Family Picture-Palooza!

There are dishes to wash and things to clean and vacation pictures to post and a million things to do...

But I just HAD to post our recent family pictures we just got back. Literally, squealing with excitement inside.

We haven't had real pictures in years, really. But I happen to know an incredible photographer who managed to fit us in over the holidays on our drive back to Texas. AND THAT had me JUMPING for joy. :)

It was COOOOLD. Really cold. And our poor kids had fallen asleep en route to the photo shoot. So we were pulling them out of a warm car, into frigid air, half asleep, on a short timeline thanks to a quickly fading sun. :) It was funny to see each person react. Jenna, the little poser. Kaden went between the boy making funny faces to FREEZING and running away sulking. Spencer, also cold, went between solemn and goofy. And Carter decided early on he wanted nothing to do with the photo shoot.

BUT, I love each picture--for capturing the imperfections of the situation. For making me laugh remembering all the funny things we tried to do to stay warm...and for finally allowing me to be on the other side of the camera.

And the fact that we got so many pictures, is at the hands of the miracle worker herself--our photographer. CHECK HER OUT if you're looking to capture some of your own memories. http://melindasmithphotography.blogspot.com/ And even if you're not quite ready to book a session, her photography is SUCH eye candy. She has such a great eye and I love to browse through her pictures! :) 

{and no, she's not paying me to say any of this!}

So, without further ado...

Family pictures...2011...

Home again, home again, jiggity-jig

It is hard to believe that a week ago we had just arrived in Idaho, and now we are back home. 

This trip was entirely too fast.

But oh, so wonderful.

The drive home was long. L-O-N-G.

We got turned around. Our printed directions weren't right. Our GPS was misleading.

And it was SO frustrating.

We made a million phone calls. We found ourselves on dark, obscure roads lined with deer ready to pop out into our headlights. We white-knuckled our way through drifting snow in Wyoming. And we went without a lot of sleep. It was pretty rough stuff.

It was difficult to come back. We had so much fun together while there--playing with cousins and grandparents, drinking hot cocoa, snowmobiling, Orange Leaf and Mongolian Grill, game nights, etc.

And all we had waiting for us at home was a mailbox full of bills, a mountain of laundry, and the fact that everyday life needs to resume. Work, school, the constant driving everywhere...

And what sounds so fun about that???

So, with our spirits being a little deflated on the trip home, there were no pictures.

But a few on the way THERE to hopefully capture a little of our travels...

(while I anxiously get the rest of our trip posted)

Carter was a mega-mess with his rice crispy treat.

And it was SO magical to see the mountains!
We saw bits of snow in Utah, and when we crossed over the Idaho border and all yelled "WELCOME TO IDAHO!" the kids exclaimed, "LOOK! There is snow in Idaho TOO!" (as if it would have ended at the state line! lol)

Jenna was our resident DVD-player operator. :)

And we traveled with Brandon's brother & fam--switching off kids now and then. So here's Cailyn on her time with us. :)

Carter ALSO provided himself with a long while of entertainment, ripping out wipes over and over. He thought he was funny stuff.

I loved looking back and seeing the wee ones sleeping. Something so peaceful about that. :)

I said magical...not COMFORTABLE.

We will definitely be taking a road-trip break for a while...
but I am SO grateful we had this time together as a family...
to travel, to relax, and to make a million memories.

SURPRISE!!!!

Today I am writing from the chilly land of Idaho.
YES, Idaho.

See, one thing I couldn't write in my last post (which was part of my MAJOR stress factor), was that among all the things that were going wrong and spiraling downward, I was trying to pack for 6 to be gone for a week. Trying to load a car that was in the shop. Trying to pack suitcases with clothes that couldn't be washed. Trying to get a million things done so we could get out of town.
We decided pretty spontaneously that we would try to make a quick surprise trip home. Brandon hasn't been home for over 3 years, and hadn't seen several nieces, nephews, siblings, aunts and uncles and cousins for even LONGER than that. Some he had never met. And even though it seems I have been able to get home once a year or more, Brandon has always been tied down with school, tests, work...LIFE.


The windows of heaven really opened for this to be able to happen at this time. We knew we wouldn't have much time for travel and visiting, but we decided to just GO! Brandon's brother Jason and his family (who also live in Texas) were going too, and we had a little caravan through the long night and day of travel--I've said it before, and I will say it again. The drive to Idaho is killer. MAN, is it LOOOONG!

But I wanted this for Brandon. He deserved this trip. He deserved a little bit of time off. And I am so glad we could make it happen.


BEST of all, was that Brandon's parents had no idea we were coming.

My parents knew--and Brandon's sister knew. But we tried to keep it on the down low as much as possible. We arrived after dark last night, and let Cassie (his sister who lives in the same town as his parents) pull ahead of us, as well as Jason and his family. We parked a little ways down the street and unloaded the kids while Grandpa was greeting the others by the house. And then we emerged from the shadows.
We had speculated over and over how his parents may react. This was uncharted territory and we weren't exactly sure. But the reaction was better than I could have EVER anticipated. It is hard to describe--something that was almost slow motion, but yet unfolding so quickly.
Brandon's dad with tears...DISBELIEF...laughter over how we pulled this off. I wish I could accurately put into words how it played out--but it plays over and over in my mind and is something I hope I never forget.
And then the grandkids started shuffling inside to see Grandma. I heard her from outside naming kids as they went inside. "Cailyn! Jessica! {insert pause} JENNA?" We followed her in and she saw Brandon and got the most CONFUSED look on her face. IT WAS SOOOO funny. Everyone was laughing, hugging, and putting the story together figuring out how the others involved used certain conversations as decoys, etc.
It was SO memorable. And I am THRILLED we were able to pull off this kind of surprise!
As we were driving, I realized we have never traveled home for the holidays. All the years we lived in Ohio, there was never a Christmas spent at home. There was never a Thanksgiving break for us. It was too far and too expensive. And we did Holidays on our own.

Yesterday, we were driving through Price Canyon in Utah and I happened to find Christmas music on the radio. I sang along and belted out the words "from Atlantic to Pacific, gee the traffic is terriffic! Oh there's NO place like HOME for the Holidays!"....and then I got all choked up. I could see so clearly in my mind all the family that will be gathering together to share a gigantic turkey and an incredible amount of gratitude...I envisioned being with MY family too, seeing a few of my siblings and giving the kids some Grandma/Grandpa time, and hitting up our standby traditional places to eat.

And I must say that regardless of how long the visit, or how often it happens, or what season you go, the old phrase rings true...
"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!"

{over}reacting

I have a bajillion and one things I need to be doing. 

My thoughts are all jumbled.

My living room looks like I am opening a laundromat.

My kitchen, a total disaster.

The to-do list between now and Friday, MASSIVE.

Just feels like everything is going WRONG...and we just need a glimpse of something going right.

The car is making weird noises.

The back door broke.

The dryer belt broke. 

We attempted to fix it...and came to find out that the universal belt we bought didn't fit.

Which leaves us with dry laundry piled up, wet laundry hanging everywhere, and a huge pile of homemade paper dolls and miscellaneous paper confetti that the kids made while we were attempting to fix the dryer.

And so tomorrow, between getting kids to school, taking the van to the mechanic, running Brandon to work, taking a very goopy-eyed little Carter to the Dr. where I will also meet up with the little boy I babysit, and then try to figure out where to leave 1 kid long enough for me to pick up Spencer from preschool--since there isn't room for 3 kids in Brandon's little 2 door car....

Yes, somewhere in all that mumbo jumbo I need to try to find time to drive all over to find a dryer belt that fits.

I am perfectly aware that this is a case of {over}reacting. 

And while I am positive that things will somehow work out...

But right now I want to throw myself on the floor, eat a bowl of ice cream, and have a good cry...

Leader training

I wish I had some witty title for this post.

But my brain is still on overload from the past weekend! 

I had a great time...an EXHAUSTING time...but a great time.

Remember that swimming pool I posted pictures of?

Ya. My swimsuit didn't leave the suitcase.

And my gym shoes stayed packed as well.

I was doing good to pull out my pj's and climb in bed.

(though I must say, the Hyatt hotel has fantastic sheets! LOVED 'em!)

(and it was fantastic to have delicious breakfast each morning)

We were in training much of the time I was there. I learned so much. 

And I do mean SOOOO much!

But Friday night they told us to GO OUT and have fun.

So some of our group opted to go to the mall and have dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.

--insert MAJOR sigh of relief--

We had a FANTASTIC time. Lots of laughing. Lots of talking. Lots of food. :)

We decided to order this chocolate lava cake...to share, don't worry.

(can you imagine eating this by yourself? yikes!)

Most of all, I loved connecting with other women who at one time or another had weight issues like me...

who also had been successful with losing it. They are friendships I hope I keep for a long, long time.

In the end, I PASSED and have a few more things to do before I take on a meeting of my own.

But I'm so, so excited...

Husband of the year...

I'M BACK from an exhausting, but wonderful few days away.

I learned SO much.

I missed my kiddos...

and hearing them exclaim "I miss you" on the phone, tugged at  my heartstrings.

I missed my husband...

but was so glad that he was there to man the fort and wipe tears and clean up messes.

He truly is heroic to me, for taking on all he did...

He drove about 70 miles, picking up and dropping off kids several times a day at their respective schools.

He got everyone up, fed, dressed and out the door by 7:15 in the morning.

He babysit an ADDITIONAL 4 children, and even made a casserole for dinner.

So grateful to him...

for letting me do something I love.

for being willing to take on the challenges of the day.

for loving me...and giving me the opportunity to love him back.

Weight Watchers worked for me...

So now I get to work for Weight Watchers!

This is something I have wanted to do since I started losing weight, and realized how incredible the Weight Watchers program is for consistent weight loss and long term sustainability. I was so inspired and encouraged by my meeting leader, and wanted the chance to do the same for others. 

At the same time, I knew that first and foremost I am a mom. 

Weight Watchers understood that, and welcomed me on board. The schedule + mom schedule is a match made in heaven...about 2 1/2 hours a week, while the kids are at school, doing something I love, keeping tabs on my own weight maintenance, and getting a little paycheck to go with it. 

I am SO excited for this...

And in a couple days I will be off to a 3 day training a few hours away...

and get to sleep in a beautiful hotel...

and have healthy, delicious meals prepared for me (not by me)...

And I will swim laps in a heated pool...

And eat in a restaurant that probably doesn't have a kids menu...

And that excites me. :)

While I know that the leader training I will attend was not intended to be a mom's retreat, it FEELS like it to me. :) I love my kids. And I love being a mom. But sometimes that little time away...well, let's just say that absence DOES make the heart grow fonder. ;)  Am so grateful for Brandon--being willing to fill in, run kids everywhere, get meals on, do homework, bedtime, cleanup...he's a good Mr. Mom. A great one, really.

A couple days off of our everyday life will make me feel like a new woman,

and a couple days of training for this position, learning lots and working hard, meeting new friends with similar stories, and enjoying a little bit of R & R is just what the doctor ordered. :)

Perspective.

I've decided that sometimes you need really crummy, grumpy, no-good, days...

And people who act like they never happen, are SO missing out.

I mean it.

I was oh, so grumpy yesterday.

I felt like a bad mom and wife.

I felt like I had no control over anything.

And yet, part of me didn't WANT any control.

Or so I thought.

The truth is, after I made myself sit down and do what I needed to do, I saw the bigger picture.

I found better ways to do things.

The balance budgeted better on paper than it did in my mind.

Life made so much more sense.

And while I don't have all the answers.

And I still am lacking in the good wife and mom department...

I have a different perspective today.

My meals are planned.

My budget and bill schedule written out for the next 3 months.

I have better resolve and a system in place to use with the kids in keeping track of the to-do's for school.

And today I breathe a little easier.

Feel a little less stress.

And a lot more appreciative...

for hot showers.

for whole wheat pancakes.

for wearing shorts in November.

for naptime.

for a husband who sees my needs, and responds to them.

for fresh cut watermelon.

for loving family members.

for prayer.

for answers. even the ones that take time to understand.

for bike-riding.

for goals.

for life.

and for the really, really grumpy days that make the next day so much brighter.

Grumpy...with a capital G.

Today I just feel on the grumpy side...

Daylight Savings Time has wreaked havoc on our home.

Regardless of how late we put the kids to bed, their internal clocks are ready to roll at the same early hour.

Every day.

Change the time, and we're just up even earlier.

sigh.

My nausea left for a couple weeks.

I was rejoicing.

But now it's starting to come back.

grrrr...

I'm trying to be more organized and on top of things.

But I am finding sometimes that the less you know, the better.

Kind of like...Ignorance is BLISS.

Staying on top of things means you have to be aware...

of what you're feeding your family each day.

And how you're going to get the food to do so.

And what bills are due on what days.

And when the money comes in.

And how much money goes out.

And how much money you don't have to do the things you really want to do.

It means making sure at least one load of laundry gets washed...

and folded. 

{insert grumbly words here}

And that the list of to-do's is crossed off at the end of the day.

And as much as I love to be organized and be on top of things,

lately it just has felt overwhelming.

And annoying.

There, said it. Not gonna lie.

Add to that, I just got an email from Jenna's teacher saying an assignment was due today.
I have never heard of this assignment.
Jenna must have taken it out of her backpack before I could go through it.
But apparently the teacher noted it on the reading chart last week.
The one I didn't sign. Because of field trips and visitors coming and Halloween stuff.
So now I look (and feel) like the neglectful mom of the year.

My head is throbbing.

The tears are welling up.

And I think I need to go back to bed and dream that blasted extra hour we got this weekend, away.

Grandma and Grandpa and Cousins, OH MY!

We were so blessed to be able to have visitors come for a short bit--and I do mean SHORT. Literally Thursday evening to Friday evening, and then a couple hours on Saturday. But we tried to pack the time we DID have with fun memories.

Thursday night after Brandon's parents got here, we all went out for dinner at BJ's--I've heard them be known for a few things, but we will always remember them for their fresh made root beer! IT WAS SO delicious!

Apparently loose tooth (or alleged loose teeth) were in abundance at our table while we waited for our food, and Spencer snuggled Grandpa extra close.

We made it home and everyone got in bed. The next day we skipped school in favor of Lita/Papa time since we knew it was so short. IHOP happened to be doing their free scary pancakes, so we went there for lunch and the kids had a blast decorating and gobbling up their pancakes.

Carter was especially fond of the candy corn and cool whip. :)

That afternoon, Brandon's brother and sister-in-law (Jason and Mindi) came down and spent some time. We were thrilled because even though we live relatively close (an hour and a half apart), this was the first time they'd been able to come to our house.
(Brandon, his Mom, Jason, his Dad)

Brandon was still at work for a while, so everyone just visited and we made up the fixin's for a yummy dinner--brisket, mashed potatoes, baked beans, rolls, salad, corn, and cheesecake! (It was a carbaholics' delight...or a runner's delight...probably both. But Jason was running a marathon the next day so we were trying to help him carb load) Too bad the rest of us just like carbs...and not marathons. :)

Papa held baby Cora and it was so, so sweet...

And the kids LOVED having their Grandma and Grandpa around.
The cried...a lot...when they realized they couldn't stay any longer.

LOVED having cousins around--lots and lots of playtime...

And Carter was the snuggliest little bug ever with Grandpa. IT WAS THE SWEETEST thing ever!

A quick-trip, but a good one.
The downfall?
We had such a good time and are longing for more!
Now we need to put out full recruitment efforts for any and all visitors who may pass through our Central Texas neck of the woods... :)
Any Takers??

Punkins...and pumpkin

My little punkin had a pre-k trip to the PUMPKIN patch with his class shortly before Halloween. Now granted, this was just a "patch" at a church in the middle of town, but still. They had cute stations--for pictures, the playground, an art stop, reading time, and of course a place to pick out a pumpkin to take.

I love watching my kiddos in their element...with their class and friends...it's truly magical to me. And this was no exception. ;)