my {daily} life in bullet points

What I've been up to (don't pretend like you weren't dying to know):

• Running - I'm trying to train to run the River Bank 5K "fast(er)" and we've got a 10K on the calendar for June. I am officially saying crazy runner things like "After you run five, what's another mile or two?" and "I love to run." I'm using Hal Higdon's site as a guide.
• 31 Days to Clean {Having a Martha House the Mary Way} - I found this devotional/e-book through my cousin Kristin and I convinced a couple of dear friends to commit to doing it with me over the course of the next 5 weeks or so. Each reading consists of two things: The Mary Challenge - Something you do that encourages/engages your heart; and The Martha Challenge – Specific cleaning tasks.
• Purging, organizing, simplifying - right now I'm working on pricing garage sale stuff and now that it's all in one spot at the end of my basement I can't believe how clean/empty it looks down there. I am also enjoying extra cupboard, drawer and closet space upstairs. 
• Trying out a new cookbook, The Stocked Kitchen - the authors spoke to our MOPS group but I missed that meeting. I've heard good things about it though so I'm going to give it a try. The idea is that you keep your kitchen stocked with the ingredients on their grocery list and then you are able to make any of the 300+ recipes in their cookbook. Spend less, stress less, waste less and enjoy cooking more (or so they say).
• Taking pictures for my 365 blog - I wasn't sure if I could keep up with this when I started and there are days where it is a bit hard but for the most part it's easier than I thought it would be. When I look back at the past 253 days I am so so thankful that I started this journey. There are many moments, big and small, that I would not have captured without this blog and it's helped me to look a life from a different angle.
• And the usual: wiping noses, paying bills, fixing Slinkys, chasing the baby around the neighborhood. driving to t-ball practice, forgetting to send in show & tell items.

How about you? What have you been up to? 

Bullet Points

• The Olympics are ruining my life. I'm a tad bit obsessed and it's hard to fit any other activities into my life when I'm watching Olympic coverage from 10am to 4pm and then 8pm to 12am. Today I resisted turning the TV on during the day (except to watch the amazing men's relay from last night that I had DVR'ed), and I'm going to DVR the prime time coverage again tonight, so I can put off watching it until later tonight and then zip through the commercials. Sad that this much thought has gone into this, I know. I expect to get my life back in approximately two weeks.
• We just found out that we have a Disney vacation/cruise with my family to look forward to in October. We've had it on our list of vacations to do for a while, and everything worked out for everyone to go this fall. We'll be spending four days in the parks and three days on the boat. I've started skimming guidebooks and I'm excited to take our kids but also a little overwhelmed!
• Mark your calendars...my Birthday Week is coming up. I know most people only get one day to celebrate their birthdays, but I prefer to stretch out the celebrating as long as possible, usually into an entire week if I can swing it. Thursday we kick off the festivities at Matt's parents' for dinner, Friday is a picnic in the park in Holland with my family, Saturday is date night, and Sunday (my actual b-day) is a get-together with Matt's mom's side for all the summer birthdays. This is really only a Birthday Long Weekend this year, but it'll do.

Bullet Points (because sometimes it's just easier this way)

• Matt and I have joined a gym...he's a pretty regular runner these days but I am most definitely not and it's about time that I start getting some regular exercise (no more I'm pregnant/I have a newborn excuses available). We discovered that we could join Fitness 19 where Matt's grandma goes if we signed up under her for the low price of $5/month each. It's hard to pass that deal up. Plus, if Matt's 70-something year old grandma can find time/energy to exercise, I guess I can too!
• We rang in the New Year with our friends Katie, Ernie, and Xavier McCallum...they came to our house and we made humungous homemade stromboli, watched the kids run around, and then the girls watched a Jon & Kate Plus Eight marathon while the guys worked on their Guitar Hero skills. We finally got all three kids in bed and then played Trivial Pursuit and watched the ball drop. The fun wasn't over then though because the McCallums spent the night and we made a New Year's breakfast in the morning.
• I now own a pair of snowboots for the first time since about the 8th grade and I couldn't be happier. I've been trying to take the kids outside more this winter and I was tired of having freezing feet. I'm thinking I should invest in some snow pants next...
• We are leaving for the Bahamas with my family on Saturday. Only 2 1/2 more days to get the pile of stuff accumulating in our guest room into suitcases.

Lists

Things I am sad about...

I have been enjoying HGTV (we have Charter now instead of Comcast) for about two months and now I'm starting to see repeats...I hate that.

My 3 year old wants NOTHING to do with potty training. As in doesn't want to even talk about it.

My house is perpetually messy. Toys everywhere make me CRAZY.


Things I am happy about...

A good friend just announced a pregnancy...I'll wait until I'm sure she's 100% done telling people before I tell you who!

My cousin Kristin and her family just announced they are moving back to Michigan (and super close to me...about 5 minutes away!)

Hobby Lobby's sales...I love 50% off sticker week.

Our house looks good with snow on it. So far, I like fall and winter here. Hopefully spring and summer will be good too :).

The way kids can sense when they've got it good...Dylan is at my mom's today and Ella is very happily and quietly playing with all of his Cars cars...something that is usually off limits when he's home!

I will be in the sunny Bahamas in exactly one month!