And finally.... the best for last.

Random picture time...

You say you want a revolution, well....do you?

It's a miracle.  I've worked out almost every day for almost 2 months now!  I've been watching those P90X infomercial for months thinking how much I wanted to be that fit.  And a few months ago, when the dog bit Sam, I picked Sam up in a panic and my tweaked my lower back AGAIN.  I realized that I've been throwing my back out way too much lately and that I HAD to do something about it before I really hurt myself.  So I ordered it.  And it works!  I've lost 5 lbs. and gained a lot of muscle and I still have one more phase before I complete the first round.  I feel great!  And I enjoy it.  Mostly.  The best part is that you burn so many calories doing the workouts that you don't need to restrict your calories.  You actually need to increase your calories to fuel your body!  I am supposed to eat about 2200 calories to maintain!  2000 if I want to lose.  Crazy!  Highly recommended and two thumbs up!

And I'm obsessed with Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.  Great show.  I hope he continues and the country is inspired to make the change.  I know Michelle Obama is also trying to make some changes so hopefully between the two of them they can make a difference.  Fast food does NOT belong in our schools.  French fries aren't a veggie.  Our kids deserve better.  So do our teacher.  Imagine trying to teach kids after eating that crap when their blood sugar crashes.  If you haven't already, sign the petition. Please??  Sign Jamie's Food Revolution Petition!

I can't just stop at one....

So Sydney is doing wonderful in school.  Her teacher raves about how smart she is.  She is doing great in reading - she's super fast!  And she loves math (gets that from Daddy).  She has a best friend named Nichole.  She comes over for sleep overs all the time!
Watch how they amuse themselves...

Sydney went to "Uniquely Me" again this year for her Girl Scouts Troop.  It's a fun day for the girls where they have different booths and information to support self esteem in girls.  She did the fashion show again - this time in her own outfit.  She did awesome! 

Her and Sam have really picked up on roller skating.  Daddy even comes sometimes.  Now THAT'S fun to watch.  :-)  He secretly enjoys it too.Watch Sydney, Sam, and Daddy skate...

Writers block or pure laziness? You be the judge.

It's been waaaay too long since I blogged.  I have been busy but this is ridiculous.  Where to start?

Sam started preschool in February.  She did so well - not a tear or plea for me to stay.  "Bye Mommy!"  She didn't even look back.  I was amazed since she had such a horrible week before.  Between vaccinations, a cold, and the dog bite (more on that later), I was prepared for the worst.  But she was ready.  So was I actually.  It wasn't as hard as I expected.  I was very proud of my big girl.  Preschool was short lived though - her last day is next Friday.  Sydney is off in May and Sam starts kindergarten in July so we're taking the rest of the summer off for the last bit of mommy time.  Here is Sam's first day of preschool.  You can see how pale she is (from the cold) and the dog bite and bruising.  She was such a trooper.  This picture makes me want to cry.

So the dog bite.  Well Sam loves our dog.  Our dog loves Sam.  But Sam has no fear of said dog (even AFTER the bite!!).  We've been trying to tell her to back off and love her a little more gently, and from afar, but she just can't help herself.  So I was sitting on the couch, Hannah was sleeping on the floor, and Sam walked up and lay her head on Hannah's belly.  It must have startled Hannah from her sleep, because I hear a growl and looked up to see Sam on the floor with Hannah on top of her.  Those 2 seconds it took me to get from the couch to the floor were the worst ever.  So she bit Sam on the face, inches from her eye and left a few bruises and tooth marks.  I grabbed Sam and ran down the street to urgent care in a panic.  She was fine and not in need of stitches.  Very lucky little girl.  Lucky dog too because my first instinct was to put her down.  But she's never done this before and I have myself to blame for not teaching Sam how to handle her pets.  We're working on the rules and Hannah doesn't spend as much time inside as she used to.  Poor thing was getting used to being spoiled too.

Winter blahs....

Apparently I'm suffering from the winter blues.  I don't think I went through this last year but I can't seem to get out from it this year.  Maybe there was more sun?  Maybe Sam was easier?  She is going through a rough phase.  Actually, both of them are.  Syd is on break - it's been almost six weeks.  YES, that's SIX weeks.  We are going craaaaazy right about now.  The countdown is on though.  Syd goes back to school on Monday and Sam starts preschool on Wednesday!!!  We are all very excited about that.  Let me tell you.  Syd and Sam are at each other for a good chunk of the day.  And I'm running out of steam.  One more week.  That's my mantra.

Enough of the negative.....I'm lacking inspiration right now so it's time for random thoughts...

At this moment in time they are giggling and roaring at Hannah as she does laps around the table.  She can keep this up for a good 5 minutes.  I should see if the girls can go that long.  Maybe I can get a nap out of them.  Probably not.  It's a good thought though.

I gave Sam a pair of my heels for dress-up and I am amazed at her talent for walking, running, and jumping in them.  She doesn't get it from me.  She wears those things around for hours sometimes.  I keep telling her that suffering for style is NOT necessary yet but she doesn't seem to care. 

I took Sam down for her vax and flu shots last week.   She was so brave.  She rarely cries at her vax appointments so I wasn't worried.  The sweet nurse came in hiding the needles behind her back to prep when she realized we hadn't seen the doc yet, so she snuck back out with them still hidden.  After the well exam, a new nurse came in (this time a young guy) with all 4 needles, which he proceeded to put down right next to her in plain sight.  And took his time giving her a shot, taking forever and a day to plunge the liquid in, and another forever and a day to take the band-aid out of the wrapping, put it on, only to start over again.  4 times.  She was hysterical by the end.  I know how much it hurt.  He sucked.  When he finished, I looked over at Sydney and she had her face hidden in her hands crying for Sam.  I spoiled them rotten with candy and toys from Raleys.  Sigh. 

So the next day was Sydney's turn - only two shots for her.  But after watching Sam's experience the day before, she was nervous.  So was I.  This time, we drew an ace though and got the sweet girl from the day before.  She was teaching two other girls how to do it so I had a good feeling.  One, two, three and she was done.  Quick and painless.  We were all very impressed.  I realize that I now have bad karma for thinking horrible thoughts about the nurse from the day before.  But he did suck. 

So since we were in shot mode, I went next door to the pharmacy and got my H1N1 vax.  OMG it hurt!!  But there were 2 small children and a gaggle of elderly watching so I toughed it out.  And then proceeded to whine about how much my arm hurt for 2 days.  I feel bad for rolling my eyes behind the girls back for complaining about their sore arms.  They had 2 and 4 shots.  I'm such a baby.  Next stop, eye doctor.  Wish me luck.

I would post pictures but the last one I took was from New Years Eve!!!  Yikes!  Bad mommy.  I know.  I'm on it. 

I love good news...

Every time I read his upates they make me cry.  This one especially. 
http://www.hope4peyton.org/

Squeezing in some random pics...cuz I promised I would!

So we've gotten a bit of snow lately.  And the girls are in heaven!!  (me as well - as long as I have my new tires, that is!) They can't get enough of it.  And they can't stop eating it.  I keep reminding them to only eat the fresh stuff and watch out for the yellow (as well as the rabbit poop) but I keep catching them just picking up random pieces of the ground they just walked on.  Yuck.  My OCD is NOT wearing off on them.  I finally just gave in and brought out the vanilla syrup to make snow cones.  YUM.  Not that I had any.  I'll save mine for when I'm in an actual snow cone store.  :-)

It definitely makes it feel like Christmas.  I find it magical every time I see flurries.  And that little hill combined with that little sled - makes me go wheee just as loud as the girls do!  Who cares if I split it in two?  :-)  It's worth the $15!

Oh, and we  made a fort!  Now THAT brought back childhood memories.  Although, I don't recall it being such hard work.  My age is showing.  We all had a blast though.  And it seems to be lasting a bit longer than our snow girl (named Jill, by the way).  She's wasting away.  Apparently she hasn't been eating as well as I have.

Hopefully I have time to post again before next week, but if not, Merry Christmas!

Sending out positive thoughts for Anissa!!!

Hold strong.  I think about you and your family every day.  If anyone is looking for updates - here is the link.  Her husband is gracious enough to keep her fans and friends up to date. 

http://www.hope4peyton.org/

Heavy sigh...

I'm so sad. I don't even know this woman, but I've been following her blog and her daughter's fight with cancer. I can't count the number of times she's made me laugh out loud and do the ugly cry.  She's amazing. Amazing. And she just had another stroke. Another heavy sigh.  So unfair.  I am sending positive thoughts her way. Lots of them.  Stay strong Anissa!! 

 Updates here:

http://aiminglow.com/2009/11/hope-for-anissa/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AimingLow+(Aiming+Low)

 

Here are her blogs:

http://freeanissa.com/home/
http://www.hope4peyton.org/