Happy New Year & Holy Shit!

Well, I weighed in today b/c tonight we are spending the night at a friend's house and I didn't want to use her scale...and I didn't want to weigh in after eating. Soooooo, here it is. Oh, it is bad. I don't want to tell. If I didn't screw myself by posting the entry saying I would do this, I totally wouldn't put my weight on the blog! Ok, I weigh...a weight that I haven't weighed since I was preggers. But, this is good for me. It shows I am serious. Here is more proof that I am serious...I made these charts to keep track of my weight loss and daily exercises.



Ok, I am stalling. Oooh, I also went through the fridge, freezer, pantry and cupboards and threw out all the tempting treats and snacks. I was putting the (super yummy) ice cream down the drain and Cole yells "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?????" (He really liked the ice cream!)

More stalling...Dan is going to do the diet too. BUT he informed me today that he wants to enjoy his last 5 days off so he isn't starting until Sunday or Monday. Great! I feel the sabotage already. I just know he will want to get wings and pizza. So, I am not expecting a good first week. But I am going to try my best. I have been fat for so long, if I don't lose a ton of weight right away it is fine. I have been squeezing into my size 10s for months upon months.

My friend Angie is in with the weight loss. (Are you going to post your weight????)
She said I should watch the Biggest Loser b/c it is inspiring. I am going to watch. I am going to not eat after 7. I am going to exercise. I am going to lose weight. I need to for my health and self esteem.

Alright...here it is...no more stalling...I am out of things to say on this subject...

I am Amy and I weigh 166.6 (holy shit!)
Happy New Year!

Already?

I was at Walgreens yesterday and they had Easter Candy out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New for 2009

Well, we were out of town last weekend and then Cole has had a fever since Monday, so needless to say I am not going to finish my advent calendar. The doctor called in some antibiotics so this crazy sickness Cole has should go away now. (hopefully!)

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

Now for the new part: I am going to do two things each week. One will be a weekly question on Mondays (answer ones you like whenever you feel like it) and the other will be a weekly weigh-in on Wednesdays. The first weigh in will actually be on Thursday, January 1st, then Wednesdays after that. (I am now soooo serious about losing weight. I am way bigger than ever and it is ridiculous! I think if I have to actually let you know my weight each week like Weight Watchers for this to actually work. DON'T TELL hubbies my crazy number...they will be disgusted. I know you all are my friends so you won't judge me.)

Happy New Year!

Advent Day 14

December 14th...
I am thankful for the view from my couch...

Even if it is only on my tv!

Thanks Comcast on Demand!
(it is on channel 1 under tv entertainment...and then yule log and more. this scene is winter 1)

Advent calendar days 9 - 13

December 9th...
I am thankful for book club. Even though we weren't able to meet as scheduled on the 9th, I am still happy knowing we will reschedule and continue to meet and read and discuss and eat and drink...

December 10th...
I am thankful for Flat Earth veggie chips and Gerber real fruit snacks. Sometimes that is the only way I get Cole to eat fruit and vegetables some days!

December 11th...
I am thankful for...
BEDTIME!!!!

December 12th...
I am thankful for compassion learned.
The other day Cole and I went to Wal*Mart and there was a guy ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. I explained that he was collecting money b/c the SA helps families who need food or clothes b/c they don't have a lot of money.
On the 12th we were at a different Wal*Mart (Cole and Dan are there now...three times in one week for the kid!!! Not a record, I'm sure.) and they had people collecting for the SA as well. Cole noticed right away and I said we would give money on the way out.
While in line I noticed they were collecting money in a plastic jug for a little boy who has leukemia. I showed it to Cole and explained that the little boy was sick and his parents needed money to pay for his hospital bills. I gave him money to put in the jug for the "sick boy".
On the way out we gave to the SA. I told Cole we did two goods things today and helped two people. I told him it is nice to help people whenever you can.
Later that night Cole was cutting something out. He said he was making something to hold money for sick kids. He was going to save money for them. He just doesn't like that there are sick kids.
My heart was so full of pride, happiness and love for that boy!
Of course he was a total disrespectful monster the rest of the night...so i am also thankful for...

Twisted River Riesling!

December 13th...
I am thankful for Dan and Cole letting me sleep in today.
I slept until 11:30!!!!!! AND I could have kept going!

My Mom

31 years ago today my mom died.

So today I am thankful for the 5 years I got to spend with her and for all the memories I have of her. My mom was kind and never yelled. I only remember one time that she was mad. We were up the street at her friend's house and while we were walking home I saw a puddle and sat in it. (She probably told me not to and I did anyway.) She was so mad that she sent me to bed without dinner.

I remember trying to trick my mom every morning by saying I couldn't finish my oatmeal and then when she would come in the kitchen I would surprise her with an empty bowl.

I remember walking to kindergarten with her and other neighbors. All of us kids would run ahead and hide behind the building across the street from school and then jump out to surprise our mommies.

I remember my mom watched Sanford and Son and Days of Our Lives.

My mom always fixed my hair so cute...and different everyday.

I remember wearing a "C is for Cookie" Cookie Monster shirt and making flavored shaved icees at my gram's house with my mom.

I know some of you know the story and some of you want to know but were hesitant to ask. This is what I remember from the night she died: We all ate dinner at the kitchen table and when we were done my mom said she was tired and she was going to sit in the other room. My dad and I cleaned up the kitchen and did the dishes. When we went into the other room we thought my mom was sleeping in the chair. My dad realized she wasn't and put her on the ground and started doing CPR. He had me call the ambulance...but the number was busy. I kept dialing but it was always busy. (I probably wasn't dialing correctly.) My dad had me lay down on the floor with my hands above my head. My sister was just sitting in a nearby chair. She was 3 months old. The paramedics finally came. I remember watching a Christmas show on TV with either a neighbor lady or my gram. My mom never came home.

After that I don't really have a lot of memories. I know that my kindergarten teacher switched my part in the Christmas play to the Angel Gabriel.

I know that I was sad. I was also jealous of all the attention my sister got. Then and years after. People felt sorry for her b/c she never got to know my mom. But it was really hard on me b/c I had all that time with her.

I miss my mom. There were so many times when I needed her or wanted to share things with her. When I was a kid and I got a wish (on a birthday candle, shooting star, going through the yellow light...) I would always wish for her to come back. I guess I still wish that. I am so sad that she isn't here to be with Cole.

Here are two pictures of my mom.


This is my mom after she had me...you can see part of me on the bed!

This is my 3rd Christmas. (Those are the ornaments I was talking about!!!!!)

December 7th

I am thankful for Fresh Market's Waldorf Chicken Salad. Mmmmmmm, it is so good! I would have included a picture but, well, um, Cole and I scarfed it down before I knew it would be my December 7th. It has walnuts, huge grapes, fresh chicken chunks, celery and a yummy sauce. There is nothing like it. It goes down as my all time fav chicken salad. Again, mmmmmmmmmm.

I'm In!

A friend of mine started an advent/thankfulness type countdown to Christmas on her blog...photographing and talking about what she is thankful for each day. She invited everyone to do the same. Well, being the slacker I am I didn't see her blog until day 5 so.....I am a little behind. I am going to do days 1-6 today and other days when I can.

I am so thankful for many things on a daily basis, so to narrow it down to one a day will be easy. Of course I am thankful for my family's health (although not in the past month!!!), being able to stay at home with Cole, my friends, our financial situation...the big things. But I am also thankful for the little things. More so now that I am a mommy. And I am thankful for that!

OK, here we go...

December 1st
I am thankful for my boy. I love him more than words can say.

December 2nd
Christmas Ornaments. Most of you know my ornament gripe...Dan threw away all my childhood ornaments and ornaments we collected together. So, for the past 4 years I have been buying ornaments like crazy to fill up the tree. I love Hallmark ornaments, homemade ornaments, ornaments from friends, ornaments made at school...ornaments! Love ornaments! I just like to remember where we were when we got them or who gave them...it's all about the memories. Dan threw away my memories, but now I can focus on the new ones I will make. (Yes, it is really me typing this! I thought I should try to be positive b/c this is a thankfulness thing and all...I can't just bitch about Dan the whole time!)

December 3rd
See the ornament picture above? Not like yours is it? No, Nic, Nicole, Amber and Regina have these great shots of ornaments and close ups of stuff. (yes, i know the bitching is back, but i have a point...) I am thankful for Dan looking up DSL cameras all the time...trying to get a good deal on one for me. He feels bad that he got a whole new man room and I didn't get anything. I don't need anything...I have a scrapbook room that I am thankful for...but hey, if I happen to get a nice new camera out of the deal and I will be able to take crisp clear shots...I will be soooo happy!

December 4th
I am thankful for Christmas books. I love to read them during the holiday season. I read Holly...it was good and a little steamy which I wasn't expecting, but a nice surprise nonetheless! I haven't read the other two yet.





December 5th
I am thankful for voicemail that makes me smile. My friends from afar leave long detailed messages...like i actually answered and they are talking to me. (I do the same, so I hope it makes people smile too.) Well, I got a message from my friend Karen who I haven't talked with since, yikes, June? Anyway, she gets herself into a holiday tizzy every year making scrapbooks for the grandparents...and her message was just that. (It's a tizzy with a smile and a laugh though...she knows she is crazy to attempt it!) I found myself smiling at her message. I guess I was glad to hear happiness in her voice...she just lost her job (which she said with a laugh in her message) and her husband has been battling cancer. They have a 4 year old girl. It breaks my heart. Pray for him.

December 6th
I am thankful for pretty sunsets. As I was closing the blinds I saw a beautiful sight tonight...

Scrappin' for charity

Awhile back I made a purchase on ebay through a store called cropstop.com. They added me to their email list and one day I got an email about a charity event they were sponsoring for ProLiteracy. It's an ABC book (A Book for Charity)

The first people to respond were sent a quickutz die of a letter in the mail to use on the page. Then you were to make an 8 x8 page using simple words to go along with your letter. After they get everyone's page back they will assemble it and auction it off on ebay.

I am really excited to be a part of this!

I got letter c!

I know you can't tell but...I used flocking on the cow die cut so he is fuzzy.
I used real yarn for the cat. (and crazy googly eyes!)
I made a flip up part...the top is one car and when you lift the tab there are two cars.