Happy Anniversary

It's been 8 years ago today that we got married. I sat there last night and tried to wrap my brain around the fact that time has gone by this fast. I remember every little detail, the huge wedding party, the reception, London, moving and finding out that our little Tatum Brynn was on the way!! Now, she will be 7 on Sunday. It's just crazy. It has been quite a journey.... but a fun journey! I love my family!

I lay in bed last night with Dalton and Tatum (Dan was at MSU for a retirement reading by an old professor)....and we read and read our books and then we sang songs and I just soaked up my little angels. Today Tatum is being tested for the enrichment program. She has already been going some and she likes it. Dalton on the other hand, has been training to be a full time pirate. He looks at me last night and says "ARRR MATEY.....I needs a drink of water and to go pee pee ARRRR."

Until next time........

Grow little Garden

We had a garden when I was growing up, it was always fun to pick tomatoes and bring them inside. I remember squash and cucumbers too. I think we grew green beans and other stuff. But this year marks the first that we planted our own little garden. All four of us went down to check it out yesterday and sure enough there were sprouts all over!! We were all oooooing and ahhhhing over it and the weiner dog jumped right up on the tomato plants! I yelled, so did Tatum and Dan swatted her little butt. Bad Dog.

I think the basil and thyme are coming up really well. Not sure what everything is. I got so excited I just started planting and lost track. Which makes me FAR from a master gardener, but oh well, I must start somewhere. I love to get my hands dirty and plant flowers and I just love love love the idea of growing fresh food and herbs. Wow, I sound like Paula Dean or something!!

My baby girl's birthday is this Sunday...7 years old. I can not believe it. Her party is on the 8th, I have been so behind this year and haven't sent out invitations! I must get on this, along with 9 million other things to do just like everyone else I am sure......

It's funny when I think about how much I have changed in the past several years. For example, I always liked to cook, but now I find it therapeutic and I really love to feed my family good food. Food that is healthy (albeit last night's breakfast dinner was not!) Yes, I must say that the 3 big pancakes, two biscuits with jam covering them, two massive sausage patties and a huge bowl of eggies just hit the spot for Mr. Dalton. I couldn't even believe my eyes as I watched him eat it. Where does he put it? He is so big and tall.....I like that he is a big boy! Now, if only he would give his mama more kisses then we would be good. Gotta get going on another project! :)

JUST BREATHE......THROUGH IT.

I love my children more than my life. I would take a bullet for them. I treasure every silly moment, every wonderful new idea and thought. The times when I hear "I love you" or "this was the best day ever." With that said.......I DO NOT enjoy the clothing crisis that my beautiful wickedly smart, amazingly talented daughter is into right now!!!!!!!!!!!! The melt down of tax day 2010 was that she couldn't wear a dress and flip flops on PE DAY.......there was crying and nashing of teeth....her tears...my teeth. Then her belly hurt....well duh you just cried over your clothes for 45 minutes, of course your belly hurts. So as I take her into school and she is holding her tummy (now before anyone gets all "wow Lindsay has no heart or soul" she has been doing this off and on and she is fine). If I don't see blood, a fracture, fever or puking....you are fine in my book. Call me old school. She is still following me as I check her in. I sit her down and basically do this: "honey...remember the boy who cried wolf?" ummmm yes.....sniff sniff....Well he cried wolf so many times that no one believed him..and when the wolf was ACTUALLY there one day, no one came to help him and then the wolf ate him, or something like that. Sooo, unless you are REALLY sick, then let's not do this.

Walking out of the school my high heel got caught in the sidewalk crack and I tumbled down hard on my knee. So yup, I am in pain. My tummy hurts. Maybe I should go home :)

Say what?

Some conversations my kids have had this week. I want to write a book or do stand up or something b/c this material is just too good.

Dalton to Tatum: why do girls get to call tank tops meatball straps?

Tatum laughing hysterically to me although I am completely confused: HE MEANS SPAGHETTI STRAPS MAMA!!! He started laughing too.

Dalton getting dressed this morning, laying on the floor insisting he is too tired to sit up. "MOOOMMM, I am so not into this today." Oh yeah? Me either, get up and get dressed.

I walked in Sunday and the TV was up so loud and Tatum was sitting wide eyed.

The lady on the screen: "Do you want to learn to draw?"

Tatum: YES YES.

Lady: Have you ever thought about taking your art skills to the next LEVEL?

T: YES, I LOVE TO DRAW!!!!! (remember she does not see me watching her).

Lady: The art institue at California blah blah blah blah blah wants you to be the artist you have always wanted to be. It's simple really, blah blah blah.

T: running to the white erase board to write down the number and calling after the TV 'Hold on, that is too many numbers!!!"

I walked around the corner pretending not to know what was going on. She tells me she just simply MUST go to the 'art institutional' they can draw really neat barns, and tigers.

I tell her that sounds like fun, but there are a couple issues: she is 6 years old and really needs to think about finishing 1st grade for now. 2.) this place is in California, let's go look at the map and see how far that is 3.) you can't live with me when you are 35 and still do not have a job. Now draw me a pretty picture I can treasure and frame. Ahhhhh kids.

I have no title for this blog entry today. I can't think of anything really. I just had my GTS strength training class, it was good (by good I mean really flippin hard). But I survived. My intern is a 22 year old cross country runner at Drury and he is in immaculate shape. Now, it's not quite fair to compare myself to a KID who runs 8 or more miles a day! BUT, I can't seem to help it. I WANT TO BE lean like that.

I have some obstacles: 1.)My age. 2.)My gender (women seem to have more fat then men---thanks a lot EVE for that whole forbidden fruit thing!) 3.) TIME--it's not so hard when you are young and it's part of your actual job to run. Add two little kids, 40+ hours of work, making dinner, soccer practice, swimming lessons, grocery shopping...you get it. 4.) My feet are HORRIBLE. In fact, it's a miracle I can do anything. I have suffered for YEARS with flat feet that hurt non-stop and my wicked high heels don't help that at all. But I am not about to wear ugly shoes....not going to do it. 5.) I have a COUPLE things I indulge in......calories I mean.

My only few advantages: 1.) I hate chocolate-just do NOT like sweets at all. 2.) I am OCD and very strong willed and if I want something bad enough, I usually find a way to get it. Within reason of course. 3.) I guess, maybe, kinda I am athletic. I sure was strong as an Ox in high school.

Speaking of healthy, I am slamming a diet dr. pepper as I type. I know it's not great for me, but I am hitting the wall and I need a little pick me up.

On a different note, the weekend was a bit short with our special event taking up most of the afternoon and evening on Saturday. When we have weekend events I always just feel my days are off, I woke up today (monday) much more tired than usual. We did get to plant our first little garden yesterday. Tatum helped me and it is cute. I just want to get some big trees planted soon. Dan raked the dead grass up with this machine (I am sure it has a name but I have no idea what it is) and then watered and seeded the back and front yard. The landscaping is looking good, but I still have many things I want to do inside and outside the house. But with no credit cards and following or trying to follow the Dave Ramsey plan, we restrict ourselves much more on the extras.

The other good news is the weather is AMAZING.......76 degrees and feelin' great. Cheers to a great week to everyone.

Tank tops and flip flops

One thing, among many, that the parenting book doesn't prepare you for is the fashion crisis that you will be thrown violently into when your daughter/son feel their apparel is not 'of code.' Now, if you know me at all, you can probably imagine that my response isn't "oh honey, you can wear whatever you want." My kids do NOT run the show. But, I do attempt to keep them looking fly on the cheap if possible. Tatum only wants to wear bedazzled tank tops, flip flops, skirts with shorts underneath (for recess purposes) and now she is in the hair in a pony tail phase. She will walk into my closet in the morning while i am getting ready and say things like.."OHHHH, I wish I WAS a mommy, then I could wear nice jewels and high heels, and short sleeve shirts with sweaters.....!!!" And all I can think is R U KIDDING ME??? I would take your flip flops, jeans, and sneakers any day of the week! There was also the pajama meltdown last night. I don't want to re-live it, let's just say it was dramatic. While Tatum is going to break me (or my bank account) with her wardrobe, Dalton may quite literally eat me out of house and home. It's like his legs are hollow, I have never seen food consumption at that level for that size human being. He eats two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks, all his dinner and usually two more snacks. He is going through a growth spurt and I know it...I can't imagine how much he will eat when he is 16!!!! I love those little people more than anything in the world!