Running (wo)man

Anybody remember the 90's?  Actually, clarification - early 90's?  Those were the days when I wore Cross Color clothing to look rasta hip hop cool?

C'mon...Cross Colours?

No way you don't remember me running around in those bright red pants...or yellow.  Good lord...I really did dress like that...but even more than the clothes was the DANCE MOVES.

Little known fact:  I was voted "most likely to dance at random times" at our last family reunion and I blame thank my 90's dance crew for making that a reality in my life.

Like the Running Man...

Photo added to remind you exactly how cool one looks when performing the running man correctly.  I used to rock the HOUSE with my dance moves.

And then I lost the fire...the color...the moves...and got really fat.  Ugh.

So...this morning I got up at o'dark hundred and got ready to run on my treadmill as my first official day of my C25K program.  And just as I was heading downstairs both kidlets woke themselves up.  Now I know myself well enough to know that if I don't bust out the exercise in the morning...I can procrastinate and excuse away every other chance to do it...so I got those kids up and cooked them breakfast then stuck baby boy outside in the garage in his highchair and baby girl in a camp chair and they had their breakfast while I did my morning run.

And really this has nothing to do with the running man dance move except that when I am in good enough shape to not slip and fall or jiggle the bod all over the place I will once again be rockin' the house with my own running (wo)man dance moves...

....and $1000 later...

I didn't go to the dentist even one time while living in Germany...I am an avid brusher and flosser...i thought to myself that would be enough for the 3.5 years that we were there...right?

Wrong.

A temporary crown, a permanent crown and a root canal done yesterday.  But I am glad to report that there is no more decay in my mouth.

I guess I shouldn't feel too grumpy about it, the dentist said this was not just because I didn't see the dentist for about 4-5  years and a standard cleaning wouldn't have fixed it...it was all decay BENEATH my fillings. 

Here is the good news... (after I get the temporary crown replaced with a porcelain crown...)

No more dentist for a full year!  Wahoo!

Be Mine, Valentine?

Valentine's Day this year was kind of strange...we weren't sure how much celebrating we were going to do...we planned a night out...changed it to a night in...changed it to nothing...then back to a night in...

Either way...we wanted to celebrate with Bella and then I got the great idea to google great Valentine Day ideas and found an awesome one on the Dating Diva site...

So...first, before we get to all the mushy stuff....

Bella created a "heart attack" for her daddy's office.  She designed all these hearts with crayons, glue and stickers...aren't they cute?!

 and wrote him a sign that says, "Daddy, Be my Valentine <3 Bella"

and left him some hot tamales...

I got someone from John's office to meet me there the evening before to put it all up so he would be surprised in the morning...he was really surprised. 

For storytime I had the kids make "kissing bandit" signs with little black bandit masks.  Bella took one of her kissing bandit "kisses" to Miss Christina for Valentine's day...it was super cute.

For Bella, Daddy gave her a sweet little card with Ballerina's on it and peeps.  She was totally strung out on sugar that day! 

And yes, she has no shirt on.  Why have clothes on when you don't have to?  Thats kind of the motto in our house. 

I made her a big card with hearts and give her a new set of markers.  She is such an arsty little girl...I knew she would love them and I was right!

I also got sweet cards from both Bella and John...then it was my turn for John...

The Dating Divas site gave me the great idea to do a "day long" Valentine's day project.  So, during the day John got one of his "5 senses" gifts that I planned out...

First thing after his PT in the morning he found this in the bathroom...Its for "shower time love notes" that we can leave back and forth to each other.  We quickly discovered that the writing on the mirror melts and runs when the steam from the shower hits it...but it was a sweet idea while it lasted.  ha ha ha.

Then, when he was done getting ready and headed out the door to work he found this in the car.  I had queued the CD player to start the song we consider "our song"...its "Better Together" by Jack Johnson.

When he got home these were on his nightstand...he loves the taste of orange dreamsicles...I thought he might like the smell of it too. 

After dinner I had these yummy chocolate covered strawberries ready and waiting...the things in the middle are my "nailed it" project...you know...the ones where you look in the photo and its an awesome looking dessert...in this case, Marshmallows dipped in chocolate and then in red hots...but in reality they come out looking like blobs with another blob on top?  Yeah...I totally nailed these!  ha ha ha...it didn't change how yummy they were.  :)

And last, but not least...an after dinner - pre-bed foot rub to relax.

Overall, I think it went off well...not too mushy and sentimental.  No high romance pressure for either of us...low budget and fun for me to create and make happen. 

Perfect Valentine's Day.

MegaPlay with mama!

Just a girl's day out to the local MegaPlay.  We had a GREAT time...

...riding bikes...

 ...sliding down the giant slide...

...swinging from the balls... 

...playing on the bouncy climber thingymabob...

...crawling through the blowup forest... 

...jumping on the trampolines... 

...spinning round and round... 

...sliding into the ball pit... 

...building a foam block bed...

...resting on the foam block bed...

...showing what a great time you had on your face...



Overwhelmed.

Do you ever feel that way? I know I'm not the only one...but when it all just keeps piling and you are literally the only person there to handle any of it?


Its been crushing down for a couple of months...but I'm finally making headway on a few things.

1. My house has been rented! Woohoo! They seem like a nice couple who have adopted two children...one that is in college already and the other is only 6. I am thrilled to find people that I feel like I can (hopefully) trust this time around...that being said...

I'm still in the process of filing suit over my last renters. I have learned a hard lesson...one that will cost me some money, but one that I won't forget anytime soon. Unfortunately it was NOT about the good or the honesty or the integrity found in people. I am amazed at how quickly a moral compass can be forgotten when it no longer benefits what you desire. That being said...it was a good way to take a long hard look at myself and what I tend to "fudge the line" on when things aren't going my way...

2. Dejunking! Believe it or not...being able to get a couple more items of furniture has allowed me to dejunk and organize better than ever. I have realized I had a hidden burning passion for restoring furniture...upholstery, painting, etc. I don't have all the tools I need, yet...but I am excited to get a chance to remake some antiques that would otherwise be junked. My most recent acquisitions is an old 1950's cabinet/countertop that you would have found in a kitchen and the second is a kitchen table with a leaf that seats up to 8! Hoorah! Finally! I've been wanting one of those for quite awhile. Now I just need to find some charis...we are still at 2 chairs and 2 stools....Just not quite enough. :) Here are my inspirations for these two pieces...

The kitchen table...

The cabinet...(yes, I know this isn't a cabinet, but its the "look."

3. Birthday Party...for some reason this year's birthday party for Bella is overwhelming me. I have no idea why. Its not going to be anything giant. There are only going to be 5...maybe 6 kids here...so not an overly huge amount and most of its done and prepped, but I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something...Gaaaah! Its going to be super fun. I can't wait to post the "after" pictures of her birthday party. I hope the kids have as much fun as I plan on them having. :)

4. Holidays. Despite it just being the two of us since John is away for training...the holidays are turning out a tad stressful. Or maybe just lonely which equals stressful? I don't know...all I know is that in two weeks I'm bringing mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce to Thanksgiving dinner...I'll be looking for a superb cranberry sauce recipe...none of that straight out of the jar stuff...

Ok...thats about it for now, at least. I'm still trucking along. Maybe I just need more sleep? With that, I bid you adieu!

Love Locks

I know these have been around for centuries, but the first time I ever saw a love lock was in Prague and after hearing the sentiment behind it I am bound and determined to lock one on this gate the 6th time I visit this city.

Legend has it when you find your true love you write your names on a lock and then throw the key into the river...

I didn't know this when I was there otherwise I would have been checking out the river to see if I could find a pile of keys down there.  Either way...I loved this idea..I find it incredibly romantic.

And since I've found the love of my life...well, I guess its time for a love lock.  :)

Can't you see the love?

Progression of a postable picture...

It starts with Mr. Annoying deciding he wants a photo so he does something cute and I end up looking ridiculous.  Lets try again.

I'm not ready for a photo. 

30 photos later (give or take) I finally like this one more or less...

And that is why digital cameras were a great invention for those of us super picky about exactly what photos we will share with the world via the internet. 

The end.