Boots On

Cracks me up...
Click Here
Reminds me of my brother, well in his younger years that is.

Friday Funny

Happy Thanksgiving!

Run Tom Run!!!

XOXO

Thankfulness

This year what are you thankful for?

It's a question that I have been pondering for a few days now. I've seen quite a few blog post about this, even on Facebook I've seen people posting about what they are thankful for. I'm thankful for so many things that I could easily write a book.

I'm thankful for my health this year. I saw this quote in a magazine last December and I've kept it close to my heart. "Selfish is not a dirty word. You are taking care of yourself what better gift to give your family then a healthy you." When I have the Mommy Guilt's at the gym or doing a work out video at home I remember this quote and know it's okay to take 45 minutes for myself.

I'm thankful for my daughter. Now this I could write a book about! I've watched her grow up so much this year that it still amazes me that she is in kindergarten. She is doing so well and I'm so proud of her. She makes me laugh everyday. A few weeks ago I went to check on her before I left for work, as I was covering her back up (she kicks the covers in her sleep...I do too!) she whispered to me, "Thanks Momma." Melts my heart.

I'm thankful for my husband. I've posted quite a lot about his marathon journey this year. He is so amazing! I rarely heard him complain about doing training for his marathon...in fact he was so ecstatic about training that I had to remind him that he already did his training for the day and to come home! HA! Truly amazing husband I do have. We've been together for nearly 10 years...10 years ago we were truly, truly, truly different people, a different couple.

I'm thankful for my job and my husbands job...we were lucky and both of us kept our jobs through this awful economy. We were both scared, we work for the same company and saw many of our friends lose their jobs. Knock on wood we still have ours and are very grateful!

I'm thankful for my family. Every time I call my parents and they sound too busy to talk I always ask do you want to call back and they say no. They always make time to talk to me and Elly. Thank you to my sister too...I think we talk too much. HA! I don't know what I would do if I couldn't get a hold of her and tell her about my most recent single digit pant buy at Kohls. Whatever would I do?!? I'm thankful that my brother moved closer to me...although I know the rest of my family is not so thankful for this but hey I gained a member of my family that's only a 10 hour drive for me! SCORE! I'm thankful for my other sister too...may her dreams of having a family come true soon!

I thankful for my family here in Ohio. I'm thankful that we can call and ask them for a cup of sugar (I mean Splenda of course!) or to watch El while we go to work or on a date. We are so thankful that El enjoys going to their home and spending time with them.

I'm thankful for my dear friends near and far, new and old. Funny how friends drift in and out of your life and just when you need them. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you, you mean the world to me. I would list all of you but then again it would be a book and I'm already getting lengthy and probably already lost a few readers.

Happy Wednesday!

XOXO

Kid Tofu Tuesday...kinda...

Brought to you by...Kaci@Ellyphant & Kelli@Gohn Crazy

<center><a href="http://www.ellyphant.info"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3344048733_254663f826.jpg" width="300" height="200" alt="Tofu Tuesdays" /></a><br/>Brought to you by... <br/><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kaci</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>@<a href="http://www.ellyphant.info"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ellyphant</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a> & Kelli@<a href="http://www.gohncrazy.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gohn</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Crazy</a></center>

Big J actually gave me this recipe. Spray your pan so nothing sticks first, take a can of biscuit (low fat of course) smash the biscuits so they are flat, flat, flat, like pizza crust., add liberal pizza sauce and top with cheese (low fat of course) and pop in the oven and yummo! Elly had fun making these and they turned out very very good. For you veggies add your own touch with your favorite yummy veggies and soy cheese. Enjoy!

Special thanks to Jennisa...my blog turned out perfect!! XOXO

Window Gazing

Yesterday early afternoon as I was cleaning up the kitchen Elly was entertaining me...reading to me, coloring, and painting. A few quiet minutes went by and you know as a parent when you hear nothing but silence you better go investigate. So I quickly took a glance around and saw Elly was just sitting still looking out the window. I watched her sit for awhile wondering what she was thinking about and just loving what I saw. She must have known I was looking at her cause she turned around and smiled.

She has the best smile.

Today sit still for a minute and love your surroundings, squeeze the ones you love just a little longer and kiss just a little sweeter!

Happy Monday!

Donut Friday

Jon has made it a tradition on Friday mornings to get El a donut for breakfast. Now don't get all preachy on me she usually just licks the frosting and is done with it and every now and then a treat is well deserved. This morning Jon sent me this picture and the caption was "the donut was too messy to eat with my hands" HAHAHA!!

Awhhh El that is the best part get all messy and then lick your fingers!!! Mmmmmmmm!!

Once a Year

I like to get family pictures done, I don't know how or why but every year we have done it around Christmas. I think I've only missed one year and that was the first year we lived in this great state of Ohio. Don't know why, maybe I was rebelling against the snow that year and pouting while sitting near (or on) a cozy fire, with my mittens on, scarf around my neck, knit hat on top of my head, multiple sweaters and still not warm. Just saying...it gets damn cold here and this Californian girl does not...I repeat...DOES NOT like to be cold.

So this past weekend I dressed us all up in cute sweaters and off to JCPenny's we went.
The classic Christmas card picture.
I had to get this one...just had to!!

And seriously how could I say no to this one? Are you kidding me? Melts my heart. Yes she is this sweet...even when she doesn't want anything.

Never leave home...

Without an adequate supply of essentials...and by essentials I mean various flavors of goldfish crackers.

**Side note to my anonymous readers...due to a recent spam problem I will be disabling anonymous comments for a short while. It is super simple to create a blogger account please don't let this stop you. As always we love hearing from you!

Ballerina Princess Turkey

Proud of her homework once again...

Shhhh it's not a real turkey...

It's a ballerina princess turkey just trying to survive the holiday season! HA!

The things teachers think of...cracks me up. But I will admit I had fun "helping" Elly do her homework. And in true Kaci fashion we waited until Sunday evening to do it. But low and behold it's not due until Tuesday, so score we did do it early. =)

Happy Friday!

It's Friday the 13th do something crazy and fun!

Elly Art

I remember seeing this on the wall when I picked her up from daycare about a month ago. I kinda chuckled and walked on, forgetting to tell Jon about it. It made it home yesterday is Elly's backpack. =) I do have to say I am rocking a very cool hairstyle in the picture. El has no hair...or maybe she has pink hair. And Jon, well Jon is a nice shade of brown or he's been rolling around in mud or really tan and has a block of hair. HAHA!

Happy Wednesday!

Believe it! Be it!

Ali's Website

I am so excited to get my hands on this book!!

Ali's book is released today, I'm hoping her book tour comes to Ohio. Crossing my fingers and toes! If by chance it does, I'm so there.

Go out and get your copy today!

School Pictures

Sighhhhh....so glad I go and take her to get yearly pictures around her birthday.

It's cute of course but not the best. =)

Okay here's a better picture...ha!

And at my lowest yet....143And here is my updated collage.
Now have a great weekend and eat a few hundred chocolate muffins for me. =)

Friday Funny

Poor Piglet!

Update on my Turtle Weight

Hey that rhymes! I'm a poet and don't know it. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? HA! Okay I'll stop.

So I'm still chugging along with my weight loss. I'll admit it hasn't been easy and these last 10 pounds are proving to be my hardest yet. I've been in the 140s for a few months. I'll lose, lose, lose, to only stand still/maintain or gain a pound the next week. It's frustrating and discouraging but I refuse to give up.

So far this year I've lost 26 pounds! 26 pounds!!! When I see that number it makes me feel so proud of myself!

I set out a goal this year to finally take control of my weight and to live a healthier lifestyle. I want to be a role model for my daughter, I want her to see her Mommy eating healthy, exercising and enjoying life. I don't want her to see me just sitting on the sidelines cheering on everyone else, I want her to see me in the game, so to speak.

So I'll leave you with these transformation pictures. The last one isn't the best. I'm always behind the camera so I have few face shots of myself. HA! Kinda funny my hair styles have changed a lot this year too. Still not sure of these bangs.

Stomp stomp stomp

I don't know why but this just cracks me up everytime. A tantrum quickly disolved when Mommy just laughed at her and asked her do it again.

Fairy Princess Elly

Halloween started off very cold and very rainy!! I was concerned that it'd be too yucky to take a fairy princess out in the weather. But someone must have been listening because the faucet turned off and out we went.It still was cold so we had to layer a bit. The wings still worked just fine and the wand was ready to zap those clouds away.I got in the spirit too...however my camera did not and took another blurry picture. My shirt says Trick-or-Treat but you can't see it. Bummer. Thank goodness Christmas is near, I'm making my list already. I asked a certain fairy princess to magically get me one but the wand wasn't working right she told me. Off the fairy princess went on her hunt for candy (Twix Elly just ask for Twix). In Ohio this year we actually trick-or-treated on Halloween! Don't you love the shoes! Sparkly Dorothy shoes she got in the mail from Nana Dovey and Papa Dale last week, she ask to wear them with every outfit. A fairy princess needs sparkly shoes ya know."They gave me a Twix Mommy, I'll save it for you!" That's my girl!
Train her early, train her smart, she'll love me forever right here in my heart! I just made that up...I'm so clever.I'm still not used to the Ohio Halloween customs; you only go to houses with the door kinda opened or people sitting outside. You don't ring the bell or knock on the door...very strange but it works.
Cutest darn fairy princess I ever did see...I dare you to find a cuter one!