#93. good friends at work
#94. my ED team
#95. a bit more sleep (thanks to Benadryl)
#96. tiny naps
#97. Nick Jr.

#88. round 3 of swim lessons with minimal crying
#89. beach day with friends
#90. tomorrow I get to start over, hopefully a happier and nicer Mom
#91. sunshine
#92. coffee (that I am about to make)

#81. catching Hope awake when I got home and getting hugs and stories of her day
#82. brother is home from a LONG trip
#83. hearing brother's stories of his adventures
#84. flying solo at work
#85. late night chai
#86. 2 days off in a row to look forward to
#87. seeing brother's weapons and souveniers

#74. time with Grandma and Grandpa Daisy
#75. snuggling a tiny one at work most of the evening
#76. washing machines
#77. more than 1 set of sheets for the little one's bed
#78. snuggles from my girl (even if was b/c of a sick tummy)
#79. super-hubby who cleaned up the vomit, rinsed the clothes, & changed the sheets
#80. bedtime

#68. late night facebook chats with friends
#69. playing in the sunshine before work
#70. cookie brownies for breakfast
#71. playdates at new parks
#72. a cozy bed to crawl into at the end of the day
#73. hubby to snuggle up next to

Camping!

Last weekend we were blessed with a weekend away...we went on our 1st family camping trip with some great friends and it was phenomenal! I had randomly come across a state park in Riverside and it looked decent and fun for kids, so after driving through a month or so ago we decided to go for it. So glad we did!

Our site was amazing! It was HUGE, covered in grass, nice and shady, and did I mention HUGE?! The campground was equally amazing...2 lakes, bikes to rent, 2 playgrounds, a water playground/splashpad, lots of space to walk, green everywhere, etc. It was perfect for our little families and our crazy 2 year olds!

The girls LOVED camping! They loved the playground and other stuff, but I think more than anything they enjoyed just running around on the grass at our site! They played well together and kept each other entertained and kept us entertained too! The way our site was set up, we could let them run all around the grass and not have to chase them down or worry too much about them so we were all grateful to sit and relax!

We split meals between our 2 families and had food a-plenty! Our smart friends brought tons of fresh fruit and veggies and even cupcakes...YUM! We ate when we were hungry, slept when we were tired, and most just relaxed and sat around together! I am so grateful for our dear friends and know that God placed them in our lives just when we all needed them!

Top 10 Moments of our Trip:

10. Splashpad & Boulder playground

9. Naptime for the girls = Grown up time

8. Sleeping in tents

7. Discovering a baby frog

6. Coin operated showers/bonding for the Mommies

5. S'mores each night (mostly after the girls were asleep)

4. Ladder golf games (or whatever you call that thing)

3. Renting that sill bike and realizing I had no control over steering/braking

2. Snacky lunch time just before checking out (YUMMY)

1. Watching the girls run and jump and play non-

We all left wishing we could either stay longer or come back next weekend for round 2. We've made a pact though that we'll make camping an annual tradition between our families and I can't wait for next year already!!!

PICTURES COMING SOON!

#62. ending a swim lesson full of tears with a smile, thanks to a prize
#63. making (EATING) peanut butter play-doh with friends
#64. friends who you've known forever and can catch up where you left off
#65. dance parties and fun memories
#66. amazingly cute and fun Converse (thanks to a BFF who knows me too well)
#67. time to take a shower ALL BY MYSELF

#54. New haircut and finally being able to donate what was cut!
#55. Being part of a great team at work
#56. An unsolicited "I love you" whispered in the early morning hours
#57. Great in-laws
#58. My hardworking hubby who provides for us
#59. An all-in-one postal store
#60. The "happy birthday" song being sung throughout the house by Hope
#61. Session 2 of swim lessons and Hope who says she's looking for "Apple Dumplin"

#46. a girl friend for Hope
#47. sharing secrets
#48. laughter between friends
#49. a first family camping trip shared with good friends
#50. long showers
#51. quick dinners
#52. time spent in the sunshine
#53. family movie nights

#40. great conversation with a super cute 3 year old at work to end my shift...her laughter made my heart so happy!
#41. being part of the ED team
#42. a fun "camp day" at work
#43. quiet at the house next door @ 11:30pm
#44. mail
#45. Facebook messages and notes

#34. laughter that brightens the room
#35. my sweet cowgirl stomping around in her boots
#36. a hubby who got the nosiy neighbors to be quiet @ 1:15am
#37. rubbermaid tubs being filled with camping supplies
#38. my budding artist and her paint/sticker/crayon endeavors
#39. hearing "Mooooooommmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyy" across the house

#24. walking hand-in-hand with a really cute kiddo at work
#25. quality time with my Mom & Hope
#26. a comfy bed to crawl into after a long day
#27. a quiet house until 8am this morning
#28. first day of swimming lessons
#29. quarterly visits/days spent with a favorite friend
#30. water falls/sculptures to get soaked in
#31. a home of our own where our kid can grow up and not ever have to move
#32. my pancake monster of a kid who can't have enough "dip" on top
#33. my little copy-cat who proudly repeated "your someping else" over and over

THAT child

Today at Gymboree, my usually sweet & kind little girl turned into THAT child. You know, the one that you watch and wonder who her parents are and why they are allowing her to act like that....the one that you steer your child away from in hopes of sheltering them and saving them from tears. I don't know what her deal was today, but she was N-A-U-G-H-T-Y!!! She would yell/scream if someone else was doing what she wanted to do or was sitting where she wanted to sit. She could have been featured on "Hoarders: Toddler Edition" the way she clung to all the dumb balls. She would gather as many as she could possibly hold and then fall apart completely when one dropped or someone else tried to get one. She got all upset when she couldn't catch a bubble on her finger and fell apart when they kept popping. SO not my child! I was mortified and so embarrassed with the way she was behaving...I just wanted to pick her up and leave 1/2 way through our class. SO not okay!!!

So, what do you do? How do you teach your child to share? How do you stop the melt-down? What has gotten into my sweet, easy-going kid?!

Maybe she needs more playdates. Maybe she needs a taste of her own medicine. Maybe she's just two...Maybe.

#19. fabulous co-workers...friends and family, all in one.
#20. time on my own at work
#21. the discovery of "cake pops"
#22. leftovers for dinner
#23. Amazon.com deliveries (this one contained a travel potty, piddle pad, and seat covers)

#16. tiny pigtails that curl like corkscrews
#17. singing potties that announce pee-pee
#18. Gymboree

#11. snuggling in bed next to a really cute 2 year old who is super squirmy
#12. frozen waffles and the last few drops of syrup
#13. Mom, whose birthday is today
#14. Mom, who gives up her own time each week to watch our sweet girl so that I can work
#15. a "like" from little brother, even from the other side of the globe

1,000 Gifts

"So this is the thing, friend: What if finding love is as simple as recording 1000 gifts? We may be women weary. We may be women wounded. But we are women wooed. What woman doesn’t long to be loved, to be treasured, to be showered with gifts? A thousand — more!"

I've been out of things to blog about lately. Sure, I've had things on my mind, but not things that need to be shared with the world or written about publicly. I've come across several blogs lately where people are coming up with "1,000 gifts"...1,000 things they have to be grateful for, gifts from their Maker. I've decided that maybe this will keep me looking to my Creator and will help remind me of all that I have been blessed with. I'm also helping this will remind me to "love the moments" and notice what is right in front of me! I doubt I'll post daily and I doubt I'll finish anytime soon, but I'm going to start.

#1. laying in bed with my eyes closed for an hour, enjoying peace and quite.

#2. reading stories to my sweet girl that speak of her worth and value

#3. new friends that aren't really that new anymore

#4. laying on the grass, enjoying the breeze outside

#5. 3 hours of Ariel underpants and no accidents

#6. hubby battling the ever-present ants

#7. crazy curly hair hanging in her face, resting just over her eye

#8. mindless entertainment in the form of "words with friends"

#9. art in the form of "hangers on dresser" discovered long after the fact

#10. purple crayon artistry on both sides of the front door and on the walls

I found a book that goes along with this concept and have placed a hold for it at the library. I could use some positive input and some focus in my life...it's been so long since I've read a book with purpose and use...