A Little Help Please

Ok, so I mentioned in the previous post that I'm starting to walk on my treadmill tomorrow. On top of that I would like to find any good weight loss products to help in my quest for slim/sexy! Ok, so at least the slim--not much a 38 year old mom of 4 can do in the sexy department, eh!

I'm not looking for much. Just something to help curb the appetite, or burn fat faster or whatever--just something to kick it up a notch. I do have a high school reunion this summer (I'm not attending) but I will be lunching with several friends from my "non-mom" days, and I'd just kind of like to feel a little better about my looks!

Any ideas?

Time To Pump It Up

I spent the early part of this week getting the house spiffied up. Well, I guess not technically the house, but the master bedroom and all spaces leading into it. We have kept all of our fitness equipment in the basement since we moved in--and down there it is simply gathering dust. So I hired a young man that works with my husband to come and help me move at least the treadmill to my room. This way, I can work out and watch something on the DVR at the same time.

Tomorrow is June 1st--and I plan on starting the new summer regime--I can't wait!

May Weather

We have had a lot of strange weather around here lately. A few weeks ago the boys all went to the Father and Sons camp out. They ended up coming home at 2:30 in the morning due to the wind. It had been rainy and windy all night, and I was quite disappointed to wake up the next morning to see the number the weather had pulled on my patio furniture.

Now, I should say, I've been wanting new furniture for awhile, but the budget doesn't allow it just yet. But now, as soon as it does, I'll be heading out to find something fun!

Starbury Shoes

We are heading to the mall after school today! My oldest, Jake, is desperately in need of new tennis shoes. My sister has purchased herself some Starbury shoes, and have sold him completely on them. The best part of Starbury shoes---they are great "sports" shoes for $14.95. I'm amazed. They match up to the $150.00 basketball shoes when you cut them both down the middle, but at 1/10th of the price. They have some really "cool" styles as well. For a fourth grader--that is really important. He only has a couple of weeks left of school--but he still needs to feel cool at school!

Summer Break

10 more days of school! I'm amazed. I have Kate signed up for summer camp, but I haven't done anything with either of the older boys. They do have baseball, but not much going on to occupy their summer. They do love to play outside and ride their bikes, so if I do do a summer camp program, I may only do it 2 days a week. Of course, we tried that two years ago, and by the end of it--they had wanted to go every day, and so we signed them up for that. I'm trying to decided if I should just bite the bullet and put them in everyday--or just the two.

With cousins pretty close, I do want to have time for them to get to play together. My sister might be moving this summer, so it will be nice to have the kids taken care of so I can help her. I guess that is my job for the day!

Moving On

Summer is coming! You know, swimsuit weather! Honestly, drop me a quick fat loss pill because it won't be pretty! My husband's parents have a pool in their backyard which really makes it nice for me. This way my kids get plenty of time swimming, but I don't have to don a swimsuit out in public. How nice is that!

Sadly, my in laws are losing their house sometime soon, and moving into the house we just moved out of. Truly they are lucky to have a home (free and clear) to be moving into. But it is a huge step down from the house they've been living in. My mother in law is having a hard time, but when we left we had everything repainted, new carpeting and hard wood floors put in for the kitchen and back porch. It really is a much nicer house for them than it was for us. Plus, there's only two of them moving into the two bedroom house. There were six of us and 2 dogs trapped in there!

Either way, it is a step down for them and they just aren't happy about it at all. And sadly, I really don't blame them!

Fashion Plate

She's Back! My sister has been gone all weekend, up in Wisconsin with her husbands family. It makes for a very quiet weekend at home when her family isn't around. Kind of pathetic how dependent you can become on someone else and their kids in order to have a social life!

We didn't do much this weekend--just some cleaning and some shopping. Have you ever taken a 10 year old boy shopping? Last year I could dress him in whatever I purchased-he didn't care. Not this year! It has to be perfect--right down to his shoes. I fully expected this from my DIVA daughter--but not my fashionably inept son! Well, he's turned into a "Fashion Plate" and unless I find wholesale clothes, he's going to break the bank! Watch out all you 5th grade girls!!

Brookfield Zoo

We are heading to the Brookfield Zoo today. It's a beautiful zoo with many attractions, but for me, the Hammill Family Center is my biggest attraction! Why? Because it's got 14 rooms where the kids can do crafts, dress up like animals, pretend to be zoo workers, get their faces painted and pet little zoo creatures--but best of all...It's air conditioned! I generally go in, find a seat and let the kids run to their hearts content.

This year there is a baby polar bear, so we will definitely have to stop and check him out. The day after our last zoo trip one of the elephants died, and so they have taken all of the elephants out of the Chicago area zoos which is really sad because they are my favorite zoo animal!

The Clubbin' Cubbies!!

It's raining today! Not too bad--not too much planned! I was going to wash the van and get it detailed--but I think we'll wait a few days! On that one! Now I just have to find something fun to keep the kids occupied since they can't play outside. Maybe I'll see if there is a Cubs game on!!

Being A Mom

With so many diet remedies out there from Fenphedra to the Zone...it's hard to figure out where to look for just the right aid. I'm not too bad, but honestly, I would really like to tone up. I don't plan on running a marathon or anything. But some muscle tone would be welcomed.

I really just want to get healthy enough to play outside with my kids this summer. I always planned on doing that when I was younger. They just don't ever really tell you just how much time and energy kids take out of ya. This summer, I'm hoping to make up for lost time!

Another Sad Soap Opera

I don't think I've mentioned it here yet. My niece is pregnant. She's 18, unmarried, high school drop out-and funnily enough-not even speaking to baby daddy anymore. How sad is that? Her sister had her baby the end of February--same situation only a little older. I am just disgusted by their parents and their lack of parenting. These girls have been on the wrong road for a couple of years, but have been poisoned against this family by their mother. My husband is the 18 year old's Godfather, and I honestly think it's affecting him more than it did when it was her sister. We all expected it from the older sister, in fact, the shock was that she got pregnant at 18 instead of 14 as we all had predicted. But this is a complete shock from the younger sister. We always thought she had a good head on her shoulders. Well, until she dropped out of high school her junior year. But hey, what could we do--they didn't want to listen to anyone!

My Day--Nothing Amazing...

Today my kids spent the day over at the neighbors house! It is an easy day for me--but also a pretty hard one! When Brett realizes that he has to same home with just mom--he's broken hearted! Kate did have pre-school today, which was strange since everyone else is on Spring Break-but her class had Spring Break a couple of weeks ago!

School starts back up on Monday. I think I will head to the doctor that day-or Tuesday. I still have the walking pneumonia that I've had for MONTHS!! I guess we are in for a strong dose of antibiotics. Never a fun thing--yeast and all! It will be nice for the kids to be back in school full time--for the remaining 8 weeks of school anyway. They love it--and I definitely need my daily routine back. Amazing how trashed the house can get with all four of them home for a week!

Growin' Up Fast!

This is a moment that I would love to put a photo up to go along with this post--however, due to Kiddie Porn laws-I just wouldn't dare! My littlest man--2 year old Brett, is potty training. In order to accomplish this, he generally runs to the toilet, removes his diaper, does his business and then runs around the house naked until mom tackles him with a new diaper! Well, that's what happened this evening--except that I just looked down and found him asleep at my feet! In the BUFF!! I sit hear staring at this naked little body (he's lying on his tummy, so I just see his little tushy), and I'm marveling at how big that little body has gotten! I know-it's been two years--and I've had to buy new clothes and shoes to fit that growing body--but I'm still just amazed at how fast it all goes! I really couldn't handle more kids--I think 4 is plenty--but at moments like these-I just can't help but wish I could go back in time and hold that little baby just one more time!!

Married Time Together!!

Well, that week went really fast! We found we had a bit of "time off" so we dropped the kids off with family, and the hubby and I headed out for some Quality Time!! We took a week and headed out on our own. It was amazing how nice it is just to be alone with an adult again for 24 hours a day! I can't remember life before kids--so it was fun to re-experience it! We did talk to the kids--A LOT! And the man was able to keep in touch with work on a daily basis--but we didn't have anything else on our schedules! I will write about our adventures in the next couple of posts--as well as some fun pictures!

Day 2

Well, it's the second day of Spring Break--and we have done NOTHING!! It's not our fault! We had grandiose plans! Tonight we were supposed to be sleeping at a fabulous hotel, and spending the day tomorrow at the amazing Water Park that is attached to it. Unfortunately--no one told my 4 year old daughter that she couldn't get sick during Spring Break! That's right--we don't even go to school, and she's come down with a cold! Man it feels like we are running a lab for germ infestations!! I always have at least 1 child sick at all times. Maybe that's why some people don't have as many kids! With 4 kids all coming into contact with something--it's pretty darn guaranteed that someone will be sick!!

So tomorrow I think my hubby will take the boys to the movies and I will stay home with the baby and my sick little girl! She'll hate it!

It's Spring Break Already

I find it amazing how fast the school year goes. I remember when I was younger (Elementary & Jr. High school) the school year lasted forever. But I distinctly remember in High School being amazed at just how quickly the school year went.

As soon as school starts--it's Halloween! As soon as Halloween is gone--it's Thanksgiving--then Christmas Break. Almost immediately we head to Valentine's Day--and the rest of the year cruises by after that. Spring Break is one final moment--when we get back to school next week-we will literally have 8 weeks left of the school year--and that just breaks my heart!!

What?? Snow??

It snowed today! Can you believe it? It's the 11th of April--and there are 3 inches of snow outside my front door! My flowers are frozen--my snow shovel and ice melter have been safely tucked away in the garage--and now--it's snowing!! How miserable is that!

Not that I had any plans of importance today--but still--kind of a bummer to look outside and see it! It's hard to believe that just 3 days ago we were hunting for Easter eggs! It was chilly--but nothing warning of snow! I guess we should be glad that it happened today--and not last Sunday!!

He Was Right

We have been planning for the past month or so where we were going to put the new TV. We new we both wanted an LCD mount on the wall in the family room. I was looking forward to being able to vacuum the entire floor without having to move any furniture. My husband was set on mounting the TV on the wall above the fireplace, but I wasn't so sure. I will admit, since the TV was his gift, I let him win that battle. And ya know what...he was right! I LOVE where the TV is at, and I still love not having to move any furniture when it's time to vacuum! It's HEAVEN, and I'm not sure why we waited so darn long!

The Boys First Job

We are house sitting this next week. Our neighbors are heading to the Outer Banks and we get the duty of taking care of their plants and their beautiful little Yorkie puppy. His name is Louie, which honestly, is just too big of a name for such a little dog.

My boys were actually asked to take care of it, but I'm just going to go with them to make sure they stay out of trouble. Not that they would rob the house or anything, but I want to be able to teach them how to respect other people's property, even when they aren't around to keep an eye on them.

They'll make a couple of bucks, and I think they are really looking forward to that part of the deal the most!

Grown Up Movie Night

I love period movies. I made my husband watch Emma with me last night. Yeah, it's a chick flick, but hey...there are corsets! What man doesn't like beautiful women in corsets? Well, corsets or not...he didn't enjoy the movie at all, and ended up switching it out for Slumdog Millionaire. But you know, it was a really funny movie. We had a great time...and I got popcorn. So it was a win win night for both of us!