Insta-Week 8

Just a typical before-bedtime-play-session,

That's Parker's "serious tongue face," Sticker book fun!

Bowl heads (a shared glass of wine because it was the only glass of wine left!)

counting and sorting our snacks! 

Super heroes at the park, a little lunch before playtime,

#morningroutine, #mondayafterworkoutroutineparktrip

Play time and a hike at Lake Conestee

fresh air=tired babies! 

Read more...

Ships in the Night

Our latest choice of music is this Matt Kearney CD. My children pick up on lyrics reeeeeeaaal quickly and this album is good because there isn't any "language" yet it's not "kid's songs" (read: annoying)

Parker's favorite song is Ships in the Night and Back to the Beginning.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Read more...

Operation Project Backyard: Phase 1

So after the renovation on our house was done and over and we moved in and got settled, we realized our yard is bigger than we ever thought AND that it needed MAJOR attention. During the construction phase of the house, the excess dirt that was dug out from our addition was just placed in our backyard causing a huge drainage issue. We had Swamp McConville if any amount of rainfall was recorded.

We also had a falling over shed that Matt thinks was at least 80 years old and a truck sitting in our backyard. Oy! The truck comes in handy every few months and it was given to us by an old neighbor which we appreciate ..or do we?! :-)

We've had landscape architects out here to help us figure out just what to do with our yard and Step 1=remove shed so yard can properly be graded. 

So Step 1 happened this weekend. 

Matt has lovely lovely friends here in Greenville. They are super great guys! He started running with a group of guys about 3 years ago and has made some really great friends in the process. They run 3 times a week and also workout on off days. And during one of their morning runs where they, ya know, solve the worlds problems  solve the McConville's backyard problems, one of the sweeties suggested we rent a dumpster and he would come over and help. So the dumpster was rented on his contractor rate and Matt went to demo-ing. 

(demo-ing or cooking meth?! IJS!!) Breaking bad anyone? 

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon and the shed looks like this:

TA-DAAAAA

But let's back up a bit and I'll walk you through the making of a shed-no-more:

Step 1: pull out everything from said shed and proceed to make your yard look like it's occupied by gypsies: 

Check!

Step 2:

Go to Lowe's with your 4 year old and buy a sledge hammer so you can break sh*t. (But don't say sh*t in front of your 4 year old cause he'll repeat it and definitely don't spell it in front of him cause he'll sound it out!)

 (Please ignore the Southern snowstorm that happens right in the middle of demo) 

No joke these pictures were taken within 2 hours of each other!!

global warming much!?

So Step 1 is complete. We just need the truck-thingy to come pick-up the dumpster and to clean up the odds and ends in the backyard so we can begin the grading. 

Because the grading is so extensive, it will be the bulk of our expense in this Phase ($4000!! Yikes!). Who knew moving dirt around costs so much! Ugh! But since we saved $1400 on demo-ing the shed ourselves, yes I said ourselves because I did go to Mojo's and pick-up lunch for everyone and well I picked up lunch and that was a big part,. :-) then we can hopefully add a patio and retaining wall to that and top soil and reseed our entire yard and call it a summer!!

And then onto the next Phase which is going to be a driveway and garage, but that's the 5 year plan. Or maybe 10. :-) Depends how many more promotions Matt gets. 

Read more...

Insta-Week 6 & 7

I think 2 weeks have passed since my last Insta-update. Which is crazy, but I'm trying to keep up! 

Library books, 

lunch at the museum-more importantly...CAKE POPS after lunch at the museum

Operation project backyard-Pahse 1, Treasure hunting at the museum,

digging for gold, Member Preview Night at the museum. (if you can't tell it's a Pirate exhibit!)

Parker taking her turn, Aarrgh,

Lane steering the boat

Bunny slippers and TV one morning with my Doodle, Doodle passed out on morning errands, park time!

morning sun

Valentine breakfast, parmsean sweet potato fries.

Lil sister holds her own!, heart waffles and strawberries

Momma/Parker library time, rice krispie treats,

Heart Park, siblings!

a card for Daddy, Operation Project Backyard Phase 1 begins,

Lane and Parker have good taste, excited little boy!

Okay this post was started 3 hours ago and got interrupted by snow!! Which is quite funny because for one, it was 70 yesterday and for two, Matt and Lane have been outside all day without coats on and then boom! Snow! The kids went out and played in it. They were entirely way too under-dressed because duh, it doesn't snow here which means we don't have snow clothes, but they did layer a few coats and put on a few pairs of socks....but were ready to come in after 15 minutes and now all of the snow is melted, but it was FUN!!!!

So these are hot off of the press! Snow pics!

Read more...

Insta-Good Insta-Week 5!

Like Insta-good when your Monday consists of an awesome workout to start out the week, a trip to Wal-Mart to let your 4 year old pick out his "half-birthday" treats for school and simultaneous naps from your 2 and 4 year old during your 4pm conference call! Score! Like Insta-good when your Monday ends with a Bachelor "party" at your friends house to talk about Tierra the drama queen with a glass of wine and Yoga pants.

Like Insta-good when your Tuesday is spent checking off your list (I love checking things off my list!) a surprise morning nap in the car from Parker and an after-school trip to the park for lunch and playtime.

Like Insta-good when your Wednesday starts off with a 3 mile run at 5:45am with some friends which results in 2 loads of laundry done before the kids wake, eggs for breakfast and arriving at school 2 minutes early because Hello! energy!! Like Insta-good when both kids get dropped off at school on Wednesday mornings, then on to meeting, publish, meeting and more checks off the list. Check! Check! Check!

Insta-week 5 in review:

Circus! Circus hangover! 

Easy Thursday morning workout on the elliptical. A nice change from my regular routine, but I felt like I cheated a litte!

Books before school, more circus,

Circus meet-n-greet, clown-in-training

Crossfit workout with Daddy, Elephant parade!

Spaghetti night, Parker meets elephants

#tinkertoycreationsbylane, more crossfit,

proper puppy, #workit

sorting our snacks

pizza night with friends!

Read more...

Little Sister of a Big Brother

Things you will hear from Parker:
"Lane, look at that mustang. It drives really fast. Isn't it cool" (Not sure I knew the make or model of any car until I was um...16?)

"Look at that excavator mom. It has a shovel on it. It digs into da gwound!"

Little Sister also plays "construction site" with the best of them and promptly fills up all of the workers' (Matt and Lane) cups with tea!

Read more...