YIPPEE!!

More excitement, I keep losing a pound a day! I'm now down a total of 8 pounds since January. Only 3000 more to go...hehehehe!

Excitement is in the air today!!

Okay, not only are we getting this building-a-new-home process going but we started boxing things up today and inside I want to SCREAM because I'm so giddy with anticipation!! I was feeling sad and scared about leaving the house we are in but it's because we have gotten used to it and there are little things I will miss but I think what I will miss most is our elderly neighbors that we have grown so fond of.

I have been in a down for awhile and just really needed to pull myself up and out of it and I don't know if it was just my bad self-esteem and weight that took me there but I'm pulling myself out...I now have many other things to do and already have lost 2 pounds in 2 days. WOOHOO!
I'm eating differently, taking my vitamins, drinking more water and not thinking about anything to do with me at all, if that makes sense. I don't care anymore about my body but not in a bad way, I watched Oprah the other day and had a revelation I swear.

I'm just changing the way I look at myself, trying to not concentrate on the bad but the good and it's working.

I'm triple excited about our trip coming up to Italy!!!!! I am so excited I can hardly keep from smiling all the time...I'll write again when we come back, I'll be busy for awhile after too. I just had to come on today and spill my excitement!!...AHHHH!!! It feels sooooo good!!!

Getting sidetracked can be GREAT!

Well, I haven't accomplished anything for myself yet due to trying a fasting that didn't work and not having energy for working out....BUT...the good news is I have been putting so much energy into my children and it is paying off big time!

My son, who will be 4 in March, absolutely amazed me today. We made homemade Valentine's cards for family and I had him write all the writing on the inside...to my amazement, he was writing all the letters, not perfect but for an almost 4 year old, I was blown away! I had him write Happy Valentine's Day and his name and he did it!!!

I am just so super proud of him! I knew he could write some letters but I had no idea that he could write ALL letters and he holds a pen beautifully. Lately, he has been bringing home finger paintings from school and my son is definately showing the artistic side and very much into painting of all types like myself. We have a portfolio of his best work and in there are some pieces that I'm seriously thinking about framing. He is so beyond creative when he picks his colors and very unique.

My daughter is not into being out in the snow, partly because she can't move in her snowsuit and I think she just gets cold. She can only handle a short time and she is done so that makes it that we have to spend a good deal of time indoors, which as I am saying has been so rewarding. We do all kinds of crafts, puzzles and games. My son was the same way when he was her age, he didn't want to be in the snow...Now he loves it! But by Spring, she will have her walking down better and probably love to be outside. She does like to ride around in her sled but as soon as you stop she fusses. She loved it last summer because we hung out in the yard everyday in their pools. Now that is another story, she is a FISH and would be in the tub 24/7 if I let her.

It's funny because I keep trying here and there to do for me and for some reason, timing is all wrong or it just doesn't work out. What is working out is all my time with my kids. So, God must have a plan for me, I guess I'm supposed to concentrate on them right now and not me and actually, I'm okay with it. I have been having conversations with God about my feelings of regret not having more children and I think He is giving me signs to concentrate on them because they are all I have and are only small for such a short time.

There are a couple of things I have been doing for myself that are not exactly for me and that is helping in the community more and I am very proud of that. There is a big church in town that is moving and the building is going to become an Arts building with performances and art shows etc... Well, Brian wants to become a member of the Arts Council and so do I. I want to be a big part of that and there is a dinner coming up that we can go to and donate money and buy a music note and that will be displayed as a contribution to getting the funding for this. I'm so excited because they have all kinds of future plans like bringing concerts there and kids programs.

We have been doing more with our church also and that is where some community things have happened also. I just got a gift for a family that had a baby and I'm making them a meal. I'm also getting more involved with MOPS, I am donating time to a soup kitchen to help feed people who are in need. So, I may not be on track for my weight loss but in some sense, I'm supposed to be not selfish right now. I don't mean that in a bad way, I'm supposed to be making a difference in my community, focusing on my children and getting as many date nights as I can with my husband...hehehe...We keep doing all these functions and it gets us date nights, it's been wonderful!

Getting sidetracked absolutely can be GREAT!

Changes for 2008

Okay, now that my rough start in the New Year has settled, it's time for some changes.
Here are my goals:

- 3 Hour workouts daily
- Vegetarian diet, working my way into, I'm about halfway there.
- Having fun with kids - water park, camping, hiking etc...(we will be doing so many things I can't possibly name them)
- Volunteering MORE in the community and school
- Saving for my dream camera after Italy
- After getting camera, starting a new portfolio for galleries- I want to have a show of my own by 2010
- Scrapbook parent's photo books- this is a BIG project
- Practicing our songs for our CD
- Enjoy all of our travels

These are all the goals I want to be doing and have finished by December 2008..some of which will continue after.
The scrapbook photo books are going to be an all year project for the grandparents, along with the CD.
To a Happy 2008! (and busy one)

Off to a Rocky Start

It's 2008, yea!! Happy New Year! Unfortunately, we are off to a rocky start though, it just seems like everything is going wrong lately. My mom was supposed to come out and visit and she is having car trouble. Vanessa is sick and not doing good. Hayden has some kind of weird rash and I'm worried sick about EVERYTHING!

My husband and I did get a ton accomplished today, we moved furniture in every single room in the house, organized and made the house much less cluttered. We took everything Christmas down and stored away and cleaned the whole house too. He helped with all of it, which was so awesome.

My daughter and I went shopping Saturday and Brian and Hayden built an igloo while we were gone and it is incredible!! Brian said he must have made 100 blocks to form it and he was exhausted but how cool is it to be the only kid on our block that has an igloo! Hayden LOVES it and tells and shows everyone that he can. Vanessa and I got all kinds of new things, we were just the shopping queens that day. It felt so good to get away with just her...sometimes I need those one on one days with either child. It just makes the day so extra special. Hayden and I have a movie date coming up!

We went to church on Sunday and I think we found the church we want to join...I really like the pastors and while we were there, the pastor said to ask God for what you want for the year 2008 and I bowed my head and asked for the things I want and ever since going, all of these little things have been happening that relate to my requests and it is FANTASTIC! I'm so excited about it!

I finished my book club read and it was a good book, had a great twist at the end. It was definitely one of those books I couldn't put down and I cried in parts...Really a sad book, it's called "Me and Emma." I recommend it.

Well, although we have some issues going on, I'm looking forward to this year, we go to Hayden's first concert at the end of the month, we go to Italy in February, Pennsylvania in May, the kids go away for two weeks in July, we may go on a trip while they are gone, if Brian gets it and that will be a Mediterranean Cruise, we are able to start officially planning to sell the house and build, we are going to Chicago on a long weekend...I have sooooo many blessings ahead and I couldn't be more excited so hopefully the rocky start will soon pass and this year will be a prosperous one. Cheers to a great 2008!

Holiday Season

It is at this time of year that I truly enjoy every second of everyday. I anticipate Christmas morning, I love to travel and see family and baking and cooking are my two favorite things. Along that line, I have been trying new recipes every night and coming across some wonderful meals, my hubby loves all the new things too and I enjoy sitting and going through all of my books and loose recipes, finding ones that I never tried. It's like a treasure hunt. Lately, we seem to be very busy and that is okay for now. Life is exciting, my calendar is full, I'm visiting with friends I haven't seen in awhile and eating until my heart is content...smiling big!

Brian started playing piano again and we are going to start practicing Christmas songs. We are actually planning our parents' Christmas gifts for next year. We are going to record a CD of Christmas music for each set of parents, Brian will play piano and sing and I will sing and we will have Hayden sing a song also(he can sing Jingle Bells really good!). Brian's friend knows how to do all the recording and has all of the studio equipment...I'm so nervous and excited at the same time!! Our first step is getting all of the sheet music, which Brian's mom has a lot of so I asked if I could make copies but she has no idea what it is for, she thinks we are just having fun at home singing and playing.

Exercising has been on the back burner for awhile, I go swimming but it isn't doing anything at this time with all that I'm eating...hehehee. Oh well, when I get motivated again, I'll start back into more. I haven't been able to get the kids outside much, it has been too darn windy and then Hayden doesn't like it because it's too cold and Vanessa hasn't been real thrilled outside either. Her snowsuit is letting in some moisture and I think because she has to sit the whole time, she starts to get wet and cold and fussy. Brian had them out for maybe a half hour and they wanted to come back in. I even ask the little boy that I babysit if he wants to go outside and play in the snow and he says no, it's too cold. It would be fine if we didn't have the wind, that just makes everyone more cold.

So, inside we have been but we are doing lots of crafts and puzzles, Hayden is helping alot with baking for our neighbors and he even helped his dad make dessert this past Sunday for a dinner we went to. I will also start taking them to the library more and more. Another big thing right now is Hayden is playing computer games and I am actually researching the little computer games from V-Tech and Leapfrog for my mom to get him for Christmas. I was even trying to find a toddler size computer and get him a desk and let him have computer time daily. He will be starting on the computer at school in January and he LOVES it, he begs everyday to play games. Nice thing is they have great games for his age on Noggin.com.

We have two projects we are going to start working on also, one is a mailbox for outside of his bedroom where he can put mail (drawings) for Mom and Dad and we can put mail for him and the other is a birdhouse we are painting for Spring...I figured after the holiday we can start those. So the holiday season for me started back at Thanksgiving and I am real thankful for everything good that we have happening in our lives...I think we may have actually found the church we want to attend, the pastor's wife is a pastor also and she came and spoke at MOPS and I felt such a connection to her speaking, she was so inspirational and FUNNY...Gotta love a funny pastor!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! One sad thing that happened is one of my all time favorite singers died recently and he did one of my favorite songs called "Olde Lang Syne" and I've been hearing it a lot played on the radio, probably because of his passing and it was one of his biggest hits, but I always loved the storyline to the song and wondered if it really happened. I went online the day he passed away and there was the news coverage of his death and I read the article and it had a link to his website so I went on and he died from Prostate cancer and actually had a message on his website for men to start checking when they are 40 for early detection and I thought it was a great message, almost was haunting like he knew he was not going to make it.

Well, long story short, you could click on a FAQ'S and fans asked him questions and the first question was about that song and if it had really happened and sure enough it DID really happen. I smiled from ear to ear because all of these years I have loved that song and wondered and it has such a magic to it. It's sad that it took me all this time and his death to research that because it would have been neat to write him and tell him how I felt about it. I don't know what it is about the song, maybe I wonder about the woman herself and if she regretted not being with him. It was like a short story that I just loved the very first time I heard it when I was just a kid. He will be missed, I'm sure he is singing up in heaven now and they are listening to his beautiful voice. Rest in peace, Dan.....

Crazy Busy!

I know it has been awhile, life just keeps getting busier and busier...There is a so many things to talk about but I'm going to first talk about my children, especially my Hayden. I had a real proud moment happen the other day when he looked at me and said "Mom, I'm ready to give my toys to other kids so I can get new ones from Santa." The smile that came across my face and tears in my eyes told him how proud I was. He is starting to really show the graciousness and joy that is felt when giving.

I've talked about this before and how I have dedicated some serious time and effort in to teaching him why and how we give and he has given many things now to several people and organizations in our community. The importance and things he has learned from all of this, is what I feel has made him the gem he is. We made a apple pie for his teacher last night and he took it to her and told her Happy Thanksgiving but more importantly, we wrote a note telling her how thankful we are for all that she does. She was so thankful and her joy reminded me why I do what I do with him...Unfortunately, she said there is a lot of parents who do not teach their kids to give anymore and that makes me as a mom and a person very sad.

Another proud moment, which is more of a funny cute proud moment is when we tried Vanessa's Christmas dress on her, Hayden looked at me with his hands behind his back so proper, and said "I am a boy and I would like to dance with the princess" Meaning his sister!!! I about fell over because it was so darn sweet! Then he danced with her, holding her little hands and she smiled the whole time...It was just too precious!

So, my son is making me more proud each day and doing so good. He really has taken some big leaps and has given me so much joy. He will say to me, "I love you so much Mom" and I'll say "I love you so much" and he says "Does that make your heart happy?" and I say "yes, it makes my heart so very happy" and he says"my heart is happy too"...It's a tearjerker moment and he does it alot lately and I just love it.

Vanessa is precious as always and she gives us five now and Brian said to her "Up?" as he was standing at her crib to get her out and she said "Yea, Dad"...hehehhee...Too funny! She still isn't walking on her own, she has to always be holding onto something but her fine motor skills are incredible. She opened a bag of pop tarts and started eating them, I still can't figure out how she opened the package and she opened a lollipop and started sucking on it and all I could do is laugh because I couldn't believe she did it at first and the she was looking at me like "what, Mom?"

She is just a funny girl but so sweet and her laugh is so contagious, I just love it! Her two favorite things to do right now are to feed Daddy...she thinks it is so funny and cool to feed daddy. She even takes a bite of something, takes it back out of her mouth and tries to feed him that too...hehehe....Her second favorite thing, which she just started this week is cleaning up toys. She will dump a box of Lego's, or her box of animals just so she can clean them back up and when it is cleanup at night, she helps!! It is awesome!!! The really great thing is she is really good at it!

Well, that is what has been going on with the kids, as far as me, just busy with Tastefully Simple parties, I just had three in the last three weeks so that has kept me quite busy with paperwork. I also got 90% of my Christmas shopping done. What a relief! I'm going to be caroling in the downtown area of our town 3 evenings coming up, should be a good time...I'm really excited about it. I've wanted to do it the last two years but haven't been able to.

Brian and I are going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra on the 1st. We are absolutely THRILLED. We saw them last year and vowed we will see them every year. Brian is in two parades and I may be in one as a caroler, I have to see but we have a third parade to go to also, we have wanted to go to it since we moved but haven't ever been able to...It's a Victorian Sleigh bell parade where everyone dresses up in Victorian pieces...I am sooooo excited to go to that one!! We have a couple Christmas parties to go to along with all the family ones, I'm just so excited for the whole season. Brian and I have already started listening to Christmas music, it is our favorite.

I have not had time to put up Thanksgiving decorations so I am going right from Halloween to Christmas...I got a real wreath for my front door and it was delivered and it is huge and beautiful, well I brought it in and needles were falling a little so I thought, okay, it's going on the door NOW...hehehe...So poor Thanksgiving didn't get much decoration. I did have up a Fall/Thanksgiving decor on my door for awhile now so I guess that counted. Well, I have to go and I need to write on here more often so my blogs aren't ten pages long...hehehe.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas if I'm not on before then !
P.S. I did 30 laps on monday!! yea!! Of course, I haven't exercised since then though....I'm so motivated!...hehehe