Hibernation and a Birthday Bash!

Well hello stranger, It has been several weeks since I last updated. I have been in hibernation, it has been unusually cold here this winter and I....don't really have a viable excuse. I have just been slacking big time, and not just with blogging but also with diet and exercise. Ugh..I have only last an additional 2 lbs in the last 6 weeks...I got side tracked and I guess I am lucky that I lost at all. I am trying to get back on track though, any suggestions for at home work outs? I need something new, I am currently considering Pilates...we shall see how that goes.
Another thing that has taken up a little time was a birthday party that we had last weekend in Missouri. Although I cannot claim that the planning took much time (God bless you Alana for all planning and coordinating...I love my sister!)
We had a joint party for all 4 of our kids, the twins turned 2, Ava turns 3 (next month, but we didn't want her to feel left out and develop a complex) and Colin turned....6......*sniffle* I have yet to come to terms with the fact that I actually have a 6 year old. The party was a huge success. The kids had a great time.

On another subject, I have been discussing dating again with my friends and family...who all seem to have an unusually avid interest in my social life...or the lack there of. I have been contemplating online dating...Mom thought is was great when I was in the "talking phase" but now that I am seriously considering sites like eHarmony she has reevaluated her stance on this.....what do you think? Bad idea or good idea? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Toodles

K

Parenting is hard....

Well, I have not done any major cooking this week as of yet, but I plan to try a corn casserole out either tonight or tomorrow..I'll let you know how that goes. In the meantime let me just tell you about what has been happening with my 5 year old brat.
He is getting in trouble at school, for talking, playing rough and fighting. I am at a loss as to what to do here. Each day the teacher sends home a folder with a smiley face or a sad face to let the parent know how the child's day went. If you have a sad face there will also be a short note explaining (i.e. "talking during class") Now I will say that Colin is the talkingest (I know that's not really a word, but I like it) kid you will ever meet, he even talks in his sleep sometimes. Normally Colin will get 1 sad face a week, occasionally he will get 2, sometimes he has none....this week...4.... that's right four sad faces!!!! He was sent to ISS (in school suspension) during recess on Thursday for talking and not lining up as he was instructed. I do understand that if he is fighting or hurting other children, is being corrected several times or is disrespectful that sad faces and ISS are an appropriate discipline. But, it seems that mostly he is talking, or just not listening well and never does the explanation state that he had to be corrected multiple times. The sad faces seem a little excessive to me for kindergarten. I am unsure of how to proceed at this point, I will say that Colin did finally get a happy face on Friday and did not have to return to ISS for an entire day as I feared he would. So, I am stuck trying to decide if this was just a bad week, if he is still adjusting to all these changes in his life this past year, if he is a bad egg (kidding.....mostly), or if my parenting is just lacking. I have decided to wait and see if next week is a repeat of this last (and if so I can not be held responsible for my reaction, it could get ugly). This is a time when I wish I had a partner to lean on for support and advice. Ugh, parenting is hard!

On a high note, I have lost 10 lbs as of last Thursday! Yay! I have decreased portion sizes and started exercising, but have decided I am not going to deprive myself of foods I enjoy because I will be setting my self up for failure: Eventually I will give in and eat the foods I love...in massive portions...and then I will regret it, feel terrible and the cycle will begin again. Whew..that is way to stressful.

A photo to bring a smile to your face.

Please continue to pray for my shrinking waistline and my sanity if my 5 year old continues to misbehave.
God Bless,
K

Polish chicken 'n dumplings and 7 pounds...

Well, I have been continuing my journey in the culinary arts. Last week I wanted to try a new version of an old favorite...so I found a recipe online for Polish chicken and dumplings. These are a little more dense then some dumplings but turned out well. (I have pictures...somewhere)
Colin did say that we would have to make them again sometime...and there was no dicing of chicken thighs involved so all in all it went smoothly. 
Now if I am going to really bring you in on this journey I must tell you that I also made (attempted) a recipe for what was supposed to be awesome mac'n cheese. I did not really care for the final product, Colin loved it...so it was a toss up. I really think my 5 year old would "love" anything with cheese on it so I am not taking his opinion on this dish too seriously. Probably not one I will try again. *sigh* I guess they can't all be winners. (although I don't know if it was the recipe or Me that caused the failure of this meal...I'm gonna go with the recipe)

Now onto my other resolution...as of last Thursday (I weigh at work on thursdays) I had lost 7 lbs!!  wohoo! I am hoping to continue this trend..and I will keep you updated (as if you care) on any loss....ugh or gain. I would also welcome any advice related to weight loss and any great recipes I should try.

In the meantime I will be praying that I continue to decrease the size of my waist (among other things), for successful meals, a clean kitchen, quiet children (oh please Lord) and my entire families intestinal fortitude as I continue on my cooking quest.
Amen
K

Procrastinate much?

Hello, My name is Krista....and I am a procrastinator.
Oh how I wish I wish I wasn't. I don't really know when the cycle of putting things off for anther day began, but it has had a firm hold for the last several years.
This is another resolution I guess, to change that terrible habit. I must choose to do today what shouldn't be put off until tomorrow and.....even what could at times. I will tell you that this is going to be a difficult one for me, I am after all a self proclaimed professional procrastinator. It is a job I definitely don't have to work hard at. (Sorry about that last sentence, ended with a preposition, tsk)
But I am changing, learning new things about myself and figuring out who I am and who I really want to be (these 2 don't exactly match up yet)
So I have taken the first step and admitted I have a problem, now I must begin working to change it (any suggestions?)....I'll start on that tomorrow......Ha, just kidding!

On a another topic...I would like to inform you that I have lost 4 lbs this week....yay *victory dance* go mee, go mee......let us hope that I can keep up the momentum and not let eating right and exercising fall into the I'll do it tomorrow catagory.
Lord I have a lot to work on, the list just keeps growing........but I will persevere! Amen
K

Chicken Linguine

So I made chicken linguine last night...it went well.

Colin went back for seconds, which is a good sign, although my mothers oatmeal chocolate chip cookies were his main interest.

I will say that cutting chicken thighs into small pieces is pretty difficult, I need a little practice in that area. I think I am going to enjoy learning to cook more than hamburgers, spaghetti and something out of a box.

I did NOT go back for seconds, and I exercised yesterday....so take that new years resolutions! Ha! It is only day 3, but things are looking pretty good. I will also try to keep updated on my exercise/weight loss......No I will not tell you how much I weigh, and how rude of you to ask, but I will tell you how much I lose....If I lose any. I am hoping that by telling the world ( and by the world I mean the 3 people who read my blog) that I will keep up the good work. It seems that being accountable to myself is not enough motivation usually, but if I know that someone else may be aware of my goals and may ask for updates...well I may be more inclined to continue. Embarrassment is a great motivator!
K

New years resolutions

Do you resolve to start something new, or quit something unhealthy after the first?
I do (*sigh* maybe I will keep them this time), and mine for this year are:
To spend more time with my kids playing games and doing things that they enjoy.
To eat better, eat less and exercise...I have had this as a resolution for about 5 years...it's not looking good.
And to take more time to learn new things, things I think I would enjoy that I have never made time to do before...like learning to cook well, maybe to paint or draw, do pottery of some sort, write...I have decided I am going to learn to cook for sure....I have not decided from among the others which I will make time to do.

My journey from mediocre cook to Queen of Cuisine (Hopefully) will begin tonight...I am making chicken linguine.......I'll try to keep you up to date on all the highs and lows, catastrophes, messes, hours of cleaning and possibly crying, and critiques from family including my children.....whose input will probably be either..."mmmm that's yummy"  or "oh gross Mom, do I have to eat that?"
Stay tuned
K

Countdown

My bambinos have been away at their Dads house for the past 10 days...I am going through withdrawals.
I think the longest I have gone without seeing my brats is about 3 days, and that felt like an eternity at the time. I find myself missing the pandemonium that a 5 and 2 year old can create between them.

I am missing their quirks and smiles.

And I am wondering what they are seeing, doing, learning...that I am missing. I suppose this is one of the many things about being divorced that I (and the kids) will have to acknowledge and endure . I can not image what I will do if they ever go to stay for a summer.
Well, this is starting to sound a little depressing, but I am going to pick up the kids on Thursday...only one day left, wohoo!

A little something to lighten the mood:

Aye carumba

Totally cute...except for the long line of dribble down my babys chin.

Poor dear has a salivary gland issue.

Oh my.....he was plum worn out!

I know how he feels.

Off to dream land, Where 2 year olds potty train themselves, No one has to rise before 10am, Money grows on trees and calories don't count. Oh yeah, that's where I wanna be.

K