Names have been changed to protect the innocent...and my husband...and me...but not the dog. His name is Dexter.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Baby Steps

Many, many moons ago, in the Summer of 2006 to be exact, CG and I started running at the local high school track to get in shape. To clarify, when I say I was "running" I actually mean I was jogging so slow that a fast walker could probably pass me without getting winded. CG jogged.

It was a rough go at first, for me. It can be quite the humbling experience to find out just exactly how out of shape you are. In the beginning, I could run a quarter of the track before having to stop to take a walking break. A quarter of the track is roughly a sixteenth of a mile. Yep. I was exhausted after 1/16 of a mile. But we kept going.....most of the time. By the end of the summer, I could run a full lap before desperately needing a break. That was big for me because I'm just not much of a runner. When your own mother makes fun of the way you run, you know you look funny running and you're not going to keep subjecting yourself to public humiliation.

Our summer of running met a bit of an unfortunate end that year. I was freshly pregnant with Babs and we had gone running after a rain storm which, in hindsight, seems like it was a bad idea. I blamed it on the humidity. Or maybe my body was still adjusting to the pregnancy. Either way, I was very, very sick after wards. As in, I didn't get out of bed the entire next day because I felt so weak. Obviously, I was freaked out that I had done something to endanger my pregnancy and that was the end of the running that year.

After Babs was born the following spring, we started up again at the track. I know we went a few times, but I'm not really sure how often that was. Frankly, that entire summer is a bit of a blur with the background noise of a breast pump.

Fast forward to the Summer of 2009. Monday night to be exact. Instead of going to my usual spinning class, we headed for the track to go running. Now, while I can't brag that I can run 10 miles without breaking a sweat, I was able to run a full lap around the track without taking a break. I might have been able to go further if I hadn't been jumping around telling CG that I'd just done on our first try what had previously taken me the entire summer to work up to.

But it gets even better! On the way home from the track, we stopped at a gas station to pick up a movie at the Redbox. As I was basking in my physical fitness in the van, I put my feet up on the dashboard because I was realizing that I had not sufficiently stretch. An older gentleman walked past and totally checked me out. Because I am HAWT! Granted, he's closer to 90 than he is to 30, but it looked like he still had all his teeth. Sadly, I can't even say that about myself. Now, I know I'm not in good enough shape yet to be getting cat calls and whistles from pot-bellied construction workers, but it's like I said before.......baby steps.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Father's Day Extravaganza!

As we all know, I just have to celebrate each and every holiday with such enthusiasm that others probably find annoying. Father's Day is no exception. I decided that this year we would have a 3 day celebration in order to honor CG properly. This will most likely not happen every year, but we'll enjoy the memories of this year for years to come, I'm sure. And it probably lessens the pressure for his birthday in August, right? It's not like anyone expects things to get better every year. Right? Man, this holiday thing could become a full time job!
CG got to open one present each day of the 3 days. The present for the first day was actually wrapped in custom painted wrapping. Yep, we're fancy. And, yes, I realize the other 2 gifts are in girly bags because, frankly, I lacked the energy to pull the box of bags out from under the bed and sort through them to find boy bags and those other bags just happened to be out already because they were used for Babs birthday. I am lazy like that.
On Friday we went to CG's work for lunch. We also surprised him with carrot cake cupcakes. Lots of cupcakes. That way he could have cupcakes and share and be every one's favorite that day. They had orange frosting because Lolly had decided that orange was Daddy's favorite color. Mmmmm......cupcakes.....
On Friday night, after the girls were fast asleep in their comfy beds, CG got to go to the movies and see Star Trek. We both love movies and we're now starting to trade off going to the movies by ourselves because we both actually like going to the movies alone. Yeah, I know, we're a little weird. But look at the yummy candy he got.....
On Saturday we had a fun day spent mostly at home. Now this is where the good Daddy part comes in. We went to the mall because they were playing a game at the Hello Kitty store that day and the girls got to spin the wheel and pick a prize and their mother was so excited about this. So he humored me and we went. To the mall. On a Saturday. But! He was rewarded for his good deed with a dinner at Sizzler and another present that he got to open.

Sunday morning, around 12:30, Babs had a special little present for both of us. This year she has actually managed to throw up on both Mother's Day and Father's Day. Quite the accomplishment. That will be going in her baby book.

The rest of Sunday was nice though and included fresh cinnamon rolls for breakfast and a lunch that did not involve ramen or leftovers. Sunday afternoon we got to visit my Dad and spoil him just a little bit and then we headed on over to CG's parents house for dinner. Oh, and he got to open his last present. A very classy Father inspired t-shirt with Homer Simpson prominently displayed. And he wore it because he's a good sport.

And, lest anyone think he was not sufficiently honored this Father's Day, last week he got this...
...the TV. Not the model.

CG.....you're the best and we love you forever and ever.

Now, I need a nap. Holidays are exhausting!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Ladies Who Blunch

A week or so ago I went to a blogger lunch hosted by the lovely Kristina P. I had a good time and met a few new people, although I didn't get a chance to meet all of the wonderful bloggers that were there. I really should write a post about the blunch, but that would mean I would have to take the time to write something clever and steal pictures from others blogs and I'm just lacking in the energy required to do that. We could talk about how I was up until 3 am with a spewing Babs, but we'll save that for another post. So, instead, I'm linking to a couple of the ladies that had the misfortune of sitting next to me so you can hear about their side of the blunch.

Our lovely hostess, Kristina P., who is well known for her Snuggie and celebrity mockumentaries.

Jen from Steenky Bee, who let me sit by her and is seriously so funny so just go read her blog.

Lori, from Green Jello, who taught me the Google thing.

And Zina, from My Imaginary Blog, who didn't actually write about the blunch, but is a fun read nevertheless.

Happy Clicking!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Friday Favorite-Flip Flops

Happy National Flip Flop Day!
If I were a shoe, I'd totally be a flip flop. See?!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Recipe Swap Wednesday-Quinoa & Black Beans

This is an easy recipe that I found online, but I don't remember where to give credit where credit is due. I just googled quinoa recipes and found this one. It's pretty easy to make and super yummy. The whole family loved it and it was still yummy heated up the next day.

Quinoa & Black Beans
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth (I used chicken broth because...that's what I had)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (I couldn't find mine.....my kitchen isn't put back together all the way just yet)
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup frozen corn kernals
2 (15 ounce) cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic and saute until lightly browned.
Mix quinoa into saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cover. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in frozen corn and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro.

This is probably intended as a side dish but I served it as a meal. We also added a little shredded cheese on top. The girls loved it. CG loved it. I loved it. And, it's super healthy. The only problem is that I paid over $6 for 12 ounces of quinoa, so it's kinda pricey. Hopefully I can find it less expensive somewhere else. So, if anyone knows of a more economically priced quinoa, please feel free to share!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I Got Googled

This past Saturday I went to another blogger lunch hosted by the lovely Kristina. I met some lovely women and learned a few new things. And I am now going to share one of those things with you. Of course, there is a pretty big possibility that most of you already know about this.

I'm sure we've all read blogs where they list the things that people googled that led them to their blog. Usually they're funny. Sometimes they're disturbing. But they're always good blog fodder. One woman there (I forget her name....sorry) was talking about this and was nice enough to explain to me how to do it. Information that I will now share with you.....assuming I'm not the only person on the planet who didn't know how to do it.

All you have to do is going to the site www.google.com/webmasters and enter your blog information. You'll need to add a little html to your blog and then.....voila! You'll be able to view what people enter into google that brings up your blog. It was quite.....enlightening! And entertaining. So, of course, I'm going to share a few with you! Because I'm nice like that.

  • power osccer
  • quotes about flaky friends
  • chaos recipes
  • pancake recipes
  • happydaysmotherearth
  • lady cones
My two favorites are the "happydaysmotherearth" and "lady cones". It's good to know that I'm famous on the Internet for my hippie ways and my lady cones.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Friday Favorite-The Drink of Champions

My new favorite Mountain Dew...
......give it a try. You'll love it! And if not, you can give me your supply. ;o)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Dirty Energies

Conversation from this morning while doing Lolly's hair with Babs walking into the bathroom and heading straight for the toilet.....

Lolly: No, Babs, don't lay on the toilet. It's got dirty energies on it.
Babs: Oh.
Me:.....?

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

A Little Sketchy

I love taking classes. LOVE it! I like the time to learn new things or relearn old things, even if they don't necessarily have anything to do with my current lifestyle. It somehow makes me feel like I have just a little bit less brain rot than I actually do. This past winter I took a sketching class with my sister in law. We'll call her K, for blog purposes. Here are some pictures of the sketches. Taken with my new camera, so that makes it, like, two arts in one!

This is a picture that I drew during our very first class.
The following pictures were done throughout the class.
We were given homework to sketch and name the muscles, among other things. I wasn't very good about doing the homework, but here's my one attempt at it.
This girl had a mo-hawk....or is it a faux-hawk? I get those confused. But after sketching her for a few hours, I realized that it fit her personality perfectly.

This is a sketch of K, the sister in law that took the class with me. She mocked me afterwards of course, but that's okay. We're learning. And I mocked her for being one of the first to volunteer when the model didn't show up that week.
This is one of the last pictures that I did. And it's also the first time I've even been able to even remotely do a face.
Now, if I can just get the girls to sit still long enough I could do a sketch of them.....

Monday, June 8, 2009

At least it's kinda funny, right?!

Saturday night, after the girls were in bed, I was waiting for my beloved CG to bring home dinner. He was out hunting and gathering my Cafe Rio salad. I picked up the laptop and was distracted by something. As I picked it up, my hand bumped the couch and the laptop slipped right out of my hand. At least my foot was nice enough to cushion it.
So, yeah, I think I broke my toe. Because I am an idiot! On the bright side, we had a good laugh remembering all the stupid stuff I've done over the years to hurt myself. I really am quite talented. After all, how many people could break their nose 4 times in 2 years?! My own dorkiness just never ceases to amaze me. *sigh*

Saturday, June 6, 2009

The F Bomb

When I was in junior high school I knew a girl who celebrated the anniversary of having her appendix removed. I thought she was odd (still do) and just did not understand the point in remembering and honoring (in her hypochondriac case) this event. Especially since it also coincided with my birthday, which seemed to greatly irritate her and take away from her expected Happy Appendix Removal Anniversary wishes. I didn't understand......why make up a new holiday when we have a perfectly good birthday to celebrate?!?!

Today is June 6. This is not my favorite day. Some years it creeps up on me and others it seems to loom ahead of me. Good things have happened on this day. I graduated high school on June 6. It's June, so the snow is usually gone. And I love summer. But it is still a difficult day for me somehow, even after all these years.

It wasn't anything horrible or dramatic and there are far worse things that can happen in life. But at the precarious age of 16, it was horrible to me. On June 6, 1995 I found out I had Fibromyalgia. Something most people have not even heard of. I had heard of it because a woman in our neighborhood had it and her life had almost completely stopped, with the only movement left in her family orbiting around her health, or lack thereof. That was my only association at the time and not that different from the majority, it seems. My doctor wasn't particularly optimistic by nature. His recommendations were homeschooling, never going to college and not having much of a life. Those were some dark times, people. Most of my energy seemed to go into making sure everyone else feel better about it, like that would somehow make everything better. At least from my perspective. But it didn't. And I like to think that I have dealt with it better since then. On a side note, I've noticed my girls do this. When they're upset about something (usually around people outside our family...they just wail at home) I watch them forcing themselves to laugh and reassure those around them that they're fine and I wonder why. Is it basic human nature? Survival instincts? Or something they've picked up from their mother.

But here I am. Fourteen years later. I graduated from high school. Then college. Got married. Have a couple of adorable and outrageously active children. I live a fairly normal life. CG often says that he doesn't ever really think about it because it doesn't really effect our day to day life. Obviously it effects me more than everyone else, but it doesn't consume me. The last dangitall 15 pounds I need to lose cause me far more aggravation than that most days.

So, what am I doing today to "celebrate"?! Well, we're having a normal day....almost (see video below). We've just hung around the house. Not all that hard with one child getting sick and the other just getting over it. Blasted Nursery Nose. I've been lounging around, reading. Heaven! CG bought me flowers and chocolate and changed Babs poopy diaper. I've also coerced him into buying me Cafe Rio salad for dinner since it's my latest dining obsession. Dropped the F bomb on all my unsuspecting readers. Sorry about that.

Oh.....and this morning I did this.



Fibromyalgia may have slowed me down a little, but I'm still out there livin' life.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Osccer Closing Ceremonies

Last Saturday was our very last soccer game, or "osccer game" according to Babs, for the season. Surprisingly, it may not be our last season because Lolly really ended up loving it and wants to play again. And Babs absolutely loves to go to "osccer games and play with friends".

We finished out our season strong and every player was still interested enough at the end of the game to participate in the "go team" cheer and get a yummy snack. We also handed out pictures, trophies and little soccer balls. I considered getting soccer shaped whistles, but liked the other parents on the team too much to do that to them.

Here are a few photo highlights of our soccer season. The goalie picture is one of my favorites.
I am a soccer mom. Hear me roar. Or yell "kick it the other way!".

Thursday, June 4, 2009

If You Have To Spew, Spew In This.....

Last night Babs had a bit of a fever and runny nose. The standard Nursery Nose, that arrives every Tuesday/Wednesday and is gone before Sunday so that we can return to church and get the next dose of Nursery Nose. Standard operating procedure for this age, although it's really not supposed to extend this far into the Spring/Summer.

Tonight I was snuggling with Babs and CG had just given her some ibuprofen when she started making some......disturbing sounds. Much spewing came forth, but she started out small. By the time CG was able to get a bowl to catch everything, it was too late. WAY too late.

Back into the shower for us. Yucky, yes. But, as CG was lifting my sweet, crying baby out of the tub she turned to me and said "I wanna stay with you". And that right there makes it worth it. My sweet baby, whom earlier had cried because she couldn't go with her auntie and had to stay home with boring old mom, wanted to stay with me when she was sick. Because that's what mama's are for.....catching the puke and still managing to laugh while covered in said puke. That is love. Messy love, but unconditional love nonetheless.

The Big 6

Yesterday was Dexter's birthday. Technically, it was his adoption day. We got him from the Animal Shelter so we don't know when he was born, but we certainly remember when we brought him home. How could we not remember bringing home an "excitement pee-er"?! Dexter joined our little family in 2003 so the old man is now 6 years old! Boy, does time fly. I had bought a can of dog food to make a dog food "birthday cake" but yesterday was such a busy day that it just did not happen. He did get a fabulous new throwing toy (it's fabulous because I don't have to actually touch the drooly ball) and an orange squeaky stuffed toy. Overall, he was thoroughly spoiled, as we should all be on our birthdays.

Happy Adoption Day Dex! We love ya!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Picture It...A Day In The Life

I'd like to say this was a typical day, but it isn't really. Things have been a little crazy around here with soccer and yard work and all the fun and busy stuff that comes with Summer. So, yesterday I aimed to have a bit more relaxing day and make sure that we all had fun....along with getting something done. There was definitely more playing than working yesterday, but you have to have those kind of days every once in a while. And why not document the day with pictures. Taken with a fabulous new camera!

I watered the garden yesterday morning while the girls were playing. I had to take pictures of my sproutlings to show that something is actually growing!
Except for this tomato plant that seems to have lost the will to live. It's a very dramatic plant.
Then we had a little poolside fun. It's not easy being us.
A sink full of dishes that did eventually get done. Of course, it just fills right back up again so you'd never know that by looking in my kitchen this morning. Another sink full of dishes that will eventually get done......
And some lunch. Mmmmmm......Cheetos.
In the afternoon, during Babs nap, we headed out to the front yard to give our flowers a little TLC.
Not doing so well.....I got some conflicting information and may have made the wrong choice....
This is an annual that we bought a couple of years ago. I don't even know what it's called but I love it because it keeps coming back year after year, against all odds.
I'm too sexy for this garden, too sexy for this garden, so sexy it hurts!
Followed by a Mother Daughter foot soak and a lotiony foot rub for Lolly.
A little Bella Dancerella action after nap time!
Cut the hair of this cute guy.
And finished of the day with a piece of the BEST CAKE EVER! Chocolate Oreo Cake.
Have you noticed a theme going on though?! I seem to be in to growing things lately. Growing the girls, the veggies, the flowers.....the messes. And my back side, thanks to the Oreo cake.

Monday, June 1, 2009

You're The Best!

Seriously! You guys are great. You said such nice things to me in my whining moment. You're the best blog friends a girl could ask for. What a variety....some are family, some are friends I've known for almost 20 years (ha ha ha), some are friends made in the last few years and others I've never even met. Yet. And an anonymous.....I seriously want to know who you are. I've got a guess, but I wanna know!

Thanks for reminding me why I blog. I've met and not met some wonderful people in blog land that has made Mommy-hood probably a whole lot more sane than it would have otherwise been. Yep, this is totally my version of sane. ;o)
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