Darker Me

You've just gotta love the self taken photography. Couldn't decide which one was "better" so you get to deal with both. lol
Dyed my hair back to dark. It's a little lighter than I wanted simply because of all the blonde underneath. Next time I dye it will help it get to the dark that I want it. It is actually pretty dang close to my natural color. I didn't mind being blonde. All the highlights were beautiful. I told Chad, though, he just doesn't make enough money for me to be blonde. It grows out way too fast and needing to be touched up every 4 weeks (haha like that ever happened...like 6 weeks, then it lasted 3 months after Collin was born...) was doing a real number on my ends. Yuck! So TADA! Dark it is! I LOVE IT Next time I will either just do the exact same thing to help secure the color or maybe even add a little purple to it...we'll just have to see. :)

never ending project

My yard sucks more money out of me than anything I've ever known! (except when we were working on the basement - that's still not done...)
Slowly but surely it is getting done though and starting to get that finished feel to it. If only I could just do it all in one big swoop then I wouldn't have to stress about it anymore. However, it is probably, unfortunately, as done as it will be for a while. Since the hubs says fundage is all gone. So for now please enjoy these pics of what IS done. :) My beautiful "tropical" tree! It will grow 6-8 feet tall. It's my new favorite thing in the yard! I have no idea what it's called, or if I have to take the "spent" flowers off of it...I think I do... but it is gorgeous and I'm way excited to watch it grow. Which now means that the East side of my house is nearly complete. I am still in need of some grass behind where the tulips are (even though I've had to trim them all down already - thank you wind and children...) and some snapdragons are going to go interspersed in the tulips so when they die each year the snapdragons will come up and I don't have to replant ever again! :) yay!

We redid the firepit as well. It used to be 8 bricks around. Now it's 12. I LOVE IT! I can't wait to have our first fire in it this year...probably this weekend. :) Also note, the new green tree in the background. It is quite nice and makes the other not so green but not all the way dead trees look atrocious but we are still debating what to do about the other trees so for now it's just the way it is. Weeds will be gone this weekend. And eventually more phlox will be going down in front of each tree as well. We'll see how long it takes to get that done...

And the hideous electrical box area has now been beautified! We bought the cute pinkish flowers and black bark last weekend. It really makes a huge difference! It's the only spot I can really say is DONE. It actually looks like we know what we're doing too which is refreshing.

Cute right?

FiNaLLy

I was FINALLY able to get my kids dressed in these clothes, all together in one place, on a decently sunny afternoon, and AcTuAllY get a picture! YAY I have been wanting to get this picture done since April! Why it was so difficult is beyond me! (I blame mostly the rain...)

After church I was certain it was going to be thunder storming. So when we walked out of church to a steamy car and sunshine I was bound and determined to get a picture while I could! The girls' hair isn't all cutesy like I wanted, Daija doesn't have her little jacket thing on (couldn't find it in my laundry mess...) and they are sitting differently than I originally planned

BUT they are all adorable and smiling! I'll take it! Please note the perfect little tree behind the children. It is my newest and favorite addition to my yard. It will eventually get 6-8 feet tall and has these gorgeous, tropical looking flowers on it. I took extra care planting it so it better be big and beautiful! :)

My friend introduced me to a site called picnik.com. It is sooo much fun and if I had extra money laying around I would actually buy the premiums to play even more. But I don't. So this is all done with the free stuff you can do to your pictures. I just B&W then use the "original" setting to pull the color back through in some parts, add text for the names and WaLa! Way fun and I think it just might be a wall hanger! :) I love my babies so much I can't stand it. I hope they realize how much they mean to me and their dad. We have a perfect little family. I am very blessed indeed.

Running Day 4

This morning was ok. I ran the first 1.5 miles and quite honestly it went by faster than I thought it would. We got to the point on the trail to turn around and I was surprised we were there already. I hope that means my lungs are getting stronger and that I'm building some stamina. Wouldn't mind seeing the weight start to melt away... :) Bummer note: Last night I was carrying something down the stairs and kinda tweaked my knee. I didn't think it was that bad. It doesn't bother me to walk and it didn't really bother me at all doing the yard work today (ok a little when I was shoveling...) but by the time I was done with the first 1.5 it was really buggin. So I had to speed walk most of the way back. I did try to jog a little bit and especially the last 1/4 mile. My friend was already finished by the time I hit 1/4 mile left and so I pushed through the pain so she didn't have to wait so long for me to get done. Hopefully resting it tomorrow and doing a short run on Monday (weather permitting ugh!) will help it feel better.

*Fingers Crossed!*

Emotionally I will admit I am starting to enjoy it. I would have NEVER thought that would happen. I don't particularly look forward to going. I swear it is 75% just getting dressed and out the door. As soon as I start jogging I'm fine! Crazy how the lazy mind works. I do look forward to it becoming an addiction. I could use a healthy one to replace my soda one. LOL Hopefully as I continue I can prove enough dedication to justify new shoes, which will in turn help me enjoy it even more. Hopefully.

Venting 101

I find that venting ill feelings is very therapeutic. However, venting to someone about someone else can cause the person to have ill feelings toward the person I'm venting about. Therefore, I struggle venting when it's about people because I don't like putting them down to others. Sometimes though it's difficult to not vent somewhere. I know this blog is my "journal" of sorts, but even on here there are some things that are too personal to share. So, alas, I must find some other means to vent.
Soooo....
Today. Wednesday. I think most of us woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Chase in just on one. I told him he couldn't open a lunchable just to eat the oreos. This resulted in a throw down tantrum that resulted in "going to your room" from mom, which resulted in a "leave me alone!" from Chase. That's nice. Kyla has been the only one in a decent mood. Daija actually made it out the door on time this morning with her teeth brushed and hair done too. It's a miracle! Collin didn't sleep half bad last night which would normally mean that Mommy got decent sleep too but Daddy didn't get home from basketball until almost 11:30 which made Mommy stay sorta awake but at least in bed worrying about when he was going to get home. Results: still tired. Lame. I need something to turn these blues into a rainbow of happiness. Pondering...pondering... I think I'm going to plan a little getaway for just me and Chad. This is a dangerous option really. Because planning will actually lift my mood, but then there's a very real chance of not getting to actually GO on the getaway. I will use caution. But this is something I just have to do. Let the planning begin...!

Running Day 3

I made it! We ran last night. Chad's phone has this awesome little app that can track where you are on the GPS and figure out how fast you are going and track your miles etc. It's quite nifty and even tells you every now and then, in a deep, male, accented voice how far you've gone in how long. Last night, we drove up to 1000 and 2300 and started running south on the new trail. It is beautiful! Even though there are some slight changes in up and down it's a pretty straight shot and I quite enjoyed it. It makes ALL the difference in the world to have a friend to go with. Especially a friend who runs the same slow as you. :)

We ran 3 miles in 35 minutes! I ran nonstop the first mile and a half. Speed walked some, jogged, speed walked one more time and was able to finish the last 3/4 mile run/jogging. It felt good! I'm extremely tired today, half due to the rough night of no sleep with Collin (He is in this nasty habit of sleeping in the afternoon...goal: change that!), and half due to my legs being fatigued. But it's all going to be worth it when I lose at least 10 of these 20 pounds! Here's to reaching your goals! Wish me luck!

Running Day 2

I forgot to journal about my day two run. It was last Thursday. Wednesday didn't work out so thankfully my friend didn't go without me and we went Thursday instead. We walked 1/2 a mile up to the firehouse in Clinton. Then we ran the 1.2 miles all the way around the city park - twice! Ok, so we jogged the first 1.2, then I couldn't handle it anymore and played chase my friend around it the second time. I never caught up. I made the mistake of eating right before going and so got a side ache. O well. I never stopped though. I made myself walk as fast as I possibly could and jog if I could the whole way. Then we walked the 1/2 mile home. It took us 1 hr and 15 mins. LOL Quite a bit longer than I thought I'd be gone. I was very tired. From now on I will be bringing water with us and dropping it somewhere along the way so we can have a drink. Thankfully my friend had brought a little and let me have some. I wasn't as sore as I thought I would be and not even as sore as I had been after Day 1. I did stretch really well after we ran though and I think that helped a lot! It is encouraging.
I should have a Day 3 already. I feel bad about skipping Saturday. My Uncle Jay came into town. I haven't seen him for almost a year! He thinks they finally sold their house and will know for sure on Wednesday but they were having a yard sale. It was the only time we could see them so I opted to go visit with them during their yard sale instead of run. Just means I should be over rested and ready to push myself when we go tomorrow. :)

Lost posts...

Well when Blogger went down the other day I lost two posts. Very frustrating! So here's basically what they were - in a nut shell. I had before and after pics of my yard. Here's just the now pics. For Mother's Day I was given some money to get dirt and plants to start finishing up our garden areas in the yard. The first pic is the new little trees next to my tulips. Aren't they cute?! The tulips are the only spot in my entire yard that I have to worry about planting year after year. I suppose it's ok, but I wish I had thought ahead a little more and realized they don't last as long as I would like. But they are gorgeous in early spring. I guess since I love them so much I won't complain about this little area needing some TLC each year. We worked out little booties off all day Saturday and pretty much got sunburned for a good cause. :) The side yard looks much better and the front power box area finally got filled with good dirt and some beautiful grass and bush that will fill the entire area hopefully by next year. I think we're going to add a couple of cute little flowers right in front of the box as well.

Mother's Day dinner was at the Barrett's. It was the last time we had the opportunity to get a family picture done before everyone splits up this summer. Of course when you have this many people there's bound to be some not co-operating. And or course those would be my children... Daija was actually suffering from a little heat exhaustion from being outside all day Saturday so she was super ornery. O well. This is my favorite pic out of all of them.

After this summer we won't have family get togethers anymore. Today Michelle moved to Washington, D.C. Aaron will be moving to Omaha, NE by August to go to med school. And Spencer will be moving to Oregon for grad school. That leaves us, Lee & Judy, and Kelly & Debbie. Like half. I don't always love doing all our holidays with the Barrett's (I know that sounds bad...) but I am really going to miss it. It's really more jealousy that it can't be with my side of the family. It may never be the same again. I, of all people, understand moving to better yourself, provide for your family, being together. I guess in my old age and living in the same house now for the longest I've ever lived in any one place my whole life is making this life change a little more difficult for me. I will especially miss Michelle. She's one of my best friends. We hang out a lot, I helped her dye her hair a couple of times, we laugh, and just get each other. But I know right now my place is here. And hers is with Earl. Love you Michelle.

Chase Cavrin Barrett

My little man turned 3! April 30, 2011 Chase turned the ripe old age 3. Big boy Chase is my helper. Kyla and Chase usually race to see who can do what I ask first. Chase is sweet, hilarious, athletic, and super smart. Add on top his extreme good looks and Watch Out World this kid is going to be amazing!

He had an awesome birthday and was extremely spoiled this year. His birthday was on a Saturday this year. The way plans worked out we had his party on Sunday evening so the Barrett family could come over and have cake and ice cream with us to celebrate. So I only gave him one of his new shirts to wear on Saturday. I have been told that since he didn't get anything on his birthday that makes me a bad mom. I suppose next year I will make sure he gets something nice ON his birthday. He helped me make his cake (sorta) on Saturday so he was extremely excited to do the whole party thing Sunday night. Sunday morning he just couldn't wait any longer so to give him something to do I let him open one of the gifts from G&G Thalman. All three older kids loved playing with the new play dough set!! After church he apparently still couldn't wait for the party so he snuck into our room and opened a toy train we had bought for him! These pics are from his party. G&G Thalman also got him a toy golf set (which was promptly used for sword fighting with the cousins...) and some cute Toy Story pj's. G&G Barrett gave him some new clothes, and a toy cell phone. The phone has a full "texting" keyboard on it with numbers and games to learn your ABC's and 123's. It has been by far his favorite toy. He takes it everywhere with him and sleeps with it at night! We got him some train track and two trains, a train book, and some clothes. He loves trains!
Here's my super awesome train cake. I found the idea on howdini.com and tweaked it for myself. It is such a great showstopper and yet was one of the easiest cakes I've ever made! Isn't it great?!

CHOO CHOO!

Birthday Coma - complete with chocolate mustache. LOL

More pics of the cake. I am definitely using this website for all my birthday cake ideas.

We love our Chase so much! I'm so glad he's part of our family. He makes me laugh every day. He is such a big helper and great friend to his sisters and a perfect big brother. I am so excited to watch him grow, learn, and become a wonderful young man. But I am definitely going to enjoy his little man stage because it just is going way too fast!

Easter 2011

It is ridiculous how behind I am in posting for this last little while...

EASTER 2011

This year we had Easter at Kelly and Debbie's. I will admit - this year was our best Easter in a very long time, maybe even ever. It was relaxing and fun and the weather held out to give us the warmest outdoor Easter egg hunt we've had in years, and the food was DeLiSh. I explained the night before that this year the Easter bunny is doing something different. Instead of getting individual baskets stuffed with "garbage" (AKA candy) he was going Economical and doing one big basket for the whole family to share. It worked out wonderfully and is now our new family tradition! Cuts out a ton of candy that we don't need cause we get plenty from the egg hunt, and the Easter bunny makes sure the basket is overflowing with all our "summer essentials". Each kid got a pair of sunglasses and their Easter dresses/suits. Then there was some candy (the Easter bunny isn't so cruel to go sugar free!), sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and play dough.

After breakfast we colored our Easter eggs then got ready for church. Church went well, and we took the time to remind the kids that Easter isn't about eggs and bunnies but about our Savior and how after He died on the cross He was resurrected after 3 days. And because He suffered in Gethsemane we can all live in Heaven again.

Then we went to do our dinner and egg hunt with the Barrett family. The kids decorated sugar cookies after dinner and the egg hunt. Debbie is awesome and makes the cookies at Christmas too!

Chad was slightly creepy in his paparazzi picture taking role.. But he did get some awesome pics!

My red headed baby boy! He is sooo adorable!

Chase cheesin' it up!

Kyla thought it was HiLaRiOuS to run away from Chad and not let him get a good pic. BUT he still did. LOL

Chase was way more interested in playing on the swings and jumping on the tramp rather than egg hunting. Luckily Debbie is a genius and put names on the eggs so everyone got the same amount.

Beautiful Daija

My spunky Kyla

Chase actually gathering a few eggs.

Running Day 1

Ok so I'm dual purposing. I'm going to start tracking my running and how I feel during and after. I haven't had a exercise regime that I've actually stuck to since I was married over 8 years ago. I've been lucky to not be a gigantic fatty by now - especially after having 4 kids. But I'm completely unhappy with my body right now. I almost gave up even trying to find something to wear to church yesterday and just wanted to crawl back into bed and sleep until I was skinny again. (yes...I tend to over exaggerate) What's not an over exaggeration though is the 20 lbs I have to lose before I will look like the me that my brain still thinks that I am. So I have a good friend that is kind enough to let me jog with her. We are about the same height which helps because I don't have to run twice as fast to keep up with someone way taller than me. :) So we are going Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Today: Day One - We ran 2.5 miles.

Now, when I say run I mean jog/walk/pant/run to catch up to friend/jog/walk home. LOL It's a work in progress and I know I'm not going to be able to just dive right in and be good at it. But I went the whole way and I never stopped but once to stretch a second then kept going even if it was a very fast walking pace near the end. I hope my body will suck in this tummy fast and my lungs will catch on quickly that this is something we are going to do from now on. Pray for me that I can even move tomorrow/run again on Wednesday. :)

Day One down...kabillion more to go!!!

My Mom

For those of you who have not had the privilege to meet my mom there is something you need to know....So ...my mom is one of the most amazing people I know. She nevers says "no" to anything someone asks her to help with -to a fault. (just ask my dad who has to deal with my mom and everything she gets involved with because she never does) It may seem to some people like a bad idea to never say no - especially when you're crying from the overwhelming-ness of it all! - but it's a quality out of many that makes her special. She's always willing to serve. What a good example. We recently had a conversation about how she has observed how she has children that enjoy serving - I would like to think it's because of her good example. She is sensitive, loving, forgiving, understanding, always willing to lend an ear, always willing to lend her advice, sweet, and spiritual. One of the most spiritual people I know in fact. Even though she can seem pretty tough on the outside it's only her strictness that gets misunderstood. The world could do with a little more strictness. My mom is always there for me. Even when I have talked to her for days and days in a row - she still answers my phone call. Even though most of the time I don't have anything really to say. She's my bestest friend. She knows me and all my good and bad. My ugly and my beautiful. She knows me better than anybody else. She knows my faults and fears and loves me anyway. Even when she doesn't understand or agree with me - she loves me. I never have the same fear that you can sometimes get when you are with a friend and you do or say something that may be weird and you have that gut fear of being judged for it. I know with my mom she loves me anyway. And trust me - there is plenty of things we don't agree on or see eye to eye about, but there are so many things we do. I swear, we are so close we can tell when the other isn't feeling well because we won't feel well - even over the 1700 miles from here to Ohio. I hate living so far apart. It's a dang good thing I was born in a day and age of much modern communication. Because I need every form of it to stay in touch with her. I have become like one of those people I used to shake my head in misunderstanding at because they insist they could never live away from their mom. I understand now. I love you Mom. I miss you all the time. I hope you have the Happiest Mother's Day! Thank you for being my mom, and being the best mom and best friend I could ask for! Love, just me.

I know this post is a little choppy. I just wrote it as it came out and didn't bother to go through and "fix" it up. It's my raw, true emotions. The way it should be.

War and Peace

Upon hearing the news of Osama bin Laden's death I had a rush of emotions.

First I thought it was a hoax. They buried him at sea so quickly they had to be lying. No one saw him alive or dead except those that "killed" him. Had to be a lie. As I read details of the raid however I was swayed to believe.

Then it was a mix of not knowing how to feel. Should I be happy about his death? Worried about retaliations? Sad about more killing? Mad about him getting the "easy way out"? Then, a new wave of American pride rippled over my body and I felt this swelling of "God Bless America" we finally got him! The horrible leader is dead. The snake's head has been cut off and his most likely of heirs with him! And even though it took forever, we, the American people, never lost faith that justice would be served! All of those families that lost loved ones in the terrorist attack and all of those brave men and women, brothers, daddies and moms, sons and daughters who have served our country in fighting this war on terror - some giving their own lives and leaving family behind - to keep us here at home safe and sound and free, finally have some concrete foothold of justification for doing just so.

My entire adult life has been lived in war. I remember sitting in the school library the start of my senior year watching a giant projector as the live news broadcast the second plane crashing into the second tower. I stared in unbelief at what was happening. Distanced enough to be numb to the reality and gravity of what was happening, and what it meant to me.

Since then I have shed many tears for those most closely affected. Every time I hear a song about troops and soldiers on the radio my heart aches for those families impacted by all these long years we've been at war. I try to not forget that we still are at war. I try to remember to pray for those serving our country. I know the war on terror is not over. I'm not so naive that I think the troops are all coming home now. But it's about time we had some good news! So I will accept this as the triumphant moment that it is. Praise my Heavenly Father (and NOT Obama cause it's not his victory at all) for the blessing and pray for the safety of our country and countrymen because there are bound to be consequences. And in my son's scrapbook about -what happened the year he was born-, I will put the newspaper heading "Osama is dead" with the article, so my children do not forget.