Noah's 1st Chuck E. Cheese Birthday Party

Today Noah (and Mommy) attended his 1st Chuck E. Cheese birthday party of his friend, Alec. Wow.  Talk about overstimulation! Alec's mom recently had a baby, so I volunteered to take pictures for her because somehow her baby slept through all the screaming kids! She was very appreciative, and I was happy to help.  Noah had a great time, of course.  He wasn't the least bit scared of the Chuck E. Cheese rat!  I must say...I would've been afraid of that rat at his age...maybe even now! After all was said and done, we bathed in anti-bacterial:) & then hit the tub! Happy 4th Birthday Alec!

Saying Yes

Oh, the Texas Springtime Weather! Oh, how I love you!

It's almost 70 degrees today and a BEAUTIFUL day to inspire me to say YES!

This week I'm saying YES to...

• Prayers for Elizabeth's surgery to go well and for a speedy recovery.
• YES to more water! Yes, I am a Diet Coke addict, but this BALANCE goal of mine keeps rearing it's little head---so I'm going to try to BALANCE my Diet Coke with water! (I bought this new water bottle at Old Navy called a Bobble, and it has the filter built right in. So that's easy & good for the environment! We'll give it a try!)
• I say YES to balance...and I'm even taking a day off work this week.
• YES to my boys...the LOVES of my life!
• I say YES to positive changes in the McBride household.
• YES to making a difference.
• YES to NO EXCUSES.
• YES to taking some pictures of the boys in St. Patrick's Day props.
• I say YES to big kisses, big hugs, and dancing it out with my loves.
• YES to making serious progress on our house organization.
• YES to getting to Mrs. Lee's Daffodil Garden to kick start the spring!
• I say YES to rejuvenation.  YES to renewal.
• YES to working on my fitness and reaching my goals.
• I say YES to gratitude, because I know I am BLESSED!
• YES to PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION!
• YES! YES! YES!

Girl Night Before Elizabeth's Surgery

Tonight Elizabeth & I got together with another friend of hers and had a little "pre-surgery" girl night.  They drank wine (& I had my trusty Diet Coke of course!) and we talked, laughed, and even sang a little (there was a guitar player there) to try to bring a smile to my sweet friend's face.  I tried to cheer her up by making a special batch of my cookies just for her.  Love, Love, Love my friend.  Praying for a safe surgery Monday and for the peace and strength she needs.  XOXO.

Saying Yes

Lots of changes going on in the McBride house..some internal, some external. While change is difficult, it's necessary to re-evaluate where we are at vs. where we wish to be. I'm in process of evaluating so many areas of my life. Refelction is a good thing.  I just wish God would write the following on a billboard I could read on the way home, "Hello Brenda Joy McBride.  This is God.  Do this...." Unfortunately, God doesn't work that way. I find that he first sends us whispers.  We can choose to ignore the whispers or not. If we do ignore the whispers, they turn into loud, bold statements...then all-out screams! So, I'm trying to listen more carefully to the whispers...and forgive myself when I try to do it MY WAY, and ignore the screams...to my own detriment.  On that note...This week I'm saying YES to...

• I say YES to saying NO when I need to! Sounds odd, but saying NO is not always an easy thing for me to do.  I genuinely want to help everyone and do everything!
• I say YES to reflection, yes to hard decsions.
• I say YES to my boys...and YES to appreciating my time with my loves.
• YES to working on my fitness.
• YES to balance...the ever-running-battle of my days!
• I say YES to beautiful spring-like weather.
• YES to daffodils!
• YES to stepping outside my comfort zone!
• YES to asking for help when I need it.
• YES to listening to Jackson say, "Mama, Mama, Mama" in the sweetest voice I've ever heard.
• I say YES to Elizabeth's pre-surgery girls party
• YES to dancing it out...
• YES to deep breaths and getting oxygen to my brain!
• YES to making a difference.
• YES to progress, not perfection.
• YES! YES! YES! 

Ready for Spring

Spring is on the way! We can't wait! Spring in Texas is glorious, and it's my favorite time of year! We spent most of the weekend enjoying the beautiful soon-to-be-springtime air outside.  Noah & I took our 1st ride in our Kayak and he had a great time, "sailing," as he called it.  It was just beautiful. There's nothing better than just spending time outdoors with my favorite boys.

Sink-Time-Bath-Time

 Jackson enjoyed a few minutes of bathtime in the kitchen sink tonight.  Priceless.

Jump for my LOVES

We pulled out a big "indoor" bouncing contraption this weekend and the boys jumped their little hearts out.  Of course, this meant that our living room turned into an indoor bounce-a-thon, but that's what we  supermoms & superdads do on the weekends!