2020

I'm so excited about the New Year! This is a huge year for me! I'll be 40 in August and I have a lot of goals!! 

First a look back at 2019. Here are some of our highlights and bigger moments. 

And a few of our favorite Disney pics!! (I promise I'm still going to write all about our trip soon... I finally got all the pics off my phone and onto my laptop 

so that's a good step in the right direction haha!)

I've never had a word of the year before but this year I decided my word will be Intentional. 

I've been in survival mode for years and seem to be getting lazier and lazier. I justify it by reminding myself that I need the down time to cope but honestly the mess and lack of taking care of myself the way I should is simply creating more stress and chaos around here and not really helping at all. It's not helping me, my marriage, my kids or my husband and something needs to change! 

I've never been this heavy in my life.. I wasn't even this heavy at 8.5 months pregnant (never made it to 9 months with any of my kids). I've already started on a healthy eating plan (again) but this time I've also joined a walking group and bought this awesome new health and fitness planner to help me stay motivated!!

 I need to lose a lot more than 40lbs but my goals right now are to Lose 40 Before 40 and Be Fit By 40! I don't even care if it sounds corny haha! Those are my goals!! 

I'm also planning to talk to my doctor about meds for ADD. A year or two ago I would have never considered it but lately I've realized that I have to do something. I've talked to other women with ADD who have said the meds are life changing! Being able to focus and complete a task sounds amazing to me!! I get super overwhelmed and have a hard time focusing which is a huge part of my problem when it comes to housework and keeping up with everything. I know everyone doesn't agree with meds but after struggling almost 40 years if something can help I'm ready to try it!! 

My big goal this month is to lose 10 lbs and walk 33 miles! I joined an online group called 99 Walks. After you reach your goal each month you'll receive a bracelet in the mail! I'm super excited about this and praying it helps me stay motivated to reach my goal each month! I also have a nice long Amazon and Etsy list of little rewards for myself as I reach small weight loss goals. 



I was sick the first two days of the new year so I got a late start but I walked over a mile yesterday and over a mile today! I plan to keep myself accountable by posting on Instagram, posting here as well as checking in with my walking group online and hopefully joining a smaller team too! 



What are your big goals for the year? 

New Year's Resolutions!

I'm about a month late on this one but oh well! I'm not really a New Year's Resolution kind of person but here are a few things I'd like to focus on this year.






1) Blog regularly and figure out what I want out of this blog. Then make it happen!



2) Keep up with all social media connected to my blog (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc)



3) Learn all I can about photography! I ordered a little add on kit for my camera with a gift card I got for Christmas. I'm still trying to figure all this stuff out. I'd love to take a photography class!



4) Start writing! I'd love to take a writing class too!



5) Budget, save and pay off some bills.....



6) Read the Bible.. at least keep up with what our life group is studying



7) Lose weight, keep it off! Exercise and get fit! (I've been saying this forever...)



8) Come up with a great cleaning schedule and stick to it.



9) Meal prep regularly



10) Come up with, and stick to, a great homeschool schedule for Gabby



What are your goals for the new year?

Life Lately & Weightloss Goals

 We're so glad it's finally feeling like fall around here! 

We had a yard sale Saturday. It wasn't great but at least we sold a few things 

and the kids had fun with their lemonade stand!And the weather was absolutely 

perfect so sitting outside was actually enjoyable! 

Sunday I skipped church while J took the kids. Every once in a while I'll skip

church when I just need time at home, alone, to unwind. I don't like to skip 

often but I am SO refreshed whenever they all get back home. I took a long bath,

did my Bible study and just relaxed. 

Sunday afternoon we went to life group for Bible study. 

We meet every week and really enjoy it! 

Monday was a super lazy day! The girls and I had stayed home all day until 

it was time to pick up Alex from school. 

We loaded up the puppy, picked up Alex and went to the dog park and 

play ground to meet friends after school.

My friend took this pic of Indie. She's getting so big.. look at those long legs!
Almost too big for the baby swing. I can't believe she'll be 3 next week!  

 My friend also took this pic of her little boy pushing Sol on the swing. So cute ha! 

Tuesday afternoon we stopped by the library after school. They were having a touch and feel

Halloween contest in the kids area. My kids had fun with that! (Some of those things felt so 

gross... like the tomatoes they called "hearts". Ew!) My kids didn't guess many of them

correctly but each got to pick 2 pieces of candy and bring home a book to keep! 

 Tuesday evening the girls and I walked around Target while Alex was at 

Trail Life down the road. I forgot my wallet which was probably a good thing ha! 

This morning Mar was sitting on the floor doing school work and Indie joined her. :)

Indie loves to do her "homework" too.. aka scribbling on paper. 

Today was supposed to be pretty busy with co-op and dance but we

ended up skipping both and had another lazy day at home. 

Indie was fighting a fever yesterday so we skipped co-op this morning. 

She seems fine now but felt feverish yesterday afternoon and 

during the night last night. I'm starting to panic a bit, again, 

every time she feels feverish since her febrile seizures have caught 

us off guard in the past. It doesn't help that she seems to catch everything

 much quicker, and worse, than her siblings do. Thankfully she seems 

fine now but I'm going to put all the kids, 

on a good multi-vitamin and elderberry.

We skipped dance today because Mar went to a new homeschool

 friend's house this afternoon instead.  I know they had a great time playing 

with American Girl dolls and painting! 

I've heard others worry about "socialization" of homeschoolers but
I have to say Mar's social life is busier than ever since starting

homeschool! She's actually a little overbooked on activities this fall.. 

 Alex and Indie helped clean out the van this afternoon. It was WAY overdue for a 

good cleaning and we wanted it nice and clean for my mom who's coming in to

town tomorrow evening. 

 Indie was so excited to help clean the van for her grandma! :) 

Sol just LOVES this Ninja Turtle some neighbor's have up in their yard.

She wanted her picture with it on our walk this afternoon. Yep, lazy days means she's wearing

yesterday's clothes again today ha! And I love that she wears rainboots rain or shine! 

I have MOPS tomorrow morning and then my mom is coming in tomorrow 

evening and staying for 2 weeks!! We're all looking forward to seeing her again!

Indie has her last OT appointment with her current therapist, 
here at home, Friday morning. 

She ages out next week when she turns 3 and we have her scheduled to start with a 

private therapist next week. We're going to miss her sweet therapist but know private

therapy in an outside environment will be really beneficial too. 

My mom, Mar and I are headed to Nest Fest on Saturday ! I started reading The Nester several years ago when I lived in Texas but somehow missed that she lives in North Carolina! I didn't realize she lives less than an hour away until we moved out here last year. We even have several mutual friends and acquaintances. Small world! Looks like some fun vendors will be at Nest Fest along with food trucks and a few bands! I know it will be a fun girls days out! I think a few friends from church

are planning to be there as well. I'm hoping it doesn't rain but I'm sure we'll have fun regardless! 

On another subject: The girls and I had fun trying on sunglasses at Target last night! 

They wanted me to take a few pictures. I love hanging out with my girls and love making 

memories but have to say I'm not at all happy with the way I'm looking, or feeling, lately. 

Too many sweet, sugary coffee drinks = heaviest I've ever been when not pregnant. 

I know it's time to make some changes! 

I tried 3 sample packs of Revital U coffee a few weeks ago and LOVED the energy it 

gave me and how it curbed my appetite.  I wasn't even craving my usual two to 

three DAILY iced, sugary sweet coffee drinks at all and had great energy all day!

I just got my first month's supply of Revital U in the mail today and can't wait to get started! 

I know of several people who've lost 20+ pounds on this! I'm not selling this stuff.. just 

really loved the samples I tried and can't wait to use it every day!

I also plan to start eating better (cutting down on sugar and carbs!) 

and I already know that a daily work-out and drinking lemon water both 

work great for my metabolism! My goal is to be down 25 lbs by Christmas!! 

I'll actually be happy if I lose even 10-15 but need to aim high! I do know just 

losing inches makes a huge difference too! We'll see how it goes.

This is way outside my comfort zone but I want to blog about my 

progress on a weekly basis to hold myself accountable!

Hope everyone is having a great week! Let me know if you've tried Revital U 

and how you like it! 

this and that.. catching up

I got my pictures back up! I was in a panic there for a bit!

I really want to start blogging again. Things are going great around here. We're keeping busy. Lots to catch up on!

The older kids just got out of school for the summer last week. I can't believe J starts kindergarden in August and C will be in the big four year old class at his mother's day out program!

We just discovered ABC Mouse online and the kids absolutely love doing their "school work" online every morning. It's cute and will keep their minds busy this summer. :) And I don't have to come up with lessons for them. A win win. :)

Little baby S is growing so fast! She turns 4 months tomorrow! I will have her 3 and 4 month pics and updates up as soon as I can.

Hubby and I are going on a 5 day cruise/vacation in a few weeks and leaving all three kids at home. I'm both super excited about getting away and sad about leaving the kids.. especially the baby. I know she'll be fine but it's going to be so hard to be away from her. :/

I'm in a desperate last minute panic trying to get in shape and lose a few pounds before our vacation. I would wait until the last minute. Ha! I need to lose like 30 to 40 lbs but hoping I can lose at least maybe 10 before we leave. My goal is to work out every day, eat better and drink LOTS of water! I worked out with a (slight) migraine today so I'm confident I can do this if I set my mind to it! If I can work out with a headache I can do anything. :) I think I will update here as I work towards my goal.

Hope everyone's doing great! Hope I still have a few readers left. :)