you know- everybody has one...



Yesterday was a Big Ol' Excuse day for me! I will just give you a glimpse into what I was thinking- then you can all think stuff like "wow- she's part crazy" but I know you all will really be like "yup I do the same thing" and then you will all be like "I totally see her point and those aren't really excuses because they are real reasons"



1st yesterday's plan was:

- Grilled chicken and asparagus for dinner

- and I set my day to go to the gym after a 9-10 presentation



Soooo- the presentation ran over- and my Ipod wasn't fully charged- and I had another presentation at 1:00-

New plan- charge Ipod then go to the gym at 2-



Well if I go at 2- then by the time I get home at 3:30ish- that takes up too much of my work day- so- let's just work and then go to class at gym at 4:30.



I even call hubs to confirm that he won't be leaving work until about 4:30- so he won't be home until 5:30- same time as me- and then we can cook dinner and hang.



I call hubs at 4:00 ON MY WAY to the gym- pulling out of the neighborhood- and he has left work!!



what?



we have agreed already-



ugh- well I can't go to the gym and you be coming home... that just won't work.



U-turn. back to the house.



hmmmm.... well now- I haven't left the house all day. (well ok- so I left- but didn't even make it out of the neighborhood- so it doesn't count)



I make the executive decision- to change clothes and meet hubs out for dinner. I mean- since I haven't been out of the house, and I have bunko on Thursday- which would mean that we didn't get our "every other Thurs. night out to dinner" done-



And I can miss one day at the gym right? I mean- I am still sore from Tuesdays butt kicking.



Basically I wore workout clothes all day long- and never made it to the gym. But did make it out for pizza, wings, and beer- oh and spending time with hubs.



remember- these are all very valid real  reasons NOT excuses.... right.



RIGHT!



See I told you.

How cool is this?

Music class at school- with DRUMS! yay!

and Mr. Will is an actual musician. He plays in bands around Austin- so it's pretty much like a celebrity is teaching my son music! Sometimes it's drums, sometimes the stand up base, guitars, bongos, etc....

oh- and look at this sweet love. K already whooo-ing the ladies.

I sat last night and really reflected on how truly blessed I am. My friends, my family, my love-



I am so honored to be a part of making the world a better place. Remember the movie Pay It Forward? It's so very true. If just each of us- treats others the way we would want to be treated in return- just think.... think of the possibilities.



My new job- the values that we teach our children, the friends that make me want to be a better person. For real- my cup is full. My heart beats hard and proud.



And my heart goes out to families that have to experience loss. It pains me.



The tornado in Joplin- claimed too many. This family -the Hamils- lost their 15mo old son, the mother and 5 year old daughter are in the hospital, and her 3 year old son was ripped from her arms during the storm and is still missing.



Heartache.



If you can help. Help. $5, $10, $20- every cent counts. Give blood. Give supplies. Give your time. The American Red Cross has plenty of information of ways to help as well.



Count your blessings. Hug your loved ones. Send some love to those who need it.

whew! what a week- last week of school- 3 day weekend- and 100 degree weather- HOT!



BigSisC won the Citizenship Award- that's for being helpful and a role model student throughout the year- she was the only girl in 7th grade to win the award!! Way to go! So very proud of her- can't believe that she will be starting her last year of middle school next year..... time has just got to slow down!

BigBroC has his awards ceremony and 5th grade graduation on Friday- then it's out of elementary school and off to the 6th grade for him-



surely- I don't age at the same rate as the kids do- right? .....RIGHT?



Earlier this week we hit up the Round Rock Express game. We love sitting out on the "grassy knoll" - at least that's what we call. We just bring a big blanket and relax chase babyK around. At least the sun had settled a little bit and we got a good spot in the shade- a nice breeze- and a great crowd.



This weekend we are heading out with one of our favorite families- the K Family. They have a lake house that is o'so fun. Spending the days floating in the lake and fishing. And of course my favorite part of the planning- is deciding what to eat!



The menu for this weekend:

- sausage and biscuits for breakfast

- brisket and red beans

- jalapeno bacon wrapped chicken

- grilled corn on the cob with cilantro pesto butter

- grilled asparagus

- spinach artichoke dip

- cheesy bean dip



I know- way to much food- we always have a lot.



And speaking of having a lot- my family is truly blessed and I don't want to end on a sad note here- so read on to the next post-



SUMMER LOVE!!

Man! I feel like I haven't posted in FOR- ever- and that probably because I haven't.



So much has been going on- so I am just going to give a quick re-cap and then we'll be all caught up and we can move forward from there.

1. I GOT A NEW JOB!!! Very very exciting- and it's with a company that is home based. so everyone works from home- how cool is that? So to get some training underway I went to "boot camp" in Park City, UT for 3 days one week. Got pretty spoiled with a nice big room with a fire place. Went and checked out where they hold the Sundance Film Festival- and of course, did some work too. Then I came home and turned right back around and headed out to Orange County, CA for our annual company meeting to stay at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Nigel for 3 days- and WOW- I was pretty spoiled there too! Steak, lobster, wine, live music, sail boat racing- oh- and we did some work too. All in all this has been a fantastic move for me and I am so happy and honored to get to work with this great group!

2. K had his 15 month doctor's appointment (last month) He is just growing growing growing. Still in the 5% for weight and height- coming in at just 20 lbs. But no worries- his noggin is still big and in the 75%- it's all the smarts he keeps in there. He's walking, running, climbing, and good ol' dad taught him how to jump in the bed.... good one dad. He can sing Itsy Bitsy Spider- with hand movements, the ABC's, and he will try and repeat just about anything you say. (going to have to start watching what we say) He eats like a champ- and the strangest thing- the other night he reached into the Pico and wanted to eat it??? that boy!

3. BigBroC is finishing up his last days in Elementary School- 5th grade graduation is just a week away! Then it's off to Middle School *gasp* He's decided to play the Baritone- so I think next year will be a lot of fun for him.



4. BigSisC has finished her 1st "sports" season- she played volleyball, basketball, and then did track. She says she likes basketball best- and can't wait to play next year. Of course next year she will rule the school as a big 8th grader- time is going by too fast!



5. Around the house we have been sprucing up the yards- we have some peppers and tomatoes growing.

-We are almost ready to start our patio.

-We almost have my new office all set up- and we are going to be adding some french doors to the study.

-Diesel chewed up my heart strap for The Watch- why? I don't know- he's such a weird dog! but good news- it still works- yay.

-My mother's day was great. We went to Pecan Street Festival, ate crawfish, and then played some bat-mitton with friends- great great day! Thank you to all who made it so special.

Hmmmm... I think that about sums it up. Hopefully things around here will get back into the normal routine- I'll keep you all posted.

I just wanted to mark this moment in time-

K has started saying "love you"

awww..... melts your heart right?

like at bedtime we will say "good night- love you"

and he says "ni ni lmm uuuu"

I will capture it on video to post soon-



So...



positive thoughts this week-

"Prepare your mind to recieve the best that life has to offer"

what is meant to be- will be-

isn't it crazy how the universe 'tests' you for these situations?

pulling strings- making your head spin- making you really think about what direction you want to head.



"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be"



but that's ok- I am up for this adventure-

anyhow- all i want to be is myself-  black eye and all.

ya- that's right.

i have a black eye.

maybe they will think i'm tough.

i bet it will make our meeting memorable....right?

oh who am I kidding- they are going to love me!

i will keep you all posted.

I wanted to go to the gym today- I really did- but



I went downstairs to get dressed-



pants- check

sports bra- check

socks, shoes, workout watch- checkcheckcheck

shirt- ohcrap!



and NO i am not into working out

a. topless or

b. in a sports bra



so I guess I will be shopping on my lunch break today....



and I will leave you with the little tid-bit. Did you know that some where like over in Europe or something- they actually do have topless- I think- even nude gyms. I am not kidding.... I read about it once- for real. And I would search it up for you- but I am at work and could probably get in trouble for looking that up on the clock.



that's just what i want to motivate me when working out- some big sweaty fat guy- naked.



ew.ew.ew.gross.



Happy Friday!

I know it's hard to grasp what's going on in Japan- it's not over-



there are some that have lost EVERYthing-



not just houses, cars, clothes, all thier belongings- but



mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles- entire families- entire villages



history. identities.



If you don't count your blessings- you should.



It's hard to think about how we can help- but we can.





Japan is one of the most modern countries in the world. Even though they were somewhat prepared for this- in hopes that it would never happen. considering that a 8.9 quake could have killed millions in a less developed county-





Even so- the images are still heart breaking.







Anyhow- anything helps. And if you would like to donate- go here.



Or do what we did and buy one of these super cute t-shirts and wear it to support the people of Japan.





100% of the proceeds of the sales of this shirt will go towards The Salvation Army's relief efforts in Japan.

No- not the Child- silly.

Concentrate on this sentence-

To get something you never had,  you have to do something you never did.

Fate. Destiny.

Is it already planned for us?

or can we take it where we want to go?

it's scary and exciting all at the same time.

I wonder what the universe has in store for me.

 I can't really say much more (right now anyhow) but

I have opened my mind- my heart- my future- to the world.

It's very exciting. and scary.

oh- did I already say that?

 that's because it is.

my heart beats fast just typing this up.

The poster says

The choices we make, not the chances we take, determine our destiny.

What if we make a choice to take a chance?

OH- excitement is in the air~!

Let me just tell ya'll- I am trying to do this whole "healthy" thing this week- but FOR REAL - what I wouldn't give for some

ketchup-

did you know how much sugar ketchup has in it??

cheese- ymmmmmm-

one block of sharp cheddar over here please.

So what else have I done without this week?

beer

wine

milk

potatoes

hot wings

pizza



ALL fun stuff!



wow- it's crazy when you start actually watching what you put in your mouth- how much you put in without even realizing it.

But good news! It's Friday! and I have been super duper good all week long so that on Friday- and that would be tonight- I can cheat go on a date with the hubs and splurge a little.

I mean- how is it even possible to get THIS much stuff on you when you eat?? Isn't there some sort of award you can win for that? surely there is....

We can start off easy- here's the Cake Mustache

 Then we have sweet potatoes- pretty innocent-

Is that a nutrigrain bar?? all gone!

and finally spaghetti-

CHEESE!

Static-

goodness- I didn't even know he had that much hair!

and I know- he's getting big. And I have been avoiding the 12 months update- and now he's already 13 months- stayed tuned- I will up date soon-

You know in TX- when it snows everyone freaks out and everything closes down. Which was nice- so no work on Friday! yay! it's a snow day.



The other part of that is- we don't really have any cold weather clothes either- so you just have to wing it. I put K in some baby legs, sweat pants, a long sleeve shirt, his heavy jacket, and sock monkey hat- hope he was warm. I couldn't find his little mittens- so we didn't stay out long. He didn't like touching the snow- but he liked crunching it under his feet.

I told you that Texans don't know how to dress in the snow-

C throwing snow balls to the dogs- they loved it!

Gracie kept eating the snow-

Our street- no one had drove on the roads- looks cool huh?

and what do we get into when we are home on a snow day?

 Look i'm in the middle-

We made a pot of Chicken Pot Pie soup- From Gina's Skinny Recipes- it was soooo good and perfect for a snow day dish!