Meet Simba!

So, we (okay....I) decided that Caleb needed a pet. Fish . . . not fun, dog. . .too freaking noisy. . .cat - sure! How could one resist a kitten this stinkin cute?!?! We'll keep this one outside. It'll be nice when it grows big enough to NOT fit through the chain link fence!!

Caleb waving & saying "Hi kitty!!"

Every. . . . single . . . . day . . . .

Me: "Oh no! Where is Caleb?"

Me: "Caaaaaleb?? Where are youuuu??"

Caleb: "Caaaaaleb?? Are you??"

Me: "There he is!"

Caleb: "I found him!"

Kitty?

I guess while I was at work the other day - Casey & Caleb were outside. Casey was sitting in one of our patio chairs & Caleb was wandering around & stopped & looked into one of our window wells & said "Kitty??? Kitty???" Casey didn't really say anything to him. Then Caleb said "Mouse? Mouse???" Casey then came & peeked into the window well & saw nothing - so the evening went on.

Later that night Casey & I were in the basement & heard a weird thud from our downstairs bathroom. Low & behold - there was an owl stuck in the window well. I'm trying to get the thought out of my head that it was eating a mouse when Caleb saw it earlier....I'm just hoping Caleb wasn't sure what the heck it was & was throwing out guesses. Casey rescued the owl & while we were outside the mother (I'm assuming) was hovering by closely waiting to peck out our eyes in case we hurt her baby.

I wanted to pet it - but accidentally knocked it off of the fence. Oops. I put it on top of one of our sheds & the next morning he was gone - so all is well!!

The 1 warm day we had earlier this month Caleb got to play in the sprinkler. He loves it.

We also got to play in it one other day this year - but he was in sweats. Tee hee.

Brittni update: I'm still working 2 jobs. My feet REALLY hurt after my serving job - anyone know of some fabulous shoes? I'm thinking of some crocs - I freaking hate them. I think they are so ugly!! But - if they really are as comfortable as some say - I might have to cave. I'm still dieting & exercising - I've lost 10 elbees since March & I'm maintaining so that's a start! There is a 'secret' road that I have in Brigham that I would like to be able to jog the length of it by the end of the summer. I've done a smidge of interval training this past week & that's gone good - it's a lot harder with the resistance of the stroller - but that will make my muscles that much more bangin' in the end.

Casey update: Freaking Rheumatoid Arthritis. It's getting the better of him I think. He's on a leave from work & our money supply is going down...down...down. It's quite depressing. He's apprehensive about taking all of the prescriptions from the Dr but I'm afraid he's doing his joints permanent damage by not taking them all. We obviously think differently. The bonus of his leave is that I can get him moving again & try to keep his joints loosened up. Keep us in your thoughts!!

Merry Mother's Day!

I had to work until 1 on Mother's day & after that Casey & Caleb & I went to Texas Roadhouse in Logan. It was my first Texas Roadhouse experience & I thought it was fabulous! I would have to give it 2 thumbs way up!! I had a sirloin steak & BBQ ribs & a baked potato & salad (to ease my quilt a smidgen). We then went to Maurices & I got a new pair of jeans - hooray!! We then went to Lowe's & got . . .

This darling outdoor clock!!

And this cute light!! We also bought another one of these for the entry.

The more I look at these lights though - they more they look like a boob. Oopsie.

So - notice the super cute tiles on the wall?? That is where half of the "Merry" part in my title comes in. For Christmas my parents gave me a gift card to Rod Works & the tiles were the purchase that I made. I could NEVER get Casey to hang them for me - so my blond knight in shining armour came to the rescue. (I won't tell Casey who helped me - tee hee) I LOVE THEM!

The 2nd half of the "Merriness" comes in to play with this!!

Check out the barrel on that sucker! I won't have to worry about him shooting his eye out with this gun because he couldn't turn it & pull the trigger! Casey is going to build himself a gun & his parents ordered him this part for Christmas - & it was on back order until now! CRAZY!

I heart being a mom. There are definitely times of frustration - but more laughter & cuteness than I can imagine.

Wagon?? What wagon?

It's true. Not only have I fallen off of the weight loss wagon - but it is no longer in sight! I was down 8 pounds....I know, I know - not a lot, but a loss is a loss! I'm terrified to get back on the scale. I did SOOOOOOO good until Friday night & then I lost it! I'll break it down for you - but no judging!

Friday: Stayed within my WW points until.....my brother Dylan came over that night to sleep over & around midnight he was hungry so we headed to Wendy's. I had a Jr Bacon Cheeseburger & a value fry. THEN - I made myself a root beer float. My thought process was "Well - if you're going to go over your points - then you might as well just go over your points!" Not only was it terrible that I ate that much - but it was freaking midnight for hells sake! BONUS POINTS: I did exercise today.

Saturday: My first trip to the cheesecake factory. The food I'll give a 6 out of 10 - but the red velvet cheesecake gets a 12 out of 10. Talk about FABULOUS! Red velvet cake between vanilla cheesecake with cream cheese frosting & white chocolate shavings down the side. I'll wait while you wipe the drool off of your keyboard............heaven, right?

So - after lunchie we had a bridal shower for my cousin. They had a spread of food - but I did not partake - until we were getting ready to leave - it is a good hour and a half ride home so I needed food - right?? Then I made myself a turkey sandwich.....accidentally ate a small brownie & small lemon bar. I WASN'T EVEN HUNGRY! But - I love turkey sandwiches with provolone cheese on a white roll. Then my fatness got a Pepsi at the gas station. YUM.

...........but I totally paid for this binge eating. I was sooooooooooo sick! I can't remember the last time I had been so sick. It was embarrassing!! My little sister was over & was probably like "holy crap - you're disgusting" & my husband was probably like "wow - this is cause for divorce papers" I was hating life.

Sunday: Back on the wagon! I had toast & jelly for breakfast - only 2 WW points & was planning on turkey steak salads for lunch - until after church Casey said "Let's go to Wendy's" Why didn't I say no?? I'm going to say I said OK because my dishwasher is broken - & I hate dishes. I got a small combo - so not too terrible. And really - when you're checking account is $200 in the hole - you or your spouse should have the self control to say 'NO MORE SPENDING'. It sucks that we're both weak sauce.

Casey's family came over Sunday night to play cards & everyone brought something to eat. I made homemade choc chip/toffee cookies - delicious! Then we had German chocolate brownies - chips & salsa - more choc chip cookies - Doritos - cheese nips - carrots & watermelon. I had my fair share of chips & salsa & watermelon & cookies. THEN - after everyone left I thought "I better eat a few more cookies because tomorrow I'm starting over again.". . . . .I lied.

Monday: Back on the wagon - again! Cheerios & milk for breakfast=4 WW points. Those damn cookies kept looking at me. It's like the were pounding on the sides of the Tupperware & screaming for me to eat them. So I had one. Then another. Then another! The whole day was downhill from there. I had a total of 6 cookies - mac & cheese - panda express - a Pepsi - & some Cheetos when I got home from work at 11:30 pm.

My brain believes that if I'm going to fail - the I am going to TOTALLY FAIL. Okay - today - for real - the wagon is back in sight. WISH ME LUCK!

Moo

The first weekend in May is usually when my dad rounds up some help & gets his calves branded for the year. So - even though it was quite chilly - the first weekend in May still happened! Angela, Blake, Caleb & I drove out on Friday & we were in for more than we expected! We pulled up to the corrals & noticed that at the other end - they boys (Dad, Griff, Jordon & Dylan) were just getting ready to push the cows in...then they totally lost control of them. It's a frustrating moment & you can literally see steam come out of my dad's ears when that happens. My brother Jordon came rushing over to us on a 4-wheeler & told us to come & help. WHAT?!?! HELP?!?! We just came to eat!!

So - you have a fat chick (myself) & one suffering from a 2 week hacking cough (Angela) running along a fence so that the calves don't jump through it. Angela ended up getting stuck on a barb wire fence at one point - that was good watching - AND - we had to leave Blake & Caleb in the car for 45 minutes! I'm glad that they (and we) survived! Here is the logo that I will use for some T-shirts for Angela & myself for next year.

How come baby anything is so much cuter!? For those that don't know - I am quite terrified of cows. I always have been. When I was little & would go with my dad to feed - he would get out of the truck to cut the twine off of the bales & I would curl up in a ball on the floor of the truck because all of the cows would surround it trying to get the hay. (At least that is what I've been told - but I know deep down they were trying to get me out of the truck to kill me)

Dylan's AWESOME farmer tan...& bulging biceps.

Caleb would NOT get out of the car! The cows are so noisy when they get separated from their babies that I think that scared him. So when we went out on Saturday I packed up the portable DVD player & he watched a movie or 2 in the car.

I told him to smile & say cheese - this is what I got.
My pa

My drugged up little sister. She has terrible allergies & double dosed the benadryl. She was slightly sleepy.

My ma

Casey

Caleb & I meeting Spice

Oh ja bo do - so stinkin cute!

The Saturday gang - from left to right...Ashley, Casey, Caleb, Brittni, Dylan, Derrick, Don, Ted, Jordon, Ruger

The Friday gang. Blake, Dylan, Griffen, Derrick, Don, Jordon & Jed.

Caleb found a new love. Marshmallow brownies. Who can blame him? He was in heaven.

Caleb also got to go on a couple of four-wheeler rides. Once the cows were let out & were able to find their babies - they quit bellering & he wasn't scared to get out of the car anymore.