So I don't seem to be very good...

So I don't seem to be very good at this blogging thing - seems I liked to take a few weeks at time in between. I guess I need to make a better effort to spend a little time each night at the computer. I'm sure those of you out there emailing me would appreciate that too!

So since the big storm the family has been "cruising along": Mark has found a job that he starts on Monday (YEAH!), Amber has turned a year older and had tons of fun shopping and watching movies on her Spring Break, Andy has also been shopping and playing video games galore, and Al is fighting double ear infections and a sinus infection for the second time in 6 weeks (I don't think he ever got over it the first time).

As for me, I'm just cruising along as well. Been working a lot of overtime at work, enjoyed a few books, been Scrapbooking with Juli every other week, and heading to Weight Watchers every Thursday. I still put the family in front of a lot of things, but I've been trying hard to do more for myself since the New Year and I think I've accomplished that. Every other Monday Juli and I get together for a few hours and work on our scrapbooks and chit chat (OK some nights it's more chit, chat then scrapbooking). I look forward to the hours of cropping and writing and girl talk about weddings and babies (no neither one of us is doing either one of those soon - she is working on her wedding album and me on Al's baby book - yes still). This week she and I also enjoyed a hockey game together - GO JACKETS! ***Yes Girls like hockey too!!!!!**** we managed to win that game 4-0 vs. Chicago -too bad last night vs. the Preds wasn't as exciting.

My current "magic number" is 24.8 lbs lost since New Years....0.2 more and I can get a pedicure (my little reward to myself). It's been some hard work and I see myself getting into ruts so I need to climb out - some days those salads and frozen lunches just don't seem that exciting, but I keep plugging along and know I'll hit my goal!

The last 24 hours Amber and I have done some "bonding", last night we went to the CBJ game together, saw some Zoo animals there too and today we went shopping at Indian Mound Mall. Our goal of the trip was to find a Prom Dress - something we accomplished within about 30-45 minutes. Then we spent about another 2 or 3 hours eating lunch, looking for accessories, and buying some casual clothes for the rest of us (everyone got something but Albert and that is only because I couldn't find a belt his size!)

My morning started out though with some bonding time with my husband. Mark and Amber are part of the Lens and Leaves photography club and this morning they had an outing at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Amber said she would sit this one out and babysit Al so I could tag along. It was a lot of fun - I got some pretty good shots of the butterflies. A year ago I would have thought most of them were GREAT! But having been around Mark for the past year or two as his photography has gotten better and better I realize mine are only "good" or "OK" - lots of lighting issues and I tend to get in a little too close and cut off a corner of a wing or antenna. But learning comes with time and Butterflies are a lot harder to shoot then Marching Bands :) The butterfly above is one I took that turned out well.

I think that pretty well sums things up. I'll try to include sometime for me to blog more in the coming weeks and hopefully I'll soon be able to include that in the list of "things for me".

The Worst storm since '78?

Well seeing how I was just over a year old when that one hit I can't answer that question, but I must say that this is one of the worst storms I can remember, and what a strange time to hit! Columbus is all but shut down for the past 24 hours - it's been interesting. Mark and I put on our dare devil hats and headed to Meijer's yesterday for some essential items. We were out of Milk and unlike the rest of the city didn’t stop Friday to get some, plus this was my weekend to grocery shop so we were running low on other things too. So we crossed the parking lots and ran in for some milk, juice, bread, and ground beef (I can feed the family on lean ground beef for a few days if we have to!) $100 later and a few things not on the list and we’re heading back. Made it safe and sound, only mishap was I miscounted steps and almost went head first into the snow!
So Mark was hoping to be starting a job this week, but alas it wasn’t meant to be so. They courted him, but then didn’t have the budget to actually hire him – got to love the corporate world! I’m worried about him finding something. I keep hearing the stories of people who have been on unemployment for a year, or who settle for working at Home Depot to even try to make ends meet. Plus there are all these stories of layoffs and closures. I know the IT field is always in demand, and he has always said the pay would be better at a different job, but I wonder if it isn’t a case of the “grass is always greener”. I know I would be enjoying the time at home, but I would be stressing so bad about the money I would be checking for something new every few hours! A difference in personalities I guess since Mark seems to be surrounding himself with his pictures and websites.
I must admit to enjoying Wednesday afternoon with him and Albert at the conservatory – I’m glad we have family memberships to some Columbus attractions otherwise I think we’d be doing NOTHING outside the house right now! I think the entire visit we saw only 6 or 8 people who weren’t employees. It was the first time I had been there when it wasn’t crazy crowded! There wasn’t much in bloom and they were in the process of changing the displays, but Albert and I enjoyed the “Choos-Choos” and “fishes” and a nice quite afternoon with Dad.
Something else nice was last evening – you would think after being trapped inside all day we would be going stir crazy, but that wasn’t the case. We enjoyed a family favorite meal of broccoli, chicken, rice casserole, then Amber and I watched” Bring it on Again” (yes I’m a sucker for teen movies, especially if they involve, dance, cheering, or ice skating!), and after the kids went upstairs Mark and I played catch up with the DVR and watched 4 episodes of “The Celebrity Apprentice” – love that show and one of our least favorite people is GONE! It was a nice quite evening – not we had planned since the LH musical was suppose to be this weekend – but again the city was shut down .

So it's been a couple of weeks....all kinds of things have happened...my husband is without a job, we've celebrated a birthday, have 2 on the horizon and I've been working 6 days a week and getting as much overtime as my body and family can handle.

The weight loss is going well - 17.8 pounds since New Year's - can't complain about that!

Potty training is still inconsistant, but we're getting there.

And tonight I'm fighting a headache and Al is pounding on his drum and the table (of course...).

This week starts 4 H band for the older kids and the Licking Heights musical is this weekend - so busy as usual!