Merry Christmas!!!

Since I don't have your physical addresses, I'm blogging you my Christmas greetings. May you have a fabulous holiday! Be safe and happy!

Love,

Kelly

A cherished family recipe

I'm not much of a cook or baker, but there are somethings I can make well.  I get requests for this recipe year after year so I thought I would it share it with all my bloggy friends.  Enjoy!!

Tequila Christmas Cake

3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
1 cup brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
Nuts
1 bottle tequila
2 cups dried fruit


Sample the tequila to check quality. Take a large bowl; check the tequila
again to be sure it is of the highest quality.

Repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.

At this point, it is best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try another
cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck iin the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the fruit up off the floor.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a
drewscriver.

Sample the tequila to test for tonsisticity.

Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something.

Check the tequila.

Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.

Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.

Don't forget to beat off the turner

Finally, throw the bowl through the window.

Finish the tequila and wipe the counter with the cat.

Cherry Christmas

The deed is done

Earlier today I realized that tonight is my last free night until Sunday. I still have a L O N G list of stuff to get done before the 25th. I had planned to go to Target to pick up some stocking stuffers, but I had a better idea....Go see Santa and see if we can use the pic for our Christmas cards.

So at 8:15 pm I get the kids out of their P.J.s and into the car (you know this is helping my husband build the insanity case against me!). I call the Santa booth at the mall to find out when they close (9pm) and when the line is shut down (9pm). I figure by the time I get there, I'll have 15 minutes before the line closes. My kids were so unprepared for this venture that their minds went blank about their wish lists. Luckily their amnesia turned out to be temporarily because by the time we got to the mall, they were ready. We got to the Santa booth at 8:45 pm and the line was closed. The pissy, teenage girl informed me of this after we had been standing there for a couple of minutes. I protested and argued that I had spoken with someone at the booth that informed me that the line would be open until 9pm. Pissy teenage girl gave me a look that said, "I don't give a sh*t". I asked to speak with the manager offering to show them my call registry to prove I had just been on the phone with them 10 minutes before...The manager didn't come over and talk to me, but allowed us to stay in line...My poor kids having to live with such an unorganized Mom!!

Now call me sick, but I was hoping that Jackson would go ballistic on Santa's lap which would make a hilarious Christmas picture like this one; too bad Mommy procrastinated last year and couldn't use it (it was taken 12/24!).

As we were waiting for our turn, Mr. Jack seemed pretty comfortable staring down the "old man" and even started laughing when the baby in front of him started screaming. Then we were "up", I had already prepared the staff that I was going to let the girls talk to Santa and then I would put Jackson on at the last minute for the piece de resistance. Jack, however, allowed me to place him on Santa's lap without so much as a peep! In fact, Jack went into "silent ninja mode" where he sat really stiff and didn't turn his head or make a expression; almost like he was thinking, "If I don't move, he will think I'm invisible". So the picture is still funny (I'm twisted; I know this), but not hilarious:

Time keeps on ticking, ticking....

Here I am again on "countdown" to Emmy med time...which again also = quiet Mommy time.  So even if I'm about to get toothpicks to keep my eyes pried open, quiet time is still nice.

Word of warning: if you are involved in any high level Girl Scouting council position, you may want to go read another blog now....

Did I share that I hold the esteemed title of "Cookie Chair" of Emmy's brownie troop?  I was suckered picked for it when the brownie leader asked for volunteers and all the other Moms literally took a step back and I was left in the front.  I took on the position thinking, "Aww, it can't be all that bad"  (Hubby's response was, "Sucker!").  A few weeks ago I had to attend a "Mandatory Cookie Meeting"; believe me, I tried to get out of it, but no dice.  I go to a local church for the meeting expecting may be 10 people; SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE....There were at least 75 women at this meeting.  My first impression was, "Man, these Girl Scouts take their cookies seriously!" which turned out to be the understatement of the night!!  The ladies running the show would have fit in nicely in Germany circa 1939 if you get my drift.  There were many times I just wanted to shout, "They're just cookies, damnit!!!"  After 3 hours of cookie tutelage, I was wondering, "What the Hell have I gotten myself into?!" The women were actually giving advise on how to "bust" rogue Brownie troops who set up booths outside of their "territory"....Seriously!!  Why am I sharing this now, well part of my night was cookie planning meeting phase II.  I had to go over to the troop leaders house and discuss the goals and sales strategies to give to 6-7 year old girls.  The whole thing has a bit of a surreal quality to it!!  But, if ANYONE is in need of a cookie fix, you know who your connection is :)

Stop my life, I need a break!!

First of all, thank you guys for all your heartfelt, kind, and loving comments. It was a ray of sunshine during a very sad time. I can't tell you enough how much it meant to me!

I planned on giving myself a little time to re-acclimate, readjust, etc., but life sometimes gets in the way doesn't it?

My monkey-in-the-middle, Emmy was in the hospital all weekend. She started coming down with a cold on Thursday and on Friday she was having some wheezing. (Emmy's lungs are always effected when she's ill...it's like they don't want to be left out and they end up stealing the show!) I treated her with her inhalers, to which she responded well, and sent her off to school. I got a call from the school clinic in the afternoon that she was having labored breathing. I had my hubby pick her up and drop her off to me so I could take her to the doctor. Apparently by the time, Daddy reached her, she was coughing continuously and really having a difficult time catching her breath. She had 3 breathing treatments before seeing the doctor (she would respond and then go right back to the wheezing in 15 minutes). We did a couple more treatments at the doctor's office and we were given the instructions to continue to treat as needed which meant she had 12 more treatments prior to her 8:40 appt (Now for you RNs out there cringing, the MD told me to treat like this...) At the pediatricians office, they were not able to adequately open up her passage ways and recommended we admit her to a local children's hospital so that she could receive oxygen, etc. So we were off for our little adventure (which is how we "sold it" to Emmy). In the car on the way to the hospital she asked me, "Will I be getting stuff?" Thinking she meant needles, IVs, etc, I asked, "What stuff?" to which she responded, "Never mind..." I pressed her on the topic and she asked, "Am I going to get cards and balloons that say, Get Well Soon?" I just thought this was so cute...I ended up calling in the troops and balloons and cards were on the way. She thought she was in hog heaven the first 12 hours...she got to play (hooked up to portable O2), walk around, etc., but then the doctor put in orders to have her continuously monitored. Emmy did not like being stuck in one room for a 24 hour period. She almost RAN out of the hospital after they took her off the monitor!

So I sit here alone in my living room where all the rest of the family is sleeping, capturing some "Mommy time", "work time", and biding time until Emmy's next treatment (in 10 minutes). I am then off to my OWN bed, my OWN pillow, and drifting off into a heavy sleep.

My fingers are crossed that I have a boring week!!

Emmy posing with her balloons and "Get Well" gifts:

M.I.A.

Yup, that's been me more often than not lately...this time I have a really good excuse.

We lost my Grandmother on Sunday after a fall, surgery, etc., etc....It's been a really hard, hectic week. Quite honestly, I can't really talk/write about it yet.

I'm around peeking in on you guys...Hope your holiday season is off to a better start than mine :)/:(

Kelly

Adding my two cents...

and an additional $9.98....I went to see "Twilight" tonight with a couple of girlfriends.  

A couple things to note:

1. When did movies become $10.00 a pop?!

2. We thought if we went shortly after the opening weekend we would avoid the throngs of teeny-boppers sure to be attending with us.  We were right and wrong....

Goodness, the above two comments make me sound like a fuddy-duddy don't they?!  Oh well, since I'm already sounding like one, let me add one more thing...There needs to be an over 30 showing of this movie (a.k.a. Cougar View ;)  I just don't think it's as hilarious as the other 13 year olds when people start shouting at the movie screen...one comment I can overlook, but ongoing dialog?!  Uh, No!....

So my take...of course the book was better than the movie...has there ever been a movie better than the book?  But, I think the movie did a good job representing the story.  

I had some issues with the casting; The Cullens were described in the book to be the most amazing looking people you've ever seen....Not so much...some were nice to look at, but in my humble opinion, did not truly fit this description.  Okay and Jasper?!  WTF was up with his hair and his facial expressions?!  His character was really not developed in the movie which was a little disappointing too.  I also thought some of the running, climbing, and jumping scenes were a little goofy.  

However, I think Kristen Stewart as Bella was a great casting choice...this is how I pictured her in my mind.  And...I've slowly, but surely have come around to Robert Pattinson as Edward.  Favorite part of the whole movie was the first kiss....Whoo, Baby!!!

Jeez, I've become Siskel and Ebert in this post....I'm glad I went, will probably get the dvd when it's released, and I will definitely be there for the sequels!

IYGAKAC!!

Cameron went to her first Gator game this past weekend with her Daddy. A good time was had by all. She got to look around the campus (Daddy may have picked up an admissions application for the class of 2019...purely speculation!) She ate Kettle Corn, drank soda, and people-watched (a girl after my own heart!!) She also got a new sweatshirt, a foam finger and some parting gifts for her brother and sister. She took most of the pics...she got some good ones too!!

And what did Mommy get for so graciously agreeing to stay home with Emmy and Jack? Why pictures of Tim Tebow...Do I have this girl trained or what?!!!! (Look at all the pics of #15!!!)

Life in General..........

Remember those "choose your own ending" books? I loved those books when I was in middle school. It was usually a mystery story and I mostly chose the ending where I would get caught by the bad guy and that was the end of the story.

Bad luck?

Bad choices?

Bad guesses?

After choosing incorrectly, I would always go back to where I made my "wrong turn" and choose the right path...usually to mess up later down the line, but still hopeful that I would "win" the game. I guess I liked those books so much because it was possible know if you picked right or wrong AND you had the power to go back to where you made that wrong decision and change your fate...

Sometimes I really wish that life was like that. Does anyone else often wonder if they made the right choices in life or if they were where they were supposed to be to have the most successful outcome? Sometimes I find myself obsessing about this....it's been really prevalent recently as I've been "reuniting" with a lot of people from high school and college.

Back then, I had my life plotted out...I was going to enter medical school right after college; be done by 27, get married then start a family while having a fulfilled life in medicine. However, the path I chose was to "take a break" from school after college, I met my hubby and got married at 23 had my first baby at 27. I'm working in medicine, but not as a licensed individual.

There are often times I feel like I have chosen the incorrect path...Sure, I love my family, friends, etc....but I wish I knew for sure that the choices were right.....................

Going from Digital to Analog...

I know I still have to post about Boston, however, I need to get my friend Laura's pictures also so I decided to wait a tad bit longer.

I am nowhere near accomplishing my "catching up on reading" goal...sorry guys...

One thing of note (a quick one because see above!!)...I've decided that I give up when it comes to computer based calendar programs. I've tried for over 5 years to come into the computer age in this arena...First there was the palm pilot, then there was my windows-based Internet phone, and finally my IPhone. It definitely is a "user error" reason none of these things worked for me...You know, you actually have to keep up and enter stuff - go figure! So in my feeble attempt to get a handle on my very disorganized work and personal life, I've gone back to my tried and true method of a date book. My husband is rolling his eyes at me; I feel like a failure (not really). But something had to give...I have 2 computer calendars and an IPhone and I'm still missing stuff. Paper just works for me...

Now I'm off to read...

Trying to catch up...

Oh Man, I don't know if was the constant excitement, keg parties or world-wind traveling that has me exhausted, but I have been so tired at night! Which is why I haven't been in the blogosphere...I seriously have been getting to bed early...as soon as the kids are out, so is Mama!! BTW...none of those things happened in Boston. Oh, we had a fabulous time, but we behaved (most of the time). I really think the time change 2 weeks ago is taking it's toll, but I'm slowly coming back...Which is why I am up until almost midnight tonight; I am my own worst enemy!

So, I'm back and I'll be under most of the weekend trying to catch up on my 377 posts pending on Google Reader....Holy Guacamole People, you all have been writing!! Do I have an addiction or what?!

So until I get back to "normal" here's a quick teaser...the view from my hotel room in Cambridge...Boston in the Fall (enjoy Swirl Girl and Juli)

I'm outta here....

Hey, how cool is this? I finally figured out how to do a post via my phone...I'm such a techie!

Anywho, I've left on a jet plane today to one of my all time favorite cities, Boston. I have a new study meeting here. I should have a lot to post about because I am here with 2 of my favorite travel companions, Laura & David. Everytime we're here we have a great time. I'm gonna do my best to stick with the diet and not drink too many beers... I'll be posting pics and stories next week.

Before I say Adios! I need to share an Emmy story with you. Emmy is definitely my 'crazy monkey' child, but she is also my most tenderhearted. She was getting a little emotional last night about my leavingt. After I got her calmed down and adjusted to the fact that I would only be gone a few days, she came out with her camera. She told me she wanted me to use her camera on my trip. I assured her that I had my own camera and that wasn't necessary to which she replied," I want you to use my camera so that I can see pictures of you when you were gone and I have a lot of pictures on there that you can look at when you're missing me." How stinkin cute is that?!

So to all my blogging buddies, so long from Boston. Have a great weekend!!!

I'm officially a sell out....or am I?

A few posts ago, I wrote about my apprehension about delving into the world that is facebook. Has anyone noticed that this has been a popular blog subject lately?! Any Who, I went out on a limb and put out friend requests and have been talking to people I haven't spoken to in 15 - 20 years. I noticed behaviors returning that are very similar to those I had when I first started blogging...constantly checking to see if I have any notifications, new friends, etc. etc. etc. (If I had one of those media players on my blog this is where, "Loser" by Beck would start playing). All of this reminiscing with old schoolmates (now strangers) had me itching to go pull out pictures. I guess that would be enough for most people, but for me? No way, I guess I am an attention grabber....cause I scanned and posted them. (media player cue up "Popular" from Wicked)

I received over 70 notifications today in response to the postings....Whoa, talk about instant gratification! (a funny little side note to my posting all those old pictures...one old friend insisted I take off a picture of her - I saw nothing wrong with it, It was a picture from a formal for Godsake! and another guy e-mailed me to tell me I tagged him in a photo and it actually was not him - Duhlp!!!) I know my popularity will be over tomorrow 'cause I basically posted the best pics, but it was nice to be on that artificial popularity high for even a day :)

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And....You know what time it is?! Its.....

These are from Cameron and Emmy's early days with a camera...oh, they've come a L O N G way!!

A baby being birthed? No, just Jackson's first bath...don't you see it?!

Beagle Butt anyone?

I'm sure my friend Brad would be thrilled to know my children took pictures of his bald spots. I'm sure he'd be even more thrilled to know I published them online!!

A close up study of skin changes? eyes? crows feet? You decide!


Apparently the teddy bear was tired and need to go to sleep right away on the dining room table with a dishtowel blanket

Well that's all for now...see you all tomorrow :)

Elphaba Lives!!!

So did you all hear about what the wonderful, marvelous, brilliant, Kat, of Sunshine and Lemonade is up to? She's started her 10 weeks of weekend giveaways! Isn't that awesome?!



What's really awesome is her first prize which revolves about my all time favorite book and play...is she in my mind?!Now there may be those of you out there that love the play and have been wanting to read the book....Word of warning....not quite the same story...but in my humble opinion a fabulous one!

I think I read this book for the first time in high school or may be early college....and I've read it 4 times since; such a great story. I was so excited to introduce it to my book club. The ruling was only a few people liked it...I personally don't think they "got" it...The club shortly disbanded thereafter...They just couldn't handle it I guess ;)

My friend Laura and I got sent to a meeting in NYC 2 years ago and had to go see the play....It was absolutely fabulous!

We had a private giggle about people who were going to run out and get the book....Were they going to be surprised or what?!

Okay, enough about my "Wicked" obsession....Kat, the wonderful, talented, generous, Kat is giving away the following: an autographed copy of "Wicked" by the author, Gregory Maguire and the "Wicked" soundtrack from the play. Whoa, here come the heart palpitations again...Well, unfortunately I have to tell you how to enter the contest that I NEED to win; go see Kat and leave a lovely comment about how I you want the prize (if you really must...you know if you want to mess with karma, that's on you). You can get extra entries by following Kat (hello, doing that since I started blogging!!) and then another entry for posting about the giveaways.

CHECK

CHECK

CHECK

So my post after November 7th should be this:



If I don't, I might look like this....


You don't want that kind of guilt on you, do you?!

My Future?!

My husband, who's so proud of himself for voting early, sent me this today....

http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/index.html?nid=_j9lncxbQg_.UpLD8x1i4DgxNjY5NTc-&referred_by=13218439-tI7_VUx

Go on, it's worth the time....

Friday Foto Fiesta Finish 31.Oct.08

Happy Halloween everyone!! The kidlets are all a tither for the big night; they can hardly wait to dress up and get the goods. Mama's gonna try her best to keep her hands out of the Halloween buckets...wish me luck!!



In honor of this All Hallows Eve, we are taking a trip in my time machine. This foto is circa 2002 and Emmy's 1st Halloween. It's one of my all time favorites...and I love me some Halloween!








Enjoy the ghouls, witches, princesses and pirates!!!

Go visit Candid Carrie to see who else is playing this week!>

Mischief's Night...

Happy Mischief's Night...I said this at work today and my co-worker from Alabama didn't know what the heck I was talking about...Is this just a Northeastern thing?!
As kids we would go out and soap window, play ring/run, and let air out of people's tires (I know, little bastards!!). And...the next night we would go to the same peoples' houses and take their candy!! Well, I hope all is "safe" in your neck of the woods...however, there's a little mischief going on in the blogosphere tonight....

I got Boo'd by Lisa at Adventures in JujuBoo

Cute right?! So here's the deal:

Go to as many of your blog buddies as you want and tell them they have been boo-ed . Have them pick up this picture and add it to their blog and say with the link who boo-ed them . Put the picture in your sidebar if you want so then others know that you have already been boo-ed , if you post lots and it's not on the main page where everyone will see your boo-ed post!

Brrrrr!

I know I shouldn't complain 'cause there are definitely colder places on earth, but Holy Cow, I am freezing my @$$ off! Current temp is 54 F; this morning it was 44 F which to a transplanted, Floridian with thin blood is freakin' cold.

One good thing about this "cold snap"? I get to break out my ultra comfy blanket robe which looks kinda like this:

It's not the sexiest look; in fact, my husband thinks I resemble this when I'm wearing it:

You know what?! I don't care; I'm warm!!!

Weigh-in Wednesday

I'm really behind this week. I was on my way to weigh in on Monday and I was (may be) a mile away from the meeting and I got a call from one of the MDs I work for...something was wrong with the phone system. It wasn't going over to answering service so I turned my car around and proceeded to try to get the @#@$$#%$#% phone system to work. An hour later, I had missed both WW meetings and my husband was pulling out his hair waiting for me to get home. My mission today is to find a Wednesday meeting and weigh in. A hint of what's to come...I think I went up by at least 1 lb. I can't tell you what I did wrong/different this week...it was just one of those weeks...I'm just keeping at it...
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My husband, who cooks most of our dinners, looked up WW recipes and has started making them for us. How cool is that?!
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I was perusing through old photos and I found this picture of myself from 5 years ago...I thought I was heavy in this picture. Why is that always the case? Why do we do that to ourselves? So I am using this as a motivation picture...

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Lastly, go over to OSB for their Wednesday Weigh-in....

If you give a kid a camera...

It's time once again for If you give a kid a camera... Last week I featured some of Emmy's pictures. It's equal opportunity time...Cameron loves, loves, loves to take pictures and this week's submission is mostly made up of her goofy pictures.

Oh, and go visit the lady who started it all, Cyndy at Putting the Fun in DysFUNctional...

There's so much going on in this picture...I love it!

Cameron was the "official photographer" when Jackson first tried "real food"

Cameron's "I love you"

Close up of Cameron's favorite subject...

She still hasn't gotten the concept that taking pictures in a car doesn't always work, but she still manages to produce an interesting image!

And here's the girl of the hour in one of her hundred of thousand self-portraits :)

Something for the kids....

I got this forwarded to me via e-mail and I've been having a ton of fun with it. It's really geared toward the kiddos....I'll show it to them one day........may be.

Go play....

Click here for Pumpkin Carving Simulator

Repeater Weekend

Nothing "new" is going on this weekend...In fact, the it's stuff that we've done previous weekends.

We returned to Rebounderz for a birthday party. This time we left Jack at home and I got to go have fun jumping with the girls. It took me all of 1 minute to realize that I am not 12 years old. Remember when we had trampoline in gym class and the gym teacher would have us sit and spring right back up? Well it's a lot harder to do now...in fact, I could no longer perform this trick. I actually created a new trick...Jump up high, sit down, and then get flipped over trying to get back up on your feet! My equilibrium is also way off...I could only look straight ahead; if I looked down, forget about it...VERTIGO! Even with my "old lady" limitations, I hung in there for about 30 minutes...you need A LOT of endurance to be able to jump that long!!

My Mom is back in town and staying at her timeshare so we're off to visit her today. Hopefully the pools are heated 'cause it's a chilly 64°F soon to be 80°F, so says the weatherman, but we all know that's a crap shoot!


For me, catching up on my addictions...Google Reader and Facebook. Hope everyone is doing well!!

Mixed Feelings

I am proceeding with trepidation into the world of Facebook. I know there are those of you out there (Tressa) that are pros at this website already and LOVE it! I, however, have some reservations...

It seems a little reminiscent of High School to me. First, there is that friend counter thing looming in your face. I start to feel good that I have 17 friends until I visit someone else's site and they have 1200+ friends. Why are those popularity stats creeping into my life again at 37?! And then there are those "friend requests"...talk about opening yourself up for rejection!! I have been very conservative with who I'll send a request out to...who wants to be turned down?! So I only send out to people that I am pretty sure will accept my request (i.e. my mother, brother, sister, grandmother, etc) 'cause I've already got enough self esteem issues as it is!!! Third, I start stressing about my picture...what will these people that I haven't thought about in 15+ years think of me...too fat? not aging well? no friends? no life? Yup, it's high school all over again and I'm am inviting it in with arms wide open!

On the flip side, it is very neat catching up with friends from past that I have lost touch with over the years. As far as the litmus test of where I am in my life, I feel I'm on equal ground... married, having kids, in careers, etc...with my previous peers. It's refreshing to see those B.M.O.C. (big men on campus) posting pictures of themselves with their kids and wives...see, people can grow up!! I've also been having a lot of fun seeing pictures from way, way back being posted and reminiscing about what was going on at that time in my life...

So you see, I'm torn...and the positive thoughts are (at the present time) winning over the negative...so throughout the day, I pop on over to the website to see if I have any new friends or if any of my "friends" have posted pictures or comments. And I try to squelch those returning self doubts...do I have enough friends? will he/she/it even remember who I am? will I be accepted?....Yeah, I'm in high school...

Weigh-in Wednesday

I'm so happy it's Wednesday...this week seems SO long already!! It is time to put my weekly weight loss status out there in the blogosphere and hold myself accountable...

Things on WW continue to go well for me...I've lost another 2 lbs so that brings my grand total to 10.2 lbs. I am continuing to be motivated with sticking to my diet and exercising regularly. Best of all, I am definitely much more comfortable in my clothes! To me, that's one of the worst feelings...wearing tight, uncomfortable clothes (and it's horrible when I wear scrubs each day and the elastic waist band on those are tight....SIGH..). I'm looking forward to the day in the near future (I hope) that I can go shopping in my closet and start wearing normal clothes again!!

BTW, it's not only Weigh in Wednesday here, but check out what's happening over at OSB!!

If You Give A Kid A Camera...

I'm playing along with Cyndy at Putting the fun in Dysfunctional...she started doing this on Tuesdays...The idea is you give your kids a camera and see what they come up with. I love this idea because I can get so much entertainment from looking at Cameron's and Emmy's cameras. It's like getting a tiny glimpse into their minds...and my kids have quirky ones!!!

I'll probably be submitting A LOT of Emmy's pictures 'cause she takes pictures of the strangest things...strangers, weird angles of her room, ceilings, floors, and of course pictures of herself. She has learned how to use the timer feature on her camera and utilizes it ALL.THE.TIME! See for yourself:

I will also be featuring Cameron's photos, but quite honestly Cameron is pretty talented when it comes to photography; she has that natural knack for taking incredible pictures...

Until next week....

100th Post!!!

This is my 100th post!!! I really can't believe I've reached this milestone! When I started this blog, I didn't think I'd have 100 words let alone 100 posts!! But here I am...I'm not going to do the 100 things about me meme; because quite honestly it would take me F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to find 100 things about me to fill in (the 6 meme I did was challenging enough). So for my 100th post, I am going to keep it simple and just say, THANK YOU for reading, commenting, and being a great source of support!!!

http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/257691/Thank_you

Friday Foto Fiesta Finish

It's Friday and I am happy this work week is coming to an end...it's been a bit hectic. Now it's time to relax and share...Once again, I am playing Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta Finish...I can't break tradition!

This is a picture I took of Jackson when I was still home on maternity leave...that makes him about 1 1/2 months old in this picture. I sent this picture to his "hero" whom he was emulating this day, his Daddy. Jack, however, wasn't too happy to be out of the warm, snuggly position he favored at this age. Aaah, the sacrifices of the young....




When you are done here, go there to see who else is playing this week!

Another one...

I'm not feeling very creative tonight as I sit to write tomorrow post. I accomplished A LOT at work today and was motivated to continue the trend at home...but I must have an energy sucking house 'cause I got nothin'!

It was Chick-fil-a spirit night for the girl's elementary school tonight...oooh, what a joy, tons of people, tons of overly excited kids, and chicken. One of the employees dressed up like the Chick-fil-a cow and I believe has now scarred Jackson for life. I actually had to move to one of the outside tables to get him to stop freaking out...I can't wait to share story with him when he's older...perhaps in front of a girl friend....hmmmm... Needless to say, it was a little difficult to get the little darlings to focus and finish up their homework and then get to bed. Jackson just fell asleep at 11 pm...perhaps I shouldn't have given him the sweet tea and ice cream....

Anyway since I'm not feeling all that creative and I'm too lazy to scan a picture and blog about it, I found this really cool site via google...it's The Daily Meme Blog...it gives you all kinds of ideas for memes. So I picked the A,B,C,D...Meme...please feel free to play along if you're so inclined.

A, B, C, D, E, F . . .
Sing play along now.

A - Age: 37
B - Band listening to right now: Literally nothing right now, but last night during my walk I was listening to Ace of Base
C - Career future: Medical
D - Dad's name: Charles Elijah
E - Easiest person to talk to: Laura (right now...because I spend the most time with her)
F - Favorite song: Song for Whoever (of course ;)
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: The original...gummy bear
H - Hometown: Wilmington, DE
I - Instruments: Piano, flute, tenor sax
J - Job: Director of Clinical Research
K - Kids: 3, Cameron, Emerson, and Jackson
L - Longest car ride ever: Washington State to Florida
M - Mom's name: Carol Ann
N - Number of people you slept with: Damn, that's a racy one...didn't realize that was in there...
P - Phobia[s]: Heights, dying
Q - Quote: "Karma is a bitch!"
R - Reason to smile: family and friends
S - Song you sang last: "Jump, jump went the little green frog..."
T - Time you wake up: 07:00 AM
U - Unknown fact about me: I FEEL like I have very little patience
V - Vegetable you hate: Brussel sprouts and lima beans...I could go on, but I'll limit myself
W - Worst habit: staying up too late
X - X-rays you've had: MRI Brain
Y - Yummy food: MEXICAN!!
Z - Zodiac sign: Virgo

Weigh-in Wednesday

It's another Wednesday and time to report in on my ongoing weight loss journey. Things have been going well since I signed up for "mainstream" WW. I lost another 1.2 lbs this past week which brings my grand total to 8.2 lbs lost!! Finally, the scale is going in the right direction! I've been working really hard changing my eating habits and trying to exercise regularly. I just had to get re-motivated and find my mojo!

One thing I've realized in the last couple weeks are that some of my "regular" meals that I would eat were worth SO MANY more points than I originally thought...for example, I absolutely love Mexican food...I am addicted (or formerly addicted) to Chipotle...My regular was the Chicken burrito bol with lettuce, rice, chicken, salsa, sour cream, cheese, and guacamole. Of course I had to have chips and a sweet tea with that...grand total: 56 points!!! - as a point of reference, I'm allowed 26 points per DAY (no wonder I have packed on the pounds!!) After starting the study WW, I completely changed my ordering habits...I started ordering from Qdoba's: naked chicken burrito: lettuce, rice, chicken, 2 types of salsa, light cheese, and guacamole. I allowed myself 14 chips and cut out the sweet tea...made good choices right?! Wrong! it still was 18 points! So I've really had to control my cravings and take a step back and think about what I am putting in my mouth...turns out I wasn't just a bad eater, at times I was horrendous!!!

So I am really pleased with how things are going and trying not to get impatient that the pounds aren't falling off, but I have to keep reminding myself that the weight didn't come on overnight!

Thanks for accommodating me and reading....Make sure you head over to OSB and see what's going on...

Post Script: Happy Birthday shout outs to Shannon at Welcome to the Nut House and Jen at Buried with Children....Happy, Happy Birthday, you guys!! Please head over and wish these wonderful ladies a special day....Shannon's trying to get 100 Birthday wishes today as today is also her 100th post - Woo Hoo!!