And the best part is that it makes me feel like I'm eating healthy-can't beat that! I'm also trying to cut down on my eating portions because I've just got to lose that last 10 pounds of baby weight! I mean, my baby isn't so much a baby anymore but a toddler. And before we try to have another baby, I'd feel really good about myself if I can lose 10 pounds. So, there you have it. I blogged about it and now all of you blog readers out there (which I think might be 5 of you!) can hold me accountable. So, on to the cookie part of this post! I figure if I only eat a 1/2 of a sandwich-which is what I did for lunch today-then I can treat myself to a chocolate cookie right? I don't want to eat along the lines that I can't have sweets because I know I'd just crave it more. This way, if I control my portions then I can eat what I want! (I'm telling myself that this will work =) And the other day I was craving cake mix cookies. My sis-in-law gave me this fantastic cook book "101 ways to use a cake mix" and they have great, easy cookie recipes (and some other stuff too)
So here are my chocolate cake mix cookies! I love them and the bad part is that AJ doesn't love them (he's very picky when it comes to types of cookies) and that means I have a lot of cookies sitting on my counter right now that I'm trying really hard not to consume! I did give a plate away to my friend Anna, but what about the rest?! Just 1 cookie a day? Maybe I'll give some more away! And with that same friend Anna, we've decided to hold each other accountable to running (yikes!) 3 times a week early (7:30am) in the morning before our husbands go to work at the church. That way they can watch the kiddos-or kid-while we run. I'm scared, mainly because I don't want to be a quitter in this area and I know it'll be good if I just do it. And if I have to bring Lily along that's fine too because of our cool jogger stroller. But we figure if we both hold each other to this then we have to do it right? Because AJ can't wear the "trainer" hat with me. I just get annoyed. Which is sad, because I know he'd be good at it. But he's my husband-not trainer. Anyway, that is what I'm writing today. Sadly to all of you out there that read this blog just for those Lily pictures, well, there are none for this post. Sorry. But I've got some cute ones saved up that I'll post next time!! So here's to working out! And chocolate cookies! Oh no, what did I commit to?!
Hanging out on the deck
Daddy's little girl
Mommy's girl too! Both our eyes are REALLY wide in this photo!
With her Auntie Andrea
This girl is full on walking people! YAY!!! I'm thrilled she's finally reached that milestone! And look how well she's doing it-while holding a giant balloon! 
Family photo
Playing in the water fountain thingy :)
She loved playing in this little fountain
Looking a bit concerned! But she was having fun, I promise!
Running through some fountains! 
Andrea and I doing some self portraits on a different day when just us 2 went to the pool
And another one! I'm sporting' my new Modbe swimsuit and I LOVE IT! (Please stop staring at my pasty thighs! I tried cutting it out, but it only made the picture smaller-oh well!)
Lily loves her Grandpa and loves playing with him! Especially when there are balloons around (They are her favorite thing right now)
And here Lily is in mid-step! She got a second wind one night and woke up after being asleep for only 45 minutes. She came out ready to play! She got tired out pretty quickly and to bed she went again.
Her daddy is making her giggle! 
Eating at a fun restaurant in Tumalo-I think it's called Feed Store or something like that
Aren't they cute?! They celebrated their 41st anniversary while we were there! That's why you see balloons in some of the pictures. Andrea had the great idea of getting some balloons and some sparkling cider and celebrating them on their actual anniversary since they were stuck with us :)
We were all taking pictures as couples/families, and poor Andrea was alone because Jeff had to leave early to get back to work! So, the next best thing is me! Just kidding =)
Ranch lips! This girl LOVES ranch
Mmmm....ribs. I set this plate in front of her, totally forgetting that she'd grab at it and I look down and she's humming like she always does when she eats and she's got BBQ sauce on her face! It was quite funny! 
Posing with some decor in the restaurant. Lily was fascinated with this man and kept wanting to touch it!
They had this nasty bear rug on top of a piano-it was scary looking!
Finally, the last photo for this post! We stopped at a rest area on the way home so we could feed Lily lunch. AJ was trying to be "artsy" and do a weird angle. I kinda like it! I'm glad to be home to sleep in my own bed, but I wish I was back at Eagle Crest already! Can't wait to go again in August!
The other day AJ was working outside spreading some new bark dust we got and Lily could hear him. So she walked (yes walked!!) over to the door, sat down, and was banging on it saying "daddy". It was cute! Then as I'm trying to take a picture of her doing this she gets mad because I'm not taking her outside to AJ-which is why she's crying in this picture :) 
And after that, AJ is mowing our backyard and Lily walks over to that door and stands there the entire time watching him saying "daddy"! 
Here she is pleading with me to take her outside!
This is her first high one-we've been lucky. Anyway, she must have gotten some sort of flu bug because this fever lasted 2 days! It went down slowly each day, and today finally, she's pretty much back to normal. But I felt horrible that AJ had to deal with her sickness when I wasn't here! He did such a great job though and did everything wonderfully-putting a wet wash cloth on her head to cool her off, giving medicine, pushing liquids down her throat! It's been a long weekend because of her-but we've made it. So today for Father's Day we're laying low-which is what AJ wanted. But mostly because we're exhausted from her lack of sleeping last night! She was up 4 times-each within 2 hours. She was crying at 1:45 and her fever broke then, and then she woke up again at 3:15 am. OUCH! I stayed home with her today from church so she can rest. And AJ is loving laying on the couch watching golf-his kind of afternoon. And we're supposed to leave for Eagle Crest tomorrow with AJ's family, but we might postpone it a day to make sure she's feeling back to normal. So far so good! I just hope she keeps getting better and not worse because I'd love to get away for a bit!
and also AJ's dad! ( I don't have a picture of him with Lily on my camera-I need to get one! Sorry!!)
I'd really like to be there now!
Sleeping!! I LOVE nap time! I usually get about 2 hours of quiet time for ME! 
Lots of sippy cups in there!
The Family Room-we always hang out here and I especially love it now with our new couch! (And new pillows-thanks mom!)
I love these! My sister gave them to me for my birthday and they are super duper comfy-and a great sandal for the summer!
Wearing their new flip-flops from my sister and I. Our idea was to give the guests (it worked out that there were only 2 of them!) little presents at each meal throughout the weekend. At dinner, they received flip-flops and nail files. Of course I forgot to get pictures of the other gifts, but they got money at breakfast the next morning for shopping, and dinner that night was a cute note pad with pens, and breakfast on the last day was some beachy looking coasters and some cute cups. Just little gifts, but they were fun to buy-and give!
The view from the deck of our beach house! The glare isn't so great, but it was soo pretty outside! We also went in the hot tub-no pics. of that either! Oh well :)
Then, Sat. late morning we headed on over to the outlets-and we were there for 7 1/2 hours!!! Seriously! I couldn't believe it. We were there from 11-6:30. That's the loot from all of us put together. I have never shopped that long! And it was nice to not have Lily with me either so I could shop till I dropped! We were sure pooped! 
After regrouping from our long day we went and had dinner at McMenamins. They have the best burgers there! My sister and I-I've never thought we looked alike, but I can kinda see it here!
