Weight Loss Update

I went to my Weight Watchers meeting tonight, for the first time in 2 months.  Mike's job has been c.r.a.z.y, so I've had a hard time finding time to go.  Although I have been away from the meetings, I have been eating better than I normally would, but not nearly as well as I would have if I had been going regularly.  So when I weighed in today, I wasn't sure what to expect.  The scale showed that I had lost 5.8 pounds since my last weigh-in.  I was pretty much pleased.  I know that it would have been much better if I had been going to the meetings like I should have.  You guys, those meetings work.  for real! 

So, my total weight loss now sits at 18.8 pounds.  I learned my lesson by not being as strict about counting points and missing the meetings.  I'm hoping to drop another 15-20 by my birthday, which is at the end of next month.  My goal weight is still 31 pounds away...I know I'll get there, I just have to get focused a little more.

Oh, and yay for Mops starting this Thursday!  It's been 2 years since I've been able to go, so I'm excited!

Our New Addition

We've done it yet again. 

No, not another baby. 

Another puppy.

Another boxer puppy.

Isn't she cute? :)



Her name is Layla (as in Laila Ali...the boxer...obviously spelled differently) 

I don't know if we'll ever learn our lesson from having so many pets die on us or get stolen from us, or (as the smart ones do it) just plain run away from us, but here we are again. 

Layla's got an uphill battle living with this family. 

Poor thing.

(We do intend on keeping her until she dies a natural death.  Let's hope she makes it that far.)

Elijah starts school!

When we welcomed this wonderful baby boy into our family 5 years ago, I neglected to consider the fact that he would grow up and go to school one day.  Well, that day has come (much to my dismay), and I think it hit me harder than I thought it would.  Sure, I knew he wouldn't be an emotional wreck that Laney was when she started Kindergarten but I didn't think I would take it so bad.   I cried the night before he started and the night before that.   And I'm not even pregnant! 

Everything went swimmingly on his first day.  My mom came with me to take the kids to school, and when we walked in his classroom, his teacher (who I just adore!) greeted him and showed him where to put his lunch and backpack.  He found his desk, and sat down to color the picture in front of him.  He grabbed a crayon, then said "I want to play with the toys."  I told him that it was morning work time, and that he needed to color his picture.  I gave him a kiss, told him I loved him, and headed toward the door.  I turned around and he was sitting at his desk, just looking around the room - taking everything in.  He waved goodbye to me, picked up a crayon and started coloring.  whew!!! 
We took the girls to their classrooms and said goodbye to them.  Both of their teachers are new to their school, so we'll see how the girls like them.  After we dropped them off, my mom mentioned poking our heads back into Elijah's classroom to see what he was doing, but I decided against it.  When you walk out the front door of the school, the hallway directly to the right leads right into Elijah's room, so we looked down the hall to see if we could see him.  There were a few people in the doorway, and I figured he was still sitting at his desk, but just as we were about to leave, we saw him zip across the room to the side with the toys.  I knew if he was running around the room, he was fine. 

I tried everything to get him to talk about his day when he got home, but nothing worked.  He answered every one of my questions with one word answers.  Oh well.  As long as he makes it home alive, and I don't have any notes from the teacher in his folder, I'm good.  He said he wanted to go back, so I took that as he had a good day. 

{this face cracks me up.  He looks a little bit skeptical of this whole "school" thing.}

{Laney-4th grade, Elijah-Kindergarten, Chloe-3rd grade}

{Isaac didn't wanna be left out!}

{Elijah and his teacher - she was Chloe's kindergarten teacher, as well}

{My big boy at his desk}

{Bye!}

{Chloe and her teacher, Ms. Freund - pronounced Friend. Chloe likes her name :) }

{Laney and her teacher...don't their teachers look young?!?!}

A Decade of Laney

10 years ago today, I gave birth to our very first child.  It was incredible.  To meet this little person whom you've only known from ultrasound pictures and from the little (and increasingly big) kicks and jabs from the inside - well, there are no words to describe it.  It is the only time when "love at first sight" is completely true and accurate. 

10 years ago, this sweet little angel made me a mother. 

{Look at that round, chubby face!!  We were told a few times that she looked like a little Native American baby. :)}

Today, we celebrate 10 years of Laney!!!  She's a decade old! =)

Happy Birthday, sweet Laney! You make me so happy and thankful that I get to be your mom!  You couldn't be more wonderful if you tried!  I love you with all of my heart!!! 

Laney and horses

Laney started her horseback riding lessons last Monday, and she loves it!  (obviously)  Laney at a horse ranch is like a fat kid in a candy store.  She'll be learning both Western and English riding styles.  The first lesson was made up of watching a video on helmet safety, grooming her horse, saddling, and learning to rein (or steer, or whatever it's called) her horse - Pepper was the horse she rode at her 1st lesson.  When we signed her up, we were told that she wouldn't actually be getting on the horse at her first lesson, so we were pleasantly surprised.  I seriously think it was because the girl could tell that Laney wasn't nervous around the horse.  at all.   She picked up on everything very quickly.  It just comes second nature to her, for some reason.  Again, put a fat kid in a candy store, and I'm sure he'd memorize the entire Jelly Belly wall of flavors pretty fast.   

Last night was her second lesson - my mom and Mike's mom were able to go with us!  Laney groomed the horse (named Frog :D) by herself, remembering the order of the brushes, and helped her instructor saddle and bridle the horse.  She rode for probably a straight 40 or 45 minutes, and did an amazing job -  guiding the horse exactly where the instructor told her to, and walking her horse over a little bridge (after working with him for a while...he was hesitant to do it. :))  She was able to trot for a little bit, with the instructor leading the horse.  We think she'll be able to trot by herself after the next one or two lessons. 

It's so fun to watch her do exactly what she loves.  Last night, she was riding close to the fence where I was standing, and I asked her something.  She answered me with a quick, one-word reply - she was so focused on what she was doing.  I'm so proud of her!!!


These pics are all from last night.  The video at the bottom is from her first lesson.

My Chloe is 8!!!!

Chloe Lynn...what can I say about this child that will adequately portray how amazingly wonderful and unique she is?  There are no words that describe how much I love my blue-eyed, blonde-headed baby girl. I love her quirky, feisty, funny, sometimes shy personality. She is one of a kind, for sure!!!  

I'm so proud of the little lady you have become, Chloe!  My prayer for you is that you follow Jesus Christ and that your main goal and desire in this life is to serve Him in everything you do!!!  You can be anything you want to be, through Him!!!  I'm so happy that God chose me to be your mother!!  I love you so much, sweet girl!!!