Venting

Prepare yourselves, this entire post will be dedicated to my current frustrations. 1st: I recently had my six week postpartum check up and was really discouraged but the lack of progress i've made in getting back to my normal shape. It doesnt seem to matter how many reassuring things I read in the handouts the midwifes provide, or incouraging things people say. I still feel crappy and i guess that wont go away until i get myself into gear and push myself to look the way i want. What's even more upsetting is that I seem to be the only women ever who can breast freed, work out 3-6 days a week for over an hour and a half, eat 1200-1500 HEALTHY calories a day and STILL not lose weight! In fact over the christmas week I even gained weight! UGH! 2nd: I am finally starting to understand how stressful it can be to have 3 children. Maverick is sleeping less and less during the days which means i have less and less time to work on chores and projects. I feel like i never get everything done. The cleaning, laundry, dishes never stop piling up and as soon as i seem to have it all under control, something comes up. It's not that big of a deal but for the OCD Brogan it can sometimes be overwhelming. 3rd: This isn't really that big of a deal, but Preston started school this week. I'm excited for him and happy that he is finally getting to interact with kids his own age and is getting some mental stimulation during the day. The problem is that his preschool is from 830-1230 and is a half hour drive away. So we leave the house at 8, get home at 9, have to leave again at 12 to get him and then dont get back home again until 1pm. Im also $410 poorer each month not to mention the gas money and money we spent on new clothes and shoes and the "donations" the school is asking for for school supplies...all while only reciving 65% pay due to maternity leave.

well, i'll leave with that. I'm sure there are plenty of other things to vent about but i dont want to be a downer and my exaustion has caused my mind to go blank! :)

Lots of Love and Bunches of Hugs!!
XOXO Brogan Lee

Christmas preview

Mr Lance Kinney supplied me with hundreds of amazing photos from the Christmas weekend. I have WAY too many favorites to post, so I'm still trying to narrow it down. When that finally happens you'll get a peak into the fantastic weekend we experienced. Until then, here are a few shots from my cell phone! I hope everyone has had a marvelous holiday and end to 2011!!

Lots of Love and Bunches of Hugs!!
XOXO Brogan Lee

P.s. yes, that's the beach. It was 70 degrease on Christmas so we spent some time on Avila Beach!!

Green smoothies

While in S.L.O. During the Christmas week Price and I were spoiled with endless delicious meals. Amongst the deliciousness was what I like to call"The Green Smoothie". Both of Prices sisters eat extremely healthy and in an effort to live a better 2012, I'm going to use them as motivators. Melanie is the worlds beat salad maker. I've made several attempts to recreate her master pieces, but to no avail. Soon, I will create a salad that I never want to stop eating!! Until that day comes, I can continue to enjoy the smoothie Maegan introduced to us. I have no idea the measurements of the ingredients but I just threw everything in and blended it up and it was great!! Here's what's in it:
A banana
Strawberries
Blueberries
Collars greens
Raw almonds
Strawberry Kefir
Liquid flaxseed oil
Ice
Water
Blend and enjoy an extremely filling, delicious and nutritious meal!! Oh and the next part... The kids love it too!!!

Lots of Love and Bunches of Hugs
XOXO Brogan Lee

A kite kind of day

It was warm and beautiful outside yesterday and with no plans for New Years Eve, we decided to take the boys to the Coronado Cays Dog Park and fly the kites they got for Christmas. Because of how nice it was at our place, I left the house in shorts and a tank top only to have the sky go from blue to grey, and the temperature drop by 10 degrees in the short 14 miles between our home and the park. Despite the weather, the boys seemed to have a good time flying their kites and playing on the playground. Preston got his kite almost all the way let out on the string without it falling. Ethan grew tried of flying long before his brother and he spent a good amount of time on the swings (while I one handed pushed him and gulped my hot coffee with the other). When I couldn't take the cold any longer we headed back home. Price put the new BBQ to work and we ended the night with some delicious chicken breast, which I'm excited to say the boys actually ate! The hubs and I have decided that the unhealthy eating habits of the boys need to stop so they MUST eat the same thing that we eat, Or they go to bed hungry. Last night it was no issue,in fact they actually seemed to like it!! Fingers crossed this becomes a regular thing or our nights are going to be pretty rough!

Lots if Love and Bunches of Hugs,
XOXO Brogan Lee

1st hair cut

Maverick was the 1st Walling baby to be born with a massive amount of hair. I loved it, but it was starting to thin around the sides and the top was always stringy and greasy looking. So, I gave Mav his first hair cut! It is a drastic difference! He looks like a whole different baby.... Or maybe Elmer Fudd! ;) I've heard people say that shaving a babies head multiple times while their little makes it grow in thicker, so we'll see if that's true for our little man! I at least hope it grows fast!!

Lots of Love and Bunches of Hugs,
XOXO Brogan Lee

Scooter wounds

Preston got a "Big Boy" scooter from his Amma for Christmas... The Razor!! Yesterday he took it out for a spin for the second time. This scooter is MUCH faster than his old Play School Spider Man one and he hasn't quite got the hang of the brakes yet. Thankfully he had his helmet on because once we got to the park he decided to race another boy down the big hill. As I'm sure you've gathered, it didn't end so well. Preston cried all the way home rockin' some pretty serious road rash! But he was tough! He let us bandage him up and said he wanted to ride again tomorrow. Hopefully this time he'll use the brakes!

Lots of Love and Bunches of Hugs!
XOXO Brogan Lee

Fresno with Papa Barrett

"How much longer to Uncle Martin's and Papa's?" and "Are we there yet?" is all we heard for the almost 6 hour drive to Fresno this week. Once we finally arrived, not only were the boys ecstatic, but they turned Into crazy, endless balls of destructive energy. Preston harassed my brother to play video games with him and wrestle, Ethan searched through every closet and cupboard and whined for Mickey Mouse, and Maverick cooed away with my Dad ( this was the 1st time my dad has met Maverick ). Price and I ate about 3 pounds of See's candy each and totally strayed away from our diets that we swore we would stick to while on vacation. At least Price got up and went to the gym every day, I... Not so much :( I'm pretty horrified to step on the scale when we get home. Oh, and Preston got a chance to play with his cousins for a while (although all he could focus on was their Nintendo DS). It was great to get to see the two of them, but it's kind of hard knowing we're not going to get to spend Christmas together this year. My sisters are spending the holiday with their in laws and the boys and I are headed to San Luis Obispo to see Prices other sisters and their family's. Christmas 2012 will be a Barrett family reunion!!

One day until Christmas and Preston is very concerned about whether he is on the "naughty list" or not...can u tell he's been threatened with a present-less holiday once or twice? ;)

Lots of Love and Bunches of Hugs,
XOXO Brogan Lee