Ironman Photo Shoot

Carrie and I wanted to put together collages for our husbands to give to them before their big race as a motivational gift so on the Thursday before the race we gathered the troops after boot camp and took some photos.  The location was perfect at Northshore Park since this was where the race would start-2.4 miles of swimming in the lake that is normally closed off for swimming!  Let's just say it isn't the clear blue water of Hawaii!

The kids were...well they acted like kids during the photo shoot but thankfully we lucked out and got some great shots! Thanks to Nana (Mike's mom) and Eve's help we made it work!  Here are some of my favorites:

Joseph rocking the swim gear

Rich started saying "Ducote Strong" with Joseph a few months ago after catching the movie, "Remember the Titans" on tv one night.  There is a motivating scene where two of the players are inspiring the rest of the team with the following dialogue, "Now let me ask you somethin' Mr. Bertier.  Gerry: Uh-huh.  Julius:  How strong are you?  Gerry: I'm too strong!  Julius: How strong are you?!  Gerry: I'm too strong!!" Rich has adapted this scene and will ask Joseph, "How strong are you?" And Joseph will say "Too strong" and then Rich will ask him again, "How strong are you?" and Joseph will say (or is supposed to say-depends on the day if he gets it right) "Too strong" and then he'll ask him a third time, "How strong are you?" and Rich taught him to say, "Ducote Strong!"  It is pretty hilarious when Joseph gets it right (and when he doesn't get it right for that matter).  So, when I had the t-shirts made I figured that "Ducote Strong" was perfect for Joseph!

 Carrie and I think this one should be submitted to Ironman-too cute!!

 Sweet Ella girl!

Love these kiddos!

 I think he was saying, "Smile Ella" in this picture!

 Hug or chokehold?  Hard to tell some days...

Starting to lose them...photo shoot almost over.

 And by this point the photo shoot was done!

Some cute ones of the Conley girls

 And, even Olivia wanted in on the fun!

 It was so fun putting this together for Rich and he loved it!  We gave the photo collage to him Friday night before the race along with a book of good luck wishes from all of our family and his close friends.  I sent letters to everyone last month asking to write him a note to wish him good luck and the turnout was great-thank you to everyone who wrote him a letter!  Rich was really touched and I am sure they made him swim, bike and run a bit faster!

Waiting for my Daddy

On Wednesday, May 15th, Rich took a half day off from work because he had to check in for the Ironman that morning.  Joseph helped him that morning get his bike and the rest of his gear ready to be dropped off.  When Rich left Joseph stood in the garage for honestly 20 minutes saying, "I'm waiting for my Daddy."  When Mr. Brad, our neighbor, came out of his house Joseph said, "That's not my Daddy, that's Mr. Brad.  I'm waiting for my daddy."  It was just too cute not to get a picture of and to remember!

Baseball Season

I mentioned last month about Joseph's love for baseball.  From baseball books at the library, to talking about our favorite baseball teams (his is the Tigers-thanks to his buddy Kolton, mine is the Padres, Daddy's is the Braves and Poppa's is the Yankees), to playing baseball in the backyard daily we are in full swing of baseball season!  We have hitting drills, pitching drills and catching drills thanks to one of his library books and we are still listening to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on repeat in the car.  Last week he asked me for "baseball arms and legs" thanks to the major league players with tattoos! He is quite the baseball fan and player!

 

Happy Mother's/St. Patrick's Day

I was greeted at the bottom of the stairs by an excited Joseph on the morning of Mother's Day. Joseph looked at me and then looked at Rich and I saw Rich nod and then Joseph gave me a big hug and said, "Happy St. Patricks Day Mommy!"  Ha!!  Daddy practiced with him all morning before I got up but when he saw me he just got so excited that all of the practice went out the window!  He recovered quickly and gave me another hug saying "Happy Mother's Day!"  Sweet boy!  And for the rest of the day I was wished Happy Mother's Day (and sometimes Happy St. Patrick's Day) over and over again! 

We had a great day-nothing too out of the ordinary but it was still just so nice!  We went on a 6 mile family run which was a nice treat because Daddy pushed the double and I just got to "cruise!"  This was on our cool down walk to the park-love this view!

After the run I was getting in the shower and Joseph asked to come in and I told him that I'd like to shower in peace for one day and he looked at me and said, "I'm sweaty, too, Momma".  I almost caved and let him in with such a cute response but thankfully Rich was able to persuade him into the kitchen to make a special breakfast.

Love the "flowers" that Joseph picked for me that morning.  No need for fancy bouquets when you have hand picked "flowers" from the yard!!

 After our delicious breakfast we headed to church for the noon mass.  We brought Joseph to the nursery but he was the only child there so we told the ladies to go home and enjoy their Mother's Day and that we would take him to mass.  We opted for the cry room just to be safe but he was really good-actually both kids were great!  I told him before we walked into the church that we were going in to pray to Jesus and to listen to stories about him and throughout the mass he kept asking, "Where is him?"  And he also kept saying, "What's next, what's next?"  He walked between us to receive communion and I had tears in my eyes when I turned around to see him with his hands crossed over his chest to receive the blessing from the priest-made me just so thankful to be blessed with two such wonderful kids. Although he was on his best behavior during mass we are so thankful that there is the nursery because at this age (and with his activity level) I think he gets more out of there right now-as do we.  Oh and by the end he was wanting to basically jump into the baptismal font so right there is reason enough to have him stay in the nursery for another year or so :)  

We did swing by the mall on the way home from church to grab a quick lunch and to pick up our laptop which was getting repaired.  Couldn't leave without a quick ride on the carousel. 

After naps we talked about going "hiking" in the nature preserve but both kids took such great naps that they weren't up until close to 5 so we just played in the backyard, helped Daddy mow the lawn and then we grilled out.  It was the perfect  relaxing ending to a wonderful Mother's Day!

Ella was about to pass out when we took these pictures so that is why she looks exhausted...

LOVE these two so much and I feel so blessed and am so thankful that I am a mom.  

Single digits

I'm trying to catch up on blogging so figured I would clump the single digit days of May together.  We've had a busy and fun beginning of the month.  

Big news is that our little one is now mobile...Ella finally made it over the hump of just hanging out on her side and rolled over on May 3rd and once she started hasn't stopped.  Every time we put her down now she ends up on her stomach and actually likes the view from there so it is all good.  On May 6th she started sleeping on her stomach which of course freaked momma out but by now I am used to it, although I still do check on her probably more than I need to!  Also, in these first ten days of May she has mastered the art of going down by herself in her crib-a little bit of fussing and she is out for both naps and at night. As of now her routine is to eat at 7:30, then go to bed, then I feed her around 10 and then she is up at 2ish and fights it a little bit since I am holding strong and not feeding her and then back down and then she is up between 4-5 to eat and then back down till around 8.  Still wish her older brother would sleep past 5:30 but we are doing much better than the beginning of April so we are getting there!

Here are some pictures from the first ten days of May:

 "I'm rolling Momma!"

 Joseph has kept us laughing these first few days of May, too.  Most mornings he has a huge poop in his diaper and last weekend Daddy asked him, "Joseph, why do you have such a big poop in the morning?" and Joseph replied, "Daddy, because I ate too much food."  Couldn't argue with that one.  He has taken a liking to napping on the floor and about half of the time I find him out of his bed on the floor...had to document it!  Funny boy!

Not that it is any different any other month because we are always at the park (love having it right behind our house!) but we have spent an extra amount of time outside so far this month knowing that summer is right around the corner and the hours outdoors will be limited (ugh, as much as I love it here I am not sure if I will ever get used to-or love-the summers here-we make it work but not my favorite.)  Anyways, Ella went in the swing the first time this month and is a fan!  Well, once she got some shades!

Too bright!!  

 Auntie Carrie to the rescue!!  I think I have a picture of myself around this age with glasses on and we look identical-I am going to have to find it!

And some fun in the swings with big brother!

 

 Over the first weekend we drove the 112 mile bike route for Daddy's triathlon on the 18th.  Joseph was not impressed!

 However, Rich and I thought the scenery was gorgeous.  There are some rolling hills throughout the ride which will make it a bit challenging, especially in the close to 90 degree weather and high humidity that is predicted for race day, but we are positive that Daddy is going to do awesome!  He has been training on the course but the farthest that he had ridden was 50 miles (since he has been going out and back) so we wanted to ride the rest of the course since it is a loop course.  We are getting so excited for race day!

 We also celebrated one of Joseph's buddies' birthdays the first weekend in May.  

 Uncle Paul sent Joseph an awesome package filled with baseball fun!  It seriously made Joseph's day (well, week so far) and we are so appreciative. With Poppa working for the NFL and Uncle Paul for Major League Baseball he is set!  

 Thanks Uncle Paul!

Brotherly-sisterly love!

May 2, 2013

 and the love is starting to fade...

 This little dress was passed on to Ella from Abby Martin and I was so excited for Ella to wear it.  I remember Abby wearing it and just thought it was the cutest!  Thanks Abby!  Of course we had to have a photo shoot in the dress! 

 And just some crazy bedhead to round out the beginning of May!  Seriously, what an awesome way to start the day!!