Ben and Jerry's annual Free Cone Day is upon us. Grace asked, "So, they give us the cone and we pay for the icecream?" NOT a bad idea for the company, but the customers would probably be disgruntled, eh?
In other news, Grace has started to learn piano. I'm very proud of her. She practices very consistently, and it's so fun to listen to her. Until Old MacDonald starts to play in my head even when she's not practicing!!! It's really a joy to see my daughter start to pick up my love of music and piano. And satisfying to know that I have the talent and training to teach her rather than pay for piano lessons.
AJ is doing well in preschool. His teacher is very pleased with his progress. We're meeting with the occupational therapists with the school board this week to evaluate his gross motor skills as well as sensory issues. We've been waiting for this appointment since NOVEMBER. I hope it leads to something fruitful for him.
Terry's traveling again, in Utah for 10 days this time. I've developed a very strict routine with my children and it is working wonders. Their behavior has been stellar for the most part. I'm seeing them helping more, squabbling less. I've learned not to stress myself out over their happenings and utilize timeout more. Time out really benefits ME as well as them. And bedtime has been seamless. 7:00pm is lights out for AJ, Grace is in bed with a book by 7:15, and usually both are asleep before 7:45. That gives me a peaceful, relaxing evening and helps me recharge for the next day.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Vacation Dilemma
The scale has dropped another 3 pounds. Which brings my total weight loss to 30 pounds. Yikes! So fun to eat low fat while PREGNANT. YOU try managing cravings for chocolate covered potato chips from Grimaldi's with poor substitutions, such as pretzels and Gatorade and strawberries! It will be so worth it in the end, though, to know that our baby is healthy in part because I was careful.
In other news, our little girl is kicking away. Grace and Terry have both felt her, which is such a neat part of pregnancy. And she has currently lodged the whole pound of herself in a ball just under my ribcage. I'm not sure why, or how she is defeating gravity right now, but I really wish she'd set up camp in an area with a LITTLE more space. So that I could lean forward.
We're on our 4th consecutive week of Terry traveling for work. I miss him. I miss the respite he provides when he comes home every day. And believe me, I'm using my full 2 hours of childcare every day at the gym that he is gone. He spent 3 weeks in Utah, came home for the weekend, then jet-set off to Alabama for NASA meetings. And just as I suspected, he anticipates more travel to Utah in about 2 weeks and another trip to Alabama.
I looked into cruises, thinking that would be a fun family vacation before the baby comes. And something to look forward to while my husband is away. It turns out that you can't travel on ANY cruise ship if you're more than 23-24 weeks pregnant. Except for Viking cruises, which doesn't have any local travel. Bummer. I briefly considered not telling them I'm pregnant, but decided it wasn't worth the risk of preterm labor, gallstone problems, or food poisoning. Or SARS or Swine Flu or whatever the next pandemic will be.
So then I was thinking North Carolina. But I don't know that white water rafting is really the best choice for a pregnant woman. And hiking in the snow, great for those of us super fit, used to mountains, and in shape, again might just suck for the pregnant lady. Which brings me to the Florida Keys. Now THAT rings my bell. Pool, beach, a dolphin or whale tour, maybe some snorkeling. . . . mmmmmmm. I wonder if they make virgin rumrunners??????
Now that we found out Terry has another week in Utah coming up, he thinks the kids and I should go up there. Spend vacation money on plane tickets and enjoy the nice hotel room paid for by his company. It would be fun to see our friends again. And Terry could take the kids snowskiing for the first time while I take pictures and drink hot chocolate in the lodge. But it will be cold. Probably snowy. I won't come home tanned and relaxed. (Who would be relaxed after an 8 hour flight with 2 young children?)
I can't decide if it's worth it to go and have adult company, help with my children, enjoy seeing our friends and our church. . . . or suck it up, again, and hold out for MY vacation.
We do have Disney passes Mon-Fri, and I suppose I could take the kids and spend the night at Mom and Dad's and then go to Disney for a few days. AJ has preschool Monday, Wed, Friday, Grace has American Heritage Girls Tuesday, Tap dance and church Wednesday, Hip Hop Thursday, and Dance Company on Saturdays. So we'd have to give up some of our regularly scheduled activities to do that. Perhaps leaving Thurs. pm for Orlando and letting AJ miss preschool on a Friday. . . .
In other news, our little girl is kicking away. Grace and Terry have both felt her, which is such a neat part of pregnancy. And she has currently lodged the whole pound of herself in a ball just under my ribcage. I'm not sure why, or how she is defeating gravity right now, but I really wish she'd set up camp in an area with a LITTLE more space. So that I could lean forward.
We're on our 4th consecutive week of Terry traveling for work. I miss him. I miss the respite he provides when he comes home every day. And believe me, I'm using my full 2 hours of childcare every day at the gym that he is gone. He spent 3 weeks in Utah, came home for the weekend, then jet-set off to Alabama for NASA meetings. And just as I suspected, he anticipates more travel to Utah in about 2 weeks and another trip to Alabama.
I looked into cruises, thinking that would be a fun family vacation before the baby comes. And something to look forward to while my husband is away. It turns out that you can't travel on ANY cruise ship if you're more than 23-24 weeks pregnant. Except for Viking cruises, which doesn't have any local travel. Bummer. I briefly considered not telling them I'm pregnant, but decided it wasn't worth the risk of preterm labor, gallstone problems, or food poisoning. Or SARS or Swine Flu or whatever the next pandemic will be.
So then I was thinking North Carolina. But I don't know that white water rafting is really the best choice for a pregnant woman. And hiking in the snow, great for those of us super fit, used to mountains, and in shape, again might just suck for the pregnant lady. Which brings me to the Florida Keys. Now THAT rings my bell. Pool, beach, a dolphin or whale tour, maybe some snorkeling. . . . mmmmmmm. I wonder if they make virgin rumrunners??????
Now that we found out Terry has another week in Utah coming up, he thinks the kids and I should go up there. Spend vacation money on plane tickets and enjoy the nice hotel room paid for by his company. It would be fun to see our friends again. And Terry could take the kids snowskiing for the first time while I take pictures and drink hot chocolate in the lodge. But it will be cold. Probably snowy. I won't come home tanned and relaxed. (Who would be relaxed after an 8 hour flight with 2 young children?)
I can't decide if it's worth it to go and have adult company, help with my children, enjoy seeing our friends and our church. . . . or suck it up, again, and hold out for MY vacation.
We do have Disney passes Mon-Fri, and I suppose I could take the kids and spend the night at Mom and Dad's and then go to Disney for a few days. AJ has preschool Monday, Wed, Friday, Grace has American Heritage Girls Tuesday, Tap dance and church Wednesday, Hip Hop Thursday, and Dance Company on Saturdays. So we'd have to give up some of our regularly scheduled activities to do that. Perhaps leaving Thurs. pm for Orlando and letting AJ miss preschool on a Friday. . . .
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A giveaway!
My friend DeeDee, over at FiddleeDeeDee, is hosting a $100 gift card giveaway sponsored by DiGiorno. You know, the people who make really good frozen pizza? COnvenient, less expensive, and comparable to delivery? :)
Head over there and leave a comment to enter your name in the drawing!
Good luck! :)
Oh, and by the way, they just came out with 200 calorie pizza, which sounds like it might be something I can actually eat without having a gallbladder attack! Welcome back to my life, pizza. I've missed you.
Head over there and leave a comment to enter your name in the drawing!
Good luck! :)
Oh, and by the way, they just came out with 200 calorie pizza, which sounds like it might be something I can actually eat without having a gallbladder attack! Welcome back to my life, pizza. I've missed you.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
A Weekend to Remember!
I try to keep this blog lighthearted and superficial, but I really want to share a wonderful opportunity that is coming to Central Florida this June.
Terry and I were very blessed by this conference last June. We had a whole weekend sans children and this provided a wonderful chance for us to connect at a deep level. The speakers were dynamic, the material thoughtful, the result: phenomenal.
Terry and I have a good marriage. This weekend gave us a chance to build on that and decide to make it even better. It's easy to isolate ourselves, even within a marriage. To disconnect, read a book or veg out in front of the tv instead of pursuing unity with our partner. If we are stuck in a rut, it's really our own fault and lack of connecting with each other.
We came home with many books and resources, well rested and rejuvenated, ready to reclaim our children from Nana and Grandpa's house. And the message we brought back with us was that marriage is worth it! We will prioritize our marriage as most important than almost anything else in our lives. We will pursue romance, we will pray for each other, we will support each other, we will trust each other.
We are trying to help people understand that God's plan does NOT include divorce. In the time that we signed on as group leaders, THREE couples we know have declared their intention to seek divorce. I'm heartbroken for them and the pain that they are currently experiencing, as well as the pain that they WILL experience.
We heard many people at the end of the conference share that they had filed for divorce or were on the brink of divorce and this marriage retreat gave them a chance to hope again, to love again, to understand that it's NOT the other person. It really is ME who makes the difference in my marriage. Many couple rededicated their wedding vows, and at the Orlando conference alone, 53 people accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.
This conference is seriously THE BEST thing you can EVER do for your marriage. It's better than a cruise (although there IS a Weekend to Remember cruise coming up Valentine's Day 2011!), it's better than a massage, it's better than a family vacation. It's soooooo worth it. PLEASE consider attending a Family LIfe Weekend to Remember conference. You won't regret it.
And right now, tickets are Buy One, Get One Free. . . so it's only $129/couple! (instead of per person!)
To find out more about conferences in your area, visit . When you register, use promo code: "HOPE" to receive the Buy One Get One Free rate.
Also, I am a group leader. If you'd like to sign up under my group, you're welcome to. I don't get any extra perks for doing this, I'm just trying to encourage as many people to go as I can. :) If you'd like to be a part of my "group" (and you don't have to attend a FLorida conference, you can attend ANY Weekend To Remember Conference that you like) just go to
Terry and I were very blessed by this conference last June. We had a whole weekend sans children and this provided a wonderful chance for us to connect at a deep level. The speakers were dynamic, the material thoughtful, the result: phenomenal.
Terry and I have a good marriage. This weekend gave us a chance to build on that and decide to make it even better. It's easy to isolate ourselves, even within a marriage. To disconnect, read a book or veg out in front of the tv instead of pursuing unity with our partner. If we are stuck in a rut, it's really our own fault and lack of connecting with each other.
We came home with many books and resources, well rested and rejuvenated, ready to reclaim our children from Nana and Grandpa's house. And the message we brought back with us was that marriage is worth it! We will prioritize our marriage as most important than almost anything else in our lives. We will pursue romance, we will pray for each other, we will support each other, we will trust each other.
We are trying to help people understand that God's plan does NOT include divorce. In the time that we signed on as group leaders, THREE couples we know have declared their intention to seek divorce. I'm heartbroken for them and the pain that they are currently experiencing, as well as the pain that they WILL experience.
We heard many people at the end of the conference share that they had filed for divorce or were on the brink of divorce and this marriage retreat gave them a chance to hope again, to love again, to understand that it's NOT the other person. It really is ME who makes the difference in my marriage. Many couple rededicated their wedding vows, and at the Orlando conference alone, 53 people accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.
This conference is seriously THE BEST thing you can EVER do for your marriage. It's better than a cruise (although there IS a Weekend to Remember cruise coming up Valentine's Day 2011!), it's better than a massage, it's better than a family vacation. It's soooooo worth it. PLEASE consider attending a Family LIfe Weekend to Remember conference. You won't regret it.
And right now, tickets are Buy One, Get One Free. . . so it's only $129/couple! (instead of per person!)
To find out more about conferences in your area, visit . When you register, use promo code: "HOPE" to receive the Buy One Get One Free rate.
Also, I am a group leader. If you'd like to sign up under my group, you're welcome to. I don't get any extra perks for doing this, I'm just trying to encourage as many people to go as I can. :) If you'd like to be a part of my "group" (and you don't have to attend a FLorida conference, you can attend ANY Weekend To Remember Conference that you like) just go to
Monday, January 11, 2010
Like a gold ring. . .
"Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without sense." Proverbs 11
For my daily devotions this month, I'm reading a proverb a day. This verse really jumped out at me this morning. It's made me contemplate beauty and the way our culture pursues youth and beauty obsessively.
Yet it's all in vain if we lack sense, discretion, wisdom. And if we have sense, discretion and wisdom, I suspect we wouldn't pursue beauty so singlemindedly.
For my daily devotions this month, I'm reading a proverb a day. This verse really jumped out at me this morning. It's made me contemplate beauty and the way our culture pursues youth and beauty obsessively.
Yet it's all in vain if we lack sense, discretion, wisdom. And if we have sense, discretion and wisdom, I suspect we wouldn't pursue beauty so singlemindedly.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Coming up.
I've managed to lose 28 pounds since discovering my gallbladder full of gallstones. Some of my maternity clothes are hanging off me! But the belly is growing. . .
We've thought of some baby names we kind of like for both genders. We can narrow the names down on January 22. I'm so looking forward to this day. Ultrasound in the morning, check up just after that, and a HAIR CUT and HIGHLIGHT that afternoon! Talk about the best day EVER! Well, besides the days my children were born. And the day I was married. And. . well. Let's just call it a GREAT day to look forward to!
We'll know! Pink or blue! (Not a huge fan of the small yellow and white selections that are barely available for those who do not know the gender). Then we can select a name! Sort through the baby clothes we've saved! And get a family picture because my hair will LOOK NICE! And blonde again!
We've thought of some baby names we kind of like for both genders. We can narrow the names down on January 22. I'm so looking forward to this day. Ultrasound in the morning, check up just after that, and a HAIR CUT and HIGHLIGHT that afternoon! Talk about the best day EVER! Well, besides the days my children were born. And the day I was married. And. . well. Let's just call it a GREAT day to look forward to!
We'll know! Pink or blue! (Not a huge fan of the small yellow and white selections that are barely available for those who do not know the gender). Then we can select a name! Sort through the baby clothes we've saved! And get a family picture because my hair will LOOK NICE! And blonde again!
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