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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Ben's One Year Photos

Tomorrow Ben is fifteen months old!  He is growing up, and it's all happening so quickly.  It seems like we were just celebrating his first birthday.  Ben turned one at the beginning of June, and we had his one-year photos taken at the end of June.  It's taken about three months, but I'm finally getting around to sharing them.  I've also included a few photos we had taken of Will on the same day.  Mark and I were just talking about how he will be four in two months.  Seriously!  Four years old!  It's a bit much for this mommy to handle.  I know everyone says that it goes by so fast, but it really does and you don't understand it until you are living it.

I'm getting distracted thinking about my boys growing up.  Let me focus on the photos.  I admire bloggers who can choose just one or two photos and let them tell the story.  I haven't figured out how to choose which photos of my boys make the cut when I'm blogging so I usually include all that I think are cute.  Because I'm not objective and think ALL photos of my boys are precious I am guilty of photo overload.  Below are a few that I wanted to include.  You are probably thinking, there were more?  Yes, so many more sweet photos of my little ones, but these seemed to capture my lovable boys.


 

Photos taken by Lauren Wensel Neyra at the Dallas Arboretum.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Kitchen Counter Chaos




I was thinking about being honest on the blog and wondering how truthful others are.  It's easy to let others see the good, but sometimes I'm guilty of glossing over the messy, untidy things in my life.  I certainly want to look like I have it all together and under control.  Well, sometimes I don't have it all under control.  My goal has always been to be honest.  The photos above are about as honest as it gets.  This is what my kitchen looks like after dinner.  Mark unloaded the dishwasher (be very jealous of my helpful husband) and the plastic sippy cup collection is drying on the counter top.  The sink is full of dishes.  Will's half-eaten PBJ is waiting to go to the trash.  Various cleaning products need to be put away under the counter.  Other miscellaneous items somehow end up in the mix. 

The last photos are a little bit of loveliness in the kitchen counter chaos.  The Method dish soap is wonderful.  I found this scent at Whole Foods.  It's my favorite.  The charming stacked beehive measuring cups are my grandma's.  Something delightful among the disorder. 

Hopefully this honest post will help you feel better if you don't have it under control.  Now, I'd better go and get the dishwasher loaded. 

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Getting to Know You Sunday




Getting to know YOU


1. If you accidentally knick a car in a parking lot..Do you leave a note or do you get the heck out of there?
I'd leave a note.  I would feel guilty not letting someone know.  I'd hope that others would be considerate enough to do the same if they hit my car.

2. Love your body or plastic surgery?
After having two 9 1/2 pound babies, I'm in desperate need of a tummy tuck.  When I was on the operating table for my last c-section I told the doctor to give me a tummy tuck.  He just laughed, but I told him I was serious.  Too bad he didn't take me seriously.  I'm sure if I dropped 10 pounds that might help out, too.

3. What about your favorite blog(s) continues to drive you back?
Witty writing, creative and inspiring ideas, faith in the Lord, and great photos
 My favorite blogs are people I can relate to or that have similar interests (raising children, faith, teaching, fashion, interior design, travel).

4. What percent of your blog is BS just to make your life seem more interesting than it really is?
I'm pretty honest.  The only time I've made up something is for a menu swap I participate in.  It's just a plan of things I might cook, but sometimes I don't stick to it. 

5. If you had to give up one type of meat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
We're meat eaters in my family.  This is a tough one.  Pork, I guess.

6. How often to you eat out?
At least a couple of times a week. 

7. Skinny jeans or boot cut jeans?
Both

8. If you caught your spouse cheating would you forgive, divorce, or plan your kill?
This is a tough one.  I guess it would just depend on the situation, but I'm thinking divorce would be the option I'd most likely choose.

Link up to Keely to share your answers and get to know some other bloggers while you are at it.


Saturday, August 28, 2010

Saturday Sweetness

After my completing my first week back to school (with students), I have a new appreciation for Saturdays.  I appreciate a day to sleep late (well, not late but not wake up at 6A.M.), a day to not get dressed up, a day to spend with my boys and mostly, a day to do whatever I want.  Today was the perfect Saturday.  I woke up with Will standing by my bed at 7:30 A.M. asking me to turn on some cartoons.  I turned on Nick Jr. for Will and went to get Ben out of his crib.  We all cuddled half-asleep on the couch until breakfast. Ahh, bliss!  Eventually we got ready so we could visit my grandparents.  We took my grandpa who lives in assisted living to visit my grandma who is in the nursing home.  Everyone was in good spirits. My grandma played with the boys and loved on them.  I forgot my camera but there were some sweet moments I wish I would have captured.  We ate at my favorite local Tex-Mex restaurant, and then we conquered Wal-Mart on a Saturday afternoon. 

The afternoon was both lazy and productive.  Mark and I organized Will's closet, Ben napped and Will played with puzzles.  We had an easy meal (spaghetti) for dinner and the boys played outside.

 All in all a day of rest after a week of work.

Concentrate

Ta-Da!

Is there a neat way to eat spaghetti?  I think not.  Messy all the way!

They lined the cars up.  Vroom!

Our backyard Autobahn

Ben

Will

Friday, August 27, 2010

Bedtime Routine

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is required reading for Will at bedtime.  Each night Will likes to climb in our bed,  and I have a stack of books on my nightstand that we read together.  Currently he's loving this book.  We read through the stack of books, snuggle for a little bit and then go to his room to pray together before he goes to sleep in his bed.  It's probably one of the sweetest parts of my day. 

By the way, this book is hilarious.  If you don't have it, then I highly recommend it.  We found it at TJ Maxx on clearance for $3.  I'm on the lookout for the other Pigeon books.  Mo Willems = Genius

Thursday, August 26, 2010

FroYo

It's August in Texas.  That means that it's H.O.T.  I apologize if you are sick of hearing about the heat.  It's hard to focus on other things when the heat index is 110 degrees.  Luckily we've received a small break from the heat, but I've found another way to get some relief.  I like to indulge in a cool treat.  Ice cream is a weakness and I justify eating it because it's so stinkin' hot.  I've found a healthy and tasty alternative to a couple of my Ben and Jerry's favorites.
Ben and Jerry's FroYo-- Yummy!

 

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

What I Wore Wednesday Wk 4

Back to school!  Summer vacation is over, and it's back to reality.   A week of teacher inservice kicked off the start to another school year.  It was a busy week of meetings, meetings and MORE meetings.  Did I mention that there were a lot of meetings?  I enjoyed seeing my co-workers and getting to work in my classroom, but it was tough leaving my two little boys at their grandma's.

Sunday: Church
Dress:  Ann Taylor LOFT
Shoes: Nine West (6 or 7 years old)
Ben's cute shirt: Baby Gap



Monday: Teacher Inservice, first day back to work.  It's the start of my 10th year teaching!
Jeans: Banana Republic
Tunic/Top:  Gap
Gold Sandals: Gap (on sale about $10!)
Necklace: Forever 21


Tuesday: Second day of inservice
Shorts: J Crew outlet
Brown Tank: Old Navy
Yellow (ocher, it really is the color listed on the tag):  Target
Brown flip flops: Aldo outlet


Wednesday: Inservice, meetings, meetings and MORE meetings
Jeans: Seven A Pocket bought at amazon.com
Gray/white stripe top: Old Navy
Turquoise tank: Target
Red Flats: Gap (only $8 on sale!)
Bracelets: Premier Design Jewelry Party

Thursday: Teacher Inservice
Jeans Capris: Gap outlet
Tree shirt: Junk Food bought at Nordstrom Rack
Black Layer Tank: Old Navy
Shoes: TOMS bought at Whole Foods
Thursday Night: Meet the Teacher
Gray Dress and Black Leggings: Forever 21
Necklace and bracelet:  Can't remember the name of the store but it was in this area.
Red Flats: Gap


Friday: Final day of teacher inservice week.  I worked in my classroom and finished up all the last minute projects I'd been putting off.
Shorts: Nike
Retro College t-shirt: Bought at Nordstrom Rack in the Men's Dept.
Shoes: Nike Shox (really old, pre-kiddos when I was a runner)
Will's Toy Story t-shirt: Target



Saturday: Unexpected visit to the pediatrician because my little one had some weird rash thing.  After that was taken care of, I worked in my classroom for a couple of hours.
Bermuda Shorts: J Crew outlet
White layer tank: Old Navy
Navy shirt: Gap
Polka dot Shoes: Simple bought at REI (these shoes are fun and comfortable)

*Exhausted Mommy: first week back to school, mountain of laundry, messy house and sick little one

Head on over to the Pleated Poppy to meet other bloggers who document their clothes and outfits through WIWW.  For this small town girl, it's fun to meet new people and check out what they are wearing.

Poppy



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