Monday, February 28, 2011
Is there anything more peaceful....
than a sleeping toddler during an early bedtime after she missed a nap because she wore herself out in the pool this afternoon?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Church
Analese and her friend Andrea posed with the Pastor at church today. And that is the back of Mariele's head :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday = The Little Gym Day
Here is a crop of a very reflective and doctored up iPhone photo that I took of Analese through the glass window as she was doing her gymnastics class today. She really enjoys her big girl class.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Jogging
As you probably already know, I am in my second year of the 500 mile challenge. This year I am pushing myself even harder and trying to become a true jogger, not just a wannabe. So far this year, I have done most of my 75 miles or so on the treadmill. It was dreadfully cold for awhile. It may be another year or so before I can join those super dedicated all weather outdoor jogger types. This morning was absolutely glorious. 75 degrees and beautiful. We finished school in record time, and I put the girls into the double BOB with their iPod touches. I have the Couch to 5K app on my iPhone. I am currently in week 7 of 9. I'm not going to lie. 25 minutes of straight running has been a challenge for me. I've done it each time on the treadmill, but not without considerable huffing and puffing. Each time, however, I feel my body responding and my tolerance building. I'm quite proud to say that I am able to do this amount of running now without feeling like I'm going to keel over at any time. This is a big deal, in my opinion, for someone who was solely a walker before beginning this challenge a year ago. Now MOST of my logged miles are running miles. And I have to admit that this morning was the first time that I logged 2.5 running PAVEMENT miles. And I was pushing the double BOB. Shouldn't I get extra credit for that? I kid. I wonder how I would do without a stroller? I'll probably not know anytime soon. I really do dig the "runner's high" and just the feeling that my body is healthy and physically fit and physiologically young. I took this picture with my iPhone along the trail that I was running this morning. I prefer to run on this wooded trail. At 10:30 a.m. on a weekday, I typically do not run into anyone, so I don't have to feel self-conscious about breathing heavily and sweating like a pig.
Mariele looked pretty cute after the run was over. She fell asleep and her sunglasses fell down on her face.
A shower for me was NOT optional after this run!
Mariele looked pretty cute after the run was over. She fell asleep and her sunglasses fell down on her face.
A shower for me was NOT optional after this run!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
What a week what a week what a week week week...
So I just made this earth shattering blogging decision, somewhat inspired by other great blogging buddies of mine. I think I will go back to daily (or almost daily) blogging. This weekly dump post is getting.....dumpy? So tomorrow we will see if I can live up to my words. Until then, here comes the weekly dump!
Last Wednesday, Feb. 16th, 2011 - I totally forgot to take a picture. Since I would rather not have a gaping hole in my P365 calendar, I looked back in my photo archives for another photo taken on Feb. 16th of a different year. So here is a look back to 2009. Baby Mariele, not even 1 month old yet!
Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011 - Happy 38th birthday to my dear husband!
Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 - Friday night at Chuy's following Analese's gymnastics class seems to be becoming a tradition that I really enjoy. So does Mariele.
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 - I had made a Friday trip to Sams and could not help myself when they had all of the new spring fashions out. The girls are all dressed for church here. I did not really get a good one of them together, but I got pretty good separate shots.
Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 - Mariele in the pillow fort. Too bad it is a little fuzzy.
Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 - Gorgeous weather day. Analese is really into having picnics outdoors, so I spread a blanket in their play set and they had a nice picnic lunch together up there.
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 - Before going to The Little Gym. Take a good look into Analese's eyes in this photo. You can't really tell that she is going to throw a very infamous fit at The Little gym. Horrible day, and I will leave it at that. Some of my blog friends were lucky enough to read my vent about this day. Not a day I ever want to relive. Ever.
Today - The occasional yogurt parfait that Analese likes to occasionally enjoy at breakfast. Strawberries on the bottom. Non-HFCS vanilla yogurt to counteract the Trix cereal on top.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 16th, 2011 - I totally forgot to take a picture. Since I would rather not have a gaping hole in my P365 calendar, I looked back in my photo archives for another photo taken on Feb. 16th of a different year. So here is a look back to 2009. Baby Mariele, not even 1 month old yet!
Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011 - Happy 38th birthday to my dear husband!
Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 - Friday night at Chuy's following Analese's gymnastics class seems to be becoming a tradition that I really enjoy. So does Mariele.
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 - I had made a Friday trip to Sams and could not help myself when they had all of the new spring fashions out. The girls are all dressed for church here. I did not really get a good one of them together, but I got pretty good separate shots.
Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 - Mariele in the pillow fort. Too bad it is a little fuzzy.
Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 - Gorgeous weather day. Analese is really into having picnics outdoors, so I spread a blanket in their play set and they had a nice picnic lunch together up there.
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 - Before going to The Little Gym. Take a good look into Analese's eyes in this photo. You can't really tell that she is going to throw a very infamous fit at The Little gym. Horrible day, and I will leave it at that. Some of my blog friends were lucky enough to read my vent about this day. Not a day I ever want to relive. Ever.
Today - The occasional yogurt parfait that Analese likes to occasionally enjoy at breakfast. Strawberries on the bottom. Non-HFCS vanilla yogurt to counteract the Trix cereal on top.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Mariele the daredevil
Mariele loves to swing on Daddy. She may be the roller coaster / thrill ride lover of the family.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Valentine's Week
We had run into just a slight mid-year slump or boredom with school. I remembered how much I enjoyed getting scratch and sniff stickers on my papers in early elementary school. So I found some and ordered them! The stickers really did the trick. They are a great motivator, and Analese is collecting all of her school papers that have stickers in a special envelope. I let her decorate the envelope during quiet time (Mariele's nap time) on Thursday, Feb. 10th. This is what she ended up with. Translation: Analese school smelly stickers great!
Friday, Feb. 11th - A great kick-off to a nice Valentine's weekend was dining out at Chuy's. I just love Chuy's for their vegetarian tortillas and fajitas. The girls love the tortillas also, but they really love the push pops at the end of the meal.
Saturday, Feb. 12th - My dear mother and grandmother drove in for the express purpose of babysitting the kids on Sunday night so we could have a date. Mariele is snacking on a lemon here as we await Meemee's and Mammaw's arrival.
Sunday, Feb. 13th - The shoes!! Mom and I went to the mall to find a perfect outfit for my date, and of course I needed shoes to go with the outfit. Aren't they just a little bit sassy?
Here we are all ready to go out.
I heart my Valentine!
We went on a dinner boat cruise with a group from our church. Here is the dinner boat right before we boarded. It is a replica of an old-fashioned steam boat.
We had a grand time, even though this boat never left the dock. Apparently wind speed was an issue, and this boat is only 4 feet under water and is 3 stories high. Seems like a bad boat design to me, but what do I know? I'm no marine engineer. Anyway, we enjoyed a delicious vegetarian meal on the lower level. The upper level had a DJ and dance floor, and I've gotta say that it was really quite fun.
Monday, Feb. 14th - Happy Valentines Day! I did some typical Valentines stuff with the kids. We baked brownie covered oreos and worked on the shrinky dink Valentine tree. But what REALLY made my day was getting this box on my doorstep.
That is Analese's school curriculum for the next school year, which for us starts the beginning of July.
Tuesday, Feb. 15th - I have immersed myself in the box and taken to organizing everything on the shelves in the school room. May seem dorky, but I so absolutely love this!!
Today I am dealing with two under the weather kiddos. Everyone here seems to have a little runny nose/sore throat type of illness. Both the kids are asleep right now. Analese normally does not take a nap, but today she wanted one. She did not even want to wake up for her piano lesson, so her teacher is coming back tomorrow.
Friday, Feb. 11th - A great kick-off to a nice Valentine's weekend was dining out at Chuy's. I just love Chuy's for their vegetarian tortillas and fajitas. The girls love the tortillas also, but they really love the push pops at the end of the meal.
Saturday, Feb. 12th - My dear mother and grandmother drove in for the express purpose of babysitting the kids on Sunday night so we could have a date. Mariele is snacking on a lemon here as we await Meemee's and Mammaw's arrival.
Sunday, Feb. 13th - The shoes!! Mom and I went to the mall to find a perfect outfit for my date, and of course I needed shoes to go with the outfit. Aren't they just a little bit sassy?
Here we are all ready to go out.
I heart my Valentine!
We went on a dinner boat cruise with a group from our church. Here is the dinner boat right before we boarded. It is a replica of an old-fashioned steam boat.
We had a grand time, even though this boat never left the dock. Apparently wind speed was an issue, and this boat is only 4 feet under water and is 3 stories high. Seems like a bad boat design to me, but what do I know? I'm no marine engineer. Anyway, we enjoyed a delicious vegetarian meal on the lower level. The upper level had a DJ and dance floor, and I've gotta say that it was really quite fun.
Monday, Feb. 14th - Happy Valentines Day! I did some typical Valentines stuff with the kids. We baked brownie covered oreos and worked on the shrinky dink Valentine tree. But what REALLY made my day was getting this box on my doorstep.
That is Analese's school curriculum for the next school year, which for us starts the beginning of July.
Tuesday, Feb. 15th - I have immersed myself in the box and taken to organizing everything on the shelves in the school room. May seem dorky, but I so absolutely love this!!
Today I am dealing with two under the weather kiddos. Everyone here seems to have a little runny nose/sore throat type of illness. Both the kids are asleep right now. Analese normally does not take a nap, but today she wanted one. She did not even want to wake up for her piano lesson, so her teacher is coming back tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
It's been a weird weather week
Started off my P365 week on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. We were predicted to have this crazy winter storm. Analese took this picture of me in the kitchen that evening. I had fresh hair from a salon visit that day.
The weather? Never happened, other than lots of brrrr cold. There were icy roads in places, but not really up around where we live. They did cancel schools and The Little gym, so we were able to have an unexpected pajama day on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011. The girls snuggled up on the school room couch with Mariele's favorite book ever, "The Gingerbread Family." She is obsessed with this book. It is the one that she ALWAYS chooses to read. ALWAYS. 100% of the time. Several times a day.
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011: We visited with some friends from church that evening at their house. Our friend K went to Belgium for work, and he remembered that I am a confessed dark chocoholic, so he brought me back a big box of dark chocolates straight from Belgium! I could have kissed him. When he told me that he brought me some chocolates, I was expecting a sampler box of four truffles. The box has 3 layers of what you see in the picture! Well, each layer has the same number of chocolates, but they are all different! I am trying very hard to limit myself to a piece or two a day. It is so.....exquisite!
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011: Beautiful weather day! So pretty out. I guess I got so busy that I forgot to snap a photo until I was putting the kids to bed. Not the best quality photo, but at least there is no hole in the P365 calendar.
Monday, Feb. 7, 2011: The girls sat down at the table and worked on Valentine's cards together.
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011: Went to Target and got new swimsuits for the girls (along with some 2 and 3 pound hand weights for me because I discovered this week that I cannot do the 30 day Shred with 5 pound weights. Just can't). Didn't really get a good pic. I doctored this one up with my iPhone app to make it look like a Polaroid, because that was kind of par with the quality of the photo. By the way, I tried to suggest that they get different swimsuits, but they insisted on the matching Ariel ones.
Today - Wed. Feb. 9, 2011: We are having some crazy wind and sub-freezing temps out there. I took this close-up of Mariele. She is pooping on the potty here, but I decided to spare her the indignity of taking any more potty pics. I snapped this just before she said, "No look me!"
The weather? Never happened, other than lots of brrrr cold. There were icy roads in places, but not really up around where we live. They did cancel schools and The Little gym, so we were able to have an unexpected pajama day on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011. The girls snuggled up on the school room couch with Mariele's favorite book ever, "The Gingerbread Family." She is obsessed with this book. It is the one that she ALWAYS chooses to read. ALWAYS. 100% of the time. Several times a day.
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011: We visited with some friends from church that evening at their house. Our friend K went to Belgium for work, and he remembered that I am a confessed dark chocoholic, so he brought me back a big box of dark chocolates straight from Belgium! I could have kissed him. When he told me that he brought me some chocolates, I was expecting a sampler box of four truffles. The box has 3 layers of what you see in the picture! Well, each layer has the same number of chocolates, but they are all different! I am trying very hard to limit myself to a piece or two a day. It is so.....exquisite!
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011: Beautiful weather day! So pretty out. I guess I got so busy that I forgot to snap a photo until I was putting the kids to bed. Not the best quality photo, but at least there is no hole in the P365 calendar.
Monday, Feb. 7, 2011: The girls sat down at the table and worked on Valentine's cards together.
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011: Went to Target and got new swimsuits for the girls (along with some 2 and 3 pound hand weights for me because I discovered this week that I cannot do the 30 day Shred with 5 pound weights. Just can't). Didn't really get a good pic. I doctored this one up with my iPhone app to make it look like a Polaroid, because that was kind of par with the quality of the photo. By the way, I tried to suggest that they get different swimsuits, but they insisted on the matching Ariel ones.
Today - Wed. Feb. 9, 2011: We are having some crazy wind and sub-freezing temps out there. I took this close-up of Mariele. She is pooping on the potty here, but I decided to spare her the indignity of taking any more potty pics. I snapped this just before she said, "No look me!"
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wednesday Random slackiness
So, I slacked off a little on my Project 365 photos this week. Meaning I have 5 photos and there were 7 days in the week.
We were in Little Rock the first half of the P365 week. I started getting a cold on Thursday. It is really no coincidence in my mind that I developed a cold on the week when I slacked off on the exercising. Back to Thursday, even though I was getting a little sick, it was a nice, cozy night to have a DATE with my hubby! My dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law are back from New Zealand where they have been living and working for the past year and a half. They offered to watch the girls so that we could go out. How could be possibly refuse? So we left them in very good, confident hands with 2 sets of aunts/uncles and we took off to The Promenade (oh, sounds like I was living on the set of Seventh Heaven). We first went to a fancy schmancy restaurant and enjoyed a long, leisurely meal without kiddos crawling on us or the table. Let me repeat, it was a beautiful experience.
Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011:
The restaurant was Ya Ya's Euro Bistro. Pictured is the wonderful orchiette pasta with winter vegetables and the chocolate souflee with homemade vanilla bean ice-cream. Not pictured would be the delicious tuscan pizzetta appetizer, the fresh green salad and the yummy, crusty bread with the eggplant/puree and yogurt dip. Everything was 5 star delicious. Then we went across the Promenade to the movies to see The King's Speech. Triple awesome. Great movie!
Then the next day, Friday, I felt like crap. No picture from that day.
Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011: Mariele with her baby that she got for her belated birthday. She had two additional birthday parties while we were in Arkansas.
Sunday we headed back to Texas. I just kind of forgot to take a picture that day. Although I was feeling much better by then. Just driving and listening to podcasts. I should have taken a picture of the state trooper who pulled me over for driving in the left lane, not speeding. Or maybe he would not have appreciated being photographed.
Monday, Jan. 31st, 2011: I tried to take a photo "Laura Case-style" of the girls in their pretty matching yellow dresses that they received in Arkansas. It was a beautiful, warm day right before an arctic blast with...wait for it....SNOW in the forecast! So we tried to get plenty of outdoor time since today (Wed.) it has not even reached above freezing and the wind chill is in the single digits.
Tuesday, Feb. 1st, 2011: Mariele is just on the verge of potty training! Or I guess you could say that she has made the decision to start! It all started back a couple of weeks ago when she started to poop in the bathtub. It was just a small ball of poop and Analese alerted me to it. I took care of things and got Mariele out and sat her on the potty. She finished her business right there on the potty! Since then, she really likes to sit on the potty when she finishes her bath. She actually requests it! I have not changed a dirty diaper since we came home from Little Rock because she seems to prefer doing her business on the potty that time of the evening. And of course, she looks so darn cute. Last night she kept saying, "Mommy, no look me!" She was fine if I was looking at my iPhone, but she was requesting a little privacy already! So I had to get a potty pic while I still can.
Today, Wed. Feb, 2, 2011: HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY! (note that I have one right-handed child and one lefty).
We were in Little Rock the first half of the P365 week. I started getting a cold on Thursday. It is really no coincidence in my mind that I developed a cold on the week when I slacked off on the exercising. Back to Thursday, even though I was getting a little sick, it was a nice, cozy night to have a DATE with my hubby! My dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law are back from New Zealand where they have been living and working for the past year and a half. They offered to watch the girls so that we could go out. How could be possibly refuse? So we left them in very good, confident hands with 2 sets of aunts/uncles and we took off to The Promenade (oh, sounds like I was living on the set of Seventh Heaven). We first went to a fancy schmancy restaurant and enjoyed a long, leisurely meal without kiddos crawling on us or the table. Let me repeat, it was a beautiful experience.
Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011:
The restaurant was Ya Ya's Euro Bistro. Pictured is the wonderful orchiette pasta with winter vegetables and the chocolate souflee with homemade vanilla bean ice-cream. Not pictured would be the delicious tuscan pizzetta appetizer, the fresh green salad and the yummy, crusty bread with the eggplant/puree and yogurt dip. Everything was 5 star delicious. Then we went across the Promenade to the movies to see The King's Speech. Triple awesome. Great movie!
Then the next day, Friday, I felt like crap. No picture from that day.
Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011: Mariele with her baby that she got for her belated birthday. She had two additional birthday parties while we were in Arkansas.
Sunday we headed back to Texas. I just kind of forgot to take a picture that day. Although I was feeling much better by then. Just driving and listening to podcasts. I should have taken a picture of the state trooper who pulled me over for driving in the left lane, not speeding. Or maybe he would not have appreciated being photographed.
Monday, Jan. 31st, 2011: I tried to take a photo "Laura Case-style" of the girls in their pretty matching yellow dresses that they received in Arkansas. It was a beautiful, warm day right before an arctic blast with...wait for it....SNOW in the forecast! So we tried to get plenty of outdoor time since today (Wed.) it has not even reached above freezing and the wind chill is in the single digits.
Tuesday, Feb. 1st, 2011: Mariele is just on the verge of potty training! Or I guess you could say that she has made the decision to start! It all started back a couple of weeks ago when she started to poop in the bathtub. It was just a small ball of poop and Analese alerted me to it. I took care of things and got Mariele out and sat her on the potty. She finished her business right there on the potty! Since then, she really likes to sit on the potty when she finishes her bath. She actually requests it! I have not changed a dirty diaper since we came home from Little Rock because she seems to prefer doing her business on the potty that time of the evening. And of course, she looks so darn cute. Last night she kept saying, "Mommy, no look me!" She was fine if I was looking at my iPhone, but she was requesting a little privacy already! So I had to get a potty pic while I still can.
Today, Wed. Feb, 2, 2011: HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY! (note that I have one right-handed child and one lefty).
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Prayers for Bridget
All prayers are appreciated for Bridget today. I've known Bridget online for about 5 years now. Her older daughter is the same age as Analese. Bridget had BRAIN surgery this morning to remove a tumor from her pineal gland. She got through the surgery successfully and is in recovery in the intensive care unit. She is super duper tough and I know she will do well.
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