Thrilled

Two bright spots from yesterday:

1)  We did Michael Jackson's Thriller in Zumba.  This has been a dream of mine, well,  ever since I saw the music video years ago.  Then, when those Filipino prisoners did it, it put the nail in the coffin.  I had to learn that dance and last night my dreams were realized.  

2) When at the grocery store last night,  I saw a little lady pushing one of those huge grocery carts with a car attached to the front for kids, only there weren't any kids in it.  She must have just really liked that cart.  I love funny old women.   

I don't know if I've mentioned it here yet, but we are headed to Oklahoma and Kansas City on Thursday for a few weeks.  Mark will be coming home for some of the time because he can't miss that much work, but the girls and I will be gone for quite a stretch of time.  I'm very excited.  A little overwhelmed, but still very excited.  That length of a trip requires quite a bit of planning and preparation, so I spent a lot of yesterday and today, cleaning, doing laundry, sorting baby clothes to take to Lila (we are making a stop in Memphis to visit our other half), and packing.  Hopefully, I can get it all together by Thursday!  

Mark texted yesterday afternoon and said that our friend Richard was in town and he was going to take the girls to eat dinner with him and Logan.  I had promised myself I would go back to Zumba, especially after missing last week because Mark was out of town.  So, as I mentioned earlier, I zumba-ed until my heiny almost fell off and then headed to the grocery store to pick a few things up.  Mark let me know that the guys were all coming over to watch a football game, so I thought I would make them a little treat.  

I got home and started to make Pumpkin Surprise until I realized I was missing two of the ingredients I thought I had just purchased at the grocery store.  Apparently, they didn't get put in my bag!  What a bummer.  I had to run back to the grocery store, but it was worth it, because later I was able to enjoy the dessert I have been craving for quite some time.  Thank you, Lori, for sharing your Pumpkin Surprise recipe so many years ago.  It's still a fall staple in our home and it was a big hit with the guys!   

Richard is such an amazing photographer and he spent quite some time giving me a crash course on my camera.  I love learning from a master.  The rest of the evening was spent having really great conversation.  They didn't end up leaving until after midnight!  

Here are a few pictures Richard took while he was here...

 I love these three! 

 Can you believe this hair?  You may remember that Rosie had some hair issues, too. Remember this post?  My poor girls and their hair!  

 Luckily, Rosie's hair has grown in very well.  It's so long and much more manageable now! 

Nighty-night kisses

I was not made for late hours, so today has been pretty hard.  I've found myself becoming VERY easily agitated.  I'm so easily agitated that I just had to turn off the Presidential Debate because both of those guys were getting on my nerves and don't get me started on that moderator.  The comments about the debate on Facebook have just about done me in.  I'm starting to think that my attitude is a clue that I need to get off of here and go to bed.  Yes, I think so.  Goodnight.    

Well, before I go, I will leave you with some pictures from the last few days...

A simple snack... French baguette and cheddar cheese flowers, strawberries and bananas + peanut butter

Monroe loves baguettes!  She calls them baby bread.  She can call it whatever she wants, as long as she eats it:)  French baguette and cheese, veggie chips, seasoned broccoli and strawberries and whipped cream.  This lunch was a HIT!  Nothing left.  

 Kiki's first pigtails

 My independent girl. 

I made the oh-so-secret Tomato Florentine Soup this week.  I hate to toot my own horn, but it was my best batch ever.  Yum! 

A Poop Story

I guess that Rosie likes to prove me wrong and in this case, I don't mind.  Today, we've conquered poopoo!  She's gone five times in the potty today.  I didn't even know that you could go that many times in one day, but she's shown me the results every time and they are legit.  She couldn't be prouder.  She keeps asking, "Mom, are you soooo proud?!"  Let me tell you, we all are!  I never saw this day coming, so spirits are high around the Murrill house.

I really don't have too much going on, so I will share a pretty boring story with you.  Today we went on a wild goose chase of sorts.  Last night, a friend of mine---Hi, Tracy if you are reading this---posted some shoes on Facebook that I just loved.  I asked her where she got them and after she told me, I went online to see if we had the store in our area. We did, but it was a bit of a drive.   I used my phone navigation and we made it there, but it took a lot longer than I thought.  I had plans to meet Maria and Jackie at the park for lunch at noon and I hoped to make it back in time, but that didn't happen.  My navigation led me to an apartment complex WAY out of my way.  I, of course, didn't realize it until it was too late.  I had to make a huge backtrack and then, in a rush, I decided to take a little shortcut to the park, but when I was almost there, I was met by a sign that said the road was closed due to high water!   UGH!!!  I had to turn around and go all the way back the other way.  So, long story short (as short as I can make stories), I was over an hour late.  Luckily, they were all still there and we had a great time.  Jackie made her famous Rice Crispy Treats, so really the whole thing was beyond worth it.  Also, Blythe kept calling them "Ice Crystal Treats," so that made it all even more magical.

My new kicks...I think they were worth it.   

After my adventurous morning, we came back and all took naps.  In fact, I took the mother of all naps.  I had the hardest time waking up.  I felt like I had been hit by a truck.  It took Rosie coming in to ask me to come look at her poopoo that roused me from my slumber.

So, last night was my second guitar lesson.  Luckily, I have been coupled with with a young teenage boy who is just as clueless as I am.  He shows up 30 minutes late to every class and has an adorable little lisp.  We make a fine pair.  I was quickly reminded of why I gave up guitar after one lesson in college.  My fingers started killing me just a few minutes in.  The little guy has been complaining about his fingers, too, so I think this is a common ailment among novice guitar players.  Our teacher said that the tips will soon get calloused and I live for that day.  The girls love to hear me practice and usually start dancing as soon as I start, even though you can't technically call what I'm playing music.  I can't wait until I can actually play songs for them.

Tonight, I went to Zumba and it was HARD.  Our teacher is really taking it up a notch.  Did I tell you I tried Aqua Zumba last week?  The jury is still out on if I'll stick with it.  I'll definitely give it another try before I make a final decision.  I got a great workout from it, but I hate to be gone another night during the week.

I'm feeling a little better tonight, so that's good news.  That Emergen-C is some good stuff.  I swear by it.  Well, I'm going to head to bed.  Hope your week has been great so far.  I can't believe it's almost Thursday!