A little too close to home

Though it's funny, after so many cats, my family is down to only 1, but now we have 2 dogs! We've never been dog people. Crazy stuff. But after saying that I must say, they ARE pretty darned cute dogs.

Yeah, we're weird when it comes to our animals. Lol!

Turning over a new leaf?

Well, I'm going to try (again) to loose some weight. I'm thinking that maybe if I put it on a public forum maybe I'll follow through a little more. The best I've ever done was when I did pseudo-weight watchers in '03. I lost about 20 lbs and then fell off the wagon after a trip to Vegas. *sigh* I spent my entire 20's fat, maybe I can be fabulous in my 30's. Maybe I'll take a before picture...though I guess I have 10 years worth of those.

The thing that REALLY trips me up is food. I have no idea how to fix healthy things that don't leave me feeling like I'd rather be fat than live like that. I know how to exercise, it's just doing it. But now that the weather is nicer and I'm not pregnant any more, it really is a motivation to get out side and move. The kids soccer games help that too. Tonight I raced Britton (his shoe conveniently malfunctioned when I appeared to be winning) and he commented to me after that he didn't know I could run that fast. I laughed about it at the time, but on reflection it demonstrates how lax I've been about my health since I became a mom.

I walked the kids to the park yesterday and then walked to mom's library. I want to make the effort to do these kinds of things daily. Not only because they are getting me out and being more active, but it makes me be more "present" in my children's lives; not just wasting time on my computer or in front of the TV. I'm also glad it's soccer season, makes getting out easier, and FUN! Morgan won her game tonight and Britton won his last night.

Here are some pics from yesterday's sojourn to the park:

Darien loves trying to do the "big boy" things. Climbing this chain is a challenge for his little 3 year old self, but his perseverance pays off.

We literally can't go ANYWHERE without Paige taking off her shoes. Even the park! I don't know what we're going to do when she starts school next year.

I think they were having an Indiana Jones type of adventure here, and this is what happens when they shoot down a booby trap.



Going where no sword should EVER have to go.

And just because I'm totally smitten with my little Liam, I'm adding this one.

Here 'er goes

I always seem to bet on the wrong horse. I have accounts on 3 other "bloggish" type sites (LiveJournal 5 years, MySpace 3 years, Facebook 1 year) and this is the one that everyone is using. Oh well, "when in Rome," eh? I'm still trying to figure out the art of creating your page... I've figured out the others on the whole, I guess I'll get this one eventually.

I've had a ball today blog hopping. I'm a shameless lurker. I'm just naturally interested in people, so blogs are quite fun for me to cruise around on. I've jumped around my cousin's blogs, Russ' cousins blogs. Some I know well, some not as much. But I've SO enjoyed getting to know them better through their writings. These little web sites can really be a blessing if used in the right way. So if you ever get that feeling that you're being watched, it might just be me. Boy, I hope that doesn't make me as creepy as that sounds. :-/

One thing I have really enjoyed is becoming acquainted with people that I haven't had the opportunity to get to know as well as I'd like. I'm afraid that I'm a little insecure and shy with folks I don't know well. That includes family members. I'm easily intimidated, which is frustrating because I really like people and getting to know them. I don't know where that comes from but it's something that I'm hoping I'll eventually over come. Yeah, 32 is a bit late to start, but you never stop trying to grow and progress, right?

As I was reading I felt that tendancy to compare or be intimidated a bit. I'm so different than some of my family. They are so NOT shy, so together, so this or that. It's easy to look at peoples lives from the outside and compare yourself and find you're lacking in someway. I think Lucifer really uses that to keep us from our full potential. Fear, low self worth, jealousy, etc, etc... Those are feelings I have to work hard at overcoming. In some I've made a lot of progress, in others I could be better. I know I have a GREAT life. I've been so tremendously blessed and even if I don't have the same strengths and gifts that others might, I still have my own that can bless the lives of others.

One of my blessings is our little Liam (aka William or Wil). What joy a new, sweet spirit brings into your life. Yeah, we may be a little more bleary eyed, but it doesn't take long until you wonder how you ever lived your life without them. He's starting to smile more and more, and every time he does it makes me so happy the joy just bursts out of me. It's so sweet. Each stage of development is so wonderful.

The kids have really enjoyed him. Britton especially. Yeah, having a brother for your 9th birthday present is a pretty good deal, in his opinion. He's so sweet and tender with him. I love that when the baby is upset he works so hard to try and make him happy. The other day I went in and found him singing to the baby. He's a great baby sitter. Though it helps that he can play his DS and hold his brother at the same time.

Darien's reaction so far has been pretty good, but I've caught myself putting him off in favor of something the baby needs. I realized that he would have to ask me several times for something he needed before I'd do it for him. "Hold on a sec, I need to feed the baby first." or "Wait a minute, I don't want to wake up the baby." I'm glad I noticed because lately he's been throwing bigger fits over smaller things. At first I thought it was just part of the terrible 3's (they say 3 is the new 2), but then when I was talking to my mom about it I realized that it might be more than that. So we've tried to be better about it.

Speaking of Darien, My favorite kid quote since Liam was born is his. During our first week home I was nursing the baby and he walks by and giggles, "Heh, heh. William eats Mom boob." Lol! How I love my children. Don't know what I did to deserve them, but I'm so grateful the Lord has been so generous.