blessed

At 7 months, 3 weeks and 1 day old we had to purchase R2's first package of diapers.  This pic was taken when he was almost 3 months old, so it does not even include all of them.  The majority of them came from my senior friends at the gym.  They also gave us two bulk boxes of wipes (which we ran out out of last week too).  Many friends and family brought us diapers too.  It was such a blessing.  It was also a blessing that he would outgrow a diaper when we were almost out of a size, so there was never any leftover diapers.
Guess it is time to potty train.

Dallas weekend

I was so excited when I found out my zumba training was in McKinney b/c it meant the possibility of seeing one of my dearest, oldest (as in I have known her longer than most) friends. Kim was one of my students when I taught high school in Kerrville. I traveled with her when she tried out for the Tech Color Guard, she was one of my bridesmaids and I was one of hers. I hardly ever see her anymore now that she is a business professional and I am a professional Mom, but even after years apart we were able to pick right back where we started like a day hadn't passed.
We got there pretty late Thursday night, but her husband made a wing stop run and we sat up late watching 127 Hours. After my class Friday, she told us of a Latin restaurant where we could celebrate. On Saturday morning, we had to pack up and head home to relieve Mimi, but I am so grateful for the time we did get to spend together. Thank you for the warm bed and much needed shower.

she's hooked

Landry tried rock climbing for the first time at the museum and she had a ball.  Now, she did not go very high according to you tall peoples' standards, but it looked pretty high to her and I.  She says it was her favorite part of the museum.  Hopefully Bella will grow a couple of inches before we go back.

Bella's day at the museum

One thing I can say about Bella is that she knows how to have fun.  She tried almost every experiment that she was big enough for.  She test drove a helicopter, made music on metal, danced, and explored with physics.  She had a great time and is ready to go back. 

I'm official

As of Friday afternoon, I am a licensed zumba instructor.  Never thought those words would come out of my mouth.  I travel to south Texas this weekend for my Aqua Zumba license and next month will be traveling to San Antonio for my Zumbatomic license.  I will be teaching Zumbatomic (kids) 4 days a week this fall, and not sure what my aqua zumba schedule looks like.  Check out my bio on zumba.com

LE's day at the museum

The science tree house was the perfect hands-on museum for LE. Some of the experiments were a little over her knowledge level, but she was still able to participate and explore. She recently asked if you really could talk to a person across the room with cups and a string. They had a similar experiment that her and Bella enjoyed. She used a simple pulley to pull herself up and she had fun creating wind in Mommy's face. There was a really fun game that all 3 girls enjoyed where the lights on a floor lit up. They had to outrun the light & not step on it. It was a really great field trip for her age and even for kids a few years older.

Read's day at the museum

R2 received so many compliments at the museum on how happy of a baby he was.  I told you, I am really not biased.  Ok, maybe a bit. 

Witte Museum - DINOSAURS

This past weekend, we headed to San Antonio to the Witte Museum.  I found out that morning my brother's family was there and we met up to celebrare Emmie's b-day.  We went b/c of the dinosaur exhibit, but quickly discovered there were only 3 dinosaurs.  Thankfully there was a great science treehouse that kept our attention for the remainder of the day.

Cheesecake Factory Endive Salad

The Cheesecake Factory has my favorite salad, but at $6 for a "small salad", which Ben and I do not like to share I had been on the look out for the recipe.  CCF sells salad dressing, but at $8 and they have to be used in 48 hours, it was just not feasible.  In my salad searches over the past few weeks, by accident I discovered olive oil and balsamic vinegar mixed was the secret CCF salad dressing. 




My Endive and Bleu Cheese Salad Version:
Belgian endive (had to purchaed at Sprouts - cut this like you would celery and toss the hard center stalks - very bitter if you don't)
Ruby Reds (CCF uses radicchio, but also hard to find)
Arugula
Gorgonzola (or bleu cheese)
Candied Pecans
1 T. olive oil
1 T. Balsamic Vinegar

Mix 1/2 cups pecans, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 T. water - stir and heat on low heat.  Remove when mixed together and allow to chill  (this made enough for a week's worth of salad).
Mix 3 cups (handful = cup) greens together and coat with olive oil.  Then, toss with vinegar.
Garnish greens with cheese and pecans.  Serve immediately.

do you zumba?

NEVER SAY NEVER!  Last year, I stood in the back of a packed gymnasium and watched 76 women shake their bonbons to Latin and HipHop music and told my boss at the Y and uberfit combat instructor friend - you will never see me doing that in public.  Back in May, my boss at 24 hour e-mailed several of us and asked if we would be interested in teaching a song at the Mother's Day Zumbathon.  I giggled, no really laughed till I wet myself at her request.
Fast forward to one day last month in my fitness magazine I read an article about aqua zumba.  Then, two days later several of my regular Saturday members asked me about the new craze.  I e-mailed my boss that afternoon and asked her what she knew about it and what she thought about it.  Within minutes she e-mailed me and said please, do it, go for it.  After praying about it and talking to Ben, I registered for my training class.  At this point, I had taken the class once, yeah, like attended it.  So, this weekend I am traveling to Dallas for zumba training and next weekend to Laredo for aqua zumba.  And, then in the next couple of weeks I will be getting zumbatomic - zumba for kids.   Both of my bosses (Y and 24) have told me there are classes waiting for me when I am done.  I am so excited about the new knowledge, I love to learn.  But, I am more excited about the favor God has given to me in this job.  I am not the most athletic person or have the fit, hot body type.  So, I often get uncomfortable in my role.  But, God has given me this desire to teach others and encourage others to get active.  And He fulfilled the desires of my heart.  Also, I am so thankful to my friend, Erica who encouraged me to join the gym 3 years ago, thank you friend.