8 things

Valerie did this on her blog and I thought it was such a cool way to just get a glimpse into your friends' daily lives. :) Here's mine:

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. A mini family road trip this weekend! We love taking the boys on short day trips! I think we will be headed to Joe's this weekend... Britton informed me he needs "a new Pistol Pete shirt. This time with bullet." Hmmm....
2. Leyton's ears FINALLY being ear-infection free!
3. Taking the boys to the splash park this summer (Britton asks almost EVERY DAY if it's open yet)
4. Girl trip! Don't know where we are going yet (or when), but we've been talking about this for over a year!
5. Stolen from Valerie's list - Being totally debt free! We have become crazy Dave Ramsey watchers and are really working hard on this! Very close now...
6. Taking both boys to the swimming pool this summer. Britton is a fish, and Leyton is old enough now to go as well (last year he was still just too little).
7. Leyton's first summer at Summer Camp / Preschool with Gigi! I think Gigi's the MOST excited about this one!
8. Playing indoor coed soccer again with my hubby and friends - starting this week! Always a good time!

8 things I did yesterday:
1. Played my last outdoor women's soccer game for the season. We won!
2. Took the boys to eat lunch with Daddy at Chick-fil-a
3. Hit the GAP baby sale
4. Dusted the whole house
5. Wrapped teacher's gifts for Leyton's last day of school
6. Read another chapter of our Bible Study book - 'A Heart like His'
7. Worked from home
8. Worked on the book Britton and I are making of "his favorite things"

8 things I wish I could do:
1. Spend more time with the boys and my husband
2. Travel more - I'd love to go back to Europe (I can never get enough of that continent)
3. Run a marathon (*note the key word is WISH! Never going to happen - I don't like running that much. Just wish I could say I could!)
4. Learn to shoot photos like the professionals. Really - I suck
5. Wear a bikini (or any swimsuit for that matter). Seriously. This big ol' leftover baby belly is not cute in anything form fitting. :(
6. On that same note, tummy tuck anyone? :)
7. Decorate my house. It would be easy - if money grew on trees. I see so many things I like!
8. Have more hours in each day. I swear there's just not enough time. Ever.


8 shows I watch:
(ha, ha, if you only knew my DVR was backed up with 2 months of shows I haven't watched yet!)
1. Criminal Minds (my new found love)
2. Survivor
3. Lost (can this series please just end already? I can't quit now - I've been watching for 5 years, but really, I'm done.)
4. Flashpoint (another new one I love that I don't have time to watch)
5. Friday Night Lights
6. House
7. So You Think You Can Dance
8. The Office

8 bloggers I'm tagging:
Yeah, I'm not going to tag anyone. But if you play, let me know and I'll read it!

tip & squeeze

"tip & squeeze" = handstand

I've mentioned before that Britton does gymnastics at the same gym I competed for... Well this past week was the end of the year "awards," where the parents are invited into the gym to watch for the entire class period (you can watch from the observation rooms on the monitors each week, but this is much better). Britton loves gymnastics, and is always so proud to show off his tricks.

I've had to really think when he comes home and tells me his new trick of the day - it always seems to have a funny name I'm completely unfamiliar with (tip & squeeze was a new one on me). His coach, (who was one of mine growing up actually) apparently likes to come up with fun creative names for the tricks to make it easier for the boys to remember. Some of my favorites - tip & squeeze, koo koo hang, koo koo swing, tip & kick, the list goes on... Here's some fun pics of BK in action...

Silly BK:


Tip & Squeeze:

Koo Koo Hang (and yes, there is a skill that will come from this strange position, just trust me on this)

Britton doing his chin-ups. Now I realize there is a rubberband helping him, but trust me, it's not easy. Especially since he did 40 of them! I've never been so impressed!

Receiving his award and showing off his "gymnastics stretch:"

big money!

Last Thursday, Leyton had the long overdue ear tubes surgery... The doctor told us his ears were full of "goo" (his very scientific medical term, not mine) and he should be hearing much better now! We never thought he had any trouble hearing us, but apparently we were wrong. He is now noticing every little sound - including the t.v.. On Thursday evening I had it on Wheel of Fortune while I cleaned up dinner and he was mesmerized by the spinning wheel o' colors, and had to clap every time they did. I thought it was hysterical, especially since I swear I'll be on this show someday (I'm sure I'll win nothing, but hey it's good to have goals)...

mother's day... how I love thee...

I'm very blessed to have a wonderful family that treats me like a queen on Mother's Day (and most every day of the year!). My two boys and hubby are the sweetest around, in my very biased opinion! This year, they did a number of special things for me, but my favorite is always the cards. PJ generally picks one out and it's from all three of them, but this year Britton also wanted to give me one of his own. Completely unprovoked, he went into his room yesterday afternoon, found an old Valentine's card I had given him several years back, and re-decorated it to be a Mother's Day card for me - complete with a drawing of the whole family, and the names to match each person. He came out to find me, quietly said "Happy Mother's Day" and pulled the card from behind his back. That was by far the highlight of my day. We also saw both of our Mom's - PJ's Mom at lunch; and my Mom came over for a family dinner. The boys had a great time playing with their cousins at both gatherings, and we loved getting to catch up with everyone.

This is one of my new favorite pics - Grandpa Poncho sporting the apron we gave Grandma Cindy for Mother's Day. Both our Moms love to cook and I decided these would be perfect gifts (thanks Katie, for the idea!). Since it was MOTHER's Day, the Dads were cooking... Somehow it was just not the same on Grandpa. :)

i love these pj's

Both my kids have worn these, and in my opinion, they are the cutest darn PJ's out there. Actually, they were my nephew's, Trenton, first, and all three boys have looked so cute in them. Maybe it's because they are so skin tight they show every little baby pudge on them (which I LOVE), the chicken legs (which just come with being a part of this gene pool), or maybe it's because they are old-school style and button up the back. But we always get a good laugh, just cause they are so cute in them! Gotta love the big belly! Check out the comparison - so funny to see them each in them (and they are almost the exact same age in these pics)...



Little Britton first (I can't believe how young he looks in this picture):


And sweet Leyton - they are definitely a little snugger on him than they were on BK... :)

topsy turvy

Wow - I'm way behind. Expect to see an explosion of garcia posts in the next day or so. We'll start with some fun ones from this week...

Britton is a man after my own heart. I was so thrilled to find him like this when I walked into Leyton's room today:



For those that don't know, I was a competitive gymnast for more years than I can count. It was my life until I was 17 (when I tore up an ankle for what would be the last time) when I decided to retire. I still follow the sport closely, and have put Britton in it at the same gym I competed for. He's definitely a little monkey (just like his momma was), and seems to have a knack for it. Too bad I have a problem with male gymnasts... His days in this sport are numbered. :)

As for Leyton, he's now walking - full speed ahead. He's still not incredibly stable (and leads with his super cute belly), so the "topsy turvy" title fits him as well. I remember this stage with Britton; a state of constant bruise on his head from whatever he fell into that week. Currently, the forehead bruise count for Leyton stands at 2. Super. Here's a quick pic from this week (so proud of himself!).