Thursday, April 30, 2009

A thousand Words Thursday

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We had a couple nice days...although it is supposed to be rainy again. Here is Zach having some fun outside. I am using my new vado camera(one more thanks to Wii Mommies....I had to work my butt off getting it...but worth every drop of sweat!)

Zach loves bubbles!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

I actually finished my laundry

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LOL just thought I would give a quick update that I decided yesterday to finally be motivated...I finished all my laundry and put it all away! I even exercised yesterday and today before the kids went to school...which isnt easy for me to do and they dont even leave until noon! Anways...it is done(for now) pheewww! Today I tried using my not so green thumb....I divided a few plants and dug up one out back and planted in one of my flower beds....we'll see if I killed them instead. I have some new hostas to plant but am waiting until this weekend to plant those. Oh and I enjoyed using my new vado camera thanks to newbaby.com and Wii Mommies! I have decided I am going to use my camera everyday when I get my son off the bus...I can never catch the license plates of the people who keep driving past the stopped bus...so I am going to try to catch them on the video. I keep saying I need to call the police because at least once a week someone drives right by the bus. Luckily the bus stops on this side of the road so we do not have to walk across the street!
here is my crazy puppy...one of my first videos with my vado...Thanks Wii Mommies!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Update from yesterdays post

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LOL...nope didnt finish the laundry like I said I was going to! I have a huge pile on my couch...which zach fell asleep on yesterday after school. I also have all the whites folded and in piles all over my coffee table. My husband decided to go get a plant for our dogs grave, and got me some for my not-so-flower garden. I have no green thumb at all...he got me some hostas(because they are one the of few things that seem to grow cause I am terrible) oh and because they were called blue mouse ears...and me and the mouse things ...I gotta have them lol! So I was out raking out all the old mulch and pulling weeds. So today I will get my laundry done hopefully....of course we will see because the sun is shining for the first time in 3 days!

Silly Monkey Stories

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Everything must come to an end!

While we were visitting our families, Zach was very excited watching my father on the tractor. So eventually he got to take a ride. He loved it! Unfortunatly it had to come to an end!



Monday, April 27, 2009

Mamalicious Monday

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So the start of a new week is here. Last week went by really fast. We got home from visitting our families and I have been trying to catch up on things....dont ask me why but for some reason I am not all that motivated to do it though. I reorganized Zachs and Kennedys rooms and got a new bookshelf for our living room, but have yet to put away mine or Bob's clothes yet. I still have the suitcase sitting in our bedroom and when I do laundry have piled our clothes on top! What the heck...today I am going to just get it cleaned up and reorganized! You would have thought we had a rainy weekend, that I would have just done it over the weekend...but nope...just me being lazy. I dont know why....I gotta get out of the lazy funk!
We had Zachs IEP on Friday....I was a little bummed because while he will be going into kindergarten he will need to be pulled out for special instruction. This not because of academics, because he knows all his stuff...but he gets too distracted by his surroundings and he needs a lot of social cues. I am a bit relieved though at the same time, because I thought the big classroom would be overwhelming for him...so he will only probably be in the big class half of the day. This will also give him extra attention which is good cause he doesnt ask for help, even when needed, so safety issues were a big concern for me. We will have another IEP meeting within the next 2 weeks to write his goals for next year. I am proud of him...he has come a long way in the past year...and the best thing is that the teachers say he is just such a happy boy!

"The Noticer" by Andy Andrews

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As I mentioned about a week ago I was going to be receiving a review copy of the soon to be released book(releasing April 28th) "The Noticer" by best selling author Andy Andrews. I was excited about receiving this book as it sounded very inspirational and moving and I was not let down at all!


The Noticer" is the first I have read by Andy Andrews. By the end of the first chapter I was feeling eager to go out and get "The Traveler's Gift" to read about the seven principles to a successful life, yet at the same time could not set down "The Noticer". As I read, chapter after chapter, I felt a connection to the characters. I really felt I was given a broader view on life, and a new perspective. This book would make a great gift. There is something in it for all generations. It tells many stories of people going through everyday challenges. The wise old drifter, Jones, helps them all see a new perspective to work through these challenges. "It allows them to regroup, take a breath, and begin their lives again." I especially think it would be wonderful for any married couples, or those pondering marriage. As a homemaker and mother to a special needs child, I really felt moved by chapter 6, especially the last few paragraphs. "No matter your age, physical condition, financial situation, color, gender, emotional state, or belief...everything you do, every move you make, matters to all of us-and forever". It really makes you believe that you matter in life and that everyone touches the lives of someone else, This book will really give all those that read it a new perspective. This will make you think about your own actions and feelings and "notice" all those around you. It makes you really think about what Jones says "that every one of us is always in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or headed for a crisis" and to really think about other people and how you effect those people, and how they effect you. Each chapter is a new perspective and full of life lessons. This book will make you want to share your new learned understanding of perspective with those that you "notice" the most. Thank you Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to review this book...it was wonderful!



http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=0785229213




The Noticer
Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.
Jacketed Hardcover
By Andy Andrews
A new story of common wisdom from the bestselling author of The Traveler's GiftOrange Beach, Alabama is a simple town filled with simple people. But like all humans on the planet, the good folks of Orange Beach have their share of problems - marriages teetering on the brink of divorce, young adults giving up on life, business people on the verge of bankruptcy, as well as the many other obstacles that life seems to dish out to the masses.Fortunately, when things look the darkest - a mysterious man named Jones has a miraculous way of showing up. An elderly man with white hair, of indiscriminate age and race, wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and leather flip flops carrying a battered old suitcase, Jones is a unique soul. Communicating what he calls "a little perspective," Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss. "Your time on this earth is a gift to be used wisely," he says. "Don't squander your words or your thoughts. Consider even the simplest action you take, for your lives matter beyondmeasure…and they matter forever." Jones speaks to that part in everyone that is yearning to understand why things happen and what we can do about it. Like The Traveler's Gift, The Noticer is a unique narrative is a blend of fiction, allegory, and inspiration. Gifted storyteller Andy Andrews helps us see how becoming a "noticer" just might change a person's life forever.


http://www.thenoticerproject.com/pages/about-the-noticer/ Who are the 5 most influential people in your life who deserve "noticing"?

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Sunday Smile: While on vacation

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Smiles, smiles and more smiles:(go join in at http://www.allaboutkimberly.com/)





Having fun splashing in the lake.


Enjoying the sunshine



Posing while on a long walk




How fun gymnastics is




Great day at the Zoo.




Bouncing Kennedy so she could feel the movement on the spring floor.



Enjoying Easter at Grandma B's


Some Easter morning cuddles.




Storytime Sunday

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This weeks story:




Written by Nancy White Carlstrom


Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey


I received a copy of this beautiful book thanks to A Novel Mind.

"This is the day the Lord has made. Each day of the week brings new surprises - reasons to celebrate God's creation. " The story goes through each day of the week reflecting on Gods creations and all their beauty. There is beautiful descriptions of all the animals and their surroundings. Like when you walk outside into the fresh air, the story makes you want to take a deep breath and take in all the beauty with all your scenses. It truly is beautifully written. The illustrations are beyond beautiful! What a great story to read during any time of year, but wonderful for Sunday/Easter season and Earth day.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

PhotoHunt: Protection

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Theme: Protect(ion)
Here are some pics from last years EAA event that my husband loves going to.






yes it is upside down


Friday, April 24, 2009

Fitness Friday...Heart walk pics from last Sat.

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So as I shared last night I havent done the best this month....I have done some exercising and now that the weather is getting nicer have been trying to do more outside at times too. Last week I participated in the Syracuse HeartWalk with my mom and her coworkers. I thought I would share some pics. It was fun.
I am going to try to do even better again and work harder on doing the Wii fit and other exercising. I have come a long way...and have to this point lost the most I have ever lost dieting and exercising. I tend to give up and other things happen(get too comfortable or lazy and quit working at it)...this time I am not going to!!!! I am going to keep going! Even though I have not done as well this month as the first 3 months, I still have lost a little. I am right now down a total of 29lbs! I was quite surprised when I weighed myself this morning that I had actually lost a pound since my last weigh in 2 weeks ago. I was really bad over Easter vacation. I am setting a goal for myself: to lose at least 15 lbs by July 4th! If I lost 15 lbs I would be at the weight I was before having children.

hard to see,but there are people all along the road and bridge and where the pic is being taken and further ahead.
Me carrying Zach...he didnt feel like walking.










my mom and her coworkers(mom is the short one)....they were all so nice and we had a good time.


Thursday, April 23, 2009

part 1 of fitness friday(thursday night lol)

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I LOVE the WiiMommies group! After reading this weeks Fitness Friday Featured post from Sarah it has motivated me to try harder. The last month I havent been trying as hard as I was the first 3 months....but I am going to! As she said "I want to be a winner"....and I do not want to fail at something that I have come so far right now. I really owe all my motivation to Julie and the Wii Mommies group of wonderful ladies that keep me trying! I do my actual weigh ins on Friday mornings...so I will post again tomarrow. Tonight I just want to say how great the Wii mommies are...and to post about some stuff going on there. Julie and some other ladies are part of a 30 day challenge with EA sports right now....Keep up the great work ladies!!! As part of that and Julies birthday Wii Mommies is giving away a copy of EA sports Active when it is released. There is just a couple days left to enter, so head on over and enter for your chance....also if you dont already....start posting fitness friday posts. I swear the committment to that will help keep you motivated on the fitness path.

A Thousand Words Thursday

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

A Thousand Words Thursday: Peace!

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Monday, April 13, 2009

Mamalicious Monday

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Happy Birthday Corie and Cortnie!

We are having a great time on vacation visitting our families! We had a fun Easter, lots of treats, Easter egg hunts, and food! The weather was a bit cold yesterday, and Zach woke up during the night with a cold! We may go to the zoo today if he is up to it. Then ice cream cake tonight for Corie's birthday!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Sunday Smile

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Be careful of Identity theft today!










THis was an email sent to me....how cute...thought it would be a great Easter Sunday Smile!

Happy Easter!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

PhotoHunt Theme : Triangle

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Triangles were hard to find! This made a good one as this is just about the one year anniversary of Kennedys Make-A-Wish bedroom makeover.



Friday, April 10, 2009

Fitness Friday

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Well this will be short and sweet this week, cause I am getting ready to visit my family and need to go pack the car. I was pleasantly surprised that I lost this week, 3lbs. I kind of slacked this week as things have changed here some. My stepdaughter moved in with us and I have been more tired and busy. I only exercised 3 days this week. I did a night playing tennis, boxing and bowling and really can feel it in my right arm...ouchy! Anyways...I am glad I did lose though seeing the last couple weeks I was stuck...but now I am down 28 lbs! I was thinking back and am at least down lower than I was before I had Zach, who is 4...so that is great! Now I want to get down to my weight I was at before having Kennedy..so that is another 15-20lbs...I am hoping to be down this by July.

Flashback Friday

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Hey Shawn, no dorky glasses this year lol...just the smirk!

I am off later to spend Easter with these two! I cant wait! Guess we will have to get together and take a dorky picture together so I can show everyone us now(maybe we will get some baskets like these!)

Thursday, April 9, 2009

A book that starts a movement..."The Noticer Project"

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Banner

I just received my review copy of Andy Andrews new book "The Noticer". I am really excited to read it as it sounds very inspirational.

Who are the most influential people in your life? Who should you really "notice"?
"My new book, The Noticer, is rooted in the belief that our
time on this earth is a gift to be used wisely and one of the best ways to use
that gift is by noticing those who have made an impact on our lives. "
(Andy Andrews)
As I read this book I am going to really be thinking about how to "notice" the people in my life.
How I am going to express this will probably depend on the people. If you would like to get involved in the Noticer project you can go to http://www.thenoticerproject.com/ There you can write a letter to those influential people in your life and can publicize it on the site. You can also join the Noticer Project Facebook group. Or just think about the movement itself and sit down with those and let them know how important they are to you!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

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I would like the use this as a time to thank Fiesty, Frugal and Fabulous for our Sunny the wonder Dog by the Shrunks. Zach loves this dog! It has gone everywhere with him, church, school, bath, bed, etc. My silly monkey story....One day our friend brought out his two little dogs. Zach went and got Sunny and brought it over and showed him his doggy too! Then he was sitting in the rocking chair rocking Sunny because the dogs wouldnt sit on his lap...it was really cute!

To share you Silly Monkey Story or read others visit 3 garnets and 2 sapphires.