Weekend In Pictures

Scott finally had 2 days off this weekend so we played and got alot of housey things done. I finally got straw for my garden and just got finished spreading it around, I started at 10 mins to 7. Early morning stuff since it will be 105 today. Alot of self feeding went on this weekend also, Allsion had alot of fun trying to use a spoon and ended up just using her hands and semaring food all over her face


She also discovered a fun loving companion, little baby in the mirror, she has seen her before but she never really understood how great mirror baby was until this weekend.(sorry it's so dark) .


Then it was bathtime. I was a little tired after a hard day of goofing off so I didn't do the dishes, just rinsed them & put them in the sink, but she found them and wanted to wash them for me. What a great helper.





On Sunday we play Rock Band 2. Really fun, like always Allison wanted to sing. But then she discovered the guitars and thought that might look fun, too. We have such a gifted child, full of talent. The next American Idol. What do you think?



After all that playing we had dinner where she rubbed sausage in her hair, must be some new fashion thing, and then Allison and Daddy fought for the camera spotlight.

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I definetly love weekends like this. Hope all of you had a great weekend and enjoy the wonderful day.

The Week is Flying By...

Gosh, it's already Thursday, can't believe it. Nothing exciting is happening today, just the usual stuff, groceries, laundry, clean house. Later today we will play in the sprinklers and water the garden. I picked my first roma tomato yesterday and I have been eating the cherry tomatoes pretty much everyday, they are so delicious. Can't wait for the beefsteak.
Everything is planned for Allisons birthday so I am prepared for that, just need to finish the banner and get the napkins and tablecloths still. We have kept it small just immediate family and great grandpa. It will be fun.
Now pictures for your enjoyment.

Keep on Truckin'

I skipped breakfast this morning and it was a very bad idea. I am starving and want to eat everything in sight but, I have to keep on truckin' along and not dwell on the fact that I am STARVING.
So while I am waiting for lunch time to roll around here are a few things I am doing to keep me occupied to stay on track and not binge.
*I am cooking two days worth of food for me so I won't be caught off gaurd again.(I haven't even nibbled on any of the food, if you can believe it)
*I keep running back into the room and looking at my skinny clothes
*check on Allison every 5 minutes to see if she is awake yet
*ordered her birthday invitations
*played online
*got out my air popper for popcorn later this afternoon...yummy
*got chicken in the crockpot for tonight
*watered the garden
*read a past issue of Weight Watchers Magazine, I find these are very helpful for motivation & recipes. I also like the fact that they have weight loss stories from real people, it really helps me to focus on the goals I have set for myself.
Keeping busy is great cause I get lots done...Miss Munchkin just woke up so I got to make this short.
I have been busy working on her birthday stuff. I have decided to make the cupcakes myself, so we are going to Michael's tomorrow for the supplies and to pick up the glitter and marabou for the banner. As I have said before, I ordered the invitations and as soon as I get them they are going out in the mail. Then all I have to do is make the grocery list, get the rest of the decorations and finish the banner, cupcake stand and clean the back yard.
Have a wonderful day!!!

Monday...Motivation

Well this weekend was nice. Father's Day was good except Allison screamed most of the day and it really annoys Scott, but we picked up lunch at Costco and came home and relaxed. It was fun, at least I thought so.
On Friday I started back on point (Weight Watchers) and made some soup. The soup turned out bland, I cooked it in the crockpot and it made the whole house stink like cabbage and my hair smelled like onions, so I won't do that again. But the soup is really good when I take the time and cook it on the stove and it only takes like, 20 minutes to make, so next time. Anyway, it has been going really well. I have written out my exercise plan for the week, nothing difficult, just walking 2 miles 3 days a week and lifting weights 2 days to start. After my walk this morning I felt so refreshed and energized, I really needed it. I have been on point all weekend (except Father's Day) but I wrote it all down and accounted for all the tasty food. I am determined to lose the last 18 pounds and nothing is going to stop me this time. I even hung up a pair of jeans and a shirt, that I wore pre Allison, in a place where I see it everyday when I wake up and I will wear again.
I am taking time out from my second baby ideas and focusing on me and the wonderful family I have right now. Allison is just turning one and I want to get into shape and stay that way for a while before I jump into another kidlet this soon. I thought alot about this and if it ends up happening then it happens but if not I will not be disappointed.
I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend!

Now I leave you with a picture of Allison taken with our new camera.

And here is one of us, hehehe!

Thursday Updates

Well we have been busy. The past couple days we have run through the sprinklers, alot.



Something popped our pool so we have been playing with the hose. It is something that I haven't done in probably 20 years and it really is a workout, running through the water, chasing an excited soon to be one year old, so much fun.
We have also been shopping for PARTY SUPPLIES, since someone is turning one in a month. We have picked up most everything plus a few extra things, all in pink, and I finally found some pink M&M's (looked everywhere). This is what I have so far.

I still need napkins, tableclothes, marabou, glitter and confetti all in pink.
The letters, I picked up at the Dollar Tree, are for her birthday banner as is the marabou and glitter. When it is done I will post a picture, it should be cute.
I also picked up a 10x10 gazebo at the store today so we can make some shade in the backyard. It is an outdoor bbq party, the key word being outdoor, my husband really doesn't like it when it's hot so he always stays inside, but this a party for a one year old and I don't want cake and food all over the white carpet, so I am having it outside. It will be so fun, she probably won't remember it but we will have tons of pictures to show her when she's older.
I hope you all have had a wonderful day and stay cool!

Planning

All weekend I have been planning a birthday arty for a soon to be 1 year old. I love planning parties and this one has been so much fun to plan. We are going with a pink theme. Simple, nothing fancy. Everything is going to be pink. Pink cupcakes, pink candle, pink balloons, pink tableclothes and decorations, pink lemonade. She of course will be dressed in...white...grandma & grandpa gave her a really cute white dress at easter and it will be perfect for the big day. I have been working all morning trying to get a picture of Allison, for her invitations, that isn't blurry, her moving or looking away. This is what I have so far and I have been trying since 8:30 am.



Not very good and I don't think a picture of her sleeping will work. Later today I am going to have her run through the sprinkler and hopefully get a cute picture, summery and smiling, maybe carrying a beach ball.
Alright, I am off to plan some more pink party things, have a wonderful day!

Black Bean Burgers

If you have ever seen Martha Stewarts Quick Cooking show (not sure of the name, I rented it from Net Flix) you would have recognized these black bean burgers

This is what I am cooking tonight. It sounds pretty good and I always love recipes that save me money and this is one of them. Beans & rice are a cheap alternative to meat and are a complete protein. A perfect food. Serve it with sweet potato fries and a salad and you have a great healthy meal at a very low cost.
All I can hope is that Scott likes them, if so they are going to be in the monthly rotation.
Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a try.
Have a wonderful day!

11 Months & Walking

Well she is almost 11 months and walks/runs everywhere. I rarely get a break. Always chasing her and putting up barriers so she can't get into the bathroom to unroll the toilet paper for the 100th time (I should have learned the first 50 times) or get into the kitchen to empty out the tupperware drawer or bang pots on the floor. She runs laps around the back yard with the cutest smile of accomplishment and a freeing sense of grown upness. So adorable.
Here she is walking the other day when she was still learning. Today she can walk down the hallway into the bedroom and back without falling down, stop and pick something up and continue on her way.

Have a wonderful day!

Sleeping Positions of Allison

This weekend was quite interesting. Allison, I found out, sleeps with her butt in the air. It's funny, so funny in fact, that I had to take pictures and let the world see for themselves. She was so tired on Firday night that she fell asleep in her highchair during dinner (this from a baby who never sleeps unless it's bed time)




Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Running Down the Driveway

Yesterday was alot of fun, besides the wicked thunderstorm that woke Allison up screaming last night and had me a little scared myself. Scott on the other hand slept like a baby through the whole thing, even after I woke him up telling him Allison (I) was scared. He fell right back to sleep and didn't even remember us climbing into bed and cuddling with him for protection against the loud thunder.

Allison and I played outside yesterday afternoon (when it wasn't even cloudy or a hint of a storm headed our way) and her new favorite thing is running down the drive way in her walker (she can already walk but outside she uses a walker). I think it is one of the funniest things. She ends up going full speed down the driveway until I stop her, she gets the biggest kick out of it.

Check it out!!


I hope all of you are having a wonderful week!!!

Tuesday & Not Much Happened

Well today was cloudy and cooler than it has been in a few months so we played outside alot and napped alot (Allison, not me) and watched Classical Baby, Crysanthimum, and Corduroy. When I busted out the camera Allison was all over it and chased me around trying to grab it. She loves electronics, I gave her an old Palm Pilot and she loves playing with that also, the laptop (she may need to have her own soon, maybe for her 1st birthday, what do you think, wink...wink).

Tomorrow is Farmers Market day, followed by cleaning out the closets and dressers afternoon...exciting I know. It needs to get done and the donation wagon will be in the neighborhood sometime this month so I want to be ready with the goodies for them.

One of my favorite things to make with green beans fresh from the market is

Roasted Green Beans (original title, huh)
So you need some green beans washed and trimmed
Olive Oil to toss them in
Sea Salt or Kosher (I prefer Kosher) to sprinkle over
Preheat oven to 450 degrees, toss green beans with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and roasted for about 15 to 20 minutes. They come out alittle golden and still have a great crunch to them. They are awesome!!!

I hope everyone had a great day and enjoy trying out the recipe.

My favorite picture of the two most important people in my life!!!