Off to the villa

 

I am getting ready to go check into the villa.  I can't wait.  My BIL is going to be meeting me there so we can get things set up.  Mark is still at work.  I will be coming back home to pick him up after we get things set up.  I hope that all ofyou have a wonderful New Years celebration!  I know we will.  We are supposed to get snow tonight, 4 - 6 inches, so I am glad we will be staying in one spot!  No driving for us.  I will take pictures so all can see how cute this villa is. 

 

Survey

1. Will you be looking for a new job? I sure hope not

2. Will you be looking for a new relationship?
Friends maybe but not a new love relationship

3. New house?
no way

4. What will you do different in 08?
exercise more and eat better

5. New Years resolution?
same as # 4

6. What will you NOT be doing in 08?
eating fast food

7. Any trips planned?

a couple of them
8. Wedding plans??
no

9. Major thing on your calendar?
the twins graduation

10. What can't you wait for?
summer

11. What would you like to see happen differently?
too many things to name

12. What about yourself will you be changing?
my weight

13. What happened in 07 that you didn't think would ever happen?
Jeremy and Robbie graduated

14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about?
Yes

15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in 07?

smaller sizes
17. Will you better your relationship with your family?
Yes

18. Will you do charity work?
Yes

19. Will you go to bars?
Probably a few

20. Will you be nice to people you don't know?
yes

21. Do you expect '08 to be a good year for you?
Yes

22. How much did you change from this time last year til now?
Not much

23. Will you plan on having a child?
no

24. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now?
Of course

25. Will you be moving?
no

26. What will you make sure doesn't happen in 08 that happened in 07?
That I just sit on my butt and not make a difference in my body

27. What are your New Years Eve plans?
Renting a cottage and having a party with some family

28. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?
You bet ya

29. One wish for 2008?
That my family and friends all stay happy and healthy.

Our Warrior has passed

In memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer.


A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle.
Please Keep This Candle Going! 

 

I was so sad to read about Kim's passing.  What a wonderful person she was.  Truly a brave warrior. Kim you will be missed greatly here in Jland.  My thoughts and prayers go out to Jim and your children.  Rest in Peace.

 

 

Christmas Eve

Now you would think that since I have the day off and I could sleep in, I would, but no not me! For some crazy reason I was up at 6am.  I have gotten alot done, but I know that by the time the evening comes around I am going to be dead tired and I won't be able to go to bed.  I will have to get the stockings together for Santa to deliver! 
For some reason this morning my coffee did not turn out good.  I made it the way I always do and for some reason it was the weakest coffee I have ever had!  It was like tea!   I had to throw the pot out and start over.  The new one was fine.  I have no clue what happened but I really wanted that cup of coffee this morning so I was very disappointed! 
I have to get Aiden's presents wrapped today.  I have everything done but his.  We will be seeing him today at Mark's parents and we won't get to see him tomorrow so I have to take his presents with us today!  I can't wait to see him when he gets his bike and his electric riding thing from his dad.  We got him the bike and Jeremy got him the ride on jeep thing.  He is going to be really excited.  I am looking forward to tomorrow morning too.  I love it when the kids open thier presents.  They still get excited, even though they don't belive in Santa anymore.  Well I guess that will be forever since I still get excited!
Well I better get going and start some cooking.  We have to be at the party at 2.  Mark is working so he won't get there till around 3.  Poor guy!
Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

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It's getting close

I am finally getting into the spirit of Christmas!  I have been so not into it and I am not sure why but I am getting it these last few days!  Mark and I have our shopping done, I just have to get some trial size things for the stockings and we will be all set.  We even have all the stuff we need to make the food for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  Christmas Eve we will be heading over to my SIL's to celebrate Christmas with Mark's family.  We have to bring cheesy potatos and a vege tray.  All the gifts are wrapped for that party.  The kids will all be with us for that except Manda, who has to work that night at the hospital.  She has to work Christmas day also but not till the afternoon.  She will be coming out to our house after work on Christmas Eve so she can be with us on Christmas morning.  After the kids open up thier gifts and have breakfast on Christmas morning they will be heading to thier dad's house for the day.  My sister, her husband and my nephew (he is 33) will be coming over for Prime Rib!  This is my favorite part of that day!  Well no maybe it is the mimosa's in the hot tub!  Yea I like that part too.  All in all Christmas day is pretty low key and is spent at home.  Once the kids arrive home it is pretty much time for bed since we will all be worn out!
I have to go back to work on Wednesday but we will be working short hours.  I have lots of data entry that needs to be done!  I really need to get busy with that and we will be really slow those three days so it will be a perfect time to take care of it. 
I am not sure what our plans are for New Years eve yet.  We were supposed to go to a party with my brother in law and SIL but we just realized that we have Marks daughter that night so I am not sure what we are going to do now.  Ah well such is life.  We may just be sitting at home for the night which would be just fine with me.  Well I am off to bed.

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I think this is gunna hurt

Ok I promised I would do this so I am.  The one with the statue was taken in Oct. of 2002.  The competition one was taken in July of 2002.  It wasn't so very long ago that I took very good care of myself.  I am making that promise to myself again.  Tonight is my first appointment back at the gym.  I am leaving in just a few minutes to go start working out again.  No I don't want to compete again but the Oct. 2002 picture is what I want to look like again.  Tonight I am on my way. 
Oh yea and just so you can see how bad it has become........no not a bikini one

Yea I know. ............I have alot to lose.  About 40 to 45 pounds.  I am on my way down tonight!

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I am very tired tonight.  I have been working this crazy shift at work for the last few weeks.  4am to 12:30pm.  I am very glad that I am done with it now.  It wore me out.  It wasn't so bad while I was doing it but I am starting to feel the toll that it took on my body.  Tomorrow I go in at the normal time of 7am.  We are having a little "tea" tomorrow for Christmas with cookies and all those kinds of goodies, oh yea there will be fresh fruit also for those that don't want the sugary treats!  I thought that was kinda nice.  I will be eating the fruit.  I am going to be one of the servers from 12 to 1 tomorrow.  I have meetings tomorrow morning too.  I hope it makes my day go by fast.  Friday will not be a fast day, I already know this since I have to help the reps do thier inventory on implants.  Yippie.  No it isn't much fun but it does have to be done.
Well I am off to bed.  Have a great day.

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Sunday

Here is Josh, this is the day that we went out to visit GVSU.  I have to say that it is by far the nicest college that I have visited.  Josh fell in love with it.  He really wants to go there.  Amazingly it was the cheapest college we have looked at also.  So  unless he gets an amazing scholarship offer this is the school that he will go to. 
The day there was great.  I did finally get to meet Kelly.  Kelly, it was a pleasure!  The picture of Josh is taken at the restarant that Kelly, Josh and I went out to eat at.  The food was great!  Josh had this club sandwich that was HUGE.  He couldn't even finish it, which shows how big it was cuz Josh can eat ALOT of food!  I can't wait to go back and visit more of Grand Rapids.  Josh has a race there sometime in February that we will be going up there for also.  I am  hoping to be able to stay the night there so we can check out the city a little bit while we are there.  But that will all depend on what day the race is.  Keep your fingers crossed that it is a Friday!  Or at least a day that he has off of school the next day.
Mark and I have been doing tons of Christmas shopping.  We are almost done, I am happy to say.  Usually we are running around the last week trying to find everything.  This year we are trying to get it done so we can avoid all that stress involved with doing it at the last minute.  Five of the six kids are done and the other one is more than  half way done.  We have bought for all but one of our friends.  We still have to get his mom and dad and something for his nephews.  We should be able to finish that up today. 
My last entry was a wonderful rant on how disgusted I am with the weight I have gained.  I really am upset with myself for allowing myself to get this heavy.  I sat down the next day and wrote up myself an action plan.  That plan involved a running schedule (my last marathon was in April of 06 and I have not run since then, shame on me)  it also involved finding and joining a gym again.  The other item on the action plan was working out an eating program.  I called around to a few gyms and found one right by where I work, it is actually owned by UofM and I joined it.  It is only 20 a month for employess or students of the university.  Can't beat that.  I also found that the hospital has a weight loss program.  The new session starts in January and I have joined that as well.  I am really looking forward to that starting.  I am going to start going to the gym before that starts though.  I know that I am terribly out of shape and need to get myself under control.  I am going to be posting some pictures of myself from 5 years ago, and from now, in my next entry.  You will see why I am so disgusted with myself.  But then I am going to take pictures monthly after I start to see my progress so I won't get discouraged!  (hopefully!!)  I am hoping that by May I will be able to compete in another marathon.  I just have to decide which one I am going to run.  I am going to be researching that too!  So wish me luck!
I need to go fold another load of clothes.  Mark should be home soon and we will need to get out and get shopping!  Have a great day.

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A rant

Ok I am seriously aggrivated.  I have a party to attend tonight and I have gained so much weight that nothing I have to wear fits the way I want it to.  A diet is seriously in order.  Anyone have any ideas on good diets?