - sick today

The Bear stayed home from school sick today with a fever that reached 105!  Basically his day consisted of sleeping in bed, sleeping on the couch, going to the doctor, drinking water, and going back to bed.  Hoping that he kicks this out of his system (and the house) before Thanksgiving.  :-(

P365 - 2015 - Day 326 - down for the count

P365 - 2015 - Day 326 - down for the count

It has been a busy few months...school soccer, club soccer then basketball started and club soccer just ended for the season last night... It may have all just caught up to this guy.  He is one pretty tough cookie who doesn't get sick too often but when he does he is down for the count and usually understates just how down he is.  This morning I was off early to bring The Princess to her game, My Wonderful Husband was off to his game and The Bear woke up and layed on the chair.  That is where I found him when  got back around lunch time - he said he had a headache, took some motrin, and turned down lunch.  Then I was off to The Boy's game and when I got back he was under this comforter, said he still had a headache, was cold, and turned down dinner.  This prompted me to finally take his temperature.  It was 103.8!!  Here's hoping this is just a 24 hour bug.

P365 - 2015 - Day 325 - basketball uniform

P365 - 2015 - Day 325 - basketball uniform

It was another day of three directions, three kids, two parents.  My Wonderful Husband took The Princess to the tournament she was asked to guest play in, I took The Boy to his game and thankfully my cousin took The Bear to his basketball practice.  When I got back he was so excited to model the basketball uniform that he received before changing into his soccer uniform for his last game of the season where he and his team clinched second place!   Busy day.

P365 - 2015 - Day 324 - wood shop project

P365 - 2015 - Day 324 - wood shop project

The Princess came home from school with her wood shop project for the marking period.  My Wonderful Husband and I were so impressed!!!  She did a beautiful job on this clock and I can't wait to find the perfect spot for it in the house.

P365 - 2015 - Day 323 - proud of the young man he is becoming

P365 - 2015 - Day 323 - proud of the young man he is becoming

I was really impressed that the middle school basketball coaches had all of the boys complete this exercise.  I think it is really important to get kids thinking about who they are and who they want to be....  I know he's my kid.... but I was really impressed with The Bear's responses and it goes without saying that I am proud of the young man he is becoming.

P365 - 2015 - Day 322 - he travels with his indoor shoes..

P365 - 2015 - Day 322 - he travels with his indoor shoes..

My Wonderful Husband got home pretty late last night... but for a good reason.  He was able to stop on his way from work to play some indoor soccer with some guys that he knows.  He was pretty excited to go play and I am happy for him that he is back to doing what he loves.  Luckily he travels with his indoor shoes in his car so he is always ready if someone calls! :-)

P365 - 2015 - Day 321 - Memory Lane...

P365 - 2015 - Day 321 - Memory Lane...

It was World Preemie Day and I posted my "thankful" photo on Instagram of my preemies.... which set me on a trip down Memory Lane...  It seems like lately I am constantly reminded how big these three are getting.  Time seems to be moving at warp speed and try as I might I can not slow it down.  It seems like yesterday that my three little monkeys were this small - chubby cheeks, little hands, and ooohhh the PIGGIES!  It is hard to believe that they are now almost 13 and 10 1/2......

P365 - 2015 - Day 320 - what it looked like

P365 - 2015 - Day 320 - what it looked like

Everyone was in bed...lunches were packed...laundry finished..cleaning done...no one left to drive anywhere for the day... and this is what it looked like.  Pjs, glasses, and a comfy chair so I can finally get to sit down.

P365 - 2015 - Day 319 - SWISH!

P365 - 2015 - Day 319 - SWISH!

After the second day of weekend tournament for The Boy and The Princess, we were all finally home from our separate directions.  The Princess went to her room to finish up homework, my Wonderful Husband and I went for a short run, and The Boy and The Bear went outside to shoot hoops....  I happened to be walking out the front door when this happened... SWISH! From the 3 point line. :-)

P365 - 2105 - Day 318 - Road Trip Project (#2)

P365 - 2015 - Day 318 - Road Trip project (#2)

To round out the week of projects, The Princess came home from her soccer tournament and got right to work assembling her Road Trip project.  It looks great and she is happy to have it finished.

P365 - 2015 - Day 317 - Middle School dance

P365 - 2015 - Day 317 - Middle School dance

The Bear and The Princess went to their first Middle School dance... just a casual Friday night dance with friends.  They were so excited to go and had a blast!  They can't wait for the next one.

P365 - 2015 - Day 316 - Bring on basketball season!

P365 - 2015 - Day 316 - Bring on basketball season!

The Bear was so happy to find out that he made the SRMS 7th grade Basketball Team and we are very proud of him for the accomplishment.  He had his first practice today after school and came home proudly sporting the practice jersey. He is super excited to play with this team.  Bring on basketball season!

P365 - 2015 - Day 315 - Love this handsome guy

P365 - 2015 - Day 315 - Love this handsome guy

The Boy's school pictures finally got here.  What I am unsure of is how we actually got here?!  My baby is a fifth grader and he looks so big!!  Love this handsome guy.

P365 - 2015 - Day 314 - a week for projects

P365 - 2015 - Day 314 - a week for projects

It's a week for projects it seems.... The Bear finished his last night, The Princess was working on hers tonight and The Boy finished this beauty tonight.  Awesome job!

P365 - 2015 - Day 313 - finishing up

P365 - 2015 - Day 313 - finishing up

When I got home tonight, The Bear was finishing up this project that he was working on all over break.  He is very proud of work on this road trip project and I think it looks great!

P365 - 2015 - Day 312 - an end

P365 - 2015 - Day 312 - an end

The time has come... the week is done... Fall break has come to an end and it is back to packing lunches and crazy schedules.  Deep breath... here.we.go.

P365 - 2015 - Day 311 - Go Gunners!

P365 - 2015 - Day 311 - Go Gunners!

The SSC Gunners played NJ Rush in the Semi finals of the NJ State Cup today.  They played an awesome game...unfortunately the lost 1-0 in the last two minutes.  I am beyond proud of The Bear and his team mates for an  fantastic game and an amazing season (that isn't over yet).  Go Gunners!

P365 - 2015 - Day 310 - Happy Friday

P365 - 2015 - Day 310 - Happy Friday

The Fall Break came to an end with a fun day for all.... My Wonderful Husband took The Boy out for lunch, shopping for new cleats, and to see The Peanuts Movie.  I took The Bear and The Princess to a birthday party with friends at Sky Zone.  We all met up and ended the day with The Boy's game.  Happy Friday!

P365 - 2015 - Day 309 - my fastest mile

P365 - 2015 - Day 309 - my fastest mile

I am not training for anything at the moment... I am just taking the next few weeks to run for the sheer pleasure of running and get out there as often as I can.  But I am thinking that I want to start training for time... maybe instead of training for a distance run, train to beat my best time in shorter runs.  So in the vain, I went for a three mile run with My Wonderful Husband and this was the third mile time and my fastest mile.    Not too shabby.

P365 - 2015 - Day 308 - quiet meditation

P365 - 2015 - Day 308 - quiet meditation

I am loving my newest project that I am working on.... a 21 day meditation project.  With this week off of school, I have really enjoyed starting my morning with a quiet meditation.  Just another way that I am working on me.... Namaste.

P365 - 2015 - Day 307 - stoked to get back

P365 - 2015 - Day 307 - stoked to get back

We may not have gone away for the Fall break but that didn't stop us from having a beach day.  It was practically a summer day today, so after my run and lunch the kids and I headed up to the beach for sand, sun, and water.  The Bear was stoked to get back on his skim board....and in November no less!  I can definitely live with this weather!

P365 - 2015 - Day 306 - the sky was on fire...

P365 - 2015 - Day 306 - the sky was on fire...

On the way up to The Princess' practice, the sky was on fire!  Not really - but it sure did look that way.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  So gorgeous that The Princess got a photo while we were driving over the bridge.

P365 - 2015 - Day 305 - BE THANKFUL

P365 - 2015 - Day 305 - BE THANKFUL

Every November for the past several years we have used the month to "Be Thankful".  I think it is important to be thankful every day but November is a nice month to be even more mindful of all of the things we have to be thankful for.  So, when everyone woke up today there was a basket and paper ready to document all of our thankful thoughts through out the month with a reminder to BE THANKFUL.  Happy November!

P365 - 2015 - Day 304 - Halloween 2015

P365 - 2015 - Day 304 - Halloween 2015

Another year.... just to keep things interesting, The Bear changed his mind and his costume in the hours leading up to Halloween.  In the end I think all three of these costumes were a perfect fit.  Ronaldo, the Social Butterfly, and the Big Bad Wolf.  Halloween 2015 (Phase 2) was a success!

P365 - 2015 - Day 303 - Halloween Phase 1

P365 - 2015 - Day 303 - Halloween Phase 1

The Bear and The Princess were able to wear their costumes to the middle school for the day so I sent off a Crazy Mets Fan and a Social Butterfly early in the morning.  The Boy brought his costume to change into but went to school sporting the mustache and channeling The Big Bad Wolf.  My Wonderful Husband and I had a little lunch date and a quick trip to check the waves and, of course, enjoyed the Halloween parade at the school where we managed to catch a glimpse and a couple of quick photos of this handsome wolf.  With actual Halloween a day away there was no rushing out to trick or treat as soon as everyone got home - which was a nice change from previous years.....  So, I guess we can call this Halloween Phase 1.

P365 - 2015 - Day 302 - came to end

P365 - 2015 - Day 302 - came to end

The Fall SRMS soccer season came to an end with both the boys and the girls playing Pinelands in the park.  It was a great end to the season.