Catching Up

Dear Blog,
My goodness I have some catching up to do! There's just so much going on this summer. Let's see...

First of all, I am not skipping out on the whole posting my weigh-in results thing. This week was VBS at our church, and Steve took the kids every morning. So I couldn't leave the house to go to my meeting. I would weigh here at home, but we don't have a scale. Well, we have one, but it doesn't work anymore...and NOT because I'm so fat that I broke it, okay?! Next week I can't go weigh either since Wednesday is the 4th. Soooo...I'm going to my sister's to weigh in next week. She knows that her scale is within a pound of the one we use at WW, so it'll be accurate enough to know if I've managed to lose anything or not! I don't know about the numbers, but I really am already starting to feel better. And that's just as important! Oooohh, and yesterday I picked up a pair of shorts off my floor to try on. They were on my floor because a few weeks ago I tried to wear them and couldn't breathe!! So I jerked them off and flung them angrily in the corner. They fit now! And not just barely either. They're almost loose! WoooHoooo!! The stupid scale can just kiss my ever shrinking butt! :)

Secondly, I am counting down the hours till my week of vacation!! That's right. I'm off next week. I am sooooo ready for it, too. I love all these kids, really I do, but dang I'm glad it's break time! We're leaving in the morning for Beech Bend Park in Bowling Green. Never been. I think it'll be a good first amusement park for the kids. Mom and Brianna, and maybe Dad, are meeting us up there Sunday. We'll have another day at the park, then Steve and I get to go out Sunday night. Yipppeeee, date night!! I can't wait! :) So if anyone knows of anything just perfectly romantic in Bowling Green, let us know. I have no idea what we'll do. I just know we won't have kids or a curfew! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures...no, not of our date...of the kids this weekend!! So check back soon for those. Oooh, I almost forgot, we're also going to the Corvette Museum before we leave. Sooo cool! I'm sure I'll have pics of that to post too, crazy car girl that I am and all. :) Then next week we'll mess around here at home and see what fun things we can find to do.

Tuesday is Steve's birthday! So if you happen to talk to him, wish my Honey Pie a happy day and congratulate him for being EVEN OLDER!! Haha! I love being the young one! :) There's more I want to share with you about my lovable man, but I think I'll give him his own post for all that.

Got a postcard in the mail this week about soccer sign-ups for the fall. Tyler's old enough to play soccer. I can't believe that!! Seems like we've been waiting FOREEEEVER for him to be old enough to start sports, and now that it's time I can't decide what to do. So if you have an opinion on kids starting sports at such a young age or what sports you think are best for little ones or if you have advice from your own experience or whatever, please do share!!

Seems like there's so much more I need to tell you. What is it though?? Well, this is long enough. Hopefully there's still someone reading this far down on the page! :) More to come soon...

Dale Hollow

Here's a quick peek at all the fun we had at Lillydale Campground on Dale Hollow Lake this past weekend. More to come...but aren't these boys just adorable?! This was Tony's first time at a "beach," and he loved it!!

Already planning the next camping trip! :)

I still can't believe we finally got Ty and Tony both to sit still long enough for me to take a quick picture of all my precious guys together!

I'm such a lucky girl!

X = -1.2

Nope, it's not the answer to a math problem. I HATE math! :) It's the promised posting of today's weigh-in results. I'm down another 1.2 lbs. I gotta say, it's just not coming off as fast this time as it has in the past. I'm a little bit discouraged by the itty bitty numbers I'm seeing each week. My WW group was all too eager to remind me that I'm not 20 anymore...and that our bodies apparently all but freakin' shut down as we get older. Great. Now I'm "getting older" on top of being fat!

I'm mostly kidding. I mean it does suck that I'm losing so slow. The last time I did WW was before I had Tyler, and it was nothing to lose 3-4 lbs a week, especially at first. And I just kind of figured that since I'm WAY fatter this time that I'd lose really fast at first and then it would slow down...you know, like EVERY other time I've ever lost weight!! But dang, if this is the fast part then it'll take my whole life just to be able to shop outside the plus size section!!

Okay, anyway, another week has past, and I'm pressing onward. Maybe I'll do better next time! On a brighter note, thanks for all the encouragement!! I do seriously appreciate it...and clearly need it! :)

When are you gonna get skinny?

That's what Tyler keeps asking me. Not because he thinks I'm fat and ugly. No, that's just what I think about myself! I don't face pressure to lose weight from anyone I love. They all say I'm beautiful. That's really very nice, but I'm not blind! :) Besides that, I've got to get myself in shape so I can keep up with my boys!!

I've been putting off posting about this, but then I realized that was because I was afraid I'd fail...and then look stupid in front of however many people bother to read this. So no more fear. Here I am. I'm doing Weight Watchers. I weigh in on Wednesdays, and you can expect a weekly post about my success! I've used my dear blog to hold me accountable in other ways, so I'll see how this works for me. I'm hoping that knowing I'm going to post my weekly loss/gain out there for the world to see will keep me motivated!

Okay, so now you know!

Funny Stuff

Over a decade has passed now since high school, and it seems I'm running into more and more people from the past. It's fun seeing old friends and getting the chance to show off my precious family...and even getting to set some pretty crazy rumors straight, too!

I was just about to load the boys up in the truck this evening after our shopping adventure (seriously, it always is one with my two!!) at Sam's Club when a man approached from across the parking lot. I'd seen him inside, but his identity didn't hit me until I heard his voice say my name. It was an old friend from my high school days. What a pleasant surprise.

So we chatted about what we're up to these days and who we've seen around and who we'd like to see again. I told him marrying an "outsider" probably didn't help me stay in the loop any. And that's when I heard the crazy rumor. (I realize this is only going to be funny to my forever friends out there, but to us it's funny enough to be blog worthy!) Apparently someone out there is telling people that I married Mr. Blue Coast Burrito! How funny is that?! We were friends, and he spent a considerable amount of time messing with my heart, but we never even officially dated...now someone's got us married! Needless to say, I had a really good laugh in the parking lot tonight. Kinda makes me want to take him up on his invite to go see him. You know, show off my dear hubby and adorable boys...see if he's heard the latest about us! LOL!

It's a Love-Hate Relationship

The relationship between my journal and me, that is. My dear blog has rendered the old journal nearly useless, as I've shared before. However, there are those dark corners of my heart that still long to find their way onto paper. Why is that anyway? Does anyone else out there struggle with that need? Is it just the torment we writer-types face?

I mean, really, why can't I be drawn to put fiction on paper? You know, something that could actually entertain someone. Oooo...something that could earn some bank! Nope, fiction is not for me. Instead I spend two weeks face down in my little pink book only to spend two minutes tonight ripping a 20 page section of myself into tiny jagged squares of nonsense. I slip the random consonants and vowels into the kitchen trashcan, cover the remains with a box from tonight's trip to the grocery, and walk away as if that dark part of me has mysteriously been removed forever. Though never read by another soul, somehow the writing of it was useful.

Beer Review

First of all...

sorry to all my Baptist buddies out there.

I still don't think there's any sin in enjoying a good drink.

Clearly, since my pastor has the link to my blog! :)

Okay, so having said that, I simply MUST share today's finding with those of you who can drink with a clear conscience. Stopped at the gas station for a bag of ice today, in my 2 hours of kid-free time (which was *sigh* sooo relaxing, by the way). When I have one, my current beer of choice is Michelob Ultra, but today I found some fruity Ultra. I had my doubts about a fruity beer, but I just had to try one. I chose the Tuscan Orange Grapefruit flavor. Just popped the top on one tonight, and let me tell you, it is yummmy! It's just got a hint of fruit flavor, so it's not all super-gag-you-after-a-few-sips sweet like some of the fruity stuff you can buy in a 6-pack. It's like a no-bite light beer, but it has a nice fruity after taste. Alright, so I'm no beer expert, to be quite honest, but I highly recommend this one...you know, if you can drink a beer and not feel like you need to repent. :)

Old Friends

Wow, I just love to hear from old friends! What a sweet blessing so full of fond, even favorite memories. My friend, Heather, left a comment on my blog yesterday, and it was just so great to "hear her voice."

I love how I never know who might be reading, too. How fun! It's one of those ways my blog holds me accountable to presenting myself as accurately as possible. As some of you know, I spent a whole post on how I'm a total failure at keeping a journal, but somehow this blogging deal works for me.

Anyway, thanks, Heather! And I would LOVE to get together sometime soon. My calendar for June is pretty booked. NOT because I'm super popular or anything. I just keep it that way with the few people who will spend time with me so I don't get lonely! Haha! Plus, with Steve working nights it really limits my kid-free availability. And in case you can't tell from the blog, my boys are absolutely nuts (and super cute and lots of fun, at least from their Mommy's perspective). So if there's any chance you're thinking about having children, I'd hate for you to spend an evening with mine only to find that they become the reason you abandon that idea with much haste!

Sooo...anybody else out there I don't know about? Come on, show yourselves! Leave me a comment! Or if you'd rather, view my profile and you can email me directly from there.

'Cause I Said So

Oh, how I hated hearing that from my Mom when I was little. I always thought I'd never say that to my kids. Ha! Right! Now I have a 4 yr old!! :) And that kid thinks he deserves an explanation for everything. I just told Ty and Zach to please leave the kitchen. Zach's almost 2 and very sweet (and not mine...that usually is a factor!). He just ran right off into the living room to play. Not Tyler. He stood right there in the doorway..."Why?? I wanna play in here. Whyyy?" Yep, you already know my response: "Cause I said so." Sure, there were real and valid reasons why they shouldn't be in the kitchen playing. But I just didn't think that was one of the moments that he needed to hear the list of them!

Frustrated with me, Tyler turned and left. I paused there in my kitchen and thanked God for a Mom who said that to me on occasion while I was growing up. It wasn't always her answer to me. But I think it's an answer children need to get used to from time to time. I think having to learn that lesson- that sometimes Mom just knew best- has helped me to believe that same truth about God. Unlike the boundaries we place around our children, the things the Lord requires of us often cause real emotional turmoil. It's amazing, though, how we can find comfort in that old familiar answer...and believe, really know, that our Heavenly Father has good and perfect reasons. His boundaries and requirements are always placed on us with His loving hand and for His eternal glory.

Twisted

Well, if it's not one mom it's the other! Steve's Mom ended up in the hospital this afternoon for emergency surgery to fix her "twisted colon." Just heard from Steve, and everything went well. She's in recovery now. Please pray for a swift and full return to normal! I really have no idea if there are complications associated with this kind of procedure or anything. I'd never heard of a twisted colon until this afternoon. Steve did say she'd be in the hospital for a week though. So just pray everything heals properly...and that she doesn't go crazy being in the hospital!

On a lighter note, I just have to share this. Those of you who know Tyler at all know how he just doesn't miss anything. So he was all concerned about his Grandma this afternoon, and he sat in my lap while I looked up info online (he was hoping to find a picture of a twisted colon so he'd know exactly what was wrong!). Well, right before bed tonight, he was sitting with me again. He got this painful look on his face and put his hand up on his head like we've all done when we've had a headache. And he said, "Man, I think my head is twisted." It took me a second, but I made the connection! :)

Fun with Friends

We had a blast yesterday at our first summer swim and cookout of the year with our friends, the Wallings. Hopefully the first of many this summer!! :) Tyler has been counting down the days for this, and he had sooo much fun. He's grown so much that he can stand up in the pool this year! He's even big enough to be in the water all by himself, which he was very happy to hear when it was time for us to get out and get dinner ready. Check him out...

Tony and Garrett weren't all about the water, but it was a little chilly without much sunshine out yesterday. I think if it were warmer Tony might have stayed in longer. He was just shivering! Garrett, on the other hand, may just not be all about this swimming thing. Maybe next time, big guy!

Here are the little buddies hanging out after their pool adventure...

and with Amanda...


Here's Darrell lighting the tiki torches (after a couple glasses of "crazy juice.")


And here's me while Darrell is playing with fire!

...or maybe that's just the face I make when my sweet hubby keeps taking pictures of me in my swimsuit! :) Notice I was nice enough to not pay him back by taking his! Ha! I didn't even pick up the camera yesterday. Guess I was having too much fun. Steve really was there, even though the pictures don't prove it! And he's such a huge help with the boys that I can't imagine even trying to do something like that without him. Man, I'm so spoiled! :)

Thanks, Manda and Darrell, for a wonderful time. We love you guys!