Diagnosis

Strep Throat. After feeling like crud for 4 days, THEman finally drug me back to the walk-in place (I think he's more sick of me being sick than I am)...and apparently I have stret throat. Lovely. Glad I can have an Rx to help kick this though. I am so over it, I am not a couch potato so this is borderline torture for me...crazy talk I know. But I am not a fan of sitting still on the couch, in front of the TV for DAYS. Fingers crossed this medicine kicks in asap...cause I am struggling...for.real.

Sick

3/5's of our household is sick. One hopefully on the mend, 2 just starting. So far *KNOCK ON WOOD* THEMAN and Boy3 are well. Hopefully they both stay that way. Boy2 started with a HORID stomach bug on Saturday...was super close to ending up in the hospital for dehydration but I *think* he's on the mend today although he's feeling pretty puny again. Boy1 threw up on the bus (lovely huh?) Sorry bus driver...somehow he managed to end up at school all day. And I have what I think is the flu, despite the negative test at the walk-in place. Either way she treated me for it so hopefully I feel better tomorrow...bad body aches, chill's, fever etc....good times here I promise. NOT.

1 Sweet 1 Sour 1 Bitter

Let's start with Sour and end with Sweet....the boys have been something else lately. They are definitely letting their boyness run free lately--and I must say I am not much of a fan. The rowdy, back talking, jumping, yelling, oy vey.
So Boy3 has become a bit of a sailor mouth lately...as my recent posts of him have said. With 1 & 2 we pretty much just tried to ignore the brief phases of naughty words and they seemed to clear up on their own. However this time around things are different. Damnit is really Boy3's new favorite word, like he says it A LOT---funny at first....now...mmm not so much. His other new thing is to say dumb head ALL the flipping time. Now obviously the damnit he is picking up from well...shamefully me...but I do not use the words "dumb head" like ever. So I have no clue where that has come from, I suppose it's better than damnit all the time, but it's getting really old. He's constantly calling his brothers a dumb head, a dumby, or a dumby head. If I here "ya dumb head" one more time...actually tonight I told him if he says it again he's so getting something yucky in his mouth--mustard, a piece of fruit, anything he doesn't like LOL. Better than soap right? Boy1 thought that sounded cruel and asked me to PLEASE not do that to him.
Boy2 I have discovered has a bit of a mean streak. It's slight but I see it in him from time to time. I believe this might stem from a bit of jealousy with his younger bro. Totally seems to be getting the "middle" child thing going on lately. He's a sweet sweet boy and a big ole softy most of the time but lately I think he would trip people all day long and laugh about...not really but maybe. I am really beginning to think he is beyond ready for school as he seems bored and eager to learn. His new favorite thing to do lately is play tricks on boy3; if he tells him to do something that would result in boy3 getting on trouble even better.
Boy1 told me this evening on the way home-- as we were jamming to this old school song (yes I was reminiscing--actually was going thru CD's to add to the ipod). Anyway he said "Mommy can you turn that down for a minute.... Um I can really tell by your face, by your face in the morning and at night that you love me more than infinity." He's getting to an age to say thoughtful things like that and I love it....let's me into that little head of his and get an idea of how he thinks about things a little bit. It's cute. I wonder if he thinks he's a "lunatic to love" actually I wonder if he even knows what lunatic means.

I sure do love those boys even if they have a wee bit of a mean streak, a potty mouth, and random but oh so sweet thoughts.

Is it Summer yet?

Have I mentioned enough times that I am seriously over the cold? I need sun and I need to actually be able to feel the HEAT from that sun because that's it I am done I have been in freezing mode for like weeks straight and it just is not for me. Not.at.all. Totally over it.

So this whole running thing...yeah my lungs are broken or something and I am feeling seriously discouraged. I can't run a HALF of a mile much less 13.1. I so should be able to run half a freaking mile, I mean seriously isn't that like abnormal...can't I blame it on some crazy illness rather than just the sheer fact that I am a lazy ass? Please? So as it stands at this current moment in time...on the treadmill at the gym I can uncomfortably run 1/3 of a mile. I could maybe REALLY push myself to get to 1/2 or more...but the REALLY pushing myself thing I am having some issues with, like I am not a fan of feeling like I might die because I can't breath soooo I just kind of stop before I get to that 1/2 mile point. So it takes me just under an hour to do 4 miles...I figure at that rate I will do the marathon in what 3 1/2 hours? Great...oh wait I was just informed there are like hills and junk...so maybe more like 4 or 5 hours....if I don't die first because my lungs are jacked up or something. At least I have 3 months, hopefully in 3 months I will at least be able to run a mile....right? BUT having said all that my butt as been at the gym every day this past week except for Wednesday (hurt neck) and Saturday (too much going on). I may have to skip out tomorrow as I have a maternity session to do with my friend or she may get me stinky. And the getting sweaty and hot and muscles achy really truly is a refreshing feeling....the not breathing thing sucks hard core but that may be par for the course and I just don't realize it because I am a totally novice with this whole exercising thing...as in I don't know what it should feel like. Sooo wish me luck over the next few months I sure as hell am going to need it.

Thursday Thirteen

Haven't done one of these in a bit so hows about it...

1. Today was great...warmer weather after our cold snap the past week or 2. The boys even got to play outside this afternoon!

2. I saw some progress at the gym today and let me tell you that is an AWESOME feeling...I am loving it. Today makes day 5 and to see progress already is a great motivator!...I skipped yesterday since I am a doof and managed to hurt my neck.

3. I am seriously pumped about doing this marathon....I am not expecting to do fabulous but I won't be last...but I will at least try it. Seriously I have always wanted to so I am stoked...and stoked that I am enjoying working out so much!

4. The Puppy girl is making me nuts...yesterday she thought it would be splendid to chew up another puzzle piece..and sometime in the past week she thought chewing on our COFFEE TABLE would really make me a happy camper...um no.

5. The pee on the bathroom floor has got to stop happening...anyone know any tricks for that because some people might not be able to pee anymore if it doesn't stop

6. Boy1 is doing some fantastic reading lately and I am so flipping proud of him, it's so awesome to see him doing so great. Tomorrow he is getting 2 awards at school...one for being just overall coolness (not really but basically just for being good etc etc) and the other is his 3rd "Super Reader" award. He's doing great.

7. I cannot believe Boy2 starts kinder in just 7 months, that is CrAZy. I just can't picture him being in school yet...but I was the same way with Boy1. He will do great, I need to pick back up working with him on things because he asked me yet again last night to help teach him to read...seriously he's ASKING me to...get on it already Mom!

8. I am in a photog funk lately, I have barely even touched my camera in weeks...don't know what is up with that. I need to get my groove back...maybe just admitting it will help?

9. THEman is freezing his ass off in Minnesota this week...sucks for him eh?

10. Boy3 is seriously sweet lately and giving some flipping amazing hugs...big tight squeezes around my neck it's rockin...especially from his stinker butt.

11. I totally lost my cool with the kidlets last night....and Boy1 told me today that my sorry that I said was the best one ever...is that a good thing or a bad? LOL

12. I am 97% sure we are done with the kid thing...in fact I have been selling off baby gear lately. The older Boy3 gets the easier it gets and the more I just don't want to start over...of course next week I may be singing a new tune...as I tend to flip flop however this time I have felt this way for a while now.

13. I think they are all finally asleep!

Fiery Place

A month or so ago Boy1 informed me that if you were bad you would go to a "fiery place"...nice. I asked him where he heard that as it certainly wasn't from me--not to get into a religious post here but that's not my line of thinking--and he said a kid on the bus told him that. Ok so I explained it all to him and different beliefs people have etc. He's not sure what he thinks about the subject I don't think but I try very hard to let him get his feel for it on his own and leave my opinions out of it. However I am pretty sure poor Boy3 might be in the runnings for the fiery place after his word slippage today at his church preschool. So we are in the bathroom washing his hands and I tell him to stop with the soap because he's getting it all over the dispenser...he pulls his hand back looks at it and yells "Awww, DAMNIT!" I hush him and tell him not to say that although I know he's not sure what he shouldn't say...then it occurs to me that we are like in a CHURCH building. Wonderful. Way.to.go.kid. I think we should work on that, just maybe.

So I was on my way to the gym after dropping the boys off at preschool and am chit chatting on the phone (I know, I know...driver negligence) and out of my peripherals I see what I think is a weird looking dog bee-lining for the road. I freak, yell slam on the brakes and realize it's a red dog...fluffy tail with a white tip, small, pointy nose. Holy crap it's a FOX. Seriously the thing was freaking out...saw the road, probably it's life before it's eyes, spun a circle, and ran back the way it came...which for the record was next to someones house. What in the hell is a FOX doing running around like that....who knew we even had fox's around here...seriously I didn't. And who the hell almost hits one?! Are you kidding me. So weird things I have almost hit or have hit...tally 3. A horse (yes I almost hit a horse...and yes it was IN the road), I nailed a poor duck....looking like someone ripped open a feather pillow...that was messy, and now almost hit a fox. Serious oddness.

Pictures Galore...

Not too much to say...but much to share...a bit from the past month or so...I will narate for ya when necessary...

These are completely out of order but no way am I taking the time to rearrange them sorry...

Boy3 finishing his ceersul (aka cereal) and this technique he did not learn from me!


Karate Kids...they are both loving their karate classes



I love this face...he and I are starting to like each other again...I am so glad for that...he's been super Daddy's boy lately but is warming back up to me again...and I him LOL...

Boy1 in class thru the glass

Boy3's hit Xmas Present this year...I love the seriousness on his face..

I told him to stand like he was cool...this is what he gave me, I am seriously loving his hair right now...

These are all from our overnight excursion to Chattanooga...

To explain this one...somehow we ended up rolling them up in these little things on the foot of the bed and then learning that we could sling it up quickly and it would toss them out quickly...they (er We) thought it was hysterical and we spent a good 45 min doing this on the beds LOL....

I love this face...

Nemo fish!

Boy3 trying to run in out of the rain...

In the summer this is full of water...

and that's all....toldya it was a lot!

Hold the phone...

Don't be shocked but I...are you ready for this??....joined a gym today...not kidding, dead serious....and even better I actually went and did stuff. And more than that I have "agreed" to like do the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in April...um yeah this shall be interesting. haha
Me and like exercise have never really mingled much at all...like once or twice. The extra poundage and the no stamina thing are not working for me. When the hubs and I went to SF back in July...or was it June?...either way yeah we went "hiking"...the trails had inclines and I felt like I was going go to die. Not cool....really NOT cool. And this was the "moderate" trail...and my husband was trucking along like no big thing while I nearly pass out. Right so took me a bit to get around to it finally but I am motivated...hopefully. We'll see how it goes!
I did a little over 2 miles running/fast walking on the treadmill and could have kept going so it's a start...granted when I stepped off I felt like my legs might buckle and wasn't sure if they were actually what was carrying me around.
THEman should be home in a bit, YAY!!!

Whew...

First off it's cold as....well as cold as it gets here in good ole Tennessee....so it's cold...like so cold schools are closed. Seriously they are closing schools for the COLD, that's just nuts but whatever, means I get a FOUR day weekend of no getting up at 6:00, actually I will still get up at 6:00 but instead of running around packing lunch, making breakfast, and making sure Boy1 is up and moving I get to stumble in slap some dry cereal in a bowl, dump some milk in cups and we are in business for cartoons and TV for a good 30 minutes longer. Ahhh sleeping in woohoo.
Something is up with yours truly I am thinking because I am flat out worn out lately. (for those wondering the PG thing is not the case and I am thinking won't be the case--by choice) So me being worn out what is up with that....I get it like people are tired not enough sleep blah blah but that is usually not the case with me. The past 2 nights it's been lights out at 10:30 for me...that's a "good" 7 1/2 hours of sleep...not too shabby really. But I am not too keen on this feeling like I haven't slept in days thing...it's doesn't work well for me. I am hoping some good ole exercise will help but of course it may just make matters worse before it makes it better....but I'll keep truckin'.
Hmmm I had other things to ramble on about but I am distracted IM'ing with THEman so I will stop here Peace out homeys.

Just a thought...

It's probably counterproductive to eat a Oatmeal cream pie after a brief "work out". I could be wrong on that....but I couldn't help it...There I was doing what I have said I was going to do for 153 days (it keeps count) on the Wii Fit....I even put on my new "work out clothes"...right so doing my thing and I glance down and what has appeared from some hidden spot on the floor but a perfectly square clear plastic wrapper...I look again and think oh a Little Debbie wrapper...Mmm an oatmeal cream pie would top this off nicely. So I had a goal LOL. Now I must hurry and leave before I have another....I seriously forgot they were here, hidden from the kids on top of the fridge. Damn that wrapper...and damn the IL's for thinking it would be super duper HILARIOUS to give the kids 3 BOXES of them for Christmas....hardy har...just because we all snag one when we come to your house (because I don't buy them here--I have no self control when it comes to these things) doesn't mean we need enough to last 3 months...of course now that I have remembered where THEman hid them they will probably be gone in 3 days. Damn it to hell. Oh well at least this time I ate one AND worked out right??

MIA...

I am still alive...haven't gone this long without a post in a while I think. We have been busy lately. The past 3 nights we've pretended we were 21 again....and um yeah we aren't and it's caught up with us today...ogeesh. THEman leaves for Canada tomorrow...he's been home for going on 6 weeks now so we are bummed he's leaving. Anyway just a quick hi since it's a been a bit....we are getting ready to watch a movie so we can go to bed EARLY! The kids are in bed already and so need a good nights rest as do we.

Pictures don't lie...

I've said he was tiny.....

At first glance I didn't see anything odd with this picture however I looked again and THEman and I were near tears laughing at the midget boy. Seriously it looks like boy1 could just snag him up and carry up on his back.

A year in review...

For as long as I can remember I have always written (or now typed) a "year in review" of sorts...and this year is no different. Let's see if I can get a start on it, my first thought is to say check back tomorrow...but we'll give it a go and see how far I can get.
Let's see....my problem is that I am not real sure where to start.
Where were we a year ago...January 2008...I was just at that point beginning my official go at "Lilac Hill Photography" over this past year I have had some awesome sessions with some awesome families and have grown a great deal as a photographer...I cannot wait to see how 2009 goes both as a business and as a photographer overall. It's a constant non-stop learning process and I hope to grow even further this year.
THEman was starting his 2nd year with his fabulous company while we hate to have him gone, I love the opportunities he gets...and I am seriously jealous of the traveling he gets to do. His traveling has lots of perks for us as a family though...perks I am sure I will be devasted to loose if he chooses to change jobs. It's allowed us several mini vacations that we otherwise wouldn't have had.
Boy1 finished up his first year of elementary school and did wonderful, he turned 6, played 2 seasons of baseball...neither of which he enjoyed all that much both of which he stuck with and managed a bit of fun. He began piano lessons (did I mention he played Jingle Bells for everyone at Christmas?), karate lessons, swim lessons...all kinds of activities (don't worry not all at once!). He has started 1st grade, had some difficulties adjusting and has rocketed right back to where I know he can be. He is changing from a little boy to a boy....complete with eye rolling, back talking, and sweetness.
Boy2 began his very last year of preschool. He managed the year with out stitches, casts, or hospital stays (Thank god!) He has learned to do things on his own that surprise me daily...writing his name, his address, phone number, etc etc. He has begun to learn to ride his bike without training wheels. He can swim kinda like a fish (well a 4 year old fish with legs) and has no fear of the water. He too played 2 seasons of baseball and got over his serious shyness with it, he still wouldn't talk much but he at least ran the bases and hit without daddy with him. We discovered he's a pretty good switch hitter as well! He is slowly overcoming his shy gruntiness he has with people and I hope that over this year he will come out of that even more.
Boy3 wow, he was only 19 months when this year began, he is now a sassy opinionated 2 1/2 year old. He is completely potty trained--even at nights! He sings songs and dances. He has zero problem talking to most people. And despite his naughty tendencies he really can be a very good boy, especially when it's just him and I. And while I hesitate to call him "sweet" the past month or so he has been just that....last night as we laid in the bed at the hotel he just sang and sang he would roll over and snuggle with me, give me kisses or just pat my head. Serious sweetness. He began his first year of preschool...with much hesitation but now for the most part is anxious to go and have fun with his "fends". He has his "best fen Evy"...who he does more fighting with than playing but they sure are excited to see or talk to each other.
We managed to sneak down to Florida for a couple days over the summer and the boys are like their ma and love the beach and we are all crazy anxious to get back down there...like asap.
We gained a new fur animal who drives us nuts but is oh so cute that we can't help but love her. We've painted and updated things in the house slowly but surely...well somewhat surely. Well so many things I suppose I could go on about. Basically we've had a purty good year...I hope 2009 is even more but if not I am ok with that too. Beggar's can't be greedy right? We've grown and matured in ways that only time can achieve. I hope we continue to do so both as a family and as a couple as well as individually.

You like that?

That perfect on the dot "HAPPY NEW YEAR" Yes yours truly figured out how to schedule a post...no I wasn't sitting here all alone waiting for the moment to hit just so I could post it on my blog...while I do love it and all...not quite that much LOL. We actually managed a little get together at su casa de beas...first time since we have been married we didn't ring in the new year on the couch with a kid in our lap. Which honestly I have always loved doing...I like being with them then probably because I dig New Years so much. We had a great time and it was nice to visit with everyone. THEman is now ready to start a boy band with his new pal and the neighbors think he should go on tour with his guitar and harmonica in tow. HEHE. He is actually behind me now trying to learn a new song...I think I personally should stick with Guitar Hero, and I suck at that...but dang it's fun. It's my way to pretend I have an ounce of musical ability...because I don't. I can carry a rhythm for about 2 seconds before some part of me starts thinking about it too much and it's gone. But tis ok I will live thru my video game and be the rockstar I know I can be...
We have had a great year so far...We spent yesterday day driving around enjoying the TN countryside and then headed to my grandfathers for the rest of the afternoon. I beat my dad and THEman at Scrabble...again! Go me. Today we are just hanging out, it's sunny and pretty and we know I love sunny and pretty so I am happy to see it! The house is clean, the Christmas decorations are long gone, and we are ready for the rest of winter to roll on by.
I am already anxious for summer...tank tops, cute dresses, and flip flops. Green grass and leaves on the trees....got a while to go for that....I can wait. :)

........and.....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Welcome 2009