Landon's 5th Birthday

Well I can't believe that our little guy is now 5 years old! Landon has been such a blessing to us and we are happy to have had him around for the last 5 years. We asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday and he said that he wanted to do like Brinley and just get to pick everything that we did that day. Well, then the week before his birthday he decided that he wanted to pick all that we did and have a party too. Well, unfortunately for him we were not able to scrounge up a party for him so we went ahead with the original plan.

Last night being a four year old. I am not sure what possessed me, but after I got home the night before his birthday I decided that I would put the tent up in the backyard and we would have our first ever camp out. The kids were all excited and ready. Once we finally got out there they lasted about 30 minutes and said that they wanted to go inside. Well, I was already committed, so I told the kids that we couldn't go back inside. That we all needed to go to sleep so that we could get up in the morning to celebrate. 

Little man got woke up the next day as a 5 year old! We woke him up by singing Happy Birthday to him.

He asked for cinnamon toast for breakfast, so I made his into the number and word five.

Next on his list was going to Sky Zone. This is where sleeping outside and not getting enough sleep came back to bite us. Landon jumped for about 5 minutes and then decided that he wanted to go home. In order to get him to jump he wanted me to jump with him.

Landon used to be really good at climbing up this ladder, but for some reason he lost his technique. You can see me helping him by holding the ladder steady so that he can reach the top. 

We dunked on the basketball goal too!

Lastly he wanted to play dodgeball. There was about 12 older kids that wanted to play so the worker told us to get on this side and it would be us + the worker against everyone else. Best part is that we actually won! Landon was so excited.

Landon wanted this picture made with the sign outside. 

The only thing that Landon asked to eat on his birthday was McDonald's. I tried to get him to say somewhere else that sounded good to him and we finally decided on Goodfellas. Everything was going great until it was actually time to eat our pizza. Landon had a full blown meltdown because he thought someone drank out of his cup. The reality was that Jennifer had just moved his cup so that the pizza could be put on the table. Landon cried for about 10 minutes straight before we discovered that he just wanted a new straw!

After Goodfellas we went back home so that I could change since I hadn't planned on sweating at Skyzone. We had also hoped this would give Landon a chance to get a nap. He fell asleep moments after leaving the Goodfellas parking lot. After a nap we went out to get a treat. We went to Steel City Pops for a sweet treat. Landon got his dipped in white chocolate with sprinkles.

Then we headed over to the theater to see the movie Hotel Transylvania 3.

Landon loved it! He again wanted his picture with the sign out front.

A couple days before his birthday the store Build-A-Bear had a huge debacle of a day with a build your age day. I was working and Jennifer tried to take the kids, but she said it was total chaos. We returned on his actual birthday for a build your age pricing during your birth month. Unfortunately you don't get to pick any animal, just the birthday bear. Landon was still happy to make this little guy. He named him Happy Birthday. How original right?

We couldn't decide on what to do for dinner so we just picked up some McDonald's so that he could get what he had asked for. He was extremely happy for his happy meal.

Jennifer made this awesome Pikachu cake.

Landon getting ready to open some presents!

Not before blowing out his candle though!

It is still hard to believe that Landon is 5 years old. He has come so far in five years. Just a couple of years ago we couldn't understand the majority of what he was saying. With speech lessons and two years of preschool he has made leaps and bounds. He has just now started Kindergarten and is doing awesome! He is such a loving, caring, competitive, happy, little guy. I am so proud to call him my son. I can't wait to see what his future holds! Thanks for reading and God bless!

Junior Wildcat Club Half Miler

Back in April I found out about a race that they were having that went through the UK sports facilities. I really had an interest in running this race, but unfortunately I was scheduled to work that day. While doing the research I also saw that they had a junior wildcat 1/2 mile race. This seemed perfect for the kids. Unfortunately again I had to work, so I was going to miss the kids first ever race. I was a little sad about that but I knew that they would have a good time. Race day came and I didn't have that busy of an assignment so I asked someone to watch my kids and then quickly walked over to see the kids race.

I got there right as the race was about to start and apparently the kids were full of mixed emotions. Brinley was excited and Landon was terrified. He talked Jennifer into running the course with him.

The kids ran around the outside of Commonwealth Kroger Field and then finished on the field. If you look closely you can see Brinley right after she finished the race. This picture was taken on the jumbotron in the stadium.

Brinley posing with Scratch after she crossed the finish line.

Landon and Jennifer crossing the finish line on the jumbo tron too!

When we were looking at the stuff about the race we saw that you didn't get a medal. The kids always like to see the medals that we get for our races, so Jennifer made these Kentucky shaped medals for the kids.

Brinley with her homemade medal. I was so proud of her for running the race all by herself. She even ran the whole time which is something that she had never done before.

Proud of these two!

Picture with my little lady.

Family picture in the end zone.

The kids at mid field. I can't imagine playing in front of a full house in this place. 

We even found the Wildcat for a picture with the kids.

The whole race took only about 7 or 8 minutes. I am so glad that I have co-workers who were able to help me out so that I could see the kids run their race. They were excited when I showed up to watch them run. I hope that they grow to love running and just sports in general. It took me a long time in life until I started to enjoy going for a run. Thanks for reading and God bless!

First Day of School 2018

Everyone in our house has been eagerly awaiting this day for a few weeks now. We knew that this year would be a big one since our little man was going to be starting Kindergarten. We have tried to talk it up pretty big and Brinley has been a big help about telling him how things were going to be once school starts. Last night I drew these little sidewalk chalk letter and number so that we could take our pictures this morning. Jennifer also asked the kids what some of their favorite things were for another little photo opportunity.

Our big Kindergartener. 

Big 1st grader. 

Landon is going to be a part of the Class of 2031. 

I must be doing something right in this guy's little eyes if he wants to be a daddy when he grows up. 

This little lady really loves animals so I can see her being a veterinarian like she wants to be. 

With the kids both going to be in school, that means Jennifer and I will have a bit more free time. That means that we can start to get back to some of our old hobbies. 

I can't believe that this girl is now a 1st grader. She is completely ready for school to start this year. 

Landon has been excited for about a week now for school to start, but once we actually got to the school he froze up and became shy and didn't want to talk at all. 

So glad for our sanity that these two will be in the same school this year. The past 2 years it was a little chaotic driving back and forth between schools all morning long. I hope they look out for each other over the years they are together in school.

Unicorns and dinosaur backpacks this year. 

My little momma's boy walking in with his favorite lady. 

Brinley found her seat and she sat down and got ready to work. I really hope that she has a wonderful year at school. 

Our little baby boy is growing up! Ready to meet new friends and learn new things! 

Landon at his seat and ready to start on his first school assignment, coloring. 

A little note from Landon's teacher to the class. Landon said it was a good day when we picked him up. 

All smiles for us at the annual Boo Hoo breakfast. This is where kindergarten parents can come and drown their sorrows in some chicken biscuits from Chick-Fil-A.   

We left the school and headed to the nearby trails for a training run. We haven't ran together (just the two of us) outside in such a long time. We are trying to get ready for our next race which is the Bourbon Chase.

We tried to run a path with the most hills so that we could challenge ourselves. We both finished under the times we are projecting ourselves to complete our legs of the race.

Next we headed out to Southwind Golf Course in Winchester for a little round of golf. I haven't played much at all over the past year. We have just been busy living life. I expect to play a little more now that the kids are in school. 

We played 9 holes, which is about the time when Jennifer gets bored, and then headed home for a little lunch. 

The day flew by and in no time at all it was time to pick the kids up from school. Thankfully the kids had their umbrellas because it was sprinkling a little on the walk out of school.

Everyone in our house is excited about the starting school year. I pray that they make new friends and enjoy learning everyday. School can be such a fun and positive experience. I pray for the teachers that they are given the patience of teaching, especially on days when students aren't acting their best. I pray for the administration, support staff, and even the volunteers to be a positive influence in every single child's life. Thanks for reading and God bless!

Brinley was excited for day 2. She already really likes her new teacher, Ms. Dado.

Day 2 was a struggle for this little guy. He was trying to find his class so that he will know how to get there next week when he is on his own. He had trouble and that sent him into a little bit of a downward spiral. He refused a picture. Then he wouldn't let go of me. Thankfully his teacher, Mrs. O'Brien took his hand and started distracting him so that I could slip out. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that he was sad that he didn't get to go on the big playground yesterday, which he can see outside his classroom window. Of course Brinley did yesterday and had told him about how much fun in was.