Photo Challenge~Pets

For this week's photo challenge, I'm submitting a photo of our cocker spaniel, Sophie!



This is my first contest entry for I heart faces and I was so excited when I read that the challenge was "pets". I have fallen in love with this photo because Sophie has such a sweet spirit and she loves to play outside with our girls. What's not great about a sprinkler on a hot summer day!?

35 in 30

Here it is! I'm so stinkin' pumped! I've been trying to kick 35 lbs since my 2 year old was born, but haven't had any luck. I'm so exhausted all the time....knowing that its my lack of exercise and terrible eating habits that have gotten the best of me. I truly believe you can become addicted to junk food! In high school I had the will power to stay away from the unhealthy food and just eat what was good for me. Ever since having my oldest, I feel like I'm entitled to a snickers or candy bar latte....or french fries...m&m's...and then switched from diet to regular soda. AND--I work for a nutrition program people....AND I'm married to a physical education major/personal trainer...what is my excuse?

So...Christmas is 30ish weeks away {I know, right}....so I'm determined to give myself the BEST Christmas present this year and get to my goal {35lbs}! I'm going to be attending Weight Watcher meetings, participate in Jazzercise classes 3 times a week minimum, workout at the gym per my husbands routines, rollerblade at the lakes when its beautiful outside, and train for the 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving!

Nothing like God giving us his one and only son and I in turn give him my spirit, soul, AND body! Amen to that!

Was that even the weekend? *phew*

Oh my goodness...the weekends always seem to go by quickly, especially when you work full-time away from home. This weekend was no exception...but it seemed to be pretty chaotic {mind you...this is the last weekend before we depart for Chicago/Milwaukee}. You think I could get prepared for that? Looks like I will be spending the next few days taking care of business. Here are a few tidbits from the weekend:

• Luckily I got off early on Friday {after a staff meeting and busy clinic} to tend to the girls so daddy could rest. He came down with an awful sore throat and sickness on Thursday night and ended up spending the rest of the weekend {and today} in bed. With a trip to Urgent Care, the ER, and the ENT....I think he may be on his way to recovering. All 3 of us girls are praying! Health is important when traveling.

• My oldest got a certificate to eat at a local Mexican restaurant from her Kindergarten teacher, so me, the girls, and my mom enjoyed some yummy food and much needed relaxation {if you can call dining out with a 2 year old relaxing, then that's GREAT news}!! We came home, enjoyed ice cream AND the beautiful thunderstorms {I big puffy heart thunder, lighting, the calmness, the clouds....God's majesty}!

• On Saturday, I was one of the 300,000 women to attend the "So long insecurity" Beth Moore simulcast! That was amazing and I felt so renewed and 'normal'!! It was great just spending the day with my mom! You can never take that for granted.

• The weekend was followed by rest {we always try to keep the Sabbath day holy}! I baked, trying new recipes, which is always interesting and fun. The girls love taste testing and my oldest is never too shy to tell me if something is "yuck"! The 2 year old soon follows at whatever 'sissy' says! In the evening, I attended my last Financial Peace University class. That was very inspiring and we can't wait to be debt free and give our money away. After all, isn't everything God's? I'm trying to get away from the 'stuff' mentality. I believe in our culture, as Christians, we need to NOT be the norm. Society tells us we NEED to keep up with the Jones'....but I want my girls to know that Jesus is enough.

Praying for a blessed week.

In Christ,

Carrie

Easter Fun

We enjoyed the sunshine on Easter. It was wonderful...and I had a great time taking pictures.

The girl will blow bubbles ALL day if you let her.

Her facial expressions crack me up!

I heart babies!

I'm VERY new at photography, but was super excited when a cousin of mine let me practice on her newborn. Here are a few shots I captured. Isn't she beautiful?

Sweet Sophie!

This is our chocolate cocker spaniel who we almost lost {misdiagnosed heart problem}, almost gave away {took 10 months to potty train}, but now, we are completely in love with her...as she is with us! We couldn't imagine having a better fit for a family pet. She completes us!

WW--Jogging is golden.

A beautiful {on the chunky side} Golden named Rex....who is wonderful with children...who lives on a farm {not our farm, of course}...but an uncle's dog whom we love to be around. It was the first day of warmth and we {Rex included} enjoyed the sunshine.

For more WW go here!

Fun at the Rodeo

My job allows me to participate in my girls' field trips and school events. I'm extremely blessed since I don't get to stay home. I wouldn't miss this for the world! The best things in life aren't things!

Roasting marshmallows over the campfire. So creative!

Time to rope the calf....and then they got a ribbon for participation and enjoyed fresh "milky" way. Yeah...that's how I enjoy my milk too.

Time for the "cowboy song" and some horseback riding. Lexi got to make the horse the day before the rodeo. Can you tell what her favorite color is?

One of her "besties" from Kindergarten {her mom sent me these cute photos}. They are enjoying country time beans and weenies with some root beer to wash it down. Yummy. Lexi thought it was great. I even got to make it...it was oh so tough!

And even the teacher got to participate!

Fresh Start

What a perfect time to start blogging again! It's spring...and Easter is fast approaching. This time of year we focus on *new* life..as we look all around and hear the birds chirping, the leaves beginning to grow on the trees, no coats {Alleluia!} as we bask in the sunshine, trips to the park and frequent outdoor walks. Most importantly we are reminded of new life because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We have NEW life because of Him! Oh, what a joyous celebration!

As many mommy's probably do, we always start the 'scrapbooking' idea when our first child is born. I had a calendar that I would write what happened EVERY day for that first year....well, it lasted only a few months, of course. Then you have your second child and she's lucky to even have a baby book. I beat myself up over the fact that I have thousands of pictures, but not one scrapbook for my children. Are they going to be mad at me that someday I will hand them a disc and say "here you go, honey....all thousands of photos of you growing up is on here"? Probably not. It's not realistic to keep up your duties as a mom and wife and friend and co-worker and all the other titles and sit down and do daily scrapbooking....heck, even monthly scrapbooking is A LOT to ask.

I realize though by not scrapbooking or journaling, I'm forgetting the "little things" my girls say and do. I'm so grateful for them. They are such a blessing to us. All the cute little things they say and do and to think I'm going to write it down somewhere...and pretty soon a year goes by and we can't remember which child did what. So...that brings me to blogging. I hope and pray that this blog will help keep a "diary" of all the little...and bigger things in our life. The happy moments we want to remember forever.

Here's to my fresh start! I'm so excited.