Finally

After at least three years of talking about it we FINALLY took the plunge and bought a new comforter set!!! We have been using the same one since we got married and let me just say it had seen better days! Although we have good taste (if I do say so myself :) ), we don't typically have the wallet to match our good taste so it was a financial plunge we just hadn't been willing to take. Well, last week we went to Dillard's to look around and we just happened to see a set we'd had our eye on before on CLEARANCE!!! We hemmed and hawed and finally decided to get it but didn't get any sheets. Sunday we went to Kohl's and they were having buy one get one on sheet sets and mattress pads so, we got two sets of sheets and a new matress pad for us and Josh. So, I finally put everything on our bed yesterday and we got to sleep in our new stuff last night. Wow the sheets we got are really nice and although we paid a little more than we would tend to, we think it might just have been worth it because they feel really nice!!! Now, all we need is a bed! (This bed was left here by our landlords and the mattresses are pretty pathetic but it's queen size and we've never had a queen size so we are using them and Josh has our old bed - which used to be Ian's crib!!!) Here are some pictures of our new set!! (If you can't tell from the pictures, the colors are navy, sage, and tan/khaki with some olive green thrown in.)

I Feel Good...

I knew that I would now... Okay, okay, forgive me but that song is in my head and it applies to what I wanted to write about. (I know you're singing it now, too! {smile}).

Anyway, I feel good because... I am officially at my pre-pregnancy weight!!!! YAY!!!! It's taken 8 1/2 months but I'm there. I really plateaued (sp?) for quite a while and just couldn't seem to get lower so, finally, about 2 weeks ago I stopped eating desserts and anything that I know has lots of sugar. Living with a choc-a-holic this hasn't been easy. Plus, I have wanted lots of stuff. In the first couple of days I was craving Vanilla Coke (from Sonic not out of a can). Now, if you know me at all you know that I rarely drink sodas so wouldn't you know that's what I wanted! One night I wanted something sweet so I made myself a fruit smoothie - yum! I am not cutting out fruit in spite of all of their natural sugars because, well, I like fruit and think that's better for me than processed sugar. Last night really stunk because I was REALLY wanting some hot chocolate and had decided to allow myself this small pleasure. I boiled the water, got the hot chocolate down and looked at the ingredients. BIG MISTAKE!! The first two ingredients are sugar and corn syrup!!!!! So, I put the can back and didn't have any. GO ME!!! (Hey, this is a big deal for me!) I have always tended to be a little more on the "healthy" side of things up until I was pregnant. I really kinda indulged in a lot and had the weight gain to prove it. According to my friend, Amy, I was more fun to eat with when I was pregnant!!! {LOL} The challenge will be Monday because that's Brian's birthday and he loves store bought cake with lots of icing and I normally have at least one piece... we'll have to see!! I may have to have one bite...

Brian and I have both been trying to lose our "baby weight" and he's been doing great, too. We haven't stopped eating stuff we like just trying to watch portion control, etc. Plus, he's started running a lot more and going to the gym. He's decided that since he'll be at Wright Patterson on a trip in September and that happens to be when the Air Force marathon is that he's going to train to run in it. He had starting training while we lived there but hurt his knees and wasn't able to continue to train. He's been strengthening them ever since and feels like he can do it this time around. I am trying to get to where I can run since he seems to like it so much but it's a total mental thing with me and I can't seem to get past a mile although everyone keeps telling me that if I could push past that mile, it would be easier... I do walk for at least 30 minutes about 5 times a week and I do a little over 2 miles. I would like to start doing more but that's working for now. Brian and I did both get new running shoes so maybe I'll start trying to run more during my walks...

Now, even though I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight I do still have some pounds to lose. Before I got pregnant I was trying to lose 10 pounds so I still have those 10 pounds to go!! I'm also trying to be careful and not go crazy with stuff since I am still nursing and do need a few more calories than normal to have a good supply for Ellie! Brian's graduation ball is June 7th and it would be great if I had lost those 10 pounds by then, wish me luck!!

Busy, Busy

Life has been pretty busy lately - it seems there has been something going on every day for a couple of weeks now. It's times like this when I want to yell, "Stop the world, I want to get off!" Will it come to an end any time soon? Doubtful! Want to know why?? Baseball!! That's right, baseball! Ian had his last basketball game yesterday and they had their end of year celebration complete with a ventriloquist and everything. It was a great way to end the season. BUT, yesterday morning he also had his skills assessment for baseball which means that is right around the corner!! Originally Josh said he didn't want to play but he informed us this evening that he's changed his mind and would like to play. Well, I guess both of his plays wrap up in the next couple of weeks so all of that will be through and it will just be baseball but let me tell you it's a lot of baseball when both of them are playing. Plus, we would like to be able to do some weekend trips before our move so when those might happen I'm not sure. I want them to both be active and, hopefully, Josh will be able to get himself to practice but I'm not always ready for the busyness that comes! Okay, I'll stop complaining now!!

OH, just as a reminder for those of you that mentioned you would like to visit while we're here in Alabama, we only have until late June for that to happen!! We would love to see you so please let us know when!!

How we spent President's Day

I so enjoy having a three day weekend! Not all of us had a three day weekend, though. Ian and Brian had the day off yesterday but Josh had school. He wasn't happy about that. It ended up being a beautiful day which made what we ended up doing even better! We took Ian on a hike and he loved it! We hiked 2.5 miles and although he started to get a little tired at the end, he still did great. Ellie, even though she missed a nap, did great too! She did nap for about 20 minutes on the hike but otherwise was awake and loving it - she loves to be outside! On our hike Ian checked out ever hole he found with his flashlight he brought along. Never did find anything. (Don't know what he would have done if he had!) Brian and I were talking about it later and the trail was actually pretty dull - not much wildlife or foliage. BUT, Ian loved it and that's what matters! Plus, it was nice to be outside enjoying the beautiful day with our family.

Ellie is 8 months old!

Ellie turned 8 months old on the 12th of February. I had her portraits taken that day so I didn't actually take her picture at home on the 12th. This picture was taken on the 14th - Valentine's day. It's getting harder and harder to take her picture with the blocks! She's not crawling yet but she scoots... backwards! It's cute because she'll be reaching for something in front of her but she moves backward. She loves to eat finger food, stand by holding our hands, play with toys some, go for walks, and the things she loves to hold on to are a little toy pilot that goes with a helicopter (it fits in her hand) and a drumstick that goes with her pianophone.

When putting her in her carseat she'll be fussy for a minute until she has those two things (one in each hand). She makes me smile and makes such cute faces. The second picture is one of those faces. I took the picture today while she was playing with her toys.

Ian's Pine Wood Derby

Last weekend Ian's RA group had their pine wood derby. Unlike in years past, he only had a little over a week to get it together. He and Brian worked on it some during the week but Brian was still finishing it up late Saturday night (even while we had company over). Here is the finished car:

Ian designed it and Brian helped him execute it. He won quite a few races but didn't win enough to get a trophy. Each year his cars get better and better looking as Brian learns more each year as to how to make them better.

A Couple of Funnies from Yesterday

Yesterday there were a couple of funny moments that came up that I thought I would share.

In the mornings we do a family devotional at breakfast called "Our Daily Bread" and Brian reads the Bible portion. I was in the kitchen doing some things when he got started and he was telling me where he was reading from. Plus, he was telling the boys "Oh, we've been reading this in Sunday School." So, he says, "We're reading from Husbands...." and although I was busy I said - did you say husbands? Then, he realized what he'd said and Josh said, "Oh, I thought you were saying that was what Ephesians meant!" {smile} (The reference was Ephesians and the first word was husbands!)

That afternoon I went to pick up Josh and we were on the way home and we were talking about some things: what we were learing at OCF (Officer's Christian Fellowship) and some other stuff. Well, he was also texting with his friend Laura about plans they were making to go as a group to see their friend Jason bowl Thursday night. He texts Laura (unknowingly) "So, are we going to see Jesus bowl?" She texts back "Jesus? I don't know about him but Jason maybe." (Can't you just imagine her tone?) Josh bursts out laughing and tells me what happened and I was rolling with laughter. Even as I type this I keep giggling and Brian keeps looking at me funny. I told Josh, "Well, if it's thundering and lightning that night you'll be getting to see Jesus bowl!"

Well, I hope that brought a smile to your face! Happy hump day!

Brian and Ian's Trip

Two weekends ago Brian and Ian went on an overnight "guy" trip with Ian's RA (Royal Ambassador's) group. They went to Mobile, AL, and stayed on the USS Alabama. I'm including some pictures for you to see. The first one is of the boys waiting to be able to go on with the ship in the background.







The second is a picture of Ian and Reed (our neighbor) on their bunks.







The third is a picture of Ian on deck at sunset.

The fourth is a picture of Ian with the 16 inch shells - can you tell which one is him? {smile}

The last picture is of Brian in the Brig and they took a picture of the label to the Brig and it says, "BRIG: This is the bin for bad apples." I thought that was funny!

Ian had a great time and they enjoyed being able to have some bonding time together.

Our Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner

Last night we held our 4th annual Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner. It's a tradition we started after living in Ohio and a friend of ours there had them. We thought it was a fun idea so we had our first one 4 years ago in Virginia. It's a family event and it's a lot of fun albeit chaotic! We were expecting around 50 people last night (kids included) and ended up with right around 60. One of my Christmas presents this year was a big electric skillet and I was looking forward to putting it to good use plus a friend of ours let us borrow theirs. Right around 4:45pm Josh and I got started cooking pancakes. By the time everyone arrived we had 3 overflowing pans full of them! (We learned the hard way last year when everyone arrived right at 6 o'clock and wiped us out quickly and we were furiously cooking more the whole time!) It was nice to actually be able to socialize this year and not be cooking over a hot skillet the whole time. Although this year was a little harder in a different way - Ellie won't let anyone hold her but Brian and I and although she's small, she starts to get heavy! So, we took turns and she ended up being up later than usual but did a great job (as long as we were holding her)!

I think fun was had by all. I haven't ventured upstairs yet to see the damage (where the kids were playing) - I'm afraid to! From what I understand it's probably smart on my part, I'll get there though.

I am posting a couple of pictures. I usually forget to take pictures so I tried to do better this year. Here's one of Josh and Jeri with fun Mardi Gras hats on and the one of Ellie and I was taken at the end of the night (I didn't have my beads on any more - Ellie was wearing one of mine and loving it!) So, if I look a little rough and tired, I was! {smile}

Funnies about North Dakota

Well, most of you already know but for those of you who don't we did find out we'll be moving to North Dakota this summer. The boys are actually looking forward to it (for different reasons). Josh thinks the high school looks like something out of a movie so he thinks it will be cool to graduate from there - he'll be a Senior can you BELIEVE IT?! Ian thinks that anywhere that has both indoor and outdoor hockey rinks has got to be great and he's already told me he wants to live in ND forever! {smile} Well, we've met some friends here that moved here from North Dakota and she sent me this in an e-mail so I thought I would share. Now you'll all know what we'll be facing! Enjoy a laugh on me!

Jeff Foxworthy on North Dakota

If 'vacation' to you means going shopping for the weekend in Minot, Grand Forks, or Bismarck (while the kids swim at the Comfort Inn),
You might live in North Dakota .

If parking your car for the night involves an extension cord,
You might live in North Dakota.

If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 8 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by,
You might live in North Dakota.

If you're proud that your state makes the national news primarily because it houses the coldest spot in the nation ,
You might live in North Dakota.

If you have ever refused to buy something because it's 'too spendy',
You might live in North Dakota.

If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there,
You might live in North Dakota.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead,
You might live in North Dakota.

If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You might live in North Dakota .

If you measure distance in hours,
You might live in North Dakota.

If your family vehicle is a crew cab pickup,
You might live in North Dakota.

If you know several people who have hit deer more than once,
You might live in North Dakota .

If you can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching,
You might live in North Dakota .

If you've installed security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked,
You might live in North Dakota .

If the largest traffic jam in your town centers around a high school basketball game,
You might live in North Dakota .

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them,
You might live in North Dakota .

If your town's Christmas lights parade is actually called the 'Christmas Lights Parade' rather than the ' Holiday LightsParade', and everyone in the parade actually greets you with 'Merry Christmas!'
You might live in North Dakota .

If there are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Wal-Mart at any given time,
You might live in North Dakota .

If there are more people at work on Christmas Eve Day than on Opening of Deer Season,
You might live in North Dakota .

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You might live in North Dakota .

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You might live in North Dakota.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter,still winter and road construction,
You might live in North Dakota.

If your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your cottonwood,
You might live in North Dakota .

If the sunbelt to you means Bismarck,
You might live in North Dakota .

If finding your misplaced car keys involves looking in the ignition,
You might live in North Dakota .

If you go out to a fish fry every Friday,
You might live in North Dakota .

If you find 0 degrees 'a little chilly,'
You might live in North Dakota .

Eliana Update

Well, Ellie finally had her six month check up on Wednesday and they kept saying, so she's six months old and I kept having to correct them, "Technically, she's 7 1/2 months!" Anyway, all went well but she hasn't grown a whole lot. She is only 5 ounces more than she was last time (making her in about the 2% as far as weight is concerned) and she's 25.75 inches long (puts her in about the 40% on height). The doctor was asking if she's been eating and I was telling him that a lot of times I feel like we have to make her stop eating so I told Brian maybe we shouldn't stop her eating - just let her go?! Anyway, because of her size he would like her to come back in at 9 1/2 months to get that checked up on. I think she's doing fine. She does everything developmentally that she's supposed to - she is officially rolling from back to front now and she can move toys from hand to hand and she feeds herself (finger foods). Oh! She got one shot while we were there (I'm doing a VERY modified immunization schedule with her) and as we were leaving the tech was waving at her and saying "Bye!" and Ellie waved back!! That was a first! I think it made the tech's day. I took this picture of her this morning - she was actually sitting and playing with her toys so I had to get a picture!