A Day to Get Out

Some days I just feel the pull to spend time outdoors.

Today was one of those days.

I noticed the sun high in the sky and the blue color begged for my observation.

So after church and lunch and living room toy clean up it was time to go sliding and walking and duck-feeding and random dog petting!

I think it put us ALL in better mood.

Fresh air and the sun's rays. Sometimes there's nothing better...


Linking up to Mommy & Me Monday at Krystyn's place since the last two pics are of me and baby together (I'm doing lots of babywearing lately). Maybe next week I can have pics with me and my boys...

Spillage

I've been doing a lot of quick posts lately.

Sometimes it's hard to sit down and write. Especially when I'm tired a lot. And even a tad depressed.

My life is good. I have everything I need or want.

Except.

My ideal body.

I try not to get too wrapped up in it all. I mean I had a baby less than 5 months ago.

But.

I stood on the scale for the first time in a few weeks this a.m. and the results: NOT. GOOD.

I've whined about this too much lately, I know. But here's the thing. THIS body, the one I have right now - is only 8 lbs. away from the MOST I've ever weighed in my life (except when pregnant). And I HATE that. HAAAAATE it. When I look in the mirror all I see is fat. Everywhere. And when I look I know it's me but somtimes I feel like I'm in a different body. One that seems to be working against me instead of with me.

I think in my mind that I'm not eating (or drinking) THAT much but I must be (maybe I should start keeping a food journal). And granted, I haven't exercised in the last two weeks due to our travels and well, the fact that I simply feel like it isn't doing any good. I KNOW in my mind and my heart that it IS good but after only losing a couple of pounds during the previous Shrinking Jeans challenge (and now, gaining them back!!!) I can't see the forest for the trees. And part of me just wants to accept this fat chick. I mean, I like food and I don't believe in completely depriving myself of things.

I did give up chocolate for Lent (it's been 8 days, Miracle of miracles...) but I have this knack for finding other sweets to resort to.

I see other people who seem to eat whatever they want and not gain a pound. I don't have the DNA or the age for that. And it makes me a tad bitter.

I should give myself a break since I know it can take up to a year after having a baby for our bodies to recover. I know this. But I also feel if I use that excuse things will only get worse. Time is NOT on my side.

I was a hefty kid and have ALWAYS struggled with my weight. The kitchen is my battlefield. As are restaurants and bakeries. Oh and the grocery store and my Mom's kitchen. You know, anywhere where there is FOOD. Sometimes I wish we didn't even have to eat. Am I the only one who feels that way? Certainly not.

Maybe I should just take a tip from Baby K and snack on my toes.


Hey, I may be pissed off about my weight but I haven't lost my sense of humor. ;)

So anyway, there's my mental "spillage" about all my bodily "spillage."

On Monday I start the 30 Day Shred with my friends from Shrinking Jeans.

By the end of this month I plan to look different than I do now. I hope to feel differently too.

And here's a bit of my motivation. The fittest I've been in the last 10 years. This picture is from Tim's 10 year class reunion in 2002. I want to see those bones in my shoulders again.


Here we go.

You Capture - Shapes

There are LOTS of shapes (and colors!) in my kids toys. (LOOK! Circles ON the triangles - bonus!)


There are some heart shapes on the leg warmers that I made for Baby K. (See THIS POST at OMyFamily for a how to. I believe I professed my love for her in the comments.)



And there are shapes on my wall. I love this wrought iron piece that I found at an antique store years ago. It used to be part of an old screen door.



There are even shapes in our food. (I do love me a good Honey Crisp apple.) I happen to be a pear shape myself. Damn hips.


See more SHAPES at Beth's place...

WW - Food Face

I started Baby K with some cereal on Valentine's Day and we've already graduated to sweet potatoes. Sadly neither has enticed her to sleep longer.

I may try a full Thanksgiving dinner soon (a little tryptophan never hurt a baby, right??). Don't judge me. I'm tired. That's why all I have is this {SUPER CUTE BABY FOOD FACE!!!} video and picture to share. And now I'm off to bed...

I Heart Faces - Hands

I Heart Faces is actually all about HANDS this week.


I took this photo last week while in Texas.

Baby K met her Great Grandparents (Tim's Mother's parents) for the first time.

I think Baby K liked her Great Grandmother's ring.

I love the contrast of the hand that has weathered so much versus the one that has so much yet to experience...





See more HANDS at i heart faces...

Mommy. ME.

Sometimes life can be a bit overwhelming.

You know like when you've just come back from a whirlwind trip to visit family and friends, back in the town where you used to live that you still miss and you drive by your old house and can see the light beaming through the front door and realize it's no longer YOUR lamp creating that light but your okay with the fact that you don't have to deal with that tree in the front yard that was always losing limbs but you still kinda wish it was your house and not theirs.

You know, like that.

Oh AND, you're sick when you get back.

And tired.

Sick AND tired.

But you have a wonderful husband who lets you sleep while he does ALL the laundry and takes care of the kids and vacuums out your car and goes to the grocery store to get your favorite soup.

And even though the much anticipated trip is over and life resumes to normal (and you MUST clean your house this week and take the oldest child to his first soccer practices) you're just not "feelin' it."

But that doesn't matter because it's time to "suck it up" and be Mommy again and take care of the kiddos and dishes and cleaning and laundry (oh wait, that's DONE!) and to remember that this is the life you always wanted and are so thankful to have even though some days are rough.

We all feel overwhelmed at times. I know. You know. We ALL know.

Somtimes it's good for me to sit and look at all the pictures I take to calm me and remind me that my life is pretty great.

And sometimes?

I can look at a picture that my husband took and feel better. This is one of those times.

Ah yes, I feel better already...

I'm linking up to Krystyn's Mommy and Me Monday since I finally got a picture of ME with my girl that I didn't take myself!

PSF - He Loves to Pose

We went to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and Natural History yesterday and the boys had a great time. They have an outdoor "Dino Dig" and a great children's play area as well as many fabulous exhibits. They also have an outdoor water play area but it was closed due to the fact that it was too cold and there was STILL snow on the ground (the same snow I complained about missing last week.)

The B Man requested I take his picture several times and in each one I took of him he was totally cracking me up with his "poses."


I think my favorite is the middle one with the "hand under the chin" look. What about you?


See my week's worth of photos at my photo blog - My 365 Project.



Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

You Capture - Kisses

It fits the theme and he did WHAT I asked him to WHEN I asked him to. That in itself makes this an amazing picture. Plus, I think he kinda likes her... ;-)

WW - Sweet Sight

My Mother and My Daughter. Together. I LOVE this.

Co-Sleeping is NOT for the Tender-Ribbed (or me)

The sleeping arrangements at Grandma and Grandpa's house leave a little to be desired. At least for me.

Little G was satisfied to sleep on a blow up kiddie bed for the first two nights but unfortunately that has lost it's luster and he's found the bed where I sleep (in the same room) much more appealing. I crawled in last night with just enough room to sleep on my side with one arm above my head.

UUUUUUGGGHHHHH.

And then?

I proceeded to get kicked in the ribs no less than 55 times throughout the night. Because you know why? He was sleeping perpendicular to the bed, as in his feet - RIGHT NEXT TO my ribs. Yeah.

And you know what's REALLY ironic? Baby decided to sleep through the night.

Yep. This is my life.

And I love it. Really, I do...


P.S. Happy Mardi Gras!!

The 3 C's - Candy, Cereal & Cousins

We made it to Austin in a little over 7 hours with 3 stops and very little crying.

Five minutes before we "landed" in my parents driveway Little G was all like, " I WANNA GET OUT OF HERE!!!" And so was I. But we made it safe and sound and I was ever so happy to see that my Mother had made chocolate chip cookies. What can I say, the woman KNOWS me. Oh and plus, she likes to bake.

Despite missing my own sweetheart on Valentine's Day (I love you, my TIM!) we had a good day.

The B Man had some chocolate (can't really tell but I don't think he's too wild about this 'surprise' flavor).


We went over to my brother's house for the afternoon/evening. It was there that Baby K had her first cereal (yes, she IS holding the spoon herself!) and we had Pei Wei for dinner. God bless the bigger city. (thinkingofopeningaPeiWeiinLafayttewho'swithme?)


She also met her cousins and Aunt and Uncle (her future Godparents) for the first time. Check out all these crazy kiddies in their "jammies."


We came back to Grandma and Grandpas and Baby K and Little G were completely "out." The B Man brushed his teeth and went straight to bed after. They were tuckered.

Like I said, it was a good day.

We're Off!

So, the kids and I are leaving today for what I'm callin' "The 'Woah, I sure have packed our schedule full of activities and people to see in just one short week' Tour of Texas Road Trip."

Did you get all that?

Truly, I'm not sure what's going to wear me out more - the driving or the schedule while we are stationary.

Look for short and sweet posts next week, kinda like this one.

(oh and please pray that all goes well on the trip and that we return home safely and with MY sanity intact).

Peace out.

Here's a little "eye candy" for you:



My little sweetheart wishes you all a Happy Valentine's Day!


(go ahead, try to resist kissing your computer screen...)

Absent on a Snow Day

I have been contemplating a post in which I state that it takes about 7 months to get used to living in a new place... here's my meager attempt.

We've made some friends through Tim's work and through the Moms Club I've joined. We now have about 3-4 babysitters we can call on (mostly teenage daughters of friends) and we finally registered with a church that we like and even took a baptism class so someday we can get Baby K baptized (mostly a matter of getting her Texas Godparents here - Hi Larry & Kelley!...). We went to our first Mardi Gras parade last weekend, in which the boys had a blast, and we also celebrated with some "die-hard" Saints fans as we watched their team win the Super Bowl!

The boys are getting used to their new schools and making friends there and through Moms Club. I know my way around pretty well now and don't have to rely on my little Garman (GPS) nearly as much anymore (although still need it on occasion...)

BUT... (there's always a "but", right?)

Today it snowed where we used to live.

Big deal, right?

Well, actually it is a big deal since it really doesn't snow there that often.

And why do I care? Because it's the same year we moved and not only do they get a white Christmas (dreamed of this my whole life - the damn song has ruined me) but they also get enough snow in February to really play in it and make real snowmen, not just little puny ones.

And my heart hurts because I know that the boys would love to see it falling and to play in it and I would even brave the cold to do the same. And Tim would love that it was cold enough for snow and would enjoy it as well.

So, after seeing many of my friends from back home post pictures on Facebook and getting an email from my MIL with pictures of THE snow, I cried.

The fact of the matter is, no matter how long it's been or what the weather is like, I still miss our old home. Some days I miss it more, some days less.

Today is a day of MORE.

You Capture - Work

It's someone's WORK to drive these...


It's someone's WORK to wear this...


And these...



It's my WORK to fold these...


It's my WORK to make these...

It's my WORK to play with these? NAH! It's a walk in the park compared to putting on that fire suit.


Who has the more difficult day at WORK? You be the judge.