Back to reality!

We are back from vacation and oh what a wonderful time we had. I have well over 700 pictures to wade through. I've posted tons on Facebook already so check them out there (join if you haven't) but I'll eventually get the best of them up here.



Our trip was heavenly. Every single moment was magical and special and so memorable!



Today I am playing catch up at work, Girlie didn't want to stay at school and James has work coming out his ears too and Mom is lucky enough to have another day off :)



I'll leave you with this picture for now. Seeing Cinderella's castle for the first time!

We are already planning a trip back in June next year with Uncle Bubby, Aunt Dawn Dawn, Emily, Rachel & Garrett. It's all she talked about on the way to school today.

I'm still on Disney time and do NOT want to work hehe. Check back as I'll post more pics soon!

V-cation starts TODAY!

Lucky for us our vacation starts at end of work today :) YIPPEE! The title says V-cation because that is how Girlie pronounced the word vacation and it is so adorable that's what we've dubbed our V-cation since.


Tomorrow we will fly out bright and early to make our way to the Mouse. We're so excited, all 4 of us. We'll be back with plenty of pictures and stories so keep checking in!










FLORIDA HERE WE COME!

2016 Olympics...

or somewhere there abouts!


Ok, so I'm just completely over the top happy right now. I'm full of emotion really. FULL of them.
Happy, excited, thrilled and mostly PROUD! I just got this email from Girlie's swim instructor,


"Hi Everyone, Mr. Gareth has accepted a position with XYZ Christian Academy as their new swim coach. Swim team tryouts will be open to Sweetman Swim School students as well as XYZ students. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to be a part of a swim team with Mr. Gareth as their coach! The swim team will incorporate kindergarten through 12th grade students. Mr. Gareth has selected the families of those children he believes will make great additions to the swim team to receive this email. If you would like your children to participate in this great opportunity to be part of a competitive swim team please email for more info."


I was so happy to be receiving this. First off we all love the swimming and secondly she's good. And yes, I'm biased but she is. :) Anyway, so I was a little bummed when I read the Kindergarten part as she isn't starting until next Fall. I emailed him and told him when she turned 5. He said she's in if we want! I'm gonna see what she says, but I'm sure she'll say yes!!


This could be the stroke of a future olympiad





This is already the face I can't live without seeing daily!





So excited! So proud!

Big Girl Bike

Sunday evening went ventured out to buy Girlie her first bicycle. She's a master of the trike so I thought it was time for a big girl bike.

She chose a pink Pricess one OF COURSE with a matching helmet and knee pads :) Oh so cute!
It only took her about 15-20 mins to get really good at it. I was surpised she had any trouble since she does the tricycle so well but maybe being higher up. She also kept wanting to watch her feet instead of where she was going LOL

She still has a little issue with the whole pedal backwards to brake :) She kept doing it accidentally.


Here she is soooo proud!



Getting it...



ZOOOmmmm really getting it. I love the look on her face here

The cutest child in a bicycle helmet EVER!

And she totally worked up a thirst

She's growing up so fast. What's next?

End of Year Party

Just yesterday we had the best bash at our house. I always want to throw a pool party in the summer but never really have a reason (not that you have to have a reason to party!)
This year I decided to throw an end of year party at our house for Girlie's friends. They still go to "school" in the summer and will move up to the new class next week so I wanted to celebrate their moving up. It was such a great day.

End of Year Luau!!
We had hot dogs with homemade chili, homemade potato salad, chips, fruit & veggies and drinks. Dessert was a fantastic ice ceam bar that I didn't get pics of :( boo!

The food table



This fun centerpiece was easy to make and turned out SOOOO cute. I'm so glad I did it!
That's real pineapples!

Decorations: I did up the luau theme. My fav was that big ole pineapple hanging from the tree. We covered tables with beach towels for table cloths and set out goldfish crackers and salt water taffy for snack. I blew up beach balls for each kid and just had them all in the pool and little drink umbrellas were at each place setting. The kids drank from little cups shaped like tikis and sat at small picnic tables (mine and borrowed). It was such a great day and the decorations did look great, if I say so myself :)

Dad grilled the hotdogs in his island gear! I was so proud of him when he came downstairs in his clothes. He matched without even being asked :) I LOVE THIS MAN!

The treat bags were really cool reuasable lunch bags I found at Target with a whale on them, perfect for a beachy/luau theme. I put pencils, stickers, candy necklaces, suckers, a cute beach cabana frame craft and a scratch art Hibiscus flower. So cute!

The greatest was seeing all her friends enjoy each other OUT of school! I love watching them together. They swam and played in the sand and The Cube (the square shaped inflatable in the one pic) and just had the most fun!

Overall it was a great party! I hated when they had to leave and I can't wait to throw another one next year. Although next years will be more sad as she'll be leaving this school to go to KINDERGARTEN! :( pout pout

I'm already excited for my next party and I don't even know when it will be LOL. I'm sure James and Mom aren't excited and are very glad this gig is over! :)

Dog Daze

I don't blog about our dog much. Before there was Girlie there was our furbaby, Vegas. She's a HUGE American Bulldog that is more bark than she is bite. Very protective of her Momma and sister and quite honestly one of the best dogs on the planet.

Yesterday we took her to the Vet for her normal yearly shots, etc. She did fantastic. The Vet even said she was the best dog all day! :) *brag brag* He also said that she's the biggest dog they've seen in sometime, lol.

Vegas is not great with other dogs. Maybe it's her size (a whopping 119 lbs - eek!) or maybe it's her desire to protect no matter who,what,when,where. Either way, it sure doesn't make it easy to take her someplace.

Here are some pictures that will take you back a full 5 years!


Yesterday at the Vet




Last year with Girlie & I


2007 with Girlie


One of our Christmas cards for Girlie's first Christmas (yes we had multiple, don't judge me)

Meeting her sister for the first time.

Our Christmas card the year before Girlie

All sprawled out, look how huge then... that was 3 years ago and a full sized bed

I love the way her ear does that. When she's wondering what's up

How she use to ride in the car on Thursdays. I took her with me every Thursday I went to do client runs... those were the days.

Her favorite chew toy as a puppy - pantyhose!

Her first day with us! I love this shot!

I can definitely tell as I go through old pictures that she was our first baby. Every set has 100 of her. She doesn't get as much camera attention as she use too but she's always so photogenic.

She's such a good dog, we're lucky - and so is she!!

Awww.... Vegas!!!

LOSER!

Our competition is finally over at work and today I was..


I lost a total of 34.4 pounds over the 12 weeks which is a total of 12% of my body weight GONE! FOREVER I tell you!

I'm so proud of myself. I didn't know if I could do it and I did. I AM doing it!
This is only the beginning. I will get my prizes tomorrow but my sweet friends in Accounting gave me the crown today after the email announcement. My mom got 2nd place with 9% lost :) We are rockin' it!

I'M A LOSER!