Impact Cheer 2017-2018

My child has been asking to be a cheerleader for a good long while.  

Like years.

I have no problem with her asking for this, but I didn't want her to like it.

She does.

I coached as well, so those tiny nuggets worked their way into my heart.

Truly brought me a lot of joy and I was thrilled to be a part of the program.

We went a whole entire season and didn't win a single competition.

We went to nationals and won the whole thing!

Apparently the jacket is a big deal!

WES: year two.

Y'all.

I'm so grateful for those mommas who take '1st day of school pics' before school on the actual first day of school.  I get so many good ideas from them!  I'll be honest with you;  I take mine after school and usually just before bath time.  I can barely get myself up, dressed, out the door, etc. on time for school.  You can honestly forget adding photo time into that equation.  

So, here we go.

First grade with Mrs. Bragg and he's in LOVE with it.  His class is full of some of his very best buddies and some of the best kids I know.  I cannot wait to watch him grow and learn in the next 180 days.  I loved school and I love being a student.  I feel like he will be my studious child and for that, I'm grateful.

This girl started kindergarten with Mrs. Watkins.  She is thrilled with the aspect of social time every day.  She wants to wear a dress and a matching hairbow every day too!  She came home sweaty and so tired, but she loves every minute of it.  Her learning will be different and more challenging for all of us.  She tries hard and works every day at her homework with a gleeful attitude.

Daryk and I started our 11th year together as educators at the same school together this fall.  I know some people think it is crazy to work alongside your spouse, but I do enjoy working with him.  I like spending time with him and seeing his relationships with students.  He has a different crop of students than I do, and I so appreciate their interactions.  

Here's to a new year and some amazing kids, both at home and at school!

NYE

I have a fearless child.  She knows nothing of that word.  She's not afraid of the dark.  She's not afriad of noises.  She's not scared to tell you how she feels or what she thinks.  She does what she wants.  And yes, she woke up like that.  She arrived like that.  She came to us with no fear.  She is determined and stubborn and a mess.  I  love her and her zeal for life!  

Fireworks, no problem.  She was disappointed that we wouldn't let her shoot the BIG BIG ones.

Still love this guy.

Happy New Year (in March)...

6 years of NYE together and we still smile.

Freezing for Football

In light of the blustery weather outside, I thought I would throw it back to one of my favorite nights this year.  We have spent most Friday nights since 2006 at the high school.  Some of those nights have been spent coaching and some of them have been spent with my littles on the sidelines.  This past season was one of my favorites since I got to embrace the littles and not coach.  Deciding not to coach was bittersweet for me.  I love the girls, but I love my littles as well.  I had to choose between the two, for the sake of time and my sanity.  It was unbelieveably difficult to walk away from those young ladies and I have missed them tremendously.  

This one especially.

Love her.

But being a mom and aunt has its perks too...

Sweet lord at the crazies...

and it is beautiful to see these two things merge...

Seeing the girls love my littles is precious beyond description.

School begins

Football season came and went.

We spent the first part of the season in shorts...

...the last part of the season bundled up like eskimoes.

And I got to hang out with this handsome fella and perform CPR and basic first aid.

I can attempt to help save your life in the event that I'm not in a major panic about it...

The Gym

Hayes has been taking gymnastics classes for about 3 years now.  He started upstairs and took a parent/tot class for a little while.  I venture to say it was one of the best times we had as parents!  We had a great class and spent a lot of time with those people.  There were 2 parents per kid (most of the time) and we all crammed into that classroom week after week.  We also had an amazing instructor who let us cram in there and play with our kids!  

Hayes LOVES to go to gymnastics.  He has now moved downstairs and takes a 'big boy' class with older boys.  He has a blast while he's there and has really learned a lot in the last few months.  We are looking forward to many more years of gymnastics with our cheese ball!

Elizabeth started taking gymnastics as soon as she turned 1.  She has been quite the star in class and out of class.  She often makes up her own routines and pays very little attention to her directions and mostly does whatever she wants to do!  However, she does enjoy the stamps on her hands at the end, so she always follows directions during that part of class.  Stinker!  Here she is modeling her medal and trophy at the 'end of the year' program.  She's a cutie!

Almost home.

Caution:  this will be a husband/dad brag.  Read accordingly.  Or skip because you aren't interested...

This man is wonderful.  Last year about this time he looked at me one night after dinner and said, 'If you really want to have another baby, we better get it done soon.  You have until August and then we are done trying.'  My heart almost leaped out of my chest!  I had just left the doctor's offices a few weeks prior with a birth control prescription and I hadn't filled it yet since we were not quite decided on that plan or not...  I know he wasn't too sure about baby #3, but he knew I really wanted one.  Sure enough, we 'tried' for about 3 months and we got pregnant by August.  We actually found out we were expecting SB the last week of July.  I was thrilled!  

I have the best partner.  He knew that this last baby was a true desire of my heart and he let me have it.  Yes, I could have created a surprise baby.  Yes, we could have had an accident.  I don't believe that would be a good way to bring a baby into my family.  Not to mention the whole, 'lying to your spouse' thing.  Yeah, just not okay.  And he listened to me complain and whine and fuss and be grateful and loving and a bit hormonal for 39 weeks and 6 whole days.  He listened to every single bit of it.  He reminded me that I chose this and that I wanted it.  When I got tired he rubbed my feet or rubbed my head.  He didn't complain when his 'daddy work load' got harder because I could do less.  He stepped up the game.

He has always been a hands on dad.  He does bath time every. single. night without fail.  He helps fold tiny clothes and puts them away.  He helps dress a little girl who changes her mind at least 3 times each morning.  God help us when she becomes a teenager....  He brushes teeth and wipes bottoms and kisses all the boo-boos.  He cuts up food and cleans up the kitchen.  He does everything I ask him to do and goes above and beyond any expectation I had for a spouse or a father.  I am so blessed.  

But this 3rd baby journey was harder on me than the other baby journeys.  Caring for 2 littles at home while being pregnant is HARD.  Women who have lots of children are to be admired.  Period.  It was more difficult than I anticipated.  Physically, my body is tired.  3 babies in 5 years is no small feat.  Emotionally, this baby was difficult to carry and the delivery was difficult too.  My body has taken a beating and this recovery has been, and is STILL challenging.  I am taking it one day at a time and trying to let my body heal.  Daryk has stepped up, again and is taking great care of me, my big kids, the baby, and our household.  I never doubted that he would, but it is hard to cry it out and just let him help.

I am fiercely independent and would like to think I can do everything all by myself.  I wonder why my 2 year old says that same sentence all the time... and I find myself having to ask for help this go round.  I needed a lot of it from the start, and he's been here the whole time.  He held me when I cried because I was tired and too hormonal to function.  He helped me out of bed when I couldn't get up alone.  He has been amazing.  I am thankful to God for him every minute of every day.  I couldn't have chosen a better partner to 'do life with' than this man.  

And just because every post should have a picture of THIS cuteness...

There you go.

A baby bunny with socks for hands because she had Wolverine size claws upon delivery.  

And she has the best cheeks ever.

The end.

5 Days to SB

5 days.  I have 5 days left to be a parent of just two children.  Though, technically I've been a parent to 3 children since early August 2013.... the government will recognize this life within my belly in 5 days.  Hopefully, not sooner.  I am just NOT prepared for her to come early.  I have literally arranged every detail I can imagine to have her on Monday and if she shows up early it will rock my world.  MUCH more so than she is rocking my belly...

She is a blessing.  Spencer Brynne Cochran is my final 'planned' blessing.  I have to laugh at all the people who tell me to just have another baby and make it an 'accident'...  Y'all, I can't do that.  I cannot lie well and I know that would be a terrible idea.  Seriously, I'd make the worst poker partner ever.  It would be a useless experiment.  So IF you hear that I'm pregnant again, you'll know it was literally an accident, as in... we didn't plan it on purpose.  We would both be shocked and terrified and delirious.

Today I go to the doctor's office for my last pregnancy visit with SB.  I have 5 days left to her arrival date and I'm anxious!  I'm ready to meet our newest Cochran and see her face.  I want to smell baby smell and I'm excited to change diapers.  I cannot wait to see how she impacts our family and our lives.  I am overwhelmed to see my babies all together and for Hayes and Libby to meet Spencer, finally.  I am still debating the kids coming to visit Spencer in the hospital... not sure if that's a wise move or not?

The plan, as of now, is to deliver via c-section on Monday, EARLY.  Caroline is coming to stay with the kids Sunday night and Aunt Patsy will come early Monday morning to help get them to and from school.  MawMaw is coming to stay with kids Monday evening/overnight until Wednesday evening.  Papa and BeBe will be here with the kids until we get home from the hospital Thursday (I hope that's when we get released)... I am fairly certain that BeBe will be the one bringing us home from the hospital.  Daryk has a track meet and he needs to be there Thursday.  Realize that the 'trip home from the hospital' is not important to me.  Save me the comments and lecture about how he shouldn't be coaching because he should be with us... I get to decide what's best for my family and the drive from N'side to Winston isn't important to me.     

I'll be home with the kids, the husband, and the newborn on Friday all day!  Here is hoping that the weather remains beautiful and that the temperatures are friendly to some outside time for me and SB.  I am thrilled for this new chapter in our lives.

I bought a minivan.

I don't know when my mind was changed, but at some point along in this parenting journey I changed my mind and decided to dive headfirst into the world of the minivan.  I had zero desire to do this until I experienced loading two small people into my small SUV and wrestling them into their car seats while freezing or getting rained on or sweating.  I made up my mind to start shopping for a new mode of transport once I realized that wrestling 3 of them wasn't going to get easier AND the car seats wouldn't fit in my Escape.  I loved my little road turtle and I was sad to see her go, but she will get to live a fun life with a college kid from here on out.  

I bought this beauty and I'm in love.

She has more gadgets than a spaceship.  The doors open at the push of a button.  Several buttons actually.  I don't have to wrestle them into their seats or the car anymore.  I'm thrilled that they can also climb into the car by themselves.  No more wrestling for me... for now.  She has a DVD player (praise God) and leather seats.  The bonus was a sunroof and a heat/ac control board that I'm still trying to learn how to use...

Ignore my extremely tidy garage shot...

The weekend we were car shopping happened to be right after the second nasty snow/ice storm and my parents were kind enough to take the kids!  We had already planned for them to go to the lake for that weekend.  Instead of watching a state wrestling tournament I managed to buy a minivan and get a stomach virus all in one day!  Pretty sure my children had a much more enjoyable Saturday than I did!

They got ice cream and played on a playground!

Leave me some love.

I'd love to hear from you!

Date

I made reservations for these two to go to Chick Fil A a few weeks ago for a Daddy-Daughter Date.  I believe she had more fun than she thought she would!  I let her pick her own outift and supervised, just to make sure she didn't look like a colorblind person who has no concept of pink.  I also let her wear this sweater, which she loves.  She was SO excited to go on a date with her Daddy and even more excited when they gave her ice cream.  I hope that they spend lots of time 'dating' in the years to come.  I know that he will be able to teach her lots of things about how all the men in her life should treat her.  I pray daily that she embrace the qualities God gave her.  I know that her stubborn attitude will one day come in handy.  One day when peer pressure is strong and she's being asked/told to do things I'm not happy with.  Her 'I do it by myself-leave me alone-I can make up my own mind' attitude will be beneficial to her. 

Right now, that attitude is trying for my parenting... but I'll take it. 

Daddy Time

This man.

This man who is the father of my children is an amazing human.  He comes home from wrestling practice and gives my children a bath every night.  He sits with us at family dinner and then cleans it up too.  He plays with them each night and manages to say prayers with them every night before bed too.  He lets this little girl squish his face and hit him on the head with a hairbrush brush his hair every time she asks.  He will even sit with them in the chair and let them squirm all over the place while they ask him 90 questions.  

He talks about super heroes, dinosaurs, and Disney movies with Hayes.  He makes faces and teaches him important things about being a big boy, like how to pee in the toilet and not on my bathroom floors...  He spends time coloring 'art' with him and uses every opportunity to teach him something.  He sings silly songs and will dance around the living room if Hayes asks him to.  He helps Hayes choose his clothes every single day and he even makes sure he matches.  

I understand that not everyone gets the whole 'married to a coach' lifestyle.  I knew he was a coach when I married him.  I didn't anticipate that this 'wrestling family' would become mine by default, but I love them too.  I'm grateful for the friendships and the love that community provides to my family as well.  I'm thankful that my husband, the coach, comes home to love on my children after working all day with everyone else's.  He shows my children so much through coaching.  

His love for wrestling and those wrestling kids is phenomenal.  Hayes and Elizabeth both know all those guys as 'daddy's boys' from wrestling.  As far as they are concerned, all those boys are their friends too.  I'm so proud of my husband, the coach.  Sure, there are nights I resent wrestling.  Most of the time I'm tired and the kids are trying my patience and I'm ill about the fact that I'm doing the 'parenting' all alone.  I know I'm not the only mom doing things by myself... and I know that I'll have my parenting partner home soon enough.  

And you know what, he's a darn good partner.

And parent.

And husband.

And I love him for all of those things.

Artic Atlanta

Well, we wrapped up 3 full days of snow and ice today.  The temps have finally gotten above freezing long enough to make a difference and we have seen the snow melting.  Praise Jesus for melting snow, and no, I'm not kidding or exaggerating or whatever you will.  I'm glad the snow was here.  I am thrilled my little ones got to play in it, but I'm just as elated to see it GONE.  It is pretty for about 12 hours, after that... I want it gone.  And it is not pretty after someone drives in it.  Then it turns into icy slushy mess that is brown.  Yuck.

Snow days for me have been about organizing clothes in the kids' rooms, planning menus for the month of February, and gathering coupons for grocery shopping.  I was supposed to go to a work conference this weekend, but that obviously didn't happen since I just retrieved my vehicle today.  Thankfully it was still parked at the McDonalds where I left it and it hadn't been damaged or towed.  The roads were actually manageable and I did some grocery shopping before I returned home to the manic children.  I also went to Hobby Lobby and got some ribbon for my stash!

Hayes and Elizabeth are troopers and have been great considering we are all tired of being stuck at home, inside the house.  We did go outside Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, but yesterday we stayed inside all day.  It takes so long to put on all the gear and then they only stay outside for maybe 20-30 minutes.  They don't even like the snow.  They have tossed all the cushions in the floor every day, had a trampoline via couch to floor, and ran multiple laps around the middle of the house.  They have watched numerous Disney movies and sang along to most of them.  We also clap when appropriate during movies.  Every dress up outfit has seen action during Artic Atlanta week.

We made Snow Cream yesterday.  The can of sweetened condensed milk I had said it expired in 2012.  Oops.  Nobody is dead yet and we all ate it, so it must be okay?  Snow Cream was delicious and I'd never made it or had it before, that I can remember... It went along well with the brownies Caroline delivered!

I'm busily preparing dinners for next week while the children are napping.

Sunday is Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Source

Monday is Loaded Potato & Chicken Bake

Source

Tuesday is Vegetable Soup.  

I don't have a link or a source.  I just add a bunch of veggies to the crock pot and some ground meat and add some seasoning.  I also make cornbread, which is my most favorite food ever.  

Wednesday is Queso Chicken Pasta Bake

Source

I've been craving cheese dip like no other with this pregnancy, so I'm hoping this queso bake will be a delicious substitute!  

Thursday we have gymnastics and we go out to dinner after that.  Friday & Saturday Daryk will be coaching at Sectionals, so the kids and I will either have pizza, cereal, leftovers, or sandwiches.  I try to plan my meals around our lives and busy schedules.  I also plan a whole month at a time and adjust depending on grocery store sales, activities, etc.  I go shopping once a week for our meals and try my best to stick within a $100 a week budget for everything.  Maybe I'll post about how I budget that, coupon for savings, and plan meals one day.  I truly enjoy being organized.  Makes my life easier.  

Favorites

Sooooooooooooooo, these girls happen to be our favorites.  They rescue me when I'm having a bad day.  They pick up my kids when I can't or don't want to.  They come over and help me fix dinner or fold laundry or play with the kids so I can take a nap.  Jordan and Hope are two girls that I'm going to call my friends for a long time.  I see them at family parties and vacations and eventually at the weddings of my 3 little people.  They will be welcome at my house anytime and I'll always love them as my own.  

Jordan (on the right) happens to be one of the first baby sitters that Hayes ever had.  She came to my rescue several times in that first year and she's always the first one we call when she's home.  She left us to go to college (lame) and we miss her terribly.  I am proud of her and what she's doing with her life, but I'm also selfish enough to say that I MISS her and want her home all the time.  

Hope (on the left) is still technically our student at school.  She is a cheerleader and wrestling manager and she keeps me in line.  She's my lunch buddy and a one of a kind girl who could never be replaced.  Her honesty and level headed thinking is just something you don't find in a child, who's almost a grown up.  Sorta.  She has a fantastic sense of humor and I cannot wait to see what happens with her once she leaves us in the fall.  

Hubs, Coach, Daddy

He made himself some granola.

Trying to mix it with a spoon proved to be too difficult, so he changed the plan.

And then sometimes he just gets bored and well, you see what happens.

I do think he'd make a nice blonde.

Senior week

This is Sean and Daryk....

Or at least their look alikes during senior week at AHS.

I have never laughed so hard at a group of kids who had a blast.

They loved dressing up like our staff and did a great job!

You can hardly tell that they aren't male coaches...

Fuzzy pictures

I enjoy football season once it gets cold enough to be football season.

I have enjoyed coaching cheerleading for the past 7 years.

I will miss the relationships I am able to build with the girls during that time.

I will not miss the time away from my family.

I will not miss the scramble of finding childcare.

But I will miss being able to spend those Friday nights with Daryk and his boys.

I love that man.

Helping Daddy

Yes.

The garbage can experience is a family affair.

And yes, Libby picks her own clothing and I don't argue with her.

Do I really care if she is wearing pink & red?

Probably not.

Waving at the neighbors as they drive by.

Usually the Blackstones see us in the family affair of trash collecting...

A Day in the Life...

My days are pretty routine once school is back in session.

I do not know how people who work faaaaar from home function.

I hate to drive in my car and I hate getting up early.

Those are the top two reasons why I work 3 miles from my home.

A.M.

6-6:45 a.m. fight with alarm and try not to get up.

6:30-7 Hayes usually yells from his room for us to 'open his dooowah.'

7:00 I get Hayes milk and a pop tart to eat while he plays.

7-7:20 I get ready for school, make up, hair, etc.

7:20-7:30 I get Libby up and dressed for the day.

7:30-7:45 I load the kids up, drive to the designated grandparent for the day.

7:45-8 I drive to school.  Sometimes I get Chick fil A or Martins.

I like biscuits, ok?

8-4:00 I teach, plan, grade, laugh, eat, giggle, and shake my head a lot.

P.M.

4-4:30 I drive to pick up the kids, sometimes get groceries and then head home.

Sometimes I have cheer practice.

Sometimes Daryk gets the kids and I go exercise.

Sometimes I go have Target Therapy.

Sometimes I take a nap or have club meetings after school.

4:30-6 I make/prepare dinner and we eat.  

We are old people and eat an early dinner.

Judge me.

6-7:30 I clean up dinner, play with children, referee boxing matches, chase children, etc.

7:30-8 We run a bath for the kids and Daryk bathes them. 

I pick out their clothes for the next day and load bags for transit.

I put my clothes out, their clothes out, and pack my lunch.

I load every single thing I possibly can into the car and get my coffee ready for the next day.

8-8:30 I bathe (most nights) and get myself ready for bed.

8:30-9 I go to bed and usually fall asleep by 9:30-10 p.m.

My 'days' vary from season to season depending on the sport season.

We have all sorts of things we do after school as sponsors and coaches, so nothing is the same!

Making Pretties

I am so glad that Leigh Anne taught her how to brush hair this summer.
I now spend a lot of time letting her HELP me fix my hair.

She brushes from TOP to BOTTOM just like Leigh Anne taught her.
Not very gently, but she is pretty good at it.

I just love her.
And I love that she wants to help.