Never a Dull Moment

Yesterday I was suppose to work. It's the one Sunday a year they ask me to work for our "BIG" President's Day sale. It's a flop every year and it aggravates me to take the day away from my family. Luckily, this year, one of my managers decided to tell me it wasn't busy enough to need me to come in! THANK YOU for not wasting my time!!

The nice thing about yesterday was it was one of those rare Sundays where we had NOTHING to do. That never happens. Sundays are run Jill to CCD, run to church, then Michelle goes to CCD, then we usual make the hour drive to Gregg's parents', then to the grocery store, then home to get the kids showered and ready for bed. Go, go, go! But since it was the start of the kids' winter break there was no CCD, and we had gone to church on Saturday afternoon so we didn't have to get up early.

So we got up at 9:30am!! Do you have any idea how infrequently I get to sleep in that late? It happens next to never. 7am is sleeping in for me. Anyway, I had a homework asignment to finish but I had been working on it for 2 days so it was just about done. Then Gregg had the great idea to go for a walk. It was beautiful out. A little chilly but the sun and the fresh air felt good. By this time I definitely didn't feel like cooking so we went to the kids' favorite restaurant. They love it because the food is served family style so everyone can try a little something. And it's real home cooked food. Like turkey and fried chicken and fish and chips. So yummy. After dinner we were good boys and girls and went to spend some time with my grandmother. She broke her hip a couple weeks ago and now she's in a rehab recovering. And then it was the best part of the day. By 4:30pm I was parked on the couch catching up on my DVR'd TV shows. It was pure bliss.

While we didn't do anything amazing yesterday it was just such a great day. The girls had fun, we relaxed, I would give anything for everyday to be like yesterday. However, I'm not independently wealthy so I'm at work this week, while Gregg is on vacation, and unfortunately the girls are off for a week with their dad. I know most other couples would jump for the chance to have a week off from their kids. Not us though. We treasure our alone time, but the kids add something to the home. They entertain us with their imaginations. They're good cuddlers on the couch at night. We're gonna miss them this week.

There are only 70 days left to my wedding. I think I'm just about done with my "To Do" list. The dress is hanging up at my parent's house with the bridesmaids' dresses. Cake is ordered. Ceremony is planned, and the sand ceremony jar is ordered. Flights, cruise and hotel are paid for. Presents for the welcome bags are in my basement ready to be put in cute bags for our guests. Gregg's suit is here and ready to go and so is his shirt and the shirts we ordered for the dads and his best man. 70 days is way too far off.

So to make good use of this time I'm trying the HCG diet again. The diet that was the catalyst for me starting this blog. Last time I was miserable on it. So far, this time isn't too bad. My secret? This time I'm not as strict with it. You're not suppose to have alcohol while on this diet. The other night I had a glass of wine because I wanted one. Guess what? I still lost half a pound. So in the first week I've lost 5.8 pounds. Tomorrow morning I'm going to do my measurements so I can see the inches melt off too.

And while we're at it...please pray from my Memere. She went in to surgery for her broken hip at 1pm but she has all kinds of complications so this is scary.

I'm a stalker. I openly admit it. I stalk my friends on Facebook. I stalk their blogs. It's my way of staying part of their lives. WELL...there is one blog I read by someone who is no longer my friend. I have to stop reading it because everytime I do it makes me ill. This person is married to a man that has an ex-wife and daughter. This woman spends 2 out of every 5 blogs bashing the ex-wife. And really with no good reason. Mostly because she can't understand the ex-wife's point of view.

What makes me ill about it, is that I'm an ex-wife. There are times that I make decisions that I know my ex-husband and his soon-to-be wife do not agree with. I know my ex-hubby thinks I'm neurotic and over-protective. But those are my babies. I would seriously curl up and die if anything happened to them. I never want to see them hurting or sad. Especially if it was because of something I did or allowed them to do.

So when she bashes this ex-wife and bad mouths her on the blog. It physically makes me ill. What if Liz (the soon-to-be wife) was bad mouthing me like that. What if she put it out in public like this woman does? What if my kids came across it and saw what she was writing about me? While Liz and I will never be friends, I would hope she would respect me and try to be understanding. I also hope she would never hurt my kids by writing terrible thing about me publicly.

I just had to get that off my chest. Now I'm deleting the bookmark to the blog so that I never ever read it again.

That's it. No more slacking off. The scale has tipped at 185.8. My new official heaviest weight ever. So I'm back to Weight Watchers Online AND MyFitnessPal.com. Hopefully with a few shoves from some dear friends I will get this done.

This weekend was perfect! Friday night we stayed home and had a simple night with the kids. Gregg and Michelle hung the Christmas lights outside, we had a yummy clam boil, and relaxed watching Christmas specials. Saturday we went to see Cinderella's Christmas as part of our niece Sam's birthday party. Later that night, while my kids stay with my future in-laws, Gregg and I caught up with my good friend and her hubby for drinks and dinner in Providence. And Sunday was amazing. After Gregg made a big breakfast and I helped his mom prep for dinner, we headed over to Wickford Village. There we saw Santa come in on a boat accompanied by reindeer in kayaks!!! It was very cool! After a little Christmas shopping with my future sister-in-law we head back to Gregg's parents' house for Hanukkah. Phyllis and I made the latkes. We had matzah ball soup, and brisket, and potatoes, and carrots, and tons of desserts. Gregg's dad and his friends led us in the prayers and the kids lite the Menorah. We even played dreidel. Which is a surprisingly fun game!

My in-laws are wonderful people. They've accepted my children as their own grandchildren. They treat me with such warmth and love. I definitely can see why Gregg is such an amazing person. I am such a lucky girl and my holidays will be merrier than ever this year.

A new month is here! The "holidays" are in full swing. We're one month closer to our wedding. And we're almost into a New Year!

We had a productive Thanksgiving weekend...Thanksgiving with my family on Thursday, a date night on Friday, followed by removing more bushes and putting up a few sections of fence on Saturday, and Thanksgiving with my future in-laws on Sunday. It was a perfect weekend.

Somehow this week we've also managed to get some Christmas decorations outside and the tree up and decorated inside. Oh, AND I have completely finished shopping for my kids and nieces!

So I should be feeling great, right? WRONG!

Why? My life is damn near perfect so shouldn't I be doing cartwheels?

For a longtime now I have wonder if I suffer from a disease. Seasonal Affected Disorder or SAD (how appropriate).

I live in New England where at this time of year we have maybe 7 to 8 hours of daylight per day. Notice I didn't say sun. We don't really see the sun but some days are brighter than others. Anyway since I'm up about 17 hours a day (5am to 10pm) this means MORE than half my day is spent in darkness.

My symptoms are a complete lack of motivation to do anything, I'm tired no matter how much or how well I sleep, and I'm mopey for no reason. Really no reason because there is nothing in my life that I would change right now. Also, I don't feel like this in the summer. In the summer I feel fabulous. I have tons of energy and I'm in a great mood all the time.

So I have pretty much diagnosed myself with SAD. Fortunately I have a friend that has been trying light therapy. Light therapy is very basically when you use a lamp with special lights for 20 minutes or so a day to "give you a boost". She likes it, another friend who lives in a crappy Michigan bought on for herself and is going to try it. I figured what the heck can it hurt. For $30 I might feel better. SOLD!

I'm excited for it to get here so can try it! Let's hope it helps!

I love Thanksgiving! I love it more than Christmas. I love it almost equally with my birthday! Why? Because Thanksgiving is still so pure! They don't start playing Thanksgiving songs 6 months ahead of time on the radio. They don't put Thanksgiving decorations out in stores until after Halloween. And Thanksgiving doesn't try to steal attention from other Holidays.

Funny enough though, I don't really like Turkey. I prefer the dark meat slathered in gravy and I take big helpings of the mashed potatoes, turnips and carrots, and broccoli casserole. Oh and my aunt's stuffing. Mmmm.

I love that my kids don't wake me up at 4am to see what the Pilgrims left them under the Rock. I love that we sit and cuddle to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

I could go on and on for hours. The only thing I dislike is that my kids have to go to their dad's but I certainly understand that he and his family want to see them too.

So here's my short list of what I'm thankful for this year...
1.My beautiful girls. They are so good. Always well behaved and never REALLY give me any trouble.
2. The handsome, warm, generous, loving man that I soon get to call HUSBAND! Since he has come into my life everything is better.
3. My pretty new home. It's cozy and more than I ever dreamed I'd have.
4. My family and my future in-laws. I am surrounded by crazy wonderful people.
5. My friends. Everyday I find out who my true friends are and I am so grateful to have them in my life.
6. Health. Everyone I know is reasonably healthy.
7. A job. While I don't love mine I'm glad that I have one.

I think about where I was a year ago and how much I've gained and accomplished, and it makes me so happy I could cry.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.