Summer

We've had an excellent summer.  I can't believe there's only one week left til I report back for Preplanning.  Crazy how fast it flies!!!

So here's a very quick recap of our summer.  We went to the Renaissance Festival with some friends...

Then we headed to SSI for my cousin's wedding... We headed down with my family and our favorite babysitter, Kelsie.

From SSI, we headed to the gulf to Seagrove Beach on 30A.  We LOVED our time there (even if there was seaweed...YUCK!)  NC LOVED the ocean and the waves (until one took her out) then she wasn't so sure.  Pop and Granma joined us there.

I am very sad we did NOT get a family picture on the beach this year.  :(  Since we've been home, we've gone to the pool bunches and had quite a few playdates with friends.  We've gone to Monkey Joes a few times and the Children's Museum - Imagine It!  Oh and the Braves game for Father's Day!

We took our annual trip to Chattanooga for Chris to compete in the triathlon.  NC loved playing in the water, Creative Discoveries and of course the aquarium.  This time she really LOVED watching the penguins.  I think she would've stood there all day, if we had let her.

And most recently, NC got her hair cut for the VERY FIRST time!  She did awesome and said afterwards "That was fun!"

And that's our summer in a nutshell!  We've had so much fun!

Well...

I'm getting a little better.  It's only been a month this time.  I just find I don't spend time on the computer when I have the time.  I chose to do other things, like watch my favorite shows or go to bed early.  The end of the school year is always so tiring!

We are keeping busy with swim lessons on Saturdays, birthday parties and various other things.  Chris is about to begin a new tri season with Team in Training.  This time, he's a coach.  He is coaching the fall team, which both events are a week or two after Butterbean should arrive.

Speaking of Butterbean, we still don't know the gender.  We have it - in an envelope- but I think Chris has decided to be surprised again (I left it up to him for a few reasons...). 

Chris and I celebrated our anniversary a few weeks ago by visiting Woodfire Grill.  I have been wanting to go there since we saw Kevin on Top Chef.  LOVED him.  He is by far, one of my favorite chefs I have seen on TC.  It was heavenly and divine.  Such a wonderful and delicious meal.  Oh and did I mention our table was right by the woodfire grill where Kevin was plating food???  I could've touched him I was so close!  :)

 

NC is quite the character and becoming a very, headstrong little 2 year old.  The tantrums (mainly just crying fits) are happening more frequently.  But it is so fun to watch her little imagination develop.  She talks about the things she is drawing (scribbles to me and you) and has started pretending to have picnics and such. 

Um....

So I've been pretty awful lately at a lot of things... Mainly documenting NC's life. I haven't blogged about the funny things she says or does... And worse, I have been terrible with the camera. Now don't get me wrong, I've gotten pictures with my iPhone, just not with my "real" camera. Bad mommy.

So what have we been up to since NC turned 2 ( which she will tell you she's two and hold both pointer fingers as her 2)... Well, we are very excited that our family is growing again. Butterbean will join us end of August/beginning of September. I did not feel well at all first trimester but have felt much better the last 5-6 weeks. It's still up in the air whether we will find out the gender or not. We both had so much fun not knowing last time.... We will see. :) between being pregnant, school (with my awful commute) and NC I just haven't had time to do anything. :)

We haven't done anything really big. We visited the Georgia aquarium for the first time at the end of January. NC is taking swim lessons, which she LOVES!! On Saturdays. That's really about all.

NC is quite a character. She is very headstrong and independent. My favorite thing she says is "NC doed it" ;) funny girl. She's recently started telling us she is stinking cute, as well. Such a mess with quite a personality. She is also very sweet. I can tell though that twos are going to be fun. This week, I have gotten a taste of those terrible twos.

I promise to try to be better. Even if it's just random thoughts :)

NC is two!

I can't believe it! My sweet girl is two! She actually turned two a few weeks ago, on the 15th. We have been busy though. We had a great little party and enjoyed the weekend. Sunday was her actual birthday, and we just enjoyed time together as a family. It was nice. I can't believe she is two!!!

Nancy Carolyn is quite an active little monkey. She loves to climb and do things...has NO fear whatsoever. She talks a lot. Loves to do things herself "NC doed it." it's been fun to watch her actual play and start to pretend, she got a picnic basket for her birthday and she can pretend to eat the food. We gave her a big girl bed for her birthday. She does well in it at night, but not so much at nap time. Still working on that (any suggestions out there?).

Two year check up went well... She weighed 26 lbs. I can't remember how tall she was but it was the 91st % which totally is crazy to me. Here's a pic of the birthday girl.

Chris Hartley ... You are an IRON MAN!!!

My hubby is an IRONMAN!  He has been training since January with the awesome TEAM in Training.  I began to feel that many of his teammates were apart of our family.  (I know they, as a TEAM they were a family).  After much training, we flew to Arizona the weekend before Thanksgiving.  The race was in the Tempe/Phoenix area.  The weather was BEAUTIFUL!  Such a great day!  Chris's parents went with us.  We luckily made it to the start to see everyone's flailing arms begin to swim.  I wasn't sure how the day would go but it went pretty well.  We ended up staying at the race site all day.  I wanted to see Chris every chance we could.  (The bike was a 3 loop course and so was the run).  Chris's goal was to complete the race in 12 hours... He crossed the finish line (He was second from his TEAM to cross) at 11:35!  AND he looked really good running around the corner to the line.  We were SOO proud!

We stayed the week in Arizona.  We drove up to Flagstaff on Tuesday so that we could go to the Grand Canyon and see some other sites.  It is definitely a beautiful country and so different than here in Georgia!

Year End Review

I've been thinking a lot about the past year today (and yesterday).  I even took the time to reread all of my posts from the past year (There were not as many as I hoped).  Here are some of my thoughts:

• We had a pretty great year, for the most part.  As Nancy Carolyn continues to grow and bloom, she just amazes us everyday.  We are so incredibly blessed by her.  She is quite a character (which I've mentioned on more than one occasion), with a very sweet soul.  She is a lot like me and a lot like Chris.  I hope all of our good qualities.  She definitely makes life SO.MUCH.FUN!

 

• The year has been a challenging one.  In fact, if you had talked to me a few weeks ago, I would've told you it was a horrible year.  But in reflection, it was not a horrible year.  It was challenging- a growing year.  Chris trained for his first IronMan, which took him away from us quite a lot... but it was SO worth it to see him cross the finish line (I need to post about our Arizona trip... that's coming up) I lost my beloved gifted position at my Minor home.  THAT was tough, but was snagged by a wonderful  principal.  I've moved back INTO the classroom which has been a growing experience.  I have mixed feelings about school, in general.  I feel that I need to make a change.  My new school, which I do like, is just SO.FAR.AWAY.  I feel that I spend time that could be spent with NC, or being a better teacher is spent in the car.  Also, this year was challenging in that we got pregnant and were so excited only to lose another baby in a miscarriage.  Honestly, I haven't quite recovered from that and have really struggled with being happy since that loss. 

• In reviewing my goals that I set for the year, I really haven't done well with achieving my goals.  When school started this fall, I stopped running.  I actually even signed up to do the Publix Half in March, but had to drop off the TEAM because I honestly could not find make the time to run.  I would like to think that I have been eating fairly healthy.  Not the greatest, but not horrible.  I gained weight with the pregnancy and have struggled to lose it.  (I think the depression played a little on that).  We have not found a church home... mainly due to Chris training on Sundays.  We attended church with my dad (NC and I) for the majority of the year.  BUT since the race, we did try Sunday school at the church we have been attending off and on for a few years.  I think we're both ready to get involved. (YAY!)  And time with God, honestly, it's been minimal too.  I'm SUPER excited that I have the Jesus Calling app and now book (thanks Sue!) to hopefully help me focus on spending some time with Him.  PLUS I just recently started reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts, which I just love her daily emails that I get every afternoon.

 

• Thirty One has been really good to me.  I recently promoted to a director.  I've managed to set some goals and achieve them.  My current goals are to maintain 2 parties a month and to grow my little team.  I really LOVE the company, want to share how awesome it is, and just the amazing opportunity that can be found in it.  God is definitely at work in the company!  It's been a nice supplement to our income.  I'd love to see if I could make it a full time job, instead of something I do just for fun.  This is my motto for my 31 business.

 

So my goals for 2012...

• I hope to grow our family.
• I hope to be healthy and find some sort of routine to run or do SOMETHING.  I want to have an active lifestyle to set an example for my girl.
• I hope to find a church home (FOR REAL) and get involved. 
• I hope to find something that will make me happy (jobwise).
• I hope to grow my business.

What are your goals for the new year?  I wish you and yours a blessed New Year!

And another app

Trying another app with my iPad.

Testing

Just seeing what all I can do...

Love! .... And a fall recap.

I love being home with NC everyday. We are having lots of fun together. We are currently working on potty training. I can't believe my sweet girl is going to be 2 next month! She is growing up so fast.

This past fall was quite hectic and busy. My new school is very far and learning a new grade level has been challenging. The winter break has been much needed!

Chris finished his ironman in November, which also had us quite busy. His goal was 12 hours and he finished in 11:36. I was so proud of him. We spent the week out in Arizona and celebrated Thanksgiving there.

Nancy Carolyn is quite a character. She is very smart (I think). She has started speaking in some sentences. One of my favorite things she says is "NC doed it" (or whoever she wants to do something). She is quite active and has a sense of humor too. Just love her to death. :)

Hopefully...

Merry Christmas y'all!

I have been a horrible, slacker of a blogger...BUT hopefully that will change! My fantastic and very generous husband (Santa baby) gave me not only my first pair of diamond earrings today but also an iPad! Yay! So I'm hoping that I'll now how more time to blog on a regular basis...

Santa!

I

Stationery card

Seasonal Chic Christmas Card

Browse our collection of Christmas card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

random thoughts

• Time?  Where does it go?  I have all these great ideas and great intentions but time just gets away from me and I don't get any of it done or get to try any of it.
• The first 9 weeks is over.  I'm going to attempt to be better organized so that I don't spend all day Sundays grading papers.  Also, that I don't end up trying to cram in all the grades needed on the last two days of the 9 weeks (EEK!)  I'm also vowing to be better prepared than I have been... I feel like I've just been feeling my way through... stumbling more like, barely treading water.
• I want to make bows for NC.  MUST MAKE TIME.
• What am I spending my Saturday afternoon doing today?  Browsing teacher blogs.  There are SO.MANY.OUT.THERE... all have great ideas that are inspiring me to be a better teacher.  What I want to know is how they have the time to blog all their great ideas???  I wish I could figure out time to update this one more and possibly create my own teaching blog???  
• Speaking of time, how do full time working moms make time to exercise???  I totally need to do that again and am completely struggling to find time. 

Playgrounds, Apple orchards and triathlons OH MY!

September was a super busy month (aren't they all these days).  We started the month by going to a Braves game with Pop and Granma.

The weather has been so nice, we've spent a lot of time playing outside.  We went out to Grayson for my cousin's daughter's birthday party (She turned 2 this month).  NC had a GREAT time playing with her cousins and I LOVED seeing my cousins. 

We also drove up to Hillcrest Apple Orchards to check out the Apple Festival.  Nancy Carolyn LOVED playing and picking the "bapples"

And last weekend we spent in Augusta for the Half Iron Man.  Chris and the "team" completed the half and they all rocked it.  Next up, Ironman Arizona in November.  To say that I'm ready to have my husband back is an understatement.  I think he's going to make a shirt for me that says "Ironman Widow" and one for NC that says "Ironman Orphan" since we're on our own so much.  Anyway, Chris had a PR race by 19 minutes.  NC and I saw him run but while he was swimming (we were eating breakfast) and cycling- we were playing. 

Despite how September started out for us, it ended up being a great month.  I LOVE my little family and can't wait to see what the rest of Fall has in store for us.