Jump Rope For Heart

We only have one heart! I want to take care of mine and help you take care of yours too! It is fundraiser time again, this time I am raising money for the American Heart Association by participating in the Jump Rope For Heart event at my school.

Heart Disease can happen to anyone so it's really important to be physically active and eat healthy. Did you know that heart disease is our nation's number one killer? Help me become a lifesaver!

Will you make a donation to help me reach my goal? It's fast and easy to do on my personal webpage. Just use the link below to support me today!

http://jumpgsa.kintera.org/cyrilmeredithiv?faf=1&e=6512477398

Your contribution will support the American Heart Association's work to:

- Put up-to-the-minute research into doctors' hands so they can better prevent and treat heart disease among patients.
- Fund groundbreaking pediatric heart and stroke research.
- Train more than 9 million health professionals and others each year in emergency cardiovascular care.

Please support me in my efforts - together we can save lives! Thank you very much!

Cyril Meredith IV

Copy Cat

Today we are all home :) the boys and Cyril had work and school cancelled due to the icy weather. And I was fortunate enough to get low census today and be able to join them! Tommy is full of energy and thinks it is hilarious to be his big brothers shadow. If Cyril coughs, Tommy coughs. If Cyril lifts his arms over his head, Tommy does the same. We have made a little game out of it, and it is quite funny! I think little Cyril is realizing that Tommy indeed watches everything he does and needs to be a good example. It is so fun watching them interact. Hope you all are keeping warm, and stay safe!

A Week of Firsts

This week is bringing many changes to the Meredith household. Tommy started at his nursery school yesterday, I started a new group exercise program yesterday, and my husband Cyril starts his new job today! Tommy did well with the drop off, as soon as Mrs. Christine showed him the bucket of balls and all of the cars he was good to go. But after a long day of playing, not wanting to eat, and a short thirty minute nap, when we picked him up he scarfed down his peanut butter sandwich and was ready for some Mommy and Daddy time! This morning since Cyril left for work already, and I have to be at work by 6:30, my Mother In Law has graciously agreed to get up early, come over, and get Cyril on the bus and then take Tommy to school. So she will have the duty to drop him off today, and I hope it goes well for her!

Last night was the first night of my new group exercise program. Many of you may have heard of it before, P90x. It is a bunch of muscle confusion and exhaustion, along with a strict eating plan. The last time I was successfully able to lose weight, it was in a group setting. I find it to be incredibly motivating. So here we go to try it again! I have already been pretty determined, and was able to lose almost 7 pounds in December so we will see!

Cyril left a bit ago for his fifty mile trek to his new job. This week he will be working day time hours to get all of his training accomplished, then next week he will be on the night shift. We have been practicing with the boys at night, pretending Cyril has left for work, because this will be quite an adjustment for Tommy as he is used to Cyril putting him to bed. Cyril has always been in charge of the night time routine, since little Cyril was born (yes, I know I am a VERY lucky woman!). I know with time we will get in the swing of things, but right now all of this together seems a bit overwhelming! We will take it one day at a time, I know some days will be better than others, but I will embrace the good ones with open arms!

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year last night at my in laws. We had a nice dinner, my husband Cyril prepared a new crockpot cream cheese chicken recipe that I found on Pinterest. Served over rice it was delicious! Then I took a nap for about an hour and a half since I had worked, and wanted to be awake to see the ball drop with little Cyril. After my nice nap, Tommy was fast asleep and we had some snacks and played a game of hand and foot. My mother in law and I beat my husband and father in law by a good six thousand points! Little Cyril was hanging in there much to my surprise, so he was the scorekeeper. After the game we went downstairs to watch the coverage from New York with about ten minutes to go. Little Cyril made it...barely, but he was awake! We all said Happy New Year, then we packed up and headed home. Little Cyril was fast asleep before we even got to the end of the street! It was a nice evening :)

I have taken the rest of the week off to spend time with my boys before husband Cyril starts a job next week. He will be working with TVA at their Watts Bar location doing scheduling and project controls. We are very thankful for him to be starting work, but it will be second shift, so anywhere from 6pm to 6am. It will be an adjustment, but at least it is a job! It is also about 50 miles from the house so will be quite a bit of driving. Hopefully it all works out. Tommy will be starting daycare full time next week also. So the new year is bringing many changes to the Meredith household! That is our update for now! Wishing you and your family a Happy 2013!

December, Christmas, and Family :)

We have had a very blessed December and Christmas! On little Cyril's birthday, the gym had a breakfast with Santa. Both of the boys enjoyed seeing Santa!

 

This past week my sister was in town so we went to Dollywood on Wednesday. We enjoyed riding all of the roller coasters and staying until dark to admire all of the lights. Then we went back with Cyril's parents and his brother Evan on Sunday. Where we were able to take in some Christmas shows, ride the rides, and even go on the train at night to see more lights! Tommy loved the Rockin' Roadway where he was able to drive the car. We must have ridden it eight times in a row while everyone else was watching The Polar Express in 4-D! It was a cool and rainy day, but still very enjoyable! The ride home was a different story...Tommy is not fond of being confined to his car seat, so he serenaded us most of the way home by screaming at the top of his lungs. Until we got smart and my husband played Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on his phone for Tommy to watch (why we didn't think of this sooner I am not sure), which saved the day.

 

 

 

On Christmas Eve we attended the Christmas pageant at church where little Cyril was a Shepherd. He did a great job of course!

 

Then we went to my in-laws to spend the night. I wasn't quite sure how it would go, but we had a great time. My father in law read the Christmas book that he had read to all of his kids on Christmas Eve, the boys were a little restless but enjoyed it. Then it was time for bed, Little Cyril and Tommy were fast asleep by eight o'clock. I went back to church for the late service with Evan, I really enjoy all of the carols.

Christmas morning came quickly, and after my father-in-law Cyril read us the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible we went downstairs to see what Santa had brought for us :)

 

 

 

Santa even brought the TREE!!! Then of course the boys were ready to open the gifts under the tree...

 

 

 

 

Then to church we went for our Christmas Day service. This is one of my favorite church services to go to, I love hearing and being reminded what Christmas is truly about. The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

After church, we headed home for a much needed nap! I fell asleep watching A Christmas Story, one of my favorite things to do on Christmas day. Cyril and Cyril watched Madagascar 3, and little Cyril modeled the wig that came with it :)

 

After Tommy and I woke up, we went over to my parents to see my sister Beth, my parents, and my Grandmother. There we were blessed with many more gifts, and a wonderful time with my family. Then we headed to Chinese with Cyril's parents and brother Evan for dinner! This was a first, I have never eaten out on Christmas. It was fun and delicious! Then we headed back to the Meredith's to finish the gifts from around the tree. I got the rest of my fiesta ware, and it looks BEAUTIFUL in my cabinet!

 

Even with Cyril still looking for work and a tight budget, this was an amazing Christmas. Spending quality time with family was so wonderful, and watching the boys enjoy their gifts and play with their Aunts and Uncles is priceless.

Today we are relaxing a bit and cleaning house before heading back to the Meredith's, where Amanda and Matt will join us for Christmas dinner. I went to the gym this morning and came home to a mostly clean house, which was wonderful. Little Cyril is already getting better at the drums, and even though it is cold and rainy Tommy wants to be outside riding in his truck.

 

Little Cyril and I are about to make some sour cream cookies with burnt butter frosting. Really enjoying this time off from work, but will get back to it tomorrow!

I hope you too had a very Merry Christmas, and may the new year bring you and your family many blessings! Merry Christmas!

Happy Sixth Birthday, Cyril!

How Time Flies

This past month has just flown by. I don't really even know where to begin. Cyril is still on the job hunt. We are pretty sure we won't hear anything until after the new year. In the meantime he is helping a TON around the house, and the boys love having him home.

As for me I am working a lot, but am enjoying it.

Little Cyril is doing fantastic. He has already met all of the goals for kindergarten! They moved him to a different reading group so he could continue learning instead if waiting for the rest of the class to get to his level. He will be turning six in Saturday, so we are making homemade pizzas and having cupcakes to celebrate. The gym also has a breakfast with Santa on Saturday so he can enjoy that as well.

As for Tommy, he LOVES having Daddy take care of him every day. Not real sure what will happen when Cyril gets a job, Tommy won't know what to do with himself! Tommy is working on getting several teeth, and is really enjoying our Christmas tree with all of its pretty sparkling ornaments! Our Elf on the shelf has also been back with us since Thanksgiving, and both boys wake up running to find Elfy. And Tommy asks to see him all day long!

That is about all for now, will try to post birthday pictures on Saturday! Here are some recent pictures to tide you over :)