I forgot to blog

Bad colds
Stomach Bug
Ear Infection
Kidney Stones
Return of Herpily Derpilies (Herpangina for those that, unlike me,have greater than a 15 year old's maturity)

Yep, one, two or all of us have had one, two or all of the above illnesses.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I love a good outdoorsy day

I love it that my kids would rather play in our ditch than anywhere

 Or in a suitcase with some wipes

 I love the occasional moments where they play together well

I love it when Rylan matches our walls

Our Love Story

Thank you, Ashley, for the blog post idea that I totally stole. Lets get all personal and sappy up in here! This blog needs a little more Rob in it, yes?

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We have been together for 7.5 years

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

Rob and I went to high school together, but didn't know each other well. Our parents actually worked on a committee together. He graduated in 1996 (I was a sophomore, cause I am and always will be so much younger than him:) ) and I didn't see him again until 2004. I had a bad day at work and was depressed and my friends talked me into going out to a bar. A guy singing at the bar was a guy from our high school, so we went to say hi, and he introduced us to his friends, including Rob. Three weeks in a row after that, Rob and I crossed paths at various places around Little Rock (we both swear the other was a stalker) and on the third meetup, he asked me for my number. After 2 weeks of dates, we were inseperable, a month in he met my big German family (a sure sign he was in love), 8 months in we were engaged and a year, almost to the day after our first date, we got married.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry?

It will be 7 years this May

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

Medium sized wedding, big in my book, but then I read about others and whoa!!! We had 150 guests. We got married at St. Patricks church and had a reception at Jaunita's party room downtown. 

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?

In high school, Rob was Robbie, and I still call him that. I also call him Rob Rob sometimes. I don't know why. I just do.  

He very occasionally calls me Sarie. He used to call me baby, but then we had babies and it got weird.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

He has an awesome work ethic, and has done excellent moving himself up. He fights temptation to take days off, even when he probably should (sick days) when I hear about other people using all their days and then some.

He will do anything for our family. And I love that we have a relationship that he knows if I ask for something, he knows I need it.  

I love it when he laughs hard. Its hard to make Rob really really get tickled, but oh my gosh, its just the best laugh and you feel like the funniest person on the earth. 

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

It was Christmas eve, there was an ice storm and we were supposed to go to our favorite sushi restaurant, but we couldn't get into the parking lot, so we went to DeCarlo's. He had wrapped my ring up like a regular present and I knew that bag was for me and he put his hand in it and I was about to be all "hey! that one's mine!" when I spied what he took out of the bag. He did the cute, one knee question.  

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Neither, but in a good way. There has been times that I've gotten flowers, and I love them but, Rob tends to get me something I want or need or something sentimental. after we had Rylan, he got me a necklace with an R on it. One time he got me a massage, one time a coupon for a pedicure. 

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Pop in a movie and get me relaxed on the couch and you will see my eyelids in less than 10 minutes! I don't lie! I'm more of a sunset dinner on the beach, but cozy and wearing something with give. 

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

The biggest thing is to move to Fayettville so we are closer to family, and the beloved Razorbacks. That's the logical want.

I love to travel with Rob, we have similar tastes in where we like to go. If its just us, we would love another all inclusive getaway, but someday, somehow, we want to do a pub tour of Ireland. I would have to train major for this. I still have New Year's Eve champagne in the fridge, still in the brown bag I bought it in. Lame.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Um, we have kids that are 3 and 1. I will make us something sassy for dinner, and we'll eat while listening to the lovely tune of "I wanna watch Super Why!!!!, Batman? Spiderman? Can I watch super Why in your bed?" all while dodging flying food from Max's side of the table. Then its bathtime, more dodging, this time water. Then many, many books kisses, hugs, "yes its night night time" and they go to bed.

But after they go to bed, Rob and I will hang out and eat something for dessert and decaf coffee and turn off phones, tv, and computers and actually talk. Bliss.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Yes, Rob and I didn't do gifts last year. We were financially in a place that needed frivolous gifts to be skipped. I hadn't worked in 6 months, we had just lost our dog and those vet bills were out of control (I swear they just make a new number up everytime I go), I was combating Death Fever and had many medical bills, and we were saving for a vacation. We did good, we lived frugally, paid our bills and now we can go back to getting each other something special.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Always remember the person that you married is in there somewhere when you feel upset. Know that they are a good person, and that they love you. 

When you have kids, talk about things other than the kids. Its hard to, but its needed. 

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

I love this pic. Just happy. When you have a fancy reception, there are so many people to see and dance with, you almost forget to get back to your betrothed, and here we found each other and had a dance. I love it. He's so much taller than me, a whole head and some change. I like it that way. 

Reunited and it feels so good

Ahhhhh.......my computer finally uploaded pics for me! Something about having 5 million, give or take, too many pictures and downloads. Whatever.

So anyway, we've been running around like mad, and we realized that we had gone way way way too long without seeing Harper, Hayes and their mama, Krystal. Like all of December and part of January!!!! See, Krystal took one of those JOB thingies and those darn things take away from frolicking time. And there was illness, and birthdays, and trips, and holidays and oh my gosh, Hayes is HUH-YUGE and I swears she was just a tiny baby. And, Max is RUNNING and Krystal was just holding him on her lap.

So, we were going to enjoy the lovely springlike weather and hang at the zoo, but the minute we got there, the heavens opened up and it was rainy and cold. So, we decided to check out the (newly remodeled) Museum of Discovery. Holy Funness! It was perfect, minus the fact that I lost each of my kids at least once in the maze they call the children's area. I try to dress my children in colors of emergency traffic signs on days where they will be running amok, but I thought they were zoo and stroller bound, so they were wearing normal colors, easy to lose.

 Hayes and Max saying hello

 This is the best I could do at a couples photo. they are holding hands in case you are wondering. They held hands the entire day. It was precious.

 Dress up time, they kept these hats on for almost an hour

 Krystal is hiding back there trying to make it look like Hayes and Max took a ride on a cow alone

I highly recommend the museum to all. We got a season pass, so look forward to many many pics that look, pretty much like the above.  Me likes a clean, air conditioned/heated, non crazy, place to take my kids on a cold, rainy, or extra hot day. 

I was wondering when the shiteth would hit the faneth

They got sick again.....poor kids. On an extremely happy note, they haven't been sick since the beginning of December. This is monumental for them, considering the last year of their lives. Eight whole weeks (mostly) illness, antibiotic, and updraft machine free.  Its the small things in life and two months illness free and Gnomeo and Juliet both cause me to smile.

The sad thing is, I brought it home. From where? No idea. But last Thursday my eye started pouring fluid and then the nose joined in. By Friday I was sure there could be nothing else to wipe or blow, but there was so, so so much more. I slept approximately 12 hours Friday night, took a four hour nap Saturday and slept another 9 hours that night (thank you, Rob) and was pretty much better by Sunday. And what did Rob get for being such a good husband/daddy? A nice, snotty, eye watering cold. He cannot say I never gave him anything.

So, my computer's being an a-hole and not uploading my pics, so I all you get is an update on Qualls snot. Your welcome. Come again.

Weekly Goal Check in

Last Week's Goals
Home
1. Put 5 items on Craig's List (I have a reason why I didn't get this done, I decided that I would make a ton more money and have less hassle to just put these in a consignment sale. That way I don't have to meet people in Little Rock and get 27,000 emails telling me I live too far away, could I drop the price).

2. Put cash in cash envelope system and use it!!!!!!  There is cash in the envelopes, hasn't been used yet

3. Make a list of all of the things around the house that will help with decreasing dustmites and helping kiddos allergies.

Stay at home mommy stuff
3.  At least 3 days where everything gets crossed off of new daily to-do list  

4. Blog at least 2 days/week, not including goal check-in

5. Stay home at least two days.
Personal
6. Get caught up on Love and Respect in time for bible study on Monday. OI!!!!

7. Have a date night with the hubs.

8. Try one new craft or kid thing from Pinterest
Health
9. Work out four days
10. Lose 1 pound


Well, 5 out of 10 is an improvement.  Plus, 2 of the days I MOSTLY did everything on my list. My daily to-do list is very very big, and I've noticed where I am routinely falling behind (um, taking a vitamin and putting needed drops in my eyes for one).  The days that we stayed home were a strain. We go go go so much and, sadly, in public, my kids are SOOOO much better. Mostly because they like to be entertained. I've seen some things I can do to improve this, and make our time at home better.  Namely, remembering that my kids are 3 and 1 and they have very, very, very short attention spans, so changing the activity more often keeps them from getting bored. (bored=shenanigans)


Our Pinterest kid thing was this. You'd be surprised how excited your kids can get if you put their food in a muffin tin or an ice cube tray. I did 6 muffin tin for Max with turkey pepperoni, cut grapes, crackers, and raisins. Rylan's ice cube tray had cheese, pepperoni, grapes, raisins, crackers, carrot sticks, and hummus. They chowed down. I did this again Thursday when Mama wanted to go have drinks with my coworkers and Rob was bringing the kids home. When my kids do their one day at daycare, they come home ravenously hungry and as thirst as Jesus after his time in the desert!!!! It is nearly impossible to cook a meal, because they shout at you the entire time about how they are starving to death.**** I came home and had them their muffin/ice trays set out with goldfish crackers and grapes, and dried cranberries. Rob said it was so nice, they got so excited and sat and had their snacks while he made their dinner. 


My friend, Cheryll, mentioned that she is changing her weigh-in day and I am following in her footsteps. I am playing back an forth with the same 3 pounds and I think its the weekends that are getting me down! We usually do a dinner out or a big dinner at home on Friday and I'm all bloated and gross Monday morning.  I am going to start weighing on Friday.  It will help me keep on track better over the weekend. 


This week's goals


Home 
1.Make a new to-do list incorporating Rylan and Max's new allergy meds


2.Finish taxes


3. Get carpets cleaned


SAHM stuff
4. Blog 2 days other than weekly check-ins


5. Do "school" with Rylan every day


6. Do a "kid" related activity off of Pinterest


Personal/health
7. Log food onto My Fitness Pal everyday


8. Work out 4 days


9. Lose 1 pound


10. Read 20 minutes every night

Our biggest surprise

On Wednesday, I realized it was February 1st (when you don't work, you often REALIZE the date, not automatically know it like I used to because I wrote it a thousand times a day). Two years ago, on February 1st we got a huge shock. We were going to have another baby. I do believe I laughed like a hyena, and the 3 hours I had to wait until Rob got home so I could tell him in person, were the 3 longest hours of my life. I know people that wait to tell their hubs for days, even weeks. 3 hours was all I could do.

I was advised to get a pregnancy test when I explained some symptoms to a coworker. I thought she was probably nuts, but I took her advise. I was so sure that it was going to negative that I purchased a pregnancy test, a bag of bulbs to plant in the yard that day, and a diet coke, full of bad stuff for a fetus.  Yeah, the (half drank, oops) diet coke went in the trash and I returned the bulbs later that week, so freaked out by all I had to do, the thought of sticking some bulbs in the ground was daunting.***

Eight months to the day later, we had our Max. I can't imagine a world without our big surprise. He has been a joy. The first year of his life was tough, only because adjusting to having a two year old and a baby is always hard, added to the fact that we had an amazing amount of illness to boot. Max was, one of the easiest, happiest, babies I have ever been around. He slept good, ate good, played good. If he hadn't had a million ear infections and projectile vomiting, I would have worried he was a little too perfect!

He turned 16 months on Wednesday. He now weighs 24.2 pounds. Compared to his brother, he's my little shrimp! He can say dog, cow, mama, daddy, Lola, all done, hat and ball. He can do the sign language for more, all done, dog, and hat. He is also starting animal sounds and has duck, dog, cow, and monkey pretty much down. He very much enjoys playing in the toilet, cleaning out the canned good cabinets, running anywhere, and anything having to do with dogs. He has a dog calender in his room and, almost every day, we'll hear him crying miserably for us to come get him, when we go in there, he shuts off the crying, points and says "dog!"

I cannot express enough how good of a surprise he was for us. Love him, love him, love him.

 First candy cane, looks like a crime scene

Santa visit before surgery, he wasn't impressed

If only this was actually helpful

Happy baby, he can already climb up the stairs to the jungle gym himself

Getting IN the toybox is important to him

Rocking a good, post dinner hair-do. A sign of a good meal, is if he rubs it in his hair.

First corndog. He approved.