All Aboard

The bags are packed, toes painted, hair cut and colored, Grandparents are here to watch the kids. It must be time to leave on our cruise. So we are off to San Juan to board the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas for 7 days of rest and relaxation. Well, at least we will be able to reconnect with each other, hopefully we will still enjoy each others company like we did before we were married and had kids and spent less time with one another. I am looking forward to the sunshine and maybe getting a tan. Talk to you all in a week.

FUN FUN FUN

So last Saturday, we took the gang to Kangaroo Zoo, to celebrate Kohl's 4th birthday. He will be 4 on Friday the 25th, but K1 and I will be out of town. Our family has never been there and I don't think the kids will let us forget it now. S and K had a blast, big J was not too sure of things. K2 has told us he wants to go there on his real birthday.

Then today with all the snow and a day off from school, daddy took a half day and played in the snow with the kids. One snowcave, homemade sled ramp and 2 hours of play later, it was time to come in and warm up with hot coco and warm baths.

Oh how I love the snow. The joy it brings to the kids face and the time we can spend outside together.

Brave little man

This is what the washing machine looks like, after having a sick kid all night.

So after going

through 5 pairs of p.j.'s, 4 crib sheets, numerous burp rags, nose sucked out twice and 1 bath, Jansen still manages to say cheese for the camera.

He was up most of the night coughing and throwing up due to having croup.

What kind of neighbors do you have?

Let me tell you about my neighbors. This morning Keith went to leave for work and had to shovel the driveway first. About 5 mins. into his shoveling, along came rescue neighbor #1, AKA Casey Nelson and his sidekick Brynley. Casey has a snowplow on his Rhino(I think that is what it is) and he was clearing alot of driveways. Within minutes the driveway was clear, so Keith started to put some ice melt down and along came rescue neighbor #2, AKA CJ Heringer, with his snow blower. CJ was clearing the sidewalks on our side of the street. CJ then started clearing some driveways also. Between #1 and #2 our driveway and sidewalk where cleared in record time. Of course the snow kept coming and a little shoveling will still be required, but thanks to our wonderful neighbors the hardest work is over.....at least for today.

I can honestly say " I love my neighbors ".

Thanks so much....

The weight is coming off

So after 1 week of smaller meals, no sugar (ok, less sugar) and working out 30 - 60 mins. a day, I am down 2 pounds. Yeah!!!! If, I keep it up I may just hit my goal of 5 pounds by cruise day. I have to say hitting the gym at 6am has been tough and is usually crowded, but it has helped me deal better with my kids. Keith likes it because, it means I am showered and dressed for the day before he ever leaves for work. We all know that, if mom is happy the whole house seems happy. So let's stay happy and healthy in 2008.

The countdown begins

I have been waiting for January. Why, you may ask? Keith told me back in October that we were going on a Southern Caribbean cruise in January 2008. We leave on the 24th and return Feb. 2nd. We fly to San Juan and board Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. We are stopping in St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados. Hopefully, I will come back relaxed and a little tan.

The only problem is I have to wear a swimsuit. This means my month will be full with trips to the gym and no dessert after any meal. This will be the real trick to enjoying my vacation. If I loose 5 pounds I will be happy. That's the key right, set small goals so your not disappointed. Any advice anyone can offer on achieving this goal would be appreciated.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, we will be kid free for our trip. I have not had a vacation without them in over a year. I really look forward to a peaceful night sleep and using the bathroom without having someone banging on the door.

The warmth and relaxation awaits me. YEAH!!!!