Monday, September 14, 2009

It's Been 1 Year!

I started this 1 year ago & so much as happened. Some good, some not so good. But life really when you get right down to it.

I said good bye to my 90 year old grandmother. I witness my mom of 58 become disabled due to back fractures. We said goodbye to our Sophie - she died from cancer at Thanksgiving- she was 10.

We finished our 1st year of homeschooling & decided to continue doing it. We really loved it & hope & pray that it's in God's plan for us to continue to do it.

We added Oliver to our family he is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - so we are into puppy. I may be too old for this stuff, he's sweet, but he's a handful as well.

Kids competed in swim team & Gman went to camp for 2 weeks. Lulu did a theatre camp. Gman competed in his 1st Triathlon, and loved it!

My husband sold his business of 19+ years, and managed to get a job right away (OK the new owners asked him to stay on & he did ) and with this economy we were thrilled. He says it's not to bad, he's just happy not to be carrying the weight of the business on his shoulders. So that is worth it's weight in gold.

My DH & I were able to get away for a long weekend w/out kids.

And I quit blogging, but once again, I will try again. I have missed it, but it always seems to get pushed to the back or bottom of the list.

Whew! What a year. Hopefully I'll do better this year, but I may be slow at 1st DHubby having eye surgery this week & then as soon as we get Dr ok we're headed out of town, NOLA to see friends!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Tuesday Takes!

Here is my view from my treadmill.
It still didn't help me stay on today - Only did about half of
what I should have or was planning to do.
Maybe it was the power lines in the way.
I need to be thankful, about 5 minutes after I called it quits
The power went off for a few minutes, I would have been
boogieing to my view and flying off the thing. I think I'll be
gratefully that I didn't have it in me today.

Simon joined the kids for breakfast a few days ago.


He has better table manners than the kids.
No he didn't get any!

But it looks like Gman ate after him doesn't it?

Monday, April 6, 2009

Monday Musings

Even Diana & Jackie O

Saturday night the hubby & I were able to go to diner & then a quick stop by Barnes & Nobles before retrieving our children from my parents. We lingered every moment that we could. I had been in the children's' section looking for some books to inspire my non reader & my "will I ever read by myself" reader. When the bargain hunter in me stopped at the bargain section.

There they were Diana, Jackie O, JFK, Bono, Eminem, The Beatles, and so many other famous faces. All with bargain stickers plastered across their cover. Let me tell you as a lover of books the sticker on the book alone was enough to irritate me, that glues lasts forever.

But here were all different people from so many different walks of life with similar & different contributions to the world, in the bargain section. It was a little sad at first. But after a moment I thought no matter how big or important someone is, they probably won't always stay at the top. They are human, people just like the rest of us, with faults. They can stumble or be tripped up in life, or their time at the top will pass.

It really made me wonder why it is that so many people worship famous people. Do they all deserve this worship, why do so many want to be them, look like them, act like them, and have what they have? Most have never proven themselves to be worthy of such praise & even so they are still human & capable of messing up like the rest of us. The higher they are the further the fall. Are our lives really so bad that & theirs so much better? What's wrong with who you are?

While I haven't met many if any truly famous people. I've been in the room or arena with a few. It was fun & exciting to be there. But I've never been consumed with someone and felt compelled to keep up with their every move, or know everything there is to know about that person. I don't even want to know what my neighbors are doing, so I can't imagine keeping up with someone who doesn't know I exist.

We're all human so anyone can be famous & therefor end up in the bargain section. I may never be famous (thank goodness) but I should never end up in the bargain section!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Foto Friday

Just a few kiddo shots. They've been asking for some.
My dancer!


I wish I could rent him out.
1st the money would be nice -I kid!
But he is so funny & very quick. Sometimes to quick.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Charity Does Begin at Home

No not the selfish me me me type, or what can we do for our family or home 1st type.

I am referring to doing something for yourself. I believe more & more that we (I mean moms - no offence dads) need to let charity start with ourselves & for us. When we take care of ourselves we can better do the job others need & want us to do for them, even beyond the family in our house.

When we allow ourselves to take care of our needs, we are better for everyone else. I know friends that they are the last thing on the list, that is if they even are on the list to get attention. I've had that same mind set. Quickly, I am realizing that to be my best for everyone else I need to take of me.

Caring for ourselves goes beyond being able to say I had a shower today.

Smart eating.

When you eat better, you'd be surprised how quickly you will try to get your kids to have better meals & snacks. Plus I view teaching right from wrong to include food too. Trust me I'm not perfect at practicing what I preach, but we are trying. Getting more of the right foods helps in every area, energy, mood, attitude, and sleep.


Exercise, we need it & we deserve it.

I found my self unable to sleep a view weeks ago & watching several reruns of Biggest Looser (which I'd never seen before). The lady that went home said that within weeks of being home that she had gained about 10lb back. She was busy seeing to everyone else & not giving herself anything but the leftovers (which were few). When she realized that she was about to gain back what she had lost, she changed her thinking, making sure that she had time for exercising and for herself.
Let's not forget the energy that you'll have to offer others.

It's O.K. to pamper yourself from time to time.

I know money for most is tight, so I'm not saying head to the spa. But find a few "beauty products" that you like. Get everyone out of the house one afternoon. Hard I know, but you deserve it. Have dad take them to a park or something. Do some kiddo swapping with a friend. Take hers 1 afternoon & then give her yours the next day.
Take those products, run a hot tub of water & relax. Paint your nails, scrub your body slick. Just once a month. Give yourself some pampering.

Read, blog, listen to music.

Find something to enjoy. Maybe rediscover a old hobby, find time for a good book or with some favorite music.


Now here's where I've been with these on my list to do for me, lately.

Several weeks ago my DH and I began a new "life style" change, known by most as diet. Even though I don't like the word diet, to call it a life style change sounds odd, or like I can't come to grips with being on a diet. Everyone is on a diet, just what type, healthy, bad or really bad. I've seen some results lost 15lbs, my clothes are pretty loose, so some new clothes will be in my future. Yeah!

It's hard to keep up with what I eat, when I eat, how much & do I have the right foods. Then there is exercise. Ugh! I remember when I was younger I lived on a bike. No really. I rode at least 10 miles everyday that the sun was shining. But to exercise now is a chore & I think of the other things that I should or could be doing. Why do I feel guilty for doing something for me. Even though I know I deserve it & need it. But I do love the energy I have that day.

I've been slowly (not daily) able to have some reading time for me & I get my music in while on my treadmill encounter. I've given my self an extra few minutes in the shower. (O.k. not everyday but a couple).

I've been trying to get more & better sleep.

Over all I feel like a better wife & mom. I'll ask them & see waht they think & if they agree I'll post it, if not oh well!

Baby steps taken & many more to go. But at least, I'm on the right track & getting better each day in taking care of me. So that I can be my best for everyone else and for Me!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I'm working on some things!

Bare with me 2009 has been busy.

I've wanted to make changes to my blog, more substance. I've had a desire to write & never could decide how to go about it. All sorts of ideas go through my head, but don't always seem to get completed or get lost on their way to the keyboard. I decided to take off to try & decide how to use this medium.

February had me making lots of Doctor visits for myself & every other member of my family. Then I had to have some oral surgery and I found out that I'm not as young as I used to be? I would have sworn that I was still in 20's late yes but 20's. Mentally maybe & maturity wise maybe. But physical I'm in my 30's & perhaps beyond!

It was much harder than I was ready for & wiped me out for far longer than I had planned or was ready for. So homeschooling was a challenge & had to be my 1st priority.

I've missed this. I have tried to keep up with my favorite blogs, and usually refrained from commented on most of them. Trying to be wise with my time, that and I knew that they'd survive without my 2 cents worth.

But I've come up with what I hope will be my posting plan. 2 days a week I will cover my family & events. Then 2 days a week I will write about the things that are on my mind. So I'll start there & we'll see how it goes.

Did I mention that I've been attending "diet class" for the last 8 weeks & trying to learn how to eat better for the whole family. That has also taken a lot of my time & energy. My DH is diabetic so I'm trying to do better for him & I had several pounds that needed to stop following me around as well. I'm down about 14 pounds & have about 20 give or take to go.

So please forgive me & know that I've been thinking of you & feeling as though I was missing a few friends (even though I'd come by & read a while with you).

Monday, January 12, 2009

I won an award!

A BiG THANK YOU to Eudea Mamia at Life Liberty & The Pursuit for giving me my 1st award!

Yeah me! - OK I watch/over hear to much Disney with my kids.


"Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award."

Now it says to pass this on to eight, I think I only follow eight at this point( there are at least that many more that I'm trying to start following) but I do want to share. I think all of the blogs have something to offer, they do for me anyway.

I will pass it on to a few that were the 1st blogs they caught my interest helped me laugh during some very difficult days, gave me insight, information, & resources to help me with homeschooling "stuff" (you name it ) all when I needed it.

#1 Heidi at Mt Hope Chronicles -
#2 Country Girl - Dreams of Country Girl
#3 Edie - Life In Grace
And of course EM at Life Liberty & the Pursuit
I enjoy my visits with them each day the laughs, even insight & information that I gain is so valuable on so many different levels. A thank you for each of them.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The List

Heidi over at Mt Hope Chronicles submitted her list that she got from Prairie Chick's blog & invited others to play along. Feel free to do the same. It's fun to look at such list & think about all you've done & things that you still want to do or that maybe you hadn't thought of. If you do one as well let me know so I can come check it out.

Enjoy

Blue - been there done that
Yellow - Want to do that, go there
White - Haven't done or have an interest in

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (school band - clarinet)
4. Visited Hawaii*
5. Watched a meteor shower*
6. Given more than you can afford to charity*
7. Been to Disneyland/world*
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (maybe)
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (I don't think I have)
15. Adopted a child (I've thought of it - we'll see)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (we didn't do very well)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort* (it doesn't snow enough for this one)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (I'd die.)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice*
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person*
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (I think I was 5 - it was watercolor)

48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (if the opportunity came along I might?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China*
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (not sure about this one??)
59. Visited Russia*
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching*
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma* (I need to!)
65. Gone sky diving -nope
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp*
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter*
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar (I don't think I have)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (maybe it's a idea that keeps coming to me - my dad is a writer & has written several books - I had my 1st magazine article published this past Dec)
81. Visited the Vatican*
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem*
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible* (want to)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89 Saved someone's life ( I guess -I kept several kids from getting kidnapped)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (i don't think I have- ??)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (not other than elderly grandparents)
94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (is there anyone who hasn't?!)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

GIVE ME A "B"

Here's my alphabet challenge!

On Thursday Eudea Mamia over at Life Liberty & the Pursuit Submitted her alphabet challenge & offered it up to us as well. So I asked for my letter.

I got the letter B - I first I thought this would be hard & with Lsquare beside me watching the BCS game. He was very quick with the 1st 2 I then came up with 3 & 4 then he added #5. After that he then lost interest & when I read him my list he seem to disapprove of #12. Plus he said

"I thought that you only had to do 10."

Well I wasn't sure I'd keep any of his & I had thought of others & couldn't decide. Plus since I'm so competitive I might want extra credit.

So if I must go with only 10 you can omit #1, #2, #5 & #12 - Then that would give me 10.

There is no real order to these - just how they came up.

# 1 Booze - Does this really need any explaining (I use this to include good wine as well as hard liquor - a margarita needs to have booze)

#2 Boobs - because I didn't have to pay for mine. No offence to anyone who has store bought ones, half or more of my friends have & I love my friends just the same -

** Please remember these were contributed by Lsquare - I'll leave it at that**

#3 Babies after a bath - Oh that smell - I miss it. I get that stinky sweaty boy smell now.


#4 Ballet lessons - Lulu loves to dance & to see her be able to do something that looks like something is breathtaking & I love the enjoyment in her face.


#5 Baseball - Braves Baseball - The only professional sport that I will go to willingly & even suggest that we go. (college football is my other favorite sport)


#6 Boys - They sure do love their mama's & give great hugs.


#7 Books - A little general, but I love to read to my kids. To find books for me or them that takes us into someone else world, to see what they see, to feel what they feel. To learn or see things from a different perspective is great.


#8 Bedtime - To put those sweet babies to bed & then do something for me - maybe even go to bed HA! - It is nice to tell them good night & feel like that I now can do for me maybe, that's usually when I catch up on my favorite blogs.


#9 Beach - again does this one need explaining - I could learn to live with almost nothing if it meant my home would be at the beach. I know to live at a beach might change it but I hope not. I really am able to recharge my batteries at the beach. I just love it.


#10 Birthday cake- I am a birthday cake snob. I love a really good birthday cake & would order one just to get to eat a piece. ( I haven't but that doesn't mean I haven't thought about it) I do not pass on birthday cake ever.


#11 Brunch - I love to go to brunch - love, love , love it.


# 12 Big butts - no I don't love these but after all the birthday cake, brunch & booze , while at the beach (sitting on my butt) - I'll have to learn to love the one I will for sure have.


#13 - Blogging of course


The best for last

#14 Believing - as my faith grows & deepens - I am thankful for my belief in God & that I have it to keep me grounded & to remind myself to be thankful for how blessed I am.

There is my list

Monday, January 5, 2009

Happy 9th Birthday Gman

He had 1 request - The World of Coke
So we went - we really had a wonderful time
Seeing all of the memorabilia was interesting

The tasting room - some were very interesting.



Then we headed to Centennial Olympic Park
A tribute to the 100 anniversary of the Modern day Olympics


Playing in the Olympic Rings Fountain

They decided to "surf" on this ????


His pick for diner the original Varsity

This was our stop for dessert
Krispy Kreme - hot from the fryer & a coating of sugar

When the HOT sign is on you can't resist!
He had a blast & we all really enjoyed the day.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

I had surgery!

Here are my X-ray's

Meet my DOC
My nurse


I'm in the OR

(like my pj's - I mean the surgical screen)
As you can tell I'm kidding. But I did fall & hurt my ankle
on Gmans new scooter. It hurt, it still does.
So they decided to put me in the hospital & operate on me.
Yikes! I had a an IV and everything (all made from paper)
They checked my heart & blood pressure. We've been around
sick people & hospitals to much in 08.
Hopefully I'll have a speedy recovery since I had such great care.