Snowmageddon January 2011

We've been out of school since Sunday. We found out Sunday night that we would not be having school on Monday. Monday morning we woke up to 5 inches of snow on the ground. It was an awesome snowfall for a Tennessee winter. The kids were so excited to see all that snow on the ground and being able to play in it was that much better.

Elizabeth had a whole lot of fun walking through the snow covered trees. Just look at that grin on her face.

Abby had a lot of fun sledding down the hill. I loved seeing the look of pure joy on her face.

Gabe had an awesome time sledding with a neighborhood friend.

Matt, Abby and I made a snowman together.

Elizabeth and Abby enjoyed helping Daddy shovel off the driveway. I was counting my lucky stars that we had lived in Indiana where it snows. We had the snow shovel and sleds that most people down here don't have. It was nice having everything and not having to search the stores for the few items they do stock. If only more places carried the snow pants and bibs.

Abby and Elizabeth were willing to pose for a few pictures for their Mama.

We've had fun in the snow. But at this point the kids and I are going a little stir crazy. We are going on our 4th snow day and I think we are all ready for school to start back. I wouldn't mind another snow storm this winter but I am ready for this one to be one of the past.

First Foray Into Couponing

Both of my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups have had speakers come to talk about couponing. Both how to do it and how much money you can save when using coupons. Both times I felt out of my league. It seemed to me that this couponing thing would take a lot of time to be successful. They were clipping coupons, making lists and then go to several stores. And in both saving money and lots of it. My thoughts on this were basically, "that's well and good but I don't want to spend all my time going from store to store. My time is more valuable than that."
It also seemed to , as did several other moms, that most of the really good deals were foods that were not all that healthy for you. Most of them were processed foods containing tons of fat and sodium. So I did what I have always done. I made my list and went to one store and if I remembered I brought some coupons.

But earlier this week I was watching the Today Show and they hit on a website that does all the work for you. You pretty much pick a store look at their list of sale items paired with coupons and get your coupons from your dated inserts and cut them out. It's that simple. I may not be ever be able to walk out of the store with the store paying me but I am saving a lot of money. The website I am talking about is www.couponmom.com. Go and check it out. They even have a video showing you how to use their website along with links to get more coupons. Just so you know this week I spent $148.00 and saved $117. I think that's pretty awesome for my first foray into couponing. And I think that Matt even enjoys hearing about how much I have saved. I know this because he will even ask me.

Enjoy your savings!!

Weigh In No. 1

Okay, so it hasn't been an entire week yet but I chose for Fridays to be my official weigh in day and so I did. This morning when I got up I did my weigh in and I had lost 3.9 lbs. Boy was I surprised and happy to see that I had lost that much already. I do realize that I won't continue to lose like this but it is kinda exciting to me.

Now for the journaling of how I'm feeling and what I am eating.

I am feeling pretty good right now. I have been drinking my water and have cut my diet coke intake down to two a day, which is a huge improvement for me. I have added a lot more vegetables and fruits to my menu which is actually pretty good. I have also exercised everyday with the Wii and believe it or not I am actually pretty sore. Starting on Monday I plan on doing Jillian Michael's 30 day shred yea, you guessed it, for the next 30 days. I can't decide if I am looking forward to that or not. Does anyone else wants to do this with me? It can be by remote and we can just chat about how we are feeling and if you think it is working. Let me know I would love to have a group to talk with. I had small success today with our MOPS group. Instead of partaking in the brunch, which always has such wonderful food, I brought my own food so that I could keep on track a little better. I didn't even eat everything I brought which is pretty good too. So there is my week in a nutshell. I haven't gone through a weekend yet but feel like I can do well then too. I think we are planning on hitting the bowling alley sometime this weekend for a fun family activity. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Behavioral Goal Number 1

In order to give myself more direction in my weightloss goals I am going to be starting a weekly goal on changing my behaviors. Hopefully, these small goals will be helpful in accomplishing my goal of becoming more healthy.

This weeks goal will be for me to drink more water and less cokes. I will cut my cokes down to two a day and will drink 8- 8 oz. glasses of water everyday. I am not a water drinker but boy do I love my cokes. I am hoping once I get myself use to having cut back on the cokes that I will be able to cut them out all together.

Weightloss Start-up

Okay everyone. I have let my weight get away from me once again. I have given all the excuses I am going to give as to why I am not doing something about it. From today on I am doing something about it. I joined Weight Watchers today. I had joined it last year and was pretty successful until I let things get in the way and then came up with excuses as to why I didn't need to "diet" at that time. As of today I weight 199 lbs. I can't believe that I am posting this for everyone to see but I figure this is where I am and I am doing something about it. I have eaten healthier today than I have in weeks. I also did a workout and feel pretty good about what I did and am doing. My goal is to drop down to 160 lbs. I know this will take a lot of work prayer and planning but I am going to do it. I will give an update on how I am doing once a week when I do my Weight Watchers weigh in on Fridays. This should be interesting but hopefully I will get back some of my energy I have lost and will start being more active. Wish me luck!!

Wordless Wednesday

Preschool Board Complaints

I enjoy being on the preschool board. I was very flattered when I was asked and then last year even more flattered when I was asked to co-chair and then chair the following year. With that said I am also very frustrated. We have several committees we serve on throughout the year. I ended up co-chairing the Fall Festival but little did I know that I would end up chairing it because she can't be counted on to finish her projects and to show up to meetings. This morning we had a whole packet of items that should have gone out. When I got to school this morning the papers this person was suppose to have done is not in the office. When I called her she said that she had not finished them and would not be able to get to the school until 10:30. So now it looks like they won't go out until tomorrow. If I had been a different person I would have told her that my papers were there and to just put hers with mine and put them in the teachers boxes. But because I'm not I will be brining them home to work on during naptime and after dinner. Matt keeps telling me to get off the board. But if it weren't for this I would be fine. I actually enjoy it and feel like I am doing something valuable. I just wish I didn't have to deal with the frustration.

Collier Clan Update

Here's an update on all things Collier:

Gabriel: He is loving school. The tardy bell does not ring until 8:10, it only takes us 7 minutes to get to school. Gabriel is ready to walk out the door at 7:30 and every morning I have to fight to keep him home until 7:45. He no longer wants me to go with him. I guess I am just cramping his style, but to be honest I want to go with him because he is my baby but it's much easier to let him do it himself and it saves me time. Gabriel has scored 100's on each spelling test and we've had three (so proud). The only problem is that he came home with a discipline contract for hitting another boy, in the privates no less, in the bathroom. When we asked him why we were told, "I just wanted to." This really bothered me so I had the teacher call me and talked to her and was told that he had told her the same thing. Wii and TV were taken away and lectures given hopefully this will make the difference. He's a good kid, even if I do say so myself, but he makes some poor choices.

Abby: Is so full of herself. If you ask her what she did at school today she'll often tell you everything and this is usually true. Her favorite thing about school is painting. I got tired of cleaning up the messes so I rarely let the kids paint at home so being able to paint almost everyday is priceless to her. She also loves being with her friends everyday. She has already asked to have a sleep over. I may have to try a late night playdate with the kids going home instead of sleeping over. We will just have to see how that one works out.

Elizabeth: Cries every time I drop her off at school. I am told that she is fine shortly after I am gone but she cries none the less and that makes it hard. I know she stops crying because I am often working around the school and see her playing and having a good time. And the days she has preschool are the days I get the best greetings. Oh what smiles, hugs and kisses I get on those days.

Matt: Has started back to school and things have picked up at work at the same time. He is trying to get through the next couple of months until things slow down a little, at least work wise. Things won't slow down with school until May when he graduates with his MBA. And May really can't come soon enough.

I am too busy to relax it seems these days. I am planning the Fall Festival for the girl's preschool and that is taking a whole lot of time. I am also in charge of the school's one and only fundraiser that is year long with the first orders coming in this week. If you know anyone who wants to order some gift cards I've got those and it will support our school. MOPs starts back tomorrow and I can't wait to see everyone. And then there are all the activities and usual things you do as a mom. We are all busy and I keep trying to find ways to lessen everyone's loads and then find myself with as much or more than I had before. Hopefully, I will learn not to commit myself to so much.

Okay, it really sounds like I am complaining and in some ways I am but this seems to be life. I enjoy staying busy and being on the board gives me some purpose other than being a mom and a wife.

Where's Elizabeth

No wordless Wednesday post this week. I haven't had time to take many pictures so you will probably get to see those on Friday. Anyway, it's been a busy week already. Abby started Pre-K on Monday and Elizabeth started today. Both girls were very excited about going to school. Mommy was excited because that meant a little time to herself. I spent today discussing the Preschool's Fall Festival, which I am chairing, with the Fall Festival committee. Afterwards I had just enough time to meet Matt for an impromptu early lunch. Once we parked Matt opened the back door to get Elizabeth only to realize she was at school. We relished the fact that we able to have a meal together without kids and without having to hire a babysitter. It was nice to be able to talk to one another without all the kids distractions. I am hoping that we will be able to do this on a semi regular basis. My plans for Thursday when all the kids are at school is to clean the house from top to bottom without having to pick up kid messes inbetween. That will be heaven to me. I hope you have a great week too.

Just for Fun

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No. My mom knew someone named Carmen and liked the name. That's how I got the name Carmen
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I don't remember.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sometimes.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Chicken Salad. Does that count?
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? yes, 3.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yeah.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Sometimes. I learned to use it more because of my husband who uses it all the time.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No. I am scared of heights. I have trouble being in a hotel and looking down over a railing. There is no way I could Bungee Jump.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Coco Puffs
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? No.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Mocha Java
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their smiles or lack of.
15. RED OR PINK? Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? That I tend to take on too much.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My parents
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Sure
19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Plaid. In greens, blues, whites, and blacks.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Pasta
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? This dishwasher running, Sesame Street and the kids playing.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Yellow
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Coffee brewing, Apple Pie, and Christmas Trees
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Our babysitter
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Football and basketball
27. HAIR COLOR? Brown with natural and chemical highlights
28. EYE COLOR? Brown with gold flecks
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No but I do wear glasses to drive.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? National Treasure: Book of Secrets
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue Green
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter with Snow on the Ground
35. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?Any
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? no one
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? everyone
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Just Finished "Sphere" by Michael Crichton
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? My family
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Bones
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Running water and waves and my children playing happily or peace and quiet which I don't get much of
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME??? Osaka, Japan
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? No.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?Calhoun, GA
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? Everyone who will respond.

Off to Atlanta

Tomorrow I am headed to Atlanta for 4 days. I will be attending the Atlanta Buyers Market with my mom and sister. They will be purchasing gift items for the Nursery while I am along for moral support and the fun of it. Matt's mom, and our nieces Sarah and Amy will be coming to help watch the kids so Matt can keep his vacation days intact. I am looking forward to this trip. It will be really nice to get away without the kids for a while. When I get back it will be time to start getting ready for our family trip to Florida. Which should prove to be lots of fun.

Gabriel Says

Now that Gabriel has started reading this is what I get everytime we are in the car.

Gabriel: "Mom the speed limit is 35 you need to drive 34."

I would like to say, "Thanks Matt." and please put as much sarcasm into that as you possibly can. Now I have to deal with two backseat drivers everytime both boys are in the car with me.

Motherhood In My Words

This is a post I have been wanting to write for a long time and what better time than just in time for Mother's Day, since it pertains to being a mother.

I am a stay at home mom of three children. I always wanted to be a mom. I never had a set number of children in mind but I knew I wanted more than one. I can't remember a time I ever didn't want kids. In fact when Matt and I were dating I asked if he wanted kids. When his answer was yes, my reply to him was, "Good, otherwise our relationship couldn't go any further." I waited for 5 yearsafter Matt and I got married before I had Gabriel. For me it was a long wait. For Matt, he could have waited longer. I worked as a teacher before, during and after my pregancy with Gabriel. With Abby I worked through my pregancy and then quit work to be a full time mom. I love being a stay at home mom. But I struggle with finding time for myself, my kids, my husband, and maintaining my house. I enrolled Gabriel in a Mother's Day Out Program for two days a week when he was 2. I did this inorder to find a little time for myself and to socialize him with kids his age. Abby was still an infant so I was able to run errands and pick up the house while Gabriel was in school. This worked really well. At that time though I did not have a good support network of friends. Most of my friends did not have children of their own so to call them about problems with my children was not really an option. This is not to say they would not listen but they just didn't understand what I was going through. I later started developing new friendships with several moms in Gabriel's Mother's Day Out Program and this helped tremendously. Then we moved to Indiana. There I didn't find a Mother's Day Out Program I found preschools instead. I did manage to find a preschool that would take walking ones. And this was something I really felt I needed. I didn't have any family to fall back on here and I knew no one. Matt was and is working full time and in school for his MBA. I felt that I needed to run errands, pick up the house and just have some time for myself without the kids. I later joined a MOPs group and this proved to be the biggest help of all. My MOPs group doesn't only provide a meeting for the mom's but provides a meeting for the kids as well and then there are off weeks inbetween that allow the moms to drop their child off and then run errands, get together with friends, go shopping or go home and catch up on all the things that fall to the wayside. I also met other women and moms just like me. I was able to discuss topics that all of us were going through, gain insight and suggestions from them as well. This was a dream come true for me. Later I became a Steering Team member and this gave me back something I lost when I left work, a job other than being a mother and a purpose. The kids' preschool also gave me a break as well and just recently also provided me with a purpose and a job. I have taken on both of these positions and love the purpose they give me. But I still struggle. I struggle with balancing housework, taking care of the children and having fun. I really want to be a spontanious, fun, and energetic. But the shrewn toys, clothes and left over dishes beccon me to take care of them as well. I get tired of those clothes, toys and dishes. There are times that I feel like running from the house and never coming back. And then the kids are also calling to me to feed, bathe, play, and help them. And want to do all those things as well but I would love to have the energy to do it. I don't want to feel like I should be doing other things like running a load of clothes or getting the dishes washed, but that is often how I feel. I love my kids and I love being at home with them but I wish I didn't struggle so much with all the faucts of my job. I can't imagine going back to work. I think I would feel like I miss out on so much. I remember thinking that I would miss the first time Gabriel rolled over and worring that his caregiver would see it first. It's hard being a stay at home mom but also so rewarding as well. I wouldn't change it for anything but wish I could make my struggle a little less. Having people over this past week without having cleaned beforehand was new for me. I usually drive everyone nuts with cleaning before I will invite anyone into our house, but I felt this was a need and I went with my gut. It was nice not worrying so much about what my house looked like but enjoying the fact that the kids and I were having such a great time. I think that moms have many different struggles to deal with on a daily basis. I also think that we will have to deal with those to the best of our abilities. We have to rely on our strenghts and our families and then move on from there. Everyone has different strenghts and weaknesses. As a mom in MOPs just recently put it, "I don't have the strength of orginazation but I can play and imagine with my kids with ease. If we could combine both of those what a great mom we would be. We need to look to each other to help us out and to provide us with advice that we can use. And sometimes we just need to accept who we are and move on from there." I am a mom and I am doing the best I can with what I have. I will struggle with making everyone happy because that is part of my personality. I will also struggle with the need to keep the house pickd up and clean and that is a learned behavior, that I am trying to over come and be more relaxed about. But most important I will struggle to make life fun, interesting, exciting, and educational for my kids on a daily basis. This is something I will continue to work on and try to find a happy medium. Motherhood is not an easy job and neither is fatherhood. But it is one that most of us embrace and enjoy. I wouldn't change this for aything.

Crazy, Insane Me

Today we were supose to have our end of the year MOPS picnic. We usually have it on the church playground so the kids can play in a fenced area and we can talk about our summer plans. This year though we got rained out. And me being me invited everyone over to our house to picnic in our garage and to play throughout the entire house. Talk about chaos. We had at least 10 moms with at least 1 child each but most with two eating and playing in our house. When I suggested it everyone was in doubt that I was serious. I don't think any of them would dream of inviting that many to play inside their homes. I didn't see a huge issue with it. The house is child friendly for the most part and everyone does a good job of helping each other out by watching out for each others kids. I even had a mom change Elizabeth's dirty diaper for me. And it all did work out and the house wasn't trashed too badly either. It really doesn't look any worse than any other rainy day when the kids are stuck in the house. We will have to get Matt's opinion on that when he gets home. We had fun and that was really all that mattered.

Getting to Know You (I mean Me)

I hope this might give you so additional insight as to who I am. I got this from Jane Anne over at Gravity of Motion. If you have a blog and post this on yours I would love to read your just leave me a comment and let me know where you are.


Have You Ever:-Gone on a blind date: Yes, and it wasn't much fun.
Skipped school: Yes, once in high school and lots in college, mainly b/c of Matt.
Watched someone die: No.
Been to Canada: No.
Been to Mexico: No.
Been to Florida: Yes. Almost every summer when we were younger. Going this year with my parents, sister's family and possibly my brothers, depends on wether they make it back from Japan in time.
Been on a plane: Yes, but only on three different trips. Once to Tampa, Orlando and then Japan.
Been lost: Yes.
Been on the opposite side of the country From where you live: Yes, if you count a layover in Texas on my way to Japan.
Been to the capital of your country: Yes. But only once. Matt's brother lives there and we plan on visiting them soon.
Swam in the ocean or waded: Yes. I love the ocean. Just don't read any shark books if you are going to swim in the ocean.
Cried yourself to sleep: Yes.
Played cops and robbers: Yes. As a child and I am sure as a mom.
Recently colored with crayons: Yes. I'm a mom we color a lot.
Sang Karaoke: No.
Paid for a meal with coins only? Yes.
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes. Mainly things my parents or other parents I know did and I said I would never do that and then found myself doing it as a parent myself.
Made prank phone calls: No.
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose: Yes. Just ask Matt. He has ways of making me laugh.
Caught a snowflake on your tongue: Yes! I love snow! I think I did this the last time it snowed.
Danced in the rain: Yes. I even have several different pictures of the kids doing this over the years. This is one of my kids favorite things to do. Everytime it rains they want to dance in the rain.
Written a letter to Santa Claus: Yes.
Been kissed under the mistletoe: Yes.
Watched the sunrise with someone you care about: Yes. My mom and I often do this when we are at the beach together. Matt is not a morning person so I doubt I'll ever do this with him unless it's because we stayed up all night together.
Blown bubbles: Yes! I was blowing bubbles with Elizabeth just yesterday. Though I don't think the kids enjoy it as much as I do.
Gone ice-skating: Yes! In Gatlinburg with my church youth group as a teen.
Been skinny dipping outdoors: Yes. And got caught. But not ever with Matt.
Been out of North America: Yes. But only to Japan.
Been in detention: No.
Regretted something you blogged: No. I am who I am.

Not His Father's Son....Well Maybe He Is

Last Wednesday night Gabriel couldn't seem to get me out of the house fast enough. Here was our conversation;

Gabriel: "Aren't you going to play BUNCO?"
Me: "Yes, but it's not time to leave yet."
Gabriel: "Well, when are you leaving?"
Me: "Are you trying to get rid of me."
Gabriel: "NO, I just want you to go and have a good time at BUNCO."
Me: "Oh." (Standing there thinking where does he learn this stuff.)

Today, Gabriel went to the grocery store with me. On the car ride there here is the conversation we had.

Gabriel: "Mom, you've got a lot of wrinkles under your eyes."
Me: "What?"
Gabriel: "He repeats."
Me: "You don't tell women they have wrinkles." (Then I check for said wrinkles.)
Gabriel: "I'm going to be in trouble for that one aren't I?"

Can You Help Me?

I volunteered to come up with a question that would divide our MOPS moms into seperate tables or groups of table during the social time of our meetings. I thought this would be easy but am having trouble coming up with questions with enough different answers to have 6 or 8 tables. The reason we are doing this is to get the moms to sit with other moms in the hopes of meeting someone new. We will also have ice breaker questions at the tables once the moms find the table with their answer. If you have any cool, interesting or just good questions I would love your input. Thank you for your help.

Bows I Made

Abby's Birthday Dress

Today I made this tutu for Abby. I knew when I finished it I wouldn't ba able to wait to give it to her. She has said that this is her birthday dress. She plans on wearing it to her birthday party. Unfortunately she will have to take it off since we will be having it at the gymnastics center.

Great Christmas Gift

Matt got me one of the best Christmas gifts this year. He got me the one thing I really wanted. I wanted it for several reasons but we are now both enjoying the benefits of this wonderful gift. What is the gift you ask? It is a gym membership. I wanted it so that we could both get back in shape, so that is would help us both lose some of those unwanted pounds we have both put on over teh past couple of years, get healthly and so that we were a good influence on our children. Matt is actually using the membership more than I thought he would and he is really enjoying the benefits as am I. I hope we continue to do as well as we have.