Can't Wait!

There are four more days until we leave on vacation! 

I am so unbelievably excited!

Yes, we are driving 22 hours into Florida...with a 1.5 and a 3 year old...the whole way, even through the night.

So the drive might be a little rough at times but I can't wait for the sunshine and warmth.

The sand between my toes.

Playing tennis with my husband.

Riding our bikes around the island with the girls in the trailer.

Finding lizards to show the girls.

Taking them to the beach.

And did I mention the sunshine and warmth? ;)

This will be Marin's first vacation. This will be both girls' first trip this far, first trip to Florida, and first trip to a real beach!

I KNOW they are going to love it and I'm going to love how much they love it.

Can't wait :)

Today was a good day.

Today was a good day.

First if all, BOTH girls slept in. Thank goodness!

We met my husband's mother for breakfast this morning. Usually his dad and my sister are there but he was in Indy visiting his uncle and she was working. I love being with "everyone" but it was nice to have a quiet brunch today.

Then we took the recycling to the local drop-off dumpsters. Exciting, I know.

When we got home John vacuumed and I did some spring clothes swap-out in the girls' rooms.

Then we went to a birthday party and had a really good time. I got to catch up with a friend I haven't seen in a while so that was nice.

Then we came home and I packed the girls clothes for spring break- and I totally used the "put each outfit in a ziplock bag" method I've seen a million times on Pinterest. I honestly think it will be a million times easier for everyone involved.

Then I got to take a nap!!!! It was glorious!

When the girls woke up we all went outside for a while and it was so so nice. They had a great time.

My sister brought home pizza for dinner. No cooking is always good. Then the girls had baths and we all got them ready for bed.

Nothing extraordinary happened today. But today was a really really good day and I am glad for it.

Bedtime

Our 3 year old has a very specific bedtime routine.

She brushes her teeth and uses the bathroom first.

Then she picks out her jammies and gets the lotion out (she has awfully dry skin). She pumps it into her hands and does her arms first, then I (or my husband) must put 2 dots on each leg and she rubs it in. Then is belly and back, and she can put her shirt on and get into bed.

Mallory has 7 blankets she sleeps with.

She had a few less but when Marin was born people gave us blankets for her, and Mallory stole them.

They MUST be laid the right way when she goes to bed. She chooses "Polka dots up" or "polka dots down" and that determines the direction of the remainder of the blankets.

The order is always the same:

Polka dots

Giraffe

Owl

Pink polka dots 

Turtle

Duckies

Flower blanket (which is her comforter)

We then read a book or two (usually the same one for a month or so). 

She requires two kisses and two hugs before going to bed.

I still haven't decided if this is crazy or just her being a normal 3-year old who is trying to assert her own independence and gain some control when so much of her life is controlled by us. 

I guess we'll find out for sure if she's still doing this at age 10! :) 

The resale

Tonight was the semi-annual children's resale that I volunteer and participate in. Here is the line just before entering tonight (we were 6th in line):

We were there for 5 hours waiting. Luckily we got to stay in the van and have our chairs hold our spot because it was pretty chilly out there!

And after 2 hours shopping here is my haul:

It includes:

26 tops

1 zip-up sweatshirt

10 shorts/skirts

7 dresses

1 romper

3 leggings

1 pair of jeans

2 jackets

2 swimsuit cover-ups

1 swimsuit

6 pairs of shoes

1 "Trouble" Minnie Mouse game

Littlest Pet shop playhouse and pets

Littlest Pet shop picnic set

1 canvas bag

All for $120.

I LOVE the resale :) 

Throw Back Thursdays

There are a number of things on Facebook that drive me bananas. Throw Back Thursdays are not one of them.

I really enjoy looking at everyone's old photos.

Tonight a coworker of mine posted a couple photos of herself from high school. I sincerely always wonder about what everyone looked like as kids and teenagers. I was so glad to get this glimpse of her from the past! 

We weren't friends in 2000. We didn't even know each other. We didn't even live in the same state at that time. But we are great friends now and so I feel like I missed out because I didn't know her then. I feel that way about several of my adult friends and coworkers.

I don't know if this interest or fascination with my friends' teenage selves is weird or not, but it is what it is.

I decided to join in this week and below is MY Throw Back Thursday photo:

And who do those girls up there look like, you think?

Maybe next week I will brave a High School photo :)

My creepy daughter

Make no mistake, I love everything about my daughter Mallory.

However, she can be really creepy sometimes. 

She doesn't have play time with other kids any more than once a week, if that. So, when she is around other kids sometimes she gets too close and right in their face and it's kinda hilarious, but also kinda creepy.

Then there are her kisses. I blame this on the princesses.

We are affectionate at our house- hugs and kisses all around, but Mallory wants to kiss like a princess...not good. She wants to put her hands on your face and give long kisses...like creepy long kisses. And not just with us, with anyone she is supposed to say goodbye to. She doesn't quite understand why this isn't okay so we do our best to explain...

Kisses are for mommies and daddies, not friends.

Short kisses, honey. Short kisses.

We don't touch peoples' faces.

Let's give a high-five to our friends!

She just doesn't understand.

My husband and I laugh about it, but secretly we really hope she'll figure it out soon.

Love her. But I could totally live without the creepy kisses. :)

One of those days...

Today was one of those days...

It started out fine. Block 1 was great! We got started early, they worked well, and those kids who are almost never on task we're doing exactly what they were supposed to and doing it quietly. It was a perfect first block!

But then I realized I had misjudged my time and was thinking we ended class at 9:50, like we do on Wednesdays...and so with 7 minutes left I sent my kids into their last rotation in math workshop with only 5 minutes to work, and had no closing.

Then I walked down the hall and saw out the doors how much snow there had been! Ugh.

Block 2 no one wanted to do their silent reading. No one.

Block 3 is my prep and I was able to have someone else help cut some things out so that was good, but then I had to go fill in for another teacher because the teacher who said several times she would do it, called that teacher this morning and said she probably couldn't take her class so I had to.

Lunch started out okay- pawned some birthday cake off on some coworkers but stood there long enough I ate some myself.

Block 6 after lunch, again, no one wanted to do their silent reading.

Block 7 the kids were atrocious! It was like a Friday before a long break. Their talking was incessant.

Block 8 we went to the Elementary Music concert- a MUCH needed break. But again, our entire group of 5th graders was crazy squirrelly.

Got home and almost fell asleep while the girls were playing I was so tired.

Better luck tomorrow, I guess.

61!

I have been procrastinating a lot lately in regards to a confirmation email I need to send a client.

We have a photo session scheduled for Sunday and because her oldest is 9 there is no way I can set up an indoor session at their home for her. 

I have been delaying writing an email asking to change days because I know she wants it to be close to their birthdays. We really need to at least do the oldest outside but it has been SO cold! Even I don't want to be outside if it's 35 degrees!

Today I found out I can write my session confirmation email and keep Sunday's date! The high (as of today) is 61!! I can deal with 61!!!

I was so excited to see that number.

So I am going to send my email now, confirming our session on Sunday, with a high of 61.

:)

The best laid plans...

Tonight I brought my phone with me when going upstairs with the girls for their Sunday night bath.

My intention was to take a few adorable photos of the girls in the bath.

My intention was to use those photos in a post that focused on my time with them; just us girls.

My intention was to write about how much I enjoy things like bath time...about how they love the water. They have so much fun and I love to watch them have that much fun together.

The best laid plans, right?

Mallory wouldn't stay put. And as she was trying to get away, Marin continued to dive face first into the 2 inches of water, attempting to eat the bubbles.

So I pull her up repeatedly and then go to wash Mallory. Marin then grabs the dangling shower head (still on) and gets Mallory and I both.

No pictures. Bath time is over. 

Marin is out first, I wrap her in a towel and go to grab Mallory out.

You take your eye off of that girl for ONE second...

She ran around the entire upstairs trying to hide. 

It really was adorable... even though it wasn't my intended photo.

Party TIme

Today was my daughter's 3rd Birthday party.

We had such a great time today! Even after spending the ENTIRE morning constructing a Rapunzel tower cake....I actually love doing that stuff :)

I like doing themed parties. I like doing crafty things. I also feel like I need to "up my game" a bit, since we have a lot of family members that drive almost 3 hours to come to our kids' birthday parties. Part of me feels like it wouldn't be right to do a "cake and ice cream and out the door" kind of party. I at least HAVE to feed them, and I know they enjoy the themes, too.

Below are some photos from the day:

You might not be able to see but we had Flynn Mints (thin mints), Maximus Mega Salad, Tangled Hair Pasta, Rapunzel's Cinnamon Braids (pizza dough braided and topped with cinnamon sugar), Pascal's party dip, and Magical Golden Flower Juice (lemonade).

The painting will go in Mallory's room soon.

My husband hung 30-some lanterns from fishing line into our front foyer.

We had the kids paint their own canvases to take home. This is my Mallory painting away :)

Mallory's friends painting.

Marin had a great time, too!

I KNOW she had a wonderful time and I think we all did, too. Can't wait until next year - still working on a theme, though ;)

No cupcake stands this year

We gave Mallory her Birthday gift tonight.

They loved it :)

Right now I am up to my nose in birthday prep:

Working on cupcake toppers...

Constructing a cake tower...

And a million other things.

My husband is upset because we will not be using the cupcake stands we bought to use at our wedding that I promised we would use at EVERY party.

So my sister and I turned it into an opportunity to bargin for me to have a third child.

The conditions we proposed: parties may have a theme but regardless of the theme, it MUST include cupcakes. Our Birthday banner can stay but minimal decorations (if any) and no themesd foods with cutesy names and labels. 

I could totally do that!! 

He didn't bite.

Oh well, better luck next time! :)

Happy Birthday Mallory

Today is my daughter Mallory's 3rd Birthday.

And I really really regret not taking the day off.

The past two birthdays, as well as her sister's one birthday, I have taken off work. I get to spend the day enjoying my daughters and today, I didn't do that. I already needed to take off two half days next week, and a few more in April and a couple in May for a wedding. I just felt like that was too many days too close together, and to add in one more day would be too much. Plus I had a million things to do at school!

Still, I really regret not being here with her, and I don't think I will ever skip a birthday with her again!

After school I threw her and her sister in the bath and took some photos. Here are a few that I was able to get edited tonight:

She is having a Rapunzel party so we got her a stuffed Pascal as one of her gifts :)

This is what SHE picked out to wear outside - That girl loves her shades!!

Oh I love her SO much and she is such a wonderful little girl. Seriously can't get enough of her :)

Happy Birthday Mallory!!

Uncomfortable

NOTE: I originally wrote this and replaced the actual numbers with letter amounts so as to hide the NUMBERS and hopefully prevent judgement about those numbers and stop you thinking about how large or small I am in person- then I realized (as I switched to My 600lb Life on TLC) that I am a whole lot better off in my weight issues than some. 

With that said, here comes the truth...and the real numbers.

-------------------------------

Here's my average weight through the years:

High School:                       125 (JR size 3)

College:                              135 (JR size 5)

Post college/Pre-Marriage:  145 (JR size 7)

Wedding Day:                    154 (W size 6)

Pos. pregnancy test #1:       168 (W size 8)
Delivery Day #1 :                210 (yikes!)
Pos. pregnancy test #2:       190 (W size 12) - 9 months after DDay#1
Delivery Day #2:                 215
Then I was 195 for about 5 months (size 14), dieted for a bit and dropped to around 175. I was a size 10 at this weight for another 4-5 months, changed my diet again and have been at 160 (size 8) for about 8 months now.

I recently bought a size 6 pant from the LOFT and I love them because that number seemed so unreachable when you are looking at size 14 pants, that it was a miracle I squeezed into them!

So I bought some shorts yesterday.

They were a size 8. (And I have size 6 pants in my closet!) Think of all the weight I've lost in the past year! And the lifestyle changes I've made! I feel so much better!

However, I am still uncomfortable. I feel great, but not comfortable.

I look back at all these NUMBERS and I know they don't mean ANYTHING if I'm not comfortable.

Part of that is my own self-esteem issues (come on, you know everyone has them), and I know that. And I know the chances of me being the college 135 is very slim. And I think that's the biggest hurdle to get over.

At 160, shortly after being married, I still wore a bikini proudly.

Now, at 159, a bikini is SO not happening.

Same number but they look and feel so different from one another.

So, with that said, if I got to 135, would I feel as good as I did in college? Would I put on a bikini?
I'm not sure. I WOULD like to find out (considering that being 133 is what is medically considered an ideal weight for my height).

But then again, I know that the numbers mean nothing. What matters is that I feel comfortable.

I feel so great - it's time to get comfortable.

A follow up to yesterday...

After 3 hours at Walmart tonight, we came home exhausted and hungry and started unpacking the ridiculous amount of purchases.

Then Marin was in the trash and we went to clean that up.

She made her way to the fridge.

Crash!

And after that, we all had scrambled eggs for dinner (by the way, that is the largest frying pan we own and there were still leftovers).

Welcome to crazy town!

My daughter Marin is a ball of energy at 17 months. She is non-stop all the time! 

She was all Over yesterday so I decided to keep track of what she did in 5 minutes. This is what she did yesterday in (literally) 5 minutes:

Got some coloring books out

Got out the lids to the homemade baby food containers

Cried because we put them away

Went straight to the garbage and pulled out a walmart bag

Walked over to the table once we shut the trash and pulled down this bowl if ribbon

Went back into the kitchen for some crackers

I told her no and gave her the bowl of crackers she had from earlier and they fell on the floor

So I put them back in the bowl and she dumped them out on purpose

So I took them away and used the dirt devil, put it on the counter and she went after it

Told her no and so she went to the fridge asking for a snack

So I let her have a string cheese

She devoured the string cheese

Saw she was on a "Scout" book and decided to catch up on her reading

And then after a few minutes of that she started playing in the dog water. I was too slow for a photo of that.

She can be quietly eating her vegetables and then out of nowhere her arms are flinging food everywhere.

Just yesterday at a church lunch she was on my lap coloring quietly and without warning, she was flinging crayons everywhere.

She's not mad or frustrated, I think when she's bored it's something fun to do!

I seriously couldn't move fast enough yesterday to take those photos. She is a handful but she is SUCH and ADORABLE handful :)

P.S. The sitter chose her outfit today ;)

Aaaaaaaaaaand this is her right now...with a plate on her head.

 Oh my. She is fabulous. :)