Beach Happiness

I'm back at I Heart Faces!!
Our computer has been on the fritz: we lost ALL pictures, then got them back with an added virus bonus! Wahoo! Long story short, it was a long road to having my computer with all my programs back. Anywho, I edited this picture without any actions (since our current photoshop won't keep actions installed between uses).

This was Turner's first trip to the beach, and this is the precious moment I captured of dipping his tootsies into the ocean for the very first time.

Sheer bliss.

It's a Good Day, Mom

Most days I wake up dragging because I'm just not a morning person. But Holden is. I get frustrated and irritated at his energy, and just when I think I've had enough, Holden looks at me and says, "It's a good day, Mom." This happens almost every day, and I am reminded that every day is, in fact, a good day.

"This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

Psalm 118:24

The Cutest Mosquito Bites I've Ever Seen

I am allergic to mosquito bites. Now, this has never been diagnosed by an actual doctor, but I must be. Every time I get one (or six) they swell up to the size of a quarter or larger. So I HATE mosquito bites.
But last night while playing in the backyard, Turner must of had mosquitos bite both of his cheeks, because he woke up looking like this:


Are those not the cutest mosquito bites you've ever seen?!
Although it looks like the bite on his left cheek is barely there, let me assure you it is just the lighting. He has two bright red spots on either cheek. We've been to the park and the grocery store today, and got asked what happened by people at both places. I guess it's time to invest in that Sunscreen/Bug Spray combo I've been researching!

Vitamin Ridiculosity

Per yesterday's post on getting healthy, I went out today and purchased all the supplements that Dr. Oz told me I will need. I also decided I would need a new (bigger) pillbox, since I was already struggling to cram my six Juice Plus pills into my current box.
Please note the current pills and box:


I sat staring at the tiny section of pharmaceutical apparatus, searching for the perfect size pillbox. To no avail. My only other option was a stinkin HUGE one with huge letters that must be for old people who are basically blind.
Now note new pillbox (with old one included for size reference):


But, as it turns out, I needed this huge size, due to the ginormous horse pills I uncovered inside my bottles!
Now here is what I will be attempting to swallow each day.


It includes:
2 Juice Plus Garden Blend
2 Juice Plus Orchard Blend
2 Juice Plus Vineyard Blend
Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc pill
Flaxseed Oil
Fish Oil

Is it just me, or does this seem ridiculous and daunting?

Mid-Year Resolution

So Oprah is definitely NOT my fave person in the world, but today I happened to watch what I think was a re-run of Dr. Oz's secrets to living a longer and healthier life. He gave a checklist of the top things you should be doing to stay younger and live longer. In the past I have kept food journals, complete with fat and calorie calculations, as a tool for weight-loss. But instead of just focusing on losing weight temporarily, I thought it would be a great experiment to focus on all-around health. So here is the checklist I will keep track of--I'm excited!

FOOD
5 Antioxidants
4 cups green/white tea
1 glass red wine
25 grams fiber
Omega 3 fatty acids
1-2tbs olive oil
vitamins
calcium supplements

EXERCISE
HR at 154 (3Xweek)
strength training (30min/week)

Prayer every day
Sleep 7-8 hours/night
Sex (2-3Xweek)


This will be fun! Now excuse me while I go eat chicken wings... :)

Sanjaya and Nick Cannon...One In The Same??

OK, so this is a really super-deep post about something that has been on my mind for the last few days. Is it just me, or do Sanjaya Malakar and Nick Cannon not have the exact same perma-half-smile?!
Exhibit A:


Note the squinted eyes, too. And no matter what they are saying, even if it is something horrible, they always have this same expression. Deep thoughts.

A post for Becca S.

Are you someone who thoroughly enjoys reading other people’s private information? Umm, not that I am or anything… (Aside: my friend Jamie has the FUNNIEST post about eaves-reading on the train.)
Anyways, my dear friend Becca Stanley has been away all summer helping to run Camp Grace, a camp for inner-city kids. I have missed her so much and feel like we are missing so much of each others' lives. I was going to write Becca an email filling her in on my summer happenings thus far, but decided to post for all the world (which includes all 5 people who read this blog) to read. So without further ado:

Hey Becca!!
I really am starting to miss you terribly! I have felt really isolated all summer, just missing community and “doing life” with others! I don’t want to overwhelm you with a 5-page update of life, so I thought I’d jot down some less-intimidating bullet points:

• First, and most importantly, The BACHEORETTE!!! I miss you so much every Monday night! Ryan tries really hard to feign a vested interest, but it really just isn’t the same. Have you watched any episodes online yet? I have saved all the episodes on my DVR and am totally willing to re-watch the entire second half of the season with you when you get home!!

• In related news, this season of So You Think You Can Dance is turning out to be really good. There is this one guy, Phillip, who is a pop-and-locker. Do you know what that is already from working with the kids downtown? UrbanDictionary.com defines it as: A style of breakdancing which involves short, rapid movement of the arms and legs (popping), combined with brief pauses between movements. Umm, maybe this will be more helpful—this is Phillip’s audition. Anyways, he tried out last season too, and didn’t make it because he couldn’t pull off the other, more classical, dance styles. So he went home and trained for a year, and now he’s back and in the top 6 couples! Here he is in a hip-hop dance with his partner Jeanine (who is a contemporary dancer who’s never done hip-hop).
Love that!

• In family news, Holden is finishing up his series of 8 swim lessons this morning. He’s not swimming on his own yet, but has made big improvements in putting his face in, learning the swimming motions and whatnot. Oh, (I’m adding this in at the end) I also wanted to tell you that Holden prays for you guys every night, and not because we tell him to. After he says his regular routine prayer, we ask him if there is anyone else he’d like to pray for and normally it goes like this: “Dear Jesus, thank you for Mr. Adam and Jayci and Mrs. Becca and Charlie and Mav. Help them fall asleep quickly. [Because that’s what he prays for himself.] Love you Jesus, Amen.”

• Turner is growing up so quickly (which sounds like it’s been a year since you’ve seen him, as opposed to weeks)! Did I tell you that when we visited you at camp he said his first animal noise? When we were looking at the cow, he kept saying moo. And now he says cat and meow. And pretty clearly says “all done” after meals. Turner is super fearless at the pool. He will repeatedly jump off the edge to me or step off the stairs. His head goes completely under until I pull him up, but it doesn’t seem to faze him in the least! Once I put him back on his feet he waits about a half a second to do it again!

• Finally, let me wrap this up by saying how stoked I am about going to the Dominican Republic with you! Really, the thought of those seven lazy days gets me through many stressful days here! My sister and mom went a couple years ago, and Cam wants to tell us all the things/places we have to try.

So that’s it! I love you and miss you!