Back to the real world.......

So, I can't even describe how wonderful my trip to CA with my girlfriends was. While I am sad to be back I also very much missed my family....at least the last day I did!!!!

I also somehow broke my camera while there so I don't have any pictures to post. HOWEVER, Rhonda took some great shots so here is the link to her blog so you can check them out:
http://worsethingscouldhappen.blogspot.com/

I have to thank Dustin for "allowing" me a girls weekend and for taking care of the kiddos while I was away. My parents for taking care of the kids and the dogs and Marilyn for helping Dustin in Houston!!! (yes, dustin took 2 kids on a road trip without me...he did GREAT!)

It truly was a wonderful weekend with absolutely NO schedules or time frames, no diapers or bottles and no timeouts but we all missed our babies.

If only I could bring the weather and scenery with me back to Texas.

California here we come....

So, I leave today with two girlfriends for 3 nights and 2 days in the beautiful state of California. I came to the realization last night that you could be sending me to Po-dunk, Arkansas and I wouldn't care.....the destination doesn't matter, the time away will!

I know I will miss my kids and Dustin but I truly think I need a little "me" time. The ONLY time I have been away from Bryson since he was born is a few times at the gym (which you know I wasn't enjoying that "me" time), one night out for dinner, church on Sunday, a few bunko and pokeno nights and a few trips to the grocery store. Looking back, that is probably a grand total of 15 hours away from him. Now, don't you start thinking I am complaining about staying at home with them because I LOVE IT and wouldn't have it any other way right now......I just think mom's deserve a little time apart to "renew" themselves. (We are choosing to "renew" ourselves this weekend with a few drinks, a little shopping, laying by the beach and sleeping.....I tear up just thinking about it!)

I think the whole family will be in better spirits when I return!!! For now, I must go so I can pack for myself and the kids. Dustin is taking them on a road trip all by himself to Houston to visit family and friends and take Rams to her first Astros game. If you feel the need to call and check on him, DON'T...he will be way too busy!!! Just pray for all of us!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ramsey.......

So, exactly 16 minutes from now 3 years ago our sweet little Ramsey was born. I hope I never forget all the details of that day....so many emotions running through me as it finally hit me that I was going to be a mommy from that day on. Those emotions still run through me as we go through all the new phases of life. I know that I am beyond blessed to have a healthy and happy little girl and for that blessing I thank God every night.

It amazes me how much she has matured and grown just since her brother has come along. She is quite the little helper (when she wants to be) and I think she sincerely loves her brother. I can't wait to see what a beautiful person she will turn out to be.

Her favorite things as she turns 3:
swimming
singing...."twinkle twinkle" is her favorite closely followed by "jingle bells"
reading at bedtime
playing her new piano...thanks Logan and Lucas!
wearing dresses
giving Bryson his paci
ravioli
snacks
playing dress-up
peanut butter and jelly
ice cream...said "I creem"
waffles
chocolate milk
princess shoes
flip-flops
make-up, especially chap stick
ringing doorbells

Things she doesn't like:
being told "NO"
timeout
being woken up
being pushed or hit....from other kids, we try not to abuse her :)
SHARING
being licked by the dogs

We also learned yesterday at her dance "recital" she does not like to perform in front of crowds!!! She either sat in my lap or had to hold the teacher's hand the whole time.

Happy Birthday sweet Ramsey! We love you always and forever!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Ramsey's Birthday party....

We invited a few of Ramsey's friends to join us at ASI Gymnastics for her 3rd birthday party today. We are celebrating a few days early since 1.) her real birthday doesn't fall on the weekend 2.) I will be in California next weekend so we couldn't do it then 3.) she didn't care when we did it as long as she got her mermaid party!!!!!

Anyway, it was a huge success! What have I been thinking doing parties at our house the past 2 years? It was FABULOUS to just walk in and walk out....no mess to clean before or after, no worries about spilled anything on the carpet (not that it would matter on our carpet this year). I HIGHLY recommend the location party and not the house party.

Oh, and as for California...I am going with 2 girlfriends for a long weekend. Our husbands are letting us free for the weekend....aren't they brave and wonderful?? Erin is a Cali native so she is taking Rhonda and I there for the first time. She said it best a few weeks ago when this was planned that she "was excited to see CA thru our eyes". It will basically be a weekend of shopping, hittin' the beach and OF COURSE hittin' the bars!!!!!!

3 moms + no kids + no husbands + alcohol = a damn good time!!!!!

Supermom: She gives birth to six, runs marathon

well, if that news article isn't enough to get me to the gym today nothing will do it.

seriously???? 6 babies and training for a marathon?????

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25258388/?GT1=43001

I guess I will have to take baby steps...the first one being getting to the gym on time! Must go get ready now, the elliptical is calling my name.

Dear Lord--Beer me strength......

The title says it all....I hope you know "The Office" reference, if not it still says it all!

I think Kate from the TLC Show "John and Kate plus 8" nailed what I am going thru on the head when she told Oprah "Don't you know 3's are the new 2's???"

I don't want this blog to be a rant on how my sweet little Ramsey has turned into a "NO" shouting, arms-crossing, attitude-throwing, screaming little girl BUT that seems to be going on a lot lately. I am pretty sure she is just sick of hanging out with me but I honestly don't think I can do much more to entertain her. Swim lessons, play groups, running errands, dance lessons and going to the gym keep us VERY busy so I don't know why she is that sick of me. Maybe I am keeping her too busy?? I just don't want her to be a TV girl so I try to keep her entertained. By the way, I would LOVE suggestions from you on how to kill time without breaking the bank OR making a huge mess!!!!

She still is a sweet little girl and I am truly amazed at how much she has grown up over the last few months. She wasn't much a talker there for awhile so now that we can carry on conversations with her is so much fun! She loves to "talk" on her phone and it is hilarious to hear her carry on these conversations with her Grammie, Lolli, Reece and Ava.....you would think they really were on the other end of the line.

So, of course I love her with all my heart....I just wish she was more sweet than sassy these days!!!!!! I will continue to pray to God to bring (or beer) me strength.

Things I would rather not hear.....

"Brother awake".....see prior post

"It's OK mommy"....that usually means something has been spilled or Ramsey has done something on her own that she shouldn't have.

"I want to paint"...I am so glad that my daughter thinks she is a little artist but I am tired of wiping up water colors from my table plus she usually wants to paint right before we sit down to eat.

"I don't want (one of the following) breffast, lunch or deenner".....but she has NEVER turned down a snack, which is why they aren't offered anymore, she has to instigate that one.

"NO"....this is without a doubt my least favorite word in the english dictionary when it is coming out my daughters mouth. I pretty much hear it 100 times a day and I am OVER IT! It is now usually followed with a sassy look and her arms crossed...when did my almost 3 yr old turn 13? We are in for an interesting ride!

On another note: I think Bryson is started to teeth? How early does that start??? He is drooling like a mad man and will now put ANYTHING he can grab into his mouth. If only I would have found my camera earlier today I would have taken a picture of him with his mouth wrapped around one of the little poles on his playmat.

I am off to look up babycenter or some other baby sites to see how early this whole process starts! Wish me luck!