Running

I found an odometer app for my phone and  I really like it. It's called Endomondo. I used it today at the park and it keeps track of distance, speed, and time. I kept Luke home from school since we had a stomach bug this weekend,  I just brought the double jogger and a bike that Luke and Bella take turns on. We r taking a break at the park but have gone 2.3 miles with 1/2 mile till we get back to the car. Time is slow cause the kids want to stop every couple mins for a break. I guess they r out of shape from lack of exercise all winter. Lol. I think we at 35 mins but hey we will get it done.

Our first Apple tree

Let's hope it survives the summer

Royce Outside

Royce's new favorite place to be is outside, he just loves it! If he is awake and the weather is nice 9 times out 10 you will find him on the porch or in the backyard, and for the most part he stays out of trouble. He actually goes to the door and pounds on it, sometimes calling DaDa sometimes he just sqwauks to get my attention. If I don't let him out he gets so sad and walks around the house mopey. If I let him out he gives me his million dollar Royce smile. His favorite is going and sitting by the dog kennel, playing with the kitty, collecting every rock he sees and sword fighting with sticks (which Luke taught him how to do, lol). Just a side note the poor kid has just cut one tooth on the bottom and has four coming in on top. He has been running a fever on and off and when he has the fever he has been throwing up. Poor guy! let's hope these teeth push through soon.

Running

Just did the 5 k on my treadmill. 32 mins

Running

Took the kids out and ran 1.5 miles on the dirt road. It felt good to b outside. Didn't time it.

Running

I recently signed me and James up for a 5k this month and a 10k in April. This is my attempt at staying active
And somewhat fit during this pregnancy. So I have decided I want to keep a sort of journal of my daily workouts here on my blog feel free to skip over or ignore them they will be titled running. Lately I have been running 3 miles about 4x a week at about 35 min sometimes slower sometimes faster and that includes warm ups. To be honest I kind of feel like a slug while I run my body just doesn't move like it normally does, but that's ok I am just going to keep going until I can't anymore or it gets to uncomfortable. Now that the weather is warming up I will be heading out doors more which is what I really love. So here we go!

Bye bye chickens

With me being pregnant again and James gone, oh about 70% of the time, I have been trying to simplify our life a little so I don't feel overwhelmed and can focus on the most important things like out children, so we sold the chickens this morning. Sad but a good thing, next we are going to try and sell Oscar our male golden retriever. I feel like right now instead of having two adult in our house at 100% I am here at about 50% (because of nausea and fatigue) and James is at 30% (because he is gone). It leaves a lot missing. I do need to count my blessing I have been less sick this time around and I have been able to exercise which has help me not feel as depressed as I have during other pregnancy. I told James the other day that yeah its a bummer we have to sacrifice some the things in our life that we want to do or like but that we are sacrificing to bring a child into the world and that the most important thing.

Smoking

Just my thoughts. Why is it still legal to smoke in restaurants in Texas? Why would I want to risk my health breathing in someone's second hand smoke just so I can eat out, sorry not going to happen.

Kindergarten

It was time for a change. Today is Lukes first day of kindergarten. I cried for about 10 mins last night. I am pretty sure it was just baby hormones.

Bella funny

Last night while the kids were sleeping James shaved the beard he had been growing for about the last month. When Bella notice it was gone this morning her response was. "Dad you need your beard so you can be handsome, how are people going to know your James??? Just put it back on." Lol

Royce's 12 mos checkup

Weight 24.3 (90%).
Height 31.5 (95%).    
Head 18.5 (77%).  
He is developmentally right on track and is a very healthy, happy young man.

If 3 is a crowd 4 will be a party!

Big brother to bee!

He's a smasher

Royce enjoyed his birthday cupcakes!
Especially mushing it between his fingers.

Happy 1st birthday Royce

It's been a wonderful year with Royce in our family! He is such a joy always ready with a smile and a kiss. He is such a sweet tender loving boy. He has decided he likes walking and is now walking more than crawling. His vocabulary is exploding and he says a new word everyday (that probably only I can understand), his favorites are: hi, itty (for kitty), uh oh, apple and Oscar. He had a fun birthday. It started out at the library for some play and storytime, then we went to the park for a picnic lunch and fun with friends. Now we are  home we gave him his present which he loved. The cupcakes are ready we are just waiting for daddy to get home from his work trip so we can sing happy birthday to our buddy.

Connors baby blessing

We went to San Antonio over the weekend for James brothers Joe's new babies blessing. We got to see James parent and his sister Sonya it was a lot of fun. Here are the only pics I got from the trip of the kids swimming at the hotel pool. It was a salt water heated pool, so nice!

A keeper

I love swinging and dogs licking my toes in one gleefully expression!

New Years in San Antonio

We spent New Years in San Antonio this year with James brother Joe his wife Lisa and there four kids. It was lot of fun, we went hiking, shopping, had fireworks and as always, with Lisa, delicous food, but most important the kids had so much fun playing with there cousin. Bella and Sadie are really close and Luke love his two older cousins Taylor and Hunter.

I HEART LEAF U.

We have hundreds of these in our yard. Bella likes to decorate our house with them and give them to me and everytime she does she says "this is so u remember I love u".

Christmas 2012

The thing Luke and Bella wanted most this year was a trampoline. Luke was so disappointed Christmas morning when he woke up and he couldn't find one under the tree. We thought maybe Santa ran out of room on his sleigh. We let the kids open one present Christmas morning and one in the car on the way to church then when we got home  they walked in the backyard and almost made it to the back door before they noticed the giant trampoline. It has been great! It's such a motivator for the kids to go out and exercise. Ovrall it was a wonderful low key Christmas where got to celebrate our saviors birth and spend together as a family.

Family tradition continued

A couple years ago we went to Maggianos for Christmas eve lunch. We did it again today. Yum! And who can beat this many leftovers!
No cooking for me tomorrow :)

Bella comment of the day

I told the kids if they cleaned the den I would let them watch a show. Bella's response was "I can't really pick up the den really well with my little hands".

Build a Bear with cousin

We went to build a bear down in San Antonio. To say the least the kids loved it and all three came home with a bear they adore! Bella named hers Rapunzel, Luke named his Fluffy, and Luke also named Roy's bear Thomas.

Eggs!

Found these in the chicken coop this morning. I guess that's what happens when u run out of chicken pellets and feed them dog food instead. Lol

Cute face disease

This kid has got it bad!

Royce's First Steps!

It has happened this morning in the Residence Inn he was holding onto the couch, I said "come here Royce" and he took two steps to me! Good job baby boy! Here is a picture of him getting really excited about a stuffed Maximus (from Tangled) horse I gave him at the Disney store. He love anything soft and cuddly but especially stuffed animals!

Bella turned 4, Happy Bithday!

When Luke turned 4 I thought he was so big but Bella still seems young. Maybe it because I have Luke to compare her too. We had a fun day full of swimming, Chuckee-cheeses, pizza, ice cream and as many shows as they could stay up to watch (they finally fell asleep at nine thirty which is late compared to their usual bedtime of 7pm). Bella has changed so much this year! Turning from a toddler to a little girl. She is becoming more aware of others around her and really wanting to help and please. She still comes and gets in bed with us almost every night. Whenever she doesn't want to do something her classic response is "I can't my legs hurt" lol. She is very creative and loves anything pink or has to do with mermaids. Her best friend is still her big brother Luke. They spend hours playing together everyday. She is a bit of a tomboy and doesn't mind getting a dirty or wrestling a little. She is always surprising with her natural ability to create, draw and understand peoples needs. She is definately a nice mix of both James and I. Her nick is Sassy pant which she will refer to herself as (a little of me). She can also get absorbed in a deep imagination (a little James), she is quite the actress. Most of all she is a darling blessing to our lives and I am thankful for everyday we get the chance to spend together.

Houston

We didn't get the AC fixed in our car cause we didn't think we would need it till spring. We were wrong!

More Willowbrook Mall pics

Blast from the past

James grew up near Houston, in Spring TX. We were able to go to his old ward this past Sunday. I got to meet so many of the families he has told me stories about. It was wonderful to meet these kind people and get to hear stories of James. The Child's family who James actually lived with during the last semester of his senior year invited us for dinner. Here is James and them with their 2 youngest kids are pictured below.

BELLA'S BIRTHDAY EVE

WE R AT MACCARONI GRILL. BELLA GOT TO GO AND PICK OUT A BARBIE MERMAID FROM TOYS R US TODAY. She thinks its her birthday present little does she know I have another one for her tomorrow. When we get back to Homewood Suites Daddy is going to take her swimming. ONE HAPPY GIRL!

FHE

We went and checked out the Christmas lights in Houston tonight. We found this awesome house. There was another with lights syncronized to music so awesome!

Willowbrooks mall play place Houston

Growing up