I AM OFFICIALLY OLD!

Unfortunately I have finally entered into the 40 Club!  I must admit that age does bother me a little.  The thing is I don't feel like I should appear "old" to my kids.  I remember my parents being 40 and I thought it was sooooooo old.  Now that just depresses me!  I asked Raelynn if I looked 40, without hesitation she said "Yes, but you look better than most Mom's that are 40!"  I really wanted to take that as a compliment but I am still unsure if I should.  I will say that I couldn't be happier with my life at 40 though.  I have a wonderful family, good job, nice home and great friends.  Therefore I guess I will just embrace my 40's! 

Saturday was my birthday and I started it out with a little workout and then was off to a horse show with Raelynn.  From there I took Coop to his soccer game and then back out to the horse show in time to watch Raelynn in races.  It was your average crazy Saturday.  At about 5pm Terry tells me we have reservations for dinner at 6pm so he hoped this was over soon.  What!? I was shocked and happy but at the same time could have used that information about an hour before so I could go home and get ready.  I left them all at the horse show and headed home to get ready.  By the time Terry got home and took the kids over to Andrea's, I was ready to go.  We headed out for our date night and Terry pulled in to Henry T's.  Now if you live here you know you do not need reservations for T's so I was a little suspicious.  To my surprise there was Andrea, Vince, Cody and Steph to celebrate my birthday with us.  I was so excited to see them all.  A night out with my great husband and my best friends was PERFECT!  We had a blast and I couldn't have thought of a better way to celebrate my birthday.  I can't thank them all enough for making me feel special.  Steph even got a little creative and made me the perfect birthday cake.

I am truly thankful for my friends and family!

So after my fun weekend and achieving absolutely nothing over the weekend, Monday rolled around much too quickly.  I had no menu planned, no workouts outlined, the house was not cleaned, work was not complete and I was still finishing up laundry as I got up Monday morning.  Both Raelynn and Coop started basketball this week.  I am helping coach Raelynn's team and Coop is still finishing up soccer as well.  It has made for a pretty crazy week and we can't forget the late night everyone had last night watching the Royals in 14 Innings!!!!  Raelynn has her last Lights On performance tomorrow night.  It is so hard to believe we are having "lasts" for elementary school.  She is growing up way too fast and over the past month or so it has been so evident.  I truly hope she and I's relationship can maintain the way it is now.  I love her and she needs me so much now but in such a different way than when she was little.  I hope I never let her down and can always figure out how to be there for her even when she doesn't think she needs me.  This Mom gig is a tough one and by far the best thing I have EVER done in my life!!!!!

PUMPKIN PATCH 2015

Oh what fun we had this weekend!  Every year our entire family tries to get together to go to the pumpkin patch.  This year Sherri and Kendal weren't able to make it due to work schedules but the rest of us did.  It was a full day on Saturday starting early with the first of 2 soccer games for Coop.

We followed that with our annual trip to the pumpkin patch

Then it was off for a shopping spree for my birthday which was super fun for me.  Mom, Steph, Karli and I went to my favorite place and I loved it!!!

Then it was home for taco soup and some cards.  It was a great day.  We were exhausted but it was so much fun.  Family memories are the best ever!

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS.....

So I am completely absorbed with my new found passion for online grocery shopping!  I started it about a month ago when I happened to hear a commercial about HyVee offering online grocery ordering.  If you know me you know grocery shopping is the one and only kind of shopping I despise.  I don't care about food that much and I certainly can't stand the amount of money I spend on it.  However, the rest of the family seems to think food is relatively important and therefore every week I write a menu and head to the store.  I go to the store at the most random times; 10pm, 4am, 6am, etc.  Once in awhile I try to do the whole grocery store trip over my lunch hour which NEVER works out well.  Anyway, when I heard you could order online and then have it delivered or pick it up just by pulling up in front of the store and calling them, I thought it was worth a try.  Literally this has changed my life (ok that may be a slight exaggeration).  It is awesome!  Not only can you always make sure you are buying the least expensive item but you also don't buy a bunch of stuff you don't need.  Not to mention, when I think of something and wonder if we are out, I just get up and check  the cupboard.  Seriously it's incredible.  I am saving money AND taking half as much time as I used to.  I really can't believe the convenience of it.  Anyway, it makes me very happy.  I compare it to online banking, without online banking I think I would die!  Online grocery shopping is going to be the same way.

So let's see...... Saturday was Raelynn's last horse show of the season.  She did great but this year was rough with so many missed shows due to her fractured wrist and rain outs.  She improved so much though from last year.  I really am proud of her and cannot wait to see what another winter of lessons does for her.

Miss Hadley came to the horse show too.  I love spending time with Cody, Steph and Hadley.  They always make me happy!  Hadley liked taking rides on Patches and Raelynn was more than happy to lead her around.  This wonderful woman that takes care of the prizes at most shows and does so much for the youth in our circuit made sure Hadley got a little prize as well.  Steph sent me this picture while I was at Coop's soccer game and I knew instantly it was Paula who had given her this little stuffed pillow pet.  This lady is honestly one of the kindest, hardest working, strongest and most dedicated people I have ever met.  She always makes sure the kids are taken care of and goes above and beyond every day.  I just love her to pieces and couldn't help but smile to know Miss Hadley got to meet Paula as well!

Between Raelynn's Showmanship and races I snuck away for Cooper's soccer game.  I love watching the kids do what they love and Coop loves soccer.  He is so much faster now and able to keep up like never before.  It is sometimes hard to believe he has been through so much.  You would NEVER know he has had 3 open heart surgeries, that we about lost him at 6 months old, that he didn't really eat until he was almost 4 years old, that he was on such a medicine and tube feeding regimen that there was never more than 30 minutes in every 24 hour period that we weren't feeding him or giving him meds, it's all almost unbelievable now.  I also realize that Terry and I should never complain about being tired because back then we were tired!  Now we are in happy and grateful.  Our kids are beautiful and wonderful and self sufficient and frustrating and challenging and exactly what they should be!  We have to be the luckiest parents alive.  I know I say it all the time but I really am so thankful for the life I have.  I am happy and although that seems simple, I am so thankful that I can say and mean it every day!

So another week is ahead of us but we made it through Monday so I figure it is all good from here! Not to mention, rumor has it we will warm up a little this week too!  I am not ready for this cold weather to stick around!  Bring on the warmth!