Busy Week!

Whew! I'm exhausted already and it's only Tuesday. I have been extremely busy and will be gone every night this week! Drake has started soccer, we went and saw the Globetrotters last night, and the kids are in a bowling tournament this weekend and must pre-bowl on Wednesday, and Thursday is Survivor kick-off at Ms. T's house!

Chicago is less than 60 days away and I've signed up for a secret sister swap, recipe swap, getting to know me swap, tag swap...all of which I have to get started doing!

By Saturday I need to print out a bunch of photos on iron-on transfers because I've volunteered to do a quilt for my husband's unit to send to Iraq.

I also must fit in my time at the gym! Today Ms. T and I did spin class and a pilates class! I had my hour of training before these too! My legs don't want me to move right now. I love the spin class and my butt bone is getting used to the numbing pain from the seat. Tomorrow we are just doing a cardio machine for work-out and I'm thankful for it. I will be getting measured on Friday morning and I'm hoping to have lost an inch somewhere. I can say that my pants are getting baggier and I've got a small but noticeable tricep muscle going on. I am hoping that I will shed some more pounds by all the classes I am going to be taking. This weekend will mark the one year anniversary of quitting smoking! I am so proud of myself and I know I graduated from college this past year but the non-smoking I am so proud of. I never thought I would do it! I did it! It feels so good to know I will never go back to smoking. What a relief that knowledge brings me. I feel so healthy, so clean.

Shane is doing well. He's been working like a dog over in Iraq. He was supposed to pick up Bob Woodruff and take him on his way to get out of Iraq. It's unfortunate what happened to him knowing he was about to leave the place. He has tomorrow off so we will be able to webcam a little! It's been a while!

I tried to upload photos of our Harlem Globetrotter event but it's not working! I will try to add them later!

friday night crafts

So got the TSV and have been itching all week to do it! I made some chicken soup and went over to Tracy's {she got the TSV too} and we did the first six pages and some canvas work. Neither of us could finish the canvas cos we were missing some supplies. I did not pack well! Before we did all this it was good to see her girls...of course I was their pillow for most of the Robots movie. It was nice and it kept me warm. I worked out this morning again and did the spin class. Awesome but man that hurts the tail bone and some other anatomy. The spin instructor lost sixty five pounds doing the spin and now she's teaching it. She was good but her music wasn't too motivating. I am looking forward to more of the classes. This weekend the kids have bowling and I have to do some shopping for a military assignment I have been given, as well as trying to fit in some horseback riding and my daughter has her first party party to go to. The mom is going to be there along with some teachers from her school...the whole eigth grade is invited!! Crazy. Here are some pictures from tonight. Have a great weekend. Oh and if you look on the table there is a photo of a CD I bought tonight. James Blunt. It's awesome. Love it! I had a good time-thanks T!

endorphines

What a day! I feel I had a breakthrough and can only say it's due to the workout. I didn't have my trainer this morning but went for an 8am spin class only to follow it with a step class and then some stairclimbing...and I have felt energized all day! Happy too! Of course I had a little web cam action but I felt good anyhow. Is that the key? To do more than a half hour of cardio and do two hours cos I feel like I could do anything right now! I can't wait for tomorrow's class!

Shane is coming home on R&R the first two weeks of July! We have decided that a cruise doen't fit our schedule so we are going to Puerto Vallarta! Has anyone ever been? I swear when I was little I heard of the place on a soap or something. The kids are going to be able to swim with the dolphins, and us too! There is a tequila tour I'm definitely taking. It's my favorite liquor! We will be gone for a week and it's all inclusive so I can't wait! They even have a sushi bar, which is mine and Shane's thing!

I made this R while Tricia was here. It's for my scrappin' room! I am loving beads right now and I coated my prima flowers in them. Too cute! Friday night I'll be making some canvas art with some silver and red glitter. Have you ventured over to Jenni Bowlin's site and checked out her upcoming monthly kits? To die for. She's got some glitter flowers as well! Awesome! Well I hope everyone is having a great day!

I was reading Mel's blog and it talked about a day being a bad day. Lately, I've had bad days. I know some of my friends here can relate to the feeling. I've had lack of sleep, been eating badly or skipping meals, I had an awful workout today and even the trainer knew something was off with me. We have accepted an offer on my dad's house so it will belong to another family. I can't imagine what my future holds without it. My comforter is in Iraq so that sucks. I have notification training part deux tomorrow. I almost wish I hadn't signed up for it but I can do it so I felt I should be giving something back. It doesn't help that the Lt. Col's wife asked me to do it. I just want to feel like this rose. It's pink, it's pretty. I just want to feel pink I guess. Is that possible? Speaking of Pink I'm so looking forward to the Pink Panther. I loved those movies as a child.

new pages!

HI! Here are some of the layouts I completed this weekend with Tricia! I finished my love book and moved onto a 9x9 album with our Christmas '05 photos. The traditions page has one of my favorite new things. The stamp punch! I love it! I am going to have to get another one because I need one to frame the other! Too cool to work with. The paper is Making Memories and it might be a part of the Shabby Chic line but I love it. Especially the polka dot paper. It reminds me of the Jenni Bowlin line and I have to have more. I was happy to receive my Sweetwater kit today and it had some polka dot paper! I am using that line to make my friend Brittany her paper bag album cos it's hot!

I dropped Tricia off at the airport today..I miss her company already. We had a great time. There is something so comforting in being with a friend you've known for as long as you can remember. Our families have history. We do live in a bubble when we are around each other and it's always one filled with lots of laughs! Especially after a little brokeback action. I will say that I am exhausted and since arriving home around 11 today have slept most of the day. I have been going to bed around 330 every night. Darn webcam! I get on line and so does Shane and we start showing body parts, talking, laughing..more body parts! He's got the cutest butt! I can't help myself. Tomorrow I will suffer for all of it because I have an 8am training session and I have been off my game all weekend. Not that I ate terribly but sometimes went without eating and the water was very minimal. Thanks Tricia for a great weekend...see you in March. Now to my next event..scrapbooking today's special value with Tracy! I'm excited! It looks like a great kit and I am ready to play.

whirlwind

She is here! She's leaving tomorrow. I've had no time to post because we've been so busy. She arrived in Austin with Croppper Hopper not making it...I'm sure some of you can relate to how devastating that can be to a scrapbooker! With pictures inside! We left the airport assured that it would be there on a later flight. So we went and ate some awesome chinese at Pei Wei and then watched a little Brokeback Mountain. Okay there was a lot of getting busy in that movie. So much that Tricia and I together were a little embarrassed. We were like school girls giggling while everyone else was silent. I will never look at those two guys the same again. We had the paper bag night here and it was a blast! About 14 women showed up and it was extremely crowded and chaotic but I think everyone enjoyed it. Since then we have been relaxing and scrapbooking. Tricia got to make her paper bag album and I've been working on Xmas 05. So far so good. Tricia made the cutest page within a page...very impressed at the skills. She looks great being pregnant and I wonder if she could have two in there! He's all up front. I will report she didn't sleep in my bed..well she tried. She was snoring pretty loudly so I got up and crawled in with my daughter. Since then I've been riding solo. It's okay. I got my mantle all complete. I bid on an antique camera on ebay and won. It was only 20 bucks or so and I really like it. Well I've had a great weekend and am happy to have gotten the urge back to scrapbook. My room is a mess right now and I like it. I have Stampin Up stamps all over and paints and stencils all over the kitchen..scraps are on the floor...embellishments are strewn about and it is just how I like it. Tricia and I experimented with the Basic Grey notch tool, the Making Memories tag maker, some microbeads, some embossing, some floosies....we've been having a great time. My kids have kept their distance and have been glued to the TV all weekend. It finally rained after about a month or longer. Enjoy the shots! I will be doing catch up on everyone's blogs tomorrow. I've felt so out of the loop!

pretty..

so had to do a little homemade photo shoot this morning for my new frames on my mantle. Is it le or el? Anyhow, I have some great pics of them but Dev has blond hair in them so it was time to update! Here they are. I am sitting here watching the Pittsburgh v. Indiannapolis game and can't believe the Steelers are ahead. Come on Indy! I'm really rooting for Chicago later today. That's the only one I care about. Man I got way off subject here..back to photos. So here they are. Another side note, Mandy I hear you read my blog...get your own so I can read about you too! It's fun!

sick as a dog

or is it dog sick. This is Jesse. She's my seven year old chocolate lab and she's sick. The past week I could tell she just didn't feel like herself, it may have been longer than that. This week I feel like the mother of an infant again. She has been waking me up in the middle of the night to use the potty. She's had the runs. Luckily, I get her out before she has an accident. Last night she was up with the same thing but the night before I got a full night's sleep. Today my kids had their usual Saturday bowling league. I had to run home because I forgot something to find Jesse had thrown up. Today I had a wives luncheon and a friend of mine is a vet. So I tell her about it and she says if she's eating she's okay but let me give you some antibiotics to help her stomach. She says it will taste nasty so you'll have to force it on her. I'm thinking you don't know my dog too well! Look at her. She doesn't discriminate by taste. Most things I give her she swallows whole and the pill was no exception. I just tossed it in the air like a ball..and then gave her a piece of cheese. She looks so pitiful and I can tell she feels guilty for getting sick on my carpet. She hasn't messed in the house since I don't know when...I think one time she was sick at my brother's but that is not my place. So here she is sleeping. Keeping me from going to see my friend Brittany. It's the only time I could get an up close picture of her, otherwise she'd think I was that close to play with her. Comments are not needed about her weight. Yes, she's big. Yes, she's 100 something pounds. Yes, she has sleep apneia and snores like a lumberjack. Yes, she's been on diet food most of her life. Yes, she's self-conscious about it. Yes, she's short for her weight. So am I. Have a great weekend everyone. Mine will be spent making up to my kids for not heading to the Hallmans! There's always tomorrow!

almost complete

so tomorrow I'm going to take some photos of the kids. I have good ones but my daughter has blond hair in them..it's not her anymore. I have three frames. One for both of them and then one of each in black and white. I am looking forward to it. The scissors remind me of something someone who cuts hair would have but I am a crafter. A scrapbooker so I like them. I am also looking into an ebay purchase of an antique camera that will go perfect. You can't see that I have the initial R but I have to paint it and put paper on it. I will also add some candles for a nice warm glow. So this will be the final thing. I am looking forward to it being done. It's been such work and I've almost been in this house for a year but I'm getting it. It's getting completed. It reminds me of me so I like it.

One more week!

And Tricia will be here. I'm excited. We haven't seen each other in what feels like a year. She did come to my dad's funeral and after but that was such an unpleasant thing I've completely lost some memory there. She gets in next Thursday and will be leaving on Monday. I know she is ready for the break and I'm looking forward to her presence. I'm excited to have someone to sleep with at night. I hate sleeping alone and my kids are getting too old. Last time we were in the same bed was last year. I woke up in the middle of the night and I was spooning her. I woke up because I felt so comfortable yet something was off. She was just patiently waiting there thinking well Shane is gone I'll cut her some slack. So I'm picking her up from the airport and we are off to some really good chinese food in Austin and then off to see Brokeback Mountain. We are very excited about it. Friday night she is helping me host a paper bag album night. I've got about twelve women coming over to do a paper bag themed album that they can send their husbands for Valentines Day or just keep themselves. I'm excited to have women over. I love that stuff. I wish I could do it more often. I love running around like a mad woman all day cleaning organizing cooking. It will be my first chance to use the chocolate fountain my kids gave me for Christmas. It will also be considered my Sunday. My cheat day. I can eat anything day. I will have fattening foods. I won't be able to help it. I'm really looking forward to drinking some too! It's been a while. Shane's gone and I don't have a drink anymore. My wine in the fridge is flat. I haven't broken out the liquor. I guess that's good though. He's not drinkng so I shouldn't. He has had some non-alcoholic beer. Isn't that funny. They give it to them free over there. I bet at night after a long day it makes them feel a little normal. Cool stuff. I used the Heidi Swapp masks in this album. I wasn't too sure it would look good when I first did it but now I love it. I used the flames and I know it's going to be one of Tricia's favorite things. She always tries to steal one thing-well we both do each other. It's just to see if the other notices. I don't even think we have used whatever we would take. Okay I'm rambling on and on about her. I will post some photos. She's been getting tired lately. She is having a baby boy. I think she should name him after me but all of her kids start with J's so I'm not too hopeful. Well here's a photo of the album my friends will be making next Friday. I have personal photos I will put inside to mail Shane so I can't put those in yet! C~

donna downey's class

so this is my first project for the year long Donna Downey class I am taking. I was supposed to do it last week but it didn't arrive until Monday. I have not been in the mood to do any scrapbooking lately. Why is that? I love it. I buy stuff. I think of it all the time. I have my own room now. Do any of you, Chris, Mel, and Vanessa, feel like me? I almost think being so organized has hindered my creative process. I am so organized I can't see all of my goodies. I can't necessarily find anything I want. I've got stuff in such cute containers to use them would mean messing them up. So do you guys ever feel this way? I have some deadlines coming up and will have to get stuff done. Maybe that will get me motivated? So Mel and Chris I know some people took the cover off of the binder so they couldn't see what was underneath..I'm fine with not doing mine that way. It's completely noticeable. Maybe I'll paint over it or something. Who knows. Have a great Thursday everyone. Oh and Tracy and Beth I am confident enough now to say that I've officially lost five pounds. So you guys are my only hold up to a night of being with adults and having a margarita! It now rests on your shoulders-no pressure.

I'm it!!

Four jobs you’ve had in your life: I have been a ride operator, a waitress, a perfume sales girl, and a substitue teacher!
movies you would watch over and over: I can watch You've Got Mail, The Notebook, Beaches, and Sleeping with the Enemy over and over among probably thirty others!
Four places you have lived:I have lived in Hawaii, Washington, California, and Virginia but about ten other places since being married!!
Four TV shows you love to watch:I love Survivor, Real World, Amazing Race, and Seinfeld reruns. Yes I'm into reality!
Four places you have been on vacation: I have been to New Orleans, Panama City, Universal in Orlando and well I lived in Hawaii so everday was a vacation there!
Four websites you visit daily: Two peas, all of the blogs, yahoo, and msn for news.
Four of your favorite foods: Italian food-yumm!, a good salad, sushi, and chocolate!
Four places you would rather be right now: hawaii, Virgnia, charlotte NC, and anywhere with Shane.
Four bloggers you are tagging: I am taggin Tracy, Beth, Brittany, and Autumn..Mike I would do you if I thought you would.

before and after

Well they are in reverse. I have a fireplace with a mantel and that wall has always been blank. I don't know how to decorate it. Then I saw this definition of graffiti's website and new it was perfect. Now I will adorn with some things..photos, memorabilia. Any ideas? Anyone..Anyone. I love it and wanted to share! Have a great Tuesday!

riding

This is us. Dev and I had a date to go ride some horses. She was a natural. I was terrified. My horse, Casey, kept stumbling. I thought for sure by the end of the four mile ride I would end up under the horse. Devin's horses name was Muncher. She was in heat. I was also nervous my male horse was going to mount with me on his back. Luckily it didn't happen. Dev and Muncher were behind me. Then at one point she trotted ahead of me and started waving her tail back and forth as an enticement..like smell this Casey! I've never seen a horses vagina before but I can check it off my list of things I never wanted to do but did.

Yes I know it's gross but why should I suffer alone!
Animals are so bold. The other day we were driving
down the street and there was this little dog and a
bigger dog. The little dog got to the big dog and
started doing him. Right on the side of a busy
road. The big dog let him. She didn't care that
tons of people were driving by.

So this is us. Drake was not there. He woke up with a fever. It was lots of fun. My daughter is such a gentle person. An update on the gallon a day. It definitely doesn't make you thirst for things like soda. I have been doing the gallon and lost weight. Not much but some. I didn't quite get the gallon down today. I didn't dare on a four mile each way ride. OOH on the ride saw some baby twin cattle. They just roam around here on Ft. Hood. It's neat. We rode right next to them. Watched one poop. Have a great Monday. I meet my personal trainer for first session. Exciting.

sweetness

is the dozen roses I received from my husband today with a note thanking me for all of my work while he is away. I love him. Speaking of love. We went and saw Casanova tonight. Excellent movie. The thing about going to a movie when your drinking a gallon of water...bathroom breaks. Four of them. In an hour and fourty or something. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Committed

First let me say it's hard for me to post this photo. I had a cute one where you couldn't see my rolls and such but I want to be honest so this photo is me now and hopefully in a few months I will look different. Okay so I joined a gym last week and signed up for the free physical assessment. I had to report this morning at 8am. I am now committed and will be working with a trainer twice a week. She asked what my weight loss goal was and I told her just five pounds but she said we'll make it ten and you can do it in six weeks. We'll see how it goes but I am sticking to it. I also have to drink a gallon of water a day. She said I will drop weight with just that. I've been drinking four bottles of water a day and right now I'm half way done with a gallon...not so bad right now. My vice is Pepsi. I told her I wouldn't cut it out but I can do just one a day. At least for now. I will be eating six proportionate meals a day. I can do that. I eat three right now but she said for my metabolism to kick in high speed I need six. I have crappy core as well so she will be working me. I'm excited about it. I really just want to be healthy. Some of my family dies young. I don't want to and if I can lose weight and look great fine by me! I'll do it!

Something I must tell everyone. I have been in the same bra size since high school-36B. I know I'm not a B and I'm not a 36 because my boobs are twice as huge. Watched Oprah not long ago and saw that if you got the right size you will look thinner. So off to Victoria's Secret yesterday. I get measured. I'm a 38C. The cup looked huge but I picked out four bras on sale and off to the dressing room. I tried one on and put my shirt back on. I couldn't believe it. It works! They look smaller. They were up a little higher. I looked smaller! Awesome. If you haven't done that in a while, go get it done. The pic of me is not with a bra on so you can't notice it now.

Pop Quiz..

Okay so on our Chicago blog there was this questionnaire and I hadn't answered or even looked at throughly until tonight. Then I thought let me think about the last year. It is 2006 so I am answering and I would like to see Mel, Chris, Brittany, Tracy,Vanessa, Autumn, and Beth-yes I know you want to start bloggin'-answer these questions. I think they are pretty good and something that should be done when starting a new year! I look forward to reading them!

PERSONAL YEAR IN REVIEWIn 2005,
I gained -the courage to know I'm good enough! Huge for me! And to talk to people more.
I lost -my father and my grandmother.
I stopped -smoking and am so proud of that and will never go back!
I started- exercising regularly and the courage to be myself.
I was hugely satisfied by -CKU Mn.
And frustrated by -in-laws.
I am so embarrassed that I -made too much out of things (in-laws).
Once again, I learned more about myself than ever.
Once again, I did not do as much scrapbooking as I should have.
The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is -my hair-love my new flat iron.
The biggest psychological difference between me last December and thisDecember is -I know I'm loved, I'm liked, and I don't need you to tell me so.
I loved spending time -with Shane.
Why did I spend even two minutes -getting upset over other people?
I should have spent more time -scrapbooking.
I regret buying -Anna Griffith stamp set on QVC-terrible waste.
I will never regret buying --------- even though with that money I could have bought -------------------------.
I like Pepsi way too much.
I didn't exercis enough.
Tom Cruise drove me crazy.
Was -Shane's brother crazier than ever last year? Or was it me?
The most relaxing place I went was -my brothers place.
I feel so -at home when I write that down.
Why did I go to -the movie Bad News Bears?
The best thing I did for someone else was -listen.
The best thing I did for myself was -listen.
The best thing someone did for me was -listen.
The one thing I'd like to do again, but do it better, is -love my husband and children.

it's just that...

it's just that I miss HIM!! By the way can you see my pink sapphire he got me for xmas? Look how cute he looks. How strong. His arms are around me. I love him. Okay ready to be sick yet?

So joined a gym today! I have free ones on base but they don't offer cardio classes. The new one I joined has a TV on every piece of cardio equipment. The cycles for the spin class made me drool. It will have an internet cafe, coffee bar, and smoothie bar! Not to mention the endless supply of body building apparatuses! It is new and had that new car smell, the new car feel. I'm excited to get moving again.

I've also found my new favorite thing. It's tuna! Not just your ordinary tuna. It's tuna in a flavor sealed pouch but it's flavored tuna. I had sweet and spicy tuna on top of some salad greens with a splash of balsamic vinegar. To die for! I only had one packet of the sweet and spicy so tomorrow off to buy twenty more. My kids even ate it. Mel is it healthy that way? It seemed healthy. I thought those Peppermint Meltaways were good, they have nothing on the tuna.

Bowling was sub par tonight. Nothing even noteworthy to report. My son says, "except for him he had a good last game." Tomorrow The Wedding Crashers comes out. I will be buying it! If you haven't seen it don't rent it just go out and buy it. It's awesome. Funny funny. I ordered a new quote today. It's on the original section and it's the definition of family. I had yet to do anything above my fireplace-I finally found it. With some photos of our family. I'm excited. Did anyone do the Donna Downey online classes. I'm waiting for my planner so haven't started yet. I am very interested in Jenni Bowlin's monthly kit coming out. That's not until February. So much to look forward to this year! Man he's hot..sorry can't help looking.

New Years!

Here's to 2006! It feels fresh...of course I know it's the year my husband returns from Iraq so it is exciting. It also means I will be another year older this year...I guess I can't stop that! Last night we headed to my friend Beth's house. We had some good pork ribs and Cosmopolitans! They are delicious! She had Sex on the Beach...she's just dreaming this year. Here is Devin and I. She will be going into High School this year. That's all I could think of while laying down to sleep last night. How did that happen?

Here is mygirls that I will be hanging with for a year. Tracy is on my right and Beth is on my left. We are a good supportive group. We enjoy being around each other and our kids get along. You have to have that to hang out I think. Of course mine are about ten years older then theirs. Shane is doing well. He's been flying alot and got to see Iran the other night. He said it had snow capped mountains, which I would not have expected. My friend Tricia is arriving in 18 days. We are going to have a great time. We are putting on a paper bag album night for the wives here. Traditionally, we always eat Kailua Pig for New Years'. I know lots of people have black eyed peas and ham hocks but we do it different. It's still pork at least! Is there anything you do on New Years Day that only your family does. This is ours and probably another million Hawaiians! Aloha! Here's to the New Year! Lots to look forward to!