Let the Games Begin!

A few months ago, I wrote how my sister Abby, was doing this healthy/weight loss challenge and I was making some changes in my lifestyle as well.  (You can read about it here).  Well, another challenge, "Slimmer in 6" has started, and I am officially a participant.  The four members of my team are myself, Chad, my mom and sister Erin, and yes, we are "Team Supreme!" :)  The challenge just started on Saturday, and it runs for 6 weeks, but already I think we are feeling confident. 

Competitiveness is sadly one of my biggest traits, or trials, whatever you want to call it.  I like to chalk it up (and my fiestyness), to my red hair, and being a middle child.  But whatever the reason, believe me I will not go down without a fight.:)  I am in it to win it.

On that healthy post back in April, I wrote how just from changing a few things Chad had lost 6 pounds.  Well, when Chad weighed in for his starting weight on Saturday, he is now down 16!  I am so proud of him.  He says he has a long way to go, but I think he looks great already!  I have only lost 4, so I still have some to lose too.:(  That's okay. The woman who have done this program have lost an average of 10 pounds, so I think I can meet my goal.  As for now, wish me luck with those constant chocolate cravings...

Dance Dance Dance!

Saturday was Emmi's dance recital.  This is her first costume for the "Tiki Room" dance.

And this is her other costume for "Me and My Teddy."  (Sorry for the blurriness, I took it on my phone).  But doesn't she looks so beautiful? I think so.  Like always, I was so proud to be her mommy.

On stage during the dress rehearsal.  Yes, we had a little bow mishap, and she ended up being the only one not wearing it, which made me so angry with myself... why do these things always happen to me?

Her cute class in their studio t-shirts just before the recital started.

After the performance, we got a picture of her with her beautiful Aunt Kristin, who was one of her teachers.  And I am kicking myself for not getting one of her with her Grandma Hunsaker, the other teacher.  I guess next year.

The girls all got medals, and this cute ballerina figurine was given to her by Grandma Hunsaker and Aunt Kristin.  She loved it!

As you can guess, Jack was a handful during the recital and we were trying our best to keep him happy, but by the end he was so tired and ready for bed.  Grandpa Hunsaker was still able to get a smile though.

I know that Grandpa B and Jack's heads are cut off, but I just love everybody else in this pic.  So sorry, B.:)  My Mom, Dad, and brother Jared surprised Emmi and came down for the show, and brought her these beautiful flowers. She wouldn't stop beaming on stage when they waved at her.  This was the first time Keaton and Sam went to one of her recitals, because I had to leave them at home last year.  They got a kick out of Emmi on stage, and were full of giggles seeing her dance.

When we got home, I had to get a pic of me and Emmi before she got out of her cute dress.  I feel so blessed to have this little girl. 

Here is her "Tiki Room" dance. Enjoy!

Update

Chad and I have still been hard at work paying down our debt.  If you remember, we started doing the Dave Ramsey method last year.  (Click here to see how we started.)  Well, we are not debt free yet, but we hit a major milestone.  We paid off the last of our consumer credit this weekend! We don't owe anything to any store or credit card company, the credit line has paid in full, and it feels great!  Honestly, we haven't been in this position since we bought our house.  Next, we are tackling the car and student loans, and the very last will be the house.  We still have a way to go, but we have made great progress! Yay!     

And, He Is Off!

The last few months Jack has been starting to stand and walk around things, teasing us that any day he could take off and walk, but didn't.  Well, the day has come and Jack is now walking.  It is so fun to see his joy at his new trick, even though he does seem to get into all kinds of trouble faster.  Like mascara, for example.  It was his absolute favorite thing to hold.  Too bad it didn't take him long to figure out how to twist off the cap and now I have to be careful that he doesn't see me using it so he will want it.  

Proof that he is walking.  I know that he had my mascara yet again, but I did not notice until the very end that he got the cap off.  Hence, why I quickly stopped the video, to stop him from getting another black mouth.  He is one tricky little devil.  I promise, he hasn't held the mascara since.:)

Not only mascara, he apparently can open my lotion too.  The other night while driving home he started to fuss and so I gave him my little lotion bottle to hold since he has never opened it, and low and behold, I turned around to see it all over his hands and face.  I guess I have underestimated him.  But let me tell ya, he smelled wonderful that night!

School is Out!

One big program and 2 graduations later, my kids are officially out of school. First, Keaton and the whole 2nd grade put on a very cool Patriotic program.  They sang all the America songs, and all had very short lines.  It was so great! I wish Chad could've taken off to see it with me.

I had to take a pic of Keek with his cute teacher, Mrs. Garner.  I don't know who liked her more, me or him.  She was such a great teacher and I do hope she is around for my other kids to have.

Then Sam had to wear his "fancy clothes" to school for his Kindergarten graduation.  He didn't want to wear a tie, and I thought he would probably take it off and lose it anyway, so this is as "fancy" as he got.  His program was very cute, and I was impressed at how well Sam knew the words.  He isn't usually one for singing.  Me, Chad, Jack, and Grandma and Grandpa Hunsaker were there for the ceremony.  Sam had a wonderful teacher too.  Her name is Mrs. McFarland, and I hope we get her again too.  I was so happy with the teachers we got this year.

Last but not least, my Emmi graduated from her first year of preschool.  She has one more year, and I am thinking next year I won't let her have gum in her mouth for the graduation.:)  Grandma "B" gave Emmi the gum if she would let her braid her hair as we were getting her ready, and we didn't think to have her spit it out at the program.  Emmi and cute Miss Amy.

Emmi and her best buddy Tawny, who unfortunately is going to Kindergarten next year. 

School is out.  Now what?

Yard Work

Yesterday we finally had a Saturday free to do some major planting and working in the yard.  While Chad was busy trimming and mowing the yard, I took a trip to my favorite nursery, Cook's Greenhouse, to buy my veggies and some more shrubs.  As much as my front yard needs work, I thought the backyard was much more deserving.  I was out working all day, digging stuff up, and moving things around, weeding and planting.  I have to admit though, all the hard work has paid off, and I am liking how it looks so far.

I wasn't happy with what I had planted against the house here originally, and bought these shrubs instead.  I love the color of the brown ones, especially, and hoping that in time they will grow nice and big.

It was really bare here against the fence last year, so I bought a new shrub, and moved 2 others over from the end of the yard to fill it in a bit.  Too bad it will take a couple years for them to really look nice, but already it is much better than before.

Most excitedly, I thought it was finally safe enough to plant my veggies.  This year I decided to plant zucchini, onions, peas, pumpkins, carrots, celery, cucumbers and 2 kinds of tomatoes, on top of my strawberries and raspberry bushes that come back every year.  Hopefully we will have a good crop.  I am going to be leaving much of the watering to my boys this year as part of their chores, so I guess we will see how that goes.

At this end of the yard we have been plagued with nasty weeds that just wont' die, but my friend Carolyn sweetly came by to help me dig them all up and start again.  I also didn't like what I had planted here before and took some things out.  Much better.  Now to work on the front and clean out the garage...

My Mother's Day

This  Mother's Day,I got spoiled.  Not only did I get fun gifts from my mom and mother-in-law, but I got bombarded at home with gifts and cards from Chad and  the kids.  Maybe because I have 3 now in school, or maybe because I have 4 kids total, but I got more things than usual this year.  It was a sweet, sweet day, and I cherish these little gifts.  This first picture Sam brought home from school for me to open.  It is actually based on a Picasso painting that is almost identical.  This one I am planning to frame.

Keaton made this little card for me at Church.  You can't beat the picture of the two of us at the top, and that the card is done in his own handwriting.  So sweet.

To go along with Sam's picture, he made this card at school as well.  I love that he tried to write my name on the top of the card, even though he forgot a letter.:) 

On the inside was this info about me.  It is funny how much you learn about yourself from what your kids say about you.  For instance, all the notes the kids have ever brought home have said that I like to clean.  Hmm... maybe all they see me do is clean?  Since I have 4 little mess makers, not sure what can be done about that.

Keaton brought me home this beautiful wooden plantar from scouts last week.  I am so impressed that he drilled it together, painted it, planted the flowers himself, and I love that I can use the box every year and it will remind me of him.

 Emmi also made this cute keepsake in preschool for me.  It already has found a home out in my garden.

And last but not least, Chad brought me home beautiful roses the night before. (Yes, now they are pretty much dead, but I still wanted to acknowledge his gift).  Believe me when I say that when he brought them home they were indeed beautiful.  He had all the kids sign the card too. Like I said, I got spoiled.