It's getting close!

This weekend Joshua is going to visit Grammy Kelley at her house (sniffle) but that means I get to go to a friend's wedding, and to my 5k on Sunday sans baby (hip-hip-hooray!) This Sunday is the first of May, which is the day of my Margarita's 5K, and it is ALSO the beginning of my new body for life lifestyle. I am NOT calling it a diet. Because if I call it a diet, I am going to get all freaked out about it and it's not going to last. (I've decided calling it a diet, is kind of like when you were in school and something was called a test, immediately drains the fun right out of it.)

So it's going to be a busy weekend! I also need to go grocery shopping and stock up on some of the essentials for my new healthy lifestyle. I won't be able to do a full grocery shop until early next week I think, but I HAVE to do a little before then otherwise I'll starve. Or be surviving on turkey hot dogs, cheerios, and yogurt, which is all we have in the house right now.

So I will update you with how Joshua's weekend goes, and how mine goes too early next week. Just thought I'd pop in and let everyone know why I will likely be MIA most of the weekend. Wish me luck! And if you see me eating junk, or hear me talking about eating junk, kick me in the butt, would ya?!

Here we go!!

Easter 2011

This past Sunday was Easter, as everyone probably knows. We ended up have a beautiful day! It was about 70 degrees outside when we left our house to head to Jay's grandma's. Joshua was dressed up in his Sunday best with his favorite hat (maybe ours... I dunno) and he was looking sharp.

He had a blast walking around outside. This was the first time he walked outside. He has been walking for awhile now, but whenever we'd bring him outside before, he would just sit down and not do anything. Not Easter, he kept trying to go back outside every time we brought him in, and he was doing laps up and down the driveway all day.

It was a great day full of ham, turkey, and all the other Easter foods you can imagine. Joshua is a bottomless pit so he was eating from just about the time we got there until the time we left. I'll keep this post short and sweet. Here are some more pics of him In his awesome Easter outfit.

the towel Grammy Nikki gave him. Adorable.

Five things I'm doing for Earth day.

It's Friday. And it's earth day! So I thought I'd share with you, some of the things I am going to do today in Mother Earth's honor.

1. In case you were unaware. Starbucks is giving away a free coffee or tea if you bring in a reuseable cup. So I will be heading to my local Starbucks, with a travel mug and filling up for free.

2. Another awesome Earth Day freebie I found. Origins, which is an awesome cosmetics and skincare company, will give you a free fullsize facial cleanser if you bring in an old one to recycle (can be full or empty.) Check out the link HERE and print the form and go grab your own!

3. I will be using my reusable coffee cozie instead of the cardboard ones. I even use it on my reuseable cups sometimes. I love it! I found it on Etsy at Christmastime and bought a couple for my sisters, and of course, I had to have one too!

4. I am going to go for a walk. (I know, I can do this any day really), It's nice out . . . so far . . . and I thought it would be nice to get out and enjoy nature, and take a minute to appreciate all we have around us everyday that so many take for granted by littering up with their garbage, and cigarette butts (gross), and other non-biodegradables. 

And lastly . . . 

5. Joshua wanted to contribute, by having extra nakie time. Happy Earth Day from Joshua.

He will kill me one day.

but look at the cute lil' bum!

Yay earth day!

Sunday Confessions: The Baby Itch

So I have to confess this lovely Sunday. Every time I see Joshua playing with other kids, especially smaller babies (Like Ethan, who is my friend Katie's baby and is completely adorable, and kind of reminds me of Joshua at the same age) it kind of makes me want to have another one so Joshua will always have a buddy.

I always knew I wanted more than one, or more, thought, I wanted more than one. I say it like that because until Joshua was out of me, I also thought I wanted twins. And still I say sometime, thank goodness there is only one of him. Don't get me wrong, he is all sunshine and rainbows most days, but those first couple of months may have been the end of me if he were two, instead of one.

Last time Ethan and Katie came to visit, there was a moment where Joshua wasn't trying to jab out Ethan's eye or throwing a toy at him, where he was just holding his hand and leaned in onto him a little. And it was super cute. And I actually caught myself saying out loud, "Awee, Joshua wants a baby sister!" Ha. Don't get all excited though you baby fanatics (you all know who you are ;-) ) We can't have one just yet. For two very good reasons. 1. We have no room to put two babies. and 2. We haven't even finished paying off the birth of the first one yet. So, that said, if anyone wants to buy us a bigger house, and sell the one we're in, or throw some cash in our direction, maybe we'll think about getting started on #2. In the mean time, we'll just keep enjoying Joshua, and I'll continue to get all mushy when I see him playing with other people's kids until he can have his very own sibling.

These pictures aren't of Ethan, (obviously) These are Joshua and his buddy Brandon. Joshua had a fun day Saturday playing with Brandon and Carter, I think Carter was napping when these were shot.) Doesn't he just look like he wants a baby sister?!

Don't forget to write your own Sunday Confession and link up here! (It doesn't even have to be written on Sunday, since I was so late today... I'll let it slide :-) Kidding, I'd let it slide anyways. So just write a confession blog and link up here! Go!)

Friday Five: Things on the top of my "wish list"

I think with spring now teasing us with warmer weather on a slightly more regular basis, it is making me get the shopping itch. I know I wrote about how I have been online window shopping lately in last weeks Sunday Confessions Post. So this kind of goes with that. I've been itching to do some minor landscaping so Joshua and I can go outside and play when it's nice out. I've also been dying to just go clothes shopping, and household things shopping . . . any shopping I guess. So my Amazon wish list just keep growing, and growing! So I'm linking up with Kat's Living Like the Kings Friday Five postings, with these 5 things that are at the top of my list, at the moment.

1. This swing. And these hooks for hanging it.

We have a nice big deck out back of our house, and under it there are little hooks for hanging things. Joshua loves, rocking, and swinging, any kind of motion really. I would LOVE to get this, hook it up and spend an afternoon watching him swing while I sit and read a book.

2. New cushions for our patio furniture. We've had the same ones since we bought the set years ago, and they are nice and faded and smelly now. Time for new ones!

3. An umbrella with a base so we'll have a little shade. Since there aren't any trees, it would be nice to have a little shade outside without having to go sit under the deck!

4. New red mulch. Under our deck is crushed rock right now, sort of. It's all washed away, there isn't really anything besides dirt now. I want to lay down some nice mulch, put some pretty shade plants down there and make it look nice again.

5. Some edging to go around the pretty new mulch. 

Is it weird that I have gardening and landscaping things on my amazon wish list? All I really want is to be able to bring Joshua outside to play this spring. Haha. I have been dreaming about making our little outdoor area look pretty for years now! But now, Joshua can walk, and it's getting nice out, so it's bugging me more than ever. I may do something crazy and open up a credit card just so I can redo our deck space so I can play outside on nice days! Watch out! 

Don't forget to link up if you do a Friday Five too!

Easiest pulled pork ever.

So I am still relatively new to the blogging about food thing, and suck at remembering to take pictures of things as I make them. But I thought I'd share will all you busy people out there, the easiest, most delicious pulled pork recipe ever.

Here is what you need:

• A crock pot. I have this one.
• An onion (optional)

• Some pork loin. I buy the Smithfield brand natural pork tenderloin. I usually get around a 2.5lb package. There is plenty if you have company, or it makes great leftovers if there are only a couple of you.
• About 16oz. of BBQ sauce. Whichever kind you like works. I used Sweet Baby Rays sweet and spicy for todays pork.
• Some rolls if you are making the pulled pork into sandwiches. I usually get onion bulky type rolls from the bakery in the grocery store.
• Cheese if you want, cheddar or something similar is amazing.

Here is what you do:

• Cut up the onion. I usually cut it in half the tall way, then slice it into little strips.
• Toss the onion into the bottom of the crock pot.
• Put the pork on top of the onion.
• Pour about half to 3/4 of the BBQ sauce over the pork, you want it to be covered.
• Turn the crock pot on low, and cook away. Usually I start it around 10 or 11 AM if I am home for the day, but you can easily let it cook all day if you are away at work.
• About an hour or so before you want to eat. Open the crock pot, and using a couple forks, or something similar, shred or pull the pork apart. Add more BBQ sauce and let it sit for another hour or until you are ready to eat.
• top your roll with the pork and cheese, and some cole slaw if you like it (sounds weird, but really great) add some extra BBQ sauce if you want to and enjoy!

I made homemade baked sweet potato fries today with the pork. I'll do that recipe another day, it's also super easy.

And that is all, my friends. you're welcome. Seriously, I have yet to encounter anyone who doesn't enjoy this meal. It's also great for pot lucks, and parties, not too expensive, and very easy to do!

Worst baby book ever.

This is a review of the worst baby book. Ever.

Maybe that's too hash. This book is meant to be a teething, infant-who-isn't-interested-in-books kind of book, I think. Not a toddler-who-wants-the-same-book-read-to-him-98-times kind of book.

Anyways. We were given This book by Garanimals, which is Walmart's brand I believe.

The book is cute and all, and it makes a crinkly noise and is soft and has nice rubber chewy corners. So, when used as something to chew on, rather than a book to read, I'd give it a thumbs up. BUT, Joshua, for some reason LOVES this book, for reading. He will find it, in a stack of great kids books, and bring it to me and make me read it over and over and over.

So here is my problem with the book. It has no story. Bright pictures, yes, story, no. It is just a bunch of pictures with phrases with them. See below.

There is is. In all its glory. the whole entire book. Now, try to be excited to read it. Now again. Again. Again. . .  See? Not cute. I have begin making up my own story to go with the pictures to save myself for repeating this little peach over and over in my head in my sleep at night. I keep trying to hide this book, and somehow it keeps getting found and ending up back in the pile of other books and toys. 

So a recommendation, from one mom to another. Do yourselves a favor. And buy children's books that YOU wouldn't mind reading repeatedly. At least Joshua likes reading though, so I can't really complain I suppose. I just thought I would take this opportunity to vent about this book while it is still hidden. :) Maybe I need to hide it from Daddy too so it doesn't keep ending up in the pile!