Words....amazing how much meaning they have...

Man doesn't it suck when you are just trying to simplify life and clean stuff up and you come across something that just takes you by surprise???

“YOU GO GIRL ................I LOVE YOUR SPUNK GOOD LUCK WISH I HAD DONE IT LONG AGO YOU HAVE THE CHANCE STILL TIME I LOVE YOU CALL ON YOUR NIGHT OUT IF MOM IS BUSY AND WE ARE FREE WE CAN COME AND WATCH THE KIDS..AS DR. PHIL SAYS THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PARENTS LOVE JOANN”

this was my auntie jo’s response to my 2008 resolutions/goals that I sent out to everyone…..just goes to show even when you lose someone they are always there somehow…her words gave me more encouragement to continue on this path to make a change in my life for my health and for my kids.....

i swear i have gorgeous kids....i really do...

They really are gorgeous...I marvel at the wonder of my kids every time I see them....How lucky are we that Mike and I have such happy, healthy, well rounded kids.....This is the greatest thing I have ever done in my life and I honestly don't expect anything greater....

Him and Her - Mike and Denise

What's his name? Mike.

How long have you been together? Met April 2000, Married Nov 1, 2003 - Can't believe it has been almost 8 years now.

How long did you date before moving in together? Ummm like a day.

How old is he? 39 (the big 40 this summer).

Who eats more? I think him in one sitting, but I eat more spread out over the course of the day.

Who said I love you first? I don't remember but I think I did.

Who is taller? him, by about 8-9 inches

Who is smarter? Both - him about history and boring crap like that and me about money and other lifey stuff.

Who does laundry? We both do our part - he brings down, sorts, washes, dries and brings back up - I fold and put away

Who does the dishes? We both do our share of loading and unloading the dishwasher - I'm sure he would say he does it more but I think it is pretty even

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you are looking at the bed from the footboard - I'm on the Left and Mike is on the Right - even when we go away.

Who pays the bills? MEEEEEE

Who mows the lawn? The lawn service for our development

Who cooks dinner? I started off cooking more then when I went on Jenny Craig, Mike took over for himself and now I think we are at about 50/50 with me making Mr. Foods dinners and Mike grilling for us.

Who drives when you are together? Mike usually drive, I don't even offer anymore really - except this past weekend when we were coming home from Orlando - I can't remember the last time I drove all of us.

Who is more stubborn? I think it is a split. We each have our moments of not giving in.

Who kissed who first? I think we both just went in for the kiss while walking along Flagler Drive on our first date after I took his hand in the car on the way from the restaurant.

Who asked out who first? I don't know...I think we just made the decision to have our first date after talking on the phone for over a month.

Who proposed? We talked a lot about marriage and already owned a home when in April 2003 we decided to get married. He actually gave me my ring and "proposed" on one knee in gardens at the Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale in August 2003.

Who has more siblings Me: 2 half brothers, 1 stepsister, 1 stepbrother - him: 1 brother

Who wears the pants in the family? We share although I'm sure he would say I'm more controlling. We make big decisions together.

I love.........

i love the smell of: crispy fresh fall air
i love the sound of: trickling water
i love the taste of: warm apple crisp ala mode
i love the sight of: my children's smiling faces
i love the feel of: fleece stuffed animals

Insight into ME

I found this on a friend's blog - Thanks Melissa....
Insight into ME

A=Available...not since april 2000 - married since nov 2003.
B=Best Friend...many great best friends and a really great sister i think of more as a friend.
C= Cake or pie...toss up - i like both but not a huge sweets/dessert fan so i could pass on both.
D= Drink of choice...diet coke with lemon.
E= Essential item you use everyday...my new centro palm phone/pda - love it.
F= Favorite color...i like blue and green, look good in pink and red so i like those too.
G= girlie girls...i'm not really a girlie girl - i don't do makeup and just started blowing my hair dry every morning in a super long time - maybe when Emma gets older i'll get a bit more girlie.
H= Hometown...Ellsworth, ME.
I= Indulgences...big DIET COKE (CARBONATED BEVERAGE) .
J= January or February...either or no preference.
K= Kids and Names..Nicholas Michael and Emma Grace.
L= Life is incomplete without...my children.
M= Marriage date...November 1, 2003.
N=Number of siblings...officially none :) but i have 2 half brothers, 1 step sister, 1 step brother and i had an exchange student sister when i was in high school and we are still close and consider each other sisters.
O= Oranges or apples...fuji apples usually, but recently i have been loving clementines (my sister turned me onto them-addictive really).
P= Phobias or Fears...honestly don't think i really have any - i don't care for the DARK DARK.
Q= Favorite Quote... "live well, laugh often, love much".
R= Reason to smile...My kids' laughter - great joke.
S= Season...Fall without a doubt - the biggest thing i miss from the north.
T= Truth or dare...i think i would choose truth - really don't have much to hide.
U= Unknown fact about me...i was a virgin until i met my husband.
V= Vegetable you don’t like...brussel spouts...don't think i have ever eaten them but i don't want to.
W= Worst habit...picking my hang nails but now i have my acrylics back on it isn't a problem anymore.
X= X-rays...this week or ever? not this week but definitely in my past - lots of sprained ankles growing up.
Y= Your favorite food...pizza.
Z= Zodiac Sign...Libra (October 13th)

day #2 of better eating...

man this is getting tiring - starting over on good eating...
why can't this be just something that i do anyway? why does it have to be such a friggin struggle?????
yesterday was good, no extra snacking, no bad choices, stayed on plan with my food....today has started off well and my plan is to continue on track again....
i guess i have to get to the point where eating "right" isn't a choice but more of just what i do....talking to Kim at JC last week was kinda enlightening, i have never just eaten to be right where i am - i have never been at a goal where i could start maintaining my weight - that is laughable because i have always eaten to lose or just eaten because i didnt care where i was or actually because i was just being where i was (not happily - more defeated really)

being a better person by making good choices with what i put in my mouth will honestly be a struggle i think i will have to make for the rest of my life - even when i get to my goal (and i am saying WHEN, even though i often feel IF!!)

i will still have to continue to be on guard with everything - won't I??? will it eventually just get to the point where i just know what to eat and what not to eat to keep me where i want to be????? i suppose that is the ultimate goal - knowing and doing are TWO very different things....i know i need to do this - so i guess i'll just DO IT!!!!

end of another month in 2008...

seriously where does the time go??? it is already the end of March 2008....emma is 6 1/2 months old and nick is 3 1/2....what the heck?????how did this happen????doesn't it seem like the time goes by more quickly when we get older????i think it does - or at least it seems that way....just makes me realize i need to enjoy every moment i have with my friends, my family, my kids and my husband...

jenny craig 2008

starting over....going to do well....

jan 2, 2008 - day # 2 of my new year...

so day number 2 under my belt...i ate well, spaced my meals/snacks out throughout the day and walked on the treadmill for 16 minutes....feel good - made an appt with kim at jenny craig for tomorrow night to get my schedule and menu figured out...
i'm on my way...

starting over....2008

okay so it's a new year - i want to make better choices this year

2008 resolutions.....
1. lose weight/get in better shape - eat better by following jenny craig and more balanced/portion controlled meals, exercise and positive thinking (goal of 53.8lbs gone by dec 31, 08)
2. have more patience with nick and mike - talk more - yell less - less angry mom/wife voice
3. spend more time with my extended family - plan monthly get togethers (meal, games, just chatting and catching up)
4. do family outings with the kids at least twice a month - new and old things - lion country, palm beach zoo, children's museum, miami aquarium, metro zoo, movies, playground, etc....
5. monthly night out with my husband - dinner or a movie or a museum or a play or a comedy show or walk on the beach with picnic or drive up A1A - no kids - no talk of kids - just mike and I
6. get my house in order so i can get a cleaning person to come on a regular basis
7. get nick to at least try something other than chix nuggets, pizza, cereal and pb and fluff sandwiches for lunch and dinner

think that about covers it - i think all my "resolutions" are completely doable....let's get this new year going - i'm ready