HAPPY HALLOWEEN

MY GUYS ARE ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL AND THIS FAMILY IS ALL ABOUT THE STEELERS.  MASON DID NOT REALLY WANT TO DRESS UP THIS YEAR SO HE DECIDED HE WOULD DRESS IN HIS FOOTBALL JERSEY AND GO ALONG WITH HIS BROTHER.  I'M SO GLAD HE DID.  SOME OF THE BOYS' FRIENDS WENT TRICK OR TREATING WITH US THEN WE ALL WENT TO DAIRY QUEEN TOGETHER FOR DINNER.  WE LOVE HAVING THEIR FRIENDS ALONG WITH US.  WE WANT THEIR FRIENDS TO ENJOY OUR HOME AND HANGING OUT WITH US.  IT WAS A FUN NIGHT.  I THINK MARK AND I ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS THE BOYS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROO!!

 years ago my little guy came into this world FAST AND FURIOUS!    I woke up that Saturday morning at around 7:30 with consistent contractions.  I woke Mark up, who had been up until 5:00am working on the office we added on to our previous home, and told him we needed to head to the hospital.  I called my buddy Kim so she could come get Mason and hopped in the shower.  Who wants to go have a baby without shaving their legs first?  I put on makeup and got dressed.  Kim & Paul made it to our house around 8:30.  We visited for a bit and the contractions became more intense.  I couldn't really talk through them.  I had to stop and wait for it to end.  It wasn't unbearable, just more than the crampy feeling it had been.  At about 9:00am Mark and I headed to the neighboring town about 25 miles away to the Hospital.  When we arrived, the nurse told me they did not have an open L&D room, they were cleaning one that someone was just discharged from and it would take about 15 minutes.  She said if I was real uncomfortable she could put me in a triage room and move me once it was ready.  I assured her I could wait 15 minutes and Mark and I sat and waited.  As we waited I told Mark that the contractions were really starting to hurt.  My back was really hurting.  At about 9:45am, the nurse came in and said the room was ready.  She asked me to put on a gown and she would be back to check my dilation to decide if they would admit me.  I put on the gown and she came in to check me.  I thought her eyes were gonna pop out of her head.  She said, "YOUR 10 CENTIMETERS...I'VE GOTTA CALL THE DOCTOR IN NOW"  After that my water broke and the contractions went into OVERDRIVE.  I was ready to push but they would not let me push until the doctor got there.  I had to go through 2 contractions without pushing and that was the most painful thing I have ever experienced.  Once the doctor got there (he was at his kid's soccer game), I pushed twice and there he was.  It was 10:18am. 

We should have known he was gonna be full of energy from the way he entered this world.  Just like his birth, he can't wait to do exciting things and enters a room like a ball of fire!  I love that kid so much.  He keeps things exciting around here.  So as tradition holds, I'm gonna list 7 special things about Andrew

1.  He has a great witty way about him.  His timing is great, he keeps us in stitches!
2.  Andrew is so smart.  He was reading at a 1st grade level in preschool.  I hope he keeps up his love of reading.
3.  Legos are his favorite things in the world.  Star Wars Legos are his preference.  He can build so many things using his imagination.  It amazes me.
4.  He has a caring heart.  He shows his tough guy exterior but he has a sensitive little heart.  He picks up on little things that are said and comments to me if he thinks it could hurt some one's feelings.  I love that soft side of him.

5.  Cuddling is what he does best.  He creeps into my room or Mason's room at night to snuggle someone.  He reminds me of myself when I was a little girl.  Being the youngest, I always found someone to snuggle when I got spooked at night. 

6.  He rides his scooter and bike like a champ!  He just came home from his friend's house one day this summer and said, "I don't need my training wheels anymore."  He had gotten on his friend's bike and learned to ride solo.

7.  He loves God and loves to learn more about him at Sparks.  He asks some really deep questions for a little guy.  I know God is going to use him to do amazing things.  I love getting to see God unfold who Andrew is in front of me every day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MISTER ROO!  WE LOVE YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!



Friday Funny

Andrew got in the car the other day after school and immediately said, "Mom, I need to sign up for cheer camp." I sat there a little dazed...and asked him why he was interested in cheer camp. He then told me his friend, Milo (a sweet little girl that has been one of his best buddies for a while) signed up and she got a shirt. If she wears that shirt to the in town high school football games she gets in free. That's my boy, always looking for a deal. He gets that frugality honestly, Mark and I love a good deal! I think Mark will be OK with me missing this discount ;-)

Healthy Eating

OK, I've done it! I am back on my healthy eating lifestyle. I never really stopped, I just indulged more frequently on the not so healthy stuff a little too often. I started the South Beach diet phase one yesterday. The first few days are a little tough because you are cutting out sugars, but you NEVER feel hungry. I highly recommend this lifestyle. It is truly the healthiest "diet" I have ever researched. It really isn't a diet, it is a lifestyle change. The weight loss does happen but I have to say it is not the biggest benefit of the diet. When I am eating this way, my energy level is amazing and the mental clarity is unbelievable. Who doesn't need those things at peak level these days?

I've been doing a lot of thinking about what foods I put in my body and what my family is putting in their bodies as well. Unfortunately, eating good healthy, whole foods cost more than eating processed junk and that discourages a lot of people from doing so. I'm here to say with meal planning, it can be done. Even if you have to start small, it is so worth it! Maybe you start with healthy snacks or one meal a week. Over time you will find you are buying less of the processed snack foods (which are expensive too) because you stop craving them. This leaves you more money in the food budget for more healthy options. This is how I have found it possible to do this for our family. Food is the one thing you buy that actually becomes a part of your body. Wow, that makes me stop and think about the choices I make a little differently. I'm not saying I will never again eat cupcakes and ice cream. I couldn't live in that world ;-). I'm simply saying moderation. I want my boys to learn to take care of their bodies by eating food that nourishes, not just fills their stomachs. Who better to be their example than Mom and Dad?

On your Mark...

Mason convinced Mark to run in our town festival 5K race. Mason has talked me into doing a couple of these with him so it was nice to just take pics this time. I would love to say that Mason gets his love for long distance running from me but that would be a lie. I have tolerated running but never loved it. Here are my two runners taking off on the far left.They both did great! Since Mark did this race with NO TRAINING! I think it was great that he finished in 32 minutes. He did tell Mason he would never do this kind of thing at the last minute with him again. I think you can pull that off when you are eleven...not so much when you are over forty! Here they are getting ready to cross the finish line.It was a beautiful morning and I am so glad they had this time together, even if Mark is paying for it today. ;-) They will both remember that time together for years to come.