Just some random pics :)

Faith wanted to take a rest after playing at grandma and grandpa's house - I got my hopes up she really wanted to take a nap.... nope.

We love to make chalk cities in the street in front of our house. When it rains we just begin again! Noah is the sheriff on duty so don't try to speed :) Here are some of the businesses we included in this city.

I surprised Darren on Valentine's Day morning with cinnamon rolls and a giant bee balloon :)

(and for the record, I really love coffee)

And Darren surprised me with a heart-shaped box of turtles that I completely polished off by the 15th!

I love when I catch the very point where an incoming storm is pushing away the blue skies

Faithy had fun with her new friend at Old Navy

Noah found a responsible adult to stick close to

Why working out with my kids at home doesn't work

When I told Noah the other morning that we were going to the gym, he asked if we could pleeeaaassse stay home that day. I explained that if I stayed home, I was still going to work out.

I searched around on Netflix and added a bunch of "Crunch" gym videos to my queue - abs, bootcamp, pilates, cardio, etc. I was optimistic and excited at this potential option to the gym!

Until I got started.

Here are some pictures to illustrate how it all went down.

What you are seeing below is me trying to do some cardio with weights. While attempting this, Faith is crawling in circles through my legs and around my left leg during the times it was on the floor. In the upper right corner is Noah's hand - he is standing on the couch, holding out an extended tape measure and tapping me on the head with it.

While doing lunges, Faith continued her trip-mommy-by-crawling-around-her-legs game, while Noah grinned and gave me a thumbs up like any good trainer.

This is one of my personal favorites. I was attempting push-ups, which was impossible. Because out of the corner of my eye I am watching Noah trying to use the weights and waiting for him to drop one and break his cute little toes. All the while Faith is tapping me on the back with a large plastic golf club.

Anyone that has kids knows it can be fun when one clings to your leg while you walk around. I can assure you it is a completely different story when you are trying to do aerobics. I mean, I've heard of ankle weights, but a 3 year old is a little too heavy. And the left and right movements that usually accompany cardio is a no go when you have a 5 year old desperately trying to keep up with the moves right next to you.

I figure the only way to really make this work is to get up at 5:30 am - but I'm pretty sure my beauty/non-grumpy sleep is more important.

Insta-Danaly :)

So I've been lagging on my blog lately - mostly due to schedules and sick kiddos - but I want to get some pics up. My friend Danaly told me today that she missed my posts. That made me smile. Don't we all love to be missed, just a little bit? So here you go. Danaly, this long string of random pics is for you :)

Faith actually ATE veggies a few weeks ago! Now to be clear, she wouldn't eat the whole bean, just the tiny, little beans inside the pod, but I counted it a win :)

A few weeks ago I watched a documentary called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". It's about a guy who decided to go on a juice fast to change his life. Well I must say that it changed mine as well! I was so convicted by the stats they would show about how much processed foods we eat, how little vegetables and fruit, how many starches. I know for a fact that the way I eat is not the best fuel for this ONE body I have been given to live out this life. I am 41 with borderline high cholesterol, and that with only eating fast food a couple times a month! I have to make some changes now so my kids will have an active and healthy mom for a LONG time, into grandkid time even.

So I juiced for 14 days and also ate just fruits and raw vegetables. It was rough the first few days - sick one day, sore the next, depressed the next. My body just wasn't used to absorbing all of the vitamins and nutrients that juicing forces into it. But by the 5th day I felt great.

I am hoping to use this experience as a springboard to change some lifestyle habits - to end some and to start some. I'll let you know how it goes!

All of these fruits and veggies were packed into two 16oz drinks :)

I love all of the colors!

As you know, Noah wants to be a police officer when he grows up. Here he is in his office working on some paperwork. He had a big day chasing bad guys on his motorcycle (see below).

This is my dad. I love him. He is an amazing example of a Godly, loving, and gentle man. I am blessed to be his little girl forever :) Here he is with MY little girl.

Darth Vader: 1, Lightning Mcqueen guy: 0

At my last MOPS meeting, the tables were given the task of forming something out of playdoh that described motherhood. Yeah, we rocked it.

Speaking of potty chairs... We have had a very tough time potty training Miss Faith. We have given it two very good tries that each lasted a week and consisted of all the videos, rewards, underpants, bribes we could think of. However, she never showed any interest in taking the initiative and going on the potty when she needed to go!

Yesterday she was looking at my painted fingernails and told me she would like hers painted. I explained that if she could show me that she knew how to use the potty like a big girl, I would paint her nails. She marched right into the bathroom, asked if she could be put on the potty, and went! I told her it wouldn't be that easy (after clapping and all the hoopla of course) and said that she needed to show me over a few days that she could do it.

Later that evening I caught her scrubbing at the flowers I had painted onto Noah's old potty chair (why buy new when you can recycle?!) "I don't like this potty chair" she said, as she scraped off the flowers... "Faith, would you like to pick out your OWN potty chair?"

"YES!!!"

So today we went to Babies R' Us, and this is what she picked out - in all of its pink princess glory.

And you know what? She went on it all day, on her own, without me even having to say anything. ALL DAY. One accident. It's a miracle. Let's hope it sticks.

(when you pull the wand it makes a lovely, princess-y, magical sound. She pulls it when she is finished hahaha)

Getting ready to go fishing with grandpa!

Noah walked up to me and literally said "mom, do I look like a movie star?"

I have no idea where he got this idea. And yes, son, you do.

Of course there is an Afro app so you can tell your friend you can't make it to her 70's theme birthday bash

A "just because" gift for the kids - they love to pretend cook!

Sweet.