Wreck

My house is a wreck. It looks like that tornado hit us after all. It started with Brady leaving his dumpster finds scattered around the living room and it ended with me literally not keeping house for a week and a half. I've been a bad house keeper lately...



There are piles of folded laundry covering the couch along with two baskets that still need to be folded, dishes piled so high in the sink that one more plate might send the whole disaster crashing to the floor, clothes at the foot of our bed that need to be hung in the closet, and then there are the random piles-- baby clothes, baby blankets, baby toys... my house has never been so messy.



I started my work on the kitchen this morning after Availeth went down for her mid-morning nap. There were so many dishes that I ran out of hot water before I finished so I sat down with a glass of ice water and a lot on my mind. I'm giving myself 15 minutes--to let the water heat back up--before I go to work again.



There is something about doing dishes that makes me very philosophical. The thoughts I have while doing the dishes rival the thoughts I have in the shower--which are always very deep and meaningful. I reflect on life while I scrub or sometimes I sing show tunes--both very good things.



On Easter morning I slipped into the shower expecting Brady to follow and got glimpse of my new hair do in the mirror. Which reminds me of Liza Minnelli, who in turn reminded me of how much I love Cabaret, and how hard I studied with my vocal coach in California to learn all of the German in Mein Herr... which reminded me how much I love to sing in German and then there was no stopping me.

In the car on the way to church Brady told me he was glad he didn't get in with me because then I would have never gotten out.



It's true. The two of us in there together is bad news because I become a silly goose. Singing louder and more enthusiastically which in turn encourages Brady to get silly and sing silly things with me--and then we're locked in this silly battle with silly voices and faces and bubbles. Lots of bubbles.



We're awesome. But we don't get a lot accomplished most days.

Hilarious picture I took the day before Easter. Spot the bunny?

Which brings me back to my wreck of a house.



Which I really should be tending to now instead of dilly dallying on the computer.




Auf wiedersehen, mein Herr.

Happy Easter!

church.
This weekend was incredible and exhausting. When I was 8 months pregnant we stopped going to church. After leaving my home church of 4 years we had a rough time finding a place that we both agreed on. There were other factors as well--I was too exhausted to get up in the mornings and it was nice for Brady to have an extra day to sleep in after getting up early 5 days a week. After Avey was born it was much the same. Too tired to get up. Tired of searching for a place that that seemingly doesn't exist. After being on leadership at a church for 4 1/2 half years where you're up early every Sunday and serving in multiple ministries-- it was nice to have a season of rest. I can feel that season coming to a close though.

Yesterday was the first time we've been to church in 6 months. Crazy. I know. My parents asked us to attend church with them Easter Sunday at Genesis Metro Church in Frisco so we did. Becoming creasters(christmas/easter christians). But not really because we didn't go to church for Christmas. :)

Avey's first Easter and church service! It was a momentous Sunday!




I only heard the first five minutes of the sermon and the last because Avey decided she was hungry-- duty called.




After service I made sure to gather all for a family photo op. We're not all in one place often and I know as the years go by we wont have as many opportunities to seize these types of moments.

Her dress was so poofy she barely fit into her car seat.

supper.
After church we had a big to-do at my Aunt Kim and Uncle Daniels. The Easter egg hunt was an indoor hunt this year. It started raining around 11am and didn't let up until 6 or so.
Sister crashed during lunch. The talented Uncle Colin and his magic shoulder rocked her to sleep so momma could eat.

These boys were cracking me up with all their posing.

I love this photo! Not just because of the people in it but because of these beautiful spring colors!

Grandma and Grandpa. Lovely and matching like always.

Feeling the love!

This is how the "big" boys spent their Easter Sunday. They played x-box all day long. I am so fortunate to have a husband that enjoys spending time with my family!

Avey's Easter basket from my Mom and Dad. She loves the smooshy ball. It's been keeping her entertained while I write this post!

Grandma and Avey.

Momma and Avey.

Avey's beautiful Easter dress. My Grandma Sharon bought it for it. Isn't it gorgeous?!

My Dad works in California. He just returned on Friday from a three week stint in LA. Avey forgot him a little... it makes them both very sad.

Pretty Easter dresses!

Great Grandma and Grandpa with Avey.

Mom and Bethany share a cuddle.

It was to my chagrin that I realized I did not have a single picture of Aunt Kim and Avey together. We rectified that this Easter.

Christ the Lord has risen! Happy Easter.

Good Friday

 Come close listen to the story 

About a love more faithful than the morning 

The Father gave His only Son just to save us 

 The earth was shaking in the dark 

All creation felt the Fathers Broken Heart 

Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes 

The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died 

When blood and water hit the ground 

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down 

We were free and made alive 

The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died 

 Search your heart you know you can't deny it 

Come on, lose your life just so you can find it 

The Father gave His only Son just to save us 

 The Earth was shaking in the dark 

All creation felt The Fathers broken heart 

Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes 

The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died 

When blood and water hit the ground 

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down 

We were free and made alive 

The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died 

 Now, Jesus is alive Jesus is alive Jesus is alive Jesus is alive Jesus is alive Oh, He is alive He rose again 

 When blood and water hit the ground 

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down 

We were free and made alive 

The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died 

 Come close listen to the story

Sucked Up Like Dorothy

shred.
I put the shred on hold for a couple of days because my left knee started to really act up and per Brady's request-- instead of risking serious injury-- I took a break to let it heal up a bit. Today I begin once more. Which makes it day 14 or day 1. Haven't decided how I'm going to look at it yet.



I am still on Level 1-- I can make it all the way through every exercise without stopping except for push-ups, the static lunges with bicep curls, and the interior raises with side lunges. Which is a huge improvement from day 1 when I couldn't even make it eight minutes.

Weight loss has been gradual, like I knew it would be. This morning I weighed in at 211. Which means I've lost 9 lbs. Pre-pregnancy I was 209. That is a milestone I am really looking foreword to. I hope to be there by next Monday-- we'll see!


For the last week I've been having issues with my bm's which is something that has never happened to me before. Last weekend I was in so much pain I took a stool softener. I've read that when people begin a workout routine or change their eating habits its something that can happen but it wasn't something I was expecting. I'm trying to eat lots of fiber rich foods to get back on track. Hopefully it can all be resolved fairly quickly because I don't do well with stomach pain... or any pain for that matter.

baybay.
Sister is getting so big! She loves to sit up. Leave her on her back and she'll fuss but sit her up so she can look around the room and she's as happy as a clown.

 

On the 21'st of this month she'll be 5 months old and that to me is unreal. Our hospital stay seems like such a long time ago but it doesn't feel like we've had her for 4 1/2 months-- certainly not almost 1/2 a year.

We've retired all of her newborn clothes. It was easier than I thought it would be. I was excited to put her in something new. Excited to see that she's healthy and growing like she should be. We are in 0-3 month clothes now and this week I was able to put her in 3 month pants and they didn't fall off.


 

We have also had a run in with the big scary teething monster. It is so far from pretty. If she isn't being held with something in her mouth or nursed she is fussing and my brain can't handle it. It's super sad because I know she's not feeling well but by 8pm my sentiments are, "If you can't beat 'em-- join 'em." So that is what I do and then we both make Brady miserable. It's awesome.






lunch date.
At chipotle with my mother.





Then there was a Target stop for Easter presents and groceries.

 

Avey is fascinated with the way things look-- I guess it's because she's never seen any of it before. She was a model baby showing off how perfect she can be-- until the book fell on her head. Totally my fault.

I set a Dr. Seuss book on top of the diaper bag--it fell and gave her a little wap on the head.

Bad Mommy Moment.

Then I gave her the box of nursing pads and she was A-OK.

Good Mommy Moment.
 


tornado.
Tuesday morning I was taking pictures of the rain, getting ready to write a post, and I opened up my laptop to see people freaking out about a tornado. Que phone call from Brady. He gave me the how-to  on making a shelter in the bathtub because I'm from California and all they teach you there is how to brace yourself in a doorway--thanks a lot California that does me a lot of good now.



I ran around the house collecting blankets, pillows, and chair cushions while Avey chilled in her bath seat.



Then I built a fort that looked way cooler when you were in it than outside of it.
 

We chilled out until we got the all clear from Brady. I feel like I should get Avey a t-shirt that says "I survived my first tornado."

Honestly, I'm just glad that everyone survived. Tornado in Dallas. I didn't expect to hear that it didn't claim any lives. I hoped but I didn't expect it.

Grateful to know that the Lord is in control.

 

Crockpot Italian Chicken Sandwiches

When I started the shred I decided that if I was going to begin working out that I would have to begin eating better as well. Because Lord knows that I'm not going to have Jillian Michaels kick my butt in the morning just to screw it all up by dinner time. Nuh-uh.

I have a love for pinterest. It makes life easier on me. I entered the word "skinny" and I found this blog (click here). There are lots of really yummy recipes though most of it is fat girl food. She posted this recipe earlier this week and I'm pretty sure I put the chicken in the crockpot 2 minutes later.




(Feeds 4)

2 boneless skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbs sweet basil
1 tbs garlic powder

Place chicken in crock pot. Sprinkle both sides with parmesan cheese. Combine all other ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Once cooked shred with fork. Spread shredded chicken in between two slices of your favorite bread, top with your favorite condiments and enjoy!!