Weekly Update-Vacation

To say my little getaway to the other side of the state went disastrously would be the UNDERSTATEMENT of this millennium! If you've sensed a turn from my usual positive updates its because as I try and stay insanely positive about most things....THIS WEEK, scratch that, THE last few weeks have gone south. The dirty down south. Put it this way, I usually listen to music when I write, things like Ingrid Michaleson, John Mayer, maybe even add some new christian rock in the mix. Set Fire to the Rain by Adele just ended and now I feel like putting on Nine Inch Nails or Metallica!! The normal upbeat tempo just won't fly while I grasp for inspiration.

Here's my disclaimer...I am VERY blessed. I love my healthy happy babies and my over achieving husband. I'm not enduring tragic events or even struggling financially, BUT just one day I'd like to sleep in. One day I'd like to exercise without stopping 800 times to wipe a mouth, pick something up that was discarded on a passing by lawn, wipe poop, walk without one of the babes darting in front of me, do a basic house chore from start to finish in 10 minutes flat, go somewhere BY MYSELF, have my husband just say to me "I got it you go buy something pretty", have a drama free weekend with my stepson, stop sweating my life away anytime I'm outdoors or lugging a baby in and out of the car, GO ON VACATION AND RELAX AND ENJOY MY FAMILY!

GRRRRR! I need a break! I need help. I need a support system. I need girlfriends. I need wine. I need a life besides my children. I need a babysitter.Today as I hurried to get to the potty for Brooklyn to do the, ya know, to which she had already gone...I said "just once I want to not clean up after someone else" Brooklyn says and I quote "but that's your job". Is this a joke...did daddy tell you to say that (as a joke of course). Nope. Out of the mouths of babes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO Josh Kelley(singer) on Pandora, I don't want to listen to you romantic "Home to Me" lyrics...and No Jack Johnson I don't want to hear about you easy breezy days in Hawaii! My musical anthem for tonight is Christina Perri 'Jar of Hearts'..."... I learned to live half alive, And now you want me one more time..."

So hears a big ole apology to you loyal readers and the sweet email recipients who won't judge me and who will understand, things happen in life, there are BAD times and GOOD times. And tomorrow is a NEW day, tomorrow will bring more patience, less yelling, less stress, a brighter day for me and my lovelies.

Here are some cute pics from this week. My positive happy times from the week...it looks like A LOT, but that's because lets face it, my kids are too stinking cute!

Lake Michigan....we will meet again, both kids were at home with you, but mama was too appeasing to meet the whole family's needs, and I cut our visit short. We WILL meet again. AND I know if I left grouchy number 1 and 2 at home, the kids and I would've had the time of our life!!! 

                           At home just being silly, this kid cracks me up...when she's not pooping in her Pull Ups!!

Monday Recap

Today started as a new day, a fresh start to the week and month. Its August 1st, and those are always days to rev up your work out, eat better, have more patience with your babes, etc. So there I was double stroller, and breakfast for the babes (fruit and bagel) headed out on my new start walk. I managed to hit 5.5 miles today because both babes fell asleep (usually only get in 3.5 to 4 miles). The walk was a peaceful walk a much needed quiet walk. I admired the houses on the golf course and enjoyed the large shaded gaps of sidewalk in the neighborhood. I even got up the nerve to chat up a chic with her two babes that I see walk by our house all the time...chance meetings, nice! And here's where it gets BAD!

In our new house we have an attached garage with a breezeway room between the garage and the house. We've turned this room into a playroom, which is fantastic for cooking times, or mama needs a moment times. I've unloaded the kids and stuff from the walk and am insanely aware of the garage man door because its quite a drop off...so I have all doors shut and secure. I'm in the playroom along with Brooklyn and Brooklyn shuts the door from the house to the playroom. Ohhh crap....Baby Grant all by himself in the kitchen and I'm locked in the playroom. Yup, of course the playroom door was locked...why wouldn't it be!! So I go into Macgyver mode and search for something to get the door open...nothing. So before my panic ensues I push on the door....IT OPENED! In my 'oh my gosh' my baby's all by himself locked in the kitchen moment I didn't look to see if the door was closed all the way...just that it was locked. BUT WAIT I'M NOT DONE! So I finally take a moment to sit down and have some breakfast for myself, and let me just say, that moment of Honey Nut Cheerios with sliced bananas was glorious. Feeling better now that I've had my moment and regrouped, I decide to pack up the kids and head off to Lowe's for some new pulls for a dresser I'm refinishing. Grab my purse and both kids and have this thought of, 'ok if my keys aren't hanging up where they always are they must be in my purse'. Out the door we go, both kids loaded up into the car and I HAVE NO KEYS! And of course our house like Fort Knox with 2 small babes, not an open window anywhere...I know because I check them often. So its 95 degrees and both kids are packed up in the steamy car and I'm frantic trying to get in the house. Did I mention my cell phone has no battery and so I just decided to leave it IN THE HOUSE! I definitely thought about going to a neighbor, but that would mean Eric would have to drive home from work, which by the way is 45 minutes. I didn't have that kind of time, its too hot for that. So after several, I mean several attempts at breaking the small window in our side door, I decide it would be cheaper and easier to replace a window in the dining room. Broken window, scraped up hand, sweaty babes.....MAMA was a mess! No chance of me cleaning that glass/window debacle up...so I drove to Lowe's! Ended up buying the wrong size pulls. That's life.

Baby you're a Firework! She's into showers now. Less work for me!

Spunky is really the best way to describe Brooklyn. Brooklyn is just a hoot to chat with. Logic and time are now in her realm of understanding. Funny word quote, I was eating salsa and chips and she wanted to try it, I tried to explain she probably wouldn't like the salsa, dipped her chip and she says " I like the sosssa". Learned my lesson about offering her various foods I don't expect her to like. Brooklyn loves to get her toes painted, do her daily homework, go to the park, and swimming.

Yes ladies he's single and ready to mingle! Likes long walks to pick up sticks, animal puzzles, and comes with only one shoe!

Grant is not as feisty as Brooklyn, but does not lack in the personality department. Obsessed with shoes, eats anything, loves to chase after sister or mama. He's in the needy clingy phase still, which I'm hoping is a short lived phase of teething. Both babes have been struggling with sleep. Mama needs a new California King Bed, asap!

Even though my day and afternoon turned into quite an irritating rush of emotions and panic, that's every day life...I'm going to push on thru and try and have a great week. Hope y'all have a good week too!

New month....new week...gotta lose some more weight goals.

1. Walk 5 miles 5 times a week(up from my 3.5-4 miles 3 times a week).
2. Do 20 push ups, ab recliner, and 30 squats kicks a day.
3. Drink 64 ounces of water a day.
4. Eat the recommend 5 servings (1/2 cup fruit or veggie= 1 serving) a day.
5. No alcohol.
6. Stay within or under my daily WW points.

Check back Friday for how I did this week on the NEW plan!



                                                            

Monday Recap

I'm switching things up this week. In an effort to stay fresh, interesting, and relevant!

Here's what I've learned this week:
-Sometimes in a search for friendship, just open your eyes and look around, there are people in your life already who care for you and want to be in your life.
Keeping it real: Although we struggled with our relationship a bit in the beginning, my mother in law is our rock. Kind, caring, wise and always there! My sweet newest sister-in-law...(they just had their 1st wedding anniversary). Its so funny how whether you have a lot in common with someone or not that much, common bonds (family, life, positivity) are there no matter where your life paths are at that moment. I heart my sisters thru marriage (all 3 of you, even if 1 of you lives miles and miles away). I find strength, humility, a silent understanding...an undeniable love just being in your presence.
-"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." -Robert Brault
Keeping it real: Its so easy to get caught up in your own misery. The day to day mundane, same thing just a different day. My girlfriend had a baby this week and texted "I never thought you could love someone so much the moment you meet them". AMEN My mentality at this point with my lil ones is...how many times will B wake up tonight (for the record 5 for like the last 2 weeks straight), or...what activity will we do tomorrow to keep all of us active and sane? What will I cook for breakfast, lunch, dinner? Who's going to be difficult today? How many poop diapers will I have the privilege of changing today, maybe 6...on a good day?! Who's going to hurt who? BUT I get to wake up every day breathing, seeing, playing, enjoying my life with my family and friends. Pure love and THE moments that ARE your life. Remember that day you first met your child, that overwhelming deep love. Remember that love every day! Remember your husband...you know in that dating stage when your every want or need was his pleasure to meet. Instead of focusing on the 'he didn't take the stinking garbage out like I asked', or the 'he didn't hear the baby this morning at 6:34am, so I had to get up after being up 5 times already', BUT he put together your desk immediately when you asked him to, or the countless errands he ran for you and the kids, so you didn't have to. Remember the falling in love stage of your relationship every day. These are the 'big things' in life!

MUSIC: Ok so, I've never really discussed my passion for music. AND my kids have this thurst as well...who I'm not kidding, have it in their blood. They've got moves you've never seen before! I listen to music constantly like (yup bringing out the 'like' for this) when I wake up and make breakfast and do the dishes! Like when I go for my morning walks, like anytime I'm in the car, like when I write! Music is me. New music I'm loving this week...Matt Nathanson-(Come on Get Higher, Wedding Dress, All We Are)...this is like the chill cooking dinner kinda music. The ever popular Beyonce (Run the World)...this is the morning walk starter. OneRepublic (Good Life) the turn it up loud in the car to distract the kids while they jam out instead of whine. And last but not least...bringing out the Redford in me...Lil Wayne (How to Love)...just a good song.

The lil ones: As stated above, Brooklyn has been having some sleep issues...up like 3-5 times a night wanting to come into our bed. This weekend I finally took some SERIOUS action, because I NEED SLEEP. Step 1-no naps in my bed. Step 2. By way of complete accident because I'm completely anal diligent about naps. Brooklyn missed a nap yesterday....WINNER. It was the first time Brooklyn was bobbing head style with popcorn in her hand falling asleep...so funny and cute. End result she only woke up 1 time last night. I'll take that! So no more naps for her...now mama has NO BREAKS. But this just means I need to get my butt on the Internet and find more activities for her to do...at the moment she's playing a 3D Interactive Red Riding Hood Book app for the Ipad!

Daddy, me, and Brooklyn on date night. Special out to eat with just B, gotta do that every once in a while.

"Mom, I'm just doing my balance"?? ok

Popcorn and Gnomeo and Juliet...fantastic movie!

Bugsy had his first official hair cut. Insert lump in throat! I was a wreck (I didn't actually cry) but it was definitely a moment I will remember. Its the mark of, and now he's a little boy, not my baby. Who am I kidding right now with this no more baby strength. He's walking like a champ, has 4 teeth,  eats anything he can get his hands on. Bugs is still a super easy baby, but I took this shot to show its not like ALL the time!

He's so serious in a few of these, doin work son!