bittersweet

(beginning of the school year: August 19, 2008 and the ending of the school year: May 29, 2009)

Another school year has come to a close. I'm having a hard time believing that nine months have already come and gone.

Daylon has graduated from 5th grade and is now on his way up to middle school.

Rianne passed 1st grade with flying colors and is going to 2nd grade.

Both are a bit sad to be moving on, especially Rianne. She loved her teacher so much. Daylon loved the fact that they were able to do so much more this year in school than years past. Both are a bit worried about what the next year has in store. However, we are lucky enough to live in such a small town that I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of friends during the summer to keep things busy for them.

Now... if i can just keep the teasing at bay this summer.

*sigh* i LOVE wednesdays

I love Wednesdays. They are my days. My one day a week i get to get out of the house. My one day a week i don't have to keep track of kids. My one day that i get real adult conversation and not 3 year old potty mouth and sassy mouthed conversation (well, there are those exceptions i guess. Gena, I'm sure you understand LOL). My one day a week where i can go and feel like I've had a productive day where there is a start, a middle AND a end and feel like i did my part to make it successful. I love the people I work with. I love the people I work for. I love the atmosphere. I love the camaraderie. And for just a moment or two i get to unwind. I look forward to Wednesdays. Wednesdays are good for my soul.

Most Wednesdays are typically the same. A day full of Big Jo (or is he Little Jo? or am i Little Jo? I'm confused) being his usually self but always bringing the humor that makes Wednesdays worth while and Scott making sure we can handle it. Hours spent catching up on the week with Gena. Lots of great small talk with the ladies in the office. The general back and forth joking with clients and associates (is that i should call them? the higher ups? the officials? or call them by what they are? the brand inspector, the vet, my boss(s)?)I went through the day doing what i do, enjoying my Wednesday. I come home to finish out the evening watching Rianne's softball game and couldn't figure out why people were cracking jokes about me "being released from the auction". I totally forgot that all the while i was sporting a nice big red"auction release" stamp on the back of my arm (thanks Chyrl LOL). And although i got the stamp of approval, apparently I'm not official cause he never signed it, even after i teased him about it. I guess i will be forever branded as propery of "R" Livestock... or at least until i washed it off last night (not that i mind working there forever).

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend
it was...

*Full of Family ~
DarRell's whole family was down, minus one sister and her family. That means all 8 of the 9 kids made it down. DarRell had a brother coming in from California, his baby sister coming in from Colorado and his other baby sister came down from SL. Add in the additional kids, grandkids,spouces,and cousins and you've got a mad house! We really wish Lyla could make it from NM. One of these days, everyone is going to be here at one time.

*Full of Food ~
We decided at the last minutes that we would host a BBQ here at out house Friday evening. I felt like that was the least I could do. We have the space, we have a big yard so why not? Turns out the weather had a different idea. We ended up moving it inside which turned out just as well. Although i wish i would have had a bit more of a cleaner house.

*Full of cruddy weather ~
It was overcast most of the weekend, which wasn't so bad. Off and on storms during the day, but rainy and cold in the evenings. It totally took the fun out of enjoying the evenings outside. Mother Nature couldn't have picked a lousier time to rain on our parade.

some of my favorite highlights of the weekend:

The kids, mostly Sam, looking for bugs... always looking for bugs.

Swimming with Uncle Mike at the Hotel

Food and Family

Birthday get togethers because there are just never enough

Grow Blossom Bloom DANCE!

Elite Street Dance Company

Rianne - Jazz and Lyrical Ballet

Daylon - Boys and Girls Hip Hop

Rianne - Mini Hip Hop Girls

Thursday marked the end of dance season around here. 9 months of weekly practices came down to this. And it turned out GREAT! I'm bummed that i didn't get to see much of the other dances since Rianne had so many costume changes, but what i did see was really good. I guess it should have been really good, the older girls have taken 1st place in so many compitions lately this year.

Here are a few more pictures of the evening:

Rianne - Lyrical Ballet

"Freeze"

Rianne - Mini Hip Hop Girls*

"Can't Touch This"

Daylon - Boys and Girls Hip Hop

"Wall to Wall"

Rianne - Jazz

"Let's Dance"

Rianne - Mini Hip Hop Girls*

"Funky Cold Medina"

*(These four cute little girls got the award for the being the shakeist... those girls can move their stuff! It was GREAT!)

frustrated

Today marked the end of The Shrinking Jeans, Shrink into Summer challenge. I admit, i haven't been keeping up on it like i should be. I didn't hit my goal during those two months. I was about 2.5 lbs off. I did however lose 7.4 pounds. And frankly a loss is a loss right? I didn't come out on top of what i started out as so i consider it a win.

Also, i earned this:

a while back. I honestly can't wait till i trade it in for a 20lb loss button. Just a few more pounds to go.

I beleive it's time to get back into the swing of things again. So, here go a few confessions:

*I haven't run for over 2 weeks now and i feel like i'm completely out of it.

In fact, i haven't done any exercising for quite some time now.

I'm in need of some serious motivation.

*I haven't done any tracking of points on WW for almost that long.

It's showing in my weight loss... or lack there of...

Tomarrow starts a new week. A perfect time to start new don't you think?

*I think i've given up on my goal to run/walk the 5 mile milk run in July.

It seems so beyond my reach right now.

*I just bought 2 bags of puffy Cheetos yesterday.

Sadly, that's all i had for dinner last night too (although i didn't eat the whole bag(s))

*I'm finding that with the warmer weather also comes a greater challenge to eat right.

I've got summer cravings coming in hard, and most of them aren't exactly the best. I'm hoping that once my garden starts throwing out it's bounty, things will get easier.

So... that's it, i guess. I'm a bit frustrated with my lack of motivation right now. I'm hoping that swift kick in the rear end is in my near future, i could really use it.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

i know i've been slacking major big time on the blog front.

No excuses... just not feeling it lately.

...but i couldn't NOT blog about my baby's 3rd birthday.

So, here's a big shout out to my little guy....

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY SAM!!!