Friday, May 31, 2013

Did I ever share about Mother's Day?

No?
I didn't think so.
So here are just a few pics as I attempt to get caught up....yet again.

Jake's Mother's Day party. Love this growing-too-fast peanut.

The kids both made me homemade gifts at school.

Best part? When Brooklyn had to say how much I weighed, she said 70 pounds. ha!

That weekend was extra special, because my God-daughter, Bella Grace, was baptized at church.

Chad and I are gonna try and escape to the Grandover Spa sometime this summer to celebrate Mothers/Fathers Day. Many moons ago, I worked there as the Supervisor of the desk staff and enjoyed quite a bit of (free) pampering. Now, that I have to pay for it, we don't frequent quite as often, but we did it a few years ago and it was a nice day-cation for us.

Now, it's just finding the time...

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Way Back When-esday: My First Mother's Day

Hard to believe this was around the time of my first Mother's Day in 2005...

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

What's Cooking?

I'm taking a cue from Shay and when I don't have anything to write about or new pictures to share, I'll just tell you what's been going on in our kitchen.

This is my new most favorite dish....LOVE this.



This was good too but way too fattening to be worth making again. I'd rather have a milkshake.



And this was a hit with the hubby and me, too. I made it reduced fat and it was quite delicious.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Our weekend- Pizza and a Princess

As hubby drives us home in the nasty rain Ill recap our fun weekend.

Friday night we stayed at home and the kids made their own pizzas.


And goofed around.


Saturday morning we headed back to Asheville to visit our family.


This time we came with our God family, and we had a blast introducing Joe, Misty and Allie to baby Claire.


She's pretty perfect.














I think we love this baby kinda a lot.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

It's been a quick ten years...

Today is May 1, 2013. On May 1, 2003, I didn't just start a new job. I started a career.
 
A career that maybe even took root way before 2003.
 
10 years ago, I started my first day of work at the Girl Scouts as a Field Executive and I started my tenure as an adult Girl Scout.
 
But when I received that Gold Award 16 years ago, I would have NEVER guessed that I would be spending my adult life working to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. 
 
For the first 8 years, I was a Field Executive, a Membership Director, and a Membership Manager...all the same job, maybe a few different territories, but really just requiring a few different nametags. I worked for a council that no longer exists, but left lasting memories on my heart.
 

Now, I am the Director of Membership Services. Different nametag, different job, different council....but providing me with great memories (and maybe a few gray hairs) every single day.


I love my job. I love my office. I love my co-workers. I wake up every morning grateful that not only do I have a job that provides for my family, but I wake up knowing that I am making a difference, enjoying the challenges, and celebrating the victories each and every day.

So, that's ten years down in the books. Here's to 30 more!

Friday, April 26, 2013

iPhone photo dump Friday

For those pics that just don't have any other place to go...

Taking the kids to dinner is getting easier. Still challenging. But easier.



I'm still pretty much head over heels in love with this sweet baby...





And I know three other people who love her, too.









Speaking of babies, I had the privilege and honor and just absolute JOY of being with two of our best friends while they welcomed their third baby last week.


Sweet Bella. Love this princess.


And can you believe my Goddaughter Allie is 11 and rockin' it in musicals? She's second from left as one of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid.



I know, Jake. I can't believe it either.



Have a great weekend!!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Friday, April 12, 2013

Why I heart "Heart in Sol" (and why you will, too)!

This post is really for all my Triad peeps out there (but, love you friends in Russia and Germany, too)!

This week, Chad and I got a Shout Out on Facebook and many of you were so kind with your support and words of praise.

But we did not get to this:
from this:

alone.

Nope. Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a fabulous, people-centered, offers-something-for-everyone business to slim down a couple and introduce a new, healthy lifestyle into your lives.

I don't endorse too many businesses or products on here. You all know it's just my way of journaling about the kids for their one-day-I'll-make it scrapbooks and keeping far away family and non-facebook friends informed of what's going on.

In fact, I really have only used it to express my dissatisfaction of certain businesses.

But one day, about 2 and a half years ago, I made this blog about me. And you all would be amazed how "visits" to a site jump drastically when you stop posting about the annual family beach trip and announce your current (over)weight on the internet.

And over the last few years I have realized that there are many of you out there struggling to lose weight just like I was. And even if you are an optimal weight, you may be struggling to just introduce more exercise into your life.

Either way, I have the answer for you.
 
Heart in Sol (HIS) came into my life exactly one year ago this month. In October, I professed my undying love for Zumba. And 6 months later I do still love it. Kinda still love it a lot actually.

And Brooklyn even got in on the fun last summer.

But Heart in Sol is not just about the Zumba. You saw Chad in that top pic, too, right? Chad's been going to HIS every Monday, Wednesday, Friday since November at 5:30AM IN THE MORNING to participate in their Boot Camps. He's stronger, has more energy, and most important, is motivated to do the best for his body.

I hit a slump with the weight loss last summer. I felt good, but still not at the weight I needed to be. I also felt great from a cardio standpoint (running on the non-Zumba days), but still just knew I needed to do something more. And a 5:30am boot camp was not gonna do it for me.

So, I talked to Patrick, the owner/operator/fabulous trainer/teacher at HIS, and we discussed training options.

I know what you are thinking. Training? Really? Is it worth the money?

YES. YES. Yes.

I figured it out that basically if I give up a meal out at a restaurant for each training session, I could make it work. And since eating out is generally not good for you anyway, it was a great trade-off.

There is accountability. Someone's waiting on me to show up to work out (because as great as HIS is, they aren't gonna wake you up in the morning or call you if you miss a Zumba class).

And there was someone I had to stand on the scale for each week. And honestly, I find that more nerve-wracking that announcing it on the internet.

In just 5 weeks of training, I have lost an additional 9 pounds. And gained a heck of a lot of muscle.

Worth it, I tell ya. I'll have those Heather Locklear arms by summer, gosh darn it.

So, there you have it. At HIS you can do Zumba, Boot Camp (I promise they offer other times than 5:30am- ha!), and personal training. It's worth the investment. They are always offering deals and specials. And it's FUN.

But wait, there's more! (I've always wanted to say that.)

There is also the HIS community. While you won't walk in the door Day 1 and make fast friends with everyone in the room (I mean, that's unrealistic), I can say that, after a year, I have a whole new "family". A new community. A support group. We motivate each other, we eat dinner together, our families have socialized, I pray for their pets, we facebook message when we haven't seen each other in a while, we run 5K's and get pummeled with color, and we are all committed to helping one another get to our goals.

So, I'm telling all of you in the Triad area....give Heart in Sol a try. Get out of your comfort zone, get out of the gym, and stop by Heart in Sol soon.

And if you tell them you read this blog, your first Zumba class will be free.*

(*Actually, everyone's first Zumba class is free, but how fun for you to say that I sent you? ha ha!)

It's worth it.

YOU are worth it.

And chances are when you stop by, I may be there shaking my booty with you.

(Since I don't do public endorsements, not sure what protocol is, but I feel inclined to say that all these opinions are my own and that HIS has no idea I am writing this...though when I tag them on facebook, they will.)

Sunday, April 7, 2013

A bonus Easter Celebration!

Since my parents were out of town last weekend we celebrated Easter this Saturday. It was a beautiful day and the kids had a great time hunting eggs with their best friends, Zoe and Silas.




























Baby Claire had a good weekend too. She had 24 hours of "light therapy" for a bit of jaundice but is doing great now. And she's still so stinking cute!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saturday, April 6, 2013

This birth was no April Fools, y'all!

So, there we were at church getting the news that Molly's water had broken and they were at the hospital preparing for labor.

Having been through 4 births myself (2 of my own and 2 as a friend supporter) I knew there was no way to predict when things would start progressing and once they did, how long it would take. We went to sleep with just one update and woke up with nothing until about 7:30am when we heard she was a few centimeters, had received the epideral, and we started more waiting...

Here's the crazy part. I had scheduled work interviews a week before in Asheville (where they live) for that Monday. So, I was headed to Asheville that morning with the big hopes that MAYBE that baby would make her appearance early before I had to head home for the day.

I went to the office and started the interviews. In between meetings I checked my phone like a mad woman. At 11:48am (in between interview #1 and #2), on April 1st, Claire Marilyn Johnson was born.

Praise the Lord, Claire was a healthy 6 pounds, 1 ounce and 19 inches long. She is perfectly perfect and so far a healthy 36 week, 1 day baby. We are so grateful!

I wrapped up interviews around 1:40pm and headed to the hospital....a bit frantic because we originally thought that visting hours would stop at 2pm for "quiet time." Luck would have it though that they had not been moved to their "new mother-baby room" yet and so the quiet hours were not enforced on the labor floor. I slid right in and snuggled that baby immeditately.


I am one proud aunt!! And did I mention that Claire was born on my birthday? We are forever birthday twins, and I could not imagine sharing my birthday with anyone else.


I love my sister in law, Molly, so much. She and my brother in law will be the best parents, and I could not be more thrilled for them. (And for us!)


Baby feet!

Day 2 and she's just as cute!

Teeny tiny perfection.

Welcome to the world, Claire Baby. We love you SOOOO MUCH!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Easter Sunday Moments

Easter Sunday was a special day for many reasons...

First, the Easter Bunny paid a visit.

Jake was super excited to see all his goodies...

Brooklyn took a few moments to wake up...


But she got very excited when she saw that she got another girl-doll matching PJ set.

50% of my children were interested in taking a picture.


Brooklyn and Chad went to church that morning while Jake and I visited my grandmother.

We had a good visit as Jake is quite the entertainer.

And delegater.

We had a yummy lunch with my in-laws and then I squeezed in a Zumba class at 3.

We headed to church for Shout Easter service where, during practice, Chad received the call that our sister-in-law's water broke.

4 weeks early.

Sometime in the middle of the church service, we got word that she was admitted and they were going forward with the labor and delivery.

Then, the waiting game began....

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