YMCA

This morning Gavin and I headed over to the YMCA and joined. This is going to sound super silly but we have been dreaming of doing this for 2 years now, since we moved here and finally the time has come! WOOOHOOOO!!!! We both are bound and determined to get back to they way we "used" to look pre-kids, etc. Another step in the right direction to my size 8 Fab body!

New Years Resolution!!!

I've been struggling for the last year with my weight, but it was yesterday when I went to the doctor I got a reality check. Since September I have gained 16 pounds. What the heck??? I have done the blood work and my thyroid is fine, so then what is it? Maybe it's that I need to get off my bum and exercise. I will be getting a gym membership in the next couple weeks as it can be deducted from our flex spending account. I also have to meet with my Doctor once a month for the next year.

So here it is...my news years resolution. I am going to loose 50 pounds this year. Yes, you heard me right... 5*0*. Call me crazy but something has got to give. I will be using this blog as a journal of how I am doing. Between going to the doctor and journal, I think my accountability level will be set high.

I am so grateful for such a wonderful husband who is so supportive with this situation and always assures me that no matter what I look like I will always be the most beautiful creature to walk the face of the earth. Got to love the man!

Wish me luck and keep me going, because I'm going to need the encouragement!

Christmas 2009

This was Christmas part one. We had Christmas with Gavin's kids on the Sunday before Christmas, then Christmas day with our 3 boys and soon part three will take place when Gavin's parents come.

Drew put himself to bed so he is missing from this picture. I'll have to take a 'pretend' shot so he's in it.

Zoe with a Fashion book

Liam with his Night Vision Goggles

Austin with a few gifts from his stash

Jared with the Ultimate Marble Game

Drew with his Dinosaurs

And Ethan getting the hang of opening gifts

Last but not least, my adorable husband with one of his many odd shirts. This one is called Eskimo Garden.

This year has been a great one. We have had so much fun spreading Christmas out. Although by the 28th the Christmas tree was down and my living room was back to normal. Gavin's parents will be joining us for the New Year for a couple days. It's been fun watching the kids open their gifts. But the Highlight of our Christmas was Drew waking us up on Christmas Morning at 1:30 asking us to open a package. When we walk out into the living room where here Ethan in his room so we go into inspect. Drew had given Ethan gifts through his crib to open and Drew had opened all of his gifts. We ended up waking Austin up at 1:30 in the morning to open his gifts and we all went back to bed. It was quite the morning. Not at all what we expected for Christmas but one full of memories.

Most importantly through this season we have felt the blessing of our Lord and Savior. We are thankful for his birth and his atoning sacrifice. Merry Christmas to all! And have a great New Year!!!

Who needs their appendix anyways?

Sunday afternoon Gavin started complaining about a stomach ache. We both thought it was nerves just because he had his biggest final of the semester the next day. He tried to ignore in but it just continued to increase. He went to the law library on Monday trying to focus on his final. He even suffered through the final and came home doubled over in pain. Monday night was a long night and we both were up quite a few times. The pain had now moved from the center to the right side. Gavin was such a trooper and headed to work knowing that he had to go to wait for another member of management to come in. We went to Urgent care with the suspicion it might be his appendix. Sure enough the doctor sent him to the hospital. (Great waste of $20) We got there about 11:30 where a scan was done along with blood work. Yup, appendicitis. Surgery was scheduled for 6:30 and at 10:30 Gavin was finally wheeled away. 45 minutes later, the doctor was out with pictures telling me everything went great. Gavin later asked me if this is what it feels like to have a C-section. That made me laugh! Gavin is doing great and was able to get his last final moved because of obvious reasons. He will be returning to work tomorrow and we pray that he will survive the day. He has been such a trooper!

Zoe's Christmas Concert

My cute 5 boys waiting for the concert to start, as you can see it was a little cold!
Zoe before the concert. She was so excited!

It's that time of year for those great Christmas concerts that the kids have. It always takes me back to my elementary school years. Zoe, the most talented step daughter that I have, has once again out done herself. She did a great job. The concert was at Arrowhead Mall. I was able to get one of her songs on video since Gavin wasn't able to attend. She actually has another concert tonight but because of Gavin's surgery we won't be attending.




Side note, I will be sending my camera in as of the first of the year. I bought this back in August and was so excited. It is doesn't take the quality of pictures that you would expect from a $250 camera. I'm not too thrilled!

Jared's Baptism

What a great day this was. This past Saturday our little Jared made the decision to be baptised. he was so cute throughout the weekend. My Mother in Law and Father in Law were able to join us. Unfortunately because of my Father's health and my little sister just getting out of the hospital (another post to follow soon), my parent's were unable to attend. We still had a great time.

We are so proud of Jared and his decision to be baptised. We love you little Monkey!

Funny Liam....

We were sitting at the table eating dinner and Liam pipes up and says, "Ashley, did you know that Michael Jackson was the first black man to become a white woman?" I thought I was going to fall off my chair and pee my pants from laughing. Where do these kids come up with these things?