Being thankful, Project 365...

As you age, you hit certain milestones.  It's part of life.  You first start noticing people growing up when those baby cousins of yours are no longer babies.  Seriously?  What happened?

In life, you notice that people do things at similar times.  You tend to go through seasons.  Seasons of weddings.  Then a season of children while the kids start being born.  Then, the marriages start falling apart.  You start to have divorces, or friends that are not happy in their relationships.

Soon it'll be my kids growing up, going to prom, going off to college.  Then, people our age will start retiring, and paying off mortgages, and moving to Arizona and Florida, and start to become grandparents.

This week, we hit an unexpected new time of life.  One of my husbands co-workers, his friend, passed away yesterday.  He was only 34. He had a massive heart attack while leaving work.  He is survived by his wife and two kids.  His kids came between my two in age.

He's been working at this place, pretty much as long as my husband.  My husband has been there for 10 years. He was always very nice, fun, sometimes even snarky like I am, when I would visit my husband.  My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, his kids, his family and friends now, as they have lost someone so unexpectedly.  

I can't even begin to imagine how hard this must be for his family.  He really still had his whole life in front of him.  He'd barely done a third or his life when this happened.  This was just so unexpected.

With a better understanding every day, of just exactly how short life is, I'm going to tell you what parts of life, and parts of my family that I've been grateful for this past week.

 1-25 (I failed to take pics on 1-24)

I'm grateful for this girl and the way she makes me smile by wearing the same pair of socks for 3 days because of how warm they are.

1-25 (2)

This guy.  I'm grateful that when I don't feel well, he will get silly to make me smile.  Captured here, rocking my hat.

1-26

I'm grateful for this girl and her awesome smile.  She's super caring, and wants to do nice things for you just so that you will be happy.  Love this kid.

1-27

This guy was so done with it, but managed to add a smile when he noticed the camera.  He puts up with me and my crazy gassy kids and he actually seems to enjoy us.  I'm grateful that he is here, and wants to be here with me and with the girls, no matter how gross we all are.

1-28

I'm grateful for this hot mess.  She's just starting to take an interest in how she looks, so she doesn't look like this all the time.  I'm grateful I get to see the young woman she is growing into.

1-28

This one came in to bother me while I was working.  She is spitting and making fart noises.  I'm grateful she's still comes in and tells me she wants me, just wanting to be with me.

1-29

I'm grateful for Nutella, and the way this kid eats it instead of butter, peanut butter, or jelly.  "I want eggs and toast with 'tella for breakfast."  The chocolate face is killer.

1-29

I'm grateful to this mutt for showing me how to accept a new member of the household, even when I wasn't always happy with him.

Life is short people.  We really don't know how much time we have.  Be grateful for what you have, and make sure that your loved ones really know how much they mean to you.

It's worth it to keep working at it...

It's been a long time since I've written about my weight loss.  As you may or may not remember, I've been on Weight Watchers since September of 2011.  I have lost a total of 77 pounds.

Right now, I'm up a couple of pounds.  I know this is a normal part of weight loss.  The ups, the downs.

It gets so hard sometimes.  You work so hard, you say no to those chips that you want.  You do not walk past the chip aisle at the grocery store.  You wish you had some queso dip.  Or ice cream.  Or fatty meats.  Whatever your vice is.

And sometimes, it does no good.  Sometimes it takes weeks to see that meager difference in the scale.  It doesn't matter that you work out.  It still will not show for a week or two.

But...

After that week or two, if you can stay on track, you can see a difference.  It'll be big in the beginning, because you need to see that difference, and quickly so that you keep that motivation.  Once you get closer to your goal, it gets harder.  You have to step up your game.  You work harder.  Not that you're hungrier, but that when you get hungry, you have less of a margin of error for making bad choices.

In the beginning, when you make that choice, and you eat chips, or ice cream, or pastry, or chocolate, you still lose.  And you can still lose big, dependent on how differently you are eating now, compared to how you were eating before.

And you are working out now.  Working out harder than ever before.  You know those workouts?  They can make the scale go up.  The muscles you build take up less space at the same weight as the fat you had.  And, you may retain water as your muscles heal themselves.  So, the harder you work out, the more hyped up you get, thinking that you'll see a bigger drop in the scale.  That hasn't been my experience.  Although, in this past year, I've dropped 4 sizes and only 10 lbs. If you didn't catch that, it was 4 sizes and 10 lbs.

So, now.  Now that you are closer to your goal. Now that you work out more than ever before.  Now that you have been eating healthier for years.  Now, the changes you make to your eating and routines are smaller, the losses are smaller.

It's ok.

No, really.  It's ok.

Why you ask?  Because it's still worth it.

You tell me which of these two ladies looks happier:

October 2010, Halloween (I was librarian - creative right?)

Taken 11-4-2013, the day the Bears beat the Packers.

Hang in there.  Keep working at it.  Try different things to get different results.  Seriously.  If I can do it, anyone can do it.  It takes a choice and a determination to follow through on the choice and a willingness to try different changes to get results.

Project 365 week 3....

So, it seems that every week I am a day late on my Project 365.  Hmmm.... I guess that means that at least I'm posting once a week, right? 

This past week, we've had snow, then ridiculously cold temperatures, then more snow, then more cold, then more snow... you get the idea.

On Thursday, 1-16, the girls and I went to the mall to return a scarf that I received for Christmas.  Unfortunately, the scarf was not as flattering on as it was it looked when it was on the hanger.  Mia used her Christmas money to buy herself a tiara.

I did not take any pictures on Friday, 1-17.  So, I'll give you two from Saturday, 1-18.  The first, I noticed that the snow had caked onto my driver's side window in the shape of a heart.  Awwww... (yes, I outlined it for you.  Your welcome.)

The second is from the show that my brother Derrick and I went to.  We had a brother/sister night, went out to dinner and went to see "Young Frankenstein."  It was a great play, funny, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

On Sunday, 1-19, I again did not take any pictures.  What can I say?  I'm still working on getting into this habit.  However, as a happy surprise, someone was taking pictures with my camera.  I believe this comes to you, courtesy of Tony.

Monday, 1-20 was a holiday, no school and no work.  We went to the Aquarium.  While getting myself to look somewhat presentable, I had an audience that decided to try to pretend to apply her own make-up.

Tuesday, 1-21, dawned bright and sunny.  And because there had been snow the night before, then extreme falling temperatures, people started sliding off of ramps during the morning commute.  Causing the news people to get everyone hyped to LEAVE EARLY, AT LEAST DOUBLE YOUR COMMUTE TIME.  Some of us, without the option to double our commute time, were stuck in traffic that looked like this.  It only took 3 hours to make the 36 mile trek to work.

Wednesday, 1-22, I was happy to have two days to work from home.  However, by the time I had to leave to pick up my kids, this is what I walked out to.  Again.  With fast blowing wind causing awesome white out conditions when driving through the farmland around my house.  I'm really done with snow at this point.

Thursday, 1-23, early morning.  Tony is not a morning person.  Neither am I.  But this just sums up my grumpy man in the morning.

How to win the game of sharing a living space....

It happened again today.  As I was putting clean dishes away, I opened up the cabinet with the mugs and liquid measuring cups, and there it was, in all its glory, again.

This measuring cup sustained an irrevocable and usefullness-terminating injury over the 2013 holiday season.  Seeing how this is a plastic cup, you can imagine that this crack can be pulled apart and will let liquid leak out rendering the cup un-useable.

I remember the day my husband pointed this out (a few weeks ago).  "Look, Tara.  Look what your family did."

Alright, alright.  We have no idea who did this to my measuring cup, but it's always fun to blame the people that are staying in your home.

"Hmmm.  Well, what do you want me to do about it?  Let's throw it away.  We have two other measuring cups.  Both only 2 cups big, but good enough."

"But this one had the ounces on it."  And then he walked away, leaving the cup on the counter.  I interpreted this to be a sad sigh, saying goodbye to this measuring cup that got us through formula with our firstborn when we didn't know how many ounces were in a cup and the days of 'googling' questions were not yet commonplace.  I figured, since he would take the garbage out, this cup would end up in the garbage, or recycling or whatever.

Either way, it was gone the next time I was in the kitchen.  But then I found it again.  In the cupboard again.  I exclaimed to him that this needs to be thrown away.  He just shrugged, and left it on the counter.  And I found it in the cupboard.  Again. And again.  And rinse. And repeat.

Today, brilliance struck and I came up with a new plan.  Today, I've taken a new step in this passive-aggressive pack rat game of his.  Today, I bought this:

Today, I put this new measuring cup into rotation.  Let's see how long it takes him to notice that his precious cracked and bleeding, on its deathbed measuring cup is no longer in the cupboard, replaced by this newer, glassier, Pyrex monster of a measuring cup.

Goodbye broken, hello Pyrex.

P.s. This is how I win.  :)

Why I don't work as a day care provider and Project 365...

I walked into Mia's daycare, and the principal was at the front desk. 

"Is she still in the room?"

"Yep.  She's still back there."

I thanked her and made my way back to the darkened hallway.  It was "quiet time", aka nap time at day care and the rooms were darkened leaving the hallway dark too.

The lights were on when I got to Mia's room.  There were 3 or 4 kids huddled together in the reading circle, one with her hand over her face.  As I stepped inside, searching for my child, I took in the few kids that were still sleeping in their cots, blissfully unaware of the war that had been waged on their fellow students, teachers and classroom.  The one visible teacher had folded a garbage bag and tied it around her face to cover her nose and mouth, a makeshift mask.  She was armed with paper towels and a spray bottle and cleaning up in the classroom.  She motioned toward the bathroom, where I could hear the other teacher trying to hide her gags from the other children.  

As I came to the bathroom, I saw the other unhappy teacher, unmasked trying valiantly to not be ill.  Behind her another child, upset, uncomfortable, vomit sticking to his blue sweatshirt and sweatpants.  And finally, the child I came for, standing by the door, tired, upset, shy.  Vomit beginning to dry on her gray leopard print jeans that I had convinced her to wear this morning.

I asked her to go stand by the door as a maneuvered my way to her cubby, around the cots of sleeping students and the cots that had been discarded by awake children.  Around the tables and chairs, traversing the vomit that was still on the floor, in the process of being cleaned up by the teachers.  I grabbed Mia's things, her blanket and clothes in plastic bags waiting for my washing machine, her backpack and coat.  I turned and once again was picking my way among the debris in the day care war zone to get to my child and the door.

And finally, we are out of the chaos of a day care room that has been besieged by the vomit of our very young.  And this is why I could never be a day care provider.  I would have lost it, my temper, my cool, my lunch when this happened.  I salute those teachers, and will try to get you some nice Valentine's Gifts to thank them for taking care of my daughter when she woke up and puked in the classroom.

Since this happened today, we'll go backward through the week in pictures, starting with today:

Mia, at home, after Vomitgate 2014, and before she puked on herself in the car (1-15):

1-14 - The only picture I took, wearing my crown at work.  

1-13 - This is on the door to my work.  Reminding people now that concealed carry is legal in Illinois, you still can't bring your gun to work:

1-12 - We had a birthday party to go to for the kids.

P.s. Yes, I have 2 daughters.  But lately, this is what I get from Olivia, which is why there are so many more pictures of Mia:

1-11 - Mia had her winter program and was on stage singing:

1-10 - Nohemi came over and she and Mia zipped themselves into my hoodie, making themselves a 2-headed-4-handed monster:

1-9 - Dinner - healthy and yum!

1-8 - This is how I entertain myself twice a week at dance class.

My first Project 365 post...ever...

Okay.  So, remember when I told you about my goals?  And one of them was to do that "Project 365" thing?  Yeah - so, I'm starting this.

Project 365 is a project where you take a picture everyday of the year.  Then, I'll share them on this blog.  I'm starting with the first of the year, and I know it hasn't been a week yet, but Tuesday's will be the best day for me to post, so it'll be a full week next week.

Week 1, January 1 through January 7, 2014.

This was Wednesday, New Year's Day.  We dressed up to go to Mima and Pop- Pop's house for a bit of Christmas remixed.  Mia wore her new Winter dress.

Thursday we went to Target and hit the sales.  We came away with many replacement Christmas lights, a light timer, fleece pajamas (pictured) when I "pajama-suited up".

 

From the Children's Museum - hanging at the tree fort.

On Saturday, we finally put away our Christmas decorations, and then decided to move some of our furniture around.  Mia enjoyed sticking her feet in daddy's face, and daddy didn't seem to enjoy feet in his face that much.

Sunday brought us Sticker fun from one of our Christmas books.

On Monday, the day care was closed due to the weather AND daddy's work was out of power, so there was an impromptu daddy daughter date at the mall.

On Tuesday, after being in the house for three days, my inspiration for photos started to wane.  And, I was upset for my poor lady bug because that spade is not going to help her get her legs free.

Post vacation recap-ish...

Today was a snow day.  Even though the snow came down on Saturday...and Sunday.  Then, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped and we feared for our safety.  Exposure to temperatures such as 15 below zero with a windchill of 35-50 degrees below zero can cause frostbite in a matter of minutes.  At least, that's what Facebook told me and I felt no need to test to see if that was a correct statement.

Some things you may not think about when you don't live in this type of climate, or have had a good span of mild winters, is that salt doesn't melt ice at this temperature.  So, all the salt trucks in the world are not going to do much good on your roads.  Be careful!

Tomorrow is already called, we'll have another snow day.  BUT! Things are looking up.  By Friday, we should have temps in the 30's with more snow to add.  It's always fun to not see your yard, when you are in your car parked in the driveway because the shoveled drifts are so high they are now an effective snow wall to keep out only the most determined of trespassers.

And that is winter.  There are roughly 71 more days until spring.  We'll get there.

In other news, today was my first day back to work after having taken the last two weeks off.  It was not easy to get up by 6:30 which is sad since I need to be up before 5 when I need to head into the office.  Needless to say, this transition will be a little rough.

We did a number of things this vacation.  We had family here.  We cooked, we cleaned, we shopped, we ate out, we went roller skating and made it to the city a few times.

Last Friday, the girls and I met up with my brother and dropped by Navy Pier and the Children's Museum.  First, we had lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp, mostly because I've seen that restaurant for the past 15 years or so and always wanted to try it - but never had.  It was fun, and they quizzed us on Forrest trivia.  This was the highlight for me, being a trivia junkie.

My brother adored the Children's Museum, and the girls had a blast too.  They may have been more excited about the Garrett's popcorn for the way home, and the gift shops, but I'll take what I can get.  I thoroughly enjoyed the 1.5 hour to journey home through rush hour traffic with a chorus of snoring girls in the back of the car.  'Cause it's not like I was tired too or anything.

The girls were climbing around, playing with water, building things, playing in tree forts, pretend cooking, and playing in gardens like they were butterflies.  It was a blast and gave me a chance to practice with my non-phone camera.

Happy Monday Snow Day Everyone!

2013 in review...

Guess what?  I started the new year off with a dumb cold and have been on the couch for the past two days.  Ugh. Oh well - it's time to pick myself up and get started on the year.

First things first.  This post may ramble.  I'm sorry for that.  There is so much I want to tell you or write about that, it may come out in a jumbled heap that no amount of editing could fix.  If it does, I'm sorry and I'll do my best to make this coherent.

Ok.  When I opened up this blog earlier this week and wrote about my goals for 2014, I saw when I had last posted, and I was surprised.  I honestly thought that I had posted between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I've had so many thoughts swirling and whirling in my head, I could have sworn that some of it came out into my blog.  I was upset to find out that the mystery post was missing.  Why am I telling you all about this?  Mostly so you don't think I just abandoned you.  Apparently I'm so addle-brained lately that I dreamed about a post, and didn't notice it was all a dream.

I also noticed that while I told you about my goals for 2014, I failed to mention some of the things that I accomplished in 2013.  Thinking back on this year, it's been a little crazy.  The year went by so fast, that I look back and am surprised by all that has happened.

1. I started looking for a new position early in 2013 and was able to grab a new position in April.  It was a step up, and I have been rewarded with doing a job that challenges me, my writing, my people skills, my organization abilities.  This job is making me consider again finishing my Master's Degree and also I am looking for ways to learn how to code.  I am very fortunate and am enjoying my new position.
2. We added a new member to our family - Mr. Joe Cocker Spaniel.  He generally goes by Jojo or Jodgi Podgi (Joe-gee Poe-gee).  He's had some problems with marking in our house, and showing his separation anxiety by peeing in the house.  It's gotten better, although it hasn't stopped yet.  He has become a more of a member of the family, and we look forward to another year with our crazy stinky Jojo.
   
3. We also lost a member of our little family this year.  Mr. Mackles McChunky, our cat had to be put down in June.  Mack was our sweet cat, our adventurous cuddler.  He has been sorely missed.
   
4. My grandfather passed away early in the year.  He has been missed.  We have not been back to Kansas since the funeral.
5. I learned that weight loss is about the foods you put in your mouth.  I hit a plateau this year, and have had to try many different things to re-find what works to lose weight.  I learned that exercise is great, but if I don't watch what goes into my body, and eat healthy, then I work out for little loss.
6. Speaking of working out, I did my first two 5K's this year.  One virtually and one in outdoors with lots of people.  I started running in January, trying to hit 15 minutes.  I have trained from just running 1 mile, or 15 minutes to doing 4 miles at a time, which (on the treadmill) takes about 54 minutes.  
   

 

For running in the Ditka Dash, I got aviator sunglasses and fake mustaches, which the entire family rocked.

So far this year, on my goals, I have created an FB page for my blog.  Feel free to go like it, here.  Just a warning, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what to do with that page.  Also, I was able to run 2 miles today, only 498 left to go this year.  I will be looking to put a tally on the side bar of the blog for the miles total.  And, I have been trying to take a picture every day to join up with one of the 365 picture project blog memes.  I am very determined to make these goals a reality (well, at least so far this year).

What our drive home looked like yesterday.