Hi everyone! Happy Passover to those who celebrate it, Happy Easter (in advance) to those who celebrate that one, and Happy April to everyone else!
Lily -- I was just catching up on last week's thread. Sorry to hear you are having trouble with your daughter. It wasn't that long ago that I was in high school and I also had many self esteem and body image issues. I really do think that providing a good example is what will make the difference eventually. Also I think it is very important that as part of your example you never put yourself down -- if your daughter knows she can't fit in your clothes, and then hears you say something negative about your own body, she will feel even worse about hers. Maybe she's having a tough time right now but things will work out. Congrats on getting those arm muscles too!
Meg -- I'm sorry to hear about your cat, but glad she is doing a little better right now. I always get tempted by easter candy. Last year I limited myself to two Cadbury eggs and a very small chocolate bunny. I usually buy easter candy after easter because it is on clearance and dirt cheap, and by then the good stuff is gone so I'm not as tempted!
Things are going pretty well around here, I'm loving the nice weather! We have decided to make an offer on a house. Today my fiance's going to call up our realtor and ask about the process for that and figure out how much we should offer, then put it in and see what happens! The house we decided on is about 15 minutes from work. It is in a newer subdivision. This house was constructed in 2003, but the subdivision still has some new construction going on (I think there are maybe 15 lots left). It's on a cul-de-sac and the neighbors appear to all be young families, but we will probably be the youngest since they all seem to have kids who are about five years old (whereas we don't plan to have kids for about five more years). The current owners of the house are moving partially because the husband got a new job in a different location, and partially because they already have two kids and the wife is pregnant with triplets! It is a four bedroom house. The subdivision has a pool, a park with a playground, and some wooded areas and lakes with walking trails, plus they are putting in a soccer field. It's just down the street from the elementary school and middle school. Anyway, we're pretty excited about it and are hoping that we can get an offer accepted and the inspection will go okay (and that we can get the current owners to move out before our lease is up).
We also had a good sign -- right after we decided we were going to put an offer on the house there was a beautiful double rainbow! A full semi-circle, with a second rainbow just next to it. I took a picture but I haven't had a chance to upload it yet.
I'm feeling better about our Passover meal plan too. We did end up deciding to give up rice, corn, and beans, as well as the grains (although we're fudging a bit and will probably end up eating some packaged foods that have corn syrup). For the most part it's not too bad because I found a bunch of recipes for good-looking salads and potatoes and such, so I think the major challenge is breakfast. I eat cold cereal every day and my fiance eats oatmeal, so it will be a little hard to switch to matzo, eggs, and fruit. But it's only for a little over a week so I think we can handle it. Shake up the diet!!
I hope you all are having weather as good as we are! It's supposed to be sunny and 75 today. Pretty sweet!