Run.

I take back the lard comment. We busted out 10.20 miles this morning. What a great way to start the week.

Finally.

Kids had Friday off so I took it off... as you know by now... so we don't have to pay for daycare. It's SO NICE having an extra day to get things done. I tackled the play room and cleaned house for 2 days straight. FINALLY the play room is cleaned and organized. Sad though... going through all their baby board books they loved when they were little. Abby even ditched her Barbies. Aidan started basketball Saturday. Today I took Abby on a date to Peets, then to a gymnastics meet, the mall for a few errands, and her favorite store, Justice. Girly time. We picked up lunch and brought it home and then it was time for Aidan's date. I took him to Toys R Us and out for frozen yogurt. That kid amazes me. I ask him if he wants to go anywhere specific and he says, "We should get something for you and Abby." When we get to Toys R Us he insists on getting Abby something. I tell him that she already got something at Justice but he wouldn't hear of it. He said, "But, she loves horses and I riwwy riwwy want to get her something."On the way back he was so excited saying how he can't wait to show her and he knows she will give him a big hug. The poor kid... she is so hard on him he probably just wants some approval and love from his big sister. Anyway, our date was cut short because at the yogurt place he declared, "I riwwy riwwy just want to go home." He was bursting at the seams to surprise his sister and she did not disappoint- she gave him a big hug and lots of kisses. And if it looks like we rolled out bed in the photos, it's because we did.
Rick had ERT training with the fire dept and there was a Beaver nearby!!!  And in other random news, I chose sleep over running the past two days and I feel like a tub of lard.
Let's not forget the homework. Sheesh. First it's DO the homework and each day after it's spelling words, now it's vocabulary on top of that, plus math, plus piano, plus memorizing the bible verse, plus the 20 minutes of reading. No wonder kids groan. I'm groaning.

Babies.

They don't stay little long.

Baby it's cold outside....

Brrrrrr!!! Rick went running the other morning and said his eyes were watering and the tears froze on his eyelashes. AWESOME. A girlfriend of mine is vacationing in the Maldives and keeps posting warm tropical photos.... oh how I wish.
Abby got this American Girl craft from Ashley and she has been wanting to have Mommy time so she asked if I would finally do it last weekend. 4 hours later... ba ha ha. I haven't even gotten to the baby raccoon yet. Seriously though it's totally cute and I know she treasures it.

Then there is this. "Mommy, I designed my wedding cake." Girl has it bad for this poor boy. I think 2nd grade is too easy for her and she is focusing her attention elsewhere.

Football in the house. Again. I love it though-  He is hands down the best dad ever and they are making such great memories. Every day the little voice pleads, "Dada, will you play football puhweeze?" The laughter, their 'trash talk' and Aidan's ever changing rules make my heart nearly burst. I told Rick to enjoy it now because when he gets to be 10 he's going to just lay him out.

And let's not forget this guy.

Halt.

You get so used to routine... work, school, cooking, cleaning... rhythm. Workout schedule like clockwork and then BAM it all comes to a screeching stop. I get colds now and then but since I run and exercise so much they last like 2 or 3 days. This one though...this one TOOK ME OUT. I worked for 5 hours on Monday before being "kicked" out. I stayed home Tuesday. Slowly, slowly I am coming back to life. It sure puts it all into perspective when you whine and grovel about how bad you feel and your cousin who has terminal cancer texts you a photo of the icky stuff he has to drink right before his next scan. Humble Pie. Speaking of family... my Uncle who is also terminal is supposed to move into my Aunt's house this weekend and get set up for Hospice. My Aunt however, texted me on Wednesday night stating she was en route to the hospital via ambluance with my Uncle (her husband) and that he has heart blockage. As if her plate wasn't full enough. Uncle was in Cardiac ICU and had a double chamber pacemaker installed today and down the road will need open heart surgery for a valve replacement. I'm not sure when this Uncle is coming home and when other Uncle is moving in. All I know is my family members could use some prayers.

Whew.

The past two weeks at work have just about done me in. My constant eye twitch in my left eye and the constant pressure in my right eye is a pretty good indicator of my stress level. Thankfully the end of this week brought things under control at work so that's one less thing... Now if I could just get our house and everyone who lives in it on the same page with getting organized, less clutter, and maybe a chef/housekeeper... this would be one happy mama. Dream on right? Back to school, back to soccer, back to piano, back to gymnastics, back to homework. Back.To.Reality. I have an awesome cold but have to forge on. I couldn't figure out why running was so hard for me on Thursday and Friday and by yesterday afternoon at work I could tell I was coming down with something. Doing meal prep today for this weeks' dinners, trying to work on cleaning house, Aidan has a birthday party to go to this afternoon. Tomorrow is church and then I'm crawling back into my jammies to watch football and finishing whatever house cleaning I don't get done today. I took photos of the kids in their Valentine shirts to get their cards printed for school. I washed Abby's shirt with a pair of my black pants thinking it would be fine since her shirt was red. Her shirt got ruined :-(
 I couldn't resist posting this one early.

Mish Mash

I made Chicken Pad Thai last weekend and it was SO GOOD. I had an eye appt this morning and a long day at work- it was so GREAT to come home and find out hubs made dinner. I'm a lucky girl- It was a new recipe as well... Creamy Baked Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta. It has caramelized onions and goat cheese. Fabulous. Aidan lost his 2nd tooth tonight! He was playing football with Daddy in the family room and I hear him yell, "you knocked out my tooth, you knocked out my tooth." The funny part is I was working on it a bit last night and I told him it would for sure come out this week just not the way I envisioned. The kids go back to school tomorrow after 17 days off. Time to get back in the routine. We woke them up extra early this morning even though they were staying home that way tomorrow hopefully won't be so brutal.

Welcome 2013!

Last Sunday we finished putting the house back together. Abby was still sick with a forever cold. Monday I had to work and Abby had lunch with her Sunday School teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed having Tuesday off! Wednesday brought 9 years of marriage. I had to work but it's a great excuse to go out to eat = no cooking! Boy did he spoil me too-It was like Christmas all over again. Thursday Abby went to a gymnastics camp. I took today off because once again didn't want to pay for daycare. Good thing I did because Aidan threw up right after breakfast. He was really quiet yesterday, not his usual self. He only threw up the one time.... kept jello and gatorade down and ate some toast. His voice sounds funny now like he's getting what Abby had.

Celebrating 9 years!

Nothing Better

There is nothing better or more precious than finding this in your daughter's room- on a scrap piece of paper no less.