polka dot head...

ice cream + whip cream=
one happy pooch!

hAppY biRtHdAy
Gretel!

thrilled beyond words...

that it is Friday!

awe... tomorrow...
the day the alarm does NOT get set!
:)
i love that!

and...
this weekend is extra long...
Labor Day...
yes!

Do you have plans?

The hubby is in Texas... so
we gals will be having a girly time!
We might have an impromptu
birthday party for our Gretel...
she is three today!
The girls want balloons & all...
uh...
not so sure about that...
we'll see!

So...
here's to a
why not throw on some knee pads n gO...
kind of day!
LOL!

like a noodle

so...
yesterday i mentioned that i was
doing something out of my comfort zone.

yall are really gonna think i'm nuts now!

like i said...
it was NOTHING by any means
huge... crazy... unusual...
REALLY!

BuT...

for ME this is BIG!

i thought i was going to vomit!

i joined a flipping gym!

but not only did i join a gym...

i hired a super cute... ultra fit...
sure to kick my butt... personal trainer!

i know you are thinking L-O-S-E-R...
what is the big deal?
i DON'T do gyms...
i mean gyms make me nervous!
i am the type of person that has a
hard time going for a walk in the
neighborhood... THAT embarrasses me!
Like everyone is lurking through their windows
to see this out of shape chick stubble down
the street... RIGHT! pleeeease!
i KNOW that is NOT the case!
i SO know that!

So...
yesterday was my first meeting...
i thought i was going to PASS OUT...
serious as can be!

Just walking IN the place nearly
sent me in a panic attack!
I really have no idea what it is...
where this comes from.

all i know... i have committed myself...
forked over the cash-ola...
to train with her three times a week
for three months...
i BETTER do it!

this is something i would NEVER do!
EVER!

but as they say... desperate times
call for desperate measures...
and my butt is dEsPeRatE!
this move... yah... i'm blaming it on
the move :)... has put ten pounds where
ten pounds can NOT be!
and frankly i just don't FEEL good about
myself at all!

so even though i could barely PUSH
the door open leaving the gym yesterday...
i WILL go back!
i HAVE to!
i have let everything come before me
and what i need... the buck STARTS here!
this will be the FIRST of many...
stepping out of my comfort zone...
things i tackle!
i think it will help me be a better
mama & wife... because i will FEEL
so much better about ME!

So... no... not a big deal... not big news...
BuT for me a BIG step!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


oh... btw... look at what hubby
brought home for me after a business dinner
.
.
.
.
see... desperate!

ugh!

a bit of color...

always brings this lil bit a smile!

a blank canvas...

some bold paint...

deep concentration...

ta-da!

"do you think Campbell will like it"...
always wanting to make her big sis proud!

think of me today...
nothing huge... crazy... unusual...

just something I have not done in...
oh... 18 years... good golly...
i am flat out getting OLD!
i am nervous... anxious...
embarrassed... i have butterflies!
ugh...

big time stepping out of my comfort zone!

So...
here's to a bright... colorful... bold...
step out of your comfort zone a bit...
sort of day! cheers & lol!

simple days...

squeezing out the last days of summer...

butter and salt & pepper... awe

piggies of course... thanks Jill

her feet read... fun day outside

sun is still shining in Colorado

summer color is still in bloom

hummingbirds are still around.

The days are HOT but the mornings
and nights are crisp and cool.
We are really looking forward to experiencing Fall
here in Colorado! Our favorite time of year
and our first Fall living in Colorado.

I just can't believe Labor day is
right on our heels... it is right here
at our back door... knocking!

Today is back to school for lots of your kiddos!
They'll be great mom!

Here's to Monday!
A fresh... kick-start to the week!
I'm off to jump on that scooter & roll!

a hip daydream...

thank you mr. Random.org...

"daydream" will be heading to a new home!

hipmomma's house!

i hope you will love it!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 4
Timestamp: 2008-08-22 23:42:50 UTC

thanks soooooo much to you ALL!

has anyone told you?

monkey bars & a giveaway...

i loved all your comments from yesterday!

so nice...
thanks for jumping in!

i so agree that we are all in this together!

some days we are really good on that
balance beam... other days we might have
to settle for the disappointment of fourth place!

But that's okay...
makes me want to strive to be better!
With each day... there is growth!

So... like i mentioned last week...

i want to have another drawing!

So... if you want...
jump in ...

Tell me if you could chose anything
from the shop what it would be!

I will use Random generator...

and the winner will get their choice!

i'm off to hang from the monkey bars...
thanks Katie... that's a GREAT idea! :)

the real me...

no concealor...

no cover-up...

no mask...

i put off working out again...
i want a week away from my kids...
i can be really ugly to my husband...
i don't want to forgive...
i'm not tall enough for my current weight...

i can not keep up with the mess...

today...
the real me...

just a gal
trying to find the balance of it all.
being a good mom...

a good wife...

a good friend...

wanting to become a better ME.

my itch...

now with one kiddo back in school...
i am itching!
itching to get things back in order...
back in their place...
back to somewhat of a routine!

This piece arrived while we were away in
Texas... let me say... i LOVE it!
I am kind of cuckoo when it comes to
organization... things being in "their" spot...
i think this is just what was needed.

Pretty soon it will be oVeRflowinG
with hats & gloves & scarves...
all that crazy winter stuff!
Our mudroom can get totally & completely
out of control FAST... hoping this will help!

our doggie gretel even has a basket

even holds my gargantuan 1.5 liter h2O bottles

a pet peeve... spare change in random places

are there ever enough hooks... NO

So since i'm itching...
i plan to "scratch" a lot this week!
closets beware...
here i come again!

what are you itching to do?

scrabbled eggs & bacon...

for the kiddos...
& an extra large pot of coffee for mama!

backpack... check

smile... check

"mom!!!"... check

butterflies... check

pic with the principal... check

wait...
what's this...
i still have one in tow!

Lil bit & i will have to face the day together!
packages to get out...

laundry to put away...

grocery shopping to do...
coffee to drink...

Here's to a woo hoo... yippee... yeah...
it's back to school day!

ugh...

this waking up early thing... is for the birds!

school... school... glorious school!

she pulled a name from the jar...

and the winner of the crimson cuff is...
Allikaye's mama!

oh... i hope you like it!
:)

if i could send one to all of you...
darn it... i would... and i am serious!
i kid you not!

Stay tuned though!
There will be another drawing next week!

BIG... humongo hugs to you all!

waving at you...

I have to scoot out the door this morning...

running behind...

appointments scheduled.

I will draw a name this afternoon...

so...

if you want...

if you like...
drop a comment.
i'm loving all the new friends!

happy friday morning!

wish me luck...

taking my kiddo to the dentist! :0

a nut in the sky & a giveaway

So tell me...
would you EVER?

This was our "entertainment" while having
dinner last night... a NuT in the sky!
I am sure you can gather... I would NEVER!
But... would YOU?

Are you adventurous?
Are you nutty?
Would YOU?
Maybe your crazy & already have! :)

Drop me a comment... I'm very curious!

I'll have a drawing!
The name I draw...
will get this crimson cuff!

BTW...
you do not need to be a "blogger"...
ANYONE can comment!


Here's to a high flying...
nutty... plain silly... kind of day!

way back... wednesday

back when babies wore bonnets!

When you see pictures of yourself as a baby...
do you find it hard to believe that
you were once a baby... that small?

How we grow!
How we develop!
So many years!

It is amazing how we all face
the same circle of life!

Here's to a...

bright & sunny...

carefree...

why not wear purple striped socks...

kind of day!

roll up your sleeves & reach all the way!

btw... all the cookies are gone

From going to Rifle to see the falls...

having lunch in the Palisades
some tennis with the hubby...
a picnic in the park with the kiddos...
watching the Olympics opening ceremony...

our weekend was just right!

Did YOU see the opening ceremonies?
All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!

Was that not the most amazing thing EVER?!?

My mother-in-law is in town
for a visit from Indianapolis...
you can always tell she is here
when the sprinkles start flying and
the cookie baking begins...
always fun when she is around.

they ACTUALLY shared a stool for a moment

rolling out the dough

yummo

rubbing flour on her face...
they weren't MESSY enough

look at her naughty grin...

she had just puffed flour all over her face

a big storm blew in as we were
having dinner outside Friday night...
do you see the hail...
some in the area saw two inch hail! yikes!

we got licky...
an hour later...
a beautiful rainbow!

This time next week...
SCHOOL!!!
My big girl will be in first grade!
Does school start the 18th for you too?

Here's to the last Monday of this summer!
Enjoy!

on tiny wings

we installed our fairy door a few days back...

this morning we found
a tiny scooter at the door's stoop
& sparkly fairy dust at our toes...

"i think i saw pink"!!!!!
she is certain they are wearing pink

yes... they are in there...
to bring your day a little happiness
& a lot of wonder!