Do I laugh or cry?

Ray and I are not getting along--surprise, surprise. He's been mean and I don't like it. So, after a brief spat, Ray came into the kitchen where I was putting dishes in the dishwasher. Emily was sitting at the counter. Very sarcastically, I wrapped my arms around Ray's chest from behind and said, "Oh, I love you soooo much honey-bunny!" and gave him a squeeze. He found it funny. But remember, I was being very sarcastic. So, I did it again. "I just wonder how I got soooo lucky," and another time I said, "I just can't get enough of you" all while hugging him. Ray, apparently not getting the sarcasm, started laughing, looked at Emily and said,

"Mommy must like my rock-hard body."

Emily started laughing and said, "Mommy's butt bounces up and down like a bouncy ball."

Ray busted out laughing.

I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. It was funny, I guess. I mean, when I reread her comment, it does make me want to chuckle.

But, I was hurt even more by Ray's laughter.

So, in revenge, it will be hands off of this bouncy-butt for awhile, and when I look smokin' hot in my bikini in a couple of months, I will prance around the house and see who will be laughing then when it's still hands off! ;-)

Yeah!

Mya had her first birthday party today!

Yeah!

Her party was at our house and it was a great time! (I have to add this cute story: When Patrick showed up with Mya, I came down the steps and greeted her. When she saw me, she smiled and waved at me. My heart melted. Then, a few minutes later when she saw me again, she smiled and very softly said, "Hi." Awwww...who knew your heart could melt more than once!)

Here are some pictures of her first-cake-eating-experience:

(This one is one of my favorites!)

(This is my other favorite!)

She ended the day very ready for a nap, but I think she had a wonderful first birthday!

Happy First Birthday Party Mya!

OMG!!!!!

I can't believe it! I feel like I've won the lottery (but I didn't actually win any money)!

Well, as you know, I am a blog stalker. I read many blogs on a daily basis, most of them scrapbook related, of course. One of them is called Write.Click.Scrapbook (www.writeclickscrapbook.com). Earlier this week, they posted a challenge to submit layouts and projects that have hearts on them. (Each week they post a challenge and you submit your projects to their flickr photostream. They then look through them and highlight their favorite projects on their blog.) So, I submitted four of them.

You should have heard me scream this morning when reading that blog I found this:

THAT'S MY SCRAPBOOK PAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There were over 1,000 projects submitted and only a handful selected and THEY CHOSE ONE OF MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

(insert huge smile on my face here)

This recognition doesn't come with any fame or fortune, but it certainly does make me feel like a million bucks! (Oh, and hey, feel free to mosey over to that blog to check it out for real!)

It might sound wierd

but lately, I have been addicted to browsing the internet for new outfits online. I like seeing what trends are going on and imagining how cute I will look in them when my workouts/eating right pay off--regardless of price. I save the pictures in a file on my computer (now that I have a new external hard drive!!) and revisit these outfits almost daily. They make me excited and they really do motivate me. Of course, I'm not sure I'll ever spend the money on some of these outfits, but it doesn't hurt to pretend! ;-)

For example, I can just picture myself wearing this dress and maybe a pair of sandals (thong or flip/flop or gladiator) to IKEA...

And, when I go to meet some friends for lunch this summer, I can see myself sashaying into the restaraunt wearing this cute little ensemble wearing a pair of gold-thong sandals...or dressing it up for romantic dinner...while on vacation in a warm, tropical place...

And I see my chic self going to work one spring morning...(except with a longer skirt, of course!) or watching Emily make her 1st Communion in April...

And my super cute and stylish self going to a family function or visiting friends or going to a baby shower...

And I see myself as being almost 40 and fit and fabulous and trendy wearing this sweater with a bair of black leggings and some black boots...

The experts say that our thoughts are powerful; what we think, we achieve. So, I'm thinking my way to a much cuter, healthier, shaplier self by the end of spring! ;-)

It's here!!!

My new swimsuit came today...big inspiration in a tiny package!

Not going to lie...

but I'm sure hoping that by some grace of nature, I get a delay tomorrow. I know, I know. Having 2 days off in a row, then going to school one day, and then off for a 4 day weekend, should be enough, right? But a 2 hour delay tomorrow morning would sure make the day go by that much faster and make the kids that much more tolerable...

Wishing against hope...

Yippee Skippee!

Our 4 day work/school week has now become 2! We were blessed with yet another snow day. Today found the Beestens needing a babysitter, so Hailey and Emma came over for half the day.







I'm not really sure how I ever survived without a finished basement and Wii! ;-)

It's a good thing

when this pops up on my caller id in the morning:





The girls and I will be drinking our hot chocolate tonight hoping for another snow day tomorrow for us and careful driving to the rest of you! ;-)

So I stand corrected!

Wow! Who would have thought that Ray would put a "surprise" get-together for me??? I was totally shocked and wonderfully surprised.

Thank you all for coming. Us being together on my birthday means more to me than any material gift I could have received (although, gifts are appreciated too! ;-)). I know it took a lot for some of you to make it ;-), but know how much it meant to me!

Ray finally announced last night that we would be going to Golden Corral at 9 a.m. I was only somewhat appeased. I mean, Golden Corral??? And then this morning, he kept hounding at us to get ready. "Why do we have to be there by 9:00?" I kept asking. It never dawned on me that others were there waiting.

I even got a gift today--an external hard drive for my computer. It holds up to 285,000 pictures!

This gift was bought well before today, came with a funny card, and it was wrapped.

With family and thoughtful gifts, what more can I ask for??? I guess today will be a special day after all!

Some motivation

So, after going on about feeling yucky in my previous post (and on my "secret" blog-- yes, I have one no one knows about), I did some online shopping. I bought a bathing suit for inspiration:




Yes, I really bought this exact suit! I mean, Brian says it's not impossible to regain our stomachs after giving birth...I had a left-over gift certificate to Victoria's Secret plus a $10 off coupon, so I only spent $15. I figure, it will be an awesome deal for $15 if I end up wearing it (plus think how hot I'll look!). If I work my butt off, but don't get there because it's not humanly possible, at least I'll be in the best shape I can be, and only be out $15. (But, then again, the $15 motivated me, so I guess it won't be a waste!)

Then, I found this outfit:



I love the whole look--the sweater, the cami, the ripped up jeans. It's not cheap (I think all in all it's over $100), but I am going to buy it for myself at the beginning of next month if I kick butt in my workouts and my diet this month.

I'm also motivated by this outfit:



Not quite as expensive (at least without the shoes that cost $45), but still cute for spring/summer. That's my second reward (or my first if I don't have enough money next month ;-))

It's funny how doing some "window" shopping can shake off the blues...Wish me luck!

Yuck

Tomorrow is my 39th birthday...I should be excited about that...but, truth be told, I'm feeling bummed out. Not because it's the last time I'll see a 3 in front of my age, but because it feels like it's going to be just another day.

Yuck.

I really miss the days when I was celebrated, when my birthday meant something to the people around me, when I got presents. I know I sound like a baby, but there are few days that are just about me. Actually, there is no other day that's just about me. I share Mother's Day with Mom and Ray's mom. I share my anniversary with Ray, of course. Christmas is more about the kids than anyone. So, what's left? My birthday, which I now share with Denise, making me not important.

I've been waiting for Ray to say something all day. Something like, "So, what do you want to do for your birthday?" or "Do you want to go out tonight? I asked my mom if she would babysit." But, nothing. Tomorrow I will wake up, go to church, go to Hannah's volleyball game, go to Kaleb and Denise's birthday party, and then come home so Ray can watch the superbowl. I'll receive a few phone calls, maybe get a card from the kids. But that's it. Nothing special.

Just another blip on time's radar.

Yuck.

Crazy Hair Day

The last day for Catholic Schools Week was Crazy Hair Day. They weren't aloud to use any color in their hair (bummer), so Emily wanted spikes and Hannah just wanted 3 ponytails.

After spending 20 minutes on just this one spike, Emily had to settle for looking more like a unicorn than a punk rocker.

After school today, we traveled to All Saints in Kenwood for Hannah's volleyball game. The roads were getting slick on our way home, so we swung by Frisch's for some dinner.

With no scheduled soccer game tonight and snow falling, we didn't do much--girls played a litte Wii, I did a little reading, and Ray spent time in his office (not sure what he was doing..). It was nice to not do anything specific. Now, if those ambitious volleyball people would just cancel tomorrow's game at 10:15 a.m....life would be almost perfect! Even if snow falling on a weeked is wasted snow!

Somebody stick a fork in me

because I am DONE! Tonight, Jo Ann, Hannah, Emily, and I ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise after Karate.

(Jo Ann made a surprise visit today after the girls got home from school)

I ate so much food, I feel like I am going to pop the button off my pants!! But, despite this food-induced coma I feel coming on, I did have a nice, relaxing evening with three of my most favorite people in the world. ;-)

Pajamas by day...

(Pajama Day for Catholic Schools week)



Karate uniforms by night...

(this is Emily in front of the boy with the orange belt)

(and here's Hannah to the right)

Crazy Sock Day

This week is Catholic Schools Week. Each day this week the girls will be participating in something "fun" at school. Today was crazy sock day. Last night I bought them some sparkly fabric paint and a pair of socks to decorate.

Here is Hannah's start...

and Emily's...

Ray took a picture of them this morning before they left (hence the lack of close-up of the socks)(click on the picture to get a closer look at their socks).

When they got home, they told me that they had a great time wearing their socks and that they received lots of, "I wish I had thought of that!" For once, it was me who actually did think of it!