Lake Georgetown

This weekend we headed to Georgetown camping for the first time. It was a really nice campground with beautiful views. We had a lot of fun hanging out with 10 adults and 10 kids. We had so much fun we didn't head back until early Monday morning. Here are some of the fun things we did...

Woke up to beautiful sunrises...

Threw rocks in the lake...

Played with friends...

Watched entirely too much football...

Played with rocks painted like animals...

Created fun memories.

It's a ....

Today I had my 19 week appointment that included a diagnostic ultrasound. All day I was very excited and anxious. This pregnancy has been very different, so I wanted to make sure everything was ok with the baby.

As we entered the ultrasound room, I was a nervous wreck. I laid down on the table and we got our first peek at Baby. After we found out Baby was perfect, I immediately had this calm feeling come over me. Eric and I had prayed in the car that everything be ok and that God would be with us, and He definitely was.

As the ultrasound tech moved her way down the baby's body, I wasn't even anxious. I just knew I would be happy with a boy or girl. I love my two boys to pieces, so how could I not want another one? Then she said "well, your baby girl looks great!". I immediately started crying in disbelief and excitement. Eric in his own way was overcome with emotion as well as he got his first glimpse of the little girl that's going to steal his heart.

On the way home from the doctor we stopped off to get the boys a little something to give their new baby sister. We wanted to have something pink in the house so the boys would know she's a girl. I just couldn't resist this dress and the lamb was perfect for the boys to put in her crib. I am very excited about decorating a room for a baby girl. I need to get busy with my sewing machine. Even as I type this, I still can't believe it!

We are definitely still in shock that we are having a girl. The boys were very excited about having a sister, even though Ethan keeps saying jokingly that we are having a baby boy. They both jumped up and down with excitement when we told them. My sweet parents got us some baby girl balloons and the best piece of chocolate cake ever. We couldn't be happier and we are so excited about little Lauren Paige!

Lake Austin wedding

Our friends Brian and Ashley got married last night on beautiful Lake Austin right by the 360 bridge. The wedding was very sweet and the bride looked beautiful. We cruised down the lake in a big riverboat and enjoyed the scenery and spending time with friends.

The bride and groom

Our kid-free date night wedding fun

We had such a great time at the wedding. It was fun to hang out with old friends and meet some new ones. Thanks to my mom and dad for taking care of the kiddos so we could enjoy it!

overheard at the park

"What's your name?"
"Ethan. That's my best friend Austin. He's a good boy."
"Oh."
"I have a dog name Kirby."
"I had two dogs, but one of them died."
"I don't like it when a dog die. My dog not die. My dog is good."
"Come on, let's go play over there!"

I absolutely love it that my kids are talking well now. They actually have little conversations with each other and their friends. Nothing is cuter than the little things that come out of their mouths. I love watching them play together outside in their fort and using their imaginations. Of course, it's not as cute in the car when Eric and I are trying to have a conversation and Ethan says "MOM, I'm talking to you! You need to listen to me!".

my day

Tuesdays are my day.

There aren't many days when I am kid-free and can do whatever I want to do. I have 5 hours every Tuesday to do just that while the kids are at school. I love being in my house alone to surf the web, watch my TV shows, or clean without little kids messing it up behind me. I love the quiet.

My dear husband messes it all up sometimes. You see, he works from home on Tuesdays. As horrible as it sounds, I always hope he has an important meeting and has to go in to the office. I cherish every minute of my alone time. Here is an example of why I would rather send him off to work...

Eric - Honey, I'm trying to work and your talking to me is distracting me.
Lisa - Ok, I will be quiet.
Eric - You trying to be quiet is like trying to get a dog not to bark. It's almost impossible. (said with a chuckle)

I couldn't be mad at him because it's true. It was almost torture to me to have him sitting at the table across from me and not be able to talk. So I shipped him off to the other room and pretended like I was alone.

Now it's back to reality and I'm off to pick up the boys. I'm always so excited to see them when I pick them up from school, I'm actually happy about sharing my Tuesday with them.

craigslist woes

I love Craigslist. I've made and spent a lot of money buying and selling things on there.

The money I made today was bittersweet. We sold the boys train table. It was in the room that started off as a baby room, changed to a playroom and now has returned to a baby room. We just didn't have room for it anymore.

We decided to have the buyers come pick it up during the boys' nap. Ethan never fell asleep, so he was awake. We kept him out of the living room so hopefully he wouldn't notice the train table was missing. He did notice.

My poor baby pointed to where it once had been and said "where'd the train table go?". He looked really sad. I almost lost it, but instead I said "we can still play with your trains on the coffee table or the floor". He was so happy when he realized he still had his trains. No, we aren't that pressed for space that we sold his Thomas the train tracks and trains. I plan on keeping them forever in a box on top of his closet to give to my grandchilden. I'm so glad our little sweetie is just fine playing with his tracks all over the living room floor. We will see what happens when Austin wakes up from his nap...

are you ready for some football?

If Eric isn't watching football, he is playing it on the Xbox.
If he isn't playing it on the Xbox, he is watching Sports Center.
If he isn't watching Sports Center, he is setting his team for fantasy football.

As you know, football isn't just on one day a week either. There's Monday night football, Thursday night football, Saturday college football and Sunday football. That's a lot of football.

Don't get me wrong, I like football. I like it if the quarterback is good looking or it's a team I like. I like the food that comes along with a football game and the hanging out with friends that comes with it too.

It's... just ... a ... lot ... of ... football!

taylor and rylynn

Today is my last day to watch the girls.

In the beginning the girls played together and the boys played together. The past month they have been playing really well together. It's not uncommon to see them holding hands running around the house and yard.

We are going to miss these sweet little girls!

Closed until 7am

Our big boy used to be a great sleeper. He slept through the night at 3 months and I never had to worry that he would wake up between 7 am and 7 pm most of his life. It all changed when he became potty trained. Now he wakes up to go to the bathroom sometimes once in the middle of the night and every morning around 6:15. Then he is ready to get up. Sometimes he yells "wake up Austin" or "Momma, Daddy, sun's up!" when he gets back in bed.

This house doesn't open until 7.

6:15 and earlier are not acceptable to this tired momma. Problem is our big boy shares a room with his sleeping little brother. We have tried all the strategies to get him to stay quiet, and this morning one worked. As I put him back in bed at 6:15, I looked him in the eye and told him to be a good boy and play quietly in his bunk bed or he would have to go sleep in the baby crib. The threat worked and he was quiet until Austin woke up. He was very proud that he was quiet. Positive reinforcement really works with him too. Hopefully this lasts because we have six months to get our big boy sleeping like he used to before we are waken up by a little newborn baby!

Power Patch craze

Last night I hosted a Power Patch party. I heard about the patch from my good friend Erica. She discovered it after seeing a couple teachers at her son's preschool wearing it and having dramatic weight loss. One teacher told her it was a patch designed to help with weight loss and energy. When the teacher said the words "have more energy", Erica's ears perked up and she immediately wanted one. Who doesn't want more energy on top of the proven weight loss benefits?

That's how the story began, but that is not the ending. I now know at least 10 people wearing the patch now and all have said amazing things about it. Everyone has reported having more energy and just "feeling better". On top of that, several have noticed sleeping more soundly, improved moods and most have lost pounds and inches. Some even after just a week! Although I'm pregnant and can't wear the patch, I'm still excited about all the possibilities that come with it.

Below are the ingredients that make it work:

• ForsLen® - Mobilizes fat and restores a youthful, fat burning metabolism without causing heart palpitations and jitteryness. *Voted on top 7 natural cures in Men's Health 2008
• ChromeMate® - An essential trace mineral that helps to burn calories, promote fat loss and build lean muscle tissue.
• Guarana - This natural form of caffeine helps the body move fat out of storage and into the blood where it can be used as a source of energy. *Voted on top 7 natural cures in Men's Health 2008
• Cosmoperine® - The active ingredient in black pepper and long pepper that helps maximize absorption of the patch.
• 5-HTP -A naturally occurring amino-acid that is commonly used as a anti-depressant, appetite suppressant and sleep aid. *Voted on top 7 natural cures in Men's Health 2008
• Diiodotyrosine - Stimulates your body's metabolism

To get answers to some frequently asked questions, click here. In the coming months, I will have many more stories to tell about how the Power Patch has helped people feel and look better!

duct tape

My dad's idea of how to get Austin to use the pedals on his trike.

firsts

Today Austin got his first real haircut. I had hacked some of his hair off before, but he had never gone to a salon to get it done. He did really well and wasn't too squirmy for a two year old. Erin always does great hair!



Our neighborhood had a celebration this afternoon complete with train rides, rock climbing walls and bounce houses. The boys were so excited to ride the train, they patiently waited for their turn for 30 minutes. They loved it, so now I'm on a hunt to find some more train rides around town!