A few weeks ago I was inspired by my friend Shelby (she has five children) to start working out in the mornings. When I say early I mean early. As in early early. I was getting frustrated by my workout time of mid-morning because it took up the first half of our day. I felt like I was always running out of time!!
SO. Enter my ridiculous notion to get up before the crack of dawn to get my move on.
Currently I get up at 5:15, feed Freya (I am weaning her off of that early morning feeding), put her back down and then get ready to head out the door. I am usually at the rec center by 6 a.m.
Once I get back home I shower, get dressed and get this ... are you ready .... here it comes .... put some make-up on. No joke. Worked out, showered, dressed and make-upped all by 8 a.m.
I LOVE IT.
I am also posting a "house routine" today. Once Nate is out of school for the summer (will it ever end) he is going to be my right-hand man in running this household. We decided that it would be beneficial for both of us to know what's happening when. Consistency is key in most areas of life so .... consistent we will be. I'm so thankful to be married to a man that wants to not only be with us, but wants to play in active role in each of our lives.

I figure I better get last weekend out before this weekend happens.
Friday night I went to a friend's house for girls' night ... margaritas and mexican food. It was yummy. We basically just sat around and talked. A nice time though. Kristi changed my lip piercing out for a shorter one. I thought it looked good until I got home and realized that it was overtaking my face. I have since switched it out for a much smaller one. (I forgot my camera)
I don't remember what I did on Saturday.
Sunday was Mother's Day ...

Mazie helped with dinner

We got the girls a swing set

Mazie wanted to eat lunch in the swing the next day
(Freya looks a little jealous)

Mazie

Freya

Nate and I acting like our idiot selves

Mazie will now say, "Don't talk. Mommy don't talk" when I'm giving her instructions that she doesn't want to follow. I of course explain to her how to respond appropriately, etc. but inside I think it's extremely funny.

I wish I could just say "don't talk" to everyone that is saying things I don't want to hear.

My little firecraker

Sweet Mazie and .... a cigarette butt in the flower bed. Nice.

I had a very nice weekend and will fill you in on all of the details (and include some pics) in a few days. (I know, I know. So exciting.) For now ... Here are some more Easter pics for ya.

Looking for eggs

I told her she could sit down (meaning the bench)
but she sat on the ground

There we go

Mazie really didn't want to slow down for a
photo with Mom

I loved on her anyway

Coloring eggs with Grammie

Mommy and Freya

Great-Grandma and Freya

Bunny eating a bunny

We're pooped (I love Freya's cheek in this pic)

What goes better with Easter than guns?

Chris and Annette
... and what goes better with Easter than champagne?

Annette, Lucy and I

Annette. Just being Annette

Freya had a little accident on the way home,
but she was still happy.
A little poop in the pants ain't gonna bring this girl down

My Mom always wants me around and treats me like I'm something special. She is always willing to lend a helping hand! I'm not sure what I would have done over this past year without her support.
My Mom was the wife of a grad student once. She understands the time and financial sacrifices that are required to do so. She remembers the loneliness and feelings of being overwhelmed and she has put forth much effort to make this time easier for us.
She loves my children as her own; her joyful spirit and nurturing ways are unparalleled. My girls adore her through and through! My Mom delights in her children and grandchildren and every single one of us feels special around her.
I appreciate her so much. She is one of the most patient, loving women I have ever known. She is just so very sweet.

This morning Mazie had her first on-stage performance at Community Bible Study. When she spotted me in the audience she said, "Hi, Mommy" and my heart just melted. I was all kinds of choked up and sniffling like an idiot in the front row with, get this, my huge-o camera, our video camera and our flip camera. I had three things going all at once. Overload much? Nah. Cute girl had her fingers in her mouth until the very end when she noticed me motioning to her to take them out.

This time of the year is usually bittersweet for me. Bitter as I remember the heartache, sweet as I relish the changes. I can't believe next week will mark the four-year anniversary of me leaving my ex-husband.
That summer was the most desperate, debilitating, challenging, beautiful and triumphant period of my entire life. My life is so different now that sometimes I feel as though all of those years were just a dream. I look at old photos and read old journals and it's as if I'm peeking in at someone else's life, not my own. I suppose this is what happens when you do a complete 180 in a few short years. No one can say I've wasted much time during this reinvention. God has done and continues to do a good work in my life.

Recently I came across this little ditty I wrote during that period.

quietly, gently i grasp.
tender i am.
i am,
i am,
i am.
slips of twilight, my tongue sounds like honey.
from my heart, my heart the sweetness flows.
filing down the sharpness, i make way for the changes.
knowing the choices, resilience overrules the pain.
softness,
softness,
softness.
swaddled in courage, i am smothered by fear.
in this heart. mind. heart longs for serenity.
with your acidic water on my fire,
what you say doesn't become me.
but becoming am i.
am i,
am i,
am i.
becoming?
becoming i am. i come. i be.     come.
      .please.
                 .please.

A few weeks ago I mentioned the alley ... you may remember ... well, at the bottom of this post you'll find a photo of said alley during a little bonfire. I was standing on our front porch when I took this picture and yes, we have the best house on the block in terms of alley view. All the neighbors are jealous I just know it. I mean, you've seen our spectacular view of the lake from the back door, no?

(Allow me to refresh your memory)

 

If you would like to drive down the alley while we're out hittin' the s'mores up hard you can forget it. We take our alley time very seriously ... especially during the day when us moms are standing in the middle talking (and lamenting about how we were going to wash the vom out of hair but just didn't have the motivation) while hundreds (some of the moms have their quivers full, if you know what I mean) of children play at our feet.
Unless you bring Starbucks. Some of those ladies would kill for the Starbucks. They'll round up all of the kidnuggets and let you pass if you bring that energizing, life-sustaining nectar of the gods for them. Those moms and their coffee, I tell ya.