I'm off to...

BOOTCAMP!! (okay, not really) but...

Today begins a new chapter for me. A healthier chapter. I have been carrying 30-35 extra pounds around since Sophie was born and now she 18-months old and I have no excuse. The "baby fat" thing just doesn't work anymore. I don't exercise like I should anymore and I definitely don't eat like I should. So, today at 5 I start Tone In Ten Bootcamp. 3 days a week for 10 weeks with a personal trainer in a small group. People to hold me accountable. Body mass indexes. Heart rate monitors. Nutritionists. Weighing. Measuring. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Lots of tears.

It's time. I can't keep putting it off, but that doesn't mean I can't dread it a little. I used to be really in shape. In college, I was super skinny, but not a healthy skinny. After I got married I started eating again and really started working out and got pretty 'buff' there for a while - before kids, and then again after Delaney, and almost after Madelyn... so, yes, it's time to do it now for good. I need to be healthy for my kids. I want to be a good role-model for them. I want them to be proud of me. And I want Ryan to be proud of me. I know he is already - he compliments me constantly - but I want to glow when I'm on his arm. And, most of all, I need to be healthy for me. I want to be happy is this body again. I want to live a long, healthy life for my family. And I want to stop saying "I wish I could wear that." I have a closet full of really cute clothes I can't get on one leg;) I'm tired of that. I don't expect to look like a centerfold or anything, but my goal is to get back into a bikini. I know... a lofty goal. And not the "Mom" skirt tankini like a wear now. A real bikini - and I don't care if you can see the stretch marks on the backs of my thighs and butt or the scar where a navel ring used to be or cellulite I will never get rid of. I'll just be pretty dang proud to put one on at all after 3 babies stretched me all out, leaving saggy remains. It really ticks me off to see celebrities bounce back months after giving birth. That doesn't happen to real people.

So, I'm dreading 5:00, but I guess I'm looking forward to it in a way. It will be a long road, but I'm ready for the journey that will bring me back to health. So, "bye-bye" midnight cookie dough and "hello" Kashi. I'll keep you posted on how it goes... Wish me luck!

Check it out

Delaney's new blog

click here

Nick's Chuck-E-Cheese Party

We let Nick choose where he wanted to eat lunch ... so, of course, to Chuck-E-Cheese we went;) Why do we even give kids the option? Obviously everyone else in town let their kids choose that day, too. It was very crowded -probably because it was air conditioned. The kids had fun, though. And this is the only picture I took there that didn't have my finger as the main subject. I forgot my digicam, so I had to run in the gas station and buy one of those piece of crap disposable cameras. The pictures below are the only ones below that came out of like thiry-something and they are all awful. Oh well...

Hot Air Balloon Festival

After Chucky craziness, we headed over the the Pennington Hot Air Balloon Festival for the final race of the day, parachute team demonstration, and then the balloon glow they do at night. We love going, but haven't been since 2005 when Maddy was a baby. The kids had a blast - and we did, too! It's one of my favorite things - so beautiful. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to go up in one. Sure wish you could have seen it for real because these pics suck!

I tried to crop my finger out of this one. It would have been really good:(

Finger yet again, but at least you could see some balloons in this one;)

 

Beautiful, colorful sky. It was overwhelming how huge those balloons were. They look like tiny specks in the sky, but when you're standing under one one the ground ready to take off, it's a totally different feeling. One of the kids favorite parts was looking way up at them and then looking into the baskets to see where the captains ride.

Delaney cooling herself with the misting fan. It really wasn't that hot (because of the breeze) until the sun went down - then it got really humid.

Resting while Ryan took the kids to tour the helicopter and meet the parachute team.

Sophie thinks Aunt Keri is pretty cool.

 

Hot, tired, slap-happy cousins

Sweaty wrestlemania. Ewww.

The only half-way decent pic I got of the "glow". It just doesn't even come close to doing it justice. It was so amazing! There were close to 40 balloons there and they would all light up at the same time.

Ryan watching the "glow"

Standing on the X the parachute team landed on

Watching the fireworks

more prayers

I found out today that a lady who attends classes where at the Parenting Center where I work has been hospitalized. About 2 years ago she put her 2.5 year old daughter down for a nap and went and hopped in the shower, got out and got dressed, and then went in to check on her daughter and couldn't find her. She searched everywhere and ended up finding her in the car (in the garage) and she had died of heat stroke. Yeah bad, but it gets worse. Well eventually she and her husband decided to have another baby. They had another daughter and Thursday morning, she woke up and her 3-month-old baby was dead. She had smothered her in her sleep after falling asleep while nursing her. I can't imagine. She went completely crazy repeating "What have I done?" and "He'll never forgive me this time." and that she just needs to kill herself. So, they 5150ed (hospitalized) her until they can get her husband home - he works offshore. So tragic. So heartbreaking. Pray for them.

Prayer

Y'all please say a little prayer for our friend, Marcie, who is stuck in Jamaica which is now in the wrath of Hurricane Dean. She is a special person and we need to ask that angels surround her and her law school friend she went on vacation with. I can not imagine how scary that would be. Please, Lord, let her be as safe as our little house was in Katrina.

little wonders - rob thomas

let it go, let it roll right off your shoulder
don’t you know the hardest part is overl
et it in, let your clarity define youin the end
we will only just remember how it feels
our lives are madein these small hours
these little wonders, these twists & turns of fate
time falls away, in these small hours, these small hours still remain
let it slide, let your troubles fall behind you
let it shine until you feel it all around you
and i don’t mind if it’s me you need to turn to
we’ll get by, it’s the heart that really matters in the end
our lives are made in these small hours
these little wonders, these twists & turns of fate
time falls away, but these small hours, these small hours still remain
all of my regret will wash away some how
but i can not forget the way i feel right now
in these small hours these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away but these small hours
with these small hours, still remain, they still remain
these little wonders these twists & turns of fate
time falls away but these small hours
these little wonders still remain

There. Done.

I finally found a moment to update. It's just pics and a quickie explanation of each. It doesn't nearly explain all that has been going on this past month, only what I actually have pics of at this time, but it's a start. More to come. I'll get back to the swing of blogging soon. Take care and XOXOXOX to all!

peace

Sunset

It has been hotter than heck here lately, but the weather makes for some incredible sunsets like this one. Heavenly.

Patriotic Baby

Teresa, remember this dress? It's one you bought for Maddy;)

Mmmmm...

Ryan's 4th of July Masterpiece

Sticks and Stones

Delaney at one of her summer camps. This one was a church drama camp where she actually sang a solo. She did an awesome job and I was so very proud of her!

HUGE dragonfly

Ryan caught this one in our garage. It was enormous and gorgeous. I wish I had taken a side shot so you could see that it is actually striped green and blue. Look how big it is next to Ryan's hand. Amazing!

Slap Bracelets

The kids earn them for good behavior - guess Delaney's been pretty good lately;)

July 18th

For Madelyn's actual birthday, Rebecca, Blake, Delaney, Maddy and I went to the waterpark, out to eat and returned home for her teddybear cake. It was a fabulous, exhausting day!

Maddy's 4th Birthday Pajama Party

I asked her over and over again if she was sure she wanted a Pajama Party where everyone came in their PJs (including grown-ups). She was certain, so I pulled it off last minute b/c I wasn't sure when Ryan would be home from his trip (with the help of Dixie and my sister). It turned out to be a great time - and very comfortable, I might add;) And Ryan made it about 2 hours into the party. Whew! We had pizza, crafts, cupcakes, movies, popcorn, rootbeer floats, the works... and NO! all those kids did NOT spend the night! I got 'em all sugared up and sent 'em home!

My good friends, Liz and Rebecca

Sissies in their jammies

Lizzie and Me

(yes, my hair was in pigtails;)

Daniel (Liz's husband) and Gabe

Victoria and Delaney

Victoria, Liz's stepdaugher, has been Delaney's good friend all summer while she has been staying with Daniel, Liz, Ellie, and Gave. She is deaf and Delaney has had a good time learning more sign language in order to communcate with her. They have a great time together.