Category Archives: family

I wouldn’t say I’m ANTI Valentine’s Day…

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But I really just don’t care about it.

Don’t get me wrong, growing up it was awesome. I have great memories of carefully writing out my classmates’ names on cards, making a Valentine’s mailbox or pouch for my desk and then the super awesome Valentine’s party my class would have. My mom would make dinner and set the table and the lights in the dining room would be off and there’d be a special little treat in our seat. However, I do remember the year I had a boyfriend break up with me the day before Valentine’s day…and the day before the dance. That was less than awesome, but whatevs, I got over it. Overall, like I said, Valentine’s Day was always pretty awesome.

But really, anymore? Eh…not that big of a deal to me.

In honor of Valentine’s Day I’ve noticed a lot of other bloggers writing all these mushy posts about how much them love their spouse/significant other, blah, blah, blah. Not gonna lie…I kind of threw up a little bit in my mouth.

I figured I’d write my own kind of post…but not how much I love Andy, or how great he is, or how I fall in love with him all over again…blech…how about the opposite. How about a post about all the things we “LOVE” about each other.

  • I LOVE that he puts more ranch dressing and cheese on your salad that there is lettuce.
  • I LOVE that he almost always forgets to flush the toilet after you get out of the shower then when I get home from work 10 hours later there’s still pee in the toilet.
  • I LOVE  the weird throat-clearing-thingy he does when he’s trying to make a point.
  • I LOVE that he’s always hot and feels the need to have a fan blasting on us every night for bed.
  • I LOVE when he trims his beard/shave his face a bunch of the trimmed hair is left in the sink.
  • I LOVE that he still think it’s hilarious when I unknowingly walk into a room after he’s let out a stinky fart.
  • Speaking of farts…I LOVE that he taught our daughter “pull my finger”.

Oh, and don’t worry, I know this LOVE is a two way street…here’s a list of things I know Andy LOVES about me!

  • I know Andy LOVES how I have the knack for leaving random strands of hair all over the house.
  • He LOVES that after I spend all day at work sitting with my face staring at a computer I can do the same thing after Ry goes to bed until I go to bed.
  • He LOVES that I sleep with with a sheet, wool blanket, quilt and another blanket on top because I’m always cold.
  • He LOVES that I can’t remember simple things like calling to make a vet appointment for the dog but I can remember what I was wearing the day of our first kiss.
  • He LOVES that every single time he comes inside after I have been playing outside with Rylee I say “Sorry I didn’t pick up the toys out of the yard, it was time for Ry to get in the house and she was not having it.”
  • And I know he LOVES that I taught Rylee how to pick her nose.

Keep in mind this is all in fun. I really do love my husband. But really…every spouse does things that drives the other crazy.

The Perfect Mix

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I know I’ve blogged about it before…how I was devastated when I found out I was having a girl. What if she didn’t like hunting and fishing and camping and dirt? What if all she wanted to do was polish her nails and try on shoes and braid hair and wear pink and play house? What would I do? I was so worried I wouldn’t connect with her. I cried many ugly tears over it.

Andy always like to point out when I’m wrong, but this time I’m beating him to it. You guys? Rylee is the perfect mix of tom-boy and girlie-girl. I feel so awful the I ever had those feelings. I was so wrong to be so worried.

And as she gets older, it gets so much more apparent just how wrong I was.

Case in Point: Last Weekend

She loves to play outside. 
And she rocks her pink sparkly Dora sunglasses like it’s her job.

And wants to make sure her babies enjoy it too. In this photo she is sweetly consoling her crying baby.
{Fun side note: The bald cabbage patch doll was mine when I was little. That’s my Tommy Baby.}

She likes to dig in the rocks.

She likes to jump in mud puddles.
And she likes to hold her mama’s hand. 
{This makes my heart melt}

Post Summary: My kid rocks, I love her to pieces and I can’t imagine my life without my little girl.

Let’s Go on a Safari

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Alternate title: My child has possibly watched the one Dora video we have too many times because when I said to her we were going to see animals, she instantly said we were going to Diego’s Animal Center.

But, really, that title is a bid too long.

Saturday we made the 100+ mile trek South to visit Wildlife Safari. The last time I was at Wildlife Safari I was probably 8 or 9 years old, so it’s been a while. But we had free passes, so we figured, why not. The weather was fantastic and we had a great day. {until she decided she was D.O.N.E. but I’ve decided we’ll focus on the positive here, people.}

Ready to get started!
There were even 2 baby zebras. Ry said her favorite was the cheetah though.

“Hey Look Mommy!”
“See!?”

Like I said…it was a gorgeous day. However, at about this point, Ry was done with the driving through the safari and requested that we go home and watch Dora. {FAIL!}

She quickly forgot about Dora when we said it was time for a picnic in the back of the Jeep!

After lunch we headed into “Safari Village” to see the smaller animal displays and run around a bit.
Because Andy and I are both 12 year old boys at heart and I have an uncle named Kirk.

There was a little petting zoo too. Ry wasn’t so much into touching the animals though.
Such a sweet face that one.
A seriously creepy encounter with a Burmese Python.

I do believe that giant snake would have eaten my child had it not been for the protective barrier. Also? Don’t let it’s small head fool you, this thing was at least 12 feet long and as big around as my thigh!

On the bridge over the pond. {FYI: Grammy’s Koi would kick these Koi butts}

And, of course…it wouldn’t be right if Andy had the camera and didn’t take his “signature” shot.

Meet Virginia.

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Not just the name of a catchy song by Train.

Meet Virginia. My great aunt. My Grandma’s sister. {I think.}

Also? Meet her big butt.

It’s a family legend. Really.

I don’t know that I ever actually met Virginia myself, but I know all about her butt.

It was big.

Ok, that might be all I actually know about it.

But, one thing I’m sure of?

I do not want to end up with Aunt Virginia’s butt. Screw genetics.

Since my post about finding my motivation {AKA: Knee Fat!}, I thought I’d update ya’all on my progress.

First…I have been rocking at drinking 64+ ounces of water in a day! Even over the weekends. My key to success? Crystal Light raspberry lemonade. Half my daily intake is the crystal light, the other half is legit water. The other key? A straw. I’m a nerd, I know. But it honestly helps. A lot. Try it. I dare you. Bonus points: all the extra water I’m drinking throughout my workday is making me have to pee which means I’m not just sitting at my desk…all.day.long. I had a latte on Saturday and had a Pepsi with lunch, but get this…I couldn’t even drink 1/2 of it!!

Second…I have been entering all my meals and snacks into my log on myfitnesspal.com. It’s helping a lot. I find myself conscious of everything I’m eating because I don’t want it to look bad in my food diary. Not that anyone else is going to see it, but whatever. It works for me. I also love that it automatically adds up the calories for me. So easy.

Third…I made it to the gym twice the first week and 3 times last week. My goal is 3 days a week.

My Favorite Accomplishment: I did what I never thought I had the courage to do: I came face to face with the devil.

Total Weight Lost: So far I have lost 4 pounds. But, it turns out it’s not really about losing the weight to me. It’s more about being healthy and working off my butt, and toning my abs and my thighs that really shouldn’t touch at the point where they do. So far, so good!

Knee Fat: Still there. But, I am beginning to see definition of muscles in my quads…we’re getting there.