Weekend Wrap Up

Now, I hope you're prepared for the most basic, mundane, boring Weekend Wrap Up E.V.E.R!!

Friday: This was such a fun day with Jaxon. It was like a mommy and son date in the morning! I am struggling a little bit with how busy I feel Monday through Thursday (working, working out, house work, etc) and feel like I am not getting a large amount of quality time with Bubba. So, I am VERY thankful to have all day Friday with him! This day we went to the Rec Center and kicked a ball around in the gym (it is still very cold outside here) and then went and played in the baby pool for almost an hour!

He still loves anything having to do with water! 

I think the pool is officially his favorite!

Let's be honest, it's mine too!

We have been hearing from a LOT of people about how Jaxon should be potty training. Now, looking at it logically...I don't think that's right. He is 26 months and has NO desire to work on it, so I don't think it's the biggest milestone for us right now. However, the unsolicited advice has gotten into our heads and we gave toilet training a go, starting Friday and going in to today.

Skinny little pants and "big boy underwear." 

We haven't made any real progress. He will now gladly wear the underwear and feels the mess so he can tell us "uh oh." But I really don't think he understands the feeling of having to go and has no ability whatsoever to make it happen while sitting on the potty. We will spend anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes sitting on the toilet, and then give up just in time for him to pee his pants afterwards. I could be wrong, but I just don't think we are there yet. 

Exciting side note: happy mail came on Friday! My Mother in Law sent the biggest care package! We got the 31 Bags we ordered a bit ago, a pair of workout pants (loooooove), and some treats for all of us! I am completely addicted to the 31 Bags! 

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Yes!

Saturday: I spent the morning working out by myself in the gym which is my favorite!! Quiet time to GSD without having to wait for any equipment? Yes, please! I lifted shoulders, but it was rushed so I only had like 40 minutes to work.

The workout was rushed because hubby and I had massages today! Let me tell you, if you can find someone you trust and can afford, a monthly massage is the best thing you can do for yourself! Ours is more of a deep tissue, sports recovery massage and it has done wonders for our aches and tensions and just helps us relax!

Then we hung out at home working on the potty thing until it was time for DATE NIGHT!! I was loving how my hair turned out for the evening.

I don't have any photos of us out on the town because I left my phone off and in the car! Hands free for the evening = totally focused on my marriage. We were the lamest couple ever, however! We went to Ulta and PetCo to complete errands, and then went to dinner at Mt. Fuji and that. was. it. We were SO tired from the work week and the January blues and the potty training...so, we called it an early night and watched NetFlix. Go us!

Sunday: I am living with the philosophy that a "Sunday well spent brings a week of content." To some of you that might mean outings as a family, but for me it means workout, house work, meal prep and planning. Some blogging and some classroom work, and a movie with my little Turkey! I need an entire day to get organized for the week, otherwise I am a grouchy mess of a woman the rest of the week!

My Sunday tasks:

• Workout: today it was my first CrossFit foundation class and a short CrossFit workout.
• House work: pick up clutter, get the sink clear of dishes, put ALL laundry away, etc.
• Meal Prep: organize my lunches, roast and package veggies, bag up snacks, etc.
• Nap time work: classroom prep, blogging and/or scrapbooking
• Planning: a MUST so I can visualize the week and get my head wrapped around how it will go
• Family time: I LOVE that Jax is into movies right now. We will probably watch Big Hero 6 or the Croods again today, but we eat popcorn and cuddle under our blankets and just chat about his toddler nonsense. It is my favorite part of the week, I think. The Sunday Cuddle Routine.

That might have been the longest boring post ever! What did you all do this weekend??

It's a lovely Sunday in this Little Life.

Weekend Wrap Up

I was a little nervous going in to this weekend...Jason was headed to Texas for a racing workshop and I was solo to juggle everything. But it turned out so well, I had a blast with my little turkey all to myself!

Friday was amazing! The babysitter came an extra day so that I could get my hair colored and run an errand. Ever since shaving my hair off four years ago I've been terribly anxious when doing anything new to my hair and have been disappointed with some of the results recently. I searched social media to find a colorist that could help me update my look and I came across Janelle thanks to all of my students liking her Facebook page. I scheduled with her several weeks ahead of time, and I was having a hard time swallowing the cost of the appointment. But, let me tell you, it was totally worth it! Janelle took plenty of time, was very personable with me and is very talented in her field! We did balayage highlights and used some toner to lighten it out of the yellow blonde zone! I love the results!! 

Before and after.

Tonight when I practiced styling it myself. The round brush was much easier to use than I thought! 

Friday night was one of the most fun workouts I've done lately. I did a cross fit-ish workout with my friends at the Rec center. 

So, the plan Saturday morning was the spend three hours at Monkey Business wearing off some serious winter snowed-in energy. Jaxon was doing great at first, learning how to climb the play yard with the other kids. But after 40 minutes, it started to get really full. So full that I wondered how close they were to fire capacity. At that point Jaxon got overwhelmed and shut down. He didn't want to explore anymore and looked up at me and asked "mama house peas" (grandmas house please). 

Jaxon is still scared of the bounce house and much prefers anything that's a puzzle.

I dropped Jax at grandmas house while I finished my list of errands. I hit up both Sephora and Ulta and dug through some products I've been wanting to try. 

For makeup, I got the Makeup Forever foundation, the They're Real mascara remover, and a sample of some Nars concealer. I'll write about those once I try them this week!

For hair, I got a round brush, a wide tooth plastic comb, a sample size of Redken Satinwear 02 prepping blow dry lotion, and a sample of Pureology hydrate shampoo and conditioner. 

Here are the products in loving so far with all my samples: 

Redken Satinwear 02, Redken Wind Blown 05 hairspray, Garnier Fructis Mega Full thickening lotion, and Not Your Mothers Texture Sea Salt Spray. Not shown is Not Your Mothers Dry shampoo, that one is so good too! 

Ok, so Saturday we get home and Jaxon goes down for a nap and then things get real.... Because everyone I've seen on IG has been watching Making A Murder and I was intrigued because I LOVE a good conspiracy story! I created a trial Netflix account and downloaded the app JUST so I could watch it, and I seriously binge watched it all weekend! All 10 episodes in Eason 1!! That's a ridiculous amount of time for a Toddler Boy Mom!! I gave up sleeping, cleaning, scrap booking, yoga, working on my abs and perusing Pinterest in order to get through this series! I recommend it, but beware you WILL be sucked in and your mind WILL be blown!! 

Today is when Jason was coming back, so I made sure that the house was clean and that groceries were already done by the time he got home! Otherwise Jax and I totally just lounged around the house and played together! 

He wanted to cuddle by me while I was planning. 

He made tons of messes and ate everything in sight! Crazy Turkey! 

He's been watching Frosty as many times as we will let him. Apparently two year olds don't understand when Christmas is over.

And lastly, I finished the weekend with Sunday Runday and meal prep. The run was a crazy idea!! It was 28 degrees outside and I did not prepare well enough!! I made it to 4.5 miles, but after being outside that long I was freezing cold! I made the boys come to pick me up because I just couldn't handle the cold anymore! Good thing though-I made it 3.5 miles without knee paint, which is a huge improvement! 

Hope you all had a great weekend! We are happily settling in to 2016 in This Little Life!! 

18 month update

Jaxon is no longer my little baby it seems like! I never got around to an 18 month update, so let's just call his 20 month update the same thing, shall we? Give a busy, workin' mama a break, ya?

He is still 32.5 inches tall and weighs 22 some pounds...but the weight is an estimate and he would never sit still enough to actually know accurately!

This little guy is ALL boy and keeps us running on our toes from 6:30 in the morning to 7:30 at night! He is a non stop busy body like his mom, and fearlessly in love with all things messy like his dad!

Thank goodness we have a fenced in large back yard, because I can let him play outside as much as he wants and not worry very much. He has dug himself a dirt hole over here! Don't judge the pink car toy...we got it free from Grandma and he loves it, so I figure why spend $40 for one that's more "masculine?"

Jax talks all day long now, but some of it I still can't quite understand. His vocabulary consists of:

mommy

car

puppy

doggie

hot

bird

owie

food

more

baby

no

bye

hi

phone

choo choo

moo

oink

shoes

There are a few words I have to translate for people, like:

nanny = daddy, as we can't really make the D sounds effectively yet

night night = blanket, not bed time

mow = cat, his version of meow

nana = banana

There is also a word he says many times a day, that sounds like "moy" and is a word he is using to talk about coins and money. I just can't figure that one out!

He loves all things money related and will carry a handful of coins around from the time he wakes up until he goes to bed if we let him! We have been very fortunate that he hasn't swallowed any coins!

He also loves everything having to do with water, he just hates being splashed in the face! He has enjoyed the pool, the lake, the hose in the yard, the water table, the bath tub, and running through every random puddle he encounters.

If Jaxon always got his way, he would live outside and spend every minute of his life outside. But, Mommy can't quite handle that, so we spend a couple hours a day indoors. Jaxon wants to be in the water, in the dirt, in the mud, in the grass, picking up rocks, watching bugs and frogs, checking out flowers and plants and of course, playing with the dogs all day-every day!

He got his first bee sting this month, also, but we were lucky he wasn't allergic and the swelling from it went away very quickly. Check out that swollen ear though!

Currently loves: playing with cars, running and jumping off things, hot dogs and cottage cheese, his pacifier and blanket, holding hands and sitting with Mommy, being tickled, playing with stickers, watching race cars, watching the movie Turbo, naps and his daily schedule. 

I can't think of many things he dislikes (other than sitting still), but I am not sure if that's because he doesn't have many dislikes, or if I just block out the tantrums he throws when he is unhappy. 

First carousel ride.

Driving with Grandma.

Slides are a big hit! 

Happy 4th of July.

Trucks and mud forever.

Watching races with Daddy.

Don't you just adore a sleeping baby?

....................Babies are growing up too quick in this Little Life....................

Breezy Family Getaway-Minneapolis, MN

Most people wouldn't think of Minneapolis in December as a fun weekend getaway. Most would prefer a warm destination, something with a beach, or at least some sun. But not the Breezies!! We have been dreaming for four years of going to the Holidazzle parade in Minneapolis.

One day back in October I was randomly searching trips on Expedia (which is a regular hobby of mine) and I found a great travel deal! We paid $350 for two round trip flights and two nights hotel. I as so sir it as a mistake that I begged hubby to book it with me before they fixed the error. We got it booked and we looked forward to the tip for weeks!!

This past weekend we finally went!! I didn't have a set plan, because 1)that's ridiculous with a one year old baby and 2)I was so ready to just relax and let go of control. It ends up being a blast! I had a few random ideas that I had found on Pinterest and we came up with some things last minute just because.

Friday we got up at 3 am (what you have to do for cheap flights anymore) and were in Minneapolis by mid morning. We first went to the downtown Macy's for the Santa Land display and it was so cool!!

Jaxon loved the Santa Land, with all the movie displays and lights and music. He did not, however, love Santa. It wasn't bad, but he wouldn't tolerate it very long and looked very unsure of the strange man! So funny!

After that we went and spent the evening in the mall of America. We did some fun shopping but mostly just walked around and hung out. 

Saturday we woke up early (thanks Jax) and took a drive to the Wisconsin border. Jaxon has now been in nine states, I believe, and has photo proof of eight state signs. 

Then we headed to Como Park zoo and conservatory. This was a location I found on Pinterest and am so happy that I did! It was free and was so beautiful! We loved walking around the gardens inside and then we saw a few animals outside while Jaxon napped all warm under blankets in the stroller. The conservatory with the poinsettias was absolute breath taking!! I was absolutely determined to get s photo of the room without anyone walking through. For this I had to wait 40 minutes, but it was so worth the result!!

Saturday night was a bit of a struggle. It was getting very cold, and I was still fighting the flu, and we had a difficult time finding a restaurant with an open table and that allowed babies. We were s little surprised with how rude some of the waitresses and hostesses were downtown. We stopped and regrouped in a little coffee shop and I loved the hot chocolate! We walked through rice park before finally finding a restaurant closer to our hotel.

I was thrilled to go to bed early that night after supper. I was just exhausted and did not feel well. Sunday was spent relaxing at the hotel and doing some last minute Christmas shopping before flying home. On the flight back I think my boys were a bit worn out too!

So, I completely understand that this was not a dream trip for most people. But for us it was wonderful!! We spent time together, reconnecting and making memories. We did something that we have talked about for years. It was perfect.

Sometimes the small things make the biggest difference in this Little Life.