Day #29...the big 30 party

My parents threw me a 30th birthday party today at their house and it was so fun! Although as soon as I arrived, mom had to put a sash on me, as well as a tiara. She had even bought a pinata! Too bad the mask wouldn't fit over my tiara, so I had to cover my eyes with my hand....so I cheated. Get over it.

Anyway, I was really glad to get off my diet for the day and eat some delicious cake, thanks to Jenny Wright...who is FABULOUS!!! We got to hang out with my family and just relax, and I got some super great gifts...always a bonus of turning 1 year older.

Tomorrow we will be headed to church, then to Josh's grandmother's house to celebrate Mother's Day, and then to his aunt's house for a get-together. Busy days ahead. UGH, I ate too much today, and my stomach is letting me know it. Here are some pictures from the party in case you don't have Facebook and cannot see my album on there.

Day #28...cool

Today was the last day of Teacher Appreciation, and it was fabulous! We had so much food that we were even giving teachers whole casseroles and desserts to take home. Thank you to all the parents that provided food to make this week special for our teachers!

Tonight I went to have some girl time with 4 super cool friends. We headed to Carinos for a double-birthday celebration...Lela's birthday is Saturday and mine is Monday. It was nice to get out and have some time to myself. Josh and I had planned to go to the beach afterward, but as my age will prove, we came home to fall asleep. To be perfectly honest, I would choose sleep over almost anything these days. Well, since the children have been born, basically because I don't get enough sleep. Caleb doesn't sleep so I don't sleep. AGH!

Here are some more before and after pictures of our granite. It turned out perfect!

Days #26 and #27..it's a combo

Yesterday's and today's blogs are a combo today, since Josh and I were on an overnight date in Houston last night.

Mark off #30, go to a concert. Josh and I headed to Houston yesterday to go see Norah Jones in concert. We checked in to the Crowne Plaza River Oaks and then headed to Guadalajara. Bad for my diet, you say? Yes. Yes it is. And did I eat? Yes, yes I did. Josh and I split an appetizer, and I didn't feel guilty about it. Then we went over to the theater and had drinks and dessert at Birra Porettis. Oh yes, I had a piece of chocolate chip cheesecake. By that time, I did feel guilty.

The concert was fun. Her opening act was Sarah Jaffe, who was definitely a fantastic singer, yet she sang about 10 of the same songs. Just her and her accordian player. Norah came out and sang with her band, and I thouroughly enjoyed it. The venue was so different from any place I had been to, but I definitely look forward to going back for another concert soon.

We were only gone for 24 hours and it felt like a whole weekend. We were able to shop, hang out, and just enjoy our time together.

What could possibly be the icing on the cake?? Coming home to this...





Yup, granite. I have always, always, always wanted granite, and this is sooooo perfect. I am blissfully happy with it!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!

Day #25..slow and steady

Today is the second day of Teacher Appreciation Week and we definitely had more food today. I was very happy with how it turned out! The parents really provided some delicious meals and several teachers were able to take extra food with them. That is a true sign of success to me!

I am down another 1.5 pounds so I have lost over 13 pounds. YAY! Although I am not going to weigh myself Thursday because I plan on eating what I want on my date! WOOHOO! I am looking forward to it, big time.

On the down side, my sore throat has returned with a vengeance. Why will this not go away even with antibiotics?! GRRR.

I am really bored with my list because 30 things in 30 days is rough. I don't feel like I have enough energy to run at the track. Maybe that will be addressed once I lose a little more weight. :)

The end today my friends. I don't feel as though I have much to say, however one of the items on my list was to blog every day for 30 days. And so 5 days to go!!!!!!

Day #24...Teacher Appreciation Week

This week as Teacher Appreciation Week. For those of you who are not teachers, all you have to do is substitute for 1 hour just once, to see how hard our teachers work to educate our kids.

This year, I felt passionate about having a whole week to provide meals for the teachers at Caleb's school. It seems like the least I can do for having my child 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. So I am heading up this event and today was the first day. I am not going to lie, by 10:00, I was beginning to worry that we didn't have enough food. Slowly but surely, food started rolling in, just in time for the first group to come in. My only regret is that by the time 4th grade got there, we just had about 1 bowl of taco soup, 1 bag of chips, a bowl of dip, and a container of rice left. But thank goodness the parents really stepped up and provided what they did. The teachers seemed very appreciative, and it makes me happy that they didn't have to worry about lunch today.

Tomorrow is Italian Tuesday! I will be making 2 lasagnas and will be up at the school all day tomorrow as well. I hope we can have even more food for tomorrow so that the 4th grade teachers can eat well.

Day #23...countdown to root beer

Ok, now there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Actually, it is an igloo with frosty cold root beer nestled sweetly in ice. I have no preference to the brand, A&W or Barqs. Either one is perfect for me.

With a week to go, THE LIST is dwindling. Because this week is Teacher Appreciation, and I will be busy all week, there are a few things listed that frankly, will not be accomplished. Even though everything can't be addressed before the 10th, I still plan on addressing them all as soon as possible. This has been an enlightening experience to say the least.

Jansen sounds like he is drowning. He is being a trooper taking his medicine and using his inhaler, but he is outside all the time now, and is feeling terrible. He can't stop coughing, he is wheezing, and he looks swollen. I wish we could move to some place with less allergens. The Texas Coast stinks!

Today, I am hungry. I got off my diet for a couple days while I was sick, and didn't really lose any weight. So now I am back on it, and I am still down 11 pounds, but I AM RAVENOUS!!! Since Josh is on graveyards, the boys had sandwiches, tator tots, and fruit salad, and I snuck three tator tots. They are soooooooooo good. Why is it that it takes almost two weeks solid on a diet to start losing the cravings for things, and you get off for one day, and you want to eat Shipley's out of sausage and cheese kolaches??? I wanted to have lost 3 more pounds by now, but can I really complain about 11 pounds in 14 days? No, I can't. So I won't. Yay for me! Keep reminding myself...cruise in November, cruise in November....you want to be 40 pounds less!!!!! 10 pounds at a time, my friend, 10 pounds at a time.

Wednesday, the hubs and I will be headed out on a hot date in Houston. We will be seeing Norah Jones, eating at Birra Porettis, and staying the night at a swanky hotel. Happy Birthday to me!!! I am so looking forward to some time away, even if it is for 24 hours. I want to dress up, have some fun, and enjoy some adult conversation and beverages (not on my diet).

Now that I thought about the cruise again...and losing a bunch of weight...that makes me think of buying some new clothes. Yesterday was all mom-guilt, and today I have reconciled that with myself. I'll need a swim suit, a cover up, some shorts, (Agh, did I just say shorts?!) a few tops, and a couple dresses. Shoes I have covered. I live in flip flops and sandals. Here are some things on my wish list:

Day #22...down for the count

Wow. Being sick stinks. I am down for the count, for real. Thank goodness that my mom came over to keep the kids for the afternoon. Nothing will be done on THE LIST front, and nothing will be done on the home or diet front either. Today would have been the perfect day to go to the movies by myself...if my throat were not on fire.

Boo, hiss, cough. The end.

But being around the house all day made me feel, creative. Ok, make that bored. So I felt the need to work on the kids' rooms and started off with Jansen's. His room is decorated mostly in a football theme, more specifically, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. I came across a perfectly good Thomas the Tank Engine pillow from Jansen's train phase, that he no longer wanted. Now, I am not a hoarder, but I just could not justify getting rid of that little pillow. I put it aside and trudged along. And then it hit me. Well, rather, it fell on me. Jansen's old Texans jersey from two years ago when we had season tickets to the games.

Bazinga!!!!

Jansen gets a "new" pillow, I get to keep the memories, and it was FREE! Good way to repurpose items, and I am even sewing challenged. But everyone can slipcover, right. I slipped it over, tucked it in, and whip stitched the bottom. Jansen loved it. He even said, "Oh Mom, thank you. I am so proud of you and my new pillow!" One day he will look a me, roll his eyes, tell me I am a nerd. Until then, I will take "proud".