Conversation #1
As I've told you all before, Lauren hates storms. One of my tactics for difussing her fear is to explain to her that when God makes it rain all the plants and trees get to eat. And that every time it rains all the plants grow. And who wouldm't want a tree to grow nice and big so that we can sit under its shade on a hot day?
Anyway, she has this little Dora watering can and she was asking me to fill it up for her so that she could go water the plants (like they need any more right now). So I filled it up and watched her go out front and water our plants.
Lauren: Mommy, I just fed all the plants!
Me: I know. I saw!
Lauren: But don't worry...I said grace for them!
Conversation #2
Every night at dinner the kids have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the meal. You could literally set a clock by it. Every night I ask them to go BEFORE dinner and they swear the don't have to. I dish out everyone's plates...and then they have to go. Whatever.
The other night Josh actually didn't have to go...but Lauren did.
Lauren: JOSH! Come upstairs wit' me!
Josh: No, Lauren. I don't have to go.
Lauren: But JOOOOSSSHHH!!
Josh: Lauren! I'm not going up there with you. You are three years old and you don't need someone to come up there with you.
Lauren: But yes I do!
Josh: No. No, you don't.
Lauren: Pwease?
Josh: No, Lauren.
Josh: Lauren you are old enough to go upstairs on your own. I mean...don't you want to be a woman some day?
I.about.died. After about five minutes of this...he went up with her. ;-)
Father's Day Weekend
Saturday morning we all got up and headed down to the Farmers' Market. It was a beautiful morning and we figured we could pick up some fresh organic produce to have with dinner. The sun was bright and the breeze was cool and it was the perfect morning.
The Farmers' Market is amazing in Cedar Rapids. Even Dad called Saturday to let me know that Cedar Rapids does it better than Minneapolis!
The railroad goes right through downtown (and the market) so the kids got to see a big train up close and personal!
We saw some friends down at the market and chatted with them for awhile before we headed to Zoey's (a/k/a the best pizza in the area) for lunch!
After lunch we headed over to Larry and Toni's to mow while the kids played in the sprinkler. I was determined to get some sun and boy did I! I guess sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for because I spent the rest of the weekend nursing my burns!
While cleaning up some of the flowers for Larry and Toni, Dustin found a little friend for Lauren.
Then Sunday the kids and I got up and made Dustin a nice, big breakfast of all of THEIR favorite things! ;-)
The rest of the day was spent goofing around and eating. Dustin said it was a perfect day and that's all that mattered!
Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!!!
The Farmers' Market is amazing in Cedar Rapids. Even Dad called Saturday to let me know that Cedar Rapids does it better than Minneapolis!
The railroad goes right through downtown (and the market) so the kids got to see a big train up close and personal!
We saw some friends down at the market and chatted with them for awhile before we headed to Zoey's (a/k/a the best pizza in the area) for lunch!
After lunch we headed over to Larry and Toni's to mow while the kids played in the sprinkler. I was determined to get some sun and boy did I! I guess sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for because I spent the rest of the weekend nursing my burns!
While cleaning up some of the flowers for Larry and Toni, Dustin found a little friend for Lauren.
Then Sunday the kids and I got up and made Dustin a nice, big breakfast of all of THEIR favorite things! ;-)
The rest of the day was spent goofing around and eating. Dustin said it was a perfect day and that's all that mattered!
Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!!!
Turning the tables
I let the kids take a turn behind the camera and this is what they came up with...
They thought it was hysterical and I was just happy to get in a few pictures for once!
They thought it was hysterical and I was just happy to get in a few pictures for once!
Another milestone
Today's training regimen had me running 25 minutes straight and I totally did it! I am supposed stay at 25 minutes for the rest of the week and then move it up to 28 minutes next week. The further I go with this the more I am learning about my body. I always thought I could never be a runner because I would always run out of breath and start to panic. Now that I've found my speed it's not the breathing that is the hard part. In fact, I could almost carry on a conversation while jogging. What I've found requires the most training are my legs. My lungs can keep going but my legs get tired. The next hurdle is my mind. It's amazing how easy it is to psych yourself out. So today when my legs started to hurt I rolled my shoulders back and told my legs that I wasn't going to stop so "just get over it"! Amazingly the pain just went away and my feet kept on going. I'm just learning what works for me and loving the rewards!!
I have also set a new goal! Two of my friends ran in the seven mile Run with the Flood race this weekend and as I waited for them to cross the finish line I decided that next year I would be wearing a bib and running, too. As for right now....I am going to focus on this week's training and the first 5k!!!!
I have also set a new goal! Two of my friends ran in the seven mile Run with the Flood race this weekend and as I waited for them to cross the finish line I decided that next year I would be wearing a bib and running, too. As for right now....I am going to focus on this week's training and the first 5k!!!!
Out of the mouths of babes
Last night I did my regular run while Lauren laid on the couch and read a book. I got off and folded the treadmill up and we had the following conversation....
Lauren: Mom, you go "potties" tonight?
Me: Uh...what?
Lauren: You go "potties" tonight?
Me: **confused** Probably.
Lauren: I go "potties", too?
Me: **still confused** Uh, probably?
Lauren: Ok. We go "potties" together!
Me: Wait...what are you talking about?
Lauren: You know...**lays on the floor and sticks legs and arms in the air**
Me: OHHHH!!!! Pilates!!
Me: Yes, honey. We can do Pilates tonight.
I think I've got her hooked on this now, too!!
Lauren: Mom, you go "potties" tonight?
Me: Uh...what?
Lauren: You go "potties" tonight?
Me: **confused** Probably.
Lauren: I go "potties", too?
Me: **still confused** Uh, probably?
Lauren: Ok. We go "potties" together!
Me: Wait...what are you talking about?
Lauren: You know...**lays on the floor and sticks legs and arms in the air**
Me: OHHHH!!!! Pilates!!
Me: Yes, honey. We can do Pilates tonight.
I think I've got her hooked on this now, too!!
One Kid Down
This morning I hopped on the scale and was happy to see that I've officially hit the 30 pound mark!! That means I've lost more than Ella weighs. So, as promised, here is a picture from this morning where I'm holding the "weight" I've lost.
Thirty pounds of Ella is a heck of a lot cuter than thirty pounds on me!
Thirty pounds of Ella is a heck of a lot cuter than thirty pounds on me!
A little birdie told me...
that he has found a home in our backyard.
I went out in the backyard on Sunday night and went to move the chairs from the birthday party and realized a baby birdie was perched on one of the chairs. We obviously gave eachother a minor heart attack because he was panting up a storm.
He just sat there and stared at me while I ran and got my camera.
The kids all said hello and shortly after that he flapped his little wings and flew off. Dustin said this isn't the first time he's visited us. He came out to his truck the other day and he was sitting on his hood.
He's too cute!
I went out in the backyard on Sunday night and went to move the chairs from the birthday party and realized a baby birdie was perched on one of the chairs. We obviously gave eachother a minor heart attack because he was panting up a storm.
He just sat there and stared at me while I ran and got my camera.
The kids all said hello and shortly after that he flapped his little wings and flew off. Dustin said this isn't the first time he's visited us. He came out to his truck the other day and he was sitting on his hood.
He's too cute!
Hippity Hoppity Birthday Party
This weekend was Lauren's birthday party. We started getting birthday supply magazines in the mail months ago and each time one came in the mail I'd give it to her in the hopes she'd narrow down her selections. Each and every time she picked the frog theme. And each and every time I was shocked.
My princess wants a frog theme? My girly girl wants a frog theme? Really?
Between tax season and a million other things I didn't get the supplies ordered as early as I normally do. So when the time came to place the order I asked one last time. Yes, she still wanted a frog theme.
I had Friday afternoon off so her and I finished running all of our errands in preparation for Saturday's events. We picked up some more decorations (because you can never have enough), found goodies for each of the gift bags, picked up groceries, got enough candy to kill a small animal and fill the pinata and placed our balloon order. By the time I got home on Friday afternoon I was wiped.
Saturday morning Dad and I headed to the Farmer's Market downtown. We got there right at 7:15 and were ecstatic to find the most adorable dresses for the girls. After seeing these adorable creations I decided that they should wear them to the party. We walked around for an hour or so and oogled all the good things being offered and headed back to the house for breakfast.
After breakfast it was time to get ready for the party!
The birthday girl was definitely ready to party and was more than happy to tell anyone who would listen that it was her birthday...and that she looked pretty in her dress.
Even Ella got pigtails for the big day!
The big present this year was Lauren's bike. We made her close her eyes while Uncle Joel brought it in.
She wasn't quite sure what to think at first.
But after about two minutes she was putting her puppy dog in the basket and taking the plastic off the wheels.
The rain held off for us, thankfully, and all the kids had fun outside playing. The bouncy house was a hit with all of the kids, except Ella. And the bubbles and pinata are always a hit. BUT...this is the second pinata we've had that has the magic ribbon pulled right away! Thankfully, the birthday girl was the one to get it this time!
She had such a fun time! In fact, I think ALL the kids did!
I just can't believe my little girl is three.
My princess wants a frog theme? My girly girl wants a frog theme? Really?
Between tax season and a million other things I didn't get the supplies ordered as early as I normally do. So when the time came to place the order I asked one last time. Yes, she still wanted a frog theme.
I had Friday afternoon off so her and I finished running all of our errands in preparation for Saturday's events. We picked up some more decorations (because you can never have enough), found goodies for each of the gift bags, picked up groceries, got enough candy to kill a small animal and fill the pinata and placed our balloon order. By the time I got home on Friday afternoon I was wiped.
Saturday morning Dad and I headed to the Farmer's Market downtown. We got there right at 7:15 and were ecstatic to find the most adorable dresses for the girls. After seeing these adorable creations I decided that they should wear them to the party. We walked around for an hour or so and oogled all the good things being offered and headed back to the house for breakfast.
After breakfast it was time to get ready for the party!
The birthday girl was definitely ready to party and was more than happy to tell anyone who would listen that it was her birthday...and that she looked pretty in her dress.
Even Ella got pigtails for the big day!
The big present this year was Lauren's bike. We made her close her eyes while Uncle Joel brought it in.
She wasn't quite sure what to think at first.
But after about two minutes she was putting her puppy dog in the basket and taking the plastic off the wheels.
The rain held off for us, thankfully, and all the kids had fun outside playing. The bouncy house was a hit with all of the kids, except Ella. And the bubbles and pinata are always a hit. BUT...this is the second pinata we've had that has the magic ribbon pulled right away! Thankfully, the birthday girl was the one to get it this time!
She had such a fun time! In fact, I think ALL the kids did!
I just can't believe my little girl is three.
