16 Years Ago ...

... Tim and I became an official couple. While I have a hard time remembering much about life before Kendall's birth, I do still remember Tim being my busboy at Bell's BarBQue, in his mustard colored Tshirt, earring, and Michigan ball cap. We've been through so much together over 16 years ... and yes, we did break up once or twice, but in the grand scheme of things, those little break ups don't really seem to matter. We've seen each other through cancer scares, deaths in the family, births, weight gain, weight loss, 3 homes, sending a loved one to war, job changes, and anything else life could throw at us. And we're still going strong. I love Tim like no other, and I am blessed to have him in my life, now and forever.

Lesson Learned

Have you ever wondered how those single, lone shoes end up on the side of the road? In the middle of the interstate? I always imagined that someone was moving their stuff from an old home to a new home and the shoes just fell off the side of the truck. Or that someone pulled over to change a flat tire and one of a pair of shoes fell out of the back door or the trunk, only to be left on the shoulder of the road.

Well last week I learned the hard way how those single shoes end up where they are. And I also learned why most cars have the back windows that only go down half-way.

You're intrigued, now, aren't you?!

Mom had asked me to run by Dr. Tasman's office to pick up her contacts, and it was a nice driving day, so I figured, "Why not?" So I threw the kids in the car with their snacks, we rolled the windows down, strapped on our sunglasses, and cracked the sunroof. It was a gorgeous day ... and we had a great drive to the eye doctor. Since the doctor is on Wade Green Rd., I thought, "What better time to show the kids the house Josh and I grew up in?"

I drove them by the teeny, tiny house we lived in for 15 years. (It is now a commercial business of some sort.) Since it was so nice outside, we took the long way home, driving down Bells Ferry Rd. Coincidentally, this road also takes us by my mom's old neighborhood, so the kids could see the second house I grew up in.

Anyway, about 100 ft. past Mom's old entrance, Kendall started screaming. Hysterically. I didn't worry at first because, since getting the Accord, the kids have taken a liking to beating each other in the back seat; they can reach each other now, and I usually just ignore it until someone starts bleeding. (Kidding. You can hang up on your call to DFCS.) Not wanting to pull over on the side of Bells Ferry at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, I simply told Kendall I couldn't help her until she stopped screaming like a banshee. About 5 seconds from the intersection of 92, she stopped and stated simply, "Tanner kicked his shoe out the window."

HUNH?!

So what does one do at this point? Do we allow the lesson to be learned -- that being don't kick your shoes out the window or you'll only have one shoe? Or do we stop, go back for the shoe, teaching the lesson that our belongings are worth a lot right now and we don't have money to waste by throwing our shoes out on the side of the road?

Decisions, decisions.

So I, with my blood pressure rising, turned the car around at the red light, drove back to where Kendall said Tanner kicked the shoe out, and parked in the turn lane. I had to drive by 3 times before Kendall spotted the little blue CROC on the side of the road. The poor thing had been hit by a car (thank God it was a CROC and bounced back!), and now Tanner has black skid marks to remind him of the lesson learned that day.

And what did Mom learn? Only give Tanner a crack in his window, and use the child locks every time! Oh -- and we may have a future soccer star on our hands!

Packing on the pounds

OK, so after consuming nearly all the Girl Scout cookies by myself (I know better than to buy those sweet, tempting little treats), and after ignoring my "cues" telling me that I a) was full, or b) didn't really need that snack/dessert, I've packed on about 7 pounds.

I hear some of you secretly rejoicing. Shame on you!

I wish I could blame this weight gain on the weaning off my medicine, but I'm pretty sure it's just from ignoring all the rules I learned in my Weight Watchers meetings. So Monday is a new day.

I've dug out my points trackers and journals so I can start writing down all the crumbs (and their points) that pass the threshold of my lips throughout the day. And I've washed the water bottle so I can stop drinking those dangerous Mountain Dews. And I ate the Grands Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast this morning -- no, I did not eat them all by myself. I only had one. And the kids each had one. And I left the other 2 for Tim to take to work for breakfast this week. Some self-control was exerted on my part -- cause I really wanted another one. And this afternoon I will throw out the rest of the cookies in an effort to avoid temptation. While I am generally against wasting food, this is an effort to save myself.

And I will work hard to get these 7 pounds off before they turn into more.

Swimsuit season is coming, after all!

For the LOST lovers

Got this on PostSecret Sunday morning. Love it. Had to share.

Hope it gives you a laugh for your day!

My Favorites List

Inspired by a fellow blogger, I've compiled a list of things that make me truly happy. No matter what might be going wrong, these few things remind me that some things in life really are simple, easy, and wonderful. (Of course none of these things are living people or animals ... but there are a few of those that have the same effect on me!)

1. Matchbox cars -- When my brother was little, he had tons of these things. Millions. And I hated tripping over them and finding them all over the house. But now that I have a little boy (who doesn't watch TV or movies, mind you), I adore Matchbox cars. First, because they are small and portable. You can squeeze up to 10 of these things into a regular purse if you are doing a mad dash to the store or the doctor's office. Also, they can be found EVERYWHERE. Publix, Kroger, Target, Walmart, CVS ... all the stores you frequent with tired, hungry, and/or rowdy kids. And you can get them for as low as 99 cents!

2. Laughing Cow cheese -- As a bagel lover, I had a really hard time when I started Weight Watchers. Bagels are about 6 points or so (if you east a regular size one), and that's completely plain. Add the cream cheese and you're looking at 1/2 your points for the day. So I was forced to either give up bagels all together or find something else to put on them. Luckily, WW makes their own bagels; while a little more expensive, they are tasty and only 2 points a piece. So I had a replacement bagel, but still needed a replacement condiment. I use peanut butter occasionally, but I happened upon this wonderful cheese called Laughing Cow in all kinds of fun flavors. It comes in a round package, and the triangles are individually wrapped (so you're portions are separated for you). And each triangle is only 1 point (if you buy the light). It is soft, ergo easy to spread, and creamy. Yum. It can also be melted over pasta sauce for a quick fettuccine snack!

3. The Grocery Game -- I've already gone on and on about how much I love this game. My savings are about $100 a week; that goes a long way these days. And by making it a game, grocery shopping is kinda fun again.

4. Buckle Jeans -- Several years ago I was at a get-together with my sorority sisters, and everyone was talking about their jeans. What kind of jeans they were wearing ... I am an idiot when it comes to these things. They kept talking about "Sevens," and I was clueless. I kept thinking, "There's no way they all wear the same size? A size 7?" Anyway, long story short, I've always been the girl who wears the cheap Old Navy jeans. I refuse to spend lots of money on jeans ... mostly because I spend the money on my kids' clothes instead. So I heard another friend mention that she likes the jeans at Buckle, and Tim and I went shopping for new jeans this weekend. I suggested we try there (he's pretty damn picky about his jeans too). Love it!! Of course, it is impossible not to find one pair of jeans that look good on you and you like; they have millions of styles/colors/sizes to choose from. And the prices aren't outrageous, even when they aren't on sale. So I got a great pair of jeans, Sabrina's. No, they still weren't as cheap as Old Navy, but they make my butt look darn good. And I didn't have to sell a kidney to buy them.

5. Fiber 1 original -- I swear by this stuff. Also a Weight Watchers staple, I use Fiber 1 cereal for breakfast, for baking, for herb-crusting chicken. For a huge cup and a half, you only have to give up 1 point. And while it looks like cardboard sticks, it does have a slight cinnamon taste when mixed with milk, so you don't feel like you're chewing and swallowing cardboard!

6. Color Wonder paints/markers -- The person who created these fabulous markers and paints should be sitting at the right hand of God, as far as I'm concerned. Those of you who are not parents yet or have not been exposed to crayon and marker on your furniture and walls, you have to know that these Color Wonder markers only mark on their designated Color Wonder paper. This is a Godsend for sure for any parents who have kids like Tanner, who forget to cap his markers before running through the hallway to chase the dog.

7. Big Comfy Couch -- I used to babysit a little boy when I was home for the summers in college. He always watched this show in his swing while I cleaned up after lunch before nap. I loved it then, and I love it now. Kendall has watched this show since she was small, and now Tanner has taken a liking to it. It is quick moving, teaches some good lessons ("Who made this big mess? I did? Well, I just have to clean it up. It's only fair."), and keeps the fear of clowns at bay. It comes on PBS at noon, right before Word World. I highly recommend it.

8. Barenaked Ladies Snacktime -- Anyone with kids will attest to the fact that we get really tired of listening to kids music. ("Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is blaring in my playroom right now.) I was very excited when Barenaked Ladies, one of my favorite bands, came out with a CD last year called Snacktime. It is a collection of humorous, loud, silly songs geared towards kids. My kids love it ... and I don't get a headache listening to it. Added bonus -- I can blare it with the windows down in the carpool line and still feel cool.