In honor of my cranky pity party...

Summer story problem

100 degree weather
+4 kids
+a trip to Target
+a trip to Costco
+Swim team practice
+Swim lessons
+PMS
-one husband and helpful teenage daughter
=ONE CRANKY MAMMA

Weekend update

Just a little weekend update and accountability check in. Wendi and I have been faithful walkers this week. My ticker only moved a pound this week, but that is OK. I am starting to feel better and not so fluffy. It never ceases to amaze me how much better I feel when I am walking like this. I feel more focused and energized during the day. I have also been getting up between 5:30 and 6:00 and getting my quiet time/bible study done and that always makes me feel awesome throughout the day. Hmmm....could there be a connection? Spending time in the Word and exercising make me a better person...who knew?

I have also made good on my commitment to swim with the kids whenever I take them to the pool. This week we went three times which means I swam laps three times this week! I have also been doing pretty well on the 'no sugary drinks' commitment. Although I did have a latte this morning before Ron headed out on his mission trip and a granita on Weds night with the girls.

So thanks again to Wendi who has made it easier to keep my commitment to loose some pounds. It really has helped that we are doing this together. I know I just can't not show up one morning. It also helps that I am a bit competitive and don't want to see her ticker move and mine stay the same. ;o)

I'm a big kid now!

Jamie had a sweet post about her daughter soon turning sweet 16 and how bitter sweet that is. So I almost feel guilty being glad that we are passing a milestone here. Let me rephrase that. I am ecstatic! Ella has officially made the transfer into the big bed! Last night she slept with sister Eden with sister Evie in the top bunk and it could not have gone any smoother. She went right to sleep and did not wake up once. This is huge because in the year and a half since she has been home she rarely sleeps all the way through the night. I have often wondered if she would sleep better if someone was in the room with her and if last night was any indication she just may. I told Ron last night that it felt like I had gained just a bit of freedom with Ella not sleeping right in the next room, but on the other end of the house. The full nights sleep was nice too. Today she went right down for her nap, no fussing or playing around, just right to sleep. It is so nice when it works that way.

This is all in preparation for Eden to move downstairs into her own room. Ella will still share a room with Evie. My Summer projects are coming along. The downstairs bathroom is just about done. I will do the little touch up this weekend. The garden is planted and starting to produce something other than weeds. Eden's room is just about ready to paint (I love that part, so much fun). Still need to work or have the kids work on ripping out the carpet from downstairs. And finally my bathroom upstairs is just a slow project. Ron and I have really been struggling with where to quit the improvements and just finish the job! I think we are getting close. Ron will be in and out of town for the next month so hopefully before the end of August the bathroom will be ready for paint.

Just for fun and to help me keep on task I am posting my menus for the week.
Mon - Oriental Chicken Salad w/bread
Tues- Mexican Stack - Our version of taco salad
Wed - Eat at church
Thursday - Grilled chicken w/salad and bread (or maybe melon)
Friday - Grilled hamburgers
Whew...now I don't have to think about it all week!

Money saving tips

Ginger has asked for some money saving tips. I am not sure that I have anything that could benefit Ginger, she is the Proverbs 31 woman in the flesh. She always has great money saving ideas as well as being the picture of biblical womanhood. But I will attempt some great word of wisdom, or maybe just a mediocre word.

Make a list and stick to it!
From everything from menu planning to back to school shopping I just do better with a list. Without a list I do much more impulse buying as well as forgetting an item or two and thus requiring another trip to the store. I never go to Costco without a list because I will end up with all sorts of things that look great at the time. This is also a great way to say on gas. I am really trying not to make needless trips in our gas guzzler. Instead of just hopping in the suburban to go run an errand, I really try to plan out the week as much as I can so I don't make extra trips into the neighboring towns. For those of you who don't know I live in a tri-city area where the towns are all about 15 miles apart.

Bits and pieces

Wow! Where did the week go? I thought this was supposed to be the lazy days of summer? I am still playing catch-up from vacation last week with laundry and grocerey shopping. I did the weekly run to Costco to stock up for the week. Yes, with all these kiddos I do mean stock up. While I was there I bought the Lettuce Wraps in the deli, and I must say they are pretty darn yummy. Maybe not as yummy as PF Changs, but still yummy. I came home and Emma and I had them for lunch. At only 70 calories per wrap, it made my day. Speaking of calories...
The ticker has moved! Yea! Drinking water instead of sweet tea is paying off. Or maybe it is cutting out the ice cream? Whichever it may be I am on the downhill slide. Wendi and I waked 6 miles this week so far, and that is six more than I walked the week before ;o) I also have been running the last .2 miles home from where I leave Wendi. I know...I know... a whole .2 miles but hey, it adds up. Over the week it is .6 which is over a half mile running. Again more than the weeks before and talk about getting the heart rate up. I'm sure that my neighbors think they should call an ambulance when they see my huffing and puffing my way home.

Yesterday we went to a water park with some friends and had a great day in the sun. All the kids had a great time and we adults did too. I love the warm sunny days!
Here is a picture of Emma and her friend Nevada having fun taking pics of themselves at the park.


Remember this post? Here are the pictures from the priceless couch. I found out I needed to resize the pics to post them.


The men evaluating the situation...


This situation calls for the big gun...


The damage is done...


What do you think? Not so bad?