Wordless Wednesday

Totally Random Tuesday

It's that time again on Tuesday where I catch up on the randomness that is our life....

Last Thursday night Matt and I attended the Choose Life banquet with our Life Group.  It was a great opportunity to support a great organization.  My parents graciously agreed to watch the kids but that was before they knew my dad was having chemo on Wednesday.  But being the Rock Star that he is, he came and watched them anyway.  He is that amazing!!  

 I went and ate lunch with Ben last week and watched the boys play the strangest game with their fingers called sticks.  They hit each other with their fingers and changed numbers.  I totally didn't get it but they sure were having fun.

 I love this picture of Ben.  The light was filtering in on him as he did his last week of BSF questions for the year.  I am so proud of how well he did.  God is doing big things in his heart and life right now and we are seeing some amazing results.  We are so thankful for how his heart is being drawn closer to Christ everyday.

 Kate has 3 softball games this week.  I must say they are so very funny to watch.  She is just hilarious out there.  She has no clue what is going on and spends most of her time drawing in the dirt but she has fun.  She has the biggest smile on her face the whole time.  There is a coach assigned to her to keep her going in the right direction.

 Today was a CRAZY day and we were on the go the whole day.  We had a few minutes after school pick up before I had to be back at work so we swung by Chic fil A for a treat.  Ben has loved having the Chic fil A card where you get a free item each month.  On the first of every month he asks to go and then asks everyday until I take him.  Somehow we managed to make it until today to go get our free frosted lemonades.  The kids really enjoyed them.

Well that's it for the Eckleys.  I'm tired so off to bed...

Kate's Perfect Day

This past weekend was the annual Panoply festival in Big Spring Park.  It is a large art's festival that is held the last weekend in April each year.  It has been going on since I was a child.  I remember going when I was little.  I hadn't been in years and I wasn't so sure if it was fun but boy was I wrong.  It was Kate's perfect day.  Full of everything that she loves - music, dance and art.  There were so many fun things for her to do.  

She got to practice playing some new instruments.  

 There were crafts for her to do all over the park.  She got to make an art work with a robot.  It was really cool!

 She got her face painted.

 And made a paper bag astronaut helmet.  She loved that!

 It was absolutely a gorgeous day and nothing I would rather do than to spend this special time with my sweetie!  We had so much fun!

 She made the most beautiful crown.  I had a hard time getting her to move on to the next thing because she was so into the art at each station.

 We worked up a big appetite and got some hot dogs from a food truck.  Like I said it really was Kate's perfect day including her favorite food.

I am so glad Kate and I got to spend the morning together at Panoply!

Kateism Update

If you read last week's post on Kateisms, you will get this post.  I opened the back of the van on Monday and saw this!  Ha!!  She updated the boring gray van with some of her beautiful drawings.  Don't know if I should be mad or smile.  I choose to smile!\

2nd Grade Field Trip

Ben's class got to go on an awesome field trip today to Monte Sano mountain.  It was a beautiful day with perfect weather and a group of fun kids!  

 We did some hiking down some trails on the mountain.

 Went exploring in some "caves."

 I loved getting to see Ben interact with all his buddies at school.  They are such sweet kids.

 I had a group of 4 kiddos and we got to do a scavenger hunt for some nature items.

 Then we had to hike back up the trail.  Ugh!!

 We finished up in the classroom learning about animals.

It was such a great day with my little guy.  Thankful for the time to get to spend with him.

Dance Pictures

Today was dance picture day!  So exciting.  Kate could not wait to get her dance costume on and get all "dolled up."  She looked so beautiful!  Can't wait to see her dance next month!

A Panera Weekend

Our weekend was pretty low key which was great!  Friday night was just hanging out at home.  Kids played with friends and Matt and I watched a movie.  Perfect Friday night.  

If you remember from blog posts many years ago - we used to go every Saturday morning.  Over the years life got in the way and we didn't get to go to Panera anymore.  Saturday morning the baseball games got cancelled due to rain so we had a free morning.  Off to Panera we went.  I watched the kids walk into Panera and it brought back memories of them being little babies and us going.  They have gotten so big!  

 Everyone had their "usual."  It was just the good old days!

 Then it was back to the house for lots of chores.  Matt planted several new bushes in the yard and I cleaned and cooked for a dinner get together.  We had some friends over for a grill out.  It was so nice to get to use our new porch and have friends over.

 Sunday morning it was off to church with these cuties!  It was then a laid back afternoon which was wonderful.

Some Kateisms

As I have said many times, Kate is a funny little girl.  She is definitely a baby among first-borns in our house.  She just does and thinks so differently from the rest of us.  It is so much fun!  I tell her all the time that God chose her special for our family because He knew we needed her.  And she repeats that often to people.  She has a very special place in our family.  Because of her quirky style there are lots of funny things that she says and does (plus add on being 5 which I think is just a funny age).  Here are a few that she has said lately...

It is well known that Kate is about the slowest person around.  I am not kidding.  She never gets in a hurry which is just fine unless you are playing a sport where you are required to hustle.  So at softball practice a few nights ago she had an interaction with Mrs. Ashley that went something like this...

Ashley:  "Come on Kate you need to hurry and run fast around the bases."

Kate: (Said very slowly as she was walking around the bases) "I don't hurry."

We were driving along this week and out of no where Kate says, "The inside of our van is so boring and gray.  I wish we could paint it rainbow colors.  Then it would be so much more exciting."   Never have I ever thought about the inside color of our van.  Only Kate!!  We love her so!

Wordless Wednesday

A Day In the Life

I thought it would be fun to do a "day in the life" post.  These are crazy days and I want to remember them.  The day started off a little later than usual.  It was a non running day so I got to sleep until 6.  Matt woke me up as he was leaving for work (it is always early days for him).  

 First up I had to get ready.  Then it was off to fix breakfast for these sleepy heads along with lunches.  Not the most fun part of the day but have to do it.

 Then it was off to drop these cuties at school.  Ben is first then we meet up with Kaylee and Ashley for carpool for Kate.  The carpool is the best thing ever and saves a couple of trips over the mountain each day.  Glad they were all smiles as they head off for the day!

 Today was sort of an odd day because I didn't have to work.  Tuesday mornings are usually full of work but for some reason today I didn't have any patients scheduled (one of the perks of setting my own schedule).  So I ran home for a little while to put on some laundry and organize Kate's closet for the summer.  Thankful to get some time to get some things done!

 Then it was off to run a few errands including stopping by Ben's school to finish registering Kate for kindergarten.  You will be happy to know I didn't cry as I turned in all her paperwork.

 I met up with Ashley for lunch (meant to get a picture but forgot).  My friends are always so sweet to eat lunch with on days my dad gets scan reports.

 I then ran over the mountain to get Kate from school before heading off to dance.  It was a big day at dance because they got their recital costumes.  I got word from my parents during dance that my dad's scans were ok (some good and some not so good).  Scan days are always stressful.

 Then it was off to one of my favorite parts of the day - picking up this guy from school.  I love seeing his sweet smile as he gets into the car.

 We were able to swing by home for about 30 minutes so everyone could get their homework done and get changed for the evening activities.

 Our evening was a little complicated.  I had to drop Ben off at Matt's work so he could get him to his baseball game while I ran to work.  I had to see a late afternoon patient and since Kate had a softball game she was with me.  She loves hanging at my work.

 After work, it was over to the ball park near my office for Kate's game.  She was excited to play her friend Caroline's team and to get to go to a new park.  She did great!  The ball came to her and she caught it - step in the right direction.

 I was getting updates on Ben's game via text.  They won and Ben got 2 hits and an RBI.  Since dinner wasn't happening at home we met up at Buenavista for dinner.  It also happened to be Spirit Night for Ben's school so it was even more of an excuse to eat out.  Great to sit down together and catch up on everyone's day since we had been going non-stop.

We finished up the day with quick showers for everyone and bed time!!  Matt and I are finishing up by blogging and writing emails in bed while watching "New Girl."

There you have it - our day!  Like I said they are crazy days but wouldn't trade it for anything!