My 2008 Questionnaire

Stole this from All & Sundry...

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Took the kids on vacation without my husband. Not that I wanted to, but he couldnt get time off from work. It was the first time I had to parent alone for any length of time. And we all did just fine.

Also this year we started donating to charity.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My New Years resolution was to be more positive and to strive to be a better me. Its still a work in progress.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my niece was born in January 2008.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, not extremely close to me, but he will be missed & we had to say good-bye to our family dog

5. What countries did you visit?

Just the U.S.A

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

My own income. But until the kids are both in school, I dont see how that is possible. And more time to spend with my husband.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Christian dying in Iraq, having to put the dog to sleep after 15 1/2 years, registering to vote, voting, and the big finale Election Day

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

We all made it safely another year. That is pretty amazing, isnt?

9. What was your biggest failure?

Jumping off the healthy lifestyle bandwagon. Glad to say, I am back on.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No, thankfully.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A Brand New Washing Machine. (How sad is that?)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My kids. I could not ask for more respectful, polite, loving kids. They amaze me everyday.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

That stupid mother in Florida who killed her daughter.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills. Bills. Bills. Joey. Ally.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Christmas. For some reason this year, Christmas gave me so much joy, and so much to be thankful for. I fell face first into the entire Christmas season.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Apple Bottom Jeans and Boots with the fur. Joey still sings that song.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier, much happier
b) thinner or fatter? thinner, barely
c) richer or poorer? richer in life, about the same in finances

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Read more, saved more, spent more time with Mike and kept better in touch with friends

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Waste my time with the DVR and computer (but here I am on the damn computer)

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Big breakfast at my house for the in-laws, Lynz and Scott, and then the afternoon at my grandma's house

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

I've been in love for a LONG time.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

LOST

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Not anyone additional, maybe just a little more hate towards the individuals on the list

24. What was the best book you read?

A New Earth

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I rediscovered Stone Temple Pilots

26. What did you want and get?

Time. And Health.

27. What did you want and not get?

The stupid loan paid off. Maybe next year.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I rarely go to the movies, and I rarely ever watch movies.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 28. All my friends came over and we had a relaxed party.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More debt paid off, an awesome family vacation would have been amazing and being able to have been there when my brother got married.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Comfortably simple.

32. What kept you sane?

My kids cute little faces. Mike. All my friends who listen to me bitch and moan. Starbucks. Target. Shopping Online.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

John McCain

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The whole election had me at the edge of my seat. Not the result I was hoping for, but we will see how it all plays out.

35. Who did you miss?

Samantha. And Bob.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

OMG, Did I meet anyone new this year? I guess I will go with Lynz bf, Scott. But I think I am cheating but I think they met before this year started. I need to get out more.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

"Time waits for no one at all. No, not even you"

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"With the eyes of a child
You must come out and see
That your world's spinning 'round
And through life you will be
A small part
Of a hope
Of a love
That exists
In the eyes of a child you will see" -The Moody Blues

Christmas Book is Closed

We had a fantastic Christmas. All around, it was great. The kids were totally "into it." From the second they saw the Christmas tree with the display of presents all around, until the very last gift was open, they were ECSTATIC.

Mom and dad worked very hard to get every detail right. From the wish list, to the milk/cookie/carrot plate, even Santa's snowy boot prints. We did our best to make it as magical as we could for them. And not to toot my own horn, but I think we succeeded.
We had a total of 11 people at my house Christmas morning. I made a HUGE breakfast. And it was a great time to spend with family and friends. The kids went straight to work ripping open package after package. Getting more and more excited with each gift they opened.
Mickey Mouse called to speak with Joey and Ally to tell them about their upcoming Disney Vacation. (The vacation is a Christmas gift from my BFF and her BF) And we all couldnt possibly be more excited.

Christmas night, we tucked the kids in, and went straight to work putting the house in order. Mom doesnt like it when the house looks like a tornado came through. The Christmas decor was all taken down, wrapped up, and reboxed for next year. The Christmas tree came down and is awaiting pick-up outside. This gave us ample room to put the kids toys together and make the house look organized.
Now, I'm looking toward the New Year. 2009 is going to bring about changes. The biggest one is Joey will be 5 and will need to start school. Just thinking about it makes me feel weak. But, thats a topic for another day.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Hiatus

Well, good news and bad. First the bad news. Healthy eating and exercise flew out the window this past week. Good news, ITS BACK!

Over the h0liday we were invited SO many places, and had SO many people over. I dont know if we were coming or going. Actually, in hind sight, we didnt do so bad. Probably could have done without the pudding squares and Chinese food. But, it could have been much worse. I did stop myself from baking. We made one batch of roll-out cookies with the kids. (Because that is holiday-must-do.)

I surveyed the damage this morning. Up 3 lbs and 2% on the body fat. Grr... Serves me right.

Today, is a new day. And as my favorite blogger, Linda Lee, pointed out so well:
"There’s no reason why you shouldn’t start now. If you need to start over, that’s okay: start again now."

We have officially started over. Back to the 30 day shred. Back to whole grains, lean protein, veggies, and water. Bye-Bye to you Sugar, White Flour and HFSC. You are poison.

The plan for the Treadmill has been put on the back burner. We are going to Disney in February. We need to save our extra funds for that. So, the Tony Little Gazelle is coming out of hiding and back into motion. It will do, until we get something else.

The Eve of the Eve

I have been a mommy and wife for 4+ years now. And there is one thing I have yet to figure out.

How the heck can I keep my house clean?? HOW? HOW? HOW?

Mind you, my house isnt dirty. Its just not as put together as I would like it to be. For instance today was my day to clean my house top to bottom in preparation for Christmas morning. I had two rooms completely and totally clean to my standards.

And then my mom showed up to spread Christmas joy in the form of Christmas presents for the kids. Dont get me wrong, I am glad she came over, and the kids had a blast tearing open her packages, but geesh. I just cleaned that room!



And then I gave up. Clearly there was no point in pursuing house cleaning, when I would just need to redo it tomorrow.

Being that I am doing the 30 day shred, and trying to live a healthier lifestyle, I pretty much banned Christmas cookies in our house this year. However, I've come to realize, every kid should have the fun of making homemade cookies for the jolly man in the red suit. So I caved.

Into the mixer went the butter, sugar and white flour. I enlisted the help of my bff, Lyndsay. Rolling out cookies and use cookie cutters is a rite of passage. Joey was happy to do a few. Ally, on the other hand, would still be sitting at the table right now if I let her.

Oh, and here is a fun picture of Ally and the rats.

I thought I would take a few pictures of our Christmas decor. Its been up since the day after Thanksgiving. And once the Christmas holiday is over with. So is the tree and everything that goes along with it. I get anxious to take everything Christmas down and restore the house to original order. And based on the kids Christmas lists, we are going to need the extra space. Seriously.




Tomorrow will be my day to clean the rest of the house. Who am I kidding? I will be cleaning the whole house. And I will shamelessly park the two little tornadoes in front of the TV to watch Christmas Specials.
I am planning a nice Christmas breakfast. And all the prep work will be done tomorrow. I still have to run out with my niece to get her shoes. I have a few more things to wrap. Its Ally's turn tomorrow to move the star on the Advent calendar. And then we get to help Santa put all the gifts around the tree.
Its going to be a busy day. But well worth all the effort for the Grand Finale Thursday morning!

Christmas Anticipation

Other than one small gift, I AM DONE SHOPPING. D.O.N.E. Done. Well, other than that one last gift. Mike is in charge of picking it up anyway, so technically, I am done.

I hit the mall today with my bff, and we both finished everything up. 99.97% of my wrapping is completed, and I am giddy with anticipation of Christmas morning.

I bought Ally Christmas PJ's so she can look festive on film while opening her Christmas presents. Joey's, Mr. I-dont-grow-much, still fits into his Christmas PJ's from last year. I also bought Ally a frilly, lacy, velvety, over-priced Christmas dress. She loved it, until it got stuck on her head on its way off of her. She has no desire to put it back on. Now I have buyers remorse. Its going back tomorrow.

I never posted our Santa picture from this year. What an experience that was. Joey made it clear he would need to stand while speaking to Santa. Not at all interested in sitting in some strange mans lap. Ok, by mom.

Joey asked Santa for Scooby Haunted House, Thomas and Percy Carnival and the Rhinosaraus with the birds. (The rhino with the birds thing took me forever to figure out. Took the help of an eight year old)

Ally was in shock. She was terrified of the jolly old man. And barely muttered something about a princess.

She wasnt having her picture taken without mom and dad their. So, it became a family shot.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Oh Snowy Day

We are just about done with our first snowfall of the season. The kids were, as you can imagine, so excited about the snow. As we all were. It is so pretty and delicate as it falls. And it leaves a nice clean coating of white on EVERYTHING.

After the kids were all tucked in and sleeping last night, Mike and I decided to go out and shovel. And shovel, and shovel and shovel. TWO hours of non-stop shoveling. That beautiful delicate stuff was HEAVY. And after we were all done, I've decided I'm all done with snow. And I am ready to see the flowers bloom. Well, after Thursday that is.

The plow came through over night and pushed another few inches of the white stuff up all around my car. More shoveling is going to be required before I actually go anywhere.

In other, BIG news. We are taking the kids to Disneyworld! Thanks to the generosity and heart-o-gold of my bff, Lyndsay, we are going to Disneyworld. The kids are so excited about meeting Mickey Mouse face to face. Every day they ask if today is the big day. Its not until February, so they have a little longer to wait.

And I would be lying to you, if I said I wasnt so totally excited myself. I havent been to Disney in 15+ years. So, its going to be great fun to go with my kids, my husband are our very best friends.

AND, our digital camera finally crapped out. Luckily, Santa came early and delivered a new one. I convinced Santa to let us open it early so we can use it on Christmas morning.
So, for your viewing pleasure, PICTURES:

Wow, this kid grew up so fast!

Boxes are great fun.

Posing in front of the Christmas tree.

This is when the snow first started. Ally was napping.

Ally's first snow experience of the season.

How cute are they in their snow outfits?

Sorta sledding. Our slope in the back isnt quite steep enough. They had fun anyway.

30 Day Shredding

I bought into the craze and ordered Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. OMG, this is the awesomest workout ever. There is a lot to be said for a work out that makes you feel like you are going to puke and then die, and then leaves you lightheaded. All in 20 minutes. What a time saver!
I am in love. And she says 20 lbs gone in 30 days.
I'm up for the challenge.

I've also been doing lots of yoga. Oh, how I love you yoga.

In other news, the snow is falling. Crazy New Englanders are acting like its a HUGE surprise to see the white stuff falling in December. I am SO excited. We took the kids out and bought them new boots. Crocs, although super comfy, arent really ideal footwear for the snow.

Pictures of snow-themed-fun to follow shortly.

A Better Me?

The room project was put on a slight hold. My father is engrossed in something else, and I'm next in line. I'm planning on directly after the new year. I will post pics as it transforms.

I am currently working on a new me. This one is a little too "fluffy." Its time to drop this "baby weight," (my baby is 2) and get into better shape.

Goal is to lose 100 lbs. I've lost 12 so far.

How, you ask? Very easily.

NO Sugar, White Flour, High Fructose Corn Syrup, or Hydrogenated Oil
Yes Whole Grains, Fruit, Veggies, lean protein and cooking food fresh

NO sitting and being lazy
YES 30 day shred & yoga

NO soda, alcohol, and drinking your calories
YES Tea and Water

Its really that easy. Eat better, get exercise. The fat goes away. Who knew?

Christmas is right around the corner. I have a stack of Christmas cards here that need to be written out and mail. That is my project for this evening. I started crocheting Ally a blanket. Keeps me busy and out of the kitchen. lol

The kids are SO excited for Christmas this year. We are counting down the days until Santa gets here. We are in a good place this year, and I am so happy to be ending this year, and starting a brand new one.

2008 was good, but I really believe 2009 is going to be FANTASTIC.