I Didn't Choose...

I see the shirts, signs, etc "I didn't choose blank, blank chose me"  I just Googled the origin and I believe it's from Tupac saying "I didn't choose thug life, thug life chose me."  My new motto is "I didn't choose the small town life, the small town life chose me".

I maybe had too much fun on Pinterest this morning--like almost wet my pants laughing fun!

I need to run this weekend--I overslept my workout yesterday even though I went to bed before 9-ugh!!!

Zoo Lights

Balance is a daily juggle in my life.  I feel guilty when I am stuck at the office until 7; however, my children are at home with a sitter who loves them-and the job I am stuck at pays for the house, sitter, etc.  Holidays are especially hectic.  Every year I think "this is the year"-I'll purchase all of the out of town presents before November or I'll get the Christmas tree up before we leave for Thanksgiving.  I'm wanting to make memories with my family, but not get too caught up that we don't enjoy the real reason.  I don't want to create a situation where we have to do the same thing year after year--I'm all for new experiences!  This year we took the boys to the Riverbank Zoo to see the zoo lights.  I thought they'd be so excited.  Two words-epic fail!  Zoo=Animals.  They didn't see the animals they wanted to see so they were angry about that.  (Luckily I did overhear other children complaining about the same thing, so I didn't feel like my kids were total brats.)

No trip to the Zoo is complete without the following:

Licking the Candy Cane

Acting innocent after trying to wake up the gorilla

My little monkey's being entertained by piking the lizard's nose

Shoving big brother

Whining to Daddy

Breaking the no entry rules

Dinner afterwards was quite the treat!  Imagine wound up and cranky boys-the joys of parenthood!

Workout recap:  Sunday I ran 3 wonderful miles in the beautiful weather followed by a 1 mile run with Drew.  That made my workouts were 4 days at the gym and a total mileage of 15 for last week.  This week I've been to the gym two times this week and have only cranked out 2.5 miles.  It's only Thursday:)

Things That Blogging Makes Me Do….

Reading blogs is such a stress reliever for me.  I have a window into other peoples lives.  If I don't like someone's opinions-I don't have to read their blog.  I don't need to change their opinion-it's theirs and they are allowed to have one and it's not my job to tear them down.  I find encouragement from other mothers of young children and I'm amazed at the older mothers who step in to lift others up!
I had started a Bible Study earlier this year.  It's turned into an epic fail on my end.  I've missed the last two sessions-both times because of work.  Drew has missed three out of his last four soccer practices yet again because of work.
So where is this leading-I decided to deactivate my Facebook account.  I'm doing this for Lent.  However, I might not go back.  I haven't sent Christmas cards in two years.  I haven't sent a real birthday card out to anyone in ages.  I'm writing this post because I'm not reading Facebook.  I have read other blogs where people deactivate Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.  and find such joy in removing the distraction.  Let's be honest-if you're my friend hopefully I have a way to contact you other than through Facebook.  My cousins are on Facebook-friends from college-friends from high school.  Maybe I'll challenge myself to writing someone weekly-who doesn't love to get real mail!   I've enjoyed posting again and want to keep encouraging myself to take the time to document our lives in Small Town USA!  Here's a photo that would have been used on my Christmas cards:

Kid for Rent

Drew has always loved the camera.  Jac likes it-but he won't slow down for you to take a picture.  Based on the amount of selfies on my iPhone they both think they look handsome.  Sarah asked Drew to be in her wedding this past fall.  Sarah's niece Catherine was the flower girl.  Drew and Catherine have never gone to day care or school together but they love each other.  I hope they remain friends and are there for each other.  They do make a cute couple!  I think we should rent them out!

Rehearsal Dinner fun:

Wedding Day

Notice the Angry Bird Bandaid--five year old and knife=there's a story for life!  He was "Cutting" something-not playing-ha!!

No More Steak

Drew finally lost a tooth!  He's wanted to loose one forever.  It was not cool when Jac lost his by accident before Drew even lost one naturally.  He's had a loose one on the bottom row of his mouth for a month-with a lot of wiggling and pulling he finally got it out yesterday afternoon.  He was so excited. His school is collecting money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and he said he was going to put his money in his box.  This is one proud momma!  I told Drew he wouldn't be able to eat steak since he lost his tooth--we'd have to mush all his food up--he's not good at taking a joke.

He also had his Upward soccer game yesterday.  This was their first win and his first goal!   I had stayed home-boo:(  Two more practices and two more games before the season is over--then it's on to Dixie Youth Baseball. 

Exercise update-after my awesome 5 mile run on Thursday I've sucked.  One mile WALK before my workout on Friday and nothing on Saturday.   Oh wait--I did do 50 jumping jacks in the kitchen and wet myself…nice!  I'm hoping to makeup for my laziness later today.  Trey has to go to the office at 2 for Bankruptcy training so I need to go soon or get a babysitter so I can hit the gym.

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!