We LOVE shoes!

This past Saturday we went to Kohls to "look" for new shoes for Garrett. Well, he got a new pair of shoes and so did Bella. Our trip to "look" for shoes cost us $170! Oh well, it's gonna happen when he have to buy men's shoes for Garrett now. We bought more than just shoes (clearance racks are an awesome place to buy next year's winter clothes!) so it's not as bad as it sounds. I don't have a pic of Garrett's new shoes, but here is a pic of Bella's. They are the CUTEST things I think I've ever seen!I LOVE this pic! Even with the cupcake on her face, she is too cute! See her shoes too? They lite up on the top and on the sides. She has to wear them every where now! She even wanted to wear them to bed last night! =)

Close up shot of Bella's new "Twinkle Toes"

Pink Icing Fun!

This past weekend we had some of our neighbors over for dinner. We all have a great time hanging out! The kids had some extra special fun on this particular night. Skyla picked out some cupcakes with HOT PINK icing on them while we were at the store that day. WOW! Look and see how much fun the kids had!Garrett showing off his pink lips

Nice lipstick you two! Looks like it's a bit much though. =)

Preparing for the pink lip fun!

What exactly is Garrett doing to Ethan?

SO silly!

Skyla's expression after Garrett kissed her on the cheek!

Skyla wanted proof that Garrett gave her a kiss because she said it would never happen again

Bella got in on the fun too!

Addi looks like she's in a sugar coma!

Chuck E. Cheese

I have started watching a 7 month old little boy named Max. He is sweet and cute! Bella LOVES him, however she has become some what clingy to mommy since he has come along. SO, we thought we would take Bella to Chuck E. Cheese for a little family bonding time. This was Bella's FIRST time ever going to Chuck E. Cheese! It was so cute watching her take it all in! We also took Skyla and Leland with us. We all had a blast! I'm so glad we were able to do this on this particular night because with as expensive as it is to go there we won't be going back for awhile. ;-)Who is this guy sitting next to me?

Skyla aka Sissy and Leland

Papa afraid of Bella's driving

Bella driving the bus. She was SO funny! As soon as you would put a token in and the ride would start Bella would start yelling, "HELP!"

Please keep all hands and feet inside the ride at all times. ;-)

WOW!

I'm WAY behind on my posts! Here are a few pics to catch us up a bit. =)

We went dress shopping for Skyla. She needed two dresses, one for the 8th grade dance and one for 8th grade graduation. She looks so beautiful!

Garrett went dress shopping with us. He was such a trooper! =)
This dress is my favorite! She looks amazing!
That's my boy!
Bella in her pretty new sparkly shoes! =)

Valentine's Day

Well, those of you that know me know that I am very ANTI-Valentine's Day! For some reason this year is different. I don't know if it's because I LOVE celebrating and decorating for each holiday. Maybe it's because it is my nature to be a party planner? Maybe it's because I love planning and giving little treats/presents/surprises? Maybe it's because I don't have a classroom of 25 kindergarteners giving me little Valentine cards this year? Or maybe it's because I am so full of love that I might explode if I don't share it?!
Don't get me wrong, I still think that Valentine's Day is a big made-up holiday so that the average person can go out and spend a bunch of money that really wasn't necessary in the first place. I think that if you have someone in your life you need to celebrate them and love them EVERY day NOT just on Valentine's Day! That being said, I don't NEED a box of chocolates, roses, an expensive dinner, or gifts (although, what girl wouldn't want those things). No, all I need is my man, a little "alone time" (that's what Garrett always says when he wants to be by himself) with my honey (a date of pizza and beer works just fine for me...heck, splurge and take me to White Castle for the white table cloths and roses!), and the rest of the time we can spend with our kids. I don't need anything expensive...all I need is some QT to make me one happy girl!
SO, even if you are still anti-Valentine's Day (which I have been for most of my life) take heart that one day that might all change. Thanks be to God for filling my soul with love so that those in my life could help fill my heart! I am truly blessed beyond belief!

It's been awhile...

Well, it's been awhile since I've updated our blog. With all this cold weather and snow all I want to do is hibernate! I am definitely NOT a cold weather kinda gal! SO, here are some random pics of what we've been up to the past month!Everyone at Dr. Mischler's office LOVES Bella! They always give her toys to play with and talk to her. On this day they gave her the birthday hat that Garrett is wearing below and a mirror so she could see what she looked like with the hat on. Instead she wanted to look in the mirror and stick her tongue out and move it all around because that is WAY more fun than just staring at yourself with a hat on! =)

The birthday hat!

Here I am or I could be called Kermit if you like. ;-)
Late night Walmart run with Eyore AKA Tori and a Smurf AKA Skyla

You wouldn't think that she would have enough hair to do this...but obviously she does!
One little girl not feeling so well with one Maynard kitty trying to snuggle with her

All dressed and ready for church (not really in a good mood) WITH a bow in her hair!
Bella and her friend Niamah or her "eemah" as she calls her. =)

Bella playing the drums with tongue depressors waiting on the doctor
Still waiting on the doctor, reading a book, AND the bow is still in her hair! =)
Our for my friend Jennifer's birthday!
Super Bowl party at our house and this was the ONLY picture we took! Gotta love it!

Progress...

The quote that keeps coming to mind is "slow and steady wins the race". I hope that this is oh so very true. I know that on average you should lose approximately 2 pounds per week to be healthy in your weight loss. It's not like on the real Biggest Loser where people are losing 41 pounds in their first week! And, just like in us working our way out of debt, there are no magic pills to make the weight fall off (or the debt disappear). SO....this far I have lost 4 pounds and dropped a total of 5.5 inches! WOO HOO! I will take the small victories when I can! When I lose ONE more pound I will have reached my FIRST five pound goal and I will get to go and get a mani/pedi! COME ON ONE MORE POUND! Looks like I will be off to Zumba tonight to sweat my one pound off! =)
Good luck to those of you out there with the same challenges I am facing. We can do this!