Watching Reese in May

Just as school was out, I went to spend a week with Jim, Sara & Reese in Illinois.  Once again, I rode Amtrak from St Louis to Joliet, IL (the train ticket costs less than the gas to get from my house to St Louis!)  I was so excited that I was able to spend a whole week with Reese, watching her while Jim & Sara were at work!  Reese was just starting to walk--holding on to everything while her feet were moving...sometimes her hands just could not keep up with her feet!  Reese was such a great baby that week, but we were off to visit everyone in Missouri for Memorial Day!  What a road trip with an almost 1 year old, a dog, Jim (my brother), Sara (my sister-in-law) and myself--oh yeah and all of the traffic on Memorial Day Weekend  & construction!!  Overall we had a great trip and surprised everyone when we arrived several hours before we were suppose to!

Fun with Hunter & Faith

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a few days with my niece and nephew. Hunter, 5 yrs old, and Faith, 3 yrs old, love being active like every other kid in this world. So I was off to keep them busy the whole time they were with me. We started the day, Thursday, by going to the park (beating the heat) and having a fun time going down the slides and being pushed on the swings. After a brief time at the park, they were ready to go to the store and get some new toys. (This is something I love doing, but it does not happen that often--thank goodness otherwise Aunt Soda would be broke.)
After a few stores, we had a little over an hour before grandma's lunch time (did I mention we left my house just after 8am for the park?) and had to fill the time with something. So, they wanted to go to the library and read some books. I am so glad they know how to behave in the library...Hunter was over at the computer station and made his way onto an educational game all by himself...I was very surprised!!! Faith went right over to the play house and began having a wonderful time. I am so impressed with the Lebanon Library, so many great toys for the kids to explore and completely secluded just in case someone is loud. Faith went to find several books for us to read on the comfortable seating areas and Hunter continued to be entertained with the large building blocks and the kids that joined in to play. The Lebanon Library has the Route 66 Museum near the back of the library--past Maria's little restaurant for those of you familiar with the library. The museum was just a small area, but the kids loved looking at the different scenes being depicted from Route 66.

LUNCH--Grandma ordered pizza and we were able to eat lunch with her at the office. The kids love going there...and playing with their Happy Birthday Balloons.
After lunch, we were off to Bennett Spring to feed the fish and search around the nature museum there. I was so shocked that the kids really enjoyed the nature museum, even though the big fish tanks were being cleaned and half of the "stuff" was not there for them to explore. Off to feed the fish...but they were also cleaning the large holding tanks for the trout near the hatchery office---Hunter was so upset because he could not feed the fish, luckily they still had several holding tanks across from the little store to feed.

Overall, we had a very busy day on Thursday and decided to spend the evening at grandma & papa's swimming. Then spent the whole day Friday out at grandma & papa's house just being kids...playing with every toy there and watching their favorite movies! Such a blessing!!

Week One (Yet again!)

I have been doing the Biggest Loser at work & at church---with some success--16 lbs lost! I do not want to give up--with both events coming to an end. So I pulled out the old Weight Watchers material from a few years ago--this program didn't really give me a lot of success...but I am hoping for a different outcome this time around. I am not attending meetings or weekly weigh-ins anywhere but my own bathroom!

Week One Goals:
1. Drink 6 - 8oz glasses of water (I only drink bottled..so this may get expensive--oh well)
2. Keep track of my food (this is the hardest part for me..to find the time to write it down and figure the points)
3. 20 minutes of low intensity exercise every day this week....I figure I can get this in during commercials on tv shows--NO MORE DVR fast forwarding---push ups, treadmill, sit ups, exercise ball activities, resistance bands, maybe even use my Curves Membership!!)
4. Get 7 hours of sleep each night (this seems to be so hard for me...I like to stay up late and get things done--but my house still looks a wreck--go figure!)
5. Lose 2 lbs this week...I feel this is a small enough goal--I have been able to do this during my biggest loser events--so this should be easy--I HOPE!!!

My short term goal is to lose 30 lbs before the last day of school--should be very attainable---by Friday, May 21st--that is just 54 days away!!

Well I will post updates soon!

Great ending to the day!

Work was going okay today, but just needed something POSITIVE to happen. I got home...and guess what...IT DID!

#1 My 2 pair of glasses from zennioptical.com came in--and they are great! Took them into Wal-Mart to have them "test" the prescription---correct!

#2 My "old" BlackJack II crashed a few weeks ago, and I was using an old school razr phone for the time being, until I was able to upgrade. Samsung fixed my phone, free of charge, and I got that today after work also!

What a positive ending!

Oh what a day!

Well I have been slacking on the blogging..but not the diet & exercise! I have lost a total of 11 lbs...since I started this time! I can now fit into my smaller size in my closet...doesn't mean I should wear them yet..still a little tight but I can do them up & still breath!

I am working on 40 lbs loss by March 4th--my 31st birthday! I really think I can do it...if I stick to going to Curves, eating right, and walking on the treadmill. I started today with my protein shakes again...they seem to give me that extra boost before working out and keep me feeling full until dinner. Then again here it is after 7pm and i haven't felt like eating dinner because I am still FULL from my shake at 5pm!

I will keep up with the diet and exercise..and I will try to do better with this blog! I love reading everyone's blogs--do I have any readers? Comment and let me know! Thanks!

Not eating enough!!

Well tomorrow is the Biggest Loser Weigh-in at my church--I am a little worried, but I have a feeling I will be okay...it is the first week...our base/starting weight!

I have been tracking my calorie intake -- in a food journal...and guess what--I ate only 833 calories today....HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE???

No wonder why I am not losing the weight..my body thinks I am starving it!!!

Tomorrow is another day...I am going to take my food journal to work, and write down every thing I eat--which is pretty easy to remember when it is a basic lunch---and also things that I crave. I often crave sweet chocolate things...so I am in search of low-cal recipes that will satisfy my cravings...but not sacrifice my calories!

Okay---here is the website I found tonight...check it out..easy to use...lots of great information---showed me how few calories I ate today..along with protein, carbs, fiber, vitamins, etc...it really is helpful and eye-opening to see all of that in a day..not just on the back of a package!

Verizon Update!

Well the update on Verizon....

I was finally able to receive a full refund, and a nice letter from the BBB saying they have spoken with Verizon and I should be fully refunded all of my fees. Verizon also offered to cover the previous month bill and any charges that I may have due to their mistake with the bill/payment. I have to say I was very upset with Verizon, but happy with the outcome.

Thanks BBB!