A new member of our family!

I'm getting a sister!

My brother Eddie made one of the smartest decisions
he's ever made
and asked Elizabeth to marry him!

We have so enjoyed getting to know her
and know she will be such a sweet addition to the family.

These are a few of my favorites from their engagement pictures

Congrats you guys!

Something I NEVER thought I'd do

but WE DID IT!

Let me start from the beginning. Last April I watched contestants on the Biggest Loser run a marathon. I was blown away that someone who was so unhealthy could begin working out and 6 months later be in good enough shape to survive a marathon.
At the same time, I had been considering joining a gym with childcare so that I could be intentional about losing Jackson's baby weight. (I call it his baby weight as if I had no contribution to it whatsoever - HA) Anyway - when I saw the marathon, I thought 'if they can run 26 miles, why can't I learn to run 1!?'
It was a huge deal for me. I have never run in my life. In high school I almost failed PE because I couldn't walk a 15 minute mile to complete the Presidents Physical Fitness Challenge. No kidding.
So, I talked to a few friends who almost laughed when I said I wanted to run a mile (as if anyone could do that) and told me I should do a 5K. I laughed. No WAY would I even aspire to THAT, since one mile seemed impossible.
I didn't tell many people at the time and have never blogged about it until now because, honestly, I NEVER thought I'd actually accomplish it.
Anyway, they set me up with a training schedule. I took it super slow. I started out running 30 seconds and walking 4.5 minutes (and I thought 30 seconds would kill me) a few days a week and then once a week I did a "distance" day. My goal on my first distance day was one tenth of a mile. Each week I increased it, little by little. Running 1 minute, walking 4, etc.
It took me 16 weeks (4 long months!) to work up to running a mile. It was tough.
I did really enjoy going to the gym all summer though. It gave me "ME" time. It was a goal for myself - that had nothing to do with my home or children (hope that doesn't sound bad. but you know what I mean...there are times when I get so absorbed in being Stephen's wife and Mary Beth and Jackson's mom... well, I just needed something that was mine. my time. my goal.)
After I completed that goal - 3 miles didn't seem so scary. I knew I needed a new goal to keep me going. Stephen said if I wanted to run a 5K he would do it with me. I thought I was crazy, but I started searching online for a 5K and found a race on our anniversary weekend. No major plans, but I kept it in the back of my mind.
I kept meeting little goals along the way. In October, I got back to pre-prego weight. In November, I ran 2 miles. December, 2.5 miles. On January 1st I registered for the 5K. No turning back. I worked up to 3 miles in January but still had a lot of training to do to be able to run hills.
For 6 weeks I worked on hills, but then it was here. Ready or not - the race was here. I knew I could do it - but I was terrified. Even after we got to the race Saturday, I wanted to back out. This was CRAZY.



On March 6th, Stephen and I completed our first 5K.
I wasn't fast. It wasn't pretty. But WE DID IT!

Toddler Tuesday: bracelets

Mary Beth has discovered a love for making bracelets
with Fruit Loops, of course.
She has shared this new passion with almost
every friend that as come over lately.

Happy Day!

"Daddy, Father. Mary Beth, Daughter"

Tonight was our 2nd annual SHIFT Preteen Ministry
Father-Daughter Banquet.
Mary Beth really enjoyed her time with Daddy.
She especially enjoyed the chocolate cake and ice cream!
Our little lady came home with a rose, a balloon, and some candy.

(no outfit is complete without
a little spaghetti sauce and chocolate icing)

Look who's Walking!!!

Jackson has been at the point for quite a while that he could walk IF he wanted to. That's a big IF. He would walk a few steps if we were right there with him, letting go without him realizing that we weren't holding on to him. Basically just tricking him into taking a few steps here and there.
We knew that when he decided he was ready - he would take off.
We were right.
This past weekend he finally decided to go for it. 7 steps. Then a few minutes later 13 steps. A few hours later 20 steps.



After a few days of practice and he is walking from one room to another (35 steps) and also stopping and turning around to go the opposite direction without losing his balance.
We are so proud of him!

Now thats what I call REAL snow!

Last week in Spartanburg we had "snow". I don't classify it as snow, it was more like ice that happened to look white.
This week the kids and I went with Stephen to Louisville, KY for a few days to hang out while he was in a Youth Advisory Board Meeting. You can imagine my excitement when I checked the Louisville forecast to discover that they expected snow during the time we would be in town! REAL snow.
The weatherman did not disappoint.
We drove in Monday evening, everything was clear, roads were great. We went to bed and woke up to this...

6 iches of pretty, white, fluffy, come-play-in-me, God's wonderful blessing, snow.

working more, blogging less

(Just in case you were wondering where I've been)

I have the amazing privilege to hang out with 6 toddlers throughout the week. They are the sweetest kids.
I like to think its good practice for having a large family one day =)

Toddler Tuesday: Sticker Project

Mary Beth has an incredible love for "kickers".

At Christmas one of her favorite gifts was a simple spiral bond notebook for her sticker projects.



My Granny collects random stickers and sends them to her. Each time she get an envelope of stickers in the mail, she spends hours putting them in her sticker book.


(literally hundreds of stickers in each envelope)

Occasionally she convinces me to let her play stickers with brother =)

Girls Trip to the Salon

Two and a half years to grow it out.

Today was the day...
Mary Beth's first hair cut

Here is the before picture



She was kind of excited when I told her we were going to see Addie's mommy and I tried to explain that we were both going to get our hair cut. We packed a bag full of activities, snacks and took baby with us. On the way she told me that baby was going to get a hair cut.

Checking it all out when we got there.



Mary Beth's turn!













Thanks Ms. Summer!