Here I go again!

I'm back on the health kick! I started back at the gym today and have been eating better lately. I'm so tired of being overweight and unhealthy. I've lost 4lbs so far. Not too bad, but it isn't falling off as fast as I would like it to. I know, it's not supposed to be, but hell, it was easy to put on. I made an awesome dinner tonight-All on the grill. I made BBQ chicken, grilled squash and grilled Corn on the Cob. Oh and baked beans. It was so good! Now if I can just keep up the good work, all will be good. I need help with this whole weight loss thing. I have been eating smaller portions and lots more veggies than normal. I just can't seem to kick the Mt. Dew and Sweet tea!! I'm getting no where fast and I don't want to lose my focus! One day at a time, I suppose.

Kindergarten

In just over a week my baby starts Kindergarten. I'm thrilled and excited for her, but that means she isn't my baby anymore. I know, I know, she'll always be my baby, but in her little mind, she's going off to school like a big girl and then, before you know it, she'll be a teenager, who hates her mom. Doesn't it always work that way? I know how I was as a teenager, and if she is anything close to what I was....Lord help me! She will be going to The Sunshine Kids Center instead of the "normal" Kindergarten. She is already going there for daycare, and already loves her teacher, so it won't be a big adjustment for her. The good news is that she is only one of maybe 10 kids. The last time I looked on the list there were only 5 kids signed up for Kindergarten. She will get lots of one on one time with the teacher which will be great and I don't have to worry about how she will get to and from school.

We went school shopping today. I have been looking forward to this day since before she was born! I know, that's probably a little weird, but hey, I'm weird. School shopping with my grandma every year was one of my favorite memories. Not because she spoiled me every year, but it was great quality time with her. And it was fun to see her reaction to the things that I wanted. Of course, the stuff that I wore then, isn't even close to the things kids are wearing these days. ( I hope the teenagers get a little more modest by the time mine gets there) Spending that time with my grandma made the start of the school year that much more special. I hope to be able to the same for my daughter each year. We made a great day out of it today. We went to Kohl's (awesome deals!!), ShopKo, Payless, and Wal-Mart. I had already been Target earlier in the week. Around lunch time, I treated her to her favorite place in the world to eat.... Donald's! That's McDonald's to the rest of us. Happy meal--Cheeseburger, no pickles and apples. She was a happy kid.

Here is some of her loot from the day.
She's a happy little girl that got really spoiled today. Now to decide on what to wear on that infamous first day!!!

I'm a Rockstar!

When there is no one home, one of my favorite things in the world to do is to turn up my music and sing every song that comes on. Not just sing every song, but I rock out!! It's my therapy. I love to put it on random and just see what comes on from one song to the next. The song of the moment?? It was Pink--So what. Now it's Broken Wing by Martina McBride. I will never pretend to have a voice as good anyone on my playlist, but in my house, I'm a Rockstar!!!!

Deer

Some pictures of deer from my library of photos. I have SO many photos to go through. I should definitely not run out of pics for a while.

Trains

I loved the look of these trains in black and white. These are for a friend who love trains. I get enough pics of them, so I think it might be true.

Tulips

I decided to attempt to grow some tulips this year. I, apparently, didn't do so well, as this is about all I got this year. They look cool, but flowers would have been nice.

Rockstar in the Making

Last week was spirit week at Victoria's daycare. Thursday was crazy hair day and this is what we came up with. She looks like such the rockstar! If you look closely you can see my blackberry in her hand. I don't know how many rockstars carry a stuffed puppy wherever they go, but hey that's why she's in training.

Waterfalls

Mark had to go up to grandpa's one day and I decided to tag along and bring my camera. I found this waterfall on the back side of his property during a hike. Absolutely gorgeous!

Ace

My kitty Ace when he was just a baby and then a couple of months ago. He's so cute! A pain in the ass, but cute nonetheless.

Practicing with my Macro lens

I'm a huge fan of photography and I'm doing my best to get better at the art I love so much. Since most days I don't have much to discuss, I would just start posting some of my photography up here. Please leave your comments, I do this cause I love it, but I have to admit that hearing comments about my photos is kinda nice..ok, more than just kinda.

The Bucket List

I saw this amazing film in the theater when it first came out. First of all, how can it not be amazing with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholas?? It got me thinking, though, there are so many things in life that we would all like to do before we die. I'm going to start thinking about my Bucket List and all the things that I want to add to it. What are some of the items that you have on your bucket list? I'll start with one of mine....

I would love to visit South Africa!

99 Things

This seems like a fun way for people to get to know me. Found it on Growing Up Jes
Here are the rules:

Bold the things you’ve done and post this list on your blog then leave me a comment and tell me you did this I can go see!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Written something that was published
11. Bungee jumped or parachuted
12. Walked across the Golden Gate Bridge
13. Been in a fist fight
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Seen the Rings of Saturn with a telescope
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when not ill
24. Built a tree house or snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Fired a gun
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal
44. Visited Africa
45. Cried yourself to sleep
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Visited the Eiffel Tower
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Pretended you cooked something from scratch when you didn't.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie or commercial
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold something door to door
62. Gone whale or dolphin watching
64. Donated blood, marrow, etc
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Held onto a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten frog legs or caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Time Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Done something illegal
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Sang a solo
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Climbed a mountain
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had surgery
89. Directly saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Seen a loved one die
94. Given birth to a baby
95. Visited the Alamo
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Sent a text message while driving
99. Been stung by a bee

Flower for you!

This is just one of my favorite photos that I have taken. I plan to post a lot more of my photography. In case you haven't noticed I love photography. I prefer black and white photography over color, but I do enjoy taking both.

Round Lake Fishing

Mark, Lexie, Tori and I went to Round Lake today to go fishing. Lexie LOVES to fish. Hopefully she will be able to continue to go fishing when she gets back to North Carolina. The first picture was actually taken just as we were about to leave. Mark spotted that huge bees nest and grabbed my camera to get some shots. That thing was HUGE and Lexie hates bees, so she wasn't thrilled with it and gets nervous just looking at the picture. The second picture is Mark, fishing with Victoria's fishing pole and catching a small bass. He's not to manly to fish with a pink barbie pole. The third picture is Lexie kind of amazed at how long that worm was. That next picture was not of the fishing trip, but I thought it was cute. Lexie and Tori were coloring together last night. Pretty cute. Oh and of course Chachi needed to be in the shot. Finally, we have my beautiful daughter, Tori, bringing the worms to Lexie. She loves to help..even if it involves worms.