will we ever slow down?

As I knew it would be summer has proven to be a crazy time of year for us! I haven't even blogged in 5 whole days just because a) we are kinda repeating the same activities over and over that make us busy... ex) softball games b) I am tired by nap time and all I want to do is read my book and ride my bike. (That is my personal deal with myself, if I watch TV or read during nap time, I must ride my bike so I won't snack the entire time) Agh... stupid deal!

Anyway... here are some highlights of the week!
Gaby was very excited, okay, I was thrilled when she gave me the OK to get her hair chopped off. She has great hair. Long, blond, and THICK! We could climb it 20x a day and still look like she hadn't even touched it. So, I made an appointment with Heather, from Trends (Thank you Dawn) and here is her beautiful after shot! She looks so much older and it is easy to mange and work with. Kadyn and Gaby go back on Friday to get blue high lights in their hair for summer!!!

My other big news is that Mia is 9mo old. We had her check up on June 3rd. I kept telling everyone that she was growing, weighing more, and was getting "fat", in a cute baby way! At 6mo. she weighed 12lbs and at her check up on Thursday, she was 17lbs. That is 5lbs in 3 months. I was right... she is getting so big... and so darn cute. Her personality is really showing through as she is clapping and doing patty cake. She is starting to sleep through the night 5/7 days, which is better then it has been.
Mia Rose is now on the charts for her weight. At 6 mo. she was at 5% and now she is 16%.

Mia continues to be a happy baby. If she is crying she wants mommy, food, or sleep. She has always been a momma's girl, which I figured would happen since I stay home with her, but now it is getting harder and harder to leave the room or pass her off to family members whom she knows!
Here Mia is waiting on the doctor to come and check her out! I am so in love with all of my children. And, I am so in love with this smile.

On a personal note... I have not hit my 200 lb mark yet- I am about 6lbs away. However, I had to cheat and get the tattoo early so it would have time to heal before our surprise day out on the 19th and swim lessons in July. We will be around water and chlorine and in order to do that, it has to scab and peel which can take up to 2 weeks... you do the math... that is why I am a proud owner of my new butterfly with the (dot, dot, dot) and the heart that represents Dustin. It took from start to finish about 10 minutes! And yes! It did hurt but was manageable. It would be the throbbing that took place after that was more annoying, but with it all said and done... I LOVE IT!

Would I ever Wedensday...

Would I ever sit Mia in the bathroom while I shave my legs and forget she was in there after I was already done?
Would I ever feed my kids grapes from the salad bar while shopping so we would get out of the store faster?
Would I ever weigh myself 3x in one day to see if I lost a pound that I had gained the day before?
Would I ever blame the wrong child for squirting out my new can of shaving gel everywhere in the bathroom?
Would I ever post a cute picture of Mia just because it makes me laugh? Where's Mia?

Would I ever pass gas at Walmart and blame my infant for the smell? (Gotta love fiber)
Would I ever secretly wished it would rain so we could stay home vs. going to my 4 year old softball game? (just last night- not all the time)
Would I ever try to get my awesome sister in law to call in sick to work so she could watch Mia while we take G and K on a special day trip?
Would I ever buy this shirt at Walmart in the juniors department for 5.00 just because all of my best friends wear red shoes?

Would I ever make a list of silly things I did all week to to post them today because it makes me smile?

Try it, what are some of your "Would I ever"?

The journey contines... I can't believe I am posting these!

I have shared my weight loss journey via Facebook and my blog. As I have said before it isn't for the "ohhh" and "ahhh" of the losing the weight but to show how it is changing my life and helping me to make positive choices when it comes to eating.
For me, it continues to be a struggle. I have an addictive personality and know I can not have certain foods in the house or I will eat it all. That is just how it is right now and I am okay with that. Once I hit my goal weight, I hope I can get to splurge a little more on the "fun stuff" rather then pure dieting. Today during nap time I was ordering pictures and saw some of my older pics too... it was a great reminder to me that I want to hit my goal, I NEED to hit my goal, and I CAN hit my goal.
Scroll down with me on weight loss lane as you see some of my sizes, weights, and progress.

This was taken January 08... I was at my heaviest!
275lb
I was wearing size 22-24 jeans, I didn't realize at the time how over weight I was. I wasn't watching what I was eating, I was snacking whenever, and I was not exercising. I also was on 3 kinds of medication for high blood pressure.

This was taken August 08, I was 9 mo. preggers and actually lost some weight being pregnant.
268lbs
size 22
Still on 3 meds for high blood pressure

This was taken January 09... I had started Jazzercise classes and watching what I ate, trying to make better choices and learning more about food.
245lbs
size 18-20 jeans
At this point I started writing down what I ate. This really opened my eyes to what times I was snacking the worst, eating the most, and my choices of food. In March 09, I started Weight Watchers (only went to 3 meetings before D lost his job and I dropped the meeting costs), I still look at points and try to keep a general idea of what I have eaten.

This was taken June 09... at my lightest (since high school, I think)
208lbs
Size 14 in jeans
I still am not at my goal. I want to be down to 175 hopefully by August to mark a 100lbs in 1 year. I have set a mini goals along the way such as a new bra, new pair of jeans in a smaller size, a tattoo (coming June 12th). I had to reward myself for the small losses to help me see the bigger picture.
I am now 9 months into my weight loss journey and I no longer shop in plus sizes, I no longer get worn out so easily, and I no longer have blood pressure issues.

Today was a rare occasion... I was low in numbers. Dustin was home so we loaded up in our van and his car and headed up to Sonic for some play time and lunch! We had a blast. I don't get to do many field trips so this was a real treat! Here are some pictures from our outing!
Enjoy!

Lil' K trying the slide... it took her a minute or so to actually go down but once she did she was a slide pro.

This is just a picture of lil A that I really liked. She was on the platform and I snapped it through the bars.

H and F, my newest addition to the gallery, enjoyed the sand and the slides!

Gaby was pretending to fall in the sand so she could get dirty... I am so proud! Gaby hardly ever wears a dress unless I am bribing her or threatening her. Because the other girls were wearing dresses, G had to wear one too! It looked so cute, if I do say so myself.

KK walking over the bridge. Every time we drive by Sonic, she is my girl that asks, "please we go to Sonic play land?"

Lil' Mia went down her first slide today. I was at the top and Dustin was waiting for her at the bottom. It was a short slide and we leaned her back, but she still did it a couple of times! Each time she would have a huge grin on her face!

Here is the gallery at lunch time. They all did so great! I was very proud of them and how well they listened, followed directions, and we had NO fits when it was time to leave! What a fun day!

Would I ever do this??? (Wednesday)

Would I ever bribe my 4 year old with 3 snacks from the concession stand at the ball park just so she would try on the catcher gear at her game?
Would I ever buy a package of fake tattoos and put them on everywhere so I know what/where I want my next addition?
Would I ever jam to Walmart listening to Kids Bop, "Beautiful Girls" with no kids in the car?
Would I ever leave mail in the mailbox just because it was boring or it was all bills?
Would I ever wash my bedroom sheets just so I wouldn't have to make my bed?
Would I ever cut and save the last piece of jello cake for Dustin and then eat it at 3:00pm leaving him nothing?
Would I ever forget to feed my 4 year old because we were so busy and had to be somewhere at 5:00pm? (Don't worry she got Tico Taco on the way home)
Would I ever blog about all the silly things I have done in the last week just to keep me from doing something else around the house that really needs my attention???

all about me picture frames....step one

Today we are working on fun and bright picture frames. This is our next art project for "All about me" week. The kids loved doing it. We got messy and sticky and maybe one kid got their fingers stuck together but I would never admit to that on a blog which I know my parents check.
Here are my groups of kids doing their projects...

Below is my lil girls... I couldn't get an action shot due to them having glue on them, me, and my camera, so we just did an after picture. And, as you can see, they still are more interested in their frames then they are of getting their picture taken.

And here is where I whine and complain... I do not buy very pricey clothing due to my occupation! I know better then to do that. However, when I was searching for carpi pants at the start of the season, there was not much out there and I needed a pair of jeans to go with all of my tee shirts. So, against my better judgment, I bought a pair of jean carpi pants for $40. I have fallen in love with them. Today I wore them as we were gluing and working on our frames. As I was putting frames away, I had 2 kids run into me with glue on their fingers and the frames that were not dry landed on my pants. So... below is my pants that have 2 glue stains that will not come out(speaking from experience with getting this foam glue on my shirts). I need to practice what I preach, "if it is a good outfit, don't send them to daycare in it".

summer fun has already started...

Saturday after both girls had softball practice we drove by Sonic, got slushs, and had some fun water play with the girls. G and K live in the water each summer, it really is a fun time. I even set out a small pool for Mia to see how she would like it... she had a blast. Here are some pictures from our relaxing afternoon!!!

Mia and her Nemo bath toy. (9mo)

Close up of Gabber Goo... my little fish!

Kadyn and her goofy pose... this just sums her up!

More posing...

Gaby isn't sure about the pool... we normally have a bigger one that she can swim and go under in. She was trying to teach Kadyn some tricks...

My third little fishy...