Finally Friday

This week has just felt like forever! We had one girl at work quit two weeks ago, then another girl went out to have her baby this week. So being 1/3 short of our front office staff makes the remaining 2/3 feel like we are running, all the time. Not to mention we are in the process of changing over our electronic health records to a new system, so we are all attending mandatory classes and training for that. Makes me feel like I am going non-stop. Can't wait for the end of this month where I can take my vacation and not worry about any of this! =)

I missed thankful Thursday, but I still think its important to think about those things I am thankful for. Just a short list for today.

I am thankful for my sister and brother in law who are always happy to see us.
I am thankful for people we can swap babysitting with (hoping for a date night, SOON!)
I am thankful for the gradual coming of spring. I have been CRAVING the sunshine lately.
I am thankful for my coworkers who make me smile, even when we are stressed.
I am thankful for a weight loss plan that allows me to be flexible. =)

Wordless Wednesday

I don't think there is anything quite like having a nice cup of coffee in the morning. =) Ahh! So glad that my new lifestyle allowes me to indulge occasionally on stuff like Starbucks!

Sunshine!!

This weekend we were utterly spoiled by some unseasonably warm temperatures and sunshine. I am going to be quite honest when I say that we took the most advantage of it we could!

Saturday had to start with just a bit of shopping, but we ended up at my sister in law's house and the "bigger kids" all spent the entire afternoon outside. Natalie (who is usually the one in and out) was out the ENTIRE time. I actually checked on her a few times to make sure she didn't take off! All three of the girls were thoroughly WORN out and two out of three were asleep not even 10 minutes into the drive home. LOVE IT!

Then Sunday, right after church we headed for the park and the zoo and walked around the better part of three hours. McKayla was scared to death when a BIG bird attempted to peck her (thankfully it was the part of the fence with the mesh and it couldn't have no matter how hard it tried. But it sure got her worked up. She immediately burst into tears and had to be carried for a few minutes until she calmed down. Thank goodness my 6-year old is still 35 pounds! lol

Anyway, we have one more day of nice weather, then tomorrow it dips back down to 39 for the high. MUCH too cold. But, I can comfort myself with the fact that its only 2 days of cold, then another four beautiful days =) I love spring!

Funny Friday

Have a fantastic weekend!

Thankful Thursday

This week I thought I would post a short list of what I am thankful for.

1. Thankful for His provision
2. Thankful for the window at work so I can see the pretty snow falling
3. Thankful for little feet, running through my house
4. Thankful for a husband who knows when I am fed up
5. Thankful for the support of family, even from 8 hours away

What are YOU most thankful for today?

Horrible!!

I know, its been nearly a full month since my last post. I am REALLY struggling getting myself into a habit of posting again. I am thinking I might just stick a reminder on my phone, have it go off as an alarm. I hate feeling this way about blogging though. It used to be so "natural" to just be posting nearly everyday, but lately it seems I can't find the time. :( I am sure balance will come in time, but I struggle for now. Maybe I should just aim for weekly posts? Anyway, enough about my blogging woes. On to Thankful Thursday!

This week I am thankful for my new van. We FINALLY got our tax return and were able to buy one outright. LOVE no monthly payments! Love being able to all fit comfortably and bring someone else if we wanted! =)

I am thankful for the safe delivery of my dear friend's baby. You can see her here Isn't she precious!!

I am thankful that as of now, I have no signs of "baby fever" even with three newborns and three pregnant women in my office alone. I am grateful that for now I feel content in where I am.

I am thankful for a better report card from M. Although she isn't "at" grade level (she is still just below) she is doing WONDERFULLY socially. Her teacher even put a note on there that she is like a "kid magnet" and just attracts all the other kids to her both in the classroom and on the playground. She also mentioned that she is making progress. She is going to a Monday-Thursday class after her kinder class is over and they are giving her some extra help in the sight words and letters she is having trouble with. It's call "K Pals" and she just loves it! =)

I am thankful that the "bug" seems to be passing in our house. Took it two weeks, but I think we are finally on the mend all around!

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday

Okay, so I don't think any of these are actually wordless. lol. I am going to say just a few. This is my McKayla playing a "counting" game. What you are "supposed" to do is put the number of objects in the space that the number at the bottom is. For example the one she is drawing in in this picture is the 4 spot, she should be putting 4 beans in that space. She wanted to draw instead. So in the 1 spot is 1 bunny, in the two spot - a two ball snow man, the 3 is a mommy with two kids (3 people). Unfortunately she didn't have time to finish (this was at her school's kinder 'game' night where we were given stuff to play educational games to help the kids at home) Loved seeing her in action with her classmates! I also just love the way their little minds work! =)

Not me Monday

This weekend I did not sit on the couch with my blanket and pillow and watch almost an entire season of America's Next Top Model.

I also didn't postpone bathing my children one night in hopes of feeling better. Didn't work. Ended up bathing all three, while feeling like crap, at the last minute last night.

I did not eat an entire mini bag of quakes. (in my defense it was only 3 servings and I was only 5 points over for the day. I'm being much better today!)

I definatly didn't hide my healthy veggie snacks in my lunchbox so my family wouln't eat them (again defending myself here, it was just the sliced apples that I knew they would eat all of!! lol)

What didn't you do this weekend?

Thankful Thursday

Another week to count my blessings! Here are just a few of the things I am thankful for today.

I am thankful for a willing friend to be my accountability partner in my "Made to Crave" book study. I might actually finish this time!

I am thankful for the few dry days we have had.

I am thankful for the beautiful view of the snow covered foothills (I will try and get a picture up here soon!)

I am thankful for my mom & dad helping me get tickets to fly home. Not for the reasons I wanted to, but I am thankful to be able to say goodbye. Without their help, it wouldn't be possible.

I am thankful that the numbers on the scale are going the right direction. I only pray that when they start slowing (if I hit a plateu, or if it slows down coming off) that I can keep my motivation. I have lost 6.5 lbs in two weeks, so its going awesome right now, but I have a habit of giving up when my "hard work" isn't showing.

Wordless Wednesday

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts,
and we are never the same.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am going to stick with my weather theme here. =)

1. I am thankful that the snow didn't cause us any accidents. There were SO many in our area, I am grateful for the safe travel I had to and from work.
2. I am thankful that my mom and dad are in a place where they aren't too worried about flooding. Not near any rivers or anything. Makes me feel a bit more comfortable with all the rain they are getting in the Pacific Northwest.
3. I am thankful for coworkers who don't laugh too hard at me when I am snapping picture after picture of the snow yesterday. I think they understand that this isn't the "norm" for me.
4. I am thankful that it didn't freeze last night and make the morning commute hard.
5. I am thankful that I am used to the rain. =) Coming from Oregon I am pretty well adjusted to having to get wet.

What are you thankful for this week? What is the weather like in your neck of the woods. We have been pretty out of the norm here, from what I have heard. =)

Wordless Wednesday

Being new to the area, I had to really photograph the first "big" snow of the season. The girls at the office are laughing at me still!!

The view from our 3rd floor window at 8:30

The outdoor lunch area (shows just an idea of the accumulation we had in just 2 hours!)

Pretty snow covered trees

The same view outside our 3rd floor window at 9:30ish. They started plowing the lot.

And one the hubby sent me from home.

Happy Snow Day!!

Wordless Wednesday

She is my daughter. Only someone related to me could stab themselves in the lip with a "big girl" fork. :-( Healing nicely though. And the red cheeks are getting some help from the new carmex healing cream. Happy Wednesday all!!

Thankful Thursday

I am really trying to get in the attitude of gratefulness. I think its important to count your blessings often. I think that by writing things down every week that I am especially thankful for can help me to have a more positive outlook about life in general. So, here are the top 5 things I am thankful for this week.

1. I am thankful for the new church family I am a part of. I was worried when we moved that I wouldn't have the support that I did back home (lets face it, nothing will compare with a church that you have literally grown up in) but I was pleasently surprised that I have quite a few friends at the church (some I have known longer then others) but they are willing to help when we really need it. One babysat for me yesterday and another drove me home from winco so Jimmy could still get home without me having to take the kiddos out at 10 at night. =) Very helpful!

2. I am thankful for the online support I get at myfitnesspal.com. The community is amazing helping me come up with new ideas, ways to stay on track and just motivate me to keep at it. I have completely fallen off the wagon, and they let me get myself back up, dust off and get back in the saddle. I have been diligantly tracking my food since the 1st. =)

3. I am thankful for mostly healthy kids. We have had some SICK patients around this office, and I am so grateful that my kids haven't been brought any gifts home from my work.

4. I am thankful for healthy and relitively quick deliveries of all three of my girls. We have a girl here at work who has been in slow labor for the last 8 days now. I really, really wouldn't want to be in her shoes, but she is the one gunning for an all natural birth, so she is happy with her decision. That is all that matters, just makes me more thankful that I was able to have those quick labors.

5. I am thankful that I am liking the Curves workout. The only disadvantage to signing up was the 1 year minimum commitment. I just pray that I continue to like it. And right now I am feeling like I am getting a good workout. I have sweat all over and my heartrate is getting up to the range I want it to be in (60-80% max heart rate)

What are you thankful for this week? I would love for each person who comments to leave me one thing YOU are thankful for! =)

Christmas Eve

As I told you before, in this post, we had an amazing thing happen this Christmas. And as promised, here are the pictures!

This is the girls helping Santa unload the bags/box of gifts under the tree (just an fyi - he told the kiddos the only reason they got to see him is because they had been extra good this year! Gotta keep the faith as long as we can)


Then he let them open one, thankfully it was the perfect one for them to share! =) A chest full of dress up stuff (3 dresses and accessories)


Then we got a few pics of the girls with him. This is the best one.


And Mrs. Clause and their helper elf.


Their generosity made my girls an amazing Christmas! =) Talk about spoiled.

Happy New Year!!

Nothing like sending the old year old with a nap in the car! And nothing like ringing in the new year with a glass of bubbly! Or maybe Diet Dew =) Happy New Year my friends. I pray that God richly blesses you in the coming year. =)