By the time Dustin got home with her from the doctor's office they both went right to bed and Ella woke up from her morning nap and was ready for lunch. I made her favorite: cheese sandwich and bananas.
That girl really loves her "nanners"!
Nanners
I'm home with the girls today and tomorrow since our daycare provider is on vacation. It actually worked out for me because Lauren ended up waking me up six times last night complaining of an earache. Of course we took her to the doctor this morning and she has an ear infection.
By the time Dustin got home with her from the doctor's office they both went right to bed and Ella woke up from her morning nap and was ready for lunch. I made her favorite: cheese sandwich and bananas.
That girl really loves her "nanners"!
By the time Dustin got home with her from the doctor's office they both went right to bed and Ella woke up from her morning nap and was ready for lunch. I made her favorite: cheese sandwich and bananas.
That girl really loves her "nanners"!
Three Car Pileup
I was on the floor with the kids the other night and the girls were bound and determined to "get" their brother.
Before he new what was coming.
When Ella got the idea.
When Ella made her move.
Then she lost her steam...and had to take a break.
Then Lauren thought she'd join in.
And then they both got tired.
But it wasn't over until Ella got hurt and wanted to come tell on someone.
After a quick snack they were all back at it!
Before he new what was coming.
When Ella got the idea.
When Ella made her move.
Then she lost her steam...and had to take a break.
Then Lauren thought she'd join in.
And then they both got tired.
But it wasn't over until Ella got hurt and wanted to come tell on someone.
After a quick snack they were all back at it!
Baby Picasso
Ella has become quite the colorer. If I try and keep her busy for ten minutes I give her a piece of paper and a crayon. But in this case...she got those things on her own and kept herself busy for fifteen minutes.
Peace Treaty
Our house has entered a new phase. Most times when you come to our front door it sounds like we're watching some war movie at ghetto blaster levels. And that's before I've even opened the door. The children fight. Fight a lot. And it's driving me crazy.
They also tattle. A lot. So this is how a typical evening goes....
Josh pushes Lauren's button.
Lauren tells.
Lauren pushes Ella's button.
Josh tells.
Lauren pushes Josh's button.
Josh tells.
Josh pushes Ella's button.
Ella screams.
Well...it's that sequence twenty more times and then Ella goes to bed and after that point it's just back and forth between Josh and Lauren.
So the other night when I heard silence while making dinner I figured they had either killed each other or Josh had hog tied his sisters and he was playing the Wii. I was shocked and appauled when I saw this:
I literally walked out the front door and came back in after I had checked the address on the front of the house. The kids thought I was hysterical and I thought they had finally figured out the power of working together.
Thankfully, before they realized the power of three against one, things returned to normal and the blood shed began again.
They also tattle. A lot. So this is how a typical evening goes....
Josh pushes Lauren's button.
Lauren tells.
Lauren pushes Ella's button.
Josh tells.
Lauren pushes Josh's button.
Josh tells.
Josh pushes Ella's button.
Ella screams.
Well...it's that sequence twenty more times and then Ella goes to bed and after that point it's just back and forth between Josh and Lauren.
So the other night when I heard silence while making dinner I figured they had either killed each other or Josh had hog tied his sisters and he was playing the Wii. I was shocked and appauled when I saw this:
I literally walked out the front door and came back in after I had checked the address on the front of the house. The kids thought I was hysterical and I thought they had finally figured out the power of working together.
Thankfully, before they realized the power of three against one, things returned to normal and the blood shed began again.
Runner #2397
I did it! I did it! I did it!!
Yesterday not only did I check something off my Bucket List, I fulfilled a dream of mine and saw three months of hard work pay off.
I ran my first 5k!!
I set three goals for my first 5k...
Goal #1 - Finish. And I did!!
Goal #2 - Run the WHOLE thing. And I did! Now...I could have walked it faster than I ran it but the point is I didn't walk.
Goal #3 - Finish in under 45 minutes. And I did!!
Before the race (with my littler motivator):
Right before the finish line when I saw my family:
That beautiful finish line:
When I think about how far I've come since April 6th I can't even WAIT to see what I can do in the next three months. I carried 37 less pounds over the finish line with me on Sunday! THIRTY SEVEN!! I am three pounds away from losing Lauren! That's just CRAZY!
Last night Dustin and were laying in bed and he asked me what my favorite part of the race was, thinking I was going to tell him it was crossing the finish line.
But that wasn't the best part of yesterday....it was when I was about three blocks away from the finish line - when I saw my family on the corner. I saw my husband and I raised both my arms up in victory and from two blocks away he came out in the middle of the road and raised both his arms up, too. I wish I could have frozen that moment because it was absolutely amazing! It makes me cry just thinking about it.
I saw my son clapping his little hands off and Lauren screaming, "Mommy!" My in-laws, my brother and my training buddies were all there and the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. Three months ago I struggled running 60 seconds...yesterday I ran just about 45 minutes.
I have given birth to three amazing children, I have graduated from college, I have done a lot of things in my life that I have been proud of...but yesterday was priceless.
It's been over 24 hours later and I'm STILL on a runner's high. ;-)
Now on to the next one!
Yesterday not only did I check something off my Bucket List, I fulfilled a dream of mine and saw three months of hard work pay off.
I ran my first 5k!!
I set three goals for my first 5k...
Goal #1 - Finish. And I did!!
Goal #2 - Run the WHOLE thing. And I did! Now...I could have walked it faster than I ran it but the point is I didn't walk.
Goal #3 - Finish in under 45 minutes. And I did!!
Before the race (with my littler motivator):
Right before the finish line when I saw my family:
That beautiful finish line:
When I think about how far I've come since April 6th I can't even WAIT to see what I can do in the next three months. I carried 37 less pounds over the finish line with me on Sunday! THIRTY SEVEN!! I am three pounds away from losing Lauren! That's just CRAZY!
Last night Dustin and were laying in bed and he asked me what my favorite part of the race was, thinking I was going to tell him it was crossing the finish line.
But that wasn't the best part of yesterday....it was when I was about three blocks away from the finish line - when I saw my family on the corner. I saw my husband and I raised both my arms up in victory and from two blocks away he came out in the middle of the road and raised both his arms up, too. I wish I could have frozen that moment because it was absolutely amazing! It makes me cry just thinking about it.
I saw my son clapping his little hands off and Lauren screaming, "Mommy!" My in-laws, my brother and my training buddies were all there and the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. Three months ago I struggled running 60 seconds...yesterday I ran just about 45 minutes.
I have given birth to three amazing children, I have graduated from college, I have done a lot of things in my life that I have been proud of...but yesterday was priceless.
It's been over 24 hours later and I'm STILL on a runner's high. ;-)
Now on to the next one!
Out of the mouths of babes
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. ;-)
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!
