Monday, July 23, 2012

Oh what do you do in the Summertime?

Hard to believe it, but our last Summer before Charlotte starts school is coming to a close.  They begin school this year on August 7th!  In just 2 weeks! *Gasp*  So how have we been occupying ourselves since we've been home from PA?


We went to "dress like a cow" day at Chick-Fil-A.  Yes, I helped the kids make these awesome costumes so that we could get free kid's meals. They loved it. 


On a more serious note, Rob's Grandma Anderson passed away and we attended her funeral in Atlanta.  I know we hardly look broken up about it in these pictures  She was very elderly and not in good health.  Her husband passed away nearly a year ago, and she was really very ready to go.  She will be very missed, but we are glad she is at peace. The occasion was a day to spend with family and remember her fondly, and I think she would have been pleased with our smiles.


Grandma was buried in the National Cemetery in GA along with Grandpa Anderson.  It is a beautiful place, and we attended the burial... however, we learned rather late that we could not go to the graveside until the burial was completed due to "safety concerns." We spent the 90 minutes (in the 100 degree heat) waiting under a pavilion and taking family photos and visiting.  It wasn't in the plan, but it all worked out.


Rob's Mom and Dad with 6 of their 11 (soon to be 12) grandchildren.


Jakey has been growing like a little weed!  Here he is eating pasta for dinner and bits of banana for dessert.  He is a tender-hearted boy, but does he ever have a temper! I need to try to get video of one of his tantrums that he now throws when things do not immediately go his way.  He's gonna have to get over that pretty quick.  ;) 


 I got Rob these resistance bands for Father's Day this year and Toby thinks they are the coolest toy ever.  Aside from wearing them as an accessory, he has connected them and stretched them the entire length of the house, and used them to slingshot himself in the living room.  We decided we'd better put them away up high before he injures himself.  Toby also will be starting Joy School this Fall. 5 other moms and myself will take turns teaching our 6 preschoolers 2 mornings a week.  I think the little man is going to LOVE it!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

I'm a loser, baby


So, I wasn't going to blog this but I've been, ummm, enjoying some local notoriety lately (by enjoying I mean being completely horrified by) and I've decided that maybe if I put it all out there then people will stop asking me about it.  

See, here's what happened... Just after Easter my friend Kristin started a Biggest Loser competition. I was way excited.  I had just canceled my gym membership and I was looking for something to keep me motivated in trying to lose the baby weight and this sounded like it fit the bill perfectly.  We started with 25 women.  We each paid $20 and then $1/week at each of 12 weekly weigh-ins.  There were some minimal penalties to be paid if you gained weight, or stayed the same, or missed a weigh-in.  And, long story short, I won!  Normally, I would shrug and say, "oh it's not a big deal."  But not this time my friend.  This time I worked HARD.  You might even say I worked my butt off. (And other body parts as well.) 

Before & After photos



For those who want to know the details: I lost 28 lbs, 1.5 inches off each arm, 3.5 inches off each leg,  4.5 inches off my waist and 3.5 inches off my hips.  I reached a healthy weight for the first time in my adult life!  (And now I am just trying to stay here.)  I am genuinely proud of myself- which is kinda bizarre and kinda awesome.  And I know they always say this- but honestly, if I can do it, anybody can.  If you want to host your own Biggest Loser- you can get all the info here.

Friday, July 06, 2012

Sweet Home Pennsylvania

Last night we got home from nearly 3 weeks in PA visiting with my family. (Rob came up to join us for the last few days and help with the drive home.) Maybe you're wondering what we did during that time?  Here is a small sampling...

We hiked in flip flops. (My specialty.)
Charlotte took this pic- not bad!

We spent time with animals.
A certain horse named Simon even tried to kiss my baby bear.

Jennifer recognized a kindred spirit in Charlotte.  In her words- 'when we find one that seems to have the sickness, we like to encourage it.'

Even my serious little man took a ride on Simon.  
Look out Cowboy Woody!


Kaufman Kousins- most of them.

We went to gymnastics.

Charlotte got brave on the balance beam. (And yeah that's Jake buzzing by on the trampoline in the background.)

My sisters and I finally finished going through my mom's photos.
I really like this one of her from the 1960s.

We learned not to take a water gun from the baby.
(Jake took his first steps while we were in PA as well.)

We ate things that turned our tongues blue.

We celebrated!

We bounced!
(Ben and Toby may have had a wrestle-mania moment here.)

We drove things with motors!

And more things with motors!


We spent time just hanging out.

And helped build paths with 150+ lb. rocks.  
(Well, some of us did.)


We used fireworks to have tank battles and destroy toy soldiers.

Occasionally we slept.
But not very much.
  
Mostly, we made some new memories.
Thanks for the good time, y'all!