back from Texas

We had such a great time in Texas, but I am definitely glad to be back. Vacations arent nearly as fun without my other half. I missed Justin the whole time and was SO happy to see him when we got in so very late last night. Loooonnnnggggg drive home, including a two and half hour delay in Baton Rouge. I just kept telling myself, Im glad to be in the traffic, than the reason for it...5 car pile up...

So, our trip...it was great! My mom, dad, Kennedy and I, left last Thursday and stayed in LA that night before heading into San Antonio on Friday. I love San Antonio, and every time we visit I think how fun it would be to live there. The place is huge and it has everything and every place you could think of. I hope to go back in the summer, because tubing down the San Marco is amazing! This trip we didnt do any water activities, but there was a lot of ballgames and food involved. Most importantly, Kennedy has a blast with her Texas cousins and we ate Rudy's BBQ. yummmmm.

eating a sucker at the ballpark

the tan man at bat

tanner and taylor handed down their drum set and other musical instruments to Kennedy. Luckily the drum isnt too too loud.

the wildflowers there are INSANE and gorgeous considering they are technically weeds

playing with her cousin Taylor

Kennedy liked her papa's elmo shirt!

My brother had a game too. He is STILL playing flag football...I joke that he is like Favre and will never quit

my sweet parents

me and Tanner at his school during lunch

headed to Tanner's last baseball game

the game was SO awesome! they won in the last inning with a rally of runs to come back and win!

on the way home we had to stop at this massive Harley store for dad. He was in "hog heaven."

Well my husband has finally returned from a long night of helping some guys out at church and I want to hang out with him seeing as I havent seen him in 6 days. More pictures tomorrow from our little photo shoot in the Texico. Adios!

off to the Alamo

We are headed to Texas in a few hours. Me and K are taggin along with my folks to go visit my brother, Kevin, and his family in San Antonio. I think Justin may lose his mind without his two ladies. Im thinking he will be playing a lot of video games and eating a lot of junk food without me around to keep him entertained and healthy. Give him a call or something and check on him for me. =)

Im not too excited about this 12 hour trip with a packed car and a one and a half year old that loves to run around and play. Pray for us please...for safety and sanity =)

In other news, you may remember I told you I was going to buy the 30 day shred video. Well I did, and it kills. Seriously, I did not know 20 minutes working out, would feel like I did boot camp. I am so sore. Good thing though right. Means its working I'm out of shape.

On another completely random note...If you have never seen Modern Family, watch it. It's by far, the funniest new show on television. I laugh every week, and the weeks its not on, Im bummed. Wednesday nights 9/8 central. I promise you'll laugh.

               


Well I wont be on the computer until next week again, but Im sure I'll have lots of fun pictures and stories from Texas. I LOVE visiting them. San Antonio is a great city with a lot of fun stuff to do...and WAYYYY better shopping than Pcola. Watch out wallet...

Hostess withdrawals

If you know me, you know I like a good party. And if you REALLY know me, you know I like to be the one throwing the party. I love all the planning, from color palette to menu to favors...it's a party for me, just planning it! Since moving to Pensacola, and not having a group of friends to throw parties for and with like we did in Cincy, Im having withdrawals. Luckily, my dad's 70th! birthday, is just around the corner. My sisters and I are throwing him a bash and I cannot WAIT for all these little details to come together! I wont divulge any info on the party bc we want it to all be as much of surprise as possible, and he may read this.

Also, I decided to throw an egg dyeing party for my nieces and nephews. Im pumped about some eastery fun with my fun family! I found some fun activities here if you would like to have a little fun of your own. Kiddy fun of course, unless some of you just love child mad libs...

Now, here is where I need some help. I am currently working up a menu for dad's party. What are your favorites that you always love when you go to a party??? Also, favorite cake? I need to order a cake from somewhere bc I want it to be yummy, but also look amazing, and while my sisters and I can bake well, Im not too sure any of us have the talent of a cake decorator.

In other news, we didnt really do anything this weekend, so no updates there. However, I took some prom pictures for a cute little couple going to their senior prom. How adorable are they?!?! Remember senior prom...hah!

also, here is a starbucks coupon for tomorrow. just use it before 1030 am. Click on it, and then print.

happy Monday

St. Patty

Soooooo, I went 26 years of St. Patricks Days without knowing the whole story behind it.  Pretty interesting. I found a lot of sites telling the story, so if you are interested in also knowing the whole dealio, you can check it out here.

We had an eventful day. Went up to the church and popped Kennedy into the nursery for an hour so I could get my run on. I consumed like 3 maybe 4 or eight of the 12 KK donuts from the other night, followed by chocolate reese's cake with ice cream and half a bag of potato chips. I thought I needed a date with the treadmill, seemed like a good idea.

Afterwards, my dad picked her up in the nursery for me, giving that he works at the church and is a GREAT Papa, while I took a shower in the sketchy locker shower room. Locker rooms always freak me out, I feel like I'm in a horror film and I'm going to move the curtain and find a dead body or something...why am I so morbid?!?!

When I was done cleaning myself up, K and I went and met Christi and Charleigh for some christian chicken at Chik fil A. They had GREEN lemonade, very interesting, but just as delish. Kennedy played in the playgym there. There was a 10 year old that said she would help her on it for me...SO great! I lucked out with that today. I was NOT wearing stretchy enough jeans to finagle around in there, and they were definitely LOW rise. Im pretty positive all the mommies with their kiddos did not want to see my tush, and I did NOT want to climb in there considering Im a grown woman and all. Kennedy REALLY wanted to go up, so thankfully, an angel appeared that could guide her to the twisty slide. Ahhhhhhh

We came home and she took a really good nap for over 3 hours, chik fil a always wears her out. I caught up on some TV shows I have missed the past couple weeks. She woke up and I gave her the last donut that I had been saving for today. An extra special St. P day treat! I think she enjoyed it throughly...

...but not as much as the cupcakes I had brought to my mom's for after dinner dessert though. They are amazing. Publix sweets always have the BEST icing.

We left my parents and brought little sweetie home to bed, and then watched Up in the Air, not too bad of a movie. Anything with George is ok with me =)

Oh, and look at the cute "thank you/sorry I got you sick" goodies from Christi...cute right?!?! Thanks Chris, I love them!
                                  

Have a great rest of the week everyone...the end is in sight...tomorrow is Friday!

the weekend

Justin's sister, Afton, and her boyfriend, Nat, came in town for a visit last weekend for the last part of their spring break (ah, spring break, remember those days). It was a fun weekend once Justin and I were done with our stomach bug. I felt like a horrible hostess, I normally ask if you need anything, and show you were the towels, drinks, etc. are, but I wasnt even at the house the first night they stayed with us. Kennedy and I stayed at my mom's and Justin came home to have our one and only bathroom all to himself, didnt want to be fighting over who got to puke in there. Nat said he heard Justin get up about every hour. Im thinking they had a WONDERFUL time, right guys!?!?

Kennedy LOVED Nat, which Afton wasnt too thrilled with, but I thought it was cute. Seriously, she wouldnt even cuddle up with her Aunt Afton, whom she has spent time with, but Nat, who she just met, she was allll snuggled up on. What can I say, my girl is a little boy crazy. Yikes!

We didn't really go too many places considering we were pretty sick the first couple days and the last we still didnt feel like eating, and in Pensacola, there isnt much else to do besides go to all the great restaurants and pig out. Afton has never been to Alabama and since we live 10 miles from AL, we took them to Foley to eat at Lambert's, yes, the home of throwed rolls. I ate three rolls covered in apple butter and actually brought the rest of my dinner home in a box bc my stomach wasnt quite ready to eat all that food. It was SO good though, even a day later! It only takes a little over half an hour to get there, I will have to go back when Justin and I can actually eat...

Riding in the racecar at Lambert's

Yummy

Me and Afton


They had to leave on Saturday, so we took K to the park and then all went and had some lunch. They were so fun to have visit and were real troopers considering we couldnt really entertain. I know we got Afton sick, but Im hoping Nat didnt receive our parting gift too.

I thought this picture was hilarious. Justin was trying to move his car in the driveway, and these two kiddos wouldnt get out of harms way, so they both ended up in the car with him. I wish the picture were clearer, but somehow, grubby little paws sweet little dirty baby hands, smudged the lens.


Thanks for spending some of your spring break with us guys! and sorry we got you sick =/

spring break...does that mean its spring!?!??! whoop whoop!

Something New

I get really bored with my workouts after a while. Im sick of going to the gym and just running or doing the elliptical. I have been looking at some work out DVD's and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of which ones you liked. I have done P90X before, so Im looking for something different. I actually don't like working out in my own house, but sometimes it's just not feasible to get to the gym with a little one. I need a backup plan for those days, but I want two or so to choose from so I'm not doing the same DVD every time I have to work out at home.

Here are a couple I thought about. I have heard good things about this 30 Day Shread. Jillian is INTENSE on Biggest Loser, so maybe she can motivate me off the couch.

Ok, now dont laugh, but I LOVE Dancing with the Stars. Julianne was always my favorite. She had GREAT choreography, and is so darn cute. I can say cute bc she was 18 the first season, so she is like a kid in my eyes. Anyway, NO ONE will ever watch me doing this if I do in fact get it bc I dont want you to see how ridiculous I look know how great of a dancer I am and feel intimidated. I watched a little promo video for it and told Justin he couldn't watch it either. She is wearing practically nothing and I will be wearing sweat pants and an oversized t shirt clothes that cover.


I'm hoping to only have to work out once or twice a week at the house, so Im thinking thats doable. I wont get too frustrated working out in the little living room. I just know some workout videos are SO boring, so I'm hoping one of these will be fun. Let me know if you've done any that you liked, or that really worked.

why hurt?

Last night was a hard night for Kennedy and I. She woke up at midnight covered in her own puke. It was NASTY and smelly. I felt horrible for her, she was just sort of whimpery and confused as to how her body just did that. Once I got her all cleaned up and the blankets and sheets off her bed. I laid her back down and she went right back to sleep. Except for 20 minutes later she threw up again. I figured, this may last for a bit, so I may as well just take her out of her bed and let her sit with me until I feel like she will make it longer without vomiting. We came in the living room and snuggled up on the couch with a bucket next to us. She has never been sick like this, where she would just sit in my lap and let me comfort her. For her, it was no fun at all, but for me, it was a moment of intimacy, where she needed me and she allowed me to hold her and just kiss her on the head, and tell her I love her and that I'm so sorry she feels so bad right now, but it will be all better soon.

Just then, I remembered the Rob Bell Nooma video, Rain, where he talks about this very thing happening between God and man. The suffering, its needed to build that intimacy and love. For us, its horrible, but for God, its an incredible time of showing us HE holds us, and loves us, and that soon, it will all be better.

I have written before about how God continues to reveal himself threw all the seasons of life. As a daughter, a wife, and now a parent. I have to say, as a parent, I am definitely learning the most incredible things about how the Father loves. The way God feels about us, is more and more evident now that I have a child, and feel this type of love for her.

Suffering is no walk in the park, pain is never enjoyable. However, sometimes its needed to create a reliance on God, an intimacy with Him, to where He is able to hold His child and say, "I love you, its going to be better soon." And in that moment, I can, like Kennedy did, feel comforted and loved, and taken care of by our Father.

God never wastes pain.

Happy Tuesday

Fred and Kennedy really enjoy running around the front yard. I enjoy watching them, and taking cute pictures.Partners in Crime.

 

Jelly Shoes and Knee Booboo's

Sunday was a gorgeous day and proved to be a great day too! Let me start with a very irritating funny story.

We go to the 9 am service at our church, and this Sunday I definitely wanted to get there on time bc I was going to meet the Children's minister and get the rundown of the Kids area and whatnot. Justin rolls over and says, "Babe, its 815." I said, "ok, two more minutes and I'll get up." In my head I'm thinking, "man, Im sleeping so good. Is it really 815?" So I get up a couple minutes later, go into the living room, turn off the alarm, try to get Fred up, so he'll go out and pee, and then head to the bathroom. I put in my contacts, and brush my teeth, head to the bedroom and tell Justin he needs to get up and I'm going in to get Kennedy up. He says, oh what time is it, and I look at the clock, and its 6:33!!!!! I jumped on top of him and began to beat him with my fist in his leg for waking me up TWO HOURS EARLY! If I was now awake, he had to wake up too. Of course I tried to get back to sleep, but at the point, I had already woken myself up good, and was not going to just fall back asleep. Thank the LORD I did not go wake up the baby. Ridiculous...

Sooooo, we did make it to church. I fell back asleep, but it took me a while, so I was pretty tired on the way to church bc the sleepy was finally kicking in. The kids in that children's program are awesome, SO fun and full of energy. Afterwards, we headed home to get Fred, bc we were spending the afternoon at my parents so Justin could paint a room for my mom. On the ride over, K threw on her sunglasses and read her Elmo book. So funny.

Justin ended up not painting bc we looked everywhere for a ladder, and then realized my dad had brought it over to our house to do some work, and left it in the garage. Wish we would have known that and just brought it with us. Oh well.

We grilled some chicken and had a good lunch and then K went down for a nap and I laid in the sun and soaked in some rays. Ahhhh, to be laying out the beginning of March. I forgot what that was like! Im pretty sure its some where around 40-50 degrees in Cincinnati and I do not miss that cold weather! Another great thing about the warm weather...Kennedy wore a super cute sundress today, with...jelly shoes. So awesome. She kept looking at her feet. I think she really liked her new kicks.
                                                      
She must have run around for at least an hour just giggling and loving the wide open yard. She is a big ball of energy. We got home and were all on the bed and she was jumping and rolling, even AFTER all that running at Nanny's, and I thought, "man, remember ten five years ago when I could go and go and go, like the energizer bunny..."
                                                    

I have been thinking lately about how my baby girl has now become a big girl. From the way she feeds herself, and her little curls in her hair, to her ability to communicate what she wants and if she cant she throws a hissy fit. I do officially, have a toddler now. I know that part of toddlerhood, is accidents. She has bruises and bumps all over her. Check out her first boobooed knee.

Well, I hope you all had a fantastic Sunday with your families. We are going to eat some chili cheese dip and introduce Kennedy to another disney film, Cars. I have watched Bolt WAY too much the past few weeks. We are in need of a new movie.

Aunt Afton comes in just three days! WOO HOO!

Sunshine Fun with Aunt Sara and Nana!

this blog post from the desk of
Kennedy Paige...

ok, just kidding, mommy is writing this. Ha!

This past weekend Aunt Sara and Nana Myra came to visit Kennedy us. Sara was coming on Thursday so we spent the day cleaning up and getting ready for our guests =)

Kennedy helped mommy vacuum

I wish that thing really did suck stuff up. It would really minimize the time I spend vacuuming...

We had to take a break after all the cleaning, so we decided to go for a ride in the diaper box. We had fun!
We had a blast of a weekend with the Manny gals. Im only sad it was so short. The good thing is, we live so close now that we can visit each other WAY more often than before, so I know we will see y'all again soon! Thanks for coming!
Aunt Sara in a oddly posed candid photo swinging Kennedy

can you tell where else we went?

(btw, I just switched to the new Blogger editor and am, obsessively LOVING enjoying a normal amount, the strikethrough button.)