A day in the life: Monday, January 26, 2014

I have all these intentions to do "Day in the Life" posts once a quarter or at least twice a year, but they are so much work. It has been nearly a year since the last. I have decided to do a busy day and a not so busy day. Today is the not so busy day and next week I will try to document a busy day. So here goes nothing.

The alarm starts going off at 4:20. I snooze until 4:38, crap gotta get going. I weigh, son of a gun. Did not lose one single pound from the last Monday. No time for a break down, which is what I really want to do. Get dressed, brush teeth and head for the gym. Meet my workout buddy and we bust out a hard back and bicep workout. We are still sore from last week so no upping of any weights. I am still so mad from the weigh in that I am holding back tears the whole time. Done by 6:15 and chugging a protein shake on the way home.

 

 

Get home Tim is up and our sheets are in the washer already. He is such a great husband. Tell him about my weigh in and he causally mentions he lost 6 pounds. Restrain from killing him. I mean he doesn't even freaking try!!!!!!!!! No time to kill someone or cry. Moving on to getting ready.

I go wake up the kids and Lilah wants Mama. Okay this may turn around my day. She ALWAYS wants Daddy. Both of the littles look so cute and are in the best mood. We take off their sheets and play hide and seek in them. I leave Tim to get them dressed and I finish up my make up. Both girls come into my bathroom, I mean the beauty shop, to get their hair fixed. We pretend I am Lemon Berry from Strawberry Shortcake. Addy is always Cherry Jam (she is the movie star, go figure). We pretend to gossip about their day as I throw their hair in their normal style. Kisses and out the door they all go.

 

I put dinner in the oven. I LOVE delay bake, such a time saver for working moms. And I gather up all my breakfast, lunch and snacks for the week. I was on top of it yesterday and did all my meal prepping for work this week.

Now I am out the door. I stop at Wal-Mart to check if they have anymore Kids Shampoo on clearance. I love the one I bought yesterday. No such luck. Off to work and arrive by 7:50. Yay, this week is starting off better than last. I was late EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Put away my food. Grab water and coffee. Quickly document what has happened so far. Start a "To Do" list of what I want to accomplish today. Check my email and off to start my day.

Reviewed credit card policies, worked on "to do's" for our India office, helped finalize the 2014 trial balance for our auditors, and worked on our tax information request for our preparers. All way exciting right?  I also had my 90 day evaluation with my boss over lunch. He was very complimentary and asked what else I might want to do within the organization. I am loving that I get to reinvent myself a little and learn lots more that tax.

4:50 pm. I am out the door headed home to my babies. It is 70 degrees outside. Isn't it winter, Oklahoma is crazy. I roll down my windows and crank up the tunes. Trying to channel some good vibes and energy to make it through the evening. Evenings are challenging. Everyone is tired and Mondays are especially hard for some reason. I find that if I try my best to be up beat and energetic it makes the evening a little smoother. I rarely succeed at this but the weather is making me smile a little bigger.

I pull in with Tim and the girls right behind me. I check on dinner and change for some outside fun. We bike, swing, spin, jeep, and enjoy some spring like weather.

We come in to share strawberries while dinner is cooling and check out the scholastic books.  A friend from work gave me special Frozen cookies to share with the family. Luckily I made someone eat the 4th, so I enjoy a Fiber One coffee cake bar. Super yummy. Lilah keeps calling the cookies cold.

After dinner the girls play. Tim cleans the kitchen. I prep dinner for tomorrows basketball game. I have been taking lunchables, but had a grand idea this weekend to just make my own. Money saver!

7:00 We get the girls ready for bed. Lilah is have multiple break downs, so Tim decides it is time for bed. I think to myself it's a little early, but give it a go. He reads to her and I rock and sing. She is in bed with no problem by 7:20. I jump in the shower while Addy watches Veggie Tales and Tim stats the weekend basketball games.

When I get out of the shower I see this...

Um it looks like someone decided 7:20 is too early.



They finish up their show. Lilah heads to bed for the second time as Addy and I work on her new memory verse. I am amazed how these kids are like little sponges. Now it's Addy's turn. Tim reads I sing and off to bed she goes.

I straighten up a few items in the living room. Tim has a cigar in his shop outside. By 8:45 we are in bed. We talk about the week, church, schedules, and our cute girls. Finish up with a couple Scrubs episodes and more basketball stats. Lights out by 10, a little later than planned but we were having some good uninterrupted conversation. That's it folks. Time to get up and do it all again tomorrow, except Tuesdays are my crazy days. I will try to document that soon.

2015 Goals

 So it's a new year. Wow, I feel like that one really flew. 2014 was another year of changes. This time more for me personally. The biggest adjustment was a job change. Leaving something that I really enjoyed and loved the group I worked with, to take a chance on a much less stressful career. To tell you I don't miss my old job would be a complete lie. I miss the challenge and the fast pace and my team immensely. However, one thing I do not miss is the stress. The constant feeling of dropping balls all over the place. The feeling of doing too much and doing nothing well. The short remarks made to my loved ones. The just trying to keep my head above water feeling.

Tim's job is time consuming, but he freaking rocks it! He is an awesome coach and so great with the kids. He is doing his dream job. Well, I think golfing everyday and taking naps would be more his dream job, but that doesn't pay the bills. With his job being so time consuming, it just doesn't make sense for me to have the same type of job. I want to be able to support his career and be at every game possible. I mean I do have the cutest cheerleaders in tow. So, what's not to love? Making my job change has allowed me to attend nearly all of his games, which I really enjoy. And right now going into what would have been my busy season, I am not plagued with the idea of not getting to go.

As 2014 was closing out I felt like I kind of had it together. I felt like I kept more balls in the air and I was able to stay on top of things during the holidays. I still was crazy busy with basketball season, Christmas plays, and all of the holiday fun, but I wasn't worried about not being in town because of work or arranging someone to pick up my kids at the last minute. Work is definitely a during the day activity and does not follow me home. Heck, I never check my work email once I leave the office now.

While, I like this swing of the pendulum right now, I know I will need it to swing back and forth as the months and years pass by. I am one who likes change, so I am hoping for some busy and exciting time in my work life in the future. My boss just asked me what I would like to learn. I am thankful I get to have a job where I could even re-invent myself if I want. I am not stuck as the tax person.

Wow, so all of that blah blah to talk about my 2015 goal. I was nervous to even put it in print. I have even had it as a goal before, and obviously not accomplished it. My goal for 2015 is to finally lose the baby weight and learn how to maintain a healthy, balanced life. We are 99% sure we are done with having children, so let's just get this "losing the weight" thing over with! Basically in 2015 I am focusing on ME. Towards the end of 2014 I started weightlifting. I really enjoyed it. Throughout the Christmas break I started to get more serious and researched it more and more. I have gone to fitness classes for years, not consistently though. Throughout December I worked up to 3-4 early morning workouts a week. In January I have moved that up to 5-6 days a week, with some extra lunch workouts thrown in for good measure. Since I have a lunch break I have decided to use it. Monday/Wednesday errands/grocery store, Tuesday/Thursday- Workout, and Friday- Errands or lunch with a friend. I am trying out a new diet, which is always my down fall. It is basically eating healthy and watching my portions.

Also, with losing my baby weight I want to focus on balancing other things in my life. Tim and I need to go back to the once a month dates. In 2014 we were absolutely horrible with this. We were too busy, or so we claimed, to take a night for ourselves. Well, we just need to do this otherwise, we might choke each other. ;) (Side note: Any babysitting volunteers?!?!?!)

Over the past few months I have struck a great balance with my kiddos. I am trying my hardest to get all my errands done during lunch breaks. I have moved laundry to super early in the morning or a load here and there during the week. I do meal planning during my days, while at work. I just keep running to do notes on my phone to jot down grocery store needs, meal plans, really anything that comes to my head. Doing these things during the week, I am able to have more time on the weekends. We love our "stay home" days as Addy calls them. I am so excited to see them when I get home in the evening, not completely exhausted from work and over stressing. I have been able to enjoy evenings and weekends. I will still stay completely busy during the evening and weekend that is just the person I am. I can't sit still. During a lazy Sunday I will usually choose to organize something over taking a nap. I know I am a weirdo.

So this is the year I am going to rock. I will learn how to get and stay healthy. I am continuing to learn how to balance home and work life. I am learning how to be most efficient at those pesky domestic chores, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and the like. I feel like this is my year to figure out how to be the best me possible. Let's hope in March, June or September these excited feelings haven't changed.

Wait, wait, I didn't even address how I did last year. Faith was my goal for last year. I would say I excelled in some areas like trusting God in an big life change, but need to continue to work in others. I made a big work change. I became confident in my mothering skills. I think 2014 was a good jumping board into 2015!

P.S. Rereading this post I realize it jumps all over the place. Just a little glimpse into my mind. You're welcome! Haha

2.5 Years: Lilah Grace

Dearest Lilah,

You are two and a half today, a full fledged toddler. Here are a few bits and pieces about you at 2.5.

- You are still a little tiny little girl. You are very petite.
- You may be small but you my girl are fierce. At 2.5 you could probably whip Addison any day. You are not afraid to go after what you want and claim what you believe to be yours. You are your father's hope for an athletic daughter.
- You have a case of the terrible two's. We never experienced this with Addison, she was more of a terrible three. But you my dear have a bit of a stubborn and dare I say defiant streak. You have spent some serious time in time-out both at home and school. It is very hard on you to apologize to others. You would rather just give others the silent treatment when you are asked to apologize.
- While you have a very stubborn personality, you are very happy girl 90% of the time.
- You are giggly and very silly.
- Your smile is down right adorable.
- You are still the shy sister. You are not quick to warm up to people. You still have trouble with the occasional babysitter. Babysitters happen much less now that mom's schedule is 10 times less stressful. So you don't see Miss Kaylee often. When you are left at home you cry for your mama and daddy.
- You love to be held. This is usually in the morning when I am getting ready or when I am cooking dinner. However, there are several other times throughout the day that you say "hold me". I try to acquiesce nearly every time. Who knows how much longer this will last. I want to soak up every snuggle you give me.
- You don't like change. You have settled into your classroom at school, but it was a rough couple of months in the beginning. In the first months you didn't want us to leave you. You finally got comfortable with your teachers, Kelsey and Renee. However, you would not let them leave you. You were stuck to the teachers side. Now you are much more comfortable with the school and have become much more comfortable with others there.
- You are now in a big girl bed. Your transition to the big girl bed was so easy. We decided on a whim to give it a try and you have been a sleeping like a champ in it ever since. You don't get out of bed when we put you down. You, like your daddy, love your sleep.
- You love a routine. Once we start a routine you are quick to latch on to it. Bedtime needs a book in the rocker and a song. It doesn't have to be long. We could ready a 5 second book and sing on the way to bed, but you insist on the order.
- You recently started watching some TV. We are not a big TV family to begin with, but on an occasional weekday when we are home early or an early weekend morning it is nice. Since our Disney trip you have been fascinated with Mickey Mouse. So for Christmas we bought you a few Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVDs. You love them.
- You call Minnie Mouse, Mickey too. To you there is no distinction.
- You are constantly saying "oh gosh" or "oh man". It is ADORABLE.
- You are your sister's shadow. Everywhere Addy is you want to be right there with her. You completely skipped any baby or toddler activities and moved into big girl activities. You two are the best of friends. You play very well together. You can be heard often chanting, "Go Addy Go!". Addy won't necessarily be doing anything, and you will be off playing with your babies. However, you will be cheering for your sis.
- You love babies. You got a baby bed and high chair set for twins from Santa. You absolutely love this gift. You are always feeding, rocking, or putting a baby to bed.
- For being a shy little girl you totally rocked your Christmas programs this year. I was completely nervous that you would see me and want to run off the stage. However, you spotted me and smiled so big. You sang your songs and continued throughout the Christmas season to sing "Happy Birthday Jesus" complete with baby rocking motions.
- You walk around the house talking up a storm these days. You were slow to talk. But over the past few months have moved into speaking in sentences and learning new words every single day.
- You like to tell us you are a big girl. Whether you are talking about your big girl bed, or want a big girl cup, or anything Addy is doing. You want us to know you are a big girl like Addy.
- You want to wear big girl panties, but often just over your diaper. You have used the potty several times, but I think it is your parents who are more scared to take the potty training leap. I am so nervous about a having a potty training toddler while at basketball games.
- You have started to sing the ABC song, but there are lots of letters missing.
- You are quickly learning the Summit cheers and like to belt them out. You and your sister are crowd favorites.
- You are still a thumbsucker. Along with thumbsucking you have become more and more attached to  your blankie or anything with a tag. At school you aren't aloud to have a blankie so you improvise. You discovered that most of the sides of your shirts have a tag. So you are often found with your left thumb in your mouth and your right hand tucked under your left arm rubbing on the tag of your shirt.
- You have discovered mommy's morning coffee. You have started asking for a sip everytime you see I have coffee. After a small sip you give me a huge and tell me how much you like it.


Lilah you are just down right adorable and cuddly cute. You fill our life with so much happiness and joy. You are loved by so many, but especially loved by Addison, your daddy and me.

Love you forever and always,
Mommy