Family Pictures...finally.

Canning

As a teenager I spent many a Summer day sitting in a hot kitchen watching the pressure cooker. Brett and I were talking about that the other day and we got a wild hair. Off to Wal Mart (I hate Wal-Mart) to buy a pressure canner. We decided that we would can whatever we could find in bulk at a decent price. No luck with fruits and veggies, but Brett went to Costco and got a 10 lb bag of chicken. We decided to do a small batch first to make sure we didn't blow up the house.

Momma, did I looth a toof?

JD has had to have a palate expander. His palate was too small to accommodate future teeth. He had an under bite and at the back of his mouth the top teeth went inside the bottoms. Apparently he had quite alot of expanding he needed to do. His teeth have moved so much that the other day he noticed how much room he had between his front teeth. He came to me and asked "Momma, did I looth a toof"?
The kid is hilarius. If he can't think of exactly what he is trying to say, he always comes up with a creative way of getting his point across.

Date Night

Yay, we have cleared all of the children off of our schedule!! Date Night

Time Marches On.

As much as I try, I am just not very good at keeping up with this blog... I have been reinspired by my "Daughter In Law". Tresan has started her own blog and it can be found at http://tnjalvey.blogspot.com/. What a sweet little family.
Anyway, I made it to San Francisco and had a complete blast! We did our best to ignor the naked people running along with us. My understanding was that the Bay To Breakers was much more "tame" than in years past. Considering the naked people, drunks passed out on the side of the road and the crazy costumes, I'm glad I went on a tame year. Spending time with Tiff and family and Eric and John was amazing. I just wanted to box them all up and bring them home with me. Definately gonna have to be better about keeping in touch.
The kids are growing up...Chloe starts middle school this year and Brutus played his first season of T-Ball. I'm certain it wont be his last.



Chloe decided to sing for her school talent show.

Gym Rat

Ok, so in an effort to get fit, I joined a gym. Not just any gym. I joined Lifetime Fitness. Super nice! Brett had already joined last month and has been diligently working out. He decides to get fit about 2 months prior to his Military fitness test every year then promptly slacks off as soon as he passes. I joined a week ago and have been at the gym for some reason or other every day since. I am even working out too! Feels great...kinda. The first thing I did was go to a cardio kickboxing. Never let anyone tell you that you don't need coordination for this class. Have I mentioned that I am fish belly white. I was sure this would be the perfect class for me since I had actually been really into kickboxing when I lived in San Antonio...the cardio is where I had the problem. I finished the class with the instructor yelling "your other left" in my general direction only once. I will count that as a success. AND I will make this class my Thursday night routine. Friday night was a "Dive in Movie". No real exercise there but a good time for Chloe and Mommy. Saturday was massage day...yay...kinda. Apparently my neck is "a disaster" and she worked it really hard. Felt good at the time but was really sore the next day. Sunday was meet personal trainer day. Monday 60 minutes on the bike (this translates into "bike seat makes me say ouchie". So tonight my hour was spent with the LifeStep. While I was stepping away Chloe was taking a rock climbing class. LOVED IT. That child definately does not get her athleticism from me.

Rut Roh!!

OK, I know that 2 posts in 2 days is utterly unheard of to the 2 people that actually read my blog. Soooo I was talking to one of my favoritist people (she also happens to be one of the 2 that actually read my blog) today and she mentions that she is participating in a 12k in May. At that very moment I was possessed POSSESSED I say! Next thing this demon in possession of my mouth says "I'll do it with you". WHAT!?!? Yes, I have lost weight and feel really good, but even at my skinniest I was never athletic. It's OK (breathe) I can do this. I guess this means that beyond just losing weight, it is time to get into shape (yes I know round is a shape). I am ready...time to join the gym.

Not a Winter!!

So, does anyone else remember the cheesy practice in the 80's of figuring out what "season" you were? I remember at my Young Women's night at church on more than one occasion, having fabrics draped over me to figure out if I was a Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall. Well I am blonde, blue eyed and "fish belly" white so it was pretty easy to figure out that I was a summer. I always wanted to be a winter, they were so exotic and could wear all the really "cool" colors. Well it was not to be and as I get older and enjoy this season less and less (I hate cold feet) I must say the I am glad to be a Summer. I miss flip flops and the required pedicure to go with them. This year I will even enjoy the shorts and swim suits. Since September, (october for Brett) we have been on a weight loss journey. Brett and his son Christopher are days away from their goal. I have a little bit more to go, but lets face it my goal was a bit bigger than theirs. I feel great and look pretty darn good too. What a great feeling. I have had to buy lots of new clothes because even clothes that were screaming for mercy the last time worn, fall directly to the floor. Yay Me!!

Brett's 30th High School Reunion

So this weekend was one of two 30 year high school reunions for Brett. He attended one school system all of his life until senior year then moved across town. The was for the school he graduated with, the one with childhood friends will be later in the year. We packed up the family and made the trek to Laredo, Texas. Yeehaw. We ended up having a great time and met and reconnected with some really cool folks. I felt like a giant among shrimps but there was actually one girlfriend of a classmate that was a hair taller than me. We discussed the fact that we have no problem finding our shoe size in Laredo. We may just have to shop there more often. I met old football and baseball buddies and even a couple of old girlfriends. All very nice.
So, even though I married an old guy, we still manage to have fun now and again. LOL

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The Beautiful Devan Gets Married

Flower bed after...

Flower bed before...

Small Town Friday Night in Texas