It's October, Y'all!!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Miles Today: 0.0

Miles This Year: 1597
Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

It was POURING down rain this morning...so no running for this lady!  I am feeling the wedding food settling in from the weekend.  I need to exercise, badly!

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Good Mama?  Bad Mama?  Not sure yet...

In the 20 minutes that it actually stopped raining yesterday afternoon, Dub went to play football with the 3 little boys who live next door.  Their mom came over carrying Dub, who was crying, saying that the middle child accidentally stepped on his toe.  I babied him for a few minutes, and he told me that he was ok, but he mooped and moaned and limped all night.  Now, I don't think he is old enough to know how to fake an injury (at least not with that amount of effort and for so long), but I was beginning to think he might be a little over dramatic.  I touched it and bent it and he wiggled it and everything else.  It was not swollen or bruised.  He told me he didn't want to go to the doctor and that it was ok.  So, we gave hime some tylenol and put him to bed last night.  

This morning, he wakes up and he is still complaining about the toe.  There were tears when he put his shoes on.  I told him I would take him to the doctor and again, he bucked up and said no.   

I emailed his teacher to watch him...just in case there is something broken...I certainly do not want to be the mom who DIDN'T take her child to the doctor with a broken bone!!

I think I might run him by the doc-in-a-box after school to get an x-ray, just in case.

I'll let you know!

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October!!!!!

This has to be my favorite month of the year!!!  I love all things October!  The weather, Ben's birthday, the leaves changing colors and falling, going to the Pumpkin Patch, Fall Festival at school, the Fall Bazaar at church, the Alabama-Tennessee game, and of course, Halloween!!! 

I have mentioned my obsession with Halloween before, but it is about to get put into high gear!

The country club costume contest is on the 25th, so....game on!!

The kids have won 3 years in a row and I take it pretty seriously...here are our past contest-winning costumes...

2009 "The Chef's Special: Lobster Sis"

2010 Pebbles and Bam Bam

2011  Steve Jobs and his beloved iPhone

And this year...well, I can't tell you that yet.  

But there will be plenty of time and effort put into it and it is a good one!  Pics to come, no doubt!

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Dinner tonight...

We are going to Midtown for dinner tonight with friends from church.  I am so excited! That means wedding food and pizza will need to be run off this week.  boo...

Anyway...that's my day.  I swear...it'll get better!

Question for today...

Have you ever unintentionally let a child go around with a broken bone?  

What's your favorite time of the year?

Please send me some of your Halloween costume pics!!  The "Punnier" the better!!

Catching up...whew!!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Miles Today: 6.0

Miles This Year: 1590

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Great run this morning!!  It was actually quite cold--love that!

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2 things...

Just a quick pic from last night.  I told the babes they could watch one little show after they got ready for bed (mainly because I had dinner on the table at 5 and everyone was cleaned and ready for bed before 6).  

1.  When Dub got even the slightest bit too tall for footed pajamas, he wanted nothing to do with them.  On the other hand, we cannot get Roo out of these bad boys!!  Her favorite pair--the FLEECE rainbow one.  Even in the middle of the summer, she will break out her "cozy" pajamas!!

2.  Who says we don't recycle??  That super cool Teletubbie was my little sister's when she was little.  I have not said the actual word "teletubbies" in front of them, for fear that they might say it all the time..or worse, I might be forced to watch that show.  Ahhh!!!  They just call him "Yellow, the boy."   

Enjoying Little Einsteins! 

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So Cool!!

Roo thought it would be cute to sit with her baby "Birginia" in the antique high chair.  She already fed the baby, now, she is burping her.  She cracks me up!

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Darn it!!

The kids have discovered gum!!  Ahhhhh.....all I hear in the afternoons is smacking.  

at least they use teamwork to get it!

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Miles Today: 3.0

Miles This Year: 1593

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Blah Blah Blah...Thursday! 

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Miles Today: 2.0

Miles This Year: 1595

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Could almost say the same thing today.  

Nice day at work and the kids ha a great day at school.  

I let them help me make dinner tonight.  We made our own little pizzas!  Della was putting cheese on her pizza with one hand and taking it off with the other hand to eat it!  They were actually pretty good little pies!  Maybe they can get a job here one day!  

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Miles Today: 2.0

Miles This Year: 1597

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Very busy Saturday!

I pushed Roo in the stroller this morning and Dub rode his bike on our run this morning.  I thought I would have to stop a lot with Dub, but he kept up the whole time!  He is getting too big.  

We got back home and got dressed.  Roo did some work on her iPad while I made breakfast!

After breakfast, we ran to the Farmer's Market, the gas station, the car wash and then to Olive's birthday party!!  

Auburn and Alabama....cupcakes really can solve all of the world's problems, huh?

the birthday girl!!

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B'ham Wedding!

 After the party, we ran back home, ate lunch, put the kids down for a nap and Ben and I snuck to Birmingham for the night for a good friend's wedding.  It was so awesome to see so many people from high school.  I grew up at one small, private school from Kindergarten through graduation and so did most of the 52 people in my class.  We are tight!!!  Very tight!!  So, although we are really good about staying in touch throughout the year, a wedding is like a reunion--always so good to see so many people at once.  

Congratulations to Ross and Katherine!!

The Happy Couple!

Another Happy Couple!!

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On a completely different note...

I have a toenail issue this week.  So lets just say.... this is the picture BEFORE I wore 5 inch heels for 5 hours!!  Women have amazing pain thresholds, right?

I know, I know...I need a pedicure! 

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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Miles Today: 0.0

Miles This Year: 1597

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

We slept in on Sunday (ahh...8:00...it's nice to meet you!) and went to brunch at this great place.  I had the California Burger--so, so, so good!!  And--they make their own Rosemary Ketchup.  I think I will be trying that at home, folks!  It's awesome!  

After brunch, we headed back to Monkeytown.  It crazy...we were gone less than 24 hours and talked all the way home about how much we missed the kids.  We even watched videos on my phone just to hear their voices.  We are going to Baltimore in a few weeks for a Thursday-Sunday wedding weekend.  I know I need a break from them every now and then, but that's going to be tough!!

Right where Daddy wanted to be!!

 Anyway...that's my day.  I swear...it'll get better!

Question for today...

Footed Pj's at your house...Yeah? or Nay??  

Any old toys that you still keep around?

Do your toenails look as bad as mine?

Got a rosemary ketchup recipe for me??

Mormons, Zoo Animals and A Quiet Little Monday!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Miles Today: 0.0

Miles This Year: 1584

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

We had an awesome morning at church this morning.  With Romney running for President, many people in our class had questions about the Mormon religion, so we asked a very sweet woman to come and talk to us and help us understand a little better.  It was fascinating.  You can find out more here, but it was very interesting to hear a little bit about this religion that seems to be very misunderstood.  Our class was so interested, we have asked her to come back again to answer more questions.   Cool!

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Dig in...

We have become quite routine in our Huge Sunday Lunch at Mimi's house.  I can remember growing up with friends who had huge Sunday lunches with the whole family.  As close as our family is, we did not.  We grew up with my Dad taking the four kids to early church and Sunday school.  We sat with my grandparents until we were old enough to sing in the youth choir.  Then, we would come home and he was (and still is) out the door by 11:15 to play golf.  I rarely remember my mother going to church with us, as kids.  She considered those 2 hours of an empty house sacred!!  That was her "church." I wouldn't mind that sometimes, myself!!  ha...

Anyway--I was always jealous of people who had that big Sunday lunch.  Well...jealous no more!!  We get to have what is almost  a Thanksgiving feast every week at Ben's parents'.  We normally get out there before they get home from church, so Mimi will leave something  cooking in the oven and then leave me a list of options on the counter to cook as sides.  Today, we had roasted pork tenderloin, mashed sweet potatoes, fried corn (that Mimi and I shucked and put up this summer), zipper peas, Brussels sprouts, sliced tomatoes, and rolls.  Good grief...No wonder my stinking pants are all getting so tight!!  

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Afternoon Adventure!

We left Mimi's house to go meet some old friends and some new friends at the Zoo!!  Montgomery has a wonderful zoo (if you didn't already know).  

Dub, Tyler, Michael and Roo

We have a new Parakeet Cove, which I am really not interested in...I do not like birds at all!!  We have a new baby Giraffe.  And, we have a new Ski Lift ride that takes you over the park!  

Trying to take a picture while holding onto two children, car keys, cell phone, and flip flops - while 40-60 feet high...not so easy!!

The kids loved it!!  I was more than a little terrified.  There is only a ski lift bar in front of you...

Plenty of room for a wiggly tot to slip right out...ahhhh!!

Michael and his Mama!  Great minds think alike, huh?

Looking at the tiger...

and the rhino...

and the monkeys!

The train ride is always our favorite part at the end of a great day at the zoo!

Dub even got to blow the horn!

 We were about 200 yards out of the parking lot when I noticed total silence from the back seat...

Just a little nap on the couch before dinner!

Ben met us at home (he went to check on game cameras on the farm after lunch) and we fed the kids, bathed them and had them in the bed and completely out before 6:00!  Nice family weekend in the books.

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Monday, September 24, 2012

Miles Today: 0.0

Miles This Year: 1584

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

My alarm sis not go off this morning.  That happens when you don't set it the night before!  I rolled over at 5:55....ahh--get up!!  get dressed!!  get out the door!!!

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Pretty uneventful day...

...but that's not always a bad thing.  A quiet day usually means that the kids are behaving and learning lots of new things in their classrooms.  Fine by me!

Learning some mad color skillz!! 

Skittles....check!

Making an S with the Skittles

Anyway...that's my day.  I swear...it'll get better.

Question for today...

Any Mormons out there?  

Does your family have a big Sunday lunch together?

Do you live in a city with a great zoo?

Any good Monday stories?

Bamboo Tourists

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Miles Today: 5.0

Miles This Year: 1584

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Nice run this morning.  My back is finally feeling better!!  Whoot Whoot!

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Bam-Boo!!

Well...we checked out the Bamboo Forest Saturday morning.  It is just s trail through several acres of very old, very large bamboo.  It was pretty cool and the kids LOVED it.  It was not the coolest thing ever, but it was free and kept us busy for over an hour.  Here is our tour in pictures...

Hitchin' a ride!!

Huge Trees!! 

There are A LOT of frogs in the Bamboo Forest

Roo's introduction to BARK!!

The kids had a lot of fun.  It is in Prattville, so the kids thought it was a long way away...road trip for them!!  If you need a little free activity for the kids, I would recommend this one.

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Surprisingly Touristy!!  

So...after our little visit to the forest, we decided to stay in Prattville for the morning and be tourists on Main Street.  Dub wanted to stop and see the dam and we ended up wandering around, shopping and eating lunch at Uncle Mick's Cajun Market.   The kids loved the Gumbo!  Ben loved everything!!  If you are up that way, for any reason, you should try it!

My favorites peeps!!

Got back home just in time to tuck those 3 in for their afternoon naps.  

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Gifts!

Once they were asleep, I was able to run some errands.  Good thing--I am about 4 wedding presents behind!  Check--got them all!!  

I decided a while ago to complete ignore Wedding Registries.  It always makes me feel weird for someone to know exactly how much money I spent on them.  It's like an instant judgement.  I'm sorry that generally, I can only afford about $15 a gift, which means that I can only buy you a spatula from Bed Bath and Beyond.  And-in my opinion, if it only costs $15, you should buy it yourself.  I cannot afford to buy your china, crystal or silver (I wish I could, I swear).

So, years ago, I just started going to antique stores and finding something that I love and I want you to have.  A. gift. from. me. to. you.

I got four amazing gifts for four great couples this weekend.  All antique, all loved before and all for $65.  Thank you very much!

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RTR!!!

I left Ben and the kids playing and I ran up to the country club to watch the Tide stomp on FAU on pay-per-view.  I only stuck around for the first beating, er, I mean half.  I was surprised to hear later that FAU even scored at all.  Come on, Bama!!  You can do better than that!

Alabama - 40  Florida Atlantic - 7

Roll Tide!

Watched more football all night!  Love love love fall in the South!

What a nice day.

Anyway...that's my day.  I swear...it'll get better.

Question for today...

Anyone ever been to the Bamboo Forest?  

Have you ever played tourist in a city 5 minutes away?

How do you feel about wedding gifts?

Any more awesome family day-trips in Alabama that I should know about?

Aaarrrrrgghhh!!!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Miles Today: 2.0 (walking...)

Miles This Year: 1575

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Man oh Man!!!  Did it feel great outside this morning or WHAT?!?!?!  I love fall...and we are thisclose!!!

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Awesomeness! 

I am sure you are aware that today is Speak Like A Pirate Day!!  Love that!  In honor of One-Eyed Willy, I made coloring pages for the kids for their homework. 

We got a little carried away with the pirate talk and Big Mama made a real Treasure Map for the kids!!

The first thing on the list was something big, round, and yellow!

Check!

 Next up, touch the stairs...

Done!

 Check the map one more time...

It says to find an old lady with her hair all wrapped up on top of her head!

 When we got to the old lady--there was a prize!!!

New Dinosaurs!!!

Shiver Me Timbers!!  Thanks, Big Mama!!

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I have Korean class tonight, so Big Mama is taking the babers to Choir Practice at church.  They had to eat early to get to practice on time.

Poppyseed Chicken!!

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Miles Today: 4.0 

Miles This Year: 1579

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Um...today is Princess Day at school.  Snow White has a tea party to get to this morning!!

That's the Big Bad Wolf over there!

And SpiderMan, Woody and Tinkerbell

And Rapunzel...my buddy!!

             The "Ball Room" is all ready for our tea party...    

 But first, we have to learn some technology from Mr. Beard!!

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Celebrating with Friends!!

We went to the club tonight for dinner.  We sat with our buddies, and we reaped the benefits of her birthday celebration!

Happy Birthday, Caroline!!

We got ice cream and cupcakes!!  We love a good birthday party.

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Poor Pitiful...

Once we got home, Roo's breathing was a little labored so we did a breathing treatment.  It has been so long since she has had a problem, I had to plug up the machine and get everything all connected.  I walked to the bathroom to get the Albuterol and when I walked back in the room, she was all ready for me!!  

Such a good little patient.  

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Miles Today: 0.0 

Miles This Year: 1579

Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Roo was up 3 times last night with her wheezing and coughing, so that means I was up 3 times last night with her.  Therefore, heretofor...no run this morning.  Boo...

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Tours!!

I had 2 tours at school this morning.  I love being busy!  

I got to meet 2 great young families who are very interested in becoming part of our family!  Did I mention I love my job!?!?

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Weekend Plans...

I am having brunch with an old friend tomorrow.  She is in town for a wedding and I haven't seen her in several months!  Can't to see her!

Ben and I area also taking the kids to the Bamboo Forest in the morning.  It's some random yet rather large, natural Bamboo forest in the middle of Alabama.  I have never even heard of this, but I'll let you know if it is worth the trip to see it.  

The LPGA tour is in town, so we will watching some lady-golfers tomorrow with the kids.  Dub and Roo are both excited to see the girls playing!  This will be their first golf tournament.  Yeah!

Throw in some Alabama Football...BOOM!!!  Awesome weekend!

Anyway...that's my day.  I swear...it'll get better.

Question for today...

What did you do for Pirate Day?  

Did you have a Princess Tea Party this week?  Why not?

What are your weekend plans?

Any awesome family day-trips in Alabama that I should know about?