First Day of School {2017}

This year Rilyn and CJ are heading into the 4th grade and Raigen is heading into 2nd. This is the first year that all of my babies will not be in the same school and I'm not happy about that.... 

This is also the first year that I let them pick out their first day of school outfits all on their own.

I may be biased, but they are all beautiful and handsome to me!

We're looking forward to a great 2017-2018 school year!

Hangry Roxie UPDATE #4

Gym Day #3

I woke up late and sore and texted Belinda to let her know I couldn't make it. To say my arms were sore would be an understatement. The only way I could brush my teeth was by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my head back and forth and driving was ok as long as I didn't try to steer or stop.

Belinda wasn't very understanding and refuse to take no for an answer. So.... I drank a whole pot of coffee and finally arrived at the gym at about 6am. It really wasn't my fault though, it took me that long to bend down and tie my shoes. But it was my lucky day! Leg day! "Yay" -said no one ever! The only positive for this day was the fact that we were the only ones in the gym. Belinda said it is because we are "gym rats" now. She said this is our life.

I'm not going into details about this day, partly because I don't want to relive any part of it, but I would like to make note of the new word I invented: 'Terriful". It's pretty much the only thing I could mumble while I was curled in the fetal position in pain on the floor after our workout. I'm pretty sure its a cross between terrible and terrifying.

Fast-forward- day 4:

I pulled into the gym parking lot and it was lit up like a Christmas tree! There were cars EVERYWHERE. It was like they were just sitting in their cars waiting for me to show up so they could laugh and make fun of me. I almost did a u turn.

First, can I just tell you how much I am enjoying this Jamie Eason 12 week Transformation that Belinda is forcing me against my will to  do? Today, my friend Tiffani joined us. (That was the only positive of the day) It was a charming workout. Jamie made me lie on my back and do crunches all while balancing on a big giant bouncy ball. We also did the stupidest workout ever, we rode an air bicycle while lying on our back AND trying to do crunches AT THE SAME TIME. I don't know who invented this but Id like to talk to them about gravity, gas, and pressure...... but, other than that it was GREAT. Its a whole new life for me. If you're not totally jealous of my life right now there is something wrong with you.

BUT, despite all the fun exercises and the mullet guy in flip flops and swim trunks drinking a big gulp slush, leg day really started to make me second guess my new lifestyle. I mean, nice abs and a healthy heart are cool and all but, have you ever tried stuffed crust pizza?!

Which reminds me, a lot of people have been asking me what kind of diet I am doing. Right now, I'm basically just focusing on cutting out carbs, and sugar- pretty much everything that makes me happy.

Man, I'm SO GLAD Belinda told me about this Jamie Eason chick so I can get in shape and enjoy life, because if I remember correctly, sleeping and pizza are no fun at all.......

Hangry Roxie UPDATE #3

I'm not even kidding when I say this was not planned:

But I guess when you've spent your entire 2 day gym life with the same person, stuff like this happens.

Today was probably the hardest workout day thus far. 

I found myself in mid-workout asking my workout partner where the nearest breakfast buffet was.

We also both found ourselves injured.

Have you ever seen this machine?

Ya'll that pull down bar thing right there.... is HEAVY.

And, just for your own safety...

I'm going to inform you that once it is dangling above your head you should NEVER, EVER pull the little rod out to change the weight, because the super heavy bar will come crashing down onto your back!

Or your head- hey, just FYI since my workout partner, Belinda, didn't get the memo after the thing took out my back and laid me out on the floor. 

I'm no nurse, but I'm pretty sure I have a herniated disc and she may have had a minor concussion. 

For the most part, we have been grateful that for majority of our early morning workouts  there have been no one else in the gym, however, this time I would have been thankful for a nurse. 

Have you ever been in so much pain, but couldn't stop laughing?!



After this workout I was pretty sore from head to toe, but that didn't stop me from coming home and slaying breakfast:

Homemade oat bowls stuffed with yogurt and fruit and a southwestern omelet with fresh cilantro and pico! 

Hangry Roxie UPDATE # 2

The Gym... man, I hate him and my friend Belinda.

 

Friday was my first official day to step foot back in a gym since 7th grade.

 

 

I don't know if I am more mad at my friend, Belinda who talked me into going, or at the fact that it was tri-cept day and I don't have any tricepts.

 

 

Or, the fact that I don't even know how to spell trycepts.

 

 

I'm just having a bad day, okay.

Which, by the way, started out bad because I was up at 5 am GOING TO THE GYM.

 

 

And if that's not enough to make any day terrible, add in the fact that I almost lost a pinky-toe when I picked up a weight thingy.

I should of known that lifting anything heavier that a sandwich was a bad idea.

 

 

Fast forward: To 3pm and I at work and my arms were use-less.

 

 

Like, numb...

 

 

They just dangle at my sides.

 

 

 

I'm wondering if this is pay-back for lying to the life insurance guy about my weight...

 

 

 

Either way,  I'm never hanging out with Belinda again, unless she is planning something super fun like a root canal.

 

 

 

 

I will say, Belinda was a super encouraging friend, although my gut was in serious pain from holding it in the whole time BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER WEIRD PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO FACE-DEATH AT 5 AM.

 

This was FANTASTIC idea.....

Hangry Roxie UPDATE #1

Hi, I am Roxie and  I am a former
 self-proclaimed donutatarian who vowed to stop yo-yo dieting and get healthy.



And by healthy, I mean get down to at least what I told the DMV I weigh.



As most of my Facebook friends know, I have recently started eating healthy and working out.




I've always had a weight problem and I've always tried diets which consisted of:

Yogurt for Breakfast

A salad for lunch.

And I'm all like... I've been dieting all morning, am I skinny yet?!

And then I get home and eat the entire kitchen.

Ya'll, diets are hard and I get so tired of hearing people say they aren't.

They're all like.... its just like riding a bike, its easy.

And I'm all like.. yeah riding a bike that's on fire!

When the ground is on FIRE!

And everything is on FIRE BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE I'M IN HELL.

So, I usually just give up.

And then head to Jack-N-the Box and order 3

 egg rolls, a large coke, and curly fries because I am going to just start over next Monday because that diet was the worst 4 hours of my life!

And then Monday comes along and I forget that I'm starting a diet and eat two breakfast tacos. But, I'm not even mad because I will just start next Monday. Because you have to start on a Monday.

But, no more!


This is the new me!

And, I figured since the new me has been continuously eating healthy and all for, like two weeks now and working out for two whole days, that I should document my results. 

To my four loyal readers: YOU AREN'T GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.

Guys, I am down 4lbs and that was just in week one!

Despite being continuously hangry, its been relatively easy.

The only thing I'm having trouble with is drinking water.

Ya'll the problem is I HATE WATER.

And pizza is 100% not water.

It's strange how drinking 8 glasses of water a day seems impossible but a large coke, 10 piece nugget, and large fries goes down like a chubby kid on a see-saw!






And my kids are even seeing a difference! Just yesterday my 9 year old son asked me why were keeping our live plants in the fridge now.




So I tried explaining to him that we are eating more veggies and why...

I told him a whole spill about taking care of your body and that our body is a temple...

He then informed me that my body didn't really look like a temple.

In fact, he informed me it resembled a bouncy house.

Oh my gosh, if that's not motivation enough I don't know what is!

Ryker {14 Months}

Why is this age so funny-awesome-cute-extremely-difficult?

 

 

 

We put off potty training Ryker till we got home from vacation. Something told me that driving 10 hours always with a newly potty trained 2 year old would not be smart.

 

 

 

 

Yall, potty training is HARD and  that is all I have to say about that!

 

 

 

 

But, other than that, this age is so incredibly cute, ya'll!

 

 

 

 

Like, I don't even care that he's not potty trained and I'd change his diapers forever if he'd stay this little.

 

 

 

 

 

He is SO FUNNY! The things he says cracks us up!

 

 

 

 

 

Last night Raigen was making her rounds telling everyone goodnight and he hugged and kissed her and whispered, "Dood night babe."

 

 

Or

 

 

 

When he wakes up he'll say, "Dood mornin' sunshine!"

 

 

 

Or

 

 

We were driving in the car the other day and he said, "Sissy, watch dis," and yelled, "shut up, DAD!" And then laughed, hysterically! (Actually we all did!)

 

 

 

Or

 

 

When I tell him to let me change his diaper he'll say, "No, I fine." And if I ask again, he'll yell, "I SAID I FINE!"

 

 

 

 

Or

 

 

 

He thinks its SO funny to randomly put his nose in his shirt and say, "EW! Mom farted!" and when I say, "No I didn't," he'll respond, "I did, too Mom! I farted, too!"

(BTW- this is NOT funny in public!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last night Josh was watching an animal show and a dolphin was jumping up out of the water and Ryker was loving it! He just kept pointing at the TV and yelling, "Yook DAD!"

 

 

Josh said, "Yeah that's cool, huh?"

 

 

And Ryker replied, "Dats amazin'!"

 

 

 

He's the cutest. And I love him to the moon.

 

 

 

 



Our 2017 Summer Vacation! Branson, Missour!

So, it's taken me way too long to recap this trip of ours. I am sure at this point it's not even interesting to you but I want to be able to look back and see this for myself! Our trip was so wonderful and low key! We didnt get a chance to do half of our to-do list in Branson, but that's okay! All the kids basically wanted to do was swim in our hotel's indoor/outdoor pool and eat junk food! Haha! 

This was one of our cheapest trips! We literally only spent $500 since our hotel was FREE! #bransononabudget

How'd we score our entire hotel stay FREE?

I booked a timeshare tour. A 45 minute tour of a timeshare in Branson and they gave us a free week stay in Branson AND a $150 VISA gift card! #score! 

Believe it our not, they didn't even pressure us! And I would 100% do it again!

If you have ever been to Branson then you know that you can spend some money so I researched some fun money saving things to do! I knew we weren't venturing to Silver Dollar City or White Water  in the middle of the summer with a two year old- so those two major attractions were off the table this trip.

I'm going to let the pictures do most of the talking! (BTW- they are WAY out of order!)

We left Wednesday night at 10PM for the 7+ hour drive to Arkansas to our first stop. Josh prepared for the drive by sleeping the entire day the day before and we just knew that since we planned to drive all night that Ryker would sleep most, if not all, of the drive.  But boy, were we wrong.

Ryker... Ryker... Ryker.

The kid falls asleep on the 5 minute drive home from church but WOULD NOT sleep on the drive to Arkansas. Poor baby, I think he was just really tired and that car seat was not his comfy bed he wanted. This made for a not so fun drive up there. We were literally pulling over every other hour to get him out of his seat and hold him.

Before our trip I spent a lot of time on Google. I discovered Gunner Park in Arkansas and I knew we needed to stop there on the way to Branson! It was also near Blanchard Park which I was dying to visit, too. They pictures online were amazing and when we arrived early that morning we were not disappointed!

We had a picnic packed for lunch and we spent the entire day swimming in the mountains! The water was SO CLEAR and SO COLD! We loved the fact that we were basically the only ones there and we got it all to ourselves. If you know me, you know that I do not do well with crowded vacations. Like, I take my kids out of school and we do vacations during the school year just so its not crowded. 

#ireallyreallyhatecrowds

So. We were basically in love and never left- didn't even visit the cool caverns at Blanchard Park like we wanted. But, I'm not even mad. We promised that this would be a go-with-the-flow-super relaxing vacation AND IT WAS!

In fact, we loved this this place so much that we are vowing to take a vacation there every summer now!

 

When we first arrived in Arkansas we stopped for a 5AM Huddle House breakfast!

They are holding up an 'A' for Arkansas!

Check out these mountains! #love

After a full day of swimming we checked in to our room. Yall, the town was SMALL. And the nicest hotel was Econo Lodge. I was okay with it because it had excllent reviews! (Ya'll! That is my #1 tip for traveling! CHECK REVIEWS! It doesnt matter how pretty the pictures look, reviews are #truth!) But, my kids had never stayed anywhere with the doors on the outside of the building so they were a bit confused, LOL.

When we pulled up CJ said, "Mom, I thought we were staying at a hotel...."

"We are,"I said.

"Well... then why does it look like an apartment?!" Bahahaha!

After a good nights rest we took a walk around their adorable town! Everyone was SO STINKIN SWEET! They invited us to come back that evening when all the locals come to the town square and play folk music with their instruments! Sadly, we had to head to Branson, though. We were all dying to see and hear authentic folk music! And we will definitely check that out when we go back next year!

Breathtaking!

This view!!!! Headed to Branson, Missouri!

And of course we had to stop for a family photo-op! I was so mad, ya'll!

I FORGOT MY SELFIE STICK!!!!!

 This was from our night in Arkansas and in case you are wondering... he's the boss around here! :)



He does the exact opposite of what we tell him. "Ryker, come eat some popcorn and watch cartoons."


"No!"
Continues opening and closing mini fridge!


"Okay...Ryker DO NOT come and eat this popcorn! And these are MY cartoons, okay? Go play in the fridge and ruin all of our food. You know we love hot drinks, so please take all those out, too. But, DO NOT EAT MY POPCORN!"


"I want po-corn, peeeeese?"

 And... I win!

When we arrived in Branson we took a walk to do some sight seeing and I already planned for us to eat at Mel's! Luckily our hotel was right on the strip and exactly  .10 from Mel's! #perfect! Mel's is an adorable 50's style diner with singing servers! We loved it!

Oh yay! Here we are at Mel's! It was so cute! One of the guys that works there was even on American Idol!

As you can see, Ryker was a HUGE fan!!! LOL He clapped and cheered for EVERYONE!

And clearly, everyone LOVED him, too!

How handsome are my boys!?!

Like I said, the kids just wanted to swim in the hotel, like all day! So we did a lot of that. Josh even took them down there by his self quite a few times and I got to nap! #momwin #besthusbandever But, on one of our days when we ventured out we took a Duck Tour! I HIGHLY recommend this! It was SO FUN!!! Can you believe this truck goes on land and water!?!

The kids' favorite part was getting to take turns driving the Duck on the water! I'm kind of jealous I didn't get asked to.....

This is the face of a kid who is loving the Duck! :)

Look at my girl with her Honorary Captains License!!!

That evening before the boats we ate dinner at Red Lobster (our fave!!) and so when we got off of the Duck we just HAD to stop at this adorable ice cream shop on the strip for a treat! They will infuse your ice cream with fun flavors like Green Apple, Mocha Coffee, and Cheese Cake!

On one of our outings we stopped at the Branson Veterans Memorial Museum and the kids loved checking out the planes and especially this helicopter! I love that they were getting to learn a little while having fun!

We also stopped at Moe's for lunch one day. We don't have a Moe's where we live and it was a nice change. Super good and CHEAP!

And would you believe Ryker was the only one smiling like I asked?!? #mindblown

While surfing online for fun things to do I found a back-to-school bash that was at the Branson Rec Center. It was a FREE faith-based event that consisted of a petting zoo, live moto-BMX show, bounce houses, a rock wall, face painting, balloon animals... and all kinds of fun stuff! If you know me, you know they had me at FREE! HA! 
Ya'll, it was SO MUCH FUN!

They also had this truck with FREE donuts! Ya'll if anything ever happens to me, SEND THIS TRUCK!! :)

Excited and ready for the show to start!

Ryker is obsessed with "Firecucks" we definitely had to stop and check those out! Look at the excitement on his face!

CJ and Raigen had a rock wall race and CJ totally won! Sister was a good sport about losing, though!

And of course they all got their face painted-even Ryker. How she got him to sit still I still can't figure out!

Every time it rains and thunders Ryker will say, "you hear dat? The dinosaurs are comin'!" This day it had sprinkled a bit and thundered earlier in the day, so when the giant dinosaur came running  by, Ryker freaked out! 

(Freaked out in a good way- he was so excited!)

If you want to know if the BMX-Motorcycle show was cool just look at CJ's face:

And Ryker was pretty impressed, too! He couldn't sit still and would jump up, oh-and-ah, and point!

I pretty much had to pull CJ away from this snake! Haha!

"Ryker said, "Yook at dat puppy dog, mama!" LOL! We're gonna have to work on his animals! :)

Lookin' all touristy in their shirts from the cities we visited!

And of course... it had been a few days since this kid had an accident so he decided to run into a wall!

And on our very last day we visited the Celebrity Car Museum!

We had a blast on this vacation and can't wait to go back! We enjoyed so much family time. It was wonderful!

Here are some of my money saving tips if you are road tripping to Branson Missouri!

• Set a budget and stick to it!

• Look into touring a timeshare. We were able to score our entire weeks stay FREE and they also gifted us a $150 VISA gift card! 

•  Branson has two indoor water parks! Grand Country and Castle Rock. These are both hotels you can stay in, however, you don't have to. Tickets to get in if you aren't staying there are only $15 per person! That is CHEAP!

• If you aren't as cheap as me and  touring a timeshare isn't your thing, checkout vacation packages and family passes to shows. You can save a lot by buying in advance and bundling.
  

• Picnics! We love picnics and both Arkansas and Missouri have tons of BEAUTIFUL parks with amazing mountain views!
  

•  Branson's Free Downtown Trolley! Hop on the free discovery trolley for an overview of some of Branson’s landmarks, as well as convenient transportation between the historic downtown area, the Branson Convention Center and Branson Landing.

• Table Rock Lake State Park. This state park has no admission fee and offers a wide range of activities including campsites, hiking, and mountain bike trails! You can also rent boats and scuba dive, too! 

• Tour of Copper Run Distillery. A must-see! This award-winning distillery specializes in smooth corn whiskey (a.k.a. moonshine), molasses rum and vodka. Enjoy their free tour and samples are definitely included!

• Branson Centennial Museum! This free museum features rotating exhibits on the Civil War, railroads, bridges, folk art and more! 

• FREE Sunday Worship Services at the Little Opry Theatre inside Branson's IMAX Entertainment Complex! We really wanted to check this out, but all I packed was flip flops, tank tops, and shorts for us. Next time we will remember to pack a sun dress for the girls and a polo for the boys for church services!

• Eat in your hotel. I prefer to stay at a hotel that offers complimentary breakfast, but we did this time since they put us up at a fancy hotel that had a restaurant for breakfast. Just remember, you don't have to eat every single meal out. While eating out is fun, it can be expensive. We love to eat out, but anytime we are gone for a week or more we always pack a few easy breakfast and lunch meals for the hotel. I have several meals that are yummy, easy, and dont require you to use the iron to make a grilled cheese or quesadilla! Haha! They only require a microwave! Check them out here!

• Pack ahead and reduce roadside stops!
  The simplest measures can save you a small fortune on a road trip. 
  We packed a cooler full of drinks and snacks. Whether it’s just packing your own bottled water, or a cooler full of snacks and sandwiches like we did, you’re going to save by not spending your money in convenience stores. There is also the added bonus of being able to eat more nutritious food when packing ahead.