Abby's First Winter Swim Meet

Abby had her first winter swim meet this weekend in Richmond. Abby swims with the FUAC team. It is our first time swimming with them and we really like it. In the summer, she competes with LMST and we wouldn't change that for a thing! But, winter swimming is totally different than summer swimming. It is much more competitive, but it's a lot of fun.

Abby did great. Here is a clip of her swimming her 50 meter freestyle in which she placed first in her heat. Please excuse the camera man who taped this, (ahem.... Aaron) he was trying to watch her swim and tape at the same time. (at the end a man tells Aaron that Abby is not in the viewfinder and you can hear him say something about how that always happens when he videotapes. Lol.

Just click this link and it will take you to youtube.com and the clip should automatically play. Enjoy :)

MVI_1601.MOV

Not Me Monday!

This is my first time doing a "Not Me Monday"! I am so excited. So, all you mommies or wives or whatever or whoever you may be out there. I know we all have those days that you just want to come to an end. Mine seem to be quite frequently. So, that's what Not Me Monday is for! Just to let it all out. So, here goes mine.

Nope, it wasn't me who's husband was sick with an awful earache last night and yelled at him to just leave me alone and suck it up. No, I would never do that. I always take care of my husband who seems to be quite the baby when he is sick. AND... of course, it WAS NOT me who gave my daughter a cupcake for breakfast then turned on Dora so that I could lay on the sofa and read. Nope, definitely not me! And you would never think that someone like myself who is always so neat and tidy has not cleaned the playroom in two days and just keeps stepping over the toys to make my way to the computer to check my email. Certainly, not me!

Join in the fun! It feels good to just let these things go. I feel so much better myself. So much better in fact, that I think I may even go clean up that playroom real fast.

Big News...(no, I'm not pregnant!)

Okay... I haven't really told a lot of people this because I did not want to sound like I was bragging. I am sure a lot of people would have jumped on facebook and updated their status telling everyone of their new purchase. I decided this would be a much better way to tell the ones who are most important to me because they are the ones who read my blog. I have been thinking a lot lately about my future. I don't know if it is just the fact that I am getting closer to being 30, or if it is because we are done having children and our youngest is going to be 2 in the spring, but I've been dreaming. I have always thought I would go back to school when the time was right. To nursing school that is, and I still may, but there has been something else I have always wanted to do. And here it is my friends, photography. Yep, that's right. I LOVE pictures and I love taking them. So, without further ado, I am the proud owner of a Canon 7D, and beautiful brand new camera that is one of the best. I am sure many photographers would love to have this camera. It is so amazing, that I don't even know where to begin.


Obviously, I have a lot to learn. I know that I can take great shots, no biggie, but I need to know more than that to run a business. I plan to sign up for some classes, hopefully in January, and get all set up with a great computer and a website and all the things that I will need. This is so exciting for me because I have been thinking about this for quite some time. So, this is just the beginning. From now on, when you see me, you will see me and my 7D. So, keep reading because there will be a lot more on this subject to come, including a vote on the name for my business.

Last but not least, I would love to thank my amazingly supportive husband for all the help he has offered. He has spent many of days and weeks researching and giving me advice and fully supports me. We have even talked about him getting a camera maybe sometime next year and helping out with the business as well. Thank you Aaron, you are the best husband a woman could ask for.

A Shy Ballerina

Yesterday was Allyson's last day of ballet class. It was a big day because it was an open night in which the parents were allowed to come watch. Well... my shy, introverted little girl would not participate. I was not too surprised, although, I was pretty disappointed. I was really hoping she would surprise us all and at least try, at best, perhaps maybe stand with the group. But, she sat on my lap the whole time, knawing on her hand. She started ballet back in late August and it was hard at first, but over the past twelve weeks, has really enjoyed it. So, here is my little ballerina. Isn't she the prettiest ballerina ever?!



Allyson is such a special child. From the moment she was born, she has proved that she is going to do what she wants. She is strong-willed, yet sweet, very outgoing, yet, shy. She has a wonderful imagination and says some of the funniest things. She is very introverted, unlike her mother, and plays best one-on-one. She spends a lot of her time pretending to be various animals. Some of her favorites are a dog, a horse or a jaguar.

Allyson is a very special child. She is different, and that's what I love about her. I think she is going to grow up to be someone with a lot of power, or maybe she will be an artist. All I know, is that I am crazy about my shy little ballerina.

Feeling Compelled to Start Blogging Again

So, here we go again. I appear to be a major slacker when it comes to blogging. I have found it extremely hard to find the time to keep up with my blog, which honestly, makes me sad. I enjoy this blog, as a place for family and friends to see what we're up to and most importantly, a place that I have to look back and read about all the things we've been up to. Therefore, I am starting back up!
So, what have we been up to, you ask? Well. All kinds of things of couse. Aaron and I celebrated our 7th year of marriage on August 17th. I hate to tell you, but we did NOTHING exciting, other than go floating down the river with some great friends, and had pretty much an entire weekend all to ourselves. We do hope to get a date night soon, something we could really use. So, the picture below is not of us on a fancy date for our anniversay, rather, a good friends wedding, but here we are!

Of couse, one of the most recent things to happen is that my sweet Abby has started first grade. Hard to believe. So far, so good. It's definately an adjustment, as it is much different from kindergarten. Homework is all I'm sayin'. Abby got a new haircut right before school. It's the shortest it's ever been. I do miss her long her, but there is something to be said about having it this length. Two words: NO TANGLES!!!!

My three little ballerinas have been growing all summer. Here are the three of them on a nice summer day. Audrey is now 16 months old and is making new changes every day. She talks a lot and is definately part of the gang. She is an absolutely wonderful child. She wakes up every day with a smile and keeps it on her face all day. I couldn't imagine life without her. Allyson has grown a lot. She is becoming very independent and very funny. She starts preschool soon as well as ballet. She has a wonderful imagination which she uses on a daily basis. Lately she's been a dog and I have to tell her to be good, pat her head and tell her to go to her crate. She sometimes even sneaks a lick in! Abby is growing into a little girl. Not a child, but a girl. She is maturing and learning at a very rapid pace. She's reading and writing, riding her bike without training wheels, and is going to be starting the winter swim team next week.

Among other things, we are of couse still remodeling. It never ends. But, with that being said, I decided I want to do some "remodeling" of my own, which consists of decorating and buying new furniture. Aaron replaced our french doors and that started the transformation of our dining room. I found this great buffet at World Market on clearance, and then couldn't get the dining room table out of my mind. My sweet husband told me to go get it. I didn't stop there though. I then purged and bought new curtains and here is our new dining room. I love it! The table is awesome, and it was really much needed. It has a nice long bench on one side, which can fit like 5 kids if I needed to, which I won't, and then four more chairs. We now have plenty of room for some great meals which are soon to come with holidays right around the corner.

We have had a great summer. It has gone by too fast and I know that fall will be upon us in no time. At this point in my life, I could not be happier, nor could I be more blessed. God is good!

Abby the Baracuda!

Abby did excellent at her swim meet last night! I am so proud of her. Every time she swims I get tears in my eyes. I know, I know, I'm a sap, but I can't help it. I guess it's also because a part of me feels very connected to Abby when she swims. I loved swim team and spent a lot of my time hanging around the pool, the same pool that my daughter now hangs out at. I also met Aaron at this same pool when I was 15 years old. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. The children that I used to teach swim lessons to at this same pool are now lifeguards. So, with all these memories, it's very surreal for me.

Here is a clip of Abby doing backstroke. I must note that this is the same kid that was so nervous to even step foot in the pool back in March. She has made drastic improvements. Abby, mommy is so proud of you! Keep swimming my little fish :)

First REAL Haircut!

Okay. We did it. We got Abby's hair cut! Here it is! Lighting wasn't great in the picture, but it's so cute!

Here is a "before" picture.

This was a huge deal for Abby and I. I have been growing Abby's hair out since she was born. Literally. Abby was quite the little baldy when she was a baby, and then it slowly came in and took forever to grow. But boy, once it did, it really did! I loved her long hair, but, if I didn't brush it every hour, it got stringy and tangled. With summer coming up, I asked her if she'd like to get it cut. I thought for sure she'd say no way because Abby also loves her long hair. But, she actually went with it. After it was cut, she took a look in the mirror and was thrilled! She can't wait to go to school and show off her new 'do. I'm getting mine done on Saturday. I'll post some pics of mine too!

We went to the zoo today with Abby's class. We were very lucky because the rain held off. Abby was so sweet today because she told me this morning that she prayed very hard last night that it wouldn't rain for her trip to the zoo. She told me later in the day after her rain-free trip to the zoo that "prayer works Mom!" Now that's the sound of music!

Abby and her friend Emma

Feeding the giraffes!

Allyson and Audrey feeding the goats.
Today was a great day! Really hoping for some sunshine. The kids and I are doing a garden this year. I'll keep you updated with how it goes. I am so excited. I've always wanted a garden. I really hope that this will be a good learning lesson for the kids.