Hula Hoops, Storms and What Not

My gym recently added a new hula hooping class to the class schedule.  I have been wanting to try it but I have never in my life been able to hula hoop.  I decided to try making our own hula hoops but I knew I would have a lot of materials left over.  So on Monday night we had our weekly "church" gathering with our friends, the Dunns, and I asked Gena if she wanted a hoop for her and her little boy.  Our evening turned into a hula hoop party! 

The girls had fun making their own hoops (you can find directions on Pinterest or Google on how to make your own--it was an easy project) and even Ryan got in on the hooping fun (and did way better than I did!). 

We came home with a new toy for Layla.  Since our friends' son didn't play with this kitchen set they offered to give it to us along with all the play food.  Layla spends a lot of time at their house playing with it so I know it will get a lot of use in our house! 

My kitchen looks fluorescent in this photo!  Wow!  It isn't really that yellow.  :)

There were some storms brewing during the evening and little did we know that those storms would start off a three day storming event ending with one of the worst storms I have ever seen in this area!  It was like a hurricane without the sustained winds. 

This is outside my workplace.  The rain was insane!

Today was my second 12 hour night shift in a row (usually my nights are split up but I had to do some switching because of the homeschool convention).  I only slept from 7-12 then got up, showered, packed my suitcase, got the girls ready and headed out the door to see my hairdresser.  My hair was a hot mess and I decided I wanted it blonde again.   I haven't had it blonde in years and I really like the change. 

The girls were so good during my appointment.  I taught Annagrace how to play Solitaire and she did that for awhile and then read a book.  Mad and Layla watched tv on my iPhone.  They were very patient for the almost two hours I was at the salon.  We hurried home, finished packing their bags and sent them on their way to my parents home.  I was off to work at the same time.

It's been busy around our parts lately.  I have been physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually drained.  But there is light at the end of the tunnel and I feel the fog lifting.  I am thankful for a patient and understanding husband during times like this!

Journaling

I am currently reading a great book by Lisa Whelchel called Taking Care of th Me in Mommy. She has said so many things that have rocked me to the core. One thing that has really got to me is her talk about journaling. I started this blog to keep a log of life around our little nest. I've gotten out of blogging the "mundane" for fear it will be boring However this blog is for me and my children and my future grandchildren. I want to blog about the seemingly mundane. About days when we go to PE class and have a picnic lunch afterwards. About days when the girls play well together. About days when I am ready to pull my hair out and Layla comes up and hugs me and all is well again in the world.

I want to remember the "mundane.". I love the phrase about motherhood...these are the longest days and the shortest years. And I want to remember everything about them.

Creating

Source: printabledecor.net via Stacey on Pinterest

I have embraced that quote lately. And I have been busy creating.

Creating a healthier version of me. A healthier me who says things like, "No thank you. I don't drink soda.". And who runs not because I am being chased but because it is enjoyable. A healthier me who tries new things like zucchini (love it) and asparagus (not a fan). A healthier me who is trying to ensure that this is not a fad but a lifestyle change.

Creating a better mommy.  A mommy who pushes her daughter on the swing instead of playing some mindless game on her iPhone. A mommy who ignores texts and emails because her children deserve her undivided attention. A mommy who remembers that children are just that...children. And that they can not be expected to be little adults. A mommy who doesn't get consumed with having an immaculate house but prefers a warm, inviting house.  A mommy who puts importance on the job of ministering her children.

Creating a better wife. A wife who prays for her husband and her marriage. Who remembers her husband's love language and tries to speak it often. A wife who embraces her hubby's attributes and tries to forget about his shortcomings.  A wife who speaks out of love and not anger.

Creating a better child of God. One who fills her mind with uplifting music.  Who reads her Bible and meditates on it.  Who allows God to speak to her through the little things instead of brushing them off because it isn't what she wants to hear.  Who puts a priority on her time and her relationship with Jesus.

Creating a better me.  

Crossroads

I feel like I am at such a crossroads in my life right now. There are so many things that I want to do...to be...to change. Where do I even begin?

I miss my once beloved hobby: scrapbooking. My poor baby has only one page done in hers and she is 2 1/2 years old. Jut trying to figure out how to get back into it.

Aaron and I are having a lot of deep conversations about the spiritual health of our family. It needs improvement. We aren't on life support or anything but we could use a tune up. Trying to figure out where exactly God wants us.

I've had a few requests for photo shoots lately. I had put my dreams of a business on the back burner after we moved because of my work schedule. Now that I have changed jobs and things are settling down I am wondering if I should pursue that again. I have always had a hard one in believing in myself. A friend recently asked me (after seeing some of my work for the first time) why I wasn't doing photography full time. I immediately thought, "because I am not good enough." I need to work on believing in myself as much as others do.

I have had several things come to me lately that have really made me take a hard look at myself and my role as a mother. It's tough to admit that you need to change but I know I do. There are many things I need to do to improve as a mommy. My girls deserve better.

My weight loss has been at a standstill. I am getting ready to invest in a new program I can do at home for those days when we just can't make it to the gym. I am committed to getting these lat 40 pounds off this year.

Three years in our "new home" and still our bedroom is a home decorator's nightmare. It stresses me out. I want to paint it soon so I can then direct my attention to re-doing the living room. I am tired of a drab, dull, boring house that does not reflect us at all. It's time to make it more "us."

So much on my mind and yet some of it is so trivial. I am trying to remember that in the grand scheme of things that a lot of my worries are insignificant.

I Simply Can't Resist

There are three things I can not resist

1. Hershey Bar Cake

2. A Law and Order: SVU marathon.

3. My sweet two year old when she says, "I want to sit in you lap."

She is so stinking cute.  I cherish all these cuddles because I know that all too quickly she will be over it and  too "grown up" to care about snuggling with mama.  

And Another Goal Bites the Dust

I am marking Number 6 off of my 35 Things to Do list for this year.  Number 6 is "Run a 10 minute (or better) mile.  Yesterday, I ran a mile in 9 minutes, 54 seconds.  Oh yeah.

Not much action going on at this blog but I have been posting more regularly on my Simply Healthy Mama blog. Hop over there for more about weight loss, running, healthy living, etc.  

35 in 35 Update

Wow...my kids look so little in my header photos.  I'll have to update that this weekend!

We are two and a half months into the year and I thought I'd do a 35 in 35 update!

Adventure/Active 

1.  Run six 5Ks (TENTATIVELY:  Habitat for Humanity in March (DONE--read about it HERE), Bright Nights in May, Rec Center in May, Beaufort Road Race in July, Pink Ribbon Run in October, Dash for Cash in December).  

2.  Go ziplining (planning this with a few girls from my weight loss group at the gym!).  This Spring?

3.  Go parasailing (during our annual beach vacation).  Summer

4.  Take a surfing lesson (? during beach vacation).  Summer 

5.  Run a Half Marathon. Signed up for one in the Outer Banks on April 22!  EEK!!!

6.  Run a 10 minute (or better!) mile. Closest I've gotten is 10:29.  But I get a little closer every time I run! 

Healthy

7.  Finish what I started and lose 30 (or 40!) more pounds.  I'm now at 35 pounds lost.  I've revised my goal and I actually have 42 more to go now!   

8.  Be a Vegetarian for one month (planning on February--the shortest month!)  I actually went stricter and ate vegan for a month!

9.  Go to the dentist.  I still haven't made an appointment.  We've got some money for it now so it's just taking the step to make the appointment.  Can you tell I HATE going to the dentist?!

10.  See a chiropractor about my thigh and neck issues.  My thigh issues are improving (at least during exercise) and I know the cause but still haven't seen a doctor.  The neck issues are also improving as I learn more about properly breathing while running.  

11.  Get a skin cancer check by a dermatologist.  Still haven't made the appointment.      

Trips/Places to Go

12.  Take the girls to Ocracoke.  Probably in the Spring. 

13.  Go to the zoo.  Possibly the end of this month. 

14.  Go to a music festival (planning on Floyd Fest in July). This one may not happen this year.  We've had changes to our July schedule and Floyd Fest is out.  BUT maybe a Fall festival will work out.  

15.  Go camping. We'll be going on a family camping trip with the girls with their American Heritage Girls troop in April.

16.  Go on a trip with Aaron alone.  We went to the Outer Banks in February and it was awesome!

17.  See the ponies at Shackleford Banks (again, during our annual beach vacation). Summer

Things to Do

18.  Get another tattoo (I've had two planned for awhile but haven't had the time or money to get them yet).  Still haven't accomplished this one but I'm thinking on our next date night!

19.  Try sushi.  

20.  Stop biting my nails (again) and get a manicure.  Still doing well with not biting (as much).  I can't have them long anyway because of work. 

21.  Wear a LBD (little black dress) on a date with my hubby (I even have the dress, just haven't worn it out on a date). 

22.  Sew some apron tops and hippie skirts for me and the girls (I used to sew these all the time and haven't made one in years). I've got my mom's sewing machine but haven't had time to sit down and use it yet.

23.  Take a wire jewelry class with Annagrace. Haven't had the time or money yet. 

24.  Paint and decorate our bedroom.  I've been doing some rearranging and planning and pinning on Pinterest but haven't started the actual makeover yet!

25.  Learn how to make Pad Thai.  Have pinned some recipes on Pinterest but haven't tried them yet.  Maybe this week. 

26.  Read 12 books. Four down, eight to go!

27.  Change the van tire by myself.  Haven't tried this yet.  Maybe one warm day soon. 

28.  Read a book to Layla every day. Still failing miserably at this one....but I am making an effort to check out more books for her at the library. 

29.  Try one new recipe a month.  I made lots of new things in February but haven't tried anything new in March yet.  I've still got a couple weeks! 

30.  Read Harry Potter to Madalyn. Planning to start this after we finish the current book we are reading. 

31.  Go to a driving range with Aaron. Maybe this Spring. 

32.  Learn the Thriller dance with Madalyn (she's already told me she doesn't think I can do it!). Not yet. 

33.  Finish kitchen backsplash. I decided to repaint the kitchen and touch up the trim and cabinets.  We're going to tackle finishing this backsplash soon!  

34.  Teach the girls Psalm 23. Totally flopped on this one in February.  Need to start on this soon!

35.  Get my Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Certification.   I've talked to some more nurses about this and once I switch jobs I'll be able to get a lot more experience.  Several of the nurses I'll be working with and my boss are all certified.