Working for Me Right Now

 I know I've written a post similar to this before (how could I not when I've been writing here for over four years!), but I just have to share. 

Reading blogs, using Twitter, checking Facebook and so on can be a huge distraction.  There are times when  have to sit back and evaluate how I'm using my time and what social media is doing for me.  I'm not on much on the weekends, but I am sometimes in the virtual world too much on week days.  But lately, I've got to say that the good of social media is outweighing the bad.  Reading blogs like The Miss Elaine-ous Life and Growing up Mo' has reminded me of what I like about running and why I need to do it more.  Blogs such as We Are THAT Family challenge me to go deeper in my spiritual life.  I just need to work on managing my time better.

When I'm running, I have finally tried listening to an audiobook.  I was going to buy Harry Potter on iTunes, but it was way too expensive.  Instead I got the audiobook app for the iPhone and downloaded Pride and Prejudice.  It is free, so the readers change every couple of chapters, as it is all volunteers who make the recordings, but it is a nice change from listening to the same music.  I ran/walked 3 miles today!

Also working for me right now is our mostly mild weather.  We had a tiny cold front yesterday and a cool start this morning, but it is still largely sunny and pleasant.  As I've mentioned in other posts, I am a happier person when the weather is like this.  Last week we spent hours outside after school and on the weekend and it was just blissful. 

When I sat down to write this I thought I had more to say, but I guess I don't.  Or maybe I am distracted by my stink--still haven't showered after the gym!  Sorry, probably TMI. 

Happy Tuesday!

Quick Takes Happy

 Happy Friday friends!  Let me warn you that this post will be excessively cheerful and contain lots of exclamation points.  Read on if you please.

1.  The weather this week has been absolutely perfect!  The kids have been able to play outside every day.  I've done my workouts outside as much as possible.  It is as if God is making up for five snow days in a two week period by giving us spring-like temperatures for a week or more.  I can't tell you how much this improves my mood.  Winter and I are just not on good terms.

2.  Pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training! Baseball season has begun, or kind of begun.  Full squad reports tomorrow and workouts start on Monday.  The best part is the Rangers will be defending an American League Championship!  I still can't believe it, several months later.

3.  Lily is back on board with using the potty!  She has declared herself to be all done with diapers more than once, but the last two days she has actually stayed dry and told us when she needed to go.  And, today, she did her business in the potty (#2)!!  We're about to get a pay raise.

4.  Benjamin weighs 21 pounds!  I haven't had a baby this big since Taylor was a baby, and even she wasn't this big at this age I don't think.  To us he is huge, since our kids are usually way below average in size, but he is right at the 50th percentile. There must be some really big babies out there!  He is crawling now, not just rolling.  Still the happiest baby ever.  He laughed when the doctor put the tongue depressor in his mouth yesterday!

5. This springy weather makes me want to redecorate my house and revamp my wardrobe.  Too bad that costs money.  I am inspired to at least start doing some serious cleaning.  Travis wants to pay someone to do that, but I would rather use that money for fun decorative things.  So I must get on the ball with the cleaning.

6.  This fabulous weather makes me want to listen to music with the windows open and something cooking in the smoker or on the grill.  I need some summer music.  You know, music that just sounds like sitting on a porch with a cold drink.  I'm going to buy some tunes from Adele and Amos Lee (just saw him on The Early Show this morning and loved the music). What else should I get?

7.  True Grit is an excellent movie, with very poetic dialogue. Texas de Brazil is delicious and fancy and fun.  That sums up our anniversary date, thanks for all your kind words.

Visit Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes.

10 Years!

 Those two crazy kids have been married for ten years today!  The good has far outweighed the bad (really there hasn't been any bad) and I pray that we can always say that.  Dinner and a movie tonight to celebrate, maybe Los Angeles in August for a getaway celebration.  We're very, very blessed.

(also I am terrible at scanning photos)

Seasons

 I hate to let the blog languish, with no new post, for too long.  I also hate to complain too much though.  And I'm feeling kind of complain-y of late.  Blah.

Parenting our fireball Lily is proving quite challenging these days.  Yesterday, when I was showering or making cookies or something, she colored on the wall in the girls room.  The color does match the decorating scheme, but scribbles all over the wall is not the look we are going for.  I didn't catch her doing it, so I didn't really know how to punish her for it. She's 3--something done several hours before has left her mind.  She did tell me last night that we color on paper, not walls, so I guess she got the message at some point.  Travis and I are just struggling with helping her learn to control her behavior effectively.  She's so smart and so independent and it just makes for some challenging days. Good thing she is ridiculously cute.

Since I called this post seasons I will dump a little here about our crazy sports life.  Our three big kids are playing Upward basketball right now.  We love this league because it is very low-key and family-friendly.  Each kid practices one hour a week, unfortunately on three different nights though.  Then they each have a game on Saturdays.  The games are just far enough apart in time to take up the whole day. I had hoped we would get a short break before baseball and softball started, maybe a couple of weeks of no practices.  But it looks like we'll be starting those practices the week after basketball ends.  Better than having both sports going on at once of course, but still busy. And all four kids that are playing ball will be on different teams.  We have done what we can to ensure we have friends on some teams so we can share carpooling duties.  I love this season of our lives, but it does make life a little crazy.

Spring is nearly here!  I love living in Texas because our winters are blessedly short.  I know we'll still have some cold days before spring is really here, but this whole week is in the 60s and 70s!  Hooray! This gives me the shopping bug though, so Travis is perhaps less excited than I am.  Silly man.  This mostly helps spur me on to workout more, except today. Today I am not feeling it.  Benjamin is taking an early nap and it looks like I will miss the gym, meaning I have to get my 30 minutes in at home.  I've done 45 days in a row!  I'm focusing less on weight loss and more on toning and strength and just doing something, anything, to stay moving.  It has been good for me.

What seasons are in your life right now? Do you have a strong-willed 3 year old?  Advice?

You Capture: Cold

 When you have snow days two weeks in a row in North Texas, you are morally obligated to get pictorial evidence of the winter weather.  Or so it seems.  So here are a couple of photos from last week's major winter weather event (four snow days in a row!). 

 We really know how to love our dolls, clearly.

We also have no weather-proof snow gear.  Lots of laundry for mama.

And that's just plain crazy.


Visit I Should be Folding Laundry for more photos!

What I Wore Wednesday: Nicole and Lily

 I'm finally joining in one of my favorite "carnivals."  I love looking at what other people have been wearing.  It gives me good ideas to liven up my wardrobe.  I finally started to remember to take some pictures so I could participate. Well, Travis took the pictures.  He has stopped wondering why blogging makes me do crazy things.  Lily wanted in on the fashion fun too, so I'll include what she is wearing.  I won't be participating every week because I don't have that much variety in my wardrobe, but when I do wear something different I'll post a picture.  I hope you have fun visiting some of the participating blogs.  Go to The Pleated Poppy for more WIWW posts (and to drool over her great shop).




On Nicole: Sweater, sequined tank, skinny jeans--Old Navy, Boots--Born Original Concepts at Macy's, Necklace: Vintage Initial Charm from The Vintage Pearl, Ring on right hand: Shining Stones The Big Pearl

On Lily: Dress, black leggings, leg warmers, black shoes--Target
Where: Out of the house!  This was our first outing since all the snow and ice kept us housebound.  We went to lunch and the grocery store.



On Nicole: Gray long-sleeve shirt, Steelers shirt--Old Navy, Jeans by Common Genes at JCPenney, Pink Converse One-Star shoes from Target, same jewelry
Where: Super Bowl party down the street.  Hooray for walking to the party! ;)



On Lily: Shirt, skirt--Old Navy, Striped leggings, shoes--Target
Where: Gym



On Nicole: White Cami, Lavender Shirred v-neck, Skinny Jeans--Old Navy, B.O.C. Boots from Macy's, Purple purse, sunglasses--Target, Right hand ring--Shining Stones
Where: Volunteering at the Book Fair at school

There you have it, the things I wore this week, or at the least the outfits I took pictures of.  You don't really need to see my lazy clothes!

9 Months of Awesome

 I'm going to run out of things to say about this baby of mine.  He is a joy. A big joy.  Benjamin has his 9 month checkup next week, but I couldn't wait to post more pictures.  We had some gorgous weather before all the snow and spent lots of time outside.  I tried to get some cool pictures (all photos are unedited).

I remain ridiculously obsessed with his pudgy hands and feet.



 Cutey McCuteykins



He also can't get enough of chubby hands.

Quick Takes Snow Edition

 I know that a major storm blew through the whole country.  I've seen the pictures from the blizzard in Chicago.  But, see, places like Chicago are prepared to handle this mess.  Large fleets of snowplows and sanding trucks and so on.  We do not have fleets here in North Texas.  We have trucks, but not enough.  So, today, day four of no school and with a fresh several inches of snow, I give you quick takes, snowed-in style.

1.  Let me start by singing the praises of streaming Netflix via the Wii.  Never have I been so grateful for technology.  It truly boggles my mind how this all works, but I don't need to know how it does work.  I really limited the amount of television and media consumption the first two snow days.  But then yesterday came and I threw in the towel.  We plugged in the Wii, went to Netflix, and started enjoying kid movies we had not yet seen.  Hooray!

2.  For personal reasons I am fasting on Thursdays for a few months.  So here are some things you should NOT do when you are fasting.  Don't make pumpkin bread and brownies in the days prior to a fast. Don't watch Top Chef while doing your step workout on the Wii Fit when you are fasting (especially when it is an episode featuring Italian cuisine).  Don't have your kids home for the third day in a row (and then get a phone call that school is closed on Friday too).  So, there you have it, things NOT to do when fasting.  I did have many opportunities to pray throughout the day and I did feel God's grace helping me be as nice as possible to my children and husband.

3.  I have not stepped foot outside (really!) since Monday night.  I have opened the door a few times and admired the snow, but I have not even put shoes on all week.  I have showered and put actual clothes on (for a few hours anyway) every day though.  Surprisingly, I'm not all that stir crazy.  I really, really hate cold, so being inside is quite fine with me.  Travis took the big boys and Madeleine to a UNT basketball game last night (it was free!) and Taylor went to a sleepover, so they got some entertainment and I got some quiet once Lily went to bed.  We'll see if we have basketball games tomorrow.

4.  My kids think this amount of snow is normal.  The last several years we have had at least one significant snowfall, and often more than one.  I grew up in East Texas and it did not do this every year.  I think we might need to get some real waterproof gear this year, so that they can really enjoy playing in the snow. We have fleece gloves and such and I worry that they get cold too fast and make them come inside sooner than they would like.  Also, people keep saying all this snow is proof that global warming is a myth.  It is my understanding that unusual weather patterns (cold and hot) are a part of overall warming, so let's just let the scientists figure that one out.  I'm not saying I agree with the idea that it is all due to people, just that snow is not proof of anything except that it is cold today.

5.  Apparently being snowed/iced in makes me want sugar. When I went to the store Monday (twice because I'm forgetful even with a list) I bought cake mix, caramel popcorn, sugary cereal, and so on.  I think I'm going to make chocolate chip cookies today.  Yikes!

6. Still going strong on my 100 Days Challenge, although the intensity is pretty low doing exercise at home.  I've done some cardio with OnDemand and some boxing with the Wii, but I need to somehow kick it up today, maybe.  I'll probably post a weight gain on Monday, but oh well.

7.  Not snow related, but pitchers and catchers report in 10 days!!!!!


Visit Conversion Diary for more quick takes.

I Spoke Too Soon

 A couple of weeks ago I wrote that Lily was using the potty.  We had  more successes than accidents and I really thought we were leaving diapers behind us.  It appears as though that was wishful thinking.

I told people that finally her strong independent streak was paying off for us.  She was so determined and it was her choice and a bunch of other junk.  She is proving me wrong.  Her independent spirit means she goes on the potty when she wants to and goes all over herself the rest of the time.  She screams when I try to put her in a diaper, except at night.  So I'm doing even more laundry now.  It is so frustrating.  Travis makes her wear a diaper after an accident.  I go back and forth.  I want to encourage her independence.  I don't want to allow her to manipulate the situation.

If you ever think that I must have it all figured out because I have six kids, just come back and read this. 

I keep looking at pictures like this though, to remind me of how amazing she can be/is.  I do know that strong spirit will be an asset.  I can see it in her eyes now.