Not Quite Yet!

Kallen's bike has definitely been "gently" used, or rather, the exact opposite. The boy hasn't been off the thing since we got it for his birthday last year and rides, crashes, and slides into and off anything that gets in his way! As a result...his training wheels have been doing very little training, and actually were getting in the way. One was bent up, while the other was bent down...the left one kept coming unbolted, while the right one stayed put, and it was just a sorry looking thing all together. He would ride down the street at an angle, while trying to keep his body upright! Anyways...one of the "big" boys down the street rides a two wheel bike, so Kallen wanted to be just like him. He asked us to take the "little wheels" off his bike so he could ride it like Brandon!

It went pretty well, though after a couple of crashes...he was ready to wait a while to try again! The training wheels went back on, but at their highest setting, and he hardly uses them at all!!! It won't be long before he's ready to try again and this time he'll get it for sure!

Blessings,

Momma on a Mission

Kallen has a fishing pole that lately has become one of his favorite things. The bright yellow and red pole is kid friendly and oh so fun. One of the wonderful features that came with said fishing pole, is the bright red rubber fish that attaches to the line. You see...we never have to put a hook on the pole and Kal still has a great time...I mean...he catches a fish every time, who wouldn't have fun with that???

Anyways...we were at the lake this weekend and Kallen was fishing away. First he was standing on the catwalk fishing, then he moved to the end of the dock. I was holding Kynlee and watching Kal's every move...that is until I turned around to see what the men were doing. Of course, right at that moment, I heard a loud "thud", then a "splash", followed by an "oh no...my fishin' cole"...as I turned just in time to see the end of his beloved pole sink out of sight. Had I not had Kynlee in my arms, I might have dove in after it (Okay...be real...the water was only 68 degrees, and there was no way I was jumping in after a fishing pole, but it sounded good.)

So...the hours that followed were filled with lots of tears about the fish borrowing his fishing pole and not understanding why grandpa was going to help him pick out a new one, when he had a perfectly good and much loved pole simply sitting at the bottom of the lake. The water is about 20 or so feet deep right in front of the dock, so sometimes we have luck diving down and getting things, and let me tell you...many a thing has been dropped off the end of that dock...but weather/water conditions were not permitting such a dive...so the tears fell, and fell, and fell!

Well, what's a mother to do? I spent the next little bit, trying to search the property for something that might miraculously bring the pole to the surface. We thought of sticks with fishing line and sinkers, buckets tied to ropes, another pole with lots of hooks tied into it, and finally, our old family friend Pat, brought an old paint roller out of the back closet. I was quite the laughing stock as I tied the ski rope to the end of that roller, but I carried on. Kallen sat silent and still as he watched in anticipation...everyone else just with their hands over their faces to cover their snickers. I dropped the roller in, drug it one direction, then the next...nothing. My dad then suggests throwing it out, and dragging back to the dock. Okay...I tried that and announced to everyone that I felt a little tug. As I pulled up the line...something red was wrapped around the paint roller. My first reaction was that I pulled up some kind of plant or something, and that I was really going to get laughed at...but as I pulled it closer and closer...what do you know...THE FISH! All I heard behind me was "no way", and I pulled the remained line up along with THE FISHING POLE!!!!!!! I jumped and screamed in excitement as did Kallen. "You found it, you found my fishin' cole, yeah, yeah, yeah" was his exuberant response!

Everyone else just thought I should go buy a lottery ticket!!!

Blessings,

A Single Tear...For a Single Bite!

2 hours 56 minutes.

His hand was shaking as the mac and cheese bounced around his fork. The crust on his arm represented the many wipes of tears, snot and drool that streamed down his face. The agonizing realization that if the fork entered his mouth, he had "lost", yet if it didn't...the table would remain his home for all eternity. Closer....closer....closer....in! His head dropped in defeat. "I ate bite mommy, I all done"...cue single tear streaming down his cheek!

Blessings,

A New Me...scratch that...A Healthier Me!!!

Last week I was reading a post by MCK Mama over at My Charming Kids, and realized If I'm going to be successful (like her), I need to share my journey with others who can support and encourage me, instead of trying to do it on my own "behind the scenes". What journey you ask???

Well...Tomorrow, February 4th 2008, I am beginning a program called Body-for-LIFE! It's a LIFE program that involves eating healthy and exercising...novel idea...though something I haven't been doing! Kevin's college roommate did this proram back in the day, and we all thought of it as a "body building" program. However...after devouring the website and reading through the book, I realize it is not that at all. I even have a friend who successfully completed the "challenge" and looks and feels great several years later! So...

After seeing some current pictures of myself, and examining the person who was looking back at me in the mirror, I realized that my body just wasn't the same as it used to be. My weight is the same as it has been for the last 10 years or so...however the saggy, flabby, skin, and tight fitting jeans, just arn't! (Truly a realization that the numbers on the scale don't mean as much as the way my clothes fit!) Anyways...this program (though I heard about it years ago), was put in front of me just at the right time. I'm making a commitment to change...for me, my husband, and my kids!!!

This was a hard decision for me to share this with you all or not, because I tend to be the person who wants to change before anyone knows I'm trying. The problem is...failure tends to be my middle name, and if no one knows...then there's no one to keep me accountable! So...I'm letting you all know, and I'll be posting about my progress each week for the next 12 weeks (and hopefully beyond), and I would love all the encouragement and support I can get!

Come back April 28th for the results, and each week in between for my progress!!!

Blessings,