May 20 = Rosie's Bath Day

Still working on a name...

We got the car serviced today.  It took over three hours.  Thankfully, Zachary, Liam and Malia spent over two of those hours at the gym and the kids were pretty darn good- a lot better than I expected.

Also Rosie got her first bath at home- she got one last week in Smithfield, but this was the first time I got to witness it.

October 29 = MAG Day

This morning we went with Zachary to a MAG event- they cleared some hiking trails near the academy- so we stopped by before we headed to the gym.  Here's two of the many faces of Malia as we were getting ready to leave:

And here we are at the MAG event:

Malia and I went out on our own and took a little walk...

I love this picture of Liam- it just captures, to me, his willingness to just plop down wherever and check out what's around him.

October 14 = New Book Day

I started a new book today- Carry on Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton.  I took pictures of these pages because I wanted to quote them in the blog.  So instead of sharing the pictures with the words way too small to read- I'll type up this chapter because it's that good.

The chapter is titled: Smelly Coughy Guy

"Here's why I really love and need yoga: because of Smelly Coughy Guy.

I am easily overwhelmed.  There are lots of things I have to do each day to remind myself that everyone is okay, including me.  Yoga is one of these things I do to stay calm and remember.  Yoga is like a sabbath; it's how I prove to myself that I am not in charge, that if I drop off the face of the earth for an hour with no other goal than to breathe, the world will keep spinning without me.  Because, as it turns out, I am not the one causing it to spin.  I'm just along for the ride.  I practice yoga to find quiet and peace and stillness: to prove to myself that those things exist.  I also practice yoga to learn how not to be bothered by things that are out of my control.  That's how I want to be.  ANd people have to practice if they ever hope to be how they want to be.

I practice yoga at my local gym.  When I am not writing or frantically searching for sippy cups, I am at the gym.  Not because I am really all that interested in fitness but because my gym has a wonderful nursery full of people who will take my kids, so I "work out" a lot.  If my post office had a wonderful nursery full of people who would take my kids, I would mail a lot.  Sometimes Adrianne and I meet at the gym and just sit on the stationary bikes and talk.  We don't even move our legs."

Besides the writing and the Adrienne part, I could have written that myself.

Here's another part I like:

"I pray and pray for God to help me feel some peace and stillness in the midst of my mommy life instead of feeling constantly like a dormant volcano likely to erupt at any given moment and burn my entire family alive.  And God says: Well G, here's the thing.  Peace isn't the absence of distraction or annoyance or pain.  It's finding Me, finding peace and calm, in the midst of those distractions and annoyances and pains."

Here's a picture of the kids leaving the gym after I had done basically what my new favorite author spoke about... "working out" but really taking advantage of that nursery full of wonderful people.

The weather's been really nice lately so we've been taking more walks- here's a picture of the kids in the double stroller- we haven't used this in a long time.

August 26 = Procedure Day

My mom and brother came in last night- they're going to help take care of the kids (and me) this weekend after my D&C today.  Matt slept in the living room last night and when Malia woke up this morning, she went right in and snuggled up.  We took Liam to school and then my mom and I went to get a pedicure while Zachary had Malia and Uncle Matt picked Liam up from school.

 Here's Malia accompanying her daddy to the gym:

And here's a picture uncle Matt got of Liam after he picked him up from school and took him to the park:

I wasn't allowed to eat after midnight last night so I was going on 17 hours of no food by the time they took me back for my procedure but I was totally out for it and don't remember a thing.  It was quick and painless minus the IV and I've got lots of help this weekend so we're going to look at all those bright parts.  It still hurts but at least now it's over.  I had a hard time in the in-between stage but I'm hoping now that everything's over, things can get back to normal soon.  I'm so very grateful for the two kids I do have.  I can't imagine going through this without being able to see their faces and know I'm already blessed beyond measure.

July 23 = Silly Girl Day

I was changing the sheets down stairs today, and Malia decided to "help me"

Also, this:

June 17 = Potty Training Fail

So I'm tired of diapers.  I really would like to potty train Liam.  So Zachary and I set out to get it done this weekend.  We've got a few days of Zachary being off so we are just going to put Liam in underwear and try to get him to sit on the potty every 20 minutes until he goes and then 40 minutes after that and then every 20 minutes again.  Spoiler alert- it's not going to work.  Here he is sitting on a towel and cradling a guitar.

So we started out well- he used the potty!  And then I took Malia to the gym and while I was gone, he refused to sit on, totally messing up our plan.  He wet his underwear but didn't care.  So the purpose of putting them in underwear is when it's wet they're supposed to not like it.  When your kid couldn't care less, the strategy doesn't work very well.  So we gave up.  We decided he's not ready and since all his scores say he's at the age equivalent of under 3, we're not going to put so much pressure on ourselves.

 Also, this evening, Zachary picked up a couch he found on Craig's List.  We are going to rearrange the house a bit so that now the downstairs room has a couch and a bed and the living room has two couches- and now we're going to "retire downstairs" after the kids go to bed- our latest attempt to get Liam to go to sleep- we're thinking if he can't hear the tv on the middle floor, maybe he'll think we're asleep and he'll give up and go to sleep himself.  Here's a video of the kids acquainting themselves with the new couch:

May 30 = Bashful Day

First of all I'll share a picture of Liam that Zachary captured when he got home from work today.  Looks like he's not taking his nap like he's supposed to be...

And then I have to share a story that made me smile.  We go to the gym pretty much every day.  The girls in the Kids' Club are so great and love the kids.  Liam first fell in love with Bekah.  She's babysat the kids for us before- she's definitely a favorite.  Liam knew her name and that's saying something.  But she's not been working as much when we're there and Liam now has another favorite.  Her name is Irma and on her first day there, I knew there was going to be a connection.  They're so cute together.  And now when we go to the gym, he'll say "go see Irma."  Well for the past few days she hasn't been there and he's definitely been disappointed.  Today, we were talking on the way in and he said "go see Irma" and I said "maybe, buddy."  We walked around the corner and there she was.  I expected Liam to be so excited but instead he got super bashful!  I've never seen him act the way he did tonight- it was so funny. 

May 5 = Down Dog Day

We went to the gym today and the kids got to play with Evie in kids' club- here's Malia and Evie leaving the building:

After we got home from yoga, I decided to see if the kids had any interest in it- Malia did a pretty good down dog!

When Daddy got home later, he got some good snuggles with Malia.

And as a followup to yesterday's video where Liam laughed at Garfield, here is again, same part of the movie, laughing a little louder:

April 27 = Chicken Milanese Day

We tried a new dinner tonight.  Every time we go to Brio, I get their Chicken Milanese and it's so so good so when I saw it on Pioneer Woman, I knew we had to try it.  I was not disappointed- it's so so good!

There's apparently a virus going through the kids' club at the gym so we've been keeping the kids home.  I was missing the gym so Zachary kept the kids so I could go tonight- he sent me this picture to show me what I was missing at home!

March 1 = MOPS Day

Last year, I was trying to find a MOPS group to join.  I was in a MOPS group in Jacksonville and it was a nice two hour break two Tuesdays a month where the kids got to play with other kids and I got to listen to speakers and talk to other moms.  Well... I found one two minutes from our house but they didn't have any availability for childcare so I was on a waitlist.  I got an email a couple weeks back that they had room so they were able to add some new moms!  We were supposed to go two Tuesdays ago but the schools were closed because of snow so they canceled the meetings.  So today was the day!  I got the kids in their respective rooms and then went to the meeting.  I got to sit at the gold table- each table has a color and a flower and we're the sunflowers.  Quick history on why I love sunflowers: when we got home from the hospital after Malia was born, "Liam" got Malia sunflowers as a welcome home (and welcome to the world) present.  So I love sunflowers!  Anyway!  We had quite a bit of time just to talk to the other people at our table and everyone was so very friendly- it was such a relief.  Then they had two speakers- co-owners of a local toy store, talking about the importance of play.  They talked mostly about outdoor play which we haven't been able to experience lately but it gave me some good ideas for when that time comes.  I had Liam in the CDC today because Tuesdays are kind of rough and Zachary has to stay later tonight that normal.  I was tempted to stay at the meeting but the CDC serves lunch at 11:30 so if I had stayed, I'd have to go home, feed him, and then take him and it just didn't make a lot of sense.  I knew that most of the social time is at the end of the meeting so I was disappointed but... oh well- better planning next time.  Here are my babies on the way to the car... how sweet!

So we went the CDC and on the way, Malia was saying "Minnie!  Minnie!"  So I told her I'd get Minnie when we stopped.  And then realized... we left Minnie at the meeting.  So I dropped Liam off and then rushed back to the church.  The meeting had just finished and one of the moms told me some of them were going to the playground in the back of the church if I wanted to join!  So I still got some social time anyway- wins all around!

So at home, Malia and I had some rest time and cleaning time and then, before we knew it, it was time to get Liam.  So we picked him up and then headed to AC Moore to get some things for activities that will hopefully be a success... and hopefully I'll post about them because they went so well... fingers crossed.  Well, we just had the best time in AC Moore.  Going up and down the aisles, Liam was pointing out different colors and letters, numbers and animals.  Malia was in her stroller and Liam was helping me push her.  It was beautiful.  I found what I needed and we went up to the front. And then it all fell apart.  I don't know what set him off but Liam lost his mind.  Fell on the floor, slammed his head on the floor... was screaming at the top of his lungs.  I just ignored all the stares I was getting, got through the transaction and got to the car.  Then we headed to chickfila.  I stopped and cut up their chicken, put it in snack cups and gave it to them to eat on the way to the gym.  I had a great workout and by the time we got home it was time to read stories and go to bed!  So besides the AC Moore breakdown, we had a really great Tuesday!

February 29 = Leap Day!

My dear, dear friend, Jaimie, is a leap year baby so I get excited when it's a leap year because she gets to celebrate her birthday on the actual day!  I wish we were closer to her so I could have seen her.  Anyway!  I took the kids to the gym today and tried the holding hands method to get out in one piece.  It worked!

 And I just wanted to share this picture of Malia- she's got more girlishness now than I ever have... Lord help us.

February 28 = Holding Hands Day

In my last post I shared a picture with a quote that made me think of Malia... today's is one for adults. 

I've had this exact thought before when I make the kids a beautiful plate for breakfast with strawberries, blueberries, cheese, oranges, bananas... and then I grab a pack of crackers on the way out.  This was a good reminder that I need to take care of myself too in order to take the best care of my babies.

So yesterday I worked on my yoga teacher training.  I'm doing a "distance learning" program so that, unlike last time I attempted this, I don't have to devote a full weekend each month- it's just not realistic for us.  So Zachary took the kids to the gym so that I would be able to concentrate.  On the way out, he learned how unmanageable they can be when you're by yourself.  So he did something super smart- told them they had to hold hands.  And they did!  He took a video of it and showed me because he knew I'd have to see it to believe it.  But today I snapped this picture of my three loves holding hands- how sweet!

Later, we had some senior midshipmen over for dinner- lasagna.  We played Apples to Apples which made me really happy.  It was really fun- the kids were great- the midshipmen are so good with them.  It was a great day!

February 22 = Little Man Day

Before telling him to put his feet down, I snapped this picture of Liam looking like he was checking something super important on his iPad.

I did a lot of unpacking today- our only trip out was to the gym.  These kids are so funny when we're leaving- funnier when I have Zachary with me than when I'm by myself. 

January 15 = Movie Night

Zachary helped me find a new workout routine- there's a bodybuilding.com app called BodySpace and it has lots of different programs for lots of different goals... mine is to tone, not build bulk.  So the one we found is perfect for me- six different exercises that I do three sets of 12 reps each.  We started it last night and today I went to the gym while Zachary was at work and figured out all the machines myself!  I know how to use the weight machines with the pictures showing you what to do on the side- but these are the machines in the big, scary weight room.  Okay well I had to send him a couple of text messages clarifying some things but still!

Here's Malia leading the way- she refuses to be carried out of the gym now which makes leaving a tad bit stressful.  It's hard to corral these two little ones.

Later that night, we had our first ever family movie night!  A couple nights ago Zachary was humming a song in the movie Robin Hood and was quizzing me to see if I knew what movie it was from.  Since I've never seen the movie before, I did not know and so he insisted that I watch it.  I put a hold on it at the library and picked it up yesterday.  We popped some popcorn and sat together on the couch and watched the whole movie!  Liam got up a couple of times but for the most part they did really well and it was definitely a memorable night!

January 6 = Malia's a Big Girl Day

We went to the gym tonight- like most nights.  I really want to figure out my schedule so that I can take the kids to the gym during the day and we can all be at home at night and have some good quality family time.  But we're not there yet so we went tonight.  Usually when we come to pick them up, Liam gets super excited and gives us big hugs and Miss Malia isn't far behind.  But when I came in today, Malia was sitting at the table coloring like such a big girl!

December 30 = Corn on the Cob Day

We had one of my favorite foods- corn on the cob- tonight for dinner.  Usually, Zachary scrapes the corn off the cob and gives it to the kids on a plate but today, they seemed really interesting in eating it the way we do so we gave them a shot- they both did a great job!

Later, we went to the gym and on the way out, my three loves were holding hands- so sweet!

I just had to include this picture because you can see Malia's little hand on her baby's back- she is so loving!

November 12 = Normal Day

First of all- Joey is such a cool cat- he does the weirdest things sometimes.  He stayed in this position long enough for me to run upstairs to get my phone and come back and get three pictures.
 

But also, we went to the gym today.  I don't think I've ever posted a picture of us at the gym which is odd because we are there all. the. time.  I just thought Malia was so cute walking along behind these two that I decided to snap a picture.  Liam's in his "football shirt," and Malia's not wearing any shoes... normal day!