Kate=happy in a Texas Summer!?!

oh yes, it's true. We have been having a blast this summer. I'd like to give a "shout out" to the following:

1)AMC theaters-for giving us $1 movies, an exceptionally cold AC, delicious popcorn (rated 10 by Benjamin), and finally not getting angry and kicking us out when the popcorn and goodies are gone and we spend the last half of the movie running up and down the aisles screaming, "Mommy, I can't see you, where are you?"

2)Our Local Public Library-to you our greatest thanks for summer programs and especially for inviting Jungle Jim over to scare our kids silly with snakes, spiders, turtles, and scorpions. The really cool play area, that is not really a play area that has kept my kids entertained while mom picks out our weekly stash of new books. And lastly for providing the endless collection of new books and slightly scratched DVD's to read and watch during our daily "quiet time" hour.

3)Friends with benefits(not what you are thinking)-this shout out goes to good friends who have invited us over to eat, swim in their pool, or just to hang out-thus providing me a break from the continuous search for cheap childish entertainment.

4)Life Time Fitness-aka world's greatest gym ever! Thank you for giving us your pool. We have spent countless hours this week in your chlorine filled chill tanks. Texas has been pounding out near 100 degree temperatures the last few days which we have failed to notice due to all the splashin' we've been doing at your facility. Not to mention my white, white water babies have tan lines. Yup, you heard me right, tan lines. Thought it was impossible? Yeah, I did too. Kudos for your child care area that blows all other child care areas out the the water. While the kids are happy jumpin it up in the bounce house or climbing in the gigantic jungle gym, I challenge the stair master and pump some iron all that I can look better in my new

5)Layers swim suit-the summer just wouldn't be the same without you. You've booster my confidence immensely pulling and hugging in just the right places. I love you, and I am so glad we have found each other this year. Not to mention Wes really likes you too. Good job on the good work. Click here to view.

If I have failed to mention anyone or thing that has also added to my summer enjoyment, please accept my deepest, heartfelt appreciation.

Party, party, party...PARTY!!!

Most of this week was spent at home in bed as we were all sick. The boys had nasty colds, I had laryngitis and I think a sinus infection, and Wes had the flu and some strange stomach bug. So by the end of the week we were rip roaring ready to get out and party. Logan's good friend(the parents are our good friends as well) had a b-day party that we all went to. We BBQ, played, and visited while the kids jumped in the bounce house and trampoline, swam, and ran in the sprinklers. Then we had a surprise visitor, none other than Batman!!!

Oh Bat girl was there too!!

You Don't understand how excited Logan was to see Batman!!

"I saw you beat Dracula yesterday in the movies!!"

When he walked in the kids didn't quite know how to react. It was so funny. I think Logan was the most enamoured. He wouldn't leave poor Batman alone. We had just rented Batman vs Dracula a few days earlier and Logan had to give Batman the run down on the movie. It was pretty funny. Logan said to me after he left, "See mom, Batman really is real!!"

Weight Loss Time

I think this might be my second blog entry ever, but I am bored out of my skizull so I thought I would contribute. One evening last week while Kate was at camp I was making the boys some dinner and just had the tv on some random channel. Well, that show The King of Queens came on and right when it did Ben pointed to the tv at Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) and started saying "daddy" probably 7 0r 8 times. I know I have been packing it on, but kids tell it just like it is. I had been contemplating for a while on whether to start training again like I used to in college and looking for something to push me over the motivational edge. Well there it was, my own kid telling me I looked like Doug Heffernan. Then this morning I was making them some breakfast and Ben saw a picture of Matthew McConaughey on a dvd that we have. Of course he had his shirt off, and Ben pointed to the picture and said "daddy". So bye bye motivation and hellooooooooooo Whopper & fries, Braums (best ice cream), Wing Stop french fries, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Coke, and chips (any and all kinds).

Wes

I got back from girl's camp on Saturday. It went phenomenally!! Many, many prayers were answered last week, and the best part was...I got to come home to these two cuties.

They do look like me!!

I never thought that my boys looked like me, except for the fact that they are blonde and blue eyed. Then last week my mom sent these pictures to me of when I was little. What do you think, can you see Logan and Ben in these?

Lucky Number 7

We did it, we made it seven years. We can't believe it has been that long, but then on the other hand we can. It's funny how even though we met at college we feel like we have known each other forever. How grateful I am to be married to my best friend. Thank you Wes for being such a stellar husband, father, and companion. You rock, rock'n'roll, rock around the clock, keep rockin', rock on, and rock out.

Stick 'em up!

Yesterday Logan had a friend over to play. I was in the kitchen but could overhear their conversation. It was hilarious. They were playing cops and robbers. First Coleman would say, "Put your hands behind your back." Then Logan would say, "But officer, I didn't do anything wrong." They then took turns escorting eachother to the county prison.

So today as we were going swimming Logan stopped in front of the sauna and stared, turned to me and then said, "Mom, why are those guys in jail?"

Texas, how do I love thee...

Or not!! We just got back from beautiful, cockroachless Colorado. While we were there I asked Wes every night on the phone these two questions, "Did you see any cockroaches today?" and "Was it hot today?" Everyday, he replied the same. "Nope, not today" and "Not to bad." In the entire two weeks we were gone Wes only killed one cockroach, just one. So how have I been handling killing a cockroach every single day since I have been home?

NOT WELL AT ALL!!

Not to mention the weather has been unseasonably hot.

How do you Texans deal with the nasties of this muggy, humid state? I'm afraid of the heat during the day and the critters at night. I'm doomed to a long summer trapped inside my cockroach infested house.

Were back...

Were home!! The boys and I really enjoyed our trip to Colorado. We arrived on May 17 and began partying right away. We had a delicious BBQ with my brother and his cute little family. The weather was gorgeous and it was so nice to just sit outside while the kids ran around. My brother then put up the trampoline and let the boys jump away. It was hilarious to watch Ben getting bounced around like a little rag doll. He couldn't even stand up before he was knocked over again, but he loved it.

Monday my mom and I went for a run around the outskirts of town. The view was incredible!! My normal running path consists of car exhaust and the aroma of a doughnut shop. However, this path was laden with beautiful snow capped peaks and fresh mountain air.
Tuesday night my mom brought up the subject of girls camp. I also got an email from our director asking who our speaker was. I forgot to get it lined up before I left so I spent the next little while getting phone numbers and making calls. My mom made an Asian chicken salad for dinner. It was great going down, but with the stress of girls camp the salad didn't sit well. My stomach churned and churned until about 8 when I puked up that salad. It was awful coming back up. I am not one to throw up. I haven't thrown up since I was a sophomore in high school. Needless to say I spent the rest of the evening and night emptying the contents of my belly.
Can you guess what I did all day Wednesday? Yep, slept. All day, what an awful way to spend a vacation day. My appetite was never quite the same after that day. However that night Ben got sick and puked all over me...then came the diarrhea. Let me tell you that was so much fun.
The next few days my mom and I spent preparing for my dad's 60th b-day party. It was a surprise party with over 50 guest. It was a huge undertaking and my mom came very close to calling the whole thing off. But she didn't. My dad was very surprised and really enjoyed the party.
On memorial day my mom and I ran the 30th Boulder/Boulder. There were over 54,000 runners, it was unreal, but such an adrenaline rush. The race is 6.2 miles and I finished it in 57 mins. Not real fast, I know. Wes and my dad said that they would run it next year, so we'll see.

The rest of the week we just hung out, went out to breakfast, lunch, dinner, saw a movie, worked on girls camp, scrap booked, shopped, you know the normal vacation stuff. I saw some good friends I hadn't seen in years which was very nice. Especially my visit with Jamie and her big boys. My heart ached to leave her as she was such a good friend to me in Texas.

I wasn't ready to come home especially since Wes told me it was unseasonable hot back in the big D and so mild and pleasant in CO. But alas, it had to end. Thanks mom and dad for your hospitality. I enjoyed every minute and can't wait to do it again.