Summer is gone

Well the camper is put away for the winter and I will be home in the evenings and on the weekends now. I always hate it when it is time to put the camper away for the winter but I do enjoy being able to spend more time at home. It also gives me alot more time for the computer. We do not have internet at the camper so I don't get to do much on the computer while we are there. Kinda sad to say but I miss the computer when I don't get to use it as much. I will enjoy getting around to everyone's blogs and finding out what has been going on in your worlds over the summer.
My twins are back at school now. Both are doing really well. Josh is running really well, it seems that each time he has a race he is making a new PR. John is doing well also. He is working at Subway to make some extra money for the little extras that Mom just can't seem to afford after paying the college bill for two! He also ran the Detroit Free Press marathon with me. He blew me away of course like I knew he would but he ran alot faster than I anticipated. He finished in 3:59:10, which for a first marathon is amazing! I was very proud of him.
Robbie has moved back home. He lost his job and was unable to pay his rent so he came back home. Not sure how much he is enjoying it but............you know how that goes! He is hoping to start school in January and that would make me happy if he did.
Jeremy is doing really well. He will graduate from his CAD/CAM course in December. He actually fell in love with this program and has done extreamly well. His letters of reccomendation from his instructors are impressive. I asked Jeremy if he made them up himself and forces his instructors to put their names on them! (I was only kidding!) After all the messed up things that boy has gone through and the messes that he got himself into I am very proud of him for cleaning up his ways and applying himself to something he truly loves. I think that having Aiden did wonders for him. He loves being a dad. Aiden is doing wonderful also. He started kindegarten in September. He seems to like school but he doesn't like getting up in the morning. He is growing so big!
Amanda is doing well. She went back to work in October after being off for 8 weeks after having Layla. She would love to be a stay at home Mom but that won't happen until after Zac finishes school. Zac goes to school during the day and Manda works in th evenings so Layla does not have to go to daycare. And she comes and spends the night with Grandma often too! Her and Aiden love to share the "big" bed at my house! That means they love to steal Grandma's king size bed!
Mark and I have been doing well also. We went to Talladega again this year to see my BFF Linda at the Nascar races. It was cold and wet this year and there was ALOT of mud around but we managed to enjoy ourselves. Mark did get sick while we were there and he stayed sick for almost a week after but he is better now. My sister and Linda both got sick to.
Well I guess that is enough for now. I must go catch up on some journals!

My Fundraising Page

My Fundraising Page

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Last day of fundraising! If you would like to help out please donate! Even $5 would help!

The summer

My summer has truly been awesome. We have spent alot of time at the camper this year. It has been alot of fun. I was also able to finally able to make up north to Black River/Harrisville to see my in laws cottage. No one has used this cottage in years, in fact no one has even visited it in two years now. My husband and my father in law would go up there for one day visits to make sure things were ok and to cut grass and things but for some reason I had never made it up there in the 7 years that we have been together. Well guess what? I fell in love with the place and can't wait to go back! It is so peaceful. Only a mile away from Lake Huron. There is park at the end of the street with a pavillion and grills and benches and picnic tables that is right on Lake Huron. It is actually right where the Black River connects with Lake Huron. I was there each morning with my chair pulled right up on the beach watching the waves roll in. Sitting there with my coffee, watching the water was pure Heaven for me! I will be spending lots more time there I can gurantee you that much!
This pic is what it looked like when we first go there, you can see my husband mowing the lawn if you look close!


This is what it looked like when we got the yard done!
I will post some pics of the inside tomorrow. It is just a one room cottage, well there is a bathroom that is not in the same room, and the place is entirely plumbed with toilet and shower. Hot water too! Ah the wonders of having a father in law and a husband that are plumbers!

This last picture is the view that I had as I sat in my chair and drank my morning coffe. I have more pics of it when it but will share those later. Oh how I want to go back!

Aiden and Layla

And my dear sweet boy is still the funniest boy around. He can make his "grammy" laugh like no other. For some reason he has started calling me "grammy" all on his own. Not sure why, but I don't mind! It is kinda cute.
Isn't he just so cute with Layla! He is so proud of her! I love my grandkids!

The best thing.............

Is she not just the cutest little baby? Her name is Layla Leigh and she was born on August 3rd. She was 8lbs, 12ounces and 21 inches long. I now have a grandson and a grand daugther. Without a doubt her birth was the highlight of my summer. I have had the pleasure of keeping her overnight twice already and she is just a joy. This past weekend I had both her and Aiden. Aiden is IN LOVE with his cousin Layla. He just dotes on her. I am sure you can look forward to many more pics of both of them!

I need to get back!

Wow I am not entirely sure what I have done with my time, I know there has been alot, but I know I need to get back to writing here in this journal. It is an outlet that I need so I will be starting back tomorrow. I will try to catch you all up on what has been going on in my life!

Baby shower invitations.........

I am really tired of writing out baby shower invitations. I have done over 50 of them so far and I have lots more to do. When did there become so many people in my little girls life?? Well I shouldn't say that cuz alot of them are my friends. But with her dad's family and my family and Zac's family, there is alot with just family. So I am doing invites. Her shower is on Fathers Day. I am looking forward to it. I just don't like the games at showers. Can you have shower with no games? I think I am going to do that!
Training for the marathon is coming along nicely. Of course John is doing way more miles than I am already. I am having a team meeting at my house tomorrow night. We are going to be deciding on a group fundraiser and also a team name! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, we are having difficulities. Just remember we are running for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and our teams honored hero is named Brad. We are not all running, some of us are walkers and we are not all doing the Detroit Marathon so we can't put runner in the team name. So I am counting on you guys to help out with names!
Work is quite stressful lately. Lots of junk going on there. I think I have more drama at work then I do at home and that is saying alot, I have five children, one step child and one grandson with a grand daughter on the way. They create monumental amounts of drama so you can just imagine the amounts of drama at work.
My girlfriends daugther is in the labor and delivery right now. She is having twin girls. I keep waiting for a phone call, they induced labor at 7:30 this morning and she has not delivered yet. Natalie and Arianna you need to come out now! It is time to party outside the womb! Poor Lexi must just be miserable. I remember.....
Well I am off to do some more invites. Have a marvelous night

Wow

Where in the world have I been? I think I almost forgot about my journal. I do manage to read the journals I follow and I even manage to comment at times but for some reason I just don't seem to make the time to post. What is up with that? I am going to have to get much better at that!
Well the twins are done with thier freshman year of college and are home for the summer. They both have thier jobs at McDonalds back and are working full time already. They love them there. They have been working there for almost four years so they don't need to be trained, they just pick up where they left off. I sure did miss them while they were gone but my my my now that they have been home for a few weeks and they have learned to fight with each other again............hummmm is it August yet? You should all remind me of this post in September when I am crying because I miss them so much again!
I know you all know that I ran the Nike Women's marathon last Ocotber for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I got my girlfriend, Brenda, to run it with me. Well this year I have an extra special someone running the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October with me. One of my twins, John, is running it with me. He will be raising the money to run it also. We will be fundraising and training together. He will of course beat the pants off of me in the race but that's ok, we will be doing it together. I will put a link to my page on here when I get it all set up so you can all see the progress I am making in my running. John already runs alot. Over 40 miles a week. I on the other hand have not run since the last marathon in October! So it is start over time for me! I did three miles on Saturday and I did two today. Tomorrow is another two mile day. I also have a Zoomba class that i have to do tomorrow. I am going to be one sore little lady tomorrow!
Well we have the camper out. We went camping for a week and came home for a week and Mark just pulled it back on site today. We will be there until the first of June. I am looking forward to it. Some relaxing time is coming my way. Well after I finish my daily run I will relax.
My weight loss has been coming along slowly. I haven't gained any back but I have not been losing as quickly as I would like either. I am hoping that adding the running in will help. I need to get my butt back on track with tracking points and going to meetings so I am held accountable. I can tell as soon as I miss a meeting that I am not doing so well. It is amazing how those things keep you straight!
Well I need to shower and get to bed. Have a great one.

Chit chat girls

Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know about a new blog that has been started. I am older that most of these girls by 20 years but I have to tell you that the things they talk about are things that I still think about. It may be in a different content (like they are talking about thier children, but I am thinking about my grandchildren) but we all have the same goals in mind. And never forget that someday they will be in my shoes, we can't stop time. These girls have been more then welcoming to me and some of them I depend upon for support in many areas of my life (Bridgett, for weight loss support!) I have not been a reader of all of them but they are all on my list of "all the time readers " now. I hope you check them out, no matter what your age. We have all been there and no matter how much we wishe it wasn't true, we will all be where I am now at some time.
I didn't have the "support" of online freinds when I was raising my children, although it would of been such a huge help, so now I hope to help those that do have it!!
Oh yea just for a little FYI, I still love and WEAR Victoria's Secret's!!!
Here is the link to this new blog, I hope all of us "older" women can go over and give some advice!!!http://thechicchatgirls.blogspot.com/

Quiet

It is very quiet here at my house tonight. My husband is gone for the evening to a Union meeting. Plumbers union meetings do not sound so very exciting to me but they seem to love it! I am sure they wouldn't like my meetings about operating rooms either though. I am used to quiet around here but not quiet as in nothing! Mark is usually here sitting with me watching tv while I play on the computer. It is kinda relaxing. I didn't even have to make dinner tonight, just popped a smartone into the microwave and enjoyed!
I have a baby shower to attend this weekend. The lady that I work with, the one that is my right hand at work, is having twin grand daughters. The baby shower is this weekend. Her daugther must be getting big now. She is due in the beginning of June. I remember when I was that pregnant with John and Josh. Can we say "miserable" ??? LOL! I didn't think my stomach could stretch that far but it sure did. Amazing that it went back to it's orginal size afterwards. Having a baby is pretty miraculous stuff! Speaking of that...........my daugther is doing really good. She is 21 weeks now. Over half way there. I can't wait to meet my little Layla! I am sure to drive each and every one of you away by the time she is born. You all be sick of hearing about it! I will try not to do that!
We also have a benefit to go to on Sunday. I know I wrote about my girlfriend that we camp with in the summer, that had a stroke this past winter. That is who the benefit is for. She is doing good but she will never be the same again I am afraid. She is still in a wheelchair and has lots of motor skill problems. I am not sure if they will be able to come camping this summer or not. We would have to figure out a way of getting her in and out of the camper. The guys are all working on ideas for that. Maybe they will all have come up with something and will tell us when we are all at the benefit on sunday. That would be nice. I keep praying.
I have a dr. appointment tomorrow morning so I get to sleep in for a little bit but then I have to head straight into work after the appointment. I am hoping for a less hectic day tomorrow. We have had one hell of week. Just so many mistakes being made by the employees lately. To busy and going to fast but we are all so stressed to get things done and ready for the next patient. It's a viscious cycle.
Well I am going to get ready to watch Grey's. I just love that show. And then it is off to bed. I need my beauty sleep!!

Sunday

Sunday's are my favorite days. They always seem to be so relaxed. Not sure why I think that since Sundays are usually my cleaning days. Aiden has been here this weekend. I just love having him here. He is so funny. He is finally becoming a good eater. Getting Aiden to eat a full meal before was like pulling teeth. He likes to eat now. This morning I made him pancakes and bacon and he ate it all! 3 pancakes and 2 pieces of bacon. That was alot for him!
Mark and Aiden have been outside all morning. They are putting the dock and the pontoon in today. I am amazed that he is putting it in today. The ice just broke up and melted last weekend. That water has got to be freezing! He is wearing a wet suit but jeezzz. He always wants to be the first one on the lake to put everything in the water. And no Aiden is not in the water. He did come in a little while ago and tell me he wanted his bathing suit so he could go swimming in the lake. Um No Aiden that isn't going to happen for a few more months! He pouted and went back out with his coat and hat and gloves on! Not his bathing suit!
I had a great time over in Canada with my girlfriend. We went to see the Four Tops and the Temptations at the Windsor Casino. The Four Tops were really good but the Temptations were really bad. We left after they had done only four songs. Sometimes not having the orginals doens't work and this was one of those times. There is only 1 of the orginal Four tops but they sounded good. All of the men that replaced the ones that are deceased are realated to the ones who are gone. I am not sure about the Temptations though. We went out to eat for dinner before the show. We also went out to eat for breakfast before I left to come home. So now it is time to get back to eating good. Will have to weigh in on Tuesday and suffer the for the bad eating I did! I do know it is coming though so it won't be a shock to me.
Tomorrow is back to work. Have a great day!

Does anyone know?

Well I have been gone for a bit again. I have been doing some commenting here and there but haven't posted anything! I signed on today to make an entry and saw that it says I am not following any blogs. How in the world did that happen? Does anyone know how I can find the spot that shows what blogs I was following? It still shows my followers but it doesn't show the blogs I follow? I might have to reset all that huh?
Well things have been ok here. Robbie is doing really well. He goes back to the dr. on the 20th of April and I guess we will find out more about his condition when we do go. So far his blood pressure has been high every time we have taken it so I think he will need to be put on blood pressure meds. I was hoping that would not be the case.
I am leaving for Canada this afternoon. One of my girlfriends lives there and I am going over to spend the night there. We are going to the Windsor Casino to see the Temptations. It ought to be fun! A night out is always fun. I will be back tomorrow to spend the rest of the weekend with Aiden. I am looking forward to that also.
I am still going to weight watchers and still loving it. Not sure if I told you all or not but I did get my first 10 pound ribbon! I was so excited about that ribbon!
My daughter had her ultrasound on the 10th and she is having a little girl!! Woot Woot!! I am so excited. A grand daugther!! Her name is Layla Leigh. She is due on August 8th. Amanda and Zac are both very excited. They had both said they wanted a boy but as soon as they found out they were having a girl they went all "girly mushy!" LOL! Manda is already calling her a little princess. Hummmm...if she is anything like her mommy, she might not be the little princess type, more like a tomboy! I will love her no matter what!
Well I guess I better get myself to the gym and then get showered and packed for my overnight trip!!

Hello

I guess I have been gone from here for quite awhile. I didn't realize that it had been quite that long.
I did go to court that Friday but the deputy didn't show up so the case was dismissed. Like it never happened! I was quite sure the girl that hit me was not happy. It took over an hour to drive there and less that two minutes for me to be in the court house. We went on to Grand Valley (Josh's college in Grand Rapids) to watch him run in his last indoor track meet. He ran really well. He ran his personal best time! We headed back home after that. It was a nice day actually. Mark and I got to spend the entire day together and had lots of time alone in the car. Just the two of us. Amazingly I didn't fall asleep, which is what I usually do when I am a passenger in a the car!
Things have not been the best that they can be around here. My middle son Robbie was having some back pain before Christmas and I had taken him to have an MRI. They had found some cysts on his kidney by accident when they were doing the MRI (the MRI was actually being done to see if there was something wrong with his back and they found the while doing that) After lots of testing they have diagnoised him with Polycystic Kidney Disease. The disease is usually genetic and is very odd for someone to get it when no one else in the family has ever been diagnoised with it. We do not have it in our family. He also seems to have an awful lot of the cysts ( 8 in the right kidney and to many to count in the left) and he is extreamly young to have it. He also has high blood pressure, which is also an idication of kidney disease. There is no cure for this disease. As of right now he has full kidney function but the Dr.'s are not able to tell us when that could change, I gues it could happen at any time. They have told us that he will need a kidney transplant at some time in his life, just not sure when the kidneys will begin to suffer from the cysts taking over. As of right now he is not needing to be put on any lists and none of us need to be tested yet. Just the fact that he is so young to have the problems already. I am devastated over the news. Please keep Robbie in your prayers.
Well I need to get moving on cleaning this house up. I hope you all have a great day.

Hello

I have been having a very good week so far. I had to work on Monday and Tuesday and it was fairly busy. Lots of things going on there besides the business of the schedule but also with personal issues with employees. Life is complicated sometimes. I was off yesteday and today. My sister is in town from florida and we have been spending time together. It is always fun. My brothers and both my sisters and our families went out to eat last night. There were alot of us and I almost felt sorry for the waitress but she did an awesome job and we all had a great time. I will post a pic of all of us later. I haven't gotten them on my computer yet.
Tomorrow I go to court for the accident that I was in in January. I am very nervous about it. Not sure what to expect, I just know that it was not my fault and I need to fight the ticket. So we shall see what happens. Wish me luck.
I didn't lose weight at weigh in this week but I didn't gain either so I was happy with that. I had alot of extras that I should not of had the past week so......you get what you work for I guess! This week will be different. I have been staying within my points range!
I am hoping to be able to go to Kentucky next weekend to see Linda. My BFF that lives in Florida. Her husband is working in Kentucky and she is going to visit him. It is exactly in between our two houses so we are trying to figure it out. I can't wait!
I am going to keep my fingers crossed till I found out if we get to go or not!
Well the dryer stopped so I better go switch clothes around. Have a great day.

Sunday morning

Sunday mornings are always very quiet at my house. It is quieter than normal today since my husband is gone away for the weekend to a chili cookoff, so he isn't around the house at all. I can usually hear him doing things around the house but not today. Yesterday was a very quiet day as well. I got up around 8am and started cleaning up the house. There were 10 girls that ended up staying the night Friday night. The party was so much fun! We didn't get to ice skate since we had had so much warmer weather and rain, it made the ice on the lake all pitted and you can't ice skate on pitted ice unless you want to break a leg or something! The hot tub did get used a great deal though. And we danced and ate and laughed until our stomaches hurt!














This one is me and Joanne and my little baby Maggie.

















This one is me and some of the girls that I camp with. The one on the far left is my sister in law, Carol. She is beautiful isn't she?














This one is of my sister, Anne, my sister in law Teresa, my niece Mary, me and then on the floor is my sister Kathy!
We had a riot! I can't believe how much we all laughed. The drinks that I found in the More magazine that I made we awesome! They were all very "martini" type drinks. Apple, grape and blueberry. Now I just have to wait till August to have the "girls weekend" Last year that one was such a hit that everyone is coming again this year and they are all bringing friends with them. That one is a whole weekend thing. I have to take my vacation the week of that one so I have the whole weekend to recover. We have that one at the camper and everyone stays from Friday to Sunday. We plan out the meals and everything! So much fun. This year it is August 14, 15, and 16th. So make your plans to join us now!!
Time to get ready for church. Have a great day!

Weigh in..........

Tonight was weigh in at Weight Watchers and I was a happy camper again this week. I had a 2.4 pound loss this week. That is the largest amount I have lost in a single week so far. I was very happy with that. I want that 10% goal thingy, I think it is a key chain, not sure but I want it.
Tonight I am making the spaghetti pizza that Bridgett had posted on her blog. It is in the oven as I write and I have to say it looks mighty tasty.
I have been busy today getting ready for the party on Friday night. The house is getting clean and I have the food all purchased. It should be so much fun. Tonight after dinner I am just going to sit back and relax. I have been reading quite a bit lately. I am still hooked on Jodi's books. I have read The Pact, My sisters keeper and I am currently reading 19 minutes. I really like these books. I am also reading another book at the same time. It is a weight watchers book, stories from people who have already lost weight on the weight watchers program. I like that one too, it keeps me motivated!








I think it is getting close to dinner time. The timer should be going off on the oven at any time. I will let you all know how it was!

So apparently this is what happens when you have one day that warms up enough for neighbors to come out of hibernation!! It is so funny how every one comes out on a nice warm day. We all had to have a beer to celebrate the warmness. I, of course, had to have my new found favorite, MGD 64. Only 1 point! And it actually tastes good. Not as good as my "real" favorite, Bud Light in the bottle but that is 2 points so.........you know. It was good to see our neighbors even if it was only for a little bit. I know that spring is coming when this annual ritual takes place. It isn't always in our driveway as it was today but it does take place somewhere each year, on the first warm up day!
I also made it to the gym today. I really really didn't want to go today but I made myself. I had to work off that cookie, which by the way I did look up in the diners companion WW book. And the book does list Mrs. Fields and I found my treat. It was the peanut butter cookie cup and it was 11 points! 11??? Holy moses, good thing I don't use my 35 free points a week very often cuz I sure needed them for that! And that is where I logged it. In the free ones! Today I have been on track again. I even made a new recipe tonight. It was Chicken Cheese casserole and it was good. Here is the recipe:
2cups cooked macaroni (I used whole grain )
2 cups shredded chicken breast
2 cups condensed cream of chicken soup (I used fat free)
8 ounces low fat cheese ( I used the weight wathers package of mexican cheese)
2 cups fat free milk
Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients and put in casserole dish and cook covered for 35-45 minutes, uncover and put back in for 10-15 minutes.
Yummy
I am totally engrossed in the shows tonight. Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters. Not because I like all those shows but because I am listening to hear who the new cast of DANCING WITH THE STARS is going to be. I have heard the first 4 during Extreme makeover and am waiting to hear the ones announced during Desperate.
Lawrence Taylor (football)
Lil' Kim (singer)
Steve O (jack a** fame)
Nancy O'Dell (not sure)
I love Dancing with the stars!
Well I am off to see who else is going to be on it. I heard that Heidi Klum might be.

So we didn't go to the show

Well we didn't end up going to the show. After reading the reviews of the movie we decided that it would not be a good movie to take Aiden to. We couldn't find anything playing that was good at all. So we ended up taking him to "Build a Bear". Aiden had a wonderful time there. He made a labrador that he named "Tiger". He also got a Detroit Tigers outfit for Tiger to wear! We also stopped at "Mrs. Fields" to get a frosted cookie for Aiden. Well Mark wanted something, Jeremy wanted something and Aiden wanted something, what's a girl to do.............I got something too. I am sure my points for the month are gone on that one! Grrr. I am so impressionable, going along with the crowd. But Oh man was it good. I really haven't even looked in the book to see if Mrs. Fields is in there. I am afraid. I think I will just have to head to the gym and workout extra to get it off before weigh in on Tuesday night! LOL! We also went out to eat but I did good there. Chicken breast.
I am making another new recipe tonight. I will post the recipe and let you know how it was after we eat tonight.
I also really excited because tonight is the night that they reveal the new Dancing with the Stars cast for this year! That is my favorite show! I am really looking forward to seeing if the rumors are true about who will be in the new cast.
Well I am off to the gym to work off all those extra points, I hope. Have a great afternoon.

Good Morning! I am amazed that I am up. Well not really that I am up now at almost 9am but I have been up since 6am. I am on call this weekend at work and I got a call at 6am and could not go back to sleep. Figures. I am going to get a massage at 11:30 so that will be nice. I also have to get my butt to the gym today. I am thinking I should wait till later this afternoon or maybe I will go right after my massage. Work all the toxins out with a massage and then a workout. And then home to crash. No that won't happen. Aiden is here this weekend, he would never let me fall asleep that early. He is still sleeping right now. He went to sleep with is Dad last night but he must of woke up in the middle of the night and come into our room. When I woke up this morning he was between Mark and I. Mark had to work today so he was up and out shortly after I got up.
Mark and I are supposed to take Aiden to the show tonight. We wanted to take him to see that new 3D movie Coroline or something like that but I read i someones journal that you should not take children under 8 to it. I am not sure why, does anyone know why? I will have to check that out and maybe we will take him to see Hotel for Dogs. He just wants the candy and popcorn in the kids meal thing at the show anyways!!! LOL that was the first thing he asked about when we asked him if he wanted to go! Tomorrow I want to go see New in Town. Not with Aiden. I was supposed to go last weekend but didn't make it so now I want to go this weekend. My daugther is doing really well. She is now 13 weeks pregnant. She wants a boy, I want a girl! I told her to just have one of each and give me the girl!! LOL! She told me if it was twins she was going to really give me one! She has an ultrasound the beginning of next month and will find out then what the sex of the baby is. If it is a girl her name is going to be Layla Lindsay and if it is a boy his name will be Chase. They have not picked out a middle name for a boy yet. I like both names.
So what do you all think she is having?
Well I am off to start some laundry. Have a great day and I will tell you what we end of seeing today!

Yes I do love sangria. But I do save it for special nights now since it has so many points in it. It makes me enjoy it so much more though!
Today was busy at work and tomorrow threatens to be much more so. I will be very happy when the day is over though cuz it is Jeremy's weekend with Aiden and that means that I get to spend the weekend with my little man. He is so cute. Lately he has to tell me all the time that he wants a boy cousin, not a girl. He knows gramma wants a girl granddaugther. So he loves to tease me. He also loves all the snow that we have. We took him shopping and got him snow pants and boots and hat and gloves and themal underclothes so that we could play outside. He had gotten a sled for Christmas and wanted to go so bad. My house is on a hill and the hill goes straight down to the lake so it makes it perfect for sledding. He loves to do that. I am hoping it warms up some this weekend so we can go out. It has been below 0 here for the last few days and I can't take him out when it is that cold. So hopefully it will warm up a bit.
I have to go shopping for my girls night slumber party this weekend also. I am having a party on Feb. 13 that is for girls only. Pretty much it is for girls over 40! I have some really cool drinks that I found in More magazine. They have names like Over 40 babe and empty nest blues! We are also going to be having grilled chicken breasts with spinich salad. I love this salad. It is made with baby spinich, browned almonds, strawberries, red onions and you can add the chicken breast to the salad or have it on the side. We are also having choclote covered strawberries and some other tasty desserts. I hate how little I get to spend time with my girlfriends so I am really looking forward to this night. Both of my sisters are going to be there also which is super duper cool since one of them lives in florida but is coming home for a week and it just happens to fall at the same time.
I am also very excited about my niece Jennifer. She has been stationed in Iraq for the last 15 months and she is coming home sometime aound Feb. 11th! I am so looking forward to seeing her. This is her 3rd tour, and her final one since she will be leaving the Army behind in March. Well not really leaving it behind, she just won't be active anymore but her husband will be in for life. I am not sure when he is coming home yet. He is still deployed and I am not sure for how long.
Well I guess I better get dinner going. We are having leftovers tonight. Either the soup or the meatloaf (which were both awesome) or maybe a little of both. Who knows, depends on what I feel like when I get in there. I am sure Mark will have both though!!

Hello!!

Sometimes life truly gets crazy doesn't it? Well for me it has been anyways. One of the supervisors at my work left. Guess who had to take over? Yes me. Now I don't mind but it is a bit challengeing for me since I have never been a supervisor to a group of people before. My title was a supervisor but I dealt with vendors who not actually my employees. Well now I am. I am much busier now during the day than I was used to but I have to say that I like it.
I have also made some big changes in my personal life. I know that you all know that I joined weight watchers in November. Maybe it was a bad time to join but it didn't seem to be working for me very well. I was losing some weight but then I would pig out and gain it back and it seemed as if I wasn't doing so well. I realized shortly after Christmas that i was going to totally have to change the way I was doing things. I needed to make some changes to get some changes! I really started watching what I was eating and writing down everything I was eating, journaling, like I was supposed to do but hadn't been doing. I also really started making healthy meals that the whole family would like. I didn't tell them that I got the recipes from Weight watchers cuz they always moan like it is something that is going to kill them! LOL! I just let them eat what they want and I keep my portion size to what it is supposed to be. Another huge change is I started packing my lunch. I think that was the biggest change and the best thing I could have done. I ate in the cafeteria at work and I never ate good then. The actually have great food, not good for someone trying to lose weight, but great junk food! Make your own pasta, huge burgers and fries and onion rings. In the last month I have actually learned to make things that I like for lunch and am enjoying the food that I am eating. Lots of times I take the leftovers from dinner since I liked dinner so much! I am truly amazed how good the food can be when you are watching what you eat. So much of it for me is portion control. The good news is I am really starting to think this is all becoming habit and that is a good thing. Since the first week of January I have lost 12 pounds! Yippie! And I am starting to feel better. I have made it to the gym at least 3 times a week and I am hoping to bump that up to 4 and 5 times a week. For right now I am happy with the changes I am making and keeping them consistent.
I will share a few recipes with you, they are a few of my favorites that I have made lately
Mexican Meatloaf
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound lean ground turkey breast
2 large egg whites
2oz cornbread stuffing dry mix (about 1 cup)
1 medium chopped onion
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
4oz canned green chili peppers, diced
8 oz can enchilida sauce
Preheat oven to 375. Mix everything together, minus half the enchilada sauce. Cook for about one hour. Spread remaining enchilada sauce on top. (1 slice is 3 points)
Yummy!! I had to double the recipe for the boys and they loved it!

Another one that I love to use for lunches is.
Southwestern Bean soup
48 oz jar of Great Northern Beans undrained
28 oz can diced tomatoes
2 cans mexican style corn undrained
2 cups water
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
1 pkg hidden valley ranch Party dip
Mix together bring to boil then simmer for one hour ( 1 cup is 1 point)

I love this soup! On days when I am really hungry I can eat a cup of this for just one point and feel full! And it tastes great.

I am also attending my WW meetings each week faithfully. I think that has helped alot. This week I am "chef of the week" so I have to try some new recipes and share them with the group next week! So I am looking to make some good things this week!

I am hoping I will be able to post at least a small post each day again. I feel like I have control again which is always a good thing!

So there was even more snow that fell overnight last night. The ride to work was not to bad but it was scary for me still. Someday I will be used to it again but for now it is still scary. Maybe when the roads are dry again and maybe a little bit of light when I drive in, that might be nice. But until then I will just get through it!

My boss has Sirus(?) radio on his computer here at work and he has on a station that is called 70's on 7. I am loving it. The songs are taking me back to jr. high and high school. I think I need to get this Sirus radio just so I can have that station!

I am going to the new gym tonight right after work. I am looking forward to it. Tomorrow is weigh in so hopefully I will work off a few ounces! LOL I don't care if it is only an ounce lost, at least it will be a loss! Tomorrow after weigh in I am meeting one of my friends at the gym to work out with her there. I think I am going to like having someone with me there a few times a week. Can't talk myself out of going when I have someone waiting there for me.

I was really tried last night, I didn't get anything out for dinner so I am going to have to do some quick thinking to make something that is good for me and something the rest of them will like. Maybe I will just have a Smart ones meal and make Mark and Kristen something else. Not sure yet. As long as I can figure out the points I will be happy.

Well back to work.

I am back

Hello! Yes I have been absent for a little over a week now, I needed a little break I guess. Life has been a little crazy and has thrown a few curve balls my way in the past few weeks but I am feeling much better now.
I know that my last post was in regards to the accident that I was in on wednesday of last week. Unfortunatly the very next day I was involved in another accident while I was taking my son back to school. No one was hurt but it was enough to put me over the edge. Mentally I had had it. I needed a little break from everything for a bit. I am doing much better now and am ready to get back to normal life. Driving still scares me a great deal but I am driving. I even drove in the snow that we had yesterday. I didn't want to but I was out getting my hair done with my stepdaugther and we were at the salon for 3 hours so it has snowed pretty good while we were there. I just took it slow and I was fine. I just wish the snow and ice would stop for the year but I know we still have a long way to go with this winter so I am going to just have to deal with it.
John and Josh are both back to school now. I miss them alot. It was nice having them home for Christmas break.
I am doing well with weight watchers. I will weigh in again this Tuesday night. I am not giving up on this even if I don't see losses each week I need to hang in there cuz it will happen if I just keep at it.
I haven't been to the gym much since the accident. I had a concussion and was extreamly sore for a few days after. The headaches are gone now so I am ready to go back. I did make a change in gyms yesterday though. I belonged to the YMCA, acutally the whole family did. I paid monthly dues for the whole family to go and although it is a beautiful place with great equipment, it was not econmical for me to continue to go there. They opened a new gym right down the street from me (the Y is about 15 minutes from me) and they had their grand opening party yesterday. I went to it and have decided to join there. It will save me over $40 a month to go. I was the only one using the Y, none of the kids or Mark used it. The twins used to but now that they are gone to school they haven't. I am going to cancel the Y tomorrow and start going to the new place. I think I am going to be happy with the move.
We are meeting some friends this morning for coffee so I better get off here and get ready to go. Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Black ice

Today was not a good day for me. I woke up early knowing we were getting freezing rain and snow. The news last night wasn't good, lots of freeways shut down and bad accidents everywhere. I turned on the news this a.m. and heard that things were not quite as bad as they had been the night before but still bad. So I left early.
I was about half way to work (it is all freeway to work so I was on the freeway, two lanes) when I saw an accident happening in front of me. There were about three cars between me and the accident and the cars in front of me put on thier brakes. I started to put on mine. BLACK ICE. My truck (thank the Lord I have a huge F250 diesel) spun to the right ( I was in the left lane) I hit the car beside me in the right lane, the truck spun to the left at that point and I hit the wall that devides the two sides of the freeway. I don't remember much after I hit the wall, but I know that spun around and went back towards the right lane and off the freeway into a field.
I remember that the truck was still moving and I realized I was on grass at this point and made myslef put on the brakes. The truck stopped. I saw lots of cars ahead of me in the ditches and one that was sideways on the freeway. I must of hit the same ice that made the orginal accident happen.
I called my husband I know I was a raving lunitic at that point. I couldn't open the drivers side door it was stuck, smashed. I freaked thinking I wasn't going to be able to get out. Thank goodness Mark was able to calm me down and told me he was on his way. I called 911. Police came. I craweled over the console and got out the passenger side door to talk to the police officer and proceded to throw up on his shoes. Nice.
The accident was a 8 car accident. I was the 7th and the lady that I hit to my right was the 8th. I saw the damage to the cars in front and I am not sure if the people in the first two cars are ok. It didn't look like it.
My truck is a mess. It has damage on all four sides but it is a truck, it is replaceable or repairable. I am sore sore sore but Thank you LORD I am alive.
The dr. says I have a mild concussion and that tomorrow will probably be worse than today as far as soreness goes but I am here.
I can't sleep tonight. I keep thinking about it and it seems like such a silly thing to keep thinking about since I am basically not hurt, just sore and banged up, but it was scary. And I am wondering about the others that were in the accident. I was taken off the road quickly and didn't really get to see the others.
I know that by the time I got home the road was still closed 3 hours later. Not a good sign. Please keep those in the accident in your prayers. And please drive safely in the morning.

It wasn't horrible but it wasn't wonderful

Well I went to weigh in. I gained .8, I am ok with that. I thought it would be more. I would of loved a loss but I know what I ate this past week and it didn't warrent a loss. I did make it to the gym tonight though. I went on Sunday also. I am hoping to make it there at least 4 times a week. That is my goal.
They have this basket on the front desk at the gym that is filled with little pieces of paper. Each piece has quote on it. So each day that I go to the gym I will post the quote that I got.
Sunday's was "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"
Today's is "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
If you don't see a quote for more than a few days, call me on it and ask me where it is!!
I am watching the season primere of "the biggest loser" it is really good this season. I am going to go watch it and get inspired.

GRRR

I went to weigh it and they were closed, no power. I was not a happy camper,well ok maybe I was. Dinner tonight (the Fiesta chicken) was excellent. I also made the spanish rice that weight watchers makes, I buy it at the place that I go to meetings at. My son, John, one of the twins, was like "oh man why do we have to have ww food" when he was looking at the box. I didn't tell him that the recipe for the chicken was a ww recipe either! While we were eating he says "the rice is alot better than i thought it was going to be" I said "um hummm" LOL
I guess I will have to run to the meeting after work tomorrow night.

Weigh in tonight

Tonight is weigh in for me at weight watchers. Last week I had lost another 2 pounds. This week I am not so sure how it is going to go. I had two parties this week that I ate a little bit to much at so I will be happy if I just maintained and didn't gain. Although a gain is what I may see. But.....I have already picked myself back up and am back on program. I made a new recipe last week that we all really loved. It was called mexican meatloaf and it was really yummy and only 3 points per serving. Tonight we are having a new item also. It is called Fiesta chicken. I am looking forward to it also. I get stuck in rut at times and just eat the same meals over and over since I know I lose when I eat those things but I need to find lots of new things that I like if I want to make this a life long deal.
Going back to work wasn't so much fun today but I knew it was coming so I prepared my mind for it. Tomorrow should be better. I will be used to getting up early again. Yuck.
My son, Robbie, is leaving for Florida tomorrow. His aunt lives there and he is going to visit. I got him the ticket for Christmas. It is 80 there today and I am soooooo jealous, I think I should of bought the ticket for myself. I am tired of the cold and it is only January. The snow and cold started way to early for us this year. Our lake does not usually freeze until this time. It has been frozen for over a month already.
Mark bought me a little fire pit for Christmas that can be put next to the hot tub so I can have a fire while I am in the hot tub. It has been to windy for me to use it but I got to use it for the first time last night. It was awesome! The smell of the fire made me feel like it was summer and I was at my camper! I can't wait till tonight so I can do it again!
Well I am off to go weigh. I will let you know how I did.

I guess that plans that are made but don't happen can end up being a really good thing! I got to spend New Years Eve ringing in the New Year with my favorite boy, Aiden! Mark and I were able to pick him up and take him over to my BIL's and he spent the night with us. Yes he stayed up until midnight and he had a pot and wooden spoon to bang the pan with and ring the New Year in correctly! I loved it.
Today I cleaned our office out, and there was lots of paper that was thrown out today! I am very happy with the results though. Maybe I can get something done now!
I also went to the mall today and got my new pages for my franklin planner. I guess I just let that slip my mind, that I needed new 2009 pages. I have them now and I put them in my planner. Kristen (my stepdaugther) went shopping with me and got new jeans and a new purse with her Christmas money. She was very happy.
A very odd, funny thing happened tonight though. Kristen had asked if she could go to a hockey game with her friend, Ashley. Ashely's mom is very good friends with Kristens mom so I didn't think it would be an issue so I said yes. Come to find out when Kristen was picked up, it was Ashley's dad's weekend so it was Ashley's dad that came to pick her up. Not that I was worried about that, my husband has met Ashley's dad and he was fine with all of it. I did ask my husband if Ashley's step mom was in the car because Kristen had told me that Ashley did not like her step mom so I thought it might be an uncomfortable night for them if she was there but Mark said there wasn't anyone else in the car. So all was well. About a half an hour later I got a text from Kristen that said "do you know Joanne (she gave a last name but I am not going to put it in here)" I immediatly called Kristen cuz Joanne has been a friend of my familys since I was born. Joanne's mom and my mom were best friends, we grew up togthere next door to each other but it has been years since we lost touch. Since my mom died ten years ago to be exact. I knew Kristen must of met Joanne somewhere so I asked her "where did you see Joanne at and how is she and yack yack yack!!!!" Kristen told me that Joanne is Ashleys step mom. OMG! LOL! So now this is going to be so much drama. Kristen's mom and Ashley's mom are really good friends and Ashley does not like her step mom and I am Kristens step mom so I am already not the best of friends with Kristen's mom and Ashleys mom so I bet the fact that Joanne and her husband are coming over for dinner this week is not going to go over well!!! Oh well what can I say? LOL, life is so much fun.
I have so much else to tell you all but I need to get to bed. I am just happy to have the extra time to be able to blog and read entries and catch up. Tomorrow I will write more!