Weighing In

As some of you know I am heading to Italy in July with my cousin.

Prior to deciding to go I had been thinking and knowing I needed to loose some weight for all kinds of reasons....so when the trip to Italy came up I knew this was the icing on the cake of my motivation.

So far it has been working....I'm down 22 pounds, though I will admit I can't really tell....I can in my clothing but when I actually look at myself I don't see it but I choose to believe the scale and the clothing the has become a little looser. I am down 2 sizes so I also enjoy that as well.

I'm hoping by the time time my trip comes around I will be down another 20 but I'll take 15...

So, to help me get to that number today I joined 24 hour fitness but I only did a 90 day membership, knowing in the past I have never been good with seeing it through.

I figure the 90 days will help me prior to my trip and after my trip and then we'll go from there.

Of course going to the gym is not fun alone so I joined with Tammy...she had mentioned she gets a really good deal through her insurance where she pays very little a month so that was my motivation to go ahead and do the 90 day membership since she was joining I had someone to go with.

So wish me luck these next 45 days that I will get those next 20 pounds off.
I know...boring post... just had to share...that's just how boring my life is.
Til next time...be happy!

Congrats Grad

My Grandson Colton graduated preschool last night.

What a milestone.

 It's hard to believe that 5 1/2 years have gone by and in August he'll experience his first day at Kindergarten.

 This little boy will always have a special place in his Muggy's heart.

Through sad times blessings are born and Colton was such that blessing.

 The above is what played prior to the graduation performance....all the kids had a baby picture and then their graduation picture....and such a handsome graduation picture he took.

 Above he is peeking through those in front of him...he was on the back row and he did a good job of peeking between people and jumping so his mommy and I could get pictures.

And below he had a solo song in the program....
He sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

and it was sung in Chinese....Way to go Colton!

 And below he held up some of the class getting off stage ...when the teacher told him to come on he said...My Mommy and Muggy are taking pictures....lol...I know, sweet boy!

Then graduation was over and we went to Chili's celebrate .

It was a wonderful evening spent with family celebrating yet another milestone in life.

So proud of Colton and his Mommy!

A Great Day

On Saturday my day started early when this beautiful little girl showed up at 6 am...

her daddy had to work and since I was off I said I would watch her which I didn't mind at all cause I got to spend time with my baby.

 Hayden is so grown up and acts like it too....precious.

  

I had planned for all the grand-babies to come over for a play date so the cousins could spend time together...I was also gonna BBQ. I had gone out on Thursday after work and bought some play stuff for the backyard to keep the kids occupied so we could spend the time outside.

 I bought a couple of pools...this one had an attached slide which I ended up having to take off....

not very sturdy or safe. The kids had a good time going from pool to pool.

 Above Miss Hayden and the picture below shows my view from my favorite chair.

 Liam loved the basketball feature of the pool....he's so into sports and also loved hanging out with his big cousin Colton.

 Colton enjoying a little swim time

 I also bought a bounce house that they loved but that evening the pools were the big hit.

 more swim time...

.... now time for a little dinner...which was hard cause they really wanted to keep playing but they knew as soon as they ate they could finish playing.

Liam and Hayden

 Miss Tayler

 Colton, Liam, Hayden and Tayler enjoying dinner and a little conversation...

you don't know how much seeing this just makes my heart so happy.....I love seeing the grand-babies togetherand having fun.

Liam enjoying a swim 

 Finally it was starting to get dark and was time to pick everything up....Tammy had stayed with me while the kids played and helped watch the kids while I picked up all the toys....Liam and Hayden were already scheduled to spend the night so I decided to brave it and ask Colton and Tayler to join in....I knew one of 2 things would happen...they would either be really wound up from all the play or tired from all the play.

Tammy stayed and helped me get everyone changed in sleepwear and settled in and then she took off to take advantage of some down time....we played a little and then I fixed their sleeping area in my room where we had snack and watched a little TV.

 I could see some were more tired than others and started winding things down....I was tired too!

Tayler was the first one out, after all she had a long day outdoors with Tammy at the school carnival...

then Hayden wasn't far behind her....Colton was the third to go...we probably would of gone sooner (as he had a full day to) but Liam wanted o keep talking with Colton.

Finally after Colton was out Liam followed about 20 minutes later at 10:30 was out.

Below is the finished product....The sweetness of grand-babies sleeping.

Next morning my the last one out was the first one up...Liam woke at 6:45...I hurried him to the living room to cartoons to let his cousins sleep....Colton woke up around 7:30....Tayler followed 30 minutes later and Hayden at almost 9:30....it's funny how quite it was, though they played until the last one was up and then circus began...(lol)

It was a fun day and a day I will never forget.

Love those grand-babies!

Precious Little One

He's grown so much....9 months today...

Just wanted to update you on Noah

All Roads Lead To Rome

I'm in the process of planning a trip to Italy with my cousin.

Now Italy would not of been my first choice when taking a trip abroad...

after all I was really looking forward to hanging out with my cousin and the opportunity to leave the country....but I must say I am so excited!

The more I read and find on this country more I'm so glad we are going...

I so can't wait!

.

The book store happened to open Easter Sunday so after all the kids were gone... to Barnes and Noble I headed to get some help in my planing.

Anyway who knows me well and knows the way I travel knows that I like to research new places, I want to be in the know...I want to check out hotels and get traveler reviews....so far between the books I buy and tripadvisor.com I've been happy with my choices thus far.

When I go somewhere I don't wanna be totally shocked about something so I read up on it...this about one of the only times you will find me reading cause reading is not my thing.

And with this trip I'm trying to get familiar with trains as well cause that will be our main transportation...I thought about renting a car but everything I've read and traveler reviews say take the train...so I figured since driving in a foreign land could be a challenge I decided we should let someone else do the driving and I should sit back and enjoy the countryside while visiting with my cousin.

Our travels will take us to Rome, Florence, Venice and Zurich...yes Zurich....my mind set says, make the most of this, you never know when you'll get back if ever so go to Switzerland too. Flying home from Zurich doesn't change the cost of the plane ticket so there you go...reason to go. I found a beautiful hotel on the water in Old Town Zurich with a view of the alps....so can't wait to get there.

At the time we decided to go to Italy I had just started a diet so now I have even more motivation to lose the weight...lots of walking, lots of steps and climbs and more importantly....

LUGGAGE!!!

I have learned from my Germany trip a few years back (and a few state side trips as well) that I need to take less luggage...so that is the goal for this trip...a medium suitcase and not large, would be nice if I could do small...so if I loose weight that's less clothes...lol...

The one good thing about going in summer is that you can take lighter clothes, no jackets, etc....so that will help when packing....also I have found hotels that all carry blow dryers so I'm going to leave mine at home and they all have laundry service so I can wear items more than once and don't have to pack as many items....maybe I can get in that small suitcase after all.

Anyway...just waned to share...I am beyond excited and so can't wait to go...we will leave on July 4th and be gone for 2 weeks....wow...just 2 1/2 months away!

Traveling has always been a dream of mine and still is ....there's no place I wouldn't go if you asked...just to travel is all I really would love to do,

Happy Easter

Today we celebrate The Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior

To Him be All the glory

and to Him.... thank you for your sacrifice to one who is not worthy.

Now I would like to share some photos of the grandchildren...

Easter Baskets waiting for the arrival of grandchildren

 Noah and Liam were the first to arrive

 then Tayler and Colton

 and then Miss Hayden

 after taking some pictures it was time to get the egg hunt going...which I must say went pretty fast this year....last year I had a ton of eggs and really it was too many and this year I felt like there wasn't enough...so next year I think I will have a ton and just let them have at it instead of making sure everyone got their fair amount

 above is Colton with the large eggs...I did have small ones too...

and Liam below.

It's hard getting the kids to look for a picture when they are too busy focusing on the eggs....but they do make great pictures.

 Tayler

 Hayden

and though Noah was a little small this year to get in on the egg finding action he enjoyed playing with Liam's eggs...he was making all kinds of noise...too cute!

 Just lovin' the egg

 and here is the best picture of all 5...so hard to get 5 together, to sit still, to look at camera, to smile, etc...but here it is...this is actually the first picture of all 5 together...

Happy Easter!



Last Minute Travels

I ended up having a couple days off work which rarely ever happens so I figured it was a good time to head to Tampa and check in on my Mom.

It was a quick last minute trip...get in late Sunday afternoon and head back Wednesday morning as I had to work Wednesday night.

I decided to stay downtown ....not far from the airport and to give me that vacation type of feel.

All the times Ive been to Tampa I don't think I've ever made it down town..

Loved it!

I stayed at The Marriott Waterside...nice hotel...I had a balcony room and here was my view.

 After I got checked in I headed to moms and visited a couple hours and then headed to pick up my cousin Lonnie...she had taken off the next day so she was gonna stay at the hotel with me and we were gonna have the evening and next day to catch up.

I had called her to see if the liquor stores were open on Sunday cause I had thought I remembered they were...and I was right...so she headed to pick up my favorite before I arrived...we had drinks on the balcony and just visited...was very nice.

 In the morning this is what we awoke too (above)...was such a beautiful morning but the afternoon did get a little warm.....82

 After getting ready we had bloody mary's at the bar while we waited for the trolley to start at 12:10 to take us to Ybor City for lunch at the Columbia Restaurant...was very good.

There we continued to drink the bloody mary and it was so good and different....their mix was all fresh spanish style....not a mix in the bottle....Yummy!

Afterwards we walked for a few minutes and headed back Channelside...not much there...so we decided to walk back to the hotel...about a 20 minute walk along The Riverwalk...was very nice.

Then we chilled and then we went and checked out a few gift stores...I was comparing..then we headed to moms for about an hour and then left to head back to the hotel to eat and watch the finale of The Bachelor....which again was disappointing. Then it was off to bed...Lonnie had to work the next day.

After I got up Tuesday morning I headed to moms and stayed until 10 that night...while there my cousin Crystal came by for a visit with her family...it was nice to see her as well. ...next morning back to Texas.

It was a short trip but it was good...I also got to see my brother for about 20 minutes ...he was on his way to Orlando and then home to Jacksonville ...my mom had been at his place that week and he was basically leaving as I was arriving...so though it was short was still good to see him for a minute.

And while gone I did get to sleep in some which was very nice.