Birthday present September 16, 2008

I am turning 30 in a few weeks and am determined to be healthier, more positive, and happier than ever.  Those are my goal for my thirties.  (Yeah I know…they sound like every New Years resolution I have ever made too!)  I want to be a good example for my kids.  I yell to much and forget to stop and enjoy the moment way too often.  Life goes too fast and I’m pretty sure it’s not going to slow down anytime soon. 

So to help me on my way to these goals, I have decided to buy myself a present.  I’m going to buy personal training sessions at the Y.  Exercise is a great stress reliever for me (goal #1 – be more positive), I have fun seeing my friends, and quite honestly dropping my kids off at childcare for a couple of hours (goal #2 – be happier), and I need to add to my workout regime of basically just running and doing crunches to really get the results I want (goal #3 – get healthier). 

Tomorrow morning I go for my fitness assesment.  It will be interesting to see where I’m really starting.  I think seeing in black and white what I need to work on will help me stay focused, or that’s the theory anyway.  Wish me luck!

Soccer September 16, 2008

Emma has started Y soccer and she is loving it, but she loves everything.  I seriously have no idea how we will keep up with this girl.  I know that she will have to make choices because there just aren’t enough hours in the day, but she really enjoys every activity she tries.  I think it’s because she doesn’t care if she good at something, she’ll just have fun trying.  (Sooo much different than Becca.) 

She was bummed because last week’s game got rained out and she was supposed to be the drink helper.  (Cause you know, it’s really all about good snacks!)  We don’t know if the game will be rescheduled or not, so I let them break into the little bottles of Gaterade.  That’s a big deal around here because I never buy little individual bottles of any drink for them.  So now I keep finding half gone (or half full – however you want to look at it!) bottles of Gaterade all over – hence the reason I don’t usually buy them! 

I love how she can stand and pick her nose the entire game, but if you get a few good pictures, it looks like you have a regular Mia Hamm on your hands!  (She didn’t really stand and pick her nose the entire time – just every once in awhile:))

Emma being put into position.  Don’t you love the pink socks and Umbros?  Both were birthday presents, along with the black Adidas soccer shoes with pink stripes!

Running in the swarm of kindergarteners following the ball!

She was so going to score a goal and the ref whistled it dead because of some shoving away from the ball – come on, let ‘em play!!!!

The Happiest Baby…Ever! September 16, 2008

Who can resist that big toothless grin!

Even when it’s a little goofy!?!?

And one more, just cause that robe is darn cute – or maybe it’s just the baby inside!

Bathing babies September 16, 2008

They really could spend all evening in the tub if I let them, and if I didn’t have 2 other kids to get bathed and to bed, I just might!  They’re contained and happy, and quite honestly it’s the only time I get any cleaning done in their bathroom.  Yep, I wipe off the counters, clean the mirrors, even scrub the toilet (with non-toxic, environmentally friendly products of course!), all while they’re splashing around.  I figure that wiping up all the water dripped on the floor counts as mopping, so then I’m done.  Now if I just get Lucy to scrub the bath tub while she was in there, I may actually have a clean bathroom once in awhile!

Emma’s B-day September 16, 2008

We took full advantage of the 2 1/2 hours a day we see Scott and celebrated Emma’s birthday (on August 28th).  We went to DQ and played at Fuller Park.  A little running around and ice cream to ruin a healthy supper – what more could a 6 year old want?

Can you believe she’s already 6? 

My girls!

It’s amazing how throwing 1 more kid into the mix can cause 10 times more problems getting a good shot!  I need to learn how to photoshop them together!

Sorry September 3, 2008

I’m apologizing to the few people that still check my blog on a regular basis.  I have so much swirling through my head these days and nothing seems quite “blog appropriate.”  And I have not been taking pictures either…not that I have had some great photo ops, I just haven’t taken any.  Sooo, when one of those things change, I promise I will post.  I’m thinking I’ll start taking some pictures – after all, a picture’s worth a 1000 words!  (And when they’re of some of the most adorable kids around – probably more like 2000! )

Birthday Party August 27, 2008

We had a birthday party for Lucy & Emma at the Aquatics Center.  Yes, this did take place almost 2 weeks ago, but time is more than getting away from me these days!!  The girls had a great time and I think all the other kids did too.  It was a chilly morning, but the sun came out and it warmed up quite nicely.  

The only downside I had with the pool, is that the kids were so spread out and I was having a hard time getting good pictures of everyone!  Oh well- this is what I got!!

Emma and Hunter (aren’t they adorable!)

Going down the family slide -

Scott even got in on the action!  I told him before we went that I was the planning/hosting parent and he got to be the swimming parent – I think he enjoyed his role!

The lifeguards let Scott stay in the water so Hunter could try the diving board.  It only took a couple warm up jumps before he start the trick stuff!  (It took Emma a couple more days at the pool, but she is now doing to diving board and drop-off slides too!  That was almost too much for me to handle!)

Sophie, Avery, Gracie & Emma – guess who’s the oldest – yep, Emma!!

Bathing beauties!

Emma, my mom, & I tried our hand at making cupcakes.  They might not be beautiful, but they tasted good!

Betsy & Charlie joined the fun – I think it may have even been Charlie’s 1st little kids b-day party!

Lucy and Emma opening presents – notice how I ended up soaking wet, even without swimming!

Happy Birthday girls!!!

First Day of School August 22, 2008

School started Wednesday.  Becca didn’t get the teacher she had hoped for and none of her close friends are in her class, so it was a difficult back to school night for her, but she woke up on Wednesday morning and had a good attitude for her sister’s first day of kindergarten.  I was a little concerned a grumpy big sister would put a damper on the morning, but she did awesome.  I was so proud of her! 

Emma was so, so excited to go to school!  She was very ready and even though I miss her, I was ready for her to go too.  I guess that didn’t sound quite right – I miss them both, it’s just a little different since I’m used to Becca being at school all day.  The kindergarteners have a staggered start – 1/2 started Wednesday & 1/2 Thursday – so Emma was a little sad that she didn’t get to get on the bus yesterday morning, but she was ready to go today!

My big girls!!  BTW – the matching outfits – Becca’s idea!!  I’m going with it until they won’t let me anymore!

Waiting for the bus -

Here it comes!!

After I put them on the bus, Scott, Lucy & I went into the school to take a couple of pictures of Emma in her classroom.  I put Becca on the bus the first day of kindergarten and followed her to school too – but then it was because I was terrified she would accidently get off the bus at Madison instead of Colorado!  I knew that Emma had Becca to help her, so I wasn’t worried about that!

Then after school, Mimi & Nana came out to pick tomatoes and watch the big girls get off the bus. 

 Emma charging down the hill after a great day!  Becca wondering why there was a cheering section in front of her house!

Lazy…or efficient?? August 21, 2008

What a girl won’t do to not have to make her bed?!?  She is sleeping in her pillow case on top of her covers…no need to make the bed in the morning!

Baseball game August 21, 2008

We took the kids to a River Bandits game.  They all did really well – as long as you don’t talk to the people in the row in front of Emma – her foam finger kept unintentionally poking them!  There were a few homeruns and fireworks after the game, so they loved it.

Emma, Elizabeth & Becca waiting for the game to start.

A self-portrait – one of Emma’s favorite activities these days! 

The foam finger – not my idea – Grandpa bought it!!

Lucy mostly liked the food – she is her mother’s child!  (Notice the chicken strip and the hot dog!)