Is that Me?

Please tell me that I am not the only one that pictures themselves differently than they really are. I really don't picture myself as the overstuffed person that I am. In highschool, it was the other way around. I thought for sure I was fatter than ever. I really wish I would have realized then that I was just perfect. Now, I will walk by a mirror in the store or see a reflection and think, ewwwww. That's me?!?!?!?!

A while back, I had The Gent take a lovely, lovely Biggest Loser picture of me (you know in a sports bra like they wear on the show). No, I am not about to share. I would scare you all away. And well. . .it is scary. It scares me and it is me. That was about 18.5 lbs ago. I always get to the 20 or 30 lb. mark by changing my diet, and randomly exercising and then I just quit focusing on it. Well, this time is going to be different. Since we are scheduling and planning everything else around this place, we now have a new workout schedule/routine (we, as in The Gent decided to do it with me). I am excercising my butt off every night (hopefully literally). I just need to keep the motivation going.

I'm thinking life size biggest loser picture right in front of the treadmill? What do you think?

Goals

Does anyone have a fabulous quote about goals? I could really use one to just keep me pushing through.

(Make it a good one, it is going on my motivational board right in front of the treadmill)

I wanna go!

The Girl loves being with her brother and has turned from a complete mommy's girl to a complete daddy's girl over the last few months. This morning, after taking The Boy to preschool and coming back home to eat breakfast, The Girl and I had a conversation that went something like this. . .

The Girl: where Yannon [which is what she calls The Boy] go?

Me: The Boy's at school. He'll be back soon.

The Girl: Mmmm Hmmmm. Where daddy go?

Me: Daddy's at work.

The Girl: Mmmmm Hmmmm. (Silent for a minute just eating her oatmeal.) I go skeew. I go wook?

Me: One day you can go to school and go to work but right now you just get to play with mommy and have fun. Eat your oatmeal and we can find your baby.

The Girl: I wanna go get [The Boy]. Get daddy. (pointing to the door and getting all worked up)

I guess I'm not as much fun as I think I am. Not when you could wrestle and play with The Boy and Daddy.

No More!

Today I've had it.

Enough is enough.

Last night I joked with my MIL that it was totally fine if the oven melted some of my bumm off. I was half joking. Really, it would have been fine to melt that and more. If only it were that easy. I can think of a million and one reasons of how I've gotten to this point but I won't because really, they are all just lame reasons/excuses. Although that won't keep me from taping them all to the punching bag and getting them out of my system.


So, tonight, the treadmill, eliptical and punching bag got the better part of me. My legs are jello, my hair is a sweaty mess, my arms ache. It feels so good. I am already imagining the motivational board for the wall and the lovely chart.

Get ready because I am.

50.

That is the goal.

(and no ladies, this does NOT mean I'm all in for the craft night weigh in)

I've decided that once in a while, I need to move to the top of the list. I need to be the priority rather than everything else being the excuse.

Pics by Landon

The Boy hates. . .did I say HATES having his picture taken lately. What he does love, is taking pictures himself. Forever we have had the Fisher Price Digital camera. Definitely not a high quality camera for sure. But something that it doesn't matter if he drops, throws, leaves on the floor, etc. And forever, The Boy wanted nothing to do with it. Until lately. The Gent decided to upload the pictures from the camera the other day and they just made me laugh. For one, they are all blurry. . .so The Boy because he is constantly on the go. Most of them had all/part/some of The Girl's head in them. . . .they are always right by each other doing what the other one is doing. And they show glimpses of life as The Boy which I absolutely love. He goes around saying, "I can take a picture of that" or when I get my camera he'll say, "And I can get mine" and run and get his FP one.

Silly Silly Kids

The Boy and The Girl are constantly making me laugh. As I was going through some pictures, these pictures completely remind me of them. They scream The Boy & The Girl.

The Girl loves to hide. She laughs histerically when she surprises you and she loves her blankie.




The Boy is always curious and wondering what you are doing. He loves to be silly and loves making funny faces. And his belly laugh is just the best.

I just love these little people. They constantly brighten my day.

"Get Da Froggy. . .Boots"

I bought these because The Girl has completely figured out that "you go poo poo potty, get da froggy boots" and because she has been running to the bathroom and wanting to go. She has gone twice in the potty. And so we'll see.

(Ahhhh. Really, I am so glad The Boy finally figured it out and I thought we could wait. Ya know, take a potty training break but The Girl seems to have other plans.)

Missing His Buddy

This is The Boy, about 9 months old, with his cousin, D. The Boy and D love each other and have always had this special little bond. Always.

About a year ago, D and his mom moved to this loverly place in Oregon.

D with his mom

And that is when The Boy began missing his buddy D. Big time. So, earlier this year, we decided to take a road trip to find his buddy D. The Boy didn't care that it was 14 hours in the car. Whenever he wanted to get out, he would ask, "we are going to D's house, right?" and we would reassure him that we were, that it was just a really long drive. And he was peachy keen THE entire drive (seriously the best he has EVER been in the car).

And when we finally got to Oregon. The Boy and D were ecstatic. They were joined at the hip the entire trip.

They had a great time together and even though D had to remind The Boy a few times not to sit right on him or to just let go of him or to let him sleep, they were sad to have to leave each other. And The Boy has wanted to go back ever since. Whenever we are in the car for more than 20 minutes, The Boy will ask if we are going to D's house. And I remind him how far away D's house really is. The Boy misses D. And if we could drive to see D every weekend we would because The Boy and D love each other so much and really wish they weren't so far away from each other because then they could have movie nights every weekend and they could call each other up at the last minute and go to dinner and they could hang out until they both just fell asleep on the couch.

And so could their moms.

There was This One Day

Back in the day :-) when The Boy started preschool. He was overly excited. He wasn't worried or concerned at all. He woke up ready to start the day and the first thing he wanted was his backpack. He put it on with his PJ's and wanted to go to school. It took everything I had to get him to eat breakfast and actually get him to get dressed for school. And then to take a picture was just completely pushing him over the edge. He was just ready to get to school and asked, "can we go now?" Here is The Boy running (literally) out the door. Not waiting for two seconds for me to adjust the camera.

When we got there, he jumped out of the car and wasn't going to wait for a second for me to even go with him. I tricked him into waiting while I took this. And when he realized he waited for a picture, he was off. Running to preschool. He was in the door and up the stairs to his classroom before I could even make it through all of the other parents and kids. And that was that. His first day of preschool. He never looked back. I didn't get a hug and kiss. He's too grown up for that and I cried about it the whole way to the store because, after all, he should miss me more than that, right?!?!?!? But when I picked him up from school that day, he came running to me full force with his arms open wide and gave me the best hug ever. So, that made up for all of that.

Going Green

I have always wanted to be a bit greener by getting reuseable grocery bags. I just never do it for so many reasons. Mainly because the bags seems like such a waste, they aren't very big, are never very sturdy and I feel like they really can never hold as much as I need them too. I have always loved a good brown paper bag and love shopping at Harmon's for that reason (there are other reasons too but do love those brown paper bags). Well, I have finally done it.




I have been loving these bags because they are an exact replica of the Harmons brown paper bags with handles. Just reusable. They are super sturdy, have extra reinforcement on the bottom and fold up just like the brown paper bags. Love them. And they are definitely green in more ways than one. "Go green. The planet thanks you." (that's the bag talking, not me :-)

Priorities

With preschool starting last month, it has somewhat forced us to get out of our lazy, summer day swing of things and into more of a routine and schedule. (I realize that summer is pretty much long gone since I am sitting here in a sweater and really feeling the need for hot chocolate as it has gotten so cold.) But it has also made me focus more on the things that are truly important and prioritize the things in my life. As much as I hate sticking to a schedule and really enjoy just doing whatever we feel like on any given day, our life is becoming more organized and neat. I've missed that without really realizing it along the way.

I now have a cleaning schedule, a grocery shopping schedule, a work schedule, a laundry schedule, a family calendar, an organized budget, of course the preschool schedule (which started it all), one on one time with Little Miss, a date night and craft night. Along with all of that, we've started an earlier bedtime. 7:30 (which if you know The Boy is an amazing feat). We've been sticking to all of it and it is so good. We are all happier and more content. We are more productive and aware of what is going on in our family. The Gent and I have more alone time together than we have in the last few years. It is a good feeling. It's not that those things weren't really there before but have just been more laxed with all of it lately.

It really makes me stop and think about priorities and really just making time for what is important. Being a wife and a mother is definitely at the top of the list. Followed by church, extended family/friends, and then my photography business. It is good to look at that and remind myself of what really is important when our schedules and days tend to feel crammed and crazy. And to realize what really should be taking precedence and I approach things with a different perspective.

I look forward to our family nights, date nights, craft nights and cuddle time. Although it is all more scheduled and laid out than ever before, I find myself planning more, accomplishing more and enjoying all of it more rather than thinking of the rest of the things waiting for me on the never ending to do list.

They Bring Sunshine

These two little people brighten my day more than anything (and that guy in the background does too but this post isn't about him). Here are just a few reasons:

1. They are hilarious together. They make each other laugh and say the funniest things to each other.

2. They are so sweet to each other (most of the time :-).

3. The Boy worries and always wants to protect The Girl.

4. The Girl loves giving The Boy hugs even when he doesn't want them.

5. Their laughter is the sweetest thing and always brings a smile to my face.

6. I love to find them sitting in The Boy's room reading books together.

7. I love overhearing their conversations (right now it's mostly The Boy talking to The Girl but The Girl jabbers and The Boy seems to know just what she is saying).

8. They love being silly and love to dance and sing.

9. They teach me something new every single day. I've learned more about myself in the last four years than ever before.

10. Their imaginations and love of learning intrigue me.

Dearest Boy, I love your energetic, curious personality. I love that you can make friends wherever you go and that you are so tender hearted, loving and caring. I love your vocabulary. You always bring a smile to my face with the funny things you say. I am always up for a rhino hug and love it when you want to cuddle with me in the morning. Thanks for being my "best-est buddy ever."

Little Miss, I love your sweet, loving personality. I love to watch you breaking out of your quiet little mold. I love that you want to try new things all of the time and that you love to do what we do. I love getting you up in the morning when you are still half asleep and just want your "bain-key." I love that your brother is your best friend and that you always want to be with him.