Is It Naptime Yet?

Cruisin'

2012-02-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome home, Betty and Rog.

AJ is glad you're off "That big boat."

This is a picture of "that big boat" the Ruby Princess a la Google Images

Paint. In a Bag. Brilliant.

2012-02-12T14:28:00.000-08:00

I made AJ a bag full of paint. It's cool.

Hanging out

2012-02-04T11:46:00.000-08:00

The weather has been warmer than average for a while, but the yard is a mess and it smells like rabbit poop out there, so we have been inside doing "Skoowerks". AJ has decided he shall write his name. So write it he does. And he also decided he shall pee standing up, but that is another post for another time.

We like magnets.

We like glue.

We like scissors. But AJ tells me very seriously, "Mama, scissors NEBBER go by your hair."

Enjoy your mild winter while we wait for the other shoe to drop. After all, it's IL in February, and you know it will.

Pinteresting

2012-01-29T17:33:00.000-08:00

So I joined Pinterest. If you haven't, you need to. I mean, you should join only if you REALLY LOVE AWESOME STUFF. Here is some of that awesome stuff right here.

My family will be doing a Valentine Family Project that is a combo Family Celebration/Pinterest find that I thought was really cute. AJ will pick a heart on a straw Feb 1-14 and we will do the activity together. Then on Valentine's Day, I will make a special dinner (and by make I mean order Lou Malnati's pizza) and we will eat on red plates. Or at least use red napkins because I already have those.

Thank you, Rev. Brian and Mrs. Sally Cope for lending me this book!

I am back on the weight loss wagon. Well, I am waiting at the station for the wagon. Then I will haul my big butt on it. And the wagon will slowly go forward. With me on it. Hanging on. Mike will be on the wagon too. His jar of rocks is the short one. Mine is the tall one and there are 20 some rocks in there. The one that says, "Pounds Lost" represents my loss so far and I can't ignore those pounds. I earned them. There are 30 something (I know exactly how many) in there, by the way.

I am also using menu planners to make my family decent food. Some of it is downright yummy, in fact. We will be eating them in portion controlled fashion and with lo-cal ingredients. I haven't told Mike that part yet (Shh).

Happy #1 B-Day!

2012-01-22T18:03:00.000-08:00

We had the PLEASURE PLEASURE PLEASURE of celebrating Ms. N's first birthday with her p's today. Watching them be parents this year has been truly an honor.

It Finally Snowed

2012-01-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

After creepy warm temps this winter, snow was finally dumped on us last night. I raced as fast as I could to Melba's (my usual 7 minute drive across the SP took 20 minutes) to jam AJ in his coat, boots, hat, and mittens. I got him into the car and we FINALLY left the SP at:

Apparently no one who is responsible for removing snow in any of the 7 towns we travel through on the way home heard the weather reports I had heard for three days prior telling the IL people that there would be snow las night. So our car joined the 10's OF MILLIONS OF OTHERS on the drive home, but the plow companies took the night off.

Here's what we did:

1. I listened to Gary Meier (although I am not a regular listener, I enjoyed it very much)

2. We ate the emergency snacks

3. We rationed the water (bathroom issues, you know)

4. We looked for trains

5. We complained about the snow

6. We looked for plows

7. We felt bad for the guy who had to be towed off of Irving Park Rd.

8. AJ threw his toys on the floor

9. AJ took his boots off

10. AJ complained about his feet being cold

11. We saw a train

12. We whined

We pulled into the garage at:

We ate crock pot food and played Chuggington.

However, the snow made for some fun play time outside this morning and the hellacious drive home was a distant memory.

I have to give props to Acres Group and the guys who clear our snow. They had our association cleared and our walks, drives and mailbox areas shoveled by 10:00 pm last night. They always do a great job!

I Couldn't Let A Week Go By Without A Train Post

2012-01-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

We fed AJ's obsession with trains again last weekend by attending the Train & Hobby Show at the Conference Center. Mike bought Union Pacific and Santa Fe hats. AJ was thrilled with the train viewing opportunities but not with the crowds. We will be attending again next year.

Bon Anniversaire

2012-01-21T08:58:00.000-08:00

Mike and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on

January 18th.

We went out to eat large steaks.

Frustrated

2012-01-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

AJ loves numbers, loves words, loves to know how things work, and loves putting things together. He dislikes writing and doing any art. At all. Teachers call tasks that kids dislike doing and will avoid at all costs and, at times, throw a fit if they see the tasks coming "non-preferred" tasks. Writing with a pencil is a non-preferred task for AJ.

He struggles to hold the pencil in the style one holds a pencil to write. I see that although he can identify letters and numbers, (and even some words) he can't begin to see where one would move the pencil to make the letter. We have worked hard, and we have not gotten very far. Today AJ said, "I want my name to be H. I can write that. AJ is too hard." And it near about broke my heart.

An upper case H is his only letter he can create so far, but we are taking that as a victory. He and I went to The Chalkboard today and together we picked out some larger, chunkier pencils and grips of all sorts. Some are squishy, some are rigid, some are for fat pencils and some are for thin ones.

Each day, we will practice a little more and see where we go. He asks to do his "schoolworks" with me, so I can tell he is not so frustrated that he wants to avoid it. As time goes by, I hope I can help him feel more successful so that writing becomes one of his preferred tasks.

When Toys Were Toys and Christmas Lights Were Big and Made in America

2012-01-01T13:07:00.000-08:00

My coworker Sue has a party during the Winter Break. We went and played with her husband's collection of classic toys while looking at spinning aluminum trees with old model trains underneath. Great food, great people.

Healthy New Year!

2012-01-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

As my 2012 starts, I want to set some goals and recommit to my healthy eating/exercise plan. I have been off my rocker with eating lately, so it's time to buckle down and get back into a habit that I had down pretty well not so long ago!

Some of the fun workouts I do:

Meets at the Cong. Church of Algonquin at 6:00 pm every Monday (except the 2nd Monday of the month) Childcare is available for $1.00 per child.

Booya!

Punching, kicking, dancing. So fun. A good place for beginners.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this one. Strength training for people who don't like heavy lifting.

Chalene makes it seem like a treat.

When I started to use Shakeology in July 2010, I thought I would do so for a short time to see if it made any difference. It is pricey, I won't lie- but I can't believe how much if a difference it has made for my gut. So I signed up to be a Beachbody Coach. I get a discount of sorts and it helps a little bit. So if you are interested in trying any of the products that I have used or want a sample of Shakeology, I can help you out!

A Look Back at 2011

2011-12-30T13:51:00.000-08:00

This year has been really full of pretty cool stuff for the Albandia family and the ones they love. Here is a little "Year In Review" that all us real cool bloggity peeps like to do right before New Year's Eve happens.

January 2011: We spent last New Year's Eve with Betty and Rog eating crab legs. AJ enjoyed Mac and Cheese or one of his other 2 foods he would eat at the time.

January also saw this really cool chick become a Rockin' Mama. Totally the coolest thing I ever witnessed.

February brought us "The Blizzard!" and lots of togetherness time for goofy pics.

In April, we visited the Firehouse and got a hat!

We went to have a family pic taken in May.

June brought a haircut so he could look all sharp for his baptism.

We tried to take another family pic at AJ's baptism, but not everyone was cooperative.

In July, AJ started to come out of his shell and try new things.

Mike and I went to a fancy wedding in August. We dressed up.

September was so nice, we went to the Train Museum LOTS of times.

October was so warm, we played outside with the neighbors and enjoyed the leaves.

Dad taught AJ to play Angry Birds in November. He has been hooked since.

December 3, 2011, my favorite guy turned 4 years old.

2012 has so many possibilities and we can't wait to start enjoying life and we will keep bringing you the joy, adoring public!

Shoozapalooza

2011-12-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

Bogs Boots (the picture links to the source)

Sometime in the recent past, AJ became a little boy. I mentioned this a few times, I believe. Anyway, this is hard for any mother to embrace - especially if his is the only baby/toddler/boy progression she will experience (sorry mom). So I have been prolonging the inevitable and not gotten him good shoes/boots recently. I apparently have been jamming his now SIZE 9.5 feeties in size 8 shoes/boots. The lady at the store said he should be wearing a 10. A 10! Thanks to Lolo and Lola, AJ was able to get a pair of church shoes, new gyms that have velcro that actually sticks (they light up, too. They have Lightsabers on them), and a new pair of Bogs boots. I was not sold on Bogs, but after having a pair for him that he was only able to wear a few times, I will purchase these again and I will recommend them to friends. They are really good boots.

Stride Rite Star Wars Dueling Lightsaber Shoes (the picture links to the source)

Now that he's wearing these really big shoes for his really big feeties, he looks even older. So I put him in his new feetie jammies he got from Gramma Betty this Christmas and he doesn't look so old to me now. And he still loves his Blankie...

Sun City Model Trains

2011-12-27T12:54:00.000-08:00

AJ and I went to the Kishwaukee Valley-Eakin Creek Model Railroad Club of Sun City’s holiday train display in Huntley this morning. The have multiple gauge model railroads set up in a winter scene in the big Lodge building there. It was hard to see the real small ones, but AJ enjoyed looking at all the buildings, trees, trains and classic cars that were included. Santa was even driving one of the trains! We didn't stay more than 25 minutes, but it was worth the drive.

My Kid Has Lots of New Stuff

2011-12-26T15:46:00.000-08:00

I feel a little overwhelmed at all the generosity that AJ's relatives showed this holiday season.

This is the first year that he knew what was really going on. He can tell you that Baby Jesus has a birthday and we celebrate Christmas because of it. He can tell you that the angels told the world that a King would be born and they should follow a star, that King Herrod was mad, that Baby Jesus was born in a stable, and His parents on Earth, Mary and Joseph, loved Him.

He also knows that Santa brings gifts to good kids and that our elf, Swopey, gave him a daily report about it. He learned that during Christmas your loved ones give and receive gifts, too. We eat LOTS of food, stay up late, and make a mess and it's okay. Then we wear all our new clothes, read all our new books, put on our new slippers, and play with all the new toys. For days.

Here is a 5 min movie I made highlighting the fun so AJ can enjoy his first "Christmas with understanding" when he's older. If you care to invest 5 min of your life, feel free to watch all the madness that was CHRISTMAS 2011!

A Very Bickham Christmas Eve

2011-12-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

I am going to make a Christmas movie, as I am known to do. But here is a sneak peek at the craziness that was the Bickham Christmas Eve party 2011. We missed the Voras side, of course- but they are awaiting Cori's baby in MN, so we can excuse them.

Quotes that we won't ever forget, although we might want to:

"Excuse me Aunt Elaine, may I please have Uncle Rich's underpants?"

"Martha Stewart's Topless Christmas Special!"

"Do you have that in the key of C?"

Here are just a few pictures that made the night memorable.

My cousin Laurie and Special Guest Star Sir Elton John

Me. I am memorable.

Uncle Rich's model train and Jessica and her fancy camera.

The 7 Up garbage can.

All of this and more will be documented in my movie and

I will play nice music, so stay tuned. I need a nap now, though.

Make Mine a Double Shot

2011-12-24T05:47:00.001-08:00

AJ received the book, The Polar Express, for his birthday. He REALLY likes it. There is a part when the children are on the train and they drink hot cocoa described as, "hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars." Well, that sounded like something we would like so we had some.

Click the pic to get the book!

My old espresso set was just AJ's size. We looked out the window to see a little snow was on the grass.

He likes to sit at his little table in the living room and survey his domain while sipping some deelish drink.

December Doings

2011-12-24T05:40:00.001-08:00

Our Science experiment for the day was to put Ivory soap in the microwave. First we guessed what might happen. AJ said it would "be milk" which meant it would melt. We looked at it in the micro and we were amazed and delighted that it puffed up into a big soap cloud.

Then we compared the bar of soap to the cloud and thought of ways it was same and different. We thought of things the could was similar to. Snow piles, whipped cream, a blanket (?).

Then we could crush it up and it looked like snow falling. It was great except that it made us sneeze and out eyes were red. We can use it in the tub later. Nothing like an Ivory soap film all over you to make you feel real clean. Ahem. Sorry Ivory.

HOW CAN MY BABY BE FOUR!?!?!?!?!

2011-12-24T05:33:00.000-08:00

He's not a baby, he's not a toddler, he's a boy. A little boy. And he's my favorite thing ever.

Making Merry!

2011-12-23T19:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Holiday Season from Mom and Pop Albandia!

Here's a close up of our heads.

Santa's Little Pal

2011-12-23T19:00:00.000-08:00

We visited the Big Guy in the Red Suit the day after Thanksgiving. AJ and Santa had a long talk during which they carefully considered each and every page in AJ's train catalog. Santa was very nice. AJ, Dad and Mama were pleased with the outcome of the afternoon. Along with a ride on a train inside the mall, we settled into a free ice cream cone and dreamt up ways to pass the days in December a little quicker. But not too quick...

Giving Thanks For Lots and Lots

2011-12-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 2011 was a year to be grateful.

for my boys...

for the relief I felt after my turkey was done...

for family and loved ones close and far away...

and for cute kiddos we love!

Halloweeeeek!

2011-12-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

My little skeleton and I had a great time trick or treating this year. Dad and AJ collected lots of candy and mom tried in vain not to eat it.

Annie and AJ got some loot around the hood.

My fabu carving job.

So happy!

Not so happy.

Invisifriend Visits

2011-10-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

I have known a group of women since 2006, when we all experienced a craptacular event together. We found strength and unity and a common pain that lead us out of a bad time. That was 5 years ago. I had not met any of the women until last week.

Alicia was in town for work and we got together for dinner. It reminded me of how wonderful this bunch is and how I could not have driven out of that dark tunnel back then without all of their support.

Seedy

2011-10-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

As it turns out, AJ is a fan of the pomegranate. Who knew? He ate almost a whole one all by himself on two separate occasions. Which made things...seedy.

Fall Fun in the Summer Weather

2011-10-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

It has been nice and warm here for the last 10 days or so. Unseasonably warm, I think. upper 70's and even an 80 degree day snuck in there. We have been hanging out in the leaves while they are nice and dry and crunchy instead of being wet and slimy and rotting with the occasional slug hiding in there. AJ really likes the little neighbor girl. He peeped in the window today to see if she was in there. He likes her as much as he likes Lena.

There is a squirrel eating my pumpkins. He is a bold one. He came right up to the kids looking for snacks. He teased them and then ran under the bush. A few minutes later, he poked his head out and approached them again. Wild animals cannot be trusted.

While I'm Watching Svengoolie...

2011-09-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

I decided to update my long neglected Blog. Oh, how I have missed having time to show off my little man. Here is a recap of the last weeks:

1. Potty Trained! Thanks to Alona Frankel and her book, we have been able to say goodbye to the dipe pail and all things messy. My boy goes on the can now and it is GLORIOUS! He also likes "Joshua's Lady" and thinks she is a good mommy.

AJ got this cool train at the IRM for his great success.

2. I'm back to school.

3. My fave season is beginning to creep in around the edges. I am very excited.

4. AJ is cute as ever and so much fun to hang out with!

Watermelon Watermelon

2011-08-13T11:34:00.001-07:00

He eats his weight in watermelon every week, it seems.

He eats it all the way down to the white part.

While he sings.

Then he asks for more-

-before he finishes the slice he has.

OFGS Downdate!

2011-08-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

Down 2 lbs!

OFGS Update

2011-07-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

The key word in the title there is UP. My weight is....officially....up.....I can ignore it NO LONGER.

It pains me to type it. I must tell, however. Because if I tell the interlooping public, then I will become accountable to my millions (Ha.) of readers and will get back on track.

Right?

So, I'm up.

6 lbs. GULP.

It's a slippery slope, people. A slope that I have slid down before. I have to dig my heels in and climb up again. My next update WILL be (it MUST be) an update of how I am down. A downdate. See you in a week.

The Rock Island Line IS a Mighty Good Road

2011-07-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

Our mini vacation took us to Rock Island, Davenport, Moline and all points surrounding as we arrived at Train Festival 2011. We wanted to see steam engines because they don't run them around here anymore. I wondered why that was...now I know.

Steam trains stink, they are LOUD, they spit coal gunk at you and they are scary. But they are very cool anyway, and AJ had fun.

Look What AJ Did

2011-07-09T11:48:00.001-07:00

He went all by himself.

Alone.

Blame Betty

2011-07-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that I am odd. I'm okay with this. I make the family laugh by doing odd things and making odd faces and doing this in odd voices.

I get it from my mother.

AJ was feeling blue the other day. So we filmed "Mrs. Pinchy Face" and laughed for hours. Mike watched golf and shot me odd looks about my oddness.

still trying

2011-07-07T11:42:00.000-07:00

we are still trying the potty over here. i have read once upon a potty so many times that i can recite it. aj has as many accidents as he has successes. it is all we do. i set the timer. he sits. he might pee. he might not. i set the timer for 3 min. in those 3 minutes, he will probably pee on the rug. sigh.

he'll get it eventually. right?

Yes, I Am That Kind of Mom

2011-07-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

I am now the kind of mom that posts the successes her child has- no matter how personal or revealing. The good thing is that he is only 3 and he can't read and he doesn't hang out on the interloop and when- in 20 years- he tries to get a job, he will be using his full name, so no boss will be able to track this post down. He can deny he was ever filmed doing his

POTTY SUCCESS DANCE!

We will be back at it tomorrow. 6:30 am. Before camp starts. After that I blog about his

CAMP SUCCESS DANCE!

Carni Blues

2011-07-03T17:42:00.001-07:00

We took AJ to the Hoffman Estates Carnival. He seemed enthusiastic at first.

We saw the Ferris Wheel and discussed how it is circle shape and that he could ride on Mama's lap. AJ is wearing one sock. He sustained a swimming injury and had to have a Mickey Band-Aid on his toe. Now, at this time, we boarded the Ferris Wheel and I became increasingly nervous. The little flappy doors could be opened mid flight and any of us could have tumbled to our deaths. There were no seat belts. I am beginning to understand why my mother only allowed us to see Niagra Falls from the parking lot... I am kidding, Betty. Slightly.

He, I mean we, did okay after the first few revolutions. Then he started crying and shaking violently. I asked him to tell me what was wrong and he couldn't. We discovered that it was "Just too scary" for AJ.

To settle his nerves, Mike bought a Sno Cone. He liked the Sno Cone.

Then he saw it. Across the vast expanse of cables, cords, rigged games where you throw stuff at stuff, bad food carts- there it was. The Big Slide. He was transfixed. He wanted to go up there.

He wanted me to take him.

The toothless lady, who I am sure is very nice- took all of our tickets and AJ led me by the hand all the way up the steps. I carried the burlap bag we were supposed to get in. We got to the landing and I was forced to figure out how to get on the slide while sitting on the bag and then hoist my very re-enthusiastic boy onto my lap without going down The Big Slide accidentally. I did it.

We went so fast I was not having any fun. AJ giggled and yelled happily, while I remained not having any fun. The photo is a lie. I am smiling, but I was lying about it. It is a fake smile.

The Big Slide was not fun and it was just too scary for Mom.

I Know Famous People

2011-07-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

Lauren Aggen is my many things. My mother's GodDaughter, a family friend, a heart transplant recipient, a writer, a speaker and a volunteer. She gave a message this morning at an outdoor church service.

She was great.

Like We Didn't Do Enough Today...

2011-07-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

After The Mayor of Crabbytown became the King of Krabby Kingdom, he napped. It allowed me a slight reprieve. After a snack, he crabbed out again. I felt the need to get outta Dodge, so we went to the pool. We swam for TWO HOURS. He was a machine.

Daddy came home and wanted to kick off his Friday night/Holiday Weekend with some Classic Car viewing over in Roselle. AJ was happy as he likes cars and this thing was right next to the train tracks, so it was double the transportation goodness right there.

There is an ice cream shop right at the edge of the car parking place, so we hopped right into the 80 foot line and waited. Mike and I ate ice cream while AJ thoroughly and most completely enjoyed every last lick. Very slowly. It was about 85 degrees outside, so you can imagine a chocolate ice cream cone in the hands of my little man being eaten slowly.

Farm Fun

2011-07-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

Volkening Heritage Farm

Be warned: The Mayor of Crabbytown would not allow me to take any photos of him. So most of these have The Mayor's backside or The Mayor running away. Like this one:

Me: "Please stand by that sign!"

The Mayor: "NO!"

Me: "Please stand in this old house!"

The Mayor: "NO!"

Yesterday, he informed me that he wants to be called "Giant Rock". ? What can I say, he's 3. Anyway, this morning he found a giant rock.

Me: "I thought YOU were Giant Rock."

Giant Rock/AJ/The Mayor of Crabbytown: "I am. See?" and he puffed his cheeks.

Me: "Wow look at that..."

The Mayor: "NO! I not looking at that."

The Mayor: "I going to Mommy's car. I want lunch."

Two Miles is a Long Way For Little Feet

2011-07-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

AJ and I went to Crabtree Nature Center. He built habitats for bugs. Big plastic not-to-scale bugs.

He went in a tent. He yelled at me when I tried to get in there too.

He looked at fish through a "fying glass".

He looked at tadpoles through it, too. But he didn't believe me that they would be frogs some day.

After we left the learning center, I let him pick the trail and which way we went at all the forks in the road. This would have been a fine idea if I had READ THE SIGNS. We chose the "Phantom Prairie" trail which turned out to be hot, sunny, buggy and 2 miles long. He was a trooper. I was freaking out a little bit, but after we started singing songs, he was happy. He took a three hour nap after we got home.

A Trip Back To When Times Were Simpler

2011-07-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

If you were to sit at in my parent's office, you would be transported back in the time machine called "The Desk". Let's all travel together, shall we?

You can calculate how long it will take your DeLorean to reach 88 MPH using the adding machine.

There is no way this flux capacitor can reach 1.21 gigawatts of anything. It gets too hot if you close the door in the desk, and the card reader is broken. (It may have a thingy you put floppy disks in, too.)

Marty might have a hard time reaching Doc on the Princess-like-plug-in-the-wall-CORDED phone.

Hmmm........

Just sayin' that this monitor looks familiar. Same size and shape, same questionable screen quality...

I hope you enjoyed your trip to back in time with me today. As much as that office makes me cringe when I'm trying to use the INTERNET EXPLORER, Mom and Dad's is a great place to go and I am lucky that they let me hang out there as often as they do. I just have to remember to watch out for Libyan Nationalists who want me to build them a bomb...

ErinPalooza 2011

2011-06-25T18:37:00.001-07:00

Sara & Erin Visit

2011

Sisters

The kids splashed in the TINY pool until they were blue and shivering.

Mike made sure they had plenty of fresh COLD hose water.

They were not excited to get out.

They played with toys until we ate dinner.

We ate a lot of dinner.

We laughed.

The kids ate blue frosted cupcakes while

we ate ice cream.

That is NOT Erin's Blue Moon, by the way.

Mom bathed the hoodlums and Sara and I had a breather

on Erin's bed.

That is a vintage Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bag in case you were interested.

We rescued Gramma Betty and then Erin decided she

should comb AJ's hair.

Cheese!

Here Comes the Sun...

2011-06-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun

and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,

and I say it's all right
It's all right

We Got Our Hairs Cut

2011-06-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Karen over at the Final Cut did us up for AJ's big day at church on Sunday. He sat in the chair all by himself for the first time. He did great. I decided it was time for a change and went overboard on the highlights. No more gray! In fact, no more brown, either. But it's summer, so what they hay.

Please ignore the stuff on my dresser. Yes, I wear polka dot PJ pants and a t-shirt that says "Hayward, WI" that I got in 1986. You don't?

Warm Night at the Commons

2011-06-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

The weather is really whacko around here. In the previous post, you can see AJ wearing a JACKET. The next night or so it was warm enough to play in the fountain and wear shorts and sweat. Whacko.

Me and Mine.

AJ watered the plants.

He caught water in a cup.

Jiggity- Jig

WATER!

Cool Night at the Commons

2011-06-25T10:26:00.001-07:00

We went to the Schaumburg Commons/Town Square area over by the library. We were searching for baby ducks. There weren't any there, sadly, but there was other fun stuff to do on a chilly evening.

"Where ducks, Daddy?"

"They here?"

AJ looking in the fountain. Too cold to play in the water tonight.

But never too cold for ice cream with Daddy!

The boys shared.

Big Day for Little A

2011-05-28T18:55:00.001-07:00

AJ is now a Junior Associate Member of the IL Railway Museum. Membership allows us to get in without paying the high fees that they charge there. Going every month like we do will not put us in the poor house.

With us on our adventure is the ever present "StreamLiner". That is the Lionel Hallmark Ornament that Gram Betty gave AJ for Christmas. It has never hung on a Christmas tree. It is missing most of the paint on the front and it has a broken wheel.

We looked at soldiers over there. They were checking our "papers" because it was WWII day for the Memorial Day shindig they do. There were people in neat outfits and old planes and cars, too. We had fun!

Daddy and AJ Flying a Plane...Sort of.

2011-05-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

AJ and Daddy went to the park.

They took a little plane.

They flew it. A little.

Daddy had fun.

So did AJ.

Memoir 2006

2011-05-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

Reflecting on my life in Writer's Workshop has been interesting, difficult, enlightening, sad, happy, and all those other descriptive words teachers use to show writers there are other ways to say things. But I heard bad news this morning that made me remember a very dark and lonely time in my married life. Although the bad thing happened inside of me, both Mike and I felt a profound loss and we both felt grief. I remember that grief and live it each time I hear that another friend has joined that terrible group-

It is true that time heals. With each passing year and with each new memory that covers the old ones we grow and change. The layers build up over that time like sand. But it only takes some small news to make the sands shift and I remember all over again. And it still hurts.

Look At Him. Now Look Again.

2011-05-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

Can you believe he is my LITTLE BABY? Geez.

Photo by D'Lara Photography 2011

Two Toots Cafe

2011-05-15T11:05:00.001-07:00

AJ was playing with the trains at D'Lara Photography and was very happy to see that he could see the train tracks of the Metra line right out the window, too. Kathy suggested we eat at 2 Toots Train Whistle Cafe right down the street. We went over there after the "shoot" and had a great time.

Waiting for the train with our food riding on it.

"Whoa!"

"Butter Sandwich is on the train!"

"Look, it's coming out!"

"A train is there!"

Three and Half Years Old

2011-05-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

We took AJ to D'Lara Photography this morning so Aldo could take pictures for AJ's Baptism invitations and such. It went well. Better than I was anticipating. I can't wait to see the finished products!

Blessings

2011-05-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

We had dinner last night with some old friends. It was good to see them and it had been too too long. We shared a laugh and many a memory about a plethora of things...

Sara, Me and Kopec

Brenda and Demete are awaiting Baby's arrival...so exciting!

Rob and Sara

Betsy and Rosie

I forgot to get a pic of me and Mike and together. I always forget to get into the pictures, too. But Mike was there and looked great like always. He ate a regular sized meal this time, however.

It Always Feels Like....

2011-05-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

somebody's watchin' me.

ABC's

2011-05-14T11:29:00.001-07:00

Absolutely Adorable Athlete

Awww, Mama- Another Picture?????

Jackpot smile!

Jauntily Jiggling Down the Tracks

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T17:52:00.001-07:00

It has been made clear to me that I am in desperate need of a new camera. Using my iPhone for all of my picture taking needs is getting a bit hard. It looks here that we had a very blurry, washed out and dim Easter. But you should look past the bad pictures and see that a good time was had by all parties involved.

Steph and Me. Church- We look so young and fabulous. No Really, we do.

AJ and only half of his Dad.

Egg Hunting in the backyard.

Fire Truck toy from his basket.

Mia hamming it up.

Easter Egg Hunt At Church

2011-04-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

We arrived.

We colored.

We listened.

We crafted.

We hunted.

We found! We celebrated!

April Has Been Fickle

2011-04-22T19:45:00.001-07:00

The weather has been pretty craptastic here in the land of AJ. We did have some nice days, but the rain has been falling along with the temperatures. As we were dyeing and glittering eggs today, we watched the lawn fill up with water and pretty soon we were looking at a real mess. I can't imagine that hiding the glitter eggs in Albandia Swamp will work out too well.

Not to worry. We were blessed with many nice days that I was too busy to blog about so now that I'm in need of nice warm sunny memories to boost my swampy mood- you too will benefit from a little April Recap.

AJ climbed a ladder for the first time EVER! This is big, people.

We did some fish sitting. No one died, although it was sketchy there for a while.

Museum and Science and Industry. One word: TRAINS!

I bought my Easter Dress. IT'S AN 8!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is bigger than AJ climbing the ladder.

We finally got to go play in the sand at the park, too. AJ has been asking to go for so long...

He was real excited to head over to the park and play. On the way we counted birds, houses, squirrels and other random items. AJ has been very talkative as of late. If you know AJ, you know that this is yet another piece of big news.

I have accepted the fact that I am a complete failure at potty training. I have tried everything and he is DEAD SET against even trying. I have read books, blogs, magazines, asked friends, watched other moms, asked other kids to talk to him about it, made Mike pee on Cheerios, and bought him cute stuff. He still gets very upset and scared at even the mention of going on the potty. The other day, however, he told me he wanted to wear his Thomas underwear. But he got real touchy when I suggested he not wear his diaper. So the compromise was to wear the Thomas underwear OVER the diaper. I did not get a picture of this and I am disappointed because as you can imagine, it had a high hilarity factor. Add that I bought the stupid underpants so long ago that they are now too small and he looked like he was wearing a red Speedo. Classic.

Easter Decorations- The Finished Products and Various Other Delicious Doings

2011-04-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

AJ and I are home today on this rainy and cold Good Friday. Melba's Daycare is closed even though school is not- grumble grumble- so I decided to take a personal day and have at it.

We have may things we started a few days (weeks?) ago and now after a whirlwind morning of projects, we are done. All I have left is cleaning.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Easter Egg Garland with Paint Sample Cards

Glitter Eggs a la Martha Stewart and Quail Eggs a la Lola and Lolo

AJ brushed glue on each egg and then rolled it in the glitter LIKE A BOSS!

We used Icing Colors to do these...

Tonight I plan on church, then an early bedtime. Tomorrow after an early workout, I clean. Anyone want to join me?

No Question...

2011-04-09T12:18:00.001-07:00

He is

favorite

little Porkchop.

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

2011-04-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

AJ and I will be doing some crafting in the coming weeks. I saw some great ideas on some blogs I forgot to bookmark, so sadly I cannot post pictures of the original ideas- but one is a paint sample egg garland. Google it and I am sure one of the many instruction pages I saw will pop up. We went to Lowe's and I raided the sample thingy and spread them out on color order. I printed an egg template and cut out the eggs to include all three colors on the sample, but not the words on them.

I will next punch holes and string them on the garland. But that is next time...I will post finished products later.

We will also be making glitter eggs. I may be embarking on this adventure while AJ is taking a nap.

While our friends Hannah and Rachel are here, we want to dye eggs with icing paste. They come out the BEST colors!

I am excited for Easter decorations, springtime cheer and the countdown to SUMMER VACATION! 50 some odd days left and I can feel each one stretching out before me like a long unendurable journey fraught with danger and uncertainty. (I just read a very dramatic book, so I'm feeling literary. Beg Pardon...)

Passing Time at the Henry's

2011-04-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

So fun.

It's Fun Until Someone Leaves It Out Overnight

2011-01-29T19:18:00.000-08:00

AJ loves Play-Doh. I love AJ. Logic states that I, too, must love Play-Doh. I love it until I have to pick it out of the rug or off of the sole of my slipper...

Like a Sunset

2011-01-23T15:41:00.000-08:00

The Year In Review 2010

2011-01-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

A recap of a strange year- a year of change, growth, worry, joy, friends (old and new) and trips. Oh, and a whole lotta trains.

Sue's January Party with some of the best co workers on the PLANET! (and a spectacular vintage train collection)

In February I was in the pits about my health. Coach Katie charged me up!

March brought the first trip to the park and the first wagon ride of the season!

April brought a great Easter and day 1 of "Operation Fat Girl Slim"

In May, we spent lots of time exploring Volkening Farm.

In June, we got a visit forom Erin!

We also celebrated the start of the longest summer vacation EVER at the Choudhary SummerFest.

AJ learned to water the plants in July.

In August, AJ went to camp at Beth Tikvah Congregation. Although you cannot tell from this pic, he loved it!

Our travels in August took us to New York to visit Erin and Sara.

September brought AJ a back to school haircut and some fun in the sand.

We also spent another day at the Illinois Train Museum.

In October, AJ did not wear a costume while Hannah rocked it as Foofa on Halloween.

We had a lot of fun in November goofing around with Photobooth.

In December, Papa Rog put together his train in the basement. Hours later, AJ still wanted more.

On December 30, we celebrated Daddy's 38th Birthday! Yay Daddy!

I can't imagine where 2011 will take us and how much AJ will continue to grow and amaze us with his cuteness, humor and above average intelligence. I hope I can keep the weight off, continue to lead a healthy life and keep up with the little guy! I hope that Mike can quit smoking and find enjoyment at work. Big goals for a big year!

Funny or Disturbing...

2011-01-01T08:52:00.000-08:00

If you work with me, you will find this either funny or very disturbing. Indeed. Where are the Grammar Police when you need them? If I see this button around town, I will find it VERY difficult to keep my comments to myself. After all, I am my father's daughter.

(names are erased to protect the "innocent" but on the SP blog, there are no innocents so that is a joke)

Image taken from: This sad, pathetic excuse for Freedom of Speech

If you're interested: How to Use An Apostrophe

Splish Splash

2010-12-29T18:24:00.001-08:00

Splish

Splash

I was

Taking a bath

Long about a Wednesday Night

A Rub Dub relaxing in the tub

Thinking everything is alright!

...And It's Still Here!

2010-12-25T19:52:00.000-08:00

Two words- PRIME RIB. It's what's for dinner.

The Albandias put on a great spread for us again this year. And then there were gifts...

We had some great Christmas Fun this year with family and friends and we are lucky to have our health, a home, our little AJ, and love among us.

I will pray for our loved ones who may be in pain or uncertainty this year and ask God for mercy and peace for them. Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Christmas FINALLY Came

2010-12-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve 2010

After what seemed like forever, it was finally time to leave for the Christmas Eve party at Uncle Fred and Aunt Nancy's house. I always like going over there for Christmas because that house is the "Old Family Homestead" sort of thing. My granny had Christmas there as a girl, and my mom and her siblings had Christmas there as kids, too. They have glass doorknobs over there, and you know someplace is old and comfortable when they have those.

Madeline and Emi were enjoying their first Christmas parties and Jason and Jessica were in from far and wide. Jody and Brenden were there, too and so was the Oyster Stew! I ate too many cookies and mint fudge. AJ played, ran, stole cookies and was wary of gifts.

Due to snow and a frightful cold, I did not make it to church last night and therefore feel like something is missing form this nice holiday, but seeing as I have spread germs all over already, I felt like getting to bed after a warm shower was a good idea.

Christmas Morning 2010

NORAD tracked Santa to Belize last I checked, so I figured I better get tucked in before he hit North America so as not to miss his visit. He came and left a few fun things for AJ. AJ, however, was not too into it this year, so Santa better get his act together for 2011!

Mike was very generous and I have a shopping trip in my future to 2 of my fave places for clothes. He also got me the latest Patricia Cornwell novel. AJ and I got him a SkyCaddie. Gramma Betty and Papa Rog came over for brunch and we opened more presents. GEARS!

Mom gave me a train calendar. It was a hit.

Sure AJ loved the "Big Bucket O'Gears Gears Gears!" ...

But some other boys liked them, too...

Christmas Eve 2010

2010-12-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

When I was little I would make lists on Christmas Eve Day. You know, while I was waiting impatiently to go to the family party or for the family to arrive at our house. The lists had EVERYTHING on it so I could get crazy satisfaction in crossing off the little things. Brush teeth- check. Eat breakfast- check. Watch a show- check. Decorate doll house with paper tree- check. Eat snack- check.

Each little thing crossed off meant that the party was getting closer and Christmas was really here. I did not make a list today-which is odd because I make a list everyday, but there was not much to do except keep AJ happy and go to Target to get veggie tray items. So now he's napping and I am blogging and the dishes are washing and the laundry is drying and I am still impatiently waiting for Christmas to come.

OFGS Update

2010-12-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a graph.

Since I teach, I like graphs.

I like how the line goes down.

Dapper Dude

2010-12-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

Lola came over with bags.

The bags were from one of my favorite ever kids clothing stores.

AJ will be one well dressed toddler at Melba's, at church, and on Christmas.

"Look Mommy, a hairplane!"

"Doggy goin slide!"

Thanks Lola and Lolo!

I Elfed Them

2010-12-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

My Job _ _ _ _ _!

2010-12-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

There are lots of ways to fill in the blanks here. There are lots of four letter words a teacher could use to describe the job of teaching. Depending on the time of year, the class make-up, the administrator, the parents, the commute, the paperwork, the quality of the para (if you even HAVE a para) and the condition of the building/materials/technology/parking lot/food/phone system/climate/air quality/pencil sharpener/etc/etc/etc a teacher's attitude can shift 180 degrees.

Things have been a little hairy this year for me. So when "Winter Celebration" rolled around I thought, "Geez. Just add ONE MORE THING I have to squeeze into my jam packed day and how can I fit it in and where am I going to get 64 oz of apple juice on the cheap and what if the kids don't get it and where did I put my keys?" A little background please, you ask?

OK. Each class picks out a winter holiday celebrated by some culture somewhere and researches said holiday. Then we present a showcase of the 12 holidays in the gym. We have food, music, dance, info posters, crafts, and many more items of interest displayed during this time. The showcase is put on the day before school is out for Winter Break. And there you go. If you know any kid of any age EVER- you know that after December 1, a child's brain has 2 parts- the Santa part and the vacation part. (For most kids you would hope that those parts are filled with good thoughts about both items, but unfortunately educators know that for many there is worry about those 2 items, too. But that is a sad post for a sad day. This is not that day.) So the kids are crazy, the teachers are crazy and the gym is pretty crazy on Winter Celebration Day.

Now that you're up to speed, I must say that I decided this year to NOT let Winter Celebration make me nervous. We were going to enjoy the planning, creating and preparing a great Winter Solstice presentation (That was the holiday I picked out of the hat). And we did. I let go of all the "I have to get the reading done-where is the math homework-I have to get that lesson done by Thursday!" thoughts that consume me and we listened to music and made posters and really had a fun time. You can check it out HERE if you want.

My friend Kathy posted her status on Facebook last night telling the interloop how much she enjoys her job, and this made me realize how much I really did enjoy the Celebration this year and how valuable an event like that is for kids and teachers, even though none of it will be on any test or state assessment. These are the days that kids remember and talk about later.

So when things get hairy again after Winter Break, and it is inevitable that they will, maybe we will again put aside the Reading Workshop, Writer's Workshop, Math, ISAT coach, and Common Assessment Review, and do something creative and fun. As long as I get to page 168 by Wednesday....

Take a look at some of the fun of Winter Celebration 2010. BTW, I filled in my blanks in the title with R-O-C-K-S!

Randolph. Love her.

We made fake mead. Actually my para did, but I am still using the term "we".

Bartolo enjoying fake mead.

Temporary "henna" tatoos from room 103

Kathy celebrating Junkanoo. Google it.

I am one of the 3 kings for Three Kings Day. Google that too.

Holiday Jollies at the Risolvo's

2010-12-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

Merry Merry from the Albandias!

Photos by Aldo Risolvo of Aldo Risolvo Photography

December 5, 2010

Thanksgiving Recap and Holiday Decorating Tips

2010-11-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

Hello all three of AJ's fans. We have been knee deep in holiday decorating, eating, and sweatpants wearing over here. Let me tell you a little about Thanksgiving- I have a way with turkey. My mere presence in the same room with a turkey makes it come out perfectly done, but after I'm done working my actual magic on it, superbical beautification are words that, although made up, fit better.

Dinner was served and all talking ceased. Conversations ground to a halt as we all ate and then began to grunt from the wordless fascination we had with our plates. We all ate more than usual. No sooner would your plate be full than you had to hurry up and eat something to make more room for that stuff you really liked before one of the others got more and there wasn't any left. I also used paper plates this year and Mom says that might have had something to do with the intense eating. We had to gobble it up before our plates gave way.

Anyhow- the food was damn good. I usually don't use profanity here on this family blog, so forgive me. It was so good I have no pictures of the night. After eating, we all sat around talking about how full we were until the kids asked for pie. Then we all had slices of pie and sat around again and continued talking about how full we were. After that, we packed up left overs.....oh, no we didn't cuz THERE WEREN'T HARDLY ANY LEFT since we all ate like it was our last hours on the earth.

The Thanksgiving Menu 2010

Turkey

Crockpot Stuffing w/sausage and mushroom

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Sweet potatoes with sweet crunchy nuts on top that my mom makes

Green Salad

Creamed onions

Cranberry sauce (Not the can shaped stuff, either.)

Pecan pie, frosted cookies, pumpkin pie, french silk pie,

carrot cake (we didn't actually eat this one)

AJ and I spent Friday picking up toys and organizing his toy corner in Mike's office so we would have room for the Christmas tree. AJ has only been around a few short years and only this year has he shown any interest in Christmas. He really likes lights. So I put lights all over. Mike is not really a fan of any decorations. But he is older than AJ and can get over it. AJ is little and he gets preferential treatment here at our house. So now the tree is up, the place is somewhat clean, and all is now documented here on the interloop for me to refer to next year.

So to the Liz who will read this in a year: remember that the lights on one fourth of the tree are out and you have to use that one string of white lights that Dad had to go buy special for you that you forgot to pay him for, and you need to put the hooks in ONE place instead of all over.

Givin' Thanks 2010

2010-11-25T11:04:00.001-08:00

Roastin'

Peelin'

Organizin'

Sleepin'

Chillin'

Happy Sugar Loaded Tummy Ache Day!

2010-10-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

Halloween is here again. That special holiday when kids are crazy and parents drink to get through it. Just kidding (not really)! We went Halloweening with the Coles over to Long Grove where all the rich people live. Her brother and sis in law fall into that category, so we tagged along again this year to collect hot toddies and full sized Snickers.

I had a few slices of pizza, apple cider labeled "+21" from a coffee pot plugged into the longest extension cord I have ever seen at the end of the longest driveway I have ever seen, and a cup of hot chocolate into which I mixed a healthy shot of peppermint schnapps and some lite whipped cream product from a can. I did not, however, eat candy. It's a slippery slope-candy.

You will see in this video that AJ is wearing his Alpine cap and his red jacket. You will not see his Elmo costume. You do the math...

Someone was giving away those light tubes you can wear around your neck. AJ loved this and those light sticks were better than any full sized Butterfinger or can of Play-do he received. Too bad they don't last that long.

The Light At the End

2010-10-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

The Before

Januaryish 2009

183.5 lbs

Size 18 jeans that were cutting me in half. Sitting like this made me reflux like mad.

Almost the After

October 2010

150.0 lbs

Size 12 P (and I need a belt) and I haven't had reflux in MONTHS!

Family Good Times

2010-10-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

We had a Birthday Party for my Aunt Dorothy over the weekend. I know that birthday and party are common nouns and should not be capitalized, but this was a big birthday, worthy of being proper nouns for a little while. We had fun. Here are some of us having the fun I just mentioned.

We sang.

The Birthday Aunt.

Me and cousim Jill. Yes, she is my cousim.

Us.

Emi, Aunt Nancy and The Jodster.

Scrambled

2010-10-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

I like this word. Scrambled. It fits many situations. You feel like scrambled eggs in the morning with a nice piece of toast and coffee. A ride on the Scrambler at Santa's Village was always fun until I threw up. Scrambling up your routine is fun when you're taking a relaxing vacation in a beautiful place.

Sometimes feeling scrambled sucks. Take, for instance, when your dear friends suffer an excruciating blow and they feel scrambled. I know a couple (2 couples, actually) of cool people who recently were dealt a crap hand. I sit now feeling scrambled myself. How do I support them when they don't really know what it is they need? I feel scrambled when I worry about hovering over D at work and asking (too often) if she's ok. I want to reach out to C but she is so far away in CA and wants us all to share "the normal stuff" of life with her. Scrambled.

I was scooting around FaceSpaceLand and saw that N and D are wondering what the heck is going on. I am too. If you know N and D, you know N can pretty much nail an emotion on the head.

Scrambled.

Pumpkins and a Hayride and a lost and then found Phone

2010-10-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

We went to Woodstock to get pumpkins. This time they were out in the field. We rode on a cow train and Mom lost her phone, but then found it again so all was well.

We found some good pumpkins and had a great time. AJ slept for 30 minutes in the car and is yelling about getting up out of his crib right now as we speak. So much for a nap. So much for family time as well, as Mike threw his back out and made an appointment in the city to get it "unhitched". He'll be back in hours and hours. I hope he comes back more comfortable and a little straighter.

I decided to roast veggies. I have Brussels sprouts and beets going now. My house smells like farts and dirt.

Dinner Date

2010-10-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

Hannah and AJ shared dinner together this week.

Cheetos

2010-10-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

We don't give AJ much junk food. This is why:

A few Cheetos and he gets all crazy.

I Don't Get It

2010-09-30T18:43:00.000-07:00

You know when you're going along in life just great and you're whistling a tune and you really like your outfit and you had a good hair day and you see your mate has filled your gas tank unexpectedly and you find twenty bucks in your pocket you forgot you had and you hear your favorite song on the radio like 3 times on your way to work and you feel like skipping-

THEN WHAM.

Yeah. It's been that kind of day.

And I don't feel like whistling anymore.

Next Leg of the Journey...

2010-09-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

I made my first day of school goal! Well, I was within a pound(ish), so I considered that a win (ish). I went back to school -30 lbs. I set my next goal and it will be a challenge! To reach my goal of 140 lbs, and a BMI in the normal/healthy range, I have about 14 lbs left to lose. Give or take a few ounces. I would like to meet my goal weight by Christmas, and the District Holiday Party Day is an excuse to get a new outfit, so I thought that was a good date. By December 17th, 2010, I plan to lose said 14 lbs.

That is 14 pounds in 14 weeks.

This will be a challenge. I will have to continue the daily battle to get up at 4:30 and work out. It remains a daily struggle to eat good healthy food and not shovel in the packaged fake food loaded with sugar.

By the way, if you want, you can do the math, but I don't feel bad telling the interloop how much I weighed at the beginning of this journey, or how much I weigh now. I am proud of my loss so far and celebrate the fact that my knees don't hurt so much anymore and I haven't had heartburn in a coon's age. So that said, I started at 183.5 lbs on April 4th, 2010. My 10% goal was to lose 18 lbs. I hung out there for a while over the summer. After a kick in the butt and adding Shakeology to my diet, I started losing again. So my first day of school weight was 153.(ish) lbs.

Wish me luck and I hope you, dear readers, have a healthy day full of veggies and whole grains, too!

He Was All Over

2010-09-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

We were very busy this morning. AJ and Mike had dentist appointments this morning. He wore his new shoes and looked just like Daddy. AJ held it together until it was time to lay in the chair. Then he let loose with both barrels. But after a trip to the treasure chest, he high- fived Dr. Kid and was all smiles. He knew that after the dentist was over, he was going to Lola and Lolo's house.

He played with trains, watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and then ate a Filipino Food Feast. Not good for mama's diet, but so tasty! He was fighting a nap on the couch at Lola's. He told me he did not want a nap. But on the way home the pull of sleep was just too much for him. He asked for "Blankie cover" and this is what happened: (click the link to watch the sweetest boy in the world.)

"No nap now, Mama!"

Epic Win

2010-08-31T04:37:00.000-07:00

Get a load of me.

We're Baaaack!

2010-08-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

Actually we were back Sunday, but I have just crawled out of my post vacation funk. I made an iMovie. It can be found here if you have the inclination to watch my family vacation to New York fly by in 7 and a half minutes! If you watch it, I know you really love me. Ha Ha.

We did many things. Here are the highlights:

took a boat ride on Lake George
got yelled at by the Jackass in the Box neighbor up at the "camp"
swam in the lake
got reprimanded by more neighbors at the beach for digging a hole in the sand
ate ribs!
put puzzles together
made fun of Sara
bumped into each other in the kitchen repeatedly
hunted for grocery stores
had zero cell reception
read books (even Mike)
marveled at how expensive things are in New York
rode down and up mountain roads gripping the "Jesus Handle"
enjoyed the automatic doors on the Swagger Wagon. (AJ renamed it Rocket Car and he cried when we had to take it back to Enterprise.)
bet fake money on the ponies and won fake money
tasted spring/mineral waters all over town
spit out spring/ mineral waters all over town
drank wine with Sara

I know there is more- we had a fabulous time and AJ was a blast to have along. He was a real trooper in the car and he slept like a champ each night. It was so good to see Sara and Erin and Rory, too. I can't wait to do it again!

OFGS- The Lean part of ChaLean Extreme

2010-08-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest slim down report: I have lost 23 lbs and have 20.5 lbs left to lose. I feel stronger and I am able to do things I have not done in a long time. What, you ask? Well, I will list them below.

1. I no longer get winded walking up the stairs at home.

2. I no longer get heartburn when I lay down at night.

3. I need a belt.

4. I can paint my toenails/tie my shoes/bend over to pick stuff up and can breathe normally while doing so.

5. I can carry AJ with one arm for "long" periods of time. In this case "long" means until he stops crying.

I am still having pain in my knees, but as long as I keep moving and keep them "oiled" I can live with it.

There are plenty of challenges I still face. I will list these too, so you see that this is real and no walk in the park. To reach my goal of "Fit at 40" I will have to buckle down and really re-assess the journey.

1. I am having a hard time getting up in the morning to work out. A real hard time.

2. Sticking to a healthy eating plan remains a constant challenge. Junk calls my name. I hear it. I have locked it out of the house but it still calls me. Like a vampire wanting to be invited in.

3. Although the pounds have started to come off again (thanks to Shakeology) they are still coming off slower than I would like. I have been losing .5 lbs per week and I would like to see 1-2 lb losses instead, but I'm greedy.

4. I am nervous that I will not be able to do some of the exercises in the Lean Circuits. Wow they look hard.

Chalene and Coach Katie say I should write down goals and share them to make them more "real" and attainable. So here are my new goals for this new phase.

1. Get up. Early.

2. Take off 7 lbs before school starts on September 9th so I can start the school year 30 lbs lighter. That is in 37 days. 5 weeks and 2 days. That means about 1.4 lbs per week. Hmmm.

Making Tracks to Algonquin

2010-08-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

After a rip roaring good time in Glenview, (see the post below) we went over to Betty and Rog's place after church. I had given Papa Rog a tub of Thomas tracks I got as a hand me down and I asked him to put them together. He sorted out the pieces and had them ready to go on the table for AJ to see. He has had a crazy train weekend with his Grandparents! This stuff should keep him busy for quite a while!

Rail King of Glenview

2010-08-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

As his fans know, AJ is a train freak. We visited Lola and Lolo and they had a special surprise for him. Mike put the track together while Lolo and AJ inspected the cars.

Mia, Uncle Joe and Mireya came over, too. Mia and AJ played the piano together for a while and we had a great time.

Mike worked up an appetite while putting track together that he snacked on Tito Al's Brand pork rinds. Then he ate 2 steaks. Or was it 3?

I Wonder Where They Were Going

2010-08-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

Lunch

2010-07-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

Eat.

Complain.

Sing.

Watch.

Learn.

Done.