Look Mom...No training wheels!!!

Last week Harrison rode his bike with no training wheels for the first time. This video clip is from the first moments...I am amazed that he did not fall and was so confident. I guess he was ready...we had no idea. It was a rite of passage for him and I'm so happy we captured it on video....ENJOY!

And now they are.....2!

Two years ago today our lives changed forever...and for the better. Brady William and Jackson Quinn entered this world 2 years ago today.

Brady,

You are my mommy's boy. I see a lot of you in me. You like things in there place, you like to help clean up, you are a very good eater and you think a smile could brighten anyone's mood. You are so right! You are really tall and look exactly like your daddy. You love cars and trucks and COOKIES! You and Jack have learned that when we pull into the Whole Foods parking lot that if you start saying 'cookie' really loud that Mommy will think you are so cute and get you one. It works everytime! You are in love with your brothers "zarisson" and "dack" and call them by name all the time to get their attention. You bring Jack his 'taggie' when he is crying which tells me what a kind heart you have. I love being your Mommy and love you with all my heart! Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet Brady!

Love,

Mommy

Jack,

Sweet little Jack! Although you are so small you have a very big heart. You are my active little man. You love to throw, catch or kick a ball...anytime or anywhere. You have so much energy, yet still like to be cuddled at night. You let me hold you or rock you anytime I want to. You love your 'taggie blanket' and I like the fact that it makes you feel so much better when you are hurting. You also love anything with wheels and especially love books about them. You are a comedian and love to make people laugh. Your favorite things are 'going bye bye' and 'going for a walk'. You love watching your big brother Harrison and want to be just like him. I love being your Mommy and love you with all my heart! Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet Jack!

Love,

Mommy

I can't believe 2 years has passed. I still remember when they looked like this...

We've been 'Obamacon'ed...thanks Jersey Baby!

Thanks to Jersey BAby, we've been officially "Obamacon'ed". I've been looking for some funky ways to do the boys pictures to hang in the playroom and after working on photoshop for a little while, I stumbled across Jersey Baby's facebook page and fell in love with these. I went on the site and created 3-one of each of the boys. I'm thinking about having them made into posters to hang in the playroom. For $10 a piece you can't go wrong with these. I love having the words 'hope, progress, change' on each of them too. That way I can tell them that Obama was our President when these posters were made for them. Here are the three I came up with....now go and make your own. It's really fun...

I'm still here...with a list to boot!

Between running, running to preschool, cooking, shopping and just being a mom...I feel like I've been too busy to post. I really don't have much to say but felt I needed to post. We are just knee deep in winter here and I've been in a cooking storm. I've dusted off some old cookbooks and pulled out some new ones. With my New Year's Resolution to continue to eat healthy, whole foods, we have been cooking more and more rather than doing take out or going out. So, ladies and gents, I've made a list of my favorite cookbooks. I know it's not exciting, but if you are a cookbook junkie like me, you'll like this list. Let me know which ones you like that are your faves too and I just may have to add them to my wish list. In no particular order, here are my top 5 favorite cookbooks.

1. The Williams-Sonoma Cookbook: The Essential Recipe Collection for Today's Home Cook

2. Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients

3. Bon Appetit, Y'All: Recipes and Stories from Three Generations of Southern

4. The Bon Appetit Cookbook: Fast Easy Fresh

5. Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast: Simple Suppers.. because we all like to get dinner on the table pronto!

Happy cooking everyone! Don't forget to tell me what your favorite cookbooks are!!

A good find...

as I continue on my quest to eat all natural foods..I discovered this. Ficoco is made from figs and cocoa...two of my favorite things! Although I love Nutella like nobody's business, I don't like the fact that it's high in fat. I spread Ficoco on one of those mini whole wheat bagels and it's Heaven on Earth. No fat and only 60 calories...and it's all natural! I found mine at Whole Foods, but I'm sure there are other stores that carry it too...

Where have I been???

11 days into the New Year with no post...I know, I know. But I have to say...we have been all recovering from colds here in the magnolia household. Harrison and Dan were hit the hardest. Harrison got his first EVER ear infection at 4 years old. I could hardly believe it!! Anyway, things have been great besides the colds...

Resolutions? How do I top 2008's resolution of running a marathon? I don't know...but I am going to start doing at least one a year. I have my eye on either the Disney (Goofy Challenge, Jen? I'm up for it if you are) or the Charleston Marathon, which may or may not happen. However, these are both in Jan 2010, so technically not this year....So I came up with a list of things that I'd like to do or change for this upcoming year...

1. Lose the remaining 5 lbs and be at my wedding weight...I would love to accomplish this!!
2. Be in the moment with my children...they are growing up way too fast. The twins will be two next month. What happened to my babies?
3. Continue to grow the photography business
4. Continue to eat healthy...leafy greens, whole grains, fruits, veggies
5. Try a detox cleanse..thinking about the Blueprint Cleanse
6. Work on getting rid of all the hormonal havoc that happened to my skin. I'm working with someone and am obsessed with Dermologica products. Trying to conceive, while good for having babies, not good for my skin. (i.e. mask of pregnancy is still on my forehead...)
7. Continue to run 4/5 days a week and strength training 2 days a week.
8. Have fun! Be positive!
9. More date nights with Dan....went to S.N.O.B. downtown the other night and then drinks at Cypress...WONDERFUL!!
10. Surround myself with good friends and family!!

Looking forward to 2009...I promise to post some Christmas pics soon!

2008 was a good one...

As I reflect on the last day of 2008 I realize what a wonderful year it has been. Dan and I both achieved our resolutions for 2008 by (me) running my first marathon and (Dan) getting a new job. On top of that I managed to start a photography business with my friend Blakely. I lost all and more of my baby weight and am now in the best shape I've ever been in. I feel great about where I am in my life and I have a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful little boys to boot. The best decision we ever made was moving to Charleston, SC. Seriously it doesn't get any better to live on the edge of the map. I think the salt air has done wonders for me emotionally, physically and spiritually!



Tonight we are celebrating the New Year at my friend M's house. We're bringing the kids with us and putting them down to sleep there and then celebrating a little more. I love fondue on New Year's Eve, but what I love more is Champagne. It's really my favorite libation. Can't wait to indulge in a little tonight!!! It should be fun! There are going to be 5 couples celebrating and all of their kids as well. Hopefully the kids will crash from the excitement.



We may bring our Rock Band Wii game over there....it is awesome! I love the singing vocals. So much fun...that's what Dan got from me for Christmas. He got me a great gift as well. I have officially joined the 21st century and am now mobile...with the Photography business I felt as though I needed to have access to emails while on the road. Since I spend so much time in the minivan in the carpool lane, this is what he gave me.....The Blackberry Storm I love it, but now I know why they call the Blackberry a "crackberry"...it's almost as addictive as Facebook!






Happy New Year...may 2009 bring health, happiness and prosperity!!!