Some "me" updates

This blog is usually centered around the kids, which is the most important thing to me and usually the most noteworthy subjects for me to write about, however, I felt like posting a little bit of a me update.

So a few months back, I started to lose some of the last of my baby weight.  To be honest, the first part came off through some stress.  Maybe not the best way, but it was a good jump start.  Around that same time, Tony started working out and trying to come up with better eating habits.  So we really focused on eating better, eating proper portions and low and behold, I lost more weight.  More exciting than the actual pounds I was losing, I lost some serious inches and am getting some tone and definition back to my body.  At first, it was exciting to need to buy new clothes again.  But then the progress kept coming and I kept needing to buy new clothes.  This problem started to get a little pricey and it was frustrating to not be able to wear some of the new clothes I had just bought because they were too big already.  I started back to Jazzercise in January and am getting more tone and in some sort of shape again.

I was super excited to buy my first pair of size 4 jeans a month or so ago...I don't think I've ever fit into a size 4! It's not just about the pant size, but it sure feels good to slip them on and they aren't tight at all! I still have about 5 more pounds that I'd like to shed, hopefully without going down too many more inches. My goal is to keep toning up some more and then to sustain a healthier me.

So this isn't the best picture of me, but here I am now, finally under pre-baby weight and still working on being in the best shape of my life - my goal as 40 nears!

 Another exciting thing I did with my "new me" was decided that I just wasn't a mini-van mom.  So about three years ago, I tried to do it.  I really did try.  I drove it for three years and there were good things about it, but I never liked driving it every day.  I always hated how it felt to just jump in it and go run an errand or go to work every day - it felt like I was taking a bus.  Now granted, when we went on vacation or needed it to haul anything, it was super convenient and comfortable, but it was the every day trips that matter most. 

So I had seen a new white Jeep Cherokee driving down the road a couple months ago and it really caught my eye.  Tony loved his old one and so I figured I'd just go check them out to see if I could get into something I'd like better for a good price.  The one thing that I thought I didn't want to fore go was the 3rd row seating that the van had.  Again, we don't use it every day, but when we have an extra kid or are going somewhere that would normally require two cars, it's super handy to have the third row.  Well, the Cherokee didn't offer that.  So the next best thing at Brunswick Auto Mart was to look at the Toyota Highlander.  I really liked it!!!  But it was totally out of our price range.  I had on my super-car buying skills that day and was sticking to my guns on my price and since they were way off, we were going to walk away.  It must have been meant to be because the owner of the dealership was there that day and was making crazy offers.  I declined his first several, sticking to my guns, but then he made me a deal I couldn't refuse.  I got this awesome, white Toyota Highlander, loaded up with leather and heated seats, a moon roof, 4-wheel drive and several other bells & whistles.  I LOVE IT!!!

Now, I did give up a little cargo room, but we'll make due with it.  It still has good space with the 3rd row seats down, I just lost the floor to ceiling space.  But the ride is so great, so comfortable and just what I wanted that I was lacking in the van.  So yes, I'm tooting my own horn and letting you all know, I'm just cooler than a mini-van!!!

2012 Birthday Party

We had another combined birthday party for Hannah and Nicholas this year.  I swore I didn't want to do that, but it turns out to be so much easier.  Espeically again this year - Nicholas still really doesn't know better or really care, but is big enough to do something for.  Hannah is still so very into her birthday and wanted to do something fun with her friends.  We had it a The Jump Yard and invited family and friend and two of Hannah's friends from school. 

Nicholas had fun jumping too, which I was a little worried about.  The last time we went to a jump place, he was afriad, but he had a blast at the party!  So much in fact, he was a sweaty mess and ended up with the worst case of eczma ever after (poor thing).

 Hannah had a Barbie cake:

And Nicholas had a Yo Gabba Gabba cake:

 Here are the girls all sitting down for pizza, cake & presents after jumping

And here we are singing Happy Birthday to each of them





And then finally finished up the day with opening gifts.

And then we got to go home - nothing to clean up, just had to put a few toys away from all our generous friends and family.  And everyone had a great time!!!  This sharing a birthday party is a pretty good thing after all! 

Hannah's 6 years old

Hannah turned 6 years old on January 30th. 
Crazy - she's SIX, so not a little girl anymore - well, still a little girl, but now a little school girl and of course, still my little girl!
Her birthday was a Monday, so it was a school day.  She was excited for the day and took goodie bags for the kids in her class.  We took cupcakes too to daycare and then had spaghetti for dinner - her favorite meal. 
Then we had more cake and presents for her at home.  Nicholas loved sharing in her day and singing happy birthday to her.

She got a couple "big girl" gifts - a watch, a necklace and a bracelet - she loved them!

We went to get her pictures taken too.  I like school pictures, but I still like getting her birthday pictures - to see all of her!  They were cute!

Hannah's doing great in Kindergarten, making friends and is such a sweet girl.  She's so very smart, reading at about a 2nd grade level and starting to improve some math skills now too.  She still loves to wear dresses, loves all things princess and play with dolls - polly pockets and barbies.  She enjoys Sunday School and learning about God and Bible stories.  She has recently discovered Scooby Doo and likes to watch that.  She's a great big sister, a wonderful daughter and the most precious little girl that I have the pleasure of being Mommy to.  I love you, Hannah......Happy Birthday!

December 2011

I wanted to blog the December happenings so that when I get the time one of these days to finish putting my blog into a book, I have the memories.  Sorry I've been so absent - just busy and things have been a bit crazy, lots going on.

The kids went to see Santa at Pettiti's again this year. They have the best Santa, no lines, beautifully decorated and our friend Mike takes the pictures. Nicholas was so excited to go and he sort of ran up to Santa with his list and tripped over the steps, and then looked up and saw Santa and froze. He quickly decided he maybe didn't like him so much, but he didn't cry. Just didn't want to be all that close.

We had to step in to take a couple pictures.

Hannah enjoyed her visit and went over her list with Santa very throughly.

We did manage to get one half way decent picture of the two of them with Santa.

 We got their Christmas pictures taken and that was a disaster! I checked in saying, "we're here for our 7:00 and I'm sorry to whoever has to take these pictures!" I knew Nicholas would be a handful. We did manage to get a couple pictures with them both looking. Good enough to get cards made up, which was the ultimate goal of the event.

The kids were both home sick one day in December. Colds pretty much, but the coughing has lingered on for weeks - probably coming and going, but seems like more coming than going, which gets old!

Mom and I went to put on Hannah's Christmas party at school the Friday before her break. That was fun. The kids enjoyed it - we did a craft,

played bingo

and had a snack.

It was fun to go hang out with the Kindergarten class and watch Hannah interact with her friends.

After her party, I took her back to work with me for the rest of the day. We have a Santa at my work and he happened to be in the office that day, so I asked him to come talk to Hannah for a couple minutes. She was so surprised to see him there at Mommy's work!!

Then she had her Christmas program at church - It was the Christmas Story through the eyes of the Friendly Beasts. Hannah was a cow, the cutest cow I've ever seen!!! It was a cute pagent. I had helped to make the costumes, so it was fun to be involved that way too.

Hannah almost has her split - keep working on it, you'll get it all the way real soon!

Nicholas is getting to be such a big boy - he's talking a lot more and just getting so big. Here he is posing for the camera....and saying cheese!

He's still very ornery though too!

I kept Nicholas home the first week of Hannah's 2 week winter break. I stayed home with them Wednesday through Friday and we were very busy the entire three days. We finished shopping, got Nicholas' hair cut, did lots of running around.  We went to the Christmas party at daycare. They had another Santa there and the kids had a real fun time.

This is the first Christmas I didn't bake a single cookie - and it was JUST FINE!!! I did miss doing it, but I just did not have the time this year and wasn't about to stress out over trying to make it happen.

We went to Dawn's after church on Christmas Eve. Nicholas was a bit spooked by Santa, but did warm up to him and sat on his lap before he left. When he was being bad, we'd say "Santa's watching you" and he'd get back in line in a huge hurry! I figure I'll use that line until it doesn't work anymore, but it has been a good one! They had fun with the start of their Christmas gift-opening excitement.

The kids always have a blast with Uncle Jack.  He sure loved playing with their new rocking horse with them!

And then they played a new game with Krista and her new boyfriend.

And Aunt Dawn and Nicholas were buddies too.

We got home kind of late and had to get cookies out for Santa and then the kids went to bed.

 I was hoping they'd sleep in a bit, but I think we got until about 7:30. Hannah was up first and we had to go in and wake Nicholas up. He was a bit grumpy and really didn't care about the surprise of the gifts under the tree.

  

I tried really hard to get them to take a picture together by the tree...that didn't go so well. 

Hannah was super into the gifts and the whole Christmas morning. Nicholas opened his first gift and then just wanted to play with it and wouldn't open the other stuff. Hannah gladly offered to help him opent the other things, so I guess it worked out well for both of them. They were both very happy with their new toys and played the rest of the morning.

I made breakfast for them and then later, we got ready and went to my mom's. We had a nice time over there too. They got more toys and books and all sorts of stuff.

Hannah got an OSU tu-tu, but Nicholas is the one that really liked it!!! It was killing Tony that he wanted to run around with it on and I thought it was hysterical! I'm not sure if I enjoyed watching Nicholas think it was fun or watching Tony cringe at the site more, but either way, it was funny!!!

Hannah and I got matching aprons.  We'll have to do more cooking and baking together. 

Hannah spent the week at daycare for her second week off. She was super excited to go since it's been a few months since she's spent her days there. Now she's the big kid that doesn't have to take a nap, so she thinks it's wonderful!!! I'm so grateful for having Val's house for the kids. They've done such a great job helping me raise these two kids and the kids love them all so much. We had a week off from gymnastics and from choir practice, so it was a nice break.
And that's about it for December. Soon I'll have a January update also and then maybe, just maybe I may get myself and my poor old blog back on track this year with more frequent updates. I would recommend not holding your breath though!