Ok, today is the day. I am 250.8 lbs as of this morning...10 of that gained in my last week splurging on all the things I was gonna miss! LOL I've signed on to peddle this stuff, but I am NOT going to push anything until I see where my experience as a consumer takes me.
My Parents are on their 2nd week and they are feeling great! I am excited for them, and doubly so because they are doing it as a team. Dad has lost 17 lbs as of Friday, and Mom has lost 10. I don't anticipate a miracle but this seems to be a good decision with the combination of the meal management with the luxury of getting to still have a meal with my family each evening. Which was one of the drawbacks of the last attempt I made.
Wish me luck and a strong will...
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Bully
*prepare for a rant...and not one based on my own kids but a show I watched about bullying, the more I thought about it, the madder I got.
I want to talk about what I am seeing as the "latest thing" in childcare/school, the anti-bullying movement. To be clear, I applaud the efforts of parents, teachers and kids themselves for taking the time to step back and actually PAY attention to something that has been going on since...oh, the beginning of time! There are those that take it to the extreme and are so mean to others (I think the people that this happens to are definitely victims and often have other underlying issues.), usually because they are using it to fulfill some void within themselves, that it drives a person...well crazy. Crazy to the point where they do something extreme, either to themselves or to others.
On the other hand, there is what I view as a sort of "healthy" bully. Someone who might keep us on our toes, teaches us to overcome conflict, stand up for themselves, inspiring self-reliance and eventually confidence after the conflict is resolved. Children are honest, brutally honest. I got the fact that I had super thick ugly glasses pointed out to me on a daily basis as a kid. How did I resolve that? Well, for a while, it bothered me but as I got older I quipped "nice observation", shutting down the comments.
What I am really concerned about is people can't seem to tell the difference anymore. The people in charge are taking everything to such extremes that a simple comment can cause the speaker to be in serious trouble, and the witness or 'victim' to never have to learn how to actually handle a situation on their own. Is that what we really want out of our children? To always come running to us to save them at every single incident? Of course the momma bear in me says YES! I will do anything for my children, anything to keep them safe from hurt and harm, but I know I have to draw the line and let them learn on their own. It can't be good for society to have a bunch of mamby-pambies running the place. We hear all the time about complaints about Generation X Y Z from the Baby-boomers...well, news flash YOU created this mess! Now the question is? Can it be fixed?
I think so, I try my hardest to have my kids NOT be the bully, to treat others the way they want to be treated. Take a stand when there is someone they see getting picked on. If everyone did it with their kids and made it a constant conversation in their homes, one side of it would be solved. Childhood is a tough learning experience, so if we have a combination of letting kids be kids, along with looking out for the other guy...a balance can be achieved.
I want to talk about what I am seeing as the "latest thing" in childcare/school, the anti-bullying movement. To be clear, I applaud the efforts of parents, teachers and kids themselves for taking the time to step back and actually PAY attention to something that has been going on since...oh, the beginning of time! There are those that take it to the extreme and are so mean to others (I think the people that this happens to are definitely victims and often have other underlying issues.), usually because they are using it to fulfill some void within themselves, that it drives a person...well crazy. Crazy to the point where they do something extreme, either to themselves or to others.
On the other hand, there is what I view as a sort of "healthy" bully. Someone who might keep us on our toes, teaches us to overcome conflict, stand up for themselves, inspiring self-reliance and eventually confidence after the conflict is resolved. Children are honest, brutally honest. I got the fact that I had super thick ugly glasses pointed out to me on a daily basis as a kid. How did I resolve that? Well, for a while, it bothered me but as I got older I quipped "nice observation", shutting down the comments.
What I am really concerned about is people can't seem to tell the difference anymore. The people in charge are taking everything to such extremes that a simple comment can cause the speaker to be in serious trouble, and the witness or 'victim' to never have to learn how to actually handle a situation on their own. Is that what we really want out of our children? To always come running to us to save them at every single incident? Of course the momma bear in me says YES! I will do anything for my children, anything to keep them safe from hurt and harm, but I know I have to draw the line and let them learn on their own. It can't be good for society to have a bunch of mamby-pambies running the place. We hear all the time about complaints about Generation X Y Z from the Baby-boomers...well, news flash YOU created this mess! Now the question is? Can it be fixed?
I think so, I try my hardest to have my kids NOT be the bully, to treat others the way they want to be treated. Take a stand when there is someone they see getting picked on. If everyone did it with their kids and made it a constant conversation in their homes, one side of it would be solved. Childhood is a tough learning experience, so if we have a combination of letting kids be kids, along with looking out for the other guy...a balance can be achieved.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Scars
Last night Dave and I had a "Scar off". What's that you might ask?
Well, we were watching Pawn Stars, and they were looking at the stitching on a straight jacket that was owned by Harry Houdini. Dave said something about having stitches and it turned into a pop quiz with each other about our childhood injuries! LOL It really was a lesson in how much we have paid attention to each other over the years.
Anyway, It was pretty funny, because both of us are really on it. Dave's had stitches because of a big rock incident, racing for nachos and busting his knee. I had the tragic pool chlorine floaty incident and my appendix...but we didn't count the kids...we just didn't go there! When I talked about his busted knee he said "YEA but what leg is it on?" It led to quizzing about other funny stories that we have told each other. Good times!
Well, we were watching Pawn Stars, and they were looking at the stitching on a straight jacket that was owned by Harry Houdini. Dave said something about having stitches and it turned into a pop quiz with each other about our childhood injuries! LOL It really was a lesson in how much we have paid attention to each other over the years.
Anyway, It was pretty funny, because both of us are really on it. Dave's had stitches because of a big rock incident, racing for nachos and busting his knee. I had the tragic pool chlorine floaty incident and my appendix...but we didn't count the kids...we just didn't go there! When I talked about his busted knee he said "YEA but what leg is it on?" It led to quizzing about other funny stories that we have told each other. Good times!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Falling in Love
I am sitting here on the couch. David, Gavin and Angus are on the other end of it, practicing vocabulary words. Dave is being so very patient with Gavin, who is reading them aloud and for the most part is just guessing at the words he is reading. Angus, well Angus, is too good for these guys and is chewing on his little stuff lamb that he has been dedicated to destroying since the Easter Bunny brought it this past Easter.
I wish I could tape this, because it's adorable. Dave has his arm around Gavin and they are sounding out the words, talking about the meaning of the words. It just makes me fall in love with him all over. I couldn't ask for better than that for my wee ones, and for myself I guess, because if you can keep falling in love with the one you are with, you (in my opinion) are a winner. I just hope through all the times that he gives me this certain look I always get and that laugh, like he can't believe I just said that, maybe that's him falling for me all over again a little bit each day too...
I wish I could tape this, because it's adorable. Dave has his arm around Gavin and they are sounding out the words, talking about the meaning of the words. It just makes me fall in love with him all over. I couldn't ask for better than that for my wee ones, and for myself I guess, because if you can keep falling in love with the one you are with, you (in my opinion) are a winner. I just hope through all the times that he gives me this certain look I always get and that laugh, like he can't believe I just said that, maybe that's him falling for me all over again a little bit each day too...
Thursday, August 18, 2011
not forgotten...
Today, I went to a funeral for a sweet, loving, ornery Christian woman. A person who has lived her life the best she could and using all she had to keep moving forward at all times. A person who reminds me of my own sweet great-grandmothers. I can't help but reflect...
I really love old people. I define someone as old as being at least 72, by the way because that was the age Granny Who was when I had the thought "man, she's old".
My Granny Buna would have been 101 years old this year, and we did the same thing that Ma's family did...we figured she would live forever because she already HAD! Live, something she did and well. Not because she had money, but she had rich memories and rich family love. Granny Buna contracted Polo when she was 2 years old, which left her without full use of her legs, always left behind by her siblings, she learned how to walk on her hands so she could do something 'they' couldn't do. I never knew a time where she didn't use a cart to get around. Though I do remember her able to stand with crutches to cook. Granny was never supposed to have children because her doctor didn't think it was safe. Well, she had 5 boys, and named one after that Dr. I love that. She knew incredible, unspeakable heart ache...especially with the outliving of all but one of her boys. She remembered everything and always sought to create something, weather it was food, paintings or other crafts or even music. She became the neighborhood Granny, and was friends with everyone, she loved connecting with people and loved God in a way that you saw it on her face. She wrote all of her memory's and published a book, it's fun to read, and now when I read it I cry because I miss her and I can hear her voice telling me all of those stories as she had in person.
Granny Who was always a little more stern. She was a beautician. She ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS had to look her best. She had a cellar at her house which was always the result of adventures by us kids. She also had a drawer full of scarves and we always used them to do a fashion show every time we visited. She was an amazing cook and is the source of many of the family favorites...including Momma Kay's bread, the all important mac'n'cheese. She also was creative. She hand crafted quilts. That's HAND CRAFTED...as in NO sewing machine, EVER! Her quilts are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. She always said that someone could have one if they named their daughter "Pansy" which was her real name. I haven't had the chance to name a girl...but hey, who knows maybe someday...
My Granny Johnson was the last to pass. She was a poet and made all sorts of things all the time. She knitted and I will always regret that I didn't get to learn that from her. She was such a bright positive person and always had a funny song and fun story to tell. She loved to sing and loved God so very much!
I was born at just the right time to have my great-grandmother's as part of my life. How I got so lucky I will never know but I CAN say I can't WAIT to be a Granny!
I really love old people. I define someone as old as being at least 72, by the way because that was the age Granny Who was when I had the thought "man, she's old".
My Granny Buna would have been 101 years old this year, and we did the same thing that Ma's family did...we figured she would live forever because she already HAD! Live, something she did and well. Not because she had money, but she had rich memories and rich family love. Granny Buna contracted Polo when she was 2 years old, which left her without full use of her legs, always left behind by her siblings, she learned how to walk on her hands so she could do something 'they' couldn't do. I never knew a time where she didn't use a cart to get around. Though I do remember her able to stand with crutches to cook. Granny was never supposed to have children because her doctor didn't think it was safe. Well, she had 5 boys, and named one after that Dr. I love that. She knew incredible, unspeakable heart ache...especially with the outliving of all but one of her boys. She remembered everything and always sought to create something, weather it was food, paintings or other crafts or even music. She became the neighborhood Granny, and was friends with everyone, she loved connecting with people and loved God in a way that you saw it on her face. She wrote all of her memory's and published a book, it's fun to read, and now when I read it I cry because I miss her and I can hear her voice telling me all of those stories as she had in person.
Granny Who was always a little more stern. She was a beautician. She ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS had to look her best. She had a cellar at her house which was always the result of adventures by us kids. She also had a drawer full of scarves and we always used them to do a fashion show every time we visited. She was an amazing cook and is the source of many of the family favorites...including Momma Kay's bread, the all important mac'n'cheese. She also was creative. She hand crafted quilts. That's HAND CRAFTED...as in NO sewing machine, EVER! Her quilts are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. She always said that someone could have one if they named their daughter "Pansy" which was her real name. I haven't had the chance to name a girl...but hey, who knows maybe someday...
My Granny Johnson was the last to pass. She was a poet and made all sorts of things all the time. She knitted and I will always regret that I didn't get to learn that from her. She was such a bright positive person and always had a funny song and fun story to tell. She loved to sing and loved God so very much!
I was born at just the right time to have my great-grandmother's as part of my life. How I got so lucky I will never know but I CAN say I can't WAIT to be a Granny!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Back to the Grind
In the morning school is back in session in Hobbs. With that the moans of many children can be heard across the land, and the secret joyful glee of the parents underlying it! I am ready to have some order back into our lives, even though I am a person that thrives in disorder most of the time. It's a fact kids need order of some sort and mine are no exception.
Gavin can't wait for school to start, Kainan would rather never ever have to go back... They picked out their cloths this evening, did a last check on their school supplies, bathed and completely crashed out! I have a 4th grader and a 2nd grader on my hands and before bed, we had the back to school pep-talk. We discussed being good friends, the boys leaving each other alone (Kainan has had a bit of 'mother hen' syndrome this summer), getting their work done AT school with the threat that their entire electronic lives will come to a halt if they don't. I am Mom, that's my job.
That being said, I remember 4th grade and 2nd grade so well! In 2nd grade, I had Mrs. Estrada and she had a Curious George doll that we got to all take care of. I remember it taking FOREVER for it to be my turn! We also learned cursive and I wanted so badly to be good at it, I remember practicing with a sick in the sandbox, with my friend Betty who was better at it than me, but helped me practice.
In 4th grade I had Mrs. Manes and she was awesome! She read to us after lunch every day. We read "Tales of a 4th grade Nothing", "James and the Giant Peach", "Where the Red Fern Grows" and "Summer of the Monkeys". I loved learning about New Mexico history and I still make those paper flowers that I learned how to do for our program that we did.
I am excited about the upcoming school year and I appreciate the efforts of those who teach our kiddos. They do an awful lot and sacrifice a lot to teach our kids. I just pray that Gavin's doesn't succumb to his charms...
Gavin can't wait for school to start, Kainan would rather never ever have to go back... They picked out their cloths this evening, did a last check on their school supplies, bathed and completely crashed out! I have a 4th grader and a 2nd grader on my hands and before bed, we had the back to school pep-talk. We discussed being good friends, the boys leaving each other alone (Kainan has had a bit of 'mother hen' syndrome this summer), getting their work done AT school with the threat that their entire electronic lives will come to a halt if they don't. I am Mom, that's my job.
That being said, I remember 4th grade and 2nd grade so well! In 2nd grade, I had Mrs. Estrada and she had a Curious George doll that we got to all take care of. I remember it taking FOREVER for it to be my turn! We also learned cursive and I wanted so badly to be good at it, I remember practicing with a sick in the sandbox, with my friend Betty who was better at it than me, but helped me practice.
In 4th grade I had Mrs. Manes and she was awesome! She read to us after lunch every day. We read "Tales of a 4th grade Nothing", "James and the Giant Peach", "Where the Red Fern Grows" and "Summer of the Monkeys". I loved learning about New Mexico history and I still make those paper flowers that I learned how to do for our program that we did.
I am excited about the upcoming school year and I appreciate the efforts of those who teach our kiddos. They do an awful lot and sacrifice a lot to teach our kids. I just pray that Gavin's doesn't succumb to his charms...
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Housing Developments
Well for the first time in a YEAR it has finally rained in Hobbs! With the refreshing new weather, it brought refreshing changes to the family. I am going to list them...why? I dunno...lol
#1 I have written about David's interest in getting a home. He submitted all his info for pre-approval on a loan, but we are waiting to hear back on what he is approved for. It's exciting and nerve wracking at the same time! I am trying not to get my hopes up, but the desire for more square footage AND another bathroom...is sucking me in! The next big decision, if we find something, what to do about MY house? (more to come on that later)
#2 Interestingly enough, I have also sold my car! To David's brother and sister-in-law of all people. Having that wee bit extra couldn't come at a better time since who knows what added costs can add up with the purchase of a new home.
#3 My siblings BOTH got JOBS!!! I am a firm believer that Amanda getting a job helped it rain the other day! LOL She's going to have FULL time employment at a bank and my brother got a job at UPS and is moving up quickly! He has his driving test this upcoming week! Maybe one of them can rent my house?
#4 My parents are going on the Monavie weight loss program. It's one of those programs that if you sign up three people to it with you, you get your product for free...so of course they want me to jump on board, but then, who would be MY people? It's a great money making opportunity, and some of our family friends are making over $900 a week on the program!
#5 (and my personal favorite) School starts this Wednesday! LOL
#1 I have written about David's interest in getting a home. He submitted all his info for pre-approval on a loan, but we are waiting to hear back on what he is approved for. It's exciting and nerve wracking at the same time! I am trying not to get my hopes up, but the desire for more square footage AND another bathroom...is sucking me in! The next big decision, if we find something, what to do about MY house? (more to come on that later)
#2 Interestingly enough, I have also sold my car! To David's brother and sister-in-law of all people. Having that wee bit extra couldn't come at a better time since who knows what added costs can add up with the purchase of a new home.
#3 My siblings BOTH got JOBS!!! I am a firm believer that Amanda getting a job helped it rain the other day! LOL She's going to have FULL time employment at a bank and my brother got a job at UPS and is moving up quickly! He has his driving test this upcoming week! Maybe one of them can rent my house?
#4 My parents are going on the Monavie weight loss program. It's one of those programs that if you sign up three people to it with you, you get your product for free...so of course they want me to jump on board, but then, who would be MY people? It's a great money making opportunity, and some of our family friends are making over $900 a week on the program!
#5 (and my personal favorite) School starts this Wednesday! LOL
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