I will get back with some pictures

Well…what a weekend!  Since I last checked in, my sweet sister flew in to surprise my mom for her retirement party, which was also a huge success (thanks RISE team) and such a touching tribute to the hard work Mom and Tammy have put in to the community.  We had lunch with my Gma’s friends, a big taco family dinner and a game of Mexican train that I won.  I walked a 5K with Carrie, took a much-needed nap with Abby and spent a nice afternoon playing with Abby and dinner with Mom and Gma.  Wow—what a time!  And so much fun.  I’m sure I’ll expand later…wouldn’t pictures help? J

My eating-out goal is going OK.  At this point in the month, um…a whole five days into it…I’d give myself a C.  Not an F because of all of the eating out because the only one I paid for was scheduled but not an A because, well, I ate out a lot.

We ended up eating dinner out Thursday night with Gma and Mom before picking Aaron up.  Thai so the healthy choices were there and I’d say I did pretty good at picking something healthy and tasty.  Water and none of the appetizers but I ate the whole thing…because it was so GOOD! J  We had lunch at Scott’s Seafood with Gma and her friends—I had the fish and chips (I usually do if it’s on the menu and somewhere where is should be good because I love fish and chips but WILL NOT make it) but I stuck with water to drink and only had one piece of the insanely-good French bread.  And then there was the scheduled meal out—coffee before/breakfast after the 5K with Carrie.  So good.  So good.  I love Café Italia.  Of course I had the French toast with eggs.  And it was good.  And I had coffee.  And we had what we like to call “breakfast appetizers”—these little donut sticks that they bring with chocolate and raspberry syrup dipping sauces.  OMG.  So…see what I mean…a C.  Right in the middle. J

To get back on track though, I have my lunch made for the week and have dinner out with friends planned for Friday night so I have that to look forward to, food-wise.  Friend-wise too.  Not to self: need to find a babysitter asap.

And the weather looks like it’s going to be beautiful so it’s back to evening walks for the Wilmots, which is great because we all love it.  We all feel so good after going, Abby sleeps so much better, Jason and I catch up on the day, the week, life, and the fresh air is just nice to breathe in. J  If you can’t tell, I’m a big fan of the family walks. J

I will get back with some pictures.

A New Project

Why is it that I feel like I must always have a “project” going?  And why is that “project” never to have clean floors or the laundry done?  J

I’ve been eating out more than usual.  It’s a bad habit.  It’s not good for me, it’s full of junk and calories and fat, and it EXPENSIVE.  For all these reasons, and more that I’m not thinking of right now, I’m taking a month-long break from eating out.

April 11^th to May 11^th

It’s going to be perfect timing because we leave for Hawaii the 12^th and being on vacation does through a bit of a hitch in even the best-laid plans.

The only exception I can see will be already-planned (I can see two on the calendar) meals out and my goal for those times will be to choose healthy options and not blow the budget on extras like sodas and desserts.  I don’t need them, they are always super pricey for what you get, and they don’t contribute to the goal of being a healthy me.

Thoughts?  Advice?

Easter is upon us

I love this time of year.  I love the beautiful weather, the flowers in bloom, Spring Break (oh how I miss those), and little girls in dresses and sparkly shoes:

I'm thankful for things more this time of year too.  Family, friends, health, basic luck in being born an American (really, I take this for granted a lot).

Today makes the anniversary of my best friend's death when I was in seventh grade.  I don't even want to count how many years that was...ok...I was nine in fourth...so ten in fifth, eleven in sixth, twelve in seventh grade.  I'm 35 so Sean, dear Sean, died 23 years ago.  OMG.  I'm thankful for his life, as short as it was, and the impact he's had on me and my life since.  Sometimes I live carefully because I am "living" for Sean too, living the life he didn't get to.  And sometimes I live life crazily because...well, I'm "living" for Sean too, and he was a fun-loving person and would rock the house.  So today, tonight, I will hug my baby a little tighter, tell her about my dear friend Sean, and we'll say a little hello to him.  I'm sure he's looking down at her an smiling, just like I do.

Friday makes my dad's death anniversary...that'll be 13 years.  (And this is the first time I've noticed that those dates are 20 years apart...).  Another amazing man in my life, another incredible loss of a friend, dad, loved one.  He too, I'm sure, is looking down in wonderment at his little granddaughter.  Friday we'll talk about him...probably cry a little too...and say a little hello.

I'm not sad...I'm so so so glad that both of these men were in my life.  Thankful.  So very thankful.  See...Easter is upon us! :)