Random

It's still hot. I am SO ready for fall and all the jeans and boots it brings with it. Until then, we will continue to apply sunscreen and try to hit up a few parks.

Today, Caroline made Mom super proud. When we went to the YMCA she actually stayed in her tot care for an hour and a half!!! This is a HUGE step for clingy Caroline. We shall see if it continues.

Great Grandma

We went to visit Great Grandma Meiners a few weekends ago. The girls were SO excited. They LOVE to see Great Grandma and look for treasures all around her house. It is quite a fun place :)

 One of their absolute favorite things about Great Grandmas are the statues.

Yes, I am aware of how odd and random this is...

 Her first deer...

Guess what their getting for Christmas..

 Thanks for having us Great Grandma!!!

Catch Up

Seriously.

Where has August gone??

This month has been super busy and we have lots to catch up on...

This month, we celebrated the birthday of two of our great friends Parker & Finley. It was a circus theme and the girls had a BLAST. There were so many delicious carnival foods to chose from and both Fleming girls were in heaven.

Popcorn-yes please!

Snow cone-don't mind if I do!

 Caroline was not quite sure how she felt about sharing the popcorn...but I think she did a pretty good job.

One of the highlights for Brooke was the bounce house. Although a bit timid at first, once she got in, she didn't want to come out. Loved it.

Caroline's favorite was the roller coaster.

Obsessed.

Ginormous lolly pops..oh yea.



The birthday girl herself!

We couldn't leave without cotton candy right??





Can you say sugar high??!!

Thanks for having us!!

Baby Belly

A few months ago, while at the pool, Brooke loudly commented on another swimmers HUGE belly. Granted, this lady was 9 months pregnant and wearing a bikini so she was only stating the obvious.

We have since discussed keeping some comments to ourselves.

For whatever reason, Brooke remembered this event yesterday while in the car.

Brooke: "Hey mom, remember when we saw that lady in the tank top (otherwise known as a bikini) at the pool...with that HUGE belly?"

Mom: "Yes, she was about to have a baby Brooke."

Brooke: "When I was in your tummy, was your belly HUGE too?"

Mom: "Absolutely".

Brooke: "Well, why did you eat me??"

Oh, to be young....

Zumba

I recently decided to join a local gym and get rid of some of this baby weight that I still seem to be holding on to. I mean, Caroline is only 21 months right? I joined a local gym and have been trying to get up there 3 times a week. The only 'issue' that has come up is Caroline HATING the childcare room. I would love to be able to work out during the day. Right now I have to go before or after Gary gets home from work since Caroline screams...consistently...from when I drop her off in the room until I come and pick her up.

Lovely.

Oh, and Brooke is in there too-you would think that she would help out/look out for her sister.

Not so much.

When I asked her what happened to Caroline, she simply tells me that "she stayed away from her...she was SO loud."

Thanks Brooke.

http://www.zumba.com/



Last week, I started to take a class-Zumba. Heard of it? Love it/Hate it? The first class I took was at the gym I belong to. It was ok. I was the youngest in the class by, oh...30 years? Let's just say I worked up a minimal sweat, but got some GREAT people watching in. These ladies have confidence let me tell ya! So, I decided to try Zumba out again at a local dance company. WAY better. I have seriously never sweat so much in my life. TONS of people my age and older/younger too. I was drenched and new I would be super sore (and was). I am signed up. Every Sunday people! I am trying to find other classes so I can go more during the week-it is that good of a workout. If your interested in joining...let me know.   

Only downside of this whole 'let's get in shape thing.' What is up with working out, eating better and then gaining weight? I mean, that sucks right? I have heard and read then when you first start exercising again, it is bound to happen and that 2-3 weeks in, the weight will come back off...but please-it is just discouraging! Feels like I could just be lazy and weigh less right??!! Hopefully we will be on the downward swing soon.

Zumba-come on, let me know if you will come with....:)

Door to Door Sales

Remember those team/school fundraisers? You would hit the pavement ringing door bells begging your neighbors to purchase the best wrapping paper/coupon book/or in my case large yellow garbage bags in town. Back in the day, I think that the typical sale was around $5.00-$8.00. Those frugal days are long gone. Yesterday, for the first time since moving here...the doorbell rang. There stood a lone tween giving us her sales pitch for the latest & greatest...cookie dough. Before I could intercede...Gary was sold.

$15.00 worth of cookie dough later (for ONE roll) and she had moved on to the next house. Gary says that we are just doing our neighborly duty. I say these chocolate chip cookies better be bake sale worthy.

Are your kids selling anything?? Send them Gary's way.

Dentist

This week, Brooke had her first visit to the dentist. She as a little nervous in the days leading up to the appointment, so we kept talking it up. By the time we pulled in the parking lot-she was pumped.

We had a little bit of a wait...

Not to be outdone...

I mean...what is that face??

Perfect check up!

She was so excited after the fluoride treatment she didn't want to eat/drink all day. 

Sticky Fingers

Today, while running some errands at Home Goods, Brooke was checking out the bathroom accessories. When it was time to go, I asked her to put away the lovely bathroom glass she was holding. She listed, and put it away. Since I hadn't found anything we needed, we headed out of the store. As I put the cart away, I noticed Brooke was being pretty mysterious with her hands behind her back. It was only when she turned around that I saw she had swiped yet another fancy bathroom glass on her way out. Yep, Brooke totally stole. I mean, don't most kids take candy bars from the grocery store? Who takes bathroom accessories??!! So, back into Home Goods we went. I marched her right up to the checkout where she was going to return the merchandise and apologize. Of course, she tried to get out of it...promising that she would "put it back right now!" Nope-sorry friend. Only way to learn is to really make a memory out of it ok?? With half of her body hidden behind my leg, she returned the glass to the employee and apologized. Promised she would never do it again. Luckily, they were very understanding.

I think that my red faced apologized enough for us both.

Yes, I did.

Some may say too early...

But, when your younger daughter is following her old sisters lead and trying (dangerously) to climb out of her crib...somethings got to change.

So far...So GOOD!

The last two days of nap and sleep have gone GREAT! No getting out of bed...no crying..nada.

No, these are not the best pictures...but you get the point.

Caroline is a big girl!



30 in Miami...vice.

Thursday I officially entered my 30's.

The celebration started with dinner at Napoli2 with Gary and my parents.
(special shout out to my sister-in-law Lindsay for watching the girls so we could go out to eat!)

Did I mention that Gary also made a birthday cake for me from scratch...no box cake from him...along with homemade icing??

The birthday weekend continued with our annual Lake Springfield weekend. This year did not disappoint with the theme of Miami Vice being added to the fun. Please do not be jealous from the hotness that you are about to witness.

By far the best Miami Vice'er...the gold jacket was amazing.

The weekend wouldn't be complete without a full out performance from Gary himself!

Great costumes.

Great times.

Serious exhaustion which I am still recovering from today.

Here's to 30!!



Final Countdown

So, here we are-less then 24 hours away from the big 30.

It is only my family that makes such a big deal about birthdays?? Maybe.
I like to think of it as my birthmonth. A little fun trait I picked up from my Grandma Mary Jerry Johnson.

 She was a very smart lady.

One more day / post of me blowing up your screen with awesome old pictures.

I will not make you wait any longer...

Every litle boy needs a sky blue jacket right??

Last day in my 20's...

Breaking In...

We interrupt this 30th Birthday week celebration posting to bring you...the last day of summer dance class!

After 7 weeks of dance,we had to mark the last day with a group photo session.

 They.Were.Thrilled

Seriously...what is Lily doing here??
You love it though right??

Not sure what this move was...but she obviously can pat her head and rub her tummy at the same time.

Impressive right?

Summer dance = success.

We are already signed up for fall...and rumor has it that the recital theme this year is Welcome to the Jungle.  I am already pumped.