Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Puppy Party

Our puppies have turned one! And what's a girl to do? I had to throw a Puppy Party to celebrate!

Max, now known as Kung Pao, is just as big as we thought he would be! King Max still reigns...


Brownie, now known as Coco or Coco bean, is just as small as we thought she would be, but now she is willing to stand up to her big brother! She actually was terrorizing him, chasing him through the kitchen biting his back leg.


Annie, still known as Annie, is still so sweet. Her human mom says that she is not always so calm, but she sure was here tonight. She was the hardest to get pictures of, she kept running off or moving when I tried to capture her. =)


Here is everyone together again, well, not everyone. Benji was adopted out by the shelter and so I am not sure where he is, but we were thinking about him tonight for sure.


Happy Birthday Pups!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

carrying extra weight

For those of you that know me, you know that I don't follow trends too closely. I am not the sort of person that will jump to buy, get or read something that is all the rage. This is one of the reasons that I have never read or seen a Harry Potter book or movie. I am sure that I am missing out on a really good read, but I am okay with that. Maybe someday when it is far on the back burner I will finally pick one up, but until then I am okay with missing out. So it was with quite a bit of trepidation that I purchased a Wii fit game.

Several years ago, I was an avid Jazzerciser. Before Bailey, I was even toned and working with a trainer! Five times a week, sometimes more, I would be there working out. But then again, I had one child, no jobs, more time or so it seemed.

Now I am needing something to help! Something that will move me away from this computer and into motion. A desperate call for help!!! So I bought a Wii Fit. On Ebay even...I am telling you... I was desperate!

And I love it! It is so much fun. Even when I am so ready to head upstairs to watch a show or just lie in bed reading, I stop and head down to the family room. There are nights when I just stay for 20-25 minutes of aerobic activity but then there are days when I walk or more appropriately, limp away with aerobic, strength training and yoga all done in 45 minutes or more.

There is a problem though.

Actually 3 problems.

Dillon, Bailey and Avery.

They don't want me to use THEIR Wii. They get jealous and continue to ask me when it is their turn. Can I play now? Mom! Aren't you done yet???? Or with Avery, she has to be right in my way, holding her own remote and stepping on the step. The other day I had to do a whole 25 minute aerobic workout while HOLDING HER! Jealous, that little one! But I figured it was like holding a 25 pound weight and did not feel guilty that the workout was so short.

So now I feel like it is my dirty little secret that I have to hide. I do it when they are at school, when Avery is napping or late at night when they are sleeping. They can't know that I have been there playing with their toy.

They might get jealous that I am better than them at the hoola hoops!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The commerical break strikes again.

I know, I know, I haven't really written in a while. Sorry. Thanks for hanging in there and the gentle reminders that I need to get back at it. With that said, I also ask your forgivness again. This post is going to be a smattering of things that have happened recently with random pictures thrown in as well.

Now I will return you to your regularly scheduled program....



Bailey- Some of you probably remember an earlier post I did that talked about how commercials tend to affect my kids. This is the latest one to work on them.

Bailey says to me yesterday morning "Mom, I think I need a new comforter. The springs are hurting my back."

"What?" Not understanding what she is saying.

"Well, you see there are springs in the bed that wear out and end up hurting your back, but there is a bed that you can get that is all foam. Nothing to hurt your back!"

"You are talking about your mattress honey, not your comforter. As for a new bed... we will talk about it when we switch to the twin bed."



I just put this picture of Avery up because I think she looks like me here. Finally, a child that sort of looks like me!



My mother-in-law is a liar.

Now, I write this knowing full well that she reads this blog and will know that I say it from the bottom of my heart.

This is the iron bed that I have been working on stripping. You see, Avery is 2 1/2 now and is ready to transition into a big girl bed from her toddler set up. The room the girls share is large, but not large enough for two full size beds, two dressers, two bookshelves and the large mountain of stuffed animals that these two have collected. Years ago I talked to MIL about getting these twin beds from her. They have been up at the Jackson house, and I thought they might look nice in the girls' room. They were brought down to us a while ago and have been sitting in the garage awaiting for the redecoration.

A few weekends ago, Kevin and I were cleaning out the garage and I set up the beds out in the yard to clean them off and take a good look before I brought them in. Avery's bed looked fine. It did not need any additional work, but Bailey's bed needed repainting.

I called up my MIL and asked her about repainting the bed. Sure, she says. It's easy. You just get the spray on paint remover, the paint bubbles up, and then you wipe it all off. No problem.

Not quite.

I am two applications and a lot of scrubbing and scrapping into this project and it still looks like this. I think one more application, some tougher steel wool, and it will be clean and smooth enough for re-painting.

So, Mom, I'm sorry, but I am not going to believe you again when you say it will be easy.



Just a cute lo that I had finished recently. I haven't had much time to scrap, but am hoping to jump start it again.

Oh- some updates on me. My job-share contract ran out in December, as planned, and so I am not working steadily right now. I am still picking up lots of sub dates so I am in the building quite a bit. I decided to take my hat out of the ring for the next long term sub position so that I can focus on my family and the last 3 classes I need to finish up before student teaching in the fall. This is a good thing, really.

I found out today that I got a position student teaching at my neighborhood school which is great. Since I can't work at my kids' school, this is the next best thing.

Okay, that's it for now. I will try to be better so you don't have to read mini stories all thrown together like this again.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Birthday girl!!


Bailey turned 7 today. I am not sure how that is possible, but I did the math and it's true. She is having a sleepover party with three of her friends. They had pizza and cake, played Barbie and Littlest Pet Shop, and made their own glass bead necklaces. Now they are off to bed. Hopefully to get some sleep.


Bailey and Samira


Bailey and Reyna


Bailey and Jada

And of course, Avery tagged along as long as she could. She was NOT happy to be put to bed.

Dillon opted out, and headed for a friend's house. Good choice.