Insta-Friday

It's Friday!
The days seems to be flying by and summer is passing more quickly that I can hardly imagine.

I don't seem to be taking as many pictures, I think because we have been so busy.

Maybe, I don't know.

Anyways, pictures.

Last weekend while on our drive home Ainsley spotted this cloud formation.

Mama, look! It looks like a baby!

It totally does.

Do you see it?

Something I've been noticing lately, Kansas is really beautiful.

When I was younger I never paid attention to it other than to lament it's boring-ness.

But now, wow, my eyes have been opened to the beauty that we are surrounded by.

Yes, even when it's 106 outside,

Last weekend my Dad took us to go see Brave {thanks Dad!}.

They had a preview for Finding Nemo in 3D.

Now, normally I'm not a huge fan of 3D.

It costs more and ticket prices are ridiculous as it is.

But, I tend to get headaches during 3D, well, headaches during movies as it is.

But, Nemo in 3D, I think we are going to have to go.

Finding Nemo was the first movie that Adison ever saw in the movie theater.

I have such fond memories of that experience and would love to take her to see it in 3D.

This picture cracks me up, my Dad was teasing her and she couldn't help but keep an eye on him and his antics.

{Have I ever mentioned before that my dad is a big goofball? He is, I love it and my kiddos do, too.}

The other evening I was going through some of my old jewelry looking for a pair of earrings for Adison.

Homegirl has sen-si-tive ears.

She had a pair of sterling silver earrings on but the backs weren't and her ears were angry.

While searching for something else I found my old watch.

I loved this thing and wore it for ages.

I told K that we need to get a new battery for it so I can wear it again.

Isn't Minnie the cutest!?!

Coffee.

Enough said.

Well, except, yum.

So, the 5K is tomorrow.

Say what?

Yep, tomorrow.

I'm super excited.

Plus, to be honest, nervous as well.

I know that a 5K isn't that long of a distance, but I really want to run the whole thing.

I'm so excited about the whole experience.

The color being thrown everywhere.

The fun of running with my friends.

The whole thing.

Oh yeah, did I mention that I'm heading up sans kiddos.

Yep, my first night away from the little two for non-medical reasons {having a baby or surgery}.

I'm looking forward to having fun with my friends but slightly anxious.

It will be fun, it's not that I don't think that they will be well taken care of because, hello, K is an awesome dad.

It's just me. Being weird. Okay, I need to stop.

It WILL be a blast, I'm have been looking forward to this for ages.

It's time, time to get my 5K on.

Like Donkey Kong.

{I couldn't resist.}

So, yesterday I mentioned our shirts that we made.

This is our team name, Save the Snails.

I mentioned forever and a day ago about the epic snail crossings that we witnessed on our walks.

I'm talking hoards of snails crossing a busy bike/walking path.

My friends and I, having multiple littles among us moved them out of the way to avoid squishage.

The kiddos were so upset when we would come across one that had been squished.

So, back then, you know, forever and a day ago, when we first decided to do a 5K together, we decided that we would be team "Save the Snails".

Don't you just love when things work out as planned?
I do.

Okay lovelies, head on over and link up over at Life. rearranged.
I can't wait to see your pics from the week.

The Good, the Bad and the Funny

The Good: Pool time. The girls are little fish or rather, mermaids. Abby shocked me today with willingly putting on her arm floaties and wanting to go in the big pool. She then proceeded to swim the length of the pool {twice} and THEN learned to climb the ladder out of the pool to jump in BY HERSELF. Say what??? My 5K is this weekend! My friends and race team members and I made our shirts the other night, I am planning on sharing the pictures and story behind our team name tomorrow.

The Bad: K's cousin, Tiffany, found another tumor. This one was in a lymph node and was removed earlier this week. They are still awaiting pathology, prayers are coveted and appreciated. The fires in Colorado, please be praying that they go out. My dear cousin, Kelli, lives there and it worries me. {Although, I am *trying* my hardest to live without worry, it's an on-going process.}

The Funny: Abby is all about tossing Ainsley under the bus lately, saying all of these things that Ainsley is obviously not doing.

Ainsley is ready for bed.

Ainsley is done eating dinner.

Ainsley isn't eating right now.

Ainsley got out of her chair.

Pretty much anything and everything, it's hysterical.

 

Luckily, Ainsley doesn't take it personally.   

It's going to be a while my dear

Ainsley was watching some Cat in the Hat show this afternoon.

They were talking about winter and were dressed up in the appropriate cold weather attire.

I need to find my scarf.

Digging through the scarf bin.

Now I need my hat.

Digging again, looking for her hat.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that it's supposed to be 108 tomorrow.

No, that's not the heat index.

108

Praying for everyone in Colorado, that the fires cease and for everyone's safety.

Another lesson learned- sleep

An oldie but a goodie, love it!

Don't celebrate, pat on the back, congratulate, high five or cheer for yourself.

Nor tell your mom, friends, the internets or your friends on your blog.

Why?

Well, because kids LOVE to prove you wrong.

I made the *mistake* of excitedly mentioning that Abby had smoothly transitioned into a big girl bed.

Oh silly little naive mama, what were you thinking?

Everyone out there knows that as soon as you do something like that the rainbow unicorn stops sprinkling fairy dust on your magically occurring situation.

Folks, this stinks.

She's tired, no longer napping well {tear} nor sleeping well at night {sob}.

Cranky, Cr-aaanky.

It's currently 4:39.

A.M.

As in 4:39 in the morning and I'm awake.

So next time I start to get excited about something please please please stop me.

I don't want the rainbow unicorn to stop sprinkling fairy dust because I doubt it makes very good coffee for the next morning when I am exhausted and proven wrong.

Think I could train a unicorn to make coffee?

Love,

Obviously over-tired mama

********

Okay, so I wrote that at 4:39 Sunday morning.

I ended up with maybe {MAYBE} four hours of sleep that night.

My word, how that brought back the newborn stage.

And oh how I love sleep.

We took the girls to see Brave yesterday afternoon so no nap.

{We LOVED the movie, more on that later.}

Last night after another failed attempt to get Abby to go to bed I put the rail back on her crib.

She's just not ready yet and that is a-okay.

We'll try again...later...maybe MUCH later, ha ha!

I was so exhausted from the early morning party my two year old decided to throw that I was asleep by 8 last night.

yawn

How was your weekend my lovelies?

One of my favorite pictures ever

Migraine + Pilates = puke

I learned a very important lesson yesterday evening.

It's quite simple, too.

Migraine + Pilates = puke

or rather

Migraine + Pilates + Heat + Humidity = puke

I have been having headaches a lot lately, I blame allergies.

or the heat

or the humidity

or the fact that the day of the week ended in "y".

Whatever the reason, headaches and I have been bff's lately much to my chagrin.

So, yesterday.

Headache as usual.

Did all of my usual "Please, dear Lord, make this headache go away" routine to no avail.

Oh well, I'm sure it will eventually go away on it's own.

Ha ha ha, you can join me in laughter, because, seriously dear little naive woman, when does that ever happen?
Oh yeah, pretty much never.

So, my friend, Clara, and I make it to Pilates.

All is going well, but somewhere in the middle of the class my headache decided to freak out to epic proportions.

Okay, I just have to make it to the end of class, get the kiddos and head home. K can get the kids to bed and I can get to bed. Piece o' cake. I can totally handle this.

Oh, dear little naive woman, your head had other ideas.

We gather our kiddos and head outside.

I'm feeling okay, at first.

Out of nowhere though, my head starts to freak out.

I started thinking, oh my goodness, I think I'm going to puke.

At that exact moment Abby decided to be a punk and run out into the road.

Nice timing Babs.

I manage to grab her two seconds before a car comes by, minor {okay, MAJOR} freak out.

By then though, my head feels like a train is driving through it.

Did I mention that our gym was hosting a swim meet so we had to walk about a block and a half to the car?
Awesome.

or not

I managed to get the kids to the car when the puke feeling starts to really kick in, like it's actually going to happen.

Oh no, I hate puking. Please. No. Puke.

Of course, right at that moment Abby decides to be a super punk and flip out about getting into her car seat.

Great timing kid.

I get her buckled {finally!} get in the car, get it started.

Oh no oh no oh no oh no.

Yep, it happened, again and again and again and again.

I started to feel better.

Well enough to manage the drive home.

Adison called K to tell him what happened so he was looking for us.

He came out to get the kiddos while I made a mad dash for our bed and promptly crashed.

The whole ordeal finally catching up with me.

The chills/hot flashes that I get with a migraine.

The post puking shakes.

The whole nine yards.

yuck

Praise the Lord for the clear head so I was able to get my precious cargo home.

Important lesson learned here folks.

Migraine + Pilates = puke

No me gusta.

 

*Virtual Coffee*

Yay, I'm so happy that Amy from Lucky Number13 is hosting Virtual Coffee again!

Stop by her place, check out her lovely pics and link up!

Head on over, scoot!

***

If we were having coffee, I would tell you about the new {to me} delicious tasting coffee creamer I tried over the weekend.

It's by International Delight, the Sweet Cream by Coldstone Creamery.

So so so good.

On the way home though I realized that I left it at my in-law's house, sadface.

I think I am going to need to get some more.

yum.

***

At church, for our small group and our L3 journal, we have been reading 1John.

Love.

This one word has so meaning.

It's stretching me, teaching me and inspiring me.

This weekend we visited my in-laws to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday.

We had a lot of fun and celebrated at a yummy Mexican restaurant on Saturday evening.

Sunday was spent relaxing and hanging out.

The girls had a lot of ice cream, Abby at this point was wearing more of it than had consumed.

The Midwest is windy.

***

A couple of weeks ago I mistakenly admitted {I should know better} that Abby was sleeping so well in her big girl bed.

Sigh.

I admit defeat.

I'm tired.

She has not napped well for several days.

yawn.

***

My sister-in-law, Betsy, shared this super cute headband.

I love it, Adison and I have been crafting this afternoon. 

***

Ainsley's ears are much better.

Yay for modern medicine.

Number one rule~ Love

Adison's beautiful chalk drawing, I love her creativity.

How was your weekend?
Father's Day?

Ours was very nice.

I have a lot of pictures to share, but am thinking that I may do that tomorrow.

Today though, I wanted to share something that my insightful and inquisitive nine year old brought to my attention.

We were having a conversation that has been had many times, and if you have children or was a child once {ha ha!} I'm sure you've had as well.

It was about living the way that God would want us to live, to be respectful and have a positive attitude.

We went over expectations and consequences, as well as going over the rules again.

Adison at one point said, Mom, we need to have a list of all of these rules.

Me: You know what, you're right. Well, Jesus told us to love one another and to treat others how we want to be treated. When it comes down to it, that's the one and only rule in our house. We are called to love one another, to treat others how we would hope that they would treat us. If we follow that one, very important rule then everything else falls into place.

Love.

That's it folks.

It all boils down to love.

We now have one and only rule in our house as well as one expectation: to treat others with love. To love them as they deserved to be treated. To love them as Jesus loves us.

Anyone who loves God must also love his brothers and sisters. 1John 4:21

Isn't it amazing how children can help us to recognize the complexity in life.

It doesn't need to be so, in fact, it can be quite simple.

Love.

Practice it, show it, live it.