Conversation #1
Lauren has developed a fear of storms. It's not just the thunder she's afraid of, it's the rain, too. So I've been trying to tell her all the good things about rain and how rain can't hurt her - in child friendly terms.
This morning it was pouring as I was getting ready to leave for work. The girls didn't have daycare this morning so they were staying home with Dustin. I put on my raincoat and gave them all a hug and kiss good-bye and headed off into the rain. On my way to work Dustin called and said Lauren was looking outside and said, "It's like a big ol' bird bath out there!"
I'd say my stories are working to relieve her fears!
Conversation #2
Josh and Lauren were out in the family room the other night while I was preparing dinner. I have no idea what Lauren was doing at the time but all of a sudden I hear Josh yell, "Lauren! Act like a lady!"
So funny!
A Milestone for ME!
I have been training for a 5k with an app on my iTouch. It's called C25k. Basically it's supposed to take you from the Couch to a 5k in a matter of 9 weeks. Each week is broken down into three structured workouts - Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3.
I never in my life have been a runner. Never. Not even at the peak of my physical fitness when I was eating, breathing, sleeping softball. Never.
But I thought, "What the hell? I'll give it a whirl. I've always admired people who run. I mean...what's the worst that could happen?"
So I started that six weeks ago. Each week integrates longer running periods with walking periods and each workout is only 31 minutes. Well, this morning was Week 5, Day 3 - five minute warm up, run twenty minutes and five minute cooldown.
When my alarm went off this morning I knew what I was going to have to do. And I started to psych myself out. I got dressed, pulled my hair back and filled my water bottle.
I started my app and finished the warm up...and began to run. And run. And run.
I freakin' did it!!! ALL TWENTY MINUTES!!! And to be honest, I could have kept going!
I have done a lot of things in my life that have made me proud of myself...but this journey is moving right up to the top.
If you would have told me two months ago that I was going to be nearly 30 pounds lighter and able to run 20 minutes in one stretch I would have told you that you had lost your ever lovin' mind.
But here I am.
I never in my life have been a runner. Never. Not even at the peak of my physical fitness when I was eating, breathing, sleeping softball. Never.
But I thought, "What the hell? I'll give it a whirl. I've always admired people who run. I mean...what's the worst that could happen?"
So I started that six weeks ago. Each week integrates longer running periods with walking periods and each workout is only 31 minutes. Well, this morning was Week 5, Day 3 - five minute warm up, run twenty minutes and five minute cooldown.
When my alarm went off this morning I knew what I was going to have to do. And I started to psych myself out. I got dressed, pulled my hair back and filled my water bottle.
I started my app and finished the warm up...and began to run. And run. And run.
I freakin' did it!!! ALL TWENTY MINUTES!!! And to be honest, I could have kept going!
I have done a lot of things in my life that have made me proud of myself...but this journey is moving right up to the top.
If you would have told me two months ago that I was going to be nearly 30 pounds lighter and able to run 20 minutes in one stretch I would have told you that you had lost your ever lovin' mind.
But here I am.
Officially a 2nd Grader!
And I am officially old. This is ridiculous! How did an entire school year go by this quickly?
First Day of School
Last Day of School
Are these even the same kids? They must be imposters!
First Day of School
Last Day of School
Are these even the same kids? They must be imposters!
Birthday Celebration #2
As has been pointed out numerous times before, she is obviously my daughter.
Lauren peeked her head into our room yesterday morning and as soon as we heard her we shouted, "Happy Birthday, Lauren!"
She froze.
Looked around and said, "Where's my cake?!"
We tried to divert her attention from the lack of confection to the fact that we had a Tinkerbell gift bag filled with surprises for her. Luckily...it worked.
Nothing like a bag filled with a singing Cinderalla card, hot pink glitter nail polish, hot pink glitter lip gloss, headbands and nail files to make your daughter express her undying love for her very cool parents.
The birthday girl chose what was for breakfast and as I slaved over the griddle I listened to her sing, "Happy Birthday to myself" over and over and over again. She had a raging case of Birthday-girl-itus if I ever saw one. Sad thing was...I was still suffering from it from only two days before.
Breakfast was delish - a spread of strawberry pancakes and scrambled eggs.
After getting everyone showered and dressed we went to the store to pick up a birthday cake, order her cake for next weekend and buy some flowers for the front of the house. By the time we got every thing back home it was time for lunch. And Lauren's pick was McDonald's at Thomas Park. Done and Done.
Since Ella fell asleep in the swing at the park we decided we should head home and put her down for a nap. The compromise was that Lauren helped me plant the flowers and then her and Josh got to play in the sprinkler and color with sidewalk chalk. Done, done and done.
After dinner it was time for the one thing she'd been asking for since she woke up: cake.
I'm not sure if it was the cake or the fire...but Ella squealed as soon as she saw what was coming.
And then the girl who had been singing happy birthday to herself all day...got shy when others sang it to her.
From the looks of it...I think Lauren had as good of a birthday as I did!!
Lauren peeked her head into our room yesterday morning and as soon as we heard her we shouted, "Happy Birthday, Lauren!"
She froze.
Looked around and said, "Where's my cake?!"
We tried to divert her attention from the lack of confection to the fact that we had a Tinkerbell gift bag filled with surprises for her. Luckily...it worked.
Nothing like a bag filled with a singing Cinderalla card, hot pink glitter nail polish, hot pink glitter lip gloss, headbands and nail files to make your daughter express her undying love for her very cool parents.
The birthday girl chose what was for breakfast and as I slaved over the griddle I listened to her sing, "Happy Birthday to myself" over and over and over again. She had a raging case of Birthday-girl-itus if I ever saw one. Sad thing was...I was still suffering from it from only two days before.
Breakfast was delish - a spread of strawberry pancakes and scrambled eggs.
After getting everyone showered and dressed we went to the store to pick up a birthday cake, order her cake for next weekend and buy some flowers for the front of the house. By the time we got every thing back home it was time for lunch. And Lauren's pick was McDonald's at Thomas Park. Done and Done.
Since Ella fell asleep in the swing at the park we decided we should head home and put her down for a nap. The compromise was that Lauren helped me plant the flowers and then her and Josh got to play in the sprinkler and color with sidewalk chalk. Done, done and done.
After dinner it was time for the one thing she'd been asking for since she woke up: cake.
I'm not sure if it was the cake or the fire...but Ella squealed as soon as she saw what was coming.
And then the girl who had been singing happy birthday to herself all day...got shy when others sang it to her.
From the looks of it...I think Lauren had as good of a birthday as I did!!
Dance a little Ditty!
Ella hasn't been using a bottle for months but Dustin, being the ever conservative, wanted to hold on to them "just in case". As I was cleaning the kitchen this weekend and saw that an entire portion of my limited counterspace was being occupied by these stupid bottles I begged him to let me throw them away.
He finally agreed.
I danced and sang the entire time I filled the trash can. And then he said, "Aren't you even a little bit sad?"
I looked at him and laughed, "NOT EVEN A LITTLE, EENIE, MEENIE, TINY BIT!!!"
We probably should have bought new ones for Ella as ours had seen so many ounces of formula from the previous two children and were cracked and all around sad looking. But in the honored tradition of "third child neglect"...she used theirs.
She survived...and so did I. We are finally bottle free!!! Woot! Woot!
He finally agreed.
I danced and sang the entire time I filled the trash can. And then he said, "Aren't you even a little bit sad?"
I looked at him and laughed, "NOT EVEN A LITTLE, EENIE, MEENIE, TINY BIT!!!"
We probably should have bought new ones for Ella as ours had seen so many ounces of formula from the previous two children and were cracked and all around sad looking. But in the honored tradition of "third child neglect"...she used theirs.
She survived...and so did I. We are finally bottle free!!! Woot! Woot!
Birthday Celebration #1....or #31 (depending on how you look at it)
This birthday was much better than the previous three....by far. It helped that it was on the weekend and it helped that I was able to spend it with more people than just my three children. It was destined to be better for that mere fact.
I took Friday off to spend the morning at the salon and the afternoon with my husband. He had surprised me the day before with beautiful flowers at the office so I thought I'd return the favor and drag him shopping all afternoon. ;-)
I wanted to pick up a new top for the weekend so we stopped at the mall. Normally the idea of shopping for clothes makes my stomach tie up in knots and my head pound, but lately it's been fun. Sort of a progress test. And Friday I had another moment. I am offically down another size in tops!!! I came out and was pulling at the shirt and told Dustin I thought it was too small and he said I was wrong. He said it fit perfect. I turned to look in the tri-fold mirror and saw that he was right. And then I bawled.
Friday night mom and Titi watched the kids so that I could go to Uptown Friday Nights with my brother and some friends. We had a blast! We all went out afterwards and I ran into a co-worker, ate at Dublin's and had such a fun night.
Saturday we met mom, Titi and Joel for lunch at one of my new favorite places: The Londoner. We headed home and the kids took a quick nap (I did, too) while Dustin went and bought a bike trailer. As soon as the kids woke up we took our first family bike ride!
Ella was very excited when I told her we were going for a bike ride!
The she realized she didn't have a bike and was very confused.
(Yes, Lauren is wearing a leotard. It was easier than listening to her whine...which she appears to be doing anyways.)
After the long bike ride it was time for cake!!!
It was a great birthday and ended with dinner with a great friend! I couldn't have asked for a better day!!
I took Friday off to spend the morning at the salon and the afternoon with my husband. He had surprised me the day before with beautiful flowers at the office so I thought I'd return the favor and drag him shopping all afternoon. ;-)
I wanted to pick up a new top for the weekend so we stopped at the mall. Normally the idea of shopping for clothes makes my stomach tie up in knots and my head pound, but lately it's been fun. Sort of a progress test. And Friday I had another moment. I am offically down another size in tops!!! I came out and was pulling at the shirt and told Dustin I thought it was too small and he said I was wrong. He said it fit perfect. I turned to look in the tri-fold mirror and saw that he was right. And then I bawled.
Friday night mom and Titi watched the kids so that I could go to Uptown Friday Nights with my brother and some friends. We had a blast! We all went out afterwards and I ran into a co-worker, ate at Dublin's and had such a fun night.
Saturday we met mom, Titi and Joel for lunch at one of my new favorite places: The Londoner. We headed home and the kids took a quick nap (I did, too) while Dustin went and bought a bike trailer. As soon as the kids woke up we took our first family bike ride!
Ella was very excited when I told her we were going for a bike ride!
The she realized she didn't have a bike and was very confused.
(Yes, Lauren is wearing a leotard. It was easier than listening to her whine...which she appears to be doing anyways.)
After the long bike ride it was time for cake!!!
It was a great birthday and ended with dinner with a great friend! I couldn't have asked for a better day!!
Fun in the sun!!
This weekend was absolutely beautiful! I mean, you couldn't ASK for more perfect weather.
Saturday Dustin spent the day with the kids and I went on a 19 mile bike ride with some friends...and about 100 other people. I had so much fun and we've already decided that we will be doing more of these this summer. My legs held up just fine...my bottom, on the other hand, is a bit sore. ;-)
Today was another beautiful day so we decided to take advantage of the weather and play outside...and wash my van.
I think it's safe to say that summer is finally here and I can't wait to see what it brings!
Saturday Dustin spent the day with the kids and I went on a 19 mile bike ride with some friends...and about 100 other people. I had so much fun and we've already decided that we will be doing more of these this summer. My legs held up just fine...my bottom, on the other hand, is a bit sore. ;-)
Today was another beautiful day so we decided to take advantage of the weather and play outside...and wash my van.
I think it's safe to say that summer is finally here and I can't wait to see what it brings!
