What's so funny!?

I'm not a very private person. Take a look at a few of my previous posts and you'll find that to be an understatement. The last few months have been rather intense in all areas of life, especially emotionally. This has caused me to DREAD writing, which in itself is rather terrifying because I LOVE it. WHO AM I!?! I am a mess. That's what I am. A beautiful, fearfully and wonderfully made mess. I find peace in knowing that this is just another part of my journey - another story to tell later. In the meantime, I have started taking notes on things that bring me much laughter and joy. I thought I'd take the time to share what I highly recommend for getting past the emotional bumps in life.

Take a road trip with coworkers. Most of us have taken road trip with family and many of us have with close friends, but a road trip with coworkers is rather rare. If you're fortunate enough (as I am) to work with amazing people, this can be the highlight of your week for sure! Talk about random things, laugh about having children, not having children, being married, not even dating, spouses' hobbies, your hobbies, life, death, good drivers, horrible drivers, anything and everything you can come up - EXCEPT work. I recently had the opportunity to do this very thing, and I haven't laughed that hard in so long. I think you'll find a renewed appreciation for the people that God has placed around you, and, well, hopefully you'll laugh until your stomach hurts!

Play bunco with your girlfriends (or guyfriends, I'm not picky). I think it's the fast pace that does it, because it can't possibly be the fact that you spend two hours rolling the same 3 dice. But, whatever it is, it's good. Preferably with good finger foods - because food makes my the world go 'round.

Watch AFV! Okay - we have all seen it, but when you REALLY need your spirits lifted, find an episode and laugh. Laugh at the stupid things, the insane things, the oh my goodness I can't watch this things. . . make yourself laugh at the ones that aren't funny. That show is just too much!

If AFV doesn't work for you, look up auto-correct fails. Disclaimer: so many of the "top ##" posts have nothing but nasty stuff. Those aren't funny. But some of them are, and some of them will bring you to tears. My hubby and I sat one afternoon looking through them - both with tears - we laughed so hard.

Finally, videotape (is it still called that? There's no tape; it's a phone!) in slow motion. Hubby's slow motion videos always star our dog, Daisy. My favorites are the ones where she's trying to catch food in the air. My sister-in-law recently posted one of our adorable 2-year-old nephew running. This is good stuff, people. Good stuff!

I hope you take a moment this week (what's left of it) to laugh - on purpose. Find something that makes you laugh and DRINK IT UP! Laughter is, after all, so very good for the soul.

Love you all! XOXO

Graphically funny

I don't know about you, but I love a good ecard.  Sometimes, when I'm feeling extremely overwhelmed about something, I type in the subject + ecard into a google search.  For example, "control freak ecard". However, sometimes flipping through facebook for 5 minutes can totally do the trick!  Here are just a few of the ones that recently made me LOL, literally.

I think I love these because they give me the opportunity to laugh at the reality that I'm living, that sometimes doesn't feel so funny.  It's been an extremely long & hard weekend, and the humor in these was such a relief. Do you have any go-to ecards that help you make it through the insanity?


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The joy of reading

For personal reasons, I recently took a break from school, and I have found that I have more time after the kids go to bed to do what I really enjoy doing - reading - reading books that aren't related to work or school (especially since Matt ISN'T taking a break from school, so he's pretty preoccupied).  It has been really nice; I've done more "choice reading" in the past couple of months than I have in many years combined.  But I have also found that I'm not good at sticking to one thing, and in the past two weeks I've grown restless.

I want to garden, but here in the lovely state of Okla-havenoideawhatseasonitis-homa, those of us who have watched the weather have put off doing much in terms of actual planting, so all I have is this (which looks pretty rough in this photo but is actually quite nice now that it's been fully worked and staked):

On Sunday, it was almost 80 degrees, tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings.  Monday, it snowed.  Granted, unless you looked outside at the perfect time, you didn't know that it snowed.  But it snowed.

Anyway, back to my point - I'm bored of reading books for the time being.  There's nothing worth watching on TV - the excitement of the final episode of HIMYM is over.  Note: we missed the 2 seasons prior to this one because we were bored and ready to just meet her already!  So, this season was fun for us.  Again - off point. . . . SQUIRREL!!!!! Sheesh.

Long, ridiculous story later. . . I decided to start reading blogs.  Not those blogs that make me feel bad about myself - that my house isn't fancy enough at all, I don't do enough "extracurricular" stuff, my kids aren't clean enough, house isn't clean enough - I put enough pressure on myself without all of that.  But I do find it helpful to read blogs that help with dinner preparations, feeding a family healthy food on a budget, real people doing real exercises, and stories from other moms who understand what it feels like to step on a lego in the middle of the night or to sit on the toilet in the dark and realize the last person who used it didn't aim well.  These things speak to me on a level that even the best Nicholas Sparks book can't reach.

Now, if you're like me, finding/reading/following blogs can be a daunting task, but a couple months ago a friend (*her blog is posted below) told me about bloglovin.com  I didn't have time for such nonsense at the time (ha!) so I didn't looked into it.  But this weekend, as I was hunting for menu ideas, etc., I pulled it up.  I have found my new Nicholas Sparks book, my new, beloved reading companion.  And while my fickle self will probably change back to real books in a few weeks, for the time being I will love me some bloglovin!!

Here are just a few of my new (as well as trusty) faves - all of which I can follow and read through my bloglovin app:

The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Wellness Mama
100 Days of Real Food
FitSugar - Healthy, happy you
The Real Arnolds*

Are there any blogs/bloggers that you just can't live without?

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

This year, the kids started a new school.  This meant new friends, new teachers (even more so than just changing grades), and new opportunities.  One of those opportunities was the running club - C joined as soon as they'd let him!  I thought it was pretty funny, actually.  The kid is just like his momma - the idea sounds great, but he actually hates to run.  HA!  BUT - there's something about being involved in an organized situation that causes one to act differently than they normally would.  I'll provide further proof of that later.

As a member of the running club, the students participate in 3 local races/semester.  In true "Laura" fashion, I immediately said, "Oh, C, that is so exciting - and we could run with you!!!"  Turns out, the kids remembers things. . . . EVERYTHING!!  It came time to register for the Zoo Run, and that statement immediately came back to haunt me.  "Mom, are you signing up too?  You know, to run with me?!?!?"  If you know my boy, you know his love language (one of a few, actually) is "quality time", so being the good mom that I strive to be, I signed up.  I said, "we'll train everyday".  We trained twice (he did more - in running club).  Zoo Run day arrived and I was ready to go!  It's only 2k, how bad can it be? Well, for someone who doesn't run, that was bad.  Trust. Me. On. This.

We did finish; C finishing before me (shocking, right?!?!?)

Following the Zoo Run. You can't tell, but I'm on the verge of losing my breakfast. . . along with all of the other meals I'd eaten the week prior!

I only tasted blood for an hour, and I quit coughing about 3 hours later.  Lesson learned: train for the Tulsa Run scheduled 3 weeks later!!!!!

Three weeks later. . . . . I've trained . . . once . . . ran for 1/4 mile.  Ya'll - I don't have good sense.  I know this.

Regardless, we did it. 



Tulsa Run - 2k
Also - I said I'd provide proof that when pushed by an organized event, one will act out of character. 
This is me prior to running 2k = this is me out of character.

This time, C stayed with me (downtown is not as safe as the confines of the zoo) and again, I didn't die. I only tasted blood for 30 minutes this time and I coughed twice. Life is good.

Today - we received an email from the coach.  She was taking the time to thank us for not dying during the race yesterday and to "remind" us that our next race was coming up in 5 weeks and, by the way, it's 5k.  That's right.  2.5 times as long as the two that almost got the best of me.  I cried inside, sent a text to a few friends - anyone with text that might feel sorry for me.  Instead - they encouraged me. . ."YOU CAN DO IT!!!"  "GO FOR IT!!!!"  I'm so glad they have more faith in me than I do. 

I promise to report the results of said run.  And if anyone would like to join Matt & P at the finish line, I'm sure they'd appreciate the company! :)  Bring hot chocolate and hand warmers, it's going to be COLD.  Unless the OKWX is true to itself. . .then it'll be 80, in December. 

And before I sign off, I will ask. . . . . Prayin' folks - please pray. 

Edumacation

I tend to have an "eye" for blatant grammar/spelling errors.  I used to think it was a gift, but now I'm not so sure.  You see, I have the privilege of catching things like this and I'm ashamed to even exist.  Enjoy. . . .



I'm starting a new website: "Typings of Wal-Mart"



My sweet little man

While it's still early, I have an overwhelming urge to showcase my sweet boy for his 7th birthday.  Yes, you saw that correctly. . .  SEVEN!!!! When he turned 5, I thought, "this is so weird, this is bound to be the hardest birthday for me".  When he turned 6, same thing. . . and again, "this is so weird, this is bound to be the hardest. . . "
What can I possibly say about the sweetest, most handsome, most loving little man in the entire world?!?!?! Well, I just love him to pieces - every single bit of him!!!!!!
For your viewing pleasure, here are some of my faves.  (Warning: this post is extremely long)

This is how we began. . . for two weeks. 

And now some videos. . . . because I laughed so hard watching these again.  Forgive the horrible quality. . . thank God for new technology!!!!!!!

Sorry it's turned wrong. . . I did NOT film this - I was laughing too hard.

This has to be one of my faves. . . coupled with the next one.  I must say that I'm glad he's not as rowdy, but I kinda miss these days. . .

Mommy had a serious case of "morning sickness", but he didn't seem to mind. :)

He is BY FAR the best big brother EVER!!!

Thank you for your patience.  I promise it took 100 times longer to upload all of this than it took for you to view it. :)