Spring Break

We went camping for Spring Break, last week. Talk about FUN! We went hiking everyday, had camp fires every night, and enjoyed our time together. It was so nice to be away from the tv, computers, work, home, etc. We had time to just relax and enjoy our time together.

Here are a few pictures of the gorgeous hiking trails. We really enjoyed hiking everyday, even though we were all sore and tired by the end of the week. :)

The boys really enjoyed fishing. I enjoyed it to, while they were busy fishing, I was sitting next to them, enjoying a good book. Ahh...can we say 'relaxing'.

We got home just in time for Seth to have his first T-Ball practice. Here he is, 'baseball ready'. :) Levi and Seth are playing on the same T-ball team this year. Yea! Stephen is one of the assistant coaches. He is enjoying helping the kids learn the game. He is so good with kids!

hair and injuries....

I finally got my hair done on Sunday afternoon. I've had some major roots going on, and it was past time for a color update. I also had it cut off again, simply because the ends were so dry and brittle and just looked very unhealthy. Plus with my petite frame and features, longer hair just seems to really drag my face down...frankly with me now being just past the 30 mark, I don't need anything that makes me look older...I want to look 'younger', 'cute', 'in-style', etc. So I'm loving my new cut and color!!!

Side view. you can see the color and layers a little better in this photo....

My latest appraisal injury. It's hard to see in this picture. I had a set of attic stairs fall out on me. I tried to defend myself by raising my arm, and that wood scrapped all the way down the back side of my forearm. OUCH! It was bleeding and hurt like crazy. I had to hold a paper towel on it, to get the seeping to stop...this happened on Tuesday, so it's all scabbed over now. can we say 'attractive'. LOL!

Eyes

my eyes are much better today. YEA!!!!!! I'll probably still wear my glass and continue the eye drops for the next few days, just so that it doesn't come back. I'm so THANKFUL that this pink eye stuff is finally gone!

glasses.....

click here

maybe this got me thinking, because I'm stuck in glasses for the next week or so...but still....

I've always thought "the right frames" could really make people look distinguished and intelligent. Yes, I've always hated wearing my glasses for sports and fun, but I never minded if I was wearing them while working at the computer or reading.

After seeing this video, on the part where they interview the men and what they think of women wearing glasses, I was just shocked. My husband actually loves it when I wear my glasses....but these guys said it was the "librarian" look, and made the girl less attractive. What?! So I guess now instead of carrying my "pepper spray" with me, I can just wear my glasses and men will automatically leave me alone! HaHaHa!!!!

Pink Eye Continues....

YUK, YUK, YUK! I hate this stuff.
My left eye is much better today...actually turning back white, all swelling gone, no longer leaking gunk, etc. Yea!!!
However....I woke up this morning with it in my Right eye. Great. Just Great! That's just what I needed. So now my right eye is all swollen, tender to the tough, bright red, leaking yellow goo, and is burning/hurting constantly. Figures.
So, I'm stuck in glasses......who knows for how long. It just better all be gone by Saturday, because my baby boy is having his 5th Birthday party that day. Hard to believe he will be 5 years old on Sunday....{sniff, sniff}

Officially Pink Eye....Yuk!

It's official. Saturday night my eye started killing me! Then Sunday morning it was leaking some nasty yellow stuff, and just kept getting worse and worse, despite me putting the eye drops in. By last night, it was all red and swollen, and constantly leaking. So Gross!
I woke up this morning, and it was sealed shut. Yuk! I had to soak it open, with a wet wash cloth. Then I put more eye drops in. It's swollen and red today, but not leaking as much, so I guess that is good. Hopefully with me using these drops all day yesterday and today, it will be gone tomorrow, or at least be somewhat better....

dangerous job.....

Who knew appraising houses could be such a dangerous job?! LOL! This really is quiet funny. Over the last year, I've had all kinds of injuries due to measuring houses. I've had my tape whip up (while I was rolling it back in) and pop me in the knuckles and make my hands bleed. I've raised up and whacked my head or shoulder on a tree branch, or on a window ledge...etc. I've also been poked and scratched by a number of thorny bushes, and even had my hair tangled in a super tall bush (hence the reason I usually pull it back when I'm going to work now).

Yesterday was just another day. I got to my first house, was almost finished measuring the exterior, and I had my tape hooked to the top of a fence (measuring out to the edge of the house where there was a gutter, so I couldn't hook onto the brick). Anyway, I'm rolling in my tape, and I whipped it up to get it to pop off of the top of the fence, and it whipped back and whacked me right in the head! Luckily I had on my sunglasses it because it bounced off of them to. Whew. So I'm standing there going "ouch!" and thinking "dang, I've already got a knot coming up on my head....I wonder if I'm bleeding". So I looked at Seth and said "Seth, does Mommy have anything on her head, right around here?" He looked at me and his eyes got huge and he said "Mommy, it's blood!" Yikes! So I'm thinking "Great! How am I going to explain to the homeowner that I just beat myself up with my tape measure?!" LOL! Luckily I was able to wipe off most of the blood and get it to slow down on the bleeding before I knocked on the door to go in. LOL! Then I had 2 other houses to go measure after that....luckily no major injuries were involved! Ha!

Here is a picture of my head. It doesn't look as bad in this picture, but it was all bumped up and swollen and throbbing for the rest of the day. It's still pretty tender today....

Here is the culprit. The teeth on the edge of my tape measure....LOL!

I sent my husband a text with a pic of my head yesterday after it happened. He couldn't stop laughing! He teased me about it all night last night.

Weekend

I took the boys to visit my parents this weekend. It was so nice to see them again. My Dad is doing pretty good, but his leg is still really swollen. It has now been 4 weeks since he broke it, and he is supposed to stay off of it for at least another 4 weeks.

Levi has his basketball tournament game tomorrow night. We did not win a single game. Poor kids. But they sure had fun, and that's all that really matters. They think they won the last game. We only had 4 players show up, and had to forfeit, but they let us use one of our 2nd graders, and go ahead and play for fun. We did win that game by 1 point. That second grade boy was REALLY good! So the kids were excited to think they won at least 1 game. It was really good for their spirit and confidence.

Stephen and Seth are both sick today. Some kind of cold or something. I just hope Levi and I don't' get it.

Seth update....

They eye drops have worked wonders on Seth's eye. It looks so much better today. Yea! He is acting like it feels much better, and he has been a trooper about getting the eye drops done. He just lays back and lets me put them in, no complaints. He's such a sweetie pie.

Last night Stephen said my eyes were looking red, so I started doing eye drops and wearing my glasses, just to be safe. I've wore my glasses all day, and boy is it hard to get used to, after wearing contacts everyday. Especially exercising with glasses on. I forgot how much I hated sweating with glasses on, and them sliding down your nose. But at least the eye drops are helping, so all should be back to normal soon. :)

Seth...

Now Seth has Pink Eye. His is much worse than Levi's was. His whole eye lid is red and swollen. I've been doing eye drops on him since last night. Hopefully it will start clearing up today. If not, I guess I'll be taking Seth to the doctor.
Hopefully Stephen and I can avoid getting it......

Weekend...

Friday= I went to Levi's school for his Valentine's day party. He had a great time!

Saturday=Valentine's Day. We didn't really do anything special. We had to take Levi to a basketball game at 10am, then we went grocery shopping, and did chores around the house. It was a very nice, relaxing day.


Sunday= We think Levi has pink-eye, so we did church as home. Then Stephen made the boys a tee pee outside. They played out there forever! Stephen got paged into work. So I took the boys to get medicine for Levi's eye. Then we went out to eat and took the boys to a movie. They had so much fun!

Here is what the boys learned at home church. "I'm good soil for God's seed". We read the scriptures about the parable of the seeds falling on the different types of ground (stony, thorny, good soil, etc), then we talked to the boys about how they must be good soil for God's seed to grow in them, so they can share his word and his love with others, so his word/love can multiply. We then had the boys plant seeds in 'good soil', and make this little reminder, so they can remember what they learned, as they watch them grow.





Here are the pictures of Stephen building the boys a tee pee to play in. They had a blast! They are still playing with it today. (No school today).

Seth....

My sweet little boy is growing up. Next month, he will be 5! Where does the time go?
We were driving the other day, and singing songs. He kept asking me to sing songs, and he would sing them with me. Then on one of them "This little light of mine", he didn't sing with me, he just sat there staring at me. After I finished singing, I looked over at him, and he said "Mommy, you sing really pretty! Can you sing it to me again?" That sweet baby boy! He made my day! (and of course I sang it to him again! LOL!)

One other thing, when he wants to pause a show, he says "let me re-clause it". I don't know why he said "re-clause" instead of "pause", but it's so cute, I giggle ever time he says it. :) These days will be over before we know it, and I'm determined to enjoy every moment and ever funny word.

Levi is READING! Not just words, but BOOKS! I'm so impressed with how much he has learned this year. His last few spelling tests he has made 105, and 108 (he got them all right, plus the bonus words!) He is so smart. He has all A's! I just can't believe his is almost through first grade already. Where does the time go???

Boys and hair....

For months the boys have been begging for "mohawks". I refuse! So I compromised last week, and gave Seth a haircut and spiked the top of it up. He LOVED it! Then on Friday of last week, Levi begged me to do the same to his hair. So I cut it and spiked it to. It made his day!
He went to school on Monday and his best friend told him that he looked "wicked cool"! LOL!

Here's my "wicked cool" boys, acting crazy:

They are so Nuts! :)

Nothin' much....

Nothin' much goin' on around here.
Basically we are all busy working, juggling the chores, and Levi's basketball practices and games. Busy, Busy, Busy. But it's a good kind of busy. I'm so thankful to be busy with work! Woo-Hoo! Thank you Lord!

The weather has been beautiful! It was in the 70's over the weekend, and sunny. Since then we've been in the 60's, and will be in the 70's again by Friday (and for the whole weekend!). Yippy! I love this sunny, beautiful weather. It just makes you feel so energized, and refreshed. LOVE IT!!! :)

We did watch a good movie the other night. It was called "An Unfinished Life". It had Morgan Freeman, Robert Redford, and JLo. It was sooooo Good! We were laughing out loud, and it was such a wonderful heartwarming story of friendship, forgiveness, and love. We really enjoyed it!

Ok, I'm out of things to tell you, so I'm going to go put the boys in bed. Later!

Half Marathon

My Mom called me today, to see if I was interested in being in a Half Marathon with my Aunt Linda and my Cousin Taran, in May. Of course I said Yes!!! I can't wait! I've always wanted to do a Marathon, or Half-Marathon, and here is my chance. Woo-Hoo!!!! :)

back to school

Most of the ice melted off yesterday afternoon, so it was back to school today. Yea! :)

Ice=No School

No School today, due to all the ICE we got last night. It's so nasty outside. It's supposed to warm up and it's supposed to melt this afternoon, which is good because I have to go do an appraisal. But they are talking about it all becoming ice again overnight. Yuk.
The boys sure had fun playing in the ice this morning though. They were out there slipping and sliding on everything! :) Then they came in and warmed up with some Hot Chocolate.

Long time, no talk....

Sorry I've been out for so long. It's been SUPER BUSY with work lately, and then the kids and I were all sick also. I've actually taken the past few weeks off, from blogging and from working out. I simply didn't have time with everything that was going on. (Yes, I hate that excuse...there is ALWAYS time to squeeze in a workout....'slapping my wrist for that one'). However, I was in the midst of completing my Appraisal Continuing Ed Requirements, and Renewing my Appraiser Trainee License, and working my tail off (we've been swamped with refinances, YEA!!!).
I don't know how consistent I can be with blogging, with as busy as work is lately, but I'll try to update from time to time.

Levi had his third basketball game yesterday. They have lost every game so far. Poor kids. It isn't their fault though. Their coach isn't consistent and keeps changing "plays" on them...hello, they are 1st Graders! They don't even know what "offense" or "defense" means, much less remember what plays are. Then of course there is the "one man team" attitude with one of the boys. He runs down and shoots almost every single time, without ever passing the ball. GRR! It is so infuriating! When he isn't in the game, the other kids actually pass the ball and try to "play basketball". But Levi is getting better every time, and is having fun, so that is all that really matters.

Oh, my Daddy broke his leg! He called me on Thursday and said he had fell off of a ladder while trimming a tree at the church. He went to the emergency room and they put him in a knee/leg brace type cast, that is hard on the backside and velcro's up over the leg to keep it straight. Then he has to go the Orthopedic Specialist on Wednesday to find out if they are going to put a cast on it, or if it needs surgery, and how long he will be off of it. He is on crutches, but isn't supposed to put any weight on his leg at all. He's been in a lot of pain. He was also having to find others who could fill in for him, preaching the services, until he feels better. Y'all please keep him in your prayers.

That's all the major things I can think of that the moment. So I'm going to go exercise before I have to take Levi to Basketball Pictures. Why in the world they would think it is OK to always schedule sports photos on a Sunday, during church times, I'll never know. It really chaps my hide! So, we had "church" at home this morning. The kids love it, because we make it for them to understand, and then do a craft. It isn't the same as "real church" (which we are missing terribly today), but God knows our hearts.

Love you all!

Happy New Year

We went to visit my parents on New Years Eve. We spent the evening at their house, cuddled up on the couch watching movies. It was so nice and relaxing (and safe from all of the drunk drivers on the roads). We actually went to bed at 11:45pm, to the sound of fireworks people were shooting off. We at least gave each other a kiss before we went to sleep. LOL! :) I didn't have any desire to stay up any later. I was dead tired and couldn't wait to cuddle up next to my husband and just go to sleep.
We spent about 4 days with Mom and Dad. While we were there, my dad and Stephen went squirrel hunting. They had so much fun together. They got 10! Wow! while they were doing that, Mom and I took the boys shopping to get Levi some new basketball shoes. After that we went to play putt-putt and games, and then out to eat at Olive Garden. It was a fun day. Once we got back home, Mom and I went for a walk in their neighborhood. I love walking/running there. It is so beautiful, and the weather was in the upper 70's. They have some big hills, so it's always a great workout. We did about 2 miles, and half of that was with Seth on my back. He insisted on going with us and about 1/2 a block into it he said he was tired and needed a piggy back ride. LOL! But I didn't mind. It just gave me an even better workout. :)

We are finally back home, and things are back to normal. Oh, but wait! I forgot! When we came home from Stephen's parents house Tuesday afternoon, we were in for a shock. Our fridge had gone out at some point while we were gone. We came home to a stinky, smelly, nasty mess. Everything in our freezer had defrosted. Steaks had leaked blood into the bottom of the freezer and out the door. Frozen rolls had risen and exploded all over the inside of my freezer. Everything in the fridge was spoiled and smelly. It was so GROSS! So we had to throw everything away, and immediately go buy a new Fridge. Wow, what an unexpected expense. But thankfully we were able to find one we liked, and were able to purchase it that night. We got it home and installed. Then of course we went to visit Mom and Dad; so yesterday we finally went grocery shopping and re-stocked our freezer and fridge. What a way to end the year and start a new one huh. LOL!

Christmas at Granny and Papaws

We went to visit Stephen's Parents the day after Christmas, and stayed with them for about 5 days. We had a wonderful Christmas with them. Everyone LOVED their gifts, and the time spent together.

We let the boys make Granny a Picture frame and paint it themselves.

the boys worked on these (the red one was Levi's and the greed one was Seth's), while Stephen worked on the Pie Safe he was building for her. She had been saying that she was wanting one, but couldn't find one anywhere. So my husband found the plans, and built this for his mother. He even punched the designs in the metal. He is so artistic and talented. i could never do something like this.

While we were there, we helped them knock out the wall between the living room and the garage, and extend the living room into the garage.

Then we helped them put in a fireplace and get it ready for the brick.

We also helped tape and bed the walls and ceiling (that was my job), and then texture the walls and get some of it painted. It is going to be so nice to have all of this extra room now. They are going to put in a huge bay window (where the panelling is, in the pictures), and then build a new garage onto the end of the house. It is going to be so nice once it is all finished.

Levi painting primer on the walls and painting. He loves to paint, and did a really great job!

Seth wanted to help paint to. He was very careful and did really good! This color will be extended through to the other room also, and it will be one really large room once it is all completed.

Admiring their hard work. :)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve night, we read the boys the story of the birth of Jesus. When we asked them what Christmas was all about, their answers were "Love", "Giving", and "Jesus' Birthday". :) Guess they are learning something after all.

Bright and early, at 6:30am, my sweet hubby woke me up. He told me that the coffee was ready and I needed to open a present before the boys got up.

I'm still half asleep in this picture, but totally surprised! I never would have imagined that he would get me a new Camcorder. I am so excited to have a camcorder again! Ours broke about 2-3 years ago, and I've been missing being able to take videos of the boys. I'm so excited to have one again! Isn't my sweet hubby amazing?!

Shortly after I had figured out how to use my new video camera (thank you for thinking to charge the battery for me Daddy!), Levi got up. He was so excited about the New Football Uniform that Santa brought him. Look at that face! He was ready to open his presents and said "can I go wake up Seth?". Well, he tried, but couldn't get him to wake up. So I went in there to wake him. It didn't take long, and he was bounding out of bed, and running to the Christmas tree.

Here comes the sleepy head.....

couldn't wait to get his new Football Uniform on too.

They wore their uniforms all morning, and all day.

Daddy, taking video, and wearing his new boots. He got me some new boots too! :) We all got new boots for Christmas this year.

After we all opened presents; they played with their new toys, while I made breakfast. It was such a wonderful, relaxing morning. We've just been chillin' and playin' all day. It's been so nice to spend so much time together today, just having fun.

I hope you have all had a Wonderful Christmas also.

Christmas Eve at Nanny's

We went to visit my Nanny for Christmas Eve. (This is my Mother's Mother.)
Mom and Dad were there, and so was my brother and his wife. We all had Christmas dinner together, and NOTHING beats my Nanny's cookin'! YUM-EE!

After we ate, we were waiting for my Niece to get there so we could open presents. While waiting, my sweet hubby decided to take himself a cat-nap! LOL! :)

My brother, and my Niece. Hard to believe she is 13 years old. Yikes! Where does the time go?

My Daddy liked his new Stetson hat. :)

Is this a face of total excitement, or what?! LOL! He was so thrilled to get new Lace-Up boots.

My Mommy, happy it's Christmas.

Here is our cowboy, showing off his new boots.

My sweet Nanny. :)

Daddy and Seth, trying to figure out how Seth's new Camera works. It is an awesome little camera, and take some really good photos and video.

Stephen, checking out his new Hat.

I was so excited! I got The Biggest Loser Families Cookbook, and two Biggest Loser workout videos! YEA!!!!! :)

My Mother surprised me with this beautiful Red Sweater. My favorite color is Red, and this is cut so cute and flattering. I LOVE IT! :) I loved ALL of the gifts I received. I was especially thrilled to see the excitement and joy on the faces of my family, when they opened their gifts from us. I just love giving gifts!

My Mom and Levi. He is so silly.

My Nanny, and both of my boys. This picture, to me, is Priceless! :) I'm going to print out of copy of this one, and mail it to her.

Last but not least; my Nanny, Me, and my Mom. We were looking at my Nanny's old photo albums, and at that moment I realized that we all look alike! There were some photos of my Nanny when she was really young, that looked just like my mom! Spittin' Image!

Then there were some photos of my mom as a young girl, that could have been me when I was a kid. It was amazing how much the three of us seem to look alike.

My Nanny also made us all some kitchen towels, and pot holders. And my mother has a Bath and Body Works 'Lotion Grab-bag'! LOVE IT! These women always have the best gift ideas.

My cousin Taran, and her husband Ryan, came by to visit for a little bit also. It was so good to see them again. They brought us a bunch of clothes that their son had outgrown, which were the perfect size for Levi. He was in hog-heaven, when he started going through that bag of clothes. {He must get his love of clothes from his mother. :) hee-hee} They are so sweet to share these with us. It is such an amazing blessing! We also made plans to go to the Rodeo with them next month. I can't wait! It will be so much fun to see them, and spend time with them again.

blogging slacker...

Sorry I've been such a slacker when it has come to blogging lately. I've just been swamped with work the last few weeks (Yea!!!!), and then the boys were sick...it's just been a whirlwind.
I hadn't even worked out in over a week! Yikes! You know i was super busy if I couldnt' find time to work out. That is something that I usually "make" time for, but I just couldn't. I did get back on the workout wagon yesterday, after I cleaned our house from top to bottom, after church. It is so much more relaxing to have a clean and tidy house. Ahhh....
Finally, I think we are ready for Christmas. Levi is out of school for the next two weeks. We have all of our presents bought and wrapped. And I even bought our groceries for Christmas dinner. All we have left to do is make Christmas cookies for Santa. :) We are going to do that this afternoon, or tomorrow.
I got some mail last week, informing me that it is almost time to renew my Appraisal Trainee License. I have to complete 14 hours of continuing ed (which will cost me $220 for the class). Then I must submitt my renewal fee of $110, along with my continuing ed completion certificate, and my appraisal log. Wow. What a time of year to be getting all of this in the mail....

If I don't talk to you all again this week; Merry Christmas! :) Enjoy the time with your family, and take the time to remember the true reason we celebrate this season.

Yearly Christmas Photo...

Yesterday was the day. We finally found a moment, right before leaving for church, to try and take a family photo. I've been saying we needed to do this, since November, so we could get our christmas cards made and sent out. Well, needless to say, that didn't happen this year. I had good intentions, but something always came up and we weren't ever able to get this done.

Here are some of our blooper photos...

Stephen took these of the boys:
us saying: Look at the camera Levi....Seth, stop "cheesing"....

Better,....seth could you, oh never mind, this will work. LOL!

Then Levi decided he wanted to take a photo of mom and dad together:

Me: Levi, look at the camera, get Daddy in the photo too.....

Lower Levi, get Mommy in the picture too....oh wait, to low, don't cut Daddy's head off...

why do we try to do this ourselves? LOL!

Seth wants in the picture with Mommy and Daddy....

Ok, let me set up the timer, and get both boys in the picture with us....Ta Da! That will have to do. :)

Craft time....

Since the boys were finally feeling a little better today (but couldn't go to school because of ICE on the roads, and Levi has to be "fever free" for a full 24 hours first), we worked on some Christmas Crafts.

I bought the stuff for Levi to make Candy Cane Reindeer for his Class Christmas Party. I figured this way he could do a craft and 'make' everyone in the class something (without breaking my wallet), and give all of his classmates something for Christmas. I'm so proud of him for doing such a great job on them. He even let his little brother help. :)

Feeling much better, and so proud of his hard work on his reindeer! :)

Sick...

Took the boys to the doctor today.
Levi has Pneumonia, and Seth has Strep Throat....hence the reason you haven't heard from me in awhile....
Keep us in your prayers.

Biggest Loser Talk.....

For my latest Biggest Loser talk, go to my fitness website: Fit4Life (click on the title).
I've devoted this other website for my fitness talk/goals/motivation/etc....
Then this website can be mostly just about my family and kiddos. Those of you who just want to stay updated on what we are up to, don't have to wade through all of my fitness/biggest loser posts anymore. Yea! LOL!
However, those of you who are as addicted to fitness as I am, are more than welcome to come on over to my other blog and talk fitness with me.