Weekend bliss

Friday started with Taylor gone at a sleepover. She stayed with her good buddy McKinsey. Well McKinsey's older sister has horses. She had a blast! 

Saturday we did a little back to school shopping and cleaned up her room. She tried on lots of clothes to see what still fits.

Sunday we got groceries and made some delicious cold brew coffee!

Busy and wonderful weekend. This next week Tay is gone to visit her aunt Linda in Oklahoma. I sure am going to miss her!!

Trying

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW :/ I need to blog more! I will work on this. I have lots going on and so much to share. Time is passing by and I want to document the moments.

For now I will plan some posts and work on them.
I need to get back to writing about my loves and my life!

Spring Break '16

Oh man Spring break was a blast that flew by in a flash. A comet of good times one could say. Started the weekend with a yummy grilling night!

We went to the St. Paddy’s Parade in the Delano District in Wichita. OH my goodness it was SO FUN! EVERYONE in town was there. OR so it seemed.

 After about 30 to 45 min into the parade the girls were getting hungry so we just found a cute little pizza place on the parade route. Piccazo’s Pizza. I highly recommend it. HUGE HUGE HUGE pizza.

They only serve one size and it is actually called Ginormous. Over $45. You can ALSO order by the HUGE slice J which we all did. And that was a plate full. SO YUMMY.

Sunday we went to visit Tony’s folks in Wamego. We visited and then went to the Wizard of Oz museum. It was pretty cool!!

We even saw a beautiful rainbow on the way home. The girls were so excited!

I took the girls to the Zoo on Tuesday.

Then I got sick. Head cold, sneezing, coughing. THE YUCKY STUFF! I am still trying to get over it. I have a call into the Doctor so maybe she will be nice and call me in something. 

All in all it was a great spring break with my loves. I am really blessed!

Oh to blog

So this blogging is going so hot. LOL I use to blog so much and now when I go to blog I find myself thinking. "MAN I got nothing interesting" or "No one wants to hear about this or that."

I really need to just blog for me and my family because we are blessed and have great little adventures. At some point they all start to blend together because, well I am human and my memory gets fuzzy.

NEW GOAL:
Blog 3 times a week. Even if it is just to say what we did for the week. (some weeks are just that) getting through the days. Others are silly and wonderful.

So today is Wednesday. Hump day!! Always love being halfway done with the week. But the better news is Spring Break is next week and I am just chomping at the bit to have time off. I am taking 5 days. 2 are paid for by the college and 3 are my own vacation days. Not too bad if I do say so myself. I have to work on the Friday of Spring Break so I am starting my week off this Friday. So this is my Thursday and tomorrow is my Friday!!! Happy Dance!!

The weather is looking to be awesome on our days off too. Lower 80s. I want to take the girls to the Zoo one day, and maybe the Great Plains Nature Center. There are a few projects around the house I have been neglecting too. So I will throw in some Adulting during my time off. I know we will be grilling up most nights if I have it my way :)

NOW I just have to make it through today and tomorrow... Oh the torture.

Kitty turkey time

Well the kitties have been doing really well outside. Okay well..... At first they were begging to get let back in! But as soon as Tony cut a whole in the garage door they were home free! We have beds in there and the food and water dish. Cozy pozy!!!!! 

Thanksgiving came and went. Turkey and all the fixins were so good! Time with family was good but went too quick! I was sad because Tony and Baylee couldn't come so some of my family was missing. When I got home I rested and got Christmas decor in the house ready to put up!! Only thing up so far is our little tree! The bigger one will be later. 

Animals

Currently we are living in a zoo. Let me lay it out for you. INSIDE we have 2 fish, 2 lizards, 2 dogs and 3 cats. Tony has always said he is allergic to cats but has been doing fine for the 1 we have had them. ( we took them in from Jeremy because his girlfriend is allergic) I didn't want them to be sent off to a shelter to die because lets be honest. They are old cats. No one wants old cats.

Well recently Tony's allergies have been going CRAZY. He is so miserable I just feel awful. We have decided to buy them a cozy cat house and fill it with lots of hay and blankets and transition them to outdoors. Taylor and I have talked about how they may do well and may not. One or more MAY run off or get out and get run over. She understand but would rather take the chance of them being here with us in the yard than in a scary pin of a shelter. I agree...

So the search is on for a kitty house they can snuggle in. Fatty has been loving his outdoor time. He now sits by the back door meowing so we will let him out. Noble and Babygirl are not as excited. They will go out but after about 10 min they sitting by the back door meowing to get back in. But good ol Fatty will be rolling around in the grass. :) So we know he will be ok.

Time will tell. Wish us luck!

Updates and Camp out recap

You will be happy to know Johnny Appleseed is safe and sound in the front yard. Tony talked his sweet talk and they could work around it. I know you were waiting on baited breath about that one. :)

Tay was on the Honor Roll this quarter!! So proud of her hard work. 

We are on the week after the Fall Family Camp out and WOW it was a good one this year. Thursday we show up at the grounds around 2pm. Grandpa already has the tarps up for the tents and to protect us for the chance of rain in the forecast. We are thankful he did because the rains came!

The evenings are always a fun time. Cooking around the fire. Drinking some festive spirits. Playing with glow sticks and being free in the wild! 

 And of course carving our pumpkins!!!!! (we didn't get to take them home due to an invasion of ants)

The kids always find ways to help out... 

 

Oh the Boat adventure................................ Everything was good and windy. We were on the great Fall River Lake enjoying the COLD breeze and sunshine. Laughing and enjoying ourselves till the motor over heated. We were stuck out in the middle of the lade with no power! That was OKAY we had Tony and Noah to row right??. yeah YOU try rowing a pontoon boat full of people. It worked though and we made it to a boat ramp and called for help. What an adventure!!

 It was such a great camp out full of stories, food, laughs, tears (by the tired kids) stickers stuck in the dogs fur (that got OLD), many walks, sweet notes written on leaves and just memories being made. This was a camp out to remember. 

I know it is one I will never forget! 

Walks with Her

As I am on this journey to become more healthy and active, I have been taking more walks. Walks are always more fun with company. Baylee is a great walking buddy. She can go for MILES!! We have great talks (she does most of the talking) But I learn a lot about her and we become closer.



Then there are times I can get my little pumpkin to walk with me. She is more into the adventure of the walk. Exploring and finding cool things and not so much on the mileage. But I will take what I can get. 

Those walks are moments I store in my heart because as with Bay I get great talks with her. How she feels about things, and how she dreams and imagines so magically. 

Oh this walk we found awesome signs of Fall and saw some wild life. It was a great start to the season AND we got in 3.25 miles. Not too bad!!! I can't wait for the next one. 

New do!!

I chopped off the old and am here with the new! New Do that is!!! Feels good and fresh. Don't get me wrong I LOVED my long locks but this feels really nice. Like a weight has lifted. 

Johnny Appleseed

When Taylor and I lived in the apartments she LOVED planting any seed we got our hands on just to see if it would grow. Well we planted lemon seeds, avocado seeds, apple seeds. Our apple seed and avocado seed grew. The apple started getting BIG, so we keep moving him to a bigger and bigger pot. When we moved in with Tony we ended up planting him out in the yard.

Taylor named him Johnny Appleseed. Well Johnny is doing pretty good. We have talked about future apple picking and the joys of having an apple tree in our front yard. We water him and love him.

Just this week a note was put on our door that they are repairing gas lines in our neighborhood. When I look into the neighbor's yard that they have started on I see the front is ALL dug up.. then I look over at our yard and the is right where Johnny is!!!! Tony said they will cut or knock down anything in their way and they have the right to do so.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We must save Johnny! Taylor would be so upset ... So I begged Tony if he has time today to put Johnny in a large planter and we can either replant him or keep him inside for the winter. I just hope we can do it in time before they start digging!


So stay tuned on the saga that is Johnny Appleseed.

Fallish

Fall is here people. We have been enjoying the cooler temps with walks around town and walk paths. We have decorated the front of the house but not much in the inside yet. That needs to happen soon because Halloween is right around the corner! 

BUT before that the Fall camp out is going to happen and that is where my mind and heart has been lately. Planning and day dreaming about the cool days by the fire cooking hot dogs and smelling all the awesome meals my Dad makes over the fire. Snuggling in the tent and howling at the moon!!! Doesn't get any better than that!
Time is just flying and I better slow down before it passes me by! This is my favorite time of year if you didn't catch that already.

35!!!!!!!

Well kids......I turn 35 today! I have had mixed feelings about this birthday. It really hasn't bothered me much but still with a 10th or 5th birthday you always kind of ponder where you life is at and what you thought you would be doing with your life at this age. Like most things, I am not where I had imagined I would be at this OLD age. I still feel like there is so much I want out of life and that I still have plenty of time.

To be honest that is very true for some things. BUT time is running out for others. I have to be OK with that. My life has taken some twists and turns, ups and downs. Who's hasn't??? I do have many blessings in my short life. SO many blessings. 35 is going to be an awesome year! It is going to be the year I take my health back! Mentally and Physically.



My goal in my later 30's is to LET GO! I can only control me, how I feel and react.

God has already written my story, I am just living it. 

Tonight Tony and I are child free so we are hitting the big City of Wichita and going to one of my Fav. Mexican restaurants and enjoying each other's company and margaritas!!!! 

Hurry up 5 o'clock!!

Labors

Finally after a week of sick not sick I think i am finally feeling back to myself. I HATE feeling sick and basically being under the weather just plain sucks! This Labor Day Holiday was not what I had imagined in my head but hey that is how life goes. I have been taking my vitamins and drinking my fresh pressed juice. YUM

Taylor is 9 and had a great weekend with her Daddy. The family went down to Oklahoma and took her to Frontier City. So Cool!! She is so spoiled but not too bad.. hahahaha. One think about Taylor is she is spoiled more than some but she truly shows gratitude and doesn't just expect her gifts. She makes sure she gives out plenty of hugs and thank yous when she is given things.

I got her back yesterday afternoon and she helped me clean house. Well I cleaned and she mopped and picked up. She helped me make fresh juice and even tried them as they came out of the juicer. Surprisingly she liked the cucumber apple combo.

Well since this week started a day late we are just that much closer to Friday! YAY!!

Not going well

Well blogging hasn’t been going so hot. But in my defense I was super busy with Taylor’s Slumber party and then getting sick.

First let’s start with Taylor’s party. It went really well. She got to invite 3 friends and we got a hotel room with snacks, pizza, drinks and cupcakes. There was an indoor pool that was the main part of the party and they played twister, did nails and face masks. Fun was had by all and I was one tired Momma when it was all over. Sunday we just vegged out.

THEN Monday hit…………… I woke up not feeling quite right. I took a shower then got super dizzy and threw up. YUCK! I just started to feel worse and worse after that. I stayed home Monday and Tuesday. I wish I could have another day but I knew I needed to be back at work and my fever was gone so I made it happen. It is Wednesday but feels like Monday and I am just tired and grumpy.

At lunch time some jerk parked so close to my car that I could not get into it. I had to try and unlock it and walk around and climb over the passenger side in a SMALL mustang. OUCH… that just didn’t help my day!

Hello Friday

The weekend is licking my heals and I am ready for it. This was the first week of school at work and the college is hustling and a bustling!! I have been joking that I am drowning in dead trees! TOO MUCH PAPER on my desk!! But the days sure go by fast!

No real plans for this weekend. Taylor is with her Daddy and Tony works Sunday. I plan on going through Taylor's clothes again and maybe mine too. I want to take some walks if the weather is decent. I sure have the FALL FEVER..I know I just said that but I can't help it!

So I may have to make some pumpkin chili or pumpkin muffins and snuggle up with a good book thinking of cool temps. and camping trips!

School Days

Well the first day came and went and all is well. Taylor loves her class and new teacher. She was pretty excited to go today. They were doing a science experiment on what can keep an apple from turning brown. They had lots of liquids to choose from. She chose apple cider vinegar. The teacher chose mountain dew! I am interested to hear the results.

Here are a few shots of the first day.

Now get ready to tear up.......or maybe that is just me!!!!!

I love that little stinker!!! That smile is the best thing on earth! 

A year later!

So looking at my last post and a year has flown by. I tried to start a blog on word press but I just couldn't get the hang of it. So instead of copy and pasting all that over I just decided to let you know I am starting back with good ol' blogger! I didn't post much on word press anyway.

SO............we moved in and life is good. It has been a year. Taylor has finished second grade and Baylee has taken on middle school. Tony got let go from the college and last you knew I was being let go as well. WELL I got hired on in the Human Resources office at Butler and LOVE IT!! They keep me busy and I just think this will be my forever home. In September I will have been at Butler for 8 years. The longest I have ever worked anywhere. Tony still is busting his buns at the fire station but he also manages a local restaurant. The Chop House. He is really good for that place and has more passion to make it a great restaurant. My only complaint is that he works too much!! But I also love that about him.

School starts tomorrow for Taylor. 3rd Grade! We have a bunch of new clothes and some shoes. She just came down with strep throat this last weekend so she couldn't go to the ice cream social last night, but since she has been on meds for 24 hours she will be good to go to school the first day. Thank Goodness! That would be the pitts if she was sick the first day!

Baylee is going to be in 7th grade and they don't start till Thursday. That gives the 6th graders time to get use to the new middle school. She is all set with new clothes and shoes too. They are both growing up so FAST!! I don't think either of them are ready for school to end. I kind of am, but only because I am ready for FALL.

My favorite season of all time. That deserves a post all its own :)

Feels good to be back blogging..I will see if I can keep it up this time.

Changes!!!!!!!!!!

OK super busy and SO SO SO much has been happening. AND I don't mean the normal going to the folks, camping and little adventures that are our life. THIS IS BIG changes!!!

First HUGE change is I am getting laid off from Butler. My heart is broken and I NEVER thought this day would come. I always planned on working her till I could retire and Taylor would go to school here. The whole college had to do budget cuts and my department loses me and my boss. SO the job hunt begins.

Second HUGE change is Taylor and I are moving in with Tony and Baylee!!!! This has been a long time coming and we have  been talking about it for a while now. This is a good enough time as any! The girls are so excited and so are we. We have been working out the details with bills, rooms, moving, toys, rules.. and there is so much we will figure out along the way. But I can't tell you how much this make me smile! I love Tony and Baylee so so so much and this is just the next step in the rest of our happy little lives!!!

So here is to a month of packing and job hunting!!!!

Happy and Busy

OH my body is tired!!! I have worked out and walked more this week than I have in a long time and it is AWESOME! I am really motivated to keep going and it feels so good. I am not sure what took me so long to WAKE UP but I am awake now and making a healthier life!

Plans for the weekend:
Tonight I am going to cook a healthy yummy dinner for Tay and Tony. Not sure what yet, but it will be GOOD!
Saturday I think Tay and I are going to go watch Baylee's soccer game and then Tony, Tay and I will head to Wichita. Might hit up Botanica or the Great Plains Nature Center. Who knows, but there will be lots of walking and sunshine.
Sunday Taylor and I will be coloring eggs because I don't have her on Easter weekend. I love me some boiled eggs!!

Healthy Life

I am feeling so good! I have been eating cleaner and moving more than I have in months and it is WORKING because I lost 5 pounds in a week. I have been taking every opertunity to hit the YMCA and take walks. Last weekend I took two long walks in one day. First one was 2.25 miles in the morning with my sweet little puppy and the second was 2.25 miles in the afternoon with my boyfriend's daughter. I am thinking she might be a good walking partner :)

I have really been enjoying planning my meals out and prepping them on Sundays. No excuses anymore. I have a long way to go but am ready to face it and conquer it!