Leading Up to Christmas

This was a little gift I got from the Children's ministry team for volunteering in the nursery. About every other month, I volunteer and watch the bed babies during the church service.

Speaking of drinks, I tried a few recipes over the break. This one sounded yummy, but I found out I'm not a fan of ground ginger. When it was all said and done, the only thing the drink was good for was for taking a picture of it.

I got that cookbook and a few more from the library.
We've been going there often. The girls enjoy checking out DVDs. Chey also enjoys getting easy to read books. 
The girls made gingerbread houses at Rosa's house, while I worked.

Leading up to Christmas, we also spent a lot of time at home, just being playful.


Cheyenne wanted to wrap her sister up in TP. I told her she could, but after she was done she would have to bag the TP and use it. I'm such a mom!

Christmas Eve, we went to church and then looked at Christmas lights.

Dakota's Birthday

Rainy Outside. Puzzle Inside.

You wouldn't be able to tell by the weather, but it is spring break. Last week, it was snowing and so far it's been rainy and gloomy. Cheyenne has the week off from school. I took yesterday off of work and I'll take another day off, later this week and spend time with the family. We don't have big plans, but we are thinking about going to Six Flags.

Yesterday, I got a new lens, it's a 40mm aka pancake lens. It's perfect for an everyday lens…something easy to throw in a purse and not have to carry around bulky equipment.

I took some pictures with it, yesterday while Trey and the girls were putting together a My Little Pony Puzzle. They are pretty obsessed with all things MLP.


I'm glad I have little subjects who don't mind the attention.

Because the Old One Broke, Ginger Problems & Limiting Work

We got a new dishwasher because our old one broke. This one is so quite. I think Trey was more excited than I was about our new appliance. We went about two weeks hand washing dishes --- let me correct that by saying, I went two weeks hand washing dishes. It was fine, but I'm glad to have a working dishwasher again.

I heard something about how Saturday is the first day of summer. What? It's already hot, I think summer has been here for a while! In related news, you know you live with a ginger if you own five bottles of sunblock…

If you are wondering why my blog post per week, have somewhat dropped -- it's because I've been editing pretty much every night. After all, it is wedding season. I have another wedding this weekend, I'll be working on. Oh, and I met with a bride recently and she booked me for the fall. I'm really looking forward to that one too - it will be at the stockyards! With all the business picking up, I'm considering only making myself available for 2 weddings a month - no more than that. I have 3 this month and between full-time employment and self-employment I want to avoid burn out. We'll, see how things pan out. Maybe I can handle more than I think - time will tell.

Our Summer of Fun List

Are we missing anything?
I just thought of one more…the drive-in!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Did you know the Rockledge Rumble Trail Race is a supporter of the wounded warrior project? The race benefits wounded American Veteran's.
Here is the finisher medal and finisher pullover. I kind of love the American Flag on my arm. I just want to say a huge thank you to all Veteran's who have served our country. Thank you! 
 Not related to Veteran's Day, but I feel like mentioning this...Dakota just wanted to be held today. She's at least 25 pounds! Doesn't she know momma is still sore? 

No Hurry to Walk, Video Chatting & Weekday Date Night

I'm really missing my girls, today. They've been in Abilene since, Monday.
Earlier this week, before the girls left town, I took a few photos of Dakota.

She is 69 weeks which is 15.8689 months old <<<------- yes, I just googled that.

"By now, most children are walking fairly well." I'm still waiting for Dakota to take her first steps, on her own. During her last appt. the doctor didn't seem too concerned. He said, if she hasn't started walking by 18 months, if I wanted, he would recommend a specialist. The specialist would come to our home and observe Dakota in her own environment and I guess see what's wrong with me? Haha. I don't know. I don't think, it will get to that point. She's just taking her sweet time with the walking thing.

Most kids start walking by 12 - 14 months....or at least that's what I've read.

Have you ever video chatted with a toddler? I almost lost my dinner. Cheyenne was running all over the place with the phone in hand. Think blair witch project.

Remember when I had to teach Chey how to take a proper selfie? I might have to teach her how to properly conduct a video chat.

Last night, Trey and I took advantage of the girls being out of town. We went to The Keg, my treat!

My Week in Photos

Occassionally, I buy Amanda and the kiddos donuts. They were pretty excited this morning.

Fill in the blank....
This girl is still not ____________!

I got some purple Cauliflower from Central Market. All I could think of while I was eating my salad was -- Go TCU Frogs!

More food related images. The kids made apple pie this week. Chey brought some home to share with us and ended up eating most of it. I don't blame her, it was delicious!

Sleep Before Food. I'm the opposite. I'll wake-up just to eat.
For several years my ice machine stopped working. A few months ago, Trey wiggled the ice box around and all of a sudden it started working again. STRANGE!
Earlier this week, the water dispenser started gushing out water and it wouldn't stop. Trey had to drag the fridge out and stop the line or something like that -- I don't know, I'm a girl. If I was home alone and that happen -- I would probably just scream.

You Spin Me Right Round Baby, Right Round

Sleep Eating & Losing to Ole Miss

Dakota likes to multi-task. She can eat and sleep at the same time.

This weekend, Amanda, Drew and her boys watched the Texas game at our place. Her and her husband graduated from ole miss, so when we told them we are TEXAS fans, they were excited to watch the game at our place. There was a lot of trash talking going on. Too bad Trey was not in town to enjoy the company.

In the end, TEXAS lost and Ole Miss won. Dakota was a sad Longhorn.

My Week in Photos

I'm exhausted, I woke up this morning and ran 13 miles. Even though I'm tired, I thought I'd throw some photos up.
I don't care how old you are, it's pretty exciting when you get mail from a friend. Thanks Brianna for the surprise!

Dakota and I made new friends and they are twins.

Friday night we had Family Date Night at the Keg! I got so full eating appetizers, that I didn't even finish my applewood bacon wrapped filet <--- that's a mouthful. That's ok. I had it for brunch, today. 
Amanda sent me this photo. She was prepping food for all the kids. This past week, she was watching another girl, as well. Monday, I usually pack all the food for my girls for the entire week. I guess, this day Amanda wanted to plate all the food. Cheyenne had the orange plate.

While I work, the girls get to do fun stuff like go to the park. Cheyenne, not pictured, was probably running around chasing Luke.

But it's ok that they go to the park and are out and about because then all they want to do afterwards is this...

Chey grabbed my phone and took the following pictures.

What Trey normal does when he's home.

What I normally do, when I'm at home.

And what Dakota does...
 

I'm Calling This Training Week a Blow-Out & Not So Sure About Rough Creek

That 20 mile long run never happened. Friday and Saturday, Trey got home after 11 pm, so I didn't want leave the house early with a chance of the girls waking him up. I knew he wanted to sleep-in. So, this week, I only ran 13 miles, total, instead of the thirty-something my training schedule said. Speaking of running, I'm kind of having second thoughts not only about Rough Creek 40 miler, but about participating at all with that race....I'm still trying to decide. It's not because I don't want to run or train, it's because I have a lot of freelance projects coming up and I have to conserve my vacation time. If I run Rough Creek, I'll have to take a few hours of vacation on Friday to drive -- to take the girls to Trey's mom. So, that's where I'm at with that...If anything if I decide to run it, I will not compete in the 40 mile distance, instead I'll run the half marathon which in trail running will feel more like 18 miles. ha!

I hope you guys are having a great weekend. While Trey was working I took the girls to Movie Tavern: Breakfast and a flick. We watched Smurfs 2. Dakota did okay. I didn't have to step out in the lobby this time. Later that night, I had a dinner date with THE GIRLS and by the girls, I mean, my girls, my niece and my sister, Amy. I bought burgers from In & Out and hung out at Amy's house. I told the In & Out employee I had 4 kids, so I needed 4 hats. I'm kind of like a kid.

Amy trimmed Angelica's bangs and then told her she looked like Floyd, from dumb and dumber. MOM, not nice!

Dakota has two teeth coming in and she's doing great. I think she's over being grumpy about it. Yes!

Now, she likes to put things in her mouth. I've heard it helps soothe teeth. When she gets fussy, I give her orajel.