I've just learned something new about myself!

I'm part 'neat freak'.

I hosted a baby shower last night. In preparation for this event I went a wee bit crazy with the cleaning. I even scrubbed the siding on my front porch. Anyway, I have found over the past few days that if you put in lots of hard work to clean your house really well you want to keep it that way. I like my clean house. We've done a little rearranging of things and it has opened up our living space quit a bit. If the dish washer is done running I empty it so I can have it available for dirty ones. Who knew this little act would be so helpful in keeping a clean kitchen? What a difference it makes in my attitude when I can go to bed knowing I won't wake up to dishes in my sink. I have even been able to keep up with the laundry. Don't ask me how because I have no idea. Maybe it has something to do with Ethan and Levi being at school every day. Whatever it is I'm glad I have discovered this part of me. I have been able to enjoy my HOME even more. And Aaron is more relaxed after he gets home from work. So now we'll see how long this will last ;)

another school year

Ethan started back to school on Monday. He had a great day! He didn't even want me to walk him in. I wouldn't have but I had a parent meeting with Levi's teacher. Levi started on Wednesday. It started out as a great day. The boys rode their bikes to school while I attempted to keep up with the jogger. We saw Ethan off to his class and got Levi settled in his and I left. I had plans to go out with my mom that morning so I hustled back to the house, a mile away from the school, to get ready. We got the littles loaded and were on our way down the road when my phone rang. The school had called Aaron and told him that Levi was sick. WHAT?!? I was about 5 minutes from the school so I got there pretty quick. Levi had indeed gotten sick. Twice. So, on his first day of school Levi had to come home after only 1.5 hours. Today was MUCH better. He was begging to go to school. He made it all day and is excited about tomorrow.

The 'bigs'

my little athlete

Ethan and his 'bestie', Kysan.

Levi's first day

such a big boy =)

waiting for his teacher

who knew he was 1.5 hours from getting sick=(

this boy LOVES to color!

And we can't forget Katie. She goes to the weekday preschool at our church on Thursdays. This is her first day. Isn't she super cute!?!?

Wordless Wednesday

A bust...

I didn't get to go on my trip to Austin. It was too good to be true! The flights from Dallas to Austin were over-booked and I would have been stuck in Dallas. For those that don't know, Aaron works for American Airlines. That means we get to fly at no cost to us. That also means there is a chance we won't get on the flight we want due to there being so many paying passengers. And that is what happened to me. The first time I try to fly in 7 years and I don't even make it past security. It's kinda funny how things work out, though. My sitter was about 20 minutes late. No big deal...I had asked her the day before if she could be at the house 20 minutes early. So I get to the airport with just enough time to get through security and to my gate and Aaron calls. He's looking at the flights on the computer and they look HORRIBLE. Not only is my flight over-sold but the flights before mine were over-sold. So people were going to be getting bumped off flights for the rest of the day. So, I came back to my kids bearing fun things like water balloons, punch balls and popsicles. we had a good day despite me feeling sorry for myself.

Aaron was so good to me all weekend. He tried his very best to make up for it. He suggested that I go stay the night at my moms. He "gave me Saturday off". A dad can't really do that if the mom is at the house. The kids, more often than not, will always come to Mommy when they need or want something. So I left =) I went shopping. For me. And I came home with purchased items. For me. And then we all loaded up in the truck and went on a road trip.

We visited Natural Falls State Park. The main water fall was dry but the dripping springs was going strong. We had a lot of fun. So I guess my weekend wasn't a bust after all.

There was a nice little koi pond/garden area that would have made for some nice photos if it wasn't so bright and blazing hot out.

The dripping springs.

Me and my crew

Aaron picked out this insanely steep walkway that led down to the dried up river bed. And what goes down has to come up =)

The kids played on the playground

And we all got in a little horse shoes. Notice what I'm wearing?? Not real easy to maneuver a double stroller with 2 kids on gravel while wearing flip flops. At least Aaron pushed it back up that hill.

My baby E and his baby blues.

Ethan was a big boy and threw that horse shoe the entire length.

My squeeze strutting his stuff.

And little Levi =)

Ethan had to take some pics. I think he did pretty good.

FED UP!!

I can take it NO LONGER!!! I have got to get this last bit of baby weight off of me. I've been uncaring for far too long but that has now changed. I WILL succeed in this goal of mine.

Aaron is very happy with my body as it is. Although I think he would like it no matter what. He likes the curves and softness that I've acquired in this journey of becoming a mom to four. I do like the curves, I do NOT like the softness. So I've made up my mind to do something about it.

I was sitting up, all by myself, last night and got to thinking about why I haven't lost any more weight. It's because I workout so I can eat. But I think my eating has overpowered my exercise. I started a food/exercise journal today. My plan is to see how well I can keep this up 1 week at a time. I have a goal I'd like to reach by Christmas. I am not going to share my starting weight or how much I'd like to lose. I'm really just putting this on here so those that see me at in real life can ask how I'm doing and help keep me accountable. I do not want to fail. I will NOT!

Monumental Occasion

This coming Friday, the 13th, I will do something I've never done before. I will fly, by my lonesome. I will switch planes at an airport I've never been to. AND I will stay over night BY MYSELF. That's right, folks. I am going on a trip...kid free! I haven't done this in 6.5 years. Yes, I've been without the kids over night but not me in another state. I am so excited, but a little nervous at the same time. The kids will be fine. It's Aaron I'm worried about =) He hasn't had the kids for this amount of time, EVER. I know he can handle it but it overwhelmes me most days. I sure hope they're nice to him.

Aaron has 'given me permission' to fly to Austin to visit my cousin. She has "plans" for us. This scares me a little because she is unarried and without kids. AND a few years younger than me. I'm going to assume that there will not be a 10 o'clock bedtime. What worries me the most is Saturday morning. I've agreed to participate in a cardio class she teaches. I sure hope I can walk next Sunday ;) I'm looking forward to some time away but I know I'm going to miss the kids. The monsters that they are! Maybe I could take Evan. He's the only lap child I have now. Or maybe I'll just stick to the original plan and go alone. And have some girl time to shop and eat and maybe get something peirced.

Anyway, be watching for pictures from my trip. There will be some crazy fun being had!