Finish this sentence...

My best friend says... hell's bells and it makes me giggle every time!

People call me... Everything under the sun. 49% of it is true :)

I most often dream... about things that have happened or I have thought about the previous day.  And I almost always remember them when I wake!

The best part of my day... is when I get home and see the smiling faces of these two! 

I really don't understand... how to follow directions when it comes to putting something together. It totally overwhelms me.  Those pages and pages of instructions and parts..I curl up in a little ball!  If I didn't have Daniel Lego's would be all over the place, the swing set would still be in the box and our outdoor furniture...I'm getting a knot in my stomach just thinking about it!

I get really annoyed...  with the constant girl drama at work.  I'm defiantly ready for summer.

There's nothing like a... perfect swimsuit...I'm pretty sure that doesn't exist!

Lately, I can't get enough... graham crackers...I know not clean eating but its my ONE vise

One thing I am NOT is... a size 2.

I spent too much money on... clothes! I love clothes and new styles! Shopping is my therapy

I want to learn.... how to not let people influence my mood....and to be nicer to my hubby...he deserves it.

I can't stop... running! WTF!

Never have I ever... walked away from a piece of key lime pie :P

Reese Witherspoon... rocks! I loved her!

Here's to you former chubby girl!

I know its been awhile since I have written.  I always try to start a blog on my Friday's off but some how this little girl named Grace seems to want all my attention EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY!

So here I am...her attached to my leg... crying to get on my lap... and trying to type to you all.  Wish me luck in getting this one finished :)
So as many of you know I have been having major stomach problems.  I'm not able to eat much...and defiantly not all the yummy stuff that I LOVE.  But this has given me the motivation to really change my eating habits.  I have been wanting to start eating "clean" and really watch what I put in my body.  I feel so much better on fruits and veggies it's a wonder I ever go back to that crap that I have always stuff in my mouth.  I am going on two weeks of clean eating.  I have lost a total of five pounds.  I have also started training with Kimmy, Ang and Jackie for our first 5k in July.  I am super stoked to start taking care of my body...goodbye chubby girl...hello healthy girl

Here's to you Healthy Girl: (Inspired by my favorite blog Mamalaughlin)

Here's to working out in between the cries and the hugs

To lacing up when you would rather sit on the couch

To shopping sprees on workout gear instead of cute clothes for work

To blisters and calluses from weight lifting

To coming home from work and changing into workout clothes instead of Pj's :)

To ordering that salad instead of a large juicy burger

To sacrificing "down time" for workouts

For taking the time out of my day to food prep for the week

To chasing my kids around the park instead of sitting there watching

To slipping on a pair of pants that are too big

To buying a smaller size

To embracing your flaws

To running in 100 degree weather

To running when its freezing

To running at all

To eating big ass salads

To skipping that piece of key lime pie

To clothes drenched in sweat

To not hating dressing rooms

To craving fruits and veggies

To being faster, stronger and better then I was yesterday!

P.S.  This only took me an hour and a half to write OYE!!!!

x

My Year in Pictures

A year in pictures. One of my favorite end of year blog posts that I have found. This is my first year doing it but I look forward to doing for many years to come. I love sorting through past photos and thinking about all the good times of the past year.

1. Me! – What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2012?  I think what I am most proud of (besides just keeping my kids alive ha) is starting to advocate for my profession.  I have put my heart and soul into having our voice be heard not only in our distirct but throughout New Mexico.  I would say this is probably the most rewarding yet most scary thing I have EVER done.

2. I Love You – picture of your "loves".  This was by far my favorite picture of us this year.  Our trip to Dallas for the Rangers game that never was :(

3. Still Laughing… Pop trying to use an exploding egg on Noah and smaking him right in the face without it breaking! Hysterical!!!!

4. Winter Wonderland –Our last snow of 2012 and it was al melted by noon :(

5. Birthday-The first of many joint boy and girl birthdays!  Maybe we should have planned our pregnancies better :) 

6. Friends: Our annual Chama trip which I hope we do FOREVER! And my trip to visit my girl in her new hood.  I am so blessed by the women I have in my life.  Always and forever I will be thankful for you girls!

7. I Was Inspired…  by this man who after two kids and five years of hard work graduated with a double masters!  I could not be a prouder wife!

8. Spring Fever: Cousins in the park enjoying a beautiful spring day

9. Travel or Vacation: You know how much our family travels so here is one picture from each of my favorites..

Phoenix Trip

Chicago Trip

Denver Trip

10. Summer Days: Always swimming with Grammy! 

11. A Day In My Life....Hanging with these two...there's nothing better :)

12. All Smiles: Her smile makes me smile EVERY TIME!

13. Autumn Harvest: It is a family tradition to go to the Pumpkin Patch.  This year Gracie actually got to enjoy it!

14. Home...These people are all "home" to me

15. Let’s Do It Again… Fun times with my girls in Cruces!!!

16. I Miss You: Everyday!

17. Dress Up: Halloween fun!

18. Beautiful 

19. Holidays: Best picture EVER!

20. My Favorite: This picture is by far my favorite of the year!  Thanks Chels :)

Hopes and Dreams for 2013 – I hope for the most beautiful year, with more happiness than sadness. Lots of growing and journeys with friends. AND, an exciting year for my little loves! 

Currently

Obsessing over: Losing these last ten pounds!!!! UGH it's so hard

Working on: Studying for my LISW exam and writing my paper to increase my pay by 10,000 buckaroos!  

Thinking about: What to do about my sweet boy who now hates school and cries every time we drop him off :(

Anticipating: Halloween!  Noah will have so much fun trick or treating and the girls are going to be ADORBS in their outfits!

Listening to:  Ron Pope...this guys voice is AMAZING!  I love him!

Drinking:  My protein shake

Wishing:  I could take away whatever is scaring Noah...bring back my sweet boy!

Happy Tuesday my friends!  Make it a good one...

Jenn

I believe...

I believe.......

I believe in Karma...what you give is what you get in return.

I believe that my parents did the best job they knew how to do

and I believe that my children will think this of us when they get to be adults.

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument....

I believe that alot of us place our happiness in other people's hands...

I believe my friends can get me through anything..

I believe you have to get burned to appreciate true love

I believe that you don't know how deep your love can be until you have had a child....

I believe hard times make you a stronger more confident person...

I believe my family is worth more then all the money in the world....

I believe this is the happiest I have ever been...

I believe forgiveness is the key to unhappiness...let the anger go

I believe hot yoga had helped me realize how much anger I still hold on to...

I believe God will provide for us at our hardest times...if you only ask!

I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner!

I believe if you do what you love everything else will just fall into place...

I believe people are actually good at heart...

I believe I still hold on to that mommy guilt...sad but true!

I believe that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest of distances...

I believe its taken me a long time to get to the person I want to be....

I believe you should always leave loved ones with three words "I love you"...you never know if you will see them again...

I believe my best friend and I can do anything or nothing at all and still have a fabulous time...

I believe that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being...

I believe to count your blessings not your troubles...

What do you believe????

I

"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15" 
Ronald Reagan 

We made it...The big 1 year old!!!

You are so beautiful

Dear Gracie Poo,

You are one year!!!  Yay we made it!  It was so fast too.   I remember the first year with Noah being so much longer.   It is true that the years keep speeding up!  We had such a great time at your first bday party.  Noah and your bdays are so close together that we decided to have a joint party...Pirates and Princesses.  It was so much fun.  Here are some pictures from that day!

Our pirates!

He's such a dork!

Mommy the wench!

Sophia loved helping you open gifts

A new unicorn!

You and Miss Chelsea

You love your daddy

We have not gone to see the dr yet for your 12 month shots but we did go to the orthopedic to see about your neck and hip.  Miss Chelsea came along with mommy to help and thank goodness she did we had to hold you down for them to take an xray.  You my dear only want to be moving!  The Dr said that everything looked great though.  Your hip is perfect now and your neck as well.  So we are done having to go see her YAY!  At that appt you weighed 20 pounds and were 28 inches long.  You are wearing 12-18 month clothing and size 4 diapers.  You are starting to cut out bottles and the days you are at daycare you don't even take one (Im a big girl mommy!)  Your personality is starting to really shine.  You have a temper on you and if you don't get what you want...watch out world!  You get that from your daddy hahahaha I can not wait to see what this year brings.  If it was as good as the last then life will be just grand.  We love you Gracie Poo!

Love,
Mommy

The big 4...where has the time gone!

Noah Bruce Topley,

You are four!  How can that be!  We have had the pleasure of being your parents for four years now...I can't even remember how life was before you graced us with your precence.  The last four years have been wonderful.  You are a smart, energetic and funny little person now.  You are a kind boy who is not afraid to show that you love others.  You make friends easily and quickly.  You love your sister although at times I think you may kill her but she has survived :)  You are a home body and would rather stay in your PJ's then get dressed.  Some days I let you do just that...because who doesn't LOVE a PJ day!  You are starting Pre-K in a couple days.  You seem nervous about it but I know you will do wonderful (don't worry I'm nervous too...you and I kid don't like change do we!)  You are my sweet googily bear and I love you more then I could ever love anything in this world.  You were my first baby and will always be my little love.  Happy Birthday my sweet boy!