"Apple Bottom Jean...Jeans...."

"...boots with the fur...with the fur." Ok, I'm a 'tard. But I am sooooo excited that I was able to get my very first pair of Apple Bottom Jeans and better yet... for 45% off. I can't wait (CAN'T WAIT, I TELL YOU) to wear them. Last year at this time I would not have been able to fit my big toe in a pair (even tho' I think they are supposed to be for exactly my body type.... chicks with a bit o' junk in the trunk. LOL). Anyways, that was my excitement this weekend. Also, J started her Spring League soccer season but I couldn't download the pics yet so you'll have to get a post about that tomorrow. =0)

Weight Watchers Rocks

Ok so it's been a looooooong time since I posted but I do have some awesome news. I started Weight Watchers back in September and so far I have lost 43 lbs. I had gotten RIDICULOUSLY FAT and was just miserable. I feel so much better about myself now. The really cool thing is that once people at work really started to notice, a lot of them got on the band wagon as well. I still have about 20 lbs to go to hit my goal and the loss has really started to slow down but I'm pluggin' along. I've gone down 6 sizes in clothes. Luckily I kept alot of my smaller clothes but even those are kinda big now. =0) A good problem to have I guess, but D is gonna kill me 'cause soon I will need to start buying new clothes. LOL. Anyways, I hope to keep up better (not making any promises) if only to update on my weight loss.

Tootles!!!

Movin' on Up

Well, J. is totally following in her Bubba's footsteps. She tested for and passed to get her blue belt in Tae Kwon Do last Friday. I was nervous for her all week because one of the main things that she had to do was break a board with a side kick. She struggled with it in class all week but did end up doing it twice in class. In the pic, Bubba is helping to hold the board while she broke it. GIRL POWER!!!!!

"Stay at Home" Week

I am so happy and bummed all at the same time. My favorite shows are coming back with new episodes about which I'm thrilled. BUT...some overlap and D is having a cow because I am monopolizing both T.V.'s. Dancing with the Stars started on Monday with a 3 night 2 hours each night extravaganza (really...3 nights?). SVU started last night overlapping DWTS. DWTS is on AGAIN tonight for 2 hours. Then tomorrow night Ugly Betty premieres then a 2 hour Grey's Anatomy and ER overlaps that. What's a girl to do about DVR'ing all these vices. =0) I'm also trying to DVR old House episodes because I got on that band wagon late in the game. I don't think I can handle anymore shows cause I think my DVR will explode. =0)

I must comment on DWTS. I love this season. Poor Jeff Ross. He was soooo out of his element. I think they rightfully put him out of his misery by voting him off first. Toni Braxton is a little on my nerves with her "condition". Hello, it's a heart condition. Maybe being on a dance show wasn't such a great idea. I'm bummed that Kim Kardashian isn't doing that well. I think she is sooo beautiful but maybe she should stick to "accidently leaked" internet porn and controlling her out of control family. Ted McGinley I have heard referred to as this season's Guttenberg. =0) Cloris Leachman will probably be the next to go cause the "crazy old lady" routine will only get her so far. I'm in LOVE with Warren Sapp. I just want to hug his teddy bear self. And he's so light on his feet. Lance Bass is full of it when he says that he was the worst of all the N'Sync boys at dancing. He looks great and I really like that new girl they paired him with (except I think she thinks she going to bring him back over to the "straight" side). I'm still a little up in the air about Misty May-Trainer. She looks kinda manly but she is definitely better than Monica Seles was last season. Brooke Burke is the odds on favorite to win in my opinion. She is beautiful and clearly has what it takes (including some dance training that she's not telling anyone about). So those are my opinions about this seasons DTSW. I'll post more as the season goes on.

Owed to my Dad

Life has been a bit chaotic lately. About a month and a half ago my Dad broke his hip. He had hip replacement surgery and was moved to a rehab hospital for therapy. Unfortunately, after about 2 weeks there, he contracted an infection and was taken to the emergency room. He was admitted to ICU with sepsis and a dislocated hip (having dislocated the hip he had replaced). He hadn't been eating almost since he broke his hip so he was very weak and frail. He was in the ICU for about a day and a half when his little body sucummed to the infection. My Mom and I were both with him when he passed telling him it was ok to go. He is at peace now and for that I am grateful.

My Dad was great, hard working man. He worked 2 jobs for a good part of my childhood so that my Mom didn't have to work and they could send me to Catholic school. He loved to laugh. If he pulled you aside at a party, you could guarantee he was going to tell you a dirty joke. =0) He & my Mom were married for 42 years (they just celebrated their 42nd anniversary right after he broke his hip). He had 3 sisters and is survived by 2 of them (Gerry & Wilda). My grandparents and his older sister preceeded him to heaven so he is there with them now. I will always miss him but know that he is my guardian angel now.

Baseball is over already

I can't believe baseball season has come and gone and I only posted about it once. To the left are their individual team pics. They, of course, had a great time but unfortunately, both were eliminated in the first round of playoffs. S is completely done but J still has a "King of the Hill" tournament which starts this weekend. If they lose tomorrow, then they are completely done, but if they win they play through the week until they lose or if they win all games they are deamed King of the Hill. =0)

Cruisin' '08

Hey everyone,

We are fresh back from our Carnival Cruise to Catalina & Ensenada. It was the 4 day cruise (we left Monday and returned on Friday). We had such a great time. The kids FAVORITE part was the pool on the boat. Every spare moment that they had was spent in it. =0) This is a precursor to the Hawaii one that we want to do next year. The weather was pretty good so we came back a little darker and little more tired than when we left (I need a vacation from my vacation).

Easter 2008

We had such a great Easter. D's Mom came in from Colorado and stayed with us. We went to Benihana restaurant on Saturday night to celebrate D.'s brother's 40th bday. That was so fun. The kids really loved it.

Then we all celebrated Easter on Sunday. D's aunt and cousins joined us so all the kids got to play together all day. That was great.

Then to cap off an action packed weekend, our sister-in-law got tickets for a suite at the Staple center and D., his brother, his wife, D.'s Mom & I went to the Laker game. That was a blast. Hope you all had a great Easter too!

Tae Kwon pics

Just had to share and brag a little on my "babies". S & J's Tae Kwon Do school had a photographer come in to take pics of all the kids. If I do say so myself I think my kids look pretty darn cool!!!! =0)

"Batter up!!!"

Well, baseball season has started and we have 2 little sluggers in the family now. J is playing AA with the Dodgers and S is back on the Major Cardinals. He's considered a veteran now and he's the starting pitcher. I think J has learned baseball just from osmosis of being at S's games so she's doing well. AA is also known as 5 pitch. The coach pitches 5 times to each hitter and if they get a hit in there somewhere they do what is normally done in a game...run like hell. =0) If they don't get a hit in those 5 pitches, then it's the next hitter's turn. In her first game, J got a hit and made it to 1st and the next hitter got a hit and J made it 2nd then she got out. But she had the best time and feels like such a big girl now. =0) The schedule is crazy with 2 playing. We have a least 2 games during the week and sometimes 4 on the weekends between the 2 of them. Will hopefully update more often as the season goes on.

Happy New Year!!!!

Holy crap!!! I haven't written in four months. Time goes by way tooo fast. Hope everyone's holidays were great. Ours were. We did the Disney Christmas Eve thing again this year. It was way more crowded this year than it has been in the past. We still had fun but we stood in line a lot longer. J. is still hardcore so we didn't have to waste our time in line at the "baby" rides. =0) We were pretty pooped out by about 7:00pm so we didn't get to stay to see the snow or fireworks. I think we might give this one more year and then if it's even more crowded next year we'll find a new tradition. =0)
Christmas Day was pretty mellow. My Mom & Dad came over to see the kids open their presents and then came back later for dinner. We just vegged and let the kids play with all their new stuff.
New Years was pretty boring. J, S & I were all asleep before midnight so D celebrated the new year playing Guitar Hero. =0) My Mom & I took the kids to see the Rose Parade floats on display on the 2nd. It was cool and luckily we got there early because by the time we were done the crowds were getting big. Well, thought I would just give a brief update since I hadn't written in so long.

Happy New Year to everyone!

1st Day of School

Well, I officially have a 1st grader and a middle schooler. S & J started school yesterday. J.'s first day was pretty uneventful but poor S. We dropped him off at the gate per his request. My Mom & I then went on the hunt for the afterschool care room. We asked a security guard and and found it right away. As we were getting ready to take J on to school I heard "Mom!!!" I turned to see my little boy with eyes as big as saucers asking me "Do you know where 301 is?" He was still looking for his homeroom and the 2nd bell had already rung. I directed him to the security guard who had just given us directions. When I picked him up I found out that his schedule had the wrong room # on it so he was running in circles looking for the wrong room. He made it to homeroom just as it was over. =0( Luckily, he did see the teacher and told her that he got lost and she was understanding. So we are off and running with school and activities again. Both soccer teams start games this weekend so life will be hectic for quite a while. Wish me luck. =0)

So funny I had to share

I'm sure you all have seen or heard the uncanny impression that Matt Damon does of Matthew McConnaghey but if you haven't, you have to see both of these. It's hysterical and impressive. If you just heard it you would swear it was Matthew McConnaghey. There are 2 clips below from the David Letterman show where Matt displays his talent. Even if you don't like Matthew McConnaghey, you have to get a kick out of this dead-on impression (and Matt Damon isn't too hard to look at either. =0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYD2cwMbpw

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2007/08/01/matt-damon-letterman-2/
(you need to scroll down a bit on this one)

Following in her brother's footsteps

J tested for and received her yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do last Friday evening. We've been waiting a while for this so we are very proud of her. And an additional bonus was that S was on the panel of judges for her test.

Graduations Galore

As of next week I will be the proud Mother of a 1st grader and a middle schooler. J graduates from Kindergarten on Thursday and S graduates from 5th grade on Friday. I cannot believe it. I remember S's first day of Kindergarten like it was yesterday. And J was only 7 months old when S started Kinder. Amazing. They grow way too fast. I'm looking forward to summer and not having to stress about getting homework done before activities. S is starting a club soccer team and he also made the baseball All Stars. J will continue with Tae Kwon and gymnastics and both will be going to day camp. I'm trying to plan a fun vacation for the end of summer, something tropical and beachy, but we'll see. I hope to post often but don't be surprised if I don't. =0) Ta ta for now.

Long time no post!!!

I feel really bad. In the last post I bragged all about S's black belt test and I didn't even mention our celebration of J.'s bday (the weekend before). We all went to Disneyland (her choice) and Cal Adventure. Bdays for kids there are always so fun. We've done it the last three years because she loves it so much. The picture you see is all of us (and my friend Courtney) on Space Mountain. This pic is so great because all the other times we rode Space Mountain you couldn't even see J cause she's so teence. =0) And I love the look on her face and Courtney's face (classic). We stayed the night at the Paradise Pier and then went to Cal Adventure on Sunday. I think this might be the last year we do this. Now that J is in school and she's been invited to quite a few bday parties I think she is going to want her own party next year. =0)

We've been going like gang busters since the beginning of the year. Between S's black belt test and his baseball season starting and he's still on the All Star soccer team we don't even know what weekends are anymore. It's fun, though (but very tiring). J is also doing gymnastics and Tae Kwon Do so just call me the taxi driver. =0)

Then on top of everything else my poor Mom broke her arm. Really bad (in 4 places). She's doing better now but still not able to drive which is totally driving her nuts cause she is soooooo active.

A Black Belt in the House

Holy moly!!! It's been almost 2 months since I posted. Life has been just a little hectic lately. The most important thing that has happened is that S. test for and received his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. It was a grueling 2 hour test which he did alone (no one else tested with him). He had to jump up and break a board with both his feet, he had to break a brick with his fist and had to spar with 2 other boys at once (those are just a few of the things he had to do). There were 8 other black belts there judging him (including his instructor) and he passed with flying colors. This is a major accomplishment for a 10 year old. He had to do all the same things a grown man would do if he was testing for his black belt and we are so proud of him.

MERRRRRYYYYY CHRISTMAS!!!!

What a fantastic Christmas we had (I hope everyone did too). As you can see we went to Disneyland on Christmas Eve. We had the best time ever. J is now hardcore. She rode all the big rides (Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Thunder Mountain, Star Tours) with us. She would've ridden Indiana Jones too but she wasn't tall enough. =0) We even stayed late enough to see the fireworks and snow. So Christmas Eve 2006 is now officially the best time I've ever had at Disneyland. Christmas day was awesome too. We got S the Nintendo Wii so of course that was the hit of the day. There is no vegging out infront of the TV on that one. You really get a work out. =0) Santa brought J Baby Alive which is a crack up. She eats and poops and she tells you when she does "a stinky". Totally hilarious. D & the kids got me a beautiful diamond circle necklace which was totally unexpected. We got D a cool speaker for his IPOD so he can play guitar along with it. That's about it for now. Here's wishing everyone a very Happy and Safe New Year. Look out 2007, here we come. =0)

It's an obsession

I believe I forgot to include the lovely gentleman in the photograph when I listed my "addicitons". My God!!! The man is perfect. He's gorgeous, sweet, down to earth, funny and as you can see not to hard too look at. I have my DVR set to record anything and everything that has his name in it. It's really bad. =0) I am now in search of a way to get a t-shirt that he was wearing in an interview with "J.K. Livin'" on it. Not necessarily the one he was wearing (although that would be the best). So I'm on a mission. Anyways, I just realized that I forgot to include this fine example of the human form in my addicitons and, for now, he's at the top of the list.

GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!! (or no goal as it were)

Well there he is. My little star goalie. This is a picture of S defending the goal at the 2006 Myles Standish Soccer Tournament at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. It took place the Fri., Sat., & Sun after Thanksgiving. A very long weekend indeed. S had 3 shutouts out of 5 games. They ended up coming in 4th out of 16 teams. Which I thought was pretty darn good considering they had only practiced as a team twice before the tournament. All in all a fun but stressful and tiring weekend. Thank goodness this little boy takes after his Daddy in the athleticism department. He just takes naturally to any sport he plays. I love it. I was never athletic as a kid so it's so great to watch him and cheer for him as he does so well. He has another tournament this weekend. This should be interesting because D's family is coming to celebrate early Christmas with us. There are 3 games throughout the day on Saturday. Luckily, it's a little closer (Torrance, CA) than the last one. I hope everyone is having a great holiday season and I hope to post again before Christmas.