Randomness ~ because I can't think of anything else

Well, when all else fails just write a post full of random stuff.  I can't think of any one thing to write about, so here goes nothing.

**It's been crazy around our house lately.  We've had t-ball or softball games 3 or 4 nights a week, so needless to say our house is in a state of chaos.

**Even with all that craziness, I've managed to go running 6 times in the last week and a half.  I can feel myself getting stronger and becoming more and more addicted to the runners high.  I even ran in the rain on Sunday, now that is dedication if I do say so myself.

**I got new running shoes, which helped motivate me even more.

**Brent's mom and step-dad kept ALL THREE KIDS overnight Friday night.  ALL THREE!! She's done it a few times before, but it wasn't easy on Jackson or her.  He took a little more time to warm up to his meme and pawpaw.

But this time was different, he wanted to go and he did really well.  It will probably turn into a regular every other weekend thing now.  She was already having the older kids spend the night just about every other weekend, because she hardly gets a chance to see them during the week.  It is such a nice break for me and Brent, and now we will be childless, which will be even nicer.

Jack and MeMe (Brent's mom)

I love my babies, but I enjoy a night away from them sometimes too!!  It helps me contain my sanity.

Jack on the way home after spending the night with MeMe.  He was exhausted from all the fun!!

**I filled out my resignation form last week.  It's official!  There's no turning back now.  I have 18 days left of employment.  CRAZY!!

**I made these French Onion Pork Chops last week and they were super yummy and super easy!!  I know it's hard to see the recipe in the picture, but it's from Paula Deen's website.  

Here's a link.

Wow, that was really all over the place.  I love randomness!!

Friday's Letters

Dear Students, Why must you start losing your minds this time of year?? We only have 3.5 weeks of school left.  Please don't ruin my last 4.5 weeks of being a teacher by acting like 2 year olds.  

Dear House, Please sell yourself.  I'm so tired of having to keep you clean, oh who am I kidding?? I'm tired of having to rush and clean you every time we have a showing.  Just sell already.

Dear Cellulite, I hate you!

Dear Google, Thank you for being the answer to every problem.  If all else fails, Google it!

Dear Joshua Jackson I'm slightly obsessed with you right now.  I just finished all five season of Fringe and feel lost now that I don't have you to watch every day.  LOL

Dear month of April,  I am totally over you and ready for May!

Wow, that was fun!

inside my mind

I'm sort of stuck, or blocked you might say.  I'm not feeling motivated to write anything right now.  I want to publish some posts, but I just can't bring myself to sit down and think long enough to come up with something worthwhile.  I just have too many things running through my head right now.

How about a little sneak peek inside my mind... be careful, it's scary in there.

**23 more days of school is not a lot, but feels like an eternity away.

**I don't want to go to work.

**This is my last week of duty for school.  I hate duty!!  On duty weeks we only end up with about 25 minute break all day.  

**I am sooo tired, but it's my own fault.  I stayed up too late every night this past week.

**We have another house showing today, but I doubt anything will come of it, just like the last 3 or 4. 

**I'm so tired of cleaning the house for showings that are pointless.

**Brent is working the night shift tonight.  I wonder how many nights he will be working.  I stay up even later when he's not home.  

**I have to get myself and the kids up and out the door by 6:00 am tomorrow to bring Jackson to my mom's house.  I hate that!  Brent normally takes him, but not when he's on shift work.  

**Why are my students acting like crazy people? (worse than normal)

**Jackson had a grumpy couple of hours yesterday.  I hope he's not coming down with something.

**I can't believe in 23 days I will be unemployed.  

**I need to start making a list of projects I need to tackle this summer.

**I want to create a recipe binder.

**Our bathtubs really need a good scrub.

**I got to jog at the park 3 times in the past week and I LOVE it.  It makes me feel so much better when I can exercise.  I really hope nothing gets in my way again(sick kids, or Brent's work schedule) and keeps me from working out for weeks, because then I have trouble getting back in the swing of it.  

**I really need to lose weight.  Why is it so stinking hard??

**I really want some nachos at the concession stand Thursday during Austin's game, but I will not get any because I need to lose weight dang it!!

**Abigail has had a really bad attitude lately.  What are we doing wrong?  How can we get our sweet happy girl back?? She isn't supposed to act like this until she is a teenager!!

**I'm jealous of people with no responsibilities other than themselves or their spouse.  Now I'm feeling guilty because I love my kids, they are just soooo much work!  I wouldn't change anything, I just wish I had appreciated and enjoyed my life a little more before all the responsibilities started piling on.  

**I wish that me and Brent could go on dates more often.  We see each other a lot, but I miss going out on dates. 

**I need to remember to put my calories in MyFittnessPal for those fruit gummies I just ate.  

**What should we make for supper tonight??

**Austin and Abigail went on bowling field trips and I couldn't go with either or them.  I don't have any days off left to use.  I can't wait until next year when I don't have to miss any of their stuff anymore.  

**Tonight is our last night of Team Kids at church.  I loved teaching Team Kids, but it will be nice to have our Wednesdays back.  We don't have dance or softball/baseball on Wednesdays, so it will be completely free. I could go jogging every Wednesday.  That would be awesome.  

OK, that's enough. I could keep going, but I'll stop before I lose followers.

So for those 7 of you that read my blog, if you've been wondering where I've been, there you go.  I've been lost inside my head. There are so many things going on right now I might not be blogging as often, but I'm still here.

we heart cousins

Last weekend, Brent's mom and step-dad took Abigail and Austin for a weekend getaway.  They went to a wildlife refuge, where they ride in covered wagons and feed animals.  Austin kept calling it the animal shelter.

Brent's Uncle and Aunt from Alabama also met them there.  They have two kids almost exactly the same age as Abigail and Austin.  We see them about once every other year or so, but the kids always pick right back up and act like they play together everyday.

Another highlight of the trip was that the hotel had a pool.  Brent's mom said they swam for two or three hours every day.

Here are several pictures that I stole from Brent's Aunt's Facebook page.  

Seth and Austin

Abigail and Kaitlyn in the pool!!

silly boys

swimming again

Austin loves Paw Paw Terry!!

sweet friends

Breakfast time!!

They had a blast!!

We were sad we couldn't go too, but Brent was working and we thought Jack would be just too much to handle by myself for two nights in a hotel.  I could have done it, but I don't think it would have been very relaxing.

Speaking of loving our cousins, I thought I should throw this picture in of Jack and Audrie playing and watching Yo Gabba Gabba!  

Cousins are the best!

why?

The stories, video, and images coming from Boston make me sick to my stomach.  

Why?? Why do things like this happen??

We may never know why, but I do know this...

source

40 Before 40 update

Wow, it's been like forever since I even wrote about my 40 before 40 list.  You can check out my 40 things I want to do before I turn 40 by clicking on the button at the top of the page.

First I will back things up a little bit and explain why I'm doing 40 before 40 instead of the usual 30 before 30.  When I first started noticing all my favorite bloggers marking things off of their 30 before 30 lists I was already 28 and had 2 small children and a bun in the oven, and I just knew I would be setting myself up for failure if I tried to cram in 30 things in 2 years.

So the idea for 40 before 40 popped into my head and I went with it.  I've only marked off the following...

14. Start a blog
Obviously if you are reading this I've checked this one off my list.


15. Inspire someone
I inspired someone to start a blog, but I'm not sure they are still doing it or not.  I also like to think that I inspired a bunch of ladies at work to lose weight through two years of organizing a biggest loser competition.


24. Take a GIRLS ONLY trip somewhere.
We went on an overnight trip last year to look choose our bridesmaid dresses for my sisters wedding.

33. Buy a bicycle
I got a bicycle for my birthday last year.  This picture is from September.  Look how little Jackson was!!  He still LOVES to go for a ride.  When he sees the bike, he starts pulling on me and saying hat, hat!!  I can't resist him!

So I realize that is only 4 things so far, but considering I've got 5 more months in my 20's, I'm feeling pretty good about it.

The following things are in progress and hopefully will be next to get marked off my list.

2.  Lose 60 pounds (after the baby is born, of course)
I'm down 47 pounds.

28.  Pay off all debt
We are more than half way there.



Number 16 from list will probably be changed.

16.  Go on a cruise
When I made this list, I was envisioning a big family cruise with Mom and Dad, but in light of recent events, I'm thinking of something to replace this.  Maybe a beach trip??

I need to start planning some of these things!!  

5 months and 10 years will go by before I know it!! LOL

i'm glad that's over

We had a crazy super busy week full of baseball practices, softball games, dance and on top of all that, we had our standardizing testing.  Ugghh, it's such a boring week for teachers and stressful week for kids.

I'm glad it's over and it's my last one at that.

 

Abigail had her first games on Monday and Tuesday and she did really well.  Her team won both games!

Austin was super excited about Abigail's games, because that meant the "snack bar" aka concession stand would be open and he could get nachos, or candy, or chips.  He was a little too excited about that.

Austin's games don't start for another two weeks, but games and practices are starting to overlap and I hate missing anything.  I know it's unavoidable and I just can't be in two places at once, but it still bothers me to miss their things.

Abigail and Austin are going out of town this weekend with Brent's mom and step-dad.  They are going to visit a wildlife refuge.  I think they are more excited about staying in a hotel with a swimming pool though.  I sent Abigail with my old camera, so we'll see if she takes any pictures worth sharing on here.  They might be pretty funny!

My weekend looks pretty quiet and boring, just how I like it.  Brent has been working nights, so I'll just be hanging out with my little Jack-Jack!

Have a good weekend y'all!

I'm trying it out!

I'm trying out this Bloglovin business.  

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Jackson (20 months)

I can't believe we are only 4 short months away from being 2 years old!!  

Crazy how quickly they grow up!

Eating

Jackson is an awesome eater!  He will basically eat anything you put in front of him.  The problem is that he will no longer sit in a high chair, and doesn't always want to stay sitting while he eats, which results in food all over the house.  But after Austin's horrible picky eating ways, we don't really care.

favorite foods right now: waffles, spaghettios, yogurt, apple sauce, gold fish, chewy chips ahoy, hamburger, eggs, pop tarts, apples.

Oh and he loves to dip his food in ketchup or ranch dip.

I heard a loud thump in the kitchen and this is what I found.
He pulled the whole cookie jar out of the pantry and some tortillas.  

He still takes a bottle at nap and night time.  I wish that was the only time, but he usually asks for it throughout the day.  I think it's sort of like a pacifier for him.  Our summer project will be to wean him off the bottle.  I'm not looking forward to that!

Weight

Jackson weights about 26 pounds.  He went to the doctor 4 times last month.  Only during two of those visits did he cooperate enough to get his weight.  In fact the second time the nurse had to hold him and weigh and then subtract her weight.  Needless to say he HATES the doctors office now.

you can see his hand foot and mouth disease rash 

Clothes

He's wearing a solid 24 month or 2t.  I get a little too much happiness out of this fact.  My other two kids were always small for their age.  They both wore a size less than they should, in fact Austin still does. 

 I like having my big boy! 

Sleeping

He is a GREAT sleeper!!  

He struggled for a few nights while he was sickly, but he's back to sleeping all night.  He goes to bed at about 8:00 and during the week we have to wake him up at about 6:45 to bring him to my moms house.  On the weekend he will sleep until 7:30 or 8.

Talking

He is saying a bunch of words.  The ones in orange he was saying in my last Jackson update post at 16 months.  The black ones are the new words.

Mamma

Dadda

Nana

Papa

Babba-Abigail (we call her Abba)

Jack-Jack

Baa-Bath

juice

bota---bottle

ba---ball

na---nose

eye

Maddie (my parents dog, he loves her)

Ke--- Kelsie

flower- I haven't heard this, but mom has.

boo---book

Autin--Austin

shoes

toys

cookie

phone

hello

car

go

door

jump

baby
keys
no-no

bida--open (i'm not sure why, but it clearly means open)

I know I'm probably missing some.

He has also started putting some words together.  

mama nose

dada shoes

dada phone

nana bye bye

He knows the following animal sounds. 

Kitty

puppy

cow

duck

He can do a sad face, which is pretty funny!!

He loves watching Yo Gabba Gabba, Backyardigans, and Sid the Science Kid.  

He is really into cars, trucks, and trains.  I love watching him drive his cars around the floor.  

He would live outside if he could.  He LOVES playing outside.  He can climb and slide down all on his own now.  He likes to swing, but usually only stays in it for a few minutes.  He loves having Austin drive him around the yard in his car.  

He also loves jumping on the trampoline, which he can also climb onto himself, sometimes when I'm not  looking. #scary  

Lately he wants to eat all the time.  Every thirty minutes he's dragging me over to the pantry for a snack.  We went to target and got popcorn the other day and he loved it.

Daddy loved having to clean it all up from the back porch!!

He is turning out to be a really silly little boy.  He likes to make people laugh.  He will do something over and over if he can get a laugh out of you.  

Every day he seems to be getting so much easier to deal with.  He really is more toddler than baby now days and I am loving every second of it.  Don't get me wrong, he still has his tantrums and meltdowns, but he's just getting more independent and playing on his own or with the other kids.  He doesn't need me to carry him around everywhere or entertain him.

I can actually cook supper again.

he's started stuffing as much as possible in his mouth, it's not pretty

I love my little guy!!!

in your face daddy

This is too funny not to share! 

Last week Brent had all three kids by himself for a little while so he took them to get snow cones.  The following is a text I received shortly after.

If you are new around here, Austin our 5 year old is a very, very, very picky eater.  He basically lives off of sour cream chips, chicken nuggets, and eggs.  He has never liked ice cream or popsicles.  I'm not sure why Brent would even think that Austin would even consider eating a snow cone. 

Austin's poor eating habits bother Brent a lot more than they bother me.  Which is ironic because according to his family he was a picky eater himself up until a certain age.  

Then later that evening I saw this on Facebook.

Of course there are other kids out there that don't eat ice cream or snow cones!  He just couldn't seem to let this go!

Now lets fast forward to the next afternoon.  We went and played putt putt and then headed to Sonic because Abigail wanted ice cream.  Abigail and I got vanilla cones and Austin got some chicken.  Almost as soon as I start eating my ice cream, Austin asks if he can try it!  

What???? Austin wants to try ice cream!!  Are we in an alternate universe??!  

(by the way Austin had no idea we had talked/texted/facebooked about his dislike for ice cream)

This was completely out of the blue and what I call perfect timing!  

Not only did he try the ice cream, he and Jack actually ended up eating most of my cone and then he announces that next time we go to Sonic he is getting ice cream.  

Oh I was laughing so hard!!!  Brent's face was priceless!!

These pictures are from a few days later at McDonald's.  Just a little proof that it wasn't a one time deal.

Abigail and Jack eating ice cream is not big shocker.  

They will eat practically anything!!

I just thought the timing of Brent's ranting and Austin's deciding he loves ice cream was too funny! 

too many pictures

I know y'all are sick of looking at pictures, but since I'm trying to teach myself how to take better pictures I've been taking way too many.  

These are my little models!

these are old pictures, his rash is practically gone now

I'm pretty sure my kids are getting sick of having their pictures taken, but I don't care.