Five Fact Friday

1. I started a 6 week health challenge that one of my friends invited me to. This is week 2. And I am doing crazy things like trying not to eat chocolate when stressed. And not eat a dinner while I am cooking dinner...and then have dinner.  I made some killer pork chops that turned into Bahn Mi / Cheesesteak leftover type subs the next day.  I made America's Test Kitchen's All American Chili. I made a big ol spaghetti squash that I am still trying to use up.  I have been having this zoodle avocado salad for lunch with peas instead of edamame.  I finally found a green protein smoothie that I actually love. It has been fun. I am ok with smaller, lighter meals as long as I keep on snacking.

2. We have dance parties at home to Taylor Swift's Shake it Off and Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass...usually during Kate's breakfast and while I am trying to cook dinner.  Wyatt is pretty good at the shake it off dance.  The song came on while we were driving and Kate started doing the shake it off hands.  Coincidence??? No way.

3. I might be the only person in the world who prefers thin baby wipes over thick.  I just can't use thick efficiently.  I refuse to rewipe on the same surface area so the thickies are a big wastey.  I think I am missing something in life. 

4. Wyatt has turned a corner and has been pleasant to be around these past few days.  I am not sure what happened but we are having fun. I am not counting down the minutes until bedtime.  He sorta listens.  And he doesn't try to kick me. Yeahhh!!

5. I didn't really take many pics this week except for this cutie one with BabyLegs. We had a few days of cooler mornings which were fabulous but not pictured are the swarms of mosquitoes still in our area.

5b. How many people have already sent an accidental voice chat  iMessage using iOS8?  I just know sometime I am going to accidentally send a heavy breathing voice text or some snippet of my life to a person that I am not on that level of crazy with.  So far I have only sent it to Hunter.  I guess I can go dig for a setting or see what somebody else figured out for it.

5 Fact Friday

Hello bloggy friends.  It's Friiiday.

1. Wyatt (and Hunter) had an excellent birthday party even though we could not go outside due to excessive mosquitoes. Cow cupcakes, chick fil a nugget trays, and lots of tractory gifts.  Wyatt is still talking about his birthday. 

2. I had half a medium nugget tray left after the party and after a meal or two of leftover nugget wraps, I got creative and made chicken nugget cordon bleu casserole and chicken nugget parmesan casserole. To the freezer and ready to eat when I can handle eating a nugget again.

3. I am sad that I did not take many pictures, but our very good friends from Florida, Jacque and Collin came to visit us just in time for Wyatt's birthday party.  Collin is the most polite and sweet little boy we know.  He is smart and fun too.  The boys played puzzles and trains and I am not sure what else because I was going in circles with birthday party stuff, but we really enjoyed seeing them in person!

We took our friends to the local Walmart.  I know...hostess of the year

4. The universe is telling me to quit my job (not the mom one...the IT contractor one)

5. I am sorry this 5 fact friday is so short, but I couldn't really get it together this week.  Here are some instagram repeats for you of our super short trip to the local fire department. Wyatt won't stop asking me to read this fire safety book we got there.  I kinda wanna burn it...he he.  Kate has fun and explores and walks around at our outings now.  Mind blown. I guess it's about time to get sentimental about her upcoming first birthday.

I Want To Do A Pull Up

Ok, we completed our 30 day beach body plan.  It was fun.  I spent five minutes a day doing random things like burpees or planks or wood choppers.  I got pretty good at some planks.  I DO NOT have a beach body.  Shucks.

I haven't been able to do an unassisted pullup since gymnastics in 5th grade and I have always wanted to be able tooooooo.  I found this 3 weeks to a pull up plan and I started it last night.  What are the chances? You do 3 workouts a week for 3 weeks.....adding a few reps each week.  Check it out here or read the copy and paste below.  Perhaps I can record my attempts at a pull up so you can laugh?

Workout A:  Day 1

Sets x Reps
 2×10            Shoulder Circuits
 2×10            Band Pull Aparts
 2×10             Wall Slides
 2×10            Plank Push-Ups
 3×15            Close Grip Front Lat Pulldown
 3×15            Push-ups
 3x1min        Planks
 3×15            Standing Wide Grip Cable Row
 3×15            Bicep Curl with Shoulder Press
 3×15            Standing Push/Pull

Workout B: Day 2
Sets x Reps
2×10            Shoulder Circuits
2×10            Band Pull Aparts
2×10            Wall Slides
2×10            Plank Push-Ups
3×15            Assisted Pull Up
3×15            Cable Anti-Rotation Press
3×15            Seated Narrow Grip Row
3×15            Low Wood Chop
3×15            Standing One Arm Cable Chest Press
3×15            Straight Arm Pulldown

Workout C: Day 3           
Sets x Reps
2×10            Shoulder Circuits
2×10            Band Pull Aparts
2×10            Wall Slides
2×10            Plank Push-Ups
3×15            Wide Grip Lat Pulldown
3×15            Dynamic Side Plank
3×15            Alternating Dumbbell Chest Press
3×15            Bent Over Dumbbell Row
3×15            Hanging Knee Raise
3×15            Bicep Cable Curl

Five Fact Friday - Wyatt Edition

Today my first born turns 3, so I dedicate my 5 facts to him.

1. He has started to look more like a boy and less like a baby / toddler / preschooler.  The hair. The face.  He still has his pot belly though.  He he!  Every once in a while I will see glimpses of his baby face and it catches me off guard.  Here is my latest capture. When he was sick last week I was able to sneak in his room and get some pics while he was napping.

2. His current loves are...graham crackers, puzzles, coloring, painting, tractors (dur), watching Mighty Machines, trains, legos, filling up his own water cup, using his stool to do everything and get everywhere, his teddy, baby Kate, climbing up the hard parts on the playground, iPad (he can unlock it, navigate between apps, and start up a nice tractor video on YouTube), looking for the moon, playing with his friend Isabel, strawberries, and ice cream.

3. He really does love his baby sister.  I have been waking him up from nap most days around 4:45.  I send Kate in his room to crawl up on his toddler bed and he usually wakes up because he hears her giggling and squealing before she can even make it to his bed.  She stands up and tries so hard to climb in but she just can't do it yet.  He usually pats her and gives her a really big smile and is ready to get up and play with her.  I wonder if he remembers life before her. She is starting to get into his stuff.  Some days he lets her play with it and some days he snatches it away and says NO BABY KATE! He is great about cheering her on when she learns something new. He is great about telling me when she is putting something into his mouth that she shouldn't be. He wants to feed her. He wants to change her diaper (ha!). He also wants me to stop holding her and start holding him.  I feel sad for that part of it.  He kisses her alot. He is happy when she wakes up from naps or in the morning. In general, life with two is so much smoother than I thought it would be.  I even have the grocery shopping mostly figured out. She goes in the front part.  He goes in the big part. Breakable and squishable foods go underneath.  The rest goes in with Wyatt.  Yah...sometimes I am carrying one of the kids while pushing the basket and sometimes people even tell me that I need to be careful so he doesn't fall out but that is how we roll.

4. This is meant in a very non braggy way because I have not had anything to do with this directly, but he is constantly impressing people with his intelligence or hitting milestones early.  Every teacher tells me "he is soooo smart".  He talked early. He walked early. He pottied early. I guess this means he is a go getter.  A potty training book marked him as goal oriented.  I can see it. I think most of his go getterness has made my life easier.  Him being on top of things definitely makes me feel less guilty for forcing independent play/working at home. Whew! Downside...he is easily frustrated when he can't figure things out or do something by himself, but I think that is a normal part of figuring things out as a tot.

Frustrated because he couldn't unbuckle his seatbelt by himself. He could only push the straps down.

5.  Pics, pics, pics...I never want to forget these moments but I already am. The memories get fuzzy quick. Our memories are very spread out too.  Some in San Antonio. Some in Arizona. Many in Florida.  And now back in Texas for more than a year.

San Antonio

Apache Trail in Arizona

Snow baby in Flagstaff

Beach baby in Florida

Florida

Our condo that we walked around at least 7 times a day in Florida

1 Year Ago - Just back in Texas for a tractor birthday

Some of his last days as an only child

Amazed

I could bribe him to do anything if he got to hold Kate

Buddies

My handsome guy

I hope 3 is wonderful.  The end of 2 has been a little tough.  We have 5 presents for him to open on his birthday and each one has something to do with a tractor. I am starting to believe you can never have too many.  We have cupcakes at school and an ice cream date after school and a birthday party this weekend. We asked him what he wanted for his birthday. And he said a tractor. And some chicken. Funny guy. So chicken nuggets at the party is the best we could come up with.  Hunter's birthday is right after his.  Wyatt said he needs a red tractor.  I hope he isn't disappointed when Hunter doesn't get a red tractor for his birthday. 

Five Fact Friday

1. So Hunter had a week off of work since he finished his project and will start the next one next week.  I had a 30 item to do list (I just counted) for me and him and we are down to about approximately exactly 7 left.  Nice work. And may I say husband of the year?  One of my to do items was to clean the grates on the gas stovetop.  I consulted Pinterest. Pinterest said you have to put in a garbage bag overnight with a teeny bit of ammonia and then you can scrub the grodies right off.  Pinterest was correct. So if you neglect to clean your stovetop for about a year like me, just know that ammonia can be your friend.  Just don't breathe ummmk?

After left, before right

2. Wyatt had his first day of preschool for this year.  He was super excited all the way until we were about to leave the house and go and then a little panic set in.  He started saying "I'm not 3 years old yet".  We had told him that he was in the 3 year old class.  You could just see the doubt creep in and the stalling started.  Once we got there, I just had to walk him over to the toys and give him a hug and then he seemed to be good to go.

3. Kate is 10 months old now.  She is walking about 1/3 of the time and crawling the rest.  She loves Hunter more than me now.  She doesn't want me to hold her in the evenings and is always reaching for Hunter and trying to get to him.  She says dada and some form of hi.  She will even push my hand away if I reach for her and curl up on Hunter.  Well Kate...I guess I love him too but don't forget who takes care of you all day.   ;)

An action shot

4. This hits home with me this week and every week.  I let things bother me too much when life doesn't go as planned.  There might have been a moment where I was sitting in the kitchen in my skivvies because Kate barfed on my clothes and hers and Wyatt was flipping out because I guess he has never seen someone else barf and he wouldn't eat dinner and Hunter wasn't home and I couldn't stop eating french fries and I wasn't sure how I was going to get a sick kid bathed and asleep with another one freaking out and not eating dinner and he skipped his nap that day too.  Did you follow that? Me neither. I have worked less than 5 hours this week because Kate is sick and my laptop is busted and I have been enjoying checking things off of my to do list since Hunter is home to handle child care.  We were going to make a trip and visit people but now that won't happen. And I feel guilty and happy and sad all at the same time.

5. Have you played with Hyperlapse on your phone yet? It is pretty fun.  All of my creations are too boring to share but I think its hilarious to watch my kids time lapse eat dinner or walk down the sidewalk pushing their toys.  Yup..I am easily amused these days. 

My peas in the pods. Hope she feels better soon!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend because next week is a five day work week...eeeeeek!!! Remember...adventure not ordeal....adventure not ordeal. 

Yay Blue Store (Walmart)

So Walmart is trying to get into the app fun.  They have this whole Savings Catcher push going on where they do the price comparisons for you in the area. You don't have to know that another store has baby wipes for $1 cheaper. 

I downloaded the Walmart app to my phone.  I typed in the codes from my receipt because I couldn't get their barcode scanner to work.  I waited 3 days for it to analyze my receipt and compare. I now have about $4 that I can redeem and put onto a gift card.  If you are ok with "the man" knowing what you are buying, you should download the app or go to their Savings Catcher website and start entering your receipts.  You only have seven days after you make the purchase to redeem.

The only question I have is, can I get the gift card at the regular check out or do I have to go to customer service?  Good job blue store.  You have made shopping there a little bit more fun!

Proceeeeeed to the savings.  EDLP! Long lines, cheap prices, never know what kinda people you will see there.  Wally world.  A necessary evil. Blue store!