Girl Time

Ashlyn and I just recently got to spend some one-on-one time this past weekend at a 'Nutcracker Breakfast'. I am always amazed at how much Ashlyn reminds me of myself as a child, but also just how much of her own person she is already becoming. She is such a lively, imaginative girl and she's just plain fun to be around! She's either turned into a 'mini-me' or my mom reincarnated. (Watch out karaoke, here she comes!). I hope Ashlyn never loses that fun-loving, creative outlook on life. Here's to my dear, dear Ashlyn and many more fun 'girl-times' together.

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

What Daddy does while Mommy is away...

"The Three Little Pigs"--aren't they cute?!

A "Weighty" Issue

Okay, I'm about to jump on my soapbox so get ready... Why, oh why are females (a.k.a. me) always so obsessed about our weight? What seems to have been on the 'backburner' in my mind has recently come to the forefront. Why now, you ask? Well, it seems that I have recently started to regain a little bit of the weight that I lost after Layton. And I am NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT! What irritates me the most about the whole issue is that I am probably in the best shape of my life being able to run long distances while I'm training for the marathon, but since I don't wear a size 2, it doesn't matter. (Okay, I don't think I've ever worn a size 2, except maybe when I was in junior high?), but that doesn't make me feel better. Since when is a woman's size/weight an indicator of her self-worth? Why is it that when we gain weight, we suddenly aren't the same smart, funny, capable women we were when we weighed less? I know a 'good' weight/size is relative for everyone, since my weight could be someone else's goal weight--but I know I look at other people wishing that I was their weight/size (is that bad?!) Sorry for the 'Debbie-Downer' post, but that's how I feel lately...

Am I alone in this, or is anyone else tired of looking in the 'fun-house' mirror?

A Surprise Weekend

Some friends of mine and I hopped into the car, an SUV actually, (minus kids and husbands) with one goal in mine--surprise the pants off our friend, Lacie (and boy did we!) Since Lacie's 30th birthday was fast approaching, a plan was hatched--surprise Lacie for her birthday by showing up at her house in Brock, TX (which is about 5 hours away. 6 with construction on the road.) With any great plan, there were a few kinks. Construction on the freeway put us back an hour, so we were racing to get things ready before we got to Brock. Here's my friend, Deanna and I blowing up some of the decorations. Ah, doesn't a good road trip always bring out the kid in you?!! Actually, I don't think the 'grown-up' Maria was ever there on the trip. Boy, did we have fun!!

Once we got to Brock, we encountered a few obstacles--almost running into their house before we actually discovered they had not left for dinner yet (a long, but funny story!!), trying to get into her house without being seen--but we did it! Here's Lacie's surprised face.

Here's us in our 'party' wear.

Our next days and nights consisted of staying up late, talking, and 'pigging out' at the local cafe with about 'a jillion' desserts--but mostly, laughing, laughing, and laughing (I can't remember having laughed that much in a long time!) Once we got back, we just had to go surprise another one of my friends, Robyn, for her 30th by showing up on her 'new' doorstep at 10:00 pm to wish her Happy Birthday/Housewarming. It was truly a Surprise weekend!

Message from kiddos

Halloween 2007

Here's a few pics of my kids (a.k.a. Supergirl and 'The Boxer') on Halloween. Aren't they cute?

Here are the kids in a rare picture moment together. Layton was convinced he was dressed up as 'Superman', so we just went along with it. He sooo much wanted to be Superman since Ashlyn was Supergirl. He's such an adoring little brother!
Since they had a Halloween parade at Mother's Day Out, I couldn't resist posting a few of those pictures. Here's Ashlyn doing her runway walk...

Daddy and Layton.

Hope your Halloween was a fun one!!