R's Birthday

I didn't post pictures of R's birthday and wanted to before I posted pic's for the twins. It was a great time; I love my little R, she is such a cutie 'pa'tutie! We went skating - always fun & such good exercise! For her, I stayed up all night working on a horse cake. She was quite pleased with they way it turned out, I am so glad! It turned out good for someone who had no idea what they were doing and decided to start at 10pm the night before! I am a nut- but I will do anything for my kids and I loved being able to do that for her. So, she is seven and beautiful and has such a sensitive, deep little soul. I have learned a lot from her and just love her so much. We are very blessed to have her in our family. She is my "Reesie Baby" and will always be that to me.




She is shy like me & gets embarrassed easily.

And that is what it was like the first year of their precious little lives...no just kidding! 10! Holy Macaroni - am I THAT old? Two 10yr olds. What an amazing, crazy time it has been. The twins are ten tomorrow and that day, along w/ the one that followed, will be etched in my memory forever. I am so proud of them! They both decided to sleep in the same room for their birthday week, stressed about the right present to get each other and have been singing "you said it's your birthday...it's my birthday too!" all week. Of course they made up their own version for the days leading up to it, telling everyone 'they' can actually truthfully sing that song :). I have their birthday breakfast ready, they get so excited planning their breakfast in bed and each year it seems to get more elaborate! It's great though and we have been doing it since they were 3, I just wish I had taken pictures of every single one..that would be cool to look back at. We have a fun evening planned at Medieval Times with all the grandparents going (minus my dad, wish he lived closer). They are so excited they can barely contain themselves!


Our little Family on E & C's 1st Birthday!
(don't we look exhausted, that first year was really just surviving! :) )

A Day With C

C is turning 10 this weekend, she is growing up way too fast! Today we spent the day together talking about grown-up girl things..I can't believe my daughter is getting so big! We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Cheesecake Factory and then strolled over to Barnes and Noble where we purchased a book I'd been eyeing. An American Girl Book for young girls on growing up. (which I give 2 thumbs up to!) Then we went and got a big girl hair cut (which for C consisted of layers and side bangs). After that, we sat near the pond at Bear Creek Park and fed the ducks. That park has some of the most beautiful and interesting ducks I have ever seen. I definitely will being going back with my camera one day. Anyhow, as we sat on the ground feeding them we had a goose hiss in our faces, we both jumped up so fast and got out of his way! It was a good laugh :). Then we sat on a bench and talked, & talked. It was a wonderful conversation. We wrapped up the day with a trip to the nail salon where she picked out a pretty shade of blue to have her fingers & toes painted. Blue..she really wanted red, but call me old fashioned, I do not like red for little girls and she is still my little girl and I'd like to keep her that way...but what a truly remarkable young lady she is growing up to be.

My Wonderful Husband

I just have to say, I am married to an amazing man, who really loves me! It is so nice to be married to a man who can look at you, w/ your crazy bed hair, tired eyes, un-made face (not that I ever wear that much make-up), mixed matched p.j.'s and find you beautiful. How is it that he is able to say those words to me and really, truly mean them? I don't mean that like it came out, I mean it like..you know, you are with the same person for the last 12 or so years and for him to be able to look at me and actually make me feel prettier than when I was younger, is really a great thing.
It is especially nice because I don't get out that much or get to put myself together and feel like a beautiful woman. I feel most often like a frumpy, home schooling mommy, that barely has time to herself.
It is just an awesome feeling, to know he feels that way about me. It is enough to make a girls heart soar and I love him for being able to make me feel like that.

Piano Lessons

I have awesome kids. I know everyone says that, but really, these guys are so great! E & C are giving me piano lessons. E is my piano teacher and C is my piano tutor. I have lessons 1x per week and tutor 2x a week. It is so much fun being the "student" and letting them take the lead and teach me. I think that this is one of the best things we have done together. Each of them has their own teaching style and the are really good at it. E is very patient, he watches me and shows me what the notes mean and where to place my fingers. C is so organized and has made me my own folder and helps me w/ my tempo. I get stickers from both of them, it is so cute! I am enjoying it so much and I'm learning something :). (I am able to play by ear and have never really been able to read music, so they are really helping me with that.) It's fun, it will definitely bring us closer. I really feel it is good for them to be able to share and teach me something, instead of it always being the other way around. Plus they get such a kick out of it! I need to find something that R can teach me so she doesn't feel left out.

A lot of rambling or ranting or babbling .:)

I worked out today w/ my 'new' trainer. It had been about 2+ months since I last worked out. My last trainer moved to FL to pursue a music career, I am actually glad about that, we had a language barrier; it was hard to talk to him. Anyhow, did a bell workout. I am suppose to be very sore tomorrow...I don't see it happening. I did not feel anywhere near as fatigued as after a work out on the weights. We shall see. In the past I would not be able to move my arms for a couple days after I worked out. So, I don't know. One thing I do know is that I really NEED to workout. I am much happier after a good sweat. Two months was too long. I am ready to break out of my "hermit" tendencies, at least to go to the gym. It probably isn't very healthy for me to confine myself to my house :).
It has been a weird couple of weeks. J decided we should start a couples devotional together, since we can't go to church w/ each other and to help us w/ our relationship. I am so blessed to have a man who takes that kind of initiative in my life. We started last Monday & it was good -But then we went on and fought the entire week. I'm talking mean, hateful fights. Why does that have to happen?
It all ended up fine and it was good to get some things out into the open, also a little hard. We just have to keep moving forward. I am so glad he loves me so much; I am not always very nice. I am so glad we have Christ as our Rock. I don't know how people can keep it together without Him.
(As I sit here, my lower back is starting to feel a little tight..hmmm..maybe, I will feel this workout)
I think I shall swim tomorrow. I'm getting a little bored w/ the elliptical. I am not a friend of the stair climber and the spin class is running too late. My kids are STARVING when we stay that late :) ! I just really need to get my surgery over with so I can run! I look on with envy at the people I see jogging along side the road. I want to do that! I have an awesome park I could run through, but I can't. One DAY...I will run again! :).
Calories, I do not like counting calories. It's been about 2 weeks.
I do however, like the 'new' food and have incorporated it back into all of our dinner meals- kids aren't always a fan of it. I just really want to eat a big huge juicy hamburger. I also would like a banana split, which sounds wonderful. I am not sure I will ever be the same; now that I am aware of my caloric need and how many calories my favorite foods have in them. I also had NO IDEA about portion sizes. I have been weighing our meat and boy have we been over doing it. I had to keep cutting down the size of our salmon; I couldn't believe how small it was when I was done. When we move I am going to buy new plates, and they will all be smaller. I do have a new favorite snack though.. Wasu cracker w/ Smart Balance Omega 3 creamy peanut butter..YUM! It's all-good though, I have lost 6 or seven more lbs. Hopefully, I will soon be at pre lil'c weight! My goodness, if I didn’t love food sooo much, I wouldn't have this problem :)! Really it is carbs, I am a carbaholic..I am, I crave carbs, esp. when I am pregnant and sick!
I think I am done..nothing else to say today.
Going to Home school day at the zoo this week, I am looking forward to that, even though I said I didn't think I'd go back to the zoo because I felt sorry for the elephants (and really all the animals). I am such a "big" talker, just this one last time....you know, for lil'c :) .