So much has happened in the last couple of weeks--my blog will never catch up.=)

Oh well. Ha!

Here is a picture of Maeve-y on her first day of pre-k by herself! She absolutely loves school and is having a wonderful time! She loves her teacher too, who just happens to also work in her Sunday School class at church--and I love that! =) 

My Mom came last weekend to attend Grandparent's Day at school with Amelie (who was lucky enough to have THREE of her wonderful grandparents with her!!) and to see her get baptized as well! More on that next time!

We also celebrated Maeve and Ezra's "Fake Birthday" (as Maeve dubbed it). My Mom won't be down again before we see them at Thanksgiving so we took the chance to celebrate Maeve and Ezra's upcoming big days! 

Amelie made the decorations--aren't they great? =)

So thankful for a great family days and for the milestones my kids have been hitting lately! I can't believe I have a pre-k girl, a baptized-new-church-member 2nd grader and a potty-trained boy! Holy Cow!

Pretty much the worst blogger ever

I can't believe how easy it's been to stop blogging--I was so faithfully plugging away for 5+ years and lately haven't been very motivated at all! We've fallen into a comfortable rhythm now that the girls are in school and we are figuring everyone's schedule out! Things are busier than normal! I recently joined our phenomenal local gym and go to classes a few nights a week, the girls started AWANA this year (so far so good!), Maeve has started pre-k, I am getting allergy shots and cleaning one night a week--this is HUGE for us! I feel a bit like we are always running! 

      Not to mention the fact that I am, actually, always running every morning! It was hard at first but now it's one of my favorite parts of the day--my easy days are two miles and my challenging days three--I'm finally starting to feel pretty comfortable! Yay!!  I weighed in today and am down 36 pounds since June 1st when I officially started! I have 8 pounds to lose until I hit my original goal weight--I'm thinking I need a new goal since I didn't think I'd actually get this far!!

      Last week I started potty training Ezra--it's been pretty challenging as the things that worked for the girls are not working for him. We switched up our approach this week though and are having lots of success-no accidents at all today! YAY!!! I think part of the problem is that I'm letting it stress me out--I really need to just go with the flow the stop being so.....*me*!

Nothing else is new here--my Mom is coming to visit this weekend (woot!) and Amelie is getting baptized so lots of excitement on the horizon. So, that's all for bloggy catch up! =)

My sweet baby-girl (who isn't really looking much like a baby at all!!) started pre-k yesterday! It was very exciting and a bit bittersweet to know that thus begins the road to school and Kindergarten! I tried to get a few shots before we walked over to orientation (yes we can WALK to school--1 block; love it!) but Ezra was determined to be in every picture! I had to eventually bribe him with candy to take pictures of just Maeve. He is fairly certain he is going to be attending preschool with her--pretty sure this isn't going to go over well on Friday when I start potty training him instead. Poor guy--he doesn't know what's coming for him! 

Also, these kids are stinkin' gorgeous----but just LOOK at them. HA! 

Love their sweet faces!!

I'm already worried about sending Maeve off next year and wondering how Ezra will adjust. =( He loves his sister so much--they have been constant companions and playmates for the last 3 years because Amelie has always been in school since he's been around. One of his very best little buddies will be in school too. 

It's breaking my heart a little bit. 

Until then, we're going to soak in as much brother-sister/friend play time as possible!

The First Day of 2nd Grade!!

Can't believe this day is finally here! I've been in denial but just sent off my big-girl and husband for the first day of school!! Next year I'll be sending BOTH of my girls--glad I have another year to think about THAT! =) Here are some shots from this morning!

The progression: First day of K, First day of 1st and First day of 2nd!! =)

We haven't done any trips to the ocean this summer until today! We headed down to Ocean City bright and early and enjoyed some peaceful playtime on the beach! The kids had a blast and we followed it up with pizza and funnel cake and ice cream cones and rides at Gillian's Wonderland! And now we're all exhausted. =)

When I started exercising AND watching what I ate (for the most part--tee hee!) I didn't have a goal weight in mind. I had a goal picture/dress. I've had this dress for years--10 or 11 to be exact, and haven't been in it for at least 9 years. 

Seriously people--I've been saving this dress THAT long. Mostly because I really loved it! Well, today I put it on and zipped it to the top and it's not too squishy or anything and I am happy! =)

10 years ago (at one of my favorite people, Andrea's, wedding reception)/today:

And it's date night so I'm totally going to wear it.

Maybe also to church tomorrow.

Don't judge. =)

I also tried on this dress from my wedding rehearsal!!:

(I'm in the middle with Patty Lynn and Rachel Beth on the left, and Sarah E. and Becky on the right).

 

And it fit and zipped too! A little too tight to wear in public--but these are huge milestones for me! Yay!

Yesterday was a great day--the first in a string of not-great-days. A lot of it had to do with me changing my attitude (amazing how much of a difference that makes!!). We went to a park we haven't visited in a while and the kids played happily all morning. After lunch we met up with some of our favorite friends at the pool. We haven't been going as much lately and it was so nice to have little ones for each of my kiddos to play with and friends for Mama to chat with. I'm excited that it's Friday and hope to have some fun family time this weekend--including a date night! It feels like it's been forever since we've had one!!
In other news, I've had some great runs this week and am going to try to increase my distance this weekend. We'll see how that goes. =) Easier said than done!!

**************** 

Also, this:

Verse of the day:

Proverbs 4:23

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it. 

********************

Happy Friday! =)

this week i haven't done a very good job focusing on the blessings in my life.

a little seed of discontentment appeared in my heart and instead of soaking in the truth of the Word, or spending time with my Heavenly Father--

i let it fester.

and really, it doesn't take long for a tiny little seed of discontent, when nurtured with self-pity, what-if's and i-deserve-it(s), to turn into a great big rotten, consuming mess.

sometimes i am so foolish and fickle--so today as i try, in earnest, with the Lord's help, to dig that seed-turned-stumbling block out of my heart,

i am thankful

for God

and that He never changes

is never fickle

is always wise

and loves me even when i want something that is in no way better than what He's already given me.

My favorite running song...

Electric guitar + drums + weezer = perfect always. 

 *If this doesn't date me I don't know what does! #alwaysthe90s

 

Worst.Blogger.Ever.

I made promises to myself that I wouldn't let my blog go....but I have! Ack! 

Summer is so busy and sunny and pool-y and park-y that I just can't sit down and write.

I haven't been taking pictures really either....so here's a blast from our summery-past! 

My parents live on a farm in the middle of no-where (literally--a no stop light town) but to *get away* from it all my Dad built a cabin. It's beautiful--the spot he picked is lovely (on a creek, next to a marshy field) and so peaceful. And, if it's even possible, more peaceful than the peaceful place they already live! He is so talented--it just amazes me the things he can do! He hadn't quite finished the cabin yet in these pictures--he has since put on a roof and siding. Here's a picture of the cute stool he built:

 The girls and Dad on the porch:

 Marsh-land. Home of frogs, fish, deer, craw-fish and the two bass my Dad threw in the water. =)

 Rock bridge!

 Climbing up to the sleeping loft in the cabin:

My parents are so adventurous and fun. I love that about them. I am NOT like that at all. Adventure for me is eating at a different restaurant than usual and fun = staying home quietly. =) Love them!

Big Girl Room Redo and Misc. Home Improvements =)

I'm such a bad blogger--it's been so fun to have my kiddos all home--we've been filling up every day with long walks to the park, pool dates and lots of playtime. I've been doing a lot of projects around the house because the people of my town throw away a lot of awesome furniture. This last week I've gotten a gross desk & chair that I transformed for the girl's room, an ethan allen coffee table that needed a coat of paint, some glass vases that I painted the insides of, and a really cute side table that will probably go in my guest room if I ever get it up to the third floor. =) 

We redid the girls room last weekend--re-bunked their beds, painted the walls, made new shades and painted a bunch of odds and ends (desks, frames, mirrors) to decorate. Amelie provided the art work! The best part of the room redo is that it only cost us $30--a new gallon of paint, 2 cans of spray paint and everything else (including brushes, art work, frames etc) we already had in storage or in their room. Love budget friendly makeovers! Here are a few shots of their new big girl room:

 Spray painted chair, lamps, fan and picture frames. Love Spray Paint!!

The vases I painted with whatever colors I found in the basement:

 The giant freshly painted coffee table that my children think was made for them to sit, dance, eat, play and jump on and off of.

That's it for now! I'll try to be a better blogger but the days are full and my kids will only be this age once--I intend to enjoy as much as I can! =)

What a busy few days we've had! My husband and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary with a lovely trip to The Cheesecake Factory and a mini shopping spree at Target (shopping spree = buying 2 tank tops and a new swim suit bottom! yay! It's the little things =). 

***

My lungs are still full of the asthma and I need to go get a lung x ray and cat scan--i'm putting it off. =( 

I have to get cracking on it soon though. 

***

We had a very nice 4th of July--spent with family watching the parade out front of our house and then a trip to the next town over's celebration. We had a bbq with our family and headed home for naps. We headed out to watch fireworks with Amelie and they were soooo good this year! Absolutely beautiful! 

***

It would have been a great day but I was pretty bummed about not being fit enough to run the 5k I had been training for MONTHS for. I'm trying to be patient with my lungs and thankful that they work as well as they do but it's been discouraging. 

***

 In other, good news, though, I've lost 20 pounds! I still would like to lose 20 more but I'm enjoying getting into some clothes that I haven't worn for years. It's a nice feeling. 

Here's a few pictures of the kiddos from the day!

Maeve plugging her ears in preparation for the loud noises of the parade:

Ezra's face when he heard the fire trucks! hahahha

We spent the last week enjoying the lovely-ness that is Upstate New York! Days and days were spent on the beach (Lake Ontario) and in the meadows and the forests, at the pond and in the cabin enjoying the change of scenery. It's just so lovely there--absolutely nothing can compare to the peace, and the beauty and the all encompassing quietness of it all.

The kiddos had a wonderful time swimming and fishing and 4-wheeler-riding and doing all of the wonderfully fun things we get to do in the country. 

I miss that lifestyle SO much. 

I've lately found myself very content to be settled where we are--surrounded by so much loving family and dear friends--but going back, I can't help but LONG for wide open spaces. 

Anyways....that's not where the Lord has placed me so I'll have to be thankful that I can at least visit those spaces! Even if all I took away from it was raging allergies/asthma and lung trouble. Gah. 

Can't win. =)

A few pictures of my sweet babies--love my little rays of sunshine!!