Thankful Tuesday

Today I'm thankful for sunshine, flip flops, quiet/playing children, fresh air, open windows, mellow music, and the promise of summer and happy memories to come! Have a wonderful day my friends. There's much to be grateful for.

Trying to lose Buhda!

I was surfing around and came across a very cool blog, Mom O Matic. She started a fun way to lose weight (with friends) called Future MILF. Basically, everyone who is a member posts weekly weigh ins on Fridays and writes a little blurb on how the week went. I find this very inspiring and since I am on a quest of my own to loss my personal buhda belly I joined in the efforts. Since my official weight watchers weigh in nights are Tuesday, I will just post my results on Friday.

So to get things rolling (to date)

Pounds lost: 1.8
Total loss: 14
Diet: weight watchers
Workout: walking (5k training)

This week has been good so far although I'm not sure how I'll do at weigh in tomorrow evening. We attended our third 5k this last Saturday in Seattle. It was a lot of fun. We started out dead last because they couldn't find my number and ended up just giving me someone else's. We ran to catch up with the tail end but managed to work our way up through the crowd. We ran some including over the finish line (fun!) and finished in 50 minutes and 47 seconds. Yay!!

Dear Mom,

Today on Mother's Day, I sit here at my computer while reflecting on my life as a mother and my life with you, my mother. I remember at 18, I was worried about how my hair looked and what outfit to wear. At 18, you were struggling as young, first time mom. I remember at 23, I was worried about graduating, finding a job in my career of choice, and my life to be. At 23, you were going through a divorce and struggling with living on your own and raising a young daughter. I remember at 26 I was embarking on my life as an adult, a wife, and a parent. At 26, you were living as a single parent struggling with the challenges of such and trying to find your way.

Our lives have turned out quite different but they've always been connected and interwoven. I wouldn't have it any other way. You are a strong, passionate, loving woman and I have learned many lessons from you and your life.

Now that I am here, a mom of three, listening to my husband cooking his famous mother's day breakfast with Wonder Boy and the Divine Miss O while Baby Love naps, I think of you and I say Thank You! Thank you for being my mother, my protector, my encourager, my confidant, my counselor, and my friend. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here and if not for you, I wouldn't be where I am today.

I love you!

Mother's Tea

The Divine Miss O's school had a little Mother's Tea this morning. It was a morning filled with singing, dancing, hand-made gifts, and cookies. Everything was very cute - a day to remember!

What is number one?

The instructors in Wonder Boy's Tae Kwon Do class have been trying to teach the kids how to count in Korean. It is such a wonderful introduction to the culture and language of the martial arts they are all training in. The kids have been excited about it, practicing it, and training with the Korean numbers 1 though 10 for several weeks now. This week, when practicing front kicks, the instructor asked what number one was in Korean. There was silence in the room. Eyes darted from the ceiling to the floor, trying to avoid being called on. You could literally hear the wheels spinning of everyone all trying to rack their brains for the answer. All of the sudden Wonder Boy piped up in the most innocent, wide eyed, sweet sounding voice and said "uno?"

this and that

It is a glorious day today - I love it!! Nothing puts me in a good mood more than warmer temperatures and sunshine. I have a heavy, soul searching post rumbling around in my head that I need to get out but today is not the day for it. I'm feeling too good to start pulling out my heart strings right now. More on that later. The kids got absolutely, head to toe, filthy playing outside. Nothing like a nice warm bath to wrap up an afternoon. The Divine Miss O is already in her pjs winding down and Wonder Boy is right behind her.

I helped out at Wonder Boy's school's art fair this morning. So many creative kids and fun things to look at. Or as his teacher said "so many creative parents who want to be art teachers." It was great to see all the different mediums from Lego's, old tools, to paint, watercolors, construction paper, soap, etc. It inspired me to try new and different things with my kids. Wonder Boy painted a rocket ship and the planets using watercolor paints for his art entry. He was very proud. Gotta love that!

The Divine Miss O came home with a big piece of construction paper a while back. She had dabbed a plastic lid in black paint and painted circles on the paper. For some reason I love it, not just because my daughter did it, but because its so modern and cool. I want to frame it and hang in the guest bathroom.

I came across this music: Crazy Frog. It's so hilarious. The kids love it. I am probably so far behind the times hearing about this fun music, but oh well, I had to share anyway.

I have to throw a great big shout out to my lovely and wonderful friend EE. Happy Birthday you rocking chick you!

I was super surprised at Weight Watchers on Tuesday. I lost 1.8 pounds and am now down 14 total. Yahoo!!! We have our third 5k this Saturday in Seattle and I can't wait. So much fun and I truly love the women I'm doing all this training and walking with. They are superb people!

Can you measure love?

Me: Wonder Boy, I love You!

WB: I love you!

Me: Do you know how much I love you?

WB: 2 thousand, 64, 9 hundred and 45, 2 hundred and 84, and 2 hundred 59 - that's how much!

Thankful Tuesday

Today I'm thankful for our little

Baby Love!

She came to us in June of 2006. She was so tiny!

Baby Love embodies everything that is simple, true and pure love. She brightens the day and melts your heart with one flash of her smile.

She has an wickedly infectious laugh

that no one can fight the urge to laugh right along with her.

She's petite and lovely!

She's sweet and beautiful.

She's our Baby Love - what's not to love!

I love you!

she speaks

It happened! Blond mom spoke to me. I was surprised and caught completely off guard.

A little back story:
Wonder Boy has been taking classes in the martial arts for about a year. Recently a few kids from his school have been trickling into the same classes which puts me in a tight spot. Not only do I have to figure out how to be avoided by these blond moms at school, but now at our extra curricular activities as well. Bugger! Believe me, if I felt like these particular women were more accepting of other women who don't drive $50,000 dollar vehicles and don't keep up on the fashions JLo is wearing, then I wouldn't feel so weird around them.

Here's how it went down:
Wonder Boy had been sick and missed two classes, so we were making classes up the next week. Low and behold, wonder boy's make-up class happened to be one of his school-mates regular class and also Blond Mom's son. Yes, so there ya have it - I had to sit in the same room (in close proximity I might add) with a woman who acts like I have the plague. At first it was uncomfortable especially since Wonder Boy is an outgoing and talkative lad who engaged her in conversation right away, but, to my surprise, it ended up being a good experience. Her child acted like a complete nutso! He was all over the place, not following directions, being rude . . . . . dare I say, he acted like a brat?!?! I couldn't help but giggle a little inside even though I knew my little wonder boy had had a hard time adjusting to the rules at first too (but not to this degree). I might have even let a smile flash across my face for a slight minute when the instructor asked Blond Mom if her son had ADD. However, because Wonder Boy told the instructor that he goes to the same school as Blond Mom's son, she decided to use Wonder Boy as an example. Bugger!! She told Blond Mom that Wonder Boy had a hard time following directions, etc at first too but with practice and hard work, he is now testing for a yellow belt and has done quiet well. Which was completely true!

Back to the moment she speaks:
After the class was completed and she was forced to walk past me, she caught me off guard. I very much expected her to walk on by with maybe a small glance and a grin which seemed to be all we could muster up with each other, but she stopped. Yes, she stopped.

She said, "So there's hope then?"

I said, "Yes, of course, he'll be fine. All the boys seem to go through this when they first start. Hang in there!"

Then she said "Oh good!" and "See you later."

As she walked away and wrangled up her little unruly, misbehaving boy, I thought to myself "ain't humility a bitch!"

Baseball has been very, very good to me!

Baby Love!

The Divine Miss O

(I have no idea what this look was about.)

The T-Ball Star: Wonder Boy

Changed my mind, I do have something to say!

Okay, so I'm in my house, minding my own business I might add, when there's a knock on the door. I look out the window and get that automatic sinking feeling when I see the young man standing there with his "Evans Glass" jacket. I think "oh crap!! Not again!!!" I also think to myself, can I just ignore him? But he sees me standing in the living room from the window so I know I have to open the door and tell him I'm not interested in their stupid free estimate line of bull. Why do I already know what he is doing standing on my doorstep for, you ask? Because this is the fifth time someone from Evans Glass has come to my door with their "I'm not trying to sell you anything, I just wanted to let you know that we will be in your neighborhood tomorrow and we would like to give you a free estimate" crap.

I politely open the door and try to hold three kids and one dog back with a smile on my face as I say "Hi, I'm not interested."

To which he replies "I haven't even said anything yet. How do you know why I'm here?"

Me "This is the fifth time Evans Glass has come through this neighborhood and I'm not interested in buying windows at this time."

Him "But I'm not trying to sell you anything . . . . ."

Me (cut him off) "I know, free estimate, yeah, I got that the first time."

Him "Sounds like you've heard this before. Can I ask why you're not interested?"

Me "Because I do not appreciate this sales tactic."

Him "But I'm not trying to sell you anything . . . . ."

Me (again cutting him off) "I'm not interested and the fact that you are trying to stop me from closing my door annoys me and I just do not appreciate it!"

Him (a little pissed off and starting to walk away) "Aaaarite. . . Peace!"

Me "Yeah - whatever!"

Dear Evans Glass in Seattle Washington,

I do not appreciate your sales tactic at all. I think your free estimate is a line of crap! If and when I'm in the market to purchase windows, I will not be contacting your company just simply for the fact that I hate your marketing. Please reconsider the way you approach getting new business.

Thank you!
annoyed homeowner
in Sammamish WA

walking on sunshine

Of course there is no sunshine to be walked on around here today. It's been raining off and on (even pouring at times) all day. I don't have anything especially great to write about but I feel like I have to keep up my blog duties and post something even it's just what I had for lunch.

I went out to dinner last night with my moms group. It was nice. We all had margaritas and some got a little silly. It was sort of a weird night for me, feeling a little out of body. . . . like I was watching myself and the others from up above. I was there but not really. I chatted and giggled but couldn't help thinking I would have rather gone to that yoga class I've been wanting to check out and then sitting on my couch watching Grey's Anatomy instead of blowing my diet on a mole enchilada. Thank goodness for Media Center!!

Tomorrow's Arthritis Foundation training is at Alki Beach (my new favorite place). I love it there!! The little town is so quaint and homey. People walk to the beach, the little shops and the playground. It feels like a cute community; a neat place for kids to grow up. Love it, love it!

I think I'll go rearrange the girls' bedroom again. The new arrangement just doesn't feel right and it's been driving me crazy. I wish we had a fourth bedroom so everyone could have their own space and spread out a little. But for now, we make due.

The sun is peeking out. We should run out and bask in it while we have the chance!! Oh, as for what I had for lunch? A tuna and cranberry sandwich - yum!! Have a happy day!

Missin' Ma

I came across a book my mom bought me a long while ago called The Blue Day Book, A lesson in Cheering Yourself up. It is sort of one of those Hallmark feel good buys. She gave it to me during a stressful, sad period in which I was harboring a defeated mindset about life. I opened it up to thumb through it and landed on a page where she wrote:

"I love you. Remember, don't let the bastards get you down!"

That's my ma!!

It's raining, It's pouring . . . .

It has been pouring this morning. This is the kind of weather that makes me want to retreat back to my bed and hibernate all day. But knowing I have chores to do, a house to clean, kids to drop off, extra curricular activities to attend forces me out into the day . . . . . . rain or shine. Blah!

Baby Love is 14 months old today. We are thrilled about her crawling success. She really gets around the house now. Her therapist tells me her form is perfect and she's just been reluctant for some reason on trying new things. There some message she sends herself that says "this is scary, don't do that" so she doesn't. When she's push into trying something new she's not sure of, she gets super mad and upset about it. She is pulling herself to her knees onto everything she can these days. So pulling herself up to standing and cruising is probably right around the corner. Yay!! Oh the things we worry about with our kids!

Weight Watchers was last night . . . . Grrrrr!! (need I say more?) These last two weeks have been a little frustrating. I was up .2 pounds last week and .4 this week. I know it's not much and the fact that I did a mini boot camp last Saturday that kicked my butt might have something to do with it. I've been lax about tracking my food points so I need to get back into gear with that - no more excuses! I have been diligent about getting out for our Saturday morning trainings with the Arthritis Foundation and the 5k's (once a month) have been a lot of fun but I need to more during the week. There is a yoga class that I have been dying to check out but so far the timing has not worked out.

Okay, back to reality . . . . poopy diaper . . . . duty calls!

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for the Divine Miss O.

She came into our lives in June of 2003. It's hard to believe she is almost four years old.

She's a lovely, kind-hearted soul who is sweet, spunky, funny and a little clumsy too.

She is fond of all animals, especially horses (aka hee-haws) and has a wicked imagination. She can pretend play for hours all by herself! I love that!

She loves to dance, play, have fun and get dirty!

She's beautiful inside and out.

She enjoys going grocery shopping and helping in the kitchen. Although, she's a bit of a diva, she will never pass up an opportunity to dig for worms. She's a tom boy with style!

I simply adore her and I couldn't imagine life without her.

I'm so glad she's mine!

Reach for the stars Divine Miss O because you are one!

I love you!