It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Ok, I'm officially ready for summer...anyday now would be fine.

I do not like cold weather. Period. I can never get warm enough. But you can always get cooler when you're warm, especially in Charleston. Two words- THE BEACH.

I am SOOOOO ready to...

...wear skirts and sandals...

...go barefoot...

...sit on the beach...

...get sun-kissed...

...eat ripe fruit...

...do nothing just because I feel like it...

...search for sharks' teeth...

...BBQ...

...go to the water park...

Are you feeling warmer yet???

The Biggest Loser...

We, as a family, love watching The Biggest Loser (NBC) on Tuesday nights. It's really inspiring to see reality TV that actually changes people's lives for the better. Now, granted, they do vote off someone each week, but the voted off person still goes home and stays motivated because they have to come back to the Grand Finale lookin' good.

The new season started last night with couples as teams- first time they've ever done this. Teams of mother/son; husband/wife; EXhusband/wife (that's the drama thrown in there); friends; teammates; etc. One set last night was a dad and daughter who's combined weight was way over 600 lbs- dad alone was 400+. The saddest part- he really didn't want to be there and she did. She wanted to change her life, save her dad's, bond, etc, but he just didn't have the motivation and drive that she did. (Ironically, he lost 19 lbs in the first week, and she only lost 7 and was in the gym WAY more than him- he kept sleeping.) They were the first team voted off- she was so upset.

I think what hit me was he had THE OPPORTUNITY of a lifetime and he blew it. I mean, can you IMAGINE how many people try to get on that show and don't? It was disappointing to see someone disregard something so exciting and so important. I don't think he realized how hard he was going to have to work. I guess he really WAS the "biggest loser".

It just made me think about oppotunities that pass us by all the time because we are too lazy to accept the challenge. I'm too tired, too busy, that's nice for someone else, etc...and we BLOW IT. We miss something awesome that could change our lives forever.

Keep your eyes open in 2008. And watch The Biggest Loser- you'll be inspired to at least TRY.

Bloggin about my bum...

Now isn't this a great way to start the New Year? :o)

Today I went shopping for pants. Pants are a REAL issue for me...and for every other woman in America, I'm sure. It seems like designers and manufacturers must all be male, because I have the hardest time finding pants that fit my hips and thighs (wide) and also my waist (narrow). They ALWAYS are too big in the waist. (And I am too frugal to pay someone to tailor, although Stacy and Clinton keep telling me I MUST. So I may.) No one seems to *get* it. I'm shaped like a pear.

Ok- I'm gonna brag. (Sorry. It's part of the story here.) Since May of 2007, I have lost almost 20 lbs and about 2 sizes. SO- just so you know, ladies- it's STILL hard to find pants that fit! Size doesn't always matter. I'm still shaped like a pear.

And jeans are actually easier to shop for. Probably because most jeans have a little *give* and stretch, so I can go a bit smaller to get them to fit in the waist, knowing they will stretch out the in the thighs and hips.

So today I was in Banana Republic. I had a gift card. I normally do not shop here, simply because I am frugal and just can't bring myself to pay $60 for a pair of pants (nor can I afford to). But today I discovered that EXPENSIVE PANTS FIT! Ok, maybe you knew this- but I was VERY EXCITED. And also frustrated. Because now I'm spoiled- I will definitely be shopping here more, and paying more for pants. But, my job requires that I wear *nice* clothes, so I guess I'll just have to...*sigh*...

And by the way- my pants were $24 and $17! Not too bad- sales are a good thing.

Thank you, BR, you must hire someone who knows how to dress a woman. Anyone know where else I should shop??

What's this post got to do with my bum? Three to four miles 3-4 days a week on the elliptical can make your bum look goooooooooooooood in pants that fit...;o)

The LAST post of 2007...

It's been a great year for us, with a lot of changes and fun. I'm currently working on my 2007 family scrapbook (all digital this year!), and it's nice to remember back on all the things we experienced this year...Jacob and David's baptisms; my college roommate visiting; David's 13th birthday on Easter; visits with the Bogles; picking strawberries in April; my downtown photo safari with Angie; Palmetto Bible Camp; ROME, ITALY; Mullet Hall for the last time; lazy summer days at the beach; me starting a full-time job; driving through the mountains and seeing Pretty Place with Tommy and Becky; kitchen remodel; Alyne home for Christmas...wow. A blessed year- not surprised.

So here is the last post of 2007- I'm going to show you what we've done over the past week. Hang on!



I love my new kitchen more every day!! It makes me want to stretch out my arms and sing each morning when I walk in, just like Cinderella in a fairy tale! It's so neat and clean and shiny and organized and spacious...we just love hanging out. And we even love emptying the dishwasher- wonder how long that will last??


Next are random photos of some of my favorite Christmas things...

Our tree...


Our baking...(love my kitchen!!!)....


Friends' and family's well-wishes...


My gift tags...I copied the idea, but don't you LOVE IT???


Candles candles candles...


My pink tree with flamingo ornaments...(I also had a Noah's Ark tree and a Hershey Elf tree at one time- I liked themed trees)...




Santa left David and Jacob some "little bottled Cokes" in our fridge on Christmas morn...in the originally-shaped bottles! Cool surprise, Santa!

Alyne came home for Christmas!! We were SO excited! We wish she would stay...goodbye is not fun.

Our traditional Mexican feast with family...and traditional photo taken by the waiter!


Making Christmas cookies on December 24th...

HAPPY NEW YEAR, YA'LL! See you next year!

That's what Christmas is all about...

Charlie Brown: (shouting in desperation) Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?

Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you. Lights, please. [a spotlight shines on Linus]

Linus Van Pelt: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men'". That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Bear is BAAAAAck...

Tommy and Becky and Larry and I had a staff retreat for church camp in November- Palmetto Bible Camp is in the SC/NC mountains. They took us to "Pretty Place" at Camp Greenville (an outdoor chapel overlooking a valley and a range of mountains)- and it sure was pretty! We took Bear, too, who also enjoyed the view. It was SO cold but such a beautiful lookout...I could have sat there all day but they had a wedding coming in...

These are for you, Becky!

The last Days...

It's been a busy week, with the kitchen going on and school coming to an end...where I left off...???

Day Eleven was Saturday- they laid out countertops, put in appliances, and did all the detail stuff. They were here ALL day- it was rough. Day Twelve (Monday) and Day Thirteen (Tuesday) were the last days of painting, touch-up, plumbing for the sink/dw, adjusting cabinet doors/drawers, etc etc etc. SO...Wednesday we started moving in! It's going to take me all afternoon Friday (we get out of school at noon) and all day Saturday to empty boxes and figure out where it all goes. I'm posting past photos, but I'll show more when we get some decor up. We LOVE LOVE LOVE it and are still overwhelmed that it's OURS. It's such a turn-around. BTW- we christened the oven on Wednesday night with frozen pizzas and Tollhouse cookies...ahhh....

And the bonus photo is the ONLY still shot I got of my sweet, fast-moving 18 month old nephew. All the other 20+ are blurs. Whew...forgot what having a toddler was like!