XianT's Xanga

Deciding to Update

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 19:00:55 GMT

I have decided I need to get back to posting for the sake of recording our family history I plan to start this after Christmas when I have a bit of time. However... like my sister Myra, I think I will be joining blogspot... I will keep you posted.

Merry Christmas to all!

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:02:28 GMT

BUT I WANT TO WATCH "CUBS POST GAME LIVE!"

This is what my 5 year old just said to us. I kid you not.

We were watching the Cubs hammer the Rockies. It was the 6th inning and I told Josh he had to go to bed. And this was his reply. Jeremy and I are still chuckling. This baseball obsession has gone a little far, don't you think? How in the world can a 5 year old want to watch a statical breakdown of a baseball game??? Now I know...some of you are going to say that he's just delaying bedtime. And I will grant you, that is true to some extent. But...if it was the middle of the afternoon he would actually be watching the post show.

My day was comprised of interesting events like dropping kids at camp, picking them up from camp, taking them to their backyard bible club, getting Salomon's eyes tested, exercising, picking up the proofs for Hunter's senior pictures (I can't believe I just wrote that!), and taking Hunter and Salomon shopping at the outlet mall. Not a bad day, all in all.

Jona is in Camp Illini this week. He goes from 9:30 - 3:00. So far he's had a lot of fun... except for the tremendous downpour that caught us all off guard today. He did NOT like getting that wet. So much so, he vowed he was never going back to camp ever again. As if the rain was the camp's fault.

Josh is in Camp Goodtimes this week. He was making a pirate boat with three other boys out of a paper plate, paper towel rolls, newspaper, tape and a plastic bag when I picked him up today. They had to use all the materials they were given and their challenge was to make the boat that would stay afloat the longest in the camp. It was quite interesting to watch him work cooperatively with the other boys. He was actually the youngest and was truly helping. I was surprised.

Jacob was in Camp Mean Green this week, or so I thought. I dropped him off there on Monday at 9 and by 11 I was taking a call from the park district telling me that they did not have him registered. I pulled out my registration card to assure them I was and noticed the date.... July 9. I had registered him for the session that begins in two weeks. Sheepishly, I quickly left to pick him up. He was not happy with me. So.... Backyard bible club for him and Josh will have to do. They attend that in the afternoon around the corner from our home.

Hunter is off of football this week. We are all glad for the break. He's spending his week resting, doing his summer reading and helping around the house.

Lost another pound this week too. Slow but steady...

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:48:52 GMT

And There Was Light Were Pictures!
Finally! I was able to upload some pictures. These were the pictures that were to go with the post I made two days ago...but better late than never.

In uploading the pictures, I remembered the other things I wanted to tell you....

We have a new addition to the family. Four weeks ago (wow! How times flies. It seems he just arrived a week ago!) Hunter was raising money for his football fundraiser. Going door to door to get donations in our neighborhood he brought home more than pledges. Say hello to Rockie:

The main reason Rockie was not immediately returned to it's owner, other than his undeniable cuteness, was Josh's unbridled adoration. He was smitten and remains so to this day. According to our agreement, this cat is Hunter's responsibility. He sleeps in Hunter's room, the litter box resides there and is cleaned by Hunter. Hunter must make sure that he's fed and watered. Naturally, the honor of naming should fall to Hunter, right? Not according to Josh. Josh dubbed him Rockie....because he is a Rockie (his t-ball team is named after the Colorado Rockies) and shouldn't the kitty be one too? And so Rockie it is...much to Hunter's consternation.

Here is a picture of Josh after his graduation from St. John's Kindergarten. He is holding his diploma and standing in front of his locker.

Several people have suggested I stop hiding behind my weight loss words and post a picture. So...here it goes....

Meet our new friend Salomon

A big highlight for me this summer was a visit from my best high school friend, TLS1215, and her son, Ryan. We took in a White Sox game on a wonderfully warm and beautiful June night.

Tracy and I were the same age as our boys now when we were hanging out together. It was quite odd to see our boys together all grown up. How does that happen?

Another Summer Highlight? Cubs and The Cable Guy

Jeremy treated us to a night in the Jenner Box at Wrigley. It happened to be the night that Larry The Cable Guy was singing the 7th inning stretch and he just happened to be in a box a few doors down from us. What a nice guy!

Here he is signing Hunter's Cubs ticket as he passed our box.

After the game Hunter, Salomon and the other new ACS kid on the football team, Matt hopped the boxes in between ours and Larry's (not his real name) to chat and gleen more autographs. Hunter even did all his Mater immitations for Larry and was given cudos for how good they were. He must have talked to us for 15 minutes.

Other pictures from the night...

Salmon trades his White Sox hat for a Cubs hat....just for one night!

Josh learns how to keep a scorecard

Hunter and Matt are happy about all the good food!

Josh is happy about the dessert cart

One last picture before heading home with Wrigley in the background

Friday, June 22, 2007

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:42:27 GMT

Contrary to Popular Belief...

I have not passed away. I have not vanished. And I have not given up on Xanga. I have no explanation for why I have not posted other than the usual general busyness. I usually make my posts at night but since mother's day the nights have been long and full and by the time everyone is in bed I am just too tired.

This is the case once again tonight but I have a wee bit of energy left that I hope to take advantage of to complete a post.

I have also been discouraged because I have been trying to upload some great pictures and just keep running into one problem after another. So..now...how do I get across the most information in the least amount of time to get you caught up on life at the T household? Let me try the list method... Noncreative, I'll grant you but effective, nonetheless.

1. All the boys passed their classes and advanced to the next grade level. Well, technically. Josh did pass Kindergarten but we have chosen to have him repeat this grade. Though able to read, count past 1000 and play a full football and baseball game by himself, he's still a bit developmentally behind his peers. Hunter will be a senior at Aurora Christian, Jacob will be in fifth grade...his last year in elementary school, and Jona will be in 2nd grade. For the first time, the three little boys will be in the same school. How nice!

2. Jacob and Jona left school the last week of May with one week left, flew to join their grandmother, Georgia Lee at her place on the Ohio River and then they then drove to Norfolk and have been there since. It sounds like they have had a wonderful time and not missed home much at all. Having only two children has nearly been the equivocal of having none. At least it seems that way. It's been so peaceful and easy and we have enjoyed the extra time to focus on the two here without feeling like we are neglecting the others. Georgia Lee and Arch have done a wonderful job of thoroughly spoiling the boys, no doubt. They feel very loved and safe there and that gives me such peace of mind. I am very grateful for them.

3. No sooner had school ended for Hunter that Hunter's Sr. year of football began. Generally, he has weightlifting and chalk talk on MWF and then running, hitting, and play running on Tu and Th. This schedule has him up at 5 off to school at 6 and home again around 11. He will get about two weeks off, one next week and one at the end of July, to rest. This schedule, though grueling at times is very good for him. It keeps him on a disciplined scheduled, keeps him exercising and eating right and not sleeping him summer away. He is still not back driving since the accident so that means that I am the taxi driver for these practice days. For the first time however, I have had a bit of help. There is a new freshman on the team that lives in a town about 15 minutes away that's joined the team. So we have tried to carpool a bit and that has helped.

4. We have been blessed to know a new friend of Hunter's. Salomon, a foreign exchange student from France, ended up living about 5 minutes away with a friend of his mother's until another host family could be located for him. He also joined the football team so we have been giving him rides and getting to know him in the process. He's funny, kind, very tall (6'6), loves God and makes life exciting. I expect he'll be spending quite a bit of time with us this summer.

5. My weight loss campaign continues. Though the actual loss has slowed a bit, I have yet to gain back one pound! I have had tests that have shown the actual fat mass/muscle mass transfer and I have watched my basic metabolic rate increase on these same tests. It's been almost as rewarding as the new clothes I have had to buy. As much as I still hate doing it, I am convinced it is the core work and weights that have made the difference. I am coming to grips with the fact that this is going to be a one to two year process to get down to my goal. I was depressed by this at first but I am beginning to view it as a marathon and have settled into the idea now.

Well, I think I have run out of things to say....or else the lights just went out and now no one's home.... and if I had to bet, I'd guess it's the latter. So, at this point...I will try those pictures again and see how far I get...

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Sun, 13 May 2007 21:52:24 GMT

"What? She's Eating BIRD'S Eggs?"

(Jona....watching Fiona procuring breakfast for Shrek and Donkey)

"What's wrong with that Jona...that's what we do."

"You mean OUR eggs have birds inside of them??? UGH!!!"

It's always interesting to watch some commonly accepted practice (that we no long question as adults) take on a new meaning in the mind of a child. Sadly, when it happens, it's as if a little bit of their childhood innocence disappeared in a puff of smoke.

I had a lovely Mother's Day today. Sleeping in, coffee cake and a Starbucks latte in bed, wonderful surprise gifts and cards (the cards were so appropriately hilarious I wish I could show them to you), a delicious lunch that was served to me, pictures and playing in a park, shopping at a garden nursery and working out alone....and all of this was possible because my sick, fever ridden husband did not give in to his illness but laid down his life today so that I might have one. What a guy! Thanks babe.

Here are some pictures from today that we took while we were in Adam's Park. A park donated by John Quincy Adams Daughter after she died willing their estate on the site to the city so they could make a park.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Fri, 11 May 2007 13:15:36 GMT

Five Boys and a Girl

This is my life. dirty rolled up socks, yellow toilet seats and surrounding floor tiles, mountains of dirty (or clean and owners too lazy to put back) clothes, holes in the knees of pants, everything but the kitchen sink stuff under beds, corners or closets, food wrappers, cups and dishes hidden in secret places by delinquents that don't want to be caught for eating somewhere beside the kitchen, fighting for position, toys, food, or to decide who will be what character in a cartoon, $350 weekly grocery trips....sometimes needing two carts to get out of the store...I could go on but it would exhaust you, bore you or both.

Don't know why I haven't been into posting much here lately... it seems like whenever I do get a minute I am too tired or feeling guilty that I should be doing something else. I have had things to say...I often create blog titles throughout the day as interesting things happen but then I forget to put them down.

Working out has taken a lot of my time. Seriously, who knew this weight loss thing would almost become a full time job? I have pants on today that I could barely sit in and nearly couldn't zip and they are falling off....can't keep them up... having nothing to wear that fits right leaves me feeling like I am swimming in clothes and not at all attractive....but I don't want to buy anything new because then it would feel like wasting money...but what do I do until I reach my goal? I suppose it's a good problem to have but I just hate feeling like I look heavier than I am due to the bigger clothes after I have worked so hard to look smaller.

I have found an interesting new blog site. It's a Christian site that is family friendly. I have been experimenting with it to see what I think. You can go to our new family site to see what you think...just remember that it's still under construction. I'd like to know what your thoughts are on the whole thing. Here's the link.

Well, that's all for now. I will leave you with some jewelry show pictures...

I didn't adjust the lighting on the pictures so you can't see things too well...sorry...just noticed that.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Sun, 06 May 2007 23:30:56 GMT

Just tried making a post with pictures and then my computer shut down....figures. I was hoping to tell you in great detail about the jewelry show, Josh's T-Ball game and what I learned in church today with pictures and all...but I suppose you will have to wait for those and be satisfied with bullet points.
- The jewelry show was a disappointment. We had five customers all day. Thankfully, three of them were friends of mine and that blessed me so much that they made time to come by. Oddly, all together we sold $460 worth of jewelry, but my take was only $122....sadly, less than I had invested. But we have decided to have another in a couple of weeks in the evening. I did learn a lot, really enjoyed spending time with Amanda who was the brains and heart of the whole operation and enjoyed the time away from my regular routine.

- Josh's t-ball game was hysterical. Only pictures and video will do so you'll just have to wait.

- Church was a blessing. We heard from one of our missionaries in China and she was amazing. Missionaries inspire me.

Jeremy went on a walk with me tonight and that really made me happy. I like him. I think I'll keep him.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Tue, 01 May 2007 21:41:39 GMT

Tee Ball Practice

MOM! Whaaat is today???? Come on...don't you know? It's the first day of May! My first T-ball game is in 5 days!

Josh woke up wanting to dress for his 6 o'clock practice! At 11:30 he began asking me every hour what time it was. I didn't think I'd live until 6...I was surprised he did! It was another beautiful day today and I was a happy girl.

Not much time to write tonight... off to create some wonderful jewelry...

Monday, April 30, 2007

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 22:42:14 GMT

I'm Your Best Mamma Buddy!

That is what Josh told me tonight on our way out of the Sports Center. It was a precious five year old moment that I will never forget. I love being loved by my boys at this age. There is nothing quite as precious. The way they love me, look at me, pat me, bring me flowers and rocks and smile their precious smiles, makes me feel like a queen. When I put Josh to bed tonight I was sad to see his pjs about two inches too short for his legs... clear evidance of his growth spurt that has him eating constantly.

Lost another half pound last week. I am going to shoot for two pounds this week. I can't wait until I am at 185! That will be the lowest I have been in years. I saw 188 for a brief time when Jeremy and I went on the South Beach Diet but I couldn't take that diet at all and ended up gaining it all back.

I have jewelry show this Saturday. It's the first official time I will be trying to sell the things I've made. I wish I had more time to work on making things. Right now I only have a bunch of earrings. Not much else. Hopefully I will find the time.

It was a beautiful day today and I am so thankful for the warm weather and sunshine.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:17:07 GMT

Forget What I Said

about the warmer weather! It's been cold, windy and raining and I am not happy about it. I really do hate the weather here. Take me back to the south!

Last night I had my Master's Class for Voice Overs. It was awesome. Our guest producer was JoBe Cerny.

If you click on the link above you can see what he looks like and read his bio but if you click on this link
You'll see him the way you'll really recognize him. He was a really great guy. Fun, funny and a fantastic director. I even had the great honor of doing a spot with him. It was really cool and one day you will get to hear it. Several of the things I did last night are going to be professionally produced and then they will go on a demo that I will give to agents. I can't believe it. I am really doing what I've wanted to do for so long and it feels great. I owe so much to Jeremy for making this possible. I hope, one day in the not to distant future, babe, I will be working so that you can play tennis golf!

Tomorrow I play in my last regular season tennis match. We play Elmhurst to see who gets third place. Either way, we are in the play offs so it's all good! I will be glad when the season is over, however. There have been too many headaches this year!

Today, on Jeremy's walk to work, a bird fell down from the sky and landed dead at his feet. It was funny to hear him recount the story in disbelief....wish I could recreate it for you. You'll just have to use your imagination. It will be a good exercise for you.