This weekend & MEM

Blink, blink, blink goes the cursor.

Throb, throb, throb goes my head.

But still, I want to put something out there for you all to see and read because I thrive off of it.

I want to tell you how busy the weekend was with two photo shoots(!) and preparation for my son's first communion next weekend, and van washing and family time and just living.

the grill of my van is soooo clean... 

I want to share with you what joy I get from taking photographs for other people.

I want to share with you how much joy I DO NOT get from trying to finally wean K from her paci addiction. (4:45 wake up time, anyone??).

she is forgiven. ;)

I should be doing my ankle exercises and icing it like I do every night but instead here I sit, in front of my computer monitor, Lightroom as best friend. :)

Oh, but I also have to tell you how awesome the meal was that my husband cooked on Saturday night.  Recipe HERE.  We had the leftovers for lunch today. Still so delish.

I wish he had time to cook every night (just because he's really better at it than I am)(but don't tell him I said that, k?)

Now I shall leave you with a photo of this little peanut.  I mean really, how precious is she?

I'm loving my new "job"!!

p.s. if you have not already, please go read my post from Friday about feeding my kids and leave me some feedback.  I would love to know what YOU have to say...


You know M.E.M stands for "Miss Elaine-ous Monday", right?

C'mon and link up, my friends!

ANY "miss elaine-ous" post will do, something from your archives or something brand new! :)

Do you have a post that meant a lot to you but wasn't read by as many folks as you'd hoped? Or one that has great pictures and you want more people to see them? Or do you just have one that you really want to share!?

I'll also choose a random post from those who link up to feature on The Miss Elaine-ous Life Facebook page (please "Like" if you have not already) so even more folks will see a new post every week! Grab the button and link up!  And please visit some of the other linkers as well...








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If you do not post the button, please still link back to my blog, even if you just put a little blurb at the end of you post such as "It's Monday and I'm being "Miss Elaine-ous" over at The Miss Elaine-ous Life!" - Thanks!! Oh and extra bonus points to anyone who puts a tweet out there, that would be awesome too!  Thanks for linking up!
p.s. I've kinda been a slacker about the FB thing lately and I'm SO sorry.  I will definitely choose a post to feature on my page this week!! 

Doing the best I can...

The other morning I sleepy-eyed open the freezer like I do on most mornings.  I pulled the cardboard tab to open yet another box of "toaster sticks", as we call them.

My messy-haired self stuck two of them in the toaster and another directly on a plastic IKEA plate.  Someone I know likes them frozen.  It says on the box to toast them first and not to consume frozen but we like to break the rules around here.

I got spoons for their yogurts and asked the oldest which cereal he wanted, while I packed his lunch with a turkey sandwich, an apple, a water (every other day it's water or a juice box) and some gold fish.  He also likes dark chocolate so I threw a square in there for "dessert".

I made my coffee and my eggs with cheese and when the coffee pot beeped out that it was finished I filled my mug with it's caffeinated goodness and added a little creamer.

After the 2nd-grader and his Dad left for school and work the almost-5-year old asked for "second breakfast" (you all have hobbits in your house too, right?) and he settled on a TLC cereal bar.  His "third" breakfast was basically the same thing, a piece of whole wheat toast with strawberry preserves.  Sometimes he even asks for a "jam samich".

Some mornings they have a little glass of lower sugar o.j.  Some mornings (usually a Saturday) they have canned cinnamon rolls (reduced fat... sure...). Some mornings they have pancakes with real maple syrup.  We go between wheat and regular, blueberries or not.

The rest of their diet consists of the usual things kids like such as chicken nuggets (homemade or frozen or fast...), PB sandwiches, french fries (but I try to limit this!) mac n' cheese, pasta, pizza, various fresh fruits and veggies, granola bars for snacks, nuts, cheese (although oldest doesn't like it unless it's on the pizza), hamburgers (homemade or fast... ugh...), and various "treats".  Oh and Mexican or Asian food that we eat out, like Thai or Chinese.  Plus a decent amount of birthday cake at other kids' parties!

they rarely have soda but they split this one... 

I'm telling you this because I feel like there is constant information out there about how to feed or NOT feed our kids.  And I really do try to make sure they have a good, balanced diet but there are still things we/they eat that are probably not always the "best" choice.  But with our busy lives and the day-to-day constant of having to EAT! I feel like I am doing the best I can.  No, I do not spend all day in the kitchen making things from scratch.  That is just not my thing.  The littles sometimes have oatmeal or eggs for breakfast too. I whip up a batch of homemade granola bars on occasion and they all love nuts and nut butters. We usually just have a meat or fish, veggies and a fruit for dinner.

Do they eat too much birthday cake and treats, probably so. Do I feel guilty?  Some days yes, other days I just cannot.

I feel like I have friends that are doing a lot better than me but then we go to my Mom's she thinks we eat a little "crazy" because I buy certain things for my kids that have less sugar or more whole grain and I'm always reading the labels of the old things in her pantry and fridge. (love you Mom)

And then there's the fact that I read things about "pink slime" (how horrible!!!) and that there are chemicals in the cans used for canned goods and that we shouldn't cook with teflon and GMO's everywhere! And the microwave I use A LOT is evil too...

This is hard stuff, y'all.  I just want good food to feed my kids (and myself for that matter).  Why does it have to be so hard?

Do you think about this as much as I do? How do you feel about the way you feed your kids?

p.s. one of my VERY favorite snacks is Annie's Kettle Corn.  Get you some.  It's awesome!!! (not paid to say that, btw...)

My Roots...

Today I am guest-posting at my good friend Erin's place.  She is an amazing mother, writer and friend and I am so honored to be sharing her space today.  Please go check out my post, "Writing Ways" when you get the chance and do not be too jealous that I get to room with her at BlogHer '12 in August (Squee! Yes, I'm going!!! NYC, here I come!)

And go ahead and take a little time to think about your writing roots.  Because if you author a blog you are a writer in at least one way... :)

Out Back

Pretty sure my kids think my trusty camera is my fifth appendage.

But I can still push them on the swings (although, good GRAVY, almost 5 year-old, learn to pump your legs already!!!) when we venture out back to play.

And they don't seem to mind too much when I take a break to snap a few photos.

I also grilled a pork tenderloin while doing these other things.

Totally putting "Ulitimate Mulit Tasker" at the top of my resume.

You know, the one that hasn't been updated in 7 years or so...

Photos anyone?

I just love how these big leaves became like "bowls" for the little blooms! :) 

This roller coaster...

Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down.

The ups are scary and the downs are scarier.

I'm in the downs right now.

I cannot run (still, yet, now, pain free, ugh).  This fact makes me a bit depressed.  And so I just want to EAT! The true definition of a vicious cycle in my life.


Sometimes I think it's really not fair that I have "struggled" with my weight all my life.

I know in my heart that I will never be the skinniest one and I don't even want to be.

But I JUST want to maintain a weight that I am comfortable with.

Comfortable with the number.

Comfortable in my clothes.

Comfortable in my skin.

Comfortable.

I'm not comfortable right now.



And I get so angry.  SO angry that I have to think about every damn thing that goes in my mouth.

Does it have too much sugar?

Or too much fat?

Or too many carbs?

Or just TOO MUCH of anything!!!

I don't want to always live like this.

But I do.

I do live like this.

And I just wanna scream, "It's NOT Fair!!!"  It shouldn't be this way.

But it is.

It SO is.

Mom!

I wash hands, Mom!

I watch t.v., Mom!

I want window up, Mom!

Mom, I want joo box!

Brush teef, Mom!

I want L.C.*, Mom!

Where Ben, Mom?

Where Gavin, Mom?

I want yogurt, Mom!

Unstrap, Mom!

Turn it up Mom!

I. WANT. MY. PACI. MOM!!!

Mom, MAHHHHHHM!!!!!!!!!

You so pretty Mom.

I love you Mom.

Ahhh, Mom...

She already calls me Mom.   She has for a while.

Many times that one little word is partnered with demands and needs and wants and is said with a bit of determination and underlying tones of wishing she could do it herself.

Sometimes I wish she would just say "Mommy" instead and quit acting like such a kid already.  I wonder how she's changing so fast, how she talks so well.

But no matter which word she uses I still want to remember every which way she says it...  whether she is standing watching me getting dressed for church while admiring my reflection in the mirror, or she is just ready to get out of the van.

Honestly, I'll take it any way I can get it.

Someday she'll say "Bye Mom" as she leaves, taking part of my heart with her as she goes, not even knowing until someday when she is a mother, that she has done just that.

So for now any "Mom" from her sweet lips is a good one for me.

And yes, we are working on saying "Please" too...

*L.C. stands for "lamb chop", what we call K's half blanket/half stuffed animal lovie that goes everywhere she goes these days... 

I'm Really Doing This & MEM

There have been some pretty exciting happenings around here lately.

Including more friends trusting me with their precious family photo memories.

That's some kind of wonderful trust, if you ask me.

I can only hope I lived up to the task for them.

Thank you, my friends.  I enjoyed it so much.  And your family is beautiful.  Inside and out. 

:-)

I'm having so much fun doing this.... can you tell?!

p.s. You know that MEM stands for "Miss Elaine-ous Monday", right?

ANY "miss elaine-ous" post will do, something from your archives or something brand new! :)

Do you have a post that meant a lot to you but wasn't read by as many folks as you'd hoped? Or one that has great pictures and you want more people to see them? Or do you just have one that you really want to share!?

I'll also choose a random post from those who link up to feature on The Miss Elaine-ous Life Facebook page (please "Like" if you have not already) so even more folks will see a new post every week! Grab the button and link up!  And please visit some of the other linkers as well...








<center><a href="http://www.misselaineouslife.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff437/elainea1/MissElaine-ousMonday_edited-2.jpg"/></ "/></a></center>
If you do not post the button, please still link back to my blog, even if you just put a little blurb at the end of you post such as "It's Monday and I'm being "Miss Elaine-ous" over at The Miss Elaine-ous Life!" - Thanks!! Oh and extra bonus points to anyone who puts a tweet out there, that would be awesome too!  Thanks for linking up!

Just a little play time...

I loaded the red wagon with a vanilla wafer and banana snack for each and a drink to share.  They climbed in, both clinging to their favorite lovies/stuffies and their little shoed feet almost touching.

We set out for a little walk around the block but K quickly remembered our neighbor's play-scape that sits in the almost empty lot next to their house.  It was put there for their grandchildren but my kids are welcome to play anytime. It's lovely.

For some reason I had grabbed my camera, because well, I'm THAT mom...

And truthfully, I am SO very glad that I am. :)

see K's ear sticking out on the left?  That's where she cut her OWN hair. *sigh*

These silly kids make my heart go pitter patter...

The trip was totally worth it for the cake and hugs

If you've never been to a good ole down-home Texas country wedding then you are missing out.

My cousin's daughter (my second cousin?) got married the Saturday before Easter and Katie and I rode down to the wedding with my parents and my niece.  Although K was a bit tired by the time we left, I'm really glad we went.  I hugged the stuffing out of some of my cousins that I had not seen in literally years and well, had some awesome Texas BBQ.

It's funny because I remember my cousin's daughter when we would all gather at my grandparents' house while growing up and she's *only* seven years younger than me but I thought she was such a child!  I am so glad that I got to see her as a beautiful bride and to see her mother (my cousin) so very happy for her...

Some pics...

Courthouse in Lockhart, TX, on the way to the wedding.  

 The church in Shiner, TX, where my parents were married and I have attended mass many a time.

 My niece carrying Katie through the park where I played so much with my cousins when I was younger...

 My precious parents

 Just a swangin'

 The glowing bride

 My cousin's wife and their baby girl

 Their older daughter who was a flower girl and has my mother's same name. :)

 My cousins (they are sisters), Mother of the Bride on the left

 K watching my parents cut a rug!

 Mom and K dancing

CAKE!!!!

The happy couple...

And then we had to leave and as I watched the sun starting to go down on fields of bluebonnets I knew so well from my childhood, I smiled.  And we passed by the farm where my grandparents used to live and my mind was flooded with the good memories of that place.  I'm just so very glad I went....