Health Update

Well I've officially lost nine pounds in the last nine days. The doctor says around day ten things slow down a bit so I'm going to try to keep motivated even if I'm not seeing the weight go down by a pound a day. My goal is still 30. I'll try to post more exciting events later but for now just wanted to keep myself honest with a weekly report. Clothes are feeling much more comfortable but I'm not down a size yet... maybe by week's end. We'll see.

2 for 2

Just a quick update. So far I'm losing weight at a rate of two pounds/day. I know this rate will probably only last for the first week but it certainly helps keep me motivated. I wont lie and say it's easy. I'm hungry, but I feel really good. Every time I see something yummy I just take a swig of water and remind myself of how great I will feel to reach my goal. I hope I can keep this up... no, I KNOW I can keep this up. I'm thinking positive!

A new plan, a new day!

Hi friends and family,

Today I'm starting a new program, dr. directed, that is supposed to help me lose at least 20 pounds (I'm hoping for 30 but wont sneaze at 20). I'm super excited but the program calls for strict adherence to the calorie and food that he has set out. So just a shout out to ask for encouragement when it gets hard (as I'm sure it will). This program lasts just over a month and then he will help me develop a healthy diet for maintenance but in the mean time I just have to be 100% strict. So keep me honest, remind me that it will all be worth it, and help remind me of how fabulous it will be when I FINALLY lose those stubborn 20-30 pounds I've been wanting to lose for years! I'm ready to finally make this goal a reality!!

Girls Trip 2010- NYC or Bust!

I had no idea that when we planned our rather spontaneous girls trip to London in 2004 that we would be starting a yearly tradition of adventures! Since that time we've gone to Katie's beach house, Charlotte NC to visit Becca, Phillie to visit Kristin, and now NEW YORK CITY! Who knows where future adventures will take us, but we definitely enjoy this yearly retreat to catch up and remember the value of good friendships!

Again, these photos are backwards in order because I'm a goof when it comes to downloading them but you get the point. We ended our trip with a carriage ride through Central Park. We had a great carriage driver who gave us the inside scoop on the Park's history. He owns and directs his own carriage rides through the park just like his father before him. It was a wonderful way to end our journey!

Here we are just beginning our tour.

Prior to Central Park, a must do on our trip was visiting the Statue of Liberty. We knew it would eat up several hours but we really enjoyed getting a close look at Lady Liberty. In future trips we hope to have more time to spend at Ellis Island. Here's Katie at the Statue looking back at a view of the city.

Katie and I had both been to the Statue of Liberty but it had been over twenty years for both of us, meaning we weren't really old enough to appreciate it.

Kristin on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.

I'm rather impressed with my photo abilities on this one below. Pretty great!

We really enjoyed the ferry ride and the time to take in the views.

Katie just had to take advantage of this o' so touristy moment. Classic!

Walking to Battery Park from Greenwich Village Sunday morning

Enjoying breakfast in Greenwich Village

TIME SQUARE after seeing WICKED. Kristin just had to go into the Hershey store since she said it smelled of happiness.

A tribute to our first girls trip in London and seeing Mama Mia! O' the memories.

Time Square

On our way to the play

We ate at this restaurant right by the Gershwin Theatre, Azalea's. I had the best Salmon and the other girls got some great pasta dishes.

Ready for Wicked!

Our hotel room. We got a newly remodeled Holiday Inn in Mid-town. It was a nice convenient location... only a few blocks from Penn Station.

Taking in the New Jersey Transit... our primary mode of transportation to get to the City. However, I wouldn't recommend it, not if you have a long distance to go. What would have been a five hour drive turned into an eight hour trip. Oh well, still gave us lots of time for good bonding.

Becca and Kristin waiting at the train station in Phillie.

So another adventure for the books! Thanks girls for the wonderful memories and for reminding me of how friendships can be the crowning jewels in life.

See you in 2010~ Boston??? The Beach??? Who knows, but I do know it will be fun!

Within the next year...

I've always been a goal oriented person. I do best when I can spend the evenings writing out a to-do list for the next day. There's something very satisfying about checking items off of a to-do list. And for those items that never get checked off, well let's just say it's a good way to realize the things you just aren't going to get around to and you know it but you still feel the compulsion to put it down. So in light of my love for goals, I thought I'd take some time and share my goals for the upcoming year with you, our friends. Perhaps this is to hold me a little more accountable. Perhaps it's because this is hopefully going to be a big year. Perhaps it's because I'm anal retentive and I need an outlet. Whatever the reason, here they are, my goals for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year:

1. I want my husband to find a job. This one is a big one and many other goals hinge on this first occuring. I think that's another reason why I wanted to write my goals down... so I feel like I have more control over them. Because in actuality, I have less control than I'd like to admit. If Shaun doesn't find a job it will be hard to move forward in many ways. Perhaps I should add patience as a goal but common', let's be realistic! It's not going to happen.

2. I want to buy our first home! Again, this hinges on goal #1 occuring, but I've got the itch to buy so bad it's killing me. I'm tempted to call a realtor and just go looking anyway. But buying in this area means staying in this area, something I'm not quite ready to commit to. For instance, what if Shaun finds a fabulous job in say... North Carolina? Unbenounced to him, he has already applied for several jobs in this wonderful dream state of mine. I don't want to rule that out as a place to move and you can get more bang for your buck there.

3. I want to have another baby... I'm not rushing this one. Just some time this year I'd like to start trying. That's probably a better way to word it. But again, this hinges on goal #1 occurring because I would like to at least go down to working part-time after having a second baby. This of course means my husband would be the primary income, again refer to goal #1.

4. I want to decorate said house listed in #2 that we will buy when goal #1 is accomplished. I see so many beautiful things I'd love to buy for my home but it's at capacity. I'm not one for clutter so I wont buy it if I don't have room for it. There are several kitchen gadgets I'd love to buy but have no room to store them. I want to buy furniture for Ella but again lack the space to put it somewhere. I LOVE to decorate and I've conjured up so many images in my head of rooms I can decorate.... Maybe I'll go back for that interior design degree after all. If I can't decorate my own house then by golly let me decorate someone else's.

5. I want to lose 30 pounds. Now, this is the one goal I actually DO have control over and ironically, as hard as I try it seems to not work. I lost my baby weight last year but over the last six months I've put ten pounds back on. Despite going to the gym religiously I have to face the reality that my eating also has to be healthy. It's not that I eat horribly, but there's room for improvement. So 30 pounds I guess will be the goal I give the priority until goal #1 occurs and I can start thinking about all the other things I want to do. I guess it's good because if I can lose 30 pounds before I get pregnant again I'll feel a lot better (heck, I'll even be happy if I lose 15. I'll still be lower than I was when I was initially pregnant with Ella).

So these are my thoughts on this Saturday night about the things I'd like to do, some of which I can control and others which I need to pray for patience to allow to happen in their own due time. Along the way I hope to make the most of every day and remember appreciation for the things I already have accomplished and enjoy!

Ella takes care of important business

Ella knows what life is all about. First things first when traveling, you must test all equipment. That includes the luggage rack. She made it her own personal jungle gym. This girl is buuussssy!

Ella also likes to help Shaun find jobs on the hotel phone ... here she is busy making conference calls.

But all work and no play makes life dull... so a little jumping on the bed with Grandpa's help helps her stay balanced (literally)

Note: See Ella's pj's. Guess who dressed her that night. Can anyone say "daddy?"

And the most important business of all: FAMILY! This is the only picture I got of Ella with nana and grandma during this visit... too bad her shirt is a complete mess. Maybe I can photoshop that and make it look clean. On second thought, let's show the reality of what Ella does to her clothing because she has to eat everything "by self". It's still a sweet photo.

A sweet photo of Ella, her new kitty "gato", and her grandma C

Ella is a doll. I think she's got the right idea about life, don't you?

A Most Colonial Family

It's hard to believe that it was only a week ago that we were touring Williamsburg. Other than that lovely Virginia humidity, the trip was absolutely wonderful. I don't know how many times I thanked Heavenly Father for AC and no longer needing to wear so many layers and gowns to my ankles. I was hot just watching the ladies around Williamsburg. But really, it was so nice to show Shaun's parents our favorite VA city. We absolutely love Williamsburg and the way history is quite literally alive in this town. Here are a few of our photos from our time there.

Ella and Grandma C playing on the bench in front of one of the colonial stores

One of the locals telling us about her chicken and his comb

Outside the cabinet makers

Ella loved the oxen

Ella enjoying some of the colonial gardens

A colonial reenactment

The weaver telling us Ella has "flaxen" colored hair

Grandma C loved the Colonial Gardens. I think she's going to make grandpa recreate them in Fallen, NV... Good Luck!

The Blacksmith

The Governor's Mansion outside gardens

More of the grounds on the Governor's palace

Ella enjoying her not so colonial candy lollipop

Too cute!