The kids and I have been a little under the weather with colds the past few days. Thankfully we're getting back to feeling better. I choked down some chopped garlic a few times today (hence, I'm not a vampiress). I do this to ward off infections (garlic is a natural penicillin). I even ate some raw onion. It helped a lot with the stuffiness in my head.
We were supposed to go to my SIL's today. Hopefully tomorrow we'll be able to go. She had a baby boy in Feb. we haven't seen yet.
Cliff is coming home for a short bit tomorrow (Sunday) and then he'll be heading to west shortly thereafter. He and the Navy Reserve folks had some special training at a base near St. Louis starting on Thursday night. It is about 8 hours from here. He is not too thrilled about having to go to work on Monday morning, but he is a die hard.
Other than the normal cute things the kids are doing and saying I have been working on some new tricks of my own. When I was in Texas with the kids I started exercising everyday again. I have been able to keep up with it. I haven't lost much weight, but I know I have lost inches. I've convinced Camden of sitting in his stroller so I can go on a walk with him while Holden rides his bike with us. I was able to go on a few walks by myself this past weekend when Cliff was home. It was so nice! I went all the way around the Gray's Lake trail in Des Moines on Wednesday morning. The weather has been a bit dreary, but at least it is warm enough to get out. At home I try to do sit ups and leg lifts every day. It is paying off. I am feeling more like my old self (confident, sexy, more energetic, and more fun to be with). I even highlighted my hair the other day and got a good hair trim. On Tuesday I am splurging BIG TIME and instead of getting new glasses I am getting fit for contact lenses. I have had the same glasses for a few years and I need a change. I haven't wore contact lenses in years. I'm excited about it and all the changes I am making for me! All I need is a new ward drobe and shoes. LOL. I will post some pics of myself sometime next week with myself fixed up.
In addition to exercising daily I have managed to eat healthier as well. I still splurge, but overall I eat a lot more veggies and a lot less meat, sweets, and junk food. I try to eat less and that is easier when I am exercising b/c I don't stress eat as much. My stress levels are way down when I am exercising. I have done this weight loss thing before. Before I had Camden (2) I lost 50 pounds. I have gained 30 of it back. So I want to try to lose at least 50 pounds and try not to gain it back! We'll see. Maybe it will be easier with my active guys to exercise with me. They are always on the move. My dream would be to get a bike and a kid's seat or burly for Camden. I love to bike ride. We have lots of cool bike trails around Des Moines that Cliff and I used to ride on before kids. I miss that a lot!
Spring has sprung in Iowa! It is so cool to see flowers blooming and green grass. Trees are starting to get leaves too. The kids and I saw hundreds of earth worms yesterday while we were on a walk. They were littered all over the streets. They came up because of the rain, I guess. Not totally sure. The birds (robins, ducks, etc) had their very own bird buffet of worms! It was so cool to see. Holden spotted a black bird making a nest yesterday too. It was in a tree near where we were parked for a bit during our walk. Holden has sharp eyes and ears. He is so smart too. He told me his birth is in the year of the snake (Chinese zodiac) and Camden's is in the year of the monkey. My brother told him this a few weeks ago when we were in Texas for spring break and what these animals mean about them. He (Holden) is always telling me stuff he has learned. He is a cool dude.
One of Holden's friends here asked what sorts of stuff we do at home. I told him and he said he wish he could stay at our house sometime instead of going to school. I wasn't trying to convince him of anything. I told him Holden knows 2 plus 2 now and he laughed b/c his 4.5 yo bro knows how to multiply already. I asked him what he uses that info for at his age. He said for tests. I said I mean in real life. He didn't know or couldn't think of anything. I told him Holden is learning stuff he needs to know for real life or enjoys learning about. This is a kid who tried to move in with us last year b/c he thought his mom was so mean. It broke my heart, but I know lots of kids have a miserable existence sometimes. He said all his mom does is yell and makes him do chores all the time.
I hope whatever you are doing you all well and happy! Big hugs from us!!! (No time to proof read this...kids need me now)
