So bad...

I've been so bad!  April's come and gone, I've dropped a size, I added another year and the weather has been so gorgeous I've found myself pursuing other things: {ie: Playdates, Picnics, Instagram, Pinterest...lol}

I hit age (mumbling)ty-seven and was spoiled rotten by all my sweet boys.  Stann's work has hit an on-again, off-again stand still and I've interviewed for a few jobs.  Matt is wrapping up his first grade year, Josh wrapping up kindergarten and transitioning nicely to first.  I'm getting ready to enroll for fall term 2013 - barring any other major catastrophe's and have also signed up for my first 5k that I'll be running in next weekend, on the 18th. 

There's so much going on, so much to plan for the summer and yet with the sunshine out I find I can't sit still long enough to stare at the computer and explain it all for future posterity's sake, I want to just go out and DO IT!

So, sorry.  Not much of an update, but it's May, the SUN is ever so sun-shiny and two little boys are making the sweetest music children can make when not asleep in their own beds (cue laughter and getting along )

Celebrate!

Totally celebrating!!!  After week 5, I am down 12 lbs.!!!  I've lost 4" off my hips.  1 1/2" off my neck.  2" off my waist.

So happy!

Stop the clock

Somebody please stop the clock!  Time is slipping away so fast...!

February was gone before I blinked.  Didn't I just post a bunch of stuff yesterday?  No?  Well it felt like I did.

So I joined the gym at the end of January, to date, I'm down 12 lbs.  I didn't start any miraculous diet or anything - I just started watching calories and logging in everything I ate to my fitness pal app on my phone and I've been very, very good about going to the gym everyday except when I'm sick or its Sunday.  I'm doing it the healthy way and yes, I celebrate every pound, patting myself on the back, etc., but you would too if you were faced with the amount of pounds I'm trying to shed. ;)  I feel great, I'm down 2" off my hips, neck and 1 1/2" off my waist.  Little changes only I'd notice, but I love watching the transformation. Needless to say, its a long, long road, a complete lifestyle change and I haven't been this happy in a while, but I'm enjoying the journey.

Body pump.  Beth Newell got me to start and now I'm addicted.  LOVE IT.  I missed today from not feeling very good, but I can't wait to head back next week....!

Instagram.  Jodi got me to join.  Addicted to it like many other things... ;)  Kind of fun to do, if I can remember to just do it once a day and not stay on it. (haha)

Zoo.  Stann bought us a membership.  We've been going fairly regularly despite the gruesome twosome taking off on me and getting lost for HALF A FREAKING HOUR in the zoo.  ?!??!!!  I'd like to say they were extremely upset when the zoo staff found them, but alas! No such luck.  They had a good friend with them and his mom and myself were beside ourselves....they'd managed to slip by a large group of people and kept running even though they heard us yell "Stop!".  Stann scared the bejeebers out of them {at least I think so} having me head to the national missing children's website and the whole 10 yards...

So don't want to repeat that again!

Boys school fundraiser....lots of fun for them.  Pain in the tush for me.  I'm 3/4's finished with WWbook #1.  I'm loving it and having a lot of fun.  I go in spurts where I read what I've placed on hold at the library and then start on a writing binge.  It goes a few weeks at a time.  I've got lots and lots of editing to do, hoping I can manage a slam dunk.  ;)

Stann was released as the EQP.  This was a huge mixed blessing.  I'm grateful to have him home more, but at the same time....I never really missed him while he was out serving...if that makes any sense.  I like to think I passed this round a lot quicker than the last time he served.  I didn't mind, whine, begrudge or do anything that was unsupportive.  I finally "grew up" for lack of a better term, and realized we needed the blessings as well as realizing the families he was serving needed him more than I did.  Yeah, it was hard to take care of bedtime and other tasks by myself, but it was also worth it knowing the Lord had our backs because he was being so diligent.  He was released because our sweet Stake Pres. was worried about the amount of time he spent away from home; work being the main cause and his calling taking up the remainder of his time.  A valid concern, but honestly, I don't think I've missed him having a calling more than I have this one.  And its only been one week. ;)

Within 3 days, he was called to another calling, he seems to cycle through 3 programs: Primary, EQ and YM's.  The calling is not official yet, but needless to say, the cycle still holds and I'm excited to see more of him, regardless of how it had to come about!

I've signed up for Spring Term, taking online courses.  BIOLOGY and ANTHROPOLOGY at home. [lmbo]  Oughtta be interestin'....

Matt got his first strike; the whole situation makes me roll my eyes...he hurt a friend of his under the direction of another "friend" because they told him to.  *eye roll here*  Peer pressure is alive and strong my friends!  Fast forward....he got in more trouble because he said some not nice words to the teacher - threatening her if she gave him a strike.  (didn't think that part through)  Anyways...Matt's a fairly logical boy, so when they gave him the strike to bring home so we could sign it, on his walk home, he threw it into the creek.  If we didn't see it...he wouldn't get in trouble...right?  It would've worked if his teacher hadn't foiled his genius 7 year old plan!  His redeeming quality...he is honest.  Most of the time.  He admitted to what he did. ;)

Life just seems like we're stuck in fast forward.  The boys keep growing, we keep plugging along, saving and saving and saving for a new home.  I'm hoping at the rate we're going we can just pay cash for it! ;)  I'm looking forward to our family vacations and I am amazed at our family and how much we love each other.  It takes my breath away sometimes with the things that my boys (all of 'em) do for me, and I love doing those things right back for them. March ought to be a fun and exciting month, and I can't wait to see what it has in store for us!

February at a glance

So much is going on!  We started February with a bang!  I've been continuously going to the gym, on week #2 and have seen results quicker than I'd thought.  Only one kink: caught a minor case of the flu. {i'm the only one too. we thought josh had it, but...no.}  It's only set me back a little.  I've been holding down the couch and catching up on shows; thanks again Melanie for getting me hooked on "Once upon a time"  - I'm addicted for sure!  On top of which I'm tired and achy and mildly nauseous, but I'd take this sickness over full-blown flu, Norovirus or anything in the gastric sickness any day.

The kids are out of school for much of February (or at least it seems that way) and I'm starting a 4-day weekend with the kids home today.  It'll be the first time both kids get to do valentines for school and they get to do all the writing. :)  side story:

Kathie and I were talking about birthday cards when Josh came in saying he wanted to give KK some "monies" approximately $0.53; when I had a flashback of birthday cards from my grandparents with quarters in them...does anyone else remember those?  Cards that had "quarter holders" in them from well meaning and wonderful grandparents?  Back when $1 was an obscene amount of money to a child?

*sigh*  I can't believe I just dated myself.

Anyways....

Also new and noteworthy...I decided to try Instagram at a friends urging. We'll see how this goes....I'm not the most reliable of poster's and I've been writing a lot.  I'm trying so hard to get this book self-published by my birthday and I'm anxious about it.  I've put a lot of time and effort into it...and I worry. {it is what i do best after all}

I'm going to resume hanging out on the couch.  Watching my shows, writing my book and revising and when Stann gets home, I'm hoping I can con him into buying pizza for himself and the kids so I can [prepare for another blast from the past] reenact one of those Calgon commercials I grew up seeing.

January ends with a *bang*

Oh so much to tell you about my lovelies...!

Stann, has been earning some ah-mazing Hunky Hubby points.  He was gone to NY for a week this month, and when he returned, we got a day-date (yeah, you read it right...!) it is what it implies: a date with my husband, during the day.  You know...while the kids are at school.  So obviously, the day can't get any better, right?

Wrong!

Hunky Hubby surprised me even further on said date, when he took me to the gym and got me a year's membership.  *SWOON*!!

I've been faithfully going everyday since.  Except Sunday.  Everyone needs a day of rest. ;)  I even went so far as to take "before" pictures.  {ugh.  soooo not going to ever let those see the light of day *CRINGE*} I took measurements.  I weighed in.  I even went so far as to finally start using "My Fitness Pal" app that my doctor recommended. 

I am one week in to my "lifestyle" change.  Tomorrow I officially weigh in, but I can give you a "sneak peek" and tell you....

I've already dropped 3 lbs.

HEALTHILY!

News on the book front: I am 3/4's finished with my WW book.  Bad news:  I came back from the gym, plugged it in and found the black screen of death.

Wahh!!

I so hope Curt can retrieve that.  I managed to add 2 chapters to the book between today/yesterday and the last back up on my memory card sticky thing. *the real name of it eludes me at present*

I take Josh to the eye doctor tomorrow.  We'll see how that goes.  He's claiming violence, so I'm wavering as to whether or not I should have Stann skip part of work to go with or not.  He's such a better smooth-talker than I am.  On so many different levels.... ;) lol

Also newsworthy:  Stann bought me a very cute new iPhone cover - an Otter box, since the Life-proof one we ordered was so not working.  After we'd got the Otter box  we found out it (the Life-proof one) was an imitation, not the real brand, which was why it was so cheap and not very user friendly.  So heads up; if you buy a Life-proof brand online, chances are its a fake.

Stann will be heading back to Canada and NY at the end of February and I am in the process of getting my paperwork completed for a new birth certificate - which will lead me to getting a passport.  [always wanted one!]  He's talked about me tagging along to Canada one of these trips.  He's also been talking last minute cruise.  Once I've gotten to a point where I wouldn't feel too embarrassed in a swim suit, that is!

And last but definitely not least, our date to purchase a house has been moved up from October to May.  Much easier wait than October!  Our Realtor - Amie Reiderman - (if any one in the Portland Metro area needs a good Realtor ..use her - she's been AMAZING.  Above and beyond kind of amazing!)  She put us in touch with a friend of hers to review our paperwork, and Sarah (the mortgage friend) looked into things, made some calls, and found out the real date would be April 27th.  She's said if we'd like to work with her, then we can submit our paperwork at the first part of April, and we should be good to go with a pre-approved status by the first week in May - barring any catastrophes.

silent prayer uttered aloud and under my breath: puh-lease! no more catastrophes!

So excited.  So ready for the next phase.  And so very, very busy with everything else but blogging!

The 'versary of lucky #13

This January marks the 13th year of marriage to this wonderful man...

We had a realization that its been almost 3 years since we've had a night away from the kids.  We also had the realization that last year, Stann was away from home on business for 90 days out of the 365...

So we seized the opportunity to cash in on some of the perks of travel - the accrued free nights from the lengthy stays away from home - and Stann took me to Lincoln City.

The weather cooperated too!

The view from our hotel room - minus the power lines - it was a great view of the "D" River and the Pacific...The kids were a little upset with us when they saw the pics of our room...

"How come we don't get tubs in the room when we went to Idaho?"

*shudder* thinking about mess of kids in tub.

But we also took the opportunity to enjoy things that we wouldn't be able to see or do with the kids...like going to the Sea Lion Caves...

All the years I've been to the beach I've never made it down there....

Located almost 300 feet below....

We got to watch the elevator as we went down, down, down...

And entered a completely different world...

Hundreds of sea lions gather here... 

It was DARK...

The cavern is natural - but modern reinforcements have been placed - concrete beams, supports and there are places that lead to some amazing views. 

Up the stairs you can turn around and see just how steep the incline is to get to those views...

Amazing, huh?

A quick pic of the elevator...

Reminded us of a secret bunker. lol

This is an actual sea lion skeleton - it's green from the cool salt air - that preserved it...and is over 300 years old...(estimated)

You can see Heceta Head Lighthouse from there too...

After you get back from the extreme climb - there's a statue that shows actual size of male/female/pup sea lions.

As we headed home...we came across a fire... 

Newport is a small town.  We weren't the only ones rubber-necking and making the drive to check it out.

You could see the smoke from before the Yaquina Bay Bridge...

The second night we took a walk on the beach at sunset.  Stann humored me with taking pictures...

Egads!  It was gorgeous!

It was low tide and we got to check out some of the tide pools...but there wasn't a whole lot of activity - although I found three really cool shells for the boys.

So pretty!

It was fun to take pictures of the beach - the rocks have some definite erosion - but that's what adds to the beauty I think...the waves have made their presence known... 

While we were there, we stopped in to the Outlet Store.  We passed by the Coach Store and Stann wanted to go in.  I said no.  We've been scrimping and saving for a house...and I just don't like going into stores that are ridiculously overpriced.  But I humored Stann anyways when he started into his spiel...

We're looking around, I'm seeing some nice purses and trying my hardest to not look at them...just focus on the price tag...(GASP! Outlet prices are just as outrageous as their store prices!) When Stann asks me which one I like.  The sales people came and made their pitch...clearance purses are half off...there's an additional 30% off coupon you can add...blah, blah blah.

I tune them out...just wanting to get out of the store.  I told Stann they're all nice, but wouldn't give him an answer...finally he tells me he wants to buy me a purse for our anniversary.  (I know...hunky hubby surprised even me with this!) 

Reason: we've been saving for so long and we've sacrificed a lot he wanted to buy me something nice.

I have to confess this made me nervous.  This was a lot of money, #1.  #2, If I took him up on his offer, I would be wearing this purse for the next 5 years. lol

It took me 2 days to decide.  Seriously.  I finally picked a couple of purses that weren't too spendy, that once the discount was applied seemed a lot less...oh, what's the word?

OSTENTATIOUS. 

I let Stann pick from 3 purses, 2 of which were clearance and Stann picked this one.

FUNNY, because this purse was the one I had semi-offended the sales clerks with by saying (YES, I really said this to their faces) "It might be great quality leather but it still feels and looks like a vinyl tablecloth."  

No one really knew what to say to that.  (go figure)

And YES, I still let Stann buy it for me.

It was such a fun weekend...I had such a great time hanging out with my best friend, and remembering our wedding day that was oh-so-long-ago....

Remembering WHY I married him in the first place...He's amazing! Sweet! Kind, thoughtful, warm, funny, honest, brave, stalwart, a great father, provider and I am grateful everyday to be tied in every way possible to this wonderful man.

Love you Babe.

Catching up...

Life just seems to be going in sporadic spurts...some months I have lots of time to blog, others...not so much!  That was totally the case with December.  Stann was out of town the majority of the month on business, including over the Christmas holiday....so a lot more of my time was spent entertaining the boys and trying to keep them busy - while not going crazy.  It's a lot harder to keep boys entertained when you're single-parenting it...!  My hats off to you brave people that have to do it all day, everyday!

We kept it low-key on Christmas Eve....stayed at home, had a yummy ham dinner, cheesy potatoes, homemade rolls, green beans sauteed with bacon....and Christmas cookies. :)

Aunt Chrissy, Uncle Jason, Gigi, Grandma, me and my boys enjoyed ourselves immensely!  I read the kids an abbreviated version of the Christmas story and then they got to open their tradition Christmas Eve presents...

JAMMIES!

Kids all nestled in their beds...

I was sending step by step photos to Stann...THEN Christmas morning...Kids drove me crazy - they woke up at 3 am and I had to keep them in bed with threats of SANTA WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR TOYS IF YOU GET UP BEFORE 6 AM!

Santa brought the boys 3 presents each (small ones)...

Lots of spy stuff....Matt got a parascope and Josh was diggin' on it too...

Matt got a "spy kit" / "detective kit" in his stocking....{thank you $ tree}

Boys got the kid version of a snuggie...poncho style from Gramma McNamee...

Then, we went to my folks.  

Sadly...we didn't get to go to the McNamee celebration, as tradition dictates my family gets the first half of the day and the McNamee's get the evening portion.  Curt and Aimee had a conflict in their schedule so they had their Christmas celebration the same time the Hammies had theirs....

All the grandkids (minus Mike's kids...they didn't come up this year...)

Look at those faces!  Everyone was making silly faces...

Papa is in his favorite place...his leather rockin' chair holding a grandbaby...little Sophie didn't mind either....

Aunt Laura and Aunt Sharon came up - we so enjoyed having them with us!!!

LeeAndra and her husband James made it down here to...

Uncle Jake playing Santa...like the Christmas tree?  All 2 1/2 feet of it Josh and I put up and decorated..!

Little Sophie being so cute for Aunt Lizzy!  I love that girl!

Daddy made it home 3 days later and we had our own Christmas!!  Mommy snuggled up on the chair...just happy to have Daddy back!  Josh is starting to take really good pictures for a 6 yr old!

Daddy and his boys...

The boys got their Imaginext Dinosaurs....

Hanging out in the covert op's tent that Grandma Marcia bought...

Daddy made quite the haul this year...we missed him so much!

Grandma McNamee got the boys gift certificates to Build-A-Bear - the boys got money from Gigi and their great-grandmother (the bio-father's side) and they picked out their own stuffed animals at BaB - they were excited to pay for their own toy with their own "monies".  Matt got a German Shepherd that he named "Lieu" short for "Lieutenant" and Josh picked a Tabby Cat he named "Picky Picky".

Lastly...we got the boys laser tag guns.  Stann and I also bought some for us...it turned out to be a HUGE HIT in the entire Mac Fam - we found these guns on clearance at Walmart and we bought out the entire stock in the stores around town....We've had so much fun together playing in the dark around the house...going up to the church with friends and family in the gym and turning out the lights...

Once we got cousins and Uncle Curt to come play with us at the gym they were hooked too - and we've been able to have some epic battles! lol

Christmas was awesome and it was wonderful to be able to relax and enjoy family visiting and also remember and celebrate our Savior's birth.  I am so glad to have my family with me, around me and whole - that was the best holiday present ever. 

So close to home....

The news about the shootings at Clackamas Mall and Sandy Hook Elementary hit a little too close to home for me.  My heart breaks everytime I think about them.  My jaw dropped when I found out about it.  I also have to say, the Lord does work in mysterious ways....little tiny ways that most people would overlook and think nothing of; but to me they build my testimony and strengthen my belief and knowledge of a kind Heavenly Father who knows better than I what I need.

I had written down (five different places, the same time and location) that Matt's appointment to have his cast off was at 4:30 Tuesday over at the Sunnybrook Offices.  Stann was still out of town, so I tentatively planned to take the kids to the mall and go see Santa.  As a surprise...something fun for them to do - since Stann's out of town for most of December.  Tuesday morning, I woke up got kids up and I had just started getting the boys dressed when Josh says "Mom! I threw up!" You can imagine how that went over.  Josh was better by early afternoon - I obviously kept him home.  Kathie volunteered to take him so I could stay home with the "sicko" and my heart dropped when Kathie told me two things.

1) Matt's appointment was actually for the next day at 4:00.
2) She'd just found out about the shooting; the hospital put everything in lockdown.

Gotta give props to Kaiser...they were amazing - keeping everyone updated and taking such amazing safety precautions.  They were especially sensitive to the little ears and were great about giving information without scaring the bejeebers out of him.

I see a minor miracle here.

1) Kaiser fit him in - even though his appointment wasn't that day. They didn't want him out there since at the time the information given to them was that the shooter was on the loose in the area.

2) I would've taken the boys to see Santa before hand....we would have been in the area...

Maybe some would think I'm grasping at straws, but I'm grateful for the course of events (even if it was in the form of the stomach flu) that kept me from completing my original plans.

The last minor miracle was the day of the shooting.  I was already feeling a little raw since the shooting happened in our community - and Friday morning, Kathie got me up to tell me Matt had thrown up in his bed.  (yaaaay stomach flu....) It was a really rough day for that kid.  He couldn't keep anything down and kept dry heaving even after all contents of his stomach had left him.  (Sorry kid - you got your mom's stomach!) and in afternoon - that's when we heard about the shooting.

As I heard the horrific details told - I felt as if I'd been scraped raw.  I couldn't hold back the tears as my imagination was quick to portray how it could've been my child.  Our school.  After all, Tuesday had already proven that our community wasn't immune.  It could happen anywhere....

As the news crew described how the shooter came in and gunned down the office staff and then made it into the first classroom - it really hit home.  At my boys' school, Matt's class is the first class off the office.  It was all too easy to imagine that taking place....knowing if logistics had been different, it would be my son in a classroom.  Gone.  At the time I heard that, I wanted nothing more than to feel Matt in my arms and know he was safe...and there he was!  Not that I didn't want Josh there, but he's in the back of the school and so I worried a lot less. ;)  Not to mention he has half day Kindergarten and he was home within half an hour after I heard the news.

My minor miracle I saw - was that Heavenly Father knew I would need to have my children close that day.  And I really am serious when I say NEED.  I'm grateful He's given us our families.  I'm grateful they're eternal.  And I'm especially grateful that I get to hold them each night and whisper in their ears how much I love them.

My heart and prayers go out to those families, whose arms are empty tonight.  

Last part of November & some of December

Oh so much has happened since the last part of November...!  This little cutie turned 6.  I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast!

His birthday - it was really low key.  I was supposed to throw him a birthday party (like Matt's) only I got sick AGAIN and I've yet to fully recover from it!  I have a cough that won't go away and I seem to be perpetually plugged up in my sinuses. Curse you winter season!

Another fun first and tidbit...Matt broke his arm.

Yup.

I got the call from Sharon at the school and she said "Liz, Matt was out playing at recess and it's a little slippery on the equipment, anyways, he was on the bars and he slipped and fell and hurt his arm.  He cried a little and it looks like its a little swollen but not bad.  (and here's the kicker...wait for it...) But he doesn't want to go back outside to recess...."

Yowch!  Fast forward - I had a migraine, Grandma picked him up.  By the time I got ahold of the Dr's office they had no more appointments for the day but suggested we go to East Interstate (again...FRIDAY NIGHT...I soooo wasn't going to go there if we could help it!) Matt wasn't in too bad of shape so I decided we'd wait.  Afterall why pay a $20 copay if it's just a scrape or bruise?

Besides...if we needed to go to the doctors...Urgent Care was open Saturday and Sunday at Mt. Scott.  Only he seemed to be okay Saturday.  He babied it, but it didn't stop him from playing.

Sunday came around...we went to church and that's when he started babying it even more...Monday was a holiday so I took him in...to Rockwood clinic and sure enough it was broken! Funny fact: Rockwood does not have a casting department.  So I took my cute son to Sunnybrook....another 25 minutes away. (traffic!)

I had been a dummy and dressed Matt in long sleeves.  So, here he is...neck-ed from the waist up...

He was okay.  He wasn't happy about it though...

In fact his exact words were...

I am so not happy right now!

A week later we went from the splint (above) to the cast (below).  I have never broken a bone so this was all pretty darn interesting to me. :)

Matt's new favorite color is green.  He had all of us sign his cast and then we wrapped it in camo tape.  Ahh! Gotta love little boys!

Anyways...this interfered with cousin Gabe's birthday party.  We went to Sky High - where apparently you cannot play if you have a cast on!  (Trampoline Heaven....!) We rode a party bus (Stann stayed with Matt and they went and did guy stuff)

So I took Josh and we rode with 12 other little boys.  Can we say LOUD?!

Some of the other moms and my Josh.

We had a blast though!

There's a really cool foam pit.  Josh had no problem just jumping in!

After the party we met up with Dad and brother at Freddy's. 

Interesting fun fact.  Our house is divided in its Civil War sides.  Josh is a DUCK fan.  Matt is a BEAVER fan.  (I'm a BEAVER fan too.  Stann likes them both...)

But how cute is this?!  I love it! 

So much is happening.  Not a lot of time for blogging though.  Stann has been home a total of one week so far in December.  The rest of the time he's been traveling.  Mainly to Quebec.  He leaves on the 21st for Quebec again.  It'll be our first Christmas apart. :(

The boys and I are handling it though! We hope we can make it as easy on Stann as we can.  We're not happy about it, but he's not liking it so much either!  It'll make it that much more fun when we do get to celebrate together. :)