pure fun

You know you are getting older when...

You turn the radio to 95.7 WQMF and you know every single word to every single song that they call 'classic' rock and you can even picture the artist with their long hair and makeup.

You think eating dinner at 8pm is really late!

You go shopping in Forever 21 and you sit on the floor of the dressing room because you are tired, not to mention that most of the company around you could almost be your children.

You have to take aspirin in the morning, not from a hangover, but because your feet hurt from shopping all.day.long.

If these things make you old, then bring it...cuz I loved every minute of it!

I was so excited to head to Bowling Green this weekend to see Gretchen!! It has been too long since we had quality girl time. First on the agenda, after peeing of course (thank you McDonald's diet coke!), was to meet Brittany!! It was crazy...like part of Gretchen's past connecting with her present...and we had a blast! Brittany is super sweet, very funny and she has great hair! During conversation, I asked her how she curls her hair. She said a flat iron! Go figure. Who knew it could be so simple? As conversation went on, she was telling us a story and I TOTALLY interrupted her, dumbfounded, and said "You really use a flat iron to curl your hair?" Yeah, not one of my proudest moments. Oy. ;)
So, you get 3 giddy girls all full of Italian and then what do you do? Go shopping, of course! We headed to the mall in order to help G spend some of her money. We ended up at Forever 21 and their dressing room was seriously awesome! Brittany and I parked it on the floor while Gretchen did a little modeling for us. Brittany was catching up on some Facebook time while we waited, and waited, and waited. ;) Too fun! Oh, I was seriously chuckling at the kids, and I do mean kids, who were trying stuff on next to us. Not sure if they even had their licenses...

I slept a solid 8 hours that night and it was awesome! We got ready and headed out to shop in Nashville. We hit two malls...yes, you may call us pros. Oh, lunch was at Qdoba.

Mmm Mmm good!

After success at the first mall, we headed to a cool furniture store that Brittany told us about...

They had wall to wall furniture pieces...different colors, styles...we were simply amazed! They had so.much.stuff. I found about 16 pieces I want in my home. ;)

The second mall had this place called Charming Charlie. Hello Heaven. T.O.N.S. of jewelry. All kinds. This picture is only about 1/8th of the store! We stood there for a full 5 minutes before we could decide which direction to go.

I would just like to point out that we didn't get lost ONE time this weekend! Yay! We headed back and got changed for dinner. Can I just say how much I enjoyed chatting with this girl this weekend?

We had such a relaxing time and were able to just sit and enjoy each other. We ate good!! Insert picture of THREE cupcakes that we bought and split. Oh my. Gigi's cupcakes are the best I've ever had. We split Pumpkin, Wedding Cake, and Midnight chocolate something (I can't remember the name of it, but does it matter? It was chocolate...). They were so good, but put us into a major sugar coma.

This morning, I was able to go to church with G. This was something I really, really wanted to do! I love seeing where she spends her time and meeting people she spends her time with. It makes me feel like she isn't quite so far away. ;)

Sadly, it was time for me to go home. I hated to leave because we really did have a great time, but I was missing my babies!! Gotta give a shout out to Eric and Paul who kept the kids all weekend. Most of you probably know how Eric usually calls me 857 times while I am gone. Guess how many times he called me???? 1. Yes, 1 time. And it was to ask help translating a word Maggie was trying to say. Ha! He did GREAT with the kids and I felt absolutely stress-free this weekend. Oh, and when I got home, the house was straight, beds were made and the kitchen was clean. What the???? What happened to my husband??! He rocked this weekend! :-)

good report

Levi brought his report card home yesterday. Remember back in the day when we had cardboard report cards and they came in the cool slip covers? Yeah, nowadays it is just a sheet of paper. :/ I'm very proud of Levi...he has all Y's, which means "Mastered". There are a few X's, which means it hasn't been introduced yet.
His teacher also sends home a sheet of paper showing what is required of your kindergartner. Levi got 100% on it!! Yay Levi!! I'm so proud of you.

Since Levi's birthday is in May and he was just turning 5, I struggled with holding him out another year before starting school. His preschool teacher assured me he was ready and I trusted her 100%. Levi seems to be excelling in school and I couldn't be happier for him. I get regular emails from his teacher praising him for his attitude, his good grades, his willingness to help other students and the respect he shows for all adults. Levi, I'm so proud of you! My heart is swelling big time today!

organize your bills, organize your life!

Um, yeah right. ;)
I got this little bill organizer from a fundraiser at my niece's school. I've never been very good at doing the bills and money management. I'm trying to get better. When I saw this, I knew it was going to save my life.
I'm not sure that it has saved my life, but it honestly does help a little. Mostly, it just helps me keep everything in one place. You may or may not know this, but Eric and I went through classes by Dave Ramsey to become financial counselors. We did this before Levi and Maggie were born. We paid off a lot of debt and got ourselves on a strict budget. After we had the kids, our budget changed, and I wasn't as strict with things. Life happened. ;) We are getting back on a budget, because, people...I like to spend money! I can easily go to Target for children's Ibuprofen and come out spending $85.92 on things I could NOT live without!! I mean, who doesn't need new Valentine's Day plates for the kids to eat on? And glitter shoes for Maggie, camo pants for Levi, a new wreath for the front door...Oy...see why I need to be on home arrest? Ha! I am my Mother's daughter. :))))

I think I originally started this post to talk about resolutions. I can't really remember! Since I started it, I have changed a poopie diaper, unloaded the dishwasher, folded a load of laundry, put a child down for a nap, and paid two bills. I'm so scatter brained. Ugh! Okay, so resolutions...I made one this year. Well, two, I guess. Do better with money and bills...an everyday struggle for me. And, read my Bible through. Even through the boring parts. ;) Yes, all the names that you try to pronounce and hope you never have to say aloud. I got this cool new app on my phone that prompts you to read first thing in the morning. Keeps your place for you and keeps track of what you have read. I love it! Organization. Anything to help me along. :)

And, just because she is so cute!

cashing in my last Christmas gift :-)

Here we go again! I had to set the alarm clock this morning. Yuck!! Levi woke up twice during the night asking if he was late for the bus. Ha! He was so excited to go back to school. I love it that he loves school!!

I have quite the "to do" list this week. I'm sure you are dying to know what is on my agenda, so since I am quite boring on this Tuesday morning, I will tell you!

Two loads of laundry.
Buy diapers.
Clean bathrooms.

Yes, I know that right there is exciting stuff!! And, I'm sure you will sleep much better tonight now that you know about my exciting week. :-) OH.... I do have one more thing to do. I get to take advantage of one of my Christmas presents...pack my bags and head to Bowling Green! Yee haw! Yep, my rear will be hitting the road Friday afternoon to spend some time with my bestie!!! We'll be some belly-laughing', food-eatin', store-shoppin', good-time-havin' girls this weekend!! I'm looking very forward to some girl time since our last trip was a bust. ;( And, a bonus...Jami is coming down for the day on Saturday. Yay!

ringing in the new year

Friday night, we had plans to eat dinner at Steve & Jami's! I was excited...until Levi said, "Mom, I'm freeeezing!" while he was wearing a sweatshirt and bundled up in a fleece blanket. Rugh Rogh... Now, I'm no nurse, but I do believe that means he had chills, and that, my friend, means he had a fever. I immediately went into Mom mode and pulled out the duckie thermometer. Mr. Duck read a temp of 99.8. That is high for Levi. Normally I wouldn't call the doc for a small temp, but he had been exposed to strep throat twice since Monday. I called the doc, Eric took him in and within 30 minutes, it was confirmed that he had strep. How's that for fast turnaround?? Have I mentioned before that I love his doctor?!! :-) I texted the dreaded "I HAVE TO CANCEL" text to Jami and you know what?? She still made us dinner and sent it over anyways! What a sweet, sweet girl. And, it was yummy! My kids gobbled it up in 3.6 seconds! She made us chicken enchiladas...

Thankfully, we caught it early and Levi never had any pain...just fever and it was gone by morning. Shew!!

New Year's Eve, I started the day out right! Went for a pedicure!! Eric recently won a spa package for me at a school's silent auction. So sweet!! I sat there getting pampered and read the latest on J.Lo and her new beau. {Craziness, I tell you...!!!}

Eric was playing Easy E for New Year's Eve. They were working a wedding. How fun is that?? Get married and then have a NYE party with 300 of your closest friends and family! :-) This, however, meant I was solo for the day and night. The kids and I spent the evening with my parents. We went for pizza and headed back to their house to play and watch the IU game!

GO HOOSIERS!!!!!!!!!! Woot! I tell you what...this good basketball reminds me of my growin' up days! Love me some IU ball!! Now if the Colts could get back on track...

We left my parents house a little before 8 and I was dancing the whole way home....cuz it was MOMMY time!! Yes, my crazy NYE was going to consist of putting the kids to bed at normal time, breaking out a diet coke and my Kindle. Ahhh. I read for the next 3 hours and then headed to bed. You are seriously old when you don't even wait to see the ball drop! ;) As much as I loved my quiet time this year, I think I'm going to have to make the old man take me out next year. You know, some place where you actually have to dress up and can get a bubbly drink. ;) Happy New Year, everyone!!

one uno game away from going loco

I love my kids. But, if I have to play one more game of Uno, I will go insane. ;) I'm kidding, of course! I have enjoyed {most} of our together time.

We've built legos for hours...literally.
We've fixed Mommy's hair and made her beautiful.

And we've had some pretty intense games of Kerplunk.

This is Maggie when you tell her it isn't her turn yet.

And then, this is her when it is her turn again. Oh the drama.

I even got booted out of a game of Hungry Hungry Hippo tonight because I didn't know how to play right. Wha??!

So, Mags and I just watched and did our own thing! ;)

And, the last few nights, after the kids have gone to bed, I break out my guilty pleasure....

YES! My parents got me a Kindle for Christmas and I.am.in.love. I love it!! I love reading and this makes it even easier for me to do so. Ahhhh!!!...

I do have to confess that I am a little bit ready for school to start back next week! It will be nice to be back into our routine. The natives are restless around here!!! :-)

the christmas gift that deserves its own post

After all the Christmas festivities, I got to meet up with Gretchen on Christmas night to chat and exchange gifts!! {Yes, we met at McDonald's. It was open. I'm not by any means endorsing businesses being open on Christmas Day, but when you need a BFF fix and she lives out of town, and you get a bonus diet coke, it's all good!} I'm sure we looked like two little crazy ladies, sitting in the corner of the restaurant with gifts, laughing our heads off. Loved every minute of it!

Exchanging gifts!!!
When it was my turn, I opened a box to find this...

...at first, I was like....a laptop? Why would she buy me a laptop? But I quickly saw that it was made of paper. And it contained this...

Yes, blog peeps, that is an AWESOME calendar that she created out of pictures of us! Oh.My.Word. The pictures. Let me tell you...this was a stroll down memory lane!!! There were some awesome pictures. I won't show them all to you, but here is one of my favorite pages!

Top left: G was with me when I ate my very first Big Mac.

Top right: Maple Syrup Festival...I don't really know what I was doing to that flute...

Bottom left: Gretchen has a love-love relationship with CROCS!

Bottom right: Nights Before Christmas Tour of Homes in Madison

As we were dying laughing over my "flute" picture, we got to talking about when we became friends. We started strolling down memory lane. It is truly amazing how our lives twist and turn and take these unexpected detours. Yet, friends remain. Friends are there with you at the highest of highs...when you don't think things can get much better. Friends are there with you at what seems like the deepest depths of despair. When your world is closing in around you, friends sit silently, not knowing what to say, but knowing that somehow...because of Christ...it will be okay. Friends hug you, make you laugh out loud, cry for and with you, tell you the truth, know you almost better than you know yourself, rejoice in your blessings, listen to you, give you space, crash your pity party, speak encouragement to you....and all this in just one conversation. I love it when God ordains a friendship.

One more calendar pic for you. :) This was a fun night out at Joe's Crab Shack... I love memories.

And I love this girl. :-)