To Do List

My list keeps growing... I decided today was the day to tackle as much as I could. 

My List:

Mow the front lawn
Pull weeds
Rack the bark
Clean the van
Clean the garage
Clean the BBQ for Spring
Sweep the drive way
Take the 3T out and get 4T in
Make dinner and clean the kitchen

These are the things that I accomplished today... not to mention that I woke up at 5:45am and ran 1.49 miles.  :)  I was more than tired after dinner.  So, I took a bath and soaked for a LONG time, and Josh took care of the girls.

My picture... all the clothes from just Charlie's side of the closet that I had to move around!

Braids

Tonight after the girls bath I braided their hair while they watched America's Funniest Video.  My kids LOVE this show, and they like that they have a bath on this night, and that we do their hair while they watch... usually we do curlers, but I was in the mood to braid.  I have to say that my hands hurt when I finished.  That's a lot of hair. Morgan wasn't happy to have to look at me, and not the TV.

Neighbors

Josh and I are trying to meet ALL of our neighbors and be more neighborly.  We've been going door to door meeting them, also letting them know our neighborhood has a facebook page.  We have so many neighbors who LOVE this and we've met so many people.  The kids have found a lot of school friends that actually live near us as well. 

Our next door neighbor came down with Shingles this last week.  So, I made up a gift for her.  We've chatted before and I knew that she really liked air popcorn.  So, I bought her some, with flavorings, a candle, and some chocolate.  To me these are "get well" things. 

Best Run

Today was my best run.  My farthest distance.  Although I did run my mile at my fastest yesterday at 10:09, I came close to that today as well.  This was also my second day in a row that I did my run without stopping to do any walking.  I have to push myself a LOT mentally to do it, but I did, twice now.  I also was very excited to see that my total miles for the last 12 runs is now over 15 miles, close to 16.  And that isn't including what I was running before I started using this ap. 

I have to say, I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.

No picture

Sad I know.  My first day I forgot to take a picture.  My plan was to take it of Charlie at gymnastics, because she got bumped up to a higher level.  She also went from 45 min. to an hour.  So, instead here is a preview of what I'm working on for my Valentine's Day cards.

Decorating

So without spending ANY money, I have made our bathroom more fun to be in.  More romantic over our tub.  So, I moved some of my clocks around, and got this one to work in our bathroom, plus I like knowing what time it is, and how long I have to linger in the shower.  Then I rounded up a few things from our house that were in odd spots and put on a shelf, that was in the family room, but not really getting used.  Next I decided to put up the Chandelier. I bought it about a year ago at Home Dept, meant for the girls bathroom.  It was on a clearance shelf from $70 to $20.  I ended up deciding I didn't like it in there, and putting it away in the closet.  So, up it went in our bathroom today!

Change

It is no secret that I like change.  And that I can't keep the same for very long.  So, after only 7 months in our house, I have already rearranged Hayden's bedroom.  And I must say, it works much better this way!
I can't believe how dusty things were, how much was under her bed, how dirty some of the walls are.... people, it's only been 7 months.  KIDS...
Oh, but I did finally get her bed skirt on! :)

Summer?

Today the fog lifted just in time to get Hayden from school, so we decided to walk.  Morgan hates to walk, but Charlie is always asking if we can.  So, we got ready and started walking.  Half way there I noticed Charlie's feet.  Flip Flops?  I asked if she was cold, and she said, "No, the sun is shining."  Kids.

Girly

Last night I painted my toe nails, and then decided to paint my finger nails.  I painted them extra girly, just to see if the girls would notice the next day.  Morgan was the first to notice at breakfast... and then they ALL wanted the same nails. So, this afternoon I sat and painted the girls nails.  In the end, Hayden was the only one that picked the same color as me.

Foggy

Today I decided to run.  I was feeling a little bit better this morning, and I know that my pattern is that if I stop an exercise routine for to long, I just stop all together.  So, I forced myself out of bed at 7:45 this morning and went for my run.  I had Josh take my picture because it was so foggy.  This is the second morning it was this thick... the reason the girls had "foggy day schedule" yesterday.

100th Day

Today Morgan's class had a big party for the 100th day of school.  They needed parents to help out, but I had to take Charlie to "mommy and me" and Josh and my mom were both out of town... not to mention that I was also very sick. 
Morgan made this crown in school... I decided to take her picture today, because she wore it all day.  She didn't take it off until she climbed into bed. 

NEW

Today I went to Wal-Mart and bought a new coffee pot!  I decided not to get the same one I just had, but to go back to having a "pot".  I got home and got it all set up and ready to go for the next morning!  So excited!

Tutu Cute

Today I couldn't get Charlie to wear anything but her new tutu.  I told her it was to cold outside and not the right thing to wear to school.  She came up with this outfit as a compromise.  She's a very determined child. All the mom's at school thought that she was so cute.  I like that she picked her boots with her "girly" outfit.

Broken...

After a day of taking pictures of the girls, and having fun with the camera yesterday... it broke.  I went to take a picture, and the viewing screen is black.  I had Josh look at it when he got home from work... and he said that it is in fact broken.  I had to take my picture today with my phone, it's of the girls singing Happy Birthday to JAKE!

So, along with my coffee pot, I now have a broken camera as well.

Tutu

Charlie has been asking for a Tutu for a week.  She read a book in preschool with grandma about a little girl in a tutu with ballet shoes and she wore a ring.  She has been asking for these three things.  Well, she got sick over the weekend, and grandma felt bad, so she went and bought her a "tutu"... it's a swimming suit.  She is a very happy girl, but is still asking for the shoes and ring.

She also let me know that for her birthday she would like a wallet and a purse, because she doesn't have one.

Fancy Night

We have been so busy lately, Josh and I feel like we haven't had much time with the girls as a family.  We're trying to save money, so Josh came up with a fun idea for dinner tonight. 
While I cooked, Josh told the girls to get dressed up for dinner, then he made them place mats.  We gave them fancy cups with soda, and I lit a lot of candles.  Then we called them down and we served them their dinner.  It was a lot of fun.

Then I cleaned up the kitchen while they got ready for bed.  I made a popcorn treat and brought it upstairs, and we sat and watched America's Funniest Home Video, our kids favorite show.

Two Weeks

Today I have been running a mile everyday for two weeks.  I'm jogging a little faster, and two days ago I jogged it without stopping... a first for me in my life! 
Ok, so after weighing and measuring today, I have lost another 2 pounds this week, and another inch in my waist. So, total so far is 4 pounds lost and 2  1/2 inches in my waist.  Not to bad.... for the feeling of GREAT everyday after my run.  I don't have any "goals", so it's just fun to see what I can do.

Today I used my ap that I got from Rayna... very nice.  I enjoyed it a lot.  However, after I got home, Josh and I looked and me using a running tool on my phone every morning and listening to music has used over half of my data usage for the month, and I have 21 days until my bill cycle.  Not sure what I'll do without music yet.  

Another Crazy Day

Today, all of my kids have school, Charlie is in the "mommy and me" preschool program.  I had to be at a meeting with Josh up at his office from 10-2.  So, grandma came to my rescue and took over at mommy and me, then picked up the other two from school, and took care of lunch for me.  I'm not sure how I could have figured that out without her. I planned on taking a picture of Josh and I at our meeting, all dressed up.  But I forgot.  So, here's a picture of Charlie doing the dishes at grandma's house.

Crazy Day

Thursdays are my craziest day as a mom... the day of gymnastics and karate, and in two different towns at the same time.  Josh had worship practice last week, and couldn't help me, and he did again this week.  Next week he'll be out of town on a business trip, so I will again have to find help (Cameron).  Here's a shot of all of my girls getting ready for our crazy afternoon. 

Dinner At Grandma's House

Josh had a meeting today that included him going out to dinner after work, and Jon had to coach a basketball game tonight.  So, Kelsey and I took our kiddos over to grandma's house for dinner, which she made for us.  YUM.  I did do the dishes, as I didn't have to cook.  :)

That's Not a Caterpillar

I got the girls Despicable Me for Christmas. They have probably watched it 50 times over the last couple of weeks.  They love that there are three girls in the movie, just like them.  So, they all pretend to be the character that is "them" while they watch the movie.  But now, I also here them acting it out in their rooms while they're playing.
Today I bought a bag of "Natural" Cheetos, which I love and so do the girls.  Charlie begged me to open the beg right away and not wait until lunch to have some. I agreed and gave her a small bowl of them.  Each time she picked up a Cheeto, she would say, "Oh, my caterpillar didn't turn into a butterfly.". Then in a different sounding voice, "That's not a caterpillar, that's a Cheeto." Back to the other voice, "Oh," And then she would pop the Cheeto into her mouth and eat it with a smile.  She did this with every single Cheeto.

This is her eating her lunch with more Cheetos, doing the same thing as before, with EVERY Cheeto. Silly girl.

Another One Bites the Dust

This morning I went to start my coffee pot and I found a big puddle of coffee on the counter.  I didn't understand why, so dumped out the old, and started my new batch for the day.

Well, later in the afternoon, another puddle.  I stood and watched and a drip came out of where it dispenses out. Bummer, another thing broken.  Not that I am going out to buy a new one, so I just have to make sure I don't keep coffee sitting for very long, so I don't have a mess.  At least this one made it about 4 years!

Not a great picture... but this is my picture of the day!  :)

Hats in Heaven

January 6 was the 9th anniversary of my grandma's death.  I didn't think about it that much on that day, but then today came, the first Sunday after the anniversary... the day I wear a hat in remembrance of her.

In the last 9 years, I think I have cried less than I did today.  Today, as I got dressed and pulled my box of her hats down out of my closet, I could not help but go over every Sunday I ever watched my grandma get ready for church.

My grandma would get up and make breakfast.  Usually she would make hash-browns (potatoes were a big staple). She would feed my grandpa, and me in the years that I lived with her.  I watched her do the dishes and walk up the stairs to get dressed.  Growing up and until I was 18 years old, I would sit by the door in her closet and watch her carefully pick her outfit and then her jewelry.  Then she would go to the bathroom and do her make up and curl her hair.  She would rat all her curls until her hair was nice and big, and then walk back into her closet, crawl onto the floor and behind her clothes to the boxes of 99 hats.  She would explain to me how she had them color coordinated and in the appropriate boxes for seasons.  I would watch her pick the right hat, crawl back out and in front of the mirror, and then cover up the hair she just ratted.  Then she would find the matching shoes and walk back down the stairs.  She would stand at the bottom of the stairs and wait for my grandpa to take her picture -- in the same spot he did every Sunday (later that picture would be added with the others to her photo album called "The Mad Hatter"). 

I went over all of these things in my mind this morning as I got ready, and chose my hat (her hat) for the day.  When I came out of my room, all of my kids wanted to know why I was wearing a hat.  So, I sat down and I told them about my grandma.  Morgan immediately wanted to wear a hat too, and soon so did Charlie, and then Hayden.  So, before walking out the door, we made sure that we all had a hat on today. 

I loved my grandma.  I love that she loved God with all of her heart, and that Sundays were one of her favorite days, and some of my best memories.  I thank God today for her time on this earth that I got to know her, and watch her.  I thank God that some day I will again be with my grandma in Heaven, and that she and I will get the chance to wear hats, because I believe there are hats in Heaven!

One week!

So, as of today I have been running a mile everyday for a WEEK.  Josh and I measured our waists and weighed ourselves when we started.  As of today, I am down 1 1/2 inches in my waist and have lost 2 pounds.  I'm not as concerned with the scale as I am the inches. I also started out jogging my mile in a little over 14 minutes, and I am now coming in 2 minutes sooner.  But I do still have to use my inhaler every time. So, my picture of the day is my measuring tape... to represent the inches lost!
Also, today I allowed myself SWEETS... all day.  I've been doing one small sweet thing a day.  Today I decided that I will eat whatever I want on the weekends... but still not eat after 7pm.  

Today Hayden had a friend from school over to play.  I picked them both up from school, and she stayed and had dinner with us (PIZZA NIGHT).  Then shortly after, her mom came and picked her up.  So very happy that today is Friday.  It was a long week, going back to school and all.                       
                
Here's a picture of Hayden, Emily and Charlie playing in Hayden's room.

Silver

Today I ran around like a crazy lady, no really, I did.  I had to work in Morgan's Kindergarten class this morning. Then go get Charlie from my mom's house, and back to the school to get Morgan.  Home for lunch, back to the school to get Hayden.  Home, gave the girls a bath (I knew we'd be home to late tonight).  Then I met Josh in the driveway, just to say goodbye.  He stayed home with Morgan to take her to Karate, while I drove the 20 minute drive to gymnastics.  Charlie's class was from 5 to 5:45... then we RAN over to subway to eat dinner, and RAN back to gymnastics for Hayden's new SILVER class at 6:15 to 7: 45.  After we jumped in the van and drove the 20 minutes back home to run in the house and get pajamas on and get the girls straight to bed.  Now, breathe.  Oh, and Cameron was home with Morgan, he had to pick her up from Karate, because Josh had worship practice. 

My picture of the day is of Hayden. Why?  Well, she advanced a couple of months ago to the Bronze class and then last week they told me that she was ready for the next level, SILVER.  There is only ONE class at this level for the entire week, and only 6 girls in the class.  They pushed her hard tonight, and she did really good.

New and New

Today I went to the new Big 5 Sports in Dinuba.  I went looking for running shoes... I don't have any kind of tennis shoe.  I don't do a lot of sport actives, ok, I don't do any, so that would be why I don't have the shoes for them.  Anyway, I went hoping to not spend a fortune, but get a good shoe. 
I saw right away the pair that I liked.  They were on sale for $39.99, original price was $74.99.  It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but I thought I'd try them on.  I asked for two sizes to try on, a 8 and 8 1/2.  The 8's were a little tight, but the 8 1/2's fit.  I looked at the boxes, and I noticed that the size 8 box had a little yellow sticker on it that had the price $29.99.  So, I asked why one pair of shoes was cheaper. The young man that I asked said that it was an accident, and he asked if those were the ones that I wanted.  I told him that I wanted the other size.  He said they have to give the price that is put on them, so he gave me the shoes that I wanted for $29.99.  I was a happy customer.

The other new thing today was my cell phone.  My new iphone I got before Christmas never charged right with the wall charger.  I had to bend it a certain way for it to charge.  So, we took it into the apple store and they gave me a new phone.  Happy, but all my stuff is gone. I have to work on putting all my apps back on, and changing things around.  I lost all my appointments on my calendar, and my alarms that were set.  I know what I'm doing tonight!  :) Ha.