My Groundhog Day

It has been awhile since I've gotten the chance to blog. Life has been CRAZY. I started my new job.. yay! Feels good to be working again. I love being a mommy.. but I'm a better mom when I'm doing something for myself.. and I LOVE what I do.
Check out my cuties lately..

Last week I had orientation in a classroom setting. And although the organization put on a really motivating and education orientation.. it doesn't change the fact that I had to sit 8 hours a day for 5 days straight. That's more draining to me than chasing babies all day. My mom was on Spring Break.. so she watched the girls all week and loved it. They looked like they enjoyed themselves, too..

So after a whole week of work, I was ready for a weekend with my family.. and just my little family. I am well aware that many moms out there are rockstars and are able to work all week.. make dinner.. do laundry.. bathe kids AND enjoy them. I am not one of them. I couldn't balance it all. I felt like I had a strictly business relationship with them and couldn't play with them. My girls also go to bed at like 7:30 (we've totally tried to make it later but.. they don't like it) so I have a small window of time with them.


That crazy week led to one of my favorite weekends EVER!!!! Saturday is my official Groundhog Day to this date.. I would relive that day OVER and OVER and OVER.

We woke up at 5:30 (well, the girls woke us up.. haha). We made them breakfast.. made our breakfast.. and drank our coffee while the girls hung out.

The girls played with Jake while I went to the grocery. The ONLY change I would make to my day would be that I got a Starbucks while I was there. I didn't because I had already had my morning coffee.. but.. I regret it.. still. Ya'll.. there is something about grocery shopping these days.. I just LOVE it. I look forward to it so much. I'm weird and aware of it.

When I got home, we put away groceries. Cleaned up around the house a bit.. and played with the girls. They went down for a nap.. Jake and I went down into the basement to do our P90X together. If you have the opportunity to work out with your husband.. DO it. Especially things like P90X where some of the moves are so ridiculous.. we laugh so hard.. and push each other. It's one of my favorite things to do with him. I had missed the previous days work out so when we were done, I did my missed work out.

When I was done, Vivi was up but Jake was taking care of her. So.. I got to shower.. put on make up.. AND blow dry my hair. What?! That never happens! Heaven!

Bryn woke up from her nap shortly after and we went for a long walk to a park. It wasn't the closest park to us.. but we wanted to get a good walk in. And it was perfect outside. 70.. no clouds in the sky. Ah! We played at the park but it was really busy and a little difficult to watch our wild child.

Bryn loved it. She LOVES going down slides. She gets so smiley and says "ready, set, GOOOOO". So cute. I lied when I said the only thing I was missing was Starbucks.. the only OTHER thing I would change about this day would be Vivi's age. Don't get me wrong.. the girl is FUN. But on days like THIS one.. I wish she could run around and interact more with Bryn and us. We will repeat this day in a year! ;-)

On the way back, Jake said "this is your favorite day, isn't it?". He just KNOWS what makes me happy.. a simple day of doing things with my family.
He thought our cups were funny. "His" water and "her" spark.

When we got home.. it was already 4pm. We had chicken marinating so we lit the grill and had a little cookout. We opened up the windows and enjoyed an early dinner.

We played with the girls a little more.. and they went to bed around 7:30. Jake and I watched a move and hit the hay.

I am NOT a complicated girl. THAT was a simple and perfect day. The kind of day that maybe wouldn't stick out because it's the kind of thing I do all the time.. but.. it doesn't always flow so well. Not everything falls into place. The weather changes.. Jake's at work.. Bryn or Vivi is fussy.. I don't get to work out.. or if I do.. I don't get to shower.. There are SO many variables.. and it is usually impossible for it to all work out. But.. on THAT day.. it did. And it was perfect.

I love my little family!!!

The Reason for the Season

I have always loved this time of year. Having kiddos during the Spring makes Spring feel so much MORE new and fresh. Seeing the things that Bryn is discovering for the first time (she obviously has no memory of last year).. it warms my heart.

I have fallen off the wagon when it comes to church. I LOVE church. I always have. I even remember as a little kid if we missed a week, I felt weird and didn't have a good week. It just makes me feel so good. I love the message. I love that I can go to my church and feel at home.. but I also love that I could go to ANY church and 90% of the mass will be exactly the same. I need to get back into it. It's hard with Bryn. I mean, I haven't taken her as a toddler (she's stayed home with Jake whenever I go).. but girlfriend won't even sit for 2 seconds at home.. now put her in a bench, with me holding her.. and trying to be quiet. Yeah, right. But I've got to figure it out because I know the feeling it gives me.. and I want my girls to feel that "warm and fuzzy" feeling, too.

Easter coming reminds me all of this. I love watching Bryn hunt eggs.. and dye eggs (which she does.. because she is so stinking smart).. open Easter baskets.. eat candy.. run in the grass.. see our blooming tulips... etc. I love ALL of that. But, I can NOT wait to sit down with her and explain Easter and what it represents.

 "So you know how we always talk about Jesus in church? Well.. he died. No, no, stop crying. It's OKAY! He came back to LIFE! But.. first he was bled to death on a giant torture device. And then he was alive again, except still dead. And that's why you get this chocolate bunny! Happy Easter!" ;-)

Okay, I'm going to have to figure out a little better way to say it. But I just LOVE everything that Easter represents. It's what everything I believe is based around.

Tomorrow will be filled with lots of singing "here comes Peter Cotton tail.. hopping down the bunny trail..".. lots of candy.. lots of mini Easter egg hunts inside and outside.. over-the-top outfits.. family time.. and lots of fun and laughter... BUT.. don't forget the reason for the season. Rejoice not only for the fun kiddo activities.. but also the Resurrection.

Life Lately- Tennessee and Easter Fun edition

Life lately has been GOOD. I've been squeezing in all the time I can with the girls (hence the lack of blogging). Jake and I have continued our P90X3 at 5:30a (a couple times I did it in the evening instead when the girls didn't sleep awesome at night). Then, I make everyone breakfast while he gets ready for work.. change the girls.. clean up a bit.. then head outside.. come in for nap time.. and out again. That's our norm. What I've learned lately is.. if the weather continues to be this nice.. my whole family is going to end up naked.. because I just DON'T do laundry when the weather is nice. It's a problem. I think today it's supposed to rain.. and rain just MAY be a good thing.

I start my new job Monday. I'm really REALLY excited. Next week will be hard because it's orientation.. Monday-Friday all day away from the girls. Yikes. That'll be rough. BUT.. it's my mom's spring break so they'll be with her.. I'm sure she will just HATE that! ;-)  But after that week.. I should only have to be away from the girls 2-3 mornings a week. Bryn will love it haha!



Speaking of things Bryn loves.. Tennessee. We went this past weekend to visit Jake's sister and family. Bryn and Vivi thrived in the whole situation. From the car ride, to staying up late, to sleeping in a different environment... they were SO good. The only downside.. I don't think Bryn even looked in my direction all weekend. She's definitely a Pa's girl (like.. followed him around all weekend) and LOVES playing with her cousins. I just love visiting them. Their house is perfect.. up on a mountain.. perfect view.. so quiet.. there's CHICKENS.. I mean, I'm about to pitch a tent in their front lawn and live there.

I don't intend to ever move.. the majority of my people are in this area.. but if I ever move.. you can find me RIGHT. THERE.

 How old until a kid can start babysitting? I'm ready to hand over my girls to Addy any day now. She is SO good with the babies. Just a little over a year ago we were in Tennessee and Addy dropped Bryn (on a dog.. so it was all good.. and she definitely didn't mean to). On this trip.. she was a pro. So much changes in a year. Like.. Vivi wasn't even a thought at this point last year...

Their driveway. Smokies in the background.. my little girl.. perfection.

Yesterday, we decided to dye some eggs and do an Easter egg hunt with Zane and his mommy. I was really hesitant. I thought the kids were too young. Maybe after we colored them.. the kids could decorate them with stickers. But.. Katie really thought they could do more than I thought. And she was RIGHT. I couldn't believe how good the kids were while coloring eggs. They were so gentle with the eggs.. followed directions perfectly.. and were soooo quiet and intense the whole time. It was pretty amazing. After they colored them.. they put stickers on them. They loved it and threw a fit when it was over.


I think Bryn is going through a growth spurt.. she is eating me out of the house.. and begs for food. "Hey Zane.. whatcha got there!?"

We cut up trash bags.. taped them to the table.. got the kids naked down to diapers.. and we were ready (let's be honest.. with 3.5 kids.. it took us about 40 minutes to get everything together haha!)

 So intense!

 Vivi patiently watched us in her golfer outfit.

 After we decorated eggs, we took them outside for an Easter egg hunt. Neither baby had done it before. They caught on SO quick. Kids are so amazing.

 This chick hung out with me. It was a little windy.. so we tried to bundle her up. Poor girl couldn't put her arms down. Bahaha

 Vivian has some serious little sister "problems". The only time I can talk to just her.. is if Bryn is asleep. It's not a jealousy thing. Bryn doesn't come over and demand MY attention.. she demands Vivi's attention. If Vivi is cooing.. or smiling.. Bryn wants it to be at her. It's honestly the sweetest thing. So when I was taking pictures of Vivian the other day.. Bryn jumped right in.

 I'm telling you.. these are NOT staged.. this is just how sweet Bryn is with her. She kisses her.. snuggles up with her.. I love these babies so much.

Beauty queens. Bryn is the smiliest kid.. until you put a camera in front of her. I swear she smiles and is soooo happy all the time.. she just doesn't like it captured apparently.

Jake gets off at noon today for the weekend. Whoo hoo!!! We are grilling out tonight and getting ready to enjoy our long weekend together. Hope everyone has a great Easter!




Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.