It's fall...right?

It sure doesn't feel like November!!  It's been in the 70's here lately!  The kids enjoyed trick or treating without the usual worries about layering under their costumes!  In fact, I wore a light jacket and wound up SWEATING!

Ready to go!

Check out their tails!

Bucket ready!

AJ was totally into it this year

Tyler's head got a little crooked here

AJ kept tripping, I think he fell 3 times!

Aren't they so cute??  AJ wore last year's rejected costume (last year he was terrified and refused to go out, this year he's been obsessed with it for weeks)--Marshall from Paw Patrol. Unfortunately, a year went buy and I couldn't find his hat, so several people confused him for a cow.  Tyler was Yoshi from Mario.

 What else is new? Work is getting ready to get super busy. We took the house off the market--did I mention we'd listed?  Well, we did, for a month or two. We didn't get too much activity. A few people didn't like that the interstate runs behind our house (even though there is a sound barrier wall and the yard is huge). One couple was very interested, but after dragging their feet for two weeks, ultimately decided to pass. Keeping a house filled with 4 adults, 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats show ready all the time is tough and a pain, so with that coupled with the fact that the weather is turning and the holidays are coming, we decided to call it quits until the spring. Hopefully we'll have better luck then.

Not much else going on.  Adam and I are frantically trying to do extra to come up with our Christmas fund. He's working Ebay and I'm doing some at home transcription work. We're keeping busy!

Fall Flies!

Fall is flying by!  We have been really busy lately and time is really getting away from me!  I'm sure my update posts are boring to everyone who is not me, but I like to remember what was going on.  This blog has become like a diary to me, and I'm okay with it.  Someday I'd love for it to be more, or to do another blog that has a different purpose, but until I come up with that idea (any suggestions? LOL), on we go!

So!  We left off after week one of Tyler's fall break.  Week two, Adam and I worked while my mom had the kids.  Tyler got to have some of his favorite lunches (Gaga's homemade potato soup and rice and Chinese food) and they even came up to work one day so I could show off my boys and have lunch with them!

Fooling people with that sweet face since 2012

Turned out blurry, but so cute, working hard! I think he liked my background ;-)

He's actually looking at the camera for once! Bonus glimpse of my magnet collection

Cuties!  Tyler insists he wants to work here someday!

Next up was Halloween!  Tyler picked out his costume--he wanted to be a ninja.  He later specified that he was not a bad ninja, he was a protector ninja.  I got AJ a costume too, selecting Marshall from Paw Patrol-If you don't know, Paw Patrol is a kids TV show with a group of dogs that help out their town, Marshall is the Dalmatian fire dog.  When we had passed by the costume section a few times, I had asked AJ what he wanted to be and he said "No" a lot.  I didn't think that much of it.  Then I bought the costume and suggested that he try it on.  Nope, he wasn't interested, in fact he was very UN-interested.  I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best, but come Halloween night, he had an almighty fit and seemed truly scared of it, so that was that.  He stayed home with Aunt Chall and Gaga while I took Tyler out and Adam manned the front door.  Maybe next year!

Ninja Protector Tyler!

Only treats for this kid!

That's the goings-on with the kiddos!  For me, work has been pretty busy, since I'm helping fill in for a coworker that quit.  The work is very different and both challenging (in the good way) and intimidating.  I'm trying to decide if I want to pursue the position myself, although I've applied for it before.  Adam and I took the plunge and bought a used pickup truck for his ebay business. Let's see, what else.  Oh, I think I've mentioned here that my friend and I were working on a book together.  Well, we "officially" finished the first real complete draft.  We each sent it to a couple of friends for feedback, so we are anxiously waiting for their reactions.  One of my friends is a published author (check out her book "Fragments" by Tracy Bull on Amazon, it's really incredible) so she's been giving up some advice on publishing and the option of putting it out there as an Ebook.  We're considering everything.  An ebook is certainly the easier, less complicated route, but I know my friend is leaning toward the more traditional publishing route.  So we'll see where that goes, still a lot of work ahead.

So that's it!  I want to apologize for not being as good of a commenter as I usually am.  The computer I usually comment on is no longer an option and I'm really bad at commenting on my phone.  But I'm still reading! I hope a few people are still reading here too!

Halloween gave me the chills!

What is it with Halloween?  I swear, at least 98% of the Halloween's in my life have either been either A-Freezing B-Raining and/or snowing or C-All of the above.  This one was a big ole C!  By the time we got home from work it was super cold and had gone from flurries to pouring rain.  We ordered a pizza to it would be a quick dinner and watched out the window for a break in the rain. We decided that since AJ really didn't know what was going on and also did not like to wear his costume, he would stay home with Daddy handing out candy while Tyler and I ventured out into the elements and hoped for the best.

Check out my little Mikey!

I love how his winter coat made him look all muscle-y

Waving in front of his face. Check out our no-carve pumpkins!

Trick or Treat!

Suckering Daddy out of more candy

In hindsight, we probably went the wrong direction for a good stretch of houses with their porch lights on (seriously, why are so many people Halloween scrooges?), but in the end, we probably stayed out an hour at most and only hit about a dozen or so houses.  One lady took pity on Tyler and gave him SEVERAL handfuls of candy so we "wouldn't have to stay out so long".  In the end, he decided he was done (and needed to go potty), so we doubled back and went inside.  Poor guy was wet up to his knees, but he had fun and got a good amount of loot!

I put AJ's costume (Tyler's recycled one from ages 2 and 3) on to try to get some pictures and he was SO not into it.  These were the best I could get

Choo Choo!

Hat coming off

Getting ready to rip this thing off

Sans hat--Where'd it go?

So all in all, we'll call it a win!  I can't believe how big they are getting.  I'll get to updates or content soon, but for now, here are two more pictures from the weekend.  Love my boys!

Sleeping Bug-a-Boo. You can't see it, but he had the most amazing wild hair here.

I can haz cheez ball? Yes I can!

Whew! Well hi, 2014!

Oh my goodness, I always forget how insane December can get!  I'm glad it's over, but I'm actually having a hard time adjusting to not being so busy!  I still want to do my ornament post, but I haven't had any luck getting good pics. My cell phone flashes too much.  We'll see if I get it done before we take down the tree!

Still going strong on the fitness front--I placed second in the challenge at work, with a total of 13% lost--the winner lost 14%, so close!  I'll get $100, so that's good.  I've been doing Jillian's Shred It With Weights, which is a kettlebell workout--super intense!  Next up is abs, I feel the burn already!

Christmas was very nice.  AJ still doesn't totally "get" it, but Tyler had a ton of fun. I'm loving my kindle fire (thanks babe!) and my mom likes hers too.  New Years was quiet and uneventful, aside from Tyler being a little bit sicky. 

And so!  Another year gone!  Last year was...well it was!  Nothing horrifically awful, nothing amazingly life changing!  So here's my yearly survey thingy!

YEARLY SURVEY!
1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before? I visited the West Coast, California!  It was AWESOME!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  I don't know that I "resolved" anything, but I finally FINALLY made some major progress on losing weight and getting healthy.  I'm inching toward 40 lbs lost and I LOVE IT!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friend Pam had her first baby girl in April!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Adam's Grandpa passed away just a few weeks ago. 

5. What countries did you visit?  Still no progress on that one.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you didn’t have in 2013? I would like to be able to buy a bigger house that suits my growing family better!--That was last years answer, but it REALLY needs to happen this year!

7. What dates from 2013 will be etched upon your memory, and why? Nothing really jumps out this year.  I'm okay with that though, we'll call it a rebuilding year

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year? Has to be getting healthier, dropping over 35 lbs and at least two pants sizes!

9. What was your biggest failure? I'd like to think I didn't have any major failures!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope, stayed pretty healthy this year.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Well we bought two "new" cars this year and I am really hoping they go on to be reliable long time vehicles for us!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? AJ's milestones--it's so fun to watch them do things for the first time!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Nothing is immediately coming to mind.  I'm sure there were news stories that got to me though.

14. Where did most of your money go? Bills, cars, kids

15. What did you get really excited about? California and each pound that I lost!

16. What song will always remind you of 2013? Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus.  She annoys the pants off of me and that video is needlessly raunchy, but I like the song, damn it.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier, THINNER (YAY!), and about the same I guess

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

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? I can't really think of anything

20. How did you spend Christmas? We stayed at home and enjoyed ourselves immensely!

21. Did you fall in love in 2013? More and more with my kids and hubby every day

22. What was your favorite TV program? Still gotta be the Big Bang Theory!

 23. What was the best book you read? A tie between "Single Infertile Female" and "Hyperbole and a Half" both written by bloggers I adore.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery? I'm sort of in love with Pink!

25. What did you want and get? Healthier!

26. What did you want and not get? A promotion and a house

27. What was your favorite film of 2013? Catching Fire!

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 31!  I think we were all just getting over being sick and I was super busy at work, but I'm sure we had dinner and cake and loveliness.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More SPACE!

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2013?  Well, not by choice, but baggy clothes!  Nothing fits, in a good way!

31. What kept you sane? My family, especially my kiddos, my friends, working out (it's true, it's stress relieving) and a little bit of relaxation time daily.

32. What political issue stirred you the most? I'm so sick about hearing about the healthcare drama I could puke.

33. Who did you miss? My sister, my grandparents and my great aunt--still true

 34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013. Take time to work on yourself is sooo important!

 35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year."Say what you want to say, let the words fall out honestly. I want to see you be Brave!" Brave by Sarah Bareilles

Tricky Treating

What I consider to be first of the triple-threat holiday season (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) has come and gone!  Halloween was somewhat eventful, as for the first time in my life (to my recollection, anyway) trick-or-treating was postponed here in Central Indiana.

All week, they had been discussing the possibility of strong storms on Thursday night with very high winds.  I kept an eye on the forecast and came up with two "back up" plans.  The first was to take the kids to trick or treat at the local mall. That would involve leaving work early, as the hours were from 4-6.  We also would only attend that event if it was raining, but not REALLY storming (not dangerous to be out in the weather).  The second was Halloween cookie baking and "mini trick or treating" to my mom and sister for Tyler.

After some initial hesitation, the city officials did postpone trick or treating to Friday and so we stayed home and did option 2 (good thing too, they postponed the mall trick or treat as well).  Tyler didn't seem to phased by the whole thing and I was very glad we were able to stay in.  The wind was CRAZY!  My little guys would have blown away out there! 

PICTURES!!

At our local orchard/pumpkin patch-My two little pumpkins and their pumpkins!

 My mom snagged these awesome (and EASY) pumpkin decorations!  No carving required!

Side 1-SCARY!

Side 2-Silly!

Fat Bat!

And finally, my adorable little Treats!

Silly and Sweet Spongebob!

My little Monster!

AJ loved bopping along in his stroller!  Bonus-a place to dump Tyler's extra loot!

Tyler had a BLAST and was a HUGE hit! 

 Everyone loved Tyler as Spongebob and he was on cloud nine, losing his mind over getting Smarties and pointing out the costumes of all the other kids.  "Mommy, there's a BANANA!"  He didn't want to stop!  Finally after about an hour and half he was tired and we'd just about hit every house with their lights on in the neighborhood, so we headed home to give out candy for a little while. 

I have done a fairly decent job at resisting the Halloween candy, sticking to just a piece or so here and there.  The last week or so I slacked a little bit on food choices and tracking, but I still hit my workouts pretty well. I am back on tracking now and stepped up my elliptical workouts to include hand weights, so that's been a new challenge.  Although I didn't post a loss from last week, we did have first weight in for the weight loss challenge at work (not sure if I mentioned this or not) and I am in SECOND PLACE!  I posted a 7% loss.  The guy in first is at 9% and we are followed by a three way tie at 5%.  I was really surprised and happy to see that result, maybe I do have a shot at a little monetary kickback!  We'll see! 

Mom's the word

So yesterday was Mother's Day. It's a happy day for me, ultimately, as I am Mommy to a wonderful adorable little boy that I lovelovelove to pieces!  And it was an improvement over last year. This year Tyler just had a nasty cold thing I had last week.  Last year he spent the day throwing up on me.  Strawberry flavored vomit *shudder*  He was totally into talking about how it was Mother's Day AND Gaga (my mom)'s birthday. He didn't approve of the cheesecake in place of a birthday cake though.  "He" gave me a beautiful purple butterfly necklace...because I pointed it out to daddy.  lol

Only now that it's over do I have time for a tiny bit of sadness.  My SIL had a miscarriage last week.  I think miscarriage ranks very high on my list of most horrible things that can happen.  My SIL has had 3 altogether and 2 in a row.  Yesterday must have been extremely hard for her.

And yes, I'm a little sad for me, because I want another baby so much.  I take part in a forum for Mommy's trying to conceive and I see so many women like me who struggle to get pregnant, or to come to grips with miscarriages.  I just read a story about a British actress that had a miscarriage and she was due in August.  She must have been more than 6 months pregnant, how awful to lose a baby that late in a pregnancy.  I consider myself lucky not to have had to go through that.  Maybe I'm selfish to be sad that I haven't managed to conceive yet.  We've been trying for 9 months or so, but some women try for years.  It could be much worse.

So today, I chose to be thankful for the child I have.  It would be enough even if I never manage to conceive another baby.  He's my pride and joy and I couldn't love him more.

Edible Monkey

I could just eat him up!

So...Halloween Edition

So I'm back...again...some more. Been a little busy for the last little while. Tyler is 9 months old and a great big time suck of awesomeness. He's so much more fun now that colic is over and he can (and chooses to) amuse himself sometimes. See cuteness:




And I've decided I still like blogging. I just wish I could get people to read...how do you do that?

So here goes.

Today at work we had the option of wearing Halloween costumes. I love stuff like that. I like to dress up in costume. I don't know why, really. Maybe it has to do with my background in theater. Maybe it's an attention thing, whatever. It's fun. I loved it in grade school, during Spirit week. We'd have a Red, White, and Blue day (Go Rebels!), a "Come as you are" PJ day. There was funny hat day and hippie day. I loved it all. Pj day was especially awesome from a comfort standpoint.

So anyway, today. I did a quick poll at work to make sure I wouldn't be the only person participating. I'm a bit of a follower that way. Assured that at least a few people were dressing up too, I scoured my house looking for my costume. I decided to resurrect a costume I used as a skating costume years ago. My aunt made it for a routine I did to "Reflections" from the Disney Movie, Mulan. It's a short kimono robe, black with red roses. I knew where it was, because I've used it as a robe on occasion. But I also had a gold obi belt. And I wasn't 100% sure I knew where that was. Well, I knew it was with my skating costumes, but I wasn't sure where they were either. So I looked in our shed, but I didn't see the container I thought it was in. I looked in our garage. I looked in our attic. I ended up back in our shed, where with the help of my mom and sister, we basically emptied it out.

On a side note, when we opened the shed doors, we found a wooly worm. In case you don't know, they look like this:



Cute right? I thought so. So we scoured the shed and finally found the box we needed. All the way in the back, the very last box in the shed.

And it was COVERED in ladybugs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of bugs, really. If they can bite or sting me, I don't like 'em and I might get a little twitch if one buzzes my ear or something. Also if they bite or sting and try to touch me, I kill them. But if they are docile buggies, I simply ignore them. If they find themselves trapped in my house, I scoop them into a cup or something and put them outside. I've recently done this with three or four ladybugs that have shown up in my bed (the hell?). But a hundred or so bug of any kind freaks my shit out, mmkay? So I'm getting all gacked out and using one of those gopher claw things to remove each item from the box one by one. Finally found the sash and after a few shrieks from stray bugs crawling up my leg and a lot of itching that made me feel like they were crawling on me, we repacked the shed and headed out. But Mr. Wool E. Wurm was still hanging out on the inside of the door, but now he's moseyed his way to the very top, where if I had closed the door, I'd squish him. Mr. Wurm was cute and fuzzy and let me pet his back, so I didn't want to squish him. So here we were, three grown women in a dark yard, with flashlights, trying to convince a worm to go on his merry way so we could close the door. And it was starting to rain. Eventually, our cajoling caused him to fall off the door. Then he curled into a ball and did the roly-poly thing. So we left him alone.

Fun times. And you know what? I went looking for that worm today. He's gone of course, but I looked just the same.