Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from Mine to Yours

This year the winter season didn't come any easier than the last, missing my grandma Betty and my family. Tristan however did have it off and that alone was fantastic!

We were able to go to his grandparents for Thanksgiving for the first time in years and even spent a little time with my grandparents and family.

Mid-holiday we got a package in the mail! The most exciting thing ever, I don't care who you are. It came with beautiful clothes and delicious chocolates from my heart in France. I love my grandma Micheline so much, she's supposed to move back and I'm thinking about asking her if she wants to live with Us - of course we'd move to a bigger house. 


For Christmas we decided to stay home but went to Gig Harbor for Christmas Eve and that was wonderful. My grandma Wendy asked permission to squeeze the crap out of Tristan because she likes him so much and it gave me the warm and fuzzies. My grandpa dressed up as Santa, something I haven't seen since I was a child so that was more than awesome.

Christmas Eve was beautiful, the best we've had in a while, I even felt like my grandma Betty was with me... then our van died. I was in tears, my heart ripped from my chest and all hope lost. I mean come on?  Seriously, can anything go right for more than 2 seconds? I told Tristan I want to take the seats out and set up a fort in our house for me to lounge back and close my eyes and pretend everything is still here. We'll see.

For the New Year I'm thinking sparkling cider, comfy pajamas, a blanket fort and a good movie. This body is pooped and there's a lot to prepare for next year. Bring-it-on!

Any big New Year plans worth bragging about?

Our New Home

To say the least, this is our garden. Although, I've recently moved and replanted everything because it was looking crowded and I'm not done picking flowers out. I liked it better this way but I have to remind myself there will be more pretty stuff in the garden's middle soon.

If you know of a safe way to keep bugs from eating our basil and parsley I'd appreciate it, as well as a natural at home remedy for washing fruits before eating them.

Seven Days!

First off I'd like to state that today is day seven of my eight week challenge. I'm surprisingly down 2.6lbs and every muscle in my body is being used and feels great! I most look forward to being flexible, healthy and holding some longevity in my bones. Oh, and that smaller pair of jeans will be nice too!

This week Tristan and I took a day off, more like 2hrs, but it was ours. We went to The Rock, just the two of us, thanks to his dad. Our adventure started out terrible and not so good but it ended up being really great and that's the important part. We also realized we need this more, more time for us, because we Never take Any

Yesterday for a little support we walked to Lowes, our new favorite place. We got our first strawberry plant, some yellow lilies and a hanging basket. Tristan's goody was his sander, which he's been wanting for a while. It was going to be his Father's Day gift but he insisted upon taking it out of his allowance. That's alright, we got something else up our sleeves.

With everything going on; the move, the gardening, the workout challenge, the organizing of the house, the constant cooking and cleaning, waking up with the kids, going to bed right after Tristan leaves... I'm exhausted. I can't remember when my last minute to myself was and Every time I try to take a bubble bath the tub makes it about half way before going extremely cold on me...

Today while trying to get some reviews done, (I'm so behind), the kids decided not to listen. On top of not listening it was a nightmare. I was in the process of doing something when I heard a loud boom, a bright light and some screaming. Logan had stuck some keys in the light socket. One of the keys was fried, he was shaking and in shock and Tristan ... well, he was sleeping and when I woke him up he just laid there. Me? I was overwhelmed, my dad is camping and I didn't know who to call. I burst in to tears and buried my head under the covers midstream for a panic attack.

Everyone is fine now, back to not listening. I'm still exhausted, have some gardening to get done today. I say today is a day for relaxing. As a family we're supposed to go walking tonight for 45 minutes to an hour. Of course with laid plans and a good weather forecast it's freezing nipples outside. Regardless, my garden won't plant itself and it brings me peace and pride. I love it.

For the first time in my life I feel like I'm at home. I feel like we have control of our situation instead of the other way around. We have opportunities to take time for our hobbies instead of hide in the stress. I love the openness of our new home, the yard, the light and all the windows. Our other place is trying to take us for $1,900 but that's another story and hopefully one we can win.

To fresh starts and new beginnings! Hope you guys enjoy your day. I'm going crazy but I'm glad we have a home, a safe home, and that we're together.

You called for a an "ass kicking"?

So, as a review writer for Lilac City Momma I have been allowed to test and try quite a few things. A couple of days ago Hanan, the woman behind it all, asked me, "would you want to try - fitness program called The Gunnar Challenge". To which my response was "I think a good ass kicking is just what I need." Little did I know this is just what I'm going to get.

I think it starts officially May 21st, which gives me a little time to prep, but today there was a workout. I missed it so I decided to do the Wild Card work out on their website. Rofl! I am currently half way through the first rep. I started to get shakey so I had to eat, something I always forget to do.

Anyways, I'm sweating, I'm burning and I know this is going to be hard so I figured I'd share in hopes of words of encouragement as well as a great body to show off afterwards. (I mean this in the least cocky way, I have 30lbs to lose and I want my body back. Even though I know it will never be the same after kids I still have a right to be happy and feel sexy) This summer I want a Victoria Secret swimsuit, and I want to earn it.

So, here's to a fit and healthy summer packed with adventures, learning and good changes!

*pictures later

Our Magic Number

I'll be the first to admit that I need me time. The kids are hanging on me 24/7 and sometimes when I sleep. I can never catch a break but I love them more than anything in the world. It might come as a surprise to some, or maybe not, but I have always wanted a ton of kids. I was one of three, and my sister was ten years younger so I don't count it since she's her own generation. My grandpa, one of seven and my teacher Mr. Callero, one of sixteen or seventeen. Now, I don't want That many  but I was hoping for four.

My brother and sister do not want kids and if it happens it will be ten years off so when Tristan and I started dating I was quite excited to meet all his nieces and nephews. His family is a big family and I wanted to add to that. Recently there's been debate as if that is going to happen and it literally breaks my heart.

Our magic number is TWO.

And I'll tell you why.

1. Right now he's the only one working and more kids would be stretching us thinner. While I object to have more kids this year on finances alone I was at least hoping to have more next year.
2. When it comes to getting out $X.xx is multiplied by our family household. Right now it would be $30-40 to eat out. The more heads the less chances of us eating out. While this isn't enough of a sacrifice, this also applies to family trips to the zoos, museums, parks and other activities. We both want to be able to do this often with our children. 
3. 1/1 Ratio. Right now if Olivia wants daddy chances are Logan is going to want mommy and I'm okay with that. Tristan feels if we have more kids that someone is going to get left out. All I have to say is he obviously doesn't see the pig pile the kids make on me while he's sleeping. I get his way of thinking but to me it's just more love to go around. 
4. Growing up! This hits the hardest at the moment. The less kids we have the more we can provide for them in areas of school clothes, supplies and activities as well as when it comes time for them to start driving and eventually going to college. We want to be able to help as much as possible. Right now with Logan hitting a growth spurt and the kids needing transitional weather clothing the impact is becoming a reality of a future nightmare. 
5. Babysitters. While we have and would babysit Tristan's nieces and nephews more (the numbers are in the masses) we already have a hard time getting someone to watch just our two. If we had more kids the probability would go down dramatically and as I've stated, We've had four dates in almost three years. 
6. Overpopulation. While I honestly wish I could have 16 kids, and the patience to go with, the reality is even if could afford it that is just a Huge environmental impact. Those 16 kids will go on to have kids of their own and so on and I already have anxiety about current resources, costs and demands and the impact it will have on my kids and grand kid's future. (yes, I did say grand kids, and yes my kids are not even in school yet)

I love my kids more than anything in the world. It's probably unhealthy. I think they are the most amazing little thing the world has to offer and I would do anything for them. I have picture shrines on my wall, scrap books and photo books, collections of data and facts about them, any scribble they've ever made. They make my heart burst from my chest, they're my whole life.

I anticipate growing up with them, I anticipate their future lives, careers and spouses. I anticipate mostly being a grandmother and support system for them as they try and navigate their lives. They make me curious again, and hopeful. I always thought growing up that my life sucked so bad that some day something good would come to me. God gave me family .