Project 365 Week 18

I just want to thank Sara for hosting this little carnival over at her place. I have really enjoyed the daily reminder to capture so many sweet memories. And, I HOPE that you are enjoying reliving them with me!

Thanks Sara!

That being said, here is our week ...

May 11 - THIS is what handsome looks like.

And he still makes my heart go pitter-patt.

LOVE HIM!!!

May 12 - This is a total cheater shot ... not only did I not take the picture, but it wasn't even taken on this day! HOWEVER, this was the day I stole it off of Kayla's MySpace page ... does that count?

May 13 - There is nothin quite like crackin open a new Bible Study/Devotional! ESPECIALLY when it is written by Beth Moore ...

May 14 - My Mother's Day roses still lookin beautiful, especially when reflecting the morning sun.

May 15 - Hubbs was still home when it came time for meeting the bus. He and Hattie had a bit of fun while waiting for the ride. How happy does she look?

May 16 - We have started a new thing here in B Manor. We each take one of the girls out to do somethin special one day a week. Today I took Sophie to get her portrait taken and Hubbs took Hattie out for ice cream. Here they are just getting home.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE that man?!?! Truly, I am so Blessed to share my life with not only an incredible husband, but also an AMAZING father to our children! I could not ask for more!

So, how was your week?

And Hattie thinks she is a bootiful princess!

Saturday was prom night for the local High school. That lovely time of year where are the girls and boys dress up like royalty for one sweet night and enter a fairy tale wonderland where dreams come true ...

My niece Kayla was, I am SURE the prettiest belle at this ball!

Doesn't she LOOK like a belle amongst all of those magnolia blossoms?

She took some picks with grandma and grandpa (the two who planted that magnolia tree in the first place!) Kayla's parents (hubby's sis Melissa and HER hubby Harry) bought the house that they had all grown up in and now HER children are growing up there too!

Hattie and Sophie were enthralled with their cousin and Hattie is STILL talkin about the "bootiful princess" they saw ... wonder if she even realizes that it was her own cousin!

Here she is with the OTHER most beautiful belle of the ball. This is her sidekick (and our not-quite-but-close-enough OTHER niece) Jessica. MAN, are they not stunning?!

Prince Eric provided quite the chariot for their ride to the ball! But Kayla was quick to point out that SHE is the BOSS!

But, I would be remiss if I left without showing you THIS picture...

Because THIS one sooooo needs to be seen!

All pics courtesy of my FABULOUSLY talented sis-in-law Melissa! Or, as the girls call her, Auntie Weezer!

Get up and MOVE!!!

Miss Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee is the host of this fun-ness. It's called 30X5 because participants are making a commitment to get up and move for 30 minutes, 5 days a week. I tried to participate in the first round, but it took place while we were moving. NOT a good time to be making promises with 30 minutes 5 times a week.

I skipped phase 2 because we were still in crazy mode and I just couldn't commit.

And that brings us to Phase 3. And, since I am doing the 30 day Shred every stinkin day of the week, I feel like I can meet the requirements! However, the Shred is a 20 minute workout. Still, I feel like I qualify if you take into consideration the fact that it takes me roughly 10 minutes to GET UP OFF THE DERN FLOOR when I am done Shredding!! Plus, it IS every day, so that should even it out ... right?

Also, and those of you who know me can feel free to laugh your fool heads off, I have agreed to TRY a triathalon! I KNOW!

Yes, it IS OK to laugh because you would not be the first ... ahem ... just ask my hubby. Now, to be fair, he SAYS he was laughing at the thought of HIM doing it, but I dunno... Also, my mom called me crazy.

Yeah, that's my family ... supportive much?

(in all fairness, hubby IS being VERY supportive in this endeavor, it was just the first few minutes that threw it off. Ya know, what with all the SHOCK!!)

I do have some foot "issues" that could hold me back - degenerative tendons in one foot and bone spurs in the other - but I'm getting through the Shred thing OK (and if Jillian cannot ruin me, no one can!). So I am gonna go slow on the training. I've found an online couch(potato) to 5K program that gets you ready to go in 9 weeks and I am gonna start workin on that too.

It may be crazy, but I gotta do something because I want my girls to have an example of a healthy, active lifestyle to follow after. They are going to be sooo different in body shape and style, and, as girls will be naturally compelled to compare themselves with the other. I NEED to find a healthy self image of myself so that I can instill the same in them. This is something I have struggled with as long a I can remember and I have come to realize that it is time to claim the promises in Psalm 139 for myself.

I AM fearfully and wonderfully made!!!

Thank You Father for this life and this body ... now help me to use it all for YOUR glory - it IS your temple after all!!!

And, finally, I am planning on doing the Breast Cancer 3Day crew again. Here is the link to my fundraising page. As a member of the crew we are NOT required to raise funds, but how can they find a cure if we do not raise money? Pink ribbons are pretty, bumper stickers catch the eye and a t-shirt can raise awareness, but without the funds there is no research and without research, there will be no cure.

I KNOW times are tough, believe me, I KNOW! But cancer is an unnecessary evil that MUST be destroyed. I have 2 little girls that I want growing up without the fear of this disease. And I love 2 little girls who are growing up without their mommy (whom I loved with every ounce of my being) because of this junk and I do NOT want them to live in fear for their own lives as well.

Please, prayerfully consider what, if anything, you can do to help. Every little bit helps because EVERYONE deserves a lifetime!

Thank you!

Project 365 - Week 17

Here we are ... May ... How did THAT happen? And HOW is it that I am celebrating my 4TH Mother's Day? Growing up I wanted nothing more than to be a mom. And, in truth, it has far exceeded every last expectation that I had.

It is harder than I had ever imagined. It is scarier than I had dared to think. It is more sleepless nights, cold meals, dirty diapers, piles of laundry, dirty dishes, spilled milk, messes made and heirlooms broken that I ever thought could be.

And it is more prayers answered, hopes fulfilled, kisses goodnight, tummies tickled, I Love You's whispered, bear hugs, bathtime splashes, rocks to sleep and warm-sleepy-baby-lotioned-tiny bodies in my arms than I deserve. I truly LOVE being a mom and I could not have asked for more than what I have been Blessed with in the two sweet beings that my Lord has entrusted unto me.

Thank You, Father, for this life I am so Blessed to call my own.

And, speaking of this life, here is the last week:

May 3 - The one thing in this house that is sorely lacking is storage space. And the smallest of all closets is the one in the master bedroom. And that is why I have commandeered the LARGEST closet in the house for my own. It just happens to be in Hattie's room. After the 347th time of finding my clothes strewn about I BEGGED hubby to come up with a solution. We cannot drill into the door since we are renting, so, on short notice and in a moment of sheer genius, THIS is what my brilliant man came up with.

Thankfully, we had enough spoons for every closet in the house!

May 4 - Last week I had taken a cool picture of a guitar, so this week I set out to take one of the piano. I got some nice ones of JUST the piano and I have a project in my mind to use it and the guitar shot.

But, THIS one of Miss Sophie ENJOYING the piano ... priceless!

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo - every woman's excuse for Mexican food. I was hoping for enchiladas, but the day got away from us. So, we settled for taquitos from the freezer. And, gotta say, after a week and a half on a diet ... not too shabby!

May 6 - Sweet little Sophie's first time out. I heard cries from the bedroom and walked in to find Sophie on TOP of Hattie with a handful of blond hair in her little hand!

CLEARLY she is not a fan of timeout, but she stayed there until I let her up and we had a hug fest and then found, and made up with, Hattie too. All's well that ends well ... and it's even better when there is photo op in the midst of the drama!

May 7 - A date with Teri. We used up the last of the gift card from Fran for our yummy caffeine laden goodness and then took this picture to show her our appreciation! WE LOVE YOU FRAN!!!

May 8 - Hubbs and I had a date. We went to see a movie - and all who know me will be SHOCKED that the movie we saw was Star Trek! I am soooooooo NOT a Trekkie!!! But, once assured that there was no sign of William Shatner at ALL, I sucked it up so my man could see the movie he had been waiting for!

Plus, we found it quite amusing that the Coke cup came with DIRECTIONS for filling!

May 9 - We went to sweet Evy's birthday party. The theme was fairies and her back yard was transformed into a forest. Evy's mommy is oh so creative!!! The favors were these fairy wings (withOUT wires so they could be worn in the jumpy!), flower wands and lovely hair flowers! MY sweet fairy princesses LOVED theirs!

May 10 - Mother's Day. Thank you Hubby and Sweet girls for the BEAUTIFUL flowers and sweet, sweet cards!

I love you too!


So, how was YOUR week?