Funnies (from the past few days)

1) Quinnie "Hey Mommy. Did you know ...."
Hassie Clare butts in "the shunshine is shiny."
Quinnie "Hey Mommy, I was thinking ....."
Hassie Clare butts in again "I'm going to take my umbrella today like Mary Poppins."
Quinnie "Hey Mommy, the early day I was ...."
Hassie Clare butts in yet again "Sometimes when I hold my head like this I ...."
Quinnie screams bloody murder "HAS ... STOP RENTERRUPTING ME!!!"
**I think this might be the largest word in Quinnie's vocabulary, even though she doesn't say it quite right. And I love the way HC says sunshine ... I never correct her.**

2) Hassie Clare "My poo poo's look like acorns. I think that means I'm a squirrel."
**for some reason we have always looked in the potty afterwards and picked out animal shapes (for the record I don't do it personally - only with the girls). Weird none the less... I know (sorry Penney ... I know this topic grosses you out:)!

3) Quinnie "Hey. You know what Sayyyra (she means Sarah but she says it with her best Mississippi southern drawl). I had boogers in my eyes this morning."
Sarah "Did the Sand Man come visit you last night?"
Quinnie "No. He was the Booger Man."
**I overheard this conversation as they were walking out the door to go to Kroger to get supplies to make letter cookies today. Quinnie Ray is so literal ... ALL THE TIME.**

4) As I was walking out of the girls room after our nightly ritual, Hassie Clare said, "I love you Mommy. You're my best friend." Quinnie said "You're my best friend too Mommy."
**Boy do they know how to warm my heart up. Sniff. Sniff. I'm blogging about this so in 12 years I have proof and can show them that at one point in their life they DID like me:)**

My Mommy is my best friend too. Even though I like to call her Billy Bob sometimes:)

Woo Hoo

Hassie Clare and Quinn had their very first weekend trip away from Mommy and Daddy. Granted it was only 5 miles down the road to Nana and Paw Paw's house but .... it was still two nights away from the comforts of their own home and their parents.  Of course my mom always makes it special with different presents and treats. They played outside in the little kiddie pool, watched movies and played with all of Nana's toys until their little hearts were content. I'm sure they ate way too much sugar and ate anything they wanted. Hassie Clare probably convinced them that I feed them ice cream for breakfast:) They are so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents that cater to their every need and love them unconditionally.

As for Jamie and I, we headed down south to spend the weekend at the lake. A good friend of mine invited us to stay on their boat at Pickwick Lake. I can't provide too many details because A) my kids will read this someday and there are just some things your kids should not have to read about you and B) what happens at Pickwick stays at Pickwick. No cameras were allowed because as Penney says, "The memories you make will forever be embedded in your mind... you don't need pictures for that."  Boy was she right. Jamie and I will remember this weekend for many years to come. It was the first time in 5 years that we have had a totally "worry-free" weekend. It cleansed our souls and rejuvenated our minds. I felt smitten about my husband again and I think he felt the same. I'm so thankful to our good friends Penney and Tim for sharing their lovely boat, cooking our delicious meals (everything taste better on a boat in the middle of a lake), but most of all I'm thankful for the time we had with our friends and the laughs we shared. We could have fun with those crazy kats anywhere!

PS - Their boat's name is Woo Hoo. The waves of the lake made me sleep like a baby.
PSS - My body is burnt to a crisp. Evidently SPF15 is not strong enough for this big, white body of mine.
PSSS - We missed our little girls like crazy but Jamie and I are already thinking about our next "grown up only" getaway. I wonder where we will go? I'm 100% convinced that these little trips make us better parents. At least I keep telling myself this:)
PSSSS - The only possible picture I have to share is of Jamie and I on the jet ski, hauling butt down the river next to the Woo Hoo after trying to see goats on Goat Island. I think I saw Penney trying to take a picture but I'll have to confirm that with her!

Gym Rat

So .... I'm waiting to hear back from the doctor on some of Hassie Clare's blood work. Frustrating, especially since I called the lab and they sent the results on Friday to her pediatrician. I'm sticking with the philosophy that no news is good news. My hopes are that the lab results come back with just a small minor problem that we can fix by altering something in her diet. That way we know what is causing her wrinkly burns (aka foot cramps) but it will be nothing serious. FINGERS CROSSED.

I finally got my closet cleaned out. HALLELUJAH. AMEN. 2 large garbage bags for Goodwill and 2 extra large plastic bins for re-sale. Of course my closet looks naked. But I've decided that I will not buy anymore clothes until I drop another size. Okay ... maybe just not anymore clothes this summer. Cause it might be a long while until I go down another size:)

Speaking of diet ... I'm still at a standstill on weight loss. I'm working my hiney off in the gym. Jamie called me a "gym rat" the other day. Best compliment ever. My body is getting strong and I'm in the best shape I've been in since college volleyball. But I'm not losing any weight. Here is the problem - I'm eating and drinking whatever I want on the weekends. During the week .... I follow a low calorie diet perfectly. I work out 4 or 5 times a week. Working out has been great for me ... physically and mentally. Sure I have aches and pains that I never had before but the overall benefits have been great. In fact, I have an ice pack on my knee as I'm typing this. My total weight loss to date is 52 pounds. My goal was to lose 80 pounds. So ... I need to decide if I want to reach my goal and lose another 30 pounds or just maintain the comfortable weight I am right now. Ahhh what the heck  ... I'll just go for it. What do I have to lose (no pun intended)?

My mom officially saved my butt last week. Our nanny Sarah went on a (much deserved) vacation. Of course this left me without child care. So my wonderful mother took my kids in for the week. Each day I would drop them off after breakfast and pick them up in the late afternoon after I left the gym. It actually made my week very easy. She fed them special snacks and healthy meals (except one day they ordered pizza for lunch and ate waffles and doughnuts for breakfast:). They did fun projects some days and were lazy on other days. I wonder what they will remember about spending time at their Grandparent's house? I'm not sure what I would do without her. She helps me in so many ways. I've relied on her mentally for years but I'm starting to rely on her physical help now and I must admit ... it feels pretty darn good. I had no idea how comforting it would be to have them live so close and be such a big part of my family. It is almost like she carries some of my life "weight" around for me. Priceless.

Jamie and I are hoping for a little (much needed) get-a-way to the lake with friends this weekend. It will be so nice to have some adult time with no worries. If it doesn't work out then I'm going to plan a weekend trip for us sometime in the near future. I feel it all the way to my bones that we need to step away from our lovely, crazy life and be selfish for a day or two.

Sometimes I wish I could follow Hassie Clare and Quinn around with a microphone. They are freakishly hilarious. The stuff they come up with is seriously funny stuff. I need to keep a notebook out to write down some of this stuff.  Hassie Clare drops one liners constantly - mostly quotes from movies. She is starting to use them appropriately. Quinn is so gullible and naive so her humor is usually at her own expense. I love how they tickle me to my core on a daily basis.

That is all I got for right now. Life is good.

Way back When-esday: HC & Nana

DATE:  first week of July 2006

LOCATION:  changing table in the nursery

I think this is when my mom and Hassie Clare's special bond first started.  For the record, it is still going strong. Hassie Clare is 3.5 weeks old and weighed 4.9 pounds. The straps with the cords are the sleep apnea monitor that both the girls wore for 6 months. Something about his picture just warms my heart and makes me feel all fuzzy.

Independence Day 2010 - Cape

For the third year in a row, we went to Cape Girardeau, MO for a family gathering at Aunt Caryn's and cousin's Debbie & John. They are incredible gracious hosts and they go out of their way to make sure fun is had by all.
We stayed in our bathing suits all weekend, ate LOTS and LOTS of good food, played poker every night, drank just enough not to feel bad the next day, kicked some booty at water volleyball and swam until our hearts were content.
I think we brought the camera but it never made it out of the suitcase. Luckily, Maema took some pics with her phone and emailed them to me.

Quinnie Ray is serious about water safety. She stays cautious all times.

Not surprisingly, Hassie Clare is not afraid of ANYTHING and has to be watched at all times in the water. Thankfully she can swim just enough to get herself out of trouble.

Way Back When-esday: First Rodeo - BFF Cowgirls

Sept. 2009 - 2.3 years old

This picture was taken right after we got home from our first rodeo. It was really late and way past our bedtime but we were all having such a good time. The girls LOVED every part of the rodeo and afterwards we went and ate their favorite (still their favorite to this day) - Messkigen food.

I love how happy they both look in this picture. Quinn carried her BB (still would if I let her) everywhere she went and that little yellow Volkswagon car. And Hassie Clare with her little banged up knees. I just want to reach into this picture and pinch their little chubby, toddler cheeks!