Happy Thanksgiving!

For many years, we have created this tradition that on Holidays that we can't make it to Ohio Dustin does ALL the cooking. So for me, depending on how you want to look at it, it can be stressful or relaxing. Relaxing because I don't have to do any cooking or stressful because it is Dustin in the kitchen.lol! Either way it is a great day as long as we are together. Food was great! Dustin did a fabulous job! We all ate a ton of food. After Dustin cleaned up (did you notice I said Dustin) we always head over to Kmart and buy our 2008 Christmas Bear. This is something that Dustin and I started when we first started dating and continue to do every year.

Thanksgiving Feast at Jacob's School

Jacob's 1st grade class organized a singing program for Thanksgiving. Jacob was so excited to be able to dress up as the Minister. After the program we all enjoyed a Thanksgiving Feast with all the fixings.

Putting up the Christmas Tree

Dustin's been traveling alot for work so we decided to go ahead and put the Christmas Tree up since he was home for the weekend. Hayden and Jacob loved putting the ornaments on the tree. Caleb was taking a nap but so excited when he woke up. We had the tree decorated and the fire going. Caleb just had a great time going back and forth from the fire to the tree.

I am coming into the final stretch....

It was December 6, 2007 that I decided I needed to make some life changes. I had put on quite a bit weight after High School and after each pregnancy. I never had the determination or time to do something about it. Working retail right out of High School, all I was eating was vending machine snacks and fast food...so not good for you! I hardly had the time let alone energy to do any type of physical activity so I slowing slipped into the worst physcial shape of my life. I had severe mood swings and no energy when it came to the kids. This is what made me the sadest of all....not being able to be the best mom to my kids. And how could I expect my children to live a healthy life when I couldn't even do it myself. So I gave myself a swift kick in the a** and did something about it. I had my 6 week post partum check up with my doctor I told myself that 1 yr from today I would lose at least 60 lbs. which would still leave me with 25 lbs to reach my ultimate goal.

This is me on Dec 1, 2007

My all time heaviest weight....ugh! Who is that person?!?

I can't even bring myself to publish my actual weight at this time.

I am so embaressed about how I did not take care of myself.

This is me on August 26,2008.

I lost 48 lbs!!!!

Dustin doesn't even know me at this weight.

I tried on my wedding dress and it is loose on me. yeah!!!!

I then preceeded to try on the dress I wore to my High School Graduation. It is unbelievable.....I can fit into the dress I wore 12 yrs ago. wooohooo! Now I need to continue my efforts so I can wear the dress I wore to my Sophmore Homecoming Dance.

It is now November 20, 2008....I am at a total loss of 50 lbs. I have reached a plateau that I am finding it very hard to overcome. I continue to fight my battle everyday. I try and remember that if I give into my bad habits, it is ok. I just need to regain focus and get back on track.

So many people ask how I do it so I thought I would share some of my secrets. First thing I had to do is commit to living a healthy and better lifestyle. I have done so much research and signed up for so many email lists to try find that miracle weight loss plan. The best advise that I found was to make small changes and take things slow. Plus put your goals in writing and hang them somewhere you can see them on a daily basis. I put mine on the refrigerator so I saw it every time I "thought" I was hungry.

For example:

week 1 :

diet goals: #1eat 5 small meals a day. (when I was working, I never ate on a regular basis so this was a definite change for me)

#2 drink only 1 caffeine free soda a day and no chocolate candies (other candies were ok).

#3 drink more water.

fitness goals: work out 1 time a day for at least 3-4 days a week. (I purchased the "Slim in 6" workout video..best video ever!)

week 2 :

diet goals: #1 cut out all soda #2 stop eating fast food. If I had to I would order chicken.

#3 drink more water.

fitness goals: work out 1 time a day for 4-5 days and stretch in the evenings.

Small changes every week so it wasn't so drastic that I couldn't stick to it on a regular basis. I would post my goals 4 weeks in advance so I had to think about what I wanted to accomplish ahead of time. Everytime I felt bored with my exercise routine, I would change it up. So instead of doing the workout video, I would go to the local park and walk. When that got boring, I added stairs and then added some jogging....and so on.

The hardest part of eating healthy is learning to slow down and enjoy the food you are eating and stop eating when you are full. I am so guilty of scarfing down my food so fast that I don't even now that I am full until 20 minutes later when I feel like I am going to explode. Busy at work, busy at home, eat fast so you can move on to the next thing in your life. Okay, Okay...I'm getting stressed out just writing this. Ultimately, you just need to stay postive. If I fell off track one day, I started the next day right back on track. Or sometimes it was a week of falling off track and just taking 10 minutes of time out and figure out what short term goals I want to accomplish now.

Wish me luck...I have 16 more days to lose 10 lbs to reach my 1 yr goal.

Jacob riding without Training Wheels

Jacob finally asked for his training wheels to be taken off today. After many attempts at riding without the training wheels, he finally caught on and successfully rode with NO training wheels... YEAH! Check out some video as Jacob tries to learn to ride.

Me as a photographer?!?!

I recently offered to the moms in my MOMS group to be my guinea pigs as I try out my photography skills. This past year since I haven't been working, I have been doing some soul searching trying to figure out what I could possibly want to do with my life career wise. I have always had the intensions of going back to school since I am only a few credits away from getting my Associates in Child Development Education. For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed being around children and that was one reason I decided to major in Child Development. Well, I did my volunteer hours and I worked at 2 different preschools during college and I really didn't get that satisfaction I was looking for in a career but I did love the kids. Working in the retail world didn't quite get that satisfaction either but I loved the interaction with a multitude of people and challenges the job came with. It wasn't until I was sitting at my computer, just looking at Caleb's 1 yr pictures that it just felt right. This is what I would like to do as a career....turning childhood moments into a lifetime of memories through photos.

Well today I had my first Mom client. Her son Christopher turns 1 yr tomorrow. Here are a few of the pictures...I really enjoy playing with the photos and trying to turning them into something precious. Some of my favorite pictures ended up being the ones I didn't like at first glance.

Since I was already at the Botanical Gardens that I take the boys pictures, I went ahead and took Hayden's 4 yr old pictures. I know his birthday is still a month away but I never know what the weather will be like in December. I was quite surprised. Normally I have to take about 100 pictures before I can get just 1 that I can live with. He has become quite the model...I just LOVE these pictures...

I can't leave out my little Baby Caleb so here are some pictures of Hayden and Caleb afterwards when we went to the playground and pond. I know...I hear it from everyone...what about Jacob? I will try and get some pictures of Jacob up soon...I do have to get their Christmas pictures done. I would put his school pictures up but my scanner is not working.

Hayden's Last Soccer Game and Party

Well after the Turkey Trot we headed over to the Soccer Field for Hayden's last soccer game. Hayden played AGAIN! Yeah!!!! But once again, I had to hold his hand so no pictures. He did get to score a goal today!!!! Uh, but it was in the opposing teams goal...lol. He was soooo happy that I couldn't spoil it for him.

This is McKenie. I think she is such a cutie!

After the game, the whole to went to Pasquales Pizza to have their team party and pass out their trophies. This was really the only way I was able to get him to play today. I told him if he played then afterwards he would get his very own trophy. He was so excited to finally get a trophy like his big brother, Jacob.

One of the other parent's gave all the players a visor hat with their names on them.