(Notice she calls her ABC's, "ABCD's!)
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Chatty Catherine
I always want to remember what the girls' voices sound like when they are little. I decided it was time for another edition of "Chatting with Catherine". Enjoy!
(Notice she calls her ABC's, "ABCD's!)
(Notice she calls her ABC's, "ABCD's!)
Monday, January 23, 2012
Birthdays and Beads
This weekend was one of those relaxing fun weekends for us. Friday night, we did nothing...I am talking NOTHING!
Saturday morning, Emma had dance camp at Har-Ber. She is performing with the Silver Stars on Friday! I cannot wait!
After that, the girls and I met Kim, Tara, Rachel and her girls for lunch at the Market Place. It's always fun when we get to do lunch/dinner with those girls.
Saturday night, Travis and I had Mandy's birthday party at Crabbys to attend. So, Lisa came and kept the girls.
Before dinner, we went to the Herman's to hang out and, of course, take pictures!
Dinner was a blast and I am not sure I have laughed so hard in long time. I just love our group of friends and how much fun we have together.
Sunday, we went to church and came home for naps. Travis and Emma went to the batting cages. So, I decided the little girls and I would make some bead bracelets. It was a test of my patience, but I think they turned out pretty good! :)
Happy Monday!
Saturday morning, Emma had dance camp at Har-Ber. She is performing with the Silver Stars on Friday! I cannot wait!
After that, the girls and I met Kim, Tara, Rachel and her girls for lunch at the Market Place. It's always fun when we get to do lunch/dinner with those girls.
Saturday night, Travis and I had Mandy's birthday party at Crabbys to attend. So, Lisa came and kept the girls.
Before dinner, we went to the Herman's to hang out and, of course, take pictures!
Dinner was a blast and I am not sure I have laughed so hard in long time. I just love our group of friends and how much fun we have together.
Sunday, we went to church and came home for naps. Travis and Emma went to the batting cages. So, I decided the little girls and I would make some bead bracelets. It was a test of my patience, but I think they turned out pretty good! :)
Happy Monday!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Self Motivated
I have ALWAYS worked in an office. Since Hannah was born, I have had the perk to work at home if I've needed to, i.e. when the kids are sick, when I'm sick, when the weather is bad, etc. It's a very nice perk.
Despite that, I've always been envious of the mom's that get to work from home. I've thought, "Man! I would LOVE to be able to sit in my living room and work. It would be so nice not to have to get up and drive to the office every morning. I could pick the girls up early. Gosh, I want a job like that."
Since I got back from my two weeks off for the holidays, I have been working from home. Our company is having us move offices and things haven't been ready yet. When I first heard that I was going to be working from home, I was ecstatic!
Week 1: I was super productive. I got tons of work done AND had all my household chores done before the weekend came. It was wonderful. I mean...the Friday of Week 1, I kind of slacked off. But, nothing I didn't do occasionally in the office.
Week 2: I was much less productive at work. I did what HAD to be done and let some of my proactive stuff fall by the wayside. I still had the house all clean and a wonderful dinner on the table by 5pm every night. Good stuff, people. But, I was glad to go out of town for the weekend. I was getting slight cabin fever from being home so much.
Week 3: It's been a disaster. I've gotten all my weekly MUST do's done at work. The house is a wreck. I am so tired of being here, the last thing I want to do is clean up. And dinner...HA! We've eaten out almost every night this week.
Needless to say, this working from home is not for me. When Travis gets home, I follow him around like a lost puppy just chatting his ear off because I am DESPERATE for some adult interaction. I feel like I am out of my routine and let's face it...I'm a routine kinda girl. I just struggle to get motivated to get stuff done. I am praying we get back in an office soon so I can get our family back into our routine. I'm just a better wife and mommy when I go to the office every day. (Don't judge!)
Guess I better take that "self starter" claim off my resume! Happy Friday!
Despite that, I've always been envious of the mom's that get to work from home. I've thought, "Man! I would LOVE to be able to sit in my living room and work. It would be so nice not to have to get up and drive to the office every morning. I could pick the girls up early. Gosh, I want a job like that."
Since I got back from my two weeks off for the holidays, I have been working from home. Our company is having us move offices and things haven't been ready yet. When I first heard that I was going to be working from home, I was ecstatic!
Week 1: I was super productive. I got tons of work done AND had all my household chores done before the weekend came. It was wonderful. I mean...the Friday of Week 1, I kind of slacked off. But, nothing I didn't do occasionally in the office.
Week 2: I was much less productive at work. I did what HAD to be done and let some of my proactive stuff fall by the wayside. I still had the house all clean and a wonderful dinner on the table by 5pm every night. Good stuff, people. But, I was glad to go out of town for the weekend. I was getting slight cabin fever from being home so much.
Week 3: It's been a disaster. I've gotten all my weekly MUST do's done at work. The house is a wreck. I am so tired of being here, the last thing I want to do is clean up. And dinner...HA! We've eaten out almost every night this week.
Needless to say, this working from home is not for me. When Travis gets home, I follow him around like a lost puppy just chatting his ear off because I am DESPERATE for some adult interaction. I feel like I am out of my routine and let's face it...I'm a routine kinda girl. I just struggle to get motivated to get stuff done. I am praying we get back in an office soon so I can get our family back into our routine. I'm just a better wife and mommy when I go to the office every day. (Don't judge!)
Guess I better take that "self starter" claim off my resume! Happy Friday!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Weekend in DeQueen
This weekend, we packed up and headed to DeQueen to visit with Travis's Mimi and do some things around her farm. (Sorry for the lack of pics. I barely got my camera out this weekend.)
When we got there Friday night, Travis and Eric were planning on cutting a huge dead tree down on Saturday with the help on Uncle Troy. Come to find out, they had failed to mention their plan to Troy and he was going to be out of town. After a little discussion, they decided that before he left town, they should cut down the tree. So, at 9pm Friday night, with chain saws reeving, the girls, Kamryn (Eric's girlfriend who we absolutely LOVE!) and I sat in a warm car and watch the debacle go down. Eric with a flash light clipped on his hat. Travis running a chain saw. Troy trying to yell over the saw to tell them what to do next. It was all hilarious.
The funniest part of it all was they had been telling us how dead the tree was and it could fall at any moment. I expected the tree to fall just a couple of minutes after they started cutting. Ten minutes passed. Fifteen. Nothing. Finally about 25-30 minutes into this, the tree came crashing down. We cheered and the boys were so proud. (Why is it that boys enjoy destruction so much!?)
Saturday morning, we got up ate an amazing home cooked breakfast with Mimi and went to work. Travis and Eric cut the tree up and moved it out of the pasture. The rest of us raked leaves and picked up sticks. By lunch, we were done.
The rest of the afternoon, we napped, rode horses, worked on Eric and Travis's dog pens (DON'T ASK!) and visited with family.
Sunday morning, we got up and went to Travis's lease to get the rest of his gear out of the woods. The girls and I enjoyed the little trip. I agree with what Rachel said this week. As wives, we have to remember that our husbands have hobbies too and we need to participate when they invite us.
In all actuality, Travis's deer lease is a beautiful place. The scenery is breath taking. Not to mention we saw 21 deer as we were riding around up there. (The girls kept count.) It was a great ending to fun weekend.
When we got there Friday night, Travis and Eric were planning on cutting a huge dead tree down on Saturday with the help on Uncle Troy. Come to find out, they had failed to mention their plan to Troy and he was going to be out of town. After a little discussion, they decided that before he left town, they should cut down the tree. So, at 9pm Friday night, with chain saws reeving, the girls, Kamryn (Eric's girlfriend who we absolutely LOVE!) and I sat in a warm car and watch the debacle go down. Eric with a flash light clipped on his hat. Travis running a chain saw. Troy trying to yell over the saw to tell them what to do next. It was all hilarious.
The funniest part of it all was they had been telling us how dead the tree was and it could fall at any moment. I expected the tree to fall just a couple of minutes after they started cutting. Ten minutes passed. Fifteen. Nothing. Finally about 25-30 minutes into this, the tree came crashing down. We cheered and the boys were so proud. (Why is it that boys enjoy destruction so much!?)
Saturday morning, we got up ate an amazing home cooked breakfast with Mimi and went to work. Travis and Eric cut the tree up and moved it out of the pasture. The rest of us raked leaves and picked up sticks. By lunch, we were done.
The rest of the afternoon, we napped, rode horses, worked on Eric and Travis's dog pens (DON'T ASK!) and visited with family.
Sunday morning, we got up and went to Travis's lease to get the rest of his gear out of the woods. The girls and I enjoyed the little trip. I agree with what Rachel said this week. As wives, we have to remember that our husbands have hobbies too and we need to participate when they invite us.
In all actuality, Travis's deer lease is a beautiful place. The scenery is breath taking. Not to mention we saw 21 deer as we were riding around up there. (The girls kept count.) It was a great ending to fun weekend.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
It's just like riding a bike
We love to play outside. How fortunate we have been to be able to play outside well into January this year! The girls FAVORITE thing is riding their bikes and going for a walk around our neighborhood.
All this time we have been doing that, Emma has continued to ride a bike with training wheels (GASP!). The girl had ZERO desire to ride a "big" bike and it was one battle that Travis and I were just not going to fight with her.
For Christmas, Honey and Daddy Brooks got all of the girls new bikes. They went out on a limb and got Emma one with no training wheels. She was so excited about it and actually WILLING to learn to ride.
(Funny story: My dad got Emma and Hannah helmets for their bikes. Mom told him Catherine was going to be mad when she saw she didn't have one. When the girls got their bikes, the first thing Catherine said: "UH!? Where my hat??")
One evening, when we got home from work, the girls were DYING to go for a walk and ride their bikes. So, Travis and Emma set out on a mission to teach Ems to ride without training wheels. At first, it was a little rocky. (Emma has her mother's athletic ability and clumsiness) But, on about the 10th try, Emma got it. She found her balance and took off!
(Sorry for the picture quality. I had my camera on a crazy setting and didn't realize until it was too late)
While they were doing that, Hannah and Catherine were just riding around in the road cheering Emma on. We were all so proud of her and she was OVER THE MOON!
Next task, get Catherine to use her pedals...she just pushes herself with her feet (which makes for a LONG SLOW walk around the neighborhood)
All this time we have been doing that, Emma has continued to ride a bike with training wheels (GASP!). The girl had ZERO desire to ride a "big" bike and it was one battle that Travis and I were just not going to fight with her.
For Christmas, Honey and Daddy Brooks got all of the girls new bikes. They went out on a limb and got Emma one with no training wheels. She was so excited about it and actually WILLING to learn to ride.
(Funny story: My dad got Emma and Hannah helmets for their bikes. Mom told him Catherine was going to be mad when she saw she didn't have one. When the girls got their bikes, the first thing Catherine said: "UH!? Where my hat??")
One evening, when we got home from work, the girls were DYING to go for a walk and ride their bikes. So, Travis and Emma set out on a mission to teach Ems to ride without training wheels. At first, it was a little rocky. (Emma has her mother's athletic ability and clumsiness) But, on about the 10th try, Emma got it. She found her balance and took off!
(Sorry for the picture quality. I had my camera on a crazy setting and didn't realize until it was too late)
While they were doing that, Hannah and Catherine were just riding around in the road cheering Emma on. We were all so proud of her and she was OVER THE MOON!
Next task, get Catherine to use her pedals...she just pushes herself with her feet (which makes for a LONG SLOW walk around the neighborhood)
Monday, January 2, 2012
Ringing in 2012
Every year before NYE, I go back and forth on trying to find a sitter, so Travis and I can go out without the girl, just staying home or going out WITH the kids.
Having a best friend that has three kids and a big fun family always makes that decision easier for us. :)
Just like last year, we rang in the new year as a family of five with some of our favorites: The Brown's, The Gibson's and The Herman's.
We did it up "Tara style" this year. She got two rooms at the Embassy. One for the adults and one for the kids. We got all dressed up and headed there before dinner for appetizers and pictures.
We headed to a late dinner at Copeland's. Owen was so exhausted by the time we got there that he needed a little power nap. After about 20 minutes, he was up and ready to go again!
After dinner, we went back to the hotel and got into our comfy PJs to ring in the new year.
We had a GREAT start to 2012 and cannot wait to see what is in store for our family this year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Having a best friend that has three kids and a big fun family always makes that decision easier for us. :)
Just like last year, we rang in the new year as a family of five with some of our favorites: The Brown's, The Gibson's and The Herman's.
We did it up "Tara style" this year. She got two rooms at the Embassy. One for the adults and one for the kids. We got all dressed up and headed there before dinner for appetizers and pictures.
We headed to a late dinner at Copeland's. Owen was so exhausted by the time we got there that he needed a little power nap. After about 20 minutes, he was up and ready to go again!
After dinner, we went back to the hotel and got into our comfy PJs to ring in the new year.
We had a GREAT start to 2012 and cannot wait to see what is in store for our family this year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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