good intentions

Y'all, I really do have good intentions on the blog thing. But somehow, my life is flying by on warp speed. I mean, is it really already mid-December? GEEZ LOUISE!

 Let's hope on the ol' memory train and discuss my oldest son's birthday. How in the world is he 5? Seriously? I'm the mother to a FIVE YEAR OLD! He had a great birthday, collected donations to the NWA Children's Shelter, had friends and family over, had a HUGE bounce house, a Narnia cake....he was pretty much in heaven. (invitations were ordered from gal pal Lindsey Hylton, check out her facebook page here)

Thanksgiving happened. We alternate Thanksgiving with our fam bam and stay home for Christmas. So this year was my year and Pop decided to come up. We had a nice quiet little Thanksgiving. Hubby had to work Friday and Saturday so after Poppy left Friday morning, me and the boys loaded up and headed  to P-town.  So thankful that I got to see all my family for Thanksgiving! And believe it or not, I was super sad that we weren't in Ada to see the Nix side. I'm pretty blessed with my in-laws and love spending time w/ them as much as my own family!

 This past weekend, me and the babies headed to St. Louis (again, the hubs had to work - booooo) for my nephew's birthday. This was the first party he's had since they have been in NC since he was just a wee lad. So it was a big party y'all, I mean big. Family and friends from his school and neighborhood all showed up. He kept telling me, "Aunt Jessie, this is the best party ever!" I was so glad we were able to make it, it meant the world to him. He was so cute introducing Parker to all his friends. Those two crack me up! I love how they pick up right where they left off, even if it's been months since they last saw each other. 

I happened to stumble upon www.reindeercam.com last night. Y'all have to check this out if you have little people in your home. At designated times (10, 5, and 8 central time) Santa and an Elf come out to feed the reindeer. Now, let me be frank, if I will.....these reindeer were obviously 6th string. I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but one reindeer has already lost their antlers and the other reindeer has lost one side of their antlers. Santa and the Elf came out last night and I guess it was our lucky night b/c the Elf did a little jig for the camera. There is no sound, just a webcam set up. It is totally hokey but boy o' boy, did my boys love it. Y'all should check it out :)

And now for your thatssofunnyicantmakethisstuffup story. I was just about finished with stampin' and a lickin' our Christmas cards when my pile got a little separated. I picked up a card and was like, uh, this isn't my family. I then thought to myself, well maybe they just wanted to send me the actual card so I could see how I edited from what they had vs. to what I designed....oooooo noooo. Not only did they send me another family's Christmas card, but they sent me 16!!!!! 16 Christmas cards that WERE NOT MY FAMILY! I just died laughing. Really, I can't make this stuff up!! So dear family and friends, if you happen to get a card that is addressed with our name and you open it but it is not my family, please know that I had good intentions of sending you a picture of our family but Shutterfly had other intentions.

Wavy Beach Hair

Today, I am going to share how to get sexy, wavy beach hair.....SAID NO ONE.

Y'all, I just can't figure this stuff out. I've tried diy pinterest ideas and they were both a flop. My hair is super fine, thin, layered, thinning.... I'm pretty sure I have the worst hair on the planet....I am glad I have hair, don't get me wrong, but some days, I love it more than others.

So, let's discuss the diy experiment numero uno.

Both ideas I found on pinterst. This one did involve a straightener. The "hair model" sectioned her hair into 2 pieces and twisted them together.. Holding the ends, she ran the straightener over the twist. She untwisted and ran her hands through her hair and it was gorgeous y'all. Seriously. So I said, I can do that. So yesterday after I showered and dried my hair, I sectioned my hair into a top section and bottom section since I have layers. I sectioned the top section into 2 pieces and twisted it. It was about the size of a pencil, no joke. Than ran my straightener over it. I did the bottom next and when I had both the top and bottom sections down, I untwisted it and ran my fingers through it. My results were humiliating....and that is putting it mildly. Here is the result.

I tried salvaging it, but my hair is the type that once a curling iron or straightener touches it, you can't get it to do anything else. Plus, I was already running late. Note to self, wake up earlier during the week to fix hair or experiment on the weekends.

Experiment numero dos. Curling your hair with a sock. Yep, you read that right.

For this technique, you get a sock and cut the toe off. I used one of my dress socks that hadn't had a mate :) I flipped my head over and gather my hair into a high pony tail. I got it a little wet and put my hair through the top of the sock and rolled my hair over the sock, you kind of have to tuck and roll...tuck your hair under the sock and roll, repeat. I slept on it and woke up this morning, just giddy with excitement. And a headache b/c I never sleep with my hair up. Hoping for the best I unrolled my hair and took it out of the pony tail. OHMYGOSH this was the worst experiment to date. It was kinky, frizzy, and just awful y'all! So guess who is wearing a pony tail? Yep, this girl. I have Cross Fit today anyways so it would have ended in a pony tail anyways.

Have y'all tried to get sexy beach waves? Is my hair just not made for it? Out of the two techniques I tried, the first one was better than the last one, so I may just have to keep messing with it until I get it. Or keep researching ideas. Or give up on the idea. I can get some pretty curly hair when I use my curling iron, but I was looking for something a little looser....I may just have to try a bigger barrel on the curling iron.....

Cross Fit

I figured y'all would like an update. My girl and I finished our On Ramp classes last week and I have done 3 classes. No lie, my stomach does flip flops every time I pull into the parking lot! It is SO INTIMIDATING!!!! Some folks aren't overly friendly so that makes it worse. But I have met some nice folks and one lady gave me some really good advice. She said to not get so caught up with what everyone else is doing, you're not there to race against your neighbor for the fastest time or the most reps or weights, you're there to improve your own body and improve your own time. So I have to keep telling myself this. I actually really do enjoy it, I was just getting so burned out on just running. I also really, really need to work on my eating habits. I've done good with cutting back on sugar snacks, cookies, ice cream, etc...it's just that freaking coke. Sigh.

Don't Blink

Today, we celebrate Parker's 5th birthday. How is that even remotely possible? I know it's totally cliche, but it soooooo feels like yesterday we were at the hospital with him. Last night, I just happen to still be awake around 10:30 (strange, I know) and thought, wow, 5 years ago at this time I was in labor.....a few hours later at 4:26 AM, he makes his appearance. My kids are someone who I would seriously go to battle for, I would rather feel pain than to watch them in pain, I would rather lose all my limbs and go blind if it meant to save their limbs or go blind. I mean, that is love right? Kind of reminds me of a certain man, JC. He loved with all he had, he endured pain and suffering for me, for you, for all his children. And I would do the same. So thankful for my salvation and for the honor to be called a mother.

We have started the day off pretty good, a room full of balloons for the birthday boy. And birthday donuts. 

And last night, he helped me make a fruit pizza for his friends at school today. I have to be honest and say that I have never made one before. I used a recipe from Pioneer Woman for the cream cheese mixture and bought the sugar cookie pre-made. So hopefully it'll taste good....I'm sure to a bunch of 5 year olds, they'd eat anything, right? Ha!

Now, let's talk a walk through memory lane, shall we?



Happy Birthday lil man!

My 20-11 Birthday

This past weekend, I celebrated my 20-11 birthday (20+11 = X) or we could call it my 29th 2nd anniversary. Or we could call it what it actually is, but I have an issue with that. I'm not really sure why.....I mean, I have an awesome life, great family, ah-mazing husband, wonderful chillen's, great church, great job, everything is just great, great, great. So I'm not really sure why turning another year older makes me cringe and just curl up in bed? I am taking this year a lot better than last year, so maybe it really does get better :)

We actually had our little cousins with us this weekend. I love watching Baylie (the youngest) play with Parker. Their conversations literally crack me up. I was able to get an early morning run in Saturday and came back to a big breakfast and one of my presents. After breakfast, we loaded up and met our friends the Murray's at the park for a little bit. Played some more, ate some more, left to drop Rylie off at a friends and came home to a cake. (Hubs really knows what I want - ha!) Later on, we met Greg and Angie to drop off the girls and they were actually meeting us for dinner, along with our good friends the Roe's at my favorite pizza place. Cake, Coke, and pizza.....I'm really not to hard to please :)

Sunday was our typical Sunday, woke up early for church, only to arrive late (does anyone else have this problem?) Worked in a Cross Fit work out, laundry, grocery shopping and dinner. I love the weekends!!!

Cross Fit is going well, I have done 2 of the drop-in classes and started my on ramp training yesterday. I have 5 on ramps to do and then I'll be ready to go full force. I know this sounds ridiculously strange, but I am loving it. Every time I pull into the parking lot, my stomach does flip flops and I feel like I'm about to barf. I don't know why I get so nervous! Anyways since I'm turning over a new leaf, that means I need to depart with my love affair of sugar. I mean seriously, if I could live off sugar and chicken/fish, I'd be one.happy.girl. I totally feel off the rocker Saturday (hello - it was my birthday!!!) but had a great day Sunday (only a SIP of Bill's coke and NO SWEETS! Not even a piece of cake!) and Monday was good, I did have 1 coke....today has been okay, I'm doing better with not eating sweets than I am giving up coke. But if I keep it at one a day or one ever other day, I'm ok with that....for now anyways.

We have a busy week ahead of us, Parker's birthday is this Friday and the party is Saturday. We also have our family pics tomorrow. Fun, fun, fun!!!!!

Crossfit is no joke y'all!

Yesterday, I experienced my first CrossFit work out. I have been wanting to join for awhile now so I finally looked it up. They offer 3 sessions for free, to let you try it out and then you sign up. And y'all, this was no joke. I can honestly say that I have never felt the urge to puke after a work out until now. Not even running bleachers or suicides during basketball practice back in the day. I distinctly remember running 20+ suicides after a ball game one night b/c that is how many free throws we missed during a game and lost. Then we had to practice free throws the next practice......all.practice.long.

Anyways, where was I?

Oh yea.....puking....

So before we got started, my new BFF ran through all the drills/circuits with me. And seriously, I thought to myself, is this it? Well Praise the Lord I didn't say that out loud. Because I would have been immobile from that point on. I really like the concept of CrossFit so I am pretty excited to start it....a little demented, eh?

Here is how my work out went (and here is why I am barely able to move today)

• 30 wall balls (stand arms width from wall, hold a 15 lbs medicine ball chest level, squat and when you coming to a standing position, throw the ball up, aiming for a target on wall)
• run 1 mile
• 30 ring up's (can't remember the technical term but you hold onto some rings, walk your body down until you are parallel to floor and pull up)
• run 1 mile
• 35 burpees (or up/downs....everyone else's goal was 50, but since it was my first day, BFF said to do 35....well I did those, then he walked over and said, ok, do 50. I love a good challenge, especially if it means me belly flopping to the ground and humiliating myself in front of 30 people....I didn't really belly flop, but I totally could have)

I told my new BFF that I could run all day long, it's this other stuff that I haven't done in a while....but man oh man, I loved the feeling afterward!

So I guess you can say I am hook.....I am dying to have arms like Jillian Michael....that is my ultimate goal. And if I can get the rest of my body that toned, I guess that is just the icing on the cake!!!!

Mmmmm....cake......

iPhone dump

So I was trying to free up some space on my phone and came across some pictures, some are quite funny....here is my Peyterbug when he could still fit in that car seat! My how long ago that seems!

He has always been a bread lover, just like his momma :)

This was a really, really long but fun night. It was last Spring, like 2011 I think, and we kept having all these horrible tornado's. Well our church opened up one evening for us to take cover. So here we are, hanging out with our friends, waaaaaaay past our bedtimes, and taking cover in the church basement. This is a really bad picture, but just to show you that these little ones were on the move constantly, L to R is Wells, Sarah Kate and Parker.

 After hearing about Parker's trash bag cape (it was literally a trash bag and I won momma of the year award for coming up with the idea) Aunt Sissy made Parker a really cool cape and MAILED it, which if you are a little one, getting anything in the mail is equivalent to winning the lottery. So my poor trash bag cape was dumped by this actual cape, but I am ok with that.

Surfing in Orlando...who said work isn't fun? ;)

 There are no words for this picture....

I have a bijillion pictures of balloonimals.....it's a pretty cool app for your little people.

 When I went to pack for my last trip, I found Parker's Nerf gun stashed in here, cocked and loaded, ready to go.

This child loves salad......actually pretty much any veggie...I'm not really sure he belongs to me?

 My company did a Razorback Helmet and I have taken ownership. Ignore the duck lips.

Reason 543,859,411,229 why we DON'T have cable

Unbelievable....

Nick Jr has a segment out, "NickMoms".

"The two-hour block includes a reality show called "NickMom Night Out" and "What Was Carol Brady Thinking," in which "Brady Bunch" reruns are laced -- in the style of VH1's "Pop Up Video" -- with racy thought bubbles purported to represent what was really on the family matriarch's mind in the scene. (Sample: "Does Mike think needlepoint is foreplay?"). "


Seriously?

Deep in the Heart of Texas

 This weekend, we hit up Hwy 69 (well, technically, 412 to 69, then 69 turned into 75 but that was too complicated to type.....er, what, I just did. Anyways!) and made our way to the Big D. Hubs was seriously counting down the minutes to the biggest game of his life. Most of y'all know that he is probably the biggest OU fan that has ever/will ever walk the face of this earth and he finally got to go to an OU/Texas game. I am so excited for him. I got him the ticket for his birthday/Father's Day and his BFF's wife got a ticket for Tim's birthday so not only did he get to go the game, he got to go with his bud. And PRAISE THE LORD, Bob pulled out a W for little ol' me! We all met up after the game to enjoy the Texas state fair and it was a big hit. Parker got to do some rides and played a few games. My babycakes only got to do 1 ride b/c of height requirements. We feasted on corny dogs, fried cheese cake, fried oreos, and dippin dots. Big Bill also got to have his first In-N-Out burger....sadly I don't have a picture of that- ha!

Stupid Materialistic Things

Don't you just love a good shopping trip? I do. I love fashion, love to shop, love to spend $ I do NOT have....Anyways, so I am getting the ol' wish list ready for the hubs. In no particular order :

Fragrance



Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh




Coach Signature





Coach Poppy



Coach Poppy Flower

  Who doesn't love a good smelling gal?

Shoes

Here, I have a problem. I love shoes. Boots, flats, heels, running shoes...love them all.

How adorable are these Gianni Bini's???? Talk about your wearwithanythingshoe! Love it!

And who doesn't love a good animal print? Love the pointed toe on middle shoe, thank you Steve Madden.

I really, really need a new pair of running shoes. And you can't exactly just pick some off the good ol' world wide web (well, I guess you could BUT if you an avid runner like myself, you really need to get fitted and see what type of running shoe fits you best) so I won't list any of those because I need to get fitted again....my first choice is always Saucony's, but I have tried on some Brooks that I thought were pretty sweet.

Handbags

Ok, let me set up the story for you on this one. You see, while I was in Vegas a few weeks ago for work, I happened to see this precious little babe. My first mistake was going inside the store. The second mistake was picking up said handbag. My third mistake was looking at the price tag. It literally burned my hand. if i'm lying, i'm dying! (sorry, heard that the other night and thought it was a cute little saying) I absolutely love everything about this bag. The size, the color, the straps, the leather, it has this ah-mazing feel to it, the leather was burned around the edges to give it that worn in feel. Simply ah-maz-ing. I walked by my soul mate 4 times. FOUR times folks. And every time, I heard, "Ohhhh Jess......please, come hold me again....I don't care if your children dump their Batman/Spiderman/Hulks inside me. I don't care if they hide their hidden treasure in here. I don't care if you just throw me on the floor of your office as soon as you walk in." Seriously, it spoke y'all. I stood my ground, I ignore it, I am so strong. Whatev. All I can think about is that stupid bag!!!! Fast forward a few weeks later, and I am compiling my Wish List, do I put the bag on the list? Hubs would croak, literally croak.  What's a girl to do? A gentle voice whispered, put it on the list, Jess. Ok Satan voice,  I'll include it on the Wish List.

A few minutes later, I get this text

"if u would have bought that bag, you would have been divorced!!! that's insane!"

A little harsh, eh?

I thought so too.

Anyways, I highly doubt that this particular bag will be purchased by said husband, but I like to think of myself as glass half full kind of girl. So stay tuned.....

Oh yea, here's the bag. And it's only $400. only....

Narnia

Ok. I really didn't mean to leave y'all hangin after writing about my girl Boomer. So sorry. I blinked and the week flew by. Work has been madness. Complete madness. I think someone in my family has had an event almost every night this week, and for a homebody like me, that is too much. And last night, after I got home from a ladies event at my church, I had to get Parker all packed up for his road trip with his Poppy to STL. They are going to spend the next few days with Sis. Parker was especially excited to come to Mommy's work and eat donuts (this is a tradition, thanks to VBS back in the summer) before we met Pops. We are having a bike event tomorrow and have a whole bunch of "swag" stuff to give away and one of the guys I work with found a pair of sunglasses for him.

On Wednesday nights, Parker has Awana's at church and I usually go walking with babycakes. I asked Billy to go this time with me and he said sure......afterwards he also said that he wouldn't walk with me ever again. It was just a few miles....and we walked. Come on Bill! Found Peyton a little piggy to rest on....

Have I mentioned that Parker wants a Chronicles of Narnia birthday party? And he wants to be King Peter for Halloween. Two difficult acts to conquer, but I was able to mark the costume off my list, thanks to ebay. The party is going to be a daunting task though.....on my list of  to-do's are

• hire 2 sword fighters (I even tried to hire some fencing folks and they don't allow that, but for a small fee of $350 I can have the party there. thanksbutnothanks)
• if I can't find any sword fights, maybe a couple of high schoolers would work? After all, this is for a FIVE year old's party, surely they won't know the difference?
• cake - all Parker wants is a sword and shield on the cake. DONE!
• Invitations - already emailed my ideas over to my uber talented friend Lindsey from back home.
• Decorations - somehow, I have to turn my home into Narnia, and I have to do this on some sort of budget.....not really sure how much is in that so called budget, but I should probably figure that out. Even though he wants everything from the 2nd movie (with Prince Caspian) I think I will still make my entry way a wardrobe for everyone to come through.....and I will also have some foam swords and shields and crowns for the kids....

What do y'all think????