BritneyMarie

P90x Day 5: Legs and Back

2012-02-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

I have nothing funny or insightful to say about tonight's workout. I am physically exhausted and I have a yard sale at our house tomorrow morning. A friend is coming over at 4am to get set up. I need to get to bed but we have friends over for Bad Movie Night. I will be getting to bed within the next hour or so though. I expect to sleep well tonight.

Our stats for tonight:
Balance Lunge: 10 on right, 10 on left (R: 10 on right, 15 on left
Calf-Raise Squat: 25 (R: 15 with 10lbs)
Reverse Grip Chin Ups: 0 with chair (R: 8)
Super Skater: 25 on right, 25 on left (R: 25 on right, 25 on left)
Wall Squat: 0:40 (R: 0:40)
Wide Front Pull-Ups: 4 with chair (R: 3)
Step Back Lunge: 15 on right with 8lbs, 15 on left with 8lbs (R: 10 on right with 15lbs, 10 on left with 15lbs)
Alternating Side Lungs: 25 (R: 14)
Single Leg Wall Squats: 0:10 (R: 1:00)
Dead-lift Squat:20 on left, 20 on right (R: 10 on left, 10 on right)
Switch Grip Pull ups:5 with chair (R: 7)
Three-Way Lunge with two-Kick Option: 5 on left, 5 on right (R: 5 on left, 5 on right)
Sneaky Lunges: 20 (R: 20)
Reverse Grips Chin Ups:5 with chair (R: 10)
Chair Salutations: 1:00 (R: 1:00)
Toe-Roll Iso Lunge:20 on left, 20 on right (R: 20 on left, 20 on right)
Wide-Front Pull Ups: 5 with chair (R: 1)
Groucho Walk: 0:45 (R: 0:45)
Calf Raises: However many he did (R: However many he did)
Closed Grip Overhand Pull Ups: 5 (R:3)
80/20 Siebers-Speed Squats:30 on left, 30 on right (R: 15 on left, 17 on right)
Switch Grip Pull Ups: 6 with chair (R: 5)

Our friends came over while we were finishing up "Legs and Back" so we didn't get to Ab Ripper X, but before Ricky turned it off I did do 25 In & Outs. 5 more than last time! W00t! We'll be doing Ab Ripper after our workout tomorrow.

-BritneyMarie

P90x Day 4: Yoga X

2012-02-10T12:49:00.001-05:00

I was told by several people that Yoga X was difficult. In my mind, I thought they were crazy. How can stretching and doing random poses be difficult? Turns out, I was wrong. Very wrong. This workout is the longest of the set at 90 minutes and Ricky & I made it 42 minutes in before we were in a heap on the floor complaining about how tired we were, how our extremities were sore, and how sick of Planks we were. It was at this point that we wanted to quit. We hadn't quite gotten to the Balance Postures (we were like 30 seconds away) so it just seemed like it was going to be too much. But thanks to some cheering and pleading from our "Sore Muscles" group on Facebook, we agreed to continue on. I kept thinking to myself, "You don't stop when you're tired. You stop when you're done."

At the beginning of the dvd, Tony was saying something about how Yoga takes "strength, balance and coordination", I turned to Ricky and said, "Well, you've got one of those three things going for you!" I love him, but he really lacks balance and coordination. (Except when he's on the roof of a house. Nimble on a roof, tripping over himself on the ground. I will never understand him...)

I enjoyed doing the first half of the dvd, but towards the end of the first half it became sort of monotonous. I am quite content never doing another Plank, Upward-Facing Dog, or Runner's Pose. The second half was better, just like I was told it would be. The Balance Postures were quite fun. One of my goals for these 90 days is to be able to do the Standing Leg Extension with a finger lock instead of having my hand on my knee/calf.

The Floor Work was pretty enjoyable as well. Ricky and I were actually able to do The Crane pose. Ricky did it first with the dvd, then we paused it so I could have him help me. I was determined to at least attempt it. At first, my legs were pinching the skin on my arm which was pretty uncomfortable. Eventually, I was able to hold it for about a second before falling. I'm sure we were doing it incorrectly, but we have time to work on that. I'm just proud that we were able to get our feet off the floor! I was pretty sure that I could to Wheel, and I was right. I used to do that all the time, I just called it a back-bend.

I can't remember what the name of it is, but the one where you keep your shoulders on the floor and lift your legs and back off the floor was impossible for me to do the other day during Stretch X. Just like The Crane, I had Ricky do it first, which was no problem to him at all. He's bendy. Then we paused it so he could help me. He helped me to get my legs up, but I was able to hold the pose and do the variations all on my own. I was actually more flexible than him in some of those poses. The competitive side of me smiled a lot when that happened.

A common occurrence throughout the whole dvd was Ricky and I tripping into each other. We looked like we were drunk. The more I concentrated on keeping still, the more I would move and eventually fall over. We crashed into each other several times. There was even one time that I fell over into the couch and Ricky tried to catch me but his reaction time was a little too slow. It was a valiant effort though.

One thing that kinda confuses me is that some of the moves are difficult and I can really feel them stretching me. Then there are other moves that seem easy, too easy. I wonder if I'm just more limber in that particular pose, or if I'm doing them incorrectly.

This is Ricky's least favorite of the series so far. But I think that is because he knows it is longer than the rest and he seems to have the most difficulty with it, with the difficulty balancing and being uncoordinated. I think, with time and practice, that he will come around to enjoying this one. If I can push myself to see past the monotony of the beginning, I think this one might be my favorite so far.

-BritneyMarie

P90x Day 3: Shoulders and Arms

2012-02-09T09:53:00.002-05:00

I hurt. I hurt so much. But surprisingly, I'm not ready to quit yet. This morning I had to lower myself onto the built-in shower seat with the hand rail because my legs didn't want to work right. But I'm not ready to quit yet. I know that in a few days the pain will go away, even though it is more than it was yesterday.

Yesterday everything hurt, so I figured stretching would be a good idea. I put in the Stretch X dvd while the kiddos played Reader Rabbit on their computer. I was only able to get through about 30 minutes of it before the "Mommy, come fix this...", "Mommy, come do this...", "Mommy, I need juice..." "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!" got to be too much. But that 30 minutes made a lot of difference. I just wish I had worked on stretching my legs out, 'cause all I got to do was my arms! :)

Once Ricky got home from work, we all ate dinner and he put the kiddos to bed. Then we got started on 'Shoulders and Arms'. I was not expecting to last the whole dvd but I was sure going to try my best to make it...and we DID! We even did the bonus section! And then moved on to Ab Ripper X before completely passing out! I was so proud of us!

I can't remember what exercise it was on Ab Ripper (I think it was the Scissors one) but we were both lying on the floor next to each other and to push ourselves further we grabbed each others hands and held them through the pain. We could feel the squeezing pressure of each other as we forced ourselves to do just a few more reps. It was so great!!

Here are our stats for Day 3:

Round 1:
Alternating Shoulder Press: 15 using 5lbs (R: 13 using 20lbs)
In and Out Bicep Curl: 16 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 20lbs)
Two-Arm Tricep Kickbacks: 20 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)

Round 2:
Alternating Shoulder Press: 15 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)
In and Out Bicep Curl: 25 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)
Two-Arm Tricep Kickbacks: 20 using 5lbs (R: 14 using 20lbs)

Round 1:
Deep Swimmers Press: 20 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)
Full Supination Concentration Curls: 20 using 5lbs (R:6 using 20lbs)
Chair Dips: 15 (R: 15)

Round 2:
Deep Swimmers Press: 15 using 5lbs (R: 5 using 20lbs)
Full Supination Concentration Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 5 using 20lbs)
Chair Dips: 15 (R:9)

Round 1:
Upright Rows: 20 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)
Static Arm Curls: 16 using 5lbs (R: 16 using 8lbs)
Flip-Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks: 5 using 5lbs (R: 5 using 8lbs)

Round 2:
Upright Rows: 15 using 5lbs (R: 8 using 20lbs)
Static Arm Curls: 16 using 5lbs (R: 16 using 8lbs)
Flip-Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks: 5 using 5lbs (R: 5 using 8lbs)

Round 1:
Seated Two-Angle Shoulder Fly’s: 16 using 5lbs (R: 14 using 8lbs)
Crouching Cohen Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)
Lying-Down Tricep Extensions: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)

Round 2:
Seated Two-Angle Shoulder Fly’s: 16 using 5lbs (R: 16 using 8lbs)
Crouching Cohen Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)
Lying-Down Tricep Extensions: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)

Bonus Round 1:
In and Out Straight-Arm Shoulder Fly: 16 using 5lbs (R: 16 using 8lbs)
Congdon Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)
Side Tri-Rise: 10 on left, 10 on right (R: 5 on left, 5 on right)

Bonus Round 2:
In and Out Straight-Arm Shoulder Fly: 16 using 5lbs (R: 12 using 8lbs)
Congdon Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 12 using 8lbs)
Side Tri-Rise: 5 on left, 5 on right (R: 5 on left, 5 on right)

Ab Ripper X stats:

In and Outs: 20 (R: 15)
Seated Bicycles: 22 forward & 10 backward (R: 20 forward & 20 backward)
Seated Crunchy Frog: 10 (R: 5)
Crossed Leg/Wide Leg Sit Ups: 0 (R: 20)
Fifer Scissor: 10 (R: 10)
Hip Rock and Raise: 20 (R: 15)
Pulse Ups: 15 (R: 15)
Roll Up/V-Up Combo: 0 (R: 5)
Oblique V-Ups: 10 (R: 20)
Leg Climbs: 8 on left, 4 on right (R: 10 on left, 10 on right)
Mason Twist: 20 (R: 20)

I am already noticing a difference in things since our Fit Test. I couldn't do any 'Ins and Outs' during the Fit Test and last night I did 20! Ricky could only do 1 and now he can do 15! I think part of it was we didn't know what we were doing during the Fit Test, and being able to see how they look on the video makes it easier to know how to do it. But still! 19/14 better than last month! Score!!!

Ricky has been known to spout more than a few obscenities at Tony during the course of our workouts. And last night was no different. But he also managed to say a few things that made me laugh and can be repeated. :) During one of the harder sections he pushed himself as far as he could go and when he collapsed on the floor he says, "I hate his face. I hate his family's faces. I hate his friends and their faces. I hate his friend's family's faces..." and he just kept adding to the list. It was so funny! And while getting the remote for us to start Ab Ripper X he says, "Curling air hurts!"

Tony said something that managed to make Ricky laugh, during the 'Lying Down Tricep Extensions' he says, "Tip of the Day: Don't smash your face!". It's really a good rule to live by.

-BritneyMarie

P90x Day 2: Plyometrics

2012-02-08T14:03:00.001-05:00

Last night was Plyometrics. I had no idea what it was so I turned to my dear friend, Wikipedia. It was much easier for me than Day 1, but it was still super hard! I think a lot of it has to do with taking Zumba for the last year. I may not be in great shape, but I am in better shape than I was last year at this time, and I can tell!

At the beginning, I noticed that the stretches felt especially good. I was so sore from the push-ups and pull-ups (more specifically, the attempts to do them) from the night before. My backside hurts from all the squats. This time I actually made it 5 minutes farther in the dvd than Ricky. He tapped out at 30 minutes and I made it to 35. I physically could not will my legs to jump again. It reminded me of that scene in "Kill Bill" when The Bride is saying, "Wiggle your big toe..." only in my case, my legs gave me the finger instead of jumping. I think I can do better next time and I'm looking forward to the times that we get to repeat these dvd's so I can see if there really is improvement.

I have noticed that I am looking forward to our workout. I don't know how long that will last, but I am really enjoying working out with Ricky. He's more competitive than I thought. And that just helps us push each other harder.

-BritneyMarie

Every time that I think about how many days left we have (88!) I just remind myself this:

P90x Day 1: Chest and Back

2012-02-07T10:26:00.001-05:00

Last night Ricky and I did P90x: Chest and Back. I have to keep reminding myself that this is an "extreme" fitness program designed for people who 1) know what they're doing and B) were in some sort of decent physical shape before beginning. I am neither of those things. Neither is Ricky, but he's still more in shape than I have ever been.

Here are our stats for Day 1:

1. Standard Push-ups: 5 (R:5)
2. Wide Front Pull-ups: 0 (R:3)
3. Military Push-ups: 0 (R:1)
4. Reverse Grip Chin-ups: 0 (R:7)
5. Wide Fly Push-Ups: 6 (R:8)
6. Closed Grip Overhand Pull-ups: 2-with chair (R:2)
7. Decline Push-ups: 0 (R:5)
8. Heavy Pants: 31 with 5lb weights (R: 15 with 20lb weights)
9. Diamond Push-ups: 3 (R:0) (I think I did these wrong)
10. Lawnmower: 15 with 5lb weights on each side (R: 15 with 20lb weights on each side)
11. Dive Bomb: 3 (R:2)
12. Back Flys: 15 with 5lb weights (R: 10 with 20lb weights)

We made it 31 minutes into the hour-long dvd. It's much better than the 5-10 minutes we expected to last. We were supposed to do the Ab Ripper dvd but skipped it. Looking back, I wish we had at least attempted it. There's always Day 3 for that.

-BritneyMarie

Just Dance, Baby!

2012-02-06T14:23:00.001-05:00

Today is the official kick-off for the Team Beachbody Challenge. Ricky and I are supposed to start P90x tonight (Yeah, yeah, I know, I said that already last month!). In case we wimped out again, I wanted to at least get some sort of work-out in today. So I called Ricky up to instruct me how to hook the X-Box up to our big television (as opposed to the little tv under the big tv that Ricky uses while we watch our shows at night). Once it was all hooked up I popped in Just Dance 3.

This was my playlist:
1) Apache (Jump on it)
2) ...Baby One More Time
3) California Gurls
4) Dynamite
5) Forget You
6) I'm So Excited
7) Lollipop
8) Take On Me
9) Tightrope
10) Apache (Jump on it) (Did that one twice 'cause I like it.)

After I finished my playlist, I had unlocked the "Simon Say's" mode. I danced to Party Rock Anthem before calling it quits.

My whole work-out was about 45 minutes of actual dancing plus water breaks and choosing songs. Not too bad. When I started the first song, my lets began burning almost immediately. Not sure why. I don't know if it was because I hadn't danced like this in a while, or if all the other times I'd done it I wasn't doing it right so I didn't feel the burn. Whatever the reason, I felt it today!

I look like a hot mess right now. I needed to jump in the shower but I ended up making myself a peanut butter sandwich 'cause I hadn't eaten lunch yet. I sat down to eat it and write this post and now I've run out of time before I have to pick up the Twincesses from school. Hmmm, maybe if I make it really really quick I'll have time.

-BritneyMarie

Other Funny Things January Edition

2012-02-01T17:37:00.001-05:00

Ricky: "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at Titanic."
Me: "Why are you mad at Titanic?"
Ricky: "'Cause it's an impossible standard that I cannot live up to."

Me: "You could have chosen video games."
Ricky: "No, I couldn't. It's a twap."

Me: "Do you want to sit on the couch and watch "Titanic" with me? Or do you want to play X-Box and watch one of our tv shows together?"
Ricky: "Titanic?"

Mitch: "She smelled like a dead body filled with hot garbage."

*The girlies are in the bathroom brushing their teeth and arguing*
Me: "Ricky, you better get in there before Olivia decides to hit her with something else!"

The lady in line in front of us has a cart full of Banquet tv dinners and Depends. I don't wanna know.

*After popping a mini-bag of popcorn*
Deidre: "This isn't popcorn, it's a cruel joke."

Baby Kitty just brought me the tie to my bathrobe as a gift.

*the kiddos came home with homework and I figured Ricky would like to help them on it to spend time with them before bed*
Me: "The kiddos have homework that you need to help them on."
Ricky: "Is it math? *think about what he said* "Oh crap, are you mad?"

Ricky is singing Rapunzel songs in Skeletor's voice.

Funny Things My Kids Have Said January Edition

2012-02-01T14:09:00.001-05:00

Ricky and Emma are in an argument about whether or not girls can be mean. It turned a bit one sided when a tickle fight broke out.

*Ricky and the twins playing "Castle Crashers*
Olivia: "Where's Olivia??"
*Ricky saves her*
Olivia: "Olivia's back!"

Emma: "Look at that, you messed it up, Daddy!"
Olivia: "You 'sploded my corn dog!"

Olivia: "I want to watch the cartoon Smurbs"

*After seeing a photo of Don Draper from 'Mad Men'*
Olivia: "It's Josh!"
Me: "That's Josh?"
Olivia: "Yeah!"
*looks up photo of Keanu Reeves*
Me: "Well, who's that then?"
Olivia: "It's Josh too!"

*from the bathroom*
Emma: "I'm done! I've pooped all of the poops!"

Days it took them to clean their room: 4
Days I expect it to take them to destroy it again: 1

Em and Liv are working on Day 4 of cleaning their room. The only difference this day is I can hear them singing the Theme from Cops in there.

Emma: "We're ready to go to Grammie's house. I have my mittens. I have my hat. 'Cause it's cold outside."
Me: "Well, if it's cold outside, aren't you missing something?"
Emma: "My jacket. Oh yeah. I'll go get it."

Emma: "All of our kitties are nice. Big Kitty is nice. Habby Cat is nice. Choo-Choo is nice..."
Me: "I thought you didn't like Choo-Choo."
Emma: "That's right. Choo-Choo is evil. She needs to get out of our house!"

*Looking at a photo from our wedding*
Olivia: "Mommy, are you a princess?"
Me: "Yep."
Emma: "One day I'm gonna be a princess. Emma and Olivia are gonna be princesses and Daddy's gonna be the king."

Em and Liv thought it would be a good idea to smuggle crayons into the hallway and draw all over the wall. And now I think it's a good idea for them to scrub it all off.

I think Olivia might be actively trying to murder her sister. I turned my back on them to walk into the kitchen and then I hear screaming from Emma. Apparently, Olivia kicked her directly in the eye. They weren't arguing or fighting over anything. So, I really don't know what happened.

Em and Liv are playing Marvel vs Capcom 3. Liv just beat Emma.

*Emma comes into the kitchen while I am making grilled cheeses for their dinner*
Emma: "Mommy, can you not cook mine?"
Me: "You don't want your grilled cheese cooked?"
Emma: "No."
Me: *Puts cheese on buttered bread and puts it on a plate and hands it to her*
Emma: "Thank you!"

*Comes up and measures me with Ricky's tape measure*
Emma: "You're not tall enough. You're short like me. Daddy's tall."

*Hands me the movie "The Parent Trap*
Emma: "Can we we watch this? It looks like me and Olivia!"

*Listening to the kiddos drawing with chalk on their easels*
Olivia: "I'm gonna draw you, Emma."
Emma: "Okay!"
Olivia: "Here's your mustache!"

*talking to Ricky at bedtime*
Emma: "I went to the doctor, and the doctor said, "No more dumbbells on my head" Bloods!"

*Talking to Grandma on the phone*
Emma: "Mama called the doctor and the doctor said. No more dumbbells hurtin' on my head!"

Ricky: "Olivia, say 'Transform and Roll out."
Olivia: "Transformers roll out!"

Olivia just said that Batmanuel was Daddy. And that Mommy is Captain Liberty.

Olivia: "It's time to transform!"

I received a phone call from Em and Liv's teacher. Seems the girlies got into an argument about who brought their lunch from home today. Emma asked for a sandwich, and when I asked Liv she said she wanted school lunch. Well, apparently once there, she changed her mind.

*Emma is trying to pull a Twin-Switch on me.*
Me: "Olivia, get your shirt on."
Emma: "I'm Olivia."
Me: "No, you're not."
Emma: "I look like Olivia. I'm Olivia."

Olivia keeps twirling. Then she looks at me like I'm the one who smashed her face into the dresser when she falls into it from being dizzy.

Olivia: "Emma, state your problem."
Emma: "I like my mom and dad, but Daddy has to go to work!"

*Emma finds a nerf dart from Ricky shooting at them from the living room*
Emma: "What's this?"
Olivia: "Daddy's trying to kill us!"

Ricky: "Time to stop playing video games. It's time for lunch."
Olivia: "But we're busy, Daddy!"

Olivia just ate 1/2 bag ramen noodles, 4 bagel bites, and is now asking for a can of Vienna sausages. I'm afraid she's going to eat the paint off the walls soon.

Olivia: "Mommy, make me a mustache." *hands me purple play-doh*

*Emma reciting out loud what she is pretending to write down*
Emma: "Dear Mommy. I love you. Love Daddy."

How Many Black Widow Spiders Does It Take To Make An Infestation?

2012-01-29T18:51:00.001-05:00

The area near our house is no stranger to Black Widow spiders. Heck, I used to walk home from middle school through what the paper said "looked like a cotton field" from all the spider webs. (From the ground you couldn't tell. It's amazing I was never bit!) We only live a mile away from the school, but I had never seen a spider at the house. Until last year.

This was October 23, 2011:

That is a Black Widow spider just hanging out and living in the twins outside playhouse. The same playhouse that I've let them get in a thousand times. I have always glanced in there looking for snakes ('cause we get those all over out here) but never close enough to inspect for spiders. Why would I?? You better believe I do now though!

I have been more diligent about checking things out before the kiddos play in them now and hadn't seen another one until today. Ricky and the twins were playing outside on the trampoline and I was working in the yard. Like I said, I'm always very careful about snakes. Those buggers scare the crap out of me. I don't want to come face to face with one accidentally. If I did, I probably would end up accidentally stabbing myself with my pruning shears while fumbling in my attempt to dash out of there! I clear up the area around the a/c unit without incident. Then I weed-eat around our cement area. My last area of trimming before getting out the lawn mower was going to be under our pavilion. We haven't been under there since the summer so I figured it was about due for a little clean-up.

I assumed there would be something creepy-crawly mixed up in our pool cover that had been lying on our outside table, so I flipped it over quickly and carefully. Nothing popped up or flew out so I got a little closer for a better inspection. That's when I saw the fat black body. I yelled for Ricky to come over and confirm what I already knew...Black Widow. Ricky sends me into the garage to get some Raid and I took that opportunity to grab my camera. While I was out there taking some photos, they weren't really turning out all that great. It was buried a bit in the shadows (where they like to be). Plus I wasn't getting close enough, 'cause you know, SPIDER!

So, I told Ricky not to kill it until I got back. I ran inside and grabbed my step-dad's telephoto lens to see how that would work. Much better!

Here's what I discovered today:

I think I have about reached my limit for Black Widows. I don't know what number my limit is, but I know it's close. I am about ready to concrete in our whole yard and put it in a bubble. With snake and spider repellant everywhere.

-BritneyMarie

P.S.
I'll leave you with this:

Bullet Post

2012-01-23T09:44:00.000-05:00

I have a blog post in mind that I want to write about. But I can't seem to find the time to write it properly. Hopefully I'll get the chance today to finally sit down and get it written.
Ricky and I were supposed to start P90x last night. But the file was the wrong type to play from our external hard drive so we couldn't do it. I do have the discs for it somewhere around here. So, instead of just slacking off, we turned on the X-Box and played a little Zumba Kinect. It was a lot of fun. It wasn't nearly as fun as attending one of Aimee's classes, but it was a fun workout. Especially fun since Ricky has almost zero coordination. At one point while we were doing grapevines and punches, he turns to me and with complete seriousness says, "I apologize in advance if I punch you." We had a few close calls, but both of us came out of our workout uninjured.
I like to take the weekends off from the mountain of housework that I am constantly doing throughout the rest of the week. But I'm beginning to think that may be a bad idea, 'cause every Monday my house looks like two little Tornado Twins took it over.

-BritneyMarie

P90x Day One

2012-01-18T09:00:00.002-05:00

Tonight Ricky and I will be starting P90x. Already my brain is making up excuses not to get started. I really think it's the anticipation of something new. Just going to forces ourselves to do it. I'm sure it'll get even harder once the pain is brought. But after that it should be easier. At least that's what I'm saying out loud to drown out the inner voice in my head. I'll update tonight with how it went.

-BritneyMarie

*UPDATE* Went to Wal-Mart today and bought a pull-up bar, 8lb dumbbells for me and 20lb dumbbells for Ricky. I didn't really want to spend any money on this, but it was going to be impossible for us to even do P90x without these things. Investment in health, I guess?

*UPDATE #2* Ricky and I decided to start our workouts on Monday, January 23rd. I would try to argue and say that I'm not doing this just because I don't feel up to it tonight. But I totally don't feel up to it tonight. And Monday sounds like a good starting point. Crap. I already feel like I let our Sore Muscles group down. This sucks.

Work-Out Partner

2012-01-17T22:07:00.002-05:00

After the kiddos went to bed tonight, I was writing down my schedule for tomorrow on the big board. Ricky came in and asked me what P90x was. I told him it was the exercise set that I was going to start tomorrow and then I told him about the Fit Test that I did today. And by "told him about the Fit Test" I mean, "told him to do the Fit Test so he could see what I was talking about". He actually did fairly well. And did as good or better than me in everything. After the Fit Test he offered to do P90x with me after the kiddos are in bed.

Here are his starting stats:

Fitness Stats
Resting Heart Rate: (Gonna have to get this tomorrow morning)

Pull-Ups: 1 (We don't have a way to do them, but he said he can do at least one)

Push-Ups: 4

Toe Touch: +8" (He's bendy)

In & Outs: 1

Wall Squat: 1:16 (He said he was only going to :45 'cause it hurt, but I kept taunting him and he stayed longer.)

Bicep Curls: (All we have are 5 lb dumbbells and I knew that wouldn't be enough for him. So, we'll have to do these later.)

Body Measurements
Weight: 167
Weight Goal: 150

Waist: 33 inches
Waist Goal: 31 inches

Hips: 40 inches
Hips Goal: 40 inches

Chest: 36 inches
Chest Goal: 36 inches

Right Arm: 13 inches
Right Arm Goal: 13 inches

Left Arm: 12 inches
Left Arm Goal: 13 inches

Right Thigh: 20 inches
Right Thigh Goal: 20 inches

Left Thigh: 19 inches
Left Thigh Goal: 20 inches

Body Fat %: 17%
Body Fat %: 15%

It's Worse Than I Thought

2012-01-17T13:05:00.001-05:00

Not feeling too confidant about starting P90x after doing the Fit Test. I know these numbers are only going to get better, but I think this may actually kill me. Seriously.

Resting Heart Rate: (Gonna have to get this tomorrow morning)

Pull-Ups: 0 (I know I can do zero, even if I had a bar. But I will at least attempt when I get the opportunity.)

Push-Ups: 0 (I have never been able to do a single push-up. But I was able to do 10 girlie push-ups. That counts, right??)

Toe Touch: 0" (I was just able to touch my toes)

In & Outs: 0

Wall Squat: 0:25

Bicep Curls: 25/5 lbs (Had to wash the blood off them. 5lbs is the heaviest I own.)

So, there ya have it. I'm like a sloth posing as a human.

-BritneyMarie

Body Measurements & 'Before' Photos

2012-01-17T10:11:00.003-05:00

When looking at numbers and photos like this, I have to remind myself that one year ago I weighed 200lbs. So these numbers were higher a year ago. I actually look better than I did a year ago. And hopefully, a year from now I will be able to say the same thing about today.

Weight: 163
Weight Goal: 130

Waist: 35 inches
Waist Goal: 30 inches

Hips: 42 inches
Hips Goal: 40

Chest: 40 inches
Chest Goal: 40 (Boobs, please don't leave me!)

Right Arm: 13 inches
Right Arm Goal: 13 inches (Not sure what to put here)

Left Arm: 12 inches
Left Arm Goal: 12 inches (Arms different sizes? WTF?)

Right Thigh: 22 inches
Right Thigh Goal: 22 inches (Again, not sure about goal)

Left Thigh: 22 inches
Left Thigh Goal: 22 inches (At least my thighs match!)

Body Fat %: 33%
Body Fat %: 33% (What is it even supposed to be?)

Before- Front View

Before- Side View

All the stretch marks, wrinkles, creases, and what-nots are all thanks to the Twincesses. All the fat is thanks to all the bad things for you that taste so delicious.

I can't believe I'm about to post these photos on teh interwebz. *closes eyes and presses 'publish'.

*UPDATE*: I just noticed that I am wearing a hot wing eating challenge winner t-shirt. While it really is Ricky's shirt (I can barely handle a lot of pepper on my food) I do see the irony.

I Must Be Out Of My Mind

2012-01-17T09:17:00.001-05:00

Today I am going to do my Fit Test to see where I am at to start P90x. I am both excited and terrified to begin this program.

November 2010, I joined a gym and began taking Zumba classes. It was so much fun. But our mortgage went up $110 per month for the foreseeable future so I was forced to quit the gym. (Honestly, I don't know how we manage to make it with that increase, but that's a discussion for another day.) I have posts on here about my experience with with Zumba. And it was wonderful! Given the opportunity, I would join up with the gym again and continue Zumba classes. I miss them so much. Mostly because our instructor is just awesome.

Even after quitting, I kept in touch with my Zumba instructor and her sister on Facebook. And recently, I began reading her blog, Very Best You. She and her husband just started P90x too. Her sister had invited me to join her husband's Team BeachBody Challenge but I kept putting off getting the information and when I would remember I wouldn't have time to look into it.

Last night, I finally remembered and had an opportunity to look at the video link I was sent and got more information about it. I won't be joining in on the official Team BeachBody challenges because I cannot afford the nutritional supplements "Shakeology", but I have joined their Secret Facebook Group for motivation and coaching.

I have a dentist appointment today at 10am, so this morning I am going to do my body measurements and when I get home, I will do as much of the Fit Test as I can. I won't be able to do things like Pull-Ups because I lack a pull-up bar (not that I could do one anyway. Seriously, even since elementary school, I have never been able to do a single one.) Next time I go to Sam's house, I'll try out Josh's bar in their room, or try them at the playground (as suggested by my Zumba instructor. Genius!)

I'll update this or make a new post including my 'before' photo and my Fit Test results.

-BritneyMarie

The Day Olivia Sent Emma To The Emergency Room

2012-01-14T22:53:00.000-05:00

I thought that today was going to be a typical Lazy Saturday. I was wrong.

The day started out like any other day. The kiddos came in our room around 8am and kept shouting, "It's sunny-day! Get up! Let's play a game!" Their game of choice this morning was Hide and Seek. So, Ricky and I told them to go ahead and get started. It was taking a while to get out of bed, though the both of us were already awake. The kids kept coming in and out of our room whining about a necklace that they both wanted to play with.

Next thing I know, we hear a blood-curdling scream come from Emma in the living room. Ricky and I get in there and Emma's face is pouring blood from above her right eye. I picked her up and sat on the couch so I could see what was going on. On the floor, our area rug was all messed up and next to it was a purple 5lb dumbbell. I asked Emma what happened and she said, "Olivia hit me with that! *points to dumbbell*". I yelled at Ricky to get a washcloth so that I could wipe away some of the blood running down her face. It was everywhere. Dripping on her night gown, all in her mouth. I knew the gash was there on her face, but there was so much blood in her mouth that I thought she got hit there as well.

I got her cleaned up as best I could with blood still dripping. Ricky and talked for a few minutes about whether or not we thought she needed stitches. We decided that I should take her next door to see Grandmother and see what she had to say about it. I got our jackets on and we ran next door while Ricky stayed home with Olivia.

It had stopped pouring blood when we got next door, but it was still bleeding to where we had to keep the washcloth on it frequently. The first thing out of Emma's mouth when we got there was, "Look what Olivia did!" It was in that moment, that I knew she was going to be okay. Grandpa cracked a joke saying, "Don't you know you're not supposed to use dumbbells? Tell your sister she needs to use smartbells next time." Emma didn't find that funny at all. Grandmother and Grandpa suggested that we go ahead and take her to the ER to get it checked on so it wouldn't leave a scar. It most likely would be fine without stitches, but the placement of the potential scar may make her self-conscious later.

So, I ran back home with her and told Ricky what they said. He agreed. I called my mom to meet us at the hospital, and Ricky stayed home with Liv again and called his family. Before we left the house, I had Ricky snap a few 'before the hospital' photos.

Once at the hospital, it didn't take long for her to be called back. They ended up putting Dermabond (superglue) on it instead of butterfly clamps or stitches. She put up a bit of a fight and it got in one of her eyebrows. When it was all done, she asked to see her face in a mirror so I took her photo and showed it to her on my phone.

After that, they took her to Radiology to have a few head x-rays to make sure she didn't have any skull fractures to go along with her facial laceration. Waiting on the results of the x-ray was actually the longest wait of the morning. Everything came back normal so we were discharged and went home.

The rest of the day was business as usual around here. We had to keep telling her to stop running around and playing so much. Honestly, I'm surprised that it took us 4.5 years to make it to the ER for a sister-inflicted head wound. But I'm so thankful that it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.

-BritneyMarie

Three Projects Down...About A Million To Go

2012-01-13T23:39:00.000-05:00

I have kind of an obsession with photographs. I love taking them. I love looking at them. I love framing them. I am even working on, what I call, my Massive Photo Project. (That's for another blog post soon.) So, I really wanted a nice gallery wall to display some of my favorite photos of the twins. Monday, I made this a reality. It's still a work-in-progress, but I like the way it came together so far.

The plan is for me to keep building upon it, but I'm not sure exactly where I'm going to go with it. I guess that will just depend on the size of the photographs I print. I'll let Future BritneyMarie deal with that one.

-BritneyMarie

Kids Corner

2012-01-13T22:22:00.000-05:00

Another project that I wanted to tackle was an area for the kids to keep their school things. The way our house is set up, there isn't really an area for one of those locket type school organizer things that are all over Pinterest.

Since school began, I had the kid's backpacks hung on a wreath hanger, just one on top of the other. Their jackets hung on the doorknob of the same door. And their school work went into my massive paperwork pile on our kitchen bookshelf.

I had heard about Command Hooks from a lot of organizing blogs that I read, so I was dying to use the ones that I picked up. I figured, using them to hang the kiddos backpacks would be perfect! I hung them low enough for the twins to be able to use them by themselves. I knew I wanted to put their names above their backpacks, but I was having trouble figuring out how I wanted to do it. Using wooden initial letters crossed my mind, but we are already using those in their bathroom. Then I thought wooden letter full names, but those are in their bedroom. Then I thought, 'Photos!' I searched my computer for a good face shot of them, but all the really good ones were being used in our living room! Then I remembered Photoshopping some chalk names that my Sister-in-Law had written back in 2010. I printed them, framed them and hung them up.

Every time I walked by the new area, I kept feeling like something was missing. So, I ran into my craft room, took down the cork board and hung it up above everything. On it, I hung their classroom news for the upcoming week, left a space for homework to be done, and then hung up their traffic light behavior chart from the week before. It all fit perfectly! One last sweep of the living room reminded me of their home behavior traffic light, so I moved it to their area and was done!

My grandmother had given me a rolling kitchen rack to use for all my baking supplies, but they were beginning to overflow on it. So I cleared it out and decided to use it for the girlies. The top has a tupperware container for their papers that come home. The first shelf is for home workbooks and classroom library books. The second shelf is empty until I can think of something useful for it. And the bottom shelf has their lunchboxes.

Here it is all together.

-BritneyMarie

We've Had It Over A Year...Probably Should Get Started

2012-01-13T21:54:00.000-05:00

August 2010 Ricky and I purchased our first home. Up until now I've shied away from doing any sort of major home improvements/decorating because I'm not used to something like this being 'mine'. Anytime that I would want to do something major, I would think about how I don't know what I'm doing, and I would feel like I needed to enlist someone's help. I often would ask for help from family and friends, but the timing would rarely work out and nothing would ever get done. The only thing that we have done in the last three years was paint the walls, and we didn't even get them all done before we moved our furniture in. The blue painter's tape is still up in our kitchen from 2008 when we moved in to rent!

Thanks to Pinterest I have had quite a bit of motivation to get some things done around this place. I finally made my mind up that I was going to renovate our house by myself (with Ricky's help, of course!) If something went wrong, I'd learn how to correct myself.

So, with a lot of pinning and searching, I decided that the first problem/project I wanted to tackle was our overflowing dvd collection. I wanted to have a ceiling to floor shelf built. I went around to some stores to price racks and they were in the hundreds of dollars and they wouldn't even hold much. We already have two $300 500+ dvd racks and we still needed more space. So, a few days ago I let Ricky in on my thought process. His first reaction? "You know I'm not a handyman, right?" Ugh.

I gave him my 'We're going to do this and it will be awesome, or we're going to do this and learn from our mistakes, but either way we're going to do this' speech. Eventually he came around. So, we started measuring and determining exactly what we wanted. While the kids were at school on Tuesday, I started with the stud finder and began marking all the studs and drawing level lines for Ricky to put the brackets on the wall.

That night, Ricky and I went to Home Depot and got the brackets for the wall, shelf brackets to go on them, and one piece of wood to get one shelf done to see if it would even work. I was so pumped to get this project underway that I just went into the paint cabinet in our garage and picked the spray paint that we had the most of. Luckily, it was Flat Black. And I started to get to work:

And so did Ricky:

Seven brackets later, we got our first shelf up!

The more we thought about it, we really didn't like the fact that the shelf was made of two boards put together. We weren't convinced of the stability, so Wednesday, we made a second trip to Home Depot and got 4 boards cut to the full length of the shelf. Again, I painted them black and we got them hung up.

The next day, I headed out to Home Depot at the beach to get some more brackets, since we had purchased all the ones that the store in town carried. I also got 4 more boards to finish up the last rows. Unfortunately, they came up 5 shelf brackets short, so we weren't able to put up the bottom row, but it still looks pretty darn awesome.

Not too bad for our first project, eh?

-Britney Marie

Other Funny Things December Edition

2012-01-01T17:10:00.000-05:00

*as heard from the other room*
Ricky: *in Skeletor voice* "You'll never escape Skeletor-Dad!"

*watching 'Deadliest Warrior'*
Me: "That guy looks pretty."
Ricky: "What?"
Me: "That guy looks like a girl. He's pretty."
Ricky: "I'm not calling a guy pretty."

*after weighing himself*
Ricky: "Ugh, 165lbs"
Me: "Here, this should make you feel better."
*weighs myself*
Me: "Okay, maybe not 167lbs."
Ricky: "That should make you feel good, I'm only two pounds lighter than you."
Me: "Yeah kinda."
Ricky: "Just means I'm gettin' fat."
Me: "Gee, thanks."

*Watching Next Iron Chef*
Me: "See, her butt is huge!"
Ricky: "I'm sorry, I forgot to look at her butt. I promise I will look at her butt the next time they show it."

*Mom and twins are playing with a cap gun*
Mom: "Okay, no laughing when I kill you."

Funny Things My Kids Have Said December Edition

2012-01-01T16:55:00.002-05:00

Olivia: "Mommy, make me a mustache." *hands me purple play-doh*

*Emma reciting out loud what she is pretending to write down*
Emma: "Dear Mommy. I love you. Love Daddy."

Olivia: "I want a cheese sandwich."
Me: "We don't have any cheese?"
Olivia: "That's okay, Mommy. I'll have a butter sandwich."

*Emma opens a drawer and hits me in the knee.*
Emma: "I'm sorry I hurt you, Mom. Let's go bowling."

My kids look like they got dressed in the dark. Emma is wearing a Penguins jersey, blue jeans that are too big and ugg boots, with fur rolled down on one side. Olivia is wearing a Batman shirt, grey sweat pants and Justice League sneakers.

Olivia: "I wanna go see Batman."
Emma: "He's at the cave."
Olivia: "I wanna go see LarryBoy."
Emma: "He's at the cave with Batman."

Me: "What do you girlies want to do today?"
Emma: "I want to go to the store to get some juice."
Me: "What are you going to use to pay for the juice?"
Emma: "Mommy."

Me: "We're going to have lunch with Aunt ******, Uncle *******, Baby *******, Grandma and Daddy today."
Emma: "Oh, that's wonderful!"

Emma: "We have to make marshmallows with snores!!! Dad! Make a fire!"

Olivia: "Somebody stinks."
Me: "It's probably one of the kitties."
Olivia: "It's probably Emma."

Olivia: "We have to go to Gabriel's Park to see Santa!"
Me: "Santa is back at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas next year."
Olivia: "We have to go to the North Pole!"
Me: "But it's too cold there."
Olivia: "We have to get our jackets on!"

Olivia: "You'll shoot your eye out, kid. Ho ho ho!"

Emma: "The Grinch is going to steal all our stuff for Christmas. He's gonna steal all our panties!"

Emma: "Mommy, can I have a cookie?"
Me: "Yes. *takes her to the kitchen to get one of the cookies they made yesterday*
Emma: "I can't eat those cookies!! Those are Santa's cookies!!"
Me: "I think Santa will be okay if you eat one of them."
Emma: "Nope, they're for Santa."
Me: "You sure you don't want one?"
Emma: "No, they're all for Santa."

Emma: "I want 20 teeth out so I can get my prize!"

Olivia emerged from our bedroom. I had been out here on the computer for an hour. I didn't see/hear her come out of her room. Neither did Ricky. Must be a magic door or something into our room. Best guess is that while we were brushing our teeth, she came out of our room and got under our bed. Then she fell asleep under there. Then when the phone rang it woke her up.

*looking over my shoulder while on Pinterest*
Emma: "It's Wonder Woman!"
Me: "Who's that? *pointing to Christopher Reeve*
Emma: "Superman!...Where's Batman on here??"

*points finger in my face*
Olivia: "I command you to stay here!"

Emma: "I wanna go to the toy store."
Ricky: "Yeah bro?"

Olivia: "It's still snowing! Yipee!"

Ricky: "Who wants to take naps?"
Olivia: "Me!"
Emma: "I don't like naps."

Ricky: "It's not funny. Pooping your pants is not funny."
Emma: "I'M NOT FUNNY! YOU'RE FUNNY!"

Olivia: "I love The Smurbs!"

Emma: "Mommy, my best friend is Olivia. Who's your best friend?"
Me: "Aunt Deidre."
Emma: "No, you're best friend is Dad."

Other Funny Things November Edition

2011-12-01T23:54:00.000-05:00

Things that have never happened to me at Wal-Mart before:
1. Cashier looks at my cart and says, "Oh wow!"
2. Someone moo's at me from a vehicle as I'm walking to my car.

Ricky changed our home answering machine message to Skeletor voice. Today, he came home and there was a message. It was a telemarketer. All she said was, "Wow....*tries to compose herself for a few moments* This is.....*and went on with her speech* It was pretty hilarious.

Ricky decided to try some dog treats at his parents house. And now he's in bed with a stomachache.

*talking with Mom and Cathy*
Me: "I saw some of my old toys labeled vintage the other day."
Mom: "Well, if you're vintage, what are Jim and I?"
Me: "You're thrift and Jim is antique."

*Ricky opens his netbook*
Ricky: "There is a nerd (candy) stuck in my computer."
Me: "There's a nerd holding the computer too."

Funny Things My Kids Have Said November Edition

2011-12-01T23:37:00.000-05:00

*pointing to peanut butter jar*
Emma: "It's Tinkerbell!"
Me: "No, that is Peter Pan; Tinkerbell's friend."
Emma: "Peter Pan is Tinkerbell's friend?"
Me: "Yep."
Emma: "Peter Parker is Spiderman."

Olivia: "I want the Batman video game."
Me: "So does Daddy."
Emma: "Daddy's so silly."

*Goes into the bathroom to tell Ricky goodbye as he's getting dressed*
Olivia: "Daddy! Your feet are gross!"
Ricky: "What?"
Me: "Why do you say Daddy's feet are gross?"
Emma: "'Cause they got hair on them! Gross!"

Ricky: "Daddy likes Two Face."
Emma: "I like one face...Batman!"

*Watching Ricky play "Scott Pilgrim*
Emma: "We don't hit girls."
Ricky:"That's right."
Emma: "We hit boys."

*Watching two solo dancers on the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular*
Emma: "Look Mom! It's Emma and Olivia!"

*from the bathroom*
Emma: "Mommy! They're dangerous!"
Me: "What's dangerous?"
Emma: "The panties."
Me: "Oh. Well, are you okay?"
Emma: I'm okay. They're dangerous!"

Me: "Girlies, you want some hot chocolate?"
Emma: "No, I want hot vanilla!"

*after stuffing socks into her shirt*
Olivia: "I'm Santa! Ho Ho Ho!"

*after noticing that the Elf on the Shelf had moved while she was picking out a movie*
Olivia: "*gasp* He moved! It's magic!"

Emma: "We don't ever poop on turkeys."

Emma: "Olivia, let's punch Daddy!
Olivia: "Okay!"
Emma: "Here's a glove."

*chasing after her sister*
Olivia: "Emma!...Emma!...EMMA [insert last name]!"

Watching the "He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special" and Olivia keeps yelling that Skeletor needs to be nice or she will spank him.

Em is coloring and Liv is watercolor painting. I leave the room to vacuum the movie room and when I come back Liv is stripped down to her underwear scrubbing paint off her paper with a dishtowel. No part of that makes sense to me.

Emma: "Daddy, I want to paint your toenails."
Ricky: "Sure, after dinner."

*Emma sits down to paint Ricky's toenails*
Emma: "Can I have my nailpolish?"
*I hand her purple*
Emma: "Can I have pink?"
Ricky: *hangs head*

When I came home from Black Friday shopping, Emma told me that she had put candy in my "socky sock" (stocking).

Olivia: "Mommy, where's the fer-mote?"

Me: "Time to get up for school, girlies!"
Emma: *sits up on one elbow* "Look at the window."
Me: "What's wrong with it?"
Emma: "It's dark outside. *rolls over and covers head with blanket*

*Olivia's mad 'cause I took a book away that they were fighting over*
Olivia: *grumbling about how mean I am*
Emma: "Don't say that, Olivia. Mommy's my best friend!"

Emma: "Daddy, you work at Channel 7?"
Ricky: "Yeah."
Emma: "Well, I'm gonna go work at Channel 8!"

*talking about the fire in the fireplace*
Emma: "We don't touch the fire. It will burn my fingers. It will dead me. I don't want to be dead."

Emma: "Daddy's my favorite friend. Daddy's my favorite little friend."

Photoshoot

2011-11-13T23:44:00.005-05:00

I've always enjoyed taking the twins to get their photos taken. When they were younger, we would always take them to Sears, but that got to be so expensive. Last year I started at a local gym taking Zumba classes and I met an awesome lady named Kristi. Turns out we're cousins (Small town, y'know...). She owns Allure Photography so I wanted to see what her professional eye could capture that Sears couldn't. And boy, did she deliver!

Funny Things My Kids Have Said October Edition

2011-11-01T15:46:00.000-04:00

*Watching the Halloween Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 & Thing 2 come on*
Emma: "Look Mommy! It's Emma and Olivia!"

Emma stuck her hand in the toilet of a porta-potty. Her hand is forever uncleeeeeeen!

Emma informed us that she is "Green Lantern Strawberry". She is wearing a Green Lantern mask with a Strawberry Shortcake costume on.

Emma: "Daddy, Olivia got a sad face today."
Ricky: "Why's that?"
Emma: "Because she was scribble scrabbin'."

Olivia: "It's EVIL!!!"
Emma: "That's not evil. That's a Pop-Tart."

*Liv comes to me from watching "LarryBoy and the Fib From Outerspace"*
Liv: *shows me empty hands* Look, it's my friend The Fib."
Me: *pretends to take a bite from The Fib*
Liv: "NO!! He's my friend! He's not a cheese puff!!!"

Em & Liv: "Ahh, Bats! It's bats!"
Me: "Girlies, go run in there and tell Daddy, 'We can't stop here, this is Bat Country!'"
Em and Liv: "*indistinguishable*BAT COUNTRY!!!"

Emma: "I'm wearing Daddy's underpants."
Me: "What?"
*Emma pulls up Rapunzel dress, revealing Ricky's Pac-Man boxers*
Me: "Well, okay then."

Olivia: "Mommy, I can't find my Sweet Hearts."
Me: "Emma, share the Sweet Tarts with your sister."
Emma: "Okay." *to Olivia* "That'll be 50 dollars."

Olivia: "I wanna see The Super Friends at the superhero store."

*In the car this morning*
Me: "Emma, what did you learn in High-Hat?"
Em: "'A'. 'Ah'. 'A' is for monkey."
Liv: "No, 'A' is for apple and alligator."
Em: "In High-Hat I tell a story about a monkey.
Liv: "Emma, I love you. 'A' is for apple."

*in the car*
Emma: "Mommy, look at my mustache."
Me: *turns to see where she wiped snot across her upper lip*
Me: "Gross."
Me: *turns around a second time to see mustache gone and her mouth making a chewing motion*
Me: "EMMA! Don't eat your...ugh, nevermind."

*From inside a big cardboard box*Ricky: "Are we in a hobo house?"
Em and Liv: "Yes."
Ricky: "Are you hobos?"
Liv: "No, I'm Olivia."

Emma: "I'm cold."
Me: "Okay, let's get dressed for school then."
Emma: "No, I need a blanket."
Me: "No, you need to get dressed."
Emma: "No."
Me: "Do you want a yellow light this morning?"
Emma: "Yes."
Me: *glares*
Emma: "No."

*Abby the cat is sneezing in the living room*
Emma: "The cat is sick."
Me: "He's okay, he's just sneezing."
Emma: "He needs a doughnut."

Olivia: "Get me some more water."
Me: "What's the magic word?"
Olivia: "Pocus Pocus."

Olivia: "I'm Superman-Girl!"

Olivia: ""You wanna go see Spooky-Do?"

*As heard from the living room while Ricky checked on Emma in the bathroom*
Emma: "Daddy, come see!"
Ricky: "Ew, ew, put that away!"

*Emma comes out of her room with a princess wand*
Emma: *flings wand forward* "Magic! Magic!"
Me: "Don't you mean, 'Magic Missle'?"
Emma: "No. Magic! Magic!"

*Olivia comes out with a mouthful of cake*
Me: "Olivia, did you ask for that cake?"
Liv: "No."
Me: "No more cake."
*A little later*
Liv: "May I have some cake please?"
Me: *looks at her*
Liv: "It's my birthday."
Me: "No it's not."
Liv: "It's Pop-Pop's birthday."
Me: *looks at her*
Liv: "Sammi's birthday......you're birthday...Happy Birthday Mommy!"

Happy Halloween, From The Batman Family

2011-10-31T23:47:00.003-04:00

Funny Things My Kids Have Said September Edition

2011-10-01T16:02:00.000-04:00

Olivia: "Daddy wants 'fah-zon-yah' for dinner."
Emma: "Yeah, daddy wants 'buzz-on-yah'"
Me: "Well, alrighty then."

*stall tactic #124 tonight*
Emma: "Mommy, I need to go potty."
Me: "Okay, go."
Emma: "Mommy, I poop in the potty!"
Me: "Good job!
Emma: "Come see!"
Ricky: *laughter*

*As I was getting their cough medicine this morning*
Emma: "Two girlies, one medicine."

Emma: "Mommy, I need to go to the hospital."
Me: "Why's that?"
Emma: "I need to buy some vanilla ice cream."

*Kiddos came home with a free kids meal from Loco's certificate*
Me: "Look girlies, you get a free kids meal."
Olivia: "Wow! I get to eat dinner!"
Me: *facepalm*

*Emma's block tower fell over and broke*
Emma: "They exploded!"

*Emma accidentally hits Olivia in the mouth while playing*
Olivia: "Mommy! My body!"

Me: "Look girlies. Look what I bought today."
Emma: "Thor!"
Me: "Yeah, that's right."
Emma & Olivia: "Put it on!"
Me: "You wanna watch it now?"
Emma and Olivia: "Yeah!!!"

Emma: "Daddy lives at Mommy's house."

*I bring Olivia a bowl with animal crackers*
*She looks at them and puts her fist in the air*
Olivia: SCORE!!!

Emma: "I want Makatos."
Me: "You want to eat at Makatos?"
Emma: "No, I want to eat makatos" *points to tv singing about avocados*
Me: "Ohhhh"

*The kids are reaching a new low to stay out of bed*
Olivia: "I need a drink of water"
Me: "Get in bed."
Emma: "You tuck me in?"
Me: "Get in bed."
Olivia: "Kiss and hug."
Me: "Get in bed,"
Emma: "Daddy, I need metal!"
Ricky: "I got this one. "

Funny Things My Kids Have Said August Edition

2011-09-01T18:11:00.000-04:00

*I sit down on the couch to watch some tv after the kids are in bed*
*knocking on bedroom door*
Olivia: "Mommy!! I can't find my boobies! Where are my boobies??!"
Me: "They're right there." *point to her shirt*
Olivia: "Oh. Okay." *gets back in bed*

Me: "What are you doing?"
Olivia: "I'm Daddy! *in deeper voice* It's bedtime. Get ready for stories!"

*At Speech today a larger man came in with his daughter. Not unusual, since we've seen them all summer*
Emma: "You're a big guy! You're too big for that chair!"

*Ricky picks up Emma after walking in the door from work*
Emma: "You just hugged my poop, Daddy."

Emma: "Daddy, I'm gonna come sit with you. I need a doughnut."
Ricky: "Are you going to go to the store to get your doughnut?"
Emma: "Yes."

Me: "What movie did you girls just put on?"
Emma: "Iron Maiden"

Olivia: "Daddy! Where's my boobies??"

*Emma comes in wearing cupcake pajamas that she wasn't wearing last night*
Emma: "I'm a cupcake!"

*At 7:50am this is what I hear*
Emma: "Mommy! Wake up! The sun is up!"
*And then I hear "Pebble and the Penguin" on in the living room.*

*Last night after dinner*
Emma: "Mommy, I want a brownie."
Me: "Did you eat all your dinner?"
Emma: "No...yes" *shifts gaze to floor*
Me: "Did you eat all your dinner?"
Emma: "Yes."
Me: "Are you lying to me."
Emma: "Yes."

*During prayers on the phone with Mom*
Mom: "God bless Mommy and Daddy"
Em and Liv: "God bless Mommy and Daddy."
Mom: "God bless Emma and Olivia"
Emma: "God bless Olivia and Batman."
Mom: "God bless everyone"
Olivia: "God bless everyone, and Superman."

*Watching a preview for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2"
Emma: "Is that the "Fox and the Lamb?"
Me: "No, that is not "Fox and the Hound."

Emma: "I hear funder Mommy."

*Watching "Oliver and Company", the poodle Georgette introduction song*
Olivia: "Is that you Mommy??"

Me: "Emma, do you need to being everything you own with you?"
Emma: "Yes."

Me: "If I hear Daddy's drawer open again, you're both getting kicked out of our room."
Emma: "No, Mommy! Don't kick me!"

*imitating Bugs Bunny*
Olivia: "Mehhhhh, what's up Jack?"

Em always finds excuses to come out of her room. Tonight, I have to admit, was the best.
Em: "Mommy, I want Olivia to lay down with me."
Me: "But she is sleeping. Let her sleep."
Emma: "But I want my sister."
I go into their room and Liv is awake this time and Em asks if she can lay down with Liv. Liv says No. So she asks again, this time it's a yes. Em crawls in bed with her, gets comfy, gets in Liv's face and say, "I love you sister!" And they hugged.

Home Management Binder

2011-08-15T13:16:00.003-04:00

Another thing that I have been stealing from the organizing blogs I have been reading is a "Home Management Binder".

While cleaning out my craft room the first day, I came across almost all the tools needed to make my own HMB. Every person's HMB will have the same basic elements but will be tailored to the specific home needs. Here's the links that I used when researching the binders:

Clean & Scentsible: Organize Everything-Family Binder

I Heart Organizing: March Challenge: Project "Household Binder"

Love to Save: THO: Home Management Binder

Flashy Sparkles: Home Operations Manual- Complete

Organized Home: Suggested Dividers for a Household Notebook

I used those as inspiration for what I wanted inside my binder. Then I went here to get the printables to fill out in my book.

Life...Your Way Printables

Before printing I filled out the information that I knew. Then I put them in the notebook. Any time I need to change information, I write it on the pages. I'm planning on re-typing and printing once every 6 months or so to update all the information. I still need to print the address forms but the rest of the books printables are complete to me.

Two days later and it has been a giant help.

Clean, Clean, Clean!

2011-08-14T19:32:00.003-04:00

It is amazing what reading things on the internet can do for motivation. I never realized how reading certain blogs would motivate me to get things done around the house. I always figured that wasting time on the internet was just that, wasting time. But lately I've been checking out organizing blogs. Seeing how all these people are cleaning up their spaces has got me wanting to do the same thing. So I did.

First, two days ago, I started with my night stand. After finding some books stuffed in there, that turned into me going through my bookshelf in our room. On the shelf I found some of Ricky's things so I had to go through his night stand. I left the top drawer of his alone since that's the one he uses the most for all his random stuff. I'll get him to go through that another day.

After cleaning those three areas, I went to put things in my closet and I realized that there was a lot of space in there that I was covering up, mostly by my wedding dress. I still need to get in there and replace she shelf that literally fell out of the wall last year, but I still managed to make a lot more space even with it gone. The dress got moved to the top shelf and things just got moved around from there. Between our two closets I made plenty of room for more clothes that I expect to buy since I'm losing weight again. (I told myself I was only going to weigh myself once a month, but I gave in and did it the other day 187lbs. That's a 13lb loss so far!)

The closets put me on a roll. Next came our bathroom cabinets. I had a ton of lotion that had been given to me as gifts. There was some in there from 2003! I will say that no matter what the fragrance says on the bottle, after a certain period of time all lotion will start to smell exactly the same, gross. I was only able to salvage about 6 bottles. 2 of which I kept and I plan on giving away the other bottles to anyone that wants them.

Later that night I got started on my craft room, aka Giant Clutter Room. I got 4 plastic bags of stuff out and vowed to continue on it again. Which I did today. I got a construction grade garbage bag of things taken out today. I re-organized all my fabric too. That took forever. I do need to get more baggies though. I love putting things in baggies so it helps to have a full stock of them. I managed to put everything that's left to go through in the center of the room, so the next time I get in there I should be able to get it all finished.

-Britney Marie

Thanks, But That's Enough Poop For Now.

2011-08-05T15:05:00.004-04:00

I figured by the time my twins were 4 years old I would be close to if not finished with cleaning up after them. And by that I mean poop. Lots and lots of poop. Baby twins are basically poop factories, which I expected. What I did not expect was to still be cleaning that much poop 4 years later.

For a few days, a couple weeks even, both girls were completely potty trained. I carried around a couple pairs of underwear in my purse just in case, but the wipes stayed home in the diaper bag hanging by our back door. I never expected what happened over the past two days.

Two days ago I saw the bathroom light on and both kids were nowhere to be found. I could hear chatting from the hallway so I went to check it out. I found Olivia completely naked and bent over with poop all over her backside. And Emma had a handful of wipes getting ready to take care of her sister. I wish I could have snapped a picture at that exact moment because their faces were priceless. I thanked Emma for helping her sister but told her that I should take over from here. She proceeded to delegate what I should do next, doling out the wipes.

Later that day, I found Liv in the twins bathroom covered in poop. She had tried to take care of it herself, which is commendable, but not well executed. It was on her nose, on her chin, on her feet, in her hair, everywhere. All I could do was just turn on the water and give her a bath.

Yesterday, while chatting on the phone with my mom, I found Olivia in the back bathroom trying to clean up her apparent accident. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but this was the 6th time that day that we'd had this problem. I get off the phone to deal with Liv. When I get out I notice that the twins bathroom light is on. This means that Em is currently in there. Not expecting much, I go back in there to make sure she's remembered to flush, which she consistently forgets.

I found her with the majority of the toilet paper roll in the toilet, another handful in her hand covered in poop, and the soiled underwear STUCK to the side of the toilet. Not to mention the little poop foot prints all over the floor. *sigh* The rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning the bathrooms.

I realize that my bathrooms aren't the cleanest, but you'd think my kids would just tell me they want me to clean it instead of spreading poop around. Seems easier my way, but what do I know?

-Britney Marie

Start And Stop

2011-08-02T13:27:00.002-04:00

I have opened the New Post page several times only to not have anything interesting to say so I close it again. I find it harder and harder to find the words I want to post.

I've had a rough couple days. I think it stems from a lack of sleep and the children fighting constantly. As soon as Ricky gets home I want to go to our room, keep the lights off and just sit there for a while to calm down. I feel like I spend the majority of my day disciplining the children and cleaning up after the destruction zone they create. 'Course the reason I feel like I do that is because that's exactly what I do.

I love my kids, I do. I enjoy spending time with them and watching them grow up and I miss them when they are not here, but to have to spend 24 hours a day (it seems like) cooped up here with them is making me crazy! They just got into the back-talking stage and ever other word out of their mouth is "No" or "I don't wanna..." or "My sister did this..." As an only child I never had to deal with things like that. I'd like to think that if I had a sibling that these daily squabbles wouldn't bother me like they do, but not being used to it makes it really frustrating when they fight. I know it's what kids do, and I know it's what siblings do, but I just wish they wouldn't do it all...day...long.

Today has been easier. Whenever they start to fight or argue, I have them sit on opposite ends of the couch. Emma is already on "yellow light" today for back-talking me and not listening, but at this point yesterday, Liv was on yellow and Em was on red, so I see improvement. I'm also taking things a lot slower today.I made pancakes for breakfast and cleaned the kitchen, then took some time for myself and played some "Plants vs Zombies". The kids love to watch me play, so their time-out time wasn't spent whining, but watching me play. Win-win, I guess.

Right now, they are eating a snack in our bed watching "Enchanted". Emma seems to love that movie, she picked it yesterday and today. I'm going to take this opportunity to straighten up the living room and maybe have a snack myself.

-Britney Marie

Funny Things My Kids Have Said July Edition

2011-08-01T20:47:00.000-04:00

Emma to Olivia: "I'm not Strawberry [Shortcake], I'm LarryBoy! I crush you!"

Each girl is on an opposite end of the couch for time out at the moment. Emma is taunting her sister.
Emma: "Olivia, get up. Do it! Do it!"

*after putting on her new black shoes*
Olivia: "Look Mommy! I've got tapping shoes!"

Emma: "Mommy, I want to paint Daddy's toenails."

Emma and Olivia: "We want to watch 'Pedos and the Penguins!"
Me: "*snickers*"

*After putting on her Batman ghetto cap with her Easter Sunday white dress up hat*
Emma: "Okay, I have to go to work."
Me: "Alrighty. Where do you work?"
Emma: "At Grammie's house."
Me: "What do you do at work?"
Emma: "Feed the ducks."
Me: "Wow! That's a nice job."
Emma: "Yeah, I know."

*the kids are playing pretend*
Olivia: "Moono! What are you doing?"
Emma: "I'm not Moono. I'm The Batman!"

Emma: "Olivia's fighting me. Emma's angry."

Emma: "Oh Daddy...I got my baby..."
Ricky: "What's your baby's name?"
Emma: "Hailuh. Hailuh Baby."

Every time Emma gets something taken away from her by me, she always gets Olivia to get them back. For example, I just took Emma's cookies and candy away for her kicking her sister.
Emma: "Olivia, get mommy to give me back my stuff."
Olivia "Give Emma back her stuff!!" *punches me in the leg and runs off* "How's that Emma?"
Emma: "Uh, not quite."

Emma just stuffed her plush Backpack (from Dora) with everything she could find, from books to Veggietales plush to candy. She had me help her put it on and her blanket around her neck. Then she looks at me and says, "I'm ready to see Ms. Marilyn. And I'm ready to see Grammie."

Emma: "Mommy, I watch 'Pedos and the Penguin'"
Me: "Yeah, I don't think that's right, Em-Em"

Emma: "Mommy! I poop a big girl!"

*from the bathroom*
Olivia: "Look! Another poop. He's swimming!"

*after seeing the frozen hamburger meat on a plate to defrost it*
Olivia: "Mmm, mmmm, yummy! My favorite!"
Me: "Your favorite is frozen hamburger meat?"
*thinks for a moment*
Olivia: "No. That's gross."

Me: "Emma, what is in your hand?"
*Emma shows the plastic microphone*
Me: "Don't hit your sister with that."
*Look over to see Emma riding her sister like a horse and hitting her in the head with the microphone*
Me: "*sigh*"

Me: "Emma, what is your full name?"
Emma: "Uhhhmmmm..."
Me: "Emma...Leigh...Gravatt."
Emma: "Emma...Lee...Toofat."

Emma: "Mommy, have some 'coffee'."
*uses a spoon to shovel it in my mouth*

*talking to her blanket*
Emma: "This is Mommy. He is a girl. He's my friend. *smiles*"

The One Where I Explain Things...

2011-07-18T14:24:00.004-04:00

Today was supposed to be extremely busy but it turned into a napping/movie day.

Ricky and I went to bed a little later than we wanted to last night, 12:45am instead of 11pm. And we both got up at 7am. He had to get a shower for work and I had to get on the phone with DCF (Department of Children and Families). We have been receiving food assistance for the last 6 months since he is the only one working. I've looked for jobs, but it really makes more sense for me to stay home with the kids right now. There are no positions around here that my degree of Criminology would be useful for and if I went with part-time at Hobby Lobby (like I was thinking) then I would basically be paying for the daycare for the kids over the summer/afterschool and then what's the point? We still wouldn't have any extra money for things.

I keep being told to get a job in the school system, probably because I was a sub for a year when Ricky and I were engaged, but I really don't want to do that. First of all, to be a teacher I'd have to go back to school and that is another option we don't have. And if I did subbing, we'd still be stuck with no money for the summer, 'cause subs don't get paid if they don't work. Not sure about paras, but I really can't stand most other people's children so it's really not a good fit for me.

I have been having non-stop problems with getting our benefits together. It was great for the first 6 months, except for the phone-call interview. It is almost impossible to get through on the phone lines.

At the end of May we were supposed to re-certify online, which I did. Then I received paperwork on June 6th, saying that I had until June 8th to get my phone interview done. I checked the mail late on the 6th so that day was gone 'cause they were closed when I tried calling. I tried again all day on the 7th and never got through. Finally, I was able to get through after calling over 20 times and being on hold for 45 minutes. The whole interview took about 10 minutes. And she said all I needed to do was fill out the income form and mail/fax it back by the 16th.

Well, that week Ricky had a cyst on his backside that he decided to lance himself. Long story short, it got infected and he had to get it taken care of at the Urgent Care clinic and missed some work. Specifically he missed the deadline for turning in the papers. I was told one time before that if you miss the date you still have 30 days to get it in before you lose benefits. So when he went back to work on the 20th of June he faxed it in.

A few days later I received a letter saying that I never did my phone interview. So I called and after half an hour of waiting I finally spoke with a really nice lady. She told me that she did find in the computer where I had done my interview and she was unsure as to why they said I hadn't done it. So, she sent in an email saying that it needed to be fixed. And then I told her about how we had faxed the papers in a few days late. She said that it wouldn't have mattered if we had sent it in on time because they were so backed up that they still hadn't started filing the papers that they received on the 15th yet! She then told me to call back the next week to see if our faxed papers had been filed.

That night I received a phone call from the local DCF office. She said that she had received the email from the nice lady and that the best thing to do about the faxed papers was to bring them to her office on Monday (this was Friday). So I got her information and planned on doing just that.

I get to the office on Monday and it is packed. And you can tell that everyone that works there hates their job. And they don't care if they help you or not. Y'know, 'cause they hate their job. So I get up there and tell the lady at the desk what's what, and she tells me to take this yellow paper over to another lady who is directing people into different rooms. I do that and she tells me that the lady I spoke to on the phone, and wrote her name down doesn't even work there. No one by that name does! At this point I'm getting really angry 'cause seriously, WTF??I go back to the window and give her the faxed papers and tell her to just give them to who they need to get to and then I go home.

A few days later I receive two letters. One says that we have been approved for assistance again and another that says our account has been suspended! I immediately tried calling but again, it was after-hours. At this point, I'm freaking out.

To Be Continued...

The Gym and Laundry

2011-07-14T16:19:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow marks the day that I return to the gym. I'm excited, and yet not so much. I am really not looking forward to getting up to be at an 8:30am class, and I'm even less excited about getting the kids up to go with me. But it needs to be done, and if I don't I'll wish I had gone. So it's time to just stop complaining and just do it.

I should probably weigh myself before I go, but I don't wanna be depressed before going there. But I probably will anyway.

There is a giant pile of laundry boring a hole in the back of my head. I better get on that.

Britney Marie

Bullets

2011-07-12T13:04:00.003-04:00

Gah! I do this every time. It's been so long since I've posted. But in my defense, it's been a long time since I've done anything really worth posting. Guess it's time for a Bullet Post to get caught up.

*Girlies The girlies have been out of school since May 20th and that has made it very difficult for me to do much. They've been quite well-behaved for the most part, but I had gotten used to being able to go out and get my errands done in a timely manner, go to the gym, and even get some crafting done throughout the day. Not so much with them at home.

*Gym Speaking of the gym, I haven't been in months. And I really miss it. I pay for the child care there, but it just seems like more trouble than it's worth to get the kids up that early for class. They've been letting me sleep in which is really nice so I've kinda been taking advantage of that during the summer break. I could go during the afternoon classes, but the childcare fills up so fast for those that I'd have to get there before all the classes and do them all, which is a bit much now.

*Weight I have been able to maintain my weight-loss fairly well. I bounce between 189-193 which is still under to 200lb mark I was at, so that makes me happy. I still haven't been able to see 187lbs at all yet, but I'm confidant that I will once I get back to the gym.

*Dentist Today I have a dentist appointment for a cleaning. So not looking forward to that.

Like I said, not a whole lot going on over here. I mean, we do stuff, but not much to really post about.
-BritneyMarie

Funny Things My Kids Have Said June Edition

2011-07-01T15:31:00.000-04:00

Olivia: "I wanna play Hide N Seek."
Me: "Okay, go play with Emma."
*from the other room*
Emma and Olivia: "1-2-3-4-5! Here I come! *giggles*
Me: "Okay, that's just not going to work."

Every time someone gets killed on "1000 Ways To Die", Olivia tells me how messy the death is. Each one gets a different description.

Olivia keeps asking to watch "Messy". Turns out that is what she calls "1000 Ways To Die".

*In the car when bringing Olivia back to Chick-Fil-A to meet Emma*
Liv: "I wanna see Grammie."
Me: "Do you miss her?"
Liv: "Yeah"
Me: "Do you miss your sister?"
Liv: "Yeah, I miss Emma."
Me: "You going to give her a big hug when you see her?"
Liv: "Nooooo. A big kiss!"

Olivia: "I want a skateboard."
Me: "You want a skateboard for your birthday?"
Olivia: "Yes. I want a Spongebob skateboard."
Emma: "I want a Princess skateboard."

Emma just asked Ricky what color his pee is. *sigh*

Captain America

2011-04-01T08:28:00.002-04:00

About to take the kids to school and then head to Zumba. I seem to keep gaining weight back. Not really sure why, but I need to figure it out before all the hard work I've put in is ruined.

Oh, and a bit of awesome...A few days ago I showed the kids the trailer to the new Captain America movie. And ever since then, all they can talk about is how they wanna go see Captain America. It's both awesome and annoying at the same time.

-Britney Marie

Down With The Sickness

2011-03-16T11:50:00.003-04:00

Ugh. *cough* I swear, ever since Ricky came home with sickness given to him by a coworker's kids our house has been a revolving door of sickness. Now all four of us have coughs, runny noses, and scratchy throats. I seem to actually have it the worst of everyone which is unusual. What really sucks is that it is Spring Break. So the kids are home. I guess it's kinda good because they don't have to miss school because of being sick, but it sucks for me because all I want to do is go back to sleep and all I keep hearing is, "Mommy! Juice!"

I haven't been to the gym in like 3 weeks. Fortunately this sickness has kinda stifled my appetite so I've lost another 2lbs. I'm at 188.5 based on our home scale with clothes on. I was that before, but I stopped paying attention to what I was eating and got back to 190lbs (with clothes off) at home and 192 at the gym. Last few days all I've eaten for breakfast and lunch has been turkey bacon. It's been extremely yummy.

I've also been watching a lot of "That 70's Show". It is hilarious. Okay, gotta go lay down on the couch now, beginning to feel delirious.

Olivia vs The Cherry Tomato

2011-03-03T16:43:00.005-05:00

After Stomach Flu

2011-02-25T15:45:00.001-05:00

Not much new to report over here. All of us are getting over the stomach flu. Today was my first day back at Zumba and it was a lot of fun. I've officially lost 11 pounds since the beginning of January. I'm so excited.

A Day Filled With Zumba

2011-02-07T16:24:00.002-05:00

Today I'm going to be taking the kids to ZumbAtomic for the first time. It's basically a Zumba dance class for kids. Ages are supposed to be 4-12, but the instructor said I could go ahead and bring the twins. I really hope they like it and do well. This first session is a free one to see how they do, and if they like it then it'll be on Monday's from 4pm-4:45pm.

Since ZumbAtomic ends at 4:45pm I am considering hitting the gym myself for the second time today at 5:30pm. I guess I'll wait and see how the kids are behaving before I go crazy and assume they'll be okay in the playroom. To be honest, the childcare at my gym leaves much to be desired. But it's all they have so it has to work.

Today I weighed in and I have gained one pound back. I'm really not worried about it since I lost 2 inches off my waist! The other day I went to Kohl's to get some more gym clothes and I was finally able to purchase Larges instead of X-Larges! It's not much but it means what I'm doing is working!

Time to take the kids to dance!

Better To Wait

2011-02-01T12:27:00.002-05:00

Sunday night I was all prepared to write a blog post about how much I suck and how I'll be stuck at this 5lb mark forever. But I decided to wait and see exactly how bad I'd been in the last week. So, Monday, at the gym I stop by the dreaded scale. I was fully ready to accept responsibility for what I had eaten in the last week and how little I did around the house to add to my exercising.

I stepped on it, closed my eyes, and saw the number 193. I had actually lost two more pounds! A total of 7lbs might not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but this has been the first time that I have been able to take more than 5lbs off with just eating right and exercising a couple times a week.

This makes me feel like I can reach 10lbs very soon. Which will put me at 190lbs which I haven't seen in a couple months. Sammi and I have been actively working out and eating right since the first of January, and to see 7lbs gone this month is just wonderful! I would've liked to have seen 10, but I can't complain about 7.

So, if I continue this trend of 7lbs a month, and I need to lose a total of 70lbs then by October I will be my goal weight of 130lbs. Throughout the summer months, I will be at my halfway point of 158lbs which is only 9lbs heaver than I was when I got pregnant with the twins...and I was happy with that weight at the time. I think that weight will deserve a new bathing suit. :-D

Down 2 Pounds, Up 1 Sickness

2011-01-27T14:20:00.002-05:00

From Friday (01-21) to Monday (01-24) I lost those two pounds that I had gained in the week before. Not really sure how I did it considering while in Tallahassee on Saturday I ate at Chick-Fil-A and Stake 'n' Shake. However it happened I'm just glad it did.

I'm also not sure how or where I picked up this sickness but I did. My eyes are burning (not all the time, usually when I wake up) my nose is running and draining into the back of my throat which gives me a sore throat and I can't stop coughing. Throughout the day I get headaches and earaches if I sniffle too much. Ugh. This sucks. I've got so much house cleaning to do that I am so far behind on. After dropping the kiddos off in the mornings I've been coming home and just sleeping until 1:30pm.

Speaking of, it's about that time today, gotta go pick up the kiddos.

5 Steps Forward, 2 Steps Back

2011-01-21T11:19:00.002-05:00

Today at the gym I discovered that I have gained 2lbs back. While I am not happy about this, I'm not that disappointed either. I'll be happy with 5 steps forward, 2 steps back if I can lose 5lbs again. :)

I know what did it too. While I have been trying to stay within my calorie limit it is sometimes hard to gauge portion sizes for certain foods. Plus this week I have been more hungry than usual. Not sure why that is but hopefully next week I'll be back to normal and not wanting to shove everything I see down my throat.

5lbs Gone...65lbs to Go

2011-01-17T11:34:00.003-05:00

I've been bad. Two days ago I ate ~~half a jar~~ a lot of peanut butter and went way over on my calories for the day. And then yesterday I ate macaroni and cheese for lunch with a root beer and ~~finished off the jar~~ ate some more peanut butter for a snack. I was seriously dreading hitting the gym this morning. Turns out, I didn't need to. 'Cause in spite of all the cheating I've done the past two days, I still managed to lose another pound since Friday.

That makes me feel so awesome. Not that I'm going to take this as a sign that I can cheat on my diet all the time. But it is so great to know that if I do fall off the wagon for a day or to that it is not the end of the world. I think that is a big problem that a lot of people have when trying a diet. They think that if they do badly on one day, what's the point of continuing. And I'll admit, I feel that way sometimes too. But then I just remember how far I've come so far (5lbs might not seem a lot to some people but it is to me) and I don't want to have to lose these same 5lbs over again. I want to add to it.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

2011-01-13T16:00:00.002-05:00

So, last night I gorged myself on some of the kiddos potty candy. M&M's to be exact. I was having a serious sweets craving and I figured those would be better than eating a whole bowl of ice cream, or worse, cinnamon rolls. *drools like Homer Simpson* Cinnamon rolls...*drools* *snaps back into reality*

With those tiny candies, came a caloric overage. I went over by 177 calories yesterday. I guess I should be mad at myself, but I'm actually not. I don't want this diet to be something that controls my life. If I wanna eat a pack of M&M's I'm going to allow myself to do that. What I'm not going to allow myself to do is eat more than one. I think that by giving in to my temptations sometimes it will let me feel like this is not a diet, but my choice. If that makes any sense at all.

Today I've been especially hungry. Not sure why. Maybe I'm just bored. I have all these crafting projects that I need to get done, but I've been lacking motivation to do them, plus I have all this housework that I've been procrastinating on. I need to sit down and make myself a list of things to do each day and only when I do a certain number of them can I sit down and check on my farm, and mafia, and cafe etc. (Damn you Facebook! And your games that suck me in! *pumps fist*)

I'm beginning to notice that one of the hardest things for me has been the drinking. I want so badly to drink a glass of tea or one (or six) of the two packs of root beer that Ricky brought me home the other day. But those are empty calories that I could be using to, y'know, eat. *sigh* I've actually done quite well in that department so far. I've reached for the tea pitcher and almost poured myself a glass, but grabbed the water at the last second. I need to get some more of those Propel Fitness waters. They taste like Kool-Aid but only have 10 calories per serving. And they break up the monotony of just drinking water constantly.

Tomorrow, Sammi and I will weigh-in at the gym after Zumba. I've almost done it here a couple times, but I'm a little scared to. Usually when I weigh myself I do it right before I hop in the shower in the morning. And I'm usually okay with the number that pops up. But when I get to the gym, I've got my clothes on and while I realize that just by adding clothes it will add a few pounds to the scale, it just always seems to be higher. Like one time I was 193 here at the house and I was 198 at the gym! My scale at home has never tipped over to 200, but the one at the gym did. I don't want to get my hopes up here and see a lower number just to be disappointed when I get there tomorrow. So, I'm going to try and hold out until tomorrow.

I really hope that the scale will be tipped in my favor tomorrow. Every time I've gone there the number just keeps creeping higher and higher no matter what I do. I've been trying really hard this time, and I just want that to be evident in the numbers.

Wish me luck tomorrow!

Another Year Gone By

2011-01-12T16:26:00.002-05:00

Here we go again. I swear I don't know why it is so hard for me to keep up with this thing. I'm on the computer constantly, and I used to be so good at writing everything down.

While I don't normally do New Year's Resolutions, this year I have decided that I will have one. I've decided that it is time for me to get serious about losing this weight that has seem to have crept up on me.

When we moved here from Tallahassee I was 154lbs. Monday I weighed in at 200. Not acceptable. I thought that number would never be seen again. The first, and what I presumed would be the last time, was when I was pregnant with the twins. The day I had them I was 210lbs. I thought those days were behind me, oh how wrong I was.

So, this year I have decided that I'm not going to lean on doctors to help me with a pill for a few months, or sit back and wish the pounds away. It is time for me to do something about it. And so far I've done okay.

My new cell phone has an app for weight loss. It is called My Fitness Pal. It allows me to keep track of my caloric intake and exercise throughout the day so I feel more accountable. So far I've been doing okay. I just started that on Monday and I have had a few times where I chose candy when I should have just drank a glass of water, but I think that is okay. I don't want to go overboard with this. If I want a few pieces of candy then I am not going to deprive myself of them. If I do, then I am going to make myself miserable on this diet and not do well on it.

My friend, Sammi and I have started going to the gym as well. We actually started going around October/November (I think) of 2010. We joined The Wellness and Fitness Center and started taking Zumba classes. I love it so much! Unfortunately, around Christmas we missed classes for about three weeks. And I spent that time taking care of sick children and sitting on my butt all day (not eating bon-bons, but I may as well have been). We started back in class this week. We've been attending the Monday and Friday 8:30am-9:30am class.

Today has been a pretty good eating day. I had two scrambled eggs with cheese and five pieces of turkey bacon for breakfast. And for lunch I had four scrambled eggs with cheese. My calorie limit is 1200 and I'm still under it for dinner. That's the hardest part for me. I'm usually okay during the day, but at night when I'm sitting around with Ricky watching The Food Network, all I wanna do is snack. Hopefully all the protein I've eaten today will help, and if I feel the need for a snack I can make more turkey bacon. But I may give in and eat some popcorn...which is better then the candy and ice cream that I am currently craving.

I Need More Time

2009-12-21T14:11:00.006-05:00

You'd think that since I started crafting for people's Christmas this past January that I would be ahead of the game. Yeah, no. I kept thinking, "Oh, I got started early, I've got plenty of time." That was a stupid stupid thing to think. I've only got four days left, three for my dad's side of the family and I've got a list of things to finish. I haven't even cut the material out for my step-dad's pajama pants.

I partly blame the kiddos. They love to get into things now, but it's not their fault. I miss the time before they were crawling. Set them on a blanket for their "tummy time" and I had all the time in the world while they napped next to me. And at the time, I was like, "I can't wait until they start walking and we can have fun!" I didn't think about all the changes that would bring. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that we can run outside and play kickball and soccer and tag and stuff, but I miss that time.

This past Saturday we took them to get their two-year old pictures and Christmas photos. The disc was too expensive for us this year, but I thiefed them from the sears website for your viewing pleasure.

Birthday photos, five months late.

This one is Emma:
This one is Olivia.

Sheesh!

2009-12-02T13:31:00.000-05:00

Gah. I'm a bad blogger. A very bad blogger. Time to step it up.

Busy Little Bee

2008-12-30T14:41:00.007-05:00

I still haven't gotten around to finishing the "Home is where the *nintendo* is", but I have finished a few other projects.

Legend of Zelda coasters:

These two are for sale in my etsy shop. Blinky (from Pac-Man) is made out of 1/2 inch square "pixels" and is glued on black 8.5x11 cardstock. The Space Invader is made out of 1 inch square "pixels" and is glued on white 12x12 cardstock.

"The Code" cross-stitch: Looking at it now, I should have moved "start" a little further away from the "B A". Eh. Too late now. :)

As per usual, there ar more, but at least this time I have a valid reason for not posting pictures...yet. They're gifts. Once I give them out, I'll upload the photos.

BritneyMarie

"C" Is For "Crafty"

2008-12-23T17:39:00.018-05:00

I don't know how I've done it, but I finally found the time between baking cookie sheets to upload some photos of the crafting I've been doing. Here they are for your enjoyment!

The first batch of pictures is of what I've been baking today. Two batches of fudge and four batches of cookies. There are a dozen cookies in each of the tins. I've still got to make two more batches of fudge and one batch of homemade chocolate covered marshmallows. And clean the kitchen...I've got to clean the kitchen. :)

I recently got into making coasters with Perler beads, here is what I've made so far:

This is a blanket I made for Ricky's previous boss at WCTV. He and his wife are expecting a baby in March.

This is a blanket I made for my friend Sidney. She and her husband expect their first baby in February. Her name is going to be Abby, but her nickname from me is "Guidette", so that's why it says that name.

BritneyMarie

Just Call Me "Martha"

2008-12-22T14:03:00.002-05:00

I haven't quite finished my cross-stitch that I was working on last week. But I have been doing a lot of other things. I've been baking like crazy, and I won't be stopping any time soon.

Last night I made a batch of fudge, today the twins and I are going to my mom's house to bake two red velvet cakes. This week I've planned on making homemade chocolate covered marshmallows, three more batches of fudge, chocolate and vanilla covered pretzels, and chocolate chip cookies.

Recently, I've started getting into making things with Perler beads. They make really good coasters. Hopefully I'll upload the pictures soon.

Well, I've got to head to Mom's house now.

BritneyMarie

Something I Never Thought I'd Say...

2008-12-13T19:30:00.002-05:00

"Get your tongue off the tv."

*sigh* You can tell I'm a mom. Hahaha!

BritneyMarie

Anniversary Present

2008-12-10T12:14:00.003-05:00

December 3rd was mine and Ricky's 3rd anniversary. Last year he made me a custom Jerry Orbach action figure, so this year I figured that I would create him something home-made as well. I've found a really cool geekery blog at www.spritestitch.com and have been thiefing patterns from them for a while. Here's what I made him:

It was supposed to be stitched on black material, but Hobby Lobby didn't have any when I went to pick it up...so I had to stitch the entire black area. I think it would have turned out better if I had the black fabric, but I'm still happy with it. It's got personality, as I like to say. :)

I'm in the process of making another cross-stitch, and will post pictures when I get it all finished. Hopefully that will be later in the day.

Oh, and Emma is officially a walker now. She walks everywhere!! She still falls every once in a while, but she's up and moving far longer than she's on the ground. Olivia is walking really good holding onto two hands, and sometimes one hand, but she hasn't tried to walk by herself more than one step. I'm sure once she sees Emma cruising along that it won't be long after. On the bright side, right now it's only one kid I have to run around after, not two like it will be soon. Thank Heaven for small miracles! LoL!

BritneyMarie

My First Pillow

2008-12-08T19:48:00.004-05:00

Since money is a little tight this year, I figured that I would make a lot of the gifts for Christmas. The first gift I made was a pair of pajama pants for my sister-in-law, but I forgot to take a picture of them before I wrapped them, so I'll have to update with a picture later. The second item I have made so far this year is a Winnie the Pooh pillow for a friend of mine who is a little over 8 weeks pregnant with her first child. She's not sure what she's having, but they decided to do the nursery in the vintage Winnie the Pooh. Here's the pillow:

The front:
The back:And yes, I made the ruffle myself. That's the part that took for-ev-er!!

BritneyMarie

Official Announcement

2008-12-04T14:53:00.001-05:00

My etsy shop is now open for business!!

StephanieGravatt.etsy.com

Walking & Moving & Packing...Oh My!

2008-09-24T15:21:00.000-04:00

Gosh, I've been so busy lately!

Tomorrow I'm taking the twins to my in-laws house for the next five days so we can finish packing up the apartment. We're moving in with my dad and step-mom on Friday. Hopefully they'll be moving out around Christmas and then we'll be buying my dad's house. I never realized how much useless crap Ricky and I have accumulated over the years. We've got almost everything packed, and we're not really missing anything we've packed...I don't know what that means. :)

Friday Dad, Mom and my step-dad are coming in to pack the u-haul and then we're driving in. I'm so ready to be done and over with moving. We have so many plans for the new house. We're going to be painting walls (as first requested by Taki! *smiles*) within two days of moving in. It's going to be really cramped for a few months bc my dad won't let us have our cats in the house, except for our bedroom. So for three months, we're going to have seven cats locked in our room...fun. I'm currently in the process of trying to talk him into letting them run around. But, we'll see how that goes.

Two days ago Emma took five steps, and yesterday she took six without crashing down. Liv has been able to take one before she falls, which I'll take! :)

Lately they've been getting into everything! Liv got behind the couch yesterday and we couldn't find her! Emma crawled up on some of our boxes and got three boxes high! Liv crawled into the kitchen and ate a handful of catfood before we stopped her from eating her second. Emma grabbed Ricky's X-Box controller, unpaused his game and managed to move his character around on the screen...I was impressed with that one. I also thing Emma is finally starting to associate words with things. She's understanding "juice" and now whenever I'm the only one home she says, "mamama" until after her nap (which is when Ricky is usually home) and the she starts in with the "dadada". They also both know that to open a door you've got to use the knob, but they can't quite reach it yet! It's so cute to see them on their tip-toes trying though!

That's pretty much all that's been going on over here.

They Said It Would Get Harder...And Now It Has!

2008-09-23T09:33:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was one of the most eventful days I've ever had with the twins! Here's what happened, in no particular order:

1. They were in The Octagon (which we now don't set up as an octagon. We prop it up around the couch and love seat so they can "walk" around.) The purpose of The Octagon is to keep them safe so I can go to different areas of the house. Well, I went into their room to help Ricky get some stuff to pack up and when I came back I only saw Emma. I looked all over the room for Olivia! Finally, I looked behind the couch, and there she was, chewing on the fan outlet plug! Needless to say, I freaked out a little bit. We no longer put The Octagon up like that when we do other things.

2. As I was setting The Octagon up, I picked Emma up and put her in it, and when I turned around to grab Olivia...she was gone. Gone to the kitchen to eat some kitty food. By the time I grabbed her, she had already eaten a few pieces and swallowed them and had her hand in the bowl for more.

3. We were in their room playing before bedtime and Ricky left to go to get a book for them from the living room. When he left and closed the door ('cause they have a bad habit of crawling off down the hallway now) and Olivia crawled over to the door, stood up on her tip-toes and was reaching for the doorknob to follow her daddy! She couldn't quite reach it, but it was nice to know she knew what to do with a door! LoL!

4. All day long Emma has been loudly saying, "Dadadadadada!" I keep telling her "Daddy's at work", but it doesn't do any good. :)

5. Both twins have finally started saying "Mama" and "Dada" albiet in their own little ways, and Emma a little more clearly and often, but they're still doing it! Yea!!

6. While we were playing on the floor, Emma crawled over to Ricky's X-Box controller, picked it up, unpaused his game and started moving his character around the screen. I know it was all a coincidence, but it was still pretty funny!

7. While we were in their room before bed, I stood Emma up (she's gotten really good at standing up by herself, but only when I stand her or she lets go...she can't sit and stand without touching something/someone yet...) and then she took a step! Over the course of a few stand up, take a step, fall down...she managed to take five steps one time before falling! I'm so happy! We got Olivia to take one step, which is really good! She usually does things a few days/weeks after Emma so her taking a step today is awesome!!

8. While playing in the living room, I look over and Emma is standing on top of a stack of boxes three boxes high! I don't know how she got up there, but she did and was headed for the window.

I kept hearing from different parents that once they're "mobile" it would get harder, and the other day I was thinking, "Eh, it's not that bad. They're mobile (crawling) and they're not getting into anything. I've got the best kids ever!" Yeah, right! haha!

In other news, Ricky and I are moving in 3 days. We're moving in with my dad, until he moves out sometime between October and December then we're going to buy his house (the house I grew up in). We've been packing for almost a month and still have so much left to do. All the things that are left out are things that we're still currently using, like the television and the computer. We've packed up our dvd collection and have been watching the same box of movies for a straight month. If I have to hear that VeggieTales theme one more time I'm going to shoot myself. The other day Ricky and I went to Best Buy and I got the twins a few (*ahem* ten *cough*) new movies to watch.

Oh, I almost forgot. Ricky and I went to the flea market on Saturday (we do *heart* our dirt malls) and there's this guy that has a booth there that we've purchased stuff from before. I got a couple Disney vinyls to frame (I like to frame records) and Ricky found me a New Kids On The Block cd from 1994. We've purchased from this guy before, but sometimes his merchandise isn't exactly what you thought you were buying. For example, one time Ricky got a cd and when he opened it, it wasn't in there. Another time, he bought a cd and there was two copies of it in there. For two dollars, it's not a huge deal that it happens every once in a while. But, when we got to the car, I had Ricky open it up to check to see what was actually in there. When he did, he looked at the front cover (on the inside of the case) and it was autographed! For two dollars, I got NKOTB's autograph! :)

On a completely different note, do you ever wish you could look at someone and tell them exactly what's on your mind instead of sugarcoating it all the time because you don't want to make them mad at you? 'Cause I do all the time.

Britney Marie

It's Been A While

2008-09-18T16:23:00.001-04:00

It's been a long time since I've posted. I didn't realize that. Hmmm....

Our family will be moving back to Panama City, in 9 days (that's next Saturday for those of you who can't count days). I'm really excited. We'll be living with my dad and step-mom until probably Christmas, but that won't be bad. They said we won't have to pay rent or utilities while they're there so basically we'll get to keep Ricky's entire paycheck.

The only thing I'm really going to miss are our friends we've made here.

BritneyMarie

"We Will Be What Is Up New York..."

2008-07-21T19:45:00.000-04:00

As per usual, not a whole lot has been going on over here. I didn't realize how long it had been since I have posted a blog, so I guess I'm about due.

I got my midterm grades back today. In my "Drugs in the Justice System" class I got an infuriating 89. Man, I hate that grade!!! One point away from an A!!! And in my "Law, Society and Administration of Justice" class, I got a 90. So, all in all, I'm doing fairly well. 'Course I have been studying my ass off!!

Graduation is in less than one month too! I'm so excited to be done with college!!

Emma and Olivia's first birthday turned out better than I could have expected.

Speaking of Em and Liv, we noticed yesterday that Emma has two new molars and a third one popping through any day now. So, that makes Emma's tooth count 10 and working on 11! I think Olivia is teething as well, she's been kinda fussy lately and drooling a lot, so we'll see what pops through in her mouth soon enough.

Well, I've got dishes to do and some dinner to eat!

Book Meme

2008-07-10T12:27:00.002-04:00

I'm bored and since I saw this on Hollow Squirrel, I figured I'd do it.

Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the next three sentences
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you

The book is, Drugs in American Society.

"Sedatives are general depressants; they retard signals passing through the central nervous system."

"As such, then, their effects are contrary or antagonistic to the stimulant drugs."

"Sedatives also slow down a number of functions and actions of a wide range of gorans of the body, as well as general activity, or "behavioral output.""

I'm tagging Sheena, Jessi, Gen, Heather, & Steen.

Reassurrance

2008-07-08T20:40:00.002-04:00

As I look around and see other people's kids (not other twins, though they certainly are doing this as well) doing so much more than Em and Liv, I can't help but wonder if it is because I'm not giving my girls enough attention. I try very hard to make sure I'm teaching them everday how to do things, but I wonder if because I'm having to do things for two, instead of one, that it is more difficult. Surely, it has to be easier to work one on one, than one on two (or more) right?

Please tell me that Em and Liv will catch up. Please tell me that they'll start walking and talking. Please!!!

Britney Marie

Almost All Wet

2008-07-03T01:33:00.004-04:00

The other night Ricky and I were outside talking to our neighbors (the ones right next to us). And all of a sudden we hear this big splash behind us. Our new upstairs neighbors, who I affectionately call "Smokey McSmokerson") dumped his cooler, garbage water, or something down through the slats of his balcony...directly onto our porch. He made no effort to try to dump it over the side into the bushes. Now, normally, when we're outside talking to our neighbors, Ricky and I are standing on our porch and they are standing on theirs. This time, however, we were all on their porch, which turned out to be quite lucky! The guy didn't even look! Ugh, I hate them already, and they haven't even been living there for a month yet!

The day "Smokey McSmokerson" moved in our entire apartment smelled like cigarette smoke. It was so bad in our kitchen that I couldn't go in there for more than five seconds without getting a horriffic headache. The maintenance man came by and sealed up some holes under our cabinet then went upstairs and did the same to their apartment. It smells a whole lot better, until we run the dryer, then we can smell it again. I've told the maintenance men, but they haven't come by to fix it again.

Dancing Through Life -- Wicked

2008-07-01T00:55:00.000-04:00

The trouble with schools is
They always try to teach the wrong lessons
Believe me, I've been kicked out
Of enough of them to know
They want you to become less callow
Less shallow
But I say: why invite stress in?
Stop studying strife
And learn to live the unexamined life

Dancing through life
Skimming the surface
Gliding where turf is smooth
Life's more painless
For the brainless
Why think too hard
When it's so soothing
Dancing through life
No need to tough it
When you can slough it off as I do
Nothing matters
But knowing nothing matters
It's just life
So keep dancing through

Dancing through life
Swaying and sweeping
And always keeping cool
Life is fraught-less
When you're thoughtless
Those who don't try
Never look foolish
Dancing through life
Mindless and careless
Make sure you wear less
Trouble and rife
Woes are fleeting
Blows are glancing
When you're dancing
Through life

2008-06-28T11:57:00.003-04:00

13 Days And Counting...

2008-06-21T00:11:00.002-04:00

In 13 days my little babies will no longer be little babies...they'll be little toddlers. I'm both excited and sad at the same time. This year has definitely flown by faster than I've ever noticed before. I can't believe all the things the girls have learned in the past year either.

When they were first born they would only take 25cc's of formula...and even then Olivia had trouble with that. At birth, Emma weighed 4lbs 14oz and Liv was a mere 3lbs 12oz. They have put on so much weight since then it's amazing! And I love it!!! Those first days in the hospital were so very different. Ricky and I would sleep in shifts because we didn't know we could both sleep with the baby in the room. Even though she was sleeping the whole time too...and it's not like we couldn't hear her when she cried! I remember the first time she spit up so badly it came out her nose. I was the only one in the room and I panicked. Seeing her face all red, her gasping for breath was just too much for me. Ricky was just outside the door and came rushing in to see me freaking out over her. He swooped in like some sort of super hero and took care of her with no problem at all. All I could do was sit on the cot and cry. Little did I know that she would do that more than just that once. Pretty soon I was a pro at cleaning up the projectlie vomit!

When I was discharged from the hospital (10 days later) Emma was big enough to come home with us. Liv was confined to the NICU for another week. It was so hard for me to leave her there. I felt like I was abandoning her. I cried everyday. And everyday I would get up and go visit her. Every time they would tell me she would be coming home very soon, she would take a step backwards and they'd say she needed to stay longer. For a few days she even had to have a feeding tube. Seeing her like that was like a knife in my heart.

Having both girls home was a big change from just having one. They both slept really well and were on the same schedule, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. From the time they were both home it was like time just hit fast-forward. One day they were sleeping-eating-pooping-crying machines, and the next they were staying awake, giggling and attempting to roll over.

I've noticed that while Emma does things before Olivia, Liv will do things faster. For example, from the time Emma realized she could move around by rolling places to the time she started crawling forward was a few weeks. When Liv realized she could go places by rolling, it only took her about a week to go forward. She's last getting it, but faster at figuring it out, if that makes any sense!

Now things have started to happen even faster. Two weeks ago, Emma pulled up while in her crib. Two days ago, Emma crawled over to one of her sit-in-and-play things (I'm not sure what they're called. They sit in the middle and have toys all around them) and pulled up using it. She stood there for a few minutes before she got bored with the toys that were on it. Yesterday, Emma stood up by herself holding on to the side of "The Octagon". She did this so she could see VeggieTales better. They love that show!! And today there were even more milestones! Emma used the couch to pull up, then a few minutes later when she did it again, she walked the length of the couch! Here's video of her doing it.

Also today, Ricky was holding Liv so she could stand up, he let go, and she stayed up! I just happened to be taking video when he did that, and I'm glad I was, 'cause she wouldn't do it again. Here's the video for that.

The final video I'm going to post is of Olivia crawling. I call it "The Wounded Soldier" Crawl. I have no idea why she crawls like this, but it gets her where she wants to go.

BritneyMarie

Grades

2008-05-24T12:23:00.002-04:00

I am doing a lot better this semester than I ever could have anticipated. We haven't done any class assignments, homework, papers, or exams in my Criminal Justice Policy class yet, so I don't have any grades in there. But we have done three in class writing assignments, a personal statement paper, and an exam in my Clinical/Counseling Psychology class. We haven't gotten a grade back on our paper, but so far I have gotten a 100/A on all three writing assignments and a 94/A on my first exam! Happy does not adequately describe my mood right now!

Britney Marie

The Death Match Continues

2008-05-21T01:31:00.001-04:00

I was not kidding when I said that putting the twins in "The Octagon" was a fight to the death. Here is what I caught Emma doing this afternoon.

I caught her not once, not twice, but three times crawling over Olivia, hitting her in the face and pulling her hair!

Britney Marie

The Octagon Baby Death Match

2008-05-13T00:35:00.008-04:00

Recently, we purchased one of those giant play-yards for the twins. It barely fits into our living room right now, but it was completely worth the $120 we paid for it. It lets the twins have their tummy-time on the floor so they can start crawling better, it keeps them away from all the stuff we haven't baby-proofed yet, and it gives me a little peace of mind knowing that inside they cannot (theoretically) get hurt.

y little bubble was burst the other day when I realized that the play-yard I purchased served no other purpose than to give my kids a death-match ring. Ricky calls it "The Octagon" and his tag line for it is, "Two babies go in, only one baby comes out." Which, lately has been true. For the past couple of days, every time we put them in "The Octagon", they start fighting over toys and kicking each other in the face. Emma has learned to crawl very well and when she sees Olivia playing with something, she army-crawls right over to take it from her...even if she's currently playing with the exact same toy! Liv has yet to be able to crawl forward for anything yet, so she just rolls and rolls until she gets to where she wants to be. This sometimes puts her right in Emma's path, so she gets crawled over...and kicked. Then the crying starts.

Well, on Friday I put them in "The Octagon" in the dining room so I could clean up the living room for a video game night we were having. All of a sudden Emma starts screaming like crazy. Ricky and I checked it out, but there seemed to be nothing wrong with her. So, we chalked it up to her wanting a snack or needing her diaper changed. So we changed them and fed them both and put them back in "The Octagon". Later that night, when I was putting Emma in her pajamas I looked at her arm and noticed this:

(It's really blurry, but you can kinda make it out. It looks so much worse in person, but Emma wouldn't sit still for me to get a decent photo.)
I can think of someone who has a bite pattern just like that:

Yep, Olivia had BIT her sister! I had always imagined it would be Emma biting first, but it looks like Liv got to it first. We haven't had a problem with Emma stealing toys or crawling over Liv since then, so I guess she got her point across.

Britney Marie

A Message From Olivia

2008-05-06T14:51:00.001-04:00

Mario Kart Wii and Some Other Crap

2008-05-02T00:48:00.002-04:00

Not a whole heck of a lot going on with me lately.

Got back from the Panic at the Disco concert (which I will blog about in-depth later). Just been hanging out at the house watching the twins.

Ricky and I got Mario Kart Wii the other day so that's been sucking up a lot of my time. If any of you guys who read my blog regularly want to connect our wii's just email me your nickname and Wii number and I'll do the same. If you don't have Mario Kart Wii...drop what you're doing right now and go get it. It's that awesome. The new controller is a little different to get used to, but it it so much easier than the old controller once you get it down. Just like driving a go-cart.

Tomorrow I've got a few errands to run. Got to go by the bank to deposit a check and I figured I try to see what type of loan we would qualify for. It's 99.9% certain we're going to buy my dad's house. He told me the other day that he would sell it to us for whatever we could get a loan for, even though the house is worth like double what we can afford. Seriously. The house is worth close to $300K and we're going to get it for under $150K.

I'm really excited about the new house. 'Course it's not really new to me. I lived in it for 10 years, but that's beside the point. Ricky and I have already started planning out what we're going to do with each room and where we're going to put all of our stuff.

Anywho, after the bank tomorrow I'm going to head up to FSU to get my books. I start my last semester on May 12th. I thought I started on the 20th, but apparently I was wrong. I'm glad I checked because I w0uld have shown up on the 20th and been very, very lost! I was expecting my books to cost me somewhere in the vicinity of $600 (four classes) but they were only a third of that. Things like that make me smile. *smiles*

Alrighty, well that's all the updating you get for now. I hear my Mario Kart Wii engine revving and that's my cue to race.

Britney Marie

How Far- Martina McBride

2008-04-28T04:25:00.001-04:00

There's a boat, I could sail away
There's the sky, I could catch a plane
There's a train, there's the tracks
I could leave and I could choose to not come back
Oh never come back

There you are, giving up the fight
Here I am begging you to try
Talk to me, let me in
But you just put your wall back up again
Oh when's it gonna end

[Chorus:]
How far do I have to go to make you understand
I wanna make this work so much it hurts, but I just can't
Keep on giving, go on living with the way things are
So I'm gonna walk away
And it's up to you to say how far

There's a chance I could change my mind
But I won't, not till you decide
What you want, what you need
Do you even care if I stay or leave
Oh, what's it gonna be

[Chorus]

Out of this chair, or just across the room
Halfway down the block or halfway to the moon

How far do I have to go to make you understand
I wanna make this work so much it hurts, but I just can't
Keep on giving, go on living with the way things are
So I'm gonna walk away
And it's up to you to say
YeahI'm gonna walk away
And it's up to you to say how far

The Next Nine Months Could Only Be More Eventful If I Was Pregnant

2008-04-24T21:59:00.004-04:00

The next nine months are going to be craaaazy!

First off I had a doctor's appointment today. Last weekend when we went into Panama City, my step-mom mentioned that she noticed quite a bit of hair loss. Ever since the twins were born I've noticed it too, but I just thought it was me losing the fullness of pregnancy hair. Apparently, it should have stopped by now, nine months later. So, she made me promise to go see a doctor about it. She's afraid I might have a low thyroid (hypothyroidism) or low iron (anemia). So, I made an appointment and went to see the doctor today. I got some blood drawn and have another appointment on May 8th to find out the results. I made the appointments, but I'm still not convinced it's anything. If it does happen to be anything, I'm suspecting anemia instead of hypothyroidism...I don't have any of the symptoms Y is dealing with.

May 20th I start back at FSU. I've got four more classes to take and then I can graduate. I'm taking three criminology classes and one psychology class. Two classes will be in the evenings from May to the beginning of July and the last two classes will also be in the evening from July to August. Six weeks for each class. It's probably going to take up most of my time but it's not like I update this thing regularly anyway. *smirk*

Also, right in the middle of classes will be the twins first birthday. The fourth of July is their actual birthday so we're going to have a pool party over at our apartment that afternoon. It's mostly going to be a family gathering with a few close friends invited. I've tried to start planning some of it now but there's only so much I can do so far in advance. Plus, I've got to get my butt into gear if I'm going to be seen in a bathing suit. *smiles*

August I will graduate from FSU and then come the job hunt in Panama City. We've all but been given my Dad's house so it's almost 100% definite that we'll be moving. He is planning on being in Pensacola by the first of the year so that means we're also going to have to move by then. So, right after graduation comes the job hunt and packing up all our crap and hauling it back the two hours from whence we came. I still cannot believe we're moving back to Panama City...but that house is just not something we can pass up. We'd never be able to find something that big for as cheap as we're going to get it.

I just really hope that I'll be able to do everything that I'm working on. I don't want anything to suffer because I've overextended myself. I'm trying to take one thing at a time. Unfortunately, some things overlap so it's going to be difficult to do at times.

Tomorrow a friend of mine and I will be driving to Atlanta for a concert on Saturday. We're going to see Panic at the Disco. I'm really excited. It will be the second time I've seen them in concert. The last time I saw them was for my birthday in November '06. It was the greatest concert I had seen. They put on such a great show. I'm not sure what they'll do this time since they've scaled back their music so much, but I'm sure it's still going to be great. Since Deidre and I are part of the PATD fan-club we get early entry into the concert. The concert doesn't start until 6pm, but we're going to get there at 4p so we can get close to the stage. The only thing that really sucks about going to see PATD is the fact that most of the fan-base if adolescent girls that just want to get up front because "Oh em gee...Brendon is soooooooooo hawt!" *Gag* That was the same problem we had at the last two Fall Out Boy concerts. Everyone wants to get up to swoon.

Anywho, I'll be updating when I get back with some pictures from the concert. Until then, I leave you with a message from Emma:

Britney Marie

Might Be Leaving Tallahassee

2008-04-22T13:02:00.002-04:00

Over the past weekend I was hit with some pretty big news. My dad, who has lived in the same house for 14 years has decided to move to Pensacola. I was not expecting this at all. It came as a complete shock to me. Nothing even hinted that this was coming. It was dinner then *bam* news.

The first thing out of my mouth when he told me was "I want your house." And I do. I grew up in that house and I really don't want to see it going to anyone else. So, Ricky and I are in negotiations with my dad and my mom (who is still on the deed) to purchase his house. It is five bedrooms and three bathrooms...3500sq ft. To us it will be a mansion.

Unfortunately it is in Panama City, the one place I swore I would never move back to. I guess that goes to show you that you can't always tell what the future will hold.

Luckily, my dad has told me he would work with us as much as possible to make sure we get the house because he wants us to have it. Also, it is right next door to my grandparents (paternal). So, the twins will definitely get to know their great-grandparents.

My dad won't be moving until January so we still have a good 9 months to plan everything out.

I'm really excited.

Britney Marie

Riddle

2008-04-16T11:07:00.002-04:00

Question: How many times do you have to call the maintenance men to come replace a fluorescent light bulb in your kitchen so you can see?

Answer: I'll let you know when they actually come fix it. Three times and counting...

*UPDATE*
Three. The answer is three.

Britney Marie

Laughing Matter

2008-04-12T19:59:00.006-04:00

Today the girls came home from Panama City. Ricky and I missed them like crazy! They were quite happy to be home as well.

Here's Emma:

Here's Olivia:

They were so sleepy from the trip home that they fell asleep right after their 3pm bottle. When we put them to bed Liv kinda woke up, but Em was still out.

Britney Marie

Total Request Live

2008-04-10T11:07:00.005-04:00

Well...it's not exactly "live", but it is total request.

It's come to my attention that my Flickr buddies would like to see some videos of the twins. Since I'm too poor to shell out any money for a pro account on Flickr, I figured I could do the next best thing. Blog them. So here they are, some videos of the twins.

This first one is the twins discovering the baby wipe box:

This one is Emma doing her best to crawl to a toy she's spotted:

This last one is Olivia playing with a toy radio she got for Easter:

Hope you guys like them!

Britney Marie

No Kids = Freedom No So Much Freedom

2008-04-09T16:05:00.003-04:00

Since my in-laws came in to pick up the twins for the week, I thought I would be able to get some errands done during the day. Grocery shopping and just going to stores in general with twins by yourself is a big hassle and I try to avoid it as much as possible. Ricky gets home at 1:30pm anyway so usually we both go wherever we need to. But since the girls are both gone Monday-Thursday I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to head to some stores I never get a chance to go to.

It was a good plan...in theory. Actual execution didn't go so well.

Tuesday I went to meet up with Ricky for lunch. Everything was great. When I went to leave WCTV my car wouldn't start. To make a long story short I had to call AAA and get a tow truck and now my car has been at an automotive repair shop since then. I still haven't gotten the call to tell me what exactly is wrong with it.

This morning I got up at 3am and took Ricky to work so I could use his car all day. Not exactly the freedom I was picturing.

Britney Marie

Is It Me, Them, Or Neither?

2008-04-07T05:32:00.002-04:00

Lately I've started to worry about the twins. I know I'm not supposed to compare them to other people, but it's really hard not to. Everyone at Ricky's work keeps asking if they're walking yet. No, only one of them is barely crawling. They're not sitting up on their own yet, they're not pulling up yet, they're not talking yet, they're not walking yet, they're not using sippy cups yet, and they just recently started rolling over really good. All of this at nine months old. I just feel like they should be doing so much more.

Part of me wants to blame myself for not working with them as much as I should. I feel like I should be right there with them 24 hours a day right by their sides instead of letting them do some things on their own together.

Am I crazy? Am I paranoid? Am I not doing enough? I hate this feeling.

Britney Marie

The Lady And The "Dee Dee Dee"

2008-04-02T16:51:00.002-04:00

The transition into hated lady who lives in the apartment complex is well underway. Last night about 11pm I hear girlish giggling and screaming from the pool which is right next to the twins bedroom window. I look outside and see eight or ten people out there. This isn't the first time people have been out there after hours and lately they've been teenagers throwing lawn chairs, beer bottles and televisions in the pool. I look at the clock to double check that it is in fact 11pm (the pool closes at 10pm) and I go get my sneakers. I march myself outside in my pajamas, no socks and sneakers and proceed to tell those people what's what.

"Excuse me..."

They didn't hear me.

"EXCUSE ME..."

"Oh, Hi!" The dad, who was sitting on the edge of the pool says.

"Uh, my kids window is right there *points to the window 20 feet away* and my kids and husband are trying to sleep. Can you guys keep it down?"

"You heard the lady. Be quiet"

It's still really weird for me, who is only 22 years old, to be referred to as "the lady". I felt kind of bad because apparently the people who were doing all the screaming were little girls about 7 years old...and they were having a sleep over because it's Spring Break. I didn't feel bad for long though because their parents should know better than to have a sleep over on a Tuesday night...people have to go to work even if their kids are home from school.

Oh, and a funny story that I almost forgot.

I go to our apartments office to renew our lease. I get there and one of the ladies asks whether the twins are identical or fraternal. I say they're identical. The other lady who works there tells me she is an identical twin too. (This is important.) So, the twin lady then asks me if I had "boys, girls or one of each"! COME ON! How can I have a boy and a girl if they're identical!!! I can understand, maybe, hearing it from someone who knows nothing about twins, but coming from someone who IS a twin...DEE DEE DEE! (I've been watching a lot of "Mind of Mencia" lately, forgive me!)

Britney Marie

Can You Tell It's New?

2008-03-31T01:19:00.003-04:00

Something is different, and none of you out there in blogland can tell. I am sitting here typing this entry on a brand spankin' new computer. Today I sent Ricky to Best Buy to purchase a new computer. The old one we had crapped out on us on more than one occasion. This time I ended up losing all the photographs I had taken between March 14th and yesterday. Yep, no Easter Sunday pictures of the twins for us. I was so mad about that!! So, Ricky went and got a new computer and monitor. Luckily we had gotten a new printer for Christmas. So far it seems to be working rather well. I'm not sure how much I like Window's Vista yet. It's a little different.

For the first time ever, SuperChunk was actively trying to crawl. She would get up on her hands and knees, but from there she didn't know what to do so she would fall back down. I kept trying to put things just out of her reach so she would crawl to them, but she just wasn't getting it. I expect her to start crawling very very soon. SubChunk on the other hand was quite content staring at the underside of the coffee table. To each his own, I guess!

The twins still aren't sitting up by themselves. I'm starting to wonder if they ever will! Though I thought that about rolling over too and now they do it all the time. I guess I just need to be more patient. SuperChunk's two front teeth came through the other day. She looks so goofy! Now she has a total of six teeth, four up top and two on the bottom. SubChunk still has two and two.

I guess I should probably wrap this up and head to bed. G'night all!

Britney Marie

Don't You Hate It When...

2008-03-26T23:50:00.003-04:00

- You have one day to go turn in your paperwork for college and when you ask them if that's everything you need they say yes and then call you the next day to tell you there was more you needed to fill out.

-You've been craving fettuccine alfredo all day and when you get home from house hunting for three hours you realize you don't have any alfredo sauce.

-You go to the grocery store specifically to get cat litter and you come home with $140 worth of groceries and no cat litter.

- You get through 97% on a song on Expert on Guitar Hero III and you get booed off the stage.

-You get vomited on by two different people in the span of one hour.

- You have all intentions of folding and putting away the laundry, but you never actually get to it.

'Cause I do.

Britney Marie

Because I Just Got Around To Making It

2008-03-26T23:45:00.001-04:00

Don’t You Hate It When...

2008-03-26T21:57:00.000-04:00

- You have one day to go turn in your paperwork for college and when you ask them if that’s everything you need they say yes and then call you the next day to tell you there was more you needed to fill out.

-You’ve been craving fettuccine alfredo all day and when you get home from house hunting for three hours you realize you don’t have any alfredo sauce.

-You go to the grocery store specifically to get cat litter and you come home with $140 worth of groceries and no cat litter.

- You get through 97% on a song on Expert on Guitar Hero III and you get booed off the stage.

-You get vomited on by two different people in the span of one hour.

- You have all intentions of folding and putting away the laundry, but you never actually get to it.

’Cause I do.

The Last Nail In My Coffin

2008-03-17T23:21:00.003-04:00

Today I signed up for the last four classes I (presumably) will ever take in college. I say presumably, because technically I was supposed to graduate last year. Last Spring I took the last six classes that I needed, took my graduation photos, applied for graduation...and then got pregnant. So, those last six classes I intended to attend turned into mornings, afternoons and evenings of throwing up and trying to find a temperature between hot and cold that I liked. My teachers tried to work with me as best they could but none of them could give me what I needed. And I needed to be able to do the work online, not in a classroom. So, I managed to pass two of my classes, one being an online class and the other being a class with a very senile teacher that gave me a B on a paper I never wrote.

After I had the twins I decided that I wanted to get my degree because I was so close. I've still not decided whether or not I want to pursue my intended career...but that's a blog for another day. So, I had a meeting with my adviser, found out I needed four classes and signed up for them today. I will be attending FSU from May 12t through August 8th and then I will be an official FSU graduate.

This time I can guarantee that pregnancy will not stop me. :)

Britney Marie

Gobble Gobble Click

2008-03-12T19:52:00.002-04:00

Tonight I got one of those annoying telemarketer calls. I hate them. Every time I tell them to take me off whatever list I've been put on, I get a dozen more calls from different people. I know people need jobs and telemarketing is a way to make money, but come on! I get like fifteen calls a day! That is just stupid!

However, a few minutes ago I got a telemarketing call that I think deserves some recognition. I get a call from a lady named Julie. She goes through her entire speech about how I've won a thousand dollar online shopping spree and how she will also send me any two magazine subscriptions that I choose. After politely listening to her entire speech (as if she gave me a chance to interject anything!) I told her that I would like to be taken off whatever list she got my number from. As soon as I said that...and I kid you not...she gobbled like a turkey at me and hung up the phone. I'm still not sure what that means.

Britney Marie

Anyone Have An Answer?

2008-03-03T22:50:00.000-05:00

How do you get someone to listen, when you know they won't want to hear what you have to say?

Britney Marie

A Question I’m Pondering

2008-03-03T09:50:00.000-05:00

How do you get someone to listen, when you know they won't want to hear what you have to say?

Britney Marie

Exhaustion And Stress Don't Mix Welll

2008-02-22T14:46:00.003-05:00

This weekend, the family and I were supposed to travel to Panama City for the Red Stocking Review. My mom is in it every year they do it. Ricky woke up this morning with the flu. So, all day I've been taking care of both twins and Ricky. I'm so exhausted. Plus I only got three hours of sleep last night. We found out that our rent is going up from $715 a month to $750 a month...and Ricky and I can't afford it. We can barely make it for $715 as it is! And I wish I was exaggerating. So, now we've got to come up with some way to make up the difference or find a new place to work. And our lease is up on the first of May. Yeah, that's right, we have less than three months to find somewhere else to live, come up with deposits, or figure out a way to stay here.

I've also decided to finish up at FSU. I've got ten hours left which is equal to three classes and a one hour course. All that I have to take is a psychology class for my minor and the other ones can be whatever I want. I'm thinking about just doing the three classes as online classes so I don't have to leave the house and I can do my work at my own pace. I did that the last semester I was at FSU and I managed to get an A- in the web-based class. So I know I can handle the workload.

Another thing that has been on my mind is my weight. When the twins were born, I lost thirty pounds of the 62 pounds I gained. Somehow between the time I lost it and now, I've gained ten of it back! I got rid of all my maternity pants (gave them away to a friend who is expecting this month!) and went shopping to get new pants. Now my new pants no longer fit. I hate going out of the house now. Every time I have to get dressed I get so depressed. And it stays on my mind all day. I keep telling myself that I'm going to start dieting...and I do...then I get hungry. And I fail. it's so easy to tell yourself you're not going to eat when you're full! Ugh, I feel like such a failure.

On top of all that, I've got the normal household things to keep up with. Taking care of twins is no easy feat and I know it's not going to get any easier. Once they get mobile and start crawling/walking it's just going to be that much harder. I try to keep up with all the chores around the house, but sometimes I just need a few hours to myself. So, sometimes things don't get done. I have a pile of laundry that needs to be folded and put away, but I just don't have the drive to do so at the moment. The litterboxes need to be changed and the floors need to be vacuumed.

I feel terrible for the way I'm feeling now. (Does that make any sense?) I know Ricky is sick and can't help it and all, but I can't help but feel angry that my weekend was stolen away from me. We were supposed to be in Panama City, seeing a show, watching movies with friends, visiting the parents and grandparents and getting some alone time together. I guess I'm not upset with him, I'm just upset at the situation.

Typing all this has given me a headache...or maybe the headache could be from the rainy weather outside. Whatever the case, I'm going to close.

Britney Marie

Big News

2008-02-21T09:01:00.000-05:00

I spoke with my adivsor at FSU yesterday. I need 10 hours and I can graduate. One psychology class, two electives, and a one hour p.e. class. I think instead of the p.e. class I'll take another online elective. But after the summer semester I will be an FSU graduate. I'm so excited!!

Britney Marie

Romantic Rambo

2008-02-08T23:26:00.000-05:00

My life is boring. There has been nothing interesting to write about. Ricky and I have been playing a lot of Guitar Hero, I've been watching a lot of tv on dvd, and the twins have been growing like weeds. I can't believe they're already 7-months old! I can't believe the things they're doing. They both flip over from their backs to their stomachs constantly, but can't seem to go the other way. Every morning when I go in there to get them out of bed I'm greeted by the biggest "dubba toof" (as Ricky says) grins! Oh, oh, and SuperChunk has a third tooth coming in. One on top. Now Ricky calls her "trippa toof". SubChunk doesn't look like she's getting a third tooth for a while now, but I'm sure it won't be too long.

Tomorrow my dad and step-mom are coming in for the day. Ricky and I get to go on a date. I guess it's going to count as our Valentine's Day date because we won't be able to get away from the kids on the actual holiday. We're planning on going to dinner and then a movie. Not sure about the restaurant, but we're going to see the new Rambo movie. How romantic. :)

Britney Marie

The Sunshine Oven

2008-01-21T01:53:00.000-05:00

I want to move somewhere it snows. In my 22 years of existence, I have only seen snow three times. Once when I was four, once when I was 15 and once when I was 16. That's it. Three times. I believe there is something wrong with that.

I've been trying to talk Ricky into moving me somewhere it snows...I don't even care where anymore. Just somewhere it snows a decent amount. My preference would be somewhere in New York or Pennsylvania, but I'm at the point where I don't care where. He could choose Alaska or Canada and I'd say, "When do we leave?"

I hate Florida. I swear, Florida is an oven masked as a state.

Britney Marie

A Weekend Alone...Well, Sorta.

2008-01-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

Today my mom is coming up to pick up Super-Chunk and Sub-Chunk. My step-dad is out of town for two weeks and mom says she wants the company. Ricky and I had a previous engagement of a video game night at our house so we were unable to head out of town this weekend. Best of luck to her by herself.

Saturday is supposed to be a video game night here, but I was told yesterday that no one is going to be able to show up. Kinda sucks, but that leaves more time for Ricky, Sidney and I to watch crappy horror movies. I've got a few lined up including a gem called "Murder Party." Should be fun.

Nothing else really going on over here, except for the fact that I should be cleaning. I should always be cleaning something. Eh. I'll get to it later.

Britney Marie

I Hate Sleep. It Ruins My Whole Day

2008-01-16T10:54:00.002-05:00

Something told me that I should just stay up for the three hours. Something told me that going to sleep would be a bad idea. Something was right.

I finally poured myself into bed around 4am. That meant I had three hours until I was supposed to get up and get ready to take the girls to the doctor. At 7am, when my alarm was supposed to go off, there was silence. I'm not exactly sure what caused me to wake up...but I did at 8:30am. That's right! I've got thirty minutes to get up, get dressed, shower, get the girls up, feed them get them dressed, pack the diaper bag and drive to the doctors.

As I sleepily glance at the clock and notice what time it is I shoot out of bed and run around the house in a panic. No time for a shower. No time to get dressed. I did manage to change out of my pj pants and into jeans. Yep, still wearing the same shirt from yesterday...and covering my gross hair in a baseball cap.

I go into the twins room and get them up and changed. I thought about putting them in onesies and jeans, but looked at the clock again and decided not to. They both went in their pajamas. I got them both into the car seats only to realize that when one of our cats got locked in their room last night, they peed in Sub-Chunk's car seat. The same one I just strapped her into.

I managed to carry them both into the living room and then began the frantic search for my sneakers. Behind the couch of all places. Then I realize that they hadn't eaten anything and would soon be screaming for food. So I run into the kitchen and quickly make two bottles to take with us. This whole time, the twins are completely silent except for a few cooing giggles.

The whole time all of this is going on I am reminded of a line from Mel Brook's movie "Young Frankenstein." It goes, "Could be worse." "How" "Could be raining." Somehow that line always make me feel a little better. Except today. I open the sliding door blinds to reveal...rain. Now it's worse, 'cause it's raining.

I get both twins in the car with minimal rain hitting them and myself. I look at the clock again. Ten minutes til 9. And I'm only five minutes away from the doctor. I rule.

At my doctor's office they have a big window right next to the front door so you can see everyone who is coming in. There are three families sitting inside, all looking out the window. (This is important....They're all looking out the window.) I come up to the door with one kid in each hand, a diaper bag thrown over my shoulder and am even more wet now. Does anyone open the door for me? Hells no. They sit there and look at me all dry from the inside. So, I set down Super-Chunk, open the door, prop it open with my foot, pick up Super-Chunk, wedge myself into the doorway, kick it open a little more behind me and pretty much fall into the room. Everyone is looking at me...still. I hear a few people whisper, "Aww, look she's got twins." Like they didn't see me outside. People suck.

When I finally get them all signed in and in the waiting room, a nurse comes up and tells me I have paperwork to fill out because they're updating their system. Nevermind the fact that none of my information has changed. So, instead of getting to feed Sub-Chunk or Super-Chunk, I've got to fill out pointless paperwork. After I get all that filled out, I can finally feed someone. I pick up the Sub-Chunk and manage to get the whole bottle in her before they call us back.

I had called a few days ago to see if they could reschedule us for an afternoon appointment so Ricky could be there to help me with them. They told me the earliest they would be able to get us in if we rescheduled was March, so that wasn't an option. They did tell me, however, that a nurse would be available to help me since Ricky couldn't. I thought that was a great idea. And it was...in theory. See, for something like this to work, a nurse would actually have to help me out instead of, y'know, doing nothing.

I get back to the little room and get Sub-Chunk undressed so she can be weighed. The nurse takes her so I can undress Super-Chunk. After they are weighed (Super-Chunk is 16lbs and Sub-Chunk is 15lbs) the nurse brings them in and leaves. After an hour, yes that's right, a freaking HOUR, the twins start to get restless. They're undressed, cold, uncomfortable, somewhere unfamiliar, and I am unable to hold them both to comfort them. I am alway so afraid I'm going to drop them when I hold them both on something other than carpet. By this point they're both crying because I can only hold one at a time. When the doctor finally comes in, I'm pissed. There was only one person ahead of me on the well-check side of the office. An hour is unacceptable. So, when the doctor is all, "So how are we doing today?" I snap at her. "I have been here an hour, I was told I would have some help and both my kids are uncomfortable!" I felt kinda bad after that so I tried to be as nice as possible with the rest of the question/answer session.

When the doctor left, I was told that a nurse was getting their shots ready. Yes, that's multiple shots. Each twin had four shots plus some liquid. They did pretty good with the shots. Yeah, they both screamed bloody murder, but it took a few seconds for them to realize what was happening and by that time they were already on the third shot.

After their shots, the nurse just leaves. No offering to help get one of the screaming twins dressed. Nothing. So, I've got two screaming, thrashing, crying kids on this high table and I'm supposed to get them both in their clothes. Yeah. Right. I manage to get Super-Chunk in hers and then I've got the problem of getting one screaming thrashing infant into a car seat while the other infant is screaming and thrashing on this high table.

The good news to this is that once I got them in their car seats they got all happy again. And they were silent except for happy coos until we got home. They whined a little as I was getting them out of their seats, but once they got into their swings, they were passed out within literally 30seconds. We've been home an hour and they're both still asleep.

Since they're sleeping, I'm going to take this opportunity to go take a much needed and deserved shower. Hope all your days go better than mine has so far.

Britney Marie

The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow

2008-01-16T01:37:00.000-05:00

I should be sleeping right now. I've got to take both twins to the doctors in seven hours...and that's seven hours until their actual appointment. That doesn't include time to feed them, dress them, dress myself and get out the door plus drive time. Ugh. Tomorrow is going to suck...er...I guess that would be today...today is going to suck.

I'm just not tired yet. I normally don't head off to bed for another hour or so. Right now I'm just starting to feel the tiredness kick in, but it's not enough for me to actually fall asleep. Plus, anytime I start to think about all the housework that I didn't do today..it makes me want to stay up even longer so I can get this place livable again.

Friday my mom is coming up to pick up the twins for the weekend. My step-dad is going to be out of town, so she wants some company. I told her good luck! Friday my best friend is also coming up to spend the weekend with us. I haven't seen her since Christmas. Saturday we're supposed to have Ricky's co-workers come by and play some video games. More specifically, Guitar Hero (I, II & III), Wii Bowling, and Mario Kart. We always have a good time when they come over.

I was hoping this weekend that we would be able to go see Juno...I've really wanted to see that since I saw the preview, but I think our weekend is pretty much filled up now. Perhaps another time.

Britney Marie

2008-01-14T23:44:00.001-05:00

Never

2008-01-13T21:56:00.000-05:00

I really have no idea why I continue to keep these things. I never have anything to write about.

Britney Marie

Routine

2008-01-11T04:52:00.000-05:00

Around here we have pretty much the same routine everyday. Get up, feed babies, clean the house, watch movies, feed babies, go to bed. Ever since the twins were born Ricky and I don't do anything. We don't go anywhere. Not that we really went anywhere before them, but it's gotten a lot worse. We don't leave the house unless we absolutely have to. As in, go to work, get groceries, and doctor's appointments. Other than that, we're hermits. We used to go out and do things. But with two infants in tow is gets harder and harder to go anywhere.

Recently I have begun to notice that routine has drifted into the things that I watch as well. There are three movies and a television show that I can guarantee one of will be in my dvd player. "40 Year Old Virgin", "Knocked Up", "Superbad" and "Freaks and Geeks". Judd Apatow is my hero. I honestly cannot tell you how many times I have see the aforementioned movies/show. I can literally quote some scenes verbatim. If you haven't seen all of these I would highly recommend them all. I'm watching "Superbad" as I type this.

Back Again

2008-01-08T21:38:00.000-05:00

This is like the third time I have attempted to create a blog. I have never been able to stick with it longer than a few days. I guess it's one of my resolutions to start and keep one of these things. We'll see how it goes.

BritneyMarie

BritneyMarie

P90x Day 5: Legs and Back

P90x Day 4: Yoga X

P90x Day 3: Shoulders and Arms

P90x Day 2: Plyometrics

P90x Day 1: Chest and Back

Just Dance, Baby!

Other Funny Things *January Edition*

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *January Edition*

How Many Black Widow Spiders Does It Take To Make An Infestation?

Bullet Post

P90x Day One

Work-Out Partner

It's Worse Than I Thought

Body Measurements & 'Before' Photos

I Must Be Out Of My Mind

The Day Olivia Sent Emma To The Emergency Room

Three Projects Down...About A Million To Go

Kids Corner

We've Had It Over A Year...Probably Should Get Started

Other Funny Things *December Edition*

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *December Edition*

Other Funny Things *November Edition*

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *November Edition*

Photoshoot

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *October Edition*

Happy Halloween, From The Batman Family

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *September Edition*

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *August Edition*

Home Management Binder

Clean, Clean, Clean!

Thanks, But That's Enough Poop For Now.

Start And Stop

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *July Edition*

The One Where I Explain Things...

The Gym and Laundry

Bullets

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *June Edition*

Captain America

Down With The Sickness

Olivia vs The Cherry Tomato

After Stomach Flu

A Day Filled With Zumba

Better To Wait

Down 2 Pounds, Up 1 Sickness

5 Steps Forward, 2 Steps Back

5lbs Gone...65lbs to Go

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Another Year Gone By

I Need More Time

Sheesh!

Busy Little Bee

"C" Is For "Crafty"

Just Call Me "Martha"

Something I Never Thought I'd Say...

Anniversary Present

My First Pillow

Official Announcement

Walking & Moving & Packing...Oh My!

They Said It Would Get Harder...And Now It Has!

It's Been A While

"We Will Be What Is Up New York..."

Book Meme

Reassurrance

Almost All Wet

Dancing Through Life -- Wicked

13 Days And Counting...

Grades

The Death Match Continues

The Octagon Baby Death Match

A Message From Olivia

Mario Kart Wii and Some Other Crap

How Far- Martina McBride

The Next Nine Months Could Only Be More Eventful If I Was Pregnant

Might Be Leaving Tallahassee

Riddle

Laughing Matter

Total Request Live

No Kids = Freedom No So Much Freedom

Is It Me, Them, Or Neither?

Other Funny Things January Edition

Funny Things My Kids Have Said January Edition

Other Funny Things December Edition

Funny Things My Kids Have Said December Edition

Other Funny Things November Edition

Funny Things My Kids Have Said November Edition

Funny Things My Kids Have Said October Edition

Funny Things My Kids Have Said September Edition

Funny Things My Kids Have Said August Edition

Funny Things My Kids Have Said July Edition

Funny Things My Kids Have Said June Edition

Gobble Gobble Click