Whoa Nelly... can we just slow down a tad bit?

The next couple of weeks (actually 2 1/2 weeks to be exact) are so busy for me.  Some stressful things.  Some fun things.  Some things that are just things.

-Finishing up class mom jobs. Specifically the JAMBOREE.  (Please don't ask me to be class mom next year.  I have trouble saying no.  But... I really really really would like to NOT be class mom.  But I'm afraid someone will specifically ask me and then there I will be... class mom.)

-Nick's business trips... possibly 3 of them (remember... in 2.5 weeks).

-Evening out with the Madison Patch Moms Council.

-A night out to see a friend's band play (in Parsippany on Friday.  Wanna go?)

-Dinner out with my sister-in-law, Andrea.

-A few more times to t-ball and soccer.

-A Saturday walk for the Valerie Fund.  (I'm walking with Gwen's Gang and would be thrilled if you wanted to sponsor us!)

-My new "gig" chatting about The Talk on CBS.  Specifically.... I watch The Talk on CBS at 2pm on Thursday and invite you all to come chat with me.  It's fun (and this Thursday Betty White is a guest).

-Getting invitations out for 3 different birthday parties.  The invitations are in all different stages of invite.  (some are waiting for RSVP, some are waiting to be mailed, some don't actually exist yet.)

-Zoe's dance recital.

AND

-Finish up the 2.5 weeks by attending my 20th High School Reunion.  Let me tell you... after finishing up the next 2 weeks... someone will be enjoying the bar at the reunion. (Sally... it's REALLY good we're booking a room and enjoying an evening out without kids!)

I am sure there are a few other odds and ends in there (like... there must be an end of year picnic for Ana's class... but I don't have it down on the calendar yet).  Let's just all say my calendar is crazy and slightly out of control for a little while.  It's causing me to stress.  Verging on anxiety.  Wine glass in hand.

I was just REALLY looking at my crazy calendar and then made a big mistake.  I started counting days.  Specifically, school days. 

Zoe has 13 school days left as a kindergartner... and Ana has 13 school days left in toddlers.

AND THEN my sister-in-law Erica posts this video on Facebook...

So now... I'm stressed, I'm anxious, I'm overwhelmed.... AND I need a box of tissues.

My babies are going to be in 1st grade and Preschool.

It's going too fast.  TOO FAST I SAY!

Weight for Me Monday - week 8

I was a little disappointed in myself this week.  After having fit the treadmill into my day 17 days in a row (WOW) without missing a day... I skipped 2 days in the last week.  It's a little hard to keep going when the scale refuses to move.

I did get in 5 days with exercise out of 7 days this week.  I walked 30 minutes on the treadmill 3 times... and I did Couch to 5K 2 days (week 3 days 1 and 2).  I will admit that week 3 of Couch to 5K is totally kicking my butt.  Just the thought of jogging for 3 minutes at a time made me want to sit down and rest.  But, I did it.  Day 1 was HORRIBLE... but day 2 was unbelievably easier.  I'm hoping when I do day 3 (tomorrow) it will still seem easier.

I got on the scale this morning thinking of how annoyed I was with myself for skipping exercise.  The scale had the nerve to read 177 lbs.  I exercise every day with no loss... I miss days and lose 1.5 pounds.  There is really just no telling what the scale is going to say.  I had to weigh myself 3 times to make sure the scale was sticking with it.

So... 177 lbs this week.  I've lost 3.5 lbs since I started.  Not as much as I'd hoped... but that is 3.5 lbs that wouldn't budge before.  It's slow... but at least it's going.

Grace in Small Things - 118

1.   Having a child who is old enough to wake up, go downstairs alone, turn on the tv, and watch pbs kids until you join them downstairs.

2.  Having your younger child sleep until 8:45 on a weekend.

3.  Going to the food store alone.

4.  Finishing an assignment early (for a change).

5.  Having all night to just sit and catch up with the dvr.

Once upon a time it was Easter...

and there were Easter baskets...

and girls with bunny ears...

and girls in pretty dresses...

and lots of sweetness...

and smiling faces...

and more sweetness...

and an egg hunt at church...

and a family photo opp...

and a cousin photo opp where EVERYONE looked at the camera and smiled AT THE SAME TIME...

and a photo opp with Grandma and Grandpa where EVERYONE looked at the camera and smiled AT THE SAME TIME...

and it was warm and sunny and totally Springy...

and the change of clothes was almost as pretty as the fancy dresses...

and even the moms got to sit down and relax for a moment... AT THE SAME TIME!!!

Easter may have just been heavenly.

Grace in Small Things - 117

1.  Book reviews.  (It is so cool to be involved with BlogHer book club.  It is also so cool to be contacted by authors and offered books.  ESPECIALLY since the couple who have contacted me have been SUCH nice people to e-mail with.)

2.  Season finales.  (While I will miss watching some of my shows for a while... I'm looking forward to getting through some of our Netflix queue.)

3.  Busy days that include happy girls (busy days with cranky bratty girls are not so fun).

4. When something silly strikes you as quite hysterical and you just can't quite seem to stop laughing.

5.  My comfy bed.

Weight for Me Monday - week 7

For the second week in a row I exercised EVERY SINGLE DAY.

30 minutes walking on the treadmill on 4 days.  (over 1.5 miles each time.)

Couch to 5K on the treadmill 3 days.  (I'll be doing week 2 day 3 today.)

And what did all that effort to get in the exercise every day get me?

Not much.

For the second week in a row I weigh EXACTLY THE SAME 178.5 lbs.

My scale is just asking to be thrown out the window.  I really thought adding exercise to my daily routine would get this weight moving.

Sigh.

Happy Birthday to My Favorite Brother

Today is my favorite brother's birthday. 

See... look... at one point he even had a shirt that said so (I think I even bought it for him).

He also has shirts that say things like "I'm really excited to be here" and he wears them places like Disney Animal Kingdom. 

I don't have a photo... but one Thanksgiving my brother sat next to my grandmother wearing a t-shirt that said "cunning linguist" on it.  I nearly peed my pants laughing... but couldn't tell anyone why.

My brother is the guy on facebook who's status updates almost always make me laugh.  Statuses like these keep me giggling all day:

Trying to figure out which pants to wear today...fancy or smarty.

How the hell did Charles Manson get like 16 people to murder for him? I can’t even get two kids to brush their teeth.

I found $40 in my jeans. The kid in me says "Buy dart guns and candy", but the adult in me says "Buy vodka, dart guns and candy".

I wonder if I’ll ever be mature enough to use a stud finder without first pointing it at myself and saying, “There’s one.”

I'm playing hide and seek with the kids right now and they'll never find me, because they aren't old enough to drive or get into this bar.

That last one... might be my favorite of all time.

He's the uncle that gives the kids the messy melty popsicles and still smiles when they end up all over his shirt.

He's the dad of 3 girls who checks out all of their toys to make sure they're safe.

He's a guy that can rock a Barbie kite. (Thank goodness... since, ya know, 3 daughters)

He... um... I don't know what's going on with that red crayon... moving on....

He's not opposed to skipping down Main Street.

He's the guy that makes sure family photos are a major success.

 Yep... my brother Jim... awesome.

You all wish you had a brother as awesome as mine.

And now... I just really want to share the birthday card that I found for Jim.  I saw it and KNEW it was meant for him.  No one could possible get as much joy and happiness from this card as I know Jim will (except maybe me... I'm surprised he's getting it with a still working battery).

Happy Birthday Jim!!!! I love you!!!

(P.S. Jim... keep in mind I'm your very favorite sister of all time... so you really shouldn't drive up to NJ to take your revenge on me for posting all of these fabulous photos of you. And you totally shouldn't start a blog of your own with the intention of getting me back. Totally shouldn't.)

Stinky Toes

Even if Ana is fresh out of the bathtub she calls them "stinky toes".  It is cute in a way only a toddler saying "stinky toes" can be cute.

And Zoe... well she just make me laugh.  What is up with stretching out her toes that way???  (Better question... why does her hair look like that?  What am I supposed to do with hair that does that?)

Grace in Small Things - 116

1.  Ana's decision lately that everything is "the best" or her "favorite"

2.  As I close the door to Ana's room at nap time... almost every day... she will say "MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY!!!" and so I open the door one more time just so she can say "Oh Mommy!  You are da BEST Mommy EVER!"

3.  Over-hearing Ana tell Zoe "Zoe... you da best sister EVER."

4.  Ana - "ice cream is my FAVORITE!"  me - "I thought popsicles were your favorite."  Ana - "popsicles are my FAVORITE!"

5.  And to go along with all of the "best" and "favorite" it also makes me giggle when Ana will announce "dat is NOT my favorite" for whatever it is she's decided to dislike at any moment in time.

Ana's Cha Cha Slide

I love dancing at weddings and parties... I especially love the silly "line dances".  It looks like as long as Ana is around I might have a pretty good partner.

(Sorry for the video quality and darkness... what can you expect from an iphone video in dim light?)

Weight for Me Monday - week 7

I had an extremely good exercise week. 

1.  "Regular" treadmill walking - 4 days... 30 min. 3x and 52 min. 1 x (and yes... those 2 minutes TOTALLY count).

2.  Couch to 5K - It scares me to death that I started attempting to use this program.  I'm using a Couch to 5K app on my iPhone.  There are a few different apps... they all seemed about the same but with different looks.  I did Week 1 day 1 and 2 this week.  Today I do day 3.  We'll see if I'm ever fit enough to move on to Week 2.  Anyone else use Couch to 5K to get in shape?

3.  I actually walked outside 1x.  I don't tend to walk (or go) outside too much right now.  Pollen sucks.  But, Saturday wasn't too dry.  It also wasn't too hot.  So Ana and I took a stroll.  (Side note... after allowing Ana to chose which way to turn at each corner I have come to realize she really likes to turn right.)  And, because I am obsessed with iPhone apps I found this Walk Watch (the lite version though... because I'm all about trying it out for free first).  It's pretty cool because it "follows' you and maps out where you've walked and how far (I think using google maps).  It does some charting and caluculations... but I mostly wanted the timer and distance.  Perfect free app.

So I actually, for the first time, got in a workout 7 times this week!!!!  I'm quite impressed with myself.

I'm not so impressed with the weigh in this morning though.  178.5 lbs.  A 1/2 pound loss.  All that working and I had hoped for at least 1 pound.  But... any loss is better than a gain.

You'll have to check in next Monday and see if I kept up with the C25K.  We'll see how that goes.  (Just don't expect me to be running with anyone anytime soon.)

Wordless Wednesday - Pink

Weight for Me Monday - week 6

I did pretty well getting the exercise in this week. 

At home - I made it on the treadmill 4 times.  3x for 30 minutes... and 1x for 53 minutes. 
That 53 minutes was thanks to my sudden brilliance at putting my laptop up on the treadmill dashboard.  I watch an episode of Vampire Diaries streaming on cwtv.com.  The next thing I knew I had 53 minutes and 2.86 miles clocked.

At the Y - I got in 35 minutes on the bike while Zoe was in dance class.  5.35 miles. 

The scale is a killer.  On Friday afternoon I was excited to read 175 lbs (a whole 4 lbs down).  But... after no treadmill on Saturday or Sunday... and a Mother's Day involving Dunkin Donuts bacon egg and cheese on a bagel breakfast and a bbq dinner involving a big cheeseburger and an oreo cream pie... the scale kind of laughed at me by giving me the same 179 lbs as last Monday. 

I sabotage myself every time. 

Magic, I Tell You!

During my lifetime I have been to the Magic Kingdom (and other Disney parks) more times than I can count.  Well... maybe not more times than I can count, but definitely more times than I can easily recall.

We used to go almost every year when I was little.  We would visit one of my aunts (actually... one of my great-grandfather's sister-in-laws... is that right?  I think that's right.  Mom?  Jim?  Other family members who are reading?  Aunt Flo was Poppy's SIL?  I'm losing my mind.) during our February "Winter Recess" every year.  While we were there in Sarasota we would take a day trip to Disney.

Then, on top of my multiple childhood visits (oh... and the high school band trip to Disney) add to that the number of times we've visited since my brother and my parents moved to Orlando.  We take a trip to a park just about every visit.  I admit it's a bit of an obsession.

So... what I'm saying is I honestly couldn't tell you how many times I've been to visit Mickey.

I can tell you that I've learned a few things from my many visits.

No matter how many times you go... when Cinderella's castle finally comes into view... you get almost fidgety with anticipation.

There is a "no grumpy allowed" rule.  You aren't allowed to enter the Magic Kingdom wearing this face.  Nope.  Not allowed in.  (Well... fine, that's not really a rule... but it totally should be.)

THIS is how you should enter the Magic Kingdom, people.  It's the happiest place on earth.  It's required that you be happy... like this...

Cinderella's Castle.  You must take photos of it.  Each and every time you see it.

 

You know how they call it the Magic Kingdom?  And they talk about making "magical memories"?  And when you enter you might find yourself saying things like "let the magic begin!"  And you might hear people saying "Have a magical day!"  Well... the place is totally magic.  I mean... look at Ana and Zoe!  Not only were they pleasant to each other... there was actually hugging and loving.  There may have been multiple occurrences of hearing "you're my favorite sister, ever".  And neither one of them screamed all day long.  MAGIC.

 

Not only that... Ana and Grace were actually caught holding hands!!!  And looking at each other lovingly!!!  It's unheard of.  All of a sudden PopPop and Jim and Nick were all like "Get the camera!!!  Hurry!!!  Take this picture!!!"  MAGIC.

The first time you ride "It's a Small World" you will be amazed.  You will be wide eyed with wonder.  You will not know what to look at.  And... if you are the mom of someone riding "It's a Small World" for the first time... you will experience a special kind of joy while you watch them instead of the ride.  You won't watch the little children dancing and singing all around you.  You will stare and smile at your child instead.  Ana spent the ENTIRE ride repeatedly pointing and saying "It's amAAAzing!!!  It's amAAAzing!!!  Look Mama... it's amAAAzing!!!"

Little known fact... even grown men like Prince Charming's Carousel.

Strawberry Shortcake tastes better at Disney.  It tastes EVEN BETTER when it's being snitched from your Mom.

Little known fact... fireworks are made of pixie dust.  (And... when you are little... you can convince your little brother that the fireworks are actually Tinkerbelle after she has crashed into Cinderella's Castle.  Um... not that I ever told my brother that.)

The best way to get your children to sit still for 2 seconds at Disney?  Keep them at the park for 12 hours and then point them in the direction of exploding fairies.  Um... I mean fireworks.

So many important things must be learned in order to truly enjoy the magic. 

Are there any other Disney park obsessed people out there?  Any other little known important facts that should be shared?

Grace in Small Things - 115

1. Waking up to sunshine.

2.  Clear blue skies.

3. 2 girls, being together, with no one screaming, for a whole 20 minutes. (It was really good while it lasted.)

4. Planning summer activities.

5. The moment both girls are dropped off where they need to be.  That first moment alone.

Florida Cousins

Trying to get 5 girls to sit still all together in one place long enough to get a photo was a bit of an ordeal.  Forget about the fact that you'd like them to all be smiling, looking in the same direction, awake, and not covered in cupcake.

We finally settled for all in one place, clean, and mostly smiling (1/5 asleep)... and unfortunately past good lighting.

Some hysterical laughing is ok.

Hmm... preferably not eating your own toes.

This one is just about perfect... except for my attempt to go without a flash.

Same attempt at no flash... too much sweetness between Ana and Gracie not to share.

So... I got what I got.  Not perfection... but 5 girls in Florida... all together. 

Guess I have to plan another trip in the next few months so I can try again.  Oh well.