100 days

Last week Kyle celebrated 100 days in Kindergarten. He wanted to share it with everyone as a vlog. So without further ado, my darling Kyle presents "100 days":



I'm sure you noticed that he stutters a bit in the video but we have learned that he does qualify for speech therapy so that will be starting this month. Crossing my fingers that all goes well and we can get that under control.

january pictures

Why, yes, I did take pictures last month! And they have finally been uploaded to our Shutterfly site. To go directly to January's album click here.

There are a few pictures I'll give you a little background on so you don't look at 'em and go, "Huh?". Well, you might do that anyway...

The pictures that are similar to this one? That would be the day Karissa opened her new pack of Minnie Mouse underwear (from Christmas) and decided to wear all 3 at once.



These fun shots? Took the kids to an indoor water park for a few hours. It was a much needed mental break for all of us and we had a great time (though I never did blog about it).



And these? So much fun. Mark & Tammy gave the kids some spending money for Christmas. Kyle has been begging me for a crown (he loves the paper ones from Burger King). I found these on Etsy from the shop Better than Normal. The kids love them! (And if you're in the market for a really well-made felt crown? Melanie is definitely your gal.)



Enough rambling from me. Go. Look at our January pictures. You know you want to.

the snowpocalypse

It's not the end of the world. It's just a little snow. Or a lot of snow, depending on which way you look at it. Last I measured we were at 29" and counting.

I had to make a quick trip to Wal-Mart on Friday. The only reason I went the day the storm started is because I procrastinated. It wasn't a storm run, per se, it just fell into the timeline of the start of the Noreaster that has everyone freaking out on the east coast at the moment.

So I made my way to Wal-Mart (both kids in tow because school was already cancelled in anticipation of the end of the world as we know it). To say the place was crowded is a huge understatement. But the things you'd expect people to stock up on (non-perishables, canned goods, etc.) were all on the shelves. Gone? Butter and green peppers. Someone please explain to me what in the world people are doing with green peppers and butter of all things? I have visions of people wrapped up in extra clothes and blankets, no electricity, eating pepper strips dipped in butter.

I realize my post is dripping with sarcasm but seriously it's just SNOW. It will melt. We'll all be back to our normal lives in a few days. Why the panic. Anyone?

And if one more person tells me to take the snow back to Minnesota I just might scream. Seriously, these storms are nothing like Minnesota snow. In Minnesota it snows a lot but it stays so cold that it just keeps piling up. Fortunately they have the equipment and manpower to deal with it and everyone goes about their merry way. We'll go about our merry way, too. It just might be delayed a few days. So stay inside, stay warm, play with your kids and don't fret. It's not the end of the world. I promise. *wink*

And now for pictures. These were taken after the snow plow came through and dug out our driveway. The front porch is in the wind line so there won't be much to dig out of there. Dave's car and the back porch? Completely different story.

flashback friday

This picture is from 5 years ago ~ January 2005. Kyle & Charlotte. My favorite little boy (6 months old) and the dog I still miss so very much. *sigh* Love.

off

Do you ever have those days where you feel off? Multiply that by 7 days a week for several weeks and you have me. And the only way I know how to explain it is that everything feels off. Off-balance, off-track, etc.

I've had two sinus infections that were treated with antibiotics. Apparently they didn't do the trick because Wednesday night I rushed to the doctor with a sharp, stabbing pain in my right ear. Turns out the sinus infection went into my ear and my chest giving me a really bad middle ear infection and an upper respiratory infection. The doc prescribed 1,500 mg of amoxicillin per day for 10 days. I felt relief in my ear within 12 hours of taking my first dose but since then have been struggling with shortness of breath, dizziness and loss of hearing in that ear. I have to be looking at you so I can semi read your lips if you want me to hear you. Everything else is like white noise in the background and all I can hear is myself. My concentration is way off (hence the lack of blogging, tweeting, etc.) and I'm frustrated.

So there it is. I'm feeling off. I will probably "mark all as read" in Google Reader and start fresh once I'm feeling better (which I really hope is soon cause this crap is annoying).

If there's something I need to know (Team in Training or Shrinking Jeans stuff especially) and I haven't commented/responded please email me or send me a text message (talking on the phone is especially difficult because of the fuzziness in my hearing). I'm not sure when I'll be feeling enough like myself to get back into the loop. Hopefully sooner rather than later!

flashback friday

So I'm not telling my husband that I'm posting this. And, well, he's either gonna love me or hate me for it. But I figure since one of his college buddies posted it on Facebook and tagged him and he didn't remove the tag that it's fair game, right?

THIS is a picture of my husband from college. I imagine he was drunk. Maybe not but it does seem like something a drunk college boy would do. And the hairy chest? It's even hairier now. I know, amazing that it's even possible, isn't it? Try cleaning THAT up around the house...

Pssst...Dave....I love you!



Oh and since this is a college picture of Dave it would be circa early 90's.

re-think your shrink weigh-in: weeks 3 & 4

I missed last week's weigh-in but I had a sneaky suspicion the scale wouldn't be my friend this week and I was right. For the past 2 weeks I'm up 1.6. Which actually puts me at a gain for this challenge. I'm not happy about it but I have no excuses, if that makes sense. I haven't attended a single Weight Watchers meeting since the new year rolled in and THAT, my friends, is what keeps me focused. I have a valid list a mile long for why I haven't gone but the bottom line is I haven't gone. I haven't tracked. I haven't followed through. I am struggling with back pain and the sinus infection that refuses to leave but I know I need to work through this. As a matter of fact, the chiropractor told me that activity (i.e. treadmill) will actually HELP my back. So after Karissa goes down for her nap I'm hopping on the treadmill - even if it's for 15 minutes.

Goals this week:

• Track everything (so far, so good today).
• 64 ounces + of water (almost there today!).
• Eat breakfast (did this today - I have a bad habit of skipping the most important meal of the day).

I also want to add that even though I'm not seeing success on the scale I AM feeling success mentally. A lot of my negative self-talk is gone. Do I have my moments? Absolutely. But from where I was in January 2009 to where I am now in January 2010 - mentally? Major improvements. Thanks, Sisters!