Did it! :0)

(click to enlarge)

Today I officially reached my goal of 135 lbs. and boy was I excited!!  Em has been calorie counting with me since she got here 10 days ago and it has been just the motivation I needed to lose those last few pounds.  Next month it will be a year since I started this journey and although at times it has felt long, it still amazes me how far I came.  I have learned so much about accountability, diligence, motivation, support (Bry you have been such a constant and wonderful support!), and hard work.  For any of you out there who are similar journeys...stick with it!  YOU CAN DO IT!! :0)

Can I just add how much I love that little man?!  I swear he just gets cuter and cuter :0)  I love how he cruises around the house like he just got off a horse.  His little words and sounds are adorable.  He is getting so interactive and playful...especially in his highchair during meals.  He is such a tease, particularly with Brie.  His little squeal makes us all laugh. When I'm doing crunches he runs over, lays his head on my stomach and gives me a big hug.  Not to mention how he'll come up to me when I'm doing things around the house and hug my legs.  I can't help but bend down and squeeze his sweet little self.   He is a joy.  I could snuggle and kiss him all day long :0)

Reason to Celebrate.

We invited our friends and neighbors (Ed & Ruth Anne) to come listen to Brie's primary sing for Father's Day at church.  Beforehand we had them over for berry streusel cake and scrambled eggs.  Brie and I gave them the "tie" cards we made.  And notice the really COOL leather bracelet Ruth Anne made for Ed.  She is So creative!  Even though Brie sang about 4 words total during the 2 songs ;0)...it was wonderful having them join us for sacrament meeting.

After we all took nice long naps, Em and I teamed up to make Bry's Father's Day dinner--pulled pork sandwiches, sweet potato fries & fry sauce, roasted veggies, salad and Cream cheese chocolate cupcakes.  I felt bad that Bry and the kids were quarantined to the upstairs while we made dinner, but it was worth the wait.  Plus, they got some quality time with their Dad :0)  Thank you, Em for basically paying for the whole meal then helping me make it.  You're a gem!

At dinner we shared memories about our Dads and Grandpas.  Then our little fam went on a stroll and Brie and I shared reasons why we love Bry.  He really is the best husband/father that I could have ever asked for.  We sure blessed out big time.  The kiddos ADORE him.  Have I mentioned how we often wait outside on the front walk for him to come home.  Brie RUNS to him to give him a BIG hug...and Alex reaches out his arms and excitedly says, "Dada, Dada."  It's the sweetest thing.  Ever.

Last but not least, a few pictures of us after a marathon morning (note Alex's face) and a much happier bunch after our evening stroll.

**Brie's "I Love Daddy" jammies were from the Outlet....as is my green cardigan.**

I'm so glad....

...that Brie and Alex have you for their Dad.

You're the best Father they could ever ask for.

Happy Father's Day, Bry!

We LOVE you!

The moment we've all been waiting for.

Yesterday Bry heard back about his comprehensive exams and.....

Ted Drewe's = Bry's favorite way to celebrate :0)

We were so, SO excited to get the news!  You worked so hard, long and diligently and I'm so proud of you :0)  It's the last big hurdle of this monster marathon (aka COMPS).  CONGRATS, Bry! 

St. Louis Science Center.

(8 June 2012)

Science Center = Saturday Family Outing.

Brie LOVED the dinosaurs and walking over the freeway.  That brave little cookie of ours :0)  It was kind of a quick run through...great that it's free and that we can go again.

According to my Samsung, 1.

 Pink scooter?  still too cute :0)

 Alex's first time sitting on grass.

 Alex's first time with sand.

 One day he totally surprised me by stepping up onto the bathroom stool.  That cute yet capable little man :0)

 Walking in Webster Groves with Emmie.

 Schmem and Sarah.

 Adam & Alex in the hall during Sunday School.  Familiar sight.

 After walking group.

 After a picnic at Wash-U with Bry, Matt and the kids.

St. Louis himself.

 Brie and Uncle Matt.

 Introducing Matt to "the Outlet" :0)

 Oh St. Louis and all your silly alcohol campaigns.

Uncle Matt pulling the kiddos around in a laundry basket.

 Impromptu picnic at Shaw Park.

 Dinner at the Elephant Bar, thanks to a gift card from the Griffiths.

 "Treasures in Heaven" YW's activity.

 Alex at the Buder Library.

 Perfect book for Brie.

 Brie is constantly asking to ride in the Hintze's new stroller...

can't. get. enough.

 Picnic and playing at Blackburn Park.

 See!  Even willing to risk Hannah wetting her pants ON Brie while riding back to the house ;0)

 Making a picture poster for my Gramps' 90th birthday.

 Memorial Day family swim at the pool.

 Visiting Dada at his office.

 YW Temple Walk.

 Alex's first time driving ;0)

 A very content Brie after Isaac's pool party.  

Pool + friends + treats = Brie's perfect morning.

 Cardinals Game with the Petersens.

 Jon, thanks for letting us borrow your hats.

Me and Ari :0)

go to sleep tired...

...and wake up exhausted :0)  For months Bry has been wanting to go camping.  We were seriously thinking of going this last weekend, but plans changed a bit and I felt bad that we wouldn't be able to go.  So, I schemed a camp out in the Southwicks' livingroom ;0) (Microsoft is paying for the remaining two months of their lease so they said we could use it whenever we wanted.)  Thursday evening, after Bry had completely finished his COMPS (YAY!!), the kids and I picked him up from the metro and drove to the Rocketship Park for a picnic.  We dined on tinfoil dinners and homemade strawberry lemonade.  We headed over to Ted Drewe's for some frozen custard (that was Bry's requested way to celebrating being done) then came home to reveal our secret.  We came up to the porch and he wondered what the sign was about.  I handed him the key, he opened the door and there was our tent all set up with a pair of jammies for each of us neatly folded on the ground.  He was totally surprised, grateful and excited :0)  Although we'd already had dessert I pulled out the s'mores brownies that Brie and I had made.  (Ok, and I made a s'more for each of us because as good as the brownies were they didn't compete with the originals.)  After filling our stomachs with sugar we climbed in the tent, sang some songs, let the kids play around and then laid down for the night.  Our air mattress AND Brie AND Alex's peapod wouldn't fit in the tent so we spent the night on the floor.  After a LONG night I joked with Bry that no wonder you go to bed early when camping...you have to make up for all the hours you toss and turn.  At least that was true this time.  I apologized to Bry that this had been my idea of celebrating, but he was a good sport.  In any case, we all woke up with smiles and had enjoyed our first family "camp out" :0)

Have any of you heard Jim Gaffigan's skit on camping?  Too funny :0)

hold really still.

(7 June 2012)

Blogging about something on the same day as it happened?!  That's a first :0)

Today I took Brie over to Great Clips to get her first official haircut.  We were all finished battling the 'snarles' in her hair.  I'd take 10 minutes to comb her hair after a bath.  She'd wake up the next morning with a whole new crop to comb out.  (I feel for her...she inherited my fine hair...I still get tangles on a regular basis.)  Many a day I'd just throw her hair up in a messy bun because I didn't want to deal with it.  Needless to say it was time for a change.

I asked her several times if it was OK if we cut it really short.  Yep.  As we waited to have her name called she was so quiet, just taking everything in.  Probably wondering what a haircut would entail.  I hoisted her up on the big girl seat and she was so great to hold still...as still as possible for a wiggly 3 yr old.  The lady who cut her hair did a good job interacting with Brie, calling her "baby doll," asking her to hold still, reassuring her and telling her what a great job she was doing.  At the end she got a sucker and I had her hand the coupon to the lady and tell her thank you as I paid.  What a big girl :0)  I was sad to see her long hair go, but love her haircut.  For those of you who have known me for a long time...you know that's the haircut I would have gotten.  Now I can enjoy it on Brie...and she can enjoy jumping, running and playing without the snarles taking over.  Win-win.

P.S. She asked if she could wear her "special occasion" shoes.  Sure thing.  Going to the salon in a special occasion in my book.  Happens less than once a year Chez Nous.

a few finds, 2.

Pink cardigan (the Limited), green & grey shirt (Anne Taylor) 

and grey pants (JJill):  all three were from the Outlet.  

Piece of lettuce in my teeth: chicken tostadas from dinner ;0)

So long to the Southwicks.

Well, it's official....we are nextdoor neighborless again.  Thursday the packers came and boxed up the Southwick's apartment, Friday the movers moved it all out and Saturday they made their way (en avion) to Seattle.  Thankfully we ended up spending lots of time together during spare moments here and there.  Wednesday night we played Bohnanza, Thursday they so generously and thoughtfully treated us to Maggiano's (with their per diem) and Friday they camped out at our place while their house was emptied.  It was fun to chat, share leftovers at lunch and teach them blurb, photoshop and collage making 101.  That afternoon Brie was so anxious to help prime the walls.  It was her nap time, but I figured that it would somehow be emotionally therapeutic for her to help them make final preparations to move.  She was so cute with her mini roller and did a great job for a 3 yr old.  In any case, goodbyes are never fun :0(  A few minutes after saying goodbye Brie was crying and saying that she missed Nelli.  I totally understood...I was already feeling the emptiness set in.  I held her tight as we prayed together.  Oh change.  Oh goodbyes.  But it's worth the joy that precedes the change.  I'm trying to open my arms to receive all that the Lord now has in store for us, for He surely has much to give.

 (I had Taylor take some pictures of Martha and I sitting at our porches.  We spent many a moment sitting like this while the kiddos played... chatting, sharing thoughts, experiences, encouragement and testimonies.  Sweet times and good memories.)

Best of luck with your new adventures in Seattle, Southwicks!