I have lost 4.6 pounds (to be exact :)) For my exercises I play the Wii Fit and use the ball (will explain later). I weighed my self on the Wii Fit after being off of it for 49 days and it said I was -4.6 lbs. It is not much but it is something! I was 110 lbs before I had my daughter and was 120 after I had my daughter. I got to about 145 when I had my son and I am now at 120 counting my -4.6lbs. I would like to get down to about 115 or lower.

Okay... I will explain the "ball" method. I don't know if any one knows what it is but I will try to explain. There is a commercial for an exercise called the Bender ball method... it is just a ball about the size of a four square ball, but it can't be too rubbery, the point is to do crunches with it. You lay on your back on the floor with your knees bent, you place the ball under you just above your butt, between your butt and the bottom of your back and you do crunches letting the ball support you. You do not go all the way back, just enough to squeeze the ball. You can also put it under your butt and work the lower abs.

Almost done with my 8 week classes, only have 6 more weeks left (Sarcasm:) Aden has really grown up, he can roll over now, he is all over his blanket when you lay him on the floor. He has been able to grab things, but now he can hold onto it and play with it. He used to cry the minute you left the room, but now he keeps himself entertained with his toys and hands. He is pretty entertained with Keira too, he watches her every move. He is laughing and talking a lot more now.

It is pretty nice today, the high is supposed to be 56 and tomorrow it is supposed to be 20, that's Nebraska for ya. I might take the kids outside to get some fresh air.

Well, we went to Columbus this weekend to play in some pool tournaments. Friday was singles for those who signed up a couple months in advance. I was not planning on going Friday so I didn't sign up, but I wound up going on Friday because the arrangements with the kids worked out. The kids were nanna's Friday night and most of Saturday night. Dan played in the "open" singles and didn't do very well. We played in a couple mini tournys they had that night, didn't do very good in those, I can chalk it up to being up at 4:30 that morning and playing at 10 p.m at night. Needless to say it was a long day for both of us.

Saturday was teams, me, Dan, and a couple other guys from Seward were on a team. Our first match was at 9 a.m Saturday. We won so we had to play right away again, we lost the next match which put us in the loser's bracket. We got done about 12 and thought we had to be back at 1 for our next match, so we left to go eat, when we got back we got a bye, (which means we won the match we were supposed to play) so we didn't play until 3 (made for a long day). We wound up losing our match at 3 o'clock. We played a team that we knew from Lincoln, Jenny Nixon, Matt Nixon, Dan Cradick and some other guy, anyway we should never lose to them, and those of you who know them know we should have never lost to them. Losing that match made us available for the second chance tournament, we got 4th. We were all pretty sick of pool for a while.

We had a few teams that we knew from Lincoln playing. The team that Dan plays with on Wednesday nights won the "intermediate" team tourny.

My next tournament is the "B" and "C" tourny that Madsen's holds every year. Last year I played really well, so we'll see what happens this year.

Let me know if you like my hair curly or straight.

Classes started back on Monday. I don't think it is going to be as tough as I thought it would be. I always get stressed out the first week and the last week of classes... don't know why ,that's just me.. drives my husband crazy though, sometimes I even drive my self crazy. I just have to be organized and it makes me feel rushed and disorderly if I am not organized.

This first week has been pretty good, I actually have time to relax, which I didn't think I would get. Dan has helped me out a lot this first week with 4 classes and 2 kids it is hard to find time to do homework, so he gives me a couple hours at night when he gets home from work.

Out of my four classes I found out that I only have a weekly quiz in one class (criminal justice) along with two 5-7 page papers in the same class (along with other weekly assignments, and daily assignments in my Psych.-Research methods & statistics class (sounds scary huh?), a 7-9 page paper in my seminar in psychology class (along with other weekly assign.), another 7-9 page paper in my adolescent psych. class (along with other assign.) Not too bad, ha ha ha

Keira got to ride her bike for the first time the other day outside, but it wasn't as nice as I thought it was so we came back inside after about 10 minutes. Classes started up this week, so I will be pretty busy. I will probably only post about once or twice a week.

Aden has his 4 month check up. He weighed 15 lbs 3 oz. His regular Pediatrician wasn't available so we had a different doctor. It is not the same when you do not have your regular doctor. The nurse never told us what his height was but I am guessing 24 inches. He had to have 6 shots and drink one of the shots. They were able to combine the 6 shots into 2 shots, so he only got pocked 2 times. He was a big boy though, he only cried when they pocked him, he was good the rest of the day. He hasn't had any side effects from them, he was pretty sleepy the first day.

The doctor said we could start feeding him rice cereal with a spoon. He did not know what to think about it at first. Daddy fed him later and he opened his mouth a little better.



We have a pretty busy weekend coming up, but I think the next weekend we are planning on taking the kids to an indoor playground here in Lincoln so they can get out of the house a while and run off some energy.

It is very nice outside today for January. I am thinking about taking the kids outside for some fresh air. Keira got a bike for her birthday, so I will let her ride that while we are outside. She hasn't really gotten to ride it yet since she got it in November, she can't really reach the pedals yet, but I guess that is what mommy is for :) They are both sleeping right now, so I get a little me time which is nice every once in a while.

Classes start back up on Monday (January 12), not really looking forward to that. I just have to keep organized and pace myself. I have 4 classes this first 8 weeks then I will only have 2 the second 8 weeks. I will have a lot of help from my husband though.

Me and the hubby are going to a pool tourny in Columbus next weekend. The kids are staying at nanna's house over by Grand Island. This is Aden's second sleep over, the first one was at grandma's house because me and Dan had to get up at 6 a.m for a Dr. appt. I hope he will be okay. I am not worried about Keira because she loves going to nanna's house and she knows we will be back to get her. It is always hard leaving the kids even for a couple hours, but everyone needs a break once in a while.

I am starting a new routine with my daughter. She is 25 months old and is really smart for her age. She loves to say the ABCs and count to 10. I would like to get her into a routine of what preschool would be like, it is also a way for her to not watch so much T.V. (toons) & spend more time together. Of course, mommy and Keira have to make time to feed and play with Aden also :) There will be days that we will not do any of that stuff and just go shopping instead, but I would like her to get used to being responsible and knowing that a routine or schedule is important to have in your life.

9 a.m. ~wake up, brush teeth, brush hair, get dressed, eat breakfast
~ help mommy clean up breakfast (teaches her responsibility)
~color (art)
~ reading (tag reading book, and read other books)
12:00~ lunch
~ play time (do whatever she wants to do)
~ unwind for nap time
2:00-4:00~ nap time
4:oo~snack time
~ learn colors (2 a day), play games with colors
~ learn shapes, play games with shapes
~ help mommy make supper
~ eat supper
~ play with daddy
~ snack (usually applesauce or yogurt~ relax and get ready for bed (jammies & read book)

Now that I am starting classes back I would like to get the kids in more of a schedule so I am not going crazy this semester. It is hard going to school full time online and being a full time stay at home mom with 2 kids. The schedule is going to consist of giving Aden and Keira their naps at the same time during the day, because that 2 hours during the day that they both nap is my only time to do homework and a couple hours at night when dad gets home from work. Right now their naps have been pretty consistent and have been about the same time during the day, they have both been napping at the same time and same duration everyday for about a week now, let's just hope that lasts.

I would also like to get Aden on a schedule for bedtime. Keira is on a routine and goes to bed every night at 9 p.m sometimes sooner if she didn't get a nap. I would like Aden's bedtime to be around 9, but last couple weeks we have been having problems with him at night, it seems like his bedtime has gotten later and later everyday. I am going to start giving Aden a bath and a lotion massage around bedtime and see if that helps (that is what some books suggest to get your child to go to sleep better). From 8 p.m to about 11 p.m are Aden's worst times (and I mean worst), he just screams and screams, me and the hubby are just getting too stressed out at night, we need a break!

Holidays are over, so it is just a normal week. Dan went back to work this morning, it is just me and the kids around the house today. I have to get a lot of stuff caught up from the holidays, like all the candy and food :) I start classes back next Monday, Jan. 12th, not looking forward to that, but if I can survive for 4 more months I will be done with school for good.

Keira is over her cold, now mommy has it. It wasn't a good weekend because mommy was sick all weekend, but I think I am pretty much over it now, just have the cough. Aden is doing really good, he hasn't gotten sick yet. He is rolling over onto his back from his tummy now, of course he doesn't do it when I have the camera, he's pretty smart :)

This is the first year I have actually had a New Year's Resolution. I have never needed a reason to have a resolution, but September 2008 I had another baby, so I have a couple New Year's resolutions... the first one is to lose 10 pounds by Valentine's Day, the second one is to drink more water (propel) and less pop (maybe 2 a day instead of 4 or 5 a day), and the last one is not to eat so much fast food. Hopefully my reward will be to lose the weight that I want and get back into my Lucky and Silver jeans that I fit into before I had Keira. I actually got into my Silver jeans, which are a size 5, they are a little tight but they are a comfortable tight (if that makes any sense).