Last One

I really can't believe Spencer graduated last week.My baby...... the last one!I am going to miss his friends coming and going and seeing him all dressed up for a dance.I will even miss Parent/teacher conferences!This will all be new to Clay and I since we have been doing the school thing for about 23 years.Even though he will be continuing his education, it really is up to himself now.He has been such an easy kid to have around and we have enjoyed every moment.

Food, Laughter and Walking

We went down south to Hurrican where my parents live this past weekend. My brother who also lives there invited us to participate in the Relay For Life Cancer Walk. His wife has a young nephew that beat cancer so they have done this walk for the past few years. It is a two day event that is at the high school in Hurricane.The only rule is you must have someone from your team walking around the track at all times. It started at 6:00 on Friday and ended at noon the next day.People brought tents, sleeping bags, couches etc.Each campsite has a theme and ours was Survivor.There was a DJ playing for the entire time. It was a party atmosphere and of course the cousins had a lot of fun!We never forgot why we were there though.They had luminaries that you could purchase and they were lit up at night. Wayne and Marlene, Clay's parents and one for my Grandma Dietderich were each place around the track. During the ceremony each name was read out loud.The luminaries went clear around the track which is quite amazing since this is a local event and Hurricane is a very small town.It goes to show you how many people are affected by cancer.It was very inspirational two days.The weather was beautiful the whole weekend in the 80's.Of course my Mom out did herself again and spoiled us with yummy meals and sweets.Hope we get to do it next year!

Loss of Womanhood

That is poor Gracie Mae after coming home from being spayed. Yes she does look like she is stoned and I think she was for the night! I had put it off long enough.She doesn't do well with anything poking her.She is a big baby and takes advantage of it whenever she has had something done.I would have loved to have had a puppy from her but can't imagine what she would be like pregnant. Scary!! Besides she is only 3 lbs. and it just wasn't worth the risk.But the biggest reason is my family. We all have dogs, so when we visit my parents at the same time we all bring our dogs. There are some very horny dogs there that like the ladies. Now she can roam free and we don't have to worry. I have to say it was heartbreaking standing in the spay and neuter clinic. Somehow the animals knew because they were all whimpering. No being a mommy and daddy for them. A girl in her 20's was holding her cat behind us and having a total meltdown. She kept saying "this is so wrong - I shouldn't be doing this- This is so sad and so on and so on. It was kind of funny! I did noticed before they took each pet the owner gave them loves and said I'm sorry. Poor Gracie was shaking like a leaf. I picked her up about 7 hours later and she was a zombie all night. She does seem to be alittle mad at me but hopefully she will forgive me.

Only Two People Know

Okay so instead of calling it a diet we are on, it is a new lifestyle we are undertaking.I know diets don't work.I grew up with a mother who was always on some kind of diet.I think my own children would say I have always been on some kind of a diet craze.But truthfully I never thought too much about my weight or what I ate in my 20's and 30's.It never really was a problem and I was too busy raising kids to worry about it.But now that I'm (cough cough) way into my 40's it has become a bigger issue.Let me just say it has been VERY hard to get off now!!I almost did the HCG diet but we have so many things coming up I knew it would be hard to stick to.So Clay and I are doing Weightwatchers online.I'm not one to go to meetings and tell anyone my weight.Just as an example I had to have sedation at the dentist office last week. When Clay and I walked into the office, Dr. Green and his staff were all standing there.The first thing he said to me was "I have to ask you something very personal". Guess what it was MY WEIGHT so he would know how much meds to give me.I swear everyone stopped what they were doing and waited. There was NO WAY I was going to yell it out for the whole office to hear let alone Clay!I debated for about a couple of seconds of taking off about 15 lbs. but then I worried the meds wouldn't be enough.So instead I told him I would whisper it in his ear.So now Dr. Green and I are the only ones who know how much I weigh.

We have been doing it for about 10 days.So far so good.Clay of course is losing weight like crazy but that's one of the perks of being a MAN!Just up the street from us is a housing development that really is it's own city.They have put in a couple of manmade lakes.We have really enjoyed walking around them since there is a walking/jogging/biking path all the way around.I have got back into doing my pilates and have been doing the P90X for arms and shoulders.We got a temp. membership to a gym to see if that's the one we want to join. Clay enjoys it but I prefer to be outside and not have so many people googling.My knee is not hurting like it was , that makes me very happy.I love that you can eat anything on weightwatchers as long as you stay in your points range. It has become a big eye opener reading labels.They say anything can become a habit after 15 days so we shall see.

OuR M0nKeY!

Talan is about 20 months old and his parents finally felt like they could be apart for a night.I should really say his mommy could because I think daddy would have been fine with it sooner.They went to Park City for the night so we got the little man.Now here comes the bragging. He did so WELL!!He did not cry for them except one time when he heard a doorbell on TV and thought it was ours.He went to the door and look out the little window, not seeing them he did fall on the floor and cry for about a second but that was it.We do have a new name for him and it is our little monkey.We heard a bang around 2 am, so I went to check on him.I walked into the dark bedroom and heard him say Hi and then he came running to me.The little man had climbed out of the crib.Needless to say Nana wasn't putting him back in there.So Clay and I had a little monkey between us the rest of the night and we loved it!




Talan has arrived!












Talan's way of playing house.














Papa And Talan watching movies.


















So cute, brushing his teeth!













Tired and ready for bed.

Sad Eyes

The other day I was shopping at target and looking at what else CLOTHES. I noticed a young couple ahead of me doing the same thing.But what caught my eye was the young man that was grabbing clothes off the rack while the girl just followed behind.Not once did he ask her if she liked it and she never said a word. She looked at me for only a second and in that second I saw such sadness. He went into the dressing room with her too.I don't know what he approved and what he didn't but I wanted to run in there and grab her. Just as I have wanted to grab my own daughter. She was heading down that road and could have been that sad young girl in a store some day or worse.But to her credit she decided to stand up for herself.We want her to know we are so proud of her. We know it has been hard but her life is so much better for it.

Here Comes The Bride........Again

Linda Rae Bauer came into Clay's family when he was sixteen. His mother had passed away from cancer and his Dad was trying to raise his children as best he could. It was a quick courtship and she brought 4 of her kids along and then they ended up having 2 more kids. Their yrs. together were very hectic to say the least. Just as life was starting to slow down for them and retirement was in sight Wayne became ill with cancer and passed away. It was hard on everyone losing the patriarch of the family especially someone as special as Wayne. But it was most hard on Linda and I think she always knew she would remarried and it was Wayne's hope that she would.Along came Bill and she feel in love all over again.It was another fast courtship and they were married a couple of weeks ago.She is like a giddy school girl in love and it is wonderful to see.Bill is a very nice man and goes out of his way to make you feel welcome. I wish them the best especially Linda.Here are some pics from the wedding. I only had my iphone camera so they are not too clear. If you know Linda you will understand the shoes and tattoo. BTW the tattoo was a temporary one from one of her kids as a joke.

The Beast

Okay so here is an update of how we are doing on are plan of getting more healthy. First off I should just say" I "because Clay does not seem to want to play yet! To his defense though he has been very busy. I have done okay. I have got on The Beast or treadmill everyday for the last 5 days. I do an hour and try to go 4 to 5 miles. I have also done my pilates and started with the P90X. Talk about hard core , the P90X is!!! It has been harder this time staying on track. My left knee is acting weird. It makes a horrible sound going upstairs. Not sure what that is.....oh well, it's not stopping me yet!I have been paying attentions to my portion size when eating and bought a whole bunch of 100 calorie snack bags.So now it time for my confession I am making marshmellow popcorn right now so we can finish watching the 2nd season of Dexter. Bad bad I know but I'm not having dinner!Yes I am hungry all the time but I am hoping my stomach will hurry and shrink. At least this time I am doing it without a magic pill. But I do miss my blue speckled pill, dang it for ruining your heart!

I Know I Am So What Are You

You know how you see those crazy pet people, that act like their pets are human and you think I would never be like that?Well.............I have to confess I have become one of those CRAZY people!!!I really am quite ashamed by it and didn't think I was that bad until I cleaned the drawer where I keep Gracie's outfits.Man just saying that sounds sooooo bad!!Dog outfits shouldn't even be in a sentence!Well anyways, here is my confession, yes I love my baby, yep that's right my baby.Since I confessed about the clothes might as well about the carseat. Got to keep my gracie safe.To those that are laughing and mocking me, I know secrets about some of you and your pets so hush!I chalk it up to~~ 1. I decided to get her on my own 2. search long and hard for her 3. saved the money myself so I am invested in the little girl! : )

My Life In A Box

We recently cleaned out our basement.In the process of doing that it meant we had to go through lots and lots of boxes.My whole life story was in those brown cardboard boxes.So many memories came rushing back to me , some that I had completely forgotten about.Some brought tears to my eyes but mostly smiles and laughter.I found old love letters from Clay from when I was away at college, letters from friends from long ago, announcements, obituaries etc.Tons and tons of pictures from teen years to recent.To my facebook friends, yes they will be coming up in the future on FB, so watch out!I found Clay's and my wedding announcement and the key from our honeymoon suite.The little hat from the hospital that we brought Brittany home in.And of course every mother's favorite lots of homemade cards and letters from our kids.When I was in college a few roommates and I started a cleaning business to make some extra money for important things like...... ding dongs! Our clients, the few we had were all male college students of course.I found the contract we made up and had them sign.It really was fun catching up on old memories. So many names of people that I forgotten about or could not remember their new last names.Thanks to facebook I have connected with so many.So I packed them all away again and will continue I'm sure to add to my life in a box!

Putting It Out There

I can't believe another year has gone by!The worst month of the year is upon us at least in my book. I hate hate January.I really think that is why I had Brittany in January just so it would give me something to do! = } Every year Clay and I start making list of what we are going to try and accomplish the new year.Every year we always start out with losing weight and getting more healthy.This year is no different except I am telling it out loud here!Every once and awhile I am going to blog on how it is going, the good, bad and ugly!Wish us luck!!

HO HO HO!!

Well another Christmas has come and gone.Usually Christmas has always been a stressful time for me, mostly because I put it on myself.So many years of buying zillion gifts for four kids and making sure it was all even and that their dreams would all come true.Of course I blame my own parents of starting the tradition of going overboard!But now that they are older the stress level has went way down!Clay and I never bought gifts for each, it was enough to just buy for them but we had gifts to open this year from each other and that was fun.What really made Christmas is our little Talan!He was so much fun this year.Still wasn't too sure of Santa even though it was his buddy Papa!Thanks to him the magic is back!