ALOE VERA!!!!!

Hey friends, I am back from Orlando. We had a wonderful, exhausting, relaxing vacation. We did SIX parks in THREE days! (Saturday: Universal Studios and Universal Theme Park, Sunday: Epcot and The Magic Kingdom, Monday: MGM and Animal Kingdom). WOW. I forgot how much I love to ride roller coasters! It's been a long time and I'm pretty much smiling the entire time I'm riding.

The Magic Kingdom somehow turns me into a 9 year old little girl. We got there late at night and when I got there the parade was going on. Cinderella was riding by with Prince Charming in her carriage, and as she rode by she waved to the crowd. Ya'll, I waved back. I frantically waved back and was clapping and said "Grant!!! It's Cinderella!!". Okay, I'm kinda pathetic. AND I saw Tinkerbell fly. And I squealed.

It is such a happy happy place. The cool thing is, Grant and I were realizing that the next time we go there, we will most likely be bringing our children. :) It will be so cool to experience that with a child who is seeing everything for the first time. (Note to all readers: Grant and I do not plan on having children for a very, very long time, so don't read too much into the above statement. All I need is for me to get 14 comments asking if we're trying!)

Grant got home from work early today. Poor darlin is absolutely fried and sunburned a lovely shade of fuschia. He is sleeping on the couch right now, covered in aloe vera. Haha. Speaking of aloe vera, I have a little memory I'd like to share.

Lindsee and I were in junior highschool I believe, and we were playing the game Scattegories. The letter given to us was "A", so therefore, all answers to categories had to begin with the letter "A". The category given was "Things you Scream or Yell". Everyone was reading their answers aloud. I belive my answer was "Aaahhh". Someone else's was "Achoo!". Another person's answer was "All aboard!". Lindsee then read her answer aloud: "Aloe Vera". Everyone looked around puzzled. "When do you yell aloe vera?" I asked Lindsee. Her reply? "You know, like if you're really really sunburned and you're laying there and you are hurting and then you just scream ALOE VERA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!". This is why I love my Lindsee.

Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day! Love to all!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

I'm so excited! Tomorrow the Isaminger clan is heading to Disney World! Grantley and I are in the process of packing as I type this, I just wanted to take a little break. I am bringing my camera and intend to take many many pictures.

The Isaminger's aren't really a picture taking family. My sister-in-law Ronda and I kinda make everyone crazy with all of our picture taking. But I won't let that bring us down! We need to capture these precious memories on film!

There is only one thing that is worrying me. I have been to Disney World several times before. So has Grant. But we have never gone together. I come from a family of all girls, Grant comes from a family of all boys. As we have reflected on our past Disney World vacations, we realize that we both had very very different experiences. My family took pictures with princesses, watched the parades, saw the shows, watched Tinkerbell fly at night, and rode the rides. Grant's family? It seems like the pretty much just rode the rides the entire times. No character photos. No parades. Grant and his brother have zero interest in watching Tinkerbell fly. His mother didn't even know that it existed. So sad.

I plan on schooling this family on the joys of taking your picture with Ariel from the Little Mermaid. And perhaps Pluto! :)

Love you all. Can't wait to post all the pictures!! XOXO

I'm off to the happiest place on Earth......

Johnny Depp Tank Tops

Okay, so here's what's on my mind. I know that the Lord created me. I know that He made me just the way HE wanted me to be. Physically, emotionally, etc. But last night I got a little bit frustrated.

It's summer time. Honestly, it's not my favorite time of year clothing wise. Let me explain. Summer means people are wearing shorts or skirts more often. While I love skirts and shorts, I do not love the way I look in them. Currently, there are 2 styles of shorts in the market. Short Short Short booty shorts that I refuse to wear, or Bermuda shorts. I think bermuda shorts are adorable. Adorable on Lindsee. Not on me. Someone like me who is short and squatty cannot wear bermuda shorts. Besides the length of shorts, I also happen to have legs the color of Elmer's glue. This is not my favorite season.

Summer also means tank tops. I love tank tops! Who doesn't!? I like certain kinds of tank tops. The ones with thick straps. And thicker material. And ones that aren't so tight that I can't breathe. I went to Target yesterday and the only tank top that fit me correctly had Johnny Depp on it. I am not wearing a tank top with Johnny Depp on it.

And alas, the cherry on top, the swimsuit. There is nothing more depressing or discouraging than trying on over a dozen swimsuits and none of them looking good on you. I have a strange body type. I am petite in every area but one, and I think you all know what area I am talking about. I want to look classy and modest, but still look cute. Apparently that doesn't work for me. Yesterday Grant and I went to Dillards, Target, Old Navy and Academy. Yes, Academy. Don't laugh. No swimsuits for me. Nothing FITS!! Plus it seems this year that every single style, including the tankinis have the v-neck line. I can only wear suits that are straight-across.

I'm so frustrated. I am going to Disney World Friday and it looks like I won't have a new suit. I need to keep looking but I am running out of time.

I know that God has wonderful plans for me and I need to respect my body, but I truly prefer winter when I can wear jeans and cute comfy sweaters and look like everyone else.

Sorry for that rant.... :) Have a good day everybody!

SURPRISE!

What a wonderful and exhausting weekend! ReCap:

Friday: We drove to Houston :) We got there around 11:30 and went straight to sleep.

Saturday: I went to Joanna's to pick up my fabulous shoes and drop off her wedding gift, then on to pick up my gorgeous bridesmaids dress. And THEN Grant and I went to Jaclyn's house to hold baby Grace for half an hour. That child is PRECIOUS!! Then, the whole familia drove to AUSTIN. Why? SURPRISE! HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY SHANNON!

Shannon's sweet husband Jason planned a fabulous surprise party for her. Lots of family and friends were there and Shannon was truly surprised. Which we LOVE. Her face was classic. I held one or both of the twins 98% of the time! Those babies are hysterical......

Sunday: Grant and men golf. Jen and ladies go back to Shannon's to hold the twins. Drive back to Houston. Hop into car and drive to Baton Rouge. Pick up Moxie. Go to bed!! :)

We had a great time. It was alot of driving but it was so worth it!

Tomorrow morning at 9:30 I'm having a CT scan to try to figure out what's going on with my insides. Hopefully it is nothing scary and something very fixable! Keep praying!

It's Time To Brag!

Good morning all! I just had to share a few pictures. My dad went to France a few months back and saw these little peasant dresses in a window. He bought them for the twins. How precious are these babies??

Here they are just chatting it up:

As you can see, Juliet's bottom teeth have grown in, and Scarlett's smile makes me melt.

This was in the hospital when Scarlett and Juliet came to see their new cousin Grace.

Juliet is a flower child.


Shannon says they are getting into everything now. Her exact quote was: "Scarlett is the opposite of Visa. She's everywhere you don't want her to be".
I adore these little girls and I can't wait to see them again!

Caffiene Deficiency

I'm trying to cut back on caffiene. Yes, me. Jenny. I am trying to drink more water and juices, etc. It's healthier for me. But the consequences have been unpleasant.

I am way too tired all the time. I've been coming home from work and taking naps. I don't have alot of energy. The headaches are HORRIBLE. They start at the back of your head, right above your neck and then move to your eye sockets. Nice.

I haven't had a Diet Coke in awhile, and my body is going nuts. I'm tricking myself by drinking caffiene free Diet Dr. Pepper to make my body think it is still getting what it needs. I'm not sure if it's working. Since I'm used to having a Diet Coke every morning and now I'm not, it has been hard cause I'm not getting my usual morning pick me up. So today I'm eating 2 chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. Because chocolate has caffiene.

I don't think I'm doing this right :)

Moxie

mox·ie (mŏk'sē) noun, Slang
The ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage.
Aggressive energy; initiative: Skill; know-how.

This is Moxie. He is our dog. Moxie is a Shiba Inu (it's Japanese) and he was born in November. We got him in January. Moxie is a wonderful little boy. He's nice to have around when you're bored or lonely. He is always SO excited to see you. When I get home from work he runs circles around the apartment for about 45 seconds before he will let me take him outside. He LOVES Grant. When Grant gets home from work everyday he runs to Grant and whimpers for about 2 minutes. It's as if he is saying "Where have you been???". We love him.

Alot of people ask where we got the name Moxie. I put the definition above. Moxie means courageous. (Or as my husband calls it, "ballsy"). Our Moxie has a lot of energy and excitement. He is also learning new tricks.

He now knows the word "sit" and will sit upon command. Grant has been trying to teach him how to shake, but apparently in dog language the word "paw" means "LAY DOWN".

He sleeps in awkward places. Now that it's getting hot outside he will go downstairs and sleep on the tile in front of the front door because it's cooler. He sleeps underneath the coffee table.

My favorite time of day with Moxie is when I get home from work. He knows our routine. I get home, he runs laps around the apartment. Then I take him out to pee. We come back inside and while Moxie finds every toy he owns and brings it to me as if to say "This is my rope" or "This is my duck", I get his treats out. Moxie gets a treat, takes it from me and then jumps onto the couch. I join him and we watch Oprah. Usually Moxie will fall asleep on my feet while we watch. It's the cutest.

I love my puppy and I hope you all get to meet him someday if you haven't already!

Words from the Wise

I have a link there down on the left that says "LPM". This is the blog for Living Proof Ministries. Beth Moore is a wonderful Bible teacher and she wrote a post yesterday that made me think. She does that alot :) I took a snippet of it here:

The beauty of finding yourself at a milestone of any meaningful kind in life is not that the journey there was so pretty. Or so successful. In many ways, the mysterious beauty of the whole thing is that the "getting there" was so awkward, wobbly, inconsistent, and even down-right messy that most of the time, you thought you'd never make it. What makes life on this frightful sod so exquisite is God's merciful propensity to perform divine tasks amid deeply flawed people. To paint intricate colors on a torn-up canvass. We can recognize a miracle when we see one because we know that, for God to use us, redeem us, or complete one stinkin' thing of value in us, it would have taken nothing less. That's what He calls getting the glory.

I don't know if you happen to be under heaps of discouragement right now over how messy your trip to any place good - even any place "God" - tends to be but I'd like to clear something up. No one does this life-thing perfectly. NO ONE.

I just really needed to hear that. Sometimes I'm wonder if I'm doing everything right. I'm not. I'm not doing everything right. But that's where grace comes in. I can't be the perfect wife. I can't be the perfect daughter, I can't be the perfect friend. I sometimes get sloppy and lazy and I get upset with myself. I haven't been eating right lately. I haven't done the laundry. My kitchen is a mess. I need to get this and that done. The list goes on and on and on. Sometimes it does seem like I'm just never gonna get there. I am deeply flawed. But that's why this life we live in is a miracle. Despite my flaws, the Lord still does something of value in my life. I have purpose.

Just wanted to share :)

Take a Look, It's in a Book!

It's Reading Rainboooooow!

I think I've recently found my love for reading again. I learned to read at a very young age. I was reading full sentences in Kindergarten and "Chapter Books" by 1st grade. You couldn't get me away from a book! I loved to read. And I think I still do.

School made me stop reading. Forced reading of an "Important" book (aka slow) just slowly took the fun out of it for me. I liked The Great Gatsby, but there is no fun in hurrying through Great Expectations. We had to read alot of books throughout the year, and their was no time for reading just for the sake of enjoyment. In college I had to read Lolita. For those of you who do not know the story, it's about a man and an 11 year old girl who have a full out love affair. I'm not kidding. This was required reading and the entire time I just wanted to throw up. It was disgusting. I guess for years I was just "turned off" to reading.

But now that no one is forcing me to, I'm reading again. Nicholas Sparks novels are easy reads and beautiful stories. Karen Kingsbury's "Redemption" series is captivating. If you haven't read Redeeming Love yet by Francine Rivers, stop what you're doing and go buy it right now.

My current book is The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory. I'm really getting into historical fiction. This book in particular is about the Tudor Dynasty and the mistresses of King Henry VIII. I'm almost finished with it, and I'll admit that it's very hard for me to put it down!

Anne Boleyn was the king's mistress and became queen, but it's a little known fact that her sister Mary was the king's first mistress and she bore two of his children. The book focuses on Mary. I plan on reading the other books by Phillippa Gregory after finishing this one.

"But you don't have to take my word for it!" (Reading Rainbow Awesomness)

Pretty Princess Grace

Here are a few more photos of beautiful Grace. God is so so good! He has blessed my family and I love having 3 beautiful nieces!

Mommy came to the hospital prepared.... every princess needs a pretty pink bow!

I had a wonderful time in Houston. It was nice to see the family and be there for Grace's birth. Gracie went into fetal distress and Jaclyn was immediately taken into surgery. Her heart rate dropped very very low and the doctor felt that he needed to get Grace out as soon as possible. While we were all having minor meltdowns in the waiting room, Jaclyn and Jeremy became parents to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Praise God for keeping everyone safe and healthy. We are so grateful!

I was supposed to fly home Thursday night at 9:00. Joanna and Lindsee took me to the airport where I sat around for a few hours, only to have my flight CANCELED due to bad weather. :( So that was fun! I called my dad and he came and picked me up. The good thing is, because I stayed in Houston an extra day, I got to see the twins! Scarlett and Juliet (Nieces 1 and 2) are getting so big. They are walking and saying little words (Bye-Bye) and have personality coming out of their ears! I was so blessed to be able to see them.

I got home Friday night and Grant and I slept in late Saturday morning. We spent Saturday afternoon on the golf course. Yes, even me! Sometimes I go with Grant and drive the cart. I'll bring my book along and enjoy the pretty day with my husband. Last night we went over to have dinner with our new friends, Matt and Julie Heinz. We met them at church. Julie is due with their first baby, Jacob, any minute now. In fact, her due date is today! We had lunch with them today after church and feel very blessed to have made more new friends.

I've spent most of my afternoon cleaning. It's getting to be allergy season for me so I need to stay on top of the dust situation so it doesn't get any worse for me.....

This week looks like it's going to be pretty uneventful, lets hope it stays that way!!

Introducing.....

Grace Parker Underwood

7lbs, 9oz, 19 1/2 Inches.

Grace made a very dramatic entrance by emergency c-section at 3:26pm. Aunt Jenny and the Grandmothers were thoroughly freaked. But all is well and baby and mommy are doing wonderfully! I will update more tomorrow but wanted to thank everyone for their prayers! Praise the Lord for little miracles!