Dear Time ... STOP ALREADY

Three years ago we were decorating a nursery for a tiny bundle of joy that was on her way. We were picking out names, stocking up on diapers, choosing a tiny homecoming outfit and looking at sonogram pics, listening to a heartbeat and dreaming.

Today that sweet bundle of joy is oh so very close to turning three ... only a couple weeks left. So, the time has come to put the crib away and move on up to a big girl bed.

A few months ago some sweet friends Blessed us with a bedroom set. It's a queen size bed, but we figured it could sub for a guest room if the need arose. Hattie has a big bed too, so we are set if any of you outta towners wanna stop by.

(that was a hint, by the way!!)

So, this weekend we pushed the crib aside and daddy set to work putting that big bed together.

Sophie kept her eye on him (she was very excited) ...

... and then she got an idea ...

... she decided that daddy needed a little help!

At one point I got a little teary and told Sophie that mama was just a little sad that she was getting so big. She just looked me right in the eye, held her hands out wide, did a little dance and proclaimed...

... "Well, Sophie's HAPPY!!!!!"

well, allrighty then.

Once the bed was put together and made up - with the bedding that she chose herself ("colka dots", just like her big sis!!), we loaded it up with all of her old crib buddies, Big Bear, Little Bear, Brown Bear, Purple Pillow Pal and Minnie Mouse.

(Hmmm, maybe THAT is why she was runnin out of room in the crib)

The nightstand held signs of days gone by ... ya know, back when she was a baby.

But the new bed tells a new story ... of a big girl whose toddler days are numbered.

A very proud girl.

A very EXCITED girl!

Once the time came to actually SLEEP in the big bed, she got just a tiny bit nervous.

But, for the most part, she was proud.

And very, very big.

(now, please excuse me while I go have a big ol mama cry in the corner)

Fahion Statements

This morning I decided to try a little experiment. I decided to see if Sophie, at nearly 3 years old, could do the dressing process by herself. I KNOW she can dress herself, but I mean the entire opening drawers, assembling an outfit and putting it on her person process. I knew I would quite possibly get an "interesting" ensemble, but decided that I would be brave enough to let her wear whatever she picked ... within reason. (I mean, come on, we DO have to hit the voting booth today, so...)

I listened as she headed up the stairs, heard drawers opening and closing and then it got quiet.

Too quiet.

A few moments later she came down the stairs in ...

... a fluffy pink tu-tu ...
... and nothing else ...
... at all.
(I may have to alter this one ever so slightly before we leave the house)

It's not easy being a diva ... or her mommy.

But I cannot imagine a better thing to be right now.

Sweet, SWEET Abundance

I was lying in bed, wide awake, at about 1AM on Sunday morning thinkin about all kinds of things. One of which was this blog and what I want to do with it.

I thought about a summer re-design (workin on that ... ya know, cause summer is just about over...), I wondered how to get one of those cool little designy things to go between the posts for that pretty factor and I tried to figure out how to somehow get little tabby thingies up at the top so I can start featuring my photography. But mostly I thought about the content of the blog. What do I want to say?

I want to be intentional with what I say. I want to encourage anyone who reads this.

I want to tell a story here. This is the closest thing that my girls have to baby books (yes, I know that this fact alone qualifies me for worst mom of the year!) and I want them to be able to see their stories told. They deserve that.

And I want to share my faith.

So, this week I have been looking for stories to tell. And, while I do not have one big story, I do have several moments of Abundance that make my life the little foretaste of Heaven that it is.

When I woke up on Sunday morning (after the hubbs let me sleep in a bit) I walked into the living area to find the man who stole my heart almost eight years ago sitting quietly at the kitchen table, Bible layed out in front of him, with his head bowed in prayer. I resisted the urge to grab my camera and, instead, bowed my own head in humble, thankful prayer for this AMAZING man that I am Blessed to spend my life with. I honestly have NO idea how I deserve this gift, but I will spend my life in grateful abandon trying to make him as happy as he makes me.

Monday afternoon the girls and I climbed into the car to head out to meet hubby so I could have a girls-night-out date with a friend. The girls immediately asked to listen to the CD with songs from VBS. I admit that I may or may not have rolled my eyes ... I love the music, but it is ALL we have listened to int he car for over a month. But then Hattie looked at me and said "Please Mommy, I want to sing Jesus music" ... hello 2x4 upside the head! So we turned it on ... and up - LOUD. And I listened to both my girls sing their Jesus Music. And then got to walk around a mall with my friend Sue, spend absolutely NO money, try on clothes that FIT in stores like Lucky Jeans and then sit in a car and laugh, cry and talk for over an hour.

Tuesday afternoon I was hit hard with a nasty migraine. By the time my man got home I was in so much pain that all I could do was cry. No medication was working and I could not get even enough relief to let the meds put me to sleep. In the middle of all of this massive pain I opened my eyes to see Sophie inches away from me with a look of worry on her sweet face. She started rubbing my back (like she had just seen her daddy do) and said kept sayin "I so sorry mommy ... are you OK?" And then SHE started crying because she was worried. It was a new emotion and she had no idea what to do with it. So she just loved on her mama. I am so thankful that she does not know fear and worry well enough to handle these feelings. She is safe, secure and comfortable and any change away from that is a start to her. I am also thankful that she had a sweet example in her daddy as to how to take care of me (or anyone else in need) when it is necessary.

Wednesday afternoon Hattie came home and climbed off her school bus. I asked, as I always do, how her day was. She usually doesn't answer me - part of her ASD diagnosis - so I did not expect anything in return. But she started jumping up and down and saying "kite mom. KITE". I looked up thinking she had seen one and there was nothing there. I didn't really know what to think, so we just went in the house. A few minutes later, however, as I was going through her bag, I pulled out ... a kite. They went on a field trip yesterday and she had seen it and gone crazy over it. Her teacher let her buy it (they go on these trips to teach them to shop and interact within the community) because she was "so cute" about it. So, you see, when I asked her about her day ... SHE ANSWERED ME!!!!!!!!!! For the first time EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praise Him.

Now, this morning, here I sit with my sweet little friend Sophie. We are watching Sesame Street and she is learning all about the letter L. At 2 years and 10 months she can recognize all of her letters and numbers, tell me what sound the letters make and give me a word for each of them. She also knows her shapes - including octagon and pentagon, colors (FINALLY) and animals. She says her S's with the sweetest little lisp you ever heard and she dances better than ANY of those kids on So You Think You Can Dance (in MY humble opinion). She is amazing.

So is her sister.

And her brothers.

And her sister-in-law.

And, do not even get me started on her daddy.

So, in 3 days, when I turn (gasp) 42, I will do so knowing that I am one VERY Blessed woman.

This is life ... in Sweet Abundance.


Thank You, Father ... thank You.

Catching Up

I know I need to post part two of my summer vacation - and I will. I promise.

But, today I thought I would just play a little catch up ... and since Blogger is being funk-a-delic with it's picture posting issues, looks like it's a good time to do just that.

So, while I was in Canada, the girls and hubby stayed home and forged on without me. Of course, they had a little help (thank you Mary & Cheryl!!), but Hubbs is a great dad and can hold down the fort with the best of 'em! He got up every morning and got them both ready for VBS and dropped them off on his way to work. Then he would pick em up on the way home or come home and set miss Sheriff (AKA Cheryl) free if it was her day to keep them. He also managed to keep the house clean (that may have been a product of a speed clean session on the last day I was gone!!) and even got some laundry done.

Yeah, my man is a better mom than I am :-)

The girls LOVED being with their friends at church for VBS. And I love that they were surrounded by people who took the time to love on them while I was away ... and loved on them in HIS name. THAT is the best! They have been teaching me all the moves to the songs that they learned while they were there and it is obvious that they had a blast! Mrs. Lezlie even took the time each day to take pictures of them to send to my cell phone so I could know they were doing well. I LOVE my church family so stinkin much!

After I got home, Hattie had a couple more weeks off of school (she is doing a summer program that will enable her to keep up with her therapies and such). Try as I might to keep them busy and occupied, these poor girls were bored out of their MINDS. And that boredom led them to bug the ever lovin snot out of each other and, by association, the hubbs and I too. Sophie can push her sister's buttons faster than anything and Hattie NEVER fails to react. Which only eggs her sister on.

Yeah, it's great.

Hattie FINALLY got to go back to school this week. On Monday she had finished her breakfast, brushed her teeth and gotten dressed all before 8AM ... and the bus doesn't come til 8:30. But she wore that big ol backpack the entire time and watched diligently out the window for the bus. When that thing came around the corner she actually squealed with delight. LOVE it!

She is doing GREAT in school and we are actually planning to start mainstreaming her into a regular class this coming school year. I am a nervous wreck, but a very proud and excited nervous wreck! She met all of her goals for last year (very rare in her program) so they are planning to set the bar VERY high this year. I am constantly amazed by her ability to adapt, but this year is gonna be a stretch. And it is just what she needs!

Sophie is a talk-a-holic these days - seriously, she even talks in her sleep. She decided the other day that she is done with the booster seat at the table. She now refuses to sit in anything but a regular chair - makes for some messy moments at meal time, but she is so proud. She is also completely over sippy cups. She only wants to drink from a regular cup - this also makes for messy moments, but we are learning to cope with that. She was introduced to the napkin this week - they are fast and furious friends.

As much as Sophie likes to push Hattie's buttons, they really are very close. And S can "read" H's moods better than even the Hubbs and I on some days. I love to listen to them chat with each other - it is very simple language, but it is all from the heart. I can tell that Sophie and her "chattiness" is going to be a BIG tool in helping Hattie with her language goals and skills. God is soooo good to give her such a great little sister. I think they would be lost without each other and I love that we were used as the tools to make them sisters. LOVE it.

I have a couple stories to share ... but they involve pictures. And, well, with blogger and her issues today, they will just have to wait a tad bit longer. I mean, come on, if I'm gonna brag on my peeps, I gotta do it right, don't I?!

(I just read over this post and realized that it is all over the place. Probably should have used the bullet point system, but going back to fix it would take forever and Sesame Street is ending, so ... well, there ya go!)

You've Lost That Bloggy Feeling

Well, OK, truth be told I'VE lost the bloggy feeling.

Not really "lost" it. I mean, I still want to blog.

I still LOVE to blog.

I still crave the emotional, artistic and creative release that comes from writing. I still enjoy the process of putting words and pictures together to tell a story and make it come to life. And I do NOT want to stop that process.

Maybe it's writer's block ... but I still have alot to say.

Maybe it's lack of time ... but I sit here and stare at the blank screen on a frightening regular basis.

Maybe it's lack of material ... but my kids are as cute as ever, my life as full as ever and my God as ginormously magnificent as ever.

So ... what could it be.

I think it might be like everything else in life that requires will power. I have to actually EMPLOY the will power to get the job done. And, I am starting to see that I seem to put ALL my will power into one thing at a time. I need to work on that.

Yeah, I need to work on that ALOT.

So, here is where that process begins.

Lately my will has gone into my fitness goals. I am down just under 33 pounds, I am on my way to finishing a Couch-2-5K program (umm, did ya hear that ... FINISHING!! Yes, I WILL finish it!), I workout at least 5 times a week, usually six and I am REALLY watching what I eat. Almost to the point of obsession. Even my mom and my hubbs have chided me on not getting so focused on the what and how much that I forget to enjoy it.

Now, I realize that the main point of food is to act as fuel for our bodies. I get that. But, I'm just thinkin that there is a REASON that God made it taste so good. I mean, come on now, am I right?

So, I really think that, while these goals are a GREAT thing, there are other things that deserve attention too. Other avenues for my will power to take me down.

Now, I love y'all and you have been soooo amazing at holding me accountable in SO many things (fitness being a HUGE one!), that I am gonna count on you for one more...

I need to get back to this. So, if you don't see me on here, call me on it. I need my friends that see me on a regular basis to whack me upside the head and my far away friends to - literally - call me on it. Pick up the phone - text, message, email, CALL ... whatever it takes. Keep me on task.

But, more than ANYTHING, I need to get back to HIM. My Bloggy friends keep me focused on Him and my church friends and FAMILY - well, there is so much to be said for small groups, Bible studies and PRAYING together. I need to DIVE back into the word - and I am. I am doing the Ruth study with the LPM girls. Even if I go it alone, I WILL finish it this time. I am going to read the Word more, start back up on my one year plan for the Bible and I am going to get back into my prayer journal. THAT is my own personal accountability and I have really let it slide.

So, these are my plans - expand my will power and focus to make a healthier me. A better mom to my kids. A more loving and happy wife to my man. And a more devoted and loving child to my King.

Well, lookey there ... that just might be that bloggy feeling comin back.

And, ya know, I think I like it.

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What I Did On My Summer Vacation

(AKA: Airport 2010 ... A Horror Story)

I have been editing and going through trying to find the "right" pictures to post. But there are just too many. So, I have decided to make a little slide show to share. However, in order to buy time to figure out how exactly to do that, I will share a few here and tell you some stories.

***WARNING: If you are planning a trip this summer and are scheduled to fly on an airlines that starts with "U" and ends with "nited", you may either want to run away now OR take notes and be prepared. I'm just sayin... ***

Friday morning my mommy flew into town and we met up at the airport. After a quick trip out to breakfast with the family and a romp through some unknown parts of inner Detroit (I do NOT recommend this procedure) looking for a bank, we returned to the airport where I said goodbye to my sweet girls and my wonderful man. (I may or may not have bawled like a big ol baby!)

(Please note - I had not yet removed the camera from the bag, but if I HAD, you would now be seeing pictures of the girls chewing on the fruits of their puppy dog eyed labor - gummy worms. As well as pictures of my mommy lovin' on her grand babies.)

Mommy and I checked in and headed to our gate - all was right with the world, as we even had time to stop and get some snacks. And then our plane pulled up to the gate. At which point I began to wonder if this plane had a mommy that might be accompanying us. Don't believe me? See for yourself:





Yeah, those stairs, that is how we got ONTO the plane. M'hmm ...

And, this, dear friends, is where the adventure/story of woe begins.

We left D'town a little bit late and knew that our time between flights in Washington DC would be limited. We mentioned such to the flight attendant and asked if she could possibly determine where we were to go when we landed so we would not miss the next flight. She called ahead, found out the gate number and showed us, on a map, how to get there.

We came in at Gate A3, grabbed our bags and took off. We had to get to Gate D16 (in another building entirely) in record time. We had been told that there were various hours of the day in which the "people movers" were operating and that they would be the fastest way to get there. We found one, bound for the C/D terminal, and jumped on. We ran through THAT building and arrived at our gate in time. Except, thank you so very much, our flight's gate had been changed to A1 - that would be the one right-stinkin-next-door to the one we came in at.

So, we grabbed our bags - again - and took off. Ran back through the A/B terminal, jumped back on the people mover and headed to ... the Z terminal. Which, it would seem, is the place where it parks when it's done moving people for the day.

nice.

At this point, we are simultaneously laughing hysterically and growling angrily. It's an odd emotion ... I don't recommend it.

We flung our bags on our backs and headed out again. This time running the entire way from Z to A ... literally. We arrived at our gate with, according to my watch, my cell phone, mom's watch AND the clock on the stinkin wall, five minutes to spare. Only to learn that the plane had already left. At which point Miss U***nited Airlines looks me in the face and says (with an attitude) "everyone else got here on time".

She then sends us to the Customer Service agent in the C/D terminal.

Who sends us to the INTERNATIONAL Customer Service Agent in the A/B terminal.

Where we find "everyone else" (ya know, the ones who got there on time) waiting in the same line trying to get on a new flight to Montreal.

We finally make it through said line and find ourselves booked on a new flight which is to leave in an hour and a half.

Except, ya know, not so much.

All said and done, our 30 minute layover turned into a SIX hour adventure in the Amazing Race training ground, otherwise known as Dulles International Airport, Washington DC.

This is where I need to let you know that shoes like this:



are not meant for running.

And this is where I took the one and only picture of mom and I together of the entire trip.



(how sad is that?)

Eventually our plane arrived - this one was the first plane's LITTLE SISTER!!! - we climbed the FOUR steps to get on and left the USofA.

We arrived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada sometime after 1AM. And, it would seem, the hotel shuttle does not run very efficiently - or, ya know, at ALL - at that hour. So, we hopped ourselves into a cab ... and $50 later, checked into a beautiful hotel room, collapsed on the beds and slept til almost 10AM the next morning.

And so, with the airport 2010 horror behind us (for now), we headed out to see Montreal ...

To Be Continued ...

Project 365 - Weeks 22, 23 & 24

Yeah ... I'm playin catch up again.

I have no excuses except to say it has been nuts. That is all ...

Here we go!
May 23: Cars - This is what ya get when Daddy watches NASCAR ... so, basically, every stinkin Sunday!

May 24: Rose Garden - the first official rose has blossomed on one of the bushes out front! We had no idea what color they would be, but I love me some pink!

May 25: Picnic - One of the best parts of having a fenced backyard. The kids can play outside while we cook dinner. Daddy grills while mama gets the rest ready! LOVE it!

May 26: Another One Down - She lost another tooth. And, yet again, she pulled it herself! (taken with cell phone ... yuck)

May 27: Aaron - He said the bass was too heavy on his shoulders ... so he hung it on his head.

Ummm ... ok.

May 28: Oh No - PLEASE tell me this aint right. This would be why I LEFT Arizona!

May 29: Haircut - OK, I confess, this was actually taken on the 28th, but I can NOT find the pic for this day. Oooops!

May 30: Rose Garden Part II - The second bush has blossomed and these are a fun orange/red swirl!!

May 31: Remember - It says it all.

June 1: Clouds - Love me a pretty sky!

June 2: Decor - It's starting to look more and more like home as more and more stuff makes it up on the walls!

June 3: Fish Fly - every year about this time they come ...
... the lovely fish fly. Which can only mean it's just a matter of time til the streets are covered in their carcasses and the town starts smellin like dead fish!

Lovely!

June 4: The Plane! The Plane! - She likes planes.

We live near an airbase.

She is a happy girl.

And her daddy is a VERY happy man!

June 5: Photo Shoot - My first official photo shoot as a paid photographer!

June 6: Kayla - She graduated today! SO proud of her!

June 7: Seven - Our 7th anniversary. I LOVE that man of mine!

June 8: Window - A very good friend of ours made this window for us as a wedding present for a VERY big window that was in the bathroom of our first house. THIS house has no windows in the master bathroom ... but that was not about to stop me from hanging it up. (Used to be twice as big. It's been cut in two and the other half is hanging in the upstairs bathroom over the window in there.)

June 9: Quack - This guy has been around a while. We have named him Timex, cause he takes a lickin and keeps on ... well ... quackin.

Seriously, due to an unfortunate wet bed incident he had to be put through the washer ... and he STILL quacks when ya squeeze him!

June 10: Eli - LOVE this baby boy!

June 11: Clouds Part II - and, yes, it was taken with the cell phone ... while I was driving ... on the interstate.

Kids - do NOT try this at home!

June 12: POOL! - It was FINALLY time to hit the pool. The girls were VERY excited! In fact, Sophie got a little TOO excited ... but that is a story for another day.

June 13: WINNER! - I got to deliver the Kate Carlson CD/EP to the winner - Miss Amanda - at church this morning. We took a pic together but somehow it did not get saved, so I asked her to take a new one for me - this is with her webcam but she said I had to doctor it up ;-)

(Can ya see why I call her SuperModel?!)

So, how was YOUR week?

Winner, Winner, Chicken (Enchilada) Dinner

(because "chicken dinner" is just so common and, honestly, I just have Mexican food on the brain!)

So, CLEARLY, when I said I'd pick a winner "Saturday afternoon", what I meant was Saturday afternoon ... in, like, Hawaii or someplace. Or, ya know, something like that.

Cause I mean, come ON, I am never one to procrastinate or anything like that ... no ... uh huh ... not me.

Much.

So, that being said ... a winner has been chosen.

And here is how it was done:

Me: Honey, pick a number between one and nine.

Hubs: wha..? (he is very sleepy)

Me: Pick a number between one and nine ... please.

Hubs: why?

Me: It's for the blog.

Hubs: for MY blog? (who knew he even HAD a blog?!)

Me: No ... for MY blog.

Hubs: What are we doin here?

Me: Givin stuff away ... pick a number!

Hubs: Six ... how's that?

Me: That is super swell ... thanks.

Hubs: Anytime.

(and, with that, you get a look into the thrilling goings on of the fascinating lives here in B Manor!)

(I know you are excited!!)

Anyhoo - since the very technical choosing process chose number six, and the sixth comment was from the lovely J (AKA Amanda, or as I like to call her, SuperModel!), then SHE is the winner! Congratulations Girl!

And, since y'all asked, HERE is where you can order a CD - or one of her beautiful t-shirts. And, the really cool thing about the shirts is that it's part of the Got Your Back program and when you order one for yourself (for $15) you also get to send one to someone in Haiti that has a need. How cool is that? Yeah, I told you this girl has a heart for God like nobody's business. So does her mama ... or, as we affectionately call her, Momager!

OR, if you are the downloading type, you can down load the music HERE. But, then you would not get the BEAUTIFUL cover that her Mama created. And, really? Who does not wanna look at this:



(Her mama, Melissa - also one of my very best friends - is an AMAZING photographer and also makes some super cute crafts that she sells in the store on her sight. Got my eye on one of those bags!!!)

Thank you all for participating and, again, congratulations Amanda ... I will get you your disc as soon as possible! I KNOW you are gonna love it!

Radiant

Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE me some good worship music. GOOD, soul stirring, hands in the air, tears in your eyes, heart comin outta your chest, face down in reverence, glory revealed worship music ... nothing beats it! It can bring me to the throne of His Grace quicker than anything.

And I could not ever live without it.

Now, there are a few select CD's that take me there in a way that others cannot. I call these my "go to" CD's. And I keep these in a special place. A place where I can find them if I'm having one of "those" days. I'm SURE you know what I'm talkin about!

Most of my "go to" CD's have been around a while. The first couple One Day projects, a Third Day disc, a couple FFH CD's, a Vineyard collection and a compilation project from the RocketTown people. The "go to"'s have not changed much over the years - they are all around ten years old, if not more - it is (in my mind) an elite collection that very few pieces can touch.

Very few.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I have a friend. She is young and beautiful - inside and out - and has a heart for God that is unique and pure and beautiful. She's one of those people that wear the Grace of God like a cozy blanket draped across their shoulders. Her words radiate with joy and peace and her smile lights a room. And, on top of all of that, she is talented.

Frankly, the girl can flat out SANG!

She lives in Nashville and could be takin that town by storm, if she chose to.

But, she chooses Him.

She knew at the age of 14 that God had placed a calling on her life. A call to worship. And now, at the age of 20, she is heeding that call. She follows His will and, in doing so, has seen doors open for her that she never even knocked on.

I LOVE how God works that way!

If you want to read her story you can find it HERE or, told in her own words, HERE. It is BEAUTIFUL, just like her heart.

(She's also on Facebook)

A couple months ago I got to spend some time with her in Nashville and she shared some music that she had been writing, as well as a few covers, for a women's conference series that she was asked to lead worship for. I am not even lying when I tell you that, right there in her mama's kitchen, with foil in my hair (she also does good hair!!), I was brought to my knees in worship. The power in her words and in her rendition of songs I already know well ... wow. All I can call it is anointed. She was in the process of creating a CD/EP of her own to share with the women who came to the conference. And, I knew right then, that my "go to" collection was gonna have a new piece soon.

SO, when it arrived at her mama's doorstep last week and she asked if anyone wanted to review it on their blog I JUMPED at the chance to get my hands on it.

But then I had a moment of panic. How could I give a fair and non biased review of music that I had already fallen in love with? Music made by a girl who already has my heart!?

So, last night when it arrived I decided to listen to it with a critical ear and put all my preconceived notions aside. So, I put the disc into my computer and hit play. The girls were watching one of their favorite shows but both stopped what they were doing to come over and listen. So I turned it up ... loud.

By the end of the first song we were all dancing and I was in full worship mode. Even Sophie had her eyes closed and her little hands up in the air with her face lifting toward the ceiling. And when it was over they asked for more. So, I wiped my tear filled eyes and hit play again. And again and again.

In fact, as I write this, I am listening to it yet again. And, yet again, I am wiping tears from my eyes and am blown away by the beauty of my King and the heart of my friend for HIM.

And, here is the best part ... I have an extra copy to give away!

So, friends, meet Kate Carlson



(I told you she was beautiful!)

Now, I am going to take comments on here until Saturday afternoon, at which time I will hold a drawing and the winner will receive their very own copy of this AMAZING disc. I am so excited to be able to share her with you!

So, what are you waiting for? Go on ... leave a comment!

Up Downs (and I am NOT just talking about the workout)

OK ... let me just say that I broke TWO rules this week. I completely failed on my water intake (especially over the weekend) and I weighed myself on Tuesday.

I KNOW!

I am soooooo fired.

But, I really amped up the workouts this week. And it seemed to pay off.

After the weekend, I knew that it was not gonna be pretty and when I weighed on Tuesday AM I was UP THREE POUNDS! YIKES! So I kicked the workouts into high gear and really watched what I ate, but again, totally failed on the water part. I REALLY need to work on getting it all together at the same time!

OK, so after all of that, I weighed this morning - I had lost since Tuesday, but am still up .4 from where I was last week. I am OK with that though because I know what I did wrong and am determined to fix it.

Also, on Thursday I did a MAJOR workout - Slaughter Boot Camp. It's a military style workout with obstacle courses, running with sandbags, up downs and everything. THEN, I got up this morning and did a Jillian Michaels' Last Chance Workout. My workout Diva friend Jane explained that you will always weigh more right after a workout, so I am hoping that explains it. Either way, .4 is nothing to cry over. I just need to keep my attitude up and carry on.