Carefree days and changing seasons

I hopped on the scale only to my dismay, I have gained weight over summer and even though I want to complain, I'm not going to...These extra pounds have come from my carefree days, eating good...sometimes really good and enjoying life. I've traveled, I've spent most of my days playing with kids and doing fun activities all summer long.

Although, I think California is when it came on because I ate the most scrumptious, to die for food out there and didn't give a you know what about how many calories anything had and I savored every bite and enjoyed every morsel...so now I pay the consequence and like I said...I'm not even going to complain.

Our visit to the house for sale went okay...It's a very nice house but still for $269,000 was not perfect...not that we expected it to be immaculate but the things that we didn't like were some major things and for that price there shouldn't be major issues. Then yesterday we went and looked at a few more, even a spec house and even that one had things we didn't like.

So, we have pretty much decided we are probably going to end up building our own. We can pick and choose everything then and get everything that we want the way we want it. But, we are having fun looking at homes. Now, I told Brian, we should go and look at the $400,000 and up homes just for fun!!!...hehehe...There is one here on the lake for over a million dollars, how cool would it be to go and walk through that one!!!

This month has flown by and I feel Fall coming, which is just my favorite season... We actually did a bunch of yard work this weekend and I had a hugely successful yard sale. There is just something about Mums and knowing that Fall is around the corner and I have a bunch planted and they are so pretty. We still have a ton of tomatoes and have made three batches of salsa and given away even more to neighbors...It was a very plentiful year...

Now I have to work on my flower boxes even though, whatever it was I planted in them in Spring, is still very full and gorgeous and I'm not sure if I should even touch them and do you think I could remember what I planted?...Of course not...I knew the look I wanted, went and found plants that looked like they would do what I wanted and planted them...I never looked at their tags or anything.

Our yard is really coming together nicely, we really have been doing little things here and there and since I had a lot of carefree days this summer, I really took care of my flowers and plants...Now I'm itching to do some more, I don't have much more but enough to keep me busy in September.

We leave Wednesday for Pennsylvania, another road trip and we are really looking forward to it...just to get away again feels nice and I can't wait for everyone to see the kids. My little Vanessa is walking along furniture and standing more than crawling now. She really amazes me with how fast she is picking things up from Hayden.

Hayden is doing great also. I tried to get him on a soccer team but he has to be 4 years old...The coach wanted to let him join but insurance policies don't let them take on a 3 year old anymore...When I told them how good he is, they took my name and number and he is the first they are calling in Spring to join...I was excited about that...

Well, I guess soon my carefree days are ending, September brings A LOT of craziness...I've been preparing for it, well...maybe I haven't but I guess I just really enjoyed my summer as the weight gain is the sign of that but again...I'm not complaining...hehehe...I did, however, walk 2 1/2 miles tonight with a friend and we didn't take any kids and we walked fairly fast so it felt like a good workout...

I'm ready for the changing season...I get so much more energy in Fall...maybe it's the cooler weather..I'm ready to work off these extra pounds...I'm still NOT complaining!!...smiling big!

Feeling good about a lot of things

There is just something about a friend telling you that you look good that just makes you feel so good inside...My friend, Molly, yesterday, first complimented me on my jeans and said I looked nice in them and then she went on and on about my hairstyle and loved it, so when I headed off for the day to run errands, I felt like a million bucks! What a way to boost the self-esteem, which is an area I need ALOT of help in...Thank you Molly!

Hayden's picnic was great, Brian met us there and we got lunch along with Hayden and they gave us all kinds of snacks and Hayden got more gift certificates and won prizes playing the games...I was just the very proud parent! I think Hayden really was proud also and really enjoyed himself. There are some more upcoming events at the library and you bet I'm getting him involved in them...What a wonderful thing to have my child absolutely love the library!

Brian and I may have found the house we have been looking for...it's awesome! It has beautiful landscaping and a three car garage...Here is a website to see it:
http://www.forsalebyowner.com/listing/B7198 There is a next button under the picture and it will show more photos...It's not a definite thing but, it really is exactly what we are looking for. We go today to walk through it. I'll let you know.

I did some landscaping around our deck, just some minor things but enough to make it look real nice..adds some appeal for when we go to sell the house. I put in a bunch of Mums and put a stone border..The stones were already here in another area. Now I will do something with the area where I took the stones and it will all come together...I'm going to have another yard sale this coming weekend and that will get rid of more things we have in storage...

I still haven't really exercised, but September is around the corner and some hardcore exercising will happen so I guess I am enjoying myself until then...Brian and Hayden slept in a tent in our yard for a little camping experience..They had a fire and made smores and called me and ordered drinks and popcorn...too funny! Then yesterday, Brian took him fishing and Vanessa and I went shopping and talk about deals! Wow!! The mall is having sales galore and I got Vanessa an outfit for her first birthday party coming in October...It is such a fashion queen outfit...I got it at The Children's Place on sale for so cheap!

Then of course, for myself, I had to hit Bath and Body Works which was having a zillion sales and I got a ton of stuff for only $30...They have all of their hand soaps on sale for 5 for $15 which is awesome.

Life is just good lately and things are going really well and I wanted to share...I really am feeling good about a lot of things...

Summer Reading Program and Zucchini

I am so excited for Hayden!!! He finished his reading program at the library and he got a gift certificate for Wendy's, a gift certifcate for Hungry Howie's, a gift certificate for Subway, two gift certificates for Coldstone Creamery and a new book...WOW!! Plus, he gets to go to a picnic this friday at a park here in town and gets a free lunch..I'm so proud of him!!! Oh, that's not all, plus he got 15 stickers! Way to go Hayden!!!!!!

The best part was when he had to pick out his new book, we walked over to the cart and the first two shelves were books for older kids, so then I saw the third shelf was more for his age so we sat on the floor and I dug around and pulled out about 6 that looked good, so he slowly said no as I asked him about each one..We get down to two and one was about a bear and cub but more factual with great illustrations and one was called " A Kiss Goodnight" (I think) Anyways, that book was about a mommy bear and cub and doing the whole night time routine, reading a book, tucking him in and giving kisses...

Well, ever since Hayden was born I have done this routine with him, we read a book or two or 8...hehehe, I rock him and sing songs and he sings, I tuck him in, sit at his side and rub his belly and we do a regular kiss, an eskimo kiss and a hug..Some of which happened a little later than just born...So, I show him the two books and I tell him what each one is about and he picked the one about a mama bear and baby and the whole bedtime routine..How perfect, since I did the reading program with him also! I was overjoyed!!

Then we went up and we checked out 11 more books...just because we are having so much fun reading and I swear we have read all his books more than a dozen times each...The kid is a book fanatic, which is great! Plus, I'm finding some really good ones to buy him down the road...

Well, I made 3 loaves of zucchini bread, which 1 loaf was for us and half is gone already because my kids devour it...hehehe...The other two loaves I gave to friends today...Tonight, Brian and I are making salsa and canning it so that should be fun...He wants to make some of his own because he wants it HOT! We have been eating so much zucchini we are going to turn into one...hehehe

Well, just wanted to say summer reading programs are AWESOME and I intend on having both kids do it next year! Can't wait! Have I been exercising?...Nope because I have been busy eating zucchini bread!...smiling big!

A Mother's Love

Here I go again bragging about my kids but man, I am soooo proud of both of them! First my little Vanessa is a go getter, I wouldn't be surprised if she is walking in a month...She is a FAST learner and a determined little bug!...hehehe...She is crawling so fast now, I lose her if I turn my back for more than 30 seconds!

Today, she decided to check out the kitchen while I was loading up the dishwasher and she was climbing up the drawer knobs and of course opening and closing the drawers...She keeps doing all these little things too that just crack me up, like this morning she grabbed the hair brush that I brush her hair with and I turned away for a second and when I turned back, she was brushing the back of her hair! It was the cutest thing I had to call Brian at work...He said he thought he saw her do that also.

Then Brian was changing her diaper and he left the wipe box open, well she reached over and closed it and then clapped her hands....Too funny! I know they are just little things but so special to me because I enjoy watching her discover everything so much.

Now my big guy, my handsome boy...he is learning great things and I'm so proud of him...Twice this week at the playground he helped another child with something, one day a little girl dropped something and he picked it up for her and another time a boy lost his shoe and he gave it to the boy's dad. Our garden this year is amazing, we have tomatoes coming out of our ears and we have already shared with two neighbors well, he heard Brian say to me that we should give some more away and immediately jumped up and asked to carry the bag...

So, we go to another neighbor's house and he hands the lady the bag and he says "Now, these are Roma and Cherry Tomatoes" and points to them like he is teaching her and what a delight that was for me to watch...She thought it was so cute and really smart of him to know that...He beamed, he was so proud of himself. That was another delight for me.

For awhile now, I have been struggling with whether or not I want to go back to eating vegetarian and the only struggle I had is that with a family it is a hard thing to do...So, I decided, well, I will just start adding more vegetarian dishes, appetizers or whatever into my meals and Hayden LOVES everything I have tried so far...Zucchini bread, fried Zucchini, and to my amazement...red pepper hommus...I was estatic!!!

Next is grilled Zucchini and Squash mixed with olive oil, which will probably be my daughter's favorite. Her absolute favorite food is squash but I will say, she eats absolutely anything! Doesn't matter if it has chunks either, she is definately not a texture baby...She even loved spaghetti the other night...but I was estactic that Hayden liked Hommus since I have been on a Hommus kick since June! I just haven't tried it with him, well now I know I can and I am opening the door to my old vegetarian ways just slightly...it brings back a comfort for me...

So, my hairdresser gave me a bag full of zucchini, and I am soooo excited because it is my absolute favorite vegetable..Well, anyways, I am so proud of my kids, I really am, they are the greatest! I love them with every breath I take...tears!!!...smiling big!

Everyday Journal Thoughts

Where to begin...well, Vanessa had her doctor's appointment today and she is 19 pounds and 28 inches long. She's growing beautifully and doing fantastic. She crawls MUCH faster now and is now pulling herself to a stand. She woke up with a runny nose and sneezing today so she is feeling a little under the weather but doing good.

Hayden is doing awesome as well, we went to the library today for about an hour and a half and he had so much fun...In the children's section, there is toys and such so he met some other children and played while I picked some new books for his reading program. Vanessa sat in her stroller the whole time just amazed at watching the kids.

Speaking of his reading program, two of the books he read were so good that I had to write them down for his Christmas list, one is a true story about a hippo and tortoise and the other is about America...Let me just say, he LOVED both of them but especially the one about America...It is such a great book, he learned the Pledge of Allegiance and I sang America the Beautiful to him and afterwards he said "Mom, that was GREAT!"

It has all about the fifty states and our flag, which he knows 5 states already...Hawaii, Alaska, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania. I just LOVE this book! It had so much more in it but it wasn't extremely hard for his age. I'm so glad he loves to read as much as me...I'm reading him 8 books at night and I finally have to say, okay, that's enough...We do reading and singing, we read the books and then sing 3 or 4 songs.

I was also looking at the library for audio books for Brian and I, we are going to listen to two on our way to Pennsylvania..They really have a good selection and they even have John Grisham, whom Brian just loves as an author.

Things have been mellow this week, which is so nice for a change, we were sort of home bound for two days while the van was in the shop but that gave me an excellant opportunity to get things done...I just let so many things go with all the hustle and bustle and I was so sick of it...Plus, I have some small projects I needed to start working on....

Brian and I finally filled out our passport applications, Brian is pretty sure he has the next trip so we are definately going someplace outside the country in March. We are looking at Italy but we are still deciding. I'm extremely EXCITED for that trip because there will be a lot of exploring and I'm going to definately try to get some great photography shots that I can use to build up my portfolio again...I said before I want to get my work into galleries again and this will really give me some opportunities to get some fantastic shots...

I finally exercised last night, I've just been too busy or too tired but I forced myself...I did arm exercises with 8 pound weights and Kelly Ripa's Alphabet routine, (I heard about it on Regis and Kelly) which gets you huffing...I did them while watching a Lifetime movie...hehehe...

Other than that, I'm getting orders for Tastefully Simple and I have 5 parties coming up so that is going to start getting real busy. I don't want too much more on my plate because September starts swimming and kickboxing and Hayden starts school and Karate and I may do a class with Vanessa at Kindermusic so that will be wayyyyy more than enough for me over the next couple of months.

I am still planning on starting a Women's Investment Club, Brian is getting the info for me and I just got some more info about it from another Edward Jones' spouse that started one a year ago...I know I have a wife of a well known doctor in town who is interested...keep your fingers crossed!...As far as my "secret" venture, it is a small catering company...a cupcake business to be exact and I'm still checking all the details...I would start from home with my own recipes and start by word of mouth but I may have to put that on the back burner right now because honestly I don't have time at this point...

It's either going to be a cupcake business or a non-profit organization that just takes donations and I would make a meal for families who just had a baby...I'm still working on all the details of what I even want to do and if I could do it out of my home and all that jazz...I really would love to own a little boutique in downtown Ludington and I could see my cupcakes taking off big time and then just volunteer at MOPS to do the meals...

There is a chef in town who does classes and I may sign up for a couple of those so I can pick her brain...She's really good and she own's Le Serving Spoon downtown but she started out catering...Then right down the road from Le Serving Spoon is The Red Door Gallery where my artwork/photography will be...YES!!!!...hehehehe....In time, in time...it all takes time, which right now is limited so I will slowly work on my ventures...Until then, life is great with the kids and we are on our way to the playground now, which will be our second time today...gotta love it!!!

The Apples of My Eyes...

It is a wonderful, absolutely wonderful thing to wake up to my son's hugs and kisses...That is how he wakes me every morning and I am so glad to have him home! He looks so handsome with his tan and sun bleached hair...sometimes I can't believe he is mine...If only I could look at myself the way I look at my children, maybe I would have better self-esteem.

Vanessa went and saw the plastic surgeon about her Hemo-somethings...Can never remember what they are called..I only know they are blood vessel tumors...Thank goodness she DOES NOT have to have them lasered off. The procedure sounded horrific and I felt myself literally becoming sick as the doctor talked about it. Not only would she have to have her eyes covered and her body held down but her parents, us, would have to wear glasses and masks and he would not do just one laser but multiple and they feel like rubber bands snapping you and that's not all...if she had to have it done, it would be done 12 times every 4 weeks! I about vomited!

Deep breath....sighs...I thank God every minute for this procedure to not have to be done...I honestly don't know if I could have handled it. The doctor said it is very horrifying for kids and I really appeciated his honesty. He was a great doctor, his judgement and ethics were really professional and I felt he told us exactly what was going to happen, if needed and what to expect..etc... He could have just said let's do it but he didn't...Instead, he is seeing her in 4 months to re-measure them and hopefully they continue to get smaller. (they have already gotten smaller)

So, with that the kids are great and we had a pool day yesterday...this heat I can't stand...It really makes me not feel like doing anything so as far as exercise, I have done nada...I was going to start kickboxing tonight but some things have come up and it looks like September will just be a much better month to start..I start on the 15th along with swimming...Hayden will also start back at Karate then, which will be nice because he starts school on September 5th and then we can just get into the groove of everything at once...

August consists of some more traveling, Brian wants to go to Chicago for a weekend and take the kids to the aquarium..There is also a zoo and a couple of other things kid related. Should be a good time and of course, we have our Pennsylvania trip..This month is slowing down but still busy enough for me. We may add a Michigan Adventure day yet but we will see how the rest of August plays out.

Here in Ludington, they have movies in the park every thursday night for kids and they have other activities also and it is all free so Hayden will be my date every week...This week is Happy Feet, which he already saw but before the movie is a Penguin dance...Next week, is Over the Hedge and the kids get to ride a choo choo train...Another week is Barnyard and they will have a petting zoo and another is Charlotte's Web and they will have pony rides. Should be a great time for him...What he will absolutely love is watching a movie outside...Kind of like our own mini drive-in theatre but without cars.

Now we have the whole family together again and I'm enjoying my days so much..Since Vanessa is crawling, Hayden has been having a lot of fun with her and she follows him everywhere, which sometimes annoys him and I laugh...hehhee...So it begins....the tattling has already started also..."Mom, Nessa is touching something"....I keep reminding him that I am the Mom...hehehe....The Apples of My Eyes....most definately!