it's nice to have friends that are crazy too.

i do believe this all started way back in june when a certain someone said
'i think you should run a half marathon with me'
to which i replied 'if there's free food - i'm in. duh.'

and the the immediate registration commenced.
somewhere along the way we picked up two more suckers, as well.
and that is how we started spending two to three evenings a week and saturday mornings together for days and months and years on end.
there was a lot of water consumed on front lawns and some parking lots, a lot of aggression taken out on the pavement, a few dogs got a stick shook at 'em, a TON of spitting (that one's all me, for the record ;) and entirely to much laughter and occasional dancing to be running.
not a one of us wanted to meet up at 5am on saturday mornings, but we did. and after we'd knock out 10miles before 7am - you couldn't bring us off of cloud nine if you wanted.


this is the only pic of the four of us on race day. together we don't even make up a whole healthy person {see: one foot, no knees, and one lung} and yet i wouldn't have wanted to do so much work with any other girls. they kicked my tail when i needed it and refused to let me back out when i got burned out.
it's probably the INSANE amount of group texting that kept us all going. all day. every day.

little known fact about me {actually well known, if you've known me for any length of time} - i hate running.
i was that whiny girl in high school who always got out of running around the track due to this, that or the other. i threw shot-put for crying out loud - just so i wouldn't have to run.
running has always been so hard for me, but it wasn't until this year that i found out why.
there were many days when we were training that i would be the last one in, even some days when i refused to run, knowing full well my lungs couldn't handle it. but all it would take would be one good run to get my game back together.

race day was no different. lungs felt great, weather was great, i did everything exactly as i did on my usual early morning runs, ate all the same foods, etc.
we were doing AWESOME, keeping our pace consistent and generally having a great time - even on the hills! hills are stupid. ps. 

and then came mile 5.
where i promptly puked my guts up.
i have no idea if it was from mistakenly drinking gatorade instead of water at one of the stations or  nerves or if i sucked in too much out of my inhaler, but i'd been pushing it down for two miles and couldn't take it any longer.
i seriously debated calling it quits. the girls were already ahead of me. i wasn't far from the start/finish line, i could just walk back. i was totes over it and just wanted to lie down.
but i had a 'come to Jesus meeting' with myself and said 'self - quit being a tit.'
i walked it out and eventually got back to where i could run, but could tell i was pretty much the definition of dehydration.
we had ran the route of the race so many mornings, that i knew exactly how much longer it would take for me to get to 'x' spot and just kept that going in my head.
eventually i finished.
not in the time i had anticipated or wanted, but i finished.
and promptly collapsed on the ground. and i'm pretty sure i blacked out a little.
it was awesome. sike.

tutu went to eat chinese for lunch and when i picked her up later that afternoon, she said 'oh mom, i got you a fortune cookie...'
i opened the package and these words of wisdom were inside.
needless to say, the bug hit me all over again.
i think i may get it in a tattoo.
here's to the next one. and not puking. and friends who are half crazy, too.

xoxo.
-a.

when the cat's away.

saturday is game day - OF COURSE.
we grabbed us some breakfast at eight mile {biscuits for the win!} and then headed to the early morning game.
my girl can c h e e r. in case you haven't heard. i absolutely l o v e watching her do her thing!

cheering for the eagles in the morning and the hogs in the afternoon is the norm around here.
but we had a few more boys to cheer on this saturday, too.

oh yes, their dad is totes into getting electrocuted and swimming in a pool of ice for fun.

 

we were so pumped to hear the bowtie boys all made it through in one piece.

seriously - they're all pretty old. 

and obviously pretty awesome. duh.

after the game, all tutu could talk about was chinese food.

and that is how i got my kids addicted to lettuce wraps.
yes, she actually uses chopsticks. she's multi-talented.

next stop of the day was the zoo!
ashes got us a membership for christmas last year and the kids and i have used it at least once a month and aren't the least bit tired of it yet. such a wonderful gift!
little did we know, it was zoo members appreciation day.
free snacks and carousel rides are the coolest.

something tells me i've seen that face somewhere before, dubs.

all tu talked about on the drive down was how she wanted to feed the parrots and have one sit on her shoulder.
obviously i've let her watch pirates of the caribbean one too many times.

oh, she was so excited to have them feed out of that little cup the workers gave her!
(ps. yes, i know it's not a parrot. it's beak isn't near big enough to be toucan sam.)

we got home just in time to watch the hogs give me hope and then rip it away.

i don't even want to talk about it right now.....

as to be expected when i'm in charge - we had this for dinner:

i had some extremely H A P P Y kiddo's on my hands, let me tell ya.
we snuggled up and watched a movie until they fell asleep on me.
being their mom is my most favorite thing ever.
and i'm pretty sure they're kind of fond of me too.

old habits die hard. with a vengence.

for the life of me. one of these days i'm going to stop staying up until the wee hours of the morning to get crap stuff done and attempt to live the next day on three hours of sleep - rolling into work with a venti iced carmel macchiato and a random t-shirt on. you mark my words. but for the last thirty years, it's been workin' for me. so if it ain't broke don't fix it.

MOVING ON.

back it up to last friday, yo.
outfit of the day brought to you courtesy of the razorback's starting lineman {see circa 2029}:

camo shorts and a razorback t-shirt.
standard pre-game-day attire.
always.

after a nice 7 mile run before 7am and an early morning eagle red pee-wee football game - we headed up to the HILL.
the drive seriously never gets old to me.
ever.

i have this thing for marching bands.
in case you didn't know.

tutu loves her hogs!!
that girl CHEERED the ENTIRE game without tiring. and belted out the fight song a few times, too.
one hundred and five degrees in the stadium and i still got chills when they ran onto the field.
happens every time. cannot wait to see what this season holds!!!
hit that line.
hit that line.

insert cheer practices, homework, worship, and a visitation to round out our week.
and cherry berry.
because it was the only food gift card i could find in my wallet and blueberry tart is basically two food groups in one. dairy AND fruit for the win.

see. told you old habits die hard.

i could get along fine in portugal, i do believe.

in the middle of the night, when i can't seem to fall asleep, i pin.
i'm a pinner. 
no sleep aids or magic potions, usually just a little pinning and i'm on my way.
a few nights ago, i stumbled upon a sweet simple tattoo that read 'saudade'.
insert the immediate googling here.
and teaching myself how to use the snipping tool. woot woot.

after reading this, i've never felt something so whole-heartedly and all at once.
this past week has taken a toll i wasn't quite expecting and left me a bit overwhelmed and yet starkly empty.
and longing for things i love, far out of my grasp.

at least portugal gets it. i could totes be bff with portugal.

saudade.

i'm gonna go with overrated for $300, alex.

i've never been one to sleep like a normal person. early to bed and early to rise and all that jazz has never been my thing. it's crazy really. i can stay up until 3:30am without a blink of an eye - but ask me to actually wake up at 3:30am and it's like you're standing in front of me with two heads speaking greek. never. gonna. happen. ever. i wish i had some sort of explanation as to why i'm wired this way. it would be so awesome to be one of those morning people that get up and work out and run first thing. but i wake up most days wanting to punch morning in the throat and needing noon to roll around to feel fully awake. that's why God made coffee. duh.

it's been a significant amount of time since i last stayed up listening to my favorites (see: freddie, scott and seth, bon iver, gnr, salt n peppa; at what point does one get cut off from using the word 'favorite'? because this list is lengthy), working on projects, solving the worlds problems and such. and yet here i am again. when all is chaos and nothing is as i believe it should be, there is always the middle of the night..... and jim croce. he's here too. i only wish my words could convince myself, that it just wasn't real... pure poetry, jim. so, here's to me and jim and solving the worlds problems and finishing a birthday shirt for a girl named joseph - during one of my most favorite times of the day. the part where one is ending and another beginning. because sleep is for babies and old people. and that will never change.

randoms. three to be exact.

1. in desperate need of fresh air and water - i took my {new electric purple} kayak out on the 'lake' by where i live. i use the term 'lake' loosely. disgustingly gross brown murkiness with stumps every foot and a half is more like it - but it hit the spot none-the-less.

2. a lady at a restaurant whispered the following earlier: 'your little girl is so beautiful, don't get me wrong - but that boy! oh, that boy!!' i just smiled. because its true. 7 months and he's already a charmer. I've given up all hope. he grins or laughs or cuts his eyes and I melt. completely.

3. my sweet baby girl hit a milestone just a little bit ago. she came in telling me her belly hurt - i thought she was just saying it so she could watch aladdin with me. she got her a blanket and almost got on the couch when it happened.... puke. everywhere. mainly on ME. but then everywhere. {except the couch! winning.} THREE times. everywhere. she is resting comfortably now, probably thanking the Lord for her ONE parent who handles disgusting situations so well. bless her sweet heart.



- Posted using BlogPress from april's iPhone

spice girls lunch

this was year numero dos for our 'spice girls lunch' ;)

for those of you who have never heard of the spice girls, i highly suggest you google them.

they were pretty rockin' in the late 90's.

this year, we met at a half-way point for all of us - in a lovely little mexican restaurant.

because, one thing has not changed in the least little bit over 10 years.

our mutual love for salsa, chips, and all that is mexican food.

here is ava holding sweet baby delta ;) i cannot believe she just turned a year old!!

and here are ava & kayden!!

ha - it looks like she having to hold him beside her to take a picture - haha!

and here are our three babies!!!

they are all so adorable & they get along so well!!

i am so thankful to still have these girls {and now their hubbies & kiddo's} in my life :)

and if you're wondering why i keep referring to us as the spice girls...

aimee : air guitar, tamera : vocals, april : drums

it was always amazing what we could do with a friday night, no t.v., a TON of hairspray, a hairbrush & a flower arrangement ;)

d.j. : baby spice, april : posh spice, aimee : ginger spice, tamera : scary spice

love those girls.

and the fact that they put these on facebook for ALL the world to see ;)

Hey, Slacker Much?!

I am seriously going to try to do better, seriously!!

I am soooo far behind in posting, I have a lot to catch up on - so here. we. go...

D.Might played some old man city league flag football again this year - taped hamstrings & all.

Unfortunately, the weather was not too wonderful, so Ava & I only made it to one game.

The last one to be exact.

I learned to not even ask him how the game was when he'd get home - I always got the same answer to my question...

Me: 'So, how'd it go?'

D: 'How do you think {aka: we lost}?'

Needless to say, we didn't expect much from the last game...

Who in their right mind would have guessed they would have won the only game Ava & I showed up to?!?!

Above are D.Might & Bart {his BFF, although he'll trip that I just typed that, HA!} with Ava & Kinley {Bart's little girl} - those girls were just the luck the team needed!!

Like those awesome Cookie Monster shirts weren't enough luck... pshaw y'all!

Ava was hollering for her Daddy & his friends the whole game - it was too cute!!

Of course, she got to play with her buddy, Kinley, too :)

These girls are sooo sweet!!

___________________________

PopPop came over one afternoon when the weather was nice to play outside with Ava!

It was a much needed break in the rain & they stayed outside all afternoon!

When I went outside to check the mail, this was the sight I saw & I just had to snap a pic...

Yes, PopPop is wearing Ava's hot pink headband like he's Hiawatha - haha!

He raised two girls... he's used to it...

__________________________

We celebrated National Chocolate Cupcake Day!

{fyi - it is a real holiday, not just something I made up just to eat cake... although we all know I'd so totally do that :) }

Ava is always such a good helper in the kitchen!

____________________________

One evening while D. was hunting {did I mention that started up again?? that's right - this 'deer widow' will be comforting herself & her child at Target more than likely :) } - anyways - while he was out hunting, Ava & I went with PopPop to New China for supper.

We. Love. New. China.

There was a couple seated next to us who were eating with chopsticks & when Ava saw them, she just had to have some, too...

I snapped this pic of her chowing down on her noodles while using her chopsticks because I have had a pic of me at a young age {not age 3 mind you, more like 3rd grade} eating with chopsticks while watching t.v. in our living room. Then it occurred to me it was at my parents house PF {Pre-Fire - I so totally just made that up ;)} so therefore, it is no more :( - but I DO remember the picture & my super short hair cut, too :)

________________________________

I just thought Ava looked cute one morning...

She wanted her hair pulled back so it wouldn't interfere with her oatmeal eating.

She loves her some oatmeal for breakfast!

Isn't her headband so screamin' cute?!

_______________________________

Okay, y'all, most pics on here are of Ava & D.Might & such, because I'm the one always taking the pictures... but I had D. snap a pic of me before church one morning...

Did ya' see my shoes??!!

I MADE THEM!!!

Yessiree, I sure did - the night before, in fact.

I work best under pressure :)

I love going over to ...love maegan to see what she's wearing every day, not to mention she gives some fabulous DIY's & this was one of them!!

Love. Those. Shoes.

This little cutie wanted her picture taken, too...

In her sweet little cardigan {that I also altered the night before :)} & her little knee socks!

Precious - just precious!!

Okay - more to come later - I realized I hadn't even posted about Labor Day!!

I'm so behind...

Good thing I like 'ketchup' ;)!

Make New Friends :: But Keep The Old...

Sooo - I took the plunge over the summer & finally jumped on the Facebook bandwagon!

I honestly didn't think it would be something I would enjoy, but OBVIOUSLY by my lack of blog posting I spend a little time on it :)
For those of you who don't know, I attended a fairly small school here in Central Arkansas - everyone knew everyone in my class...
and their Grandma...
and their Grandma's dogs' name...
Ya know what I mean?!
So I've kept a few tabs on some of my dear friends throughout the years as we've gone on with our lives.
Some I stayed closely in touch with - others whom at one time or another were my BFF, I hadn't talked to or seen since Graduation...
And then I joined Facebook.
So glad I did.
I'm not one of those people who are going to hold a grudge against you because you didn't call me for 3 months {or 8 years, whatev} - and lucky for me, my friends aren't like that either....

Senior Flags, Majorettes, & Drum Majors - 2001

Dinin' at The Sizzler - 2000

After 8 years, we all reconnected through Facebook & had ourselves a little 'reunion' one Saturday.

We met for lunch & parted ways about 4 hours later...

It was so wonderful to catch up with these girls & go about ourselves like we never skipped a beat, missed a milestone, or forgot for one day about each other :)
Love them all!!
_____________________________

FB also connected me with another group of gals I hung out with in my younger years...

Rockin' Out - 2000

English Class - 1999

8 years & 3 kids later - it's like we hadn't been apart one day since Graduation...

Love these girls & those precious kid-o's too!!
_________________________________

Oh.....
And did I mention I have a friend on FB who was born around 1932???

Oh yes --
My Ninner is on FB!!
She is a computer WIZ let me tell ya' - she can post to your wall, send you messages to your inbox, she's loves the 'like' button, too :) - she knows FB in & out!!

I'm so glad she invests the time to do all these little things that help us stay in touch!!

Love you, Ninner!!!

And for those of you who were not in Girl Scouts....
the Title of the Post:

Make new friends...
but keep the old...
one is silver and the other gold...

Buckle Up - It's Gonna be a RANDOM Ride!!!!

So it's been like 4.3 billion years since I've blogged - so without further adue...


We had a play day at the park a few days before Ava started preschool - you know, one last HOORAH with her buddies. After we played, we headed to eat some pizza & Brooke & Molly wanted to ride with us!

I just beamed with joy when I took this picture!
This is why we bought the huge SUV.
This is why I'm so thankful I get to stay home with my baby.
Looking back in the rear view at this site, listening to them sing along to the Little Mermaid - it really brought it all home for me :)
_____________________________________

I was looking around the house for Ava one day and found her here...

....how can that possibly be comfortable?!?!
I didn't dare move her, though! Whatever works :)
_______________________________

My sister got her a place in downtown LR a few weeks ago & we went down to help her move in to her new place! I must say it is quite awesome & the views are spectacular!

We walked around the River Market during one of our 'breaks' & couldn't pass up a photo-op on the Bridge!

We stumbled upon this little jewel for dinner - it's right across the street from Ash's place - I'm so jealous it's not even funny... Seriously some of the best pizza I've ever had - and we all know I've had a lot...
__________________________________

And last, but certainly not least...
my Bestie & her hubs are finally having a little bundle of joy of their own!!!
I'm just beside myself with excitement!!!!!

circa 1995

I'd better start thinking up a killer name for this child to call me - you just can't find much better than Kiki... lylas :)

My Favorite Kind of NESS

Randomness, that is.

Get ready - 'cause here it comes...

Ava caught her very first fish in Mimi & PawPaw's pond!!

Of course, there was a pink and purple Barbie fishing pole & tackle box for the occasion - gotta train her right!

____________________________________

When my cousin was little, I remember a specific incident involving a tub of Crisco.

No, she didn't get in trouble, but I had to grab the camera!

It apparently is in her genes.

At least it's just lotion and NOT Crisco!

_____________________________________

Ava & D.Might had an early Father's Day Dinner Friday night - just the two of them!

Yes, we went through 6 pictures of her doing this - just. like. her. momma. We eventually got a good one, though :)

Short & random - how it should be!

Happy Monday everyone!

How I Roll

Me & Gig, yesterday afternoon at my parents house.

My Sis is never happy unless there are 148 pics to be taken, so I usually make these types of faces until she gives up :)

I snagged this off her Facebook page which donned the caption:

'Local Prisoners'

Happy Monday!

Just Another Manic Monday

{WARNING: Weak stomach's please look away. All events are in fact real & actually happened yesterday.}

Nine o'clock already
I was just in the middle of shopping
I was runnin' to the register
Just try-in' to pay for my things

But all of a sudden
Just right of of the clear blue
Poor Ava started throwing up
And I didn't have a clue what to do

It was just another Manic Monday
Sure wasn't a fun-day
It was supposed to be my
'Go-to-town-and-run-around' day
But it was just another Manic Monday

Changed her clothes and wiped her down
Tried to keep her calm as she cried
Buckled her in and headed home
She couldn't have kept it all in if she tried

'Cause the poor girl threw up again
Just as we were getting on the Interstate
Her clean clothes, her car seat, and the floor
none of them realized their fate

It was just another Manic Monday
Sure wasn't a fun-day
It was turning out to be my
'Clean-it-all-up' day
It was just another Manic Monday

Of all of the days
Why did the Cat have to pick yesterday
To throw up as well
When we got home
All I could to was groan-
'Put it all in the washer-
everything we own.'
Took out the car seat
It will have to be hosed down
'Oh no! We're almost out of Lysol!
Quick, someone run to town!'

It was just another Manic Monday
Sure wasn't a fun-day
It turned out to be a
'Awww!-That-poor-baby' day
It was just another Manic Monday

{This post strictly to commemorate Ava's first experience with the above stated activities}

Original 'Manic Monday' by The Bangles Lyrics

We will return to our regularly scheduled posting once this has all gone away. Gone very, very far away.

Lazy Saturday Afternoon

Oh yes, I'm blogging from the couch....

It is soooo nice...

Watching some more March Madness - I've watched more basketball in the last few days than I have in my whole life...

At least the games have been interesting!

Did anyone catch the Mizzou player shoot the 3-pt. from 1/4 down the court -

and make it?!?!

That was awesome....

Then there was the O.U. player who hit his head on the backboard while slam-dunking the ball - and played the rest of the game - that's dedication right there...

I would've asked for at least an ice pack...

Moving on...

Ava helped around the house today... she 'cleaned' her playroom....

See that there pile of toys in the corner???

That's what happens when you tell your almost-3-year-old to

'Please pick up your toys, so I can vacuum'

(just for clarification purposes - I haven't left the couch, D.Might vacuumed - he's wonderful like that :)

She was so proud of herself! And, technically - she did do what was asked of her :)

Oh yes, she's still in her night-night gown - but her legs were cold, so she went to her closet to put on a pair of (nice, not play) pants.....

I give up.... what can I say, I'm still in my PJ's, too...

Pizza for supper, more b-ball & maybe a little laundry if I can squeeze it in....

Hope y'all are enjoying your weekend as much as we are!!

Just call me 'K.O.'....

We had a little visitor last week...

Our first glimpse of her was - of course - at Hobby Lobby....

Ava was so excited to see Ashes & would not leave her side!

We took several pics in HL - just one never seems to be enough for her...

She approves/disapproves each one & then keeps taking them until I start making awful faces & such - which just delays the process since she stops to delete them...

That night, we all met up at my parent's house for some supper & Wii!!!

That Chicken Bacon Swiss sandwich was delish (even though it did have 'sauce' on it...)

After we were full on Arby's & delish Cupcakes on Kavenaugh organic cupcakes, we decided to gear up for some game time!

Bowling was first!

We all took a swing at it (yes, even sweet Ava had to get in on the action)...

In my younger days, there was a shot of me (and all my matchy-matchy outfit, big bow, scrunched socked glory) bowling in the local paper....

Oh & I can't leave out D.Might- when he was a kid, he was actually in a bowling league - so he doesn't count at Wii, because he's already too awesome at it...

Not to brag, but I was doing pri-T good at that there Wii Bowling game - until someone came along, without any experience what-so-ever & set a new record...

Who knew Ashes was a bowler at heart???

After some rousing rounds of bowling (aka - after I was sick & tired of getting beaten by my lil' sis over & over again...) we (by we, I mean me) moved onto Boxing....

Who would've thought I could have a calling as a professional boxer??

Seriously....

Rounds 1-3 I played with my cute sweater on - Knocking 'em Out every round -
then I got serious about it...
The sweater came off (it was beginning to hinder my punches) for rounds 4-8 and there wasn't a single guy who could stay standing up against me!

That's right, I Knocked all of them Out!

This was my first time Boxing - so I didn't make it all the rounds - it's a little more work on my lovely lady arms than holding the microphone that they're used to...

Needless to say, my success at the game put the fear in all those who were watching & my poor arms were pretty sore the day after - but oh it was so much fun!

So - just so there's no confusion - make sure you stay on my good side....

and just call me K.O. ....