A Year in Review

Thought I would do a quick recap of 2009. The year had its ups( Scarlette Grace) and downs(Moving again) which was also an up... because we are back home in CA.

5-Quilts Finished

3-Quilts almost finished

193-Blog Posts Counting this one- It would have been even more had I not been busy with packing and moving and unpacking.

Another move Across the US

23 books read- doesn't seem like many.... better than none at all I suppose.


Graham turned 2

I celebrated my 35th bday.. yikes

We confirmed our suspicions that we were having a baby girl.

Gwen turned 9- Last year of single digits.


Gabby turned 12

Potty trained Graham (May) He was super easy to potty train. Still no night trained but that will come in time.

I hosted a vintage sheet swap..... and will be hosting another in JAN... so stay tuned.

We finished the Nursey that Scarlette never got the chance to sleep in.






The best thing to happen all year......Scarlette Grace arrives





I started Weight Loss Wed. Out of necessity to lose 40+lbs and now only have 15 to go:)





Packing and moving... the least fun part of the year.

Moving back to CA

Grandparents 60th Wedding anniversary

Our family Christmas card photos. We used the timer so they are kind of funny!

This is the one we used for our cards and I am bummed because it came out darker on the cards:(

Love this one!! Poor Graham we woke him up to take these. I love the way Scarlette is looking at him.

These were the second round of photos because someone messed with the camera and had it on low resolution, so we had to do them all over.. not fun.

I have ten minutes to get this posted before it is the new year!

Hope 2010 is a great year.

Weight Loss Wed.

Last weight loss Wed. of 2009.

Lost half of a pound through the holidays... so am pretty happy considering all the food I ate.

Did get a few long walks in with the family.

8 pounds to pre preg weight.

15 pounds to go to goal weight

These last 15 are going to be the hardest.

Starting in Jan. I will be comming up with some more intersting tid bits to post on WLW, and I know all the participants will be back on board and super motivated and hopefully some new participants as well.

I am going to enjoy my food tommorow night and then time to get serious!!!

My Christmas Decorations- A bit Late

I did not fall off the face of the earth... I was however without internet for FIVE days!!!!!!!!!!

UGGG... they finally got the DSL working properly today.

So better late than never... here are this years Christmas decorations.

Gabby helped me arrange this, she had fun doing it.

The very bottom shelf is all the santa photos I have from everyone in my family.

My vintage ceramic tree colection with a couple of other trees thrown in.

Our Christmas tree. Of course I chose a sunny day to take the photo, it looked so pretty at night.

This is one of my very favorite decorations. It is made out of vintage costume jewelry.

LOVE it!

Close up!

Our stockings hung on our mantle.

Chads, Gwens, Mine, Scarlettes, Gabbys and Grahams.

I got the stocking holders after xmas last year for 2$ each. Nice to have 6 matching ones!

Need to work on the stockings, I made the girls when they were little and now I need to make some new matching ones because this is quite the hodge podge. Chads I knitted and mine is a vintage one made out of a quilt, I love it and scarlettes is one I had used in years past and Grahams I got at a garage sale a few years ago and decided it matched better than the red one I made for him. A project for next year.

My vintage printers box.

My cute little pink tree.


a fun close up.

Hope you enjoyed a peek at our decorations. I had a very hard time decorating for Christmas when we are so not unpacked. I just put up the xmas decor and left the rest in the garage. Operation christmas removal starts tomorrow and then I can continue to unpack and decorate.
And decorate and host Graham's 3rd bday party. Yikes it is in less than two weeks.

Help.

What mothers of girls never know..

Disclaimer: I know this does not apply to all boys and it might apply to the rare girl. This is just what I have noticed in my 12.5 years of parenting.

Things I could never figure out when the two big girls were little and I had no son yet.

1. Why did my friends with boys stare at me shocked when I said I was taking the girls to the mall... remember they were little.

NOW I KNOW.....

Because boys HATE shopping it must be a missing gene or something. Actually,I took all four kids to Ross the other day to get a couple of things for Christmas. Graham was in the cart, I had Scarlette in the moby wrap and the big girls were tagging along. We were not there two minutes and Graham was shouting I want that soccer ball, then we moved farther back in the store and he could see the toy section and he was repeatedly saying "go that way, go that way" and pointing towards the toys. Then he could see a fire truck and he was loudly talking about going to see the fire truck. Then he would get annoyed every time Gwen would touch the cart and SCREAM at the top of his lungs. After fighting with him for an hour in Ross we head to the register to pay and there are about 30 people in line. No one was nice enough to say take your 3 items and go ahead of me, when they could clearly see that Graham was loosing it. So we went to the return desk to ask them to hold something and they made us go BACK to the dressing room which is at the back of the store. I get back there and two of the items were clearance and they would not hold them, so I pretty much just stomped out of the store. How can three girls be fine and one little boy create so much stress.

I also always criticized the Mothers who let their boys run around with their binkis past the age of two which is when my girls gave them up. I GET IT NOW.

He still needs it, and so do I for that matter. It may sound like a cop out, but it really comforts him and calms him down. It makes car rides bare able, going to bed at night and nap time easy and if he is having a really rough day it helps then too.

I also remember wondering why these mothers of boys could not get them potty trained at two.

I GET IT NOW.

Graham was no where near ready at two. He was at 2.5 though and was a super star at it. Some boys are still not ready past that too. I used to think it was something the parents were doing wrong. NOPE. He still is not night time trained and not sure when that will happen.

I remember the first time a little boy pushed my first born...my little baby Gabby down and wondering what the parents were not doing right. I remember hearing stories about little boys climbing on counters, getting things out of cupboards, coloring on walls, jumping on furniture, throwing anything and everything and all sorts of other CRAZY boy stuff.

I GET IT NOW!!

Graham started by climbing onto the dishwasher( when the door was open) before he could walk, then progressed to pushing chairs around to get to the table, counters the island and then climb up there. Or pushing the chair up to the pantry and getting whatever snack out of the cupboard he desired. He also jumps on the couch ever chance he gets, no matter how many times he is told no and sent to the corner. Oh, lets not forget the climbing out of the crib... still in the crib with the tent on it... he may stay in there until middle school! My son has had a good throwing arm since he was super little and he is amazingly accurate. I have been hit with matchbox cars, sippy cups, stuffed animals, books and yes balls too. He has colored on counters, the wall the couch, and numerous other things that are not meant to be colored on. I use to think it was lack of supervision or proper punishment. HA... Not so much. It is just how he is wired.

We went to the discovery museum in Sausalito the other day and it is at the base of the golden gate bridge. It was 55 and sunny in DECEMBER!
Let me also say that he is the sweetest, cuddliest, most loving boy.... and I would not trade him for the world. I have a new respect for mothers of multiple boys.... yikes I think I would loose my mind.

To A Very Special Couple

On their VERY special day.

Happy Anniversary to my Grandparents on their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

Wow 60 years!!!

In this day and age it is a miracle for people to stay married for 10 years.... let alone 60!!!

Jim & Colleen

Did they not look soo cute and happy.

Love my Grandmas swim suit.

There were no dates on these photos, so I am guessing this is 1952ish.

My Grandma may even have been pregnant with my mom here, because my Papa was away in the Korean war when my mom was born.

Here they are now..... just as happy together as they were 60+ years ago.

Their love and commitment for each other is something I admire and strive for in my own marriage.

In the last 60 years they:

Met, fell in love and got married

Had two beautiful daughters

Moved from Southern CA to Northern CA

Have two funny son in laws

Two fabulous Granddaughters who are married to two great guys.

They have three precious Great Granddaughters

and two WILD and adorable Great Grand Sons.

They were blessed with having my Great Grandma Maxine in their lives into her 80's

and my Great Grandma Mary in their lives past her 100th birthday.

They have had and still have some really great friends.

and their good health.

What more could you ask for.

Words can not describe how wonderful my Grandparents are, but as you will see below we all tried to put it into words.

Mom & Dad/ Jim & Colleen:

You are so much more than family. You are friends and traveling buddies. Words just cannot say how much we are soooooo very thankful especially for your total dedication, help and love the past four years. Sherri’s unbelievable progress, outlook on life and good humor are just a reflection on the sacrifices you have made and the love you continue to give.Some people might value the pile of dollars they have to rate their wealth. We just look at our family, and especially you and see that we have a mountain of wealth that cannot be surpassed. The only problem is, your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their significant others have a next to impossible bar to reach when it comes to matching your character, morality and giving.

Love, Carl & Sherri

Jim & Colleen, The couple primarily responsible for this mess. Love ,Eckart

Happy 60th wedding anniversary Mom & Dad! I'm so proud to have you as my parents. You have been such great role models. Your unselfishness you show toward the family everyday is inspirational. I would not be the happy, fulfilled women I am today if it was not for you raising me. I'm a better person because of you. Thank you for all you have done and all you continue to do. My love always,Lori

Grandma & Papa,
On this very special day, Gabe, Elijah and I would like to wish you a Happy 60th Anniversary!
For a couple to reach 60 years it must take unconditional love, support and a good sense of humor. We admire you both for the great love that you both share!
60 Years ago today you made a solemn vow
To love and cherish one another from that day til now
You built a family one by one
With hard work and of course some fun
You created a lifetime of happiness, for all of us to share
Nurtured, loved and watched over us, with so much care
We wish you both many more anniversaries to come
All the while hoping we too can attain that one
Lots of love and special wishes to two very special Grandparents!
I thought you might be interested in knowing about a few events that happened on your special day in history.
It is the Birthday of Beethoven and Jane Austen, Victory Day in Bangladesh, It is the Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge & the Boston Tea Party, and we can’t forget the TV premiere of Dragnet and One Day at a Time!
We love you! Keely, Gabe & Elijah

side note: I keep telling my sis above that she needs to start a blog!

Hi Jim Bro and Colleen,

Leon and I mailed you a card which says, "This anniversary must be getting up there...maybe 58 or 59......couldn't possibly be the big 60". However your girls tell me now that it IS the big 60! Unbelievable! Congratulations! It couldn't happen to a nicer couple and more wonderful family.....ENJOY IT ALL! Love Marlene and Leon

Congratulations Aunt Colleen and Uncle Jimmy on your 60th Anniversary! We wish you many more happy years together! Love Always,Samia, Terrie, Sandy and Dave

Dear Jim and Colleen;

The Odoms have been family friends for over 50 years, many fond memories of great family vacations. Catalina on the big white ship, Big Bear tobogganing down the snow and pine needle sloops, making snow men and snow women and clanging pots and pans on New Years Eve, floating on a house boat down the Sacramento River and getting stuck on the river bank. Wow, did we have fun J thank you Jim and Colleen for your wonderful friendship. Happy 60th Anniversary;Love from the Higley Family;Harry & Nancye, Lynda Drake and Gary Higley

I love you both sooooo much! Love, Wendy

We knew you would not want a party..... we did know you would probably enjoy a weekend away just the two of you or a nice dinner out with the family.

But none of those things are happening.

What we thought you would enjoy most of all is spending a weekend away with your family.
SO........

Papa & Grandma

Please join us: Eckart & Lori, Carl & Sherri, Jennifer, Chad, Gabby, Gwen, Graham & Scarlette, and Keely, Gabe & Eli.

For a weekend of family fun & more wonderful memories.

on the Mendocino coast

in a beautiful beach house (click to see the house Eck found for ALL of us)

Jan 2010 (we will tell you the exact date in person so we don't get stalked)

Picture of the beach from the house we will be staying in.

Kitchen in the beach house.

Sure wish my kitchen looked like this.
We can not wait to share the weekend with you.

To the best Grandparents in the whole world: We have learned so much from you.

Papa: you taught us by example of how a true man should treat a woman and in doing so we have all made excellent choices in mates. You have also taught us that sometimes in life it is the little things that are important. Even though you always wanted a boy you loved and treasured all of your girls and always made us feel special. Above all else you have taught us that family is the most important.

Grandma: I only wish I had your energy, you amaze me. Your house is always clean, there is always a super yummy meal on the table, and yummy homemade dessert waiting to be eaten Immediately after the meal, you exercise every day, your huge yard and garden should be on a magazine and why have none of us inherited the painting skill? You are always dressed to perfection. I learned my love of vintage from you at an early age while attending antique shows with you and Mom. We are all creative girls and that is from watching you do fabulously creative things all of our lives. It will take all of us girls put together to fill your shoes.

You are both always there whenever we need you.... thank you for everything you have done and everything you continue to do!

We love you very much and hope this day is as special as you are to us.

Weight Loss Wed.... a day early

Yes, it is a day early... but tomorrow I have a very special post... so stay tuned:)

Well not much to report on the weight loss front, still the same. Which I suppose is ok.

Not much to report on the exercise front either.

Pretty boring post so far!

The number of ladies participating is less and less as everyone gets busier with the holidays. Plus the last thing you want to do is count calories right now.

I am confident that we will all be ready to get back in the swing of things after the first of the year.

Below are links to this weeks participants, pop over and leave them an encouraging comment. If you want to join us, email me and I will add you to the weekly email list. Everyone is welcome, weather you want to lose 5lbs or 50lbs. If you don't see your link and you are participating, please email me.
Colima Smith of: Colima
Victoria of: Florence & Mary
Sheri of: Pawsh Poodle
Kelly of: Kelly's Recipes For Life
Tina of: Sweetina

Have a great week!!!

Visit With Santa

Today we took the kidos to see Santa. Graham was sooo excited to go... but once he saw Santa sitting there he hid behind me. As you can see he would not even look at Santa and he was trying to squirm away from Gabby.

Maybe next year he will not be afraid.... it will be Scarlettes turn.

Scarlette did not mind one bit.

We went for hot chocolate afterwards and then came home and finihed decorating the tree. FINALLY.
See you tomorrow for weight loss Wed a day early.

Weight Loss Wed.

It is that time again... time to step on the scale and see how the week went.

Not much to report since I am THE SAME as last week. Apparently I have hit a plateau:(

Taught Yoga on Sunday and went to dance class last night. I guess I need to step up the exercise. I have also not been paying much attention to my eating, so that needs to start soon. It is just so hard with all the yummy food this time of year. For example tonight I am going to the Bunco Christmas party where everyone brings yummy food. I guess I should be happy to maintain for the time being and maybe step it up a notch after the holidays.

There are quite a few people sitting out until after the holidays. I am thinking everyone will be gung ho in January.

Below are links to this weeks participants, pop over and leave them an encouraging comment. If you want to join us, email me and I will add you to the weekly email list. Everyone is welcome, weather you want to lose 5lbs or 50lbs. If you don't see your link and you are participating, please email me.

Colima Smith of: Moppy Jane Crafts
Brianne Kjar of: Kjar Family
Sheri of: Pawsh Poodle
Kelly of: Kelly's Recipes For Life
Tina of: Sweetina
Olivia of:Victoria Plums Homegrown blog
Suzie of: Suzie Button Creations

Calistoga Tractor Parade

Saturday night we took the kids to the lighted tractor parade in Calistoga. I had never been before and it was a great parade. Graham LOVED it.

Gwen with her eyes closed and her bff Isabelle. Scarlette and Graham in the background.

Graham watching the parade.
That was it for photos....it was too cold to take more.
We will be going again next year!

How Do Single Parents Do it?

Chad left the Saturday after Thanksgiving for Louisville KY and returned home the following Friday. It was a VERY LOOOOONG week for me and I don't even work outside the home.

How do single parents do it?

Saturday I took the kids downtown to the holiday parade, Sunday I did the grocery shopping and worked around the house. Monday morning up at 6am to wake the girls up to get ready for school, this is after getting up at least once during the night to feed the baby and staying up until 11:30-12:00. Yes, I should go to bed earlier, but this is when I get time to read.

After drop off I went over to my friend Tiffanies house and took Scarlettes car seat out of my car and put it into her car. We got all four kids(all under 3yrs. old) and us in the car and off we went to Larry's Produce. Since I was not driving it was my job to tend to crying babies... needless to say I spent most of the 20minute drive crawling to the back of the mini van to give Scarlette or Tatum their binkis. We each but our babies in our moby wrap(baby carriers) and stuck both of the boys in the back of a cart. Wait.... before Tiffanie got Tatum in her carrier she had a complete explosion and Tiffanie had to clean her up and completely change her clothes. Graham was being horrid the whole time and people had to think we were crazy with all these kids at the crowded produce stand. Would have loved to take some photos... we were lucky to get out of there with our produce and in one piece. Time to load everyone back into the car, which takes forever. We then stopped at costco, which went a lot more smoothly. Back into the car for the ride home. Me crawling back and forth over all of our purchases to satisfy babies. At one point when all was calm Graham was pulling on a seat belt and we both though he had unbuckled Tatums car seat. I kicked off my uggs because I was roasting at this point and crawled back again and put the seat belt over the top of the car seat as the directions on the side of the seat said. I look over and it appears Karson's seat belt is undone too... Yikes. So I buckle the seat belt across him like the directions showed. I finally sit down and am completely car sick because we were on a busy two lane curvy road...which is the reason we didn't stop to fix the seats. Back at Tiffanies house we unload the kids and after unbuckling the seat belts I realize that the car seats are buckled into the car using the latch system...which means you do not need the seat belts at all. Tiffanie and I were cracking up. DUH is all I can say.

Went home for a few minutes... time to pick up the girls from school. Get home again put Graham down for a nap, make dinner, help kids with homework and then take Gab to dance at five. Go back home do god knows what and then go pick Gab up from dance at 6:30p. Bath and bed time for everyone... more chores for me. Like taking the trash cans out to the curb- which is normally Chads job:( Finally go to bed around 11:30-12:00

Tuesday.. start the whole process again. Tiffanie came over in the am and we went for a really long walk. lunch and nap time for Graham.. then time to pick up the girls. Dinner.. then run Gwen to dance at 5:30 return home. Drop Graham off at Tiffanies to hang out with her hubby Keith.. who graham loves by the way. 6:30 back to dance studio for my class with baby in tow. She actually sits pretty good during my hour and half class. 8pm pick up Graham and head home bath and bed time routine. Get in bed at 11ish and read for a few minutes.

Wed. Do the whole am routine, pay bills, laundry, dishes, feed baby.... Time to pick up girls at 12:40... they get out early every WED. Head home.. make lunch and do other chores and projects. Finally write blog post for weight loss Wed. Dinner and night time routine.

Thursday: Same routine all over again plus some unpacking and organizing. Still have a ton to unpack not to mention decorate for Christmas. AHHHH

Friday: Same routine plus drop off Graham to Tiffanie so Scarlette and I can go to the dentist. get my teeth cleaned.. find out I need a couple of expensive fillings. Go pick up Graham and then the girls. FINALLY CHAD ARRIVES HOME AT 5pmish. PHEW

Chad and I are a team and I can NOT imagine doing it all myself. I have to hand it to all the single parents out there who are doing it all themselves and holding down a full time job. It makes me ready to check into the insane asylum just thinking about it

Chad got a couple of calls from me where I said talk to your son or daughter because whatever they did was so bad he needed to hear if from them. This actually helped whoever was bad to shape up for a few minutes:)

We had a nice family weekend, I got to sleep in. WOO HOO.

Hope to be back soon:)

Weight Loss Wed.

AHHH... I thought it was Tuesday all day. Sorry:(

All in all it was an ok week, considering Thanksgiving.

I ended up maintaining which I guess is better than gaining.

I did measure my waist as it had been awhile and I lost another 1/2" off of it. Total inches lost of waist 1.5".

Yesterday I did my tap and ballet class which is a super workout and I walked for an hour pushing my babies in the stroller. That is about it for exercise though.

Should be interesting to see how the next month goes with all the yummy holiday goodies.. yikes.

Below are links to this weeks participants, pop over and leave them an encouraging comment. If you want to join us, email me and I will add you to the weekly email list. Everyone is welcome, weather you want to lose 5lbs or 50lbs. If you don't see your link and you are participating, please email me.
Colima Smith of: Colima
Brianne Kjar of: Kjar Family

Victoria of: Florence & Mary

Sheri of: Pawsh Poodle

Kelly of: Kelly's Recipes For Life

Tina of: Sweetina

Have a great week!!!