2003

John and Granddad are playing a duet at John's piano recital.

Matthew finally gets to play t-ball!
It was fun having them both on the same team.

Sigh.  To be thin again.

Having fun in the pool at Grandma's house!

I adore that face!

They made this "target" at Grandma's house and
practiced pitching by throwing water balloons at it.

All dressed up for his Kindergarten Graduation;
scraped forehead and all.

My Happy Campers

Someone's feet got tired while cruising
Cannery Row!

Yes, the beach again...the things we do in Monterey.

I love jammies!

I've always been a sucker for nachos...
and for that pirate behind me.

Playing with your cousin is very serious business.

Matthew got his turn for a duet at the Christmas recital!

Merry Christmas!
Thankfully, Santa comes even if you
didn't listen to you mother, you got hurt,
and you have stitches in your chin.

Taking The Easy Way Out

Tonight at home group, we celebrated Thanksgiving.  Our fabulous hostess made turkey and wild casserole, green beans, corn, apple/fluff salad, rolls and cranberry sauce.  It was all quite delicious.

While it wasn't a potluck, I told her that I would bring the pumpkin pie.  Months ago, when the dessert sign up sheet was passed around (yes, we eat dessert every week at group), I volunteered for tonight.  It's our last meeting of the session, so I thought I'd make Ding Dong Cake (I can explain that another day).  Once she decided to do a Thanksgiving-ish meal, pie seemed more appropriate.

Dutifully, I brought three pumpkin pies and three large canisters of whipped cream.  Here's the problem.  I cheated.  I bought them at Costco.  It's been a long work week and I didn't know if I'd have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, so I decided that for $5.99 each, I would let Costco do the work.
 
Ugh.  It's just not the same. Granted, it's fine.  It's passable.  But it's really not the same.  Homemade kicks Costco's butt.

Therefore, I am now officially ready for Thanksgiving.  Until now, I've been in denial that we're this close to the holidays.  You know, if I don't acknowledge it, it won't matter that I'm so far behind.  But having a pseudo Thanksgiving meal and mediocre pumpkin pie, I must say that I'm ready.  I need real, homemade dessert.  I'm eagerly anticipating my sister-in-law's pie (and hopefully her amazing chocolate chip cookies!) next Thursday, and then I plan to spend Thursday night making pies for our second Thanksgiving next Friday.

Seriously...I can't wait.

My Son Is...

Many words and phrases describe my eldest son.

Intelligent

Compassionate

Driven

A True Teammate

The Oscar to Matthew's Felix

Fun-Loving

Talented

I could go on and on; those are just a few.  Today I can add to that list.

College Applicant

It is with tremendous pride, and a little piece of my heart breaking, that we dip our toes into the next chapter of John's life.  I don't have any idea what will come next.  I am praying for a financial miracle that will allow him to go to a university.  However, if the Lord's plan is that he stays home and attends Palomar for a while, we will rejoice that he will get through a few years without accumulating any debt.  I am trying, although it is quite against my nature, to let go of the stress and release John and his path to Christ.

No matter how it ends, today we took a not-so-baby-step forward.  

I don't feel remotely ready for my baby to grow up,
but I am so overwhelmingly proud of him and excited to see what his future holds.  

Ten on Tuesday

Today I offer you ten completely random thoughts.  Enjoy...

1.  If the panhandler on the corner can afford hair dye, perhaps she's doing just fine.

2.  Would a snack-free theatre catch on?  While we were seeing Skyfall the other night, I was annoyed several times by candy bag/crinkling noise behind me.

3.  I don't really read very often, but I kind of want a Kindle. What's that about?

4.  Andy didn't have to tell me that KYXY is playing Christmas music every evening at 7pm.  I had no idea.  It was beyond delightful; it made my day and was a true sacrifice on his part. 

5.  I am continually shocked by the general irresponsibility of some parents.

6.  I appreciate days off much more, now that I have to go to work every day.  Weekends and holidays have become so precious.

7.  Losing weight would be much easier if I liked vegetables and healthy foods.  I love red meat, potatoes, breads, pastas, fried foods and baked goods.  I'm not kidding, I like three vegetables and only one of them is green.

8.  Each year, it makes me happy to see how happy Andy gets when I can finally get Old Fezziwig Ale.

9.  I can't sleep with the closet doors open.  How weird am I?

10.  Our youth pastor (Geoff) and our worship leader (David, pronounced Dah-veed) are awesome.  Not only are they super gifted, talented, and generally fabulous at what they do, but they have both taken an interest in Matthew and have begun to take time to jam with him (on the guitar).  It's quite wonderful. 

Shredded

Yesterday I got a hair-brained idea. 

As I was putzing around on the computer before we went to church, I saw an ad for Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred.  Honestly, I'd never heard of it before.  Clearly I've been under a fitness rock for some time.  Sigh.

Around this time last year, having reached my highest weight to date, I decided that beginning January 2nd, I would be making some changes.  I dove right in and I really did make some good progress.  By the end of April, I'd lost fifteen pounds.  While that was awesome, I still had a good thirty to forty pounds to go and I got overwhelmed and off track. I completely fell off the wagon.  So now, a year later when I could have been near my goal weight by now, I find myself having gained back all that I lost and needing to once again make changes.

I've been meaning to get back to the gym, but I don't know that I'm going to be able to have time for it until after Christmas.  Yes, I could get up at 5am and do it; no, I'm not THAT committed.  So, when I saw the 30 Day Shred, I wondered if that might be just the thing to get me started.  Against my better judgement, I gave it a try this morning.

Whoa.

It's only been about four hours and I'm already sore.  I can tell that by the end of the night, it might be a project just making it up and down the stairs.  I have no idea how I'm going to be able to do it again tomorrow.  I will try though.  I'm praying, you can join me, that my back will hold out; I have some disk (disc?) damage.  I should also remember to do jumping jacks correctly so that I don't hurt my foot again. Don't ask.

Will it be enough to help me lose weight in the next 30 days?  Don't know.  Hopefully, it'll keep me from gaining too much over the holidays and aid me in regaining some good habits.

We'll see!

Rewriting Christmas Songs

Sing along with me, will you? 
I've penned a new verse to It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year:


It's the most asthmatic time of the year.
With the damp air a-blowing, I'll keep neb-u-lizing - for my lungs I fear!
It's the most asthmatic time...of the year!


It seems cruel that my absolute favorite time of the year, November through February, is also the time that I most struggle to breathe.  The moist, cold air kills me.  This year it's starting early; there's a heaviness in my lungs that won't subside.  My barky cough is returning and I've already spent multiple days tied to my inhaler. 

Oh well.  It's a reasonably small price to pay for the glorious, heavenly cold weather. 
I really, really do love it. Cold, wind, rain...I come alive.
Bring it on, weatherman! 

Saturday Awesomeness

Getting to sleep in:  Refreshing.

Peterson's donuts for brunch:  Delicious.

Seeing Skyfall and going to Claim Jumper with my three favorite men:  Priceless.


Seriously, my men are so wonderful.  There was a bit of stress for a while today, but time with them always adjusts my perspective and reminds me of what is really important.

So thankful for today.