My Prince Charming

Anyone who has spent more that five minutes with Logan and me knows that he has his mommy wrapped around his finger.  He's cute.  He's funny.  He's polite.  And he's sweet.  It's a problem.  Recently, Logan has learned about complimenting women (especially his mommy).  One day (in the VERY distant future) Logan will be a serious ladies' man.

Logan's favorite (and most common) compliment is: "Your eyes are so beautiful."

My favorite compliment was: "Mommy, you look like a princess in your blue shirt." (I must note that I had just finished a run on the treadmill and wasn't looking particularly pretty.)

Logan's strangest compliment was: "I like how you cleaned your bathroom."

I hope he never changes...

She's Five

Sweet Avery-

Today you turn five! While you have anxiously awaited this day for months, your mama has secretly dreaded this particular birthday.  To me, five is such a big number.  It signifies a shift in dependence and a whole new level of independence.  A couple weeks ago, you went to your first day of summer school kindergarten.  When you got home, you said, "Mama, do you think I could buy my lunch at school sometime?  That's what big kids do."  You bought your lunch the next day and have bought it almost every day since.

Avery, At five, you are shy and thoughtful, smart and sensitive.  You love snuggles with mama, being silly with Logan and daddy and taking care of your cat, Scout.  Your favorite creature on earth is your "cousin" Dexter (Aunt Jen and Uncle Joel's dog).  You love superheroes and Ninja Turtles even more than Elsa the ice princess from Frozen. You are kind and thoughtful and always want things to be fair.  You prefer getting dirty and running around outside to reading books and playing with your dolls.  You are beautiful.

When I was pregnant with you, a nice woman once said to me, "Enjoy this journey. The days often seem long, but the years fly by."  Today, those simple words resonate loudly.  These past five years have flown by and I truly have enjoyed every day.  Thank you, sweet girl, for making me a mom five years ago. You make me happier than I ever could have imagined.

Happy Birthday, Goosey Girl!  I love you.

Love,

Mommy

Logan: Three

Logan-

Today you, my silly boy, turned three.  I like this picture because it encapsulates everything I love about you. Logan, you are unbelievably confident and stubborn, yet silly and loving. You can bring me to my breaking point by throwing a huge fit, then change my reaction in a second with a simple "mommy kiss?".

You are funny, imaginative and smart. At school, your teachers tell me that you are always the first to know your letters, numbers and days of the week. You love Spanish and sign language class and often come home teaching mommy and daddy (and sometimes even Avery) your new words and signs. You constantly tell jokes and think you are the funniest kid on earth. (Truthfully, I often think you are too. :-))

Your favorite toys are dinosaurs, Lightning McQueen and excavators. When you go to bed at night, you have to take ALL your favorite toys with you. Sometimes I wonder how you fit in the bed with all of your "stuff". Daddy and I don't fight it because you go to bed without a fuss every night and usually wake up happy and singing.

Your appetite is still lacking. For some reason, food just isn't a priority for you unless it's chocolate or cookies. Clearly, there's no denying you are my son!

You know how to manipulate your mommy, sweet boy. Tonight, as I put you in bed, you asked for another book. I said no and told you that you could read it to yourself in bed. Your response, "But mommy, I don't know all the words so I really really need your help." We read the book.

Jack Attack, you are the true love of my life (don't tell daddy).  I can't imagine a day without your kisses, jokes and love in my life.

Love,

Mommy

Gettin' Fit

As I approached turning 30 a couple years ago, everyone kept telling me my body would start changing. I wouldn't be able to continue eating endless amounts of chocolate, shop for butter in bulk or drink my beloved coke without feeling it on my waistline.  I didn't want to believe these nasty warnings until 32 hit and I started seeing these changes for myself.  For a few months, I did what any reasonable person would do and complained to Luke about my changing body on a daily basis.  Then, after mourning and complaining (and maybe a few eye rolls from Luke), I knew I needed to make a change. Since I had no intention of changing my diet, I knew a change in my exercise regime was the only option.

For months, a friend of mine had been telling me about a new workout in Columbia called Pure Barre. As usual, I kept ignoring her recommendation knowing that I was not a fan of exercise classes or paying for something I could do on my own.  (To be transparent, paying for exercise FAR outweighed my dislike of classes.)  Fortunately, after meeting my friend for a lunch of a massive Five Guys burger and fries, she politely invited me to join her at Pure Barre one last time. I accepted and immediately fell in love.

Seriously, friends, this class is amazing!  I hurt in places I never knew I could hurt and used muscles I didn't know I had.  Pure Barre is an hour of strength and toning exercises. The class is strangely relaxing and ridiculously hard at the same time.  At every class, I am able to fully focus on the task at hand while everything else in my life seems to melt away.  When I leave I am equally happy it is over and anxiously awaiting the next class.

Here's the deal: in Pure Barre, you use a Ballet Barre for a lot of the exercises, but you do not have to have any dance history.  For the record, the only dance class I have ever taken was when I was five years old and I quit after the first class. I am painfully uncoordinated and couldn't touch my toes before I started taking Pure Barre.  I also mess up at least once in every class, but the instructors are amazing as they walk around and gently correct form and technique.

At first, I signed up for a month of unlimited classes and after taking 24 classes in 30 days and seeing a 3% decrease in body fat, I signed up for six additional months of unlimited classes.

Friends, if you are looking to change up your work out or start something new, I highly recommend looking for a Pure Barre studio in your area.  If you are one of my three Columbia friends reading this, visit Lauren at the Pure Barre studio in Columbia and try a class.  I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Family Video Portrait

About a month ago, our family had a family video portrait done.  It turned out perfectly to reflect Avery and Logan's personalities.  I love that we have this to look back on to remember this special time in their lives. Thanks to Kent and Carolyn at Kent and Carolyn Photography in Springfield, MO for your amazing work!

Enjoy this little glimpse into the life of a Musselman.

Back to School

Just like that, summer is over.  The kids officially started their new school year at the end of August.  Avery is now in Pre-Kindergarten and LOVES being one of the big kids at The Academy.  She gets to fill out her own daily sheet and even has homework each week.  Logan is still a Lords and Ladies at The Academy.  His class is filled with kids from two and a half to three and a half years old.  Since he didn't move up to a new class, we decided to mark the beginning of the school year with the end of diapers.  On the first day of the new school year, I woke Logan up, had him go potty, put him in underwear and sent him to school with plenty of extra clothes and undies.  He's doing pretty well, but I wouldn't call him "potty trained".  He still has to be reminded to go potty and isn't pooping in the potty, but most days are accident free so I'm pleased.

So far the school year has gone well.  Both kids are exhausted when they get home and love talking about their school adventures each day.  Selfishly, I'm savoring this year before Avery starts kindergarten and we have to adjust to a regular schedule with a 7:20 start time.  Eek!  :-)

A Letter To Avery On Her Birthday

Dear Avery-

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! You are four. Honestly, I am freaking out a bit. In a little over a year, I will send you off to kindergarten. I know you think you are already ready to go, but your mommy may never be ready. Sometimes I ask you to stop growing up and stay my little girl forever. You always giggle and tell me that you will soon be as big as me. I have no doubt that will happen before we know it.

As much fun as your birthday is for you each year, Avery, it is also a special time for me. Your birthday marks the day I became a mommy, the day YOU made me a mommy.

The second you were born, my heart burst open with love, and I haven't spent a moment since without the strange, full, burst-open heart feel.  You truly are a love of my life.

Avery, I know moms are supposed to lead their children through life, but at times it seems that you do most of the leading, most of the teaching. You see, as my first-born, you taught me how to be a mom to an infant, a mom to a 1-year-old, a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old and now I follow you into 4.

At four years old, you are a kind, caring, silly little girl.  You love superheroes and trucks even more than you love princesses and dolls. You currently hate shopping because you say it's "born". You have a great group of girlfriends and already bicker with them like sisters. You watch out for your little brother and almost always share with him.  When you get to pick a prize out of the treasure box at school, you often choose something to give to Logan. You have your mommy's song-lyric memory and daddy's love of all things outside.

Everyday I get to spend with you is an adventure.  Sometimes we are princesses in a castle or professional kick ball players and other times we are race car drivers or chefs or mommies.  I love your imagination and your free-spirited nature. I love your random hugs, cuddle requests and "I love you's". I just love you, sweet girl.  To me, you are the most precious, kind and beautiful girl in the whole world and I feel so proud that you are mine.

So, happy day, goosey girl.  I can't wait to see what four has in store for both of us!

Love,

Mommy

...And She's Four

• What is your name? Avery Musselman
• What is your favorite color? Blue
• What is your favorite song? A,B,C,D,E,F,G
• What is your favorite sport? Kickball
• What is your favorite TV show? Backyardigans
• What do you like to do with daddy? Ride bikes
• What do you do really well? I'm really good at not hitting my friends and helping my friends do things that are really hard.
• What is your favorite outfit? Dress
• What is your favorite book? Curious George
• Who is your best friend? Josalyn and Audrey
• Where do you want to go on vacation? Stay at a hotel in St. Louis
• What is your favorite cereal? Ball Cereal
• What is your favorite fruit? Peaches
• What is your favorite food? Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Who is your favorite person in the whole world? Josalyn
• What do you like to do with your friends? Play house
• What do you like to do with Logan? Wrestle
• What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a mommy and do what you do (mommy) and work with you.
• What is your favorite toy? Trucks and blocks
• What do you like to take to bed? Iguana and "B"
• What is your favorite thing to do outside? Run
• What is your favorite animal? Walrus
• What makes you laugh? Clowns because they juggle and ride on elephants.
• What do you like to do with mommy? Play trucks.

Just like every other toddler on the planet, Avery often comes up with funny things to say. The following are a few of my favorites from the past year:

• Avery on diversity: "Some people have white skin and some people have brown skin and some people have skin with itchy red spots just like me."

• Avery on family: "Logan is Scout's (cat) daddy and I am Scout's mommy so she has to listen to us."

• Avery on being short: "But mommy, I've stopped growing. Everyone is bigger than me and my legs are never going to be as long as Cinderella's."

• Avery on dresses: "I don't like to wear dresses because I don't like to be pretty."

• Avery on listening: "But mommy, I just don't know how to listen.  My listening ears keep falling down.  They won't stay up."

• Avery on sleep: "Someone needs to teach me how to sleep.  I don't know how to close my eyes."