~Random~

A couple of my sweet blogging friends tagged me in a little game of:

 10 Random Things about Yourself

1. I turned the big 3-0 in October.  I think this year is going to be quite significant for me.  Through Bible study, reading Captivating, and just keying in on God's grace and ultimate purpose for me (to love Him), I am peeling back the layers of pretense.  I have a strong desire to be AUTHENTIC and to keep perspective of what REALLY matters.  I feel a need to be the me that God created me to be and "Cease striving" (Ps 46:10 NASB) to be everything else.  I have to surrender this at the foot of the cross daily.
2. My husband has successfully turned me into a Crossfit junkie.  I enjoy working out and feeling strong and healthy and having fun ( and a little competition) doing it.  Today I front squatted 145 pounds!  Woo Hoo!
3. I can NOT dance!  I do not enjoy it.  It makes me sick to my stomach if I feel like I may be pressured into a dancing situation.  AAHHHHH!  Drew and I took this little salsa lesson in Ecuador and I thought we might kill each other.  Makes me crazy just thinking about it.  EXCEPT when it comes to a dance party in the playroom with my sweet little ones and the stereo is blaring some Chipmunks or Imagination Movers.
4. I am a numbers person.  I like paperwork.  I think in costs and pounds and I guess that's what led me to get a degree in accounting...although I do not aspire to go back to work in the corporate arena and only learned what was necessary about tax to pass the CPA exam (and have since forgotten).  I wouldn't mind managing the office of a ministry or not for profit.
5. I have no self control when it comes to sweets within my reach...NONE.  I steal the chocolate out of my kids party bags from school every holiday.  If it is available, I will eat chocolate, cookies, cake, pie until I can't fit into my clothes.
6. I played tennis my junior and senior years of high school.  I only won 1 match the entire 2 seasons.  
7. I do not love animals.  I tolerate our dogs.  I like to hear the birds chirp.  Dog slobber makes me want to get in the shower immediately.
8. My favorite TV shows are Biggest Loser, Amazing Race, The Good Wife, & the Today Show.
9. There is rarely a night that I don't go back upstairs while my kids are sleeping just to stare at their peaceful little faces and pray that God hedges them in with His protection, that they know Him at an early age, that they love Him more than anything.... and that they don't wake up until the sun is up.   It amazes me how big my babies are getting!
10. In the last 3 weeks I have cut down my Diet Coke intake from about 5-6 a day to about 1 a day. 

Now I'm supposed to tag 10 friends to play this little game.  Little problem here.  I'm about the last person to do this so I'm thinking everyone who might play has been tagged...but here are a few who haven't gone yet.

1.  The Box Office

2. My Four Shadows

3. Bruises and Bows

4. Robinson Family Journal

5. Out of My Hands

Rodeo Fun

We took the kids to the rodeo carnival for the first time this year.  They rode rides, played games, and enjoyed the petting zoo before going inside to check out the show animals. 

Lila on one of her 3 pony rides.

Something I am learning about Andrew, he needs a few minutes to warm up and get used to new surroundings.  He sat with me and watched as Drew and Lila went through the petting zoo.  When they were done, he had finally warmed up to the idea.  He said, "There's a deer?  I want to go see."  And that was that.

I'm 3 and a half and I can have gum

It's hard to believe we will be celebrating Andrew's 4th birthday in 3 short months!  On the other hand, some days I feel like he must be at least 5 already.  Over the last month he has grown a bit taller...definitely a growth spurt as one morning he ate 2 eggs, 6 pancakes, and fruit for breakfast.  He is his father's son 100% - he LOVES video games.  He plays them on his dad's iPhone, on the computer, on the Wii and asks anytime we are eating out and there is one in sight.  Andrew loves legos.  He likes to build towers, guns, and sits and watches as Drew builds complex spaceships, boats, cars and trucks for him.  He especially like to play with the little men.  Andrew must label everyone a "good guy" or "bad guy".  He is crazy about Spiderman although he has never seen the show or movie.  He still enjoys playing outside in the sandbox, driving his tractor and riding his bike.  Andrew LOVES his teacher at preschool and although he can be quite shy, his friends are always as excited to see him as he is them.  I finally let him start chewing gum.  For at least a week, every time he walked into school, Bible study, church, etc he would say "I'm 3 and a half and I can chew gum."  It seems to be the best treat ever!  

Last night I surprised him with new Spiderman pajamas.  He was SO excited - "Mommy...You...Are...So...COOL!  Thank you, mommy." He has such a kind heart and is a great encourager.

Cute a pie!

I can't believe that my baby girl is 2 years, 3 months old.  The last 2 years have flown by.  She is the life of every party.  She has a very magnetic personality.  Lila talks clearly and carefully in full and complex sentences.  When people meet Lila, they usually comment on her articulation.  She is quite a firecracker.  She is able to read people and seems to know what to do to get what she wants...her teacher's lunch, her dad to come up for one more kiss at bedtime.  She loves to take Andrew's toys and run just to get him to interact with her.

Last week after the 5th time of trying to get her settled for bed I opened her door and said, "Lila, what are you doing awake?"  To which she replied, "Being cute" (with a HUGE smile).  This week we she wore her first ponytail.  She loves to color; she is very precise.  She likes to dance, to sing.  Loves playing in the sandbox and swinging.  Enjoys playing with friends.  Her absolute favorite activity is to play in the water - wash her hands, wash the dishes, take a bath - she can't get enough.  I am certainly looking forward to a fun summer with my sweet girl.

Homemade Egg (Mc)Muffin

Breakfast is such an important meal, not only for the kids, but for adults as well.  If I have a filling and tasty breakfast, the tone is set for me to make smarter food choices throughout the day.  Here's our favorite well balanced breakfast.

Thomas English Muffin toasted in toaster (we use 100% whole wheat)

1 egg (fried over easy in olive oil *use regular OO instead of Extra Virgin for cooking at high temps)

**When preparing for the kids, I pop (I'm sure there's a more technical term - Gillian?!?!?) the yolk so that is doesn't burn them or make a huge mess when they bite into it.**

1 slice of cheese (depending on your goals you can choose whole, 2% or fat free)

Add fruit or veggies on the side and, my favorite, a cup of coffee and hazelnut creamer.