Not three days in a row!

Hard to believe huh? See what not having anxiety attacks can do. Changes your life I tell ya!! I even came home and changed clothes and made supper. Pretty damn amazing. I made a recipe out of a cookbook I stole back from Wendy. She had this amazing cheesy pasta chicken stuff one Saturday as leftover. Having not had lunch I stole a few bites and thought wow this was really good. (Not that I didn't think it would be Wendy! I just thought it was a really good dish and one I would like to make.) When they came home I asked where she got the recipe from and she said one of my cookbooks she had borrowed. So I obsessed over this dish for a couple of weeks and finally one Saturday babysitting I ransacked her cookbooks and found the recipe. Took the cookbook back home and had planned to make it that next week. Well it didn't work out that way but I made it tonight. It's a chicken veggie mixture that you make and then you use some of it for these other recipes in the book. I made the Portuguese frittata tonight and it was amazing. Amy you could so do this without the chicken for Kyra. It would still be yummy. Anyway thank you Wendy. I may have never gotten around to making this if hadn't been for you. Come take more of my cookbooks and share what's really good to make out of them.

I let Kyra use my camera last night. She's going to photography club this coming Saturday and she's borrowing my camera. It was fun to see the images she got. She's got a good perspective and captured some cute images. Like my crazy grandsons. Yeah they're just a little goofy.

Steve just took Grady to the pet store to pick out new toys and some new bones to chew on. I hope if there is such a thing as reincarnation and I have to come back as a pet that I'm owned by somebody like us. Grady definitely has it made in the shade here.

Glenna is back in town. Actually they are staying in a cabin on Oakwood lake but close enough. We're going to supper tomorrow night. It'll be nice to reconnect and visit. I really miss working with her. She was one of a kind.

Well since there isn't much on tv I think I'm going to read for awhile. I started Gossamer by Lois Lowry. It's a middle school book but it's quite fascinating so far.

TTFN

Another weekend bites the dust!

Wow what a fast weekend this was! I feel like I've only really been home just a little bit. Even less than when I'm babysitting. But I actually got a lot done today. What a difference it makes not to have anxiety attacks all day. I've actually not had any big ones all week. I sure wish I knew what brought them on. It sure makes a difference in my energy level that's for sure.

I really cleaned this morning for awhile. Did my refrigerator, cleaned of my counters swept and

mopped the floor, ran the dishwasher, you know just the general kitchen cleaning stuff. Then I moved on to the living room and bathroom before I stopped for the day. Amy called and wanted to go get Wendy something and I needed to do that to. Nothing like waiting until the day after her birthday. So off we went to the mall. Had lunch and proceeded to shop. Unfortunately Kyra was having pms issues and was just not pleasant so we quit early and went home. I came home made a grocery list and went to the store. Then I came home and made a salad and deviled eggs and went to Scott's for supper for the girls birthdays. So even though it wasn't the weekend I

had envisioned I got alot done and had a good time. It's all good.

I promised pictures of the kids from the apple orchard so I better get them on here before I leave. There's thunder in the distance so I better make it quick.

Grandpa and Will sharing apple turnover with ice cream.

Haley and Hannah on the hay bales.

Will riding the train. He's one serious driver.

The kids on the ponies. Look how big Haley looks.

Well the weather is booming and blogger is having some formatting issues so I think I'll call it a night.

TTFN

Happy Birthday Amy and Wendy!!!!!!!!!

It's my daughter's and daughter-in-law's birthdays today. My son had the good sense to marry someone whose birthday is the same day as his sisters. No excuse for not remembering either one huh? All I know is that of all the women in the world I have the 2 best to be my daughter and daughter-in-law. My daughter is my best friend, the person who I can always count on to go and do fun things together with. She also is the person who keeps me up to date on whats in vogue and in style. That doesn't mean we're style mavins, it just means she always knows whats in and cool. She knows the hottest books and music and what colors are the in colors. She's also very creative and talented. Like today we hit thrift stores so she could find old wool sweaters. She wants to felt them and make purses out of them. How cool is that!

Wendy is just the best daughter in law anyone could want. She is such a great mom and always has everything so organized. She's my idol in that she gets up every morning to work out and still has time to get the kids and herself ready for the day. I barely get myself out the door in one piece. I wish we had more time together to do the fun things that Amy and I get to do. We would have a blast. Unfortunately their time together as a family is so limited that I hate to suggest we go shopping on a Sunday, but we should try and do it once in awhile.

Amy and I went to the farmers market again today. After that and Starbucks I went home to what I thought would be a very productive day at home. Well I hadn't been home for more than 10 minutes when the phone rings. It was Kyra ( though at the time I thought it was Kirby). Could I get Mom out of the house from 10 to 12? I thought she said that Cameron was going to paint the wall in the living room as a surprise for her birthday. So I called Amy and said that I didn't feel like doing anything yet and would she like to go out and do something. We decided to go thrift store shopping. Man why does anybody buy anything new anymore when thrift stores have everything? But anyway we got home about 12:30ish and there sitting in their living room was a piano. Cameron had arranged for a piano mover to come and move his parent's piano to their house. I know Amy was probably a little disappointed because she had decided she wanted an electric piano and had even picked one out at Schmidts. I'm sure his parents said why spend the money when they could have theirs. I know how getting something from the in-laws isn't always the gift it should be. My mother-in-law gave me an electric frying pan one year for either birthday or Christmas. Well after a year or two I had hardly ever used it so I sold it on the rummage sale. I don't think she ever forgave me. So I hope that down the line somewhere her inlaws don't either yank it out from under her as in "oh Chrissy needs the piano now". I just know that Amy and Kyra will really enjoy having a piano in the house.

I've started decorating for fall. I did a little bit a couple of weeks ago and I hope to finish today. Honestly it has just felt too early for fall things. Even when the weather was cool and fall like I didn't feel like it should be fall all ready. Well fall is here whether I'm ready or not and I need to get the decorations out. I am ready for soups and apples and pumpkins so I guess I'm ready for fall.

I must blog with pictures that I took last week with the kids at the apple orchard. Maybe I can do that tomorrow. I have been such a terrible blogger lately. Work is really quite stressful lately and I come home drained physically and emotionally. Though I have to say I didn't have any big anxiety attacks this week so maybe that's a good sign. I am really sick of them. They zap any energy I may have and make it impossible to keep up with all that I need to keep up with. I'm really not one who wants to take more drugs than necessary so I'm not sure I want to go to an everyday drug. I keep hoping that I will "outgrow" them. They came on suddenly maybe they can go away the same way.

Well I've written enough for one day. I really do need to get things done.
TTFN

No More Talk of Dieting

I was going back and reading some of my old blog entries. Every other one was about dieting and how I'm not doing it. Well jeez, shut up already. There's more to life than whining about how pathetic you are in the dieting department. So there. No dieting talk. No more negative talk period. Of course that means I must figure out what else to talk about. Could be kinda slim pickins.

I do know that I love my Saturday mornings. Going to the farmers market even if I don't really need anything is still a great way to spend a morning. We get Starbucks and hit the Breadsmith and sometimes other places that are on our list. It is so great to have an adult daughter to enjoy all those things with. I could always go with a friend but I don't think it would ever be as much fun as I have with Amy. Actually when it's all said and done there really is nothing better than spending time with the people you love.

Tomorrow I watch the kids again. A Sunday this time. I don't think I have the kids for the next few weeks. I will definitely miss them. Spending a whole day with them is just the best. I don't know what we'll end up doing. I'd like to take them to the apple orchard. I think their festival is this weekend. Will would like it I think. We'll have to see how it goes.

I bought a soup cookbook magazine this week. I know, surprise I buy a cookbook something!!!LOL. I can't wait for soup season. One of my favorite things to make especially on a cool Sunday is soup. This cookbook has some great looking recipes.

I have had such major anxiety issues this week. Even if I take a pill or two I still can't seem to shake them off. Not only do I feel funky with them they make me feel like I can't do anything. If your heart beats weird the tendency is to just sit and rest. At least for me that's what I feel like doing. I really don't know what sets them off. I don't think it's the usual fears or things like that. I really think it's more a chemical imbalance of some sort. Whatever it's no fun.

Well that's about it for the night. I took a break from writing this to go out to eat with Steve's dad. I should probably get a few things picked up and done tonight since tomorrow will be a washout.

TTFN

Phantom blogger strikes

I wish I could get into the habit of blogging everyday, but it aint happening I guess. Well it was a fairly uneventful week last week. School is going fine. I went to CCHS to observe a student who might be coming to us. Sweet kid and we would do fine having her, but so medically fragile. I'm afraid that being exposed to so many germs on a daily basis would be a nightmare for her. Even the doctor doesn't want her to go, but of course money is everything and that is what will eventually determine if she comes or not. In a perfect world we would do what's best for the student not what costs the least.

Lets see! Dieting you ask? Well it's going as well as the daily blogging. BUT TODAY IS MONDAY!!! Try, try again right? Wonder if it would work better if I started on a Wednesday or something. Nah. I do know one of these times I am going to make it a whole week or more and then look out.

Amy and I went to the Farmers Market on Saturday as usual but since I didn't have to watch the kids we decided to go to Kohls and Gordmans. I needed some new after school wear and wanted to look for some new fall decorations too. Scored on both. The weather was very fallish all weekend. Rainy on Saturday and cold and windy on Sunday so I'm definitely in the mood to decorate for fall.
Sunday Amy and I again went out. We went to the parade of homes. We just went to the ones close to us on the east side here. Amy found a $300,000 house she just loves. With Cameron making more money and no child support and most of the bills paid off they have more money and would like to look for a different house. Kirby though said he's not moving, he's just staying with the house. Hope he likes the people who buy it. LOL Amy said they probably won't move until both boys are in middle school. Living across from the grade school is just too convenient.

I don't have to take Kyra to school this morning. They start later on Mondays for some reason. But I still should start to get ready anyway. Hope your week is a good one and wish me luck on the dieting front. I'll probably need it.
TTFN

Where do the weekends go?

Seriously we need to find a way to make weekends last longer. Just when I get into to the swing of things the weekend is over. It seems like all I get done is get ready for the week ahead. I think I have forgotten how to be organized. I know I've become lazy the last few years but really it shouldn't take me all weekend to get a few things done. I did go to the mall with Kyra and Amy. Kyra wanted a new backpack and I wanted to get some 3/4 sleeve tops. Kyra didn't find a backpack but I did get quite a few new tops. I really need to find a new style of pant that fits better too. Just because I'm fat doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to find some pants. I see lots of other fat people in pants that fit and don't droop and sag. The trouble is I hate to try things on so I never grab a bunch of pants and see if any fit well. I really think men have it so much easier. At least Steve can always grab a pair in his size and they always seem to fit. That's not always the case with women's clothes.

I am so loving this cooler weather. I put a Autumn Wreath tart in my tart warmer today and it smells like fall at my house. Love that one! It's cinnamonny and fallish all in one. I even made brownies today. I should have made some soups for the freezer too but I went shopping instead. I'm sure I'll have lots of other cool Sundays to make soup. I'm really struggling with cooking these days. I'm craving comfort foods like casseroles and soups and such. Unfortunately with just the 2 of us casseroles are not always the best choice. Even if I cut them in half, I end up eating them 2 or 3 days in a row. But if we eat chicken breasts and fish and that sort of thing, there isn't any leftovers and I end up taking frozen meals to lunch. They aren't always that good and it's easy to get sick of them in a hurry. We had this one EA who lived alone and always brought the most amazing lunches. She loved to cook and would make herself these really great dishes and freeze some of it and bring some of it for lunch. She really knew how to do those things. I'm sure it was because she had done it for years and really loved to cook. I "like" to cook but I don't like doing it everyday. She would look forward to going home and cooking supper, even if it was just for herself. I wonder if I could have that passion if I just did it every day and pretended there was no other way. Unfortunately there is too much already made food out there that is just too easy. And remember I said I've become lazy!

I also have to figure out a time that works for blogging regularly. You wouldn't think it would be that hard. Do it in the morning before school or after supper and before bed. Somehow I can't get on a regular schedule. Do you see a theme here? I think laziness has taken over my life. Time to take it back.

A couple of Willism's before I go. He was going "Yum, yum delisioso!" alot yesterday. Grandpa asked him if he knew what it meant. Will replied," I'm trying to figure that out".
After I jammied him, I asked if he wanted to sit out in the living room and cuddle with me before his mom and dad came home. He asked if he could bring his hammer. I said," You want to cuddle with your hammer?" He replied, "No, that would be too weird Grandma". What a goofy kid. I love hanging out with him though and wish he wouldn't grow up quite so fast.

monster spray and other thoughts

I made Will anti monster spray today. Last night when we were at their house he came up from downstairs crying that he was afraid of monsters. He's at that age where they start to have unexplainable fears and monsters are usually the first thing they become afraid of. I told him I would make him monster spray to keep the monsters away and he got so excited. I couldn't let the poor kid down so I made a label and attached it to a spray bottle. Add some water and peppermint extract and viola -monster spray. I don't know if it will help his fear of monsters but he was so excited to get his spray tonight. By the way there is a little caution sign on the spray. It says "Caution- Do not spray on sisters or moms. May be sprayed on dads." HeHe

Well I'm trying to get back to dieting seriously again. So far today I had a Weight Watcher breakfast sandwich, a Lean Cusine lunch, some grapes, a few almonds for a snack and a chicken stir fry for supper. I hope I can get back on track. I hate how fat I feel, like I'm not even comfortable in my own skin. How many times have I started at the beginning of a week and not made past day 2 or 3. I'm hoping this time is the charm. I know watching Wendy do so well is definitely an incentive. That and to think I used to weigh what she weighs now or even less. I wish I had done what she has done and not let the weight creep up too much without getting serious. Back when I first started working full time and not doing aerobics 5 days a week the weight just crept up a little at a time until here I am. So my goal is to make a full week and take it just week by week and not worry about the other stuff. If I make it dieting this week, next week I'm going to start adding exercise. I know Weight Watchers lets you get used to dieting for 2 weeks before you start exercising. I think one week will work for me.

After a incredibly hot and windy couple of days, it has turned cool and very fall like. I love fall. It has to be my favorite season. Cool crisp days and chilly nights, great stuff. I wish we had had todays weather on Sunday. The fair would have been much more enjoyable. I can't wait to break out all my fall scented tarts and start burning them. And soup - I love soup weather. Might be another thing that helps me stay focused on dieting. Soup is usually low calorie and satisfying so eating more soups might help.

Well it seems like jammie time and a little reading.

TTFN

Weekend Recap

Well it's the first of September. I didn't do to well blogging in August. I think the summer lazies hit me because I really didn't accomplish too much the whole month. So here it is the first of September and a chance to do better in all things. School has been in session for 2 weeks now so I should have a routine in place. Blogging hasn't been a part of it but I hope to remedy that in September.

How can one weekend go by so fast? Friday actually seems a long time ago but the fact that tomorrow is Tuesday doesn't seem possible either. So what did I do with my 4 days off you ask? Well Friday I felt just wasted. I had been fighting a bug all week and by Friday it had the better of me. I think I finally relaxed and it hit with a bang because I had absolutely no energy all day. Hence I didn't get much done. Saturday we babysat for Haley, Hannah and Will. We went over to great grandpas to see Bill for awhile. We got to meet Stella the cockatiel. Will was quite the daredevil putting his hand out for Stella to sit on. Haley of course was into it too, but Hannah was not too sure and didn't want too much to do with the bird. After that we went to Royal Fork for supper. The girls were wanting not "healthy" food. Haley wanted 5 cinnamon rolls but settled for one. I think they're not adjusting to eating healthy at home. That change thing is hard. Will is always giving me a hard time about something when it comes to food. Things like offering me a bite of something and after I have it in my mouth and half chewed he wants it back. Well Royal Fork was no exception. Only this time I tried to cut the meat off his chicken leg for him. He cried bloody murder. " put it back, he cried". Goofy kid.

Sunday we went to the fair. While it was fun to spend time with the whole family, the weather was horrible. It was so hot and windy that poor Hannah even collapsed at the midway. It just wasn't a pleasant day in the weather department. I've always loved the fair but next time I'm only going if the weather is better.Will and Kirby had a good time on the helicopters.

Scott and Hannah on a ride before she got sick.

Will taking a break in the horticulture building. It was cool in there!

Of course there are lots of cute animals who seem to be immune to the heat and wind. I didn't get a picture of the golden retriever puppies but it would have been too easy to come home with one them as a souvenir

Today was Labor Day. Since we didn't get much accomplished all weekend we had to get it all done today. We cleaned and did laundry and went to the grocery store. All those chores that have to be done even when you don't want to. Luckily Scott and Wendy invited us over for a Labor Day picnic tonight. A nice way to end the weekend. I envy their house and having the room to have everybody over. I always think I would like to too, but we just seem so cramped here that I never do it. I think I have to get over that and just have them over anyway. The grandkids won't have any memories of going to grandma's house if I don't.

Well I think it's time to call it a night. There isn't anything good on tv so I think I'll just read a book.

TTFN