Sunday, October 28, 2012

Bugles and Besties

If I ever, EVER, needed a Girls trip with my
best friends, THIS was the year I really needed it!
It's definitely been a rougher year by far and 
I was desperate for some down time.
Thankfully I was able to go to
Time Out For Women with some
of my favorite women!
They all drove in and picked me up and we
started the weekend with some good food
and shopping.  Getting stuck in
lovely Houston traffic is merely the perfect
setup for a ridiculous laugh session.
Brianne said vehicle, I heard Bugle, and from
there on, hilarity ensued.
Tears and laughter are my favorite combo.

We scored a fabulous internet deal and got
 a huge 2 bedroom suite to stay in for the night!  

L-R: Cassey, Me, Mandy, Brianne, baby Tatum, Allison

TOFW had some great speakers- equally
hilarious and inspiring!  I came away
realizing how small acts can make a BIG impact.
I always think that my little small things
will never make a difference, so why bother?
Now, I will bother. I can make a difference.


Hilary Weeks gave one of my favorite talks
of the weekend.  She spoke on the effects
our thoughts can have on our overall life.  
This quote really stuck with me,
"Your thoughts more than anything will
be the determining factor in what you
accomplish in your life"
I'm gonna try to redirect any 
negative thoughts
that try to creep in on me.
We ended up seeing Hilary later at Cheesecake Factory
and got to talk to her for a few minutes!


Me, Mandy, Cassey, Allison, Brianne, & Ashley

There have been many times this past year where
I have felt like I was drowning.
I could not escape, nor make it any better
no matter how hard I tried.
Until Tim's school is over, we just
have to deal the best we can.
The light at the end of the tunnel is
getting closer, I just need to stick it out
a little longer with out having
a major breakdown! ;)  
A speaker from Africa reminded me
to be thankful and in awe of the smallest things.
Shoes and ATMs aren't really things I give much
thought to, but now I will.  We are blessed
to live in America.  How spoiled we are, and 
how easily we forget how the rest of
the world lives.


Pigging out at Cheesecake Factory

When we get together the main focus is
"Where are we going to EAT?!"
PF Chang's and Cheesecake Factory
were the clear winners!
We also had a ridiculous midnight stop at Taco Cabana.




Being goofy at Sam Moon

This mannequin had the BIGGEST boobs I have ever seen on
a mannequin!!  I just had to feel her up..hahaha!

I'm so glad I got to have a weekend away!  We always have a
blast!  I love you girls so much more than you know!

But I must say, I missed Miles a LOT!
That usually doesn't happen to me when I go away
for such a short trip.  But I kept looking at his pictures 
over and over again!  I hugged all the kids
extra long when I got back!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Beach with the Cousins

Right before school started, 
my bro-in-law, Dennis & sweet wife Katie,
invited us to their beach cabin in Galveston.  
Which was perfect, since
we hadn't been in 2 years and I was dying 
to go to the beach!!  
We hadn't been able to do any "vacationy" 
things with the kids this summer, 
so they were SO excited!

Miles was SO happy to be running around on the deck

While the men & a couple of the boys were
picking up a boat, I took the rest of 
the kids down to the beach.
Miles had never been and was not
so happy at first...
I don't think I like this, Mom.

He got over it and proceeded to get very sandy.

That is a mix of Cheetos and sand. Yum!


Marci and cousin Lyndsy

Crazy cousins!



Baily & Bradley fishing from the cabin

Jayden just hangin out

My cute lil Beach Bum


Marci caught a fish and was so happy!


Miles and LaKay playing together


Miles kept trying to open the door, little stinker!
Maddox and Isaac were running around so much
I never even got any pics of them!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Summer Of Seals

A couple of friends asked me to do a little
competition with them over the summer.
I've been wanting to get in better shape, so
I agreed with out asking any questions.
I assumed it was just a little competition
with just our group of friends.
I assumed wrong.  Ha!
The little competition was the
Summer Of Seals challenge.
*Based off Navy Seals training, in case you were thinking...


Or this.....


Out of our group of friends, there were
 2 girls teams of 5 and 
2 boys teams of 5.

We had 12 weeks to do four
 30 min workouts per week.

And to end the 12 weeks..a big competition...
in which I had to wear a bathing suit and
swim in front of people. Lots of people.
Something that I have not done since I was
10, during summer rec swim lessons..

I was a little freaked out, to say the least!
I even contemplated quitting a week before 
the big competition.  But I did it!  I had
lots of help and encouragement 
from my great friends!

-Competition day-

500 meter swim 
max pushups in 2 min.
max situps in 2 min.
max pullups in 2 min. 
1.5 mile run

Yep. All that. Together. One after another.
Whew!!

Team "Jiggles and Giggles"


And of course I'm the only one making a "tough" face! Haha


Me and Sabrina with our matching watches to time our laps


I really exceeded all my goals and 
beat almost all of my best times!
I really impressed myself by shaving 3min off my 
best practice swim time!
That is a Lot in swim time! 
I was dead tired after and still sore 3 days later.
I can't say it was fun, but I did feel pretty 
accomplished having done it.
So I will definitely do it again.