people

i say it again.
people.
it's a new year, and i have a new computer. one that isn't telling me all the things i can't do, taking forever loading programs, and droning about. this new one keeps telling me of all the things it can do and loads everything up (web and programs alike) so beautifully artistically. i almost shed tears. it's like new glasses for the eyes kind of fun. a new computer has shown me what i've been missing. small details that were missed before are appreciated again. what a joy!

enough material glowing reviews- it's a new year!

i just read one of my college buddies blogs (tessa, you're not really a college buddy, but since you married one- i'm totally calling you that), and she talked a bit about reflecting upon the new year. this prompted my post. for reals.

this past year was quite lovely, but also chaotic. we moved, my kids grew (which is so bittersweet!), and we met more people who have blessed our lives and made it more full. along with that i picked up some habits which i will hope remedy themselves this year in 2013. i'm putting a phone reminder to post in march- a quarter of the way through this year to tell of my progress.

my to do's of 2013:

- eat yummier food made at home (i do this, but i'd like to be more fun about it, and keep challenging our food preferences)
- earn some brown boots to wear with my fun dollar/mile run program (something i set up with my hubs to motivate me). i haven't worked out for almost 4 weeks now because i got sick, then we traveled and my in-laws tread broke so i didn't have exercise ability (and i only brought indoor workout clothes. whoops).
- finish a project monthly (three on the docket: 1. a painting. 2. the napkins i started months ago. 3. bathroom refresh)
- get on the photo memory making. i haven't printed anything since kid #3 was 9m. (he's 3 now. gasp!)
- adopt a more 'git 'er done' attitude. i've become a bit lazy in the evenings with my sweet ones wearing me out and i let myself chill every night. i'm done.

i'd be happy with that. if i achieve these, i will edit and update in 3m.

enjoy.
did you guys make any resolutions?

well..

move well and eat well (MWEW) is going ... well. i'm about 3 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight, and my goal was to lose all of it by the end of 2011. it will work if i keep on adding more work outs to the week. i'm still feeling some pain on the left side of my body, but i'm also noticing that i'm gaining some strength and it is not the ONLY thing i think of while working out. which is great. i love swimming, but it's getting cold and i don't really want to be stuck doing it every time i exercise. we'll see. though!

halloween is tomorrow. i have 4 kids, two are definitely going to be super heroes. the other two i'm not sure what they are going to be. trick o' treat night here is on halloween and i STILL don't know whata they all are going to be yet. ak! how dreadful. i think #3 will be a super hero as well (a more -home-made version though), and then the babe might be a polar bear. this is the same outfit you can see on kid #1 here.

cheers! so sorry i took about 2 m to write in this thing. for those who have blogs and i pester you about not writing on them... sorry. forgive my high expectations for you, and not myself. :/ we'll see if i'll be inspired to boost this blog up or shut it down. (yes, i'm wondering about ditching this entirely)

in case you're wondering if i still take pictures... here is a sampling of what i've been doing... or at least the kids ;)

 brother love (#3 and #4 are almost always like this if i let 'em)

 red target balls are *so* fun to climb on

 #1's first day of school. (both are wearing backpacks...)

 this lil' ham is really into playing with golf balls

 my first niece turned 5!

 my second niece turned 1 (i was taking this photo to emphasize the size of cake/her head, she was a bit tired and also a bit unenthused. oh well!)

 the three oldests. so cute!

 kid #2 wearing dad's helmet. kid #3 ... does this every time i say cheese.

 raspberry farms!

 every time i say cheese (apple thief!)

the result of our apple picking. 1/2 of this is still in our fridge. it will probably not make it to our bellies. we're not as into pies as i thought (good this i only made one... though not nearly as good as my aunt's apple pies)

random notes about our lives right now:

kid #2 before all the damage mentioned below

- kid #2 managed to scrape the side of his face, his eye, bite his tongue and bonk his chin all in a matter of 3 days and in separate incidences. not.cool. especially for a mom. combine that with a runny nose and a cough. this kid doesn't look like one you want to have running around with yours. (he's fine now, though).
- kid #2 had his 2nd birthday on sunday and we gave him a tricycle. it is a total favorite and has cause a few disputes between kid #1 and #2. we were going to buy a bell (and still will) from a bike shop this weekend and realized we couldn't spend more on the bell than the bike. i got it used for $10! and it's a radio flyer trike.
- we have really upped the amount of fiber in our diets due to the kid #1's bowels not moving. it is making mine move even more regularly, but it's still a mystery if kid #1 is.
- kid #3's bowels smell akin to microwave movie theater butter popcorn. used to be a favorite in these parts, but so glad they aren't anymore because i would be throwing the rest away since that's just downright gross.
- kid #3 has started to laugh when tickled. adorable.
- i haven't had any soda in a week and a half. i didn't drink it every day, but i was drinking a LOT each time i did have some. water is my game. this all started during my prayer slot for a woman i know who has cancer and we signed up for times around a 24 time period. during the time of prayer i was thinking about how we were asked to fast, and i didn't feel comfortable with that since i'm nursing cutie #3. while i was praying, i felt God whispering that if for some reason i can just stop for my own good or do it for lent - this could be a way to intercede. this woman is definitely worth the stop of unhealthy habits so that's my first step.
- the next step is not buying drinks from coffee shops. they are expensive. and i still claim that i don't like coffee. though the rate that i am purchasing these drinks the claim is becoming quite questionable. so. march 18th i will stop buying these drinks unless i agree to go to a shop with someone (which would be fairly rare. like once a month).
- oh. did i say that we're closing on our house march 18th? that's a huge event! so excited. we're not planning on moving till end of april.
- planning on running 2 races. one may 22nd and another june 26th. i believe that they are both 5k. both in the same city i live in now. sheri- no to the run by your house at this time. i'll look and see if there's anything by the end of summer. maybe then.
- having a birthday party for kid #2 next week. with a friend's daughter. i'm so excited. they are both turning 2 this month! yay!
- i have a super great birthday gift for my husband. his birthday is this thursday. i can't take any of the credit for the idea since it was my mom's but. i. am. super. excited.
- my mom is super cool. she rearranged her whole schedule to come visit last week. i love her.
- which is why i didn't get the sketches for my site on my blog last monday. don't think that it alarmed any of you.
- kid #1 is talking up a storm these days and mostly i love it. he has wonderfully funny things to say and i'm so glad to hear it.
"there's the milk stop" (when we drove past starbucks this morning. the last time i bought milk for him from there was sept 09. what a memory)
"this is my nose booger. this is my nose from a booger" seriously. hilarious.
him: "can we go to the mall?"
me: "no"
him: "how about friend (same as kid #1's name) house?"
me: "no, it's nap time, they are asleep"
him: "how about target?"
me: "no"
him: "can we eat cheerios?"
me: "tomorrow we can for breakfast"
him: "okay. lets go to the mall"

that's all for now, folks!

i won something!

seriously, i totally won something!!!!!! (an everyday 5x7 photo book) i can't believe it. :) i've been reading this blog since a few months before #1 was born. i've been selective about what i *enter* to get a prize, but i've never won. so shocked. what a fun blessing!

here's kellicrowe's blog. she's so much fun to read and loves jane austin (no joke), blogging, scrapping, photography, homeschooling and much more. i love to read it when i need a smile on my face.

(the pic is off her blog... hope you don't mind, kelli!)

obsession

are they all bad? one i am having right now is the need to u-pick stuff. after our blueberry trip, we went and picked apples. with our small group. and it was great! oh boy- do i love the goodness and the longevity of the fruit we-pick. it tastes so delicious. #1 still talks about going blueberry picking. i wish it was closer. i'm looking for one that is. we'll see- next year we'll have to do some more.

so, reader(s), do you think all obsessions are bad?

numbers

kid #1 is still into numbers. he counts to ten and then runs around in circles. pretty much 50 times a day. obviously, i encourage this. i figure once he gets to about 100 x's a day, we'll be able to run together. how great would that be. since kid #1 is 2 years old and kid #2 is 1, every time kid #1 sees the number one, he says #2 is one and #1 is two. it took me a while to understand what kid #1 was saying, but now i'm hip to it (hope you followed!). it is so cute. i'm not sure kid #1 gets that he won't be 2 forever, and we've talked about being three, but it hasn't happened yet and so he seems to be clueless.

love my boys. right now, they are both under the weather. so sad since they are normally fairly upbeat. they still are active (hence the counting/running) but they are much more cranky. today was a lot better than yesterday. i thank the fruits of the Spirit for that. yesterday i was so embarrassed when i spent time with Jesus. definitely had to ask for forgiveness and guidence because i was being one stinker of a mama.

though... i did have a SWEET date-night with the hubby. we got ice cream, met up with a couple for dinner at bw3's and then went to a movie and i ate popcorn. whoa... am i preggers or what. it was a night out that i needed. love that man.

blast from the past (for me)

when i was younger, i was totally obsessed with press-on nails. i still think i have a couple boxes of them that have been *gently used* at my parents house (eeeew). yesterday, i was watching tv while plowing through some magazines, and saw a commercial for said nails for the first time since i was about 8 years old.

if the commercial running was anything like the one i saw yesterday when i was young, then i can totally see why i would be enthralled with this product. it revolved around people who had long nails that could do tons of things that you would want to do as you get older. the most specific thing that drew me in was the end of the commercial where the girl is dancing at a club (which when i was 8 it would have been pure innocent lust for that kind of environment).

unfortunately, on this side of my teens, i don't really buy into the commercial at all. first of all, EVERYONE in the commercial has their nails with french manicure press-ons. obviously, i'm not one to look like everyone else, so it is kind of unappealing these days. second of all, i've always had decent nails (even when i was 8) and have no trouble growing them. third, those things are not cool to take off your actual nails. it hurts. i don't like it. and the glue is weird. i already have kids who sometimes tug at my nails and it hurts a lot even if it is a gentle pull.

anyway- if having a french manicure is impractical for you because you can't keep your nails long, then here's the link to bring back the late 80's/early 90's in full force: kissusa

just a tidbit about me...

i love comics. i always have and once had aspirations of being a comic strip artist. that kind of went out the window when i realized i can't really draw, and you have to keep up with one theme in your strip. one of my first comics was about this worm who saved other worms from drying up on the sidewalk. note: worms are NOT difficult to draw. i have a knack for knowing my skills and adhering to them (though it is kind of restrictive).

one of my favorite comics that i'm enjoying right now is *sheldon* and it can be read here. i love the concept, the general clean humor and the art. great stuff. take a trip over there and have a good read a couple times a week. and maybe even a laugh. if you want to know about the characters, check it out because it gives you a great background for the strip.

hopeful-

kind of wishing that more of this was going on than there has been for the last week, but still in love with the cuties! they have both been under the weather which has made me have an excuse to not work out. unfortunately, i have been noticing that i have had increased on my bad habitual eating. i love snacks. it doesn't matter what, really. i've been making a lot of homemade popcorn and perfected it to the way that i really enjoy it. i actually had it three times this week which is totally crazy because i don't eat it *that* often normally.
when the husband is out of town, i tend to overdue it on trying to get stuff done or relax! this results in less sleep (especially because i sleep better with him nearby) and then i to be tired, which makes me lazy and eat junk. quite the strange catch-22.

well, maybe not. if i got sleep i would think more clearly and choose to eat healthier food.

wow…

to the incredible person at the breakfast place we ate at this morning. thank you so much for buying our breakfast. it was delicious. a bit crazy on the *see how much we can calm the kids with food* aspect, but none-the-less quite enjoyable. hopefully you are aware of how much you touched us when we asked for the bill and the waitress said it was handled already. my eyes welled up, wondering why we should look like we deserve it, and i would totally cry if i didn't convince myself that you were being a great person and knew we would so,so,so appreciate it. looking around, we couldn't tell that we knew anyone, but we definitely knew that we had been blessed today.

thanks again,
us

are you with the crowd, people?!

i finally read the book right before this movie came out and i wasn't sure if i would like it. i did, although the tension and attitude of the characters in the book was pretty annoying at some points. that is high school for you though!

last night, i went to see the film and spent more time finding stuff about it that didn't seem incredibly great. the soundtrack- didn't strike my fancy, i am kind of surprised that it is targeted to a teen audience with the type of music. also- the style of filming left a lot to be desired for me. i saw some shadows (especially in bella's room) when i figured a character was going to join the screen and that confused me.

i griped about it with my friend, b, when we left the theater and by the time i got home i started havin second thoughts. maybe i *did* like the movie more than i thought that i did! anyway, i'm still thinking about it, so either i absolutely hated it (which i didn't) or i'm really ready to read the next book. hmmmmm...

random things

well, six of them.

I have been tagged by my friend way up north to write six random bits of information about me. S is so fun, thoughtful and a great person to talk to. i really miss the times we spent together- and it being so easy!

So here ya go - six completely random bits of info on me.

1. i love dark chocolate. it's even better on marshmallows. yum. and still delicious on homemade marshmallows (they aren't hard to make- really)

2. i'm big on reading, and it is one of the few things i can do and have #1 kid not be as desperate for attention from me. it is strange, but he *gets* that i'm there, but not really for entertainment. when i'm on the computer- that is a whole 'nother story.

3. i love to bake and cook new recipes. i'm horrible at following it perfectly and i find that i tend to skip steps or guess what the directions are. i have messed up a lot of things, and made a lot of delicious meals. i enjoy these cooking adventures pretty much anytime we have people over for dinner. my thought is that if it is a bust- then there's always pizza down the street.

4. shoes are the best things to look at the mall, store, whatever. i actually don't own a lot of shoes- but i really like them for some reason. when i was little, i would check out the shoe section right away and the toys would be put on hold.

5. i like running, playing lacrosse being outside and having fun with people doing these things. though sometimes i like to run by myself. i am definitely over pushing the two kids in the stroller. #2 is chunker and #1 is growing by leaps and bounds!

6. i think that i'm starting to like the idea of having more that two babies. we'll see what happens, as it is still early (in my opinion) to tell, but i'll keep you updated on what i think about that. yeah. definitely. babies are so fun. how many do you think we should have?

advertising

gm. what were you thinking? no one likes to wear name tags. let alone ones that cover half of your chest.

my day

have you ever had one of those days where it seems like it is going really slow but you also don't know how time is going so fast? that is me, today.

here's my time line:

- woke up around 8:00 b/c my great husband let me sleep in!
- fed kid #2 and started cleaning out the computer
- beginning to wonder how cleaning up my computer and backing up everything is taking *SO* long
- 8:30 a.m. getting a little worried about kid #1. quietly check on him. sleeping on belly. say a prayer (sleeping in for this kid is 8)
- shower
- 9 a.m. check on kid #1- asleep and has moved, but still on belly (i'm a belly sleeper, so i'm not that worried- but you know, safety first)
- get some more work done
- call husband at 9:50 to talk to him about the kid still sleeping
- 10:30 kid #1 wakes up. eats breakfast.
- kid #2 is taking nap.
- get back to work
- 12:30 kid #2 wakes up- i feed him
- 1p.m. go to doctor super quick for prescription
- 1:30 walk to library to pick up two books on hold… #1 is basically bounding to the library and i can barely keep up. #2 starts dripping down his leg with urine. his leg touches mine. awesome. and i touched it. even better :) no biggie- moms are used to that- right? we walk back home (library is 2 blocks away which ROCKS).
- 2:15 kid #1 eats lunch and totally devours it (success!)
- brings us to now. 3pm.
- 5pm going to eye doc to get fitted for contacts. well- they call it a class to learn how to shove something between your eyelid and eyeball. hope i pass!

shrek in 3D

yeah. that is the husband and i in 3D glasses. not to complain, but it was sort of a letdown. i was super duper excited and husband was riding on my coattails only to be surprised at how much we didn't really see in 3D. the glasses were damaged enough that i had to wear a headband & bobby pins to hold them on. eventually i ended up using my finger to hold them there. we had a lot of fun watching it, but didn't know that it was a special short just for 3D viewing.

we watched it early last week and yesterday it came to me that the reason why things may have been a bit more blurry than i think it should have been was because i wasn't wearing my glasses. goofball.

oops!

at least we still had fun!

growing...

i took this photo while at my parents a couple weeks back. i just finished a book that i read called *barefoot* by elin hilderbrand. it took a while to get into the book, but i'm glad that i finished it. reading is my escape from the real world. the thing that was tough about reading this novel was that a lot of it was focused on living life to the full even with minor and major set backs and mountains to climb. i felt bad when i finished the book at a coffee shop tonight. away from the kids. because it was a tough day. and it wasn't even really all that tough. i need to man up- you know? that's what i learned from this book. i started reading another book right after i finished this one, but it wasn't time. i need to digest what i've read and grow from it.

i am awaiting some photos to be delivered to me (including the one above). i'm totally excited. i want to document my kiddos growing so i can remember them as they get bigger. #2 got his first tooth this past week. who would guess this could happen so quickly and easily? he didn't whine too much, just drooled a LOT. precious, social baby. i love that lil' guy. and #1- even if he is sneaking out of his bed and prancing around his room. knowing that he isn't supposed to. love that lil' guy too.

recap…

the training was successful. my race time was less than 30 minutes, i didn't walk at all during the race, and i felt good pretty much the whole time! at one point, i did kind of wonder about the slight pain in my stomach region (from the c-section) but it went away almost immediately. the ankle pain that i had been experiencing was non-existent (though it came up the following day) and i still feel good. yay!

training

i feel like so many things are in training these days. i'm training for the 5k race i'll be in tomorrow. a little nervous about that. it was a casual type of training for sure. we are considering training #1 to use the toilet. not sure i'm ready for that challenge. training #2 how to fall asleep without crying. trying to train my body to crave healthier substances over unhealthy ones (i am cooking my chicken nuggets as i type- failed for lunch, eh?). training my mind to think of things in a positive light. often, i think of it right after i say something cynical. weird. it is hard to be in training. i often think of the following passage in scripture when i am running or trying to obtain a goal (even though this means i'm totally taking it out of context, but the concept of working hard till the end is still there):

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

this passage isn't really about running the race i'm training for, but for a better one. an eternal prize is what matters in this passage. not some dinky metal thing with a ribbon attached (that i won't be winning anyway!).

side note: i think my littlest just had a bad dream. he was sort of whimpering during his sleep and woke him with a burst of crying. he's already back to sleep. how sad! i love that little guy.

interesting…

how when you click on the next blog link on the top of this blog (or at least most of the blogs i read) you are taken to a blog that has been written not in english. i would think that all one language would be together and then maybe alphabetically or something. i'm sure that wouldn't work or make sense in the long run, but i'm always surprised by what i see when i click that link above the blog i'm reading.

i have found some super cool stuff (and pretended i've read ones that are in french). and i've found some super lame-o stuff (i'm sure that is what people think about this one sometimes!)

go ahead! it can be fun.

would you like to be my neighbor?

well, as it turns out you'd have a lot of choices. i was walking down my street earlier this week and saw someone taking photos two doors down and i thought that it was nuts since i didn't see someone on the porch of the house or anything. then a bit later i saw that a for sale sign had been place on their lawn. guess they want to move. going north from my house, 4 out of 5 houses are for sale. let me give you an even bigger picture of what is going on. you would have 12 (TWELVE) different opportunities to live near me. 4 if you want to rent and 8 if you want to buy. now, what is crazy is that all of these places for sale/rent are visible from our house. CRAZY.

i wonder if the people are interested in moving away from US?! yikes.

*photo credit- not mine. i was too lazy to grab the URL, though.