You know you're old when...

Today I was perusing Kohl's while I waited on Wayne's car to get routine maintenance done. While looking around I found this gem in the Juniors section. I remember wearing these leggings with lace at the bottom when I was in middle school. Now I know that I'm old since this is again fashionable. Although no one will catch me wearing them because pictures of me from way back when were not very flattering.

Nauvoo, Illinois

 This year we also went on a trip with the youth from our church to Nauvoo, Illinois.  If you are not familiar with Mormon history.  It was a place were Mormons settled for a time and became the second most populous city while the Mormons were there.  They even built a temple.  Once Joseph Smith died the Mormon pioneers were pushed out west.  The temple was then burned by those opposed to the Mormons.  The Nauvoo Temple was reconstructed about 10 years ago and the stone that they used actually came from a quarry in our small town in Alabama.  The original stone quarry is under water.  We felt that this was a chance for the youth to learn a little more about the Mormon pioneers, but then also see the temple that has stone from our city. 

Cali LOVED the pink and purple flowers.

Cali and her cousin Maya

Ian's picture of some of the detail on the temple

The youth that went.

Off to the Beach

Wayne and I have mothers who love the beach and you would think that we would too, but not so much.  Both of us feel that the best thing about the beach is the food.  Other than that you get sand everywhere and it takes years to get it all out of you vehicle.  Anyhow, Wayne had a conference down close to Gulf Shores and so we went as a family vacation.  Now if we decide to go back to the beach anytime soon I would LOVE to stay at the same place.  It was a resort that had a huge swimming pool, a beach right next to it (which was all right outside our balcony) and free bike rentals.  The kids and I would ride bikes in the morning while Wayne was in class and then in the afternoon Wayne would take Ian and Cali swimming while I stayed with Bruce when he napped.  It was as perfect as a vacation could get with 3 young children.  It was on the pricey side, but I think it was well worth the money. 
 
While we were there we also got to see the USS Alabama.  It was fun until it started raining and I know from experience that you do not want to be wearing flip flops while you are touring a wet deck of a ship.   I slipped with Bruce in the back pack.  Luckily, no lasting injuries occurred. 

Ian loves Cub Scouting

Giving the Cub Scout salute at the Court of Honor.

 Ian became an official Wolf Cub in May.  We still having gotten his patch, but that has not kept him for going head first in to getting his requirements done.  If we just sit down with him for a couple days we would have everything done and he could start on the Arrow Point Trail (basically extra enrichment activities).  In June he got to go to Cub Scout Twilight camp and loved it.  He can't wait to do it again. 

The Cubs and the Renaissance folks...the theme for the camp was Knights of the Round Table.

Field trip to the farm

During the last week of school, Cali's preschool class went to a farm for their field trip.  Bruce and Cali LOVED it. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad that everyone enjoyed their time there.

Cali enjoying her fresh picked carrot.

The kids got to enjoy fresh veggies from the farm.

Bruce loved the cucumbers.

Getting to pet a goat...how much better does it get?

Learning how to milk a cow.

Bruce is a little freaked out...

but then gets over it.

This was the highlight for Cali.

Enjoying the hay ride.

One change at a time

Everyone that has known me for any length of time is aware that I have a weight problem. I have for the majority of my life and even when I was at my smallest in my adult life I was still "overweight." The only time I have been in the "healthy" weight category I was a child. So I made a decision a few months ago that I felt would help with this issue a little and it has.

I had been telling Wayne for a while that I just couldn't seem to control myself when we went to his mom's for Sunday lunch. There was always so much good stuff to choose from and I would eat and eat until I was over stuffed. Then I would lose what I gained that day during the week and then start the cycle all over again on Sunday.

Now we only go over once or twice a month and it has been helpful in my weight loss. I felt bad in the beginning because I worried that the change wouldn't really help and I would find another excuse as to why my weight wasn't coming off. I am glad this has worked and I am only a few pounds shy of having lost 20 lbs. since the change. It also makes going over to Grandma's more special. The kids thoroughly look forward to being there with their Grandma and cousins.

In addition to this, I have recently joined a weight loss group and hope that it will continue to help. I've seen improvements so far. So I'm off to a good start.

February happenings in the middle of March

Since everyone has been waiting for an update, here is the February update (in March...I know). There was a lot that went on.

First off, there was the birthday celebration for Wayne and Bruce. Wayne requested a very chocolatey fudge cake that his brother and sister-in-law made and then I made little Batman cupcakes for Bruce. The Batman logos didn't come out the best, but still tasted yummy.
Just a couple days after the birthday party Cali lost her first tooth. She was crying and VERY upset that it was loose, but once she was told that she'd get money from the tooth fairy she was pretty excited about losing her tooth. It fell out during lunch at school (she was eating strawberry shortcake). Her teachers were good about getting it in a safe place. Here is her new smile up until two days ago when she lost her second tooth.

We also got the chance to help Ian with his first Pinewood Derby car. It was a learning experience and as Wayne puts it "a time of growth." The car didn't win one race, but Ian was excited anyway. There were a lot of things that we learned like, don't wait until 4 days before to cut it out and start painting it. I think Wayne said he wanted to buy a few different Pinewood Derby kits to perfect his design skills. (Ian's car is the black and silver one. It's interesting to say the least.)