Way Back When-esday: Perseverance

Link up, over at Cheryl's blog, Twinfatuation, for more reminiscing!

Dateline: June 2007

Abigail's age: 12

No matter how tough the road seems, I believe in you, and know you can accomplish anything to which you set your mind. I LOVE YOU, and am very proud of the young woman you are becoming.

Love, Mom



3 things you didn't know about me ......

Want to visit LOADS of fun blogs, and find a new favorite? Join in the MckLinky Blog Hop!

3 Things you may not know about me ......

1. I wanted to be in the Navy when I was in college. I wanted to be a Navy nurse, go to Bethesda, and travel the world. Sad to say, these dreams were squelched, since the Navy refused to take me with my (very mild) scoliosis. Sigh!

2. I met my husband on Match.com. Yes, it works, and very well, I might add!

3. I know more about football than most women. I understand, and can explain terms like 'first down', '3rd and long', off sides', 'O-line', etc. Baseball, on the other hand, bores me to tears!!



Body after Babies -- Week 1

So .... I've had Samantha's button on my blog for a long time ...I didn't get motivated, until her Fit by Labor Day Challenge. At the same time, Brett has been checking out health clubs, in order to train for a tri-athalon. After visiting Urban Active, we decided to join. I told Brett that it is now his job to make sure that we go.

My goals for this 8 week challenge:

- to the gym AT LEAST 3 times a week

- my weight is totally fine .... I want to be STRONGER, and tone up, especially my arms, and behind!

Why am I doing this? When Brett and I met, I was playing tennis 3 times a week .... trust me, I still wasn't that good at playing tennis, but I was probably in the best shape of my life. It made a huge difference in how I felt, as well as my mental state of mind.

Now, I want to be healthier overall, and set a good example for my children, especially Abby. She's at a very impressionable age, and I want to encourage good health habits for her as well. (she's got her own membership to the gym, and she's going again tonight!) Stress is a huge factor in my life, and believe it or not, just after going to the gym two days, I'm in much better spirits. I want to impress my husband ..... I can't very well be a slouch, when he's training. I'm going to age gracefully!

So far this week .... things are working beautifully. We've been to the gym twice already, and so far, the only hitch in our giddy-up is the child care. My boys are at an incredibly clingy stage at the moment, and I think we are going to have a bit of a transition phase here.

Stop by MamaNotes, and give some words of encouragement to the other folks there.



I Heart Faces Constructive Feedback Friday

I'm so glad to stumble upon this! I have a shot that I LOVE of the boys, but it's a little 'shadowy', and I'd love to be able to fix it, or to brighten the color. We use a Nikon D70s.

Here is is, straight out of the camera:

The 'info' section says: focal length 60; exposure time 0.0003999. (can you tell I have no idea what that means!)

Here it is again, in a sepia finish. that I added on Picnik.

Thanks so much!!



Writer's Workshop ..... I will survive!

Late, this Thursday, since I was in a class all day, but better late than never. I love Writer's Workshop, since they are thought provoking, and SO MUCH FUN!

The Prompts:

1.) Tell us about a "dirt cheap" you've taken this summer.
(inspired by Anti-Supermom)

Not all together dirt cheap, but certainly made affordable, by my Granny, was our trip to Florida this summer. She graciously invited us to her time share in Daytona Beach .... not a relaxing vacation for me, since I was chasing after my 3 small fry, but I certainly did enjoy it!

2.) When I grow up I want to be like...
(inspired by Jenny Says What?)

Two people come to mind here .... one celestial, and one here on earth.

My ultimate role model is Mary, Mother of God. She is who I look to, as a role model of what it means to be a mother, a wife, friend, and woman. No matter what type of issues I am having difficulty with, I can take comfort in the fact that she's been there, done that, and handled it with grace, poise, patience and love. I don't strive for perfection .... that's unattainable, and just another source of frustration for me. I set her as an example as how I should act, in all areas of my life.

My mortal role model, but just as important, is my grandmother. We've been very close all my life, and the older I become, she grows wiser in my eyes. She challenges me to try to see the good in people first, instead of jumping to conclusions (as I tend to do). She's creative, smart, funny, and at 70+, one of the hardest working, and bravest women that I know. Remember how my husband thinks I make labor an extreme sport?? I get it honestly .... she had a homebirth with my father, her first baby, who weighed 10 lbs! She makes family a priority, and I strive for that as well. She's an uber cool Granny, on the internet, and on Facebook!

3.) Describe a difficult moment that you survived.
(inspired by Sarah M.)

How many time have my friends heard me say this ..... but my pregnancy, as well as this first year with our boys, has been the hardest thing I have ever done, both physically, as well as mentally. I was tired for my entire pregnancy, and the 'normal' aches and pains of pregnancy were magnified, and began much earlier than what I was used to. I felt guilty for complaining about ANYTHING .... I know many people that have struggled with infertility, and God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams with my healthy children. I would cry about feeling bad about my back pain/fatigue/insomnia/pelvic pain, since I knew that there were many women who would have traded places with me in an instant. I felt very out of control with the pregnancy .... I was an 'older' mother, along with a twin pregnancy, so I was monitored much more closely than I was accustomed to. I felt like I had to fight for the things that I wanted, and, as exhausted as I was, that was the last thing I wanted to do.

This past year has been insane.

Honestly.

Unless you are a mother of twins, you have no idea how difficult this is. (Just ask Helene, Kim, Cheryl, and Missy) You know how busy one baby is? Multiply that times two ...... twice the work, twice the sleep deprivation, twice the crying ...... you get the idea. Add in the big sisters, and it's a wonder I remember my name most days.

Just in case you think I am a negative Nelly, please know that I am thankful every single day for all of my children. Yes, it's hard ..... but I also get to look at sweet faces like this everyday!

4.) List 5 things you like to do while camping...or 5 places you'd like to go.
(inspired by Kisatrtle)

I've never been camping, so I can't speak to that.

5 places I'd like to go:

1. Walt Disney World

2. "Out West" ... to a ranch, like where Ree lives ..... hay bailing, farming, etc. The children would have a BLAST

3. The Grand Canyon

4. New York City

5. Rome

5.) What are you paranoid about?
(inspired by Melissa)

I'm totally paranoid of failing at my vocation as a wife and mother. So many times, in this world, the most important job I have, is the one that is most trivialized, and the one I have the least support with. I will just keep plugging along, praying, and trying to do my best.

Join in the fun with Kathy at Mama Kat's Losing it!



MckLinky Weekly Blog Hop - Your Favorite Photo

This week's theme at the MckLinky Blog Hop is "Your Favorite Photo". Since I have approximately 1 billion photos of my family .... this was a bit hard for me. I decided to pull one of my 'new favorites' out of the bin.

This is me, and my handsome husband, at our recent photo shoot for family pictures. This man is my rock, and I thank God every day that I have been so blessed! Love you, BK!



Tiny Talk Tuesdays ... Construction Workers

I had started keeping track of things that Rachel had said, and then, like a good mother, slacked off! How much fun, that I ran across this blog carnival/meme, to help get me back in the swing of things. Thanks, Mary!

When Rachel was tiny, before she could speak, Brett used to say, "oh, I just can't wait until she learns how to talk!" Myself, having raised a girl before, just nodded my head. Mmmm, hmmm. I saw the future, kind of like that Volvo commerical .... I'd been there before!

I laugh every time I see this .... because this is my life! Reminds me so much of Rachel, and of Abby, when she was small.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Favorite things heard recently .......

Rachel:"You can't drive too fast, Mommy, cause the policeman will get you and take you to jail."

(we had to tell her this,because she loves to get in the car, and say, "Drive fast!" Now, she parrots the policeman story to us.)

On Friday, July 3rd, Rachel comes running into the bedroom where I was nursing one of the boys.

"Mommy! I saw some CONSTRUCTION WORKERS outside, and they were pink, and blue, and PURPLE! Purple is my favorite!"

"it's our country's birthday, and we are having a birthday party! I LOVE Birthday parties!"

I couldn't resist asking her again, what she saw outside, and again, she told me, "CONSTRUCTION WORKERS!!!". I finally corrected her, and reminded her that they were fireworks after I had a good laugh about it.

Join in the Fun, at Not Before 7! Be sure and visit everyone there, and leave some comment love!