Arboretum Adventure

Our playgroup ventured to the Dallas Arboretum today. We had a great time smelling the flowers and eating our picnic lunch. As a bonus it was also Mommy and Me Monday so there were extra activities for the kids like coloring and a little petting zoo area.

We even got a miracle shot of all of our kids...or at least I though it was all of them until I looked closer at the picture and realized that Elaine's kids were missing? Anyway, I was really busy snapping pictures and praying that James would not end up in the water before I could stop him.
Oh and here is a picture of our playgroup just a couple of years ago. I am going to say it one more time....WHO had all of these kids!?!?!?

See why I was worried. Look how close to the fish he wanted to get!

Oh and thanks Tracy for taking such a great picture of us! I think my camera likes you better. Guess I better sign up for that photography class at the store where David bought it!

Composting

It is feeling a lot like Spring here in our part of Texas, at least for today. It has been in the upper 80s around here and will be nice for the first part of the week but then on Thursday we are expecting our highs to be back down in the 40s. ugh.

Anyway, with spring comes my attempts at teaching my kids new lessons. One of those lessons has been gardening. This year, I not only doubled the size of my garden plot but we have also purchased a composting bin and started composting.

So far adding to the compost bin has been a lot of fun! Kirstyn and her friend that she had over had a blast picking up leaves and sticks from all over the yard to help me build the base for the compost. Then they used their little shovels and put in some of the turf we had pulled out of my new section of garden. Just since noon today I have collected probably 8 cups of scraps from the kitchen that would have otherwise been put in the trash or put into the garbage disposal. Did you know that you can compost everything from tea bags to strawberry tops to potatoes to shredded paper. I am so excited to teach my family to be just a little bit 'greener'!

I have gotten some really great information from blogs like this one. Oh and did you know that compost is not supposed to smell? I didn't realize that until I started doing some research. Actually, right now my whole backyard smells like coffee! Did you know that in an effort to be more friendly to the environment, Starbucks will give you their used coffee grounds for use in your compost pile. David went by today and picked up a whole bucket full!

So, what "new" project do you have on the brain for this spring?

Fat Fighting Friday - W6

Conversation starters:

I really like your shirt... or

Wow, you have really pretty skin... or

Where did you get that cute purse... or

Are those shoes as comfortable as they are cute... or

ANYTHING OTHER THAN... When is your baby due?

Let me make something clear. I am not now, nor do I plan to ever be again... pregnant!

Seriously, I have had it with people asking me when my baby is due. Yes, I have lost a lot of weight and yes, apparently the stomach is that last place that I am going to lose it.... but there is a difference between a pregnant belly and my ugly muffin top!

So, now I know you are wondering what I said back today. Today, I smiled and said, "Guess we all could stand to lose a few pounds." She took it well and said, "girl, I know I could stand to drop 25 lbs." I just smiled and left the shoe repair store with the purse I was picking up for my MIL.

Thirty minutes later, my MIL and I walked into a dress store and the girl behind the counter said, "Are you losing weight?" She is the one that sold me my LBD back in December. Anyway, she made me feel really good. And then I tried on some summer dresses in size MEDIUM and they fit! I didn't buy one yet because we ran out of time and I couldn't decide on my favorite...but I will go back and buy me a cute little number in a MEDIUM!

Oh yeah, and I was down 1.6 today at WW. So, as far as my 20 lbs in 20 weeks quest goes, I am down just 1.8. This last 20 is fighting to stay on my body...but it will not win. We have been together since the early 80s, but I am done with my body's relationship with this old fat!

My Favorites

My pal, Auds, over at Barking Mad is hosting a contest with a prize of $250 Target Gift Card so I just had to enter. (Auds, I tried to add the button but it wouldn't work...)

How do you get in on this action and lower my chances of winning?

All you have to do is put together a post that showcases your favorite 5 to 10 posts from your blog archives. Easy enough...

I guess I better get busy and share my favorite blog posts!

*************************

When I started blogging it was just to be able to share pictures of Kirstyn without having to send them in emails to people that may or may not care to even look at them. My posts didn't even have titles back then, just pictures with captions, but in order to link to them I have to add titles so your reader may be a little annoyed with me.

Then, my friend Elaine started sending emails trying to increase her blog readership. Something I didn't understand yet because I had no idea there was a way to "meet" the blogging community short of pushing the 'next blog' button in blogger and eventually landing on some scary sites and giving up. Then, as I started reading her blog and following some of the links on her sidebar, I started making some fabulous friends and I participated in my first meme and Blog Carnival.

Then, I came across a blog where someone was being successful on Weight Watchers and using her blog for accountability. Amanda's blog made me believe that I really could lose weight and be successful! So, I started sharing weekly about my progress. I posted before and after pictures when I lost 50 pounds and then when I lost 20 more pounds on my 20 lbs in 20 weeks mission I posted pictures again! I have also shared personal victories like running my first 5K! I am currently on a new mission to lose my last 20 and am posting about that on Fridays.

I still use my blog to post pictures of my kids James and Kirstyn along with funny stories that come up in our day to day life. Occasionally, I share about my husband David. He is my best friend and the love of my life. He works very hard to take care of our family and make sure that I can be a stay at home mom.

Okay, IF you are still here...thanks for reading and going back through some of my favorite posts! And now you know.... all of those events and people make up what is Normal to Natalie!

*************************

Here are the links to my friends that I didn't know if I could put in my contest entry post: my in real life blogging friend Elaine, fabulous blog friend Kami (I redesigned her site by the way!), and weight loss inspiration Amanda.

So, tell me, how would you spend $250 at Target if you win? I plan to buy myself some smaller clothes!

They ARE Real

Saturday night as I walked out of the house wearing a cute black dress and high heeled boots I actually said, "Off to meet my Internet friends." Then I added, "I plan to return alive!"

See, I was attending a DFW Blogger Meet Up Dinner! Texan Mama and I figured out a few weeks ago that we work out at the same gym so we coordinated and rode to the dinner together.

About 10 minutes into our drive over, David called me and informed me that I had actually left my camera battery on the charger! What?!?!? Here I am attending a blogger dinner with my camera in my purse but it won't take pictures without the battery! Agh. There are several pictures that prove I was there!

Anyway, I had a blast meeting these bloggers in real life! I laughed about the fact that some of them did not sound like I expected. You know, like when you have read a book and then go to see the movie and the character doesn't have the same accent that you had given them in your brain.

I also have to say that dinner was fabulous. I was already being brave and eating dinner with almost 30 people that I had just met so I went ahead and ordered something that I had never eaten! I ordered an Ahi Tuna Burger because I had seen several people on the food network rave about such a thing. Well, add me to the list of people that love these!

Christina asked me as we were reading through the 150 menu items if I was mentally figuring out how many points each item had. I said yes but what I have learned from doing Weight Watchers for so long is that I have no business ordering anything that is fried or covered in cheese or doused with a cream sauce. Those items would use all of my points for the day, all of my extra points for the week and probably then some.

It was really a great night and I am so glad that I went. I can't wait until we do this again! I am adding everyone to my reader so that I will know you even better the next time we meet!

Oh and one more thing...Kami, the next time we do a blogger dinner you have to at least sit at my table!

Fat Fighting Friday - W5

I am officially aggravated! Today I lost NOTHING. Of course, I gained NOTHING which is good but still I am mad because I wanted needed to see a loss. My body apparently likes this weight that I am at....however, I do not.

Actually I do, I do like being the smallest I have ever been as an adult. I don't however like my muffin top that exists even when nekked! I also don't like that AGAIN this weekend I was asked when my baby was due! I said, May 2007! It took the lady a minute before she started apologizing... but I felt a little better.

Oh and remember back when I got so excited that I found my ribs? Well, now guess what!?!?! I have chest muscles that I can even flex. And yes, I can see them because they are up where my boobs are supposed to be! (Can I get an Amen from the mothers that nursed their babies!)

Well, now I am off to the gym to convince my body that it will not win this battle to hang on to this unnecessary fat!

Wheeee .. Wheeee .. Wheeee

We have been enjoying the pretty weather around here.

Kirstyn has been being very good about letting James play with her, especially when they are playing outside.

James loves to swing with her. He screams "wheeeeee" over and over! I love it!

Tomorrow we are going to pick out what seeds we will be starting inside to plant in our garden next month. For sure there will be okra and tomatoes. What else should we plant?

Now, feel free to go visit more Wordless Wednesday and Wordful Wednesday!

Eating With Sticks

Our friends Danette and Wes were brave last night and invited us into their home for dinner.

Or maybe we were the brave ones because we went with open minds and hungry stomachs ready to try some foods unique to Taiwan where they lived as missionaries for many years.

No, they were the brave ones because they don't HAVE to dine with toddlers, but chose to anyway!


Danette also works in our office for MiMi and she has been teaching Kirstyn how to write her numbers in Chinese and has been telling her stories about life in the east. One of the facts that Kirstyn was fascinated by was the fact that over there, "they eat with sticks... not forks or spoons, just sticks." So, several weeks ago, Danette promised Kirstyn a lesson in eating with sticks and Kirstyn couldn't wait!

(We haven't even ever taken Kirstyn to a Chinese restaurant because of her egg allergy...too many of the dishes contain egg so this was a first for her!)


Danette introduced the chopsticks lesson with a Cheerios appetizer. I was impressed by that idea and she shared that is actually the way she learned too. I guess it is always smart to introduce a new concept along with something familiar.





The Cheerios did not stand a chance against James. He just needed one chopstick because he treated it like a spear.

Kirstyn on the other hand, concentrated very hard at learning this new concept. And when it came time for dinner, Kirstyn tried everything and she ate her entire dinner with the chopsticks.




I also learned that I do like tofu the way Danette fixed it. I had almost decided that was a food I might never learn to like, but I am glad to say that I was wrong. Danette said she will write down some of the recipes we tried for me and I will share with you soon!


So thank you Danette and Wes for having us into your home and for teaching us how to "eat with sticks, not forks or spoons, just sticks." We had a great time!

Fat Fighting Friday - W4

Yeah, today I posted a loss! It was only 0.4, but it was a loss and I lost last week so I am on a roll that I plan to continue!

This week was a good week for my self esteem. This past Sunday on my way into church this happened:

Man Greeter (MG): Glad you are here.
Woman Greeter (WG): You look great.
Me: Thank you.

And I walked into the door and started helping Kirstyn pick out which children's bulletin that she wanted to color. That is when I overheard the following:

MG: Who was that?
WG: Natalie D.
MG: That wasn't David D.'s wife.
WG: Oh, yes it was, just a lot less of her.
MG: Are you sure?
WG: I'm going to ask her what she is doing...

WG (inside the foyer now): How have you lost so much weight?
Me: The old fashioned way...healthy eating and lots of exercise.
WG: You look amazing!
Me: Thank you.
Kirstyn: See mommy, I TOLD you that you looked pretty today. (She always has to have the last word...)

Thanks in advance for your kind words that mean so much to me!

Just One Word

This morning Kirstyn and I had a conversation that went like this:

K: Mommy, did you know that cafeterias can make you sick.

Me: Um, where did you learn that?

K: From Suzie Science.

Me: Really?

K: Yeah, Cafeterias can be really dangerous and can make you sick.

Me: What else did Suzie Science teach you about cafeterias?

K: They are really really tiny and you can see them looking in a microscope.

Me: Oh, do you mean BACTERIA?

K: Yes. That's it.

Me: Sounds like you have learned lots from Suzie Science!


Too funny...

What words have your kids mixed up?

Silly Sock Day

Check out Miss Kirstyn. Last week they had a Silly Sock Day at school.


Kirstyn loves to do everything over the top so she wanted to wear my socks that I keep on reserve for Vacation Bible School. I have owned them since college when I worked in a Day Care and I purchased them at a garage sale for like 10 cents so I have definitely gotten my money's worth now!

Oh and check out her bow selection. That was all her. She is too funny. And I think she looked super cute!


So, do you own any Silly Socks?


Off to visit more Wordless Wednesday and Wordful Wednesday!

Summer Planning Already?

Seriously, I know that there are already flowers blooming in my yard....





And I don't intend to talk about the weeds that are thriving...

But, is it already time to plan our summer?

The answer my friends is, YES. Summer planning is in full force.

At church they are starting the recruiting process for Vacation Bible School.

We have already renewed our Six Flags Season Passes (Kami, this year they gave us free passes for friends... just a thought for when you plan your summer!)

We already have our week scheduled at the beach and my mom and dad will be there along with my sister, brother in law, and their two boys!

Yesterday, David stood in line for over 30 minutes to register Kirstyn for a fabulous nature school that she attends every summer.

So, the answer is, yes, my friends.... time to plan summer!

And then, (holding back tears) in the fall (*gulp*)...

Kirstyn starts Kindergarten

and James will go to pre-school!

What are your summer plans?

Movie Time Monday

We had a great Valentine's Weekend!

Saturday we had a quiet day at home. Just the way we like it. I will tell you more about our Valentines traditions later, but for now I want to tell you about the movies we saw this weekend.

For our Valentines date in we watched Fireproof together. What a great movie. Cheesy acting, but really great movie. I am so glad that we watched this movie together. It is a great reminder of the need to be more deliberate in our relationships. Something we have already been working on this year but have now been even more challenged...dared...to love each other with purpose. If you have not seen this movie yet, I recommend it!

Then on Sunday we got to have our date night out. We are in a babysitting co-op with our neighbors that have two kids very close in age to our two. Parker and Peyton are great kids and they get along with our two very well. It is actually easier to watch the four of them than it is to just watch my two. We usually keep them from about 4 in the afternoon until 8. It is just enough time for the kids to play, eat dinner, and then watch a movie while their parents have enough time to see a movie and go to dinner or just get takeout and rent a movie and stay in for the evening. It is a great setup for all of us. That is a picture from the last time we watched them. Tomorrow P & P will be at our house while their parents get their night out.

For our night out, we decided to enjoy the traditional movie and dinner date. The movie we chose to see was Taken on the recommendation of my friend Kim. I expected it to be somewhat predictable but it was more of an on the edge of your seat kind of movie. The best part is that it is rated PG13 so it kept me on the edge of my seat without screaming too many words at me that I would rather not hear! I would recommend this movie too!

Now, I also have to say that after seeing the preview for 12 Rounds at the theater tonight, I am looking forward to its release this spring. Maybe we will be able to work out our babysitting co-op so that we can go see it too.

So, tell me, have you seen any good (non-animated) movies lately? Is there something we should take the time to go see or to rent?

Late Fat Fighting Friday - W3 and Happy V-Day!

Okay, so I know I am running about 24 hours late with this post but I have a good excuse. Promise.

Yesterday after my workout David called and said he wanted me to hurry up and shower and bring the kids over to the office. Just after lunch when we arrived, Kirstyn and I found out we had an appointment at the salon to get manicures and pedicures...an early valentines surprise. He had the playpen set up in the playroom at the office so that James could take his nap while we were off being pampered.

Anyway, if you are following me on twitter, you already know that I lost 1.8 yesterday! Finally, I get to report a loss!

Happy Valentines Day to you! And look... the kids picked some of my flowers from the yard just for you!

P.S. Don't forget... I love comments ALMOST as much as I love chocolate and the comments are calorie free!

Without Your Love

What if my heart had walked right past you?
What if my eyes had never asked you?
To come and take the chains that kept me weighted down
If you never saved me, oh, I know I'd still be

Walking in sinking sand
Flying with no place to land
Oh, I'd be lost searching for you

Heaven would be out of reach
My soul left incomplete
That's where I'd be without your love

You're the reason that I feel so safe
The way you hold me, holds my heart in place
I'm just thankful to be where I am right now
Without your arm around me, I'd be where you found me

Walking in sinking sand
Flying with no place to land
Oh, I'd be lost searching for you

Heaven would be out of reach
My soul left incomplete
That's where I'd be without your love

Oh, I would be walking in sinking sand
Flying with no place to land
Oh, I'd be lost searching for you

Heaven would be out of reach
My soul left incomplete
That's where I'd be without your love
That's where I'd be without your love

Those are the lyrics to "Without Your Love" by SheDaisy....OUR SONG.
Those are the lyrics that played during our wedding and were true the day I fell in love with David, they were true the day we got married, they are even more true today...

Thank you Babe for loving me, for making me better, for saving me from myself... I love you.

So tell me, do you and your love have a song?

Where in the World is Vitznau?

Okay, so I promised to share the story of how David proposed. I decided to take pictures of the scrapbook that I made while we were dating. I so wish I had a 12X12 scanner. Oh well...

Remember how I mentioned that David gave me a promise ring in December 1999. Well, one of the reasons he did that was because he was leaving in January to do a study abroad program through college for a semester. I was not thrilled to say the least but the ring made me a little happier. Anyway, he lived in Pau, France and traveled all over Europe for a semester and I made some really good grades that semester because he wasn't here distracting me!

For Spring Break I was able to fly to Paris and meet him there and travel with him and many of his friends all over Switzerland and France. I am so glad I did now because how many of my friends can say that they got engaged on Lake Luzern in Switzerland! How romantic.






We were on the boat tour on the lake and we got off in Vitznau to go on a walk and check out some of the shops. We were walking in a gorgeous garden behind a 5 star hotel when David asked his friend Marcus to go down to the next bridge and take a few pictures of us. Marcus took one of us standing together and then David yelled down to him to wait and take one more. Then, David got down on one knee! I don't even remember what all he said because I was immediately crying and saying YES!

I keep telling him that one of these days he will have to take me back to that 5 star hotel to stay because I don't plan to go back to Europe and stay in hostels again!

So, there you have it. I got engaged in Vitznau, Switzerland during Spring Break.

So tell me, when and where did your man propose?

With this ring...

When David and I were newly weds it seemed like there was always someone wanting to look at our rings. When they would look at mine and notice the icthus, I would comment that David's matched mine and then they would look at his. Then, it seemed we were always telling the story of why we chose these rings. We have been married for 8 years now and I don't think I have told this story since Kirstyn was born and kids became more of the focal point when around friends. So today is your lucky day...


Now, I know you have seen this icthus before, probably on the back of some one's car. When I left home for college, I had been given one for my car but had not put it on my car because my driving didn't scream "Christ Like" all of the time. Well, when I moved into my very first apartment I had lots of plain white walls and no decorations. I was saving up to buy a couch so that my guests could have somewhere to sit other than on my bean bag.

One weekend when I was in Arkansas visiting my parents I showed my dad the icthus and we were talking about the meanings of each of the letters inside of the fish. I made the comment that it would be cool to have a big one of these to hang in my apartment and my dad said he would make me one. He drew it out on butcher paper and then onto a piece of sheet metal that he had in the garage and then proceeded to cut it out with a cutting torch. Pretty cool, huh. You can't tell in the picture but it is about 4 feet across...very dramatic. I have painted it a few times but I still love it and it hangs in our master bedroom.


Anyway, when David and I started dating the huge icthus on the wall was one of the first things he noticed inside my apartment. He was one of the first people that actually knew what each of the letters meant and was impressed that I knew too.


Fast forward to David doing some ring shopping (we had been dating two years) and he walked into a jewelry store and happened to notice my wedding band with the two fish in the clearance case! He went ahead and bought it even before he had an engagement ring because he knew that I would love it. He was so right.


Now I know that you are wondering why I wear the channel ring on the outside of my wedding ring and engagement ring. The channel ring was actually my promise ring that David gave to me for my 21st Birthday (12/25). He later proposed on March 12, 2000. When he proposed he also showed me the wedding ring he had purchased for me. I took it and had his wedding ring custom made to match mine. He promised me a second channel ring for the set for our 10th anniversary.


So, what do you think?



Now are you wondering what the letters all mean?


The Greek word for fish is "ixthus" or "icthus." Five Greek letters form the word “ixthus,” and those letters inside the fish form an acrostic which is a message that Christians clearly identified with. The first letter represented the word Jesus. The second letter represented the word Christ, the next two, God Son, and the final letter represented the word Savior. This adds up to “Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the Savior.”


During the early days of Christianity, Christians were often put to death for practicing their faith, so they worshiped in secret places. A fish painted on the outside door of a house let other Christians know that they would be safe and welcome inside.


Come back tomorrow to hear about where and how David proposed!



Oh and if you know me in real life, please don't ask right now too look at my rings. My wedding set is a size 10 and yesterday I tried on my MIL's size 4.5 ring and it fit. Needless to say, apparently losing 70 lbs has a dramatic effect on ring size. I want to get them sized down to fit me again but I am waiting until I get to my goal weight. That will be my non-food reward...so don't forget to stop by on Fridays and cheer me on to losing this last 20 lbs!



This post is part of...



And definitely qualifies for Wordful Wednesday!

Some Random

Look, I thought I would do a post to prove to myself that my kids on occasion do get along! Seems like lately all I am doing is being referee!

Yesterday after breakfast and spending some time reading to James, Kirstyn looked at me and said, "I need to call Mimi."

Okay, no problem sis. I dialed and handed over the phone.

K: Mimi, I want to spend the night somewhere and I don't want to have to go to Arkansas today.

Mimi: I guess I better talk to Grandpa and call you back.

K: Mommy, Mimi is going to call me back. I hope she lets me spend the night, cause it takes a long time to get to Arkansas and I really want to sleep somewhere else tonight.

Me: Point taken.

Well, guess what. Kirstyn made her point and was able to spend the night with Mimi and Grandpa for the first time since James was born. I hope they let her spend the night again soon.

Also, yesterday was a pretty exciting day in my little blogging world. I was going through in my reader and noticed that I had won a Tees for Change from mizfitonline and then I went by the office to take Kirstyn to her MiMi and I got a package in the mail from Quaker that I had won from Super Healthy Kids! I was extra excited when I opened the box and found that in addition to the Oatmeal Pancake Mix that I had won they had also sent me a heart shaped mold for pancakes, a new whisk, and a wide spatula for flipping my pancakes! I plan to make heart shaped pancakes for breakfast on valentines day. We like to add blueberries to pancakes but I think in honor of valentines day, I will add chopped strawberries. I'll let you know how it turns out!

So tell me, do you get as excited as I do when you get something unexpected in the mail?

A Monday Meme

I received this from Kami and because there was a little meme attached I got motivated (well, sorta...she did give me this back in October!) I love your blog too Kami!

Where is your cell phone? in my bra

Where is your significant other? working

Your hair color? brown

Your mother? read Proverbs 31!

Your father? McGyver (Kami said this too and I thought...perfect, really, my dad is too!)

Your favorite thing? David would say its my laptop (can I get a blogger Amen!)

Your dream last night? I mostly have dreamless sleep or at least I never remember

Your dream/goal? To be a healthy weight for the first time in my life!

The room you’re in? living room in front of the tv with my laptop, well, on my lap!

Your hobby? does reading blogs count, or eating, or maybe more recently it is playing with photoshop

Your fear? Losing someone I love

Where do you want to be in 6 years? here. happy, healthy. working for WW or for the gym helping others learn the lessons that I have learned.

Where were you last night? at home

What you’re not? a good listener or encourager...but hey, we all have things that need work and at least I am aware

One of your wish-list items? a vacation for just me and David

Where you grew up? in De Queen, Arkansas population just under 5,000 (they installed red light #2 when I was 16 and red light #3 just a few years ago!)

The last thing you did? drank a cup of coffee and said "I love you" to James... then he said, "eww, Momma" and my heart melted!

What are you wearing? my pajamas!

Your TV? is almost always on

Your pet? Patty the pretty white cat and I miss Snoopy every single time I have to sweep random food out from under the high chair after every single meal!

Your computer? David says he is going to name since I spend so much time with it!

Your mood? mellow

Missing someone? my PawPaw. He died in 1992 and well my little rambunctious boy would have loved to play with him! Oh and PawPaw would have been so excited to know that I named James, James Norley! See, I was supposed to be Norley Frank Bickley IV but alas, I was a girl. He told my momma to go ahead and name me that and he would deal with anyone that didn't like it!

Your car? a Ford Explorer

Something you’re not wearing? makeup

Favorite store? Sams! I love to purchase in bulk and I love to look at their household items!

Your summer? Is guaranteed to be HOT! I live in Texas!

Love someone? of course

Your favorite color? Red

When is the last time you laughed? probably at something Kirstyn said.

Last time you cried? Just now, my eyes got watery while deciding what to type about my PawPaw (guess I will be doing a post about him soon!) Other than that, I'm not sure, but I was probably tired, hungry and out of WW points or standing on my bi-polar scale (which has been down again every. single. morning since Friday when it randomly jumped up to torture me at WW)!

Fat Fighting Friday - W2

Dear God,
When I get to heaven I expect my glorified body to have abs like these in the picture!

Amen.

Okay, seriously...this week was launch week at the gym and all of the classes were so much fun! (I still surprise myself when I say things like I enjoy working out and I actually look forward to it most days!) This picture was taken by another girl (that I don't know) in the Body Combat launch and after class I asked her to email me a couple of pictures because....It is great blog material!

And in spite of the fact that I worked my @$$ off at the gym this week and I did good on my food tracking, I have to report that I am up 1.2 this week according to WW. I usually weigh every morning and I have been down all week so I almost cried (almost....I think instead I muttered something that should not be repeated) when according to my home scale I was up almost 2 pounds. Next Friday better be a good weigh in or my 20 in 20 goal is going to be hard because as it stands now, I need to lose 22 lbs in the next 18 weeks to reach that goal!

Are you joining me on this journey? What is your goal?

Even if you don't need to lose any weight.... are you going to do something to benefit your health this week? Exercise more? Eat less processed foods? Drink more water?

Please....share and encourage in the comments! I'm off to the gym for a Body Step class followed by a Body Flow class!

When I Grow Up...

A couple of weeks ago, Kirstyn's Pre-K class had an Occupation Parade so I thought that I would share 13 of the future careers sought by Kirstyn and her classmates.

1. Pediatrician
   
2. Veterinarian


3. Police Man


4. Firefighter


5. Soldier


6. Chef


7. Ice Skater


8. Train Engineer


9. Ballerina


10. Explorer


11. Race Car Driver


12. Football Player


13. and....
    

ROCK STAR!

Don't worry though.... at least James won't have to live at home forever, Kirstyn says he is going to be a dentist because he likes to stick his fingers in people's mouths!

Oh and we tried to get her to dress up as an insurance agent. She has a Farmer's Insurance polo, dress pants, official name tag with her name on it and she could carry a file folder and pen. Kirstyn's response....this parade is for what we DREAM we want to be when we grow up... I KNOW I can sell insurance. Well, in that case sister, I hope you get to be a rock star but I am thankful you have a backup plan!

Now, off to visit more Thursday Thirteens!

Fun at the Farm

Last weekend when we were visiting my parents at their house in Arkansas on the Farm, James was busy playing with his Little People Farm. He kept peeking through talking about the 'moo' and I managed to get this ONE picture of him in action! I love it!





Now, go visit some more Wordless Wednesday or Wordful Wednesday or both!

The Letter S

Today is brought to you by the letter...

Okay, so a few days ago my friend Stacie tagged me with a meme to list 10 things I love that start with a certain letter. She actually gave me the letter O but all I could come up with was the Big O and I'm not talking about Oprah so I picked a different letter (you're welcome Mom).

Anyway, this morning I discovered in Kirstyn's backpack that there was a sack that we were supposed to fill with items that start with the letter S to send to school. Ugh, guess I should have checked her folder last Thursday when she came home with this assignment rather than learning about it 30 minutes before it was time to leave for school! Never fear we were able to gather up things like Stuffed Scooby, Soap, Socks, Sandals, Scissors, Stickers, Spoon, Screw, Soup, Sharpie, Sharpener, Sunglasses, Salt and more.... of course after she left for school I thought of a few other things but hey, at least we completed her homework just. in. time!

So since I have S on the brain....here are my top 10 things that I love that start with S:

1. my Sister!
2. Seafood, especially Shrimp!
3. Stickers and Suckers... the best bribes out there (I'm sure none of you good mothers know what I am talking about there.)
4. Sandals...as in my Crocs Flip Flops! I can almost wear them year round here in Texas!
5. Sponsors! Yes, that's right...I would love any Sponsor that would pay my way to Blogher!
6. Soda (I don't usually use this word...I call everything with fizz a Coke..but it works). My favorite 'Soda' is Diet Dr. Pepper.
7. Subscriptions....all my blog 'subscriptions' in my Google Reader and my subscriptions to my favorite magazines like Family Fun, Weight Watchers, and more.
8. Salt, Sugar, Sweets.... Thus the reason I have to post Fat Fighting Friday!
9. Sex...well, I almost managed to not talk about it (sorry Mom)...speaking of, have you joined in on the 1 Cor 7:5 Challenge?
10. Step aerobics, specifically Les Mills Body Step!

Oh, and there is ONE more S that I love.... Stacie! Thanks for tagging me girl, even though I made up my own rules!

If you want to play, let me know in the comment and I will assign you a letter!