More SNOW

I would guess we have at least 8 inches of snow which is not as much as Cinti. got. My sister said they have around 14..lol.
I can not wait till SPRING and I know it is near which makes it all the worse.
We did book our vacation for the summer as I need to know I am going to a BEACH to get me through this last month of whatever weather. We have never been to Gulf Shores so if anyone has any tips or fun of things they have done there please let me know:)
*Those are my silk flowers on my porch that are not liking this anymore then me!

Snow...

Today we got SNOW and we are suppose to get more then we have gotten all year. The kids got out 2 hours early so Nicholas went sledding with friends and Tyler is out playing with the boy across the street. I had him take the dog out and she "ran" around the yard for a few minutes and now she is laying back in her crate (which she love:)
We have out pool opening Monday the 17th so ALL I can say is COME ON OUT SUN!!!

40 Minutes!!!

Today I stayed on the Elliptical for 40 minutes. I know a lot of others can stay on A LOT longer but considering I started out a little over a month ago at 1:30 this is HUGE for me:) I actually burned 400 calories too!!! That was my GOAL to get to and I am THRILLED!!! I have to say the whole time I am on it I can hear Jillian from The Biggest Loser yelling at me to MOVE IT.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that show and so like her. I never thought I would want her to be my trainer as I like BOB but she is who I would need if I were on the show as she would make me CRY but WORK HARD!!!

Make your MaMa Proud:)

This was taken a few weeks ago at the High School Sectional Swim Meet.Denise took the "boys" up as Caitlin was swimming. This is the picture she sent me of the 3 of them..FUNNY thing is after this meet they NOW have a rule at the Nat. NO more body paint!!!

4 Boys Swimming

This is Nicholas and 3 other boys he swims with. This will probally be the relay team for state. Another parent took this after their relay in Sunday and I love this picture BUT I am not loving his hair! Have you ever seen such crappy hair. Nicholas usually gets 2 haircuts a year (1 before each state) so since state in in 2 weeks I am HOPING we CUT his hair! It is so light right now from the chlorine..not as light as in the summer as it is almost blonde in the back from the sun and chlorine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SUZANNE

Happy Birthday to SUZANNE!!
Her Birthday is MONDAY (25th) but since she is in England for a few more LONG months it is already her Birthday!!
Happy Birthday and I hope you have a GREAT day and see you in a FEW short weeks!!!

3 Word Sunday

I got this from Melissa Blog and decided to do it this week..Since we have spent the weekend at a swim meet it was EASY thinking of a pictures to use:) The Boys relay broke the meet record yesterday and they (and their parents) were pretty DARN excited!! Roger (man in grey shirt) is holding a magazine that he had the 4 boys sign for him as he said someday he will sell it on Ebay when they are "Famous" swimmers". We love our boys! (mine is the Cute one on the Right).
This is the RULES if anyone else wants to get involved.

3 words....

I LOVE watching GMA on Saturday mornings because I look forward to their segment - 3 Words.
It is a very simple concept.

Sum up your week in three little words.
“You can sing it, you can say it, you can write it, you can draw it. It can be funny or sad or poignant as long as it’s honest.”*

**Opps ---the boys did beat the meet record BUT SSSSexy and Dashing might be a LONG shot:)

Tyler

This is Tyler studing for a test. He said he saw this on TV and this is how you "gain all the info". He said it did not work:)
Can I tell you how this kid makes us LAUGH!! He is honestly a really funny kid without trying to be funny!

Eyebrow Threading

I went to the Mall yesterday and had my EYEBROWS THREADED. I have been "stalking" the place for a while and could not bring myself to go in as:
1. I am a BIG chicken and I knew it would hurt
2. It is in the mall and I am more of a "private waxer".
Well it did hurt but I would do it again! She said it should last around a month and I would be THRILLED as I am a every 2 week waxer.

Thanks Suzanne

Thanks to my own little BLOG FAIRY for always PIMPING my blog:) It sooo nice having creative friends as I do not have a creative bone in my body!!! I am sure she is ALREADY planning our next layout.
THANKS SUZ!!
PS
Margaritas on me in a MONTH!!

Mindy in Jordon

If anyone wants to read a GOOD blog, Hanks neice Mindy is in Jordon in the Peace Corps. Her storys are GREAT..She takes WONDERFUL pictures and she always has a HUGE smile:)
Mindy's sister is Phebe and she is at John Hopkins in Pre Med. Both girls are ADORABLE and we do miss not seeing them much.
Mindy is working on a project while she is there called Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). Check it out while you are at her blog (it is on the left of her side bar).

Happy Valentines Day

I hope everyone has a GREAT Valentines Day...I am not one of those "mushy" Valentine people so sorry no picture of Me and Hankster..Just one of my 2 "little" VALENTINES:)

*Thanks Suzanne. How would I do my BLOG with out YOU!!

**My DEAR husband who is not ONE bit romantic bought me 4 McD Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits (I keep then in the fridge for breakfastes:), McD GC to buy MORE and Tropical Smoothie GC's. A man of my heart..yogurt and smoothies what more could I ask for. I am going out tomorrow night with the "girls" so I said to take the kids to McDs on me..takes some of the guilt away as I bought him nothing and I am going OUT!!! I think there is a Mango Margarita calling my name..diana..diana...diana..(can you hear it too:)

My New Computer Desk

If life was fair this would be my computer desk:)
BUT then I still would have to walk to the FRIDGE!!
(Thanks Terry..those were FUNNY)

HillBilly Shoveling

This is Tyler and his friend from across the street "shoveling" the ice. Tyler has the edger for weeds to break the ice up (I actually was IMPRESSED that he thought of using this:) and Dalton has the broom to sweep the ice away. Yes, I am paying them!!!

1979 and don't I look FINE:)

Suzanne posted a CHALLENGE to post your Senior Picture on your blog so here it is...
I am not a blue person and guess what color my shirt is? Don't you just love the feathered hair. It was shortly after this that I started with the BIG bang look..I could spray my bangs up to get that SWOOSH like you would not believe..Personally I am waiting for BIG hair to make its return as I still love it..My opinion is your hair should be in proportion to your A$$ and hello....I NEED BIG HAIR!!!

Ice Ice Baby

Last night we were suppose to get a lot of snow and then ice but all we really got was the ice and it was more this morning. The kids were on a 2 hour delay BUT after then got to school we got more ice and I am hoping they do not call it as I really do not want to go get them as the roads are BAD.
I am sooo ready for SPRING..I know I should not complain as I had a email from Kathy in MN and it was 40 below there..ALL I can say to that is MOVE!!!

Gung Hay Fat Choy (Happy Chinese New Year)

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

The Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

Because of cyclical lunar dating, the first day of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. On the Chinese calendar, 2008 is Lunar Year 4705-4706.

On the Western calendar, the start of the New Year falls on February 7, 2008 — The Year of the Rat. If you were born in 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 - you were born under the sign of the rat.

*This is the FIRST year since we moved to Columbus 10 years ago that we have not went to the Chinese New Year Party or had one..Hank said this weekend "we will have to go out to Dinner on Wednesday to celebrate it"..Tyler says "can we go to China Garden" I said "no it is to far on a school night"..Nicholas DEAD serious says" Chili's sounds good" Can I tell you how hard we laughed as that was NOT what Hank had in mine for dinner.
**I am a RAT:)

Another Swim Meet

Nicholas swam this weekend. We have 1 more meet before Divisionals and State. He had GREAT weekend as he took off on everything he swam! WTG NICHOLAS!!!
He was into it and had FUN which is what matters. For those of you that do not have kids that swim it is A LOT of work!! He gets up 3/4 school mornings a week at 4:30 and has practice from 515 to 7:00 then SCHOOL, from school he goes to Practice from 3:30 to 5:30 and 3 nights a week he teaches Pre Team swim lessons! Plus on Saturday morning we have practice or a meet. You have to like it to spend this much time at the POOL. The boy smells like chlorine and his hair looks like crap. He is into the 2 hairscuts a YEAR phase, 1 before summer state and 1 before State in March. We are not going to Divisionals as he has most all his cuts and you can only swim 5 events at State.
Tyler just started back to swim in the last few months and is liking it again. Most ALL our friends are swim parents as what do you do on weekends when there is a meet. You get up by 5..drive to a meet...find where everyone is sitting and TALK and cheer for each others kids:)
Then it is OFF to lunch/dinner and you do it all the next day again!!!
Sooo once a month the "MOMS" decided we need to DUMP the kids, DUMP the husbands and we have FUN and we call this day each month "BUNCO".
*this picture is from this summer as I have been sooo bad about taking pictures recently. This might be why my last few posts have no NO pictures or pictures of yogurt:)

My NEW Favorite

Can I tell you how much I am liking McDonalds Fruit & Yogurt Parfait. I am not a yogurt lover at all but I thought I would try one and OMG...it was love at first bite:)
Hank has been home from China since Thursday night and he called twice this weekend saying "do you want one of those yogurt things". Gotta love a man who buys his wife YOGURT!!! And who said he is not a romantic..OPPS that was ME who said it:)
I have Denise hooked too and poor Suzanne in England said they stopped carrying them over there..WHAT a better reason to move back SOONER!

ELLEN

I had a friend post this on her blog and decided I needed to be a BLOG THIEF and post it as it is FUNNY. I laughed so had I CRIED on the 2nd girl:)
I guess this is a Japanese TV Game Show - The Marshmallow Game. Makes the "WHEEL" look PRETTY boring!

Why you should not stick a IPOD down the front of your pants! *(updated:)

Today I went to the GYM!!! (Yes, I finally joined one) and I took Nicholas IPOD with me. I got one for Christmas and it is still in the box since I have NO IDEA how to put music on it. Sooo I get in the car, sit there and figure out how to turn the thing on as he has a IPod skin on it and I am IPod stupid. As I am getting out of the car I am talking to Denise on my cell and I say "where should I put it" She says "in your pocket". Hello, if I had a pocket in my pants I would not have ask you that question!!!
So she says stick in down the front of your pants. Well as I am walking in I can feel it slipping. I am trying to catch it through my pants (Hand on outside of pants) and it keep going. So I stand at the counter and reach in and start pulling the ear plug cord things up my pants leg. (The cord does not seem as long when they are in your ears as when they are down your pants).
Soooo do I tell Nicholas "guess where your IPod was?" and hope that is enough to make him put music on mine OR is it my little secret? He would not want me using his as I found to many songs I would say DELETE that one and that one. WHY do they need to put the "F" word in music and why does my kid have to buy that song(s)?
Personally why there is not a song about "Mama gots your IPOD down her pants" is beyond me:)
**
Yes Mama has songs on her IPod:) It is amazing how when you tell a 14 year old BOY that his IPod slide down his moms pants and BAM you got music on yours!! He also said they are all appropriate. So I guess it is OK for him to listen to bad words but not me.
***
We went to tonight and had our meeting with a trainer to show us what we should be doing and as much as I like this place she did not impress me. I got my leg STUCK in a machine (it was WEDGED and would not move). Well I am standing on 1 leg saying "my leg is stuck" , Denise is crying she is laughing so hard. We were on the MAIN floor with all the BUFF men who were staring at us and she says "is your leg really stuck". DUH, No I just like standing on 1 foot and making a A$$ of myself. Honest to gosh I will have a bruise and it hurts as it was WEDGED. She then told me I went off the machine the wrong way..YOU THINK.
We are going back tomorrow night so hopefully I will remember the RIGHT way to get off:)

A Couple of Things!

First of all a BIG THANK YOU to Suzanne for "pimping" my Blog for Valentines Day for me!!! I love love love it.
Also
If anyone if the Indy area (Karen, Samantha,..) is free on April 19th we have a GROUP walking in the Susan G Kowmen Race for a Cure 5K in Indy. I have a friend who lost her mom to breast cancer last year after a long battle, Diane walks every year for her mom and this year in Memory of her. Her mom fought a LONG hard battle but CANCER won at the end. Cancer got my mom last year also and as women we need to do something so I figure this is a GOOD way to start.
You have to have 10 to be a "group" and we are pretty close to having 10. Sooo if you are intersted let me know..we would LOVE to have you walk for the "GIRLS" with us! Diane, I know you are walking with Paul and the boys but I will be thinking of your mom the whole way.
*I had someone ask about a link to donate..I will post one later after we have a team name and we are signed up:)

My Living Will

Last night my sister and I were sitting in the den and I said to her, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. That would be no quality of life at all, If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'

So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine.

She's such a bitch.

Tom

Ok, I FINALLY wactched the T*m Crui$e video today about his beliefs on Scientolgoly. I "think" I am so what of a open minded person BUT I think he is a IDIOT and I will never spend a dime to see a movie he is in! I loved the part where he said he is driving PAST a accident he is the ONLY one who can really do something to help. SO basically if you are ever in a accident DO NOT call 911 call Tom. His laugh makes me NUTS!
This one by Jerry O'Connell is FUNNY!
*I am adding to this as what gets me the MOST is I use to LOVE Tom . Remember the whole Rosie thing (Tommy can you hear me) with the countdown to Tom coming on her show. I LOVED IT!! Sad thing is I use to LOVE Rosie too and now she is right up there with Tom.

Janet Evanovich Books

OK...I AM SOOO HOOKED on Janet Evanovich books about Stephanie Plum. I have read on a few blogs (THANKS Tracy)about how much they like reading them so I bought the first one when we were in Salt Lake. Since then I have read book 1-5 and started 6 today. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. As I am reading I am CASTING the movie version of them. Sad Sad Sad. I just want a face for Stephanie,Ranger and Morrilli.
I just found out that book 14 is coming out in June and I can not wait:)
If you have not read them GO get the first one , One for the Money. Each book has the number of the order they are in.

My NEW Favorite Thing

Denise's husband bought her THIS for Christmas. You can say a lot about Brian BUT a romantic gift giver is on the TOP of the list. WHY give Diamonds when you can give GEORGE. Denise has talked about how much she LOVES it since Christmas so me being the COPYCAT that I am bought one:)
Saturday night I made Chicken breast and tonight I made WAFFLES and can I tell you that I WON the "MOM OF THE YEAR AWARD"!!!
I had talked myself into and out of buying it for a week then realized with Hank traveling so much it is perfect for making dinner after I pick the kids up from swim.

Birthday Card

This morning I went into Tylers room and saw this card sitting on his desk. It was opened so all I saw was the Bday cake and rocket. I ask who it was for and he said read the front and turned away from me. Can I tell you how much I have cried today. Knowing he made this and did not tell anyone is heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today would have been my moms 83th Birthday. I have dreaded this day all month and I wrote a check out today at school and when I wrote the day it HIT ME!!! It will be 4 months on the 20th and in some ways it seems like she has been gone for a long time and in other ways it seems like yesterday. There are so many times I go to call her and then I remember that she is gone. It is heartbreaking to see my dad as he is LOST without her.
Happy Birthday Mom..We love and miss you!

Olive Garden

Sunday we went to Cinti and took my dad to Olive Garden as he LOVES the soup and salad there. It was a nice dinner and a nice day but we ALL knew this was when we would have been celebrating my moms birthday as it is the 16th. Dinner was nice and my dad LOVES it when we are ALL together but it is hard when you know someone is missing.
Yes, Tyler was being TYLER.

Bunco

Friday night was BUNCO and it was FUN!! We had it a week late since we had a swim meet last weekend and in February we are actually having it on a SUNDAY at the one Mexican Restrauant we ALL love:) Kathy B SMOKED is ALL with 5 Buncos and had MOST Wins. Thank Gosh SUE got the last Bunco or Denise was going to take her down! Bev won Most Loses and Jill won the Thanks for Showing Up."B" gets the award for making us laugh the most for shaking her "snake eyes" and her story on how she got stabbed in the rear with her grapefruit steak knife that was in her purse at a restrauant (she slid over in a booth, hit her purse and in went the knife and YES she had to get stitches).
*The last picture is what DENISE thinks of Kathy getting 5 BuNcO's. In ENGLAND this is DOUBLE BAD!!!
**I have to say it was the MOST FUN Bunco!!! It just felt like something or was it SOMEONE was missing that no one likes!!! I wonder who THAT could be:)

Utah

We went to Utah after New Years to see Hanks family. We had a GREAT time and the weather was pretty good:) We went to Brighton and both kids took a snowboard lesson and then went down the hill together (till Ty hit a tree as he told Nicholas he was not going to do what his instructor told him to do as he wanted to go REALLY fast:) This was taken right after that and Tyler was not in the best of moods as he hurt and was embarressed as people, INCLUDING a GIRL stopped to see if he was OK.

He is not "ONE" any longer.....

Well, Tim is not longer a VIRGIN!!! YES, you read that right. Hard to believe he is 39 and still a virgin...he is nice looking, gets along with others, no body odor but he was still a virgin..THAT was untill YESTERDAY and I am the reason he is not any longer!!! As his wife is THOUSANDS a miles away Tim can now say he is no longer a virgin!!!
TIM was a SMOOTHIE VIRGIN. *GASP*
I know...how can a man be 39 and never have a smoothie..SHOCKING to me too as I had 2 yesterday as I could not let him "smoothie drink alone". Tims "first" was a Cranberry Truffle which is my ALL time favorite (even though now I do not order it for me anymore as it has white chocolate in it). I think he will now be one of those MEN who go away for business and check each corner for a Tropical Smoothie Cafe and then calling home with a smoothie by his side.

My Cleaning Schedule

Happy New Year

I know it has been a while since I posted and this is going to be a QUICK not picture one:(
Christmas was very nice and all the decorations are put away. I think I packed them all up on the 27th as I am one of those that feels when the 25th is over so is Christmas! We did have a very nice Christmas and the kids were HAPPY so when you have HAPPY kids the parents are HAPPY!!! Tyler is on the fence on weither there is a *anta or not. Before Christmas he said "I know it is you" WELL Christmas came and he now says "I know it is not you as you would NEVER buy me ALL this stuff"..lol!!!
Our friends who moved to England 3 LONG years ago were here after Christmas and left today to go back. Nicholas and Andrew have been BEST FRIENDS since Pre K and so miss each other so they had a BALL this week! Good news is they are moving back this summer so the kids are HAPPY!!!
We had our annual News Years Party again last night and had 39 adults and kids! I have to say it went really well. Someone brought the Rock Band thing and the kids had a BALL with it!!! We had 20 kids and 19 adults and 5 of the kids were 11 to 7 We had 2 17 year old girls and we had 13 kids that were 13 to 15!!! Can I tell you it was TEEN AGE HEAVEN in my basement. Nicholas lost his voice from singing (and he is NOT a good singer). Almost all were swim familes so the kids are together a lot so it is NICE!!!
It is hard to believe that 2007 is OVER and it is now 2008!
I can not say I am sorry to see 2007 leave as it was not a good year for me. Losing my mom to Cancer was the hardest and worse thing that I have ever gone through.
We are flying out in the morning to see Hanks side of the family in SLC. The kids are hoping to go sking while they are there and I am hoping to do NOTHING!!!
I will post some pictures later:)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope everyone has a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I can not believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I love all the before stuff..shopping, baking (I made way to many cookies again this year), decorating and then it is ALL over in a day. I usually take our tree and decorations down before New Years since we have a party but this year I might leave it up. We are picking up my dad tomorrow to spend Christmas eve with us and then Christmas day we will go to my sisters. This year will be hard with out my mom but I know "she is with us each day in someway".
Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

And the winner is TYLER

Tylers school had a raffle for a Indiana Pacers Basketball the was signed by ALL the Pacers players. I bought 12 tickets for $10 and put each kid on 6 tickets and TYLER WON. I meant to take a picture of him to post but forgot before he went to bed so I will add later. He is THRILLED that he was the winner:)

S*W*I*M

Yes, this weekend was a swim meet. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday AM we were at the POOL:)
The meet was in Bloomington which is around a hour away. Now add some snow and ice and you are out of the house by 5:15.
Nicholas did well and took off in almost everything he swam PLUS he got the high points trophy for his age group.
WTG Nicholas!!
*this photo was taken this summer.

1 Year Later

Well, today was a year since my surgery. I am down 118 pds. (YES, I have really slowed up) and I feel GREAT!!!
For me it was the best decision I have ever made. It is a PERSONAL choice and one other might not agree with and that is OK as it was the right choice for me.
What did I learn in a year.....
1.Gastic Bypass is not the easy way out. It is a TOOL and I still have to fight the desire to eat "JUNK" all the time. Some days I make better decisions then other days.
2.Fat clothes Sell on ebay:)
3. I could not have done this without ALL my friends and families support.
4.Denise will stay up WAY Past her bedtime to sit at a hospital when her friend can not stop crying. (I still owe you BIG TIME)

My 1 year goal was 120 and I did not make it but I am OK with that as I will:)

WHY

WHY is it when you are at...LETS say Cards or maybe BUNCO and you leave your camera in a room WHY do CERTAIN people (DENISE) think it is soo FUNNY to take a million pictures lets say THEIR SHOE, TRACYS Tatoo, WRAPPING PAPER,A LIZARD,A BUTTON,A SOCK, A CHRISTMAS PLATE..ETC...WHY WHY WHY.
BIGGER Question is WHY am I FRIENDS with these IDIOTS?

Christmas BuNcO

Last night was our Christmas Bunco. We had our Ornament exchange so when you BuNcOed you got to PICK one of steal from someone else. Well there were 3 of us who NEVER Buncoed the whole night...Mary, Lora and myself. I was the first of the non buncoers to pick one of the last 3 and I have to say I LOVE the ones I got the most. (Thank you Rita:)
Today Tyler helped me make MORE Brown Bread and next we are making Ginger Bread that is suppose to taste like *tarBucks. Tomorrow we are going to start on Christmas Cookies:)
*I had Tyler take the picture of ME in my new snowman sweater and NO I am not as tall as the ceiling:)

My First Christmas in Heaven

*My sister sent this to me yesterday and YES I cried. I hope my mom feels this way but it is so DAMN hard

This poem was written by a 13 year old boy who died of a brain tumor that he had battled for four years. He died on December 14, 1997. He gave this to his mom before he died. His name was Ben.

My First Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless
Christmas trees
around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description,
to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away,
We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory
of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious
than pure gold.
was always most important
the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,
my Father said to do.
I can't count the blessing or love
has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and
Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year

We Got ELFED:)

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1157064534

Christmas Picture

I had our Christmas picture made today and I have to say I am not thrilled with it at all BUT it is DONE. This is probally my least favorite card I have had done but Hank leaves tomorrow so it will do. Here is a couple of the ones we did not use:)

Brown Bread

My mom made Brown Bread every year and gave out to everyone:) Well I got the brown bread recipe and it means to much to me so I made Brown Bread for the first time this year. I sent all but 1 small and 1 large loaf home with my dad to give to his neighbors. When my mom was really bad at the end her neighbor said "Christmas will not be the same with out Marys Brown Bread". Well Shirley is getting Marys Brown Bread but it is just made by ME:)