What do you do for a couple of super divas?  Well it is tough but we’ve been celebrating these almost 11 year olds – together – since they were 3 so we have practice.  Whitney came up with a fun hollywood/red carpet theme so I’ll figure out what else we are doing but so far I have an invitation done.  My email to the dance divas included Star Appearances and paparazzi photoshoot info.  Should be fun!

The Banana Cabana is in the background, our beachfront paradise for a week.

In the Fall of 2011 we started brainstorming on where we could take the kids for a beach vacation.  My 40th birthday wish was to take them to Isla Mujeres but being in Mexico makes it so expensive to get a family of 5 there and back.  So we opted for Gulf Shores, Alabama since we could drive there.  Brad and our neighbor Leslie did lots of research and looked at 100s of houses to rent.  He found Banana Cabana which was perfect for us and the 3 neighbor families.  We ended up taking 18 people, 11 kids and 7 adults.  The worst part was driving there and back but I read a lot so at least I felt productive.

We left after work on August 3rd and made it to Middle of Nowhere, Mississippi.  We arrived at the Banana the next day, late afternoon, which was just enough time to make dinner, have a quick swim and run off some energy.

We made it!

Here is a picture of all the kids lined up as we headed out for a trip to Orange Beach, 30 minutes away.

It was a very relaxing trip.  We had a pool outside our sliding glass door so if it was cloudy or sprinkling the kids could still go out and swim.  The ocean was very calm the first few days then a tropical storm stirred it up and made giant waves.  Many surfed and played in the waves, I’m a no-salt-water-in-my-eyes kind of girl so I lifeguarded at the pool.

Russell heading out to ride the waves.

Me and my sweet boys

Our favorite dining spot, on the deck by the pool.

Of course I had big plans for photo ops and got SOME but would have liked to take more.  It is a trick to catch 3 kids kind of spruced and photo ready all at the same time with the right lighting and avoiding as much wind as possible.  If I had known it would get windy I would have taken photos more photos that first day.  BUT kids don’t want to cooperate when they are in discovery mode.

Carter-almost 13, Whitney-almost 11 and Russell-just turned 6. Summer 2012

Bye Summer, it has been a hot one but a good one.

Well I’ve been feeling so guilty about abandoning my blog that I’ve avoided blogging. Not that anyone is DYING to hear what I have to say but I do like posting stuff.

So after the Final Four and tying up any day/night with a KU game and in-laws visit I pretty must started a dead run to baseball and dance season that didn’t end until July 1. Can you say BALANCE?! During and after work got insanely busy which was good because there was a lull.

SO, my goal is to do a few posts catching up and blog scrapping my last 5 months. I’ve had kids excelling, family members struggling, ups and downs and lots of fun 🙂

Mr. and Mrs. MB

I could totally be a Brit!

My peas, I love Easter pics with these 3!

Some people are very humbug about Valentine’s Day because they see it as a “Hallmark” holiday to make money.  I see it as a day to tell the ones you love in your life how much they mean to you.  Although I wouldn’t turn down a gorgeous bouquet of flowers I would prefer to have a sweet little hand-drawn flower from my little Russell.  Instead of a $5 card with a song installed in it I’d love a cute card made by darling Whitney with my scrap stuff.

My mini ME scrapping some cards

And some not so great photos of the finished product we sent to our family…these don’t do the cards justice at all.

The front

The inside

How precious are these signatures?!

A gourmet meal at an expensive restaurant would be lovely but I’d rather make a Mexican fiesta and have all three of my children eat their food and not complain.  Gifts are wonderful but seeing my precious Carter not only shovel our driveway–WITHOUT ASKING–he shoveled the neighbor’s because he “doesn’t see them much in the Winter and thought it would be a nice thing to do.”  Little did he know the dad of the house travels during the week and one of their good friends was in the hospital so it was an extra special thing to do for them.

I hope everyone can see the goodness in Valentine’s Day…above the expectations the movies and society places on this day.  Who could not like a day dedicated the shades of pink and red?!?

This year I started a little *vignette* table.

Valentine Themed Table...which changed many times through the month.

My friend Erin is a master at creating super amazing vignettes.  I’m just getting started but some day I aspire to add cool little areas that inspire me and display crafty fun.  Liz, Heidi, Margie, Janet and Pinterest all leave me in awwww but someday I’ll come up with something super wonderful.  For now my children are loving the candy that has become a constant on our front table 🙂  Espcially little Russell who said “Mom, we need more candy in the heart.” When we ran out after going through 6 bags of candy before February 4th!

Store bought teacher gifts are great but Whitney and I had more fun making these Pie Pops filled with fruit pie filling…soooo good!  I added raspberry extract to the icing glaze and OH MY GOODNESS were they good.  The glaze tasted like Krispy Kreme glazed donuts. WOW!

Homemade Berry Pie Pops!

Taste Test Approval

And gift cards for massage and mani-pedi are terrific but the home version with funny conversations is way more fun!  The boys are such divas with their water being too hot or cold etc.  Whitney and I crack up at them.

Pedicures at Salon Woods

Last photo–We had these taken by a friend who is better at Photoshop than I am.  I printed them through Kodak Gallery on metallic paper and sent them to our relatives.  I love it!

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

I was reading the information for Project Life http://www.beckyhiggins.com/ and Project 365 A photo a Day for 365  I decided taking a photo everyday is much easier than actually scrapping it.  I plan to make a book out of my photos on Flickr.  I love it, I can upload straight from my phone, how easy is that?!  If I fail at this one I’m just hopeless… Soar 365 2012

Recruiting has been super duper busy with only 2 weeks under our belt for 2012.  Some of the candidates I’m working with are such gems.  They are THE nicest people and I pray for them to get one of these jobs.  I send them good thoughts when they are going in for interviews and look forward to how they feel they’ve done after.  What a great career I’ve started, right up my alley!

The kids are busy as ever…soccer, basketball and dance all last weekend.  We stayed downtown at the Sheraton where Whitney’s dance convention was held.  She had a blast and it was much more restful to have a room, hang out with the amazing Lee family, snuggle with baby Vivian and not have to DRIVE downtown at 7:00am both days.  Fun little Staycation for us.

And my little peas from Christmas.  They were so good and sweet, I was very proud of them.  Carter doted on Aunt Edith, what a sweet pea!  He loves older people, little girls and babies 🙂  An extension of my heart.

Christmas Day in shorts and light jackets at GG & Paps in Lexington

We have a family beach vacation on the books!  We are going to Gulf Shores, Alabama with the neighbor families the first week of August.  This is definitely a motivator for me this year.  Save and Make Money!  Besides the drive…ick…it will be an amazing trip!

The Banana Cabana - sleeps 20, 4 masters and 4 kid rooms. Amazing!

Can you see me lounging with my cold beverage and camera near by?! I can!

Photo OPS galore! I'll be in pure heaven!

This motivational trip also moves me to move more and eat less this year.  I started counting my points with a fun little Android App for Weight Watchers and working out.  I eat well but there is something about this little app that makes me think twice, even if it just a handful of almonds.  I say to my self, “Self, do I really need to subtract 4 points from my 26 point balance or would a few carrots that are free do the trick? I’m starting with Netflix vids and hope to move to a bigger effort soon.  If only I could trade in my treadmill for an elliptical!

So in 2012 I’m going to get fit, work towards a fabulous beach vacation and enjoy the ride.  Not a bad way to start out a year!!

I was tossing around different ideas and nothing really stuck.  It was GO for a few days but that didn’t quite fit.  I really think things are settled for a fabulous years and I intend for it to be amazing.  It could also be FOCUS but I think SOAR gives me the FOCUS of greatness.  I have so little time for myself and to be creative so if I can build that in to my insane running around I will have definitely SOARed.

What’s your word?  You should dig deep and make one, it is the easiest way to RESOLVE for the new year.  Pick a word that encompasses your total mindset.  Find more info about the class here:  One Little Word

Sweet Russell at my favorite age so far, FIVE

A favorite picture of Whitney just as she turned 10.

And big Carter, he grew up before our eyes this year. He is the sweetest tween boy I know.

Well my first goal is to do a better job of updating this blog.  I really like it and it isn’t THAT hard.  I could do it while I eat lunch at my desk even.

As I move into a new year I am in a 100% different place than this time last year.  My foot has healed so I’m gung ho to eat well and move more.  I have a great job and plan to make it my last career…hopefully my last job.  I absolutely enjoy matching up talented people with great careers.  I’ve been rewarded more than in any other position I’ve held personally because of the impact successful recruiting has on other people. Plus I think it is interesting to get to know new people and what makes them tick.  I think because of this new spot I’m in I am really happy and motivated to make 2012 a BANNER year!

Goals:

1. get healthy and fit – I don’t care about numbers, I just want to feel good and not be grossed out by pictures of me.

2. focus at work so I can focus at home

3. while at home be in the moment, love on my family, try to stay calm and carry on

4. be crafty weekly through any and all means – photography, writing, creating art

5. do something related to my house every day – to get a handle on the chores…ick.

6. do something to spruce up my house every month – paint that bathroom, fix grout, shelves in kids rooms, paint trim in various window wells…etc etc the to do list is long.

7. make the trip in August happen and hopefully another one in the year.

8. get more sleep

9. be kind to myself

10. play more

I think that is a pretty good list.  I’m still working on my WORD for the year.  OPEN might just have to be repeated…but is that so lame?  I didn’t do very well on my OPEN scrapbook…BUT I guess I could just start over and use a new word? mmmm must contemplate that more.

WooHoo CHEERS to Making 2012 amazing!