The Watkins Family

Project 52 update

2012-02-01T07:52:00.000-06:00

I am doing pretty well with my list...Dave and I had date night the other night {Gino's Italian restaurant is great!}. I did get sick to my stomach right before we got there, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. The girls are well into swim lessons and loving them. I have been cooking more and we have lots of fresh fruit in the house for snacks. I updated the list on the link at the top if you really want to see the details. :) I am counting a trip to Disney at the end of March as "spontaneous". Dave is off March 29-April 2, so we just out of the blue decided to book a trip to Orlando. Flights were super cheap on Southwest, and we ended up finding a decent priced resort {even though we are apparently going during peak pricing season}. Of course, we booked the flights first and then discovered it was peak pricing at Disney. Oh well, it all worked out. I am so excited to take the kids! We are going to make it Aubrey's birthday celebration trip...and WE AREN'T TELLING THEM WE'RE GOING! We are just going to wake up on that Thursday like it's a normal school day, but head to the airport instead. Did I mention that I am excited!!! Here are the girls on our last trip to Disney...they look so little!

In other news, we were told last week at Addy's 5 year check-up that she had 20/40 vision in her left eye and 20/30 in her right. So yesterday we went to the eye doctor. She was digging the glasses, and got a little upset when they decided she didn't need any right now. ha! I have to admit, she looked pretty cute.

Blake and I found a playscape outside the rec center where the girls take swim lessons. We are LOVING this weather!! Seriously, it is amazing.

And, for motivation...my brother and future sister-in-law came to cheer us on at the half marathon the other day {which I am just now recovering from, btw}. It was so great to see them right at the end! Shelby took a few pictures. At the time she took my "action shot", I think I was barely moving and I was SO READY to see the finish line. It was so sweet of them to come and it was awesome seeing them right at the end. Gave me the last little boost of energy that I needed to make it to the end. Thanks, Bink and Shelby!!

13.1

2012-01-29T15:56:00.000-06:00

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!

2012-01-26T18:57:00.005-06:00

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".

2012-01-25T20:51:00.002-06:00

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.

2012-01-23T19:04:00.000-06:00

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...

2012-01-21T10:03:00.001-06:00

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.

2012-01-20T13:35:00.000-06:00

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

2012-01-17T12:31:00.000-06:00

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!

2012-01-14T11:49:00.003-06:00

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!

2012-01-12T08:31:00.001-06:00

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....

2012-01-10T09:49:00.003-06:00

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.
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.
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.
5. ORGANIZE my pictures. SO. MANY. PICTURES.
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.
7. Paint upstairs kid bathroom.
8. Get more manicures.
10. Print and frame some recent pictures of the kids.
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."
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.
21. Go on a weekend getaway with Dave. I am thinking Chicago. mmmm....Giordano's
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?
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
46. Add some color to my wardrobe. Not sure why I am so drawn to black. Easy, I guess.
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.
52. Donate $5 for each goal not met.

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

for you, dad.

2012-01-07T21:41:00.002-06:00

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!"

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:53:00.004-06:00

a post for Stacey....

2011-12-03T21:58:00.001-06:00

because our family photo attempts really are entertaining.

ENJOY!

ArTsY FaRtSy

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

Speaking of handprint art, I decided to frame a few of my favorites and hang them in the laundry room, along with an "art line" made with twine and clothespins...SO MUCH artwork comes home with these little sweethearts of mine, so I was running out of places on the fridge. This seemed like a logical solution. I can still enjoy their little masterpieces without having them cover every wall of my house. Ha! Sidenote...Aubrey is SUCH a morning person that Dave and I are still trying to figure out where she came from. We accidentally slept in until 7 this morning, but Aubrey was dressed and ready to walk out the door by 7:21. That is pretty good considering we usually wake up around 6:30. TGIF, people! Have a fabulous weekend.

bragging alert!

2011-11-21T19:33:00.001-06:00

I might just have the most amazing little seven year old on the planet. She is so sweet and so precious. She has a best friend. Her name happens to be Adelyn, who is yet another precious little girl I know quite well. Aubrey brought this card home from school today:

I thought it was just another cute little Thanksgiving hand turkey that I would file away with all the other hand art I've collected over the years. Until she opened it. And read these sweet words to her best friend, the person for whom she is most thankful:

yellow word translation: you are super good at making people laugh

To say that I am a proud mom would be an understatement. I am in love with these daughters of mine!

I am thankful for Council Oak Preschool!

2011-11-19T08:38:00.001-06:00

The Thanksgiving festivities have begun! We attended Adelyn's last Thanksgiving feast at her preschool before she is a BIG KINDERGARTENER next year! During the feast, I mentioned that it was her last one and she got really quiet. A little later, she told me that she didn't want to turn five because she wouldn't be in preschool anymore. Their preschool is THE BEST. All three of my brothers went there when they were kids and it is still wonderful. I only wish Aubrey could've gone there when she was little. BOO on the Iowa preschool where she went {it is NOTHING compared to this one}. The teachers LOVE LOVE LOVE the kids and my kids LOVE LOVE LOVE their teachers. We started the morning with a breakfast celebration in Blake's class and then went back in the afternoon for Adelyn's feast, catered by Bill Miller. Looking forward to Thanksgiving day, where we'll start the morning with Dave's family at the Turkey Trot (such a fun tradition!) and breakfast; then we'll move on to our house where my uncle will cook our Thanksgiving turkey (I've actually bought it the last couple of years at Bill Miller, but he nixed that idea this year and said he wanted a HOME-COOKED turkey. Good thing I got my Bill Miller stuffing fix at the preschool! ha!) I am thankful for so many things in my life, probably too many to list. I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

my precious *almost* five year old

LOVE the Indian name...Adelyn New Moon. future Twilight fan, maybe? ha!

Blake with his wonderful teachers!

Blake's class did a breakfast celebration...the banana chocolate chip muffins on the right were AMAZING!

showing us his fnished turkey

sticking the feathers in his turkey. he loved this craft.

love this boy

2011-11-17T21:27:00.001-06:00

such a cool kid.

Dollar Tree Love

2011-11-16T17:10:00.001-06:00

I love me some Dollar Tree, people. I am always amazed at the awesomeness that abounds there. With a little tweaking, you can go from Dollar Tree cheap to simply chic. Behold, my latest Dollar Tree treasures:

I am helping my mother-in-law with a shower at her school. I spent a total of $5 making 18 invitations. The plain invitations came from Dollar Tree. I added paper flowers (1.99 for a HUGE pack at Tuesday Morning) and a sticky rhinestone (0.68 for 18 on clearance at Target)

These adorable favor boxes were 10 in a pack at Dollar Tree, and I filled them with Hugs & Kisses to hand out at the shower.

This plain-jane chalkboard got spiced up with a burlap ruffle (just hot glued the burlap to the frame). Total cost was about $1.50 (if that, burlap is CHEAP)

Adelyn is having a "glow in the dark" bounce party this weekend so I bought glow necklaces at Dollar Tree today. SO much cheaper than buying them from the actual bounce place. So, there you have it. You don't have to spend a fortune to create something cute.

to rug or not to rug?

2011-11-15T19:43:00.001-06:00

that is the question.

I can't decide if I want to put a rug under the bed. I feel like I need something for contrast since the bed and the floor are almost the same color. It would be something simple, like this:

but on the other hand, we got rid of carpet for a reason...so I am at a loss. Opinions?

was this just a dream?

2011-11-14T17:50:00.001-06:00

The pictures are proof, it really did happen! Dave and I celebrated our 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY in Maui a few weeks ago. It was a fabulous trip, an excellent escape from reality, and an amazing way to toast ten years of wedded bliss...;-)

on the ferry to a submarine...

uh, yum. basically an alcoholic's milkshake.

just before sunset at the luau

in front of our resort

we made it to Hana in one piece...beautiful trip on a mostly one-lane road. scary especially if you know what kind of driver Dave is...

the shaved ice had ice cream at the bottom. oh. my. waistline.

AMAZING macadamia nut pancakes with COCONUT syrup+mimosa= breakfast heaven

black one-piece. holding in the gut from all the amazing food we consumed...

at the resort

10 years. wow.

just another amazing view from our convertible

driving a Mustang again. ahhh, the good ole days.

we spent a lot of time in Lahaina

the view from our plane window as we landed. we were in store for a beautiful trip!

sign says it all

I actually asked someone to take our picture. Go me. :)

at the luau

this is what it's like to relax...

coffee on the beach. doesn't get much better than that.

best part of the luau!!

you know, just going to work....in the SHARK TANK.

fabulous aquarium!

one of the reasons I love this guy---never gets old taking these ridiculous pictures! lol!

maybe we should've hit up Mystic Tan before we headed out...

Hula, hula

what a beautiful trip!!!

A GIANT THANK-YOU to my MOM, dad, and grandma too) for watching the kids for an ENTIRE school week while Dave and I enjoyed ourselves. We are so blessed!

what's in your jacket pocket?

2011-11-10T14:07:00.000-06:00

is your collection of junk as good as mine?

T.M.I.

2011-11-07T15:31:00.002-06:00

I peed my pants while running on the treadmill at the gym today. I just kept running. I was so sweaty when I got off that I don't think anyone noticed. Maybe I should've taken those Kegels seriously...Happy Monday, folks.

a belated BOO...

2011-11-06T13:01:00.003-06:00

my girls

Supa-star...

Perfect costume for this little diva

Batgirl to the rescue!

Could there be anything cuter than a Super-toddler?

My three candy monsters!

Suuuperman!

She has all the Batgirl moves mastered.

Gonna get that witch

aaahhhhhh! she's scarier than we thought!

Mega-cheese.

My favorite family foto attempt.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

2011-10-17T19:29:00.003-05:00

Pumpkin POWER...

love these sweet pumpkins

precious sisters

checking out a worm

WHOA! they are ALL looking!! Amazing!!

these two are becoming big buds...this could be trouble! ha!

Our SpOoKy HoUsE...

checking out the "ball" in the sky...aka, the full moon.

We are ready for fall....really, FALL...c'mon weather, it's time to cooperate. No more 90 degree days, ok?

precious moments.

2011-10-11T18:57:00.002-05:00

a rare quiet moment in the Watkins household.

my heart is full.

Blake is two, whoa.

2011-10-10T21:52:00.004-05:00

Blake turned two on October 1st. I still don't think I have completely wrapped my mind around the fact that my baby is two years old. We had some reel fun celebrating his birthday. It was o-fish-ally awesome.

aaahhhh! presents!

still fearless, even after a broken leg last year...

Nawnee got Blake his own fish tank...we are down to one fish from four...the biggest one turned out to be a murderer.

shirt by Brooke Crisp, super cute!!

thank you, pinterest for the awesome idea!

so the table wasn't quite done here, but we ended up moving the party outdoors...

a very pregnant Allison, who had her baby 4 days later!

my dad and brother trying out the slide

my future sil, Shelby, with my sil Candice

LOVE. THIS. PICTURE.

My mom took tons of pictures at the party, and I only took four. That's right, only four pictures at my child's party. She took so many that I am sure I will find more to add as I sort through all of them. What a happy day.

how was your day??

2011-10-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

was it this good?

trash to treasure

2011-09-14T21:53:00.000-05:00

I am still amazed that everything on this wall in our guest room was in my "where do I hang this/on the way to Goodwill" box....cheapest room decor EVER!

I need help.

2011-09-01T08:10:00.004-05:00

can someone please tell me why all of my gadgets have disappeared on my blog?? they are still there on the design page, but then they don't show up on the blog!! it. is. driving. me. nuts.
OK----so they are there when you click on "older posts" at the bottom, but not when you go to the most recent page of posts on my blog....any ideas??

Blake's first day!

2011-08-31T21:31:00.010-05:00

Blake started preschool today. He will go W/F from 9-2 and I think it is AWESOME! He is never around kids other than his sisters, so he really needs some social interaction. He did great today! His report said he was energetic and happy, and ready to explore and play. He was such a big boy walking into school with his little backpack and lunchbox. He went straight to the slide in the classroom and never even realized I was leaving. I tried to make him look up for a picture, but he was so focused on playing from the minute he walked in the door. He, of course, bonked his face on the ground and has a nice little rug burn under his eye. He obviously played hard because he was passed out when I got there. I'd say day one was a major SUCCESS!

Thumbs up for school!

showing us his new shoes:
cheesin' for the camera:
my big boy walking into school!!

no tears today {from either of us}

love this sweet little guy

gone lunchin'

2011-08-30T20:09:00.004-05:00

The teachers in Blake's class {yes, Blake is starting preschool tomorrow!! HALLELUJAH} suggested we find a divided container for lunches. Their reasoning was that when you seat 8 toddlers for lunch and they ALL want to eat, like NOW, it's easier to just pop the top on one container and let them go to town. Well, easier said than done. I looked EVERYWHERE....but then, my brilliant mother came up with this idea:

tackle box, turned lunch box. $3.49 at Academy.

Adelyn's first day of her last year of preschool.

2011-08-29T17:03:00.007-05:00

can't believe that miss thang will be in kinder next year. this kid keeps me on my toes. she is brilliant and beautiful beyond her years. she is headstrong and independent. she is FULL OF sUrPrIsEs. not too sure what to expect from this little one {but for some reason I think it might involve pink hair or tattoos at some point....and maybe a few trips to the office} I LOVE THIS CRAZY KID.

school days...

2011-08-24T07:57:00.008-05:00

We are so excited about this school year! Aubrey's school does a "Welcome Walk", where the teachers go to the houses of their students to meet them. It is really cool and the kids love it! Aubrey got Mrs. Hawkins this year, and we have heard nothing but great things about her! The night before school, Blake was literally up ALL NIGHT puking, so I felt a little frazzled yesterday when I dropped Aubrey off. I didn't even get a picture of her in her classroom. Enjoy this pics and I hope everyone has an awesome school year! I am off to Adelyn's preschool orientation now!

a little southern girl's revenge...

2011-08-12T21:28:00.003-05:00

Adelyn got me back tonight. OK, so maybe those ginormous bows are a tad ridiculous {as I have been told by my seven year old}. But they sure are cute....one at a time, two at the most...on little girls....not 31 year olds...

VEGAS!

2011-08-08T21:08:00.042-05:00

I asked the girls if they could go on another vacation, where would they want to go...Adelyn's immediate response--VEGAS! It was such a great time. Between a family dinner, a surprise party, and a Vegas trip, Uncle Bink pretty much hit the jackpot in the way of 21st birthday celebrations!

very pinteresting...

2011-07-27T21:03:00.004-05:00

If you haven't checked out PINTEREST, you NEED TO RIGHT NOW! It is such an awesome way to organize ideas. I am hooked!! You can check out my inspiration board for Clay and Shelby's "country chic" wedding here: WEDDING. Basically, you can create boards on your page and then 'pin' things to it that you find on other websites. SO AWESOME.

now THAT'S a good fortune...

2011-07-26T22:56:00.001-05:00

such a sweet proposal, such a sweet couple. my baby brother did goooood!

YUM!!!

2011-07-26T20:51:00.000-05:00

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
TOPPING:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cold butter
Directions
1.In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Combine bananas, sugar, egg and butter; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Combine the first three topping ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 375 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

updates

2011-07-20T21:42:00.003-05:00

Time Warner can't come until Sunday, so pictures will have to wait. We have had so many issues with our internet, and we think it's because of the crazy wiring from the people who lived here before us. There is literally a closet full of wires in Addy's room. Luckily we have an ipad with 3g or I'd go nuts. I am going to the dentist tomorrow for the first time in like three years. Yikes. That just got put on the back-burner during all of our moving. I am so close to finishing our master bedroom...found a cute shabby dresser for only 65 bucks on craigslist and I can't wait to go check it out tomorrow. I love Craigslist. Tried to buy a toddler bed today, but someone beat me to it. Blake needed one because he finally figured out how to get out of hus crib, bummer!!! I was going to keep him in it until he was like five. We ended up buying the cutest little sleigh toddler bed that totally matches the guest room bed, He is going to sleep in there since it is right next to our room. I don't want him wandering around upstairs all by himself just yet. I was not looking forward to bedtime tonight, but I told him to go get in his big boy bed and he did! He totally just went to sleep. It was amazing, but I have a feeling it won't last...just realized the ipad is down to 2% power....my sign to shut it off and go to bed!

internet troubles...

2011-07-19T21:21:00.001-05:00

roadtrip pictures are coming...when our internet works again. boo, time warner.

feels good to be home!

2011-07-18T00:27:00.003-05:00

I just uploaded 522 pictures from our roadtrip! So much fun!! Expect a post tomorrow! :)

P.S.~Proof that my last post was a tad overdramatic...I still look gooood.

actually pulled out the tinted moisturizer for this night. lol!

confessions of a frump...

2011-07-16T19:32:00.005-05:00

There was a time in my early twenties when I felt so cute and fashionable. I spent way too much on purses and shoes and actually took a shower on a daily basis....and then I had Aubrey. I did go back to work so I had to shower most days, but there were some mornings where my hair went up into a half ass ponytail and I wore the same black pants two days in a row because I just didn't have time to do any laundry. Luckily for me, I do have time to do laundry these days....so the workout shorts and t-shirts that I throw on most mornings usually smell better than I do. It's not that I don't care about what I look like...I do. I usually just figure the time spent making myself up could be better spent on something else...namely, sleeping. However, I should probably start caring a little more so I don't end up in the drop off line at school wrapped in my bathrobe, with curlers in my hair and tweeked out on coffee....I am well on my way. Here are more confessions from this frumpy motha...

I haven't bought make-up since we lived in Iowa...that's right...we moved there almost three years ago. I have been surviving on mascara and lip gloss since we moved back. And occasionally tinted moisturizer so I don't look dead.

I rarely go to the mall, like never. I buy all of my clothes at Target, Ross or Marshall's. Occasionally I branch out and go to Kohl's.

All of my bras are flesh colored. My FOUR year old told me the other day, "You know, Mom, bras come in ALL different colors!" I do have one pink sportsbra from my younger years...

The last package of underwear I bought came from Dollar General because it was close to Aubrey's reading camp and I only had an hour to get there and back...I only bought new ones because our dog finally ate the crotch out of most of mine. I don't need a ton because all of my workout shorts have built-in panties. :-). and I have WAY too many pairs of workout shorts.

Regardless of running a half marathon in March, I still haven't managed to lose the rest of the baby weight...that means I am probably still eating for two....this summer has been a carb-fest!! on this trip alone, I have had fried twinkies and red velvet cheesecake. yummy, but
blech! notttt good for the waistline.

So I guess with these confessions should come some goals...
Dave is off this week, so I am going to Merle Norman to buy new make-up (no, Merle Norman isn't just for grandmas...).
I also know that Victoria's Secret bikini cut panties are what fit my big ole bootay the best, so I am going to make a special stop there...
I just can't budge on the flesh colored bras...I wear a lot of white shirts. Addy will have to get over it.
Sign up for another half marathon. and actually focus in my diet this time....
and once I lose the baby weight, splurge on a few wardrobe staples...my weakness-cute, overpriced jeans.

summatime.

2011-07-06T22:25:00.030-05:00

Me likey summer vacay. Mucho fun things we have done. Take a looksy...in no particular order (just like our life).
We actually started the summer off with an awesome trip to San Antonio, but sadly, I forgot my camera. I know, the horror!! So, we shall start with the beach:
ARE YOU READY??

A Watkins Family reunion!

Holy Cacao! cakeballs.

Surfer-dude locks are GONE...success!! Thank you, Snip-Its.

What's summer without Hula Hut??

easy, breezy summer style...

supporting local businesses and jean-shorts wearing runners (who finish in 15:47!!) holy chaffing, batman!!

dressing up is always fun.

Just getting in his morning climb...

I like donuts, yes I do, I like donuts, how 'bout you?

nothing screams summer like jell-o...in all forms, apparently.

every vacation results in an urge to redecorate...

And let the fun continue....stay tuned. We leave for a roadtrip to....wait for it....VEGAS, on Friday!!! Are you as excited as I am?? I can't wait to see what the minis think about Sin City. LMAO already.
WE will also be making a pit stop in Phoenix to see my recently relocated brother, C-Kohl and his girlfriend, Daniela, AND *hopefully* this lovely friend and fellow blogger, Karen.STOKED!

really?

2011-06-23T19:46:00.005-05:00

This is how my daddy strapped me in tonight:

Good thing I have mommy to save me from this straight-jacket of a carseat.

family photo attempts.

2011-06-21T16:03:00.003-05:00

We spent last week in Port Aransas. These were the only group shots we attempted....I don't like to waste anyone's time waiting to get the perfect pic...I've come to terms with the fact that we may never have a family photo where everyone is looking...and that's ok with me. :-)

I think Adelyn is pretending to get eaten in this one. Blake, aka Linus, looks like he wants to curl up with his blankie and fall asleep:

3 out of 5 looking at the camera is decent, I guess. Adelyn is trying to participate, so I'll give her half credit. Blake was too interested in the boats behind us.

I did ask Adelyn if she wanted me to pull her hair back, but she refused. Does anyone else think Blake looks like he's throwing up a gang sign in this one? Oh, and that's our friend's finger in the top left corner...

We had a blast! Dave has been off a lot so far this summer, so we have taken full advantage. It has been nice spending so much time as a family!!

Lord, help me.

2011-06-09T23:25:00.004-05:00

"Mom, when you pick us up from cheer camp today, let's go get our nails done and then go get a tattoo."

enough said. goodnight.

donations for Brendan

2011-05-26T07:52:00.002-05:00

For those of you who went to Pflugerville Middle School, Ms. Saxon's son, Brendan, passed away yesterday. He left his wife and baby. It breaks my heart. I copied this link from facebook, and I'm sure any donations would help. I can't imagine the heartbreak his wife must be feeling. It just blows my mind how things can change in an instant. Hug your kids and kiss your spouse. And although cliche, live each day like it could be your last.

http://www.donations4b.blogspot.com/

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T09:14:00.002-05:00

Aubrey made me a jar of love for Mother's Day...so funny. Gotta love fill-in-the-blanks! I hope you all have a wonderful day! Enjoy my child's reasons for why she loves me.

A special memory with you was when we went to a trip.
My favorite thing to do with you is play with you.
Your hugs make me feel like you love me.
You are the best at cooking cheeseburger pie.
A special memory with you was when I went to the movye.
If we could go on a trip together, just you and me, it would be to Calfory. (California)
You are funny when you video me when I am criing. (ha! I'll have to explain this one later)
When you smile you make me fell good.
You are the best at singing eavthing. (she obviously inherited my tone-deafness)
I know you love me because you give me lots of love. (?)
A special memory with you was when it was my birthday.

and drumroll, please. My PERSONAL favorite...
I think you are the best mom in the world because you feed me.

If that's all it takes to be the best mom in the world, then consider me numero uno!! :)

Cleva's in the Kitchen

2011-05-04T20:51:00.004-05:00

The author, Cleva Griffin O'Hayre, was born on September 7, 1901 in a log cabin on a farm near Mead, Colorado.

She married Paul O'Hayre on September 3, 1919 in Longmont, CO. She is the mother of 14 children. She has 46 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren.

Cleva O'Hayre published her cookbook in celebration of her 82nd birthday and her 64th wedding anniversary.

In December, 1982, the Rocky Mountain News named Mrs. O'Hayre "Best Cook in the West".

Unfortunately, her legacy does not live on with this great-grandchild. I will not be earning the title of "Best Cook of the South" anytime soon (or ever). However, there are some easy recipes in her cookbook that even I can't screw up! One of my all time favorites from when I was a kid...easy, no bake cookies. Creatively titled, "cookies" on pg. 151 of Great-grandma O'Hayre's cookbook.

COOKIES
1/4 cup butter
3 cups sugar
4 tbs. baking cocoa
1/2 cup milk
3 cups uncooked rolled oats
1/2 cup peanut butter

Combine first four ingredients in a saucepan, mix well, and cook over high heat for 5 minutes or until butter is melted, stirring all the while. Remove from heat and quickly add oats and peanut butter. Mix thoroughly and drop by teaspoonful onto wax paper. Cool thoroughly.

Thank you, Grandma O'Hayre, for making "cookies" out of ingredients that I usually have on hand. They were just what I needed this afternoon.

blake, aka baby bam bam, aka beamer...

2011-04-15T12:19:00.009-05:00

Oh little Blake man, you are a mess. Literally. You usually need a bath by about noon. You turned 18 months on April 1 and you are into everything! The pantry is your favorite room in the house. You are quite the ham and you give a VERY cheesy smile when I pull out the camera. You tell everyone you see "hi" at the top of your lungs and then "bye" when we are leaving a place. Strangers usually get a kick out of that when we are out shopping. You love balls or anything that resembles one. You proved to be quite the car rider on our Spring Break road trip to Colorado. You did puke on the way there and on the way back, but it didn't seem to bother you much. You usually just watch whatever DVD your sisters have picked out. We're working on their selection. I know it won't be long before you are sick of princess movies... I can tell already that you love your big sisters. You kinda get on Adelyn's nerves a bit, but I think y'all will be big buds when you can talk. Aubrey thinks you are so hilarious and cute. Your favorite word is "baw-baw" for bottle, even though you've been drinking out of a sippy cup for a while now. You have strong opinions about your sippy cup. I gave you one with a hard lid the other day and you cried and kept saying "baw-baw, baw-baw" until I figured out you wanted the Nuby kind with the soft lid. You will not sit in a cart or a high chair. I strap you in and somehow you wiggle your way out and stand up. It makes me so nervous! You love to be outside. When you blow kisses, it melts my heart. You make our family feel complete and we couldn't imagine life without such a precious little boy. I love you, Blake Matthew Watkins.

they do have their own beds...

2011-04-02T08:06:00.002-05:00

they just prefer to share.

so....

2011-04-01T11:44:00.001-05:00

you're telling me this isn't a hat??

13.1

2011-03-31T19:47:00.003-05:00

We did it!!! I have had a goal of running a half marathon for a while now, but, you know, life just gets in the way! You would think I would be prepared just from running around after the kiddos, but unfortunately it wasn't that easy. My brother, Kody, and I set a goal to do a 12 week training schedule that ultimately led up to the Rock n' Roll half marathon in Dallas this past weekend. I am so proud of us for actually finishing since neither one of us would consider ourselves runners. It was amazing how my body adapted to the long runs in such a short amount of time. I am definitely no Speedy Gonzales...my final chip time was 2:18:41. But my motto for the whole training program was "it doesn't matter how fast I go, just as long as I keep going!" I did just that, and I am so proud of my accomplishment. I have to say, that between hosting Aubrey's birthday party and running a half marathon, I pretty much felt like Supermom last weekend.
before the race:

and after:

BTW: Kody kicked my butt. He finished in 1 hour and 56 minutes!!

sweet, sweet seven.

2011-03-29T21:23:00.012-05:00

gone fishin'

2011-03-09T19:25:00.014-06:00

The girls went on a little fishing adventure with Pops this past Sunday. They kept saying they wanted to go, so when Sunday was a beautiful day, my dad jumped at the opportunity. Getting the boat in the water proved to be the most challenging part of the trip. From what I recall of the story (remember, my dad was all alone with a six year old and a four year old), it went something like this:
My dad tied a rope to the front of the boat and started backing it into the water. Then he put the truck in park and went to push the boat into the water while trying to hold onto the rope.
Rope was too short.
Got the boat back onto the trailer, found another rope to tie to the rope already tied to the boat.
Repeated steps one and two.
Success.
Tied the boat to the dock (with the girls on board) and went to park the truck in the lot up the road (girls still on the boat).
Returned to dock to see that the rope had come apart and the boat (with the girls on board) was floating away.
A nice bass fisherman, who had been watching the whole thing go down, volunteered (while trying to control his laughter, no doubt) to pull the girls back to the dock.
Success.
My dad hopped onto the boat.
He had to push away from the shore because the motors were stuck in the mud.
The adventure can begin...
but only if you have keys for the boat.
which happened to be at the lakehouse.
Luckily another bass fisherman was available to tow them back to the dock, and all three got out to go to the truck to drive up the block to the lakehouse where Pops got the keys and they were able to return to the boat and.....
finally....
start....
their.....
fishing trip!
A trip that turned out to be quite successful. Five fish were caught, three were keepers. All reeled in by the one and only, Aubrey.
They returned to the lakehouse and had a fish fry with the neighbors and the girls were passed out about two minutes into the drive home. They even went to school the next day smelling like a fish, but they didn't seem to mind too much. They had a great day with their Pops.....Although, Adelyn was a little disappointed that she didn't catch a turtle. Maybe next time.

big buds.

2011-02-10T14:13:00.003-06:00

Our dog is a big fan of Blake. BIG FAN. Blake will yell across the room, "Herky!", and then put out his hand with whatever snack he is currently eating. This happens several times a day. Pretty sure Herky is going to have to start watching his diet soon or we're going to have to rename him. CHUNK springs to mind.

the mother of all deals.

2011-02-08T15:22:00.004-06:00

Stumbled upon this little gem in the clearance section of Ross today...

Score!

anyone interested??

2011-02-07T20:50:00.003-06:00

It's gotta be easier than childbirth, right? http://www.hellrun.com/

p.s.- you get a cape.

p.s.s.- and free beer.

beautiful weekend!

2011-02-06T20:14:00.015-06:00

Saturday's warmer weather called for an outdoor activity and Kiddie Acres delivered. It may not look like much and the rides are probably the same ones I rode back in the 80's, but that didn't stop us from having a great time!!

It was a beautiful weekend, and not just because of the weather. I kept asking Dave, "are you sure you don't have to go to the hospital?" because it seems like he has been working non-stop. We don't have a whole lot of uninterrupted family time, but this weekend was one of those where we had absolutely nothing to do except hang out with each other. No distractions. And it was GLORIOUS! I love my family.

happy snow day!

2011-02-04T11:57:00.007-06:00

Adelyn came down the stairs "ready to go out and play in the snow" this morning. This is what she was wearing:
Aubrey must have a better memory of our time in Iowa because she at least had on pants. After all the time it took to layer them up, I only managed to get one picture because they were outside for about 28 seconds before they "just couldn't take it anymore"...
Even Herky didn't want any part of the cold. He was way more comfortable wrapped up in his Snuggie...
And then Pops and Mimi saved the day by bringing donuts and kolaches! Well, I kinda talked them into it...by making the kids beg. A grandparent just can't say no to a grandbaby. LOL!
I hope everyone is staying warm!

my "It's too cold to go outside, so I guess I'll get to projects I've been putting off" project...

2011-02-03T11:42:00.003-06:00

A valance for the upstairs bathroom, made out of a shower curtain I picked up at HomeGoods the other day....I just had the polka dot shower curtain hanging in there before, and I feel like this makes the little bathroom feel more complete.

fabulous items I can't live without...

2011-02-02T21:07:00.013-06:00

Thought I would share with you my enthusiasm for some recent purchases!!

Weathertech digital fit floor liners...bought these when we bought the minivan. OMG! BEST PURCHASE EVER!!! They are a little pricey (about $300 if you include the cargo liner), but worth every penny, in my opinion. Plus, they are custom fit to your car's make and model. I only wish I would've had these in my Tahoe. After seven years of milk stains, crushed in goldfish, projectile vomiting, etc...those floorboards had seen better days! These mats cover almost every square inch of the floor. So, with those and leather seats, I have pretty much child-proofed the car as much as possible!
Garmin Forerunner watch...love it! I am not a runner, but my brother and I have decided to run the rock-n-roll half marathon in Dallas on March 27. I didn't think running on the treadmill was going to cut it, especially for long runs. I found this watch on amazon.com for just over $100. It has GPS to track your distance and it is awesome! I don't think I get as much out of it as I could, but I love that it keeps a history of my runs so I can go back and check my times. I decreased my time by three minutes on a three mile run the other day! So, instead of an 11 minute mile, I kept a 10 minute mile pace...just call me the tortoise...my motto is "it doesn't matter how fast I go, just as long as I keep putting one foot in front of the other". On my 6 mile run the other day, I was repeating that over and over in my head...so. many. times.

My mom got me a Keurig for Christmas! I was probably the last person on the planet to get one, but I am not much of a coffee drinker. However, this thing is great because I can make flavored coffee, cocoa, tea, etc. I can also just make hot water to add to stuff like packaged oatmeal...great gift, Mom! I use it almost everyday!

The iFlip...I can not believe the video quality in this little tiny camera! It is really pretty amazing to think that video cameras used to be the size of a small child. I remember our first one and you almost needed to be a bodybuilder to tote that thing around all day. I just stick this one in my purse and go!
The best thing about these items is that they are USER-FRIENDLY! Ready to go straight out of the box. That is worth something right there.

caught in the act...

2011-01-28T17:05:00.003-06:00

Blake had his 15 month check-up the other day. He is 82nd percentile in height and 58th in weight...sounds like someone is going to look a lot like his daddy someday! Not sure how he's not 100th percentile for weight...he is ALWAYS IN THE PANTRY! It is definitely his favorite spot in the house.

girls just wanna have fun!

2011-01-24T12:24:00.006-06:00

There was a dance at Aubrey's school last week, and the theme was "Dancing through the decades"...Can you guess which decade I picked? Hilarious, actually...I didn't have to buy a single thing for the girls to wear! Adelyn was a BIG fan of how people dressed in the 80's. BIG fan. Go figure. It was so fun to see them dance with their friends, and Aubrey definitely got her moves from her mama. Can you say SpAz on the dance floor? I love that they are both totally unaware of how dorky they are at the moment. I hope that lasts for a long time because nothing sucks worse than the day you figure out you're a nerd. Believe me, I know. Ha! These girls are so precious. They are best buds. Partners in crime. Soul sistas. They really couldn't function without the other one. I love that they love each other so much. It makes my heart happy.

loving aubrey's room

2011-01-18T11:57:00.002-06:00

Aubrey's room was the first one painted in the house, but the last one to get decorated...I'm not sure why...I just couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with it, I guess. It is coming along now, and I absolutely love it so far...I feel like it's a room she can grow into, but it's still "little girly" enough for now. I am looking for the perfect mirror to hang above the dresser, but I haven't found it yet.

goat food?

2011-01-17T19:22:00.007-06:00

Blake eats everything. I mean everything! Just now I pulled one of Aubrey's earrings out of his mouth. I found a bead in his poop not too long ago. If I don't know where he is, I can always find him in the pantry!! Not sure what to do with this little guy! In addition to eating everything in sight, he also messes with everything in sight. Today he pulled my camera off of my nightstand. The lens is no longer able to attach to the camera body after its collision with the floor. I wish I could've been mad at him, but I was only able to be mad at myself for leaving it within his reach. He is getting big and he is so active, so I guess I need to Blake-proof the house....I should probably start that as soon as possible.

we Watkins hope your week is just ducky

2011-01-10T21:01:00.003-06:00

you're quacking up now, aren't you. :)

Christmas is a time for sharing...

2010-12-27T10:52:00.003-06:00

unless, of course, you're talking about Blake's chocolate Santa. Back away from the chocolate Santa and no one gets hurt.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas,

full of love, laughter, and sharing.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

2010-12-06T20:08:00.012-06:00

We went to a Christmas party at a friend's house yesterday, and it was such a great start to the holidays! It was even a little chilly outside like December is supposed to be. Santa was escorted to the party by a fire truck, and then he read a story and posed for pictures with all the kids. Then, The Biscuit Brothers performed outside! Yep, that's how we roll up in the 78681...I am not sure how our friends are going to top that party next year!
Here comes Santa!

Looks like he's been working out...

Adelyn was super excited!

Santa reading a story to the kids:

Blake was not super excited about meeting santa...

my little loves:

The Biscuit Brothers!

Blake liked the Biscuit Brothers better than Santa, he kept bouncing up and down to the music! A good time was had by all!

blah, blah, blog...

2010-12-02T23:05:00.002-06:00

I am super tired, but I can't sleep because I washed down a Claritin-D with not one, but two low carb monster energy drinks today and I am WiReD!! I also have a problem going to sleep when the kids go to sleep like everyone tells you to do. I always say I will do that, but then I sit down and realize it is quiet and I just keep sitting and enjoying the quiet. My life is loud. My kids are loud. My kids are my life. Speaking of kids...Aubrey lost a top tooth last night, Blake said 'tree' today while pointing to the Christmas tree, and Addy bonked her head so hard on the edge of the laundry room sink that I thought we might have to go to the ER (now that I know she is ok, it was pretty hilarious). Speaking of sinks, the one in our kitchen is sInKiNg into the cabinet below...it is an undermount sink, which means it is glued to the granite. It first happened while my parents were here watching the kids, so my dad used epoxy to fix it, but that did not last. I have called so many countertop places, and apparently people don't want to make any money because most of them said they would only fix it if I was a previous customer. really? I finally found someone who should be coming out tomorrow (although he said he was coming today and I still have a sunk sink). And about tomorrow...I think Aubrey is sick. She was sound asleep by 6pm tonight, so I'm pretty sure she won't be heading to school in the morning. I don't like it when my kiddos don't feel well. Blake was up for a couple of hours last night looking like he wanted to rip his tiny little pug nose off because it was so stuffy. Poor little guy. Speaking of little guys, our Elf on a Shelf made his way back from the North Pole. I really think he should reconsider his options come Christmas day...he could have a very nice permanent residence on the library wall in our front room...year-round watching and reporting to Santa Claus might make things run a bit more smoothly around here. Ha! We are all excited about Christmas; it will be the first of many in this house that we now call home. It is so nice to finally be settled. The monsters are wearing off and the exhaustion is creeping in, so if I don't stop typing now, I will start getting all mushy. I am just so thankful for everything in my life. Especially the quiet moments, when I actually have time to reflect on how lucky I really am. And, if you are reading this, you are probably part of what makes my life great.

hard to believe...

2010-11-22T20:21:00.010-06:00

that FOUR years ago, I was going home with this precious bundle of joy...

Happy birthday, my sweet Adelyn. You never cease to amaze me.

I love you to the moon and back, times a million.

shutterfly...

2010-11-13T18:30:00.003-06:00

I am home alone with a sleeping baby, so I thought I would go ahead and work on my Christmas cards...when you order, you can embed your project on your blog and get $25 toward your next Shutterfly purchase! sweet, except now people can see my card...maybe just don't scroll down...;-) I am so excited to decorate for Christmas soon, it's my favorite time of the year!!

christmas card

2010-11-13T18:21:00.001-06:00

Family Roster Christmas Card

Make a statement with Shutterfly Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

a little landscaping makes a BIG difference...

2010-11-11T15:40:00.005-06:00

We had some guys put rock around the flower beds, and I think it turned out FABULOUS!

BEFORE

and AFTER!

love it.

tried to get a headstart on christmas card pics...

2010-11-08T19:58:00.006-06:00

little man was not into it. at all.

I thought moving to the playground would help.

but then he fell down...

maybe we'll try again tomorrow.

luckily, my two little ladies were fabulous.

but, no peeking till Christmas...

we vant to suck your blood....

2010-11-02T19:41:00.004-05:00

or at least eat your candy!

little pumpkins

2010-10-30T23:48:00.002-05:00

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

not the easiest family to capture on camera...

2010-10-14T21:57:00.002-05:00

My friend, Sara, took some pics of us at a wedding a couple weeks back....she did an excellent job, considering what she had to work with! Aubrey can make a normal face, check some more out here: http://saratredennick.blogspot.com/
I thought y'all might like this picture better than the broken leg pic. Addy is doing much better. Now the only challenge is going to be keeping her off of it long enough for it to heal!

not the best way to spend your Saturday night...

2010-10-09T22:51:00.008-05:00

she is one tough little cookie. and she wants the trampoline GONE! consider it done. gave it to someone sitting in the ER waiting room...she's coming to pick it up in the morning!

Looks like somebody is ONE!

2010-10-07T20:11:00.016-05:00

Blake's birthday was last Friday, but we've been having some computer issues. Love this little guy.

day in, day out

2010-09-28T20:14:00.003-05:00

my day, the condensed version.
roll out of bed.
get greeted by my sweet six year old who is already dressed and ready to go.
pour cereal.
make lunches.
take my blood pressure meds.
get Blake, who is waiting patiently in his bed.
wake up Addy.
talk Addy into wearing pants since it's chilly outside.
agree to let her get in the car wearing only her red blanket.
drop off Aubrey.
donut run for Addy.
egg McMuffin run for me.
take a bite at the exact moment I smell Blake's poopy diaper.
change diaper.
make Addy put on clothes.
play outside with the kids.
take sidewalk chalk out of Blake's mouth.
color with Addy.
clean whatever piece of furniture that Addy has colored on.
talk to Addy in a firm but fair voice that we only color on paper.
put a puzzle together with Addy.
pull the toilet bowl brush out of Blake's hand.
put Blake down for a nap.
try to run on treadmill only to discover it is broken.
decide to clean instead.
discover gum on the carpet.
talk to Addy in a firmer tone about throwing chewed gum in the trashcan.
can't take her seriously because she's wearing panties and a tiara.
get Blake up from his nap.
eat lunch, maybe sit for the first time all day.
read Addy a book.
watch horrible cartoons.
watch Blake take a few steps.
remove ping pong ball from Blake's mouth.
talk Addy into putting clothes on again.
check facebook on the ipad while sitting in the pick-up line at Aubrey's school.
listen to the girls bicker for a good thirty minutes until they realize they love playing together.
snack.
start cooking dinner.
daddy's home!
realize the kids are being way too quiet.
discover permanent marker on the wood floors.
finally lose it with Addy.
eat dinner, talk about our day.
laugh.
decide to go on a family walk.
discover a new park.
listen to Addy cry about peeing her pants on the slide.
help her finish peeing by a tree.
watch Aubrey's face light up when she finishes the monkey bars for the first time.
crack up at Blake holding on for dear life in the swing.
crack up at Addy for just being Addy.
finally make it home.
bathtime.
reading time.
receive a note from Aubrey that says "I luf you mom, you re the bist mom iver"
hugs.
kisses.
read another story.
one more night night hug and kiss.
bring water.
turn on night lights.
just one more hug and kiss.
watch sweet babies fall asleep.
one more kiss on the cheek.
feel overwhelmed by love.
feel thankful for this life I have.
go to bed.
repeat in the morning.

really?

2010-09-08T20:35:00.005-05:00

I ask myself this question so many times in a week, so I thought it would be fun to document the reasons why this comes up so freakin' often! I am sure this will be the first of many "really?" posts...

Really, Blake? You're only 11 months old! I mean, really??

Really, Aubrey? Do you want to have a heart attack at age 6? I mean, really?

Really, random idiot? Why in the world would you choose to haul your broken down house on mopac, causing a serious traffic jam, on perhaps, THE rainiest day in the history of Austin? I mean, really?

Really, Adelyn? Could you be any cuter right now? I mean, really...

someone obviously thought the mantel was lacking some flair...

2010-08-25T16:00:00.003-05:00

first day of first grade

2010-08-24T08:21:00.006-05:00

Happy Birthday Allison!

2010-08-23T15:03:00.003-05:00

I think I've told the story on my blog before, but I can't find it in all my blog posts. So, when my friends and I made 8th grade cheerleader, my mom got us a cookie cake to celebrate. She told the lady to write "Way to go, girls!" on it...what we got was "Wait-a-Go! Girls". My mom thought it was so funny that she kept it instead of telling the lady to fix it. We obviously still think it's funny 17 years later...Happy Birthday, friend!!

rock on

2010-08-19T16:42:00.001-05:00

girl time

2010-08-17T20:46:00.002-05:00

I get it now.

2010-08-15T23:11:00.003-05:00

I finally understand what people mean when they say their son is "all boy". Blake is 10.5 months old now, and he has been climbing up the stairs in our house since he was 7 months old. He eats whatever he can find on the floor, and today I actually found him eating popcorn out of the trashcan in the playroom. He doesn't cry much when he gets hurt, which unfortunately is quite often. I already have to clean up after him, and the boy is already eating me out of house and home! He ate a scrambled egg for breakfast one day last week, and two pancakes another day. He is happiest when he has a bottle or food in his hand. He is curious and cute and cuddly. He is my sweet little man, but boy is he a handful!

Too fast!

2010-08-06T20:58:00.005-05:00

Aubrey's face pretty much sums up how I feel about this summer...it has passed waaay too quickly! I have lots to discuss, but I'm tired.
I'm tired because this is what I have to control on a daily basis...
Have an awesome weekend!

all you need is love.

2010-07-26T22:46:00.006-05:00

love is all you need.

a dream is a wish your heart makes....

2010-06-13T20:52:00.003-05:00

Just returned from the place where dreams come true....so tired, will blog about the highlights later. Most importantly, I got to make some sweet memories with my two little princesses and my Prince Charming. Quality.

thank goodness for that camera phone...

2010-05-28T16:16:00.009-05:00

It really helps catch those sweet moments that you know you won't have time to get if you run to find your real camera...
Aubrey holding Blake. She is such a sweet big sister. Her last day of kinder was today, and I just can't believe the year is already done.

Adelyn in her typical daily attire...the ladies at Tuesday Morning had a great time ooo-ing and awww-ing over the little princess yesterday. And Addy loved the attention. :)

She has recently taken a liking to my dresses as well...and I'll say the girl can work the heels better than me! I am amazed that she stays upright while walking in those things!!

The girls and I playing "Stepmother"...where I am the evil stepmother and they are Cinderella...hey, I'll do whatever it takes to get them to clean!! Addy all dressed up in one of my dresses again, minus the heels while cleaning. :)

Adelyn showing her baby some love in her "sling", made out of the blanket from our couch. She fit right in with the other hippie moms at Kerbey Lane.

Blake being faked out with a doll's bottle his sisters gave him to suck on...he wasn't too happy about that one...

Blake wearing a t-shirt from his conception state. ;-)

It has been BUSY around here, to say the least.

Watch D.O.G.S.

2010-05-12T08:06:00.004-05:00

Dave stepped way out of his comfort zone today and volunteered to be a watch dog (stands for Dads of Great Students) at Aubrey's school. It's a program where dads volunteer to help out and watch what is going on in the hallways, etc...a great way for dads to get involved since it's usually the moms up there volunteering. Well, Dave took a day off of work to be up at the school the ENTIRE day...wow (I'm not even sure I could do that!). I guess he just couldn't say no to this sweet face:

She was so excited that her daddy was going to be at her school today!

play!

2010-05-07T15:55:00.005-05:00

6 bedrooms means that one is now a playroom. It is AWESOME! Not quite finished yet, but here is a pic of the work in progress. My mom and I painted the wall.

This is what happens when you leave Adelyn alone with the costume bin...

and this is what happens when you leave her alone in the playroom...a perfect example of why it is taking me so long to get the house decorated...

Today was a GREAT day! Aubrey's kindergarten music program this morning and Mother's Day Tea at Adelyn's school. I love my sweet babies and I am truly blessed. They make me smile every single day! Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

successful sewing day!!

2010-05-06T14:09:00.003-05:00

love it when ideas in my head turn out like I imagine...unlike the tv cover from last night. still waiting on the coffee table, but then our family room will be complete!

HAPPINESS IS...

2010-05-05T21:48:00.002-05:00

Dos Equis on a Wednesday night. Having family so close by that you can call them at 2 in the afternoon and they can come watch your kids so you can go drink Dos Equis on a Wednesday night. Coming home from drinking Dos Equis on a Wednesday night and sewing a TV cover out of a grill cover with your two girls for an outdoor TV that your husband hung that hasn't fallen down since he hung it. Happiness is a husband who thinks you are awesome even when the TV cover doesn't really fit. Because you sewed it after drinking Dos Equis on a Wednesday night...with a six year old and a three year old. Happiness is watching those girls fall asleep and then rocking my sweet baby boy to sleep. And now going to sleep myself. I mean, duh....I drank Dos Equis on a Wednesday night...I'm spent! Happy Cinco de Mayo and goodnight.

feeling more like home....

2010-04-30T22:43:00.003-05:00

We closed on our house Feb 17, but I am just now starting to feel like it's our home. I started hanging family pictures this week and most of the boxes are out of the house, so it's coming along. I am not completely finished with any room in the house, but I thought I would share my favorite spot at this point (camera phone quality, sorry). Yes, the tag is still on the couch. We are waiting on a new one because this one came with a small rip at the bottom...coffee table is on backorder and I haven't figured out what I'm doing for window treatments yet, but this room feels super cozy now. MUCH better than being empty, which is how it was just a couple of weeks ago! :) We LOVE our house a lot, but I think we love the fact that we are settled even more!!

for mimi. yeehaw!

2010-04-09T17:12:00.006-05:00

6 months...

2010-04-02T16:54:00.003-05:00

my little dude is 6 months old. wow. he is growing like a weed! he eats nonstop. I think he is teething because the drool never ends. he pukes after almost every bottle. he is sitting on and off on his own. he rolls over. he is 75th percentile in height and weight. he laughs at everything. he still sleeps like a champ. he is awesome. and he makes this face a lot: