Thursday, May 31, 2012

Little fishes

Splish, Splash...can you tell we were having a blast?!
For the past 2 weekends, we've spent a day in my parent's pool.
We'll be spending the weekend in the water again...at the lake.  We can't wait!

Jacob put swimmies on Bella's arms, just to see how she would do...she took off!  It was all the independence that she needed.



A little volleyball action 
The dog even went for a little dip.
Rylee!
Bella & Mimi
Rylee and her mommy (Aunt Lulu)
My sweet husband!
Bella and Pops
This next sequence is so funny.  Bella would just jump off the steps and go under like she was in the olympics.  Rylee really wanted to too, but would get a little nervous.  She would get about waist deep...jump...go under the water...come up screaming.  Then do it all over again!






Sweet Little Fishes
 And of course, like we always should...we ended this summer evening eating watermelon!



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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

"In-outside"

One of Bella's cute 2-year-old-saying is "In-outside", which means inside.

In-outside fun:



This sweet little chair was given to Jacob by his Aunt Terisa when he was a baby.
His mama painted it and passed it to Lucy!
Bella got excited when we sat Lucy in her chair.  She dragged her chair over to sit next to her.
 Weekend before last, we hung out at my parent's house.  Ate lots of good seafood that they brought back from their beach trip.  Here's just a few fun pictures from that day:
Jacob at the "kid's table"

Rylee, Aunt KK, Bella

me, Bella, Aunt KK, Aunt Lulu



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Monday, May 28, 2012

Happy Memorial Day

While some are at the beach or on the lake to celebrate this long weekend, I'm at work today.  It's ok, I had a great weekend with these beauties:

I love her crazy big grin!








She said "Look Mama a little banana."



Thank you for the men and women who do or have served this great country.  This day is for you!  I hope we all take a moment to remember what this day is about.



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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Having fun marking projects off our list

Saturday was a good day.  After a busy work week and a little added stress...I needed a good day.  We woke up at 6:15am to Bella yelling "Come wipe me!".  So, I go in the next room wiped my bright-eyed 2 year-old's booty and started my day.  I was finished with The Shred and a 3 mile run by 9am, then we marked several things off of our house project to-do list.

We've always like the slate on our screened in porch, but it wasn't sealed so it always looked dusty and dirty.  Jacob went to Home Depot, bought a $26 sealer, we cleaned the slate and he rolled it on. I love that the pretty colors finally show.  It looks much cleaner and nicer!
Jacob waterproofed the wonderful pergola that Nana and Papa built for us.  That evening Papa build a beautiful trellis to the side that gets the hot afternoon sun.  I'm going to grow a vine for some pretty & needed shade.

My hydrangeas are beautiful this year and I had to cut some to enjoy inside too!


We ended this day with a good dinner off of the grill, playing in the sprinkler, dreaming of a swimming pool, and catching lightening bugs.  I love summertime!  


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Thursday, May 17, 2012

1st day back in over a year.

A sweet friend offered me some much needed encouragement about this whole weight loss/getting my body back journey that I'm on. I've hit a plateau. I've weighed the same the past 3 weeks & I've become discouraged. The weight I am now is usually where I've become complacent in the past. So I think my body is giving me a hard time busting through this weight. I know that my body's weight distribution has changed after 2 babies. The scales might say the same number that I'm used to seeing, but when I look in the mirror...well, it's NOT what I want to see. But, I'm not giving in without a fight.

I tried running year before last & last year. I ran an 8K, 10K and a half-marathon. The half-marathon was last spring. It was the very last time I ran. It wasn't a pleasant experience AT ALL. My time sucked, everyone and their GRAND-mama was passing me. As soon as I crossed the finish line, there was no "runner's high", just praising God that it was finally over. My sweet friends that I trained with were always encouraging, but I hated that I was ALWAYS last. Every single time we trained. But as Kristin reminded me, 'don't be discouraged because other people are doing it better'. She's right. My thinking is pretty selfish. Just like in my favorite poem, "Desiderata", "If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself". I had become that person who gave up on running because I was bitter that I was the "lesser person". I am the slowest person I know.  But, who cares?!? Running slow is better than not running at all!

After all this thinking that I did...I made a decision to NOT be bitter or jealous. Because I have 2 legs & 2 feet. I am capable. So, after 1 year, 1 month and 13 days...I tore the tag from the half-marathon off of my shoes, laced them up and ran my neighborhood! I was proud...I actually ran 3 miles WITHOUT STOPPING. That's a big deal for me!
Rejuvenated.  Proud.
When I got home, I jumped in Bella's little pool. It was cold, but felt good.
Thanks to Kristin's advice & encouragement, I'm going to kick it up a few notches with my exercise & clean up my diet a little more to bust through this plateau.


Just because it means so much to me...here's 
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
By: Max Ehrmann


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