Proof that I Am NOT a Plant Killer (anymore!)

Ask anyone in my family and they will tell you that I did not inherit a green thumb. My Mom can grow anything and grow it well. African violets are her specialty. I have finally convinced her not to share African violets with me as it is a death sentence for the poor defenseless plants. My Mom's plants love her. I have decided that it really is love as opposed to the correct amount of light, food, and water because I can provide those things and my plants still would rather commit hari-cari than bloom for me. Well, not this year! I have "lovingly" cared for my outdoor flowers this year (in pots of course, I cannot grow things in the actual ground!). They all started out as hanging baskets but I actually re-potted them when they got too big as opposed to sending them out to the street on Monday or Thursday (and you know what I mean by that).

Mom and Mimi, these plants are for you!

A Trip to the Zoo! NOT!

Well, the plan for today was to take Brantley and her best bud Megan to the Montgomery Zoo. When I checked the weather last night it looked like it might be a little wet but we were okay with that. What three year old doesn't like to get rained on? Here we are all ready to go:

I called my Mimi in Montgomery just as we were leaving town and she was huddled in her bathroom while the tornado sirens were going full blast. Hmmmm, maybe not the best day for the zoo. So , what does one do with two little girls in the backseat counting on the zoo? Well, first you explain that the weather is really bad at the zoo and animals need to stay in their houses today. Then you take them to Target to look at toys. When we came out of the store this is what we saw:

Ooooh, ahhh. "Okay girls, let's get in the car!" As we were leaving the parking lot the sky opened up and I could hardly see where I was going. A couple of slow miles down the road and we were ahead of it. As we passed the Publix by our house I decided that today would be a great day for Subway. The girls had lunches packed and since I didn't need to fix them anything I decided to stop real quick to get myself a sandwich. I knew that storm was behind me and closing in but there was no one else in line and I was sure we could make it back to the car in time. Rrrrrrrrrrrright! Here are the girls in the garage after a mad dash to the car and our short drive home. In case you can't tell from the picture they are soaked! I was too but it sure was fun!

After a change of clothes it was time for a picnic in the living room. That's a real treat around here because normally food does not leave the kitchen, thank you very much! Nothing like a peanut butter sandwich and a Barbie movie on a rainy day.

The best friends are the ones you have a good time with no matter what you end up doing!
Watch for Friday's post which will be full of pictures from the ZOO!

New Blog

Hey Y'all! I just wanted to let everyone know that I have started a new blog for my cakes. It's where I'll post pics of new cakes that I've done and cakes that I find online that I love. You'll find it at Cookies and Cakes by Kim. I also still have my Cookies and Cakes by Kim website but I will no longer be posting pics there.

Hey, You Got Your Peanut Butter in My Chocolate!

Okay, I am so bad at finding and actually using new recipes. However, since I started blogging I have been introduced to the awesomeness that is Bakerella. She is officially one of my favorite people now! These cookies are from her most recent post and I recommend them for ease and yumminess! I did not change a thing.

Wonderful Wet Day!

I absolutely adore days like today. Thanks to Hurricane Faye we have enjoyed windy rain since yesterday afternoon. We spent most of the morning in our beds, sleeping in and listening to the wind blow in the trees. Then I spent the afternoon running errands and running the girls around. I had my baseball cap on and my hair all curly so I ditched the umbrella and just got soaked! Yum! I wanted to grill chicken for dinner and was I going to let a little torrential downpour stop me? Of course not, that's why I have a covered patio! Then, to top off a perfect day the missionaries stopped by. Elder Vainuku and Elder Bowen. I love those guys. Whoever they happen to be at the time. You can't beat that kind of energy. This video was the highlight of the whole day:

Blogging is NOT for Sissies!

Well, I decided that my blog was a little hard to read with all of the colors and the textured background. So, logical next step is to find a new background and change the text colors, etc. (shaking head) Three hours later, here I sit with an aching neck and the beginnings of a migraine. One should not stare at a computer screen for three hours! What you now see (I hope you can see it better than before because that was the whole point) is the result of my ramblings around the internet looking for cool stuff. Turns out almost all of it came from the Cutest Blog on the Block site. I hope you enjoy the tunes. I'll be adding to my playlist almost every day. Off to take a shower and some Tylenol! Oh, and by the way, my blog is now going to start talking to you like my house does!

Some People Should Not be Allowed Near Baked Goods!

Thanks to my Dear Sis Lisa for the link to the "Cake Wrecks" blog. I am in awe. I'm really not sure what else to say.......................words don't do it justice, you have to SEE this!

2 MILES!!!!!!!!!!

That's right! I said two miles! So I ran tonight. End of week 6 of my 9 week program. I was to run 25 minutes and since I have only been running for time and not measuring distance I had no idea how far that might be. So, I ran at Cooper Creek park and actually used the measured trail this time instead of the road. I have a slow mile right now, about 12.5 minutes but I'll tell you what, I ran two of those 12.5 minute miles right in a row without stopping! Yeah baby! Oh, and I'm up two pounds! But right now I really don't much care! Oh yeah, I'm a runner!

Update on the mass desertion:
Okay, so Brantley is not sad so much anymore as she is Bored with a capital B. And you know what happens when a three year old is bored.............T-R-O-U-B-L-E! She has been right behind me all week and getting louder by the minute. She wants my attention which is fine but she wants it all the time and she wants it right NOW! Don't get me wrong, I love that little stinker. She is a beautiful, intelligent, kind and loving child. She is a joy to be with and we love to hang out together. However, sometimes enough is enough. Today I told her we were having a quiet day. I was in the middle of a good book which I intended to finish this morning so I got her in the bed with me and she read while I read and then she would leave for a few minutes to do something in her room and then she would come back. The rule was that if she was in the bed with me she was quiet and still and reading. It worked out pretty well I think and we were both ready to go to the mall and run a couple of errands after I finished my book at noon. And, tomorrow is Saturday! She will have plenty of people to entertain her while I go to breakfast with my mom for some adult conversation.

Get on the Bus!

Okay, so it was the second day of school but the first day on the bus for Mallory. Her friend Rachel lives next door and since her brothers are both in middle school this year they are the only ones at our bus stop now. I wanted a pic of her actually getting on the bus but it was starting to rain and as everyone knows, I melt if I get rained on. And yes, that is a pop tart in my dear daughters hands. I'm sorry okay! We were not sure exactly when the bus would show up today and didn't want to miss it!

Update on Brantley and the traumatic mass desertion: Yesterday we went to Chic-Fil-A, ran a few errands, and then she fell asleep in the car on the way home. I took her out of the car and got her to the couch where she continued to sleep. I had to put her back in the car to go pick up her sisters and she did not wake up until half way to CHS. Very unlike her. May be time for more drastic measures.

School Daze

Yay! First day of school! Here are my girls getting ready to go. Belinda is missing obviously as she had to leave at 6:00 for seminary. My camera is not awake that early! And, notice the glazed look on Brantley? She is very out of sorts this morning. She has known for a while that her sisters would be leaving her soon but now that it is here she is not a happy camper. I'm hoping a trip to "Chic-a-lay" will help!

I Am A Runner -OR- Fat Girl Running

So, I think I have hit a major milestone in my training. I was running at Cooper Creek Park on Thursday evening just as a huge thunderstorm was blowing in. The breeze was cool, especially coming off of the lake. There were people everywhere walking and running and fishing and playing with their kids. I realized about halfway through my second 8 minute run that I was actually enjoying myself! I was running AND enjoying it? Is that even possible? Well, today I was supposed to run 20 mintues straight. "Ha ha ha" I said on Thursday. I don't think that's happening! Well, low and behold, I did it! And, I enjoyed it! I have found that after about 5 minutes into a run there is some chemical or hormone that kicks in and it really starts to feel great! I never knew that before as I have never before in my whole life run for more time than it takes to steal second base (that's not long if you plan on being safe!). So, I have decided that I can call myself a runner now.

Now for the bad news............

I have not lost one ounce since I started running 6 weeks ago. I have not gained any weight--except for the 10 pounds I gained in the first 5 weeks after Kendall was called to be the Bishop--but that was a while ago. I think it is due to the ravenous appetite I've had since I started training. Every week I have a new set of runs and each week I push quite a bit harder than the previous week. So, I am certain that once I get to the end of my training program in 4 more weeks my body will adjust and my appetite will calm down and the weight will start to fall off at a rapid rate. That's what I am counting on anyway! I'm absolutely pleased with the improvement in my legs and rear though. I'll take any little bit I can right now!

Coincidence? I think NOT!

So, I was running this morning (because I do that now!) and I realized something about the music I listen to. When my training podcast is over I usually switch to my own music for my cool down walk. I've learned over time that the crooners (Michael, Harry...) are not good for post workout listening. I'm still too pumped up and excited to want my "chill out" music. I find myself at that time listening to Rob Thomas, Chris Daughtry. Three Doors Down. I LOVE these guys/bands! I realized that they all have something in common. They have slightly rougher sounding voices, very emotional but they hide it as much as possible (brooding) and they are muscular with shaved heads.

Hmmm...................

I've Been Tagged! My First Time!

Okay, so Chrystina wants 10 random things about me. I'll try to not repeat myself from previous blogs so these might be REALLY random!
1. I just started a running program called Couch to 5K from the website coolrunning.com I am on week 5 and I can't believe my kness and ankles are still in working order. Just 4 more weeks until they promise me I will be running 3 miles regularly.
2. I love color. No favorite, I like them all. If you've been to my house you know this.
3. I love words. Again, if you've been to my house you know that it talks to you. If I find a quote that I love or a word that has special meaning I will find a way to get it on the wall. It helps that my dear sister in law has a scroll saw and knows how to work it!
4. I am also in the market for a tummy tuck! I'll bet you thought you were the only one Chrystina!
5. Daniel Craig is my favorite James Bond. I know, I know you Sean Connery fans. I'd say I'm sorry but I'm not!
6. I will be at Wal-Mart tonight at midnight to buy Breaking Dawn. I'm not interested in the party at Barnes and Noble. I just want to quietly get my book and go home.
7. I would eat pizza for every meal if I could. Margherita is my favorite but I'll try anything on a crust with sauce and cheese!
8. I wish my girls thought I was cool!
9. I can recite the Princess Bride word for word.
10. I love to mow the lawn and do the yardwork. Really! It burns a TON of calories and I love the feeling of having it all perfect.

BTW I just want to send a shout out of congratulations to Jerald Swain! We sure miss you!