monday notes

for many families out there it is back to school... 

I love seeing all of the pictures on Facebook and Instagram...

my boys start a new school on September 9th, we are switching daycare's, so I will be capturing their first day soon.

I hope they love their new school, I am extremely nervous that Grayson is going to have a hard time.  We keep talking about the new school and that he gets to bring a backpack to school.  I am hoping the excitement of getting to take a backpack to school will make everything okay.  I hope he doesn't miss his friends at his old school too much and he makes new friends quickly.  I hope I made the right decision... 

parenting is hard some days...

my boys walking into school today

 Crew is driving Grayson to school...ha!

crew was up at 5AM today so by 8AM Crew and I were ready for the day just waiting for Grayson to wake up and join the party.

I was not a fan of Crew waking up at 5 AM, but I tried to rock him back to sleep...he was more interested in playing so after trying for about 30 minutes we went downstairs and started our day of getting ready.  While I was rocking Crew I was thinking to myself enjoy this moment before it is gone.  Crew soon won't want me to rock him... sad face!  I don't want my baby to grow up I want to freeze time.  I think that is why I haven't taken Crew's bottle away...it is the last baby thing about Crew. 

{unless I can talk my hubby into another baby...}

Some day Crew will sleep in, but for today I enjoyed those three hours in the morning with just Crew.

In this season of life with two boys I have learned a lot about myself as a parent and what works and doesn't work for my boys.  I have learned to pick my battles with both boys.  

Example one:

If he wants to where footed PJ's in the afternoon on a HOT August Day I let him...

I have learned to relax and live in the moment with the boys.  It may sound weird, but I feel like I am a better parent when I have this attitude.

I have learned that playing with two boys is tough and rough... they are all boys! 

Sometimes I am a horsey that they climb on and ride... I walk around the playroom on my hands and knees and they take me to get pretend water and food.  I just love Grayson's imagination at three years old. 

Most of the time I am the referee making sure there is NO fighting or taking toys from one another 

OR

they are pushing to both sit on my lap   

I have learned if I keep the boys busy by the end of the day bed time is easy...especially when I am a single parent doing it all on my own.  BTW kudos to all those single parents out there... I don't know how you do it day in and day out! 

Yesterday we stayed busy from the moment we got up until bed time 

we played at home

went to the park

had lunch at home 

short naps, which called for a trip to the splash park

I needed to make sure that they were tired by the end of the day!

Plus it was a PERFECT day for the splash park...

and snow cones our first trip EVER to frozen tung 

 two is better than one 

after all that sugar we came home and played outside before dinner time

when I don't get a moment to myself, but a quick shower at 2PM my hair ends up like this...

my boys are a blessing and I am VERY thankful for weekends with them... 

we have fun and it is nice to not spend ONE moment looking at a computer!

a bunch of random points for this Monday that is the reason for the post title today monday notes {so fitting}, but all and all it was a great weekend... I hope you all had a great weekend too!

Sidenote:

From my working mama post several people ask me the following question via a comment or email:

When do you have time to exercise?

You always look great... 

I realize now that I didn't touch on this subject at all! 

I do exercise each day I would like to do more, but life with the boys and work is busy.  I am trying to make it more a priority, but it means that I either have to get up early or stay up late to work out.  This is what I do when I can't get to the gym during the day...

Which has become difficult...

{I am a pilates reformer lover... I need to sign up for a class at our fitness center for this session, hopefully it happens}

I do the following routine 

50 jumping jacks

20 lunges

10 push ups

20 squats 

20-30 sit ups 

1 minute plank hold, I have had to work up to a minute but I can do it now!

I usually do the above work out when the boys are playing upstairs in the playroom... they think it is fun to watch mommy and they like to help me out too...

plus running around with those boys is a workout too! 

If I don't do the above I usually do the Shred Work Out after the boys go to bed, which means I work out around 9:30 or 10PM at night.  I just started doing the Shred again over the past two weeks and I will tell you I feel much better doing this workout than my short version workout above. 

I think anything is better than nothing... 

I hope this answers all questions in regards to this topic... I am open for suggestions...