Midweek Confessions!

I'm a day late on the midweek confession link party at E, Myself and I but better late than never! ;)

Let's dive on in!

Today, while on the elliptical, I turned the TV onto PBS and watched Super Why for a good 10 minutes before I remembered I was at the gym and could watch "real" TV!  If it's 9am, my brain just naturally thinks "Super Why." Spoiler alert.... the Super Readers saved the day.

Speaking of the gym... I've been going to the YMCA consistently now 3-5 times a week since February... I have gained 3 pounds.  I do; however, feel much stronger and more toned in my legs, butt, shoulders and arms. 28; however, has not been kind to my torso. Do you know the muffin man? Because I sure do.

As I've mentioned before, Daniel and I are building a retaining wall (The Great Wall of Wise Part 2) and a massive garden.... like feed the neighborhood veggies all summer big. We have 28 strawberry plants... so come on down to the Wise Family Farm. But that isn't the confession... since I've been spending every day (and night) in the yard, I've neglected laundry big time. Not only do I have a "Mt. Saint I hate folding laundry," it has spawned a whole mountain range of clean, unfolded and now wrinkly laundry. I'm praying for a rainy day so I'm forced to fold it all. Who am I kidding... I need a rainy week!

My kids have been super into tracing my body with chalk on the driveway. They're awful at it. I always look obese with broken legs and webbed fingers. I've been trying to teach them to trace up against my body to no avail. I think I'm getting a complex looking at all these "chalk mommies" all over my driveway! I may or may not hose them off every night if I know it's not supposed to rain.

Last weekend was Daniel and my anniversary. We went to a nice dinner and had a pedicure together. Daniel's first! Is there much more embarrassing than when the nail lady points to your face and says "Want me to wax that?!" It was super romantic, as you can imagine.

Your turn! Add your confessions below in the comments or on facebook. I always love hearing them!

If you give a fish a muffin....

Oh man. I feel like I have a lot of time to catch up on but I can sum it up in a few words: Yard work. Dirt. Play Doh. The Great Wall of Wise. Garden. Shark. Time Outs..... yeah that pretty much recaps the last 2 weeks. :)

This post is about to make you think I need to be on ADD meds... maybe you're right.

Like I mentioned above, we've been constructing "The Great Wall of Wise" in our backyard. There is a portion of our yard that just seems to not like grass. Its all like "Hey, I'm rocky red clay, fescue isn't really a good match for me." And Daniel is like "Grow Dammit!" And the sod guy is like "Hey, you need bermuda, but it won't grow there so build a retaining wall." And like Noah listened to God and built an ark... we listened to the Super Sod dude and built a wall... The Great Wall of Wise. It's taken DAYS but we're gonna have a pretty massive and beautiful garden when its done. While Daniel and I work on the wall, the kids have been playing play doh. My poor patio is speckled. It's actually kinda pretty. Thank goodness for pressure washers. Play doh is awfully messy!

While we were at Petsmart buying dog food the other day, Parker saw fish and asked for one. I thought he was probably ready so we picked out a tiny tank and a beta fish that Parker named Shark. We had a long chat about being a good fish daddy and the responsibility that comes with pet ownership. Apparently, I went a little overboard with our talk because he wouldn't leave the poor thing alone. He wanted to take it outside, then on a wagon ride, then to his bed.... he was obsessed. Note I say "was".... This morning, Parker fed Shark a Harris Teeter giant chocolate chip muffin. Shark probably loved it... his poor internal organs, not so much. I'd say "rest in peace, Shark" but that isn't possible because Parker keeps shaking the tank to "help Shark swim." I haven't been able to slip away to Petsmart to replace Shark with an imposter so I left him in the tank. I feel kinda bad about that....

Aquariums were my husband's hobby when he was a kid so he was quite unimpressed with Shark's tight living quarters. We had plans of getting Shark a mansion before his untimely demise but now, since he's in heaven (I presume he was a Christian fish, though I didn't lead him through the salvation prayer, I have peace about his fate), Daniel has decided we need to upgrade our aquarium status from a half gallon, $8 "beta habitat" to a saltwater aquarium with Nemos.... because obviously, a child who can't keep a Beta alive for 48 hours should have a delicate saltwater aquarium. Fortunately, Parker won't be able to reach the lid of this tank or be able to take it scootering down the street like he tried with his last fish tank. Unfortunately, I believe this means I just gained another responsibility and keeping Avery alive on a daily basis is just about as much responsibility as I can handle right now.

Speaking of Avery, she learned to open doors this week. WORST. TRICK. EVER. It takes 3-333 times to get her back in bed each night. I remember when she learned to stand in her crib and she did it for a week straight all night long. It was a long week of her practicing her new trick but thankfully she was still in her crib. This time... not so much. Daniel and I will be watching TV and then she's suddenly on the couch with us. I know you're probably thinking "just get those door knob thingys." Yeah, we have those. They slow her down but she can still open the door.  She's a fiesty little thing but goodness gracias, she's precious!

Tomorrow, we're heading to Asheville to uproot some of my grandfather's blueberry bushes to replant in our garden. I'm SO excited to have a little piece of my grandfather's family land, replanted in my own backyard. Prayers my black thumb greens up quickly!

The many faces of Avery Madison

If you're my facebook friend, you probably saw all 60, yes 60, pictures of Avery and my walk today. I cannot keep this girl inside. Today, while Parker was in school, we took a stroll along the walking trails in our neighborhood. She was being such a ham that I grabbed my camera. I'm so glad I did! I got some great smiley shots of her but today I wanted to share "the many faces of Avery." While I CHERISH the beautiful pictures of my smiling, perfectly self-posed, little girl, there is just something about the silly "out takes" that I adore!

This is the face she made when she noticed that other people were on "her" walking trails!

This is "The Avery"... the pursed lips and furrowed brows.

Which turns into this face moments later!

She's easily distracted by birds...

And finds wonder in falling leaves.

She's full of life and endless giggles.

I love our little nature walks together! I am SO smitten with this little girl!

Easter Weekend 2013

We started our Easter weekend off with the rest of Charlotte at Carowind's for opening day! We skipped last year since Avery was too little to do anything but mobile enough to know she wanted to. From the parking lot, you can see the largest roller coaster in the park, which Avery called an airplane and started pointing and yelling "RIDE!" Disappointed doesn't even begin to describe her reaction when we told her she's only tall enough to ride the carousel, snoopy train and rocket ship.

Just wait until the water park opens, baby girl! Then you'll love it!

Parker has a love/hate relationship with Carowinds. He LOVES the idea of the rides so we wait in line and then when it's his turn, he chickens out. Even though he cried and clung to the carousel horse like it was a bucking bronco, (can we say embarrassing?!) he did make strides this year. He branched out into enjoying the swings, airplane and rocket ship.... none of which we rode last year.

His favorite remains the train!

Yes, he wore his hood the entire 4 hours we were there and carried around that yellow egg he got from the Chick-fil-a cow.

Avery was totally bored by the train and required snacks to divert her eyes from the rides even mommy thinks are scary. Her lack of fear or caution frightens me.

Eventually, we found a ride both kids were tall enough to ride!

Overall, it was a fun 1st day at Carowinds! I look forward to the crowds being less during the week and the water park opening when it's warmer!

On Easter, we went to Forest Hill Church in Ballantyne where Avery took a great nap by a sweet lady who rocked her the whole service and Parker recapped church by saying "I didn't want to do my Jesus crafts. I just wanted to eat goldfish." I feel ya, dude... late service cuts into my lunch time and gets me all out of whack.

In all seriousness though, service was about the choices that the disciples made to testify of Jesus' resurrection and how those choices eventually led to each of their deaths. It was emotionally difficult to listen to how brutally each were beaten, martyred and slain in the name of spreading the word of the Savior's sacrifice. Often times, I think the messages that are most difficult to hear, are the ones you needed to hear the most. I tend to prefer the happy messages but how humbling it was to be reminded of the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made and how those who followed him also gave their lives in the name of the Lord. I'm so thankful that the hope and message of Jesus Christ didn't end in that tomb, but that he arose on the 3rd day, victorious over death so that we may have eternal life in heaven. I so hope that you know the love of Christ in you heart! If you have questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them for you at tlcarr7@yahoo.com

After church, we rushed home, made a veggie lasagna and headed 2 doors down to Dean and Tabitha's for Easter lunch and an egg hunt.

On the hunt

2 down...46 to go

I would like to note that this was not his actual Easter outfit... he looked SO cute in his gingham pants and white oxford.... until he tried to pee on a tree.... tried being the operative word. Seriously.... little boys are hilarious.

Avery quit once she realized the eggs contained M&Ms and mini Reese Cups! Can't blame her!

This year, we did not do the "Easter Bunny." We did give the kids small baskets with a toy, water bottle and a Reese egg. After Christmas, we realized how much the kids don't care about holiday characters right now... which is awesome! We just sorta skipped mentioning it and the kid's didn't miss a beat. I encourage you that if your kids are afraid of the Easter Bunny (can you blame them? Creepy!) or Santa to use this time to teach their hearts the true meaning of the holiday. Happy Easter, friends!

"Worthy is the lamb, who was slain. Holy, Holy is He! Sing a new song, to Him who sits on mercy's seat. Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God almighty who was and is and is to come! With all creation I sing, praise to the King of Kings! You are my everything and I will adore you!"  ~Revelation Song by Kari Jobe (love this song... and ALL of her music! Check it out!)