Latest Weigh-in

Oh man, there's no weigh-in right now. I am still full from last Thursday. I have a plan though, and am hoping to get it started sooner than later. I'll share it once its all written down. I need to catch up on Biggest Loser to get some inspiration! Anyone out there not gain or actually lose weight over the holiday? I think I feel like its a week of freedom and I try to pack in as much stuff as I can before that week ends. To bad I pay for it for months. Oh well, time to turn the page...and move onto Christmas!

Christmas in the Northwest

Lamest Christmas Song (that I secretly love) EVER! This is the only "video" I could find. These people are hillarious! hmmmm, maybe we should do a video for our families back East!

Left Click

Jeez, have you ever had to work with your computer when the left clicker on the mouse isn't working properly? Believe me, you do not want to. Its like not having thumbs! My wonderful (year and a half old!!!) Dell has become a problem, and the latest is the mouse not working properly.

You see, I have a unique gift. If I'm within 100 feet of something I enjoy or need to get through the day, it will break. However, the moment my husband steps in to help, it stops doing whatever it was doing and he looks at me like I'm new to the computer age. This time though, his power isn't working as well as mine. Hopefully we'll have her up and running properly soon, but in the mean time, I'm saving all my photos to DVD!

The first day back from vacation went pretty well. Usually after a long trip, I like to assess how life is going out here, and make a few changes. Today, the changes started small, with rearranging the pantry. Doesn't sound like much, but it made me feel better. I also mustered up the energy to go to Mom's Night Out as well, and it was a lot of fun spending time with some women I've only seen at Kidzbounce and parks! These ladies are wild...just how I like it! As usual the night ended in Smokey Joe's. One of us was 8 months pregnant (don't worry, there's no smoking in bars in Washington), and another was drinking vodka and soda by the pint...and it wasn't me! Yep, that's how we role on Wednesday nights in Snoqualmie.

I have loads of funny stories from my trip to share, but I'll save those for the rest of the week!

Our trip is coming to an end

Well, tomorrow is our big travel day back to the North West and it couldn't come at a more appropriate time...it's supposed to snow there tomorrow night!!!

What a wonderful trip we've had. On Saturday our son and my nephew were both baptised, and they both looked so adorable in their dresses. Youngest's baptismal gown was made by my mother out of my wedding dress. I was worried it would look silly on him, but it turned out pretty good. What do you think?

Doesn't he look pretty?

There are over 1300 photos from this trip alone, and here are some of my favorites so far:

Lets hope for an uneventful trip back West tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving...a day late

Man, what a Thanksgiving we had yesterday. Of course Eldest was "that kid", but its understandable. He's never been with all his cousins at one time. Couple that with his anxiety around crowds and you have a pretty explosive situation. Good thing for him his Grandma Jane and Grandpa Gorey are OK with him eating Mac N Cheese and watching the Polar Express while the rest of us have proper Thanksgiving dinner. What a feast! Logan got to meet his cousin (who is just 3 weeks younger) and the pictures are SOOOOOO cute. Combined, we took over 300 yesterday, here's just one of MANY.

I am really enjoying being with my family this holiday and I'm looking forward to our son and nephew's baptism's tomorrow.

We hope you all had a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

We made it!

We made it to the East Coast in one piece. The trip wasn't to bad, minus Eldest's complete melt-down at the end of the first flight. Luckily he slept about mid way through the second, which was good because the DVD player's battery died in the airport while we waited to board the second flight. Everything was delayed, and we didn't get to the East Coast until 2:00 AM on Tuesday morning, but we're here. The weather is beautiful! in the 70's and all the fall colors are still in bloom.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Big Ol' Jet Airliner...

Today we leave for our trip back East. We've packed everything we can think of for a weeks trip, without actually bringing EVERYTHING we own. One large suitcase, one medium suitcase, a backpack, a messenger bag, a camera bag, and two car seats. We'll look like the Clampets going through the airport, but hopefully the trip will go off without a hitch.

I'm not a huge fan of flying, and I haven't flown back East in over a year...and that was with one kid and my husband sitting next to me to hold my hand. This time, we have two, and he'll be sitting behind me with Eldest. If you're reading this on Monday, send a good thought my way. Knowing you're all doing that will keep me from freaking the person next to me out with my white knuckle travel skills.

Actually, having kids helps. Their needs take away from my obessing over everything little ding and bump along the way. I just hope our flights are on time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Weigh-in 11/16/07

OK, here it is. I weighed myself at the gym on Friday evening and it said I gained a pound. I'm not going to cry about it. I've been very busy getting ready for the trip. Hopefully all the activities we have planned for our trip back East will minimize the weight I gain. I'm also going to try to eat half of what I normally would at Thanksgiving and the reception for the baptism. Wish me luck!

We did it!

I can't believe I haven't written about this yet, because its pretty big. Last Friday, I took Eldest and Youngest to the city on my own in the AM to go the Children's museum with some friends. The night before I thought long and hard about which stroller to bring with me. I even e-mailed the friends I was meeting to get their thoughts as well. The double jogger was definatly to big for the museum, which was a shame because it reclines enough so Youngest can have a bottle in it and is comfortable enough for Eldest to sit in if he is tired. The Sit and Stand stroller was a good alternative, but it didn't recline enough for Youngest to have a bottle and it didn't have very good storage options. Then there's the McClaren, old faithful. It reclined all the way back, so Youngest could eat and sleep in this stroller, but there was no where for Eldest to sit. It was a single.

I thought all night and was set on the sit and stand, but at the last moment, I tossed in the McClaren and said "I can do this, Eldest will listen." It was a long ride to the city, worrying how I would get him across the street and to the Seattle Center without incident. I worried about his little hand squirming out of mine because he saw something cool on the other side of the street. I decided it would be death grip and dragging...that always worked when it came to keeping him safe.

Well, I got Youngest out of the car, set him up in the stroller, then got Eldest out. I said "STAND NEXT TO THE STROLLER AND DON'T MOVE." expecting to hear the usual back talk about how he will move, but he did just as I asked and talked excitedly about being in the city. He helped push the stroller all the way to the museum, which eliminated the need for the death grip around his hand, and when we got across the street, I let him run ahead (since we were no longer around cars), but he always stayed close enough so I could see him...without my yelling at him to do so.

We've crossed a bridge here folks. I made it through three hours in the city with Eldest WITHOUT a stroller for him to sit in. I was so proud of him and of myself. I can't wait to take him out again!!!

Weigh in: coming soon

I have a friend named Katherine. She is one of the nicest women I've met, not to mention hilarious. She's always fun to talk with and never gives me the stink eye if my kid is the squirrely one at kidzbounce (and she's quick to stop him from running into the bathroom, or opening the doors to party rooms if she's close by). In general, she's a great friend to have...but she's relentless about my weigh-ins! Each time I see her she asks me if I've weighed in or if I'm excited about weigh-in. Yesterday was no different! At Kidzbounce she asked what we could expect to see tonight on the blog. I didn't have time to sit, let alone weigh-in yesterday, but for Katherine, I'm going to make a special trip to the gym today after dropping Eldest off.

Actually, its nice having someone out there that is keeping tabs on me. It makes me more motivated and even excited to keep working hard at this weight loss thing. So, thanks Katherine!

As for the Biggest Loser...I watched last night and am SOOOOO glad Amy was booted off. She was such a wishy-washy whiner. I was surprised by her ability to keep losing weight after she got home, but am happy for her at the same time. My favorite right now is Hollie. She did such a great job in the triathlon.

Anyone out there with two kids that still finds the time to exercise? If so, send a comment on how you do it and when! I'm having a hard time making it to the gym!

We Opted to Not Drive Over the Cliff!

Melissa and I had a GREAT trip down to Portland this past weekend. Maybe we didn't get as much "rest" as we had hoped, but we did enjoy watching movies, going out to eat, and having some drinks without worrying about where our kids where and who was watching them. It was a nice feeling.

I have to thank my cousin Ronnie and her fiance Mark for their hospitality. I love going to Portland, because it is SO far out of my element. I always come back with wacky (well, wacky for me) ideas on how our family can save the world, only to be slapped in the face with the reality of my life! In the end I always recycle a little bit more, which is better than nothing! However, after this trip I will be turning my water heater down and maybe this summer Mark can help me make my garage fridge into a "kegerator". Not so much for beer, as for dispensing various drinks for kids and sparkling water (as his does!).

Who knows, maybe next summer I'll grow vegetables, and buy only organic foods grown within 50 miles of my house. I'll take it one step at a time. One thing is for sure, I will be returning for more weekends on my own.

Now, if you'll excuse me (putting on my "Greenzo" cape), I'm off to turn my water heater down!

*The picture to the left is one I took last March when I went to Portland. They have a *lively* culture down there!

The dogs of war don't negotiate

So this weekend Beth and and her friend Melissa pulled a Thelma and Louise and have headed out on a road trip. Perhaps they will run into Brad Pitt. Best of luck with that ladies.

So me and the boys are on our own for now. We'll make the rules. We'll rule the house. No curfew, we eat what we want, and play with what we want, how we want.

Old lady Young ain't getting in our way.

Yeah!

On a small side note this week I finally broke 20,000 gamer points, winning the contest me and the fellow Leads at work were running. Mooney tried a last minute rally with COD4 but I swatted his pathetic attempt aside like so much wispy smoke.

Weight in - 11/6/07

Yes, the date is right, I did weigh-in on the 6th. However, it wasn't at the gym, so I thought maybe I should go there and re-weigh myself, which never happened, so I'm going to post my weight from the doctor's visit. According to the scale, I had lost another lb! I now weigh 192. I'm pretty stoked about this! I've yet to wash my new jeans, and they're becoming a bit baggy (don't judge me...I have little time to do laundry. They don't have stains on them!!). I'll be interested to see how they fit after I wash them...maybe that's why I haven't.

Although I lost a lb this week, my appetite from being sick has returned (now that I'm on antibiotics and can smell and taste properly again), so I'm feeling a bit lazy and plump around the middle. If all goes well, I'll be at the gym tonight for a workout (nothing crazy), and I may weigh myself again to see if their scale says the same as the doctors...we'll see!!

Next week, I am going to take the slim fast challenge. I don't normally do this, but I'm going back East for Thanksgiving, and I'm feeling the need to drop another two lbs before going, so I won't feel overly guilty over the over eating I will be doing while I'm there.

Hopefully I haven't let to many folks down by not meeting my 8lb goal before Thanksgiving, but I am losing, that's the important part to me. Once I return and see what kind of damage was done over the holiday, I'll set a new goal for Christmas/New years.

Mom on Mom Crime

I've always said that a mother's worst enemy is another mom. We can be real bitches, and I'm always amazed when we turn on one another because of our differences in opinion. To keep myself from making the wrong kinds of friends, I've established one rule...the mom's I meet would be friends of mine even if our kids weren't around. So far, it's a rule that's done right by me.

The other day, however, I met a mom that will NEVER be part of this selective group, and believe me, its really not that hard to be part of it.

Eldest was very cheery when I picked him up from school one day last week. He gave me a big, long hug, then wanted to say good-bye to all his teachers! We said goodbye a few times, then I popped him into his new car seat. I fumbled with the seat belt a little longer than usual, and even made said to my cousin, "you'd think I was new to car seats! I'm holding up the line!" Well, while I was fumbling, we heard a car horn. I didn't think of it, and Eldest and I just talked about the noise..oblivious to where it came from. *CLICK*...FINALLY! I got the seat belt on, and stepped back to close the door and heard (in a condescending tone you would use with a 3 year old), "Beep Beep, that's right, mommy. Now, let's step into the car...good" I was confused when I shut my car door. At most, the whole "good-bye-seat-belt thing" took 2 minutes. I asked my cousin "Was she talking to me?" I put my seat belt on and looked behind me to see the mom waving her hand and nodding her head in a fashion as if to say "yes, I'm a giant bitch, now move so I can get home in time to watch Oprah".

This is one of those times where you so dumbfounded by what's just happened, the come-backs, and actions you could have...neh..SHOULD have taken don't come to you until well after the time has passed. She turned the opposite direction from me, and at that point I was so angry, I nearly turned the car around to follow her home and spew all the things I had thought of at her while she got her precious spawn out of the car...a BLACK SUV WITH SILVER GAS CAP!

Since this happened, I've seen her in the parking lot and the worst I've been able to do is give her the stink eye from my car. My husband thinks if she is ever behind me again, I should give my car a 5 point safety inspection before getting in.

What a bitch.

H.F.Y. - the new kid

I feel like I've given Eldest a rep among the mom's I know. He does some silly things, and tests me to all ends, and I've gone to my mommy friends more than once for support. However, in doing this, I feel like I've given the impression that Eldest is like this 100% of the time...well, I'm here to state for the record that he's not.

Eldest is a 3 year old boy, and he does all the things a 3 year old boy should do. He plays in the dirt, likes to throw rocks, enjoys playing with various pots and kitchen utensils instead of the hundreds of toys he has, and, in general, he likes to destroy, or maybe I should say deconstruct things.

But Eldest does some pretty sweet and cute things as well. He'll ask me if I'm OK when I sneeze or cough, he says Please and Thank You 95% of the time without having to be asked, he asks if I need a kiss on my boo boo when I hurt myself, and nothing beats how excited he is to see me when I pick him up from school.

He's my little man and I love him whether he's smacking the TP roll holder off the wall, or giving me a hug before bed!

Good times at Château Young

Man, what a week! My cousin Tracey, whom I haven't seen in about 3 years, came to visit Seattle for the first time on Tuesday and we had a wonderful time together. We went to the Salmon Hatchery, Pike's Market, Seattle Center, and Snoqualmie Falls. And yes, that was with both kids each time (well, except the falls, Eldest was in school for that!). Maybe it was the constant noise, or the time Eldest sneezed all over her face, but I do believe after spending four days with us, Tracey will be pushing back her plans for a family a few more years. Eldest put on his best performances yet. Even I was impressed at times, but to tell the truth, I've noticed a change in him. Oh yes, he can still throw a fit like no one's business, but he's listening more, and understanding more. Youngest was just a doll, as usual.

Tracey's sister Ronnie came up with her Fiance Mark Friday night from Portland, and we said good-bye to Tracey on Saturday afternoon. Mark and Ronnie are both pretty good cooks, and together we made a pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin, pot roast, and blintzes. We ate VERY well this past weekend...and drank well too! They also brought some great wine's from Oregon.

Tracey and I really enjoyed taking the boys out for Halloween! They had a great time, and afterwards we watched a creepy episode of CSI: NY. It brought back a hilarious memory of us thinking the boat house at our family camp in Vermont was haunted. We had read an article in People, or Time about a family that was haunted and the ghost(s) would move with them when they did. It scared us to pieces, so we started to explore the boat house to see if it was haunted and we found cigars behind the pictures! We, being the Nancy Drew loving 10 year olds we were, went straight to the adults with the evidence. Instead of discovering ghosts, however, we ended up getting our cousin Matt and my brother Jimmy in big trouble for smoking! We had a good laugh, then cried a little when we realized this happened over 20 years ago. We remembered it as if it happened last summer.

I'll be posting some good photos from Halloween and some other interesting tidbits this week. Sorry for taking so much time off!!!!