Auggie's First Birthday

Jason's cousin, Le Anne, has a little boy named Auggie.  We had the pleasure of driving to Bloomington to attend Auggie's first birthday party.

The party was at a very nice park.  Early in the afternoon we hiked to see a waterfall watertrickle.  This is Ruby bouncing while holding Le Anne's hand during the hike.

We we got to the waterfall, my kiddos, of course, had to climb everything in sight!

On the otherside of the shelterhouse where the party has happening was a bridge.  The bridge let to the bathrooms and one of the best playgrounds I had ever seen.  We crossed the bridge many times to play on the playground, go potty, and wash our hands after touching poisin ivy.

David made a friend just a couple months older than him.  He loved, loved, loved her sweater.  He would touch the button on it, open it up, pet it, clap for it-- it was hilarious!

This is a very cool disc-type swing at the playground.

This is a terrified Ruby (can someone tell me why she was absolutely fearless until 5 and now she's scared of everything?)... so I digress... who finally faced her fear and made it to the top of the spider web as my kids call these things.

Sweet David following his granddaddy to the car

It seems sad to have birthday party pictures and none of the actual birthday boy!  Unfortunately, the flash on my camera is no more so photos inside the shelter were not an option.  (If you have camera suggestions, please, please, please comment!)

After the party, a large group of us went to an Asian resteraunt and then my family made a quick run to Bloomingfoods (health food store).  All-in-all, a great day to celebrate!

Hair cut

This big 15 month old...

with the beautiful blond ringlets (that looked like a rat's nest after nap time!) visited my friend and hair cutter extraidinare "Miss Melisa" yesterday.  And now looks like this...

And I didn't even cry-- YEA me!!!!

So now (hopefully), old women in Kroger will no longer call him a girl!

WLW: Encouragement

I have prayed, many a time, for God to help me stay on a diet and exercise plan.  Many a time, I felt he was ignoring my requests.

Then, one of the two auto-immune diseases in my body reared its ugly head... again... and again... and again.  I found the best way to cope with the constant pain was 1. daily exercise and 2. staying on a restricted diet (I'll spare you the details).

God cracks me up.  Sometimes it feels that He gives me the most difficult/ painful/ annoying answers to my prayers.  BUT He always answers!  Not in a way that I might choose for myself, but it a way that He knows is best.

So, here is my encouragement/ advice...  ask God to be a part of your journey.  He is by far the best accountability partner you will ever have!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  -- Jeremiah 29:11

I Heart Faces: A Touch of Sun

It has become a tradition around here to go to Brown County State Park on St. Patrick's Day.  We find our favorite trail, hike down, splash in the creek, hike back up, and have lunch in the shelter.  Oh yes, and Mom takes an obnoxious about of photos!

I love this photo from earlier this year.  You've got Eli climbing (very normal) and the sun just barely peeking through the tall trees.  The "touch of sun" definitely makes the photo!

Head over to I Heart Faces to see all the sun touched photos this week!

1 hour, 20 mins

1 hour, 20 mins... 1 hour, 20 mins...

That is how long we waited in line last Saturday for his "princess hat".

A friend who had seen us at the Farmer's Market asked us how long we stood in line for the balloon guy.  I admitted to her that for (at least) the first hour, I did not have the best attitude about waiting.  And then, it hit me...

Someday, Ruby will think that the balloon guy is lame.  Someday, Ruby will think I'm lame.  Someday she will be asking for the keys to my car, or tuition to a private college, or permission to marry her prince charming.

 

Somehow, after thinking all of that in line at the farmer's market, 1 hour and 20 mins for a balloon didn't seem so bad!

Wordless Wednesday: Super Dave

Ok, I have to say this... these Superman jammies (complete with cape) were Eli's-- 8 years ago!  I wish that I had a scanner to show you a photo of Eli in them too, but no such luck. 

These adorable shots of David (who was much too busy "flying" around the yard for any kind of real photo session) were sent to the grandparents last weekend, wishing them a SUPER Grandparent's Day!

Weight Loss Wednesday: Making time for exercise

So this week's topic is making time for exercise. 

At this stage of the game, I actually have this one figured out.  Although, check back next week, I might have it un-figured out again:)

I am currently training for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon.  Before starting my training, I got on-line and found a training schedule for walking a mini.  I made a plan with my husband, I hung the schedule on the fridge, and I have stuck to it.  My husband and I communicate about when he is leaving for work the next day.  I get up when he does.  He gets in the shower, and I go for my walk.  This means I begin my walk between 4 and 5 am. 

Hello?  Hello?  Are you still there?  Ok, good, I thought I lost you when I said 4 am. 

Yes, that is "ugly early" (as the Harry's Chocolate Shop t-shirts used to say), but it is when I can walk without kids.  For me, a scheduled time, a required walking schedule, a goal, a deadline, and a very supportive husband (who has told me more than once how proud he is of me) has all made a huge difference.  Especially in the weeks like last week, you know the weeks where you don't care what size you where, or how healthy you are, as long as you never have to get up for another 4 am walk as long as you live?

What's working for you?

I Heart Faces: Back to School

This week's I Heart Faces challenge is "Back to School".  (Although it seems a bit odd since we've been back to school for 3 weeks now!)

I love this photo of Ruby as she is waiting for the bus before her first day of kindergarten!  I will always look at this photo and remember how she had just gotten over chicken pox.  I will remember how her nose was running like crazy due to her allergies (and how she wasn't sure if her teacher would have Kleenex:).  And I will remember that Jansport backback she picked out, with as cute as it was, was about 1/2 the size of her whole body!

What back-to-school memories do you have?  Share them in this week's photo challenge...

Anderson Orchard

Last Saturday we ventured up north so the kids could have their picture taken with Grandma in celebration of her *BIG* birthday.

We decided to take the kids to this place after pictures were done...

 

... and I am SO glad we did!

After some directions from the staff, we drove our van out to the orchard, looked for the Gala trees, grabbed our wagon, and walked through the fields in search of the perfect apples!

The lady told us to be sure to taste the apples to ensure that we were happy with them...

my kids had NO problem with that part!

Of course, the best apples are always at the top of the tree, so one must ask for a little assistance from Dad (wink, wink).  Or, if your Eli, you could just climb the tree!

We picked a bussel of apples that day.  I had no idea how much a bussel was until I brought them home and pealing, slicing, and cooking them for applesauce!

(using my mad self-timer skills again!)

Of course, Ruby needed to wear the perfect shirt for the occasion.

After we finished picking, we needed some apple cider slushies to cool down!

and we definately needed some playground time before we got back in the car to come home!

It was another great opportunity to show the kids that fruit does NOT come from the big box store down the street!