rainy day play

we are so fortunate to have a gymnasium close to the house that allows the public to come and play with all the equipment, mats, hula hoops, trampolines, slides, etc. for three bucks a kid!

it has been raining here all day and it's nasty and cold (but we're lucky to not get ice) and so i took the kids with mom to get out of the house-- and make sure fisher got his legs moving after his three vaccines today-

it was great and ella is getting so BRAVE! she just started going down the slide two weeks ago! and look at her now-- going down on her own, going down on her belly, and going down backwards!

fisher loves everything there and never seems to stop-- it is a great, cheap place to head out to a couple times a week during the "UGLY SEASON"







** mom went home to day in lieu of the ice storm that roanoke may be getting tonight, so she is home safe, and i am sure enjoying the quiet of the house- thanks for coming... we love you! **

mom's visit

mom came to visit!!!

she came down on sunday night to hang out for a while- yesterday we went to barnes and noble and she got the kids a couple of new books- (my kids live for books) then we went to sam's club for a couple of things--

it was wonderful to have her here and playing with the kids- ella and fisher adore her!



then the kids decided to make a game using the power bands that came with mom's exercise dvd-- why again do we own toys? real actual toys?

an update on chris and facebook

chris


here is his link

please go be his friend

thanks

fisher's 18 month appointment

my fisher update--

he is 35 inches tall (90%)

he is 28.5 lbs (75-80%)

he is crazy





*** and we finally got outside and played on sunday. it was a bit chilly, but the kids were in heaven! i love when chris and i BOTH take them out... even though the backyard is fenced and the deck stairs have a gate on it, i still need some serious man-on-man defense! i don't ever like to be outside and out numbered!***

a day to appreciate bubba

a little history on bubba-- he gets quite a bad rap to some people- they are turned off because...
- he has some pit-bull in him
- he weighs over 115 lbs
- he takes up room on a couch/chair/bed/blanket/etc
- he has been known to nip a couple of behinds (more so when he was a puppy)
- he loves his "pack" me, chris, ella, fisher and gracie


but, man, he loves my kids- LOVES MY KIDS!

he lets them climb, sit, jump, pull, tickle, kiss, hug, squeeze, feed, ride, and love all over him- he has since day one!



when i first got pregnant people would see him then my belly and we would hear "what are you going to do about those DOGS" and point at him-- so, here is my proof that bubba beyond a shadow of a doubt is a wonderful, loving, much appreciate dog-- he is really such a part of our family-- we couldn't picture/think/imagine a day without him.

*and here is all our snow*

my sensitive ella

sometime ago ella, fisher, and i made a low fat, low cal, chocolate eclair cake. they were wonderful making it-

later that night ella said that it was daddy's birthday cake and that we should sing happy birthday- so, sure-- we sang, we danced and pretended that it was chris' birthday (actual feb.4) so, as we are eating... ella got some icing on her face and started to freak out over the fact that she was dirty- (nothing new) so, i decided to get her a little more messy-- it was great-- then.... this happened.

making cookies!

i finally brought my camera downstairs and uploaded all my pictures from january-- sorry... i know reading a blog without pretty pictures isn't all that fun!


here they are- the aprons say COOKIE TASTER and my apron says COOKIE MAKER








oh how true those words are-- there isn't ever a day where you won't find cookies in my house- chris loves chocolate chip-- i challenge anyone to a cookie bake off! this particular day we made oatmeal chocolate chip raisin cookies-- they were de-lish!

chris has a facebook account

soooooo..... chris has become a computer nut! he is addicted! he is insane! he is on the computer ALL DAY! this is how it started this weekend--

- chris sits me down and says

"honey, i need to tell you something... i got a facebook account"-- "do you think i am a nerd/loser/dork?"

me: "good for you hon! i am proud of you"


fast forward about 36 hours later

me: "chris, are you planning on eating today? seeing you kids today? using the bathroom today? coming upstairs today?"

chris: "uh, i have 54 friends!" "i can upload pictures too!" "do you want to see my facebook page?"

me: "really, there is life up here... "

chris: "yeah... right... i will be there soon-- can you think of any more friends of mine? i'm kinda stuck at 56 friends"

me: "chris, don't make me count to three--- get upstairs and take care of your kids!"

chris: "uh, really you can't think of anymore friends of mine?"

me: "are you kidding????!!!"

i skipped a girls night

i had the opportunity to go out with the girls for the evening-- i bailed.

i have a couple of good reasons... but i still feel bad that i didn't go-- see, i adopted this motto "go slow" for 2009, and lately, i have been going... not fast by no means, but i have been busy in my own home doing thing that are necessary... but not really what i "want" to be doing... and still keeping me busy-

all that i wanted to do tonight was turn off my phone, play with the kids, and relax-- watch some tv that i have missed out on, and hang out with chris... so, i bailed-- sorry ladies i hate that i wasn't with you-- but, i wouldn't have been great company anyway!

on a side note-- we've had a squeaky dryer-- it's so squeaky that i haven't been able to do laundry since saturday night- which also means that i have a MOUNTAIN of little kid laundry (as well as big people) to catch up on. our dryer man was supposed to be here this evening... but got "sick" so, he will be here first thing in the morning-- he better be here- the squeaking is AWFUL!

but-- i planned to make a roast for dinner-- and then i thought i was going for girls night and then bailed... so i had to figure out something else-- so

i made some sloppy joes-- and the we also made homemade cheese fries-- it was such a great dinner! i didn't think that chris and i could pull it off-- but the cheese fries were SO good-- if i had more potatoes then we would have made round 2! oh, they were good!

have a great night!

**** charligne, have a great time in AFRICA! **** be safe and take tons of pictures-- we love learning all the animal sounds and names!

since bush has been in office

so, with all the hoopla going on today-- it got me thinking of what all has happened in the last 8 years-- it's going to be good!

- got married
- moved to kentucky
- started a new school
- raised two puppies to be good big dogs
- learned how to get along with my husband
- learned how to camp on an island with one sea-doo, two dogs, one small tent, one cooler, and questionable weather-- for several weekends in a row for a summer
- my older brother got married
- bought a house
- got a job
- graduated from college
- vacationed over and over and over again
- had baby #1- ella
- moved to tennessee
- bought house number 2
- sold house number 1
(yeah... that order is correct-- don't recommend it)
- learned how to embrace the life of a stay-at- home - mom
- still kept my auditing job
- had baby #2- fisher
- learned how to start the weight loss train
- kelsey got married
- learned how to blog!

there is so much that i could put in this list-- but it is amazing to see what all has happened while one person has been in charge of our country! and to think by the time obama's first term is up

- ella will start pre- school
- ella will start school
- fisher will start pre-school
- we might have another baby
- we might have finished our basement/garage

oooohhhoooohhhooo! what the future holds!

have a great night--- and to my daddy- i am thinking of you and praying for you... i know that you are amazing-- i love you!

my big fisher

fisher turned 18 months on the 16th-- and i didn't post about him-- sorry buddy--


so here are a few things about our BIG BOY! (i will post stats next week when he has is official check up) ( i will post pictures when i remember to bring my camera downstairs)

- fisher knows where... his eyes, ears, nose, teeth, tongue, hair, back, fingers, toes, and our newest... his muscles are--

- he knows what... a cow, duck, owl, fish, bird, horse, frog, dog, cat, bear, snake, monkey, and a few others say

- he knows how to say his version of... ella, bubba, daddy, momma, vitamin (which is hilarious), drink (which is some weird sound-- but consistent), no, ball, football, spin, roll it, dance, bed, bath, teeth, go, now, and i'm sure there is more--

- he can climb up and down stairs on his own
- he can brush his teeth on his own (we second it)
- he can climb on top of our table on his own
- he can lift the dogs combined bowl set on his own
- he can move stools in the house on his own
- he would spend all day and night sitting on chris' lap with a book
- he knows how to cough, sneeze, and yawn on command
- he knows that if ella's door is shut he should walk past it quietly and say "shhhh"
- he knows how to give both bubba and gracie treats-- he does this after they have sat for him- so cute!

he is a challenge every single day-- he is the most curious thing i have ever seen! we love him so much and adds such an exciting twist to our family-

a couple thoughts

i don't have much to say tonight- shocker i know!

but there are a few things on my mind--

1- it never snows! i know that i technically live in the "south" and i know that it doesn't get "that cold" but, come on really!!!! i want some snow! i just knew that it was going to snow last night-- knew it! then... this morning-- nope, nada, nothing-

i even drew a snowman on my fridge magnet thingy in wishful thinking--- nope.

2- ella and i went to our first "beauty pagent" last night- it wasn't that bad- ella of course LOVED it-- she looked at me once and said, " let's just stay here forever! look at all the beautiful dresses!!!" i laughed and said no- but it was a cute thought for her- we went with a friend and her two girls-- (her cousin was in it- and she won)

3- we are tired. we are so tired. our dogs have been sneaking into the bed everynight- all night long-- one isn't so bad- even bubba (110 lbs) alone isn't bad... but put gracie (55 lbs) and bubba in the bed-- we struggle! we can barely hold our eyes open! so-- i am going to bed in about... 10 minutes!

good night and have a great week!

oh, ps- i have been weighing myself on a spinning scale (circa: 1886) and this weekend i splurged and bought an electronic scale with actual numbers-- uh-- it tells me that i am about 4 pounds heavier than my spinning scale-- i think i'm going to take it back!

we are on the mend--

we are all starting to feel better-- fisher's pink eye is no longer contagious, ella isn't snoring anymore or coughing all night long, chris and i are starting to feel much better as well- thanks everyone!

a couple other random thoughts--

1- gretchen on the real housewives of orange county-- is one HOT mess!

2- young and the restless is getting GOOOOOOD again!

3- we went to the hands on museum today for over two hours-- and i cannot believe how much fun my kids had-- they really got into it! we will be buying season passes!

4- my sister is awesome-- she is such a trooper and so helpful!

5- it's almost friday-- my weekend, my 5:00pm friday cocktail is calling my name- badly!

6- we "losers" weigh-in in the morning-- i don't know how this week is going... but being sick and very little movement doesn't look good--

7- i actually got to work out last night-- i watched the biggest loser and loved every single second of it!!!

8- have a great weekend- i will post some pictures of the kids soon- i have been a little lazy with the camera!

i HATE being SICK!!!!!!

now, we aren't drop down to the floor sick-
we aren't going through boxes of tissues
we are still making it through the days
so, i know that we aren't THAT sick.

but, we are that annoying sick-- the sick where you can't sleep very well-
the sick where you cough all the time (but just at night-- when you are trying to sleep)
the sick where my kids are just being their normal kiddie selves and we are just too tired to play back- oh, i hate being sick- under the weather- whatever you wanna call it!

i hate that i can't really workout either-- i have come to love that part of my day (early or late) where i do something that benefits me...

oh well-- hopefully we will be over this soon-- but chris' ears started hurting him tonight, and i haven't stopped coughing since 1 hour ago-- and it's soooo cold outside and it's going to get colder!

i hate being sick-- if for no other reason than this-- i want to be healthier! i cannot wait for the workouts to return, the real food, not drinking hot tea's ALL day long and popping halls!

hope you are feeling well-- have a great week!

so... we're sick

i knew that it was coming... i have been in denial... but, it is here- we are ALL sick. we didn't even make it to ballet today-- that is SICK.

fisher- ear infection in both ears (one mild, one moderate)
pink eye-- in both eyes
solution: antibiotics and eye drops

ella- secondary sinus infection
solution: antibiotics and honey

chris- sore throat/sinus stuff
me- sore throat/sinus stuff


so... chris and i decided that sore throats are the WORST feeling-- we haven't slept much in the past couple of nights-- here's to some nyquil nighttime!!!!! sweet dreams everyone!

to whomever we have gotten sick-- we are so sorry! i hope that you recover quickly and have lots of sleep!

ps at the doctor today the kids were wonderful-- and they are both on the same type of antibiotics-- and the same dosing! ha ha-- little brother is quickly approaching ella's weight!

so... this is something to read

from the washington post: ask carolyn

Carolyn:

Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What'd you do today? Her: Park, play group . .
Okay. I've done Internet searches, I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners . . . I do all those things, too, and I don't do them EVERY DAY. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events) and I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy -- not a bad thing at all -- but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth? Is this a peeing contest ("My life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions.


Tacoma, Wash.

caroyln responds:

Relax and enjoy. You're funny.

Or you're lying about having friends with kids.

Or you're taking them at their word that they actually have kids, because you haven't personally been in the same room with them.

Internet searches?

I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. To claim you want to understand, while in the same breath implying that the only logical conclusions are that your mom-friends are either lying or competing with you, is disingenuous indeed.

So, since it's validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get. In list form. When you have young kids, your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, clean, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries, questions; to having two arms and carrying one kid, one set of car keys, and supplies for even the quickest trips, including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired or bored, any one of which produces the kind of checkout-line screaming that gets the checkout line shaking its head.

It's needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15.

It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier.

It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family and friends, well-meaning and otherwise. It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense.

It's doing all this while concurrently teaching virtually everything -- language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity. Empathy. Everything.

It's also a choice, yes. And a joy. But if you spent all day, every day, with this brand of joy, and then, when you got your first 10 minutes to yourself, wanted to be alone with your thoughts instead of calling a good friend, a good friend wouldn't judge you, complain about you to mutual friends, or marvel how much more productively she uses her time. Either make a sincere effort to understand or keep your snit to yourself.






-- i rarely have the time to defend "our-- meaning chris and i" decision for me to stay at home-- i love that this article was published and is now circulating throughout emails-

thanks margaret-- she sent it to me!

now about me staying at home- i love it and am so thankful that we can do it/manage it/ and live it!

is anyone watching???

so, it's new tv season... and so far thanks to my DVR i (we) have a whole new slew of television to watch--

now, i don't watch tv almost all day-- the kids don't watch much tv all day (not my thing) so, at night while i am on the elliptical machine, or on the computer, or just hanging out-- we watch tv

i have a few favorites--
- young and the restless
- the office (but, it hasn't started its new season)
- rock of love bus- (trashy, but every now and then its alright-- or at least a conversation starter)
- oprah- she has been doing some exciting stuff this week-- i've only watched one of the episodes so far
- real housewives of orange county-- (ha, i should show them a real housewife!)
- the bachelor (haven't watched it yet- it's recorded)
- chelsea lately- now this chick is funny!
- the biggest loser- very motivating

we still don't watch that much tv and with a dvr it makes watching tv go so much faster-- we have no idea what movies are out, what new products are-- we NEVER watch commercials! during the day- ella and fisher are limited to about 30min-1 hour of tv-- and that is alot for my taste-- i hate kids watching tv! (especially mine-- they zone out--well mostly ella- fisher doesn't care all that much)

there has been lots of football on the tv- but.... it's almost OVER! whooo yeahhhh!



its been fun starting the new year with some new tv-- and thank goodness for the dvr-- love that i have lots to workout to!

now-- about the losing part of the biggest loser-- i am down 1.5 lbs this week!
yeah! good job ladies! (everyone that has emailed this week lost!)

it's raining- it's pouring-

i'm snoring! not really-- but man, its been raining for what seems like years! we had to get out of the house and let the kiddies run- so we went to gymnastics open gym today-- they loved it and took great naps afterward-- got to love that!

we are currently under a flood warning- we are making up for the drought that we've been in for 2 years-

have a great "rainy" day !

it's starting!

our biggest loser started today- i am doing this with a couple of girlfriends and my sister... we haven't decided on what the winner wins... but that will all be worked out later!

so, i should have ran this morning, but it was pouring at 6:30am-- so, i curled back up and snuggled down deep in my blankets and slept-- till 7 (should have ran in the rain)

but, eating well was pretty easy-- (i'm budgeting money for the g.store, and planning our weekly menu)

i read somewhere that living healthy is 80% diet 20% exercise- - i don't know if this is correct-- but i will go with it for now-

so, i ate less at each meal (not true healthy food) but i would rather eat what i want to eat and just eat less of it-

i did 40 minutes of elliptical tonight while dealing with some family issues-- made me work out some extra anxiety--

the kids have responded well to sticking around the house more-- they seem much more relaxed and ella did really well at ballet-

fisher got his stiches out and needs a little more attention with some suped-up antibiotic ointment- but all that will be just fine as well--

all in all- i am pumped to have some others working on getting the extra weight off- it's great to have some extra support-- good luck ladies!

have a great day!

are you ready to rock?

it's back!

ROCK OF LOVE- tour bus

i am so excited- total trash tv- cannot wait!

have a great week!

tune in vh1- sundays at 9:00pm

love it!




edited-- after i watched this show-- i seriously felt dirty! it was a little much, even for me! i mean really????? but, still quality trash! need a little boost? watch a little bret michaels!-- also, this means that the Soup on E! will also be sooooooo funny! (friday nights at 10-- for those that don't know)

new, new year's resolution

i have had some serious enlightenment lately. i feel as though i am moving a bit slower, enjoying a bit more, and needing a lot less. so, about the new year's resolutions, i have decided while i still want to lose weight (and believe me i will) and i still want to go to church and get my kids involved, i want to also slow down. i want to think more clearly about what i do throughout the day.

i found another blog that is all about being zen. now i am not really into this kind of stuff, but i thought that i would at least read about it, see what all it said-- and i found something on there about slowing down-


The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn’t say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, “Do you have a fixed parking space? I’ve noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot.” To which he replied, “Since we’re here early we’ll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don’t you think? Imagine my face.

what an interesting way to think. don't you think?

before christmas break (before chris was home on vacation) i would rush around my house all day long and never seem to get things done. one day it was so bad (back in may) that kelsey drove from blacksburg to rescue me in my insanity! i felt horrible about rushing my kids here and there all to "get stuff" well, i don't need a thing right now (except for eggs and bread) and i've had the best time. i have relaxed and enjoyed my kids and husband, i have cleaned things that i haven't cleaned in years, i have just been fine.

so, the biggest, best, and most exciting new year's resolution is to just SLOW DOWN. think and enjoy! i don't want my kids growing up trying to get a million things done all at once--

i haven't been to the grocery store since the christmas eve (except to get milk and bread) and we have all been fine! we actually have been eating things that were in the freezer! the freezer! who knew?! i have loved it!

happy new year to all!

so... i just realized....

chris is gone to the hockey game in nashville-- i know he is spending the night, i know that he won't be home before the kids go to bed tomorrow night, i know that i have them all day, but suddenly it hit me-- I HAVE TO GET UP WITH BOTH OF THEM IN THE MORNING ALONE!

so, this didn't occur to me until about 7:30 tonight and i am suddenly wondering if i should have protested this little "boys" trip!

ella and i are having a "sleep over" in my room tonight and fisher has long since been in bed. so cute. he is such a good little sleeper!

we had jenn and emmie over for dinner- she brought homemade "pasta sauce" and i had some frozen tilapia (yes, kelsey, i ate fish) it was actually not bad- then bath time for the kids- fisher was head to toe in sauce- so it always comes next.

but this morning before chris left for nashville- i got to iron-- i know that isn't exciting to most people, but i've had a load/pile/mess of things that needed to be ironed- i had been lazy about it and not doing it till chris needed one for work- but today for 2 hours- i ironed! there isn't one piece of clothing in this house that is in need of ironing-and it is such a relief to not see that when i walk into the laundry room! chris and the kids played downstairs and i ironed down here so it wasn't like i missed out on much. it has been so great having chris home this long! i love it and now... it's almost over!

have a great day!
me

HAPPY NEW YEAR

how exciting that 2009 is finally here! i have complied some pictures from the past year to share with you guys what all happened-- pretty emotional for me (what's new?) i cannot believe how big my kids are and how much our lives have changed from last year.

january



february



march



april



may



june




july




august




september



october




november




december



we had a great new year's eve/new year's day- pretty productive in my opinion--
- made oatmeal ( i had run out of instant maple brown sugar-- so i made my own-- crafty huh?)
- cleaned out chris' sock drawer and put away 4 loads of laundry- that would be an entire load for each of us)
- cleaned out my sock/underwear drawers
- cleaned out my jewelry drawer (it had things in there that shouldn't have been-- hair ties, stickers, wedding shower invites, etc)
- unloaded the dishwasher
- cleaned the kitchen from last nights get-together
- made lunch
- got two kids down for naps
- took a nap
- took a shower (at 5:00 pm)
- got ready and went to panera bread for dinner (thank you gift cards)
- came home and let the kids play in the boxes from kota and lucy the pony (beau made a house out of them)
- chris hung up two bars in my laundry room for my sweaters to dry on (and ella's dresses)
- put another load of laundry away
- organized ella's closet (with all her new beautiful dresses)
- put two kiddies to bed
- blogged (ella just came downstairs to tell us that "something happened" which means "i have been playing in my bed for two hours and i am still not asleep"-- it is 11:00 right now

the "biggest loser" starts in the morning with some of my friends-- good luck to all!
chris is off to nashville for a hockey game tomorrow at some point
have a great year! love you all!