Palm Trees and Mommys...

What do Palm Trees and Mommys have in common?

Destin. Labor Day Weekend 2009.

Palm Trees...I've written about them before, but guess what....in just 4 days, I'll get to see them! So excited. Can't wait. Can't focus. Can't. Wait.

Mommys...I haven't seen mine since March! Six. months. Although I talk to her everyday, I absolutely can't wait to see her. It's true...Mommys needs their Mommys!

I can't wait to hug her. Can't wait to see the boys hug her. Can't wait to have a strawberry margarita with her. Can't wait to sit next to her on the beach. Can't wait to go shopping with her. Can't wait to see her.

Palm Trees and Mommys...they go together like peanut butter and jelly!

TRULY BLESSED to be able to see my Mom in just a few days...Can't wait!
Chasity

PS...I am 100% certain that should a hurricane decide to make its way to Florida this coming weekend, I'll be heading into a storm!

Alligators and Rashes...

Or is it Rashes and Alligators? Did Ms. Mary have an alligator purse or did the Doctor or Nurse...or maybe it was a lady with an alligator purse?!?!

Alligators -- Brent left on Friday to go Alligator hunting in Florida. I know. It sounds stupid. It is. But, he went anyway. My warning to him...lose hands, fingers, toes, whatever...don't call me. I will not go to the ER. I will not help in anyway. I will be mad if medical bills arrive at our house. Did he listen to my warnings? No! He's off being a man for the weekend...alligator hunting!

Which leaves me here. In Nashville. With two crazy little boys. One of which decided to get some kind of viral rash all over his body.

Rashes -- Palmer. He's the culprit. He's the little one that ended us up in the Walgreen's Take Care Clinic...not because he was feeling bad. Definitely. Not. Feeling. Bad. I took him to make sure daycare will take him at school. I mean, clearly, after hearing the nurse tell about 10 different drs. that he was definitely not feeling bad -- she also kept saying Mom is going crazy in here (which I thought I was handling being trapped in a 10x10 room for an hour fairly well) -- it was clear that he was not feeling bad, nor did she know what it was causing the rash. Thank goodness we have dear sweet neighbors...Sara (Mark's wife) is amazing (she invited us over for Mark to check out Palmer) and Mark is an amazing pediatrician. In fact, not only did they tell us to come over so he could check Palmer out, he then kept the two boys for an hour while I left and went home to make dinner -- how awesome was that?!

So, the dianosis -- a vital rash of some kind, from something. Benadryl every 6 hours. And, as far as I know, Brent still has both hands and all 10 fingers:)

Can I have a margarita?! Please?!

TRULY BLESSED on this LONG weekend to have enjoyed my two precious, mischevious little boys while Brent does the "Man" thing in Florida,
Chasity

PS...I'm really serious about that no help thing. Lose a hand = no help from me!

7 pounds...

And I don't mean the movie with Will Smith!

I have lost 7 pounds since May. YAY!

I know. I know. Most people say I don't need to lose weight, but yes, I do...

My obsession with losing weight started when we took Mother's Day pictures. I realized that in the course of 1 year, I had gained 10 pounds! Yikes!

So, I hit the gym...backwards!

What does this mean? Well, I started out by taking classes that included weight lifting, thinking this would help me lose weight. All I did was gain weight -- you know, the whole muscle weighs more than fat thing. So, I managed to keep the weight on, but lose inches (and I got "Tank Top Arms:). Then I realized I should start doing a little cardio/burning calories. So, I started watching my calories...trust me, for me, this is extremely hard to do -- I mean eating yogurt/granola for breakfast every day for breakfast and veggie burgers every day for lunch + giving up all drinks except water has not been easy! I slacked off on weights a little and added Zumba and the elyptical.

My schedule:
Monday -- Zumb and Pilates
Tuesday -- Ultimate Circuit
Wednesday -- Just Weights/Zumba
Thursday/Friday -- off
Saturday -- MY KILLER CLASS - JUST WEIGHTS -- I can safely say that with this class, I personally ran off 3 of my neighbors. They went to class with me once or twice, then wouldn't talk to me anymore (well, they still talk to me, but don't go to the class)!

I don't follow this exactly to a tee, but I can say that Brent has been amazing during this time. Although he doesn't necessarily see the changes in me b/c he sees me everyday, I know they are there. The scale even says it. And, the boys love going to the gym...they actually beg to go. I suspect it has something to do with Palmer playing in the Bounce House for an hour and Peyton being able to play Wii for an hour on a school night.

Am I where I want to be? No. Will I get there? Yes. Do I feel better? Yes. Will I keep exercising? Yes. De.fi.nite.ly!

7 pounds down. 5 more to go!

TRULY BLESSED to be healthy enough to do this,
Chasity

PS...I did eat Mexican for lunch today, which means dinner will consist of yogurt and I'll be at the gym tonight for about an hour and a half. YAY ME!

Four...

August 15, 2009 -- I can't believe my favorite sweet baby is four!

If I stop to think about it, I know I'll cry...so I just keep moving!

It seems like just yesterday I was giving birth to Mr. Palmer. In all his glory, he made an appearance to a room full of laughing people. Maybe that is why he is my little drama prince.

(Us...we were leaving the hospital with Mr. Palmer)

So, in honor of the day he was born, we partied. We partied with a pool party! Mickey Mouse theme and all, we partied.

We ate Pizza. We ate Cookie Cake. We ate Candy. We had fun! Tons of fun (even though that morning Palmer told me he didn't want to go to the pool -- funny...this was the one day he should have really wanted to go)!

(His dream...candy and toys!)


(My and my favorite sweet baby...on his birthday)!

I can't write too much. I'll start crying. He's my baby and always will be -- even on the days I want to give him away!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TO MY MR. PALMER...

TRULY BLESSED to have a four year old...that is 4...and very good at it!!
Chasity

PS...There's a moratorium on my children getting older. No little boys in my house are allowed to get any older!

Back to...

SCHOOL!

It's that time of year and boy, am I, I mean we, are ready:) This Summer has been an absolute blast. We have utilized every moment of this Summer to play and spend time by the pool. One month ago, I wasn't ready for school to start, but the Lord has perfect timing and knows when it is time for a change...and it is time.

Palmer started his 4K class on Monday. He had on just the cutest little outfit. Since Palmer, my Summer baby, has just had surfboards in his life since before he was born, I thought this little shirt that says, "I'd Rather Be Surfing" was perfect for the first day of 4K. He was excited to begin his new class, with his new teacher Mrs. Geri! It's amazing what a new room, new toys, new teacher can do...the plus side, he has sign his own name every morning...too cute!

After a crazy week of Peyton being out of school with no camp, joining me at work for the entire week and him not feeling well (but finally breaking his fever last night) and oh, a birthday party in the works, boy, was I ready for this morning to come...

Peyton started 1st grade this morning!!!!! We went on Wednesday afternoon to meet his teacher, Mrs. Melin. Amazingly enough, she is from Florida and both her and her husband went to Florida State...now if that isn't the Lord answering prayers, I don't know what is. I do know, however, that we are very excited about this school year!!!! Although Peyton and Cannon (his best friend) did not get to be in the same class (which we thought might happen), he handled it well and said, "I have the nicest teacher in 1st grade." That made my heart melt.

I say it every day, but this week I really mean it (as if I didn't the other times)...I can't believe I have a 6 year old and a 3 (turning 4 tomorrow) year old! Time flies. You blink and poof, time is gone!!!

I'm praying for amazing year for our family!!!!

TRULY BLESSED on this Friday as both boys are going to be well taken care of, even though I won't be with them!!!

Chasity

PS...Please say a prayer for Mrs. Smith, Peyton's Kindergarten teacher, we found out this week she has Breast Cancer and will be undergoing Chemo for the first few weeks of school. We love Mrs. Smith and wish her strength, mercy and love during these next few weeks!

Running...

On Saturday, my company, cj Advertising, and our foundation, Camels With a Cause, were the title sponsors of the East Nashville Tomato 5K benefitting the Margaret Maddox YMCA. Out entire company was involved...in all different ways.

So on Saturday morning at 6 a.m., the family and I put on our running shoes and headed to the Race. Peyton (still blurried-eyed and tired) and Palmer (unusually wired for the morning) were running the Kids Fun Run, which was sponsored by my largest (and only local) client, Hughes & Coleman. So after flirting with the Y Guy and the Camels (my office colleagues dressed up as camels), the Kids Fun Run started...and they were off!

Palmer took off. Then he looked back and FREAKED out. Then, he sat down. Just sat down in the middle of the road. Peyton on the other hand took off and never looked back. He was in the Top 15...that little booger can run.

From then on, we watched as the big 5K began. It really is amazing how fast these folks can run (I was taking pictures of my colleagues as they crossed the finish line). In fact, it made me actually want to be a runner...for about 1 minute -- then I remembered, I don't like running. It's boring and my feet ache, so I'll think I'll stick with my cardio/sculpt classes. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

(Our Camels with the Nashville Mayor, Mayor Dean)

All in all, it was a great day. We volunteered for a great cause. The boys got to run their little hearts out. I got to spend time with my colleagues outside of work.

TRULY BLESSED to work for such a great company and to have two little boys that have so much energy that we enter then in Kid Fun Runs just to get the energy out!
Chasity

PS...We all went home and took a 3-hour nap!

Life...

Life is amazing! Life is wonderful! Life is beautiful!

I wrote about this a while back saying how peaceful and quiet our life is right now...and I still mean it.

Life has been quiet around the Phillips' house. We are loving it!

Don't worry...this hasn't turned into a diary...I'll still write. When there is something to write about!!!!

WE ARE TRULY BLESSED and so very thankful for this peaceful time in our lives,
Chasity

PS...School starts soon, so life is about to get crazy!