It's a Good Friday for Good Friday.

What a pretty day!  Today was Russell's Easter party at preschool and I had the day off.  Ricky worked 2 hours over this morning, which means...he's now asleep and this mommy got a day all to herself!  What did I do, you ask?  I went to watch The Hunger Games for the second time.  :)  I know it doesn't sound like it, but before that, I was very productive.   I did 4 loads of laundry, I've gone through Russell's winter clothes and placed those that no longer fit him in "storage".  Ha!  Who am I kidding...we have no more room for storage!  I seriously feel like I'm starting to live in a Hoarders episode.  This summer, we're getting a storage building, but there's no time or money for that now.  :)  And once we have another kid, if it's a girl, I'm getting rid of it ALL, with the exception of a few special baby outfits. 

We ended up going on our cruise during Spring Break rather than waiting for summer.  I think it may have been the best vacation EVER, and the timing was perfect.  I came back to school fully refreshed!  We went to Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico and Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico.  It was our 4th time to Cozumel, but 1st to Progreso.  Progreso was way different and I loved it!  It was much less commercialized than Cozumel.  My favorite things about the cruise were 1) the beautiful Cozumel water and 2) our balcony.  Wish I was still there....  ;)

Balcony...  :)

Progreso Beach

Progreso Bus Tour

Progreso--Dzibilchaltun Ruins

he he he

A little piece of Heaven

Could have laid there forever...

Ahhhh.  This was taken at Three Amigos Restaurant.  Great food, PERFECT view!

Ricky fell asleep on the beach in Cozumel

I almost fell asleep, too!

The Lobby of the Carnival Triumph

Formal Night

 In my last entry, I mentioned, "We have to catch a break sometime, right?"  Well....on the cruise, we were seated in the dining room with three other couples.  One of the couples, around our age, just so happened to both work at the Home Office for Walmart!!!  How amazing is that?  We all really hit it off and became cruise buddies.  In the end, the husband told us his job is coming open due to his promotion, and that he would be happy to turn Ricky's resume over to his boss.  Ricky and him exchanged contact info and he actually emailed Ricky when he got back to Arkansas asking for his resume.  So...obviously, Ricky sent it in ASAP!  No clue what will happen with all of that, but the fact that it happened gave us assurance that we are where God wants us.  It's so easy to forget that sometimes!

I gained 5 pounds on the cruise (ate EVERYTHING in sight), but lost 6.4 pounds the next week.  I'm now down 65 pounds and 57 inches.  Holy moly!  I'm only 12ish pounds from my goal weight.  I've GOT THIS!!! 


Easter is Sunday and Ricky found out this morning that he's off tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday.  YAY!  He gets to go to sunrise service with us.  Sunrise Service with Mt. Pleasant MBC in Langley, AR is something everyone on Earth should get to experience.  It's such a blessing.  Can't wait!

Still Going Strong

It's been a while! As I type this, I'm still in the bed, and that makes me a happy mommy. :) Russell is watching a movie (Home Alone 2--I'm so proud!) and Ricky is still at work. On his job front, he is now on his THIRD year of working overnights. That is the majority of Russell's life! It was supposed to be "temporary". We gotta catch a break sometime, right? I know it will happen when the time is right, but for ME, the time has been right for a few years! We're definitely being forced to practice patience during this time.

I'm still going strong on Weight Watchers and to date have lost about 52 pounds and have lost 47 INCHES. The inches part always validates me more than the pounds. I still have about 25-30 pounds I'd like to lose before we try to get prego. I can do it! Several coworkers have joined WW recently and I think that will hold me more accountable. I hear them talk about exercising and know that I'm not doing all I could to get to where I want to be.  Here are a few before/after pics: 

Can't get this to rotate for some reason, but this was just recently.

February 2011 - A couple days after starting Weight Watchers - WOW - That's embarrassing!

Can you tell a difference?  I can!  50 pounds later... And I just had to take a pic of my old PJ pants--haven't been able to fit into them in years!!!  :)

 
The new semester at school just started and it appears that I've got a good group to work with! :) The first three days are so exhausting though because I have to get my bluff in with them and "put the fear in them" so to speak. If only they knew I was not a crazy mean lady...haha! But one thing that really inspired me as a teacher yesterday was with my Computer Technology students. The students I've had in the past could answer every review question thrown at them and their typing technique was impeccable. I was so proud! And I let them know that I noticed...you could just see their face light up like, "Wow, I really did learn something in here." That was the validation I needed to keep being a crazy nagging "mean" lady and force my new keyboarding students to keep their keyboard covers down and type each key with the CORRECT finger!  So evil...I know.  ;)

I Love a Routine!

School is back in session and I am back to having a routine.  This makes me one happy lady!  I guess I'm just one of those people that has to have their routine.  Summer is difficult for me--especially on my diet because there is no consistency.  The good news is that I actually lost about 2 pounds over the summer vacation.  Since I've started teaching, I've ALWAYS gained dramatically during the summer.  This year, I lost...showing me that I can do it and that it's my own fault if I choose not to!  :)

School started off rocky with no computers up until the 2nd or 3rd day of school in my "computer-based" classroom.  Even once we got them, they didn't work properly.  I was a nervous wreck!  But, as usual, it all turned out fine in the end.  My kids are now typing away and everything is going smoothly.  :)  KJH experienced quite a growth this year compared to last year and it shows.  My classroom has 24 computers.  I've never (that I can remember) had more than 1 "full" class in a semester, meaning there are almost always extra seats/computers in the event that a computer is down.  This year, I'm actually overflowing in some classes, and if they aren't overflowed, they are right at full!  There are just so.many.kids!  But I do have to admit that I like having a full class.  It seems like things actually run more smoothly when the room is full.  Never thought I would say that!  ;)

He LOVED going on the bridges!

Since it's been SO long since I've written, I need to share a picture or two of the highlight of Russell's summer.  I heard about the Van Buren train ride from a friend and decided to take Russell one day while Ricky was sleeping.  Russell absolutely LOVED it!  Him and I are total opposites when it comes to the fear of heights....

Fun times!  We also went to the Tulsa Zoo...

Love this!

Well, believe it or not, Ricky and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary next month.  Everyone says the 7th year is the "hardest", but I'm not so sure.  I'm feeling closer to him than I ever have.  Maybe "The 7 Year Itch" happens after your 7th year together as a couple?  If so, that would have been four years ago for us...which would make more sense!  That was a hard time.  Right now though, I just see things getting better and better.  I love that boy.  :)  I wish I had some pictures of us to post, but the fact is I don't have any new ones.  I guess I could get Russ to take some pictures of us...he would thoroughly enjoy that! 

 

First day of 4 year old preschool - 2011

August 2011

August 2010 - a year ago!

Russell started in the 4-year-old preschool last week at GLC and I'm amazed at how much progress he's already made!  He's going to have to be in there for 2 years because he's only 3 right now (will start Kindergarten late--November baby)...but they are promising that he will be reading and writing very well before he leaves there.  I believe it!  In just a week, he has made dramatic changes in his writing, coloring, attitude, and desire to read/spell.  I am super impressed with his attempt at coloring in the lines!  And he's having so much fun--"Adam" is in his class and gets to sit across from him.  Their thing is Roley-Polys.  They go outside and during "recess" after swinging, they hunt for Roley-Polys!  Boys. 

Coloring NOW - Aug 2011

Coloring - Dec 2010

On my diet, I'm down almost 35 pounds!

Well, I better get back to babysitting...Russell just brought me a bug to look at.  ICK!!!

Proud to be an American

I guess I'm doing better at this blogging thing than I have in the past, but I still feel like I'm not writing as much as I could.  It's the Fourth of July weekend!  I'm thinking that Russell and I will go to the Fort Smith fireworks show on the river Monday night.  I really want to take him to see some fireworks, but I don't want to go by myself!  Ricky will be at work.  Maybe we will see someone that we know there.
In honor of the 4th of July AND trying to keep up this "healthy" lifestyle, I went out and bought some Ruffles LIGHT potato chips (2 pts per serving) and some turkey dogs (1 pt each!!).  I couldn't find 1 pt buns, so I have just been using my 1 pt per slice bread.  I'd never had a turkey dog before...they are GREAT and I don't think I'll ever change back!  I guess I was scared that they wouldn't taste like an actual hot dog, but they do.  :)  I can eat 2 turkey dogs, 2 slices of bread, and 2 servings of chips (about 30 chips) for 8 points.  Wow!!!  On the Weight Watchers front, I've gone 4 weeks and only lost 0.2 lbs.  I haven't gained, which is good, but I haven't lost like I've wanted to.  I'm attributing this to the fact that I've sat on my butt for 3 of the past 4 weeks doing nothing!  This week, I started walking again on the treadmill.  We will see how that changes the results.  I'm only 6/10ths of a pound from losing 30 lbs.  I never thought it would take a month to lose that!

Ricky's grandparents came down a few days ago to bring us some new (to us) furniture.  They brought a couch, recliner, twin bed, and dining table/chairs.  I absolutely LOVE the table.  It's beautiful!  I've got pictures of it all on FB, but they aren't saved to my computer.  Russell loves his "really big boy bed".  He will be able to sleep in that thing for years.  And of course Ricky loves his new recliner.  I actually took a nap on the couch yesterday...something that I could have never done on our old loveseat!

Ricky's OTHER grandparents are down from Georgia this week.  They came over last night and took us out to El Chico for dinner.  It was really good to catch up with them!  They are coming over tonight as well, once Ricky wakes up.  Oh....our neighbor ran over our mailbox yesterday.  I thought for sure that when they drove off without coming to tell us or apologize that they were going to buy a new post for it.  Nope!  It's been almost 24 hours and they haven't said a word.  It's kind of frustrating.  If you know Ricky and I, you know we would simply say, "Accidents happen.  No problem." and really mean it!  But the fact that I watched them knock it over and they haven't apologized or anything disappoints me.  We aren't that scary!  LOL.  Ok, enough of the rant.

The pictures in this entry are from our week at Bogg Springs.  You have no idea how thankful I am that my husband got to go with us!  I feel like not only did we all 3 grow closer to God that week individually, but it definitely brought Ricky and I closer together as a couple.  It's so true that it is most important to keep God first in your relationship.  I fell more in love with him watching him praise God.  ♥

Plans for today?  Russell and I are going to see where the road takes us.  I'm guessing somewhere air-conditioned!  :)

Weight Loss & Measurements Update

I weighed this morning.  I lost 1.8 pounds this week!  I did really well this week, so I'm happy with that.  :)

Total weight lost is now 29.2 lbs.

I also measured and lost 5.75 inches this month!!!  I could not be more happy with those results, as last month I only lost 0.25 inches in an entire month.  This makes 27.75 total inches lost.  :)))

Sun is shining, weather is sweet....

Me with Lego Woody at Lego-Land in the Mall of America (Minneapolis)

School is out for the summer!!!  Woooooo!!!!!!!  I guess it's a good thing that I'm really looking forward to next year already...it must mean I truly enjoy my job :).  Lots of changes are coming (for the better) for both teachers and students next year.  I'm excited to be a part of it all.  :)  

This summer should be interesting.  This is the first summer that I can recall where I've been on a diet.  I always go off of my diet during the summer simply because it's so hard.  When I have nothing to do, I eat.  I then gain back everything I lost throughout the year and then some.  So....I'm trying to make a lifestyle change.  I wish I could say, "When I have nothing to do, I exercise." or "When I have nothing to do, I read."  Anything but eat!  That is my goal this summer:  to do anything but eat when I'm bored.  Anything!

Regarding plans for summer, all three of us (Ricky, Russell, and I) all are going to church camp in just a few days!  I'm so happy that Ricky gets to go with us.  Bogg Springs is one of the most special places on Earth to me, and I love to share the experience with my man.  ;)  He rarely gets to go, so this is certainly a blessing.

Russell and I at the Rodeo Parade on Memorial Day

We've also got plans to go to Nashville, TN.  Other than that, all I've got is a few workshops.  NEXT year, we should have lots of big plans...so this year, I'm going to enjoy the peacefulness.  Oh, wait!  Russell has one request for summer vacation--go to the zoo!  We will be visiting the Tulsa Zoo very soon!  We went last year and it was SO.  HOT.  This year, we're going to be smart and watch the weather before we go.  We need a cool, shady day for that.

How am I spending my first day of summer vacation?  I woke up at 5:30 after having a crazy nightmare.  It involved all of my immediately family being strapped into a torture chamber (I won't go into the details) and my poor Russell almost dying.  After waking from that, I couldn't sleep.  I looked at my phone to check the time and realized I had some e-mails from myself.  I then realized I had been hacked.  After looking into the matter and getting an e-mail from Ricky saying, "What are you trying to sell me?!" I realized it went to everyone in my address book.  Later on in the day, I would find out that it was a Viagra ad...really?  Wow.  It went to Ricky's grandma AND the assistant principal at my school, to name a few! 

Russell and I started cleaning out the bookshelf in our living room this morning, as well.  You would not believe the stuff I found in that thing!  Along with a million other papers and books, we had 15 bibles!  These aren't the bibles that we actually use...these are 15 bibles that we have EXTRA.  Anyone know someone that wants a bible?  If so, let me know!  A few of those I would like to keep due to sentimental value, but for the most part, they are extras that have been given to us over the years.  Also, two of them already have other owners...I'm not sure how we ended up with them! 

Today is the last day in this week's "phase" of my diet.  I weigh in tomorrow!  I'm hoping for a loss.  I've done really good these past two weeks, but my body appears to be slowing down in the weight loss.  I'm going to start back up with treadmill walking on Monday.  That should speed things up again.  :)

Change is Good

 School is almost over!  Only 19 days left.  Very exciting stuff!  I will be gone 4 of those, so I've technically only got 15 days left.  It's always bittersweet to me when school is out--maybe because I'm still "newer" in the profession.  I always feel like I should be working and it's hard to shut down from school stuff for the first week or so of summer.

Good news:  Ricky started back as Support Manager last night.  He now works 10 pm to 7 am.  It will be great--I know it will!  But...the past two days have been very difficult to adjust.  On Saturdays, Russell and I will be alone until around 4 pm.  We also have to be quiet because Daddy is sleeping.  We go outside and play, watch movies, then go outside and play again, but after a few hours we're bored out of our minds!  Saturday has always been our "Family Day."  Looks like I'm going to have to find some cheap "Mommy and Me" activities...

Daddy and Russell time  :)

I know there will probably have to be some major adjustments since Ricky and I have seen each other only 2 days a week for the past year and a half.  I'm prepared for that mentally.  However, it's still difficult.  I completely and totally 100% LOVE that he's home.  I'm just so used to being the sole parent at nights for Russell.  It was awkward last night to have help!  If that's all I've got to complain about - that I had too much help - I've got it made, right?  ;)



  In one of our many trips outside, we had a little photo shoot in honor of Mother's Day.  I'm so blessed to be the mother of a perfect little boy.  He informs me often that he's growing up--and then tells me that someday he will be the big person and that Ricky and I will be his babies and that he will take care of us and feed us and put us to bed.  Aww!

 

 

LOVE this pic!  Totally describe the moment.  We were BORED. 

 I love his eyelashes!

Bored, but tolerating it with a smile.  ;)

Russell got me a gift certificate from Learning Oasis.  My boys know me so well!  I'm excited about going by there one day (sans child, or I'll be spending it on him!).

Fears

It's Benchmark Week!!!  What could easily be a nightmare is actually pretty well-organized by our wonderful counselors, administrators, and focus team!  I'm so thankful to work in a school where everyone works together for the good of the students.  :)  On the other hand, I am TIRED of walking in the same maze of chairs over and over non-stop for hours at at time.  Guess that's just part of it!

Ricky starts his new schedule on Saturday.  :))))

I finally took a few new photos....

Russell at the park the other day.  He feels like such a big boy now that I let him climb the "big" slide all by himself!  He wanted to do it "all day long"!

One smart cookie...

Mommy's crazy face and Russell going "What is wrong with you?!?!"

In 22 school days, I will be heading to Minneapolis on school business.  I am TERRIFIED of riding in a plane!  I haven't flown since 2003--once to D.C./back and once from Georgia to Arkansas.  We're flying Delta, and I just saw on the news a story about two Delta planes colliding on the runway when they landed.  Ahh!  Scary stuff.  I know I'll be fine once I actually get on the plane and get buckled in, but up to that point, I know I'm going to have the jitters.  :/  I have a heights issue.

Speaking of jitters, I haven't been able to get images of spiders out of my head lately!  I've had two traumatic experiences with spiders recently.  Ricky really seems to be enjoying it, too, finding opportunities constantly to scare me.  I was washing dishes the other day and turned around to get something.  When I turned back around, there was a huge spider right there on a plate in the sink!  My first reaction was to drown it.  So I turned on the hot water and was shaking the whole time I sprayed it to death...ugh, I sound like an evil person!  haha

This is what the spider in the sink looked like:  

Before that, I stepped on one in the dark on our front porch.  It was HUGE.  When I stepped on it, hundreds of little baby spiders started fleeing for their lives from under my feet.  Seriously.  The most scary spider moment in my life.  I was (and still am) so confused at how when I stepped on that spider, which I recently found out was a "wolf spider" carrying her babies on her back, all the babies survived.  Even the mommy spider survived.  She scurried away as if she was only a little startled.

Here's what it looked like:

Ok, I'm SO CREEPED OUT RIGHT NOW!!!