Day 2 and 3

Well yesterday was a failure. I didn't watch tv during the day, but I did stay on the computer longer than I wanted to. It was also still kind of rainy so I didn't walk either. I was feeling pretty down on myself until I realized that I was feeling punished! Accomplishing goals should not feel that way! I spent lots of time with Zack playing, I read with the kids and I made dinner. So according to my "plans" I failed, but I still feel like I got stuff done. The boys also did their chores again and that is always a good thing.

Today I went walking with Holly, and man that time just flies by when you have someone to chat with! Thanks Holly for coming with me! I now know that if I have someone to talk to it won't feel like such a chore.
I had plans to help Ethan's teacher at school when right as I was leaving I get a call from the nurse saying Andrew is throwing up and I need to come get him. Bummer for him, and it totally put a wrench in my plans for the day. I bring him home and he is fine! I'm making him stay on the couch, and I will be making him take a nap because Zack kept me up all night long so I need one. Lol. I'm making dinner again though and I exercised, so so far I consider this a passable day. :)

I promise, after lunch a fun picture post!

Day 1

Well, today has started off well, or ending well anyway. I'm pushing it on my time limit for the computer. I thought 30 mins would be plenty of time! AH!

 Anyway, today Zack and I walked our 2 1/2 miles and it was freezing! But it felt good to get my muscles moving. It would be great to have company though! :) Hint hint!

I didn't start potty training him, there is a part of me that is hesitating because I don't want to fight with him. But I want to at least give it a try. So that is my goal for tomorrow morning, but with park day thrown in and friends over, I'm not sure how well that will go. We will see, I'm not pushing it. :)

I cooked last night and tonight. So far so good. I don't know why cooking is such a chore for me, I just really don't like it. Lol.

Okay, now here is for a confession, or a moderation on my goals. I'm going to watch one show a night. (Honestly, its because I forgot Biggest Loser was on tonight!) But one show is nothing compared to my normal evening fare.

Cutting down on these two things though (computer and TV) I was able to keep my house clean, play skateboarding on the Nintendo with Zack (he kicked my butt!), had the boys do chores, started their journals, made a menu AND finished a book! Amazing what can happen!

Okay I'm out of time. Tomorrow I hope to add some pics to my post!

Overwhelmed

Today is a day where I am feeling so overwhelmed I am not accomplishing a thing! It was a CrAZy month of October, and November is shaping up to be the same. I don't know how my friends who are constantly busy handle it. I need down time. I've been wasting an extraordinary amount of time online and watching television. I haven't even had time to read! Shocker! So I am setting a goal this week. I'm counting on you (whoever may read this) to help me keep my goal(s).

For one week, November 8th 2010 is the deadline. I am going to try:
*Watching no television. This is me, not Jeff or the kids. Although it would do the kids good! This is all about me this week.
*I'm going to cook every night. Hopefully I can find some yummy, cheap and relatively easy recipes. If you know of some, let me know! I'm desperate for cheap ways of eating.
*I'm going to exercise every day. Which will be walking with Zack after the older ones go to school. If anyone wants to join me, be at my house at 8:00 am tomorrow and we will walk together!
*I'm only going to have 30 mins of computer/iPod time a day. (wow that is going to be hard!)
*I am going to potty train Zack! Diapers are too expensive, and for goodness sake he is 3 already!

Okay so those are my goals. Do you think it's a bit much? I hope it is doable. I am going to try and check in with you guys everyday to see how I am doing. This should be interesting!

Wish me luck!

Trace Adkins - You're Gonna Miss This

Yesterday afternoon, Jeff got home a little early. The boys ran in the door from school and all was chaos. But then, little by little, homework got done, snacks were eaten and we all ended up in the family room doing various activities. Jeff was working, I was watching Biggest Loser with Andrew, and Ethan was playing with Legos. I looked around and realized that these are the days! At the beginning of the summer it was WEIRD having Jeff around so much. I mean hello! you aren't called a Milgard widow for nothing! I tried really hard to enjoy it though because I knew it wasn't going to last. There were days I did better than others with not getting frustrated with having another adult around all the time. Questioning what I was doing, having to explain why I was just laying on the couch after a particularly long day of kids having nothing to do. It got irritating sometimes! However, NOW, Jeff is only 3 weeks away from having an office. So that means he won't be at home sitting on the couch finishing up his work. He is going to be in an office in Arlington doing that. In a lot of ways, I am SO looking forward to that. All his "stuff" will be in the office and not scattered everywhere here at home. But I am going to miss seeing him randomly in the middle of the day. I'm going to miss being able to watch tv with him in the afternoon while he works. I'm REALLY going to miss being able to run to the store sans children because he is upstairs working.

So like this song says, each moment in our lives is important. We need to cherish them because one day we will miss all this stuff! (Even though in this moment its hard to imagine that we will miss tripping on toys in the middle of the night, or little sticky hands all over the walls.)

Family Pictures 2010

My wonderful friend Lindsay is starting a photography business. Her website is Lindsay Walden Photography check it out!

Anyway, we went to the Grapevine Railroad Museum to take pictures. It was honestly the only way that I could get Ethan to even get dressed to go. He is not a fan of taking pictures, ask Rachel. :) 

She did a great job and we had a blast!

Blogger has been sucking tonight with uploading pictures. :( so I didn't get all the ones I wanted on here. But here is a snapshot of the best. I love my boys! They are so handsome!

Thank you Lindsay! If it weren't for you and your wonderful family our transition here in Texas wouldn't have gone so smoothly. With you we feel like we belong here. I'm so grateful for your friendship and the fact that our husbands get along so fantastically. Not to mention our boys play so well together. I miss my family and friends in California/Arizona like crazy and it is nice to have you and your family feel like our family away from family. So thank you so much! We love you!  

Friends

While at the birthday party, these two were being really cute together. Just in case they get married down the road, we thought we should capture some moments now. :) 

No pressure or anything!

Aimee wanted a posed basketball picture. These kids crack me up!

Birthday Party!

My 6 year old! When did he grow up so fast?

Ethan and Ethan and Winter (class pet)

Zack should highlight his hair, it looks good on him!

(chalk)

Geoffrey's picture of him and Ethan. Ethan is the bigger one because he is bigger than Geoff. SO CUTE!

Mason wanted in on the action and drew a picture of him and Ethan too. =)

Pinata time!

Love Zack's face. HILARIOUS!

I posted this for no other reason than it is hilarious. Ethan makes the goofiest poses ever.

Serious business, this pinata hitting!

It took muscle man Logan many, MANY times to hit this thing apart, and even then they had to tear it open and dump out the candy. 

Thank you to everyone who came, helped and brought fun presents! He loved his birthday!