Ice Storm 2009

Here are a few pictures from the ice storm. I think we got a total of 1.25 inches of ice, Harrison on the other hand (where Dan's family is from) got about 3 inches and they all lost power.

Cabin Fever

Last Friday night Caleb came down with a small stomach bug. He was down all day on Saturday (mainly because I wanted him to keep his distance from his sister) and we didn't go to church on Sunday. Sunday evening I was able to get out and go to our connection group and then the kids and I ventrured to Wal-Mart on Monday to get some much needed groceries. On Monday night it started sleeting and freezing rain and it continued through Wednesday morning. All schools were closed and it was impossible to get out of the house. There were a lot of people who lost power and some still don't have power and may not get it until the end of the weekend. We, however, never lost power, PTL! So, we have been stuck in the house playing play-doh, coloring, painting, watching movies and yes, we did get out sled the past two days for a little bit! I am going out tonight with the girls. We are going to Johnny Corino's and then to a movie. Should be fun! Ready to get rid of this Cabin Fever!

Update on Eating Right

I don't want to call this "a diet". I have tried not to call it "a diet" at all, simply because it is all about a lifestyle change. I really do enjoy restraining myself from self indulgent items such as cakes and brownies, even though I do miss them but it's the fact that I feel SO much better when I eat right! I have managed to go to the gym the past three weeks, three times a week, I have been doing pretty good about sticking to healthy meals (except for last week when I had Coldstone Creamery!) I have managed to lose 4 and a half pounds in two weeks (I have only been eating right for two weeks due to the fact that we didn't have the proper groceries in the house), and I have lost 2 and a half inches in my waist. I am to the weight now that I was last year when I plateaued and I couldn't get below that so I am praying that I will continue to lose!

The First Snow of the Year

We had our first snow last week. I took advantage of this fun filled, VERY cold snow day to take a few pics of the kids.

My Sweepers

Caleb and Ariel have been the biggest helpers here lately when it comes to cleaning the house. The other day when Caleb was at school I gave Ariel my little sweeper vac and she went to town, just sweeping every nook and cranny on the floor. This seriously kept her busy for 15 min or more! I have found that if I let her (and Caleb too) do a task that will take a while (ie. wash the windows, use a papertowel and scrub the tub, sweep the floors, sorting laundry) this keeps them from getting under my feet long enough to get another chore done and they aren't messing up things in the process. The past two weeks Caleb and Ariel have each made over $2.00 just for helping me clean the house. I know I need to take advantage of these moments while they are fun for them because some day, they won't want to do it at all!

These pictures below are from the same day, she just looked so cute. I don't see her often with her hair not in a bow or in what she calls "piggies".

Aspire Gymnastics

A week and a half ago, I took the kids to open play at Aspire Gymnastics. They had the best time just running and playing and getting their energy out!

Praying for Harper

Please pray for this little girl! She is in need of a miracle!

My Winter Attire Model

"My Scooter"

Santa brought Caleb a scooter for Christmas that he absolutely loves! Can't wait until it gets a little warmer outside so that he can ride it more often. He asks me at least once a day if he can ride on "my scooter".

Back at it...

Well I started back at the gym last week. I was ready to start on Monday morning but Ariel was up and down all night long (up from 2:30-almost 5:00) with her ear hurting her so I didn't make it on Monday..took her in to the Dr. on Monday and she had an ear infection so she is on antibiotics again. I really wanted to start watching what I was eating starting on Monday too but since we were on a tight budget this week I wasn't able to get any good food...I actually didn't get any until today. Plus I had several events that I went to that had free food so I couldn't pass it up...especially when it is Chick-fil-a and Johnny Corino's catered in from our church!

My friend Casey Lewallen is going with me to the gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 5:30 a.m. We do 30 minutes of cardio, about 40 minutes of weight lifting and then we finish with some ab work. I would like to lose 10 pounds before the spring which I think is feasible but idealy I would like to lose 15...but that is absolutley ideal...like high school weight that hasn't happened since my first year in college. I mainly just want to feel good again and I feel good when I take better care of myself.

Today marked the first day of officially watching what I eat with the exercising. I will take some before pics so I can see the progress.

I did Fit for a Lifetime last year and did well with it...lost 10 pounds and several inches in the waist but I didn't stick with it all year and I didn't make it to my goal. I am 7 pounds away from my heaviest weight when I started Fit for a Lifetime this time last year so I don't have as much as I had last year to lose.

I will keep you all posted to how it goes!

Christmas at our house

Saturday morning we had Christmas at our house. My mom came over and brought the traditional breakfast casserol that we eat each Christmas. Aunt Amy was with us as well since she stayed the night with us after flying in from Florida. We had a great time opening gifts and spending some time together.

Sweet Girl!

Both kids tearing into their gifts

Batman Caleb...he wears this at least once a day!

Not sure what this face is about but I thought it was funny! Looks like she is giving attitude! You can see her Christmas PJ's here though. I try to get them ones that they can use through the spring so I don't get them anything "Christmasy".

Caleb and his antlers.

Christmas in Dallas

You may want to start reading this from the bottom of the blog and read up if you want to read it in order. It's kinda long so beware!

Singing happy birthday to Jesus!

Papa lighting the candles to sing happy birthday to Jesus.

Allison reading the story of Jesus to ther kids.

Christmas Eve the kids left Santa some cookies. We had originally meant to leave on Christmas Eve(Wednesday) but since we don't get to see my dad that often we decided to stay until Friday. This meant that Santa didn't know to bring presents to my aunt's house so we had to contact him and have him bring a few to her house. Caleb was confused at how Santa was going to get in her house so I took a set of random keys and tied a ribbon on them and then tied it to the front door doorknob. He was content with that was surprised to see his gifts the next day.

I didn't take any pictures the next for some reason. All the big gifts from Santa were at our house so they got the small things. Ariel got a little pony with a doll and Caleb got a planet heros action figure. And their stocking were filled with goodies too!

Hanging out at Carolyn's

Just us girls! My cousins Laura and Allison and my Grandma.

Papa and Ariel snuggling together.

Cowboy Caleb caught in the act of sneaking a cookie!

The family opening presents at Carolyn's house.

My aunt Debbie is a pre-school teacher so she has a way of getting my kids' attention. She was in my cousin Carolyn's living room singing to her and Ariel was singing right along!

On Christmas Eve the whole family was invited to our cousin Carolyn's house for a nice ham dinner. She lives in Ft. Worth and has a gorgeos home. We truly enjoyed ourselves there and the food was fantastic!

A family event!

Grandma (she's 87) and Les playing the Wii!

Caleb was too busy looking at santa's workshop to get in the picture with us....oh and it was SO cold that night...BRRR!

Allison and I with Santa

Aunt Debbie and Allison

My dad and Les in front of the tree

The beautiful lights that were at santa's workshop

Ariel and Daddy looking at santa's workshop!

A picture of the enclosed garage...pretty impressive.

On Tuesday night we all went and looked at Christmas lights in Dallas. We went to this house that was across the street from Aunt Debbie and Allison's church that the entire garage enclosed to make a santa's workshop. Santa was even there and the kids were able to get a picture with him!

On Tuesday we went to my Grandma's house to have lunch. The lives in a retirement community and they provide a full course meal for the tenants once a day so we all decided to go have lunch at her place. While we were there the cooks and serveres did a dance to Feliz Navidad for all the elders there. They all got a kick out it! We had hamburgers with chips and a salad bar and then we had dessert off of the dessert table that was provided by the staff. After we all ate, we took a few pics by the Christmas tree.
Aunt Debbie and Allison reading a bedtime story to the kids.

My dad and Les gave Ariel this mommy lamb and baby lamp pair. She thought they were precious and slept with them the next few nights.

Caleb got this Jon Deere tractor from my dad. He absolutely loved it (see his face!) since he already has a collection of them going in his bedroom!

Ariel and her big sheep that Gamma Boo (my dad's wife, Les) gave to them. Ariel loved this sheep and insisted on riding it around the living room!

My grandma made these knit hats and scarves for all of us! Aren't we cute?

Papa and the kids playing Wii...the Wii was a huge hit among the whole family!

Uncle Randy acting silly!

My Grandma opening her gifts.

Caleb and Daddy relaxin!

Caleb...Santa's little elf! He wore this while he passed out the presents. My aunt Debbie's beautiful tree! And all the presents!

Cousin Ben and his sweet wife Sarah.

The family picture! We were all there except for cousin David!

Ariel and her bear!

Ariel and her Papa. They were so sweet together. As soon as we pulled in the driveway to my aunt's house she saw him in the driveway and said "PAPA!!!" and she was so excited to see him. They hadn't seen each other since last Thanksgiving...she was a little over one year old then and I didn't think that she would remember him as well as she did. They were so loving toward each other!

Cousin Allison and Caleb tickling each other. They get along so well! And they were so happy to see each other!

Dan, the kids and I left on the 21st which was on a Sunday to head to Dallas. The kids did excellent on the trip there and were very content with their video games and DVD's (just a tad but spolied!!) We got to my Aunt Debbie's house around 3:00 and were greeted by the whole family! We then got cleaned up and ready for dinner with my Uncle Randy, Aunt Lynn, my cousin Ben (whom I hadn't seen in 10 years!) and his wife. Keep reading up so you can get the events in order as they happend!