Marvelous In My Monday

Happy Monday, everybody! I hope you had a great weekend! I’m linking up with the fabulous Katie @ Healthy Diva Eats today! I’ve been following her for a couple years now, and she is one of the most positive people I’ve met through the blogging world. Marvelous in My Monday is all about transforming Mondays into a day where we reflect on what makes us smile instead of pouting about the week ahead. I needed a dose of positivity today, so I thought it was time I participated!

Let’s get started!

Last week Thursday I packed up the kids in the Jake’s work car, otherwise known as the salesmobile, and we joined him on a business trip! He had to spend a night near Des Moines, and since we have some close friends who recently moved to the area from Chicago, it was the perfect excuse to tag along. We got to their house a little after 7pm, put the kids to bed, and spent the rest of the night chatting with Leah and Michael. They have four kids who are just a bit older than ours, and we have learned so much from them about parenting. It was refreshing for our souls to spend quality time with them. On Friday morning Leah and I hung with the kids. Before Cole left for school he was so kind and let Baylen play with his big boy toys. It was the sweetest sight! After that Bay was left with the girls, which I don’t think he minded at all!  I enjoy every moment when I see my kids interact with each other. Baylen is so sweet to his sisters. He likes to visit them in their high chairs and when they’re just hanging out on the floor.Watching the love of my life interact with his little girls melts my heart every time!Baylen’s silly personality cracks me up countless times each day. After Sunday school the teachers let him pick out a little puffy ball to take home. He chose the orange one yesterday and had lots of fun putting it in his ear (and ours). Such a little ham.My friend Abby made us some beautiful crocheted gifts, which I’ll be sharing with you in more detail soon! Baylen’s gift was this adorable newsboy hat, which he likes to wear whenever he gets a chance, even at breakfast. I just got these new shoes, and they are my favorite running shoes yet! And I’ve been through a lot of running shoes in my time! I fell in love with the New Balance Minimus running shoes this summer. They have the Vibram barefoot technology in them, so they feel like I’m barely wearing shoes, but yet they have plenty of support. And, I have to take a minute and brag about the great customer service experience I had. My first pair of minimus shoes happened to get a few holes in them sooner than they should have, and without asking questions they sent me a brand new pair for free. They said they are working on perfecting this new technology, and these ones should be more durable. I so appreciate them! If you are looking for a new lightweight running shoe, I would definitely recommend these to anyone! I don’t know that I’ll be able to go back to regular running shoes…they feel like deadweights now!Last week my mom was here and we made homemade apple pies with apples from my parents’ farm! We have plenty in our freezer now to hold us over this Winter! Baylen was a good little helper, too!I forgot to throw the girls’ sheets in the dryer one day last week between naps, so they had to share my only spare set and sleep in the same crib. They are so precious to me! 

There truly is so much good to focus on. When my heart is full of thankfulness there isn’t much room for focusing on the negative things. I love how that works.

What are you thankful for on this Monday?

Amber

P.S. For more reflections on parenthood and life, follow us on Facebook (Hun Let’s Run) and on Instagram: @ambermariekuiper and @jakekuiper! We’d also love for you to subscribe to our Hun, Let’s Run Podcast! For more info about joining our fitness community as a customer or coach, please email us at amber@mommysmetime.com!