WTG RENEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am thrilled for you that you have gotten your groove back! I am down 1 lb. Now I only have about 5 more to get off what the steriods put on and then I can go from there. I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend. Catch everyone later and if I don't by some chance

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Im very glad to hear that eveyrone is doing great! What a joy Spring is to get everyone in a wonderful state of mind.

Things my way are going well. This next week at work is going to be hellish. Ill be so ready for some sort of day off by the time Friday arrives next week. Everyone will be out of the office, except me. With lots of things needing to be done.

Renee, Im glad the weather is adjusting normally for you finally. It has been so lovely here. Except for the pollen. That yellow junk is everywhere. My car is red, but looks orange right now lol. It is covered.

Sandy, Im glad as well, that things are perking up for you. Im glad your finally feeling better and making lots of progress.

Well, I know this is short. Even though its Mother's Day, Im still cooking my dinner lol. Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Take care, Ill check in again later.

Evening everyone.

Kevin, you got a chuckle out of me with you cooking your dinner. I would have been cooking as well but my mother wanted to go to wallyworld. So I decided to eat out. Hey, I'm tired and there is no way I would have considered cooking. Hopefully things at work wont be as bad as you think. Gotta run just wanted to check in.

sandy

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!!!!!! (Even though it is a day late!)

Kevin, I know just how you feel about the whole dinner thing. I cooked ours too, we had both of our parents over for a cookout. And cleaned up! I decided that I would just take the day off from watching what I eat, because the menu wasn't exactly the healthiest. Nicole did make me some french toast for breakfast and that was so nice. She gave me a nice book of inspirational quotes for Moms and some $ to go see 13 going on 30 with her. Jacob gave me a starbucks coffee cup and a gift certificate to there. (I really love the sugarfree, nonfat vanilla latte--and it is pretty much guiltless) and Aaron gave me a beautiful potted plant for the patio. The boys cut up some fresh fruit for breakfast and they all set a very nice table--and let me sleep in a bit.

This morning my stomach has felt a bit queesy, I don't know why, but I have to back back on the wagon and start watching what I eat and exercising. We have been having pretty nice weather (even a little HOT--can you believe it?!) I got alot of work done in the flower beds this past weekend. The grass is looking pretty good, since I have been keeping up with the fertilizing. Everything is blooming. Pollen around here hasn't coated the cars--I wonder what kind of tree leaves you with that mess, Kevin.

Kevin, I hope you find some time during your crazy week to do something nice for yourself, and you too, Sandy. Good news for Nicole--she made the cheerleading squad! We are happy for her. So all that running around and craziness last week for me wasn't in vain! LOL I am looking forward to the last day of school and summer vacation!

Good Evening!

I got the computer finally lol. Hubby is at a band concert that his daughter is in. We didnt go with him because its in Alabama, 2 1/2 hour drive away. He wont get home til 1 am, and I have work and the kids have school.

You got very nice gifts from your family Renee! I got 2 Asiatic Lillies from the boys. I planted them in a spot I worked hard at hoeing and all, and they look so beautiful. Hubby just gave me a hard time. I hope your stomach is feeling better today. Ive also been catching up reading your journal. Im glad the weather is nicer now for your walking. It makes you feel so much better doesnt it? Oh and Congrats to Nicole for making cheerleader! I always wanted to be one. But......too shy and too awkward to try. How I wish now I had tried out for more and done different things in high school. Instead of always trying to hide in the background. Maybe my self confidence and all would be alot better now if I had given it all a better shot.

Sandy, I apoligize for not congratulating you on your 1lb loss!!!!! Congrats!! Hope you are doing well today and getting a little more rest from working so much.

Well, I best be calling it a night. The work days have been long. At least staying as busy as I have, the days go by fast. 4:30 comes before I know it. I hope everyone is doing great and continuing to have a wonderful day. Take care and Ill check in again soon.

Morning ladies!

Kevin, I know about being so busy at work that the time passes so quickly. I am covering dsd this week and whenever I work back there I have so much paperwork to do that I am always busy and so far I have been busy all week. I guess that time flies when you are having fun!

Sounds as if everyone has gotten some neat gifts for Mother's day.

Renee, I bet that Nicole is still on cloud nine from making the cheerleading squad. I am like Kevin on that subject, kinda wish that I would have did that in high school. I was involoved in speech and drama when I was in school and that was about it. But then again I was chunky and who wants a chunky cheerleader?

LIke I said earlier I am covering dsd this week and it is a vacation for me. I am only working one job this weekend. I might even get to sleep late on Sunday morning. That would feel so great! I guess that next week I will be feeling it by going back to the same ole routine. Time to go and get a shower so that I will be 90% ready by the time that I have to get Corey up for school. Not much longer left until the school year is over(28th) is the last day! I can't wait will be able to sleep in some and not rush in the morning. Hope that everyone has a great day.

Hugs
sandy

Happy morning girls! Well, actually I guess it is almost afternoon--where does the time go?!

Kevin, you are seriously beginning to get a green thumb around there!! Lilies are so nice, they come up every year and are very low maintenence. I have a bunch in my yard--especially the yellow day liliy varieties. I bet your yard is looking fabulous! I chuckled about your hubby giving you a hard time! LOL My guys philosophy on Mother's Day is usually that he shouldn't have to do a thing--after all I am not HIS mother! (No, just the mother of HIS children!) anyway...

Thanks to both of you for the congrats for Nicole. I, too was much like the both of you. Even today I would rather just "blend" into the crowd, than to stick out. And I was terribly afraid of failure--you can't fail if you don't try. I told Nicole that even if she didn't make it, I was proud of her for giving it a shot. Don't think I would've had the guts. I am glad she is not like me in that respect.

Kevin, I am so honored that you have take the time to read the journal. I did stop for a couple of months, and have been really down on myself too..but the scale is slowly going down again. Still, all my shorts from last year are a bit tight. That sucks. But I guess it is extra incentive to not give up.

Sandy, do enjoy your time off from all the craziness of your schedule! I also, am looking forward to the end of school and all these extracirricular activities! My kids last day is June 3rd, I think. June...hmmm..Kevin you have a birthday coming up don't you?? Gosh, I dread my birthday anymore...I guess that is when you know you are getting old! Sandy, I can't remember..is yours in November? If I got it wrong, I apologize and please set me straight! I remember Kevin's cuz it is close to my son's bday.

Anyway...alot to do today. Better get a move on.

Hugs to you both!
Renee

Good Afternoon Chickies!

How is everyone's Saturday so far? Mine has been very busy. I spent all morning shopping for my son's graduation clothes and shoes. I still cannot find a shirt "I" like lol. He saw plenty. Uhmm, I dont think so darling, I told him lol. Ive got a few other places to look, but Im gonna save them for next weekend. Im bushed, and sick of shopping for this weekend!

Im waiting for my Dad to come and bring me his tiller to use on an area of the yard, that I refuse to use a hoe to till lol. It would take me 2 days to do it. Ill do a little, but not that large of an area. Once he does that, Ill start my front yard garden that I have planned in my head. Just to make it work in the yard now . Then I plan to use all my "birthday" money (thanks for remembering Renee, June 5th ) to buy my flowers and what nots. Ive thrown the hint out to each family member and associate lol. I want money!

Renee, Congrats on the .5 lb loss!!!!! Are you still doing the South Beach Diet? Ive been watching the news some where they have been discussing all these new low carb food lines. How they really arent all that low carb. I think its best to do the foods yourself. Saves you money in the long run and its more authentic. I think these food distributers sometimes are only in for the money, they forget the real reason the product exists, to truly help those of us who want to loose weight, or simply lead more healthy eating lifestyles.

Sandy, hope your day is going well. Not at work are you???? Write soon.

I best be moving along. I have supper to prepare, hubby should be home shortly. Everyone take care and Ill check in again later.

HI girls!

Hope you all are doing great! Today is supposed to be a great day weather wise (and then rain the rest of the week ) So I have alot I want to accomplish today. Monday is always "kids clothes" wash day. I have some herbs I want to get planted into the ground off the patio. I need to mow the front grass. And last, but not least, I need to alter Nicole's costume for the dance recital pictures this evening. Whew! will I get it all done?!

Kevin, I had a dream about you this weekend. I met you and your family! Wow, you have been so busy with your yard! I don't think I could till even a small section of garden by hand! The gas tiller is definately the way to go. Good for you for geting some of it done by hand though! What are you going to put in after you get the ground all ready? Make sure you spend some of that $ on perennials--they keep looking better every year and most are very low maintantence!

I got a bike for my bday(it is this Thurs.) this past weekend from hubby. It is a nice one with a front and rear suspension. I took it for a spin on Sunday, and my legs were killing me. Even though I have been walking--you use different muscles, I guess one's that weren't used to all that activity. It is a good thing though. I am embarassed that I am so out of shape. If I just would've gotten active sooner (like in my 20's)--maybe the damage wouldn't be so much to reapir!

We also went into Cleveland for brunch yesterday. I ate way to much of a bunch of stuff I shouldn't have had and then for dinner, hubby got that new buffalo chicken pizza from pizza hut. Oh is that good. I felt like crap after eating all that stuff. Today it will be right back on track for me. To answer the South Beach question Kevin, it is no. I sort of watch how much white stuff (potatoes, rice, etc) and try to replace with whole grains. I am trying to cut down on sugar (this has been really hard for me--I know I can never really eliminate it--but cutting down is a step in the right direction, I think) And lastly, I have tried to increase my fruit and veg intake--which this time of year is not too much of a challenge. So much yummy fresh stuff out there. It is the winter months that it is hard.

Hey, what is the cost of milk for you guys? Here it is up to over $3.00 a gallon. I find that outrageous. Eggs are up to almost $2.00 a dozen. It is getting hard to squeeze too much fresh fruit and veggies into the budget!

Early congrats to your son, Kevin. And I hope you find a shirt that agrees with you both! I know, there is so much offensive stuff out there! I like Kohls and target for my kids clothes. I seem to find good deals and decent quality stuff there.

Anyway, have a great day girls! I must get started on this busy day before time runs short!

Good Morning Ladies,

Things are going well my way. I hope the same for you two.

Renee, were you able to get your herbs planted? Thats one garden I have not thought about trying. Are they easy to grow? I should read up on them. So you had a dream that we met. Now that would be cool. Who knows, maybe some day we can . That would be too awesome. Sandy, of course you too! Im still waiting for my Dad to come with the tiller lol. Havent seen him yet. Of course the weather hasnt been very cooperative lately. Its been raining off an on. This is the first day with no sprinkles or thunder bursts. Most of the items in my gardens are perinnials, Renee. My hubby wants to me to buy some annuals for more color. But I feel its a waste of money, since they wont come back again. But for his sake, I may give in lol. How is the bike riding going? I would love to have a bike. I wouldnt have anyone to ride with though. I could get my son another one, but he would probably think good gracious, she already pulls me out every night to walk, and now she wants to ride for umpteen miles lol. We live in a very small country town, lots of dirt roads and farm land. I wouldnt want to ride out on any of the country roads without someone with me. Too many strange people on those roads lol. To answer your question about milk prices down here in the South. Try 3.79 cents a gallon. Thats the cheapest, storebrand, not name brand. Everything is so expensive. Gas is up too 1.99 a gal for regular here too. How is it your way? I may need that bike before too long.

We went back shopping yesterday and I was able to get the shoes, shirt and ties for the graduation. Im all set now. I think all the grand parents are coming as well. So he is exicited. He is big stuff lol.

Well, I best get going. Ive been searching the web trying to find some kind of new recipe too cook. Nothing is looking appealing to me lol. Guess Ill head out into the yard for a bit and do some piddling. Everyone take care and have a wonderful day. Sandy, stop in soon and drop a line when you have a chance. Talk to you all later.

Happy Belated Birthday Renee!!!!!



Im so sorry I didnt mention it earlier or better yet on the actual day. Hope you had a wondeful one!

Good Monday Morning!

Kevin, thanks for the belated birthday wishes. Next year it will be the big 4 - 0 for me--yikes! Were did all those years go?!

To answer your question about the herbs, yes. I did get them in. I put in thyme, 3 different types of basil, rosemary, oregano, and I always have chives (they come up every year). I have really been using more fresh herbs when I cook vs. using dry--when I can, and I really like the difference it makes. They are really easy to grow. I am sure you would be very successful with them. Most like a sunny spot. I also started putting in my "mini" vegetable garden yesterday, but, like you, the weather has not been cooperating much. ALOT of rain--storms just about every night for the past two weeks. We have alot of clay in our dirt (the hard nonabsorbing kind), so we have had some flooding. Our development has been good, but others in our community have not been too fortunate. The kids even had school cancelled Friday, because of the flooding. Anyway, despite the mud and muck, I did get some cucumber vines in and some zucchini (first time for zucchini in my garden). I need to till too, the area where I want the tomatoes and peppers to go--but it will have to dry out a bit before that can be done. I am putting in roma tomates--because I like them best and you can cook them down and make a sauce. That is what I did last year with the crop before the first frost (which always comes too soon). It was kind of fun--but it took like 50 tomatoes to cook down to make one small batch of sauce!

It has been very warm and humid here. But I am not complaining--as the cold and snow is still fresh in my mind. I wasn't going to turn on the air--but broke down and did on Saturday. It was so humid you almost couldn't walk from one room to the other without breaking out in a sweat! It looks to be only in the 70's today--so I think I will turn it off again. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to get much biking in--with all the thunderstorms. Seems like everytime I get some free time to bike--it is thundering! OH well, maybe this week...

Wow! Your sons graduation to high school will be here so soon, Kevin. I am glad to hear you got the wardrobe all worked out. A big congrats to him!!!!!!!!! My kids have only 7 days to go to summer break! I can't believe it!

It would be definately cool to someday meet you guys. Who knows? It could happen. Our gas hit above $2.00 a gallon last week. It is insane. Yes, between that and groceries--we are all going to be in the poor house!! They are going to open a new grocery store in the big "Town Center" shopping project they have been working on in my town. They give you discounts on gas in relation to how much you spend in their stores. It is not a whole lot--but you gotta eat right? It might as well go toward something. I will keep you posted on how that whole thing works out. Anyway, at the very least it will provide some good competition for the other big store in the area, and maybe work to drive some prices down. That would be a good thing. Ah, free enterprise!

Sandy, hope things are going well for you and hope to hear from you soon. How is Corey? How is your mom? How are your legs? Let us know.

Well, I best get a move on. I did very poorly on the diet scene last week. I gained. It sucks. Thank goodness I get another chance to get it right. make a good one girls!

Evening girls!

Whew seems as if you two have been busy. I know that I have been. Tooo busy I think. Working too many hours and no time for rest. Richard came up a couple of weekends ago and I fell asleep on him both nights. Talk about someone wondering what was going on, he was. My leg is much better, the bad thing is that 2 of the things that my doctor was searching for with my last blood work was up. One of the things was up help determines Lupus and cancer. I am not thinking anything about it til July when I have to go back again. There is so much to tell but don't know where to start. I guess that I will try to keep it simple. Had to take more steriods so the 4 lbs that I lost are back but I am now off of them again and slowly getting back into the groove. School is out on Thurs. Yeah! I have to take my mom to have surgery in the morning. The port that was in her for the iv meds isn't comming out the way it should so she will have to have surgery to remove it.

Happy bleated Renee!

Dang the phone gotta run. Catch everyone later.

Hi all!

Sandy, so good to hear from you! Sending prayers your way--I do hope that all those numbers don't indicate anything serious! Take care of yourself! Hopefully, with school out, you will not have such a crazy and hectic schedule. You are right in trying not to let it bother you until you know something for sure. Anyway...prayers and strength sent your way. ((((((sandy))))))

I hope all goes well with your Mom's surgery today. That must be good news that the port is coming out. Is she all done with the iv meds now? I hope so. Prayers sent for her too.

Who is that sexy avatar man??!! I like it. Very nice. And, thanks for the belated bday wishes.

I was feeling very down about the weight loss yesterday, I had been up 2 pounds form last week and feeling like all my work wasn't getting any results, and low and behold--I got on the scale and read a 3 pound loss. Go figure. Now I am 5 pounds away from getting back to the weight I was last year this time. Still wish I was ahead of the game--but oh well...I really need to get this weight off--all my shorts (the ones I bought last year in smaller sizes) are tight. I can get them on, but they are not too comfortable. I have to keep on working hard at this.

Well, take care girls. Have a great day! Sunny and nice here today and guess what? No rain! Yeah!

Evening!

Renee, a 3lb loss, WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everything went well with my Mom's surgery yesterday. So slowly she will be getting into gear. As for the man on the avatar man it is Toby Keith. I just love his music and I got bored with the ones here so i decided to use that one.

Just wanted to check in real quick I have to get to bed. Got an early day at work in the morning.

Take care all

sandy