We Are Making Memories

I'm having a nephew!!

2010-08-24T23:07:00.004-05:00

Big news this week is Travis and Whitney are having a BOY!!! So we have until January to prepare. I am excited to be an aunt I have never got to be one. :o) Mylieh is upset it's a boy she really wanted a girl. I think she won't care once it's here...

This week was the first football game Kashyn cheered at this year! It was miserable. It was over 100 degrees out there. Later in the day I heard some people passed out and had ambulances called. They started games early this year maybe that was a bad idea. We have another game this weekend hope it's cooler.

We have made progress in cheer this week. She LOVED practice this week. They are starting to work on the homecoming dance/cheer. She LOVES this part of cheer. I am glad I just want her to be a part of a team. It doesn't have to be cheer but really it's the only thing that suits her. And I can't talk her into any thing else.

Mylieh has been overly loving this week. She must be up to something or she's growing up a little. As much as she runs me ragged I love to hear her say loves me at the end of the day. Oh and her face when she sees I'm there to get her PRICELESS...

Mylieh quote of the week "God walks around with his hands full of moles and sticks them on people." So there you have it Mylieh knows how you get moles. What she couldn't tell me was if he just hands them out, or if they mean you have been good or bad.

Yes! I Know I Have A Blog!

2010-08-21T01:44:00.002-05:00

Yes! I know I have a blog, but apparently I have no time to write on it. Chalk it up to the million other things I don't have time for. But I have time for my family and friends and that's all the truly matters right? I think so!!!

The new school year has begun. Kashyn is a terrific third grader now. She even moved up a school as her school only goes to 2nd. She was nervous going to the new school but is LOVING every minute of it. I am glad. She seems to have gotten a great teacher she really like her. I asked her if she had a good day the first day of school and her comment waa "I got a young teacher so young she's not even married. I think she's like 21 so that means she's still cool." Haha... I happen to know she has been teaching 3 years so my guess is she's a few years older than 21 but she is a young teacher. I am glad she is happy. She is cheering again this year but already hates it. Last year after getting a trophy at end of year she wanted to sign up again. So I signed her up. She hates practice and pouts everything else about it she loves!!!

Mylieh keeps telling her teachers at daycare it's her last day because she's going to preschool. She still has a year. I think she's got it now. But you never know what she's gonna say. I tell her all the time "You are funny!" to which she always replies "No you funny!" She is in the big girl class at tumbling now. Going into the class by herself and everything. YAY!!!

Kermit started a new job. He is now the manager at an independent pharmacy and has much better hours. He seems to really like it. I am glad he's happier. These people seem to treat him right. That's all he really wanted.

I'm busy busy busy work, kids, church. I can't say no so I am a busy girl. I wish I could tell people no and do my own work. When I do that though I just end up veggin' on the couch or taking a nap. My whole house needs an organizational make-over complete with de-cluttering!!!

It's been forever!!

2010-04-06T19:55:00.001-05:00

Wow! It's been forever since I've blogged! I'm so crazy busy I don't
know which way is up. Since the last blog we have done alot!! Small
summary!! Remission cruise, my birthday, Kashyn turned 8 with a
glitter slumber party and Mylieh turned 3! Her party is this weekend.
Both the girls are doing gymnastics. It's something all the time.

Mylieh has proven to be my little tester. She constantly tests the
limits and it wears me out. But she's so darn cute and funny it's hard
to be to hard on her.

Kashyn is growing up way too fast. She's into music and boy signers
now. Her favorite things are her iPod touch and her razor skooter.

Trying To Blog By Email

2009-12-09T21:59:00.001-06:00

Well we all know I can't keep up blogging so I'm going to try doing it
via email when I'm sitting in Mylieh's room waiting for her to go to
sleep.

This last weekend we went to see the the Ice exhibit at the Gaylord.
It's was really cool. It was a fun family Christmas trip.

I can't seem to get my diet going again so I thought if I workout
everyday that might even it out except I rememvered I hate exercise.
I'm starting to think I'm just supposed to be chunky forever.

Tonight I went to the local gym and took the girls to the unsupervised
playroom. I couldn't workout because they were coming to the door
screaming at me or I was worrying about them. Ah to be a mom :0)

I've been feeling grumpy all the time. I think it's stress but not
sure which thing is causing the stress probably a mixture of all
things making a huge stressball.

That's all for tonight tomorrow my goal is sound more cheerful. (if I
blog tomorrow hehe)

Monthly Blogger??

2009-11-19T15:59:00.004-06:00

Apparently I am a monthly blogger. I can't seem to make it sooner. I should try harder but life is too busy. Only reason it bothers me is this is what I use to document the girls funny moments.

-KASHYN-
She lost a tooth last week. She's finished cheer and hasn't decided if she's going back next year or not. She is back tumbling and loving it. And is very interested in art and totally diving into reading. I've even had to tell her to put the book down.

-MYLIEH-
She's moved up the the BIG girl class at school. Since the move she has loved it but drop off is teary and she's been having accidents. She hardley ever had an accident and now daily. She's still the funniest thing ever. She's always got something funny to say. And she forgets NOTHING!!! It's insane what she remembers.

-ME-
I'm ok just need to learn to tell people no. I also need to learn to let things go. I find myself thinking about crap that means nothing. Like the house being clean and clutter and stuff. I did join Weight Watchers, I got tired of NurtiSystem food.

-KERMIT-
He's Kermit he is always good. He got to go to Disney this year so he's HAPPY!!! :o)

REMISSION & Disney World!!!

2009-10-20T08:43:00.011-05:00

First of all!! The best news I have is DAD IS IN REMISSION!! He had to do 2 more rounds of Chemo after getting this news (which he has now finished) and will need to do some raditaion but we are on the back end of it all. We now need prayers the cancer stays away!!

The second best news is we just got back from Disney World!!! WE had lots of fun. It went much better than I expected with Mylieh. Usually the tantrums ended in falling asleep. The worst part was I was sick the whole trip and when we were in lines for rides Mylieh wanted to be held and mostly only by me. I was so drained from it all. But on the up side lines where not long at all so it wasn't too bad. Kashyn however had the time of her life. She LOVED it!!! We did all 4 parks but I still say Magic Kingdom is my favorite!! We left alot undone so we can go back when Mylieh is 48 inches haha...Kashyn got pics and signatures from characters. Mylieh screamed at them from a safe distance. She was excited to see them but if they came near she totally flipped out.

Before the trip I think all odds were stacking against us. I fell over my desk drawer at work because I am a clutz and ended up in an ambulance and in the ER. I guess I knicked an artery with the corner of the drawer because I couldn't get it to stop bleeding. Anyway 3 stitched and lots of bruises later I am fine. BIG DORK!! Then Kashyn came down with H1N1. I was crazy Lysol woman and no one else got sick.

Back Into the Swing of Things!

2009-09-05T16:55:00.004-05:00

Well now that Kashyn is back in school things are busier than ever!! This year she is trying out cheerleading. It's a squad that cheers for 8 little league football games. I thought this would be a good introduction because she wants to be a cheerleader or so she says. So far she hates practice. She's not a fan of repeating the same moves over and over. Not sure how else she plans to learn them. Practice is once a week but they have added another night for the next 3 weeks because they have to learn a dance for homecoming. She's not very happy about this. But she is super stoked to wear her uniform to school next week!! Haha..

In addition to extra practices we were getting ready for Travis and Whitney's wedding. It was on Aug 29! They are married and now on their honeymoon!! Love them glad they are married but I am glad the wedding is over and we can quit stressing about everything. Mylieh and Kashyn did good as flower girl and ring bearer. I owe Mylieh a Dora dress for not crying. :o)

We got some good news this week. Dad had an MRI of his brain done and the cancer cells in his brain are gone!!! That's great news!!! The Dr plans to do a PET scan later this month to check the rest of his body. He thinks we will see progress.. YEAH Dad = 1 Cancer = 0!!! Praise the Lord!!! But still not over the fight yet!!!

Mylieh is doing great. She's got to be the funniest kid I know. She really does say the darnest things. At the rehearsal dinner for Travis and Whitney's wedding I was wearing a dress, if you know me you know this doesn't happen often :o) Anyway she said "momma why you dot a dress on?" I said "I wanted to look pretty" She said "Where you tiara?" Haha...

First Day of School!! First Day of School!!

2009-08-18T16:07:00.001-05:00

Kashyn wasn't nearly as excited as Nemo was about his first day of school but she was ready I think. But if you asked her she'd say she wasn't ready. She claims to not like it but I for one know she LOVES to see her friends so that part should be fun for her. She got Mrs. Tracey (guess she won't forget her name huh? haha). Kashyn really likes her. Of her choices for 2nd grade I must say she was my number one choice. Kashyn really wanted another teacher who I also liked but she moved down to First Grade this year. Maybe Mylieh will get her when she goes through there. Kashyn has to feel pretty cool right now I mean she's top of the school!!! Her school only goes to Second, next year she will move up to the Intermediate school. It's a cool grade and they have their own hall, where all of the Second Grade classes are located, they call it the "Second Grade Hall" fancy name huh? haha.. I know crazy but kids seemed pretty excited about being in "Second Grade Hall". Anyway me being the crazy mom I am had to take a half day off work because I find it very important to take my child and pick them up from school on the first day. I wanna be the first person they tell about their day. Oh and we always get to go for ice cream :o) When I picked Kashyn up I was handed a note from her. It said I miss my mommy and had a picture of a little girl with tears on her face. Breaks my heart. Wonder how long I will get those. I am betting my time on that is running out. I do find it a bit comical because all summer she was at Art Camp every day longer than she was away from me at school. She said she had a good day and swung on the swings at recess the whole time. She swears she swung high enough to touch the trees. She sang while she was swinging and said other kids came and went but she stayed on singing. She said "I'm not sure if they just wanted to swing a second or if they didn't like my singing but I didn't care.." That's my girl, do what makes you happy. :o)

During all the get ready for school hoopla Mylieh decided she needed her nails and toes painted too. I painted them and put flower stickers on every single one of her fingers. She thought she was the bee's knees.. haha.. Well of course the next day she lost a flower at daycare. She was frantically looking for the flower. When the daycare teacher realized she was looking for a tiny shaving of her finger nail polish she said she couldn't stop laughing. Oh my that girl is prissy. :o)

My Little Artist

2009-08-09T23:16:00.002-05:00

Kashyn took a class Wednesday night where she painted a pot and they glazed and fired it for her. Today was the viewing, voting, & auctions of the pots. It was a Harry Potter Theme (pots, potter get it ?haha) She won 2 blue ribbons (and a free kid's dinner at a local restruant) in her catagory which was the Middle Muggle age group. She won "Most Colorful" and "Overall Favorite". She was so excited and proud of herself!!! After the winners were announced they auctioned off the pots! I ended up having to pay $14 for her to have her pot! The bidding started at 50 cents!!! The lady that owned the place wanted it. Kermit was at work so he didn't know about her winning. On the way home she said "I have to put this pot somewhere daddy will see the will be so proud of me I bet he cries." He was proud but he didn't cry!

I'm Still Here..Promise :o)

2009-08-06T16:29:00.010-05:00

Ok so I posted June 14 then I feel off the face of the earth huh. Well it's been a wild ride since June 14th!! Let me see if I can break it down for you. As Kermit and I are getting ready to celebrate our 10 year anniversary by going on a trip to Las Vegas we get news my dad is in the hospital. Here's the "Short Story" as my dad would say... Kermit and I did end up going to Vegas had a great time stayed at The Venetian. Loved that place, it was very nice. We saw Blue Man Group and Penn and Teller. Spent way too much money and gambled some too. It was a great trip. I had always wanted to go to Italy on our 10 anniversary so The Venetian was our cheap alternative. :o) We rode the gondolas at the hotel and even went in the Eiffel Tower in the Paris Hotel. We also did alot of walking, shopping, and sight seeing. Then we came home to reality. So I guess now you are wondering what about your dad? Well while we were gone he got some biopsies and when I got back the next day we found out he has small cell lung cancer. He then had some scans done and we found out it is in Stage 4 (meaning it's in a lot of places). So July 1 he started chemo. He's doing really good considering. Yeah he's tried and doesn't feel the best but he's not getting worse as far as we know. He's now gone through 2 rounds of chemo and round 3 starts next week. Just pray for him only God can help the Drs.

Now the girls!!! They are doing really good. Kashyn has ended up taking like 7 camps this summer at the art school. She absolutely loves it!! It's a good thing I had only enrolled her in a few to give mom and dad a break but with all that's going on it's nice she has somewhere to go if they need to do to the Dr. This week is her last week though. School starts in one week. She has had a good summer even though she loves art camps she did tell me and I quote "Mom summers are for sleeping in, playing with your friends, and swimming" Kermit told her we could move and I could quit working but he thinks summers would be boring after awhile. And I told her that when I was little my mom didn't work and after awhile all that got boring. She said and I again quote "Yeah but we have TV and Video games now mom." How old does she think I am?? haha.

Kashyn and I also attended church camp together. This year one of my best friends since high school Jenifer got to go with us. This is the year they are both at the same camp. We didn't get the best cabin group but we had eachother and that's all that matters!!! I had fun but it was HOT!!!

Mylieh is now potty training. She's doing really well but not mastered the #2 in the potty yet. Hmm not sure what to do about this one. But otherwise she's doing good. Well except that she apparently has a favorite toilet at the daycare and if another child it on it she pretty much ok with knocking them off of it. :o) I know this isn't funny but the visual SO is!! She's my ornery one for sure. She also has fought for a favorite sink. So Kermit and I had a good talk with her and she's stopped. But I must say remember all the vampire kids biting her all the time maybe it was pay back time. All I'm sayin' haha. Oh she's also moved to her big girl bed.

We are all busy now getting ready for my brother's wedding it's 3 weeks away so lots of last minute things to do!!! My diet is kinda at a standstill. But I do admit, it's all my fault. Well I am sure there is tons more it's been over a month but that's all I can think of for now.
One last thing I read "The Shack" if you haven't read it it's a good book pick it up. And since my dad's diagnoses I have seen alot of rainbows in the sky. God's Promise right.. Gives me hope... Remember to pray for my daddy!!!

Wow! We have been BUSY!!!

2009-06-14T22:08:00.015-05:00

Since my last post alot has happened! Kashyn finished the 1st grade she's now a 2nd grader :o( She ended her year being a magician in a talent show the last day of school. She did great but it was really funny because she was so nervous she never said a single word. She just performed her tricks and got off stage. The night before in her practice run Kermit and I were worried she'd take too long because she talked alot more than needed for the tricks. We even cut her tricks from 7 to 5. Here's a pic of her that day!Here's also a picture from her last day with her teacher and her best friend Alyssa.For Memorial Day we took the girls on a surprise trip to Great Wolfe Lodge. It was fun but a bad weekend to go. Everyone had the same idea. :o) Oh well the girls loved it!! And Kashyn was excited to sleep in a bunk bed. She really likes bunk beds I might have to buy her one.

The next weekend we had a Mommy and Me event with the church. On a Friday night we went to a safari park. It's was a really neat place. Here we are with a camel.

Since then we have just been having summer fun. Kashyn took a camp last week at a local art place where she took a kitchen class and a photography class. She really enjoyed it. Now she has my camera tweeting every time I push a button. She did that one purpose, little turkey. :o) This next week she is taking a class called Spy Camp she's pretty excited about it. It's the one she wanted to take the most. Also these last few weeks we have been finishing up dance. She had her recital last night and did a great job I think she's done for awhile. She was getting tired of it. She's signed up to cheer at the little league football games this lasts 8 weeks and starts when school starts so she's pretty excited about that coming up.

Here's her ballet costume they danced to "Bring in the Clowns"

Here's her Jazz costume she danced to "Footloose"

Mylieh... hmm what can I say she's a total ham!!! Her teachers have told me she keeps them laughing. She's pretty funny. Some of her new things she says that Kermit and I find cute are: She says "We going to we house" instead of "our house" She came in the other day with her baby in a stroller and a purse on her arm and told me she was going to sonic and tahhget(Target). haha.. She and I went shopping one day and bought these fipfops (flip-flops) with gems on them that she LOVES and she tells everyone "I got dem ah tahhget and my mommy pused(pushed) me in da buggy ah tahhget and i go dem fipflops" She is deathly afriad of bugs. EVEN flys she comes out of her seat and screams when one comes near. She's also the queen of funny faces. See for yourself.

One my favorite thing I heard Mylieh say this week was this. Her teacher at school said "Mylieh I heard you have been going to VBS this week. What did you learn about?" She said. "We urn bout G-sus." Warms my heart.... She really just sat in my class while the kids did crafts she didn't want to go to the nursery. I am thinking she got more out of that than going to the nursery. I love watching my kids learn about G-sus!!!

Shopping!

2009-05-21T06:08:00.001-05:00

Why I hate shopping with Mylieh. She always wants to push!!

I know I've been MIA!

2009-05-21T04:08:00.012-05:00

Sorry it's been a month since I last posted. It's been a busy month and with summer starting up it's only looking busier!!

Well since I last posted we went on a family retreat with our church. The girls LOVED being at camp. We went to one of the Methodist camps around here it was about 3 hours away. Kashyn got to sleep on a top bunk bed and that was the highlight of her weekend. Mylieh got to get up there and take a picture and that was her highlight haha... It was only one night but it was worth it because the girls are still talking about it.

This week I am in training for work. The instructor is in Romania so the class starts at 3AM. I thought it'd be cake. But I am SO stinking tired :o) Almost done though and with me being in class all week from 3AM to about 11:30 AM I am able to go to Kashyn's end of school activities. Today she is in a talent show performing magic tricks. I hope she does well today, she was practicing last night and she's kinda slow.

Kashyn had awards Tuesday. She got the Tidy Desk Award. She was very excited about it. I guess it's something she had been hoping to get :o) She also got an award for reading 25 books. She was pretty proud. But I remember when we were reading the 25 books she didn't like it too much. Her reading is so much better than the beginning of first grade. It's truly an awesome thing watching your child learn to read. I am also enjoying watching her write more. Some of the spellings she has for things is so cute. Here is an excerpt from her journal this year at school.

BY KASHYN-November,the,18,2008Tyrannosaurus rex is big. She eats meete. She is my favorite because she is keeoute.hehe.

I love how she spells meat and cute. And I love the fact that she thinks a dinosaur is cute. haha.

Recently Kashyn and I went to see the Broadway production of Lion King. Kashyn loved it!! I think I might have a play buddy. I love plays!! I wish I could get season tickets. Not sure I wanna drop that kind of cash though.

Mylieh is as cute as ever. She has to be one of the funniest kids I know. Right now she really likes to ask the same question over and over. Example Kermit got a new car and every single day she asks him if he got a new car. He got it in March! Or she will ask where someone is over and over all night. :o) She has really gotten into playing with her baby dolls lately. She's SO cute talking to them and stuff. And yes she asks them the same questions over and over too :o) Last night at dinner she put all her food into her water. She was so proud exclaiming. "I put my fooood in my waa-ter" haha.. Here's a clip

Here is another one I thought was cute.

Story Book Character Day

2009-04-17T07:30:00.004-05:00

Today is Favorite Story Book Character day at Kashyn's School. She's going as Nim on Nim's Island. What do you guys think? She thinks it's perfect!! I think Kermit and I make a great team. :o) My favorite part is the lizard!!

Happy Easter

2009-04-13T22:15:00.006-05:00

We had a great Easter holiday. The girls got to hunt eggs twice once outside and once inside and they got to color eggs so I think we covered all the Easter activities. The Easter Bunny came and filled the girls baskets and we went to church Sunday morning. We opted for early service to avoid the crowd and that turned out to be a great idea. It looked like standing room only when we looked in there.
The girls have been total comedy tonight. Started with Mylieh in the car on the way home. She had a bag of Flamin Hot Cheetos in her cubby at school that her daddy let her bring to school. I am assuming she got ahold of them and it was easier to tell her she could put them in her cubby at school than argue with her. So yeah I got to deal with instead. I told her several times in the car she wouldn't like them they were hot and told her we'd get regular ones when we got home. Well I finally I'd had enough so decided I will just give her one and show her it was not something she'd like. So I did. Watching her in the rear view mirror was the funniest thing she was coughing and blinking and bugging her eyes out then she said "Nother one momma" Seriously you could tell she was in pain haha.. I gave her another same thing so I gave her no more. She was really mad at me. So I started telling her I was going to spank her daddy when he got home for letting her bring those to school. As soon as Kermit walked in the door Mylieh went running to Kermit "Momma gona pank you daddy" She was giggling so hard and kept saying it. I was laughing too hard to explain haha...

The second comedy was Kashyn. I wasn't feeling well so I took a nap when I got home and Kermit cooked the girls dinner. Well I guess he made some broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots with cheese and Kashyn told him she didn't like carrots. Kermit told her she had to eat them. She acted as if she'd die. Kermit told her he never heard of anyone dying because they ate carrots unless maybe they were allergic. She said "Well don't be surprised if you see me resting in peace" haha!!! Oh my I am crying just thinking about it haha.. Anyway Kermit came in the bedroom to tell me what she said and as he's saying this I am thinking to myself "What is keeping her from feeding them to Shaden right now?" Then I thought oh she wouldn't think to do that. Well later I hear all out crying from the kitchen. I guess she does think like that because as it turns out she hid the carrots in her coke can. Not sure how it all went down but Kermit was on to her. I can't believe she did that!!! We weren't able to scold her because we were both laughing so hard. OH my I wish I was better with the scolding because some of this crap totally cracks me up. She was pretty upset though because Kermit told her he was disappointed in her and that sent her into hysterics. I am in so much trouble with Mylieh she's ornerier than Kashyn and us telling her she disappointed us probably won't phase her one bit. Plus Mylieh is a little comedian so I have a feeling we are going to have to work harder not to laugh. I did tell Kashyn before she went to bed that her little stunt would not go over as well next time so she better not do it again. Hope that works I am sure next time it won't be nearly as funny.

Mylieh is 2!!

2009-04-08T22:18:00.010-05:00

Mylieh turned 2 this weekend!! I can't believe my baby is 2. She's not a baby anymore. She's growing up. We had a Minnie Mouse Birthday party at the house Saturday. Which was as Mylieh would say "Awesome!" The weather was nice but a little windy. I decided last minute to rent a slide to keep the older kids busy and it was a hit. I even enjoyed it, as did other adults. Mylieh got mad at me while getting ready for the party she wanted Mickey. Honestly I didn't think she really knew the difference until I was opening the plates and she asked to see Mickey so I handed her the plate and she said "No Mickey" So when I went to get balloons I grabbed a pack of Mickey plates and all was right with the world. :o) Here are some pics of the party!

Sunday was Mylieh's actual birthday she celebrated at church with a tiny cake. Here she is with Marian and Ms. Joyce in Sunday School.

And the Easter Bunny came to visit. Look where Mylieh was when she saw the Easter Bunny!! haha... She didn't like her and wouldn't take a picture with her. :o)

On Monday I took off work and we took Mylieh to get her pictures made. I had it all planned out what she was going to wear but she was set on a Mickey T-shirt she got from Cousin Carrie. So her 2 year old pics will be showing the true Mylieh when we get them. Later that day we had a party at school with a cookie cake. Here's a pic from her school party complete with the Mickey Shirt Oh and Bella you have all heard tons about BELLA!!

My Ticker Moved!!

2009-04-01T22:13:00.008-05:00

I don't know if you guys have noticed but on the left side of this page down some there is a ticker that shows my weight loss. Well this ticker hasn't moved in some time!! But it moved last week and this week FINALLY!!! I finally got it together. I don't think it will move any this week I have lots of lunch plans and Mylieh's birthday but the next week I intend for it to move. So I am at 56 lbs total!!! I had a challenge going with some of my NS friends we were all to hit our 60 goal by today. Didn't happen for any of us. We have all been slacking.

So here's a funny from this week.
The other night Mylieh and I are sitting in the chair she's checking out her feet I am not paying much attention. Then all of the sudden out of the corner of my eye I see that she pulled something from between her toes and ate it. Kermit said "Gross Mylieh what are you doing?" She all proud says "I eata da toe jem!" We both tell her how gross that is. She's also a big fan of boogers.. " I eata da boogers!" she says. Anyway I decide to text my mom, dad and brother and tell them about it. I am not sure if I was more shocked she at it or that she knew the term toe jam. Anyway come to find out on the camping trip my uncle Wayne caught her eating boogers and told her toe jam was better and kept pretending to eat hers from her toes. So now she thinks it's ok. We all got a good laugh out of this. BUT GROSS!!!!

Mylieh's birthday party is this weekend so I have been busy with getting ready. I still have some cleaning to do but I think I am ready now that I went to Sam's tonight. I think it's going to be nice Saturday so I decided to rent in inflatable slide. Thought it would be good for the bigger kids keep them busy. Kashyn was disappointed when she found out we only get it for 3 hours she thought we got it forever. haha..

Last week I told you about the invites and how I realized I was insane making all those bows. Well I have a great story about my darn bows!!! I got a call from my cousin last week telling me she got the invite and it was cute but she wanted me to know that it was personally delivered by her mailman with request of 20 more cents. I didn't put enough postage on them the bows made them more I think because the area was raised. So I sent out like 25 of those darn things I got about 10 back and some got bills for 20 cents and some seemed to go ok. Weird huh?? Anyway it's funny see how my craftiness bytes me in the booty. I think that my craftiness is a curse sometimes haha.. Anyway I emailed everyone so if they didn't get a invite they'd know they were invited and told them I would be handing out quarters at the party. haha...

Here are the invites..

Tonight I painted Mylieh's toe and finger nails. She was so stinking excited. As soon as I was done she said "I go show daady" haha.. She LOVED it!!! Her new thing is to ask "Where we goin'?" over and over even if you answer her with the same answer everytime. Gets old but she says it SO cute. She also asks "Wha'ca do-in?" alot... OVER and OVER as well. :o)

Crazy Busy!!

2009-03-22T22:00:00.003-05:00

So I guess with this new job and all the things I have going on you are only going to get one post a week :o) Well it's probably better that way. Before it was lots of babble because I was bored at work and had no one to talk to. Now I am back with friends so I have people to talk to and I stay busy enough not to need to babble. I am really liking it.

So this week has been nice. The girls went with mom and dad camping. They had alot of fun went to a state park about an hour from here. Kashyn even got to sleep in a tent one night with my cousin Nikki. She was so excited her first tent experience. She has turned into a hiker go figure. I still can't get her to take a walk with me at the house. haha.. Mylieh had fun too she got to see a bear cave. But she assured me "there's no bear in dare" She also came home saying "I don know, betaze" to about everything you ask her. haha.. FUNNY

OH BIG event Mylieh said her ABCs last night all of them in a row correctly. I will say didn't pronounce them all perfectly correct but they are still in the right order. :o)

I know I have talked about my natzi-ness when it comes to birthday parties. Well I am at it again. I sat there last week and made bows for Mylieh's Minnie Mouse invitations they didn't work like I planned to I had to sew part of them to make them work and I was thinking to myself "I am really sick! There is something really wrong in my head." Kermit took pictures he was laughing at me. Bad thing is invitations are just the beginning haha..

I am sure I will have more to say but it currently escapes me. :o)

Sweet and Sassy

2009-03-15T21:47:00.003-05:00

For Kashyn's actual birthday I took her and a freind to Sweet and Sassy!!! They had SO much fun!!! Here are a few pics from their visit.

No we didn't ride in the limo but it was there so we HAD to take a pic :o)

Who doesn't love a pedi??

Paty Up-Dos!

Kashyn is 7!

2009-03-13T07:49:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to my wonderful 7 year old!! I hope your day is great and you have a great year!! Love you Kashy!!

Slumber Party Dance

2009-03-08T22:41:00.002-05:00

Slumber Party + Sesame Street Live = TIRED!!

2009-03-07T21:39:00.011-06:00

Last night was Kashyn's Hannah Montana Slumber Party for her 7th birthday! We had 7 girls here. I think they had alot of fun. We did their hair, nails, and makeup. Then my cousin and her friend taught them a dance to Hannah's "Best of Both World's" song. They caught on to the dance really fast I was very surprised. After the performance we did mini facials and mini pedis. The girls thought they were great plus I got all the nasty makeup off them before bed. Then the girls got to have white grape juice in champagne glasses and have a toast. After that they watched Beverly Hills Chihuahua and pretty much fell asleep once it finished. A couple thought they weren't going to sleep but I talked them in to laying quietly for 10 min :o) This morning I went and got donuts and they they played Disney Sing It until their parents came. I bought all these crafts to do but never did them I guess I have some returns now :o) The night wasn't too bad thanks to all my great helpers. Whitney, Samantha, Miranda, Kermit, Travis and Angela stayed long enough to do hair. :o) Thanks guys!!!

Oh and in case you were wondering where Mylieh was during all this the answer is right there in the middle of it all she got makeup and a pedi she thought she was the coolest kid ever. And she even was in on the pile of girls in our living room floor. I did however move her to bed when I went to bed. :o)

This afternoon we took the girls to see Sesame Street Live. It was great! Mylieh LOVED it. Kashyn enjoyed it as well but Mylieh was SO excited to see Elmo!! I think the only thing that would have made her happier would have been if it was Mickey Mouse. :o)

Bailey Bells!!

2009-03-04T22:05:00.008-06:00

Kashyn & Bailey 2006

Today we lost one of our family members. We had to put Bailey Bells to sleep this morning. She got really sick around Valentine's day but they said she'd probably be ok. Our best guess is she's about 14 years old so I didn't think she would and I was right. Since then she had lost 2 lbs which is alot when you only weigh 10lbs and used to weigh about 15. She got to where she couldn't hold herself up and just laid there looking miserable. So today Kermit took her in. She went peacefully. Everyone seems to be handling it ok, but Shaden is missing her. He barked at me a whole lot when I got home. And he's kinda moping. Mitizi is here tonight. It made Kashyn feel better for Shaden to have a friend. :o)

Mylieh & Bailey on Valentine's Day 2009

So that tells you where I have been lately since I haven't been posting. Plus we had sickness round 2 in our house. I got the bug Mylieh had and Kashyn got my strep. We are hoping all is done now. In addition to that I have been planning Kashyn's birthday party sleepover which is this Friday. I wish I could somehow shed some of my birthday natzi-ness. I wish I could be one of those people happy to have cake and presents for my kids but somewhere along the way I got a wire wired wrong and birthday means big time plans and ideas. :o) Oh well it's my thing that keeps me going I guess and keeps Kermit wondering what he got himself into when he married me. haha..

Also in my absence I had a birthday myself. Yep another year older. HAHA.. But this year 50lbs lighter so I am pretty happy about that!!

Lent

2009-02-25T23:22:00.003-06:00

I have been racking my brain trying to find the right thing to give up for lent. What I really need to give up is eating anything off program, but I want it to be something I have to sacrifice for and can do. I don't think it's fair Lent always has my birthday in it and BOTH of my girls. So I can't say I am not going to eat out or sweets or anything because we always eat out on our birthdays and a cake is involved with the girls and who can pass up Linda cake.. NOT I!!! So today I figured it out. I am giving up eating what's left on the the girl's plates. I always tell Kermit the calories don't count when it's off the girls plates. He tells me if that's the case I should start serving his on Strawberry Shortcake plates too. haha.. But really I am really bad about eating whatever fries the girls have from MD's or other random things. So that's what I am giving up. Basically I am giving up the nibbling I have been doing here and there mainly off the kids left overs.

Kashyn is giving up Chocolate Milk. That's huge she says she has one at lunch and breakfast at school every day. We will see how she does.

I want Mylieh to give up whining but I don't think I can talk her into it. haha...

Kermit hasn't decided yet.. hmmm... He better figure it out before he does it.

Sickness!!

2009-02-24T22:13:00.002-06:00

Half of the house has been sick this weekend. Kashyn had the stomach bug starting Thursday night finally ending yesterday as far as we know. I had a super sore throat and found out Monday it was strep. YEAH ME!!! But Penicillin is a wonderful thing. I feel much better already. So now we are praying that Mylieh and Kermit escape without catching anything. As well as anyone else who has came in contact with us.

I am busy planning Kashyn's birthday party. I planned to get it all done while I was laid off but I didn't. So now I am hurrying to get things in order. Anyone wanna come clean my house?? Haha..

Well not much news right now just working and party planning.

Back to Work!!

2009-02-18T21:46:00.002-06:00

Well it was exactly what I expected my first day would be like. I got there filled out some paperwork got to my desk and couldn't even log in because they haven't got my log ins yet. hehe.. So I got to catch up with a few friends. But I think slowly I will get more access to things and get busier. I am pretty excited about doing some work actually and learning the new stuff. I know I am weird. :o)

Kermit and I refinanced our house and had the closing today. We lowered our interest almost 2 full points. That's huge!!! I am SO excited to have a lower payment!!!

I have a Mylieh funny then I am going to bed. hehe.. Tonight she and Kashyn were taking a shower. After they were all done Kashyn turned the water off I turned my back to grab a towel and heard Kashyn scream. Mylieh had gone to the bathroom in the shower. (#2). Haha... And Mylieh is so funny she's all matter of fact about it. She says "poo-poo shower" and kinda shrugs like it's no big deal haha....

50 FINALLY!!!

2009-02-16T20:48:00.002-06:00

I finally hit 50 lbs lost this week!! Not sure how exactly I haven't been on program like I should since I got laid off BUT I go back to work tomorrow and I hope that will all change!!! I plan to get back in working and my diet at the same time.

My last day of not working I spent mostly with Kashyn. We had breakfast at home with Kermit and Mylieh and then about 10:30 Kermit went to work and took Mylieh to daycare on the way. Kashyn and I went shopping and to see Hotel for Dogs. It was a nice day. Now we are getting all ready to get back to our real life.

I found out tonight my after school sitter for Kashyn is running track and will not be coming home after school so she can't watch her anymore. Darn it!!! What am I going to do?? I'm not sure yet, mom and dad are going to take care of her for now but I need to find something more permanent. I am really thinking about trying to work a schedule where I would be home when she got off the bus but we will see. I'd have to be leaving the house by 5:30 am to be able to get to work and be home in time for her to get off the bus. That's really early. We will see about that.

Well I better go get things ready for my BIG day tomorrow. If I have time tomorrow night I will post how it went. :o)

I Need to Go Back to Work!!!

2009-02-12T22:41:00.005-06:00

So I guess you guys are wondering were I have been. Well I found out I got a job and that I start Feb 17 and it hit me you better get some things done. But I haven't instead I have been shopping. You know I need new dress clothes for my job. I have lost 48 lbs since I last had to wear dress clothes to work. And I have been hitting Hobby Lobby a little too much (which is why I need to go back to work, so I will quit spending money). I have found when I am between jobs (and I know I have one I am about to start) I like to decorate. So I have been doing some decorating at my house. I am SO tired of the bare walls. I still have lots of bare walls but I have a few more things up now!!! I have also been mentally planning the girls birthday parties. I have also been looking for things I need for the parties. I have done all my research for it now and know where I am going to buy things for it.

Valentine's Day Parties are tomorrow. This year Kashyn and I found a cute idea in my favorite magazine Family Fun. Check them out... Kashyn is very excited about them!

It's an iPod. Made from Conversation Hearts, 2 Reeses, paper and string.

I Got a Job!!

2009-02-04T21:36:00.003-06:00

Some of you will be shocked by this but here it is... I am going back to my old company! I went for an interview Wednesday and they offered me a job doing Business Analyst work. I would be one of the people who is the go between for the programmers (used to be me now the people in India) and the users. I would also be one of the people who give access to the system, delegate which department works on problems among other things. I get all my tenure back, all my vacation and everything. Plus a raise from what I was making when I left there. Pretty good deal huh??

I know what you are thinking I was pretty mad at how they treated us and yes I was but going out to another company taught me it's not what company you work for it's who you work with. I liked the few friends I made at my last job but I still missed my other friends. I guess they were more like family and I didn't realise it until I was away from them. I missed my friends so much. Going back today was like going home. Yes different because a lot are gone but some of the ones left I love just as much!!! When I went to the interview there people came to see me just because they heard my voice. It was nice. I know this is the right decision. Am I scared I will get laid off? OH YES!!! But I will say I don't think it matters where you go with this economy you aren't safe. Plus were else can I go and get 26 days of vacation???? I start Feb 17th!

You Have To See This!

2009-01-31T11:36:00.002-06:00

This is funny I am sitting on the couch and Mylieh comes around the corner giving me this face I just burst out laughing. (She doesn't do the face until the end). At the beginning I tell her to "Do it" and she does the other thing she always does to make us laugh WHAT A HAM!!!

Mylieh Talk Videos

2009-01-29T20:02:00.004-06:00

Remember weeeee = sledding

Snow Days

2009-01-29T00:23:00.008-06:00

Well being off work has been a good thing this week since school has been closed most of the week due to snow, I mean ice... We have enjoyed sledding or "Weeeee" as Mylieh calls it. She keeps saying " I wunt to weeee" hehe.. The girls even had some friends sled with them today...

Yup that's Gammy and Papa!!! hehe And to think some of you I emailed the pictures to yesterday said YOU were too old. You are never too old!!!

Well Kashyn's school is closed today but Mylieh's isn't so I am sending Mylieh. I think she's ready to go somewhere. Yesterday she in her words said. "Goin' to gam gam and papa un jacket" Then today after our shower (She's addicted remember) she said "Close on! Wunt to BELLA" I think she wants out!!!

My blogging friends gave me an blog award. I feel so special since I have 2 followers hehe.. I am supposed to give the award to other bloggers and my winners are as follows...

Christine Storms to Sunshine

Amber A Small Peak Into My World

Rebecca Addison's Journey

If I gave you an award be sure to give up to 4 of your favorite blogs the award.

If any of you were wondering how my weight loss is going it's ok. Last week I did really bad I think I was grieving over loosing my job. But this week I am back on track. Hoping to hit 50lbs lost this week or next!

Fun Day Planned

2009-01-23T10:56:00.007-06:00

I have a fun day planned. **Warning this might not sound fun to you** Some really really good friends of ours are moving in down the street today and I am going to the house to be there when the movers arrive to direct where the furniture goes. I have been given free range of where to put things just that I am to try to get them into the correct rooms. I think I should put their bed in the middle of the master bedroom and the dresser in front of the closet. hehe.. Kermit really wants me to have them set up the bed on the patio. hehe... But you guys all know I will be nice. :o) I am very excited about them moving in down the street, don't want it to be my first and last visit to their new house.

Then when I am done with that I will probably hang out with Carolyn a little while make sure she's not too stressed with the move. Then Rachel arrives and we get to hang out. Yea!! just being with her will be great I haven't seen her since August. Then tonight Rach and I will be having dinner with my Best Friends from Hertz. I haven't seen them all together in a long time. Who needs a job when you have friends.

Good news Kermit has done some figuring if I don't get a job before my paychecks run out we might be able to make it a little while without having to sale the house. But it would mean alot of changes and hope and pray nothing big breaks.

Kashyn was very excited about school today. 100th day of school! She had to do a project of 100 things on a poster board. We did 100 friends and family. We had pictures of 100 people on there. It was really cute. She was really excited about it. And they were doing snacks, snuggle and read today so she was super excited about taking a pillow, blanket and stuffed animal. Her backpack was totally stuffed this morning.

Mylieh is just so cute. She's talking like crazy. I found last night she knows alot more than I get her credit for. She was telling me to clap my hands and stomp my feet. I didn't know she knew clap and stomp. She can pretty much repeat everything we say now. And you know when she says it, it's so much cuter. She has 2 twin babies whom she used to call "Ca ca Baa-b" (I think her form of "rock the baby") Now she calls them "Baaby" and "Pea-ty Momma" (pretty momma).
She is totally and utterly addicted to "Chak-stick" (cap stick) and when she puts it on everyone needs some. She is also addicted to the shower. If anyone gets in the shower you have to watch her because she is naked at the door in 2 seconds flat. This is totally my fault. She wanted in the other day and she hates water in her face so I put her in thinking it would teach her she didn't like it and it totally BACKFIRED!!! She will drive you nuts asking to take a "cha-wa-r" :o) She is also a eagle eye on spotting a school bus from miles away. She loves school buses. Her favorite phrase is "Momma, Daddy, sissy" she says it over and over. At night when I put her to bed she has started saying "Wunt to stay ith momma" :o( Makes me not want to put her to bed but I do... :o) Oh one more thing... she loves Mickey Mouse!!!! All started when I tried a different diaper and Mickey was on them. She also loves Melmo and Dora, but I think Mickey is her #1!

Strong? Not Really

2009-01-20T23:57:00.003-06:00

Ok so my strong "God will take care of me" attitude lasted about 4 days!! Monday hit and I was a mess. :o) The good news is that I was fine by Tuesday. So one day of pity is pretty good, I think. I am over it for now so we will see how long this lasts. I do have a couple options in the works nothing is concrete but some might be promising. Actually it might be none of the work out but it's keeping me with a open mind and sane so that's all that matters. :o)

One of my closest friends is coming for a visit this weekend and since I am not working she's coming Thursday night. Maybe we will get to go to the movies or something Friday while the kids are at school and Kermit is at work. I am pretty excited. Nothing lifts your spirits like a great friend and Rachel is that. I just love her so much!!

The girls are doing good. I really need to work harder on doing this blog a little more often I haven't been very good since the Christmas Holiday. Mylieh is talking up a storm repeating everything. She's still trying to potty train herself. So far she does great at school but not so much at home. But she's trying. She's done so many cute funny things these last few weeks I am kinda mad at myself for not blogging them as they happened. Kashyn has had a few funnies as well. I will have to see if I can remember them and catch up this week.

Whitney is moving right along on her wedding plans. She's got the place, date and dress. All of which I think are perfect. I have been with her to try on wedding dresses and I have to say the girl looks good in every single one. I wish I was like that.

Rumor was true!

2009-01-15T15:32:00.003-06:00

The rumor there were going to be jobs lost on Wednesday was true. I was effected in the "reduction in force" they were calling it. Sounds like 4 people out of my 11 person group were effected. That's alot don't you think?

I am not surprised it was me I was the newest and I think due to cut backs the project I was on got cut so it's only logical I'd be one of them. You know I am really ok. Actually better than I thought would if this would happen to me. I mean I am scared that I won't find one soon because of the job market but really I am not sure that was the job for me. I never got that feeling. My boss was great, people were nice, atmosphere was nice but I didn't really like the actual work. And every time someone would tell me about a job I would consider it even talk to Kermit about it some so I think I wasn't happy enough there. I think I am ready to do BA or Sys Admin instead. I thought I would miss programming but I really don't think I would.

They gave me my 60 days notice and I could leave immediately. Then I somehow got 2 weeks severance. So I am being paid until the end of March. In a way I am glad when I got to work yesterday morning they had sent out an announcement saying layoffs were today and those not effected would be getting a 10% pay reduction. So right then I thought I need to start looking regardless.

God closes a door he opens another just hoping I am not standing in the hall too long :o)

All in how you look at it!!!

2009-01-13T11:22:00.003-06:00

46lbs down! I honestly can't believe it. I know it's only 2 down from last week but looking at the full amount is astonishing! Heck before you know it will be 50 lbs down. That is so much weight you know it? It's insane! I am 14 lbs away from dropping one of those bags of sand I was talking about in my turning point moment. (I was struggling to carrying a 60lb bag of sand to fill up the girls sand box when it hit me that I am carrying around over 2 of these a day I don't need on my body). I have already lost enough to lose the whole weight of Mylieh and I am about 6lbs away from losing the weight of Kashyn. It all feels different and like SO much more when you put it in those terms. :o)

Last night it was so windy here I kept telling Kashyn I was seeing random people she knew flying by the window. She really got a kick out of it. She was all giggles the rest of the night. It really was funny.

Boy my January is getting busy. I thought December was crazy but now I think January takes it hands down. It's like everything I said I would do after the holidays is here to do. But the great thing is most of the things are things that involve me seeing my girlfriends who I haven't seen lately. So I am pretty excited about it!! And Kermit and I even get to have a date night this week. I can't wait!! I can't even remember the last time we had one. The other things filling up my January is helping my sister-in-law-to-be get wedding plans taken care of, boy this was easier when it was my wedding and I didn't have kids to worry about. That's one reason why kids should come after marriage if at all possible. But still it's very exciting to see her trying on dresses and looking at chapels and stuff. Just wish I had more time to go with her. :o)

Rumor around work is there will be a layoff tomorrow. Haven't I been there before? Not too long ago? Funny thing is this time I could care less. No I don't want to lose my job but this one so far is just that, a job. My last one was my first job out of college, and I had really really good friends there, leaving there meant leaving comfort and good friends. Here I haven't got too comfy yet so if I lose it I look for a new one. Don't look forward to the stress of that but if I have learned anything in the last 2 years it's that God loves me and will take care of me. You should know I do really like it here just haven't got the attachment to people yet. I am a little attached to my project though and would like to see it through.

Growing Up TOO Fast!!

2009-01-06T22:41:00.008-06:00

While I was off at Christmas Mylieh started doing this thing where she would pull her pants down randomly. And she would do it quite often. Well yesterday she started doing it at school and they took her straight to the potty. She used the potty all day had no wet diapers!!! And she did it again today. I wasn't going to start potty training until this summer, but maybe she's ready now. She's just growing up way too fast.

Here is a picture I took recently, I thought it was really cute.

And here's Kashyn and her friends toasting in the New Year with "Date Glasses" (That's what Kashyn calls wine glasses.)

Oh one last Mylieh funny!!! She has FINALLY started saying Uncle Travis. But it sounds like Uncle Cha Cha.. So he is now Uncle Cha Cha!!! Cute huh!!! And when she says Whitney. It's "IT" a brief pause then "NEEE"!!!

Warning It's A Book!

2009-01-05T10:56:00.005-06:00

Happy New Year!! I am back I have been kinda slacking on anything computer while I was off unless I was able to get to it from my phone through Wi-Fi. I had 2 weeks off and while most people would have loved it, I didn't get to enjoy it. The first week was getting Christmas ready and done. Then the next week I was sick all week. There were days I didn't leave the couch. So much for doing anything fun. But the girls got to play with their toys and we weren't out spending more money so that's a good thing :o) I did get alot accomplished though. My house is clean. I went through both the girl's closets and now we have only the clothes that fit and the rest are boxed up to save for Mylieh or at my neighbor's consignment store!!! That's a huge feat. And yesterday Kashyn and I cleared out some toys. But we still have a little more work to be done in the playroom. I really need to go through my closet 44lbs down I have some things that are too big hehe.. :o)

It's offical I lost 1 lb over my Christmas Holiday!!! I know that's not much but it's better than what I thought it would be. I was sure I gained 5 lbs. :o) So back on track today. Well kinda. I messed up my breakfast so I had to wing it at work. It's wasn't the most diet breakfast but I think I did ok. I joined the Nutri-System Biggest Loser Challenge and the New Year's Challenge. So we will see if that helps me keep on track. I have pledged to lose 10 lbs by Feb 16 wish me luck!!! 4 more pounds and I have lost a whole Kashyn. Insane isn't it!!!

We had a funny mink-mink moment New Year's Eve. When I decided to rid the house of Mink-minks I put them all in the baby bathtub that was under Mylieh's bed. In case I needed an emergency one in the middle of the night. Well needless to say I forgot about them. Mylieh was playing in her room New Years Eve while we were getting ready for friends to come over and she came in all excited screaming Mink-Mink. She had one in each hand and her mouth. She was so excited!! Kermit quickly grabbed them all like it was nothing and ran. She pouted like a second but didn't give too much of a fight. She still asks for it from time to time and would gladly take one if one was given to her but she's done well. Can you imagine her finding them? I bet there were 15 in there. She probably thought she had died and went to heaven. She hit the mother-load of mink-minks hehe.. I wish I could have seen her face when she found them. Haha... I kinda feel bad about ruining her excitement though. :o)

Mylieh has been so cute. Her best friend she will tell you is "Bella!!" Anyway Friday we went kinda close to where her daycare was and she started acting all excited saying "Bella haha Bella!!" I guess she thought she was going to school. Anyway later I talked her and told her she'd see Bella in 2 days. So she was singing over and over "Bella ooow D-A-ys" Yesterday Kermit told her "Bella tomorrow" And she came to me all serious. "MAMA!!! Bella!!! Toooo mawroo" hehe.. Kermit said when he took her today she was so excited to see her. She went looking for her and was pointing yelling "Bella!!!" Poor Bella! No wonder the girl gets bit all the time she's a stalker hehe..

Saturday we had an 80 degree day. It was SO nice. I took the girls to the local petting zoo. We didn't get to stay very long because Mylieh kept wanting to touch the cages that said "I BITE" and I was still not 100% from being sick so I tired easily. But we did come home and played outside on the PAPA.. hehe I mean the swing set until it was dark. Mylieh used to call the swing set "The PaPa". I think because my dad brought it over for her. Funny it was my parents, Kermit and my brother who delivered it but Mylieh only remembers PaPa. He's one of her favorite people. Kashyn kept saying it was so hot we should go swimming. She was not letting it go either. I tried to explain that if she found a pool the water would be COLD. She then asked me to get her kiddy pool out. Oh My it wasn't that hot really...

Mink Mink - Goone Goone

2008-12-31T15:00:00.011-06:00

Well I am pleased to report the pacifier is now just a memory. Mylieh has done very well without it. She still asks when I put her in the car but I just remind her she's a Big Girl and she say's "Big Girl No mooe Mink Mink" I will say I think it kept her calm. Since she's been without it she has been more of a handful and very busy. But that might just be a coincidence.

Well Christmas is over and the house is a disaster. We are slowly finding places for all the new stuff. We had a great Christmas. Kermit's parents came for a few days. The girls enjoyed that alot. I had a fun Christmas but am glad it's over I must say. I need to get back into my routine and so do the girls. Being off, going to parties and having house guests has killed my diet. So far I think I have went up and down but I am hoping the result Sunday is the same as 2 weeks ago. Pray for me...

Here's a pic of the house after Santa left :o)

Mylieh got a doll bed and high chair! Kashyn a Nintendo DS!

While Christmas was wonderful. I did feel a void knowing we are missing a family member this year. I hope each year that gets easier especially for my cousin and Chloe. I know I wasn't super close to Maddie but she is missed and I know my cousin would do anything to have her back. Please keep Darren and Chloe in your prayers.

I do have some good news to end with though. My brother asked Whitney to marry him while they were on their cruise the week before Christmas. She was totally shocked. She did say YES but she didn't see it coming. Which I think made it ever cooler!!! I hear there will be a wedding in September sometime. I am SO excited. Here's a pic of the proposal.. SO ROMANTIC!!!

Operation Bye-Bye Mink-Mink - FAIL!!!

2008-12-19T07:51:00.002-06:00

Last night I tried my first attempt at operation "Bye-Bye Mink-Mink". Mylieh threw a huge fit in the middle of Hobby Lobby yesterday because she wanted her mink-mink, which I didn't have. I mean to tell you it was so bad I ended up just leaving Hobby Lobby with a cart full in the aisle. I told her then and there mink-minks were gone, no more. There is no reason to act that way. She goes all day at school without one she could last another 30 min. So I did really good. I got them all out of her bed and put them away. I made her go to bed without it. She cried but wasn't too bad. She did alot better than I thought she would. She woke up about 1 and Kermit took care of it. Not sure what he did but he didn't give her a mink-mink and she went back to sleep. But at 4:30 she woke up again. This time there was no way to calm her. I tried for over 30 min then finally I gave in and gave her a mink-mink. OPERATION FAILED!!! She is kinda sick maybe now is not the time. So the idea tonight is no mink-mink still but if we can't get her calmed in the middle of the night we will give it to her. I hate this and potty training these are the 2 I dread. I thought it was going to be ok. I even had her telling Kashyn "Sissy I big girl no more mink-mink"

I did it!!! I put in an order at Amazon yesterday for some Visual Basic Programming books and guess what they are to be sent to my correct address!! YEAH ME!!! I am off work next week for 2 weeks and my life would be 100% easier if I came back from my time off knowing VB for Excel. I am lost at work right now without it.

Christmas time is hard when you are on a diet. I know it's only one day, but it just doesn't work that way. For the last 2 weeks every morning when I get here some one has left a gift on my desk and most of the time it's food. GOOD FOOD! So far I have been good but Wednesday it was nuts and I ate them. I guess if I am going to cheat nuts aren't so bad. I can't really blame anyone though my gift this year to all of them was food too. ( Remember all those mini-loaves I told you I made the other night.) Yesterday was snack day at work. I pretty much ate whatever I wanted and paid for it all evening. I felt like total crap last night because my stomach hurt.

On a funny note Mylieh is saying alot more words. Like Santa Clause and Rudolph. Not sure you'd know that's what she's saying if you didn't see her pointing at it too. Last night I asked her what Santa brings and she said "Presents!". I said what do you want Santa to bring and Kashyn coaxed her into saying "Puppy!". It was cute, but no more puppies at our house. :o)

Baby It's Cold Outside!!

2008-12-16T13:55:00.004-06:00

It's COLD actually it's FREEZING outside!! I woke up this morning and checked the road conditions. It's slick in spots where I am and slick and hazardous where I am going so I decided today would be a great day to work from home. And it was a good day to do just that. I got some work done. I took my lunch hour and was able to pickup the kitchen, living room and Mylieh's room and wrap some presents for Kashyn's class. I could get used to this, actually it's not bad from time to time but I do like going to work. But the cool thing is I have been really wanting to watch some training videos and feel bad doing it at work because I keep forgetting my headset. So this morning was a great morning to do that. In the afternoon I had a conference call to prepare for and lead.

Last night I made 23 mini loaves for teachers and my co-workers. I found the recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pecan Bread on Mommy's Kitchen. It sounded good so that's what everyone is getting. Hope they like it I was in the kitchen for about 2 or 3 hours cooking. The house smelt yummy last night :o) I did some licking when I was done. Probably why the scale is yelling at me today. Oh well I'm entitled from time to time.

Picture Catch Up!!

2008-12-14T15:18:00.007-06:00

Kermit & the girl's Gingerbread House! Our Christmas Ornaments (Finally Painted)

Kashyn ready for her school play!
(She plays a dancing princess doll)

My Little Snowman (Snow Girl)!

Tough Week

2008-12-11T13:25:00.001-06:00

It's been a tough week in our family.

We lost the wife of my cousin Darren. She was a sweet and beautiful girl. She will be missed. He's doing as well as can be expected. It's going to be a long road for him, but I think he will be ok in the end. He has a great family to support him and more good friends than anyone could imagine. The funeral is tomorrow morning so say a little pray for him and her daughter Chloe.

Last night we welcomed a beautiful baby boy into our family. His name is JC and he's the cutest thing you ever did see. My cousin James and his wife Christina are the parents. He's getting extra care due to some problems with his lungs. But I have got news today one lung is better already. So we are praying he's better soon and that his mom is able to hold him soon!

Kashyn will be performing her school play tonight so that should be fun to watch. She's very excited. She's a princess doll. Should be cute.

Sad Days Ahead

2008-12-08T13:30:00.004-06:00

I am very sad today, because we lost a family member yesterday. I don't feel like going into details, but she will be missed and my family needs lots of prayers this week and through the holiday season.

Well it's offical I did lose 40 lbs, 41 to be exact. Yea I get the green bear for Christmas!!! Yea for me and my mini-goal!!

We went to the old house Friday to get our packages. They let us come in and showed us around. They have painted all the rooms except the living room. They got rid of the wall paper in the kitchen and the hall bath (both were past due). They painted all the cabinets in the kitchen cream and them antiqued them and got new hardware. It looks really nice. I mean the kitchen looks totally different with that done. Heck I think now that they are done we can move back :o) Too bad we moved because we needed more room. I think I need to have that girl come decorate my new house. She's good.. :o) She said she was worried I wouldn't like it, but to be honest I didn't see one thing I didn't like. I mean only sad thing was she painted over Kashyn room paint but it was SO needed.

I Don't Believe It!!!

2008-12-05T15:37:00.002-06:00

I often wonder does anyone even read this or am I talking to myself. I wish it told ya. Oh well even still it's documenting the girls and I will be glad I did it in a few years. Besides I kinda like talking to myself. :o)

I plan to go pick up my packages tonight from my old house. How fun!! I love going to see people to basically tell them I am an idiot! Oh I found out today one more package is going there. How annoying? They told me they got that one changed in time. Oh well what can I do now?

Oh I had a little happy moment at the doctor's office today. The nurse weighed me and said "This darn scale! It's weighing so off we need a new one". I said "What's it say?" She said "It says you have lost 40lbs, have you?" I said "Yes I have!!" 40lbs can you believe it!!! Ok that's not official, but on Sunday when I really weigh in I hope that's what it says. If it does I have lost 5 lbs this week and I will get the 40 lb bear for Christmas!!!

New Tradition

2008-12-04T08:33:00.002-06:00

OK so I am a total sucker for traditions. Although not very good with keeping them up, but I do have a few. I just want my kids to look back on things and say mom did this every Christmas, Birthday or whatever.

Anyway I read on a blog about this tradition this lady does in her home at Christmas and I decided to try it. She wraps 25 Christmas type books and puts them under the tree. Each night her kids get to unwrap one and they read it as a family. Well I went through my house and found 11 Christmas type books. Some are baby books some are regular type books. So far the girls are LOVING it they can't wait until they get to open one to read. We have only done it 3 nights now but the girls really love it. The cool thing is once you do it you have 25 books already and don't have to buy every year. I wrapped up The Night Before Christmas and wrote Christmas Eve on it. :o) I thought about wrapping up Christmas movies too and saving them for the weekend but Kashyn loves to watch them I hate to make her wait for them. The first night of this was really funny because I didn't tell Kashyn what it was all about I just told her to pick a present from on the tree and open it (only the books are under there right now). My plan is to not wrap anything else in the paper I have used for the books incase you are wondering how I keep them separate. Anyway she got them all out and sorted them she said one stack was books and the other stack was something else. I laughed and told her they were all books. I think she was a little disappointed at first but she's not now. She already had her book picked out last night before I even got home from work. Last nights book was a pop-up book. I think this was Mylieh's first experience with a pop up book because every time I turned the page she freaked out laughing and hollering. It was so cute Kashyn and I were laughing so hard it took us forever to read the book.

If anyone has any good Christmas book ideas please comment and let me know.

Bear Crazy!

2008-12-03T10:46:00.010-06:00

I know I am 31 years old, but I have turned into a sucker for these Nutri-System bears. Every time you lose 10 lbs Nutri-Systems sends you a bear.

10 lb bear 20 lb bear 30 lb bear

When you hit a 10 lb goal you get the bears in your next food shipment. So I am now hoping to get the 40 lb bear for Christmas :o) They all have names and little sayings like Ty bears but not as cute. What do I do with these bears you ask? Well so far they are on my dresser, but my NS friend in South Dakota and I have thought about putting one in each place in the house we go for food. Although we have thought that our husbands might have us committed when they see a NS bear in the freezer :o) Funny thing is everyone I have talked to on the NS site are suckers for these bears (even the guys). They say when they get their shipment the first thing they do is dig for the bear. I have to admit I am guilty!!! I did it just this week when I got my new order. I was SO excited because I was supposed to get 20 & 30!!! I only got 30 they missed it but I emailed them and 20 is on the way to my house right now. See it's like I am 5 again. So if any of you guys want to feel younger join NS! :o)

Crisis Averted

2008-12-02T08:57:00.002-06:00

I found the person who bought my old house on MySpace and sent her a message. She was SUPER nice and said she'd get the packages for me. I am such a moron. I didn't sleep very good last night due to all this crap. I really need to be more careful. I went in last night and deleted all addresses from my Amazon account but my current one. Good thing I didn't send it to any of the other addresses they were out of state and old; every one of the people who I had sent to at those addresses has since moved. This whole thing could have been much worse.

Last week was a true test to my weight loss. I went into the week with the goal of maintain and a little hope for a loss of 1 pound. As the week went on the goal seemed to slip away. I ate out 3 times and then had Thanksgiving dinner where I ate whatever I wanted. The end result was a loss of .5 pounds. Hey that's right in the middle of my goal and hope so I am pretty happy about it! I think I was really lucky this week because eating out 3 times is not good especially what I ate.

Happy Birthday to Kermit!! Sunday he had another anniversary of his 29th birthday. He spent the day pretty much doing what I wanted. Poor guy. Maybe for my birthday we will do what he wants. Every year our church has this craft night to kick off the Christmas season. It's my favorite church event of the whole year. So we had to go. I am sure it's not top on his list of birthday activities, but he doesn't hate it. We did let him choose Qudoba Grill for lunch and Logan's for dinner. Kashyn wanted to have a surprise party and invite his friends over to play XBOX and take a nap because that's what he likes to do. :o)

Kashyn is in the church's Children's Choir she sings and plays the hand chimes every Sunday in advent. This past Sunday was her first Sunday, she was SO cute. She has also been practicing for her dance Christmas programs. As well as her school play where she is a ballerina. She has alot to remember this time of year.

Mylieh is home this week with one of those childhood illnesses. She's fine just considered contagious. Hope it clears up soon I think she misses her best friend BELLA!!! :o)

Guess What I Did!!!

2008-12-01T21:41:00.003-06:00

You will NEVER guess, so I am going to just have to tell you. I decided to be all cool and do some online shopping Friday. Well today I start getting emails from Amazon saying when my orders will arrive. I am SO excited I open the emails to check it out and guess what I see. I see my old address there plain as day. I shipped every single one of them to my old house. And they are already at UPS so I am pretty much stuck. I guess I will be talking to the new owners this week since a box is set to arrive Thursday and Friday. I am SO mad. I really think steam came out of my ears. Good thing is they were nice Christian people so I think it will be ok, but I really hate to bug them. STUPID STUPID!!! ARGH!!! And to think I was thinking to myself "hmm don't really have anything to blog about today". God is really funny isn't he? He's probably just there having a good laugh at this one. :o) Well I am sure once this week is over I will find all this funny too. Moral of this story.... Don't online shop when you got up at 4 am to do Black Friday Shopping and are still tired. I guess I need to go delete my old address out of Amazon so that won't happen again.

Thanksgiving!!

2008-11-28T12:58:00.007-06:00

Our family has a lot to be Thankful for this year! We are all in good health, we both have jobs (this is iffy at Thanksgiving last year), and we have wonderful people in our lives that make it full and happy.

We had a great Thanksgiving at mom and dad's yesterday. We ate until we popped and then we played Wii and ate some more. Good Times!!

Here's a pic of My and I before we left the house.

Here is the picture of our 1st Craft the pilgrims and Indian out of toilet paper rolls :o)

Here's a picture of the Turkey Cutting!!!

Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving!!!

CA Meeting, Here I come!

2008-11-25T15:48:00.001-06:00

Hi my name is Tracey and I am addicted to FamilyFun.com. :o) I think I need to go to a CA meeting, as in Crafters Anonymous. hehe.. Last night the girls and I made advent calendars. Well Kashyn, her friend Alyssa and I, Mylieh napped. Kermit thinks I have lost my marbles. I think I have too, but Kashyn is loving a mom with no marbles. :o) She LOVES doing the crafts. Last night she wanted me to show her where I found the ideas online. So I did and we watched about 10 videos on how to make other things. HEHE I am creating a monster. A CRAFT Monster. :o) She already has an idea for Uncle Travis and Gammy. Not sure if we will do the Gammy idea it's a 2 day process. :o) But you never know I am a sucker, she has pink and blue hair remember.

Well I kinda blew my diet today. I was so busy at work I didn't get to eat breakfast so by the time lunch rolled around I was starving. So I emailed Whitney and told her we needed to try the new Sushi place Lin's. Sushi isn't horrible so I thought this would be ok. OH MY GOODNESS it was a Chinese Buffet complete with fresh sushi. I was in Chinese heaven and I was starving. Now I did bad I will tell you that but not as bad as I would have 3 months ago before NS. I am so full and I feel bad about it but we need it every once in awhile right. If you haven't tried Lin's and aren't on a diet I recommend it. YUMMY! Of course remember I was starving and I have been eating out of a cardboard box for 3 months.

Busy Weekend!

2008-11-24T07:52:00.002-06:00

I lost only 1 lb this week. Kinda bummed but then I remembered that put me at 35.5 lbs down. That's huge!! Also when I started NS I had only planned to lose 1 to 2 a week so what's all the sadness about?? Oh and I remembered I probably only lost 1 based on a few things I should have done differently. So I am good now. So my ambitious goal this week is to lose 1 lb but with Thanksgiving I will just be happy if I maintain!!!

This weekend was busy!!! Friday Kermit got Lasik so now he can see 20-20 without glasses. He's so happy about it. I am too it's so worth it!! Saturday the girls and I all got new hair-dos. I got a perm and color, Mylieh got a much needed trim, and Kashyn got a trim added red and green highlights. Yep you read it right. They look more like pink and blue to me and I am not too happy about it because we are getting family pictures made this weekend. But she and Jane suckered me into it. Oh well it's her right. The pictures should show our true personalities right!!! As many of you guys know this isn't her first color experience! Good thing is it barley lasts a month. Sunday we went to church and then I Christmas shopped all day. I think we are broke now and I am not done. haha

Saturday night Kashyn and I did crafts. We made a boy and girl pilgrim and an Indian out of toilet paper rolls. I will post a pic of them sometime this week. They are SO cute. Last night the whole family made ornaments. We will get to paint them this week. Some turned out really cute.

Mylieh Funny!!

2008-11-21T09:21:00.002-06:00

I started my morning with prayer today, so we will see how the day goes. I hope good because Kermit is getting Lasik today. He's stressing, but it's normal I did too before mine. He will be SO happy he did it come tomorrow morning.

I have to tell you a funny story that escaped me yesterday. I must confess the outcome might be TMI so you have been warned. Mylieh went to bed at like 6:30 Wednesday night. I fought it, but she was tired so I let her. She then woke up at 5:30 am the next morning. This is strange for her because she can usually sleep until 7:30 am even if she goes to bed early. But I will not say I was surprised in the least I mean 6:30 pm is early. Since I don't usually get up until 6 I tried to get her to go back to sleep by laying her with me. At 6 she hadn't gone back to sleep so I took her in the bathroom with me while I got ready for work. She decided she needed to go potty. This is something she does when she sees her toilet. (We are not potty training yet but we do have it out so when she wants to try we let her.) Anyway I helped her out of her diaper and pj's and she sat on the toilet. She messed around in there a little bit, while I finished getting ready then she ran out. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something on the floor. Yes, You guessed it POO!!! I cleaned it up and and checked her booty yep POO!! I told her to come on she really needed cleaned up. She ran all the way to her room and we got her all cleaned up. When I went back in the bedroom I noticed something on the floor so I looked you guessed it tiny POO!!! So I cleaned that up. The whole time Mylieh is SO proud waking her daddy up yelling "DADDY POOP!! DADDY POOP!!" Over and over. So while she was all excited I sneaked out to work. I got about 3 miles down the road and my cell rang. It was Kermit, he had called to inform me that I hadn't got all the POO!! He just stepped in some. I guess in her running excitement through the house she had some pieces fall :o) Haha.. KIDS!!!

Last night she wanted to use the potty again. So I put her on it and told her I'd be right back. This time I was going to get the diaper no more running through the house dropping POO pieces. When I came back I had to laugh. There she was sitting on her potty with a Better Homes and Garden Magazine open looking intently. I guess while I was gone she decided she needed to read. HAHA. I got a pic of this :o) She's just so darn cute at this age. :o)

How Do You Start Your Day?

2008-11-20T08:45:00.001-06:00

If you are anything like me you roll out of bed, jump straight into the shower, and off to your daily routine. Have you ever thought about pausing and praying when you first get up? Well I haven't, not when I am in the thick of it. I have thought about how if I started my morning with God my day might be better but I have never tried it. A good friend of mine has been trying it lately and she's saying it works. So because of her inspiration I think I will try it tomorrow. What better way to start your day?

Praying is important but I can't say I do it as often as I should. I mean some days I don't think I do at all. Yeah maybe a "Please God do this for me", but not truly pray. Why you ask?? I think because I don't know how to pray. I know how to ask what I want and thank Him for what he's given me but it seems like it should be more than that. I decided to google "How to Pray" what I found was quite interesting. I was directed to Matthew 6:5-13.

Here it is for you.
“And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. "

“When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think prayers are answered only by repeating words over and over again. Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Well most of us have been taught that God knows what you need and what you are thinking without even talking, He even knows before you know. So just say the Lord's prayer when other words escape you. This is hard for me because saying the Lord's prayer seems like you are just running through memorized words. But if you really know what you are saying it might help.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
TRANSLATION: Jesus says we should give honor to God and His name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
TRANSLATION: We are to pray for His Kingdom to come, and for His will to be done, that there would be a heavenly or godly presence here on earth.

Give us this day our daily bread.
TRANSLATION: We are to pray for daily provision.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
TRANSLATION: We are to pray and ask for forgiveness for our sins, and for others who have wronged us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
TRANSLATION: We are to pray and ask God to keep us from being tempted, and to deliver us from Satan and his power.

Another thing I found interesting was looking up this verse in the different translations and see how they differ. If you want you can do that at... http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearch.php

One more thing to add, it seems silly that I think I don't know how to pray when God put it there in the Bible for us it's all we need. I always thought I needed to have list of blessings and wants and needs as well as some other things. All I need is the Lord's prayer and an open heart that means what I am saying. Everything else I need he already knows. Hope this helps you as well.

The Little Things in Life!

2008-11-18T08:45:00.001-06:00

Last night I got to do something I haven't got to do in a very long time. I got to rock Mylieh to sleep!!!! It was so nice. She's a put me in my bed and leave me alone type of girl; so for her to let me rock her to sleep last night was a huge treat. She went to bed before 8 though :o( It was kinda nice because Kermit and I got to teach Kashyn a card game. She's been really into learning games lately. So last night we taught her how to play Phase 10. And she kept score! She's getting SO big!! The night before we taught her Yathzee. In the last 2 weeks we have played Disney Monopoly Jr, Gotcha (a game Kermit's mom made us), and we attempted Racko but she didn't like it too much. Next I want to teach her Mexican Dominoes.

Last night I also made another personal break through in my weight loss. I was able to unpack a whole box of clothes (except 2 pairs of pants that were a little too snug, but I will be in them before you know it.). It was like shopping in my closet!!! So what did I do with my old pants you ask. I boxed them up and shipped them to South Dakota to my NS friend. I don't know anyone here who would wear that size. Plus the farther away the better huh!!! Can't have those old pants hanging around or I might be like a hermit crab and try to fit in them again. I did keep my jeans though. I am too cheap to go buy new ones just yet so I am going to wear them baggy a little longer. Plus I plan to keep one pair so I can try them on from time to time to remind myself how far I have come. My NS friend and I were joking about me sending her the pants. She told me I better hurry or they will be too big. Funny she will probably only use these pants maybe a month :o)

34.5lbs DOWN!!!

2008-11-17T08:14:00.002-06:00

I weighed in last night and I was SO happy to see I dropped 3 more pounds. So that's a total of 34.5lbs. Yeah!!! You know I am a little worried though. I have been loosing every week pretty steady. I know sooner or later it's going to slow down and get harder. And thats when it's going to be hard to stay on program. But I will not dwell on it now because all is good. Just when I hit that point you guys might need to remind me how far I have come. 34.5lbs is alot ya know. I mean I don't see it much but really that's a lot of weight. So I am starting week 10 now very excited. My new mini-goal is 45 lb by Christmas. Hmm... that averages out to about 2 lbs per week not sure I will make it with Thanksgiving in there but setting the goal a little high might help me through Thanksgiving.

For those of you who don't blog. It's not for everyone that's for sure but I will tell you doing it on my NS page has helped me. So if you have a struggle need a place to get it out it's great. Infact I have a friend I got started who is blogging about her journey to quit smoking. I hope it's helping her, that's a hard struggle. This particular blog here I like to keep my friends and family updated. It's my way to get the word out without calling everyone :o) I am not sure how many people are reading this blog. So if you have comments please leave them. Under this post there is a thing that says a number and then COMMENTS. If you click on it you can leave a message without logging in. I will only know who left it though if you put your name in the comment, so please do :o)

A New Perspective

2008-11-14T09:42:00.005-06:00

Wednesday night I was blogging back and forth on my Nutrisystem site with this NS friend I have made in South Dakota. I swear she's probably my twin. We are SO much alike. Maybe one day when we are both super skinny we will meet at the beach :o) Anyway what I realized when talking to her was that I have lost 31.5 lbs. I mean really to me doesn't sound like much because I still have 94 lbs to go. But that night, it hit me like a ton of bricks, 31.5 lbs is more than Mylieh weighs. I have lost a whole Mylieh and some!!! Heck 19 more pounds and I will have lost a Kashyn. :o) Changes things when you put it in perspective huh?? No wonder I felt like crap all the time. Can't say I am perfect now but much better than I was. I would even say my attitude has even improved but don't ask Kermit he might not agree. hehe...

The time change is killing me. I miss my, Mylieh-Boo! Since the time change she has been going to bed so early. She used to go to bed at 9. I mean 9 o'clock she'd start fussing and if we asked her if she was tired she'd go to her room. Since the time change it's been 8 which makes sense, but Tuesday and Wednesday she went to bed before 7:30. And she sleeps all night. I guess her body thinks if it's dark she must be asleep. Last night I made her stay up until 8. In a way it's nice because I can get some things done but I miss her. I see her a couple hours and then she goes to bed. I know I need to enjoy it while it lasts huh? Kashyn is the exact opposite she would stay up all night every night if I'd let her.

Sunshine Baaa-Beee!

2008-11-12T20:49:00.002-06:00

Letterboxing?

2008-11-12T11:46:00.002-06:00

I am so excited to tell you about something I found out about today. There is an activity called Letterboxing. Anyone ever heard of it? Here is the website http://www.letterboxing.org/. Sounds like lots of fun, if you like that sort of thing. The website even has a map and you can click on a state and pick and area and see all the boxes in that area and get the clues. There are over 20,000 letterboxes in North America. I think Kermit the girls and I might try it on a nice slow day. I'll post when we finally get to try it. We rarely have a slow day around our house. :o)

Mylieh goes to daycare with a whole group of vampire babies!!! She has been bit so many times lately, I lost count. At least once a week I would say. It's insane! I have talked to the teachers and they said it's all of the kids not just one. She was bit again yesterday. Funny thing is I know she's only 19 months but if I say "Who bit you today Mylieh?" She will say "Georgia Byte!" or "Kason Byte!" I keep waiting for the day she starts biting. I don't want a biter but she might have to do it to survive. :o

It's an amazing thing to watch your child learn. Watching Kashyn learn to read is so fun. And she is picking up on so much lately. She even has thoughts on the election which cracks me up. But be warned if you have a girl, I think age 6 is the chatter-box age. She talks non-stop.

On my weight loss.. Well yesterday I had a planned lunch with friends at a Chinese restaurant. When I say "planned lunch" it means I took necessary measures to not gain weight from going out. Anyway this place I love to go to but rarely get to go. So I am all pumped I get there and start eating and what happens? I found a bug in my drink. I guess I must tell you the last time I went there we found a few bugs on the table. So needless to say I am done with this place. I think God's telling me get on program, Don't you?

Veteran's Day

2008-11-11T10:38:00.000-06:00

Well today is Veteran's Day so a special thanks to all the military folks who are serving or have served our country. It's a big job and you give up alot to do it. Well since today is Veteran's Day Kashyn's school is putting on a program. She really wanted Kermit to go to this program because he used to be in the Air Force and that is a big deal to her. She told me the other day that he is supposed to wear his military clothes. I said "I don't think daddy's fit anymore" and she said "Mommy yes they do he has those shorts he has from when he was in the military". It took me a few minutes to figure out what she was talking about. And then it hit me Kermit has a couple pair of camo shorts he got from, I think Target that he wears in the summer. All this time she thought they were from when he was in the Air Force. I had to chuckle hehe... I said "Sweetie those came from Target" She's so cute sometimes with her thoughts. I just love to listen to her perspective of things.

These days Mylieh's favorite things are the following. She LOVES the song "You Are My Sunshine". She says "Son-chine Baa-bee" When you sing it to her she sings the "Sunshine" part. She loves Elmo or "Mel-mo" not sure why I just recently had her watch him. Kashyn watched alot more videos at this age than Mylieh does probably because she can just play with her sister. She loves to holler "Maa Maa", "Daa Dee" or "Sis-C" constantly for no apparent reason. I think her best friend at school is probably Bella. Because she is constantly hollering "Bel-lalala" through the house as well. She loves to lock herself in the pantry and giggle. She is also addicted to her "Mink Mink" which is her pacifier for all of you who don't speak fluent Mylieh. This I plan to work on removing during Thanksgiving break. She LOVES bananas or as she calls them "ba-nuh-lala". Anything that has an "A" ending or a "ly" ending she just sticks her tongue out and says them by making a "la" or "ly" sound and moving her toung all around. It's the funniest thing ever.

Ok so enough for today I have talked your ear off. :o)

Nutrisystems

2008-11-10T23:29:00.001-06:00

Below it what I have had on my Nutrisystem site for the reasons and motivations as to why I need and want to lose weight. It might help some of you and it might be comedy for some of you (if it's comedy you probably aren't one of my GOOD friends hehe). Either way here it is if you are interested. Some the stuff I know you are going to think "Oh Tracey" about but it's true I did feel this way and I have found on NS I am not the only person who feels this way. But I will tell you with 30 lbs down some of these feelings have gone away or are fading.

Here's what's on my NS site!
I have always had weight issues, but I have been battling my weight since I was a teen. I joined Nutrisystem when I was 15 and lost to my goal by the time I was 16. It was the best time of my life weight wise. I kept it off until I was about 18 but then I started college and slowly started gaining back. I then went into a yo-yo of dieting with different programs each time gaining back more than I had lost. Finally here I am 15 years later at 31 with 2 kids and carrying an extra person around with me daily. It’s time to get rid of the monkey on my back. :o)

One of my turning point moments was when not long ago I was going to fill up the sandbox with sand for my girls and as I was carrying that very heavy (really too heavy) 60lb bag of sand; that it occurred to me that I am carrying around 2 of those daily that I shouldn't. I thought no wonder my back hurts, I‘m tried and cranky. This is it I need to get rid of a bag of sand. So here I am 2 months after that getting started.

I also had another turning point moment when I was turned down for an increase in life insurance. Even though I am perfectly healthy my weight kicked me out. That hurt bad!!!

This is a turning point in my life. I have 2 girls and we are pretty sure we are finished building our family. I have been forced in to a job change due to outsourcing and have started a new job. Interviewing and starting a new job was hard for me because I have low self-esteem when it comes to my looks because of my weight. Plus being over-weight I was in a comfort zone at my old job and now I was going to have to go out there and wow people, meet new people, and make new friends. That’s a hard thing to do for someone who’s over-weight and ashamed of how they look. I’d really rather not leave the house at all much less meet new people.

I have found my weight to be crippling in a way. Although I go a lot, I don’t want to go places for fear I will see someone from the past and they will think “Wow! She got fat”. I also feel ashamed of myself and bad for my family. When I look in the mirror I don’t like who I see and I kind of feel bad for everyone who has to look at me. I know all of this is in my head. My friends and family are great and they see past what I can’t.

My motivation is taking my kids to Disney World next year (we hope). No I will not be at my goal weight. I know that takes time, but I know I will be a smaller me and have more energy. We went to Silver Dollar City last November and there were a couple rides I came close to not fitting on. I do not want that to happen at Disney World.

Why Blog??

2008-11-10T23:10:00.000-06:00

Why start a blog?? Hmm good question. I started getting it ready to document my weight loss journey. I thought blogging about it might help someone struggling out there. As well as help me get my feelings out of my head. However while getting the blog ready I decided I also needed to be keeping track of what the girls were doing somewhere so I have it later. They are growing so fast I can't keep up. So that's what you will see here some about my journey to drop some sand (explanation to come later) and some about what's going on in our house mainly with the girls. I have made this site public so anyone can see it and not have to sign up. I plan to use our first names only and don't plan to add any location information. In case there are crazy people out there looking. So if you comment don't put any of that information in your comment please. I know I am a paranoid freak but you love me anyway right!!!