Well, it lasted a week..

But I signed back onto facebook this morning. I have given myself permission to check it a few times a day but I'm going to be strong and not veg in front of the computer like I used to. Facebook does have some good purposes. I found out from facebook that one of our neighbors houses was broken into. Also, it's the ONLY way my little brothers will communicate with me. I just can't let it be the great time-sucker that it was before. I think I had to know I wasn't going to die if I couldn't get on it. Now that I went a week without it I've realized that it doesn't have to consume me. Alright enough about facebook. Fall is in the air...can you feel it? Why is it that the older you get the faster time goes by? I'm approaching my 35th birthday. Wow. I remember when I thought 35 was old! (remember this post? 35 was old to me then!) I know it the big picture I'm really not that old but considering the fact that one of my best friends is a mere 26 I feel like pretty geriatric. And, I'm not where I wanted to be at 35. Mostly I just wanted to be skinny but also I wanted to feel in control of my life. Not quite there yet on either of those things... But I am working on both of them. One of these days it will all click for me right? Interesting things happen in my head. Now I just need to work on putting them into action. For now I will be grateful for the small changes I can make. After all, The Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And for now, I'll take it...one step at a time.

To-do list

I am a list maker. Although, I'm not a very good one. I make a list for everything I think about; my day, meals, shopping, people I need to thank, etc.. Just cause I make a list doesn't mean I accomplish it all but it feels good to cross a few things of my list every now and again. Imagine my smile when I found this in Millie's room today...it's a to-do list. Just in case it's hard for you to read I will type it below

Eat Breakfast
Ask for Gloie
NO TV
Get dressed
Play with Courtnee
Clean room
Take a bath
Finish homework
Go to school
Shoes
practice words and read for 20 minutes
Brush Hair
Get hair done

Obviously the things she crossed off are the things she's already done. Some she forgot to cross off others are waiting for her to accomplish after school. I was really proud of her that she was thinking about the things she needed to do today and found a way to organize her thoughts about getting them done. I'm also proud to think that maybe she's a list maker...just like me!

Just what I needed to hear today!

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming."


--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Great Commandment", October 2007 General Conference

Day 2,"The Secret" and other ramblings

Day 2 of no facebook is proving to be harder than day one. I cannot believe how much of a habit I had formed checking facebook 20 + times a day. Already today I've walked down my stairs several times to check the computer. Sigh.

On another note...have you ever heard of "The Secret" or the law of attraction? Don't worry, I'm not going all New thought on you. Basically The Secret is that if you if you want something all you need to do is ask, believe, receive. It can be anything from a closer parking space to winning that trip to Rome; you just need to make it known to the universe, feel as though the action is on it's way, and be open to receiving it. Well, I seem to have an opposite law going on in my life. Maybe the law of un-attraction?? Remember last week when I posted this about  Ian using the toilet 90% of the time? I was hesitant to say that, to make it known to the universe and I had good reason to be. We have now regressed to about 50%. Why oh why when I think we've finally got a grip on things do they slip away?!?!? Can you see why I almost never write about the great things happening? All kidding aside I am completely frustrated with this change of events as is his teacher at school I'm sure. I sent him in a pull up today. All we can do is plug away right?

Speaking of toilet training, anyone know how long it takes to housebreak a puppy? I thought we had a good handle on that as well but just in the last few days we've had several accidents. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a parent or a dog owner. I mean how many living beings am I allowed to mess up??? Bigger Sigh.

My foot is still really bothering me. I'm really hesitant to go to the Dr. so he can refer me to a podiatrist so that he can send me to physical therapy so that I can do the same exercises I'm all ready doing thanks to the help from a physical therapist in my ward. There is part of me though that wonders if my self diagnosis is correct. I'm anxious to get moving again and to get this weight off. I'm doing ok with just diet but I am much more motivated when I am exercising. I also want to quit drinking diet coke. YIKES! That one is going to be hard. Good thing I'm not doing it right now cause if I quit drinking diet coke and facebook at the same time I'd really be a mess! I have several cans in the garage but once they are gone, I am done. Biggest Sigh. My few pleasures in life will soon be gone. But, I will be a better, stronger, healthier person because of it right? RIGHT????

p.s. Feedback is optional but greatly desired! Not having facebook has made me even more desperate for commentors on my blog so PLEASE, feel free to comment!

End to Facebook...

...for now. I just deactivated my account. Sister Beck's statement about mothers spending too much time on the computer and not nurturing their children really hit home. Friday I spent most of the day sitting in front of the computer. I think that I often get that way when I'm depressed... I have no focus, no motivation. I also know that when it comes to facebook it's not enough for me to just simply tell myself I won't get on or restrict myself. I have no self control. I had no choice but to deactivate it. Things will be a lot better because of it. Besides...They're worth it!

Millie's surgery

We got into the hand specialist first thing Tuesday morning and we had surgery scheduled for the next day. The surgery was a fairly simple procedure but it was something they needed to take care of. They were a little concerned that her finger was broken even though the x-rays looked good. Turns out it was not but there was just a flap of skin stuck under her nail that made her finger mimic a break. She had a deep laceration in her nail bed and they stitched it and the rest of her finger up. She was in good spirits and did a great job. The Dr. was 2 HOURS LATE and I was extremely annoyed. Who keeps a starving, bored 8 year old waiting for 2 HOURS?  I guess when you make the money that he does you get to hold all the strings. (ok, yes I would feel bad if there was some emergency that was holding him up...I just think they could have told me that so I wasn't so annoyed)

at the surgical center

before

after

I know it was nothing major and she was in and out of surgery but I think you always worry about your kids going under the knife. You just never know what side effects they might experience. Luckily Millie did amazing and even attended her first activity days activity later that afternoon! Now we have to leave the bandage on for 10 days then we'll head back to the Dr. for a final update.

Trip to the Zoo

On labor day, because we had nothing better to do, we headed to the zoo. My oh my! Since when does it cost a family $50 to be so crowded you hardly get to enjoy yourself? At least Ian didn't throw any tantrums. The zoo is much more manageable with the hubby in tow. Here are some of the highlights...

This gorilla was pretty interesting. It stood at the glass and stared at us. Ian was pretty impressed and was even talking about it the next day.

The line for seeing how you measure up to a gorilla was too long so we settled for the orangutan. Not quite the same.

Looks like we got a bunch of Prairie dogs!

Me and my cuties

Wonder what Owen is pointing at?

The traditional picture of drinking out of the lion's mouth

Zuri the baby elephant...pretty cute!