Mischief

I went upstairs for two seconds and came back down to this: Who? Me??
It was all Nolan's idea. Ha.

Apple vs. Twinkie

www.foodbattle.org

Check it out!

We Love Yogi Bear!

We spent Thursday through Sunday at Jellystone with Darren, Amy, Ryan and Megan. We had awesome weather despite the forecast and had an absolute blast. Nolan asked me this morning "can we leave for Jellystone now?" Avrie and Nolan cuddling Thursday morning before we left.

Yogi and Nolan. This is the same Yogi statue that I stood by as a kid. I'm sure he's been repainted a few times over the years.
We're here! Evan really was happier than that.
The kids reading the paper before it turned to ashes.

Avrie and Daddy at the park.

Our "grass". The kids had lots of fun playing in the dirt.

Chef Amy turning the hot dogs.

What's that you have there, Megan?

Oh boy! Watermelon! Gimmeeeeee.

Mmmm. Thanks.

Stunning beach babe.

Building sand castles with Daddy.

What? A lolly? No way!

I want sunflower seeds instead.

Fishing. Got skunked.

We took Avrie paddle boating while Nolan napped. She wasn't too thrilled about the suffocating life jacket.

Nolan eating watermelon.

Reading books.

Avrie got a horrid case of the hives. We aren't sure what they were from.

On the way home. Asleep minutes from Jellystone.

Ditto.

Monkey helping Mommy unpack.

Mess Day

Nolan searching for bugs, worms, treasure.
My front step. Maybe I should check on him more often.

Avrie playing in her stroller before Nolan wakes up and takes it away.

Fresh cookie anyone?

They are so yummy.

Just like me!

Say what?

One Wet Weekend

We went to The Farm this weekend to go swimming. Avrie woke up at 2 on Saturday night and I hopped out of bed and into a puddle. Little did we know we'd be swimming in the basement rather than the pool. The basement was an inch under in some places. Next door there was a foot in the back shop. Evan went and woke Dad up and we moved upstairs and the guys stayed up all night vacuuming up water with the shopvac. Nolan got so tired of waiting to leave that he fell asleep on the couch.
A face only a mother could love!

Best Buds. These two were inseparable the whole weekend.

Making good use of his tractor and mud boots!

Tanner and Nolan. Sure can tell they are cousins.

I think this picture of Sadie is awesome.

Avrie found this amongst Grandma's toys. She has never used one.

Is this how it works?? She thought she was downright hilarious. Which she was!

Checkups!

Both the kids had checkups today. We finally found an awesome pediatrician in our network. They both passed with flying colors.

Nolan: 31.6 pounds (41%), 37 inches (25%)

Avrie: 18.3 pounds (7%), 29.25 inches (53%)

Self Worth and the Media

I used to read eating disorder memoirs for tips on how to starve and purge not for hope of recovery. I am a former exercise addict. 12 miles/day was my average. Much less and I'd walk after dark. I kept my body alive on 500 calories and 5 grams of fat a day. The fat came from one frozen cookie dough ball. No wonder I had a meltdown. Thankfully this phase only lasted a couple years and I got help through therapy. However, at what point does negative body image end? And why do we have it? I'm very thankful my Mom didn't buy me teen magazines. However, this didn't stop me from buying them myself when I had the money. They are filled with unrealistic, airbrushed, gaunt models and we think their bodies are attainable. Today's men are influenced by this as well and expect normal women to look like this. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who loves me exactly the way I am (but I have to keep telling myself this over and over again). I used to subscribe to a magazine (can't remember what it was now) that discontinued and now the publisher sends me Marie Claire as a replacement. I should just throw them away as soon as they come but usually I flip through them off and on for a few days before it makes its way to the trash. I feel horrible for those few days. Take this morning: we were going to hop in the car and run to the library to pick up a book that was in for me. But I weighed myself first and wasn't happy with the result so we walked. I hate that numbers have so much control over how I feel and what I do. A few years ago I threw my scale away and it was so liberating. I'm not quite sure why I bought another one. Okay, so I do know. I'm still recovering. When will it end?

Here's to a magazine-free home: Cheers.

He's Actually Sleeping in His Bed!

We got Nolan a bunk bed with the intention that as soon as Avrie is big enough that they'll bunk together. We'll see how long the novelty of the top bunk lasts! The first night he chickened out and slept on the bottom. As you can see we only have one mattress right now so Daddy decided he wasn't going to be moving it every night and now Nolan is permanently on top. Look at me!
Our very own puppy.

Crafting for Daddy this morning. He discovered glue.

Avrie left behind a few bunny grahams. They both thought this was hysterical.

Introducing.....

my new blog! Check it out: http://www.shannonsfood.blogspot.com/

I also have a link on the right side of the page.

Misc Pics

Avrie loves to go through the folded clothes before I put them away. She always finds Nolan's underwear. They make a good hat!
Here he is...Mr. Charmer. With a dirty face.

So, so strange. This is just a dried shell of a bug. He literally crawled out of his body. Anyone know what this is??

HUGE fly-like thing. Must have been the day for big bugs. The two were a foot apart.

Another Nolan-ism

"I live in my house on Jefferson street. Elmo lives on SesameStreet.com".

Only today's kids.

Happy Birthday Avrie!!

Avrie was born one year ago today. It's gone by way too fast. She has grown up in the last few weeks. She's not a baby anymore. She is officially walking now...no more of this crawling stuff.

I went to an Italian cooking class last night with Pat. It was great fun and delicious. Evan got some great pictures of the kids:

Yo! Waz up? I'm a stud. I love this picture!My boy =) Isn't he just a heartbreaker??
Okay, so this looks lovey. It's not. He's ripping her off his tractor. Imp Anderson