My Sweet girl

Well today was The 9 yr olds first soccer game. She was admittedly nervous but did phenomenal despite it! They lost but you couldn't tell for all of the great sportsmanship! Great game all around. Her beloved Uncle Frank was on attendance, which made the day all the more special for her. I love having family days like this. I know I should just enjoy the moment but at times I stop and think what it will be like when they're all grown and gone. No sadness just curiosity... Ok maybe a little sadness.
Still working on uploading that menu. I tried to no avail, several times yesterday. I will try again today. Just don't want you to think I forgot. Oh, all of this menu planning has me looking to fill May's menu ahead of time. Just a preliminary menu of sorts. We she see.

Blog Repentance

I have decided to get more focused on the blog lately. So much has happened in my life since I have last logged on (both good and bad) that it should make for pretty interesting topics for a few entries at least.
   My beloved father died on March 20, 2012. I was pregnant at the time and as death often is, it was hard. I am a certified daddy's girl and I just never thought of life without him. It didn't help that I was pregnant AND that the baby was due on his birthday. I do take solace in him knowing that before he died though. I loved him so much and miss him greatly. It was my first real time dealing with death. My grandmother died a few years back but I knew she had lived a full live. My dad, as far as I was concerned, was not supposed to die. He just wasn't. I could go on forever but I wont.
    I had a baby boy, Carson, who is now 6 months old. Time to update the blog photo right? Later. While I was pregnant with C I had so many dreams about how he would look and act, etc. It was right on point. Often times he looks like my dad, which is quite eerie and comforting at the same time. We just love having this 'little' man around and he loves being doted on so it all works out. I an still exclusively breastfeeding which is good for me because with the other kids I had already started supplementing (mainly because I had returned to work but I am not working now so no need to). It seems that this child it so different from the others. I almost felt like a first time mom again. I had to ask questions to some of the simplest things when he was a newborn. We have gotten int a routine of sorts now so things are better. I am still homeschooling the kids. We are to start Classical Conversations this fall. If you have never heard of it their site Classicalconversations.com is awesome. Feel free to ask me questions but be forewarned, I am new to it. I have been interested in, and intimidated by, the classical method of education for some time now. I just didn't know all that I needed to know to be comfortable with using it. I think this will transition us into it nicely. We are all excited.
 I also have a bit of news that may throw some of you for a loop ( it did me). I have started acting. I know, I know 'where did that come from' right? I asked the same question.Through a suggestion from my brother's, now ex, girlfriend, I auditioned for and got the part in a play. It's local community theater but were traveling to another venue the following week. It's a bit exciting and a bit scary. I have never had any desire to act but its fun and as long as it does not take over my duties an wife and mom it can stay. Beyond that and it's gone. More on it later. I am getting better at running the household more efficiently. I have put together a menu for the entire month!! That was a short term goal of mine! I will post it and the sources later. If you have not discovered Pinterest by now do so! I highly the recommend it. Now know this- it is highly addictive. It has certainly helped with my mission to get better organized.
Oh, for the record I have not only kept the weight off I spoke of previously but since having the baby and exclusively breast feeding I have dropped more weight. I am 15lbs less than I was before I got pregnant! Awesome eh?!
There I have given you a brief update. I will go into details later. Stay tuned!

For the record I did keep my weight down even though its been a long time since I have been to the gym. I lost a total of 40lbs but apparently 5lbs were reminiscent and decided to come back for 'old times sake'. With the recent hormonal changes I have been bloated for a few days. I want to keep up a workout but we will see if my determination/motivation prevails.

Hey remember me?

Hello. Its been a while. A lot has happened. If I were to sum it up I think I would just call it 'life'. It is the end of January 2012 & 2 days ago I discovered I was pregnant with my 4th child! We are very excited. I feel oddly protective of this pregnancy for unknown reasons. I have of course announced it but still feel a weird type of 'shielding', for lack of a better word. I have actually wanted another baby for a few years now but well Mr. Bowie needed more convincing. Our desire is for a boy but we'll be happy either way. I don't know if I'm going to find out the sex or not. We didn't find it out with #3 & we were so set on having a boy that we never considered a girls name. So when she came that made for a very frustrated vital records clerk which in turn made a equally frustrated mommy.

We just came back from a visit to California, sans Bowie, to see family & watch my lil sis get married. I really don't like weddings & this particular one heightened my disdain but I digress... shes married now and that's all I will say. My father was diagnosed with stg 4 pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago & starts chemo next week (approximately). Oh for a little bit of irony, the baby is due on his birthday (which is also my maternal grandfathers bday). It was great seeing extended family again, always fun. My grandparents physical conditions were made obvious to me, even though my strong, independent grandmother has it 'under control' its clear she needs help. Help that I don't think I can give her 2000 miles away. I feel bad but I am trying to work with mom to get something set up. It would be better to live closer but we have no desire to move to California. Great place to visit, not to live as far as I'm concerned.

My 3 little ones are growing and getting smarted daily (non-bias statement , I promise). Jack will be 10 next month! Im in a little shock over that. Hes really a typical boy. He's mischievous, funny, sweet, charming & cute to name a few {smile}. Miss Efficient i.e. Sydney is a lot like I was/am but in her own way. Shes pretty direct, organized, straight forward. She's a leader thats learning how to lead. I love it. Miss Casey is... a character. She is very humorous & she enjoys the spotlight. She has quite the following on my facebook account for her frequent funnies. I cant imagine what personality we will add to this group this year but I am excited.

I hope to keep in contact more as their is a good bit more to tell but I am still homeschooling and class is in session so I must leave.

Long time no see...

I cant believe its been 6 months since my last entry, I apologize! Not much has happened in that time. Mainly working and raising babies :). I have continued on my weight loss journey & have managed to lose 10 more lbs for a grand total of 35lbs! I didnt even realize I had that much extra weight on me then. My husband has also embarked on a weight loss journey of his own. The week after his mother died he started 'The China Diet' (google it) per his doctor's recommendation & to date he has lost 60lbs (in about 5 months) & counting! He has not done one bit of exercise (well I mean he is an active man but no formal exercise). I tell people if you want to see the two schools of thought on effective wt loss just look at me & my husband: he is (major) diet change & no exercise and I am LOTS of exercise & mild diet change. We have both lost weight but although I am more toned then he is, his was much more dramatic. I am excited for us both!

Now lets see, in other news. Mr. Bowie cut his fingertip off... technically he pulled it off at work. Yes he pulled his fingertip off at work. Do you think that has slowed him down? No, it hasnt. He is learning that he may have to readjust the way he does things, for a little while anyway. The kids were really upset for the first day or so (& so was I) but overall everyone is fine now.

Two of my sisters are back from California. One to live with me, the other was apparently just passing through, but I digress... Next year may bring two new family members as my brother & his girlfriend & my sis & her boyfriend are getting very serious in their relationships. I am cautiously optimistic. I met my possibly-soon-to-be-brother-in-law and he seems like a nice guy, so far ;) but who am I to judge right? My dad didnt like my husband when we were dating so I do understand the way she feels. I am still waiting to meet my brothers girlfriend...

Anyway that was a pitiful 'update' I know but the good news is not much has been going on and as all of you who have families know, boring is sometimes a good thing :)... I hope it is not 6 more months before I update again. perhaps my life will 'liven up by then, lol... goodbye for now & thanks for reading.

His family...

Yesterday I was at my husbands side as he buried his mother. He has been amazingly held together since she died last week but I cant help but wonder if/when the other shoe is gonna fall. I have been fortunate enough to not have to deal with grief directly, or maybe I have but I dealt with it differently. My grandmother died 1 1/2yrs ago and she & I were close [@ one time] but I think I looked at her death as an end to a fulfilled life. She had a good life and a long one, but she was my grandmother, not my mom. I expect my husband will, indeed, grieve somehow, somewhere just in his own time. When I spoke to him about it he agreed.
It was good to see his family again. I feel as though I have been too immature in the past few years to see the great qualities they possess. I was telling my mom that they are serious about their love for each other & that it was very evident in the men. ALL of the men in the family are there for their wife and kids. It was almost like a 'pack mentality' because they made sure ALL kids were cared for, not just their own. There is a certain security in a home when daddys there (doing his job) & mommy has his back and my husbands family exudes that 100%! Not only does it make me secure knowing that I have a man that was brought up like that, but it makes me glad to know that my son has these expectations on him & will be held accountable to follow in the same shoes. My daughters can see what a whole family is and how it is supposed to function. They were soo happy to see their cousins from far away but even though it has been years, for some, they fell into enjoying each others company like they had been together from birth. They went to bed talking about the fun they had & I know they are building lasting memories. I see Jack looking at his [many] strong older male cousins (who because of the age difference are more like his uncles) & he looks up to them. I am blessed to have married into a wonderful family even though throughout the years I have been too blind to see it.
All of these lives were from the one seed that we buried yesterday. How awesome it must have been for her to look over that through out the years & see her work. I did not know my husbands father as he died when my husband was 11 yrs old but I do not want to exclude him from this praise because it was from him also that the men knew how to treat their wife & kids. My husband has credited his father, his brother & his brother in laws for showing him how to be a good man & he credits his daddy God for showing him how to be a great man.
So to the children & grandchildren of Mrs. Eloise Bowie I want to again offer my condolences for your loss. I know she will live on in you many stories.

Ok so in tracking my wt. loss I am now down 20lbs (3 dress sizes) WOO HOO!! I have not been to the gym this week because of having to work extra to cover for a co-worker who is on vacation (last day is today & I am so happy!!). I will start back with cardio next week & strength training soon afterwards. I am so lovin the new (improved) body! Its weird how working on your body, & seeing results, makes you realize how many other parts of your life need work, I have used it as a life lesson. Working with the trainer took dedication & commitment. I had to make a decision and say 'I am going to do this, no matter what'. Ill admit it wasnt dramatic, I was like 'you know what? I wanna look better then this in my clothes' & from that thought the trek began. I didnt see results for a while & I did not like the diet change that came with it either but when my husband looked at me and said " are you losing weight?" it was awesome! I have stayed strong ever since. I have found other things in my life I want to improve & I am setting my course to do them as well. It seems easier to perfect the physical things then the spiritual but I will not be discouraged. I now know Gods plan for my life & even though I look at him & say 'you want ME to do that?!', I trust Him... just like I trusted my trainer. I followed everything the trainer said to do; ate the foods he said, did the machines he told me,etc... Because of it I feel better, I look better & I have had a positive influence on other women. They assume I know what Im doing & I know the way when in reality Im just following good directions. I plan to have the same results spiritually. I admit a few times I have resorted to my old thinking(spiritually- by being tempted with unpleasant thoughts & physically- with that new bacon cheeseburger at Wendys, which I havent eaten... yet, lol)But I have to recognize it & shut it down quick or I will lose all of the ground I have gained. Its not always easy & it does take sacrifice (I mean have you seen the bacon cheeseburger... mama mia!!) but if I want to perfect myself it takes sacrifice. I look forward to fulfilling my purpose & I refuse to look back on the time I wasted.