Anyone want to guess the color we painted the bathroom?

So. Not. Helpful.

Winter Wonderland

 I'm sure it's hard to predict the weather...

First, we were supposed to get 1-2 inches.

Then, 6-10 inches.

We woke up to about 3 1/2 inches... and it was a winter wonderland.

 Ainsley and I ran outside to snap a couple of pictures after taking the big girls to school.

While I usually grumble when it comes to snow (hate driving in it), I couldn't help but smile listening to Addi and Ali talk about how pretty it was outside.

Until Addi told me that if she was hunting, she would easily see the aminals (animals -- only word she still says wrong and I refuse to correct her because I love it) and shoot them.

Ummm. Okay?

Kinda ruined the winter wonderland talk we had going on in the momobile.... Ha!

 Love it that the snow has a 'mind of its own'... and sticks to just one side...

This one has decided that hair pretties are so last month... and refuses to let me do her hair.  When I just can't take having hair in her face one more second... it's a full blown wrestling match.  Three year olds are so. much. fun.

Early Morning Visitor

We were lucky to have Grandpa Mac visit us one morning last week.

He arrived right as the girls were waking up and we all sat at the table to eat a nutritious donut breakfast.

Ali likes glazed long john, with a little bit of chocolate drizzled on top.

Addi likes round cinnamon, chocolate frosting, no sprinkles.

Ainsley likes....  round, no cinnamon, chocolate frosting, and she goes back and forth between sprinkles and no sprinkles.

Grandpa Mac likes some sort of caramel pecan roll.

RB and I didn't eat donuts that morning.

And now I'm craving one in the worst way.

We were sitting at the table and Ainsley kept saying...

Ewwwww...you're eating bugs. BUGS.

Ewwwwww.

After a bit of discussion, we realized that she thought the pecans on his roll were bugs.

We all busted out laughing and then Grandpa Mac offered Ainsley a bite of his roll.

Then she dry-heaved.

That is when I said -- IF YOU MAKE HER THROW UP-- YOU ARE CLEANING IT UP.

Grandpa Mac finished his roll in record time.

We tried convincing Ainsley it wasn't bugs, but she so didn't believe us.

I bet Grandpa Mac never eats a pecan roll without thinking of Ainsley. Ha!

Thanks for coming to see us!

My legs hurt

During the week, there are four of us that meet up before class and run, usually just on Tuesday and Thursdays since those are bands days.

The three girls stay together, and the one guy starts with us...but eventually passes us and goes on his own.  I once tried to keep up with him and thought my lungs were going to explode out of my chest.  I ended up staying within a 1/2 block of him, so I considered that a success.

However, the rest of the day I felt like I was one breath away from an asthma attack.  And I don't even have asthma.

Sunday mornings, it's just Stacey and I since it's really the one day a week that we get to sleep in and the others take advantage of that.  But for me, it's the one morning a week that I can get a long(ish) run in.

Weather permitting, we try and run at least 3 miles... and all is going well, we do 4.

We've been talking about doing (trying) 5 miles for weeks, probably months, but just hadn't.

Yesterday, we were texting back and forth about what time we could meet and we agreed that 6 this morning would be best (both go to churches across town, both have 3 kids to get ready for church, etc) -- 

And then I sent a text saying... I hope I can get my watch all set up before tomorrow for our 5 mile run. (Side Note: My mom and dad surprised me with a watch that tracks distance, time, calories and I'm sure other stuff but I'm only half way through the 4,301 page manual.  It's SUPER cool.  Makes me feel very athletic.  And kinda dumb since I have had to re-do settings eleventy million times because I keep putting the wrong information in).

Anyways, I didn't hear anything else from Stacey so I assumed she was either okay with doing 5 miles... or she just skimmed my text and didn't catch it.  Ha!

This morning I was up early, got myself all set up with the watch and I also wear a chest band that tracks my heartbeat so when I figure out how to load all this information into my computer, I can see at what point I was thisclose to dying.

We couldn't have picked a worse morning to attempt our first official 5 mile run.

It was windy.

Also, there are still piles of snow, and melted snow that turned into ice patches....

At one point, we were joking about being cross country runners.

Except we were running in the city, on sidewalks, within a block of a Kum and Go and HyVee.

Long story short...

We did it.  5 miles.

My watch time read:  50:33

While I realize that I physically ran the 5 miles with my own two legs... I owe a lot of credit to Stacey for getting up early, running in the cold (it was 31 degrees, definitely ready for summer weather!), and talking to me the entire time.  I didn't even turn on my IPod, even though I just bought some very inappropriate (to kids) music that I only listen to when I'm running.

Cracking up at our picture. Kind of looks like we are attached!

 

I wonder how long it will take before I can suggest running 6 miles.....  Ha!

Funny Friday Foto(s)

 Agnes looks how I feel today.

Ha!

 Mentioned this the other day, but we are re-painting our downstairs.

I want to make a few tweaks to the bathroom before we paint, so we've made many trips to Lowes and Menards to see what they have.

Not sure what we all did before camera phones  -- whenever I find something I like, I snap a picture.  Same with measurements and prices.

 This one told me that ice cream made her sick.

Then I doubted she was really mine since I could eat ice cream every single day and not tire of it.

I was taping paint swatches to the walls and she kept asking me for pieces of tape.

When I turned around, I saw what she 'needed' them for.

That was when I knew for sure she was my child.  I have a bit of a love affair with Scotch tape.

Ainsley randomly fell asleep in the chair the other afternoon... and Agnes jumped up and snoozed with her. It was so cute! Of course, Aggie woke up right when I wanted to take the picture.  Random Question:  Anyone know how one might clean pee out of a recliner?

 I was just going to use the pictures off my phone for the FFF, but then this happened this morning.  Nothing like a little morning horse ride, wearing a helmet.  A few of her dogs are in the little bag on her back.

 Ainsley has thee biggest imagination.

I mean, we all knew that since she's been using shopping carts and toy cars as dog sleds for months now, but she just keeps coming up with these crazy ideas.

One day this week, we were going camping and she needed a sleeping bag.

Another day, she was headed to Gramma Mac's to see the dolphins and Gramma was going to buy her some pink goggles so she could see the dolphins underwater.

Just so we are clear... Gramma Mac does NOT have dolphins at her house.

 Her imagination is just so awesome.... and a bit exhausting.

Let's just say -- meltdown city when I told her she couldn't go camping.

And that we weren't going Gramma's house that day.

I think Agnes was having a pretty day and posing for the camera... Ha!

Happy Friday!

The Playhouse

 Santa brought the girls a big blank cardboard box house for them to color, decorate, and play with.  It's been sitting in our front room (also known as the play room), and they have really had fun coloring it (and part of the carpet - gah!).  It's hard to read, but Addi wrote 'Panther Nation' on the shingles.

We were at a store where she saw 'Hawk Nation' and she about flipped her lid.

She's so not a Squakeye fan and it pleases me and her dad to no end.

 'The A Team' on the front door.

And this is where it gets funny.  We are in the beginning stages of picking out new paint for our entire downstairs (which TOTALLY sucks and I wish someone would just do it for me -- I pay in monster cookies and SweetTart Jelly Beans) -- Anyways, we informed the girls they had a couple more days of playing with the house and then it would be time to tear it down.

It was just time for it to go (taped back together so many times that it wasn't tape-able anymore). 

I crawled inside to get the toys out and that is when I noticed all the writing on the INSIDE of the house.  I yelled for RB to grab my camera and he came in the front room and was like... Uhhh, where are you? Ha!

 Ok.  Claiming ownership.

Cracked. Me. Up.

I love that kid.

 Not sure how they came up with this list....

(Side Note: I put a picture up of Howie recently, and it's really thrown the girls for a loop.  Not sure if I should take it down, or leave it up as it prompts a lot of good (yet sad) discussions.  Poor Ainsley keeps asking when we are going to go and pick Howie up from Jesus.)

I really should be relieved that I made the Non-Stink list... but I'm really curious who was on the STINK LIST. Ha!

I'll probably regret saying this

 RB gets home from work and always asks how our day was.

I usually give a run down on what we did.... and who was good (or not good).

And today?

He asked how Agnes was and I thought for a second and said...

She was actually.... good.

No puppy time outs.

No chasing her around the table to get a toy she swiped.

When I told her it was bath time, she went right upstairs and jumped in the bathtub.

(She's never done that before and totally shocked me!)

Now, I'm posting this and then going to knock on wood. Ha!

She's just shy of being 9 months old, and finally -- a good day!

I'm sure she'll be back to her puppy antics tomorrow, but today -- today was nice.

Makes me think she's actually sort of listening to me and the puppy treat encouragement (bribes) are paying off.

Freaking my Freak

 Agnes has an entire basket just for her dog toys.

It sits next to her dog bed in the living room. 

Also right next to her puppy time out spot.

And this one stuffed monkey -- this freaky one eye'd stuffed monkey -- is her favorite.

It's technically not a dog toy (see the wires sticking out of it's empty eye socket) but she found it in the toy bin in the basement and slimed it all up which made it officially hers.

 First. She chewed the eyeball off.

I chased her around the table a half dozen times to get the said eyeball out of her mouth.

I buy pineapple to mix in with her breakfast.

I buy pumpkin to mix in with her dinner.

(Both because of 'issues' she's been having and I'll spare you any other details on that.)

I wipe the slime off her jowels when she comes in from outside.

What I don't want to do is pay for some sort of emergency surgery when a monkey eyeball gets lodged in her intestines.

I should just throw it in the garbage.  But it is her favorite toy.

Even if it freaks me out.

And it still makes monkey noises.

Oh - and tells a joke.

What is a monkey's favorite cookie?

Chocolate-chimp.

 Ha!

I should probably trim down the eyeball wires though, huh?

 

I called it

 Last week, Ali went to school with a very, very loose tooth.

RB and I tried pulling it but she said it hurt too much and wouldn't let us try again.

As we were driving to school, I told her that if it came out at school, to tell her teacher right away.  I also told her that if it came out at school, and she lost it (as in, fell on the floor or swallowed it at lunch/snack) that it would be OKAY because we can always write a note to the Tooth Fairy and she will still come.

We learned that when I didn't know Addi's tooth was in a cup of water on the counter and dumped the water, and tooth, down the dish disposal.

 Of course, her tooth came out at school.

Her teacher gave her a little treasure box to put it in.

And...of course... as she was leaving school,. she went to show her friends (in another class) her tooth, and she dropped her tooth. In the school hallway. Packed with kids.

She came home devastated.

When I finally got her calmed down, we sat down together to write the Tooth Fairy a letter.

Ali drew a picture on one side:  it's a picture of her and a teacher in the hallway looking for her tooth. (I was told that she had at least 5 teachers helping her look for her tooth, but that it was probably kicked as the other kids were walking and they couldn't find it.  So grateful to those teachers for trying to help her.)

The Tooth Fairy came, and left Ali some hard earned tooth pulling cash, and also left her a little note.

 And the other side was her note explaining what happened.

This was the third night in a row that the Tooth Fairy had come to our house.

Addi lost a tooth (last) Saturday night.  And again Sunday night.  Then the Tooth Fairy had to come Monday night for Alivia.

Poor Tooth Fairy.  She might be considering a part time job just to keep up with the A Team.

FIT Challenge

Last week I started a 5 Week FIT Challenge at Farrells.

Yes. I'm still doing Farrells.

Yes. I still love it. 

Well, I don't love it when I'm there and getting my butt kicked, but I am addicted to the feeling I get after a good workout.

Initial testing for FIT Challenge included:  1 minute of sit ups, 1 minute of push ups, weight, body measurements, picture, body fat percentage and a 1 mile run.

Can I just tell you how ridiculous I felt being nervous for the mile run?!

ONE measly MILE. And I had butterflies in my stomach.

So, last Saturday went like this.... 75 Minute Kickboxing Class.

1 Minute of Sit-Ups

1 Minute of Push- Ups

Then we headed outside for the run.

I SO deserved my free food day.

It. Was. Frigid.

For all the mild weather we have had this winter, this Saturday made up for all those nice days.

It was 3 degrees, but felt like -11 with the wind chill.

I was SO excited to tell you my beginning stats, however, it took over a week for me to un-thaw, scrape all the frozen snot off my face, and recover from being a human ice cube.

I was at the 1/2 mile point, and I thought my face was going to literally explode off.

Or my teeth were going to freeze, and just fall out of my mouth.

I was hoping that frozen snot was a good facial mask because I had it and couldn't do anything about it.

Initial Testing Results:

1 Minute of Sit Ups: 45

1 Minute of (girl) Push Ups: 71

(Ummm.. so not posting my picture or my measurements or my BF %).

But -- BUT -- I am most excited to share my mile run results:

8:45

EIGHT MINUTES AND FORTY FIVE SECONDS.

 Completed AFTER a FIT class and in the FREEZING cold.

When I first started Farrells my mile time was: 13:36

After my 10 weeks it was: 10:16

And, just so I can say it again.... Last week's time was: 8:45

If I could have felt my legs and feet and toes... I probably would have done a happy dance, but since everything was frozen solid and felt like it was going to break off into little frozen pieces... I just made way back to the gym to warm up.

Then I came home and took the hottest shower I've ever taken.

And yes.  I've ran since.  Just this morning my running partner Stacey joined me for a balmy 22 degree run -- We made it 4 miles!  

******************************************

I also want to invite anyone to join me this week for a class -- It's BRING A FRIEND Week.

I think I've talked my friend Holly into coming with me ALL WEEK -- yes, that's 3 days of kickboxing and 2 days of bands.... She said I might have to wheel her in come mid-week... but she's going to try it!

 BUT -- for anyone else that wants to come, I'm happy to go to a second class so you can experience all the fun!

 

Our Day of Love

 RB spoiled us and made us chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.

 A Team

Valentine's Day 2012

Mad Face

 Happy Face

 Ainsley had a delicious lunch from the HyVee deli.

I ate a peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Which gave me heartburn.

Why does peanut butter give me heartburn now?  Is that some sort of thing that happens when you get old?

We also baked a cake.

The only person that ate any of it was Alivia.

But it was fun to make it with Ainsley and watch her put all the sprinkles in the middle.

We did early baths, ate a delicious grilled dinner courtesy of RB, and watched Dolphin Tale.

No flowers. No chocolates. No fancy restaurants.

But a perfect Valentine's day.

Funny Friday Foto(s)

 Facts:

Ainsley was wearing her third outfit for the day.

Three year olds are exhausting.

It was an impromptu, but fun playdate.

It was snowing.

I let the girls eat as many M&M's as they wanted to and I neglected to tell Mallory's mom that.

Three year olds are exhausting.

Ainsley was having a bit of a bad hair day.

Agnes was actually pretty well behaved and left the girls alone. Well, kinda good. 

Actually, she did good for about 14 minutes, then had to go to puppy time out.

Three year olds are exhausting.

Happy Friday!

Snack Bag

 Last fall I found a cute little store where the lady makes door and household decorations out of window screen.

The first time I stopped, I bought a Christmas door decoration and when I went to pay, she told me she only accepts cash and check.  I never have cash or checks on me -- always pay with my debit card, so I said I would run to an ATM machine quick and come back.

She said that wasn't a problem, to just send her a check in the mail.

I thought she was joking, but she assured me it was fine to send it in the mail.

I was shocked.

She didn't know me.  It's not like we live in a small town where she could track me down.

I offered to leave my phone number, address, Ainsley (joking!), so she had a way to contact me....

And again, she said it was no problem, wouldn't take any of my info, wrapped up my purchase, gave Ainsley a cookie and sent us on our way.

Without paying.

It was such an odd feeling.

The check was in the mail as soon as we got home.

I decided to go back there a couple of weeks ago to get a Valentine's decoration and remembered to bring the checkbook along.

She remembered us -- actually, she remembered Ainsley and her pink winter coat.

Ainsley remembered the cookie she got the last time we were there, but there wasn't any at the store that day.

The owner felt bad, and as we were leaving, she let Ainsley pick out a cute little bag.

Of course I offered to pay... but she turned me down.

Ainsley picked out our door decoration, and she apparently liked the red heart with pink polkadots because she picked out the same design for her new bag.

The owner told Ainsley she could put her Valentine's in the bag, or maybe make it her snack bag.

Once we were home, Ainsley took her words to heart.

This hangs on our basement door, filled with snacks.

 I will randomly take out the box of Teddy Grahams and Pringles and put them away in the cupboard... and she turns around and fills her new snack bag back up.

The owner of the store has no idea that I'm writing about her, but she does have a website if you are interested in looking at her homemade decorations.

I figure it's the least I can do.

Click here to see her website.

Happy Valentine's Day

Yep. Still Dog Sledding.

 B Dawg, being a sled dog, pulling a sled dog, and pushing a sled dog with her nose.

Yep. Still Dog Sledding.

Dog Sledding Finale

 Ali was just out enjoying the snow.

 Nana, Papa and B Dawg

 Ali photo bombed my picture while checking on Addi, who was just coming back from a ride.

 Looks like Addi had fun.

 That morning, we took five female dogs out.

Roxy, Dora, Pepsi, Dart and.....???

(Anyone that was there remember the name I am forgetting??)

 I think she looks like she's smiling.

 Taking a little snow-eating break.

 Love this picture!  Makes me laugh.

 Ali doing her 'old lady peering over her glasses' look.

 He offered any of us watching a ride.... 

So. I jumped on.

It was so much fun!

I did feel bad for the dogs since they had been pulling little girls around... and then had to pull me.  I'm sure I wore them out. Ha!

It was really bumpy, and my bottom was freezing cold by the end... but totally worth it.

We did have to stop out on the trail because Dora had to go #2.

Totally was downwind of that and just... ewwwww.

I loved listening to him say the commands  -- took mental notes so I know what to say the next time we are dog sledding through the grocery store. Ha!

One more HUGE thank you to my in-loves for arranging this for us!