The nightmare visit

My husband is from a small town about 40 minutes from our house. We normally try to visit his parents on his days off but since RD is now in school those days, it will be a little more difficult. This past week we decided to try going when he got off work.

He left work about an hour and a half early so we could make good time. I had the girls ready to go when he walked in, he changed clothes, and we were off. There's quite a few little towns in between our hometown and his childhood home, which means several ways to get to our destination. My hubby has been wanting to show me this little "health food" store that sits in one of these towns, so we took the scenic path instead of the highway. Mistake number 1.

All the roads through these town are two lane, which means slower speed limits and windier roads. That translates into more time in the car and more belly flops for car sick kids. Did I forget to mention the girls get car sick? Mistake number 2.

About 3 miles, I'm guessing here, from our destination, we see a sign that says, "Road closed ahead, bridge out." Are you kidding me?? How in the bleep did we forget this?!?! We knew this road was closed since the last time we came down we were going to take the scenic route home. Mistake number 3.

Instead of turning around and back tracking a couple miles on the two lane, Darling Hubby decides taking the gravel will be an adventure. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that gravel roads mean even slower speeds and even more jostling, right? Mistake number 4.

Of course, I'm fine with taking gravel until I realize Darling Hubby has no clue where these gravel roads lead or where we are going to come out. What?? Are you kidding me?! You grew up on these roads!! His response? "Right, that was years ago, everything is different." Mistake number 5.

On our third fourth fifth right or left hand turn, HC started spewing. CRAP! I unbuckle, climb through the car to the very back and try my hardest to comfort her. We brought the handy dandy puke bucket but obviously I didn't get to her in time. We didn't bring any paper towels this time though so I have no way to wipe her mouth or hands. Poor baby. Deep sigh. Mistake number 6.

Now, RD and Gala are starting to gag from the fumes (you know the ones I mean) filling the car. I ask the hubs to crack the window. He rolls them all the way down. Did I say it was a chilly day??

Guess who's not a happy camper any more? ME!
Guess who still thinks we're on an adventure? Darling Hubby!
Guess who just wants to be dry and clean? Poor little HC.
AND guess who just wants to go home? RD and Gala.

All these mistakes don't even come close to this one....................

I. Did. Not. Pack. One. Single. Change. Of. Clothes.

Here we are 40 minutes from home, no fresh clothes, soiled car seat, and a car full of unhappy people.

Hi! Grandpa and Grandma, we're here!!!!

Not an everlasting gobstopper

As most of you know, RD has a huge crush on Sharkboy. You know, from Sharkboy and Lavagirl? The movie? Haven't heard of it? It's really good *sarcastic eye roll*. You should check it out.

Since seeing this movie, RD will have days were she IS Sharkboy. Yesterday, I couldn't even call her by her name. "My name is not RD", she'll say. Yeah, whatever kid. She even has an outfit that she calls her "Sharkboy's". The sad thing is, she's ran them in the ground. The pants are now floods and have a hole in the knee. The jacket's pocket is hanging by a thread. Not to mention her tummy hangs out the bottom of the jacket. Did I say she wore them to her DeDub's yesterday? Deep sigh.

I have my eye on a brand new set for her. It's really cute and dark. It'll fit and be hole free. *swoon* The problem is I don't think she's gonna be ready to hang up the originals. I guess I did the same thing with my Def Leppard tee, but that's another story. 

DeDub: the girls' grandma

AJB2Me Weight Loss Record #2

Here I am, 4 more weeks (8 total) into my "Live-it" and feeling wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if I have been off plan for a little over a week. Someone send me some thinspiration, please?!?!

I thought I'd share a picture with you. I'm going to be using this picture as my thinspiration!! But, by all means, send more my way!! The picture on the left was taken July 9th, 2011 at my niece's wedding reception. This was the picture that made me think "Wow, I'm really F-A-T!" I mean, I thought that everyday, but when you actually see a picture of yourself, it's like a light switching on. I've spent lots of time hiding behind the camera because I didn't want to face facts. Now, here it is staring me in the face.

The photo on the right was taken at my bridal shower in 2005. I don't recall the exact date, but I'm thinking it was sometime in February. This was me at my goal weight of 130#. What can I say about this picture? I felt wonderful at this weight!! After 3 kids, I don't know if I'll ever be that thin again but I'm gonna work toward it. Only time will tell.

8/28/2011, a Sunday (end of week 5)

• 189.8# taken @ 6:30 AM (down 1#, 7.8# total)
• Energy level is higher then it's been in a long time

This week was slow going. There were a lot of times I felt like caving to crap. And a few times, I actually did. Sneaking a bite of the girls' mac n cheese or tots. But, all in all I'm pretty happy with the week. I made my 190# goal!! I'm (almost) half way to taking off the 16# I gained this past year. I've decided that's my first goal and when I hit that, I'll be close to having 10% of my weight off. I'm thinking a haircut and brow wax are in order once I hit my 10%!! Here's to a good week!!

9/4/2011, a Sunday (end of week 6)

• 188.2# taken at 7:30 AM (down 1.6#, 9.4# total)
• Yahooooooooooooooooo!

Today is 9/6/2011, a Tuesday

I hit a marker today! I could actually fit back into a pair of my maternity jeans. Are you confused? I had gained so much weight, even my maternity jeans were too SMALL!! I got them up today! Do a little dance......are you singing? However, you won't spot me in them.......Oh and one more marker: I am now .8# (point 8) lighter than when I got preggers with HC!!

I set a few goals:

• 1st, I told you this one already, but.....take off the 16# I gained this past year. I was 200# the day of my doctor appointment (not the start of this WWLR) and on weigh day I was 188.2#, so I only have 4.2# to go. That one's so close I can taste it!! 
• 2nd, to hit 173#. That's what I was when I got preggers with Gala.
• 3rd to hit 157#. That's what I was when I got preggers with RD.
• 4th, hmmmm, let me think on it.........dare I say 130#?? IDK if I can ever get back there but......

I'm feeling really good, y'all! Here's to a great week!!

9/11/2011, a Sunday (end of week 7)

• 187.4# taken @ 7:00 AM (down .8#, 10.2# total)

I'm gonna take this weight loss and run!! I had a very crappy week. I let the excitement of hitting a few milestones get the best of me. I decided to grab a package of my favorite cookies and told myself I'd have just one. I ended up skipping lunch two days in a row, to have iced sugar cookies @ 180 calories a pop instead. Then I spent the rest of the week paying for it. I honestly don't know why I do that to myself? OK, yes I do. I'm an addict. I just cannot keep this stuff in the house. PERIOD!! Next time I want one, I'll get ONE and ONE only from the cookie shop in the mall. Moving on. Here's to a great week!!!

Today is 9/15/2011, a Thursday

It's been one long week. It seems like it should be Saturday already. The girls have been sick. Nothing major but it's thrown the week out of whack. I've even felt "off" all week. Less energy and simply run down. I've skipped lunch everyday so far and I haven't had one single smoothie this week. I weighed this morning to see where I was. Up 2#. Deep sigh. I'm hoping I can get a groove back for the rest of the week.

9/18/2011, a Sunday (end of week 8)

• 188.4# taken at 7:00 AM (UP 1#, 9.2# total)
• I'm not gonna let this get me down

If you can't tell by my stats above, I've gone off plan. I don't want to make any excuses because it's really my own actions and choices but it's been crazy hectic feeling since RD started back to school. I'm hoping we can get back into a rhythm soon. Any encouraging words are welcome!!

Certified Suck-up

Here we are 2 weeks into school already! Remember me saying, just yesterday, how I couldn't wait to get RD back to school? Yeah, so it wasn't yesterday, but it sure feels like it!

I stupidly thought I was going to have tons of time to get a few things done once school started, but in reality, it's been more hectic. I'm sure once we get back into the swing of things I'll get something done. That is, if I can stay away from the computer!! (see how I beat you to the punch, Darling Hubby?)

Today, I wanted to share a few of our back to school highlights:

First day of school was a short 15 minute meet and greet. I forgot my purse in the car so I had to run back out. RD's teacher was letting everyone in when I got back so I missed this but DH shared it with me. RD told her new teacher how pretty she was!! How sweet is that? She loves blonde hair and even imagined her new teacher with blonde hair so she was excited to finally meet her.

Day two was the first full day of class. All the parents wait in the hallway until the classroom door is opened. Here we are, all parents and their wee little ones waiting patiently, when RD's friend from last year arrives. RD is so excited to see her and quickly tells her that they have a new teacher, to which her friend replies, "yep, I know." I'm pretty sure RD felt discouraged that she didn't have some sort of new and awesome news to share with her friend so she decided to belt out, "She's A LOT younger than my mom!!" Yes, of course all the parents in the hall started laughing, myself included. However, from this moment on, I'm pretty sure RD is a suck-up and I'm pretty sure she's sucking-up to the wrong person! Don't you think she should be sugar coating me?!?!?!!

On the serious side, kids say the darndest things and we are really pleased with our new teacher. It's going to be a fun year for sure!

Introducing the pink.....

Apple!!! Have you ever seen a pink apple? No? Well, today is your lucky day, because it just so happen that I have seen them & the proof is right here........................

You didn't think I was gonna show them to you that fast, did you? Today is "Apple Day" at RD's preschool and our snack day. Lucky for me, September's "Family Fun" issue had the cutest apple themed snack idea:

"Candy Apple Cookie Pops"

Nine pretzels sticks snipped into half to three-quarter inch pieces

Several green fruit chew candies, flattened (we used Jolly Rancher)

Eighteen round sandwich cookies (we used generic Oreos)

Brown mini M&Ms

Vanilla frosting

Red meltable candy wafers

Here are the supplies I grabbed from our local craft store.

My AWESOME hubby lending a hand separating the brown minis from the rest.

All the cookies awaiting dipping

PINK APPLES?!?! Remember the ingredient "red candy wafers"? Our craft store only had white and while I added red food coloring, pink was all I could get.

Here's our happy little apples waiting to be eaten!

Of course ours didn't turn out as neat as the magazine's. I can't seem to get hit the right temperature on the candy wafers. I either get it too hot and end up pitching OR not hot enough and end up spooning the coating on. But, I have to say they were pretty darn cute anyway. Pink and all!!!! We really hope the kids like them!

Right around the corner

It's getting so close and I can't wait!!! What's getting so close? Halloween!!!! What? It's still a month and a half away?!?! Oh well, a girl needs time to plan doesn't she?!?!

Who was here with me last year during our "All Hallows Eve" costume contest? We had some really cute submissions last year and I'm dying to see what you guys do this year!! With that said, I'm gonna host another one! I'm not sure what the "gift" will be but bragging rights are still on the table!!! So, let the brainstorming begin!!!!

(details and dates to follow)

Here's some of our many costume changes from last year. RD was 3 things!! Can you believe it?!?!

RD as a Scarecrow for "Scarecrow Day" at Pre-k

RD as "Cindy Lou Who" for the Halloween party at Pre-k

RD as a "Vampire" on Halloween. This is what she wanted to be all along but Mommy got her way with "Cindy Lou" and since RD was such a good sport, I let her be a Vampire.

AND me with my girls on Halloween. We didn't dress HC up. She was only 5 months.

Are you listening?

The year anniversary is approaching of our girls' baptisms. It's amazing how far we've come over the past year and a half. However, our RCIA classes came to an end shortly after Easter and it didn't take long for us to fall back into the same old rut we were in before. Too busy for this and too busy for that.

I haven't spent any quite time alone with God in months and I know it's affecting me. Of course, God is still there nudging me along. Just a few days ago, I got a e-mail from our niece saying she has met a wonderful guy, a Catholic beau, who is very faith and family oriented. Since being  involved with him, she has started attending mass with her children. She enrolled her daughter in the PSR program and she is starting the RCIA program. This is wonderful news! She deserves nothing but the best.

Our niece went on to say, that whether we knew it or not, she really looks up to my husband and I. Wow! That's one of the nicest things we could ever hear. I could barely finish the letter because I was crying and I could not read it to my husband, who was just as touched.

Knowing that we were her role models wasn't the only thing that moved me to tears. It was knowing that God was using her to speak to me. I've fallen out of my relationship with Him. The one I was working so hard to build one short year ago.

And again yesterday, he used one of my blog sites to get the message through. I'll leave you with their message. Does it hit home for you as well?

It has been said, "If the devil cannot make you bad, he'll make you busy."

AJB2Me Smoothie #5

I owe you guys one more smoothie!!

Here's the last of the five and my least favorite. Who am I kidding? Least favorite? To tell the truth, I won't EVER have this one again. I couldn't get through it the first time, so why bother? I still want to share it with you since one of you may LOVE it. The lady in the magazine did. It was her favorite!?!?!!!!!

"Better-sleep Cherry Smoothie"

One cup tart cherry juice

Half banana

Half cup soy milk

Five ice cubes

Quarter teaspoon vanilla extract

1~2~3 BLEND!!!

According to the magazine, "this one will help you sleep more soundly---which is shown to reduce cravings and stimulate metabolism---good sleep is the missing link in weight loss."

Have you tried one of the four previous smoothies? If so, don't forget to let me know what you thought!! Happy blending!

These smoothies and some of the ideas are taken from the August 2011 "Woman's World" magazine. I do not own the rights to them. I am only re-printing the smoothies and some of the ideas for educational purposes.

Not as easy as 1-2-3

I'd been walking around with a couple dozen little slips of paper, in my purse, for months. These little slips of paper contained measurements from all the girls' doctor appointments over the last year. I decided it was time to get on with it and ended up spending an hour updating their baby books yesterday.

I started with our middle daughter, Gala's, book since I had more slips on her. I was pretty impressed with how much info I had already jotted down, but also felt a twinge of sadness at how little I'd put in hers compared to RD's, our oldest. I didn't even have her due date jotted down and for the life of me I cannot remember it. I guess this was nothing new. Gala's photo album is no where near full, yet, RD has two full albums. I figured there was no time like the present and spent some time writing little notes to her. Things I love about her. Like, how her eyes sparkle when she smiles, how spunky her personality is, and how soft hearted she is.

Once I wrote down what I could in Gala's book, I moved on to our baby, HC. I quickly took note of the book's bareness. I'd felt saddened by the state of Gala's book, but now I felt down right horrible. I have neglected my youngest. I might have filled in two of her milestones, but the major ones like when she first crawled.........blank and no amount of running it through my head brought back a date or rough estimate. Then the sound of my husband's voice came to me. "Poor HC. She doesn't even have a photo album."

Is this normal? To have so many pictures and firsts saved for your oldest and next to nothing, zilch, nada for your youngest? I felt feel like a huge failure. I spent the next few minutes jotting notes to her. Again, just like Gala's, I wrote things I love about her. Like her four tooth grin and ornery behavior.

And then I moved on to our oldest, RD, even though I didn't have any measurements to jot down. I wanted to see just how much more time I'd taken with her. And maybe I'd add a few things. I had all her milestones saved, first words, and the cute way she said things. Like soda was soy-da, ketchup was kep-edge. Instead of saying Christmas tree, she'd say Santa tree or Santa lights and if she didn't want something, it was food either or book either. Reading this made me tear up and feel all the worse for neglecting my younger ones.

But it got worse. I felt like a truck hit me when I read my entry at her 19 month milestone. She knew all her colors and ABC's......at 19 months!!! Gala is 2 and a half years and I think she knows one color, but I'm not even positive about that, she may just get lucky. HC is almost 16 months and barely says a word. I can't even imagine her talking full sentences, like RD was, in 3 more months.

Is this a mere difference in children, learning styles, and personalities? OR is this a huge fail on my part as parent, not working with them enough?