Welcome To Summer Charli

Woohoo! Summer break is here and first grade is over. We have been quiet excited to take on summer full force. Charli Beth worked hard in first grade and progressed dramatically.

She learned that she liked math and is really great at it too. Her favorite books are Chapter, because they are challenge if of course. Her writing has went on a roller coaster ride but is exactly where it needs to be.

We plan to have school time each day. It may only be reading and writing sentences on somedays. But since I am home, I feel it is my duty to help her stay prepared for second grade! Over the past few weeks I have been making Charli "welcome home" signs on Fridays. She got a little spoiled to it and asked for one everyday this week. So I went with it and it made her smile everyday. Score!

We have a lot planned this summer as a family. I pray that we have a lot of time together, just enjoying the moments.

Belated Mothers Day Post

Mother's Day has always been a special day in my heart. Not just because of the fact that I have the worlds most awesome Mother. But mainly because I have always seen the love, support and hard work that she has put out for us. There were many times in our childhood where it was only Ashley, Mom and I.

I honestly can never remember one time that she did not put us first. We never knew if we were in a bind because her love covered us. When we were older and in different situations I can see now that her reactions were actions of love. I know that my Mom working late hours, over the road and taking so much bad crap was for us - to provide for us.

A single parents love is a total different love. It's something that you only know the special meaning of, if you experience it. My Mom never let me feel less loved because my Father did not want to hold up the role he was called upon to be. She made us feel more loved.

I can only hope to love and care for my little ones as she has for me.

The Life of Charli Lately

It seems like an eternity since I have been able to sit down to just type a few paragraphs. We seem to be on the go a lot with ball games, Ranger and such. Even on the days we are overly busy Charli never ceases to amaze me with her responsibility. Each morning she thinks of Ranger first and the order in which she should get her morning started.

She feeds in the morning before school and at night. Unless it is raining, we would rather pick up the slack than letting her catch a cold. She did fall from a fence last week and scratched up her face and chest. The place have been healing great with the triple antibiotic cream until i noticed last night that her chest seems to be having an allergic reaction to the cream. She is broke out only over the side the scratch is on and not on her face which had the cream as well. Which is very strange to me.

I have now started giving her the responsibility of watering my flowers. When the weather becomes warmer we plan to work on a flower bed together. For some odd reason she is very ecstatic about pulling weeds. She is loving the farm life this season. I can only imagine how much time she will spend down the lane with the cows this summer.

She has been suffering from terrible growing pains recently. I guess since she is the shortest in the class, her body is trying to catch up before second grade. My MIL measured her last night and she has grown two inches since last summer. Her pains are mainly in her right leg and she spent the weekend limping. I pray that it continues to improve and we have no more sleepless night from aching.

Charli Beth has a week and a half left of school. I am so ready for this year to s over with but then again I really enjoy her teacher. I hate to loose such a caring, loving and wonderful educator for Charli. But I am excited over the accomplishments that second grade will hold.

Teacher Appreciation Day!

Charli has been very blessed with wonderful teachers in her life. Not only are they incredible educators, they are selfless and love their students dearly. I have already started a journal of letters from each teacher to give to Charli on her graduation day. I think this will be the best reminder for her of their compassion.

This year I have been honored to help in Charli's classroom with different activities. It's been such a blessing to see how much Charli Beth adores sweet Mrs. Graves. Charli has soared and exceeded at different areas of first grade. At others she has ha some difficulty, and Mrs. Graves has been on top of it very quickly. She even stopped by at lunch the other day to give us pointers on how to stay brain smart over Summer break. Ah, she is just the sweetest.

The PTO assisted in making it possible for every student to give a teacher a flower today. We purchased a pretty orange rose. Charli helped me make her other gift and even though it wasn't as cute as the Pinterest photo, she was very excited to give it. {The item between her hand prints is Arbonne Skin Conditioning Oil.} We hope this is just a little reminder to Mrs. Graves of just how much we have loves her this year!

Old Wives Tales

Since I am from the south I have heard "Old Wives Tales" all of my life. I pretty much have a huge love for them. I love hearing elders saying that you better not do a certain thing because something bad could happen. They truly make me giggle and I may even roll my eyes at them at times. But it's my love for all things southern, that makes me love them too.

A few of that I have heard all of my life are:

-"If you are pregnant and go a funeral home to not touch anything because something bad could happen to your baby." I know it's the silliest thing, ever. But I have never went to the funeral home while pregnant, and plan to not challenge this one.

-"If you dream someone dies, someone is pregnant." The night before Curtis and I found out we were expecting, we both dreamed of someone killing themselves.

-"If you dream someone gives birth, someone dies."

-"If your nose is itching, someone is coming to visit you. If your palm is itchy you will win the lottery, but if you scratch it the money will go away." Maybe my palm will get itchy soon.

-"If you crack an egg with a double yolk you will have twins!"

-"A cat can take a baby's breath away."

-"A baby must fall from a couch/bed before their first birthday, to have a long healthy life." I have accomplished this with both kids.

-"A bird in your house is a sign of death coming." Not true. Charli and I were chased by a bird in the house after leaving a window open when she was a toddler.

I know that some of them are ridiculous. There are so many more out there that I may have forgotten. What are some of the tall tales that you have heard of? Do you believe in them?

Shake It My Way - Arbonne

To be honest, I like to eat. I love food so much, that while growing up "Pig" became my nickname. Not because I am fat per say, but because I could eat more then most men in my family. So I have never really understood the whole gripe over protein and green smoothies. Especially taking two meals away and replacing them - pure craziness in my shallow minds.

Then I went to listened to an amazing 19 year old girl named Anna Joy Jeffery. She spoke about replacing two meals a day, then eating one healthy meal with the Arbonne 30 days to fit program has helped her loose over 70 pounds in 9 months! Wow. Uhm, hello? So apparently I am the crazy one.

Arbonne protein comes is pea protein which is SO good for you. Pea protein is easier to digest, less likely to cause allergy issues, and is a valuable source of energy. Arbonne protein also contains 21 essentials vitamins in each serving and does NOT contain whey which can leave you feeling gassy and bloated. Our products are also made without gluten and are vegan approved. Even though I am an Arbonne Independent Consultant I would recommend this program to anyone due to the benefits it has.

I started my protein shakes last night and will also be doing more of the 30 days to fit program. Because I want to be thinner, more in shape and also HOT for my husband.

My Arbonne Protein recipe is:

- 1 single serving / 2 scoops of protein
- 8 ounces Almond milk (unsweetened for less calories)
- Half banana
- A handful of strawberry, blueberries, raspberries (any fruit you pick)
- A handful of Spinach (I promise you cannot taste it)
- 3 pieces of ice

I have personally only tried Vanilla because I am not a chocolate fan. I know, I know it is craziness but true. I am also going to do something very scary and to hold me accountable during this process.

Yes, this is my before photo! In this process I hope to tone this baby belly and birthing muffin top/hip. I am prepared for doing hard work along with taking the measure of the 30 days to fit program.

Bowling Green March Of Dimes Walk

On Saturday we joined other local teams and participants to walk for March of Dimes. We had 8 show up for our team Cruzin' Cousins and I felt incredibly lucky to have their support in such a great organization. The walk could not have been on a more perfect day! Not to hot, not to cold and the sky was gorgeous.

What I could of changed was the walk route. Lets just say that one of my jogging stroller tires went flat, so I was using my handy dandy Chicco umbrella stroller on big gravel hills and rough grass. It was a work out for sure. But of course it was worth it!

It was great to see the Bowling Green Hotrods mascots and WKU's Big Red out walking along! Charli even got a high five during the route. After the walk was finished we let the kiddo play in the jump house then, we all treated ourselves to cotton candy while listening to a little karaoke!

I have to give the coordinator of our local chapter a huge hand. She was such a nice lady in helping get Cuzin' Cousins set up. The walk and all of the sponsor on Saturday were amazing. One man has raised $10,000 - amazing!!

If you do not have a local team, I urge you to find one to donate to. Each dollar goes to helping save thousands of babies every single day. In one week over 150 premature babies were born in Kentucky, not counting the babies that were born with birth defects. These are the tiniest fighters and are such blessings to my life!

Cowgirl Training

Since becoming an owner of a horse Charli Beth has had to up her responsibilities. She gets up early before to make her bed, eat breakfast, feed Ranger and then finish getting ready for the day. Each morning she spends at least 10-15 minutes with him until I call her back home. One morning I even had to run in the rain to get her attention and at night she prays for him too. It's amazing the love that she has already picked up for him, even if he is still learning her.

She has had to overcome some fears. Mainly, her fear of poop since Daddy made her shovel it from the barn. She even spilled some down her clothes and didn't even gag. Bravo to the girl who used to even gag at bugs!

We are working with Ranger to figure out some equipment issues then hopefully their riding will start back up. He seems to already be getting fat and sassy here at home, since he is getting fed twice a day. Charli is already wanting to "go fast" but she still has lots of learning to do.

In getting her dream of becoming a cowgirl and future barrel racer I hope this helps install the honest work bone in her. I want her to always be a passionate hard worker in everything that she has.