Leaf Racing

I love it when it rains and it rained most of the day yesterday. The only improvement I would have made is for me to be at home snuggled up with a warm blanket, a good movie and a roaring fire. I didn't get home in time to really do that last night as Tuesdays are my night with the kiddos. I wasn't even going to go as it was raining and my sister probably wasn't going to play tennis but I always love to see my munchkins...so I went over. I walk in and I see Thomas and Tia staring into the TV...Thomas looked normal...but when I saw Tia I knew she was sick. Her eyes were puffy and she was all stuffed up. I was leery to go and give her a hug as I always seem to get sick from her, but I promised Grandma "G" to give a hug from her. This girl is usually bouncing off the walls so to see her so lethargic was miserable for me but I am sure worse for her. Had a great time helping Tom with his chores, especially when we took out the trash and Tom decided it would be fun if we raced petals and leaves in the gutter to see which one got to the drain first...so I thought...sounds fun. I won the first race and then of course he demanded one more time. Next race he won...again "one more time auntie, please"...so I indulge him and this time we are doing "team" leaf and petal races...he wins more than I do. If mine got too far ahead he would plant a diversion in the "river" to hope my leaf would get caught up and he would win but sometimes his own leaf got stuck...it was cold but so much fun! Mom didn't like it when we got in as she asked "what were you doing?"...I handed Tom the mail and fessed up to leaf racing in the gutter...loved every minute of it. What I don't always love is trying to get him to do his homework...that was a bit of a chore. Then it was off to dinner at El Tecolote pouring rain....food not bad...home then into bed. Today work...a bit frustrating already this morning..but I must let it go and move on...breathe...it will be okay. Oh and review time today after lunch...a raise would be nice...so I hope I get one...off to do an accrual Yippee!

Happy Tuesday

I tell you it is a struggle lately to get to the gym but I did it last night. I even managed to read my Best Life book while climbing a hill on the treadmill. I do admit I have been feeling better with the exercise I have been doing. I came home though to a sleeping husband...poor man he works so hard. I even teased him later that he burns two candles at one end and then I burst out laughing as that is not the saying. Anyway my Robb you take it easy. We had a great dinner and watched Prisonbreak and 24!! Good as usual...the shows and the dinner ! So today there's work and then off to watch the kiddos.

POTLUCKS

Oh I do so dread the office potluck...I cringe whenever someones birthday comes up and there will be food galore and it's never the healthy stuff. Well that's not entirely true. Someone does usually bring in some fruit or a veggie tray ...but if you choose to eat healthy they push the food on you even more and say "oh aren't you getting a plate of food or is that all you are going to eat"...as they stroll by with a plate piled about 5 inches high. I guess it's to ease their guilt over eating all that crap. Anyway I shall resist.
Sunday finished off nicely at the folks house with a yummy dinner and then home to watch The Apprentice and to Nod.

Rain Rain Don't Go Away

My man finally made it home last night after a long day of caching and we had a yummy dinner of chop suey courtesy of Ellie Krieger.

She has a show on the Food Network. Her website even has videos of recipes. She's not as bubbly as Rachel Ray but her recipes are healthy...look like they would taste great (as we haven't tried too many) and are fairly easy. So thanks babe for a great dinner.

Lots of sleeping in and enjoying our Sunday morning...Jillian Michaels in the background on the radio on KFI, as we had our breakfast and now more house cleaning and organizing. I finished making some Mac and Cheese for tomorrow's birthday potluck! Well I didn't quite make it...Stouffer's help out quite a bit. I could have made my own by adopting the cheese sauce from the Emeril's potato dish but that's a lot of work and besides Stouffer's makes a darn good Mac&Cheese.

Hitting the gym today would be great and I hope to in an hour or two and then off to Robbabob's folks for a nice dinner. That's my Sunday and it's such a great day to be home.

Rainy Saturday and Chicken Noodle Soup

I so wanted to make an entry every day and I've missed one. I was pretty busy yesterday...started my morning off at the gym...and am I feeling it today. Then did some things around the house and then headed to IKEA with Brad...got my usual tea lights 100 for 2.99...good deal!! Brad got some more things to make his abode look beautiful. Baja Fresh and then we went to see The Departed. Darn good movie except for all the bad bad bad language and bloody scenes..but what would a Scorsese movie be without that. Acting was excellent and Scorsese is hands down going to win Best Director...mind you not that he deserves it for this movie but he's most likely going to win. Enough about that. Home to a good meal of MAUI beef...yummy yummy stuff available at Trader Joe's and then a bit of American Idol and then 1 vs 100. Kind of a cool show...saw some out of work actors, a few Olympic Gold Medal athletes, some soap opera stars and even a group of morticians...aka the MOB...all trying to beat the one person who knows all the answers to some trivia questions. Lights out Friday over...
So I think that catches me up to today...my dear hubby headed to the Grapevine around 6 this morning and I slept in....watched Brothers & Sisters, had breakfast...got a call from dear mother about her not feeling well...dizziness, nausea and the like. I did feel bad after ending the conversation as I think she wanted me to offer to take her to the Dr. but I simply said I would be around if she needed me. I think in the back of my mind I thought would this be the last time I might talk to her ...heaven forbid something happened...so I called a bit later and she seemed fine. She picked me up for lunch and we headed to Brent's...completely packed at 2 in the afternoon...waited 20 minutes and finally had a nice bowl of chicken noodle soup and bagel chips...yummy and even a bite or two of a cheese blintz...not bad...always thought it was made of sour cream and I don't like sour cream...but I tried it and I must say it was might tasty especially with the fresh strawberry preserves...definitely not on the diet plan. Which brings me...oh holy cow I forgot to put my groceries away. Okay all is good now. I just get sidetracked sometimes. so enough for now. I need to make the house comfy and cozy since it's so gloomy outside...start a fire in the fireplace and light some candles...oh its already sounding so comforting.

Cancer Sucks!

That was my reaction to an email I received today about a little boy who has brain cancer. Our office adopted his family so they could have a nice Christmas. Here it is:
Baby Oscar went back to the hospital earlier this week. He was really fussy and holding his head often. Turns out by some horrid twist of fate the tumor which he had removed via surgery last November has grown back and is large. They are not going to put him thru another round of that surgery as he had a very, very tough time. He will under go massive radiation and if that doesn't work, which the Dr's are not hopeful will, then it will be a waiting game. He is very ill and they are not giving a positive outlook to Oscar and Crystal (his parents). Please, ask everyone to send up some prayers for Baby Oscar and this family as they, yet again, endure another set of trying times. I will keep you posted.
Pretty depressing and sad if you ask me. I think getting cancer as a child is something we don't have control over but as an adult perhaps we can reduce our risk. I was listening to a podcast of Jillian Michaels. She is a spokesman for the American Cancer Society. She has suggested going to their website to take a health check to see where we need to improve our lifestyle and reduce our risk of getting cancer. Here is the link: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/greatamericans/index.asp
You can even get complimentary movie tickets by taking the test (while supplies last). Worth a look I think!

My bed was calling me...

So happy to get home yesterday and take a nap. I so needed it. The tummy was acting up and I just had this weird all over feeling, but feeling better today. I so wanted to hit the gym this morning but the morning is not my friend these days...I need to get back on track...as I know if I got my butt moving in the morning I would feel better the rest of the day. So tonight the dreaded treadmill, the only saving grace is that I have good music on my iPod. I can't believe what a difference it makes.

Here is the recipe I mentioned for yummy potatoes. Now this dish is not in the diet plans but it is so yummy and you have to indulge every once in a while.

Cheese Scalloped Potatoes
Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse
Show: The Essence of Emeril
Episode: Easter

1/4 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/4 cups milk
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper 3 potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced, not rinsed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook onion in butter until soft, add flour and cook for 2 minutes, whisking. Whisk in milk and cook until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and add 3/4 cup of cheese, stirring until melted; season with salt and pepper. Layer half of potatoes in a baking dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover with half of sauce. Layer remaining potato slices on top of sauce and season. Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Screaming In My Ear!!!

That's what I remember from last night the most...the kiddos screaming in my ear while I was trying to get them bathed. They just did not want to listen till I threatened them with taking away their game boys and then they quieted down quickly but just as quickly were back to their old ways...totally hyper last night. We did have a great dinner last night though thanks to my sis buying these great pork spareribs...the sauce was yummy too and the cornbread good too...and of course the scalloped potatoes by Emeril. That is a must have recipe. I will post a link later as I have to get out of work and get home to rest as I am a bit tired and not feeling too well.

Lucky Girl

Yes I am! I have the best husband. My Robbabob surprised me with a book I mentioned I wanted...and he even used a gift card that was given to him...that's what I call love!! The book is Bob Greene's Best Life Diet. I watched an Oprah episode and it looked like a good plan! I can use all the help I can get. On the Oprah show they mentioned they will have affliations with food companies to have good food labeled with the BEST LIFE food motto. Another book I have enjoyed and followed is Jillian Michael's book. It's great! I have not joined her online weight club as it is a bit pricey, and I felt with the book I could get most everything I needed. I did manage to get to the gym last night hoping to do weights but it was too crowded...so I thought I'll do the dreaded treadmill or elliptical but they were all full. I managed to get onto a treadmill but only after suffering miserably on some sort of workout equipment for five minutes...not sure what it is called...it move your legs back and forth. Finally on a treadmil and struggled a bit and got some stitches?? (pain in the side) But I felt great after and burned about 450 calories and then home to a book I wanted on the counter!!! Happy Girl!
So before I got home I noticed that a fire had started on a hillside near what used to be the Kmart. So here is a picture taken by my hubby of me with the fire (kind of hard to see the fire but it's there) in the background from our house and another one taken earlier before I got home.

So tonight after work...off to see the kiddos and see what they are up to. I also want to catch the State of the Union address by our President. It might be kind of difficult as the kiddos will be busy with homework or something and it usually involves them being loud, so we will see. I guess I better finish off a few things here at work before I head over to my sister's.

Blue Monday

I was just listening to the news on the radio and a psychologist has officially designated that today, January 22 is the most depressing day of the year! He claims that unpaid Christmas bills, bad weather and failed New Year's resolutions combine to make Jan. 22 the gloomiest day.
Not sure I agree but I can definitely understand why it would be. It is depressing to know you have bills that could take 40 years to pay off if you only make the minimum payment...well not that long but long enough...oh well.

For me yesterday was a nice day at home...watching football games...one a complete mashing and the other a nail biting, heart attack making, blood pressure rising game!! Our team won!!! Go Colts!!! I'm not really a sports fan but I do like football...since my days as a a little girl betting 25 - 50 cents on a game against my dad...he always let me pick first...not that it mattered. Oh the memories.

Well back to work I must go...then the gym calls me again...some weights and cardio...I am so looking forward to warmer weather as I dread the treadmill. I want to ride my bicycle!!

That's it for now!!

Ah! Sunday

Yesterday was spent with the munchkins and the handful that they are ....but as much as they annoy me at times...they bring such light and laughter into my life and I know that these moments with them in their childhood will soon be gone so I cherish my moments as an Aunt with them and love them up as much as I can.

Dinner with Brad and "G" was fun as it usually is...and the food was yummy....more Mexican lasagna and rice and beans!!! We also had time to watch some of the delusional contestants from American Idol...what a riot that is...see JUST ROBB site for more info. Needless to say, watching this show is good therapy, as laughter is the best medicine...and you can't not laugh...it's impossible...We'll see more on Tuesday!! Memphis don't let us down!!!

On to today...which got off to a slow start but I managed to get myself to the gym. Looking forward to the rest of today as I take care of the house and watch football games!

Waking Up is Hard to Do!

Yes it is especially on the weekends and I did just that. Yes I should have gone to the gym but the warmth of the flannel sheets is so comfortable when it's cold outside. But up I got as my hubby went caching this morning...what the hell is caching...well check the link www.geocaching.com. ...cuz, I've explanied it too many times to count...but it's fun for him and keeps him out of trouble and Robbabob loves it.

Anyway up I got and had a banana... good healthy start to the day...then scrambled to get all my crap together to go see the munchkins. I grabbed some cereal in hopes of eating with the kiddos but they had eaten already. So here I am managing to slip away to write this and they haven't found me yet!! Grandma "g" is on her way... she said she would be here ASAP but I guess that really means 2 hours...as it has already been an hour and half now. Well I guess I should get back to Thomas as we were in the middle of creating our very own TCB skate park. He loves his video games but what 7 almost 8 year old boy doesn't these days. Tia is talking up a storm with her Little Pets. I love spying on her she rambles on and on for hours...wonder where she gets that from :) oh now they are calling for me and they will find me...ooops too late Thomas found me and is wanting me to see the skate park he created....the quiet time is over!!! BYE!!!

Happy 5 Month Anniversary !!

Today is my 5 month anniversary to my wonderful husband Robb. He truly is the best! I love you babe!!

Good luck to Thomas on his presentation to his class on Thomas Jefferson today...he read a book about Jefferson and the first thing he wanted to write in his biography was that Jefferson sent American solidiers to fight the pirates...he thought that was cool and couldn't believe that there really were pirates!!
Then there's Tia...her gymnastics went well and as soon as she was done she had to point out the fact that she had a loose tooth...her first!! Oh yes the days of losing teeth and finding money under our pillow what's more magical than that at 5 ;-).
I was watching Thomas read to Court and my mom and Brad were talking and we get up to leave and can't find Tia. Sure enough she was entertaining herself like she does and was trying on gymnastic outfits in another room...too funny.

Then there was my weight training and realized it doesn't take much time to get completely out of shape. They told me it would happen after I got married...all would go to hell and it did but I want to prove all those skeptics wrong and get on the right path to well-being.

A delicious dinner and a good night's sleep and that was my day yesterday.

So on task for today is work then working out and home... but first... off to record my progress on the National Body Challenge website and get a chance to win a million dollars!! No prizes yet but you can't win if you don't play!!

My First Posting!

Hello my world,

I have been wanting a way to record my thoughts and ordinary yet special everyday moments in my life. Recently inspired, as of yesterday, I decided to write my first posting to my blog. Yippee! Why not start this, especially at the beginning of a new year! So as of today, not much to report...work is the same as it never was. At least I have time to post an entry to my blog while at work. Anyway after work off to see my adorable niece at her gymnastics and to say hello to her brother my awesome nephew Thomas. They are just too incredible!! Look for pics soon perhaps today if I figure out how to do it. Then off to the gym to lift some weights and build some muscle...which reminds me I better look at my Jillian Michael's book. Okay off to lunch...I am having Mexican lasagna...cooked by my wonderful husband ROBB!!!...Catch you all soon!!