A day of remembrance and family!

I imagine that everyone remembers where they were 10 years ago today.  I was on my way to work at Ceilings and Walls, our construction company.  I got in to the office and immediately turned on the tv.  We all sat in my office and watched the tragedy unfold in front of us with tears and unbelieving eyes.

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All I could think of was that I wanted my family with me.  I needed to hug my boys, talk to my parents and brother and just keep watching.  I watched for way too long and Brian eventually had to turn the tv off for me.  I just couldn't move, it was so heartbreaking.

Today, we all remember and I would imagine that you want your family around as much as I do.  We have the big wedding coming up and Meredith was kind enough to come over and get us all spiffed up.  It was great to be able to see everyone today and reflect on all the changes that we have gone through in the last 10 years.  No, we are not the same trusting people, but we are the same loving family and we love our country just as much as always.

We ended our day over at Nick and Lauren's house for an impromptu dinner.  Family means everything to us and we love spending time together as much as possible!

This is going to be such a busy week, I really want to thank each and every one of you for reading what I have to say, encouraging each other and being as healthy as you can.  It's the best thing you can do for your own family and for yourself!!!

When I went to New York City a couple of years ago, we visited the site.  It really does put a new perspective on things when you see it, imagine the horror that those people went through.  I'm so glad that they have a service of remembrance each year that will in some small way help. 

I am so grateful to the people that protect our country.  Words can never be enough for the price that some have paid.

We are the same caring country and people that we were on this day 10 years ago, I think we just have to remember to show it as often as possible.

This week, show your gratitude in random acts of kindness.  Give a smile, say hello, do whatever you can to just be kind to others.  You never know how that one act will make someone else feel.  Probably like a million bucks!

Bill is 83 today!

We have had the best day celebrating Brian's dad, Bill's birthday!  He turned 83 today and I love that our whole family got together to celebrate and spend time with each other!!!

We started off at our lake house with appetizers, family photos and a little fun game time!  I have decided that when there is THAT many people, it's hard to get a good photo.....

We then went to Bill and Judy's house ( 2 houses down from our lake house) and had dinner and dessert. 


Bill wanted a big lobster and steak dinner and that is exactly what he got.  Lobster tails, steak, potatoes, corn on the cob, scallops, tomatoes, beer bread and of course, who could forget dessert.  Cookies, apple pie and pound cake with strawberries.

There may or may not have been some off key singing of Happy Birthday, a special wonderful singing from Madelyn - Happy Birthday to Granddad! and Bill loved every minute of it.

We found the strangest thing.  We have a big burn pile there and we saw something growing on it - PUMPKINS.  How fun.  Madelyn insisted on picking one to take home!  We are excited to see these grow.  I'm glad it's been too dry to burn.  Now, we have to see how many actually grow here.

  The pumpkin was a bit poky and Madelyn was a bit tired......

So, it has been another WONDERFUL, AMAZING day!  I truly am blessed!!

Happy Birthday Bill!!!

Hard work is paying off!

Wow, it's been another busy day.  I started off waking up feeling refreshed, I LOVE that!!  Doesn't happen very often for me!!!

I had my shakeology - chocolate with peanut butter and honey

and then did my workout - Turbofire Core 20 and Stretch 40.  I love both of those.  I needed that stretch......

Then it was on the run for the rest of the day.  I had a dentist appt, hair appt and lunch with Brian and Nick.  I had the BEST salad, it was a build your own.  I ordered it with everything but no meat or cheese.  This is what I got!  Amazing!

I had to get one of my Turbofire workouts polished, it kept skipping and was annoying me, so I'm hoping that this will work!  I'll find out in the morning!!

Brian and I ran errands and I was STARVING, we got home and I had my fruit for snack and then I did my afternoon workout - Burn Circuit 2 from ChaLEAN Extreme.  I can't believe how much I was sweating by just lifting weights  - go heavy or go home!!!

It seems to be working, the scale is going down and I feel so much lighter.  YAY!  All this hard work is paying off!

Then I had my second shake for the day - Brian got to pick the flavor - big surprise - peanut butter and banana.....

I've been on the treadmill to get the last of my steps in and I have read my book, watched some football and been on a training call.

This wedding is causing me to get some things done and it is a good thing!  We are on the countdown!!!   9 DAYS!!!

Nick and Lauren:

Discussion:  How is your week going?

Detox is not fun!!!

Another day, another list of tasks completed.  Some were more fun than others.....

Workout today was TurboFire 45.  I really think those are my favorites (the 45's).  I get a great calorie burn and lots of steps and movement!  YAY!

I had my morning shakeology - almond joy, one of my favorites!!  You can check out my Shakeology you tube video for the recipe, deliciouso!!

Madelyn and I cleaned the kitchen, played outside with sidewalk chalk and we got to visit with Uncle Jake.  Always a bright moment in my day!! 

We also had a great time playing Santa bowling.  You just never know how the toys will be used. 

Don't be fooled, Santa bowling is hard work and tiring...... rest is needed

and freeze dancing is loads of fun

If you are unfamiliar with freeze dancing, it's just 3 easy steps.   We watched it on Special Agent Oso today and then had to give it a try.  It was a hit!

Lunch today was a salad with pumpkin seeds and balsamic vinagrette and a zena burger (or atleast my version of it)  1 slice of whole wheat bread, 1 egg, 1 veggie burger with balsamic.  YUM!

I remembered to take a photo after a couple of bites. 
I am so fighting sugar withdrawal.  This is a good thing, and a bad thing.  I have a horrible headache and feel pretty sluggish, but the good thing is that it will only last a couple of days.  I have let way to much sugar back in my diet so it is needed!!!

Detox is a b..... though!!

I took a bit of a nap this afternoon and it helped some.  Brian and I ran some errands and then came home to have our shake for dinner.

An old friend:  PB and banana!

Now I need to get on the treadmill to get my second workout done today.  I won't be on long, just enough to burn a few more calories and get the rest of my steps in.  I really do love my fitbit.  It is keeping me on track!

Fun photo of Nick and Lauren:

Where's that list.....

Whoo-wee, I got a LOT done today.  I am starting to get in a bit of panic over the wedding and had to stop and breathe today.  I realize that things will get done.....

Brian is trying to hide, he knows my honey-do list is LONG!!!

Morning started off with my Shakeology - pb and banana mixed with water, delish!  Then workout - TurboFire 55 EZ (so not easy, I really had to tell myself that I was NOT TIRED!!)  Then hit the shower and got in the office to get caught up on a few things. 

Lunch was homemade tomato soup, a glob salad (glob of hummus is a Brian salad specialty from the old Isadora days) loaded with carrots, tomatoes, avocado and balsamic vinagrette and whole wheat bread with earth balance and a sprinkle of garlic powder.  YUM!   Miss those days and people from Isadora's....

Brian and I ran some errands and got a bed for Jake's old room.  Mom - you WILL have a place to sleep when you visit :)  They are going to deliver it on Thursday and that is one big thing marked off my wedding to-do list.  Now, to shop for bedding, that is the fun part!

Snack today was grapes.  I was hungry, but it worked and then it was afternoon workout time.  ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 1.  My arms and legs were shaking like crazy and it was a good workout.

Then I was REALLY starving, so we had our second shake!  This time it was the chocolate with honey and peanut butter. It was good.  See the above photo, it didn't look much different :)

I've had a ton of water, but I haven't been able to keep an accurate count since Brian is sharing with me. 

We just got home from running a few more errands and a quick stop at the casino.  I lost, Brian won, it was a wash! 

Now, I'm tired and need to read my 10 pages of personal development.  I'm reading The Four Agreements again.  I really love that book!

Our Facebook Book Club is in full swing and we are reading our first book - Sleep Tight by Anne Frasier.  It's good so far and I've had to make myself stop reading and I wasn't ready to do that!  We start our discussion of the first 5 chapters tomorrow.  If you are interested in joining in the fun, I need a friend request from you on facebook and I can get you added to the group!  We are going to be reading all kinds of books!  We are trying to focus on the free books for the kindle or nook apps.  This way everyone can participate!

How has your day been?  Eating clean?  Exercise?  Drink your water? 

I'll be posting my food/exercise and then at the end I'll post my results.  I have a pretty lofty goal to be in shape for the wedding.  I'll do better on the photos of food tomorrow!

Fun photo of my favorite soon-to-be-wed couple!

Adorable!

Picture Perfect Weekend!

Yeah, it was fun!  Happy Labor Day to you all!!!

It's a birthday weekend!

I had the best time on my birthday! 

It started with a killer workout with a friend (TurboFire HIIT 30) and I really ninja-kicked those sumo burpees, calories were burned like crazy and I was sweating buckets!  Loved it!!!

Then I HAD to take half of Brian's massage.  He overbooked himself and someone had to suffer through it!!!  It was glorious!

Lunch with Brian and friends was great AND Danny bought our lunch, he's such a great guy!!

I went to run a few errands and then because I broke/chipped my tooth, I was fortunate enough to get into the dentist.  Not many people look forward to a dentist appointment, especially on your birthday, but I was so glad.  He got me fixed up in a hurry and I was on my way.....

Brian and the kids took me to dinner.  We went to the Japanese Steakhouse and it was delicious as usual.  Madelyn did NOT like the fire.  She was a bit scared after that anytime the chef would produce smoke.  She even told me that she didn't like it at all!  I think she was relieved when we left.

Then on a spur of the moment decision - Brian asked if anyone had cake and the answer was no, so we went to Orange Leaf!

I had to share my gift of new sunglasses that I got, I  had tossed them in my purse and this is what I pulled out.....

Madelyn thought they were a LOT of fun!  

When we got to the lake, our friends were here to greet us and let us know that they had missed us....

The last time we were here (4th of July), the babies had their spots still.  They are growing up so fast LOL!!

It's been such a strange summer for us, I have missed our lake time.  Usually we spend a lot of time here, but i think we've been here 3-4 times this summer.  That makes me sad, but I'm going to enjoy the time we have now!

We have friends staying with us and today a LOT of friends are coming down to enjoy the lake with us!  I can NOT wait!!

We are going to have a big bbq ( I am making Mama Pea's black bean burgers - YUM!) and there will be boating, swimming, tubing and who knows what else.  Last night there was a bit of a QUEEN sing-a-long!!! 

I brought my workouts, but didnt' do one yesterday.  I have been having some vertigo and just didn't feel good.  I'm feeling so much better today and ready to do something this morning!  I am bummed that I missed yesterday since I had to take my rest day earlier in the week.  Not sure how I am going to make it up, but I'll figure something out!

So, I better get going now and get started  on this fun party!  Hope you all enjoy your day, find some joy in the little things you do!!!

REMINDER:  You only have until Sept 5 to pre-order your P90X2.  I got mine ordered, got the Ultimate package so I could get the spiky foam roller.  I am so excited about it.  If you have any questions, let me know!