Hello Everyone,

I am sooooo enjoying my break. I have done some work around the house (cleaning out the cabinets in the garage, reorganizing both pantries, etc) of course, I have yet to tackle Ashley's room.
I have one more week off, then only 9 weeks of school left. I can't believe how fast this school year has gone.

In May I'm supposed to go to Washington DC. My district is taking 38 7th and 8th graders for 4 days. What a great opportunity for them. As a program leader, I'm able to go for free. Ashley is very upset because she doesn't want me to leave her (her words) for 4 days. So now I am trying to figure out a way to get sponsers for her to go. We'll see what happens.

Noelle: I am so excited about your weight loss. You are doing so well. I'm a little jealous. I'm still stuck on the 9 lbs lost. I did get somewhat good news from my doctor about my knee. I don't need surgery right now; although he did tell me that if I want it he'll do it. I told him I can live with it right now. I can walk the dog again without much pain at all. I'm going to just keep doing that and some of the exercises from the therapist and see what happens.

Karen: I'm so glad your dad is doing well. I'm still keeping him and your family in my thoughts and prayers. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your house to sell. Also, great job on the weight loss.

Cherie: I went back and looked at the invitations and your dress. The invitations were really nice; so elegant. Your dress is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! You are going to be so gorgeous. What a beautiful bride you will be. I can't wait to see pictures of you in the dress. I'm really excited for you.

A great big hello to Angie (miss you), Dips (hope everything is going well with you ), Kempy (drop in for a chat soon).

Have a great day everyone.

Cal

Hello ladies I am relaxing this evening after a nice meal of baja tacos from Chili's... I know I will be bloated tomorrow from the salt I did get to walk Lucky this evening so I hope that burned some calories. I'm not weighing in tomorrow, but will go on Saturday morning.

Hi Cal!! How exciting about the DC trip! I would love to go there one day. I have a feeling Ashley will get her way and get to go with you I'm glad you don't need the knee surgery, what a relief. I hope it stays pain free too. Hey, how did your brother like his visit to Pearl Harbor? Did you get the stuff you wanted?

Cherie, I just shot you an email w/pics of the boxes I saw today. Let me know what you think of the deal. How are you guys feeling today?

Hi Karen! Happy first day of spring. Hope you got more sun today.

So what's the plan for this Easter weekend? I'm dreading all the chocolate to come

Hi Everyone,
Back to school on Monday. This year has gone by so fast. There are 9 weeks left of this school year.
Noelle: My brother loved his visit to Pearl Harbor. He also went to the flea market you told me about. He said it was great, and he was able to save a lot of money. He got me some great stuff to use in class next year when we study WWII again.

Hope everyone comes back soon.

Cal

Good Morning! Well, I am up a pound this week! Darn It! But I'm not surprised since it has been so hard to get back on track and stay there since we got back from Mo. And then tonight we are celebrating our oldest grandsons birthday (missed it while we were in MO.) and he wants spaghetti and I made a cake) So tonight sure won't be on plan! But after not being able to see him in about 10 years because of a bitter break up --- I'm definitely going to enjoy it tonight!

Still no serious bites on our house but I'm tryingto be patient! I saw several people stop and pick up flyers at the end of the driveway yesterday so hoping that they call the realtor and come to see it!

Just wanted to pop in for a minute and say Hello.. Better get busy and get everything done. Take care and have a good day!

Hello ladies. I've missed you this week, but between work and trying to keep up with my house....it's been a busy week. I just stopped vacuuming long enough to say a few words here but have to get back to it soon.

I missed (or well more like skipped) my weigh-in last week. I did go today though, and was up .8 of a pound. Not bad for indulging in all that easter candy and BBQ food. Maybe if I had gone to last weeks meeting I would've heard that that darn candy is the same all year long, just in different colored wrappers. Why did I let them get to me? But today is a new week ahead and I can only try again.

Karen, I don't know if I commented on your MO family pictures before but you guys are a good looking family. I love how your baby-girls Ginger and Sissy curl up all cozy wherever they are too .

Hi Cal! Michael goes back to school on Tuesday. He's been doing nothing but watching TV, playing his Gameboy or other video games and riding his Rip Stick around the neighborhood. I wish I had planned better and at least gotten him some books to read at least for some of the time. I'm suprised his brain hasn't turned to mush with all this down time just lazing around doing brainless things! Wow, I hadn't realized only 9 more weeks of school! How has Ashley enjoyed her break?

Cherie, so what's the word? Did you get in contact with the box lady? I hope things are working out for you. What are you and your little ladies doing this weekend?

Well, I've got to get back to this housework or it will never get done. Enjoy the rest of the weekend ladies!

Hi everybody! I know I've been MIA for a week... but I am here.. checking in
... last week with work was payroll processing, the Megan got sick... and then just got busy with the wedding stuff! Two months from TODAY!!! and have I lost anything? Crap no.

Noelle... I am going to call her today. I sent her an email last Friday... but I will wait til later this afternoon to see if I can get ahold of her.

Karen... how is your dad doing? Sending you good luck vibes for your house.... we are still trying here to sell his. I just know April is going to be the month!

Cal... Thank you for the calendar! The girls got to it first and opened it.... they love the pictures! :-)

Alan and his nephew Rob built me an arch yesterday.... it's pretty rustic.. I'm going to have some flowy white fabric draped through it... it's made out of trees! :-)

Last night.. we had tornado sirens going off... and from the looks of it outside.. we could be in for more today. It currently has us under a severe Thunderstorm warning.. however, it's not raining at the moment.

OK.. back to work here..... I can't believe tomorrow is going to be April.... ALREADY. yikes.

Good Morning! I did OK yesterday.... my mouth hurt all day long (and is hurting today) from my adjustment... but that should be gone by tomorrow. Eating, I didn't do stellar.... but it wasn't bad either.

I got home and did an hour on the elliptical. Yeah me. Will do that this afternoon as well, and I brought my clothes for working on the treadmill here at work during my lunch.

Noelle... I spoke with Marilou yesterday... I THINK I have 150 boxes ordered. :-) It's so hard to tell, I had a difficult time understanding her over the phone. They will be sent via ship.. so it will take about three weeks or so to get here. I'll let you know how it goes. I went with the 3x3 and 2.5 x 2.5 inch boxes.... she said the other were like 3 x 4 and I think that would have been way too big for what I am wanting to use them for. I can't wait to get them and to get started on the favors... :-) I'll post pictures next month when they are finished!

OK... it's official... I am getting married NEXT MONTH!! OMG... that is way too soon.

OK.. I need to get back to work. :-) Happy April Everyone!

Cherie, I am glad to hear from you. I was wondering about you with all the tornados that they were saying were popping up in Oklahoma! Sure hope everything is OK there where you are. I'm anxious to see your boxes when you get them. You are so talented to be able to do this kind of thing!

Noelle, good to hear from you too! Don't worry about the .8 pound---- gosh you can sneeze and get rid of that!

My Dad is doing great! They take him just about every week to Seneca to gamble with the penny slots! He loves it! He came home last week and told me he lost $2!!! He is so funy!

Still hoping that the house gets sold soon-- we've found so many really nice places that we would like to do something with but sure can't afford to have 2 houses!!

Well, I woke up feeling kind of miserable this morning like a flu bug so think I'm going to go and just take it easy today. Will get the house straight in case someone calls to see it but serious cleaning isn't in the cards today!

Take care and have a great day!

Good Morning! :-) OK... I did well yesterday, I did 2 miles at work on the treadmill during my lunch, and once I got home, I did an hour on the elliptical... had a decent day of food... so day two is over with a gold star.

Today, I am going to work on the treadmill at lunch and again with the elliptical after work. I need to work on some arm weights and pushups today as well. I did two sets of arm weights yesterday... but I need to make more of an effort to do about 10 to 15 minutes of them every day.

The tornados that happened earlier this week was an F1.. and it hit about 2 miles north of Alan's house. We are in for some more rain and severe weather today and tomorrow.. but I don't think it will have tornadoes... maybe hail...which is almost as bad.

OK.. back to work... talk to you all soon!

TGIF everyone!!! :-) I am so happy it's Friday..... ready for my weekend.

Karen.. how are you feeling? Was it the flu that you caught?

Noelle... how is work going??? Oh.. my boxes have been ordered and shipped.. they are on their way now... not sure when they will get here... but soon I am sure! Thank you sooo sooo much for helping me out with these. I REALLY appreciate it!!! You rock!

I ordered tableclothes this week, and bac bac bamboo matting for the tables. I am less than two months away from the wedding!!!!

I have been doing well with my exercise.. I've been running on the treadmill at lunchtime and doing the ellipitcal at night.... and really watching my food intake.. I'm not stepping on the scales this month, but I will first of May to see where I am. I'll try on my dress again then too. Right now, it's at my friends Jennifer's house hanging up.

Anyway.. hope everyone has a great Friday and a really nice weekend!

Good morning ladies What a week. My days are so hectic that my eating has been wacko too.... not eating breakfast some mornings and then eating too much at night! I was up .2 lbs last night at my WI ... So a whole pound gained in the last two weeks... wah . I have got to get a grip and go shopping for easy things I can grab and go with. I only have a few more months until my parents' anniversary party and I want to look as best as I can when all the family start rolling into town.

Cherie, you are very welcome for the help, and I didn't really do much except for a little calling around and inspecting . I'm sorry I didn't find Marilou sooner, she was really helpful. Anyway, keep up the great work on your exercise and eating, you WILL get into that beautiful dress. Hey, I just re-read your earlier post about the wedding arch...it made me think of that movie Meet the Fockers(?) when Owen Wilson built that elaborate wedding pavilion and Ben Stiller got all jealous?



Karen, I hope you're feeling better and the flu bug hasn't bit you too bad.

Cal, how was your first week back after spring break? Have the kids still got spring fever?

Well, I have a dental appointment, Mikey and Rick have a karate tournament which I'm not sure if I'll be going to watch... but later today I will be meeting w/my sisters to choose the paper for the anniversary invitations. We plan to go shopping then go out for Indian food . I tried to go out for a walk this morning but got rained on so I turned around. Poor dog wasn't very happy either. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Monday again.... This weekend went way too fast. I managed to exercise every day.... and pretty much stay on track food wise.. so that is good. Today I ran 4 miles at lunch and plan on an ellpitical session this evening before dinner. I have to really stay focused this week and do a little extra everyday... we are meeting some friends on Friday at the Melting Pot.. and you eat 10,000 calories for one meal alone.. or so it seems.

Noelle.. I am sure next WI you will be back on the losing side. You are going to look great for your parent's anniversary!

Karen.. hope you are feeling better..... my oldest daughter came home from school today because she was throwing up and running a fever... I just wish we could get past this cold and flu season once and for all.

I'll check back in later.....

Happy Wednesday Everyone! This week is going well so far... I figured out I have 7 weeks and three days til the wedding! WOW! Exactly 5 weeks til I get my braces off.... not much time to get the rest of the wedding stuff/weight finished.

Today I run payroll... I am currently waiting on the timecards and shift differential from a manager that was due on Monday. Irks me at times that they can't read the schedule that I sent them and know when things are due.... and even better.. take the next day off (yesterday) for PTO. So... hopefully he will drag his butt into the office sometime this morning and send them to me.

Exercise is going well... ran 4 miles yesterday at lunch and then last night did an hour on the ellipitical. I did about 5 to 10 minutes of arm weights yesterday afternoon.... that is going to be my program for the next 61 days! I just need to add some crunches to that.

Anyway.. just had my breakfast of strawberries and slimfast... looking at a banana in front of me.... but I will probably save that for this afternoon. I'll talk to you all later! Have a great hump day!

It's Thursday. We've been having quite a bit of rain and thunderstorms lately... however, it looks like today will be nice and rain free. Windy though.

I had to leave work early yesterday to go pick up the girls from school. The thunderstorm that was going through the area was pretty bad. We ended up needing to go back to school around 7 PM to pick up their bikes they had rode to school earlier.

I took advantage of the extra time off and did my hour on the elliptical early so that I could spend time with my honey. We made dinner and watched the biggest loser and american idol. I also got my ipod fixed and updated with music... I am running here at work at lunch time, and I am using the ipod/nike pod thing, so I needed to put all running type music on it. I can't wait to use my updated music list today!

I am actually starting to enjoy running again. As of this morning, I am down to 160.00 even. On April 1st, I was at 169.00.. but alot of that was bloat, cause I had been hovering around 163 or 164.... but I am so ready to just break out of the one sixties... it's driving me batty.

BTW.. did anyone see the biggest loser? Can you believe Ali? 11 pounds in one week on someone who has lost so much already???? What the heck did they all do that week? I told Alan, I just needed two weeks off work where all I did was work out all day and maybe I could do that too! She looks great... but I can't imagine how much more she can lose for the finale next week.

OK.. back to work here. It's our month end, quarter end, and year end..... and my manager is wanting to get some numbers from me this morning... so back to work I go!