What a PERFECT Weekend!

This weekend we had the opportunity to reconnect with some amazing friends, and to just get away for what I am calling a much needed mini vacation!

We took a short trip for the week to Indy to see our friends, let our children hang out and play, for us all to reconnect and for the boys to head to Monster Jam.  It was wonderful!  I got the added bonus of being able to catch up on some much needed sleep, I did not get out of my pajamas on Saturday and we just relaxed, watch the kids run and play, drank some wine, and had a WONDERFUL time. 

It was a blessing that I am not sure I knew I really needed.  Sure I knew I had worked LONG hours last week and that being gone this week would be really hard and LONG again but I really had no idea how much I needed to just sit down, hear our kids laugh and to truly relax.  There was no laundry, just a few meals to clean up after, no errands to run, and for the gals, no place to go.  We just had to make sure the boys got ready in time to get to the MONSTER TRUCKS in time! 
The boys were all so excited to go to the monster trucks, imagine Cale and Evan with deep, raspy voices says, "MONSTER TRUCKS!" 

They all had a great time, the kids were great together, the adults had a wonderful time and truly it was what Nickole called, "an epic weekend" 

Here are just a few photos that my hubby sent me during their trip:



This was the 1st photo he sent me, I asked for one of the kids



This was the 2nd photo I got

3rd time was a charm to see the boys!

And unfortunately I cannot get to the other photos right now - I will have to get them here soon

Thank you Eric, Nickole, Evan and Anniston!  It was a great weekend!

Doing a little dance - almost to a BIG goal!

So last week I never got to the celebration for myself, I am almost to a weight loss goal. 

Granted I started this goal over 2.5 years ago but whatever, I have four kids, a hubby, a full time career and a million things going on - sorry if my weight was not the main focus or goal - whatever my excuse I am almost there.  FIVE more pounds, that is it and I will be there!  I was so excited to see that goal in sight.  I really had given up and was just going to "live with it" and just be a little upset with myself and miserable because I was close but never have time to work out, okay so I don't make the time, and why eat healthy I wanted to be happy.  Well the more I thought about it the more I realized that I will be much happier if I can just get my weight where I have wanted to for the last two years. 

All of the credit goes to the Weight Watcher app and to my company for allowing me to have an iPhone!  That is what finally made it so easy that I had to track everything I put in my mouth.  That and I want a new pair of jeans and a new swimsuit, I refuse to buy the same size so I knew that those two factors were enough motivators.

Please do not get me wrong, if you know me I do not obsess about my weight, I live with it, I own it and I control what I eat.  I love my sweets and the adults beverages, I have been known to walk enough activity points to eat a donut!  But I did not want to be where I was, I look and feel much better without those 15 extra pounds. 

I LOVE my body, it has safely carried four amazing kiddos, it is not a pretty tummy on the outside and has really no muscle on the inside but it is where they all lived for 34 or 36 weeks, depending on the set of twins.  It definitely has not failed in our goal to be parents.  I know have to do the work to get to where I want to be, so what if it takes me months.  So what if I gain 3 pounds on a mini vacation away, it can go away with hard work and discipline.  So what if when I get to that goal weight my body is not the same shape as it would have been 6 years ago at that weight.  It is all different now, FOUR babies grew in that tummy and the rest of my body supported that weight - GASP 57 pounds or so that I gained when pregnant!

For now, just a little dance party - which I count as exercise - that I am only five pounds away from a major goal in my journey to being a better me!

Whatever your goal, I hope you never lose sight, sure the path may not be a straight one to get to the goal but my paths have never been straight in life and what I have accomplished.  That is why I love it, it is mine, it is my journey with my cheerleaders along the way to celebrate and wipe my tears and one that I have never lost sight of - even when there were mornings of donut cravings to which I caved! 
Hold yourself accountable, you are the one you will disappoint the most if you do not make it! 

A moment of parenting reassurance

As a parent I often wonder if Matt and I are doing a good job of raising our children.  No it is not easy, but we are doing the best we can.  We know that they can be angels and usually are when they are with other folks but we also know that they can be little devils when they are with us. 

They are kids, it is what they do and they like to see how far they can push us, I know that, I often have to remind myself that but it still feels great when we do get a little reminder that the little people we are raising are turning out just fine and that they are learning positive lessons in life.

Matt and I had this opportunity to glimpse into the polite side of Maggie last Friday.  At school they offer a dance class they you can sign your children up for during the day.  During this particular class each girl who is taking the class could bring a friend.  Josie selected Maggie to attend the class with her and we received the following note from Ms. Lauren as well as a similar update from Ms. Kate when we picked up the kids....

"Trina & Matt,
Josie picked Maggie to go to dance class with her today because she could bring a friend.  After they were done, the teacher made a point to come down and let me know how well behaved and polite Maggie was!  She said that at the end Maggie walked up to her on her own and thanked her for letting her dance with them today.  So I just wanted to relay the message to you guys and remind you again how awesome she is :)

Have a great weekend!
Ms. Lauren"

I was so proud and shared with Maggie how proud of her I am for her actions, thoughtfulness and kindness.  I like to think that at some point Matthew and I are doing okay as parents however, we cannot take all of the credit, our support system definitely reinforces these manners as well.  Maggie is not always the first to thank people much less to go and do it on her own without promoting, maybe that is why is was such a wonderful note and story to hear.   I am once again grateful for Ms. Lauren and for the fact that she shared this with us, Ms. Kate too. 

Whatever the reason for this showcase of awesomeness, this little being has impressed her momma and I am proud. 

What she does not know is that now that she has shown these manners we will for sure continue to make sure that she is using them and that they become part of who she is in everything she does. 

Oh Doodle - we love you and are proud of you - we are grateful for the lessons you are applying in your life, your wonderful teachers and all of those around you who have given you these positive influences!

Caden is the Star Student

Finally, this young man has been waiting weeks - well really since his twin sister was chosen over 7 weeks ago that feels like eternity to him - for his chance to be the Star Student of Ms. Lauren's Pre K class.

Well my son, that time finally arrive for the week of 1/14/13-1/18/13 and we could not be more proud of you Caden!  He picked his books to share with his class all by himself, he reminded me on Tuesday that I forgot to take his picture in for the class and he was sure to share with us what his class thought of the books that he had chosen.  I did get his picture on Tuesday morning, the soccer one was his request, he is going to play 3 sports: baseball, soccer and indoor soccer.

As you may remember they get to answer some special questions then they are the Star Student, I am very grateful Ms. Lauren wrote these down for me and here we go...

When I grow up I want to be: "Scooby Doo"

I am proud of myself because: "I've been a good listener"

What I like most about school: "play with Lego's"

The subject I like the most in school: "coloring"

I am good at: "doing games"

I am a Start Student because: "I've been good"

And here is the extra note from Ms. Lauren - I sure hope she knows how much I appreciate these -

"Caden picked the Cars "Go, Go, Go" book for me to read to the class.  He was VERY excited because (in his words) "it's a Kindergarten book"  Which then got all the children talking about how excited they are for Kindergarten!"

The book was a present from Pam and Little Frank for Christmas and he enjoys this book, I am not sure if it is the fact that it is Cars, a Kindergarten book or just because he likes to read it in his own words.  Whatever it may be it makes me smile. 

Just now he came over and asked, "mommy, does my smile look good without my tooth?"  (Remember our visit from the tooth fairy? We have lost our 1st tooth! Of course it does buddy, of course it does. 

I love that sweet smiling face and I am proud of you. 

Taking a moment and trying to balance

Right now I have mid year reviews I should be writing, a deck to complete (well two actually), over 156 emails that are unread, Kappa paperwork to complete, laundry to be folded and put away and a GAZILLION other things that need to be done around this house but I am calling a time out - there are two things that I need to recognize with my children - hold on dance party is breaking out....

just sing the song, "Here I Am" by Barbie

Okay - after 4 minutes of dancing to Barbie's Princess and the Popstar (it is the important things in life) I am back to the recognition.  Caden was Star Student at school, Maggie continues to prove to us, when we are not around, that we are raising her to be a wonderful young lady and I am close to a 2.5 year goal.  Even though all of those other things are happening and going on I need to take this time and get a few things down for us to remember. 

After so much has happened over the last few weeks and then the loss of the young twelve year old girl int the accident of 80+ cars yesterday I know these are the moments that need to be recorded.  So as I sit here with my decaf coffee trying to finish this entry, I am watching my four amazing little people, they make me smile, they warm my heart, make me proud and most of all make me laugh. 

Time out again - we have to rock out once again - btw we have 3 guitar players and one singer!

Her Cinderella is missing her leg - literally!

On Monday Maggie came over to me and was in a tizzy, she could not find Cinderella's leg.  I was very perplexed so of course I asked some more questions. 

"What do you mean you cannot find Cinderella's leg?" Her reply, "it is gone, I lost it like a few weeks ago"

"So your Cinderella does not have a leg and there is only one there?" Her reply, "yes I do not know where the other one went, it is gone"

"Okay do you know where you lost this leg?" her reply, "no, no I don't but we must find it!" (she was becoming excited)

"Do you have the Princess so that I can what is really going on here" her reply, "she is missing her leg (growing frustration with her mother) and I lost it a few weeks ago, I just don't know where it is"

After that she disappeared, I guessed that she had moved onto the next thing but nope, she was off finding that Cinderella and by golly - she is missing her leg!

Of course I took the very uncaring mom route and started to laugh and laugh hard.  I had a flashback to my childhood when my sister Erica would take the heads off of my  Barbie's - I do not recall her ever getting a leg off but still this little mishap brought a smile to my face as I thought of the many tears I cried, the screams I made at her and how I never wanted her to play with my Barbies because she always tore their heads off!

So we have a one leg Cinderella, we are searching for her leg but in the mean time teaching Maggie a lesson that just because she only has one leg doesn't mean she isn't any less of a Princess. 

She is beautiful as always and can play just the same as if she had two legs.

Oh and as for my headless Barbies - we never did fix them all but I love my sister to this day and have forgiven her for all of the destruction she did to my dolls.



We have lost our 1st Tooth!

It was an exciting time in our home last night - we have lost our first tooth and I really did not think it would come this soon but could not be more proud of Caden, how he handled the situation and how he reacted!  You never know with this one which way things will go but he did awesome!

Caden's tooth has been loose now for about 4 weeks, we really had know idea but did learn this at the dentist when he at least let them count his teeth.  He has been wiggling that little tooth with his tongue for 4 weeks.  When you would ask him to do the wiggling yourself he would cover his tooth with his lip - there was no getting a finger in that mouth. 

Each week I noticed it was moving more and more, he had a gap where it started to go side to side but he would not let you put your fingers in there to pull it.  He was going to do this on his terms and I was okay with that.

Well yesterday proved to be the day.  He went to Memaw Jo's after school since I had the girls at dance and Memaw said it was really loose when she picked him up.  He of course wanted to show her his loose tooth.  She was worried it would come out while he was eating dinner - it was almost able to lay flat at this point - but he would not let her pull it.  Memaw told him to just keep wiggling it and that it would eventually fall out.

On their way back to the house as they were driving down 50 and approaching the stop light he did it - he knocked it out with this tongue.  Well that caused a bit of panic because A. it was dark B. they were in a moving vehicle with no adult near him and C. it was his first tooth that we definitely wanted to leave for the tooth fairy. 

Memaw asked him if he had it in his hand, he said yes and she said whatever you do, do not lose it.  He held it in his hand the few more minutes home and came in smiling and so excited to share his joy and to show me his "little" tooth.  Caden could really not get over how little his tooth was, I kept thinking with a tooth that little is it not too soon to lose it?  The dentist has informed me they are the right age for losing teeth.  He did say that it tasted like yuck - meaning the blood that came from it was gross but lucky there wasn't a lot of blood because again, they were in a moving vehicle!

I love my sweet little boy.

He definitely over thinks a lot of things and tonight it was about going to sleep in his bed when the tooth fairy would come to our house for her very first visit.

I could see the panic, the lower lip was out, the tears in the eyes and the genuine concern. He did not want the tooth fairy in his room! 

We compromised, I was afraid if we didn't he would never go to bed. We wrote her a letter saying we were excited for her to visit. It decided to leave the tooth on the kitchen table so she didn't wake Caden. He signed the letter and looked completely relieved with the solution. 

I cannot complain. It definitely makes it easier on the tooth fairy! 

This is an exciting and new "1st" for us - it is a big growing up 1st.  He was so proud this morning talking about that little tooth and showing his daddy how he carried it in his hand.  He was also very excited to have an ice cream party last night to celebrate. 

The one downside of this excitement and joy, his twin, Miss Maggie is so very upset that she has not yet lost a tooth even though 2 of hers are loose. 

Ah the joys of manging twins! 

I sense this is just the beginning of the competition among these two! 

For now we are celebrating our lost tooth and just trying to capture the little things in these little people's lives.

What a weekend!

Whew - what a weekend!  From feeling under the weather to getting things crossed off the to do list we did it all!

Friday:  What started as me not feeling well that morning got worse as the day went on.  I did not feel like I could miss work and really did not know if I was sick or if it was the emotional roller coaster which I had taken a ride on during Thursday that was giving me the feelings I had.  I honestly wished I would have puked - I would have felt 10 times better!  I decided to leave work about 3:00 and made it home, although I do not exactly remember the drive home much.  As soon as I hit the house I went to sleep.  Matthew called to say he was getting the kids and that they would head to the horse track so I could sleep - we had a bye in soccer.  God Love Him!  He picked up the kids and his reinforcements and off they went for a night at the track. 

Our kids LOVE the horse track.  Cale always roots for the Blue one and Mallory the Pink, Caden prefers to pick by how the horse looks and Maggie, well she is either into it or wants to go home.  They all did great per daddy and I was grateful for the quiet time and rest.  However, it is funny, I had the house to myself, it was not a complete disaster but yet I could not sit still!  I knew I needed to rest but I kept thinking about all of the things I should be doing around the house.  It was WAY to quiet, I am not used to the house that quiet. 

I made myself sit still, well after I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, made some soup and grabbed a movie - I cannot remember the last time I got to pick the movie!  It really was not an easy task to sit there and get better but I did it.  And just as my movie was ending my family made it home.  I was glad to get up and help them all in and to get them ready for bed.

Let's call Friday a recoup day and one that was a great lesson!

Saturday:  This day started out as any weekend does, Cale hollering from his room that he wants to get out of his bed.  We brought him into our room hoping for a few more minutes of sleep but he was having none of that!  So down we came and off our day started at 7:30 AM!  This kid needs to learn to sleep in - please buddy just until 8:00!  Laundry was waiting and there was a lot to do, I was feeling a bit better so why not get going.  After coffee, breakfast and seeing daddy off to go do little league sign ups we got to the laundry monster that comes out of the kids rooms.  Really you cannot imagine all of the laundry these little people can create!  We got it sorted, they are learning to help, got our loads going, had a few fights, played nicely together, cleaned the laundry room, tried on our swimsuits (it was 60 degrees out in January), ate lunch and the little ones went down for their nap while daddy went to ski for a few hours.  Whew - I sat down with Caden and Maggie to see if they would "rest" as they had to go to a birthday party that evening.  After about an hour of rest we decided that there was mail to sort and bills to pay and trains to play so off we went.

The evening consisted of 3 of us heading to a birthday party for our buddy Xander and the other 3 of us running errands!  From 4-7 it was divide conquer as usual! 
My half was the complete with the charming 2 year olds and they were angels.  We went to the jewelry store - I finally got the rest of our 10 year anniversary gift and LOVE it, to Lowe's for the paint for the dining room, to dinner - no they did not bring their money to pay for our date and they chose McDonald's - and then to Kroger for a few things we needed.  I can say I am one lucky mom, they were awesome, never acted out, listened and only asked for one extra item at the grocery!  It is definitely getting easier to get around with the kids.

We finished up and came home to prepare the dining room for the painting task that was for Sunday.  It was a long day that accomplished a lot and ended with some quiet time on the couch with my hubby watching football, Pawn Stars and the Miss America Pageant. 

Sunday:  Well it did not start as planned but it ended just fine!  Great in fact!  Matt and the boys headed off to the Cavalcade of Customs, Papaw Casey was supposed to take Caden but was not feeling well and the gals and I watched the Miss America Pageant, of course I DVR'd it how else will my little pageant queen know what it is? 

I finally got the girls to a point where I felt I could actually open the paint can.  Do you know how hard it is to juggle painting - a dark color I may add -, making lunch, solving fights, keeping them out of the paint, telling them why they cannot paint, and finding the toy that they just know is somewhere in this house?  It was not easy but I was determined and we got it done!

The day has ended with an awesome dinner with Memaw Jo, Papaw Frank and Big Papaw - they came to rescue the kids from daddy who hates the mess they were making with toys - our dining room is almost put back together - there are some changes we are making to the kids library and I need to head to Ikea! - and now I am just about to head to bed myself. 

You may ask why record this weekend?  Well because - for once it was a "normal" weekend plus I am SUPER excited to be able to check these home "to dos" off the list!  Only 6 more rooms to paint!   I am blessed because we can have this weekend time, some families do not get it and others do not have their health.  I am just grateful for the things we have and I want our children to know that as they read this when they are older. 

Here is to a good week - let's stay off the roller coasters - and one that is productive!

WHAT. A. DAY!

I am very glad this day has come to an end, it has been an emotional roller coaster that I did not expect or want to get on and exhausting!

Just when you think you are getting prepared for a meeting and that things could be good today I got a bit blindsided by something I was not expecting to hear.  But I could not dwell, I had 7 visitors coming in from Naperville and I had to be ready - so after a few minutes in the time out I placed myself in to regroup, I realized it was time to pull up my big girl panties and move forward to do the job I had to get done today.

A whole day of walking through our next year plans - lots of things crammed into my head that I was trying to keep straight - and it makes for one exhausting day!  This was day two of the plan review so needless to say my brain is done and my body physically hurts.  However, I have to say I am one very lucky person to work where I do and with the people I do.  My team rocked today - they were so prepared, represented their businesses well and just rocked what they needed to do today - I was VERY proud of both days really. 

Then the work day was done, thank goodness I was able to leave at my normal time because yesterday my poor little ones were at school for 11.5 hours since my meeting went long, I felt horrible yesterday.  The 45 minute commute I have can either be my best friend or worst enemy - today it was a mix of both.  This is my time to think and plan, today however, it was not the best to have all of this time to think about what had happened today so I mixed in a few phone calls to my sister and mom - they can always make me feel better.  Before I knew it I was at school and getting my hugs and smiles from my little ones.  THAT MADE IT ALL GO AWAY!  They are what is important, it maybe sad but I often need their smiling faces to deliver the reminder of what is truly important in life.  Selling food is my day time job that I love but being a mom is the title that I am proud to hold and never goes away and the one that makes everyday better, I would not trade it for anything.

My point tonight, bad days will come and go, you will never be able to get all of your work especially in this field but what is truly important is the family you go home to every day! 
Mine is wonderful and right now Mallory, Cale and I are snuggled in the couch watching Mickey's Christmas (for like the 100 millionth time in a week, I already know what will happen which is why I can write!) but I wouldn't have it any other way.  The dishes and laundry are going to have to wait, we have bonding to do - do you  know how hard it is to type without being able to move because you little loves want to lay on you?  It is a wonderful feeling and one I would not trade for the world. 

To my little reminders, I love you more than you will ever know, I never knew how much I needed you in my life to balance it and to give me a reason for not bringing my work home with me. 

Thank you for your smiles, giggles, independent spirits, hugs and unconditional love!

One of my favorite photos of my little reminders of what life is about!

"I just don't know when I am going to turn 6!??"

This is the question that is pondering the little overactive mind of my just turned FIVE year old Miss Maggie.  She is worried about this and so much so that it caused a lot of distress the other day at school.  Her little brain just does not shut off at times and right now this is the question that is burning for her.  She cannot even fathom the thought that this sixth birthday is still another 10 months aways.  I worry she will rush through being five but didn't you want to rush through all of your birthday's to the next big one?

On this day at school, she had helped Ms. Lauren take some library books over to their new room (lots of moving going on at school) and after Ms. Lauren told her to lay down and rest.  Well when Ms. Lauren looked back over, Maggie was so in thought about this particular question she was almost in tears.  Ms. Lauren tried to comfort her and tell her that her birthday will come again and not to worry.  However, Maggie had to work through this thought and question.  She told Ms. Lauren, "I know my birthday is after Thanksgiving and before Christmas and that in the New Year I will turn a year older."  She says to Ms. Lauren, "I just cannot wait that long and don't know when my birthday will ever get here"  Well Mags, you have it right but unfortunately all of that will have to until another 10 months to get here. 

Ms. Lauren tried to get her excited about Valentine's Day but nope she did not want to hear it - not even St. Patrick's day, Memorial Day, 4th of July or Labor Day would let her see there are many months before we hit the "busy season" again.

Ms. Lauren and I talked about it.  We both think that because there is so much celebration within a 7 week time span (Thanksgiving, Birthday, Christmas and New Year's) for this little one she just cannot think about going so long without a celebration or major holiday.  She did calm down and final take a little nap but her little brain thinks too much (I wonder where she gets that?)

So my little over thinker - we will do our best to celebrate along the way - you may even get a half birthday cake or something but let's try to not rush through these years, momma is having a hard enough time with you growing up too fast anyways. 

She is just my free spirit, independent, over thinker who we love more everyday!

Maggie - just wait 325 more days and that 6th birthday will be here - and it will be a BIG celebration as your birthday falls on THANKSGIVING this year - we have a lot to be thankful for my little one!



WOW - way to long, so much to record just so little time

Okay, it has been a long time since I have been able to record anything that has been going on with the kids.  The good news is that we have been living life and making memories.  The bad news - I want to get it all down before I forget it.

So life has been going but I have not taken the time out to get it all down the way I would like, I am struggling getting photos posted here but have SO MANY that I want to get up and share.  I will get there - baby steps and remembering to breathe are my mottoes right now.  It would really help if the Internet here would cooperate too, ugh technology sometimes. 

Christmas with the kids was great - all 4 days of it - we love being with family but I have to say I am very glad to be returning to our "normal" routine.  I saw "normal" because it is our normal but would look insane to anyone on the outside I am sure. 

The kids are playing nicely together with all of their new toys.  We have built numerous tracks of variation with the boys, rocked out with all 4 as they play guitars and sing.  Played babies and Barbies with the girls and enjoyed some video games together.  We have watched wonderful new movies and are finding out favorites to wear out.  It has truly been just a great couple of weeks together for family time.
I was ready for the Christmas decorations to come down but Cale is very sad, he said just last night, "no take down Christmas, I love it, it pretty"  He is not happy that all of the lights we look at each morning and evening to school and home are coming down.

We are trying to slow down and enjoy the moments we have together.  I am hoping to record more here and to really learn to use my wonderful camera.  I hope to spend more time with friends and to just continue to enjoy our lives.

Here is to a Happy and Healthy 2013 - we are really looking forward to all that is heading our way in the year.