Go Hogs Go....

Last Saturday we were very excited to finally get to the Arkansas Razorbacks play ball on ESPN! I was even more excited because Presley has been taking to Calling The Hogs ALLLLL the time! So, I was excited to get to actually show her what that is all about.

I was so excited to finally get her to do this on camera in a cheerleading uniform. I totally thought I wasn't going to be that parent that pushed things on her children but from the looks of it we are really pushing this cheerleading thing! Anyways, I followed that poor child around alllll day trying to get her calling the hogs on video. She was not happy with that camera in her face

Poor thing! Would you be happy if someone followed you around like this.....

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So I had to take a break and let her play. I finally got some of her atleast smiling but WHY when she is playing with the Gators?!! Mommy is doing EVERYTHING to make sure her precious little razorback is not brainwashed by this silly town!

BUT....WAIT....we FINALLY got something. The Hog Call normally is said: Woooo Pig Sooie, Woooo Pig Sooie, Wooooo Pig Sooie, Razorbacks!! She normally will atleast to all 3 times without the Sooie, but this is the best we could do after chasing her around all day with a camera!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

updates and 5k

I just wanted to prepare you all for my blogathon! We have had soooo much fun this summer that by the time Presley is asleep, and I have time to blog, I just sit on the couch like a vegetable. Yes, I admit it! I am not the mom that goes from 7-10:30pm. I sometimes do, but also allow myself veg time! Don't be disappointed. If you were wanting super mom I can point you in the direction of my mom, my mom-in-law, my grandma, aunts, sister, sister-in-law, cousins, friends...these women do still exist. I digress. So, that said, tonight is the night that I have planned to catch you up on all things summer. Well, at least the last month or so. So, you may want to stretch, warm up, eat the right foods, and make sure you are hydrated for the next time you check out the blog!

Until then I wanted to tell you all about our fun Sat we had this weekend. Background: on Monday of last week I was doing a little 1 1/2 run and was feeling phenomenal. I had a thought of, "Ya know, if I feel this good on a 1 1/2 I should just run a 5k" I haven't run a 5k since Presley was born. I honestly didn't think these trunks of mine would hold up to running, but I wanted to do this. I just wanted to do it. Getting out there is the first hurdle, right? Anyways, I went online and found a charity run supporting Lou Gehrig's Disease that was donation based and it was 5 days away. I thought, "Perfect!" Usually it costs at least $25 to run most events, so finding one that I could donate what I wanted was great! We started the race and I felt great! For about a mile I was running an 8:15 pace. Dallas looked at me at one point and said, "Can you keep this pace?" I didn't think we were going that fast until we got to the halfway point and realized I had half the race to go...and my pace slowed significantly...like to a 10:15 or even slower...hahahaha!!! Anyways, we finished the race in 35 min. Not too bad for not training at all!! 3 miles for some people is no big deal...it is for me! Plus, we did it as a family! I have to tell you that Presley looked so comfortable in her stroller. It seemed like that 5k didn't phase her a bit!! Heehee. It was fun and we got to support a great cause! There is absolutely NO WAY, and I am sure of it, that I could have done that had I not been doing my Beachbody programs. Right now we are doing ChaLEAN Extreme again and the conditioning of that program is incredible. I was also able to borrow her positive comments like, "This ain't no big thing!" and "I can do this! I am strong" instead of letting my mind tell me I couldn't! It was fun and I can't wait for our next one.

Yard work

Today I decided I would take Presley out and do some yard work. It was a crazy afternoon. Before we started on the yard I wanted to sweep out the garage. I needed to move my car out of the garage before I could do that. I got in the driver seat and proceeded to try and turn on the car and realized I didn't have the key(our car can start with just the key present. It doesn't have to be in the ignition) and needed to get it out of Presley's diaper bag. So, I got out of the car(leaving the door open) and see my neighbor walking her dog so we stopped to talk to her. While I was visiting with her I realized I didn't know where Presley was. I asked my neighbor if she had seen where Presley went and she said, "Yes, she is in your car." WHAT? We have an SUV. I couldn't believe she had crawled in the car....wait....yes I can. Anyways, by the time I had realized she was in there she had found an ink pin and had written all over my leather seats! AUGHHHHHHHH! I just knew Dallas was going to kill me! I couldn't think what would get that out of the seats. Finally I thought of it....no that won't work...it is going to leave residue...well it is better than not trying at all. That was my thought process. So, I go inside and get the Magic Eraser and think "Surely this will work-It's magic for goodness sakes!" IT DID!! IT WORKED! JUST LIKE MAGIC!! And,No RESIDUE! Just took it right off!!! Then I treated the seat with leather treatment! I couldn't believe it! So cool!

Anyways, so now back to our yard work. By this time, with the Florida humidity, Presley and I were already sweating to death but I was determined to get those silly weeds pulled. I gave Presley a shovel and a small bag and we went to work. The one thing I wanted to do was replant our "Christmas tree" weed in the brush out back. Let me explain. Near our sidewalk into the house was growing what looked like a tiny table size Christmas tree. I was just going to pull it out and throw it away but when my mom was here visiting she convinced me that I needed to replant it in case some family in the future wanted to use it as their Christmas tree. I thought that was so funny, so that is exactly what we did. I tried to get Presley to carry the tree around back but she was having major issues with the roots coming out the bottom!! She cracks me up! So, I had to get pictures!

she kept putting the roots down and shaking it! She wanted them off!

Look at that face!

She did love that glove! See the "tree"!

Tah Dah!!! Some fortunate family's future christmas tree. Mae, you happy?

By this point we were miserably hot. So, we pulled just the weeds in the front of the house promising that tomorrow we would get the rest. Who wants to bet we actually do that...oh man...I am going to have to. Now I have a child who has to learn when you make a promise you keep it....especially the ones you make to yourself. Sooooo hard teaching your own children lessons you have yet to learn!

Carlee Nicole and Olivia Kate...

This was one heck of a week for our family! Between mine and Dallas' families we have welcomed 3 new babies into the world!

Chelsea and Carless Osbourn welcomed Carlee Nicole last night at 10:20pm. She is so beautiful! Carlee weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 20in long. I got a text from Chelsea and she is doing wonderful. I can't wait to see more of her pictures and hear more from the family. Congratulations you two! You are an example of never giving up hope on your dreams. Carlee will always be that reminder that GOD can do ANYTHING!

I am super embarassed that I didn't blog earlier about little Olivia Kate. Crystal and James Welborn welcomed Olivia into the world Aug. 31st and she weighed 6lbs 11oz and was 19in long. I have been so bad about blogging that I haven't had the chance to congratulate them on the blog! According to Dallas' Mom all are well and Olivia is beautiful! We can't wait to see them in December! Congrats Crystal and James!
We love you! Give Ella Claire and Olivia a kiss for us!

What a week....God is showing off and I LOVE IT!

Jonathan Brent Cook

Welcome to the world Jonathan Brent Cook!
The newest Cook family member was born this morning at 12:30am PST. After much concern about his well being he was born with no complications and is doing just fine! He is 5lbs 13oz and 18in long. He has a beautiful round head and is said to be "perfect" (proud dad quote)! Crystal is doing wonderful and I am sure will update with more details once she is home and rested. I will put up pictures as soon as I have them.
Congrats Brent, Crystal and Dylan!

In other news I have been totally slacking on this blog. I promise I have lots to blog about so stay tuned............

Old Friends Visit...

I lived in the Azores, 9 little islands off the coast of Portugal, for 4 years of my childhood. During that time I had a best friend named, Brandi. We met at 9years old in Mr. Isham's 3/4th grade split class. She asked me if I wanted to play at recess and the rest is history. We have kept up over the years and she has become one of the few people I call/text/email when I am needing advice, a shoulder to lean on, someone to lift my spirits, someone to tell my silly stories to, and most importantly someone to share my spiritual journeys with. She is more than a best friend..she is family.

She and her family came to Gainesville last week to spend a few days in the heat of Florida before they all go back to school. We had such a wonderful time. Presley was instantly in love with little Riley(6), Ryann(5) and Trevor(4). If we would have done nothing but play in our house all day it would have suited Presley just fine. She was just glad to have big kids to play with her and her toys!

I didn't think just hanging out at the house would be 'cool' with the older kids. So we went to the Florida Natural History Museum, to the Swamp-Florida's Football stadium (Presley 'Called the Hogs' while there!!), and to the Ichetucknee Springs. The Ichetucknee was so fun. When we got up that morning it was a nice Florida day. Which, in the summer usually turns in to a nice, rainy Florida afternoon! so, I was hoping we would make it down the river in time before the rain came. NOPE. As soon as the boys dropped Brandi and I with the kids at the head of the river it down poored. We were freezing! I still can't believe we went ahead and put the kids in the water, but we did. Presley wasn't sure about it at first but as soon as I started showing her all the birds and the wildlife she was happy. I just wish I would have had my camera because Shep ended up with 4 tubes tied to him and Dallas pulled Brandi, Presley, Ryann and I in one big tube while Riley and Trevor hung on to our tube while staying in their small tubes! Gosh, I wish I had a picture. Oh well!! What else did we do? Oh, we also spent a lot of time at home and just hanging out at the pool.

It was such a comfortable weekend. We didn't even go out to eat once. We just spent the whole time talking and watching the kids play. Once my friend Missy asked me, "What did we do for entertainment before we had kids?" I honestly don't know! It was so wonderful to just hang out and listen to their laughter and even their bickering. I loved it!!

We want them to come back!
here are some pictures of their trip. I am still upset that I forgot our camera at the ichetucknee. I have some after the tubing trip. heehee.

hanging out with the Shepherds at the house

Florida Natural History museum

florida swamp with shepherds

after ichetucknee with shepherds

15 months old...

I am so slow to posting. Sorry. We have had lots of visitors and so happy for it! I just am not good about blogging when we have company. Anyways, so I am now blogging about Presley turning 15 months old.

A few days ago we ran into the nurse that took care of me and Presley the night and day after she was born. When she saw me I asked if she remembered us and she said, "Ya know, I remembered your eyes but you look a lot different!!" I guess that is how crazy I was looking! Anyways, I told her how old Presley was and she said, "Has it really been that long?" I looked over at Presley with her long golden locks and bright blue eyes as she is waving a very enthusiastic "HI" to this lady she has no memory of meeting and thought sadly to myself....yes, it has been that long.

My little girl is growing so fast. Sometimes I want it to speed up, but most of the time I just want time to stand still.

Here is what Presley is doing now:
Talking, talking, talking, talking
words she says:
Hi Hello
Bye Bye Mommy
Dada Mama
Ben Abby
Stop Sit(which sometimes sounds like a 4 letter word)
eat drink
up more(which she says 10Xs in a row like a seagull)
cheese go
uh-oh NO
All Done here
Papa Mae
eye nose(just sounds like a long drawn out,naisly, NO)
baby uh huh(if anything sounds like a question this is her answer)
dog moo
woof shoes
Some days our words are clearer than others and she says them more often, but there is NO doubt our little lady is babbling something important ALL day

Follows direction fairly well
climbing on EVERYTHING
reading books(ok babbling at pictures...endulge me)
learning to jump
squeals with excitment
dances and worksout with mommy
goes on runs with daddy(in stroller) and pitches a fit if he forgets her
tries to put on her own clothes
loves to ride her jumpy zebra (thanks Missy)
swims everyday and LOVES it-especially when daddy throws her and does tricks with her
helps feed the dogs
uses her utensils when she eats
runs everywhere!!

One thing is for sure she is all play all the time. Our little lady has two gears-asleep or full speed ahead! The other day I picked her up and she laid her head on my shoulder and you would have thought we needed to call an ambulance. We had no clue if she was ok or not! She was just lovin on me! Wow!

Presley-
You are 15mo old now and I am already seeing that my greatest joy in life is going to be watching you live yours. You bring so much happiness to the world around you. You are funny, compassionate and bright. You don't mind getting dirty and love a little mystery. A challenge to you is no more than that. You are a dare devil and love trying new things. I love that you are crazy independent, but still depend on us in a pinch. You always know where base is and check in when needed. My days are full of your extatic squeals, loveable laughs, fake cries, babbles and yells for Ben and Abby and I can't close my eyes at night without one last visit to your bedside. I never knew what I was missing before you came into my life. Now I don't know how I will ever let you grow up. Your Mae told me a quote today and I get teary eyed just thinking of you when I hear it, "when they are little they dance on your toes, when they are older they dance on your heart!"
I promise you will dance on my heart often!
I love you my sweet baby girl!
-Mama