Weight Loss Journal ~ Week 1

Back on April 1st, I added a weight loss ticker to my profile page on CafeMom. My goal was to loose 5lbs by the end of the month. Well, here it is April 22, and...brutal honesty here...I'm actually 2.5 pounds heavier!! YIKES! Granted I'm just coming off of "that time of the month", so I'm just going to do some wishful thinking and chalk it up to water gain!

Grrr...I'm so ready to loose this weight, but I just have a hard time holding on to my willpower and motivation. I mean, I would love to get back down to my 140, that is what I weighed when I got married...that is a LOOOONG way from 202.5! Like 62.5 looooong! That will take lots, lots, and LOTS of willpower and motivation! Will I be strong enough to hold on for the long haul?

I'm planning on posting some of my old pictures to help motivate myself as well. The picture on this entry is from my honeymoon in Tenn. It is on the beauiful porch of our chalet.

A friend of mine is wanting to start walking. I'm hoping to be able to hook up with her to walk about 3x a week. I think this will be great fun! Not only are we working together to get healthier, but I think it will be a great time to walk with her and talk together. I'm really looking forward to this.

My plan is to update my Weight Loss Journal once a week.

My goal for this week is to...drink at least 1 big glass of water each day, eggs for breakfast each day, and walking at least 3 times a week.

This & That from Around the Homefront

Our Furbabies...

Arlee & I yesterday went on an Internet search to try and find out what type of dog is Sissy, and what mix is Shakes. It was fun trying to figure it all out together! Some of the names they have out there for mixed breeds are quite humorous! Arlee was really getting a kick out of them!

We came to find out, Sissy seems to be a Catalan Sheepdog. Although, at the moment she's not really looking like it! LOL! We took her up to the groomers this past Saturday and she got SHAVED down for summer! She is still a pretty girl though! And it won't be long before her hair grows out a bit.



When we first got Sissy, we had just moved into our current house not long before she arrived. A friend of ours, whom we worked with, was moving from out in the country to an apartment. She knew that Sissy would not be happy with new living arrangements. So, since we just moved into our new house, which has a decent sized yard, she asked us if we were willing to take Sissy to live with us.



Danny fell for her almost instantly because she looked just like a dog he had growing up. And Sissy has been a joy...for the most part...ever since! Except for when she sits on my flowers or get mud covered...YUCK! But, she is a dog after all, I guess!



She loves to be outside. With her long sheepdog coat, she is virtual waterproof, and even loves just sitting in the rain! She likes just watching what all is happening in our yard and actually all up and down the neighborhood for that matter! Before we got our chain link fence, she would roam all over the place. Our neighbor across the street went out to his garage once to find her sleeping on a couch he had out there...Ooops! {She's only gotten out once or twice...have not figured out how or where...since we really started enforcing her staying in the fence.}



When Sissy first came to us she was 4 years old. That was back in '02. So now, in 2009 that would make her about 11 years old. Pretty "senior citizen" for a dog. She's our "old lady". We found out yesterday, looking up Sissy's breed, that their life span is on average 10 to 14 years, if I remember correctly.


Next would be Shakes. We found out yesterday that he has a lot of Rat Terrier in him. He has to mixed with something else, we think, because of all the ticking he has on him {his black splotching}. We sort of are leaning toward Blue Heeler...if we had to guess.



One day, a few summers back, we went over to Danny's parent's house for a visit. The neighbor had found a dog whom neighborhood children were tormenting by throwing skateboards and such at. Neither the neighbor or Danny's parents had remembered seeing him around the neighborhood, he had no tags, and he was looking pretty skinny...even for him! I just fell in love with his coloring and how pretty he was...sorry Shakes...how handsome he was.



Over the years we've had issues with housebreaking him. So mostly, he lived outside. He was a runner, and before we got our fence there was no way of keeping him close to home. After we put up the fence, he dug his way out underneath. We've always felt bad for keeping him chained up, but we just did not know what else to do to keep him safe. We tried several times with him inside, but he always had accidents.



Now he's older, and I guess understands better. We've had him in the house for some time now with NO accidents! YEAH! He has become to total lap dog I always wanted for him!! LOL! Spoiled rotten and happy!


And so that brings us to Cooper. We just got Cooper last October...I believe it was Halloween weekend, if I'm not mistaken, but I don't remember exactly. He was 6 weeks old at the time we got him. Which would make him now about 7 1/2 months old. And he is ALL puppy. Now mix that with the fact that he is a Black Lab and WATCH OUT!



I have never seen a puppy grow so fast!! He is HUGE...56 lbs HUGE! And he is a brick wall! He has all the normal puppy issues with biting, chewing, not coming when called, jumping up on a person, etc, etc, etc...so we have decided to sign him up {well, Danny up..LOL} for Dog Training classes. It should be starting middle of May. I'm REALLY looking forward to a better behaved Cooper!! They welcome family involvement in the training process. So Danny will be taking Arlee and Frosty with him to the training classes.



I made the appointment for Coop this morning to be fixed. We hope this might help calm him down a bit as well...at least that is what you hear that will happen, and we hope that it is TRUE!



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Weight Loss Journal...

I will be starting yet another Weight Loss Journal on Wednesday. This is the day that I am going to try, again, to loose this extra weight that I've been carrying around for way too long!! A friend of mine and myself will be starting to walk together that day...so I'm hoping this will keep me motivated!

Here is Danny & I in one of our engagement pictures that a photography friend of ours took for us. Ooooh, to be that size again!



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Thinking about Summer Lessons...

I've been thinking about what we can do, educational wise, this summer. I've had a few different ideas running thru my head. Now all I have to do is get them put down on paper and organize them. Then start the planning!

I will post more on this soon.

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Modest Changes ~ Wearing Dresses More Often

Do you wear dresses a lot? The girls in this house {my daughter, Arlee & I} do not. But I, after talking a couple few times with my Husband, have decided that we should try to do so more often. This is a big change for us gals who have been wearing pants, capris, jeans, and shorts for the majority of our whole lives. I have decided this change needs to be a slow gradual one...but, especially when you are 12, no matter go slow and gradual changes comes about...it's hard.

I've asked Arlee quite a few times about wearing dresses all the time, or even just more often. She's always been against it. Said she just loves her jeans. Okay, I can understand that especially since that is what she is used to wearing. Just like me and my comfy Capri's. And, I'm not one big on changes to my regular routine either.

I've read many a blogs and articles about Ladies who wear dresses all the time, sometimes along with their daughters...and it is so intriguing to me. But, I think the biggest inspiration for me is just been watching the 18 and Counting episodes about the Duggars. Reading about this lifestyle choice is one thing, but being able to see it makes it that much more interesting.

When I see all the long skirts on all their daughters, what I see being portrayed is not only femininity, but modesty as well. Defiantly two things which I would love to be able to teach to and instill in my daughter, and also bring more of it into my own life as well.

I tried once before to make the change to wearing only dresses. But, I believe I tried to change too fast for my own liking. After only a few days, I was ready to hang up my dresses for good. It just didn't feel right. So I happily returned my dresses and skirts to the dark corners of my closet and slipped right back into my comfy capri's...very happy to be back into my own comfort zone as well! I feel that I made the mistake of trying to change all at once. I'm one that needs to slowly get used to something new...not jump in with both feet!

I will also admit that I am MUCH more excited about this change than Arlee is...and this is an understatement! I was being a little too excited last night talking about it, and she got upset. {Hormones...aren't the lovely! Especially at her age!} Danny and I practically had to force her to sit down and tell us her thoughts. After some convincing she just let go. She explained to us that we made this decision without her. That no one asked her what she thought on the matter. That she was wanting to be able to express herself the way she wanted to. WOW...I was thinking...those are some pretty grown up thoughts she has been having! I was proud of her for finally letting go and expressing her emotions and feelings on the matter.

She did have some good points. She was upset because we made the decision without her. True. We did. We then explained to her that she is only 12, and we are still the parents...and that we will most times make decisions without her...and that sometimes these decisions will not be easy for her to accept, but she must trust us that we are only doing them with her best interest at heart.

She even called me out on trying to be like the Duggars. I was impressed with her honesty. I asked her, when she is looking thru her Girls Life Magazine and sees a cute hairdo, and she goes and tries it out on herself, why does she do this? She blurted out, "Because it's cool." We went on to explain that we are NOT trying to be just like the Duggars. Just as she is not trying to be just like the girl in the magazine. But, unlike her, we are not doing this "because it's cool". That we see their family as an inspiration. We see SOME of the things that they do, that we would like to try with our own family to help teach our own set of values.

We went on to share with her the why's of this decision. I started off by telling her that by being a young lady it is important for her to learn how to be feminine. To know how to wear skirts and dresses along with how to hold herself and carry herself while wearing them. I shared with her, that although she has always been very conscious of being modest, wearing long dresses and skirts is also another way to do so. Some may even argue that is is the best way, due to the fact that jeans and pants show more contours of your body than long skirts or dresses would. We want to make sure, especially with her getting a little older, when and if boys are looking at her that they are SEEING HER. Dressing modestly demands this.

After our talk with Arlee, Danny talked with me. He was thinking that maybe she feels singled out since Frost, and the other boys for that matter, do not have the same changes going on. And, to be honest, I never really thought about it with the boys! Just like I never thought about asking my Husband to dress up for me on a certain day either. But, Danny and I talked and he said that it would be only fair that the boys must "dress up" as well.

So with today being Thursday, the day I decided would be good for us to start "dressing up" once a week, I set Arlee off this morning to put on her dress and fix her hair. I went to the younger two boys closet and found 2 collared shirts, two under shirts, and pants. As I was getting them dressed and brushing their long locks...Frost was off finding his own dress shirt! He chose to do this all on his own when he saw that everyone else was getting dressed.

After Arlee and Frost were ready for the day, the three of us were in the kitchen talking. I had Arlee really look at Frosty's outfit. It was a yellow undershirt with a dragon on it, and his dress shirt was a very soft blue material with dragons. He was able to look very respectable and still express himself at the same time. And that when we are able to go buy her some new skirts and such, she will be able to do the same thing. Right now she is sort of stuck with the one dress and one skirt that she has right now. She seemed ok with this idea...are we maybe making progress with her accepting this change?

New Dishwasher & Pics from Easter

First off, I want to tell everyone within reading distance how wonderful my Husband is! Last week, Thursday I believe, he went hunting to find me a new dishwasher! YIPPEE! Gosh I love this man! He found me one over at HH Gregg. They did not have one in the store, so they would have to get one delivered, and said Danny could pick it up on Saturday! I couldn't wait!

Well, Saturday arrives...Danny calls to HH Gregg...they, for some reason, do not have the dishwasher! YIKES! So they tell Danny that he can have the floor model and they will refund us $30! Ok, we'll take it!

So...I'd like to introduce my newest "helper" around the house...

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Danny had to work on Easter, but was still able to arrive about 30 mins or so after the rest of us at his parent's house. Sunday was also Zach's birthday. I have a couple few pics from that day to share, too...

Arlee & Frost

Arlee, Frost, & Liam

Zach {up front} Danny, & Liam hunting eggs!

Liam looking for eggs.

Danny & Zach

Arlee during the egg hunt.

Danny, Arlee, Frosty, & Liam...Zach walked away too quickly for me to get him in the pic, too!

Zach going thru his Easter basket from Me'Maw.

Zach's birthday cake that Me'Maw made for him!

He was SOOOO excited when we were all singing "Happy Birthday" to him!

Taking a deep breath so he can blow out ALL six of those candles!

Just lookin' cute!

Frosty eating one of the cupcakes I made.

Arlee looking beautiful...as usual!

Big Smile!

Zach playing with one of his birthday presents from Me'Maw!

Liam getting a big hug from Me'Maw!

Frosty coloring in his book that he got in his Easter basket.

Danny coloring in Frosty's book that he got in his Easter basket. LOL!

Frosty {with bunny ears} playing GameCube at Me'Maw's house.

What a cool dude! I can't believe he's 6 years old now!

Awww, poor guy was pouting, so I thought I would take a pic of how long his hair has gotten!!!

Zach playing ball outside!

It was a good day visiting with Danny's parents for Easter. The kids had a great time playing with their cousins!

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Have a great week, Ladies!

From the Beginning

I've always heard that it is best to start from the beginning. Here are the basics about myself and my family.

My name is Jennifer. I have been married to my wonderful Husband, Danny, since June 2002. We Home School using, but not limited only to, a virtual school in our home state. Ohio Virtual Academy {OHVA} has been a wonderful adventure for our family! We enjoy the opportunity to have our children at home so we can, with our family's values, nurture their hearts, heads, and hands!

We have four brilliant children.

Arlee is our oldest. She is 12 years old and in the 6th grade. She enjoys reading, singing, and drawing. Arlee is in Girl Scouts. She also volunteers at our local library usually a couple days a week.

Frost is our oldest son. He is 10 years old and in the 4th grade. He is our sensitive boy who enjoys being at home. Frost is in Boy Scouts. He loves his video games, camping, and laser tag.

Zachary is next in line. He is 5 years old and in Kindergarten. He is our spirited boy who is always moving! Zach enjoys playing video games, playing at the park, and building things.

Liam is our youngest. He is 3 years old. He is our high needs son who requires a lot of love to make it through his day. Liam loves watching Imagination Movers, cuddling, playing, and his blue blanket {named Kee-Kee}.

Here is my favorite picture of my family...

I know they look a little worn out, don't they? We just got done spending the evening playing at a nearby park!

Well, that is the basics of who we are.

I'm looking forward to blogging here about our Home Schooling!

Thanks for dropping by! Stop by again soon, please!