Merry Christmas!

So I know that this is Elizabeth's 3rd Christmas but it is so nice because she seems to understand the concepts and she tells people "no we can't open our presents until Christmas eve"... well most of the concepts.
Tonight we went to Pa's house and really confused her by opening up presents at the annual family gathering. She got a super cute yet scary doll that I think is called my very real baby. Yeah. It has magnetic toys and there are sensors that tell the doll what is there. Very smart but if you have ever been frightened before by that freaky little red headed doll Chucky, well let's just say that it is mighty creepy.
Mamaw and Pa got her some adorable clothes as well as a memory game. It's super fun because I got her operation and we are going to get to sit and play board games. Doug and Deborah got her a super cool ABC leap frog type of toy. That's so awesome because I really want her to recognize her alphabet. (sounds crazy but she knows about a third to half already)
Anyway, pre-Christmas is going well and I'm looking forward to slowing down... ok let's be realistic, being productive in a different way.

Merry Christmas to all!
- I love my life.

At the zoo

We are at the Nashville zoo!




The coolest play area!


It's not a kangaroo it's a wallaby.


This cute little goat ate my shoelace while I was trying to pet him.


FLAMINGOS!


Poor tired Ashley.


Elizabeths new favorite.


They rode the train. Two loops around. $2.25 each. Talk about a money racket.

- I love my life.

Band Aids

Elizabeth has a sore on her ear lobe and she keeps picking at it. Well today she picked at it until it was bleeding everywhere. I put this band-aide on her ear and for the first time she kept it on without flipping out. It has been on for about three hours and she has forgotten about it. How awesome is it that she is growing up and learning how to cope.


- I love my life.

Summer day 3

I feel bad because I am not doing well so far this summer. I did t write that I weighed in yesterday at 219.2 but today was 218.2. I have not touched my exercise machines yet but I am going to the zoo today. I spent Friday night and Saturday morning knitting a blanket for Carrie the speech lady at school. Brooks brought me a soda for the last two mornings. I ate at olive garden and they served cake. Last night I did some work for school and sAturday Night we went coupon shopping.

I do not feel like I have worked towards any of my goals but today is a new day as I climb out of bead at 11:15. So sad.


- I love my life.

Day 1

So yesterday was my final day of school and it is now my summer vacation! I have several goals for summer and I plan on writing everyday so that I am accountable.

Goal 1 I will lose weight. I weighed in today at (don't judge me please) 217.2! I put an exclamation point because a couple months ago James and I began trying to lose weight. He lost like 40 pounds and I lost ten and then I stopped because life got crazy with prom and graduation and acquiring tenure. So I stopped but I haven't gained it back and now I have lost eleven. My original weigh in was 228 : ( so I am excited. I have 3 pounds to go to my pre pregnancy weight. Which was this time 3 years ago. So my summer will include less sodas, sweets and of fun and exercise.

Goal 2 I will teach Elizabeth to read. I got the your baby can read a year and a half ago and I started using it but she was not interested in tv. Now she is and she has am amazing memory. So I think it is time to make my baby read.

Goal 3 I want to accomplish things around the house. I do not want to sleep away this summer vacation. I want to get up and work, finish projects, have a yard sale, declutter, and make this house organized.

Goal 4 keep Elizabeth busy. This kinda goes with the other goals but I do not want to spend the summer sitting around. There are so many places to go and I want to take time to soak in that baby before she grows up any more!

So there is my plan and I will check in daily because I need accountability so I hope at least one person is reading this. Wish me luck.


- I love my life.

Josalyn's future

Well, we had a meeting with Claire today. She is our liaison to Tennessee Rehabilitation Center. We filled out an application and we are getting the number to set up a your of the facility. The only down side is that there is like a nine month wait list.
Well and the fact that there is a strict conduct policy and I am afraid she won't last a week!
For now, all is good. Graduation is 11 days away and I think everything is done. Cross our fingers.



- I love my life.

Prom!!

Every spare second this week has been devoted to prom. Two hours spent getting her nails done, three hours plus on hair, countless money, and endless hours of planning.
Liz was a crucial part of the process. She took Josalyn to the seamstress to get the dress altered, helped choose makeup, two evenings applying different makeup styles, and not to mention the moral support.
Then there was Leiann who took her shoe shopping, To get her spray tan, to pick up the dress, to get her hair done. She picked up Elizabeth for me several times, looked through 100 pictures to help me find her hair style, and again, so much support.
Daddy lugged her everywhere to meet me while all he wanted to do is move in his apartment. Poor daddy, he is the best.
Brooks of course is my other lifeline. He took Blake to get his tux and brought him to prom, took him home and in-between took me on a date to Red Lobster. Love that man.
I have looked forward to this and dreaded it so much.
- I love my life.

Ahhh Miyabi

Kevin and Ashley have come to Maryville to visit while he is on leave from Iraq.
It was no surprise that he would request Miyabis. We had a new chef and everything was great. Brooks ordered some crunchy shrimp sushi and something else that was delicious. I had not been eating much lately and I think I gained 10 pounds from dinner.


Elizabeth was super tired and she just wanted her daddy. Translation, mommy got to eat dinner!


Natalee was trying to crawl away. This is my Kevin and Ashley.


This is what they look like without any kids. Cute huh.


Isn't he cute? I love my husband.

- I love my life.

Feeling Sick

I am so sick of feeling sick. Last Sunday, little Brody got sick and threw up. Tuesday, Josalyn was puking on her way to her neurological psychologist appointment. As I called Leiann to tell her how Josie threw up in a bag in my car an it leaked all in her lap, she told me that Paisley had been throwing up too. That night I got really nauseous and thought I was gonna be next... nope.
Wednesday was Emma's turn. She also had ear infections in both ears. Poor thing. Thursday was unexpected. Then when I picked Elizabeth up from Brenda's house she smelled of puke even after her bath.
I guess Brody was feeling left out so he took a second turn.
Friday, everyone seemed fine! I was so excited, we were all going to the ward so social and I sat on the couch with Elizabeth and made a meal out of fruit loops. By the time we got to church and got comfortable to watch the movie... I thought it was go time. I laid there the whole movie trying to fight off the inevitable. Leiann had to drive me home. I sat on the couch very still. Nothing was working. I made a dash down stairs and went to get in position. I knew that I was going to throw up... until I noticed that Brooks did not flush after Elizabeth had the squirts. So I held it back and then nothing. The nausea subsided long enough for me to get in bed and asleep.

I am so sick of feeling sick. Whoever started this whole mess needs to be smacked!!!

Toy Story 3 Rocks!

Tonight is the best ward social! We are all hanging out, eating popcorn, relaxing while watching the infamous Buzz and Woody on yet another spectacular adventure.



There is Uncle Mark chillin' with Elizabeth and Paisley.

Tornado in Tennessee

So I spent my evening sleeping on the couch because I stayed up all but 30 minutes last night trying to do the taxes! I woke up in time to get a text from Kim telling me that a tornado touched down right by my school and very close to Kim's house. It is so scary. All of my kids live there and I don't know if they are alright. The damage area is 1/2 mile wide and 3-4 miles long.
I have heard of two injured and the main road 411 is closed. The power will be out for 12-14 hours and they are worried about gas leaks. I am so grateful that we are safe and my prayers go out to the affected.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Here we go.

So we are currently trying to build a play center but we took all spring break working on the house so now we have to try and do this in the evenings. This was day 2 where we spent at least a half an hour trying to organize the screws, bolts, washers, and other hardware.


A lot of the first night was spent emptying all the boxes of wood and figuring out where it all goes.


Here are all of the screws!
We were outside from about 6:15-10:20. I did not get to take a picture of our progress, however, it is much better than yesterday.

I'm Back!!!

I have just discovered the joy of being able to blog from my iphone! I love technology. We have so much to catch up on. See you very soon.