Crazy Love Gamble-Style

Auntie Jessica was supposed to take Ava to see Cinderella, the ballet on Sunday, however she got stuck in Miami when her flight was cancelled, so I got to take her instead!  What a treat! Ava was initially pretty bummed that Auntie wasn't her date, but I talked up how special it was that we got to go together and she came around pretty quickly to a new level of excitement.   We really don't get to do special things like this together much, so we were both pretty thrilled. The ballet was awesome! So well done!  We both really enjoyed it. I even bought her a special crown to remember the whole thing by, you know Auntie would of done it too!  : ) And the girl was meant to wear a crown I tell you! Afterward, to make the day even more special, I decided to take Ava up to The Portland City Grill, a restaurant situated 30 floors up, overlooking downtown Portland (Formerly Atwaters back in the day) She had never been there so of course I...

Alternate titles considered:  Turns out money can buy happiness, Ava's best day ever, I never want to hear you say that you can't find a ladybug again... Ava has always LOVED ladybugs.  Not such a huge fan of bugs in general, but for some reason the cheery little red shell with black dots changes the freaky bug factor for her.   A little while back my mom mentioned to the girls that she saw some ladybugs that you could buy at the garden store.  Of course they begged her to bring them some, and she promised she would.   Subsequently said ladybugs were mentioned about 5 times a day in the coming weeks, and an interrogation of grandma occurred whenever she arrived ladybug-less.    But alas, they arrived...  Wow!  So many!!!  1500 lady bugs is a LOT of ladybugs!!    It was freaking me out a little, I could see them crawling up her shirt and all over her body.  She didn't see...

I just came across this  list of my resolutions written in January of 2013 , let's see where we are at with all this. First up was to keep up with: Hot Yoga. Running. Eating Healthy. Check. Check. Check. At that point I was 3 lbs from my goal weight, which was 125, I am 120 now. (Yay!) Here are the things I wanted to work on: Being stronger.   I have to say I am way stronger now.  My focus has shifted to more weights and strength training.  I still have a long ways to go to get my problem areas happier but these things take time... Gaining a healthier body image. I think I am doing MUCH better in this area, still have a ways to go, but there has been definite progress.  I am learning to love myself more and forgive myself for my flaws more.  Self love is such an important thing!  Repairing an unhealthy body is one thing, rewiring an unhealthy brain is a whole other.  I am very grateful for this body, it is strong ...

Today was a good day.   Not just good, dang near perfect.   Ok, let's be serious, it was perfect, not one thing was out of order. Both kids got perfectly taken care of, by someone other then me, which automatically means they were graced with more patience, just saying... Norah needs a little work still, don't we all... My love was FINALLY able to take a day off and come enjoy the river with me.  John works so hard, I can't tell you how much I appreciate how hard he works so I can stay home with our kids, each time I am blessed to have a day to hang out on the river I am so happy, but sad he is not with me.  This day has been my dream in the making forEVER.  Love that it finally is here. Nothing makes me more happy. He deserves this far more then I ever do and he never gets to go. We had perfect weather. I said lots of prayers that we would have a good day with no one falling ...

I'll be honest, I've been in a total funk lately.   This stay at home mom stuff can be a bit isolating and lonely.   I'm not saying I don't love it, because I 100% do.   I just really need to talk to other adults and have sanity breaks from my kids.  That's where the running & the yoga help me so much.  Not for the loneliness factor, but for the mental part.  It keeps me sane.  And focused on ME, which is such an easy part of the mix to lose when all you do is help these little demanding people all day.   I didn't go to yoga for a week and I swear I felt like I was falling into a depression.  But I went tonight and I feel so much better.  Yay. I also got to talk to one other adult today, D'Auna, my sister in law, whom I adore.  She is such a blessing to me.  And the girls can't get enough of Alayah of course too! The girls & I also went on our typical walk around the block....

OK, half the time I feel like this blog is a lie. Well not a lie, just a half truth. I wonder about perception & how people see us.  If THIS is what they are going off of what does our life look like?  You only see what I choose to share.  And just like in real life, I choose to focus on the good, so you won't find much bad here.  Some may seep in every now and then but that's just because HOW CAN IT NOT??? But this blog?  It's not the whole story.  It's just not.  For now, it's all about the kids. My best friend says that everyone wants my life, that it is perfect, that I am spoiled.  But the word spoiled implies that I am ruined by, not lifted up by the things I am blessed with. I am given more then I deserve.  I am so very thankful for the generosity of the wonderful people in my life. I am very happy, which I believe is a choice. I choose for my focus to be on gratitude, faith, finding the good in situat...

I saw a picture today of a family, the parents were holding a sign with  their 3 kids in the background, the sign read "This is Our Happily Ever After" That really hit home for me. THIS really is my "happily ever after", I have everything I've ever wanted & so very much more. I live a life that is overflowing with gratitude, every direction I look, weather it be to  my husband, our children, our extended  family, this home we have created, my dear friends, our health, we are just so crazy blessed! I really hope you all feel the exact same way about your life, we are so lucky to be HERE, living in this beautiful world, surrounded by  each other.  : )