Cheese!

Here is one of the first good smile pictures I have been able to get. There are a few more pictures on flickr (click the link to the right).

Just a Thought

Boy diapers are much easier to change than girl diapers. Baby girls have so many creases and folds. Boys... well everything just hangs out there, so you just wipe it off. Sure there is always the chance of getting a shower with a boy, but I would much rather change a boys diaper than a girls. I'm just saying.

Somewhat Productive Day

Even though it is now 3:00 and I was finally able to get Aria to sleep I got a lot done today. My major accomplishment was cleaning out the pantry/storage closet in the dining room. It seems to be the place where everything ends up. I think I will sleep better tonight knowing that it is organized once again. I also got a crap load of laundry done. Since we weren't home all weekend again, my chores were ignored. And I actually was able to do a few pages of Aria's scrapbook.

We spent Saturday in Berlin at the annual Bugle Mouth Bass fishing tournament. We didn't fish, but the $1 beer wristbands for all the beer you can drink was worth the trip. Stephen ran around and played the whole time, while Aria slept. The most exciting part of the day was when Lyhna won a raffle for a $200 gift certificate for Mount Olympus in Wisconsin Dells. I can't believe she actually won. So now we have to plan a trip to the dells before the summer is over.

Sunday was spent at the Oshkosh water park all day. For only $4/adult there is 2 water slides, a lazy river, pretty big pool with a play area for toddlers, a sand/water play area, and a separate water jungle-gym area. I took a picture, but it really doesn't do it justice. There are also a couple pictures of Aria hanging out in her stroller while everyone else is playing in the water.

Aria's nap is apparently over and she is starving... Later Gators!

For your viewing pleasure...

Must Read... It made me tear up

From PerezHilton.com:

This Might Make You CryFiled under: Sad Sad
This is so sad, yet touching.
Reece Fleming was diagnosed with leukaemia back in 2004 when he was just 4 years old.
He battled the disease for years until this May, when doctors gave the 8 year old boy only a few weeks to live.
The family decided to try and help him achieve most of his goals before he would pass. And one of those was to marry his school sweetheart, Elleanor Purgslove.
Reece's mother said "When we found out that we only had a few weeks with him we tried to do absolutely everything with him that we could. Him and Ellie had been 'special friends' for a couple of years but then they broke up. We said we'd have a pirate party, and Ellie came. She went to visit Reece a few times in hospital as well."
Then during a recent laser tag party, Reece "proposed" to his little friend.
After she accepted, their parents arranged a pretend wedding at Reece's home (not the kids pictured above).
The families went out to dinner in the mayor's limousine and organized the wedding with rings and even a fictional certificate.
The kids got married on July 4th. And Reece told his mom, "I can go now," after his wedding wish had been fulfilled.
His mom added, "He was so proud of her, and we were proud of them both."
The following day after the wedding, Reece died at home with his family.
Soooooo sad!
During the funeral, the mourners followed a horse-draw hearse on foot.
His mom added, "Even on the Saturday that he died, he got out of bed and walked to the sofa. He always tried walking, right to the end, so we thought if he walked for us then we would walk for him."
What an amazing little boy.

How did I get so lucky?

I thought the chances of getting both Stephen and Aria on the same nap schedule would be nearly impossible. Actually, I was looking forward to them sleeping at opposite times so I would be able to give each one some one on one attention while the other is sleeping. Now that they are taking their long afternoon naps at the same time, I think I was crazy for wanting them to sleep opposite each other. Stephen has always slept from about 1pm-4:15pm everyday. And now, without any coercing from me, Aria is sleeping from about 12pm-3ish every day. It is the greatest thing in the world. I am able to get the laundry done, clean, get dinner ready most nights, everything except vacuum. Don't get me wrong, some days I do take naps, and my house is far from spotless. But I do love my alone time!

Today I practiced my cake decoration for Stephen's upcoming birthday. I can't believe he will be 2 in less than 2 weeks. I am very excited to do his cake, well actually it will be a cupcake cake. I bought real decorators tips and frosting bags. I will not tell you what it will end up being, you will have to wait for the picture when it is finished. I think we will be spending his birthday up at "gamma and papa's" cabin. I am not sure we will stay the whole weekend, but I think we will try 1 night away from home. It should be interesting. I think my sister, bro-in-law and niece will also be going, so that makes 4 grandkids plus one on the way. I hope they can handle it.

Getting my butt back in gear

I have officially started to workout again this week. I forgot how hard it is at first. It's not like when you just slack off for no reason. After you have a baby, muscles are stretched out beyond recognition, some just disappear all together, and forget about cardio endurance. After working out for 2 days, I am so tired I feel like I could sleep for a week. Thanks Trisha for the cardio interval workout, it kicked my ass. The strange part about this, is that I actually like going to the gym this time. I lost track of time, I really liked the fact that I was sweating for a reason. I have always hated working out until now. I can come up with 2 reasons why I am enjoying it:

1. It is my ONLY time I get away from the kids and husband. I'm not "mommy" for an hour a day.
2. I know I'm not having any more kids, so it's not like I am working out for no reason.

Whatever the reasons, I am enjoying it and can't wait to get rid off the jiggles!