High Hopes on this last week of Summer!

I started out with lots of energy this morning that has slowly fizzled.
My list for the week:
Toddler Proof the playroom -- done
Make a lunch cart for D -- done
Finish organizing D's clothes -- still a mess!
Buy sneakers for D -- sigh
Clean for my parents visit -- ongoing
Get D's hair trimmed -- scheduled for tonight

Our Fun to-do list:
Swim!!
Playdate
Library
Park

I signed up for the Warrior Dash? What the bleep was I thinking?

Because I love and miss my friends in NY, N and I have signed up to to the Warrior Dash in PA next August with them. And because we may truly be crazy we may also do the one in MI for practice. So now to begin training, I am not sure where to start! We belong to a nice gym, however personal training is an added fee and one we really don't have the money for. They do have lots of great equipment available, so I just need to figure out what to do and how much. I may fork over the money for at least a few sessions to get an idea. N and I have also discussed taking the TRX class together. I plan on scoping out some sledding hills next week to get some hill running experience. If anyone else has training tips please let me know!
I finally went over 100 miles on my Nike app! I have been using it on the majority of my runs, I realize my average is 2 miles...hopefully by winter my average will be higher. I still have my 10k goal for the fall!

Let the countdown begin...

My baby will be in 1st grade in three weeks! We got her teacher letter and supply list a few weeks ago, so we have picked up some things here and there. Grandma ordered her a new backpack, she hasn't had a new one since she was 2 when I found a Pottery Barn one on eBay with her name on it. It has survived 3 years of preschool and kindergarten. It is still in great shape, even after being dragged on and off the bus and having to be washed a million times last year. We let her pick out a new lunch box at the PB outlet this weekend, her Thirty-one lunch tote has seen better days! Surprisingly she chose a yellow and aqua bag, even though she got a pink backpack and swore they needed to match just a few days ago. Girls!
I have begun to go through her clothes and see what I need to purchase. A lot of her clothes were purchased and worn for the last two years, so they are too small or worn out. It is very difficult to find clothes for her, so I will probably spend the next few months buying things here and there versus going out and buying it all at once. I am hoping to hit a few resale shops and go from there. I am also hoping it stays warm until at least mid October as she has a ton of dresses she can wear until it gets cold.

Some school supplies!

Working on cleaning up her room, starting with her books.

Using the guest room to go through all her clothes--good thing my parents aren't coming for another couple of weeks!

What to do on a rainy Friday? Make my pantry look better of course!

It has been 2 years (why haven't you visited??)!

We have been in Michigan for over 2 years now, it has gone by so fast!  We are enjoying our time here and no we don't know for how much longer we will be here.  ;0)  We have to stay here long enough to settle whatever will happen with baby E, and given the Michigan system that could be awhile.  We just take things one day at a time around here!
Now on to, why haven't you (yes, you!) visited?  We have a large house with plenty of room, so we would love more visitors!  So far we have only had our families visit and a few friends (thank you!).  We have a guest bedroom with a queen sized bed, plus a play room that fits our blow up queen sized mattress.  We have a huge master bedroom, so Delaney can always stay in there and that frees up another bed (full size).  So who is ready to book a weekend or week with us!
Still need convincing?  We have a huge indoor outlet mall just down the street:  http://greatlakescrossingoutlets-px.rtrk.com/?cpgn=reachlocal_GreatLakesCrossingOutlets
We have an Ikea within a 45 minute drive!  We have lakes, casinos, parks, sporting events, concerts, etc.  And of course you get to see our faces for a few days!

Olympic Spirit!

We are counting down the hours till the opening ceremony! D is excited to watch gymnastics and swimming over the next two weeks.
We spent the afternoon making some Olympic inspired crafts!

Summer Lovin' or maybe not....

I really try very hard to not complain too much about the joys and obstacles of motherhood, but feel I have to just rant a little.  Since the end of the school year it has been an up and down battle in our household with D, mostly later in the day around bedtime.  It is frustrating and tiresome and I am ready for it to end.  We have been a little too lazy with the bedtime routine and I think that has killed us.  She gets overtired and then it is all downhill from there.  We have never struggled with this time of day, I think because I have always been very scheduled with bedtime, catch them before they are tired and get them in bed!  She has always been a great sleeper, so even putting her to bed at 7, she is still never up till around 7 the next morning.  The tantrums seem to happen mostly on N's night to put her to bed and I am not sure why.  I don't want to blame him, but I think he doesn't come off overly enthusiastic about the bedtime routine and she feeds off of that.  We chatted last night and agreed that we needed to push up bedtime and both stick to it.

I also think she misses the school schedule, so I created an hourly schedule for her this morning that we will start tomorrow.  She was excited to get it off the printer and read it.  Hopefully this will help with boredom and also with bedtime.

If anyone else has suggestions please post them!

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