He got the lucky dog

alternate titles: "Hey baby you're going to Vegas" (think that horrible country song) or "Tug, start your engine."

And he's off . . . Tug left this morning to head south to watch this guy 

hopefully beat these guys

in this car

His job does have some perks including getting to go on a business trip to watch a Nascar race since Dupont makes Tyvek and they also sponsor J-Go. He has passes to some hospitality tent and, well, I don't really know what else. I just know he is going to Vegas and I am here at home. He actually isn't overly excited about it (or is he just saying that to make me feel better?), and heard that races kinda suck so he is planning on going early, getting the swag and free beers, then heading back to the hotel to watch it on TV. 

Go J-Go, Go!!

WOW-7

I started drinking Dr Pepper again; however, there is a very logical reason . . . I needed something to give up for lent and tradition says it has to be Dr Pepper. So, no more Dr Pepper ;)

This week was not a good one. I exercised Wed/Thur/Fri but the kids got sick starting Monday so I didn't exercise Mon or Tues~I usually exercise at the Y when the kids have classes but they didn't go to classes since they were sick and I am not motivated enough to do it on my own (I guess I really should give Wii Fit a try, I still haven't used it). 

Aside from Dr Pepper, I think I will give up food for lent. 

This week: +3 (honestly I expected it to be worse)

Stats:

Paula: -8

Renee: -2, good job

Amy: + 0.6

Jessica: -2

Erica: -1.2

Laura: +3 

Michelle (rs): -1

Angela: 0

Christine: -1

Michelle (wa):

Juli: 0

Keri: off the computer for lent

Shelly: typically broken scale

Cecilia: + 0.5

Michelle (ggyr):

Lori: off for lent

Mimi:

Pay it Forward

Pay It Forward Exchange is based on the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward”.

I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join the PIF exchange.


All the gifts will be made and posted out "sometime within the next year". How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive!

What you need to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

This Exchange is only open to those with active websites or blogs.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROMISE TO POST THE SAME PAY IT FORWARD PICTURE AND THIS MESSAGE ONTO YOUR BLOG, WHICH MUST BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PLAY. YOU WILL PAY IT FORWARD TO THREE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG.

UPDATE: I'm all filled up folks. Jessica, Amy and Keri something will be coming sometime within the next year~any special requests for me to consider (though I might not do what is actually requested). For those still wanting to play along, Paula is playing (I signed up under her) and, obviously, Jessica, Amy and Keri are too!

She's MY daughter

Tug: Where is the favorite place you have lived?

{l}: New Mexico!!

Tug: Where? We have lived in 2 cities in NM. 

{l}: Albuquerque. 

{r}: My hometown. 

Regina: Your hometown? You don't even remember living in Las Cruces, you were a baby when we left. 

{r}: Oh, I know, I know. My favorite place that I have lived is Mommy's tummy. 

{l}: Why? There wasn't even furniture in there!

{r}: Yeah, but I got to drink lots of Dr Pepper.

Bringing Asia Back

I've been tagged, and not in the fun meme way . . . luckily I saw it quickly so for those who don't know the drill (mom) if you want to leave a comment feel free but it won't show until I approve it because I have comment moderation on. 

Looking at sitemeter, he came to my blog via a blog I have never visited but has the Catholic Mothers Online blogroll and since so many of 'us' have been hit I am guessing it has to do with that; so, if you are on the blogroll, you might want to consider moderation for a bit until the dude disappears. 

zai jian or sayonara . . . I'm not sure if he is Chinese or Japanese (dirty knees, look at these ~ if that is perceived as racist, it is intended only for the spamming jerk!)

Just saw via sitemeter he is actually in Taiwan . . . so just replace Japanese with Taiwanese in the above little ditty. 

WoW-6

Coming to weigh-in? Good, that makes one of you! 

I figure since some of you have already gone on the lam I can too (its my bloggy and ill ditch if i want to). This has been a pretty stressful week . . . we got some news on Tug's job and, while he still has a job (thank God) he (and his coworkers) are taking a pay cut and things aren't looking so hot (anybody have any work-from-home leads for me?) so with my Mom in town, and countless croissants in tow, it hasn't been pretty folks.  

But, today is a new day (sensing some deja vu) so time to get back on the wagon . . . eggs for breakfast anyone?

Stats:

Regina: refusing the scale

Paula: -0

Renee: didnt weigh

Amy: -0

Jessica:-1

Erica: out of town

Laura: -5, awesome

Michelle (rs):

Angela: -2.25 inches

Christine: -0

Michelle (wa): -0

Juli: +4

Keri: -1

Shelly: still no scale

Cecilia: -1.5

Michelle (ggyr): claims to be larger, scale still broken

Lori:

Mimi: -1 good job!!

Fourth of 4th

Nikki (that awesome Buckeye lover) tagged me for this . . . 4th picture in your 4th file. My early mac files don't have that many pics in them so I uploaded the 4th picture in the first folder I came across that had at least 4 pictures~which ended up being my 6th file.

Hmm, I don't know much about this picture. It was in the girls room in Oregon and I guess we were being nice letting them have the tent up. 
Think I've done this before so I won't tag anyone else.

Pain in the (r)ear

Thursday {l} got her ears pierced, which she has been wanting to do forever. All was going well until late yesterday when we noticed her developing a bit of a rash.  Behind her ears and slightly along her neck (not on her actual ears) she has reddish, itchy bumps.  Have any of you ever experienced this before and, if so, what can I do?? I think switching out the earrings is best but I heard piercing earrings are thicker to make the hole bigger . . . anyone know where to get hypo-allergenic ones?

I think someone has inherited her Dad's sensitive skin~big bummer!

WoW-5

Great week. . .I have stayed on track with the diet and have been decent with my exercise. I didn't get 6 days in but because I often double up on days (work-out twice) I did meet my 180 minute goal (30 min/6 days). I have weighed myself during the week and the scale didn't look so friendly, but we will see once I officially weigh in. 

On a scary note, my mom is coming to visit tonight and will be here until next Tues. Things don't always go so hot diet wise when I have family in town!! Last night she told me she had to go to the bakery first thing in the morning to get the raspberry croissants I love so much (actually I love strawberry ones but they don't have them right now). I started screaming "No, no, no" into the phone but she doesn't care.  Growing up she always told us kids that we needed to lose weight but would then make fried tacos for dinner. . .hmmm are those mixed signals?? See, she thinks if you exercise enough then it doesn't matter what you eat which kinda works for weight maintenance but does NOT work for weight loss. 

Starting the morning with a workout at the Y with Michelle.

Be strong. . . be strong. . .be strong!!!

Stats:

Regina: -2.5 (also lost the 1.5 I gained last week so

total of -4 but I won't count those 1.5)

Paula: -0

Renee: -0

Amy: -1.5, great job!!

Jessica: +1

Erica: -3, awesome!

Laura: -0 but still running like a crazy mama!

Michelle (rs): ±0

Angela:

Christine:

Michelle (wa): -0, yeah for loose pants

Juli:

Keri: -0

Shelly: another broken scale, uh huh

Cecilia:

Michelle (ggyr): broken scale, likely story

Lori: -0

The Great Lakes

So you MN friends might be in the land of 10,000 lakes but we here in Washington have quite a few too (and no mosquito infestation come summer~at least I don't think there is, maybe I should wait to say that until we have been here for a summer). Michelle and I have been meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays (and sometimes Fridays) at a local lake to walk. I realized in uploading the pictures I didn't take any of the actual water, but I promise it is there.  

This first picture is from the parking lot facing the lake. 

While on the walk, the kids are usually lagging behind. . .the water is just to the right but, again, you can't see it. 

Probably the coolest part is the tiny Buckeye grove (about 5 trees) at one end of the lake. We should have enough nuts to make necklaces soon!
Michelle has more picture posted here, and you can even see the water! (Michelle, if you want me to disable the link, just tell me) and you can see her other kids (2 adorable daughters plus those 2 handsome sons up there). I LOVE her older daughter because yesterday when we were on our walk she had {l} come up to me and ask if I would make her some fingerless mitts just like {l}'s. I told {l} to just give her the ones she was wearing since I could always make some more. Gotta love a kid that thinks hand knits are cool!!

Modesty

I have been meaning to post a link to Shade Clothing...a site I found a long time ago that sells (among other things) AWESOME undershirts that are long (actually can cover your butt) but also come up pretty high on the chest (and sell them without built-in bras, which is great). I love their tanks (though they have shirts, bathing suits, etc) and wear them under practically everything. They also have some for kids, though I haven't bought any, and maternity ones which I do have and they fit over my ENTIRE belly throughout my pregnancy (and I get HUGE).  

LOVE LOVE LOVE this site!!

Remember, this is supposed to be an UNDERshirt, not just a tank. Look how long it is!!

The Fathers

"Let us now devote our attention to the Apostolic Fathers, that is, to the first and second generations in the Church subsequent to the Apostles. And thus, we can see whre the Church's journey begins in history." Pope Benedict XVI

As a Catholic Company reviewer I chose to review The Fathers by Pope Benedict XVI. I have done a lot of apologetics reading but am sorely lacking in early Church Fathers history and I haven't read any of the Pope's books so I thought double score. I must say, I was a bit disappointed in this book. I was hoping more for a 'bring the saint to life' type book but this was a bit more dry. It certainly wasn't a 'sit down and devour' book for me. While there were some good points showing how The Fathers of old are certainly applicable today I felt this was more of a reference book, not one for leisurely reading. Tug, on the other hand, did like the book (he was hoping to write a bit about it but hasn't had the time). Remember though, he has recently taken some classes for a Master's of Theology so the reference aspect does appeal to him. 

I would recommend this book for those who enjoy critical thinking or like having lots of reference books. And, while you may not sit and read it cover to cover, it would be a good book to have to look through on occasion. Since each chapter is devoted to a new saint, it lends itself to occasional reading (a chapter isn't dependent on the one before it). Also, you can up your Catholic stock just by having a book authored by the Pope, right?

**click here for more information about The Fathers**

Reincarnation

I believe in it...how else could 3/4 of a sock become 1 1/4 fingerless mitts?

WoW-4

Ugh, you'd think I lost 30 pounds since I've been freezing my arse off since Monday night with the heater broken but that isn't the case. The week started great, then came Sunday and it has been all downhill from there. I even had some Dr Pepper yesterday (Tug brought it home, I didn't ask for it but I couldn't let it go to waste~should I also confess he brought it home with McDonald's which I did tell him to pick up?). I also haven't exercised since Thursday night. Today is a new day though. I am about to go on a walk and will do zumba tonight and am starting off the morning on track with SB. 

Apparently I like being fat. 

Stats:

Regina: +1.5

Paula:

Renee: -2, good job

Amy:-1, still losing!!

Jessica: —0, better than me 

Erica: -1, woo hoo

Laura: ±0, good job with your running

Michelle (rs): -3, excellente

Angela:±0, good job with your exercise

Christine: ±0, way to be consistent ;)

Michelle (wa):

Juli: -1, great job

Keri:+.8, good job working-out

Shelly:

Cecilia: -1.5, great job

Michelle (ggyr):

Lori: -2, awesome

I rock

because I have nothing else to blog about.

Laura awarded me the fomba award....I don't think I spelled the acronym right but since I forgot what the acronym stands for, I can't be sure.

 

That Laura, she sure is...funny. Yeah, funny, that's the word I am looking for. Not idiotic, moronic,  queer, or juvenile~funny for sure. 

Click frodo for more on the friggin award. 

The Super Bowl

of connect four.

A few friends came over to watch the game today including our lovely landlord who brought this with him 
a cute file folder informing us of the connect four tournament about to go down. Basically he and the kids had a double elimination tournament during half time of the game. 
The other men folk were too busy watching commercials to be bothered by silly games.
The final match pitted Col. L against our {l}...she was a ball of nerves. I love the bottom picture with her friend having both fingers crossed. Unfortunately the Col. ended up winning~oh no, he doesn't take it easy on the kids, he even beat {j} in one match. 
The kids, of course, had a great time. And remember all you Steelers fans to thank the Buckeyes for teaching their receivers to make amazing catches!