5-1=4

On March 14 we went to court for a permanency planning hearing for Jericha and Josiah. Full custody of Jericha was awarded to my brother Troy. That was a difficult transition, but I think we having been doing OK. Jericha seems happy and he has let her come to visit us a couple times. I hope that he continues to let her have a relationship with us over the years. I also pray that he stays on the straight and narrow and doesn't get back into the shenanigans that he was doing when she was removed from his care. With that said we go back to court for Josiah in June. This court date the worker is asking to have his parents rights terminated. They continue to make no efforts to improve their situation as well as a lack of interest in seeing Josiah. We are hoping if everything goes as planned that we will be able to adopt him. I have so many worries that something will happen and we will loose this little guy, I really pray that it doesn't. He is very much a part of our family.

Jojo turned the big one on March 17 (St. Patty's Day) He is walking a few steps and pushing objects everywhere. He finally got his first tooth a week ago! He seems to be very cautious about some things, but others he has no fear. Jojo is a very active baby and you can't take your eyes off him for one minute. Here is an example of our morning the other day, with in one hour he got into the toilet, unrolled the toilet paper, pulled out all of the recycling, pulled out the Tupperware, threw Cd's off the rack, threw DVDs, and dumped the dog water all over the kitchen. I love my little man, but sometimes I feel like I should be wearing roller skates just to keep up!

Isabelle has started running with GOTR (girls on the run) and she continues to play the clarinet with her school band. She really is becoming the typical preteen. I swear what used to take her 10 minutes to get ready now takes 45. It's kind of crazy, but cute at the same time. Everything that you say is a big deal whether it's good or bad. She is so dramatic. Her big 5K is coming up at the end of May. This is a picture of her dress for the father daughter dance that her Grandpa Pufpaff took her to.

Weekend

Another family weekend is coming to an end. I always think of a million things that I should have done or didn't get done when Sunday night rolls around. I'm trying to work on focusing on what did get done.

1. I spent time with my amazing family.
2. We started isabelle's science project. (What brand of popcorn leaves the least amount of kernels?)
3. We ate lots of popcorn!
4. Went shopping and found Isabelle a dress for the father daughter dance. Might I just add that shopping in the juniors department reminded me how grown up my little girl is getting.
6. Played with the little ones and really enjoyed watching their ideas.
7. Cleaned up spilt dog water at least 3 times, maybe more ;)
8. Hung out with Christine every night, even if we did fall asleep on the couch both Friday and Saturday.... Maybe we will make it to bed before falling asleep tonight.

I love our weekends off together and wish they lasted longer!

Welcome 2012

As fun as all of the holiday festivities are I am happy to say that they are all finally over. It can be so draining buying gifts, wrapping, unwrapping, cleaning up, dishes to pass, family get togethers. Sometimes I feel like we get so wrapped up in everything that we have to go to that we miss the real meaning of why we are getting together in the first place. Kinda sad. Overall we had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.  I am looking forward to starting 2012 off with new goals and a positive attitude toward accomplishing them.

Isabelle had her first band concert a few weeks ago and rocked it out! She received some fabulous gifts for Christmas. We have had a hard time prying them out of her hand. At least she is still at the age where she was excited to go back to school this morning. I'm not sure how many of those years we will have left. She is getting to be such a preteen. Everything is so dramatic and loud! Even though I may complain about it, I still love every minute and couldn't ask for a better daughter.

Jericha has started having overnight visits with her dad two nights a week. She has really been enjoying them. She had a wonderful Christmas. I think her favorite gifts were her Leapster 2 and her princess castle that came with all of the Disney prince and princesses. Who wouldn't love that? She was also very excited to go back to school and tell them about her gifts. She is at the age where she wants you to spell everything for her. It's kind of funny to hold a conversation with her. Every other sentence she is saying " and how do you spell that?" she will write it down on her Doodle Pad. I love that she has such an interest in reading and writing. Jericha is a very smart little girl.

Josiah has been growing like a weed! He is 9 1/2 mo old and about 16lbs. He is crawling, pulling himself up on things, and pushing objects around the room. It won't be long before he starts walking. He is our mover. Jojo has started saying a few words (mamama, Alli, C, hungry). It's really funny to listen to him, because they aren't clear, but he will keep repeating himself until you figure it out! I love the determination. He still has no teeth, but I have faith that they will pop through soon. He is such a fun little guy to have around. We are so blessed to have such wonderful children in our lives. I thank the lord everyday for everything that he has given us.

Here are some pictures of our holiday fun:

SNOW GLOBES

As the Christmas season rapidly approaches us I finally decided to pull out all of the decorations. With each item that I pulled out another memory filled my head. I remember this same feeling as a child. Waiting for the special day when mom pulled out all of the storage boxes and we began the decorating. Once all the decorations were out my mind kept falling back to the one decoration that I haven't seen in a long time. I used to have a small plastic snow globe. I'm sure at some point in my life I got it for free at an event or something, I don't even really remember. What I do remember is how much I loved it. There was a tiny nativity scene inside of it. I would pull it out of the box and shake it over and over. The joy that such a small item brought me is truly amazing when I look back on it. I'm not sure at what point that globe disappeared, just one Christmas it was gone, never to be seen again.

Lately I feel like my life is that snow globe. Someone grabs my entire being and shakes it like crazy. As soon and I think everything has settled and might actually be calm God throws me something else and the shaking begins again. It is this cycle that continues over and over. I know that God will never give me more than I can handle, but sometimes it takes a lot to convince myself that is true. As exciting as this time of year is, it is also just as trying. Financially, socially, and mentally draining on me and the rest of my family. I need to find the peace and happiness that Christmas is meant to bring. Christine told me the other day that I spend so much time thinking about everything going on in my life that I end up missing what is going on here and now. In some ways I think that is very true. Here and now is what really matters. I can't change the future, I have no control of other people. My snow globe may not stop shaking, but I can stay focused on one thing and quit getting dizzy every time it does.

Weight Loss Journey

MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY....

As many of you know I have been on a weight loss journey for over a year now. I joined Weight Watchers in September 2010. Now over a year later I feel like I'm at a stand still. I thought I would do a post about it to try and give myself some motivation. My family is sick of hearing about it, so I will leave it in the hands of my readers.

I know why I'm at a stand still....laziness! I'm horrible at working out, I have to force myself to chart my food, it's just not as fun as it used to be. I need to come up with a way to get myself back into the game. I still have 30lbs to loose and it's not going to just fall off, I know I will have to work at it. I just have to do it! AHHH I am such a food addict. I need a 12 step program based on food. It seems like everywhere I turn some one is eating something, cooking, or offering me some delicious goodie. It's simple just say no. Yeah right. I think it's simple for those who aren't food addicts. It is not simple for me! Free samples at stores, candy on counters, left overs in the fridge it is everywhere all the time. I guess for me it's a one minute at a time program. As long as I can keep saying no thank you to hand outs, close the fridge or fill it up with the good for me stuff I will be ok.

I am Thankful that God has given me the strength to come this far in my weight loss journey. I know that he will be there with me as I make the right choices for myself in order to keep on the track that I need to be on.

With Thanksgiving less than 24hrs away I am trying to prepare myself for the overwhelming amount of food that will be present. My goal is to try to focus on everything else. Gathering with family and spending good quality time together is what really matters, the food is just a bonus. I will stuff my self full of good conversations, love, support, and amazing people. With all of that on my plate there is no way that I will let food take over. One day at a time!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!