Gotta love Nanny's house!

Anthony spent last week at Nanny Gwen's house. It's hundreds of acres of fields out in the country, miles of dirt roads with a huge mill pond in the middle. (Plus it's about 30 minutes from the beach so we all love that!) It's one of those places that "takes you back" - if you know what I mean... nothing ever changes, makes you remember how it was when you were a kid.

Can't you just see the excitement on Allison's face?? I'm not sure what she was looking forward to most - the 2 hour trip or seeing her brother...

John with his grandmother aka "Nanny Gwen"

It's miles of dirt roads, all family and your lucky if you pass another car... so we let Anthony and Allison ride in the back...

While Abby drove...



Cameron, Anthony's cousin stayed down there with him last week.
Anthony loved it.

Just random pics at the mill pond...

Truth time Thursday

It's truth time Thursday and the truth is, I don't want to weigh myself today. I'm one of those people that eats their emotions and since I'm being honest... I have manged to eat sad, angry, happy, excited, scared, and even nibbled on bored a little bit this week when I didn't have anything to do.
I'm going to skip this week's weigh (I know - accountability...)
I'm already back on track, so I'm sure next week's numbers won't be so bad.

Movie time

We have a season pass for the movies this summer. We go on Thursday's at 10am. It's great, no one's hardly there and the kids know each week that they get to go on Thursday's.
This was Abby's first time at the movies. I was a little nervous of how she would do but she did great. Her observations were: Why do they make the seats so hard to hold down? With her little tail, the seat kept trying to fold up on her. She also decided something that we all already know...you get the BEST popcorn at the movies!

That's my mom with all the kids before the move. Yes, Anthony does look overwhelmed by all the "estrogen" :)

Politically Incorrect....

A friend and I were talking about how blessed we are and how easily we forget. Their are so many families out there struggling, financially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. We talked about it for quite a while and I can honestly ashamed to say that's all I did...
I didn't even take the time to pray...

I was privileged enough to represent a former company I worked for on the Chamber of Commerce. Our company had a great outreach program and now with connections with the Chamber of Commerce - we could really make a difference in that little town! (Let me go ahead and say, I do not want to offend anyone affiliated with there local chamber's or any other organization, this was my own personal experience, not ALL are like this) I quickly learned that they spent the first 6 months planning for a festival in June and the following 6 months planning the Christmas Parade.
Really people? Are we still talking about how Joe Blow doesn't need to display all of his stuff on the sidewalk for the festival? How many meetings does it take to decide that there was plenty of parking last year and probably will be plenty of parking this year?? All of these influential people that can really make a difference....
So many times I wanted to say (but didn't) - Any of you assholes thought a food drive might be nice to plan??? I don't know, maybe the fact that Joe Blow's business is going under and he's fixing to file for bankruptcy - he just might NEED to display all his items on the sidewalk to help them sale...

SO, that's my gripe, we're out there talking (me included) wrapped up in the upcoming festival or event - missing our opportunity to do something...
It doesn't have to be complicated, most of us can step outside in our front yard and look to the right or left and see that elderly neighbor that needs their trash taken off, or the kid down the road that doesn't look like they've had a new pair of shoes in forever... How hard is it to smile and give a word of encouragement? Give Joe Blow a break, he's had a hard enough day...

I encourage each of you today to join me in doing (not just talking about it) something extra for someone else....

Truth time Thursday...

Straight to the point - I weighed and 148. Much better this week! Slowly but surely! I am also going to start measuring by the inches I lost to help me from getting discouraged on the weeks the scales want to act up... Thanks Amber for the tip!

Goodies!!

I was lucky enough to win some fun stuff from 62 cards last week for having her button on my blog!

Look at all my cute stuff!

Please take a moment to go check out her Etsy shop, besides all the great crafts, Sammye Jo is a super sweet girl and I love reading her daily post!

I thought it was summer vacation??

The positive to being unemployed right now is summer vacation. I was so excited, thinking the kids and I can go to the water park, we can go stay with family at the beach for a week here and there, or just lay around the house watching movies...

taking it easy...

Are you laughing yet??

Truth time Thursday

I guess I'll get straight to it, ya'll I am fat. The scales told me so this morning. I have gained back the two pounds I lost last week. After three weeks and now only three pounds... I'm kind of leaning toward going to the GNC Store and getting some diet pills...

Woo hoo for Anthony!!

It was the 5th grade's award ceremony yesterday. I can't believe Anthony will be going to middle school next year... It seems like yesterday that I was walking him down the hall to kindergarten. First of all, I'm going to blame it on "that time of the month" (TMI...I know) but I was so overwhelmed with emotion. John, Abby and I went to his award's show and I was crying before we even got in there, between watching my littlest one walk down the halls of the school and knowing she will be here next year and my oldest one going to middle school...they're just not babies anymore...

Well, the award show starts - the chorus sings a couple of sappy songs about saying goodbye and growing up and my mascara is now covering my cheeks more than my lashes. Abby has past the point of embarrassed and asked to move and go sit with grandma. (I think John wanted to move too..)

They give pins out for the highest average of the year in Math, Science, etc.. (all the subjects) and then there's Most Improved, Creative award, Honesty award and so on...

Now for my time to brag....

Highest average of the year in Math - Anthony Causey

Highest average of the year in Language Arts - Anthony Causey

Highest Average of the year in Science - Anthony Causey

Highest Average of the Year in Health - Anthony Causey

Our little man received an award for the highest average in EVERY subject plus he received the Spelling Bee award (class winner) and some video award - he operates the camera for the school news and a Creative writing award and a Leadership award.

I just thought I was crying before... I am now at full blown hysterical cry (you know the kind with snorts and bobbing head)

There goes John, he's moved and pretending not to know me either...

Anyway, here's the best pictures I could get of Anthony as he's leaving and going back to class

and telling the kids around him he's never seen me before in his life

Great job Anthony!

My Girls

Ever had one of those days when you realize your little girl has turned in to a little young lady??

Where has the time went?

Allison is such an animal lover...any and all kinds...

and that is why it broke my heart to see her so upset when our rabbit Peanut died the other day....



Abby's question of the day...



Before you got old mom, did you know how to have fun??

So what is worse, being called old or no fun???

Truth time Thursday

Ok, I've weighed myself and I have lost another 2 pounds. I'm tickled this week because that moves me out of the 150's and into the 140's! Yes, it's still just 149 but it's in the 140's!

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitude

I have had a really long weekend and not in a good way...

Just when I think I can't handle one more thing - there it is...
I'm still struggling with the fact that I'm on unemployment, it's still hard to deal with the "not take it personal" that you got laid off from a job that you worked so hard at and loved...
Financially right now is tough and I know it's that way for a lot of people right now..
It still doesn't make it any easier when I have to tell my child no, because I know that we can't afford it.
As far as my husband right now...Lord knows I love him but that's still not taking away the urge I have to run him over with my car...
(Wouldn't really! Just nice to imagine...)
Oh yeah, I'm still hungry...and why do I torture myself to be thin?? Who are "they" that decided I would be a prettier person at a smaller size???

Anyway enough of my pity party...I found this quote on the internet, so I'm going to try to have a better attidude...

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
-- Melody Beattie

Here goes,

I'm thankful that I have a Father in Heaven that I can kneel down to and pray in times of need and KNOW that He is there.

I'm thankful for my husband and my children, that they are all healthy and love me and know how much they are loved by me.

I'm thankful for the home we do have and the payment that we struggled to make but DID make.

I'm thankful that I am struggling with money right now, therefore can't afford to go to get a Chocolate Shake from Chick Fil A that I'll just regret later
Ok...maybe I'm not so thankful for the last one :)

Give away

KK's Kreations is having a give away of 3 of her engraved tiles. They're absolutely beautiful! Be sure to go by her blog and sign up for a chance to win!

Truth time Thursday...

Well, I weighed myself this morning and after a long week of passing up all food good...reading blogs of recipes and daydreaming about eating them...yes people, this girl is hungry
I have lost 3 pounds.
I'm disappointed, I guess I should be glad that I lost something that clearly come out of my elbows because my fat roll is still smiling at me bigger than ever
Oh well, maybe next week I'll be a size 6....
Unrealistic goals you say??? Surely not!
My plan this week (I think) is to get serious on the Atkins diet. I know it works, my friend Mandy did it and has had great results and kept it off.
Will see...

Yard work

Times are hard... so yes, we believe in free child labor...

What's that??

I know what you're thinking...no, the blade is not on

Like I said, times are hard...so I'm willing to rent my "yard help" out for a small fee...




I'm just kidding, I would never do such a thing...



(unless the money was right)

...still kidding for anyone who is gasping right now :)

Afternoon fun

John and Anthony playing with Roxy in the yard last night.

Happy Birthday!

Today is Tiffany's birthday (John's sister, aka Aunt Tiff)

Happy Birthday!

Hope to see you soon!It is also my niece's birthday too...

Happy 2nd birthday Kayli!

Truth time Thursday....

I have been struggling with my baby weight for quite sometime...Ok, maybe you can't call it baby weight when she'll be five in July...
I've been up and down trying to get off 25 pounds, shed 10 - gain back 15...
So, here's truth time...I am about to tell you exactly what I weigh...

Umm, might take me a minute to get this one out...my drivers license still say 120lbs (as if I'm fooling anybody) When I went to get them renewed, the lady at the DMV asked if I'd like to update anything...address??weight?? I boldly looked her straight in the eyes and said - No, everything's correct and waddled my butt out of there

Anyway...I'm telling you all of this hoping that if I post weekly updates, that it will give me some sort of accountability. So every Thursday I'll post my progress - good or bad.
I'm still not sure if I'm ready to tell you exactly how much I weigh...


Ok, here goes..I'm 5'4 (and a half) cause that half makes me feel better about my BMI and 154lbs.
Breathe Jennifer breathe...there I said it. Now please pray for my success and that miracle weight loss shake that taste like chocolate cake that'll make you lose 10 lbs instantly

"Not me!" Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was all started by Mckmama. If you want to see what everyone else is not doing check out her blog.

No, I did not eat everything in sight yesterday in the name of "Mother's day rights"

No, I did not swear off all and anything carb or sugar related this morning to make me feel better about yesterday...and then give my child a Swiss Roll, sit her in front of the TV watching Noggin just so I can get on the computer...not me