My Little Athletes

Jackson just finished another round of soccer lessons. I know I am his mom, and such am biased, but he is pretty darn good. He is a super fast runner, has great ball control, is not easily frustrated, and hardly ever uses his hands. I can't wait until he is 5 and can actually play in a league. Here are some pictures. They are really dark because the gym lights are always turned down.

This past weekend, Megan and Jackson both started tennis lessons. They had been rained out the week before so they were extra excited to go. Their coach is really great and the kids get a lot of individualized attention. Here are a whole bunch of pictures. I can never scale down.

SPT-The First Thing That Attracted Me To You Was...

February 17th: The First Thing That Attracted Me To You Was:

I was already attracted to Eric before this happened, but this was my no turning back point. We were leaving work on Christmas Eve when Eric reached down and gave me a hug. Oh my! I had a long-term boyfriend at the time but that hug made it very clear to me that our time needed to end. So the next day (Christmas Day) I broke up with him, and am ever so thankful I did.

Six On Sunday

No, Not Sex on Sunday, Six on Sunday

1. We all had a great Valentine's Day. The kids started off the day at tennis lessons, which will be a post at a later date. After tennis Eric had to go to work, but when he got home we headed out to Macayo's for dinner. We tend to go there for New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day because there is not usually a wait (Rachael will say that is because it is gross), but we enjoy it. Almost everyone there had their kids with them to celebrate.
Here are some pictures of the kids with all of their valentines.

On this day I had a different outfit picked out for Jackson, but he shot me down. Instead he picked this out all by himself.


2. I have been meaning to mention one of the many differences blogging has made in my life. In 2007 (pre-blogging) I took a total of 626 pictures. In 2008 (my first year blogging) I took a total of 2,981 pictures. CRAZY!

3. For Valentine's Day Megan received a C.D. of dance music. One of the songs is the Macarena. I never learned the dance, but apparently Eric and Megan did and must have practiced it often because they are experts. I wish I had video of it, but the pictures can speak for themselves.


4. Today while watching NASCAR (incredibly boring) I was forced to watch commercials since it was not recorded. I have to say that many of the commercials were hilarious and I actually laughed out loud twice. Who knew?

5. Megan does not like to sit normally for school, church, or homework. While doing homework she is often standing, and takes many breaks to walk around the table. The other day she decided to do her homework on the table. Whatever works for her.

6. The other day while at Chipotle Jackson walked past these stools and asked me, "Mom is that what you would call a tuffet?"

February 2009 - 12 X 12

I am just as shocked as you that I am posting this picture, but this is how my day typically starts out. After Eric feeds the kids breakfast (he gets up much earlier than me), Sadie starts wandering the house, eventually ending up next to my bed. She continually says, "up" until I comply. She is not much of a cuddler, but will sit in bed and play with me for a few minutes until she gets bored.

I usually take the kids to school, but since Eric was still home, he took Megan for me. She had a Student Council meeting so she had to leave earlier than she usually does.

Sadie actually took 2 naps today. I have stopped giving her a morning nap, but today she was extra tired. She never cries when she wakes up, just sits in her bed and talks until we come and get her.

Rachael and I met up for lunch. We used to go to each others house and cook each other lunch, now we just eat out. Today we had Chinese. Our boys are usually crazy, but I think they were better behaved than usual. Our waitress took this picture, and it took her forever! I am shocked the kids are still looking at the camera.

This is what I spend most of my afternoons doing. CLEANING. I got quite a bit done, and even fixed the vacuum. Yeah!

After Sadie's second nap, we went to pick up Megan from school. She walks to her friend's house and I pick her up from there. I think it probably takes more time for me (I spend a lot of time waiting for her to get there), but she loves being able to walk with her friends, and I don't have to deal with the crazy traffic by her school.

After school the kids finished working on their Valentine's for their parties on Friday. Jackson chose soccer and basketball valentines (the same one's he chose last year) and Megan chose Spongebob. While writing his name Jackson continues to switch back and forth between his right and left hand. If anyone knows anyone that is ambidextrous and has any advice, I would love to hear it.

Eric arrived home around 6:15 p.m. I am jealous of the reception he gets when he gets home. As soon as they hear the lock, the kids run as fast as they can to the door. Jackson and Sadie do it everyday, Megan is now about 50/50.

Eric brought home dinner, AGAIN. It is no secret that I don't like to cook, but I do really need to change. I am pretty sure that I have not cooked dinner in a week. We had Chipotle, which has replaced Zaba's as my favorite.

I had a meeting at 7. Lately Jackson has been having a really hard time whenever I leave. After this hug Eric had to pull him away from me crying.

After a very long meeting (almost 3 hours) I came home to all of the kids in bed, so Eric and I caught up a bit on 24. I then took a bath (which I do every night), and got into bed to read. I was able to finish my book and went to sleep around 12:30. Eric was still working away in the office. It was a pretty typical day.

12 X 12 Information

I mentioned last week that I was going to start a new 12 X 12 project. Basically on the 12th of each month, I will take 12 pictures that best capture my day. I am doing this to see the changes my life takes month to month. I so wish I had done this last February when I had an infant. My life is quite different now. Other people who have done this, have often done it in online scrapbooking form. But since I have had Photoshop for over a year, and it is still not installed, mine will just be some pictures with some text. I think I will post all of the pictures on Friday. Anyone that would like to join in, I would love to see what a typical day in your life is like.

SPT

This month our challenges focus on the love that exists in our marriages.

February 10th, 2009: I think it would be romantic to.......

I think it would be romantic to recreate our honeymoon. This year is our 10 year anniversary and I think it would be fun and oh so romantic to go back to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where we spent our honeymoon. The only problem is that I am no longer a big fan of cold weather, and I haven't snowboarded since our honeymoon. But I still think it would be romantic. If my husband is reading this I am also not opposed to a tropical vacation. I think that would be pretty romantic too.

Piano Renovation

I have been searching Craig's list for a piano for some time. I wanted an old, full upright piano. I didn't care much about the aesthetic condition, as long as it was in working order. I was planning on painting it, so looks and color were not too important to me. I was determined not to spend over $300. So when I found a listing for an upright piano in working order for $60 I called right away. I went to see it, and was disappointed by what I found. It was uglier than I thought it would be and was not a full upright that I had my heart set on. However, it was $60 so I knew I had to buy it. Even if I redid it and hated it, I wouldn't too feel bad since it was so cheap. I know I said I wasn't too concerned with the look of it, but I have to admit I was kind of embarrassed by it. Eric needed help picking it up and I would only let him call the Randall's and our neighbor for help since I was embarrassed by it's appearance. I realize I was being ridiculous, it is just my own neurosis.
Anyway, I redid it, and it turns out I do not regret my $60 purchase (plus about $20 for supplies). I am happy with the results. I am partial to black furniture so this works perfectly for me.

BEFORE


AFTER

I've Been Thinking

I've been thinking:


I should have applied make-up before taking this picture.

That I really need to find a new lipstick color that I like.

It should be possible to lose weight just by exercising. I don't want to change my eating habits (or drinking habits: Dr. Pepper).

I have been sleeping through the night for the first time in 4 1/2 years.

About dying my hair pink. Not my entire head, just maybe the ends.

About changing my fire place. It is going to be my next project. Eric can't quite yet see my vision, and I need him to help execute it, so it has been on hold for a few weeks.

About blogging about all of the projects I have completed.

That Sadie may be addicted to her bottle.

That I need to mop my floors. The kids have tracked in a lot of dirt.

About getting a new cell phone. Mine has been broken for months.

About cleaning out my linen closet, and pantry, and wiping out all of my drawers and cabinets. I just can't seem to get around to getting these projects done.

That I just remembered there is a load of laundry that I put in the washer yesterday that I forgot to move to the dryer.

That I need to start getting all of the stuff ready for our taxes.

If I really will ever watch all of the shows I have on my DVR. I currently have 15 episodes of Intervention and 28 episodes of House Hunters, that I don't think I will ever get to.

That one day I really want to travel the world.

That my husband and I need to spend more time together.

That the book I am reading is boring, but I can't make myself stop reading it.

How much I love the smell of the Japanese Cherry Blossom bubble bath from Bath & Body Works.

That I am probably too old to wear my hair in pig tails, but I don't care.

About how much I love my house. I am completely emotionally attached to it.

About how I have not been standing up for what I believe in. You know what they say about assumptions.

About doing the 12 X 12 photo project I saw on someone's blog. On the 12th of every month take 12 pictures that best represent your day. It will capture what your life is like at that particular time. I really wish I would have done this last year. My life was a lot different at this time last year than it is now. If anyone else wants to do it, I am starting Thursday February 12th.

SPT

This month our challenges focus on the love that exists in our marriages.

February 3rd: I Love It When You.....

This SPT is not very romantic but last night it came to mind. I love it when you: Put the kids to bed. For some reason bed time is quite a trying time for me. Probably because when bed time comes around I am ready for them to be in bed, and not ready for the process of putting them to bed (putting on p.j.'s, getting water, reading books, brushing teeth, whining, saying prayers, going back in because covers have mysteriously fallen off). Usually bed time is a collaborative effort between my husband and I, but occasionally one person takes it over. And when that one person is my husband, I do truly love it.

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