13.1

I am happy to announce that I did not pass out on the course this morning.  I did, however, run slower than my last half {bummer}.  Makes sense though...I did not train nearly as hard for this one, I only got about three hours of sleep last night, and I had to pee at mile six.  That tacked on about ten minutes of wait time.  Candice and Kody ran/walked {this was Candice's first one} and they did great.  I was very proud of Kody for being so supportive and staying with Candice, because he is SUPER competitive {remember how he left me on our first one!}.  Ha! Overall, it was a successful {and super cold} morning!  I'd like to say I have another run on the calendar, but I think I am going to take a break from long distances for a while.  Or maybe forever.

knocking off number 12!

Swim lessons are a go!  The girls started on Tuesday.  

Thank you, Target, for already having swimsuits on sale! CUTE ones!  

{camera phone quality, my apologies}

Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it's tuna, but it… it says "Chicken of the Sea".

Oh, Jessica Simpson.  You gotta love her.  I am starting to think my sweet Aubrey should be the blonde one in our family...she has been "Jessica-ing" a lot lately.  Here are a couple of examples...

We were driving in our neighborhood the other night and she saw a little girl from her class.  This little girl is black and she has a twin sister.  The following conversation then takes place:

Aubrey:  Oh, mom!  There's Camille! And her sister!  They are twins.

Me:  Are they are identical twins?

Aubrey: Yes, you can't tell them apart.

{Good, she knows what identical means.}  

Me: I had twin sisters in my class when I was growing up and I could never tell them apart.  

Addy: What color were they? {girl needs details to visualize}

Me: They were also black. 

Aubrey: Both of them?

{OK, so maybe she doesn't know what identical means?!?}

And another....

While doing homework the other night...

Me:  Do you know how many are in a dozen?

Aubrey: Yes.

Me: So, how many are in a dozen?

Aubrey: A whole pack.

Me: A whole pack?...of what?

Aubrey: of donuts.

Nice.

Happy Hump Day.

a pregnancy/engagement session.

My mom's friend, Paula, asked us if we could take some maternity pictures of her daughter, Kelsey, the other day.  We were more than excited to find out {en route} that her boyfriend, Rob, was going to pop the question at the beginning of our session...they are a precious couple, and we were so excited to share that sweet moment with them!  not gonna lie, I teared up a bit.  just a little.  you would've too.  it was very sweet.  They were so fun to shoot.  My mom has known Paula since high school, so they have been friends for a LONG time {ha, sorry Mom, you're old.}  It is just so crazy that I have known Kelsey since she was a baby and now she is having one of her own.  Now that makes me feel old.  Congratulations, Kelsey and Rob!  We can't wait to meet precious baby Berklie!  

My family's favorite recipes...

So far so good on my Project 52 goal of cooking four nights a week!  The kids LOVE fish.  They ask for second and third helpings when we make it.  It is so easy to make, that we probably have fish at least twice a week.  Our favorites are grilled salmon and baked lemon pepper talapia.  Just brush with olive oil and sprinkle with spices, then cook.  Seriously, easy.  One night I made this recipe: Honey Pecan Glazed Salmon  .  Dave and I liked it, but the kids were a little less impressed.  Our home-made dessert this week was Peanut Butter and Honey Nut Cheerio Squares.  They were ok.  I would probably only add 5 cups of cheerios instead of six so they would get more coated with the peanut butter mix.  For a little more carb-o-licious meal, the all time favorite around here is Cheeseburger Pie, recipe straight from the Bisquick Box.  This is seriously a no-fail recipe and everyone around here loves it!  

1

lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef {I USE GROUND TURKEY}

1

large onion, chopped (1 cup) {I OMIT THE ONION}

1/2

teaspoon salt

1

cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)

1/2

cup Original Bisquick® mix {YOU CAN ALSO USE GLUTEN FREE BISQUICK}

1

cup milk

2

eggs

• 
  Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray.
• 2In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in salt. Spread in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese.
• 3In small bowl, stir remaining ingredients with fork or wire whisk until blended. Pour into pie plate.
• 4Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  
• Enjoy!

Friday ramblings.

Yay for Friday, right?  I feel like this week has lasted forever.  I really have nothing super interesting to say, but I need to hit my 3 post per week goal.  So, here ya' go....a list of things rummaging around in my little brain.

- I am running the 3M half marathon next Sunday.  I have not trained nearly as much for this one as my last one.  I am hoping to finish it.  Without passing out.  I am also hoping the weather stays nice, although it could cool off just a bit for me.  That would be super.  It is January, in case the 80+ degree weather has thrown you off.....

- Adelyn is spending the night with a friend tomorrow night.  It will be the first time she's stayed with anyone but our parents.  They are going to see Beauty and the Beast, so I know she will have a blast.  I am trying to figure out what I'll do with Aubrey and Blake. 

- Dave is on call this weekend.  Call weekends suck.  For both of us.

- My brother and his fiancee moved up their wedding date an entire year, so now they are getting married THIS September!!  I went to see the venue they picked and it is GORGEOUS.  It's brand new, and it totally fits their personalities.  I am beyond excited for the wedding!  Also, our entire family will be in it, so I am thinking we might actually get an adorable family picture!  {Plan on seeing the entire Watkins crew on your Christmas card this year!}  

- I am wondering if our summer is going to be super hot, considering it's already sunny and warm....

- Blake wrote on the wall, back window, and kitchen floor yesterday with red Sharpie.  Anyone know the best way to get it off the wall?  Magic eraser will probably work, but I've taken the paint off that way before...it worked for the door and floor, though.  

- I told someone the other day that Aubrey is eight.  She won't be eight until March...speaking of, I am trying to figure out what to do for her birthday....my mind is blank. 

- Blake had his 2 year check up today.  He was almost 37 inches and he was 34 pounds.  He's a big guy.  Unfortunately, the booster seat didn't work...he may be big enough, but he is definitely not mature enough.  Once he figured out that seatbelt button, we were done.  Maybe we'll try again this summer.

- I changed the duvet on my bed back to the one I bought when we first moved in.  I didn't like it then, but  I think I might love it now.  Funny how that works.  

- I want to redecorate my living room, dining room, and front room....I think I tried to decorate based on the style of our home rather than my personal style when we moved in, and I just don't feel comfortable in those spaces like I do others in the house.  I love the guest room and our bedroom because I think they reflect my personality.  I kinda think you should dress your house the way you would dress yourself...I have way too many floral print rugs for someone who would NEVER wear florals {except in Hawaii}.  

- I can't wait to get our photo book from Hawaii!  I am going to start Blake's first year photo book this weekend.  Yes, I realize he's two now.  That's actually pretty good considering he's my third!  

- I can't stand stay-at-home moms who bitch all the time about how hard their lives are.  GET A CLUE, people.  I went back to work with Aubrey and Adelyn and being a working mom was a gazillion times harder than staying at home.  I am so lucky that I get to stay home.  I am not saying there aren't days when  the kids are crazy or I am crazy, but for real?  This is the easiest job ever.  Get over yourselves, women.  Or better yet, go get a job for a while so you realize what hard really means. 

- Sorry, I've read a lot of blog posts lately that are so damn irritating.  I didn't realize I had all that bottled up inside.  

- Anyway, my mom and I met one of her friends and her daughter {who is pregnant} for lunch the other day.  As we were sitting there, Blake ate a chip with a shit ton of salsa on it and promptly gagged and puked all over the floor.  I didn't freak out, I just looked at Kelsey, and said "Welcome to motherhood".  

- I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.  Enjoy this amazing weather {unless you live somewhere super cold} and just be happy.  That's an order.

give me FIVE

Five reasons why I love this beautiful child....

1.  She is brilliant.  I am talking weird, talks to herself, mind always on kind of brilliant.  Scary brilliant.  Dave brilliant.  She asks so many questions and really listens to the answers {which is why I always send her to Dave for answers}.  I can already tell you that she will be smarter than me.  And I am OK with that.  She seriously remembers so many things.  We were cleaning out the play room the other day and she knew where every toy came from, who it was from, and when it was received...seriously, every. single. toy.  I told you, scary brilliant....

 2.  She is fearless.  She will try anything.  When we went to Sea World before Christmas, she was EXACTLY tall enough to ride The Steel Eel.  My stomach instantly got knots in it just thinking about riding that roller coaster.  Aubrey looked beyond nervous...BUT...Adelyn was freaking thrilled!  I reluctantly rode it with her, and seriously had to MAKE HER PUT HER ARMS DOWN because I was so nervous her skinny little ass would fly right out of that coaster car.  I kept my eyes shut most of the way up, but I could tell she was diggin' it..."I can see EVERYTHING from up here, Mom!!".  When we finished and Dave asked her how it was, she enthusiastically replied, "It....was....AWESOME!!"  She definitely brings Aubrey out of her shell a little by doing things first.

 3.  She is opinionated.  She has opinions about her clothes and her hair and everything, really.  Although she is opinionated, she usually has reasons for her opinions.  I can assure you those opinions will lead to conflict with teachers....let's hope for the best.

 4.  She is a talker. She was the earliest talker of our three, having full on conversations around 18 months old {hell, Blake is 28 months old and still doesn't talk}.  She hasn't stopped since...if she doesn't have someone to talk to, she will happily talk to herself.  or her stuffed animals.  or her Barbies.  or....you get the picture.  With all that talking, she usually has some pretty amazing things to say.  She is also LOUD.  She just has such a loud voice.  I assume that's a middle child thing, just so she can feel heard...maybe?

 5.  She has an amazing free spirit.  She makes up songs to sing all the time, she wears so many different colors at the same time, she dresses up in a gazillion different outfits each day, she loves pretending and writing and drawing and coloring, and she is looking forward to the day when she can dye her hair pink {God, please let her realize that her hair color is AMAZING and it would be a shame to ruin such a beautiful creation}.

I have to remind myself on occasion that the reasons I get frustrated with this precious girl are the very reasons why I love her as much as I do.  She is who she is, and that will never change.  I think it is important, as parents, to allow our children to be who they are.  To embrace their strengths, even if they drive us nuts.  Or more importantly, even if they don't match our vision of what our child should be like {with that said, there are limits.  I will NOT allow her to dye her hair while she is living in this house.  I mean LOOK at it!  OMG.  It's amazing for an adult, let alone a 5 YEAR OLD}.  She is one-of-a-kind, my Adelyn.  I love this crazy little redhead more than she'll ever know.    

SLEEPOVER!

We survived our first sleepover!  It was SO MUCH FUN!  The girls had a blast playing with their friends.   Addy said, "this is THE BEST DAY of MY ENTIRE LIFE!".  So, I think that pretty much sums up how it went.  ha!  I bought the girls these cute little bags at Dollar Tree (y'all know how I love me some Dollar Tree) and filled them with some little crafty things to do.  They worked on that stuff, ate some pizza and cookies and candy, drank lots of Capri Suns, and watched a movie.  Success!  

couldn't believe those cute little bags were only $1!

working hard on their crafts...

I am thinking Blake will LOVE having all these cute girls around in a few years!

Addy and Alexis in their matching PJ's...it was Pajama day at school yesterday and they both showed up in these.  Great minds think alike!

Aubrey and her sweet friend, Hannah.  They were so cute together!  They both passed out on the couch in the media room about thirty minutes into the movie.  They were sleepy, but the little ones probably would've stayed up ALL night had I not made them go to bed!

SWEET!

apparently, mixing is hard work and requires goggles.

My dessert this week was cookies and cream cheesecakes.  Very easy to make (Addy did all the mixing) and pretty yummy.  They taste even better the second day.  I cut the recipe in half, so it made 15 individual cheesecakes. Got the recipe here: The Girl Who Ate Everything.  She has a TON of awesome recipes on her blog.  Go check it out!

{photo from The Girl Who Ate Everything}

Adelyn is reading, thanks to this book recommendation.  We are only on Lesson 32 and she is doing GREAT.  She and Dave do a lesson each night, so she should definitely know all of her letters and sounds by August.  (one of my project 52 goals)

Blake grew out of his carseat, so I went ahead and moved him to a high back booster.  He is over the minimum height and weight requirements (he is taller than some four year olds we know), and he barely fit in his five point harness.  So far, he has done great.  He stays strapped in like a big boy, but the minute he figures out he can unstrap himself, back to the harness!  But for now, we are a carseat-less family!  Just boosters.  WOW!  I never thought the day would come.  

I got a coupon for a FREE Shutterfly photo book and I actually used it!  It expired yesterday, so I frantically uploaded our Hawaii anniversary pics and put together a quick book.  I am just hoping I didn't misspell anything!  I love photo books, and I am thinking that might be the way I end up organizing my gazillion pictures!

I found these ADORABLE crayon shaped books in the Target Dollar Spot.  I am going to print a label that says something like "You make my life colorful, Valentine" and give them to Blake's classmates for Valentine's Day.  They only had eight red ones at the Round Rock Target, so I made my brother go check another Target and he found two more.  Score! 

choo, choo....

JuMpIn' on the PROJECT 52 train.  Thank you, Allena, for getting me motivated!  So, here are my 52 goals for 2012, in no particular order:
1.  Cook dinner for my family 4 nights a week.- this is going well!  granted, some nights it's mac n cheese, but my goal was to just not go out to eat so often.   This has been hard with the move, but I will get back on track when we get settled in.  
2.  Work out 4 times a week.- got this one...although I have just regained movement in my legs from Sunday so this week might be a little slow.  I have been sucking at this right now.  Ready to get back in a groove. 
3.  Be in bed by 10:00 at night.- YES.  This has made a HUGE difference for me.  I may not be asleep by 10:00, but I have been in bed every night by then.  I feel so much better and well rested during the day.
4.  Keep up with my blog...at least 3 posts a week.- so far, so good.  Obviously, I have not kept my word on this one. 
5.  ORGANIZE my pictures. SO. MANY. PICTURES. Got a good start with a few photo books.
6.  Read.  I love it, but I definitely don't make enough time for it.  I am excited we got a Kindle Fire for Christmas!  I think that will help.- Still haven't read a book.   Read SEVERAL books!  YAY!  Love the Kindle!
7.  Paint upstairs kid bathroom.- decided to move instead.
8.  Get more manicures.- my nails are awesome right now!  going every couple of weeks.  well worth $10!
10.  Print and frame some recent pictures of the kids.- will do when we move into new house!
11.  Spend time each night talking to the girls.  Really talking, it's amazing what they have to say.
12.  Sign the kids up for swim lessons BEFORE summer.
13.  Snuggle more with my dog.
14.  Make sure Adelyn knows her letters and sounds before kindergarten.- almost there!
15.  Limit my diet coke intake to two per day {I am drinking one as I do this and it's only 9:23 AM}.- I am going to fail at this one.  For sure.
16.  Write and mail at least one hand-written letter to someone each month.- Done for January, and I know who I am writing for February.
17.  Accept compliments with a thank-you, and not an explanation or self put-down...ex. "You look great". Me: "Oh, thanks, but I still have ten pounds of baby weight to lose."- definitely doing better with this.  a simple "thank-you" is much better. 
18.  Believe in my photography skills.  I do have a good eye.
19.  Get rid of clothes that I haven't worn in the last two years.
20.  Date night once a month.- January's was to Gino's Italian restaurant in Round Rock and it was good! I did get some serious stomach cramps right before dinner, so my conversation sucked.  I told Dave I was so nervous about date night that I made myself sick.  ha!  Oh well, we'll have February. We have continued this!  So fun!
21.  Go on a weekend getaway with Dave.  I am thinking Chicago.  mmmm....Giordano's- in the works for July.  Went to Vegas.  Always fun. ;-)
22.  Do at least three spontaneous day trips with the kids.  We woke up one morning before Christmas and decided to go to Sea World.  It was completely unplanned, but SO MUCH FUN. {although if I make this a goal, I guess it might not be spontaneous} oh well.- we planned a trip to Disney just out of the blue yesterday, so that counts!!  It is going to be a surprise for the kids!
23.  Spend individual time with Aubrey and Adelyn.  Even if it's just an hour or two every now and then.
24.  Go to two concerts.  I mean, we live in the Live Music Capital of the World, right?- saw Todd Snider  at Gruene Hall last weekend and we saw The Dan Band New Years Eve, so that counts!
25.  Make a home-made dessert once a week.  Life is too short to not eat dessert, people.- This has been awesome!
26.  Read one book that Dave suggests.  It will probably be about finance or investing in real estate...yawn.
27.  Make a will.  God forbid something happens to both of us, but you never know. Working on it!
28.  During the school year, get out of bed BEFORE Aubrey makes it downstairs, fully dressed.  ha!  I am not a morning person.- I have managed this during the month of January!  YES!  
29.  Adopt a family for Thanksgiving.
30.  Adopt a family for Christmas.  My grandma, parents, uncle and I did this for Christmas and it was an awesome experience.  I would like to donate to that group this year, but ALSO pick a family that just our little family adopts.
31.  Complete P90X2...Dave and I started it two days ago, so I would love to actually do the full 90 days.
32.  Sign up for a photography workshop or class.
33.  Make it to Louisiana to visit our friends.
34.  Take the girls to a college football or basketball game.- Going this weekend!
35.  Take the kids to Gruene to listen to live music.
36.  Spend the night at a bed & breakfast.  We are more hotel people, so this is kinda out of our comfort zone.
37.  Find out an activity the girls are interested in and sign them up for a summer camp that focuses on it.
38.  Go to a sing-along or quote-along at Alamo Drafthouse.
39.  ORGANIZE the wine tour that I paid for on Morgan's list BEFORE my voucher expires in August.  Any takers?- my neighbor wants to go, yay! booked for June 30!
40.  Give money to a homeless person once a week.  I don't really care what they buy with it, people.  It would suck to be homeless.-  I need to tweak this one...turns out I don't see homeless people every week. I decided to do it when the opportunity presents itself, so that's what I do.  
41.  Keep my eyebrows waxed on a regular basis and not just when they get out of control.  Ha!  Sometimes it gets bad.
42.  Clean out my car once a week.  I am pretty good at this, but I need to continue.
43.  Go to the beach this summer.
44.  Go to the shooting range with Dave, and pretend to like it.  What can I say, guns scare me.
45.  Buy more fresh fruit and veggies.- We have had fresh fruit in the house every single day of January! Such a great thing!  The kids love having fresh fruit...now, the veggies??  need to work on that one.
46.  Add some color to my wardrobe.  Not sure why I am so drawn to black.  Easy, I guess.  I love colorful scarves!  Perfect for that pop of color!
47.  Plan ahead for my Christmas cookies and cocoa party...make cookie dough the week before and not the day of!!
48.  Do not look at my phone in the car, even if I am stopped at a stop light.....just put it away until I get to my destination.
49.  Take a girls trip to Canton.  Once again, any takers? ;-)
50.  Book a family portrait session.  I take lots of pictures of other people, but never get people to take pictures of us.
51.  Plan more playdates for the kids. This has been easier since we've been in Salado.  
52.  Donate $5 for each goal not met.

So, there you have it.  Time to get busy.

for you, dad.

One of my New Year resolutions is to get back to blogging.  For real.  It is my online scrapbook.  A great tool for recording memories.  I do have one faithful follower, my dad (aka Pops), who likes to remind me on occasion that I haven't updated my posts.  :)  So, here you go Pops.  This one's for you.

can you say, "cutest. picture. ever!"