13 Crazy Years...

Well, Garrett and I celebrated our 13th Anniversary this week and I find it so funny to look back and see how we have grown up together.  And yes we do have a ways to go but I think it will be a fun journey.

You see Garrett thinks that I am going through a mid life crisis and I don't know why.  Just because I have dyed my hair crazy colors, swam a mile in the lake, working on running a 5 K, thinking about getting a new tattoo ( It is a L with two ladybugs, but have not decided yet if I am going to do it), and thinking and praying about teaching a class on the Catholic Faith to prisoner at the jail in South Carolina (Need a good excuse to get a good cup of coffee).  No, mom have have not decided to do it yet as Garrett is not so thrilled with the idea.  Now, I know it may look like a little bit of crazy but I am having a great time.

Last night Garrett and I went to the Melting Pot for dinner.  Totally fun and a bit different.  Then we went to Savannah Smiles a Dueling Piano Bar.  It was a blast.  I was dancing and singing in my chair and Garrett was just laughing at me.  I think that might be one of my parts in the marriage is to keep it fresh and add a new layer to our lives.  You see the older we get the more mellow Garrett gets and the more free spirited I get.  Who know where we will end up in another 13 years but I am so glad that I have him to take the journey with me.

'Til the next adventure...

Oh, by the way Garrett and Bug made me a Rosary for my anniversary present.  The thing I like the best, it is missing 3 beads.  My engineer husband miss counted and forgot the 3 little beads at the beginning of the Rosary so one decade is three short.  He says he is going to fix it but I really don't want him to.  That is want makes it fun and unique.  I do have Garrett's long history of good intentions that don't come to fruition working in my favor.  As long as I don't remind him, I might get to keep it the way I have it.  What is 3 little prayers anyway.

Why Do Listen Ears Always Disappear???

I have told Little Bug 4 times to get in the shower since we have been home from the bus... Yet still no shower.  I know as we get older, the listening ears get more selective like  I told Bug to empty the Dishwasher and amazingly she did not hear me.  However, she heard me tell Garrett about some stuff with the house that I was whispering... I tell you what...

'Til the next adventure...

What a Nice Day...

Hey y'all.  So it has been a long time no chat.  You see I have been a bit homesick the last few weeks and have not really wanted to do anything but go home.  I'm not saying I don't like Georgia as we have started to really make a place for ourselves in our little community of Rincon.  But it is not "home" and I don't know if it will be compared to Kansas at least for me.

I know it sounds kind of crazy but I miss working at a totally messed up place.  I miss my wonderful friends and family. The one thing I do know is that my "Peeps" will always be a part of my life no matter what happens in Georgia or Kansas.  I just have to make sure to keep tabs and make an effort.

Today was Garrett's 34th Birthday and for his birthday, he wanted to take a trip to Detroit, MI to visit his friends Noell and Mr. Ly. Yes he still has some.  They had a old man frat weekend with a bit of drinking and a lot of fun. 

He got home yesterday and took today off and it was really a great time.  We took the kids to school, went to workout and the TRX class about killed both of us.  Then we picked up my friend Ms. Kathy who just had a c-section in May and back surgery 4 weeks ago and needs a bit of help to do some things like grocery shopping.  Garrett held and played with the baby while I pushed the cart and kept Anna, the 2 year old and one of Bug's good friends, busy naming colors and fruit while Kathy put all the groceries in the cart.  After we were done and made Anna lunch and got her ready for nap, Garrett and I went to lunch at our favorite Mexican joint. 

The weather was so awesome today.  I love the cooler temps and the sunshine.  We got the girls off the buses and then off to our extracurricular activities, Bug to Ms. Sarah's for a babysitting gig with help from Mom and Little Bug and Dad to soccer.  We had dinner, ice cream cake and a little regular cake because I wanted it. 

Garrett and his ice cream cake.  Anna helped pick out the candles for the cake. 

 I promised her a piece tomorrow.



Bug tring to give Garrett bunny ears,  What a pain.



Little Bug checking out the presents.  Garrett is lucky that she doesn't wear

the same size because she was going to take it.



I really love days like today, we had alone time, friend time, kid time and family time all in one day and never felt over whelmed. I will say Garrett does a good job playing with the babies and little ones, we make the best Aunt and Uncle ever.  (No, I don't have the baby bug. I'm totally content and happy with the way things are in the family department and so is Garrett.)

'Til the next adventure...

Come on Irene...

Irene was in the area but nothing came of it for us anyway.  I put the Hurricane ready kit in the garage for the next time storms are in the area. We went swimming and watched the clouds circle around the pool.  I was hoping for it to blow away all the crabbiness in the house away.  But no.  The girls lost their pool rights for the week which sucks not only for them but for me.  I like to chill with them at the pool for an hour after school a couple of times a week.  It tires them out and they sleep better.

We have been doing better this week so far.  Hopefully that continues. Les has training with Ms. Sarah today.  She has been working really hard.  I am proud of her.

'Til the next adventure...

Phase 2...

So I have been struggling more than normal about eating right and working out. So, I called in my reinforcements. Drill Sargent Sarah. Tomorrow starts "Phase 2".  I have not been gaining weight by any means I have just been staying the same and I don't want to stay the same.

My weight has always been an issue with me and I go through phases.  Since I moved to Georgia, I have been more honest with myself then ever.  I think that it came from the last flight on the last leg of all my travel adventures in 2010 when I was siting next to Little Bug and I could not get my seat belt buckled.  I was so embarrassed and Little Bug was trying everything to help me out. She wanted me to be safe and that plane was not going to take off with her mom not wearing a seat belt. So I had to ask for an extension. It took everything in me and I was so super, super embarrassed.  Little Bug relaxed because her mom was safe.  I on the other hand was crying inside trying to look so brave on the outside. 

So, I thought and thought about what I needed to do and I made a pledge to myself, no more seat belt extensions. But I have to be honest with myself always.  In January of 2010, I weighed 283.  The sad part is that was down from the heaviest that I had been and could still fit in my size 24 and most of my size 22 clothes. 

Getting ready to go scuba diving in Jamaica.  I almost did not go because I was scared that they would not have a belt that would fit me.  Good thing for my Garrett, he said that we were going to go and to suck it up.  It was my very favorite part of the vacation. Well that and seeing my little bro tie the knot.

So, when we got to Georgia, we joined the YMCA and I started working out.  It sucked.  I hated it.  Every moment but I just keep seeing Little Bugs worried face of me not buckling up. So I endured.  After a month, I had lost about 5 lbs.  but was busting my ass to do so.  I went to the doctor to get my yearly check up and had a bit of a break down in the doctor's office and we put together a plan.

I started a food journal and kept going to the Y.  I have made most of my friends from the Y and I am glad to be a part of it.  I drop the kids off at school and head into the Y for my workouts.  I even worked out over the summer just not as hard.  The girls and I swam even on vacation, did yoga and had a hard time sitting still.  I did not lose very much weight but I was able to meet some goals, I did an open water swim practice of 2000 meters, swam in a swim meet and am flexible enough to paint my toes again.

 Just finished my practice swim at the lake.



The lake in Pooler, GA where we practiced for the open water swim. 

It was beautiful but it ate the enamel off of your teeth.  That's what it felt like anyway.

So, it is time for phase 2.  I need to step back up and keep better track of what I am doing.  However, I am very proud of what I have done so far.  I am at 253 lbs as of yesterday morning and all my size 22 clothes are too big.  I had to go buy some new shorts awhile back and am in a very comfortable size 20 and even a few size 18.



Getting ready to go to the pool.  I sometimes need a check to make sure that I am making progress. 

Not sucking it in either.

I had to fill out some paperwork for Sarah about what I really wanted to accomplish and so I figured that I should share some of my goals with you... don't laugh, some are a bit silly...

1. I would like to be able to genuflect at church without having to hold on to the pew for balance and to get back up.
2. I would like to run/ walk a 5K with an focus on running.  I was going to try to do it on Sept. 10 for my friends at the Zoo but... I won't be ready to run it by then just walk, Little Bug has an away soccer game that day, and there is not a race that I know of around here for that day.  I did pick the race I want to do... it is Purple Stride on Nov. 12 at Tybee Island.  It is on the beach at low tide and for Pancreatic Cancer research.  Since Garrett's grandma died of this I think it is a really good fit.
3. I would like to be able to get out of the pool without using a ladder. 
4. I would like to lose an additional 50 lbs.
5. I would like to fit into my black polka dot skirt! Size 16 by Christmas...





So there you have it...

'Til the next adventure...

Pray for me tomorrow that I survive...

 

What Have We Done?

I was getting super frustrated and crabby today because I could not get my pictures off of my cell phone.  I tried a month ago and got frustrated after an hour and then quit. So after we went to a friend's birthday party, we went by Verizon to see if they could help.  Next thing you know we have purchased a phone for Bug.

I did finally get all my pictures off of my phone and found many that I had no idea were there.  This is what I found...

All pictures that were taken by Bug when she was bored and sent to friends or family. Something fun for you all to look forward too. I know I am... (Where is that sarcastic font when you need it)

'Til the next adventure...

We Made It...

We just finished our first full week of school with soccer practice in Savannah.  However, it was a little bittersweet. Little Bug was tardie today. We were all so tired this morning and Little Bug would not get up.  So naturally consequences, we were 5 minutes late to school but we were dressed, clean and feed. Today, I was taking what I could get.

Little Bug loves her new teacher Mrs. Blake and has been doing very well on homework and behavior so far this year.  We even got a 5 on our coconut. (Don't really get what that means besides behavior is rated daily on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best.)  After long discussions and many tears, we are even riding the bus home from school with Ms. Glenda. You see I was being selfish and did not want to sit outside in the hot sun for 30 minutes parked on a highway waiting for her to come out.  After the first day of bus riding everything worked out and now we love it.

First day of 3rd grade.  No we did not need a sweater as it was already

85 degrees out at 7 a.m. but it was new and we "needed" to wear it. 

Bug's first week went pretty well also.  We got the inhaler permission slip in the nurses office for use before PE this year.  Bug was put in the Sopranos for Choir this year and is totally nervous about tring to reach the notes.  We will get it down.  I have no doughts.

And she even made a new "Buddy" who is in ALL her classes and rides the bus home, too.  Oh! Thank goodness for Autumn.  The way Bug describes her is kind of like Earnest from the movies.  I can't wait to see what kind of impressions come from this "Buddy".

Bug ready for the first day of 7th grade.  She is supper stoked about getting to dissect a frog and many other fun things in Science this year and she even has a "Cool" Social Studies teacher. 

I can't wait for the stories. 

Super Girl poses for the next year of school!

'Til the next adventure...