Wow!! I finally made my goal!

My wonderful husband just sent me an email to show me the results of all of my hard work these past two years.  My goal was to reach my wedding day weight and I have now done that after two years of working it all off-a total of 60 pounds!  Now, I know that 60 pounds is the weight of my eight year old, but I just can't fathom how I had that much extra weight on me!  Looking at the pictures my husband sent to me, I can totally see it.  The first picture is a week after I had Charlotta, the bottom ones are of me after my trip to Chicago!  I am very, very happy with the results (and the clothes)!

I love it when the trees look like this!

We were supposed to have the storm of the decade, a foot of snow!  The kids were all excited for a snow day.  We only ended up getting about 3 inches and the kids had to go to school.  I was still happy though because I just love it when the trees look like this!

My house is sparkling!!

Not sparkling CLEAN, mind you, but literally sparkling.  Kellen went on a small rampage tonight.  He threw the edamamae pods leftover from dinner all over the kitchen along with a bag of grapes and then decided to raid my scrapbooking supplies and sprinkle a large jar of silver glitter over the kids who then ran all over the house spreading the glitter everywhere.  It is in everyone's beds, clothes, on every single floor of the house.  The only way I have found to get it up is to wrap duct tape around my feet and walk through the house.  I think there will be glitter for the next six months!  I have no idea what got into him and how he did it all so fast!

All lined up for the trash!!

Brennen cracks me up when he eats his Edamame.  He pops the beans into his mouth, then he lines up all of the used pods in a straight line.  He refuses to just toss them in the waste bowl like everyone else!  It makes me think of his Uncle Matt a little:)

Finally, a gold medal!

Skylar did very well yesterday at her Tri-state meet, but has not yet been on the top of the podium stand for a medal.  Well, today she swam a fantastic 100 free and finally earned a GOLD medal!!!She was so happy to be on the top!  Skylar had a really good season this year and has qualified for state in 9 events: 50 fly, 100fly, 100back, 100IM, 200IM, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free and 100 breast.  She is very happy with how her season went!!

James getting a few more metals to add to his total from yesterday.  There is no state meet for 8&unders, unless you qualify with a 9/10 year old time.  James was only one second way in his 50 back from making it as an 8 year old, which is pretty awesome.  James also had a great year!

As a matter of fact, he swam so well this year, he has a couple of top times in the whole state.  At the end of every year our state puts out the top times of the year.  If you click on the link below, and scroll to the 8&under boys, you will find his name in several events.  His mama is extremely proud!!

http://www.teamunify.com/NewsShow.jsp?returnPage=/News.jsp&id=229977&team=mwslsc

Not just another swim meet!

Ok folks!  This is what we spend all of our time doing.  We are either at school, swim practice, or a swim meet.  I don't want to bore you all with repetitive pictures of a swimming body in a swimming pool, so I am trying to keep the swimming pictures to a minimum!  However, since this was the Tri-State Championships, I thought it was worth mentioning.  James kicked a little butt at the meet as you can see from all of the hardware he earned!  He did so well, he earned the 2nd place overall high point award for the meet.

 After Tri-State, we drove down to Council Bluffs for the 8&Under Championship meet.  We always get sushi when we can and we have found a place that we love down there. The kids especially love the boat.  It was our one year "Boat-a-versary," according to Skylar.

Some days, I just want to dress up!!

It was this dress or nothing today!  Feisty little thing!

My Valentine's Present

My Valentine baskets for the kids do not look so impressive compared to JT's gift for me!  He bought this a few weeks ago at the big Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale.  It just happen to arrive in time for Valentine's Day, so I am calling it my present.  Looks pretty awesome, doesn't it?

Girls weekend in Chicago!!

Visa and I decided to go to Chicago for a weekend of good food, great shopping, and fantastic entertainment!  On Friday night we ate out with my fabulous brother and sister-in-law and some of Lovisa's college friends at The Carriage House.  Excellent southern style food and, hands down, the best, BEST corn bread ever made  (the six of us polished off three orders and then had to order another)!  For some dumb reason, I do not have a picture!  On Saturday, we did A LOT of shopping!  At one point, I called JT in a panic because I could not decide between three coats. So, I had to text him the photos and he made the call-just get all 3!  I love that man;))

Side story on the coat.  I grabbed my fancy black coat from back in my college days, but did not put it on.  When I got to Chicago, I put it on and thought, "Oh crap, I grabbed JT's coat!'  It was so big on me, it looked like I was wearing football shoulder pads and it wrapped all the way around to my back.  I am not sure how I ever thought that coat fit me!  Matt says things were bigger in the 90's.  Anyway, it was the big joke of the weekend, and I got three nice new coats!!!

Back to the timeline....Saturday night, Visa and I went out to a nice Italian restaurant, 312 Chicago.

 

After a huge dinner (where the waitress kept waiting on putting the next item of our food order in because she thought we could not possibly eat that much), we walk/ran (some of us barefoot-me, and some in high heels so high, I could not even walk!) 1/2 mile to our show, The Book of Mormon.  It was a great show, but if you are easily offended, do not go!

Two good looking chica's ready for a night out!

 Ready for a good time!

 After the show, Visa and I decided to grab a few bottles of wine and do a little fashion show in our room of our recent purchases!  I love this dress--It made my legs look a mile long!

 The 60's flight attendant!

HOT>>>

 Just how short can Visa get away with at work?  She will try and push it as far as she can, so she can wear this!

 A coat that Lovisa practically stole!  It was a $200 coat, accidentally marked for $65.

 I bought a lot more, but it was more basic pieces, so not quite so fun to show!  After the fashion show, we had to make new lists of what we were going to buy tomorrow to finish off the new outfits.  On Sunday, we shopped most of the day to "finish" off our outfits and then bought a whole lot more.  I will have to make sure JT does not see the credit card statement:)

After a full day of shopping, it off for sushi with Matt, Katie and Jackie and then I had to head to the airport.  I really had a great time just being a girl!

Olive Garden Stop

We are our on way to our Last Chance swim meet.  This is the last meet of the year where the kids are allowed to qualify for the Tri-state championships.  We drove down to the meet with some friends and the kids loaded up on carbs at the always delicious Olive Garden!  Here is Skylar with some of her swimming buddies; Emma and Avery.