The Beginning of Summer

Finally we are seeing a hint of summer...no snow, temps are rising, and the pools are opening. With summer, comes a very busy schedule, and it just seems to get busier as the years go by and the kids become more involved in activities.

This week marks the end of Brynn's first year in school. Her last day is tomorrow and I know that she can't wait to start attending Susan's again along with Kenzie. I also begin a Summer Bible Study at church this week (Thursday evenings) and I am really looking forward to starting that. I've also taken a big step by volunteering to teach Sunday school classes 2 Sundays a week at our church. My small group will be the 2nd grade girls, so please keep me in your prayers as I start this new and fun adventure! :)

The first part of our summer will be busy with taekwondo and also a trip to Texas later in June. We will be staying with my parents and going to all of my favorite food spots while we are there and we will also be making a family trip to Sea World. Dan and I will be going with Bubba (brother) and Laura (SIL) to a DCI performance (Drum Corp International), while we are there as well, and I'm really looking forward to that.

The rest of the summer will be spent around home and the girls will have swimming lessons in July. Brynn will actually be taking the lessons and Kenzie will attend a Parent-Tot class with either Dan or I. So needless to say we will be staying busy.

I am also planning on starting at Curves (work-outs for women) and I am super excited about that. I go in for my first assessment tomorrow, and hope to sign up and get started on losing some weight and getting my tone back.

Knitting is also keeping me busy. I am still trying to finish up on some monsters that I have promised to people. I am working on my first Christmas gift project, which is coming along nicely and I really like the pattern. My goal was to start Christmas knitting by June, and I started before then,so that makes me feel pretty good. Disclaimer: For close friends and family, many of my gifts to you this year will be hand-knit, the yarn is economical, but the work and time spent on the project is priceless, so I hope you enjoy your gifts come December. :)

Thanks for reading and hope every one has an amazing week!

Smile...

This picture makes me do just that...

Goals for 2011

It seems as though this will be a never ending list, but here is what I have come up with so far in no particular order. I like to call them "goals" rather than resolutions. :)

• Knit a sweater

• Knit at least one pair of socks a month

• Blog at least 4 times a week

• Show my love for my girls

• Show my love for my husband

• Take time for myself

• Knit some hats for the Children’s Hospital and deliver them

• Spend more time reading books to the girls

• Lose some weight

• Try to exercise more

• Don't watch QVC as often

• Use as much yarn that I already have in my stash as I can (stash-busting)
  

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Weekend's Best

Christmas Day

I am betting that everyone had an amazing Christmas! According to Brynn, this was the best Christmas ever! I'm hoping they will get better each year for her. :) She was very solemn this morning when she realized that Christmas was over. I told her that since it was Jesus' birthday, it only comes once a year, just like her birthday, and it would be back next year. McKenzie could care less and is just enjoying playing with her toys and bothering her sister while she tries to play her Nintendo DS.

I may have gone a bit overboard with toys this year, but I couldn't resist, I just kept seeing stuff I wanted for the girls! They did get lots of pillow pets this year! Brynn got one from Grandma and Grandpa and one from Sissy and David. Kenzie got one from Grandma and Grandpa and one from Papa and Nana, but they were all different, so all is well. (And now there are enough for Dan and I as well!) Grandma and Grandpa got to watch all the present opening via skype on Christmas morning, so it was a great way to have them here "with us" even though they were in Texas.

Our Christmas lunch was very yummy! We had spiral sliced ham, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, and cornbread dressing. Needless to say, we weren't very hungry for dinner, so it was kind of a pick your own dinner night.

That's all for now. Hoping to have more knitting posts in the upcoming days since I will have some ample time to knit. I'm working on a Citron shawl at the moment, that is a simple knit, but a lot of tedious stitches, so I'm hoping to have it finished before the end of the year (that's my goal at least, but we will see). I'm also working on a pair of Jaywalker socks and I'm only on the first sock, but should be finished with that soon.

Weekend's Best

One of my favorite blogger-knitter friends started the "Weekend's Best" on her blog every Monday. You basically post a picture that encompasses your weekend!

Big Weekend

This weekend was full of fun events! Brynn's first Taekwondo tournament was on Saturday morning, then it was running around and getting the final things for Kenzie's party done. Brynn did great at the tournament. It was more of a way to get the Tiny Tigers used to competing. She was a bit floppy as she did her form and she didn't seem very interested, but later on she told us it was because she was shy. Then it was Kenzie's birthday party at Gymboree Play and Music! All her friends had such a blast and Kenzie really enjoyed herself. I think she was overwhelmed with everything that she could do! The party was a success and I'm really glad we decided to have it there!

Pumpkin Festival

A couple of weeks ago we went to a Pumpkin Festival and had such a great time. It was fun walking through the fields and finding the perfect pumpkins.

Taos Weekend...a bit behind

Okay, so I'm a bit behind on posting this, but our weekend in Taos was amazing! I'm inspired to write this as I'm reading all about Rhinebeck (another amazing wool festival) on my other favorite blogger's sites. Going to Taos was exciting on many levels....1) it was our first mini-vacation 2)we were staying in an amazing house 3)I was spending time with my family 4) it was my birthday weekend 5) there would be yarn....and lots of it 6) great food 7) ample knitting time 8) the drive wasn't too long 8) the scenery was gorgeous 9) I got Rudy's BBQ in CO Springs 10) relaxation

The girls had a blast hanging out in the colorful house, and we were able to walk to pretty much everything we needed to, which was nice as parking is tough in Taos. I will definitely try and go to Taos every year for the wool festival, being that it's only 5 hours away. :)

Things I love about you...

Dad...

• the way your face turns red and your laugh goes silent (when you laugh REALLY hard) :)
• working extra and paying my way through college and believing in me the whole time
• pushing me to always do my best
• the fact that I have so many personality traits from you (getting what I want when I want it...usually)
• taking care of my/our mom and our family
• being such a caring son and brother to Grandma Nunn and your siblings
• the fact that I can tell everyone that my dad is/was a drag racer
• seeing you around your grandbabies/grandkids
• your strength in times when it's needed most
• your smile on Skype
  

Wordless Wednesday

Things I love about you...

Things I love about you....Mom

• the way you take care of Dad
• the advice you give in your subtle way
• seeing/hearing you laugh
• the fact that I hope I look as good as you look when I turn your age
• the great Grandma you are to all of your grandkids
• the fact that you are internet savvy
• you are always so giving to others and don't expect anything in return
• your patience with your kids (especially spoiled little me)
• the many personality traits that I inherited from you
• the way you took such good care of Grandma in her last years, I know she appreciated it and Sissy, Bubba, and I appreciated it even more.

Things I love about you...

McKenzie

• seeing you standing up in your crib and smiling your huge smile in the morning (especially when it's the wrinkly nose smile)


• your face when you see your sister


• that amazingly curly hair


• your pretty long eyelashes


• your ability to make me smile when I've had a bad day


• the fact that you are a Daddy's girl


• you are very high maintenance (maybe I just "like" this one)


• when you wave bye-bye


• your ability to be in one place this minute and in another place the next


• your determination to have something that you aren't supposed to have

First Day of Kindergarten

We haven't picked Brynn up yet from her first day, but had to post some pictures from this morning when we dropped her off. She did such a good job! She went right up to the class door and walked in all on her own and Mommy didn't even cry!

Things I love about you...

This next post will be about Brynn :)

Things I love about you, Brynn...

• all your excuses to get out of bed
• your hugs in the morning
• your huge brown eyes
• the fact that you love QVC just like mommy
• the amazing big sister you are to McKenzie
• the fact that you are a heavy sleeper and McKenzie's cries usually don't wake you
• your huge smile
• your personality traits that remind me of me (even the bad ones)
• you always try your best, even if you don't want to :)
• the joy you've brought to our lives as our firstborn

Williams Family Reunion Day #2

Finally am able to catch up on posting about the reunion. We had such an awesome time and I got to meet so many people. The girls had a blast with all of their "cousins". Here are some photos from our last day there.

Things I love about you...

I've decided to start doing "Things I love about you" for all of the amazing family and friends I have in my life and what better person to start with than Dan! :)

Things I love about Dan:

• The fact that you know lots about computers and can usually solve any problem.
• The way you make the girls laugh.
• The way you can sleep through anything (that's a love/hate thing)
• The way you take care of our family no matter what hard times we are going through
• The way you are always willing to help about the house and sometimes do things without me having to ask you.
• Your cute smile when you are laughing.
• Your determination in getting yourself back in shape (while I watch from the couch)
  
• The fact that you usually try and do everything in your power to make me happy
• The way you remind me of certain aspects of my dad, they always say you marry someone like your dad.
  
• The fact that I've known you for 6 years and you haven't changed a bit! :)

Love you hun!