What is up with the Chinese Spam?!

Does anyone else get that crap?!?  Any tips to avoid it???? 


Grrrrrrrrrr.

Anyway, howdy friends.  Not much going on, but then everything is going on!!!

Got the girls pics taken this past weekend.  Had my FIL's 60th bday party on Sat.  Preparing for my first fill next week .  That's when this WL should REALLY start.  Right now everyone keeps asking me how much weight I've lost, and the sad truth is not enough for almost 5wks out.  Until I get a fill, which brings restriction, I'm pretty much just dieting and using willpower (HA!).  So needless to say, the WL has stalled until further notice. 

If you haven't seen them already, here are a few pics of my girl-rillas. They turned out OK, but the photog was kinda dry and didn't really engage them as much as he should have.  He got a few decent ones though.  It didn't help that Miss P2 is teething so therefore she was being even more grumpy than normal.

 I'm still trying to get them noticed for the roles of Renesmee Cullen. heehee ;)

July has been busy

A little update since I haven't done that here in a while! 

July is turning out to be a busy month for our little household.  Besides having Wooky injured earlier this month (still don't know what happened to the poor animal), it's been a costly one too. 

The first weekend was 4th of July!  My DH likes to go in with his parents and buy a boat load of fireworks.  This year we skimped a little, meaning we didn't have any leftover like we usually do.  Ya, we go nuts.  Even after 9 years in Texas, crazy fireworks are still a novelty for us wayward Californians!  

Here are a few pics!!

My girls!

The following weekend, we headed to Houston for a family reunion.  Yes, I know I'm from CA, but most of the extended family on my mom's side, are all from Texas.  It was just an overnight trip for us, but it was nice to get out of town, and even nicer to be surrounded by our dear family.  My mom & grandparents flew out from CA.  My Aunt's family drove from CA and my Uncle and his family drove from CO.  After the reunion, my mom and I took the girls to the beach for a few hours.

P2 HATED IT!!!!!  She screamed for the first hour and a half.  While P1 was having  a blast swimming all around, P2 wasn't having any part of it....UNTIL the last 30 minutes we were there.  She played in the sand and had a great time.  Silly girl!!!  It was gorgeous there.  Refreshing, clear (no oil!) water, and soft sand!  I could have spent a week there.  Maybe next summer!  Here are some pics of the beach!

I also took this video and I think I need to send it in to AFHV!  It's pretty self-explanatory!

Next weekend P1 and I will be attending the theatre to see my all time favorite musical!  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!  I LOVE this show so much!  I've seen it many times and can't wait to share the experience with P1.  My inlaws bought us (DH & I) the tickets for our anniversary back in April, but DH has since opted out.  Fine with me!  I'm always up for mother-daughter bonding with my princess!!  We'll do lunch downtown and then head off to our show!  We both are excited!  Which reminds me, I need to load one of the soundtracks (I have many!) onto my IPod so we can listen every day this week in the car!  She needs to be able to singalong too! :)

THEN...the next weekend, we have my FIL's 60th birthday!!!!! Now my DH is only 33, so to have a dad that is in his 60s, seems SOOOO old to me.  Shhh, don't say anything!  My mom is in her late 50s, but still, that sounds better than being in your early 60s.  Anyway, so that will conclude our busy July! 

Big Changes

Hello friends!  Long time, no blog.  Life sometimes gets in the way and when big changes are happening in your life, the blog...Correction: the family blog, is the one thing that gets neglected.

For my friends on SK, I've been laying low on there too.  I've noticed I'm not the only one.  Our DIM board looks like a ghost town and although I still 'see' most of you on FB, I feel bad for the others that aren't on FB.  It probably looks like we vanished off the face of the earth. 

Well, I'm still here.

So as I was saying, big changes on the horizon.

I feel like I've been keeping a huge secret from most of you.  Truth be told, I have been.  I didn't want to seem like a failure.  I didn't want to appear to be 'taking the easy way out', and I didn't want to make myself seem vulnerable to my friends.  If you're reading this, I consider you a friend.

So as most of you know, I've been struggling with my weight my entire life.  Despite only gaining a few lbs during pregnancy, and losing a bunch shortly thereafter, the weight always finds me.  After P2, the same thing happened.  After a year of having her, I gained back roughly 30lbs and there wasn't an end in sight.  I was starting to having difficulty getting around with P2, going up a flight of stairs would kill me, and in general, life was not good.

After much research and soul-searching, I decided to have weight loss surgery.  With my husband's and family's 150% support, I made the call with the surgeon back in April and I'm happy to report that as of this past Tuesday, June 29th, I now have the Lap-Band. 

I'm in recovery now, and am in what we call Bandster Hell.  For anyone who thinks this is taking the easy way out, I highly recommend you to research all that comes along with the band.  Yes, many great things will come (I've already lost 16lbs in 2.5wks), but with it comes a lot of work.  Mostly to the tune of diet and exercise.  So, no, it's not an easy ride, but the results will be long-lasting and the health benefits will be priceless. :)  I'm excited for my new life with the band and I intend to make it work for me. 

I have two beautiful girls to live for, and an amazing husband to share the rest of my life with, so I needed to be around for all of them.   No, I'm not trying to be a bikini model (bwahahahahah), I just want to be 'normal' and at a normal BMI.  Where I was heading, I was at the cusp of developing serious health problems, not to mention strokes and heart attacks. 

I've been keeping another blog, and if you'd like to follow it, it's http://www.fatchickbgone.com/  I welcome new followers and positive comments.  It's taken a lot for me to share this with you, and I hope I made the right decision. 

As of right now, I will be keeping the two blogs separate.  Maybe once I get down to my ideal weight, I will merge the two.

So that's that.  A few of you already know, and I thank you for keeping this on the DL until I was ready to come out of the fat closet :). 

OH- I HAVE NOT GONE PUBLIC ON FACEBOOK- SO PLEASE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT!!!!!  THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Scrapbooking Retreat!

A few months ago, a friend contacted me and asked if I would like to attend a scrapbook retreat!  Is a pig's ass pork?!?!?!  OF COURSE!!!  JEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So that's where I'm writing from!  Yes, yes, I should be scrapbooking, but I'm taking a break for now!!! 

The group of gals I'm with are hilarious and we're having a good time!!  The food has been great, the inspiration is plentiful and the atmosphere is heavenly!! 

Here is a pic of one of my creations!!  I think you'll recognize the subject.

Hi Neglected Blog

The man took away my access.  Yes, my work cut off our access to blogs and personal sites, so now I'm left to update this at home.  Boo Hiss.  :(  Don't they know that's what work is for?!  Jeez.

Anyway, so I hope all my beautiful mom friends had an awesome Mother's Day.  Mine was OK.  I've certainly had better.  The day started with my waking up to the tune of an upset P1 and an irate DH.  They were arguing about breakfast.  She wanted eggs.  He wanted to give her cereal.  Keep in mind, P2 was still asleep, but as loud as they were, I expected to hear little one start wailing any minute.  Uggg "Happy Mother's Day to me".  P1 came in my room and asked me to make her breakfast.  I said "ummm, no, it's MD, go ask daddy."  Then she started getting all super-sonic on me and I told her to go ask him nicely. 

Nope.  Didn't work.  I hear more arguing and such.  So I get up, walk over there and say I'll cook my own damn breakfast.  Nice way to wake mom up on MD morning.  Grrrr

We made plans to go meet the inlaws in their town and have a picnic at the park.  M's grandma is in a rehab center and she has Alzheimers.  She's been living there for a few months now and it's been really hard on the family.  Especially for my MIL, who goes to visit her everyday.  It's quite sad.  Anyway, so my MIL thought it would be a good idea to check GG (great grandma) out of the facility on MD to see the kids. 

In theory, it sounded like a decent plan. However, it didn't occur to my MIL that it would be cold that day, that GG would have 'episodes' since this was her first time out of lockdown since she went to live there, and I was already in a mood to begin with (remember breakfast). 

Anyway, so we drive the 40 min out there and it's freezing.  Colder there than it was at our house when we left.  Thankfully I made P1 bring a little jacket, I had a jacket in the car, and I brought a little sweater for P2 along with her blanket.  It was windy, drizzly, and just plain cold.  LOVELY.  We pull up and my FIL is there with a few of the kids.  M's sister isn't there, but her two older Js are.  My MIL isn't there either, nor is GG.  Ummmm, OK, where is everyone. 

When we start setting up our stuff, my FIL tells me that my SIL and J3 are at the ER.  Earlier in the day he was being pulled up by his arms by the older kids at church.  Oh, he's 19mo old.  I guess during that time he was playing, his elbow was dislocated. OUCH.  So they needed to take Xrays just to be sure that's what the problem was and then they had to put it back where it belongs.  OUCH again.  Great MD present for her too!  They arrive after about 45min and little J3 is fine. 

A little later GG and my MIL come and from the minute we see her (gg) things start going downhill.  She has started hitting herself while having delusions that someone else is with her and trying to hurt her.  It's very sad, but the kids are watching this and trying their best to ignore her.  Again, so sad.  Then she starts crying, then yelling, then hitting herself.  Oh, she's also 80 years old.  My MIL and SIL do their best to distract GG and make her aware of what is going on, but sadly she is too out of it. 

So the day went on.  Thankfully P2 was being a dream baby. She spent most of the time in her stroller because she was bundled up in it.  I'd say it was about 60^ out there and she was in shorts, sandals, and sleeveless top.  Mom of the year, right here!!!  OMG.  So ya, she stayed bundled up the best way I could keep her warm.

We ate, chatted, and then GG really started to head south.  We hurried up and did gifts and then my MIL decided it was time to take GG back.  It took them about 30 min to get her in the car and head on back.  It was heartbreaking to watch, but thankfully all the kids (5 of them) didn't catch most of it. 

THEN, being outside, my DH and his allergies started acting up.  We're on the way home and he said he's taken allergy meds and is real sleepy.  OH GREAT.  I offer to drive home, but he says he can make it.  I keep watching him like a mother hen to see if starts to show the slightest indication of dosing. 

Once home, we're bringing in the girls and all of the stuff and my DH disappears.  P1 says she's hungry, P2 needs her bottle and bed and DH is nowhere to be found.  I walk to our bedroom and he is snoring.  It's been like 10 min since we walked into the house!!!  So, being the nice wife that I am, flipped on the light and said "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?  The kids need food and I need help getting them ready for the week and you're asleep?!?!?"  He just looked at me and grinned. 

Now, i could have handled that one of two ways.  The first, going totally pyscho on him and demanding he get his derrier out of  the damn bed ASAP and help...OR, I keep this little gem of a Mother's Day in my back pocket until I REALLY need it...

Yes.


FATHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

(the day wasn't a total bust...I did get the sweetest cards from both girls and my DH, and I also got two new charms for my Pandora bracelet.  The girls birthstones, which also happen to be mine and DH's too!!) 

Birthday Pics... A LOT OF PICS

Saturday 5-1-10, the Ps and I headed to the mall to have P1's 1st birthday pics taken.  My appt was at 5pm and of course Pen decided she wanted to take a late and long afternoon nap that day.  It takes about 30min to get to the mall (since there is ALWAYS traffic on the highway, no matter what stinkin' day OR time it is... I digress) so I had to wake her up by 4pm to get her fed, changed, and dressed to head out in 30 min.  Dumb, I know.  But whatever.  I kept waiting for the cake lady (now known as CL) to show up.  She was supposed to call in the afternoon to find out how to get to my house so she could drop off the cupcakes for the party on Sunday AND to bring the smash cake for P2's photo session. It was 4pm and I still hadn't heard from her.  So as I'm feeding Pen, I called a coworker to see if she had CL's number.  OH, CL is a coworker too.  Anyway, thankfully she had her number and I called to find out if there was a problem.  Umm, ya, she thought the pics were supposed to be at 6pm instead of 5.  Luckily, the cupcakes were ready, she just needed to make the drive to my house.  Lovely.

After Pen was dressed, I loaded both the girls in the car and headed down to our local McD's to meet the CL so I could quickly get to the mall.  She was going to give me the one and then take the rest to the house where DH was waiting for her.  Finally we got them, I called the studio and told them we were running late.  They said it wouldn't be a problem and they would see me when I got there.  We finally make it and we have to wait a little bit, but thankfully both girls are in a great mood. 

Finally, it's our turn and Pen is starting to be the little stinker that we know and love.  She doesn't want to stay put, she doesn't want to look at the lady, and don't you dare ask her to smile.  It's amazing we got any decent pics of little Miss Priss!!  After a few clothes changes, it was time to disrobe for the cake smash.  Before I go into detail, here are the first of the pics. :)

I DON'T LIKE IT!!!!!!

So now we attempted the cake smash.  I placed the pretty little cupcake in front of her and then I let her go!

She grabbed the little frosting off it and then...

Just looked at it...

And looked at it...

Notice this child still has a clean face!! 

Finally she got some in her mouth (and eye and hair) and made this sourpus face!

You want me to eat this junk???

No way!  I'm outta here!!

That's it!  Everytime she would touch her fingers together she would shiver like it was giving her the willies!!  It was SOOOO funny!!!  Not once did she ever try to bite the cake.  I even tried to break off a piece to let her try it, but nope, she wasn't having any part of it!!

So, I don't know who this child belongs to, but she does NOT like cake or frosting!! 

Introducing WOOKY!!!

Isn't he sweet!?!?! 

So this is the bday present for two of the May babies in my family; P2 and I!!!  He is about 8wks old and he's the sweetest kitty EVER!!  I can't tell you how wonderful he is with Pen.  He hasn't scratched her or bitten her once.  P1 and I haven't fared so well and we have the battle scars to prove it!!  He's such a sweet boy though.  He is so calm and gentle and very sociable.  He is always underfoot and wants to be where the action is.  As for getting along with his older relative, Groban (I found out Wooky's grandma is Groban's sister, my bad.  I thought Groban was his uncle!)...well Groban seems to be a little freaked out by the little guy.  Could be due to the fact that Wooky makes this pathetic little spitting sound that is supposed to be a hiss and G doesn't know what to think of that nonsense!  I think, in time, they will be buds.  I hope. :)

I have a ton of pics with the girls playing with their new friend, and I will post soon!