My New Years Resolution

You may be wondering: "Just now getting around to your New Years Resolution?"   Yup. Pretty much.

In December, when my last baby turned one, I decided gone were the days of the "Chubby Mommy" and I resolved to run one 5k a month for the summer.  Not one 5K a month, just for the summer.  I'm a realist, not an over-achiever.  Let's be clear.  Who wants to run outside in the winter??

I got on the Internet and downloaded the "Couch to 5K Running Plan" and have been working my plan.

Fortunately, the running plan has been really easy.  The hard part has been finding the time.  I hate to get up early, so that is totally out of the question. (I'm supposed to be making changes that I can live with!)  I have four little people running around here in the afternoon, and Ryan tries to catch a nap before he leaves for work at 9pm.  As for running after everyone is in bed? Not so much.

I've packed a bag a couple of days, and ran after my last appointment and before I picked up the kids from day care. That seems to work really well, but I do not always have the time. grr.

Tonight, after having three days off, I really needed to get out there.  I popped Jackson in the jogging stroller and off we went.   Let me tell ya, putting one foot in front of the other  on your own is a whole lot different than running while pushing a 20 pound toddler up hill with the wind in your face.

Those two twix I had on the way home from work probably didn't help much either.

My Baby Penguin

Jackson frequently takes showers with me.  Mostly because it's just easier to get him undressed while I'm getting undressed instead of later, when I'm wet and so are his clothes after walking in on his own.

The last two showers, he's been backing up to me and sitting down.  Just like this little penguin.

And there he sits.  And I don't have the heart to move.

Waterpark Fun!

In trying to be positive about the crappy week I've had, I decided to (finally) post our water -park pics!

We went with our friends, Matt & Elizabeth. Grace and Isabelle are "Best Friends" and have the best time playing together. It is fun to hang out with them. It seems we usually spend time with our friends who have children Elizabeth and William's age.

Awestruck!

Jackson loved these "floor fountains" in the kiddie pool.

Ryan and Elizabeth. waiting. to go down the tunnel of terror.

Not really. I'm the only one who hates them.

William was so fun. We felt pretty safe while we were there, they have lots of lifeguards, really only one way to get out of the swim area, and with four adults watching out... we let William and Elizabeth go off by themselves a few times. Every time we went to check on William, he was chatting with some new little friend he met. His dad is social like that too.

Don't ask.

He was so cute in his shark shorts!

Two little girls, ready to go home!

Sunday night, after we returned home, and Ryan was at work, He and I were texting back and forth, talking about how nice it was to get away, how great the kids behaved, and what a fun time we had all around.

A few days later I was talking with Elizabeth (not my daughter), telling her how much fun Ryan and I had, so glad we went, the kids loved it, etc, when she tells me that her husband thought it was awful!! "not relaxing at all". So funny. I guess your idea of "relaxing" changed with the amount of kids you have...

I'm Sad.

so very, very sad.



Wednesday evening when I was picked Isabelle and Jackson up from the *most wonderful sitter in the world* Miss Mary Jane told me due to health issues, she would not be able to watch my children anymore.

Much sobbing, and several blubbering phone calls to my support staff. I love you guys.

It's 30 hours later, and I have no idea what I'm going to do. I'm still so very sad. *tear*

Saint Patrick's Day!

For my blog post today, I wanted to get a "St. Patrick" themed image from the Internet. I start, of course, at my favorite website of all time:

How great is that?

On to the search!

This is what caught my eye. Care Bears! Did you have a Care Bear? I remember wanting one soooo bad. My first Care Bear was a handmade one, my very best friend who lived across the street, her mother made it for me. It was a white one, and she made a red and white sweater and hat for it. I still have it. Even with boxes still packed, if you gave me 5 minutes, I could find it in my house. I love(d) that bear. My second and last Care Bear was the "Friendship" Bear.

Peach was my favorite color. As much as I wanted this little bear, I have no idea where it is, or if I still have it. But the bear Mrs. Rapes made me? That I still have.

Better still? My Irish friend is here, and we are celebrating with a girls night tonight!!

What a way to kick off a weekend...

While I am frantically packing at midnight Thursday night, Jackson and Isabelle decided to  help me out by dumping the entire box of tide on the laundry room floor.  Good thing it was powder. 

Seriously.  In the 30 seconds I was out of the laundry room.

 The first thing out of my mouth?  

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?"  

really?  she's 3 years old.  She doesn't really think about the effects of her actions.  

She does have some things figured out though, because her response?  "Jackson started it".

The worst part? while I'm cleaning up the mess, I hear something in the kitchen.  I look out to see Jackson standing on the island dumping the whole box of coco puffs.  Bouncing off the island like bouncy balls, all over the floor.  I was pleased.

HUGE Milestone!

Before I tell you all about the fun we had this weekend, I need to tell you about the package I have in my work bag.

For awhile now, we've been talking about Elizabeth's hair.  Her daddy has always liked it long.  Me?  Not so much.  It has gotten better since she is older and can wash, condition, comb and put up, but when she was younger? yikes! crying, screaming, gnashing of the teeth.  And we were fortunate enough for her to bring lice home from camp last year? oh my.

Two Sunday's ago, she was ready, so I went to town.

I combed it out, took a good look.

Braided it up,

and, viola!  She cried, and almost refused to hold it for the photo.  Promptly took a shower and was very pleased to show all her friends at church.

Her braid measured about 15 inches from "tip to tail".  As you can see, I did not do the best job with my kitchen shears, so I made her the first appointment I could in town with a professional!  It looks really cute now, makes her look so grown up.  I would post a new photo....but, yeah.  Don't have one.

Note:  While Elizabeth was in the shower rinsing off the cut hairs, I told Isabelle,  "Elizabeth got a hair cut" To which she replied:  "Did William do it?"

He can see the chocolate....just out of his reach!

I wish someone would put it out of my reach!

Inspiration

I am patient with you because I love you and want to forgive you.
I am kind to you because I love you and want to help you.
I do not envy your possessions or your gifts because I love you and want you to have the best.
I do not boast about my attainments because I love you and want to hear about yours.
I am not proud because I love you and want to esteem you before myself.
I am not rude because I love you and care about your feelings.
I am not self-seeking because I love you and want to meet your needs.
I am not easily angered by you because I love you and want to overlook your offenses.
I do not keep a record of your wrongs because I love you, and ‘love covers a multitude of sins.’

Jerry Bridges
Action Statements based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
The Discipline of Grace, p. 39

I found this on Miss Josie's blog.  Made an impression on me.  I think I need to post it somewhere I'll see it every day.  With that kind of inspiration, maybe she needs to post more often?

Our Weekend

We had company last weekend.  The best kind of company.  The kind that sleep in and ignore your children when they are annoying.   My cousin Lee and his wife, Josie came on Friday afternoon.

They complimented my store-bought pizza Friday night, and vegged out with us after a long week.  That is her cute little baby bump.

We slept in on Saturday, had a leisurely breakfast. Started some laundry.  The boys took the kids to the John Deere store while Jackson took a nap.  Miss Josie is due the end of May.

Saturday evening we headed out to the big city for a nice, quiet dinner.  I wouldn't exactly call dinner at Texas Roadhouse quiet, but I didn't have to cut anyone's meat, and I only went to the bathroom when I had to go.   They know the sex of the baby, but they are not telling.

Sunday I had to make the coffee at church.  Instead of waking everyone up, arguing over who was wearing what, struggling with coats and shoes, I left all my little people at home and did it by myself!  We also made The Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls.

I'm not sure about the baby, but I'm leaning toward girl.

Grape Salad

Christmas was the first time I made this salad, Super Bowl Sunday the second time, twice since then.  It's a perfect way to take a wonderfully healthy food and turn it into a sweet dessert that you cannot get enough of. 

I found grapes this week at Marsh for the low price of .97 cents a pound-woo hoo!

Grape Salad:

8 ounces cream cheese

8 ounces of sour cream

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

8 cups grapes

pecans & brown sugar, optional.

Blend cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla.  Stir in grapes.  Top with brown sugar and pecans.  I've never used the brown sugar or pecans, but I have made a "low fat" version.  I used fat free cream cheese and low fat vanilla yogurt instead of sour cream and omitted the vanilla.  No one noticed the difference.

I promise it will not disappoint!

Out Of The Mouth Of Babes....

"Mom"

"Jackson is my husband."

"I am the life to him."

In her crown.  of course.

Makin' Dinner

Pork loin. Tenderized to perfection. Delicious!

My Baby

Yes, I still breastfeed him.

Yes, he needs a haircut.

No, I have not taken him to his 1 year check-up.

No, I do not want him to get any bigger.

He could sleep past 5:15 am though.