Birthday Week (4)

This week I haven't weighed myself because it was my birthdayy! I turned 29 on the 29th and I couldn't be more okay with that. Lots of great birthday memories. I love my life!

This weekend has also been special because my best friend has gotten engaged! I know it's everything that she has ever wanted and it makes me so happy that she's happy! Today she asked me to be her maid of honor and I am honored to do so. <3

This post is going around on facebook and I thought it was truly a good one. I also thought it was appropriate with Kimberly's big news!!

http://sethadamsmith.com/2013/11/02/marriage-isnt-for-you/

#warning #emotional #weekone #justpublished

I usually feel a lot of emotion, I am just a sensitive person but tonight was a doozy. I have such a heavy heart from watching Long Island Medium. I see people on that show, as well as have friends and family that have endured such pain that one could never even fathom. Losing a child, mother, best friend, sister, brother, uncle, jeesh. It's just all a very overwhelming feeling the vulnerability of us all. My friend Riley lost her sister last year. I remember having lunch with her and she was telling me how her sister was pregnant at the same time as me. Just knowing that her daughters are with out their mother and Riley with out her big sister just is heart wrenching really. I have lost grandparents, uncles, aunts and loved ones but to feel the lost of a sibling, mother, or child would be unbearable.If only shedding tears resulted into shedding pounds. I think I cried the whole two hours.

I'm starving. My diet is going well, I lost 2 lbs so far. I'm happy with that for the first week. If I keep that up in 15 weeks, I will have lost 30 lbs. I am aiming to lose more each week in order to win! I started working out every day and I stopped drinking pop. I really need to focus on eating better and I'm sure it will come off. I can't stop eating chocolate and I have a feeling if I did I would be much happier with the results :)

I wish I would have known myself  more long ago. It's not I have much regret it but I feel weird saying this but sometimes it feels like I'm not being as true to my self as I could be. Do I feel exposed? Vulnerable? In so many different ways. I just need to stop wondering and know the choices I make are the right ones. I'm not sure why I seek so much validation in my life, I'm always second guessing myself. I guess I just take comfort in knowing others opinion of me are positive ones. Most times it just inspires me to achieve my goals but other times hinders my ability to move on. That probably only makes sense to me.

Music helps a lot though. And just knowing that everyone is human and they make the choices they do because of the lenses of experiences they have faced or not faced. I feel like a lot of times I have the answer but I am so torn up and letting it take my energy but sometimes the energy makes for something amazing but other times it just makes me insecure.

Week 3

I lost 4 lbs last week! Personal best :) That makes 8 lbs total. It is just what I needed to keep me going eating healthy and exercising even though it's my birthday week! :) I started level 2 for Jillian Michaels and I think that's what did the trick. She literally makes you want to die. I can't imagine what level three will be like. I couldn't find the link to level 2 on youtube so I got crafty and finally found it on Chinese youtube. (youku) Sorry Jillian, not sure if you would be mad or proud :)

Last week Carter gave me a sticker and he said this one is for exercising and another one for being the best mom ever. Aww. If that isn't motivation, I don't know what is! I have so many others to thank for my fitness kick - my family, friends and the No Excuses facebook group for sure! The desire to be healthier is contagious and so is positivity.

I won't be sad if next week I don't lose anything. That's how excited I am about the four pounds. It's my birthday, cha cha cha! :)

Week 2

I lost another 2 lbs! Slow and steady will hopefully win the race :) That is 4 lbs so far. I have been doing the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred level 1 while listening to Pandora and it seems to keep me motivated on working out! I am also hoping that I gained a little muscle too so it would have been more!

All week I ate salads for lunch with light dressing and tried to keep in moderation everything else. If you could see my fitness pal meals you would see that I am a chocoholic lately. I can't resist them! I did resist some work cookies and donuts so that's a start. Working at my job and dieting is also another challenge in itself. Someone is always making or bringing treats in! I guess it's just practice for Halloween coming up! Can't wait to take my little trick or treaters out! Carter is being a Crocodile and Katelyn is being a pumpkin!

Yesterday I took my kiddos to see my mom and my friend Carie and I worked out and then weighed in! My sister, and niece stopped by too so there were lots of laughs and hugs to go around. There's just something about being around family and friends who are like family that make everything amazing! At night I watched a chick flick and listened to girly music. Being a mom and a girlfriend there aren't many days that I get that much girl time in! It's just good for the soul!

Carter is planting his orange seeds in hopes that a tree grows there. He is drowning that poor little seed though with cup after cup of water. But it is entertaining them while I write so what the heck.

My birthday is in 9 days! Halloween in 11 days! My birthday party is in 13 days! Pink in 24 days! Katelyn's birthday is in 34 days! Lots of celebrating coming up! :)

Week 1

I lost 2 lbs in week one! I am so happy with those results because that's the best way to lose weight and keep it off. I may have to kick it in high gear though in order to win the contest! I have had so much help, tips and support from my family and friends and I couldn't be more thankful.

The changes I have made are: Quit drinking soda pop, drink 8 or more cups of water each day eat smaller meals, and move more!

I didn't have the will power to make myself go on walks daily so I decided to do the 30 day Jillian Michael's shred challenge! It has been kicking my butt! I couldn't move for the first day but it has gotten easier each time. I have heard that I will lose more inches than lbs doing this but I want to keep my muscles too as I try to shed weight. 27 minutes of torture but it feels good after it's done! Thank goodness for the internet - where you can find anything!

I have been logging in my meals and exercise daily with myfitnesspal! It's so easy because it calculates everything for you and you don't have to guess how many calories something may be.

The hardest part is giving up sweets! I know you can have a few but that is not me. All or nothing :) So I have been avoiding the office sweets and trying to eat my apple!

Someone busier than you is working out right now.

Breakfast, Carter to preschool, go to work, and then it's home, supper, baths, bedtime and if I don't fall asleep putting the kids to sleep then it's catch up on reality TV, pick up the house, and do it all over again. When am I going to work out????

Have you heard of the quote "someone busier than you is working out right now?" I try to remind myself that when my list of excuses pop in my mind..

In order to motivate myself I have started a fun little contest within my family - participants pitch in $15 and who ever loses the most weight after 15 weeks wins the pool! Right now it is at $215 and growing. Who doesn't want to win money AND lose weight? Sorry to break it to them, I'm totally going to win but not with out some changes at first.

Today I heard in a meeting if you have more than 3 goals, your success rate falls 50%. Crazy.
So my three goals are:

• Drink less pop, more water. 
• Move more
• Eat smaller portions / "cleaner" food

That should do the trick. I have lost weight effortlessly just once before but I feel like it's going to be a huge challenge with my schedule. I wonder if I just took them to the park every day that would be my exercise and they would love it too. The best kind of exercise is when you don't realize you're doing it, like playing tag with the kids.

I hope to document my little journey on my blog, hopefully better than I stick to menu planning. But since you already know what I do each and every day, you will know why if I don't. 

Menu Plan Monday 7/29/13

Monday

• Cereal
• Turkey sandwiches w/ chips
• Pork w/ white noodles

Tuesday

• Egg sandwiches w/ hash browns
• Hotdogs
• Brisket sandwiches 

Wednesday

• Cereal
• Brisket Sandwiches
• Cheese Pizza 

Thursday

• Cereal 
• Leftover Pizza 
• Spaghetti 

Friday

• Cereal 
•  Turkey Sandwiches 
• Out to eat

We had a great weekend, enjoying the weather with friends having a bbq. It's so nice to have friends who also have kids - they keep each other busy! I made seven layer dip and left the bbqing to my boyfriend - he stayed up all night smoking a brisket!

Menu Plan Monday!!

Little moments

My little ones are always amazing me with something new or sweet.

Last week Carter pulled out a piece of twizzler out of his pocket and said "Here mommy, this is for you".
Dad told me that he had been saving it since the morning to give to me. It was truly sweet. I have a hard time saving candy myself so I could imagine it would take some good self control for a 3 year old to save it all day long.

And then there's this..

I heard Carter getting in trouble after bedtime hugs and when Dad came out I asked what was the matter and he tells me that he had said "Good night, Carter" and Carter says " Good night, f*cker" ...

Oh my goodness. Well, I couldn't help but think it was a wee bit hilarious partially because of shock and especially because he did not learn that word from me! We try our best not to drop f bombs or say words that we don't want him to but this is just crazy. Dad was much more mature and didn't laugh and scolded like he should have so hopefully no more f bombs from Carter.

Katelyn is growing up too and always testing her limits. I have to remind myself daily not to get too frustrated at her little independence and that it will serve her well in life. She just wants to do EVERYTHING her brother does. While this makes me proud when often she is able to- Sometimes, that's not so feasible. Saturday while we were going to Walmart - Carter informs me that he is a "grown up" and grown ups don't sit in shopping carts. True that. So Katelyn gives me the look and I'm like no way, Katelyn you are definitely getting into the cart. So after 5 minutes of attempting to put her in the cart in the middle of the parking lot while she cries and moves her legs every which way to avoid it.. I manage to buckle her in and move on my way. It was a successful shopping trip, and both of my helpers did a great job. Every single item we got (sans eggs and milk), Carter took from me, handed to Katelyn, and she chucked it in the cart. It was actually a fun assembly line :)

Postsecret

I have been reading post secret for over 10 years. Back when it even had a blogspot. I don't know many Sunday's I haven't missed. I have never sent in a secret myself, maybe some day I will.

This secret this week spoke to me before I even knew there was a back side. This is so true - everyone in life is just living it, making mistakes and trying to learn life lessons along the way. When I was a kid I always wondered what made people do the things they did (I still wonder) and after 28 years I think this sums it up perfectly - behind every person, bureaucracy, manager, parent, child - is just a bunch of people trying to figure it out but we're all clueless!

Now when I see the backside, the secret writer assumes that the mail system was not doing its job by letting international mail come to the US - but MY immediate thought was - maybe the mail carrier was a post secret fan, internationally. I looked for Frank's email to send him this message or outlook on it but I didn't see it so I posted to my blog instead. You're welcome!

A story

I have thought about writing a book since I realized how mystified my friends were when I talked about growing up poor and the different opportunities that it did or did not provide. I feel like one of the lucky ones, who rose above my "class" and graduated college,  and have a pretty good job. There are many reasons why my path has come so far but one of the big ones is a positive attitude. I didn't know I was poor most of my life until I started comparing what I had to what others had. Then I met my boyfriend. As I hear his story more and more, I think I'm going to write a book on him instead. He didn't graduate college, but it's pretty amazing to be where he is today with all that has happened in his life. This is my new goal, and we have a title. Or I could write a story about both our lives and how we ended up together - the perfect mix of poor Kansas kids just trying to give better opportunities to our own. Our own little American Dream.

I wonder how one gets started on a book. Of course I should just google it. I was thinking about starting my part and then recording his and going from there. Do I have too much of a positive attitude to put his story into the right perspective? This could happen.

Menu Plan Monday 7/22/13

• Monday
• Cereal w/ banana
• Chicken Nuggets
• Spaghetti w/ home made cheesy garlic bread
• Tuesday
• Cereal w/ banana
• Pigs in a blanket
•  Meatloaf
• Wednesday 
• Cereal w/ banana
• Cheese Quesadillas
•  Chicken
• Thursday 
• Cereal 
• Hotdogs
• Creamcheese Enchiladas
• Friday
• Donuts & OJ
•  Cheese pizza
• Pork Chops
• Saturday 
• Biscuits & Gravy
• ? 
• Ribs, seven layer dip - BBQ with friends!
• Sunday 
• Cereal 
• leftovers
• leftovers

It's a miracle! I made it on a Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

Whoops, I forgot to post it. But my menu was done and it has been helping lots.

This week has been a good one - received Carter's little preschool set up package and his school supply list! I LOVE shopping for school supplies! I am ready for the whole shebang. Carter says he is already a grown up so he doesn't need school.

He will be playing soccer again this fall when he starts school! We are just trying to find the perfect balance between activities and free time and I don't think 3 is too early for anything! It's amazing how much a child can soak in given the opportunity. I said we need to put Katelyn in gymnastics and Carter said and ballet and tap! Lol.

Menu Plan Monday 7.08.13

I fell off the wagon for awhile but since I have been thinking about Menu Plan Monday for awhile I decided to jump back on! We are also on a money diet so planning my menu does wonders for that. I also decided to do all three meals since it's pretty much expected to feed the kiddos three times a day :) Snacks are usually cheese sticks, granola bars, or crackers.

Monday

• Leftover home made biscuits and gravy
• Cheese pizza & grapes
• BBQ Chicken w/ Mac and Cheese & Corn (We ate outside on the picnic table, which the kids absolutely love!)  

Tuesday

• Cereal & banana
• Sandwich & chips & oranges
• Pork Chops w/ White noodles & Peas

Wednesday

• Cereal & banana
• Chicken nuggets 
• Spaghetti & garlic bread 

Thursday

• Cereal & banana 
• Pigs in a blanket
• Lasagna w/ corn

Friday

• Cereal & banana 
• Fish sticks
• To be Determined!

Saturday

• Pancakes!! 
• Sandwich & chips
• Buzzard's Pizza (Going to visit with family!) 

Hope everyone has a great week! This is the first full work week for me from the holidays and my sister's wedding. Is it Friday yet?! 

Wedding fever

 I have been helpign with my sister's wedding and even though it's super stressful sometimes, it is giving me wedding fever. Now I know why people choose to get married before kids, $$ and time.

All of my friends getting engaged gives me the fever.  I am SO happy for them. Genuinely. It just reminds me that I'm not married. I don't know why I care so much. I love my last name, it will be a hard thing to give up. KJK. & back when I met my boyfriend, we decided we would get "fake married" because real marriage isn't that beneficial and I just wanted the wedding part. Well now that I realize the benefits, mostly health insurance and the rights to own half my stuff are involved, I'm much more apt to be legally  married. Mostly just for the wedding day though.

But my pity party continues, I like the idea of being engaged. I want it to be romantic and I want to have a wedding to celebrate our love with my little girl as our flower girl and our big tall boy as the ring bearer. I just don't want to spend any money on it.

I sent my boyfriend an engagement ring from Craigslist and he called me all up in arms because I previously told him used rings were curses. I really just meant that I didn't want his best friend to buy HIS old wedding ring and it was cursed. Instead of relaying that message at all, I just secretly cried to myself. I know it's so pathetic, I try not to be this shallow or sensitive. My boyfriend would give me a ring tomorrow if I would have wanted one from KMART. There are priorities in life and that's why spending $1,000 on a ring doesn't seem justifiable when you are just trying to make it.

But if I get married, it's going to be forever. I want a ring that is going to stay on my finger forever.

Lifes Lessons

• Look it up - Before asking someone for anything, help yourself by looking it up first. Google, library, do a little research.
• Vodka mixes well with anything, except decisions. Don't drink and drive. Don't drink and text. 
• Live within your means. If you don't have the money, don't buy it. Especially don't buy it with student loans. And before you buy it, look it up. You could find a discount, a cheaper vendor, no shipping cost, any little bit adds up.  
• Watch this and this. Watch lots of these. Soak it in your soul.
• Freedom is the natural friend to happiness. 
• Friends and dreamboats will come and go, but you will always have your family. 

Do everything you can with eagerness, and a smile. Be kind.

Be the change in the world you want to see - Ghandi 

Menu Plan Monday - 3/25

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Out
Tuesday - Out
Wednesday - Chicken and Noodles
Thursday - Chicken and Noodles
Friday - Spaghetti

Chicken and noodles = my favorite meal ever! I called my aunt to ask how she gets her C&N so creamy and kindly told me that the creaminess comes from the homemade noodles, which I did not include. That will be my next mini goal, make some home made noodles! I used to make them all the time with my aunt as a kid. I wonder how she had so much patience, and still does. So I guess having left overs tonight sorta kinda makes up for going out to eat on Monday and Tuesday.

In my defense, I have a hard time cooking dinner all myself because the kids want to help and it turns out a little hectic. I can't blame them because usually they do get to help - Katelyn is the recipe holder, as well as adding the milk/water while Carter holds the bowl/cracks the eggs/. Usually this goes amazing on the weekends, with my little 16 month Martha Stewart and 3 year old food network star, but not so much during the week.

We were really excited to have the first soccer game this week but that has been postponed so at least that leaves more energy for hunting Easter eggs! I can't wait, watching the kids find eggs will be fun and our family will have over 20 kids! :) Carter got his picture with the Easter bunny last Saturday (free at Walmart!!) but Katelyn was having none of that!

better late than never, have a great week everyone!

Menu Plan Monday 3/18/13

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Taco Bell (I know, bad. But it tastes soo good!)
Tuesday - Pork chops w/ white noodles & peas
Wednesday - Beef stroganof w/ mash potatoes and corn
Thursday - Chicken & mac n cheese
Friday - Grilled Cheese & soup
Saturday - Leftovers/out
Sunday - Quesadillas

We have been adjusting well with dad gone for a few nights out of the week. With Carter speaking so well, dinner time discussion is always fun. A few nights ago I was encouraging him to eat his dinner and told him that it was not time to play with his train, it was time to eat.

Carter: That's not fair
Me: Life's not fair
Carter: Well, that's not good....

I had to smile. I think the world could use some lessons from a 3 year old! He did put his train away and eat the rest of his food though :)

I am still linking up with Menu Plan Monday! 1.5 hours til Tuesday but I made it!

31 Day Org Challenge Progress

There have been lots of changes in our house this week, my boyfriend started a new job! We also have been taking advantage of the warmer weather and longer days to play outside! It has been a good but hectic week so my progress is slow to say the least. I have been so excited about it so I thought I would be farther ahead.

I did box and organize the clothes pile to give away to our friend Miranda who has a baby girl. I also went through Katelyn's current clothes to find more that she can't fit in! I have so many ideas, like maybe even bringing Katelyn's little kitchen up to her room! They love playing restaurant. They have so much fun playing with it in the play room too. It's potential for more toys in the living room so I will have to give it more thought. 

Although my progress is weak, I haven't given up! I know KK will love it and appreciate it every bit once it's finished!

Menu Plan..Tuesday?

Things have been hectic on my end but I still want to menu plan! I need to remind myself that it SAVES me time and money, and effort too no matter what is happening this week or last. Now that my personal chef (my boyfriend) started working nights last week, I have been left to fend for myself & the kids.

Monday - Spaghetti
Tuesday - Chicken Quesadillas
Wednesday - maybe steaks - bf doesn't have to work
Thursday - Chicken enchiladas
Friday -leftovers!
Saturday - Out
Sunday - chicken and noodles

Join Menu Plan Monday too! Everybody's doing it!

31 Day Organizational Challenge - KK's room! *updated*

It doesn't bother me when things are out of order, which is mostly my problem. Being laid back works pretty well except for when it comes to putting your stuff away. KK has outgrown most of her baby stuff and it has been taking over her room. She hasn't slept in her crib since we moved into our new house so her room has turned into a place to put things she no longer needs. She would rather play in big brother's room or the play room so I have let it get a little out of control. Embarrassing but most of it will be given away or sold online.  

I have been inspired by orgjunkie's 31 Day Organizational challenge to shape up KK's room. I have lots to work on but luckily she has put up a calendar and just joining the challenge will keep me accountable! I have browsed her website for years and just joined the Menu Plan Monday at the first of the year which is another fun thing to do that has helped my home making skills!

Yikes, here's what her room looks like at the moment.

I better get started on the process tomorrow. Luckily I have two little helpers!




***finished product***She absolutely loves it and has been sleeping in her own room, in her own bed with out mommy. She is growing up too fast :)

Inspire me.

I am indecisive. I often wonder if I make the right decisions. Yesterday I took the kids to Target to pick out gifts for friends birthday parties and I probably changed my mind 6 times on a few different subjects. Buying a card w/ money or buying the gift. What to buy? Should I just go back to giving a card? I am glad I ended up giving them gifts since many brought cards but when I really think about it, I still wonder if I picked out the right presents. Small things, but I still worry way too much on a daily basis.

It needs to stop! I looked up advice on worrying and it was helpful but I think I would have to write it on my hand to remember. I have the problem and solution but it's not solved.

Welcome to my life. I like to be inspired. I like to feel. I like to talk. I like to learn to be the best person, and mom I can be. I am going to start putting my thoughts to paper, no matter how odd, random or sentimental they may be.

I have great friends who are there for me no matter what, no matter how long it has been since we last hung out. I have a fix everything boyfriend who is the best daddy in the world, even to our fish. I have brothers who are more role models to me than any father could have. I have a mom who is also my best friend.

I just want to remember that my view on life will be Carter's and Katelyn's, and to make it a positive one. The grass is never greener on the other side, it was probably just fake grass ;)

Menu Plan Monday 3/04

MENU PLAN MONDAY - join the group and check out other menus too!

Monday - Breakfast for dinner
Tuesday - Spaghetti
Wednesday - Pork chops w/ white noodles / corn
Thursday - Out to eat
Friday -steaks w/ salad & veggie (it's going to be 64 on Friday!!)
Sat - Cheeseburger macaroni
Sunday - ??

No excuses, I have been slacking. We had blizzard of oz 1 & 2 the past couple weeks here in Kansas! Snowman, hot chocolate, lots of movies and cuddling. I had my sights set on blogging more but that wasn't the case.  I have been making an effort to disconnect myself from the internet for the three hours I have between getting home from work and bed time to be in the moment more with the kids. It has been working well so far and I don't even miss it! :)

You haven't made a new blog post in awhile - you should -  my mom
Well maybe you should comment and it will motivate me to - Me
Well I just did - Mom
Haha! Very true.
 (Now I just did too!) 

Menu Plan Monday 2/04

Menu Plan Monday 2/04

Monday - Chicken and mashed potatoes / corn
Tuesday - Cheesburger Macaroni /
Wednesday - Steaks and noodles / green beans / oreos!
Thursday - Pork chops mac and cheese / salad
Friday - Spaghetti
Saturday - Date night!! :)
Sunday -Chicken enchiladas

Although the week is almost over, I didn't want to break my 6 week consecutive Menu Plan Monday! It has been a crazy week in Kansas, freezing cold on one day and grilling outside a few days later! I can't complain about nice weather in February though! We have been playing outside lots - here are my little tball champs :)

Carter and Katelyn are spending the night with my aunt and uncle on Saturday! Can't wait! When I had Carter, I was always so nervous leaving him anywhere - wondering what he was doing each second, how he was eating, pooping, and sleeping.  We are lucky to have such trusting caregivers for a night out but I remember when my sister in law told me that once you have two, it's like please take them! And she was right :)

I think I might even bring some enchiladas to my aunt and uncle to say thank you for the break. 

Menu Plan Monday 1/28

Breakfast: cereal, oatmeal with fruit, egg sandwich
Lunch: leftovers, hot dogs, fish sticks, turkey sandwiches, and ramen


Monday - Pork chops with white noodles
Tuesday - Cream cheese enchiladas
Wednesday - Pancakes, fruit and sausage!
Thursday - Meatloaf
Friday - Chicken and mac and cheese!
Saturday - Leftovers or Chili?
Sunday - Superbowl party at the Smith's!

It may not be the best idea to plan your menu while you're hungry, but it will be good!! Otherwise a pretty normal week around here! Tomorrow I need to go to the grocery store so it will be easy to pick up a rotisserie chicken for the cream cheese enchiladas and give my love a break on cooking!

 I also need to find a dessert to make to bring to the super bowl party! If anyone has any favorites, let me know! I better not start looking at pinterest recipes right now, I will be even more hungry and sucked in!  We do have brownie mix so if all else fails, easy it is.

Menu Plan Monday has been great on keeping me on track and it's fun!. Another week down, and another week of saving money! :) Last week my grocery trip was $55.00 and with out comp prices it would have been at least $80.00.

My babies aren't babies anymore!

Every day my kids awe me with something they know or learn. I need to write more things down because as the days go by instead of it surprising me, they just perfect their little ways. Too smart for their own good but each different with how they learn. Carter knows so much, today he and Katelyn put on a circus for me, dancing around and using Katelyn's DJ keyboard for music. He told me that I was the circus audience. He is always coming up with something to play or do. His favorites are still the classics freeze tag, and hide and seek. It's funny because he hides in the most obvious places and Katelyn finds him right off the bat. He tells me "let's play hide and seek and you count and say hmm where Carter be?" So Katelyn and I will hunt around usually pretending we don't see him for awhile and Katelyn will say "Hmmm'" it's just the cutest thing.

Katelyn doesn't miss anything. She understands everything we say and is saying new words every day! Yesterday she said "polka dot" plain as day. Today she let me paint her fingernails and she sat so still and smiled each time I was done with a finger. She also helps Carter on his potty training! She is the first one to the bathroom door when I tell Carter to go potty. She tries to go too and says " I did it!" just like Carter. It was her first 3 word sentence. She has outgrown most of her baby stuff and pretty much her high chair too. It kind of makes me sad but I love seeing what she comes up with next. She plays right along Carter and can keep up with most everything he does (if we let her!) She goes vrrooom vrooom playing with the cars.

Today we went to a wedding! Carter has been to one wedding, our friend Josh and Miranda's when he was a little. Otherwise, I have always gotten sitters or went solo, so it was a first for us to go as a family. They both behaved so well. Carter sat by Mema and played on his computer and Katelyn sat on dad's lap playing with his sunglasses. It was nice to see family that we don't too often!

I almost have my organization project done so I will post pictures soon! I don't think I did it step by step enough for a tutorial but I will link up where I found it at! I also finally finished some coasters I made for the Gunnels for Christmas! I wanted them done by today when we stopped by but that didn't happen! It's always nice to chat with Carie and her kiddos entertain mine so that's a double bonus! I love my life and the people in it!

Menu Plan Monday 1/21/13

Monday - Corny Chili
Tuesday - Pork chops and white noodles
Wednesday - Sloppy Joes
Thursday - Chicken Fried Steak
Friday - Chipotle
Saturday - My cousin Scotty's Wedding!! 
Sunday - Leftovers

Thankful for a three day weekend! Thanks MLK! This also gives me a chance to cook something I am good at, chili. I haven't tried this recipe yet but I found it on the list of recipes from Menu Plan Monday and it looks tasty. RJ cooks most or all of the meals and he is the best cook ever. I sometimes fail to appreciate the fact that I don't have to cook dinner every night.

Hope everyone has a great week!! :) 
 
 

Shame, shame.

I am the worst procrastinator but somehow I just get lucky enough. My boyfriend was on the john and they come to shut our water off. Luckily he makes outside just in the knick of time to pay the bill (2 months worth). Oooooooops. Yikes. I don't think I've ever paid a bill so late that they were going to come shut it off! A few months ago, I signed up for paperless bills on my Lawrence Utility account. Big mistake. They are set to my work email and I get tons per day. I have been pretty busy at work learning my new job, I didn't even notice the warnings or statements. Trying to save the environment and I had just come accustomed to doing it from the mail. I will be changing my preferences to avoid this in the future. My boyfriend obviously wasn't thrilled but he didn't even tell me how irresponsible I was. I felt like the biggest failure but on the bright side it did not get turned off, I will not ever do that again, and we weren't charged too many extra fees. $5.

 The next day, a friend of ours calls and says they are coming from out of town. I call my boyfriend to see if he knows about this and his phone is shut off! OMG. Again? I checked his account and paid the bill immediately, thank goodness I have most of my stuff memorized. Strike two.

I even have a pretty good system about paying the bills. It's just taking the time to cross my ts and dot my i's.  I am writing about it in hopes that my shame will prevent me from doing it again. I guess I need to get my organization board done!!!

My heart hurts.

I have had such a heavy heart this week. One of my sister's very good friends passed away in her sleep on Monday night. A huge shock to everyone and she was only 34.

When I first met Ronda, I could tell that she was a good person. It seemed like she made everyone around her a little better by her positive attitude and drive. I remember being so happy that my sister had such a great friend who was so involved in the community, her children's activities, all with a smile on her face. I was even more amazed when she told me she had 9 kids! NINE? I am falling asleep on the couch at like 10 pm with two kids. I was just in awe and knew she was some kind of super mom. Not to mention a great friend to my sister, and role model to my niece and nephews who she watched often.

I hope to be as good of a mom and friend as her. Her untimely death makes me sick to my stomach. It also makes me want to be be a better me, every single day. Not to let little things bother me and appreciate waking up even though it's 6:15 AM on the weekend. <3 Rest in Peace, Ronda. It just won't be the same with out you!

Menu Plan Monday 1/14/12

Monday - Salisbury steak with mash pot/green beans

Tuesday - Chicken with white noodles/veggie

Wednesday - Pork chops with mac and cheese/corn

Thursday- Meatloaf

Friday - Slow cooker BBQ Chicken

Saturday - Chicken Pot Pie Cupcakes

Sunday - Leftovers

I look forward to menu planning on Monday now! Before, once (or twice!) a week we would forget to set something out for dinner and end up going out to eat. We have been doing pretty good about sticking to it, although sometimes meals get switched around. This week I even added Saturday and Sunday.

I had a great weekend! I got lost in a book Friday night, which I haven't done for quite some time. It was really nice :) The book is called, Outliers. I can't wait to read more.

Smiling at Kimbee in her new dress

We had lots of visitors on Saturday! Kimberly came over for a bit in the morning and then my mom came to visit! My kids were in heaven! Those two are probably their two favorite visitors. Carter told his Mema that Kimberly was his best friend. Pretty cute. Kimberly has been my BFF for 10 years!

   My sister and her kids also came to play and have fun. I was also finally able to try out the signs I made for my sister's Save The Dates! The pictures turned out remarkable if I say so myself. It was freezing cold outside, only took 5 minutes and I don't even have a fancy camera! You can still see the love! :)

Another one bites the dust!

Having too many friends on facebook is actually kind of like the law of diminishing returns. After so many, it's not providing any value. Facebook started when only college students could have an account, so deleting friends that we started this social media journey with seems too much like breaking up. Which is hard to do. Even if I haven't liked a post, saw, or talked to them since I left college - I still wish them well and hope they have lots of babies so I can look at their pictures. Well another one gets engaged -which really gives me wedding fever!

My boyfriend and I have been together for 6 years., have two snot-nose poop factories, bought our first house this year; pretty amazing (if I say so myself) Every time I see someone else get engaged, I'm like, really envious. Every other day of the year, I am in no rush to get married. Too expensive! Unlike a lot of rich fancy pants', we will be paying for our own wedding. The thought of that just overwhelms me even with doing everything low maintenance, etc.

This week we were eating Taco Bell and he throws me a sauce packet. I do the finances, there is no way he bought a ring. He said, "what if I did it that way?"
Hmmm.. I don't know. In all fairness, I could eat Taco Bell every day of my life. I won't get my hopes up too much, romance is not my boyfriends MO. MO, is a word he taught me on our first night of hanging out. Which makes me smile. I do have a pretty good catch, even if we will be together for ever just living in sin.