Here are a few pics of Iz in the kid walk today…

The first one is kinda funny because she was working to get her head out. 

It was a crazy busy day! I stayed at school with Izzy while we tried out the kid walk and then went to lunch with mom and my neices for my neice Candace’s birthday.  It was fun chatting with them!  If I keep having so many lunch outings I’ll have to check into diet pills! My good friend Mendy was in town for the afternoon and she dropped by the tea room and rode with me to run an errand.  Later tonight I’ll unload the kid walk and let izzy show off for everyone.

I’m happy to report that my back is 99.9% better!  Thanks for all your sweet thoughts and prayers.  I am not sure what happened, but am guessing I pinched a nerve (this is based on my honorary doctorate degree btw)…  I downloaded a new household chore chart and am loving checking things off and knowing where I am at.  I also love that there are daily/weekly/and monthly things to do.  I have offered to all the kids that if they do a weekly item and check it off they get a dollar, two dollars for a monthly item.  Yep, I’m so generous but they live here too!   

Best news yet!  Izzy’s kid walk is in and being delivered TODAY!  I can’t wait.  I’m going to have to get the Canon camera out and ready to go!

So… Isabelle did not sleep last night.  At all.  So as a result I didn’t sleep much.  So as a result this post may not make much sense.  I had an unfortunate experience earlier today.  I was picking up a book Matt had been studying before church today (for teaching his class).  Clearing the table for lunch.  No biggie.  I guess I twisted weird but a sharp pinching pain occured in my lower back and then my right ear went numb and was ringing loudly while my vision blurred and then I almost passed/blacked out.  I wasn’t even doing anything strenuous or major.  Ugh.  I went ahead and fed Isabelle lunch and then ate my lunch. I then proceeded to go straight to bed for the afternoon.  After a sleepless night I had hoped Isabelle would also sleep the entire afternoon.  I was wrong.  But she was pretty content to lie in my bed and rest which was good enough.  I woke up and ran to church for women’s ministry.  My friend Miki is having a monthly discussion from the book, “for women only.”  We’ve been reading it for several months now.  It’s pretty good, although I think Matt is different from most men.  I get Matt.  So no earth shattering info but it’s still a good book and I’m open to learning new things after almost twenty years of marriage. 

 Speaking of books I’m almost finished with “uncharted.”  The book Gail recommended.  Thanks Gail ….  I was telling Matt yesterday that it was not what I expected and right as I was saying those words I looked at the smaller print above the title of the book which read, “expect the unexpected.”  duh.  It’s good.  I’m going to read as much as my eyes will stay awake for as soon as I finish typing this. 

We’re still doing well on our healthier eating.   I found a new food blog and the recipes are all very Paula Deenish.  I’m wishing we weren’t being healthy.  But, it’ll be fun to have some new things to try on splurge times or potlucks or whatever.

I plan to grill some chicken breasts and have them on ww buns tomorrow night.  We’ll have some veggies with them.

I’m going to make some chili with ground turkey and have it with fat free kosher hot dogs one night and over baked chips another night. 

We’ll do pizza Friday night.  It’s tradition.

That’s my menu plan for the week so far. 

I’m praying I wake up pain free.  I have to take Izzy to the orthotist in the morning and the kids are all out of school so I’m hoping to have helpers tomorrow.  

***Amanda got her acceptance letter to OU Saturday! 

My friend Judi at Doodlebug Designs is having a New Year giveaway… have you been wanting to brighten up your blog design for the new year?  If so go check her out!  She does awesome blog designs!

if you enter EXTRA50 on oldnavy.com you get an extra 50% off all clearance prices… pretty cheap stuff… you may want to check it out?

(i ordered emelia a few turtlenecks to wear under t-shirts and some leggings for about .99 cents each… a hat and scarf for .75 cents each…)

that’s all.

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I know I mentioned a while back we got the wii fit.  Well, a friend mentioned that she had got the new Jillian Michaels (from Biggest Loser) Fitness Ultimatum 2009.  I had heard about this coming out and hadn’t realized it had been released.  I went to Amazon to check it out and started reading the long list of terrible reviews.  Apparently it has tons of problems and isn’t a very interactive workout.  I sure was glad I checked into it rather than just assuming it was good. 

While checking out those reviews I ran onto another wii fit workout… “My Fitness Coach.”  Maya is a personal trainer and she gently guides you through your workout.  You can choose the scenery you work out in, the music you work out to, and how intense you feel like working out.  We let Emelia be our guinnea pig tonight to try it out.  She did 15 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of flexibility training.  I think it will be a fun workout.

I actually got on the wii fit this morning and weighed in… even did some yoga!  I may put this in tomorrow morning and give it a try. 

(Amanda watched Izzy while I was at FLO last night and Izzy really enjoyed watching WALLE in big sister’s room!)

one.

First a huge thank you to LeeAnn!  I ran across her when she was making beanbags for another blogger (A Daily Scoop)… and talked to her (via email) about ordering a beanbag for Iz.  She asked about color and size, looked at Izzy’s blog to see her… and then we agreed when she got to it she would let me know how much for the beanbag and shipping.  So… yesterday I walked out to put things in the car for the day (pause…)

Saturday I was leaving the house with my hands full and pushing izzy’s stroller.  I got to the front door and was trying to manuever all the stuff and her and her chair started rolling down the sidewalk.  I took off and realized my hoodie sweatshirt was caught on the storm door handle and I couldn’t move.  I accessed the situation in about .2 seconds and forfeited the shirt.  I ran anyway ripping the shirt apart.  I caught her before she went maybe 5 feet, but it scared me.  That’s why I am making multiple trips to the car and not trying to take it all in one swoop.  I’m also using the brakes on the stroller!

(resume…) There was this ginormous, seriously huge box on the front porch I could barely carry in.  Guess what it was?  It was from LeeAnn.  It was the beanbag!  She sent it without telling me.  I emailed her immediately and excitedly asking her how much to send because i know the shipping had to be outrageous for this huge box all the way from Nevada.  Guess what she said?  “It’s my gift to Izzy and you.”  Is that not the sweetest thing ever?  I thought so!  I’m working on a care package to send her as a thank you!  For all the bad things you hear about people and the world I am amazed at all the kind and generous good people! 

Here’s a little pic that I sent to LeeAnn of Izzy resting on her beanbag. 

As you can see in the picture, Princess the dog thinks that this is her place to rest too.  She likes to snuggle up with Izzy so they are two peas in a pod on the beanbag.  The only problem so far is that Emelia loves the beanbag too!  

two.

I went with my mother to Cracker Barrel yesterday to look at some pretty new collection of bird cannisters and teapots. She wanted to redo hers since she has had a kitchen remodel… We shared baked chicken and dressing with green beans (cause we’re dieting ya’ll).  It was yummy and nice to sit by the fireplace.  I heart that place.  Anyway, they had such cute Valentine stuff.  I got these salt & pepper shakers…

Aren’t they sweet?

Matt returned to work this morning after almost two weeks of vacation time at home.  I have used having him home 24/7 as my excuse for not getting a lot done.  Well, I guess I have no more excuses but today is kind of a reacclamation type of day…

 I saved and froze ham from Christmas and have beans and ham cooking.  It is making me hungry, it smells delish!  BUT this day is also a day of the diet.  Beans are healthy, and we’ll have them for dinner.  JennaG mentioned trying the pizza crust and sauce and thinking it wasn’t crispy enough… Leigh Ann tried it and loved it… I bought a couple of those pans at Kohl’s (on sale!) that have the holes in the bottom for pizza.  I made our pizzas on those pans this week and they were very crispy.  I only bought two so two of the pizzas were baked in normal pizza pans.  I have noticed these hole-y pans are great for re-heating the pizza. 

We spent the evening last night at my brother’s house.  We had dinner there to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.  Izzy really enjoyed the cake and ice cream!  We all went to church yesterday morning which hasn’t happened in a while since someone has been dealing with the cold bug going around every week.  It was nice to all be there.  Bev Barker (the lady who has visited and signs to songs … so amazing) came and at the end of church I was in the lobby with Izzy and heard her signing to my favorite song so we slipped in and sat in the back.  They had prayer and annointing and although I don’t take Izzy down often I felt called to take her down.  It was an amazing time of prayer and I am excited about the week to come.  The girls in my class did their daily bible reading, and one boy from matt’s class did his.  Another boy did most of the days… I got them those band bracelets from Mardels for their reward this week… and ressees sp? and chocolate chip cookies.  I guess I have to run somewhere to find a little something for next week.  I can’t tell you how much matt and I have enjoyed this schedule of reading.  I think reading from the NLT is so much more enjoyable for this type of reading.  It’s more like reading a book and when the text ends you want to keep reading. 

My SIL Terri had me over Saturday to do lots of hair!  I highlighted the girls and trimmed hers.  She wants me to paint a saying on her kitchen wall.  Her house is big and she likes it to look uncluttered.  She likes the pottery barn look and saw this in the catalog.  I like the saying too, but told her she had to sign a disclaimer in case I mess her wall up .  I did the whole wall in our front room with healing scriptures.  Everyone who comes over thinks it is wall paper or something but if you really look at it you can tell it is hand done.  I decided on her wall I am going to pencil it out first because she wants black on her beige walls.  I’ll have her take some pics while I’m doing it so you can see.

Another death.  Don Coffey, who we’ve know forever… died yesterday morning.  He was an elder at our church when I was growing up.  His daughter Lisa was my age and died several years ago of cancer.  He developed cancer and went pretty fast.  I am so sad for the family, there is so much loss.  His other daughter who is younger than me has had one kidney transplant and now needs another.  Please pray for the Coffey family.  Amanda was really great friends with his grandson Jacob and they both went on the mission trip to Montreal last year.  Here’s a pic of the two of them in Canada…

Good news! Got the sheets that match my bedding!  And the other pillow.  I’m all set.  Jodi mentioned her hub doesn’t think floral belongs in the room since he sleeps there too.  Matt doesn’t know he has a choice… but he doesn’t complain bless his heart.    As long as I’m there he’s happy.

I have gotten tons done already and it’s only 9 a.m.  Amazing what a change it makes having quiet.  I have a package ready to mail back that has been sitting hanging up for a month.  A cream colored wool coat I ordered and loved but said it the waist was at the natural waist and it is really high waisted… it’s even sized tall.  I’m not long waisted so I know it is meant to be high waisted and it’s not my style.  Anyway, I have debated keeping it because I got a good price on it but have finally decided to mail it back and it is all packed up with return shipping label attached!  I have a list for the store made and have balanced my checkbook…  Now I am going to put the new sheets on my bed and wash the tableclothes. 

Tonight we’ll have Beans & Cornbread!

We’re eating heathier.  Matt is doing awesome with the volumetrics.  We made a triple batch of burgers that have lots of veggies and bulgar in them.  I packed them in the freezer so he could take them to work for lunch.  I want to make this soup recipe one day…

2 cans organic black eye peas, rinsed and drained
About 2 cups vegetable broth…this can vary depending on how thick you want the soup.
1 14.5 oz chopped tomatoes…I like Muir Glen tomatoes.
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 cup of salsa
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 to 1 cup of cooked brown rice(you can buy frozen bags of this)…again depending on how much you like.
1 10 oz package of chopped spinach or some fresh spinach…I usually use fresh.
You can salt and pepper this soup if you like. To me it is great without it.

Add all of the ingredients(except the spinach and rice) to a large stock pot….simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the spinach and brown rice and cook until heated through and spinach has wilted.

and this one another day…

crockpot corn chowder

We’ll probably do pizza again on Friday.  Making four large pizzas is great because there are leftovers. 

My goals for the week are to keep up with my daily bible reading, walk every day, and do yoga on the wii fit at least three times.  What are your goals for the week?

Happy Monday!