Dinner Time!!

Friday night we had the rehearsal dinner for my cousin Lynn's wedding. It was SO much fun! The food was amazing and Brooke and Caroline thought that the party was a blast. They slept like champs that night sleeping well past 8:00-fabulous.

Pre-dinner.

The wedding had a light Disney theme...so Brooke dressed accordingly.

 Flower Girl / Ring Bearer

So much fun!!

We could hardly wait for the wedding....

Maggie's 21!!!

I can't believe it.

The youngest sibling is finally 21. Crazy right??

At midnight on Thursday...Amy, Maggie and I headed to the casino in celebration of the 'big' day.

 Contemplating her last few min. of being 20

 Nothing like a photo in the parking garage

Nothing like a free necklace (complete in a velvet bag)

We had a GREAT time (some of us more then others...:) ) and are SO happy for you!!

Happy Birthday Maggie!!!

Wedding / Thanksgiving / Birthday Extravaganza

Wow-what a long and amazing weekend. This is going to take more then one little post to get through. Where to begin....

Our weekend began on Wednesday with the rehearsal practice for my cousin Lynn's wedding. I had my camera with me and was fully prepared to take pictures, but having both girls in a chapel at dinner time didn't make it easy.

Zero pictures were taken, but a successful practice was had. Brooke did amazing and I felt fully confident in her flower girl abilities.

Thursday came and it was Thanksgiving time!!!

 Aunt Lindsay & Brooke

Caroline & Caden

I guess I didn't do so great with the Thanksgiving pictures either :(

We had a great time, though, at Gary's Aunt Bridget's house and at my parents as well.

That night, Amy, Maggie & I took off to celebrate Maggie's 21st birthday at midnight!! Post to come tomorrow...

P90X-Week 9

This workout is hard to keep up with...especially when you have a rehearsal on Wednesday, Thanksgiving on Thursday, youngest sisters 21st birthday celebration, rehearsal dinner on Friday and wedding on Saturday.

Whew...I am exhausted after typing it all!

But, we are sticking with it.

63 Days Down
27 Days to Go

HER show

The other night, we headed over to my parents house to hang out for a bit. Right before it was time to head home, Brooke got a second wind. She decided to do an impromptu performance for my parents (a la Mary Jerry Johnson style) complete with song and dance.

She started out with a little Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast and finished off with Annie's Tomorrow. Both wonderful choices. My parents, being the musical lovers that they are, decided to chime in as chorus members as their talented grand daughter performed. My only re-gret was not having a camera. Especially when Brooke stopped-mid note-and exclaimed, "Listen, if you don't stop singing, I'm not going to do it anymore."

Silence ensued followed by muffled laughter and maybe a few tears (from me). I mean, seriously??? Is this my daughter?? I would never have a diva moment like this....

Thanks goodness digital camera's didn't exist in the late 80's / early 90's....I have created a monster.

P90X-Week 8

Still doing P90X

Still loving Cardio X, Kenpo and weightlifting days.

Still updating this blog.

Still hating Plyometrics...does anyone really like that DVD??

Still doing P90X.

Still losing inches (hopefully)

Still thinking that 1.5 hours of yoga is a bit overkill and like to fill in with a cardio DVD instead.

Will probably go one week over the standard 12 to make up for the days I skipped.

Still doing P90X

56 Days Down
34 Days to Go

PS-I totally ate some M&M's today....

The Aunts

Brooke & Caroline are lucky girls. They are blessed with many aunts (and uncles) on both sides of our families and they adore them all. Two of their aunts, though, are also their sometime babysitters (when they are in town). Brooke loves to talk about them...especially when she knows that they will be coming back in town soon.

The other night, when we were saying our prayers, she got VERY excited.

Brooke: "Mom...Maggie, Mimi, Tracie and Joe are YOUR sisters!!" 

Me: "Well, your almost right...Joe is not my sister."

Brooke: "Maggie & Tracie are SISTERS! Just like me and Caroline are sisters!"

Me: "Yes, they are-very good Brooke!"

Brooke: "Me and Caroline are JUST like Maggie & Tracie. Grandma Etta used to play with them. Now, I am Maggie and Caroline is Tracie!!!" 

Me: ???

Brooke: "Isn't that silly!!! Wait-But I am Maggie ok??

 

What do you think???

Quite similar right??

It's cold outside...

Which could only mean one thing-it is time for hats.

Getting Better

Sweet little-almost one year old-Caroline.

Just when she was starting to feel better following her stomach virus, she gets hit with another tooth.

Teething for Caroline has always been rough. She not only gets the standard drooling, but a nose full of snot and rosy cheeks for days.

At least she is still working her MAJOR cheese face :)

Get your Christmas Cards...!!!

Countdown till Christmas-40 Days

I  may just do one of these posts a week-what do you think??

This weeks theme is Christmas Cards. A lot of my friends have been scheduling the photography sessions getting ready for the big mailing. We too have one booked for 12/11, but I am worried that those may not make it to the post office in time-fingers are crossed.

Either way, I will be heading over to my trusty Shutterfly to order up a bunch of Christmas Cards. In years past, we have gone with a basic photo card. This year I am leaning more towards a stationary card. Here are some of the options I am thinking over..

Just in case we don't get our proof back in time, I like the collage style. It is fun to share some pictures throughout your whole year to catch people up :)

What do you think about theses Christmas card styles? I haven't seen these before and I am thinking that I kind  of like them! Coming from a family who's father sends out AWESOME Christmas letters documenting all of the fabulous things his daughter Tracie family is up to, this is right up my aisle. This may be the way to go.

The most AMAZING thing about using Shutterfly this year, if your a blogger, is that they are currently giving away 50 free Holiday cards to bloggers everywhere!! Details can be found here.

How great is that??!!

So, blog, click the link, and get some free cards. And, send me your address-b/c ours is going to be fabulous :)



P90X Week 7

I like to call this past week P50 because I literally only gave 50%.

There were many contributing factors. I started a new medicine this week that has made me very tired. Additionally, I gave up caffeine. Crazy right?? As if dealing with a caffeine withdrawal wasn't enough, Caroline caught a little bug that has had her waking us up every 3-4 hours. Poor girl just can't catch a break! I think that she is on the mend though :)

All that said, I only worked out three days last week-three less then the required 6 days. What can you do. Sometimes life happens. I am still working the program, though, and will be getting my Kenpo on shortly!

49 days down
41 days to go

42 Days until Christmas

It happens every year.

I start planning my Christmas shopping WAY early in hope that I will be finished WAY before the big day. My goal is usually to finish before all the black Friday madness. This year, I have done pretty well. With only three gifts to go, I am ahead of where I was last year-mostly thanks to lots of online shopping.

I have to admit, shopping for kiddos can be addicting. Just when I think I am done...some sparkling princess lures me in. I am almost as bad as Brooke. Truth be told, though, the older they get, the fewer gifts will be under the tree. I swear the price of toys rapidly increases with age! So, I am enjoying the $4.99 price tags while I can.

The one person that is the most difficult (by far) to shop for is Gary. He will casually drop hints, and I take mental notes. No matter what, though, he always ends up finding out what I got and then opening his gifts early.

Last year it was his cell phone. I wanted to surprise him with a new one. Of course, well before Christmas Day, his phone seriously quits working. He  has to have one for work...so, open his gift he did.

This year, since we are on the P90X wave, I thought I would get him this pull up bar he has been coveting. I know, it is kind of like getting socks or underwear for Christmas...but he wanted it. Thanks to the delivery people at Amazon, he discovered the large box on my doorstep. It wasn't even wrapped or anything!! Not inside a brown packing box, but just in the original box (picture and all) with a UPS tag slapped on. Surprise #1 = gone.

My 'big' surprise gift was going to be a new XBOX 360. He had listed his old one for sale online and we do use it a lot for the kids movies, etc so I thought that this would be perfect. It was, until he started getting really upset that you have to have a NEW XBOX to transfer all of your files to (like the amazing songs he has earned through Guitar Hero) prior to getting rid of your old one...or lose ALL of your files.

Was that too much nerd tech talk for you??

Bottom line-he wanted a new one early so that his life was not totally shattered into a million pieces. Being the good wife that I am, I let Brooke give she and Carolines Christmas gift to Dad last night. He was ecstatic! He also said that if the kids got him a great gift like this, he can't wait to see what I got him!!

Right.

So, there will not be much for Gary to open on Christmas morning. He says he doesn't mind, but I think that I will wrap the box that the XBOX came in just to remind him of what he already opened on November 11th. That may make him feel a bit better after he opens the socks that will be in his stocking.

The Proof

Mom & Dad got out last weekend....and we even used our first 'real' babysitter!! Can you believe it??

Now, before I completely upset my sister(s) and they never babysit for me again-let me clarify: by 'real' I mean that there was no blood relation. That is HUGE in my world!

The kids did great.

Caroline was asleep before we left and Brooke LOVES her sitter. If I could afford to go our more I would because Brooke had such a great time!

And...then I put my camera away.

I guess it is not as 'cool' to take massive amounts of pictures while out at a bar as it is when your at the Magic House.

P90 Week 6

So, here we are. Almost half way through the 90 days.

After my last update, I decided to take the advice of an old friend (and by old I mean I have known her since kindergarten..not by age of course). She had commented on my last post about NOT focusing on the scale. I have instead decided to only look at the measurements which, I agree, are a MUCH better gage as to how well the program is going. I may not be losing double digits, but I am losing inches...and gaining muscle which is truly better overall. I have also decided (after using said friend as inspiration) to finish these next 48 days and then move onto...Insanity.

I am also going to chat with Mr. Fleming and see if I can include his updates...which tend to be a bit more impressive :)

So...still working the program. Still not in love...but getting there...I even enjoyed Kenpo this week! Plyometrics??? That is another story.

42 days down
48 days to go

Magic House Fun :)

This past Tuesday, we hit up the magic house with our friend Charlie. We had the BEST time! I think the girls were already fighting over this handsome guy :)

 Our BFF Charlie :)

Someone LOVE the water table!!



Blog

Look Who's Back :)

http://kallertown.wordpress.com/

Caroline is 11 MONTHS!!

Well, here we are folks.

11 Months

The last "monthly" celebration until the BIG O.N.E.

Can you BELIEVE it!!!

So, eleven months in pictures...enjoy our girl :)

Here we go baby!! One year is right around the corner!! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you....little miss amazing girl :)

Love P90X --------- Hate P90X

So, I have a complex relationship with this workout plan.

I don't like how I feel right before I have to do my DVD of the day.

I do like how I feel after I have completed said DVD.

I don't like that the scale doesn't reflect the 5 weeks of work I have put in.

I do like that my clothes feel looser then they did 5 weeks ago.

I still don't like that red wine isn't on the P90X diet plan.

I still like red wine.

I get tired thinking of how many weeks/days are left in the program.

I am happy knowing that I have completed all of the weeks/days so far in the program.

I will keep doing P90.

I will not tell you how much weight I have lost b/c it is not impressive.

I wish I had taken measurements :)

Till next week :)