Celebrity Sitings

On our way back from Crockett after Christmas we stopped in West Monroe Louisiana.  You know to visit with our good friends Willie, Jase, Jep, Uncle Si, Phil, Mrs. Kay……  Trey hates reality television.  I LOVE reality television.  Not all reality television-not Bachelor/Bachelorette, Big Brother, Real World, etc.  I'm a Real Housewives, Vanderpump Rules, Duck Dynasty junkie!  We just switched from Dish to the local cable and we no longer will be getting Bravo.  I almost went into full panic mode.  Then I realized my new gym has Bravo-crisis averted!  When Trey thinks I'm at the gym for a ten mile run--it will really be for back to back episodes of Real Housewives.  I'm so glad I switched gyms.

 The boys are showing off their expert Duck calling skills.

Thirteen hours remaining in the road trip-Duck Calls just make the ride more peaceful.

 Trey with the boys in front of the tour bus.

Me with the boys-they were so over the photos at this point.

We went close to closing time-and the entire store was still packed.  I have no clue how they shoot the show in the warehouse.  Maybe they shoot it offsite and use good editing?  Maybe they close the area and keep tourists out for the day?

Daily Workout:  I'm going to post my daily workout at the end of each post.  I've been hitting the gym regularly for seven weeks.  No pounds are gone, but the inches are going away.  The first two weeks I went two times a week with the goal of going two more days and not working with the trainer.  The next four weeks I went three days a week.  For the next four weeks I'm going to go four days a week.  This week  is pulling out the dedication-I have to leave the house by 4:45 in order to get the workout in and get home to get Drew out the door to school!  Monday and Tuesday I ran three miles and did my training. (Arms, abs, legs, squats, lunges, self defense moves).  Today I ran FIVE miles--I heart treadmills with televisions--and did my training.  I need to work on my diet--but getting back into working out is the first move in the right direction--baby steps! 

Sand in My Shoes

I grew up in the Lowcountry.  I love the beach.  Though I am at least three hours away from the beach both of my boys have my love of the beach.  We had hoped to be able to spend a week at the beach last summer but the time didn't present itself.  I've run the Diva's Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach the past two years.  The first year we stayed at a hotel with an indoor waterpark; last year we stayed in a two bedroom condo in Litchfield.  Both years it was extremely cold-but my boys still wanted to play in the water!  We were able to make an overnight trip to Beaufort last August and that Sunday we packed the boys up and headed to Hunting Island.  It was really crowded-but I loved it and the boys loved it.  We just ignore Trey's opinion otherwise we wouldn't be there:)

Jac fell asleep as soon as we got in the car to drive home-but I couldn't travel all the way there and not bring everyone to the Lighthouse.

Views from the Lighthouse.  Jac and I had to stay on the ground-he didn't meet the height requirement. Drew and Trey climbed to the top.

Trey and Drew with the Lighthouse in the back.

Any day at the beach is a good day!   

Things That Blogging Makes Me Do….

I have a shopping list a mile long due to the various blogs I read and the items that they blog about!  Every Tuesday I'm going to try to spotlight a new must have item.

 I'm on my third cup of coffee; which is really like my sixth cup of coffee according to the measurements on the side of the coffee pot.  I probably won't make it to the office on time.  It won't be the traffic's fault.

I've been up since four.   I've driven to Cheraw to workout with the trainer and run my three miles.  On the way home I pass it all-Sonic, Hardees, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, and Bojangles. Did I leave anything out?  Gas stations with donuts and other yummy goodness.  I have this in the back of my mind:

No lie-this Clif Bar tastes like a girl scout cookie.  The Coconut Almond Milk as my new creamer is just icing on the cake.  Try it--you'll love it!  The Clif Bar also goes with our shift to try to eat cleaner/healthier.  I really could just eat one for every meal. They are so good!  I'm having to limit myself to one a day.

I'll be back next Tuesday with another purchase I've made due to blogging!

Catching Up

I have many thoughts for a blog post--pictures, computer, time to write are like a magical moment in my world.  I've been up since 5 a.m.  I drank my coffee, I ran my three miles, I worked out with my trainer, I put away some laundry. And I still was late for work.  Yes, I was late for the .2 commute with no traffic….. Here's my Christmas decor.  Read back through my 2013 posts.  I was done or almost done with the bathroom.  I had a DECORATOR coming to finish it all up.  He's still not finished!  He's suppose to make my life easier-ha!  My Christmas tree didn't get up until like the second weekend…the decorating was a "bonus":)

Here's the Christmas Tree.  I love how he did the ribbon/mesh stuff.

The stocking's didn't make an appearance-this momma paid too much money for these fancy hangers:)

Our Santa's.

 Our Nativity.

Our Frosty's.

I heart our Nativity!

Angel's we have heard on high.

PS-There will be no Christmas jammies posts.  That will just confuse the year.  Momma needs new pi's:)

Birthday Dilema

I have a problem.  I have been through ever photo I have.  The are no photos of Jac blowing out birthday candles.  Second child failure!  Do I photoshop a party?  Yikes!  I am that mom.

Both years around his birthday we went to Myrtle Beach.  I ran the Diva's Half Marathon.  The first year we stayed in a hotel that had a neat indoor water park.  We went to eat at a really yummy Italian restaurant.  The second year we stayed in a duplex in Litchfield and got treats from the Fresh Market.

Little guy's reaction to his mommy's failure.

Don’t Call me Betty

I think I’d be a really good cook.  If I had time to cook.  If I lived in an area with a decent grocery store.  I read other blogs with envy of their menus!  I’ve been to the Piggly Wiggly in town when there were zero avocados -0- zip none.  This wasn’t the get your bread and milk the snow is coming shopping trip so the store is empty-this was just an average everyday trip to the store.  

I wish I knew how to keep certain ingredients on hand to whip up some yummy healthy concoction.  I wish I knew what those ingredients were!

I love finding recipes.  I loved planning, shopping, and preparing the meals for Thanksgving 2012 and Christmas 2010 and 2013.  Planning. It’s all in the planning.

If we keep yogurt, bananas, grapes and apples on hand the boys tend to eat those rather than Goldfish, pretzels, fruit snacks.  I try not to keep cookies, cakes, and candy in the house because I’ll eat them. 

I think Trey and I are in agreement to try to eat a cleaner diet.  When I stated we needed Peanut Butter this past Sunday at Target, he grabbed the Natural kind.  We buy whole wheat bread and skim milk.  From time to time we try to go to Fresh Market on Sunday afternoons; I think we just need to make it a mandatory trip.  The food in this town just isn’t worth shopping for!

I’ll keep you posted on any new menu items I make.  Currently my staples are Taco Soup and Spaghetti.  Momma needs to get more creative!  I pinned a clean spaghetti sauce-maybe I’ll give it a try.  Has anyone done their own canning?  That is the scary part to me.  I need to make our taco seasoning from scratch instead of purchasing the packets-we go through too many packages not to take a stab at making my own.  I've even seen some desserts made with beans--they say don't knock it until you've tried it.  I might need to take a month off of work to tackle these big ideas!

Two things to keep it real and end with:

1.  My trainer got his membership terminated from the YMCA.  There is no rule or policy that states that he can't train people or even that I can't bring an outside trainer in.  I tried to get the CEO of the YMCA, the attorney/board member, as well as the local head of the YMCA to forward me said policies/rules/procedures--they don't have any!  I felt like the right thing to do is cancel my membership-I even posted about it on Facebook and before I went to bed at least 4 other people wrote that they were canceling their membership.  I don't like that I'll now have to drive to Cheraw if I want to be a member of a gym, but I have to drive for everything else in life!

2.  We eat out more than I'd like to admit.  However, we're on the go a lot.  The following photos are my boys misbehaving at a restaurant on Murrell's Inlet.  We had to meet a client of Trey's to execute some paperwork.  It was an exceptionally beautiful October Sunday afternoon and we were able to eat on the patio.  Dining on the river-now that's my idea of pure bliss!

Exercise

BC....Before Cockrell I had all the time in the world.  It was all about me.  I ran a marathon-yes 26.2 in 2006.  I was at the gym doing body pump or cardio a few times a week and pounded the pavement.  I was in shape.  Awesome shape.  Eat everything you want to eat and still look awesome in clothes shape.  Then I met Trey.  Then we got married.  Then came Drew.  The excuses go on and on and on....At the end of the day, I've lost my mojo.  Let's be real-if I really wanted to exercise my a*$ would be at the YMCA every morning when they open the doors.  Oh, that fancy and expensive elliptical in the corner of the guest room would get used.  Sleep.  Oh I need sleep.  Sleep v. exercise--sleep wins these days.

Last year I made some silly resolution to run like 35 miles a week.  I made that resolution when I was on vacation.  Now at the beginning of last year I was able to pound the pavement.  Then I just don't know.  Somewhere I gave up.  I don't know why but I did...

I was always a self motivated.  I never had to have a workout partner.  Ya'll don't need to know how many days I go to work in workout clothes with the intention of running at lunch, leaving an hour early to run, etc.   I don't run and then come home and sit on my lazy bones.  Our YMCA closes at 9.  Really--that's about the time maybe I could go.  Think boys asleep, house straightened up, dinner cleared.  

Now don't get me wrong.  I'm not sitting here weighing in at 200+ lbs.  I'm fit-I'm just not in the shape I want to be in.  I don't like the way my clothes fit.  I don't like the mommy tummy.  I've even run 6 half marathons in the past two years.  I just wish I had more hours in the day.  I just wish the guilt of choosing to run for an hour at night rather than spend time with my kids didn't exist.

Things are looking up.  I bit the bullet and found a trainer.  I've been going to the gym three days a week for about 5-6 weeks now.  I even exercised one extra day last week! My goal is to get to where I exercise 5 times a week.  Then I'll start to work on my diet....

Just keeping it real--this is me smiling in the Sesqui State Park Trail.  I'm smiling even though I'm sweating like crazy and just a little bit lost.  Think the run where you take a wrong turn and 3 miles turns into 6+ miles.

Wardrobe Malfunction

My wardrobe is small.  I don't have a lot of closet space or dresser space.  I also keep telling myself that I'm going to get back into pre-baby shape.  I was in my best shape right before I had Drew.  I had a ton of clothes.  I've given every piece of clothing away from pre-baby except one Ann Taylor suit.

These are the things I need to complete my winter shoe necessities-black and brown boots with a heel; casual shoes think Toms.  The only reason I don't have my old black boots - fire pit and resting my feet too close - yep those suckers melted!  I realize that the winter is almost over-I've needed all of these items since winter started.  Help! I bought an awesome pair of Old Gringo Boots-but I've only worn them like two or three times.  The weather has been terrible this winter and I don't want to mess them up.  I'm hoping to get more use out of them in the summer.  However I maybe bought a pair that only works well with jeans. I don't like to order online-I'm worried that if I start I won't stop.  The shopping in town is nonexistent-Walmart, Family Dollar, Cato-not going to happen.  I keep reading the blogs I stalk and am so envious of their wardrobes.

I'm a dress girl.  Dresses don't require matching pieces together.  I picked up five or six new dresses at Belk in Southern Pines earlier this winter and have worn them day after day.   Five and a half years ago I had purchased a dress from our local boutique.  Me and the eighty year old ladies shop at this boutique.  I wore the dress to the Taste of Chesterfield.  Let me back up and tell you that I had a nice outfit of jeans and a pretty top I had bought at the Limited picked out.  I had a five month old and very limited clothing.  I showed Trey what I was going to wear-- that's when he tells me that people dress up for the Taste.  WTH?!?!?  Why do we get all fancy to walk around someone's back yard and drink Natural Light out of a John Boat--just saying….  I didn't have anything that I could wear.  It was probably about 11--it takes at least an hour to get to Florence, Charlotte, Columbia.  Trey told me to go to Savannah's and see what they had.  Carol (the owner) helped me pick out this dress.  She new what other people were wearing so she steered me away from those items.  The Taste was lovely.  I was a little hot-I was wearing a winter/fall dress and the temperatures favored spring.  Fast forward to the Solicitor's retirement dinner--I wore said dress again.  Me and Carol's eighty year old mother were wearing the same dress. YIKES!  I like to shop local-but let's be honest-I don't!

Here's my  confessions:

1. Last week when it was going to snow I realized that I didn't own a sweatshirt or a sweater.  Ya'll that's borderline pathetic!  Luckily our local Feed and Seed-yes you're not reading that incorrectly--I shop at the Feed and Seed- carries Carhartt so I was able to score a lovely sweater at 50% off.  The owner also has a little boutique where they carry sweatshirts, bags and other embroidable (not even sure if that's a real word) items.  I told her I'd buy a sweatshirt if they'd embroider it that day--yes I resorted to a form of extortion---gets the job done!

2.  I bought a new pair if pewter Jack Rogers last year.  I had a gold and pewter pair and it was time to replace the pewter pair.  Here in South Carolina we wear flip flops 90% of the year.  The weather was yucky last year-it rained constantly.  I kept wearing my old shoes because I didn't want to mess up my new shoes.  I may have a problem-see Old Gringo boots mentioned above.  I wore said old flip flops to a birthday party.  Ya'll when I walked into the backyard for the party my flip flops broke.  Yes they broke!

3.  This is my final pathetic shoe story.  I had a pair of Dansko clogs.  Love those things-but post baby feet they hurt.  Anyways I was wearing my thirteen year old pair of clogs.  Ya'll the shoe fell apart while I was walking down Main Street-the sole just broke and part of it was missing.

Disclaimer-my lack of shoes, clothes, etc has nothing to do with not having money to purchase said new items.  It's due to me not having any time to go shopping-who wants to drive over an hour away by themselves only to have to turn around and come back.  And going with the hubs and kids--EPIC mistake.  They run around like crazy - yes I'm that mother with those kids.  Help!  If Nordstrom is reading my post because I'm going to be the next big deal in bloggin-I wear a size 9.  Send boot's- I'll blog about them!

Raising Two

I'm not a gifted writer.  That's probably why my blog is neglected.  I have blog envy for those who can write daily, have great things to say, and amazing pictures.  I've decided not to apologize for my lack of blogging--it's not like I have that many readers!  I won't post the 100 selfies that Drew or Jac takes any more.  

When I was pregnant with Drew I was going here, there, and everywhere.  Think October wedding-April baby.   I was working in Columbia, selling my condo in Columbia, driving to and from Chesterfield.  I quickly packed on 15 pounds due to quitting exercising-hey, I didn't have time.  There were no maternity portraits.   That was definitely a big mistake but it was the beginning of putting everyone else first.  When I left my job on April 17, I went straight to the hospital to get started with this baby/mommy thing.  I didn't know 100% if I would or wouldn't return to my job.  I didn't have a job in Chesterfield.  

We had bought a house in Chesterfield in January that needed to be renovated before we could move in - looking back we should have bulldozed it and built from scratch or put a new roof on it to prevent further leaks and rented until we had time to worry about renovations.   I had a plan-new roof, renovate the kitchen, the two bathrooms, and have the floors refinished.  If they had started the renovations in January when we bought the house I probably would have been moved in before Drew arrived-but they didn't even start the process until the week he got here--should have been a sign.   We were living two doors down from our current house There was no nursery. I wasn't going to set one up and take it down.  He started out in a bassinet in our room then the pack and play in the spare room.

Driving to and from Columbia was not going to be an option.  When Drew was ten weeks old Trey and I decided I would go to work with Trey.  His prior choices in support staff are a whole different post-if not a whole different blog.  We found a lady in Cheraw who kept children in her house.  There were many nights, weekends, holidays where Drew was at the office with us, we were going to detention centers for Trey to meet with clients, going to the office supply store.  My brother got married in July-we had to travel to Beaufort for a party, travel to Florida for the wedding.  We went to Texas to see Trey’s family.  We'd leave work and go to Lowe's for paint, light fixtures, doorknobs.  Chesterfield is a sleepy town; when we picked up Drew it was easy to head to Florence or Charlotte and go out to dinner.  We didn’t get into a set routine.  Drew had to learn to go with the flow.  The world also revolved around his demands.  When life seemed to be getting easier is about the time we found out we were expecting Jac.

The beginning of my pregnancy was great.  I was running, eating semi healthy, I had a three year old to chase around.  Then came the twenty week find out what you're going to have.  I was on top of the world excited-I had a boy name and a girl name picked out.  Trey had to be in Federal Court so I went by myself-and I wasn't going to wait for him to be with me to find out the gender.  I was going to buy all new everything for the nursery-for Drew I had a hand me down crib as well as bedding.  Then my doctor came in and told me that Jac might have Trisomy 18.  I would need further testing.  We're not those people.  I would never terminate a pregnancy.  I left the doctors office devastated.  I could barely speak when I got to the courthouse to pick up Trey.  I didn't want to do anything after that day.  No more running, no more decorating the nursery.  Well, he's here and he's perfect!  

Balancing two….when I got home from the hospital it seemed easy to juggle.  Trey's parents were here to help out with Drew.  I still had his babysitter Rebecca come to the house and take him out and about.

However, I had a baby on Friday and Trey needed me at the office on Tuesday.  Yeah, he kinda sucks.    Then not even two weeks later a friend of Trey's murdered someone (self defense) and our world became even more rocked because Trey was with his new client day in day out for weeks.  The first week in June my backup at the office started but as you can see-yet again there was a baby born and no routine was started.

With both boys I tried the baby wise method.  Drew never napped those first ten weeks-I remember getting in the shower and when I would get out he'd be screaming.  When he started at the sitters she would talk about his naps-apparently she would put him on his tummy.  Newborns eat sleep poop cry, repeat.  Jac was easier to get into a sleeping pattern, but he spent a lot of time on the go with Drew. The second child definitely gets the short end of the stick- I have tons of photos of Drew.  Jac just had his first set of professional photos at eighteen months.  I don't think I have a birthday cake photo for either of Jac's birthday's.  Jac gets hurt more-but he's trying to keep up with someone three years older than he is!

With Drew I breast fed him for six weeks.  I did not enjoy the experience.  With Jac we went straight to bottles.  With Drew I was scared to use off brands-he was a Similac and Pampers kid.  Until he was about 1-then I'd started to use Walmart Brand formula and Luvs.  With Jac I was going to use the store brand formula--he developed an allergy to it so we were forced to buy the expensive kind!  He was a Luv's baby!  I didn't try to potty train Drew until he was 39 months--I didn't want to start before he turned three and then have him go back to diapers when I had Jac.  Jac's potty trained himself and he'll be three in May.  Drew ate baby food-Jac wanted what Drew was eating.  Drew started school in March right before his 4th birthday.  I don't think I'm going to send Jac to school until he's 4-and that's only if he gets one of the slots at the public school.

Drew will be 6 in April and Jac will be 3 in May.  I'm slowly getting a little me time back--that is if I get up at 5:30-6 am.  However, it's easy to get up early since they're getting older-before I would sleep until the last possible second.  Boys love their mommas!  

The final day of Snow.   Jac was already dressed-but when he saw what Drew was going to wear he had to change!

Camping 101

We went to Table Rock State Park September 2011 with Trey's cousin Kevin and his family.  The Smith's have a camper and we rented a cabin.  We loved it!  Even though it rained the entire trip.  Fast forward to May 2013--Trey and I decided we wanted our own camper.  This is totally a new experience for me-and I love every minute of it.  It's nice to be able to get away-even if it's just for the weekend.   Sitting around a campfire is relaxing--even if your kids are inside the camper screaming!

Our inaugural camping trip was to Sesquicentennial Park in Columbia.  We also went to Fayetteville KOA, Mt. Pleasant KOA, Modoc, Coneross, Kings Mountain, and Wilkesboro.  The first few trips we had to constantly make trips to the store to get items we needed-more chairs, blocks for the jacks, table, water filter, etc.

This was our first trip this year-Mt. Pleasant KOA.  It was cold and extremely windy-but it was still fun.  My mom even joined us Saturday night!

Photo disclaimer-No lungs were harmed during this trip.  No one inhaled.

White Stuff

The snow started falling Tuesday night-and falling-and falling.   We woke up yesterday morning to a beautiful blanket of snow.  Trey headed to the office to knock out a few things and the boys and I stayed under the cozy blankets.  Around 11 we bundled up, grabbed the sleds, and headed downtown to meet Trey for lunch.  Then the fun began.  Drew and I went to Craig Park and sledded down the steep slope-fun!!!  I then got the pleasure of pulling Drew on his sled down Main St.  It was not the workout that I would have hoped to achieved yesterday-but it was some exercise.  Trey picked us up and we drove around town while Jac napped and Drew pouted-it's easy to have fun when someone else is doing the work.  When we got to the Country Club we put the tailgate down and grabbed a rope to attach to the sled--then we pulled Drew.  He loved it!  Until Trey went just a little to fast and the snow smashed him in the face--but it didn't stop him.  He went again.  We headed towards home.  When we went by Craig Park Drew wanted to play-so we stopped for a minute for him to play.  (He has been talking about going there since Sunday for some reason.)

The photos on Facebook and the posts on food made me hungry!  I feel a little unprepared when you see some of the food people are making-hams, cakes, casseroles, etc.  I made sure to have a box of wine and Vodka on hand.  We've got juice pouches and fruit snacks.  What else does a family of four need?

When we got home I made some snow cream for the boys (and me).  I had never had it before-and unless the boys just  have to have it again it won't be making a repeat appearance.  I had black beans cooking in the crockpot all day.  I threw together some Mexican rice.  We had meat out to make Tacos-but decided to just eat beans and rice.  I then proceeded to eat and drink from 4:30 until I went to bed!

I told Drew we'd make a snowman today-but I'm not going to be sad if he wants to stay inside all day.

One Tooth Down

I knew children loosing teeth would be a part of parenthood.  I did not know that the first tooth loss would be so dramatic.  Jac was running around avoiding bedtime while we were in Atlanta for New Years-his feet tripped him up, bam he hits the floor, blood is gushing, he is screaming, I see a dangling tooth--and then he yanks it out of his mouth!

Right after the fall.

Boy loves taking the selfies:

Another selfie:

Jac is definitely the second child-the first time I had professional shots of him was in November-and he would not cooperate!  At least we got his pretty teeth in a few photos!

Drew meanwhile is desperate to lose a tooth!  Better get to ordering that pillow off of Etsy sooner rather than later.

One Hundred Days

Last Thursday Drew's class celebrated the 100th day of school.

Jac photo bombing.

Drew wanted a picture without Jac.

At the end of the first half of the school year we made the decision to take Drew out of the small Christian school he was attending and move him to the public elementary school.  Best Decision Ever!  I'm just so excited that he seems to 1. be enjoying school 2. learning more!  We was on the letter "T" at Christmas at his old school--new school he's being made to read, write sentences, count to 100.  I was really afraid he'd be behind.  He is with the reading and writing sentences--but he's eager to learn when he's not showing off for everyone.  Talks too much is something we're told often….apple didn't fall to far from either tree!

The Boys 'Round Here

My boys are rowdy but they love each other!  The fight one minute and play like best friends the next.  I hope they stay close as they grow older.

Snow Days

Ain't nobody got time for snow!  Chesterfield shut down for three days due to snow--we had snow on the ground two of the three days.  Trey and I didn't get to take the days off -- the joys of being self employed.  Everyone kept asking me if the boys enjoyed playing in the snow--and they were shocked by my response of "No".  Drew put on his pajamas Tuesday evening--and didn't get back out of them until Friday morning when it was time to get ready for school.  Jac just goes with the flow.

Here's a throw back to Drew's opinion of the snow:

Jac won't slow down long enough for me to get a decent picture.  His attitude of the snow mimics Drew's!