Father's Day

For father's day we got together with my parents at their house. Unfortunately we weren't able to get together with my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew due to a schedule conflict. I was bummed that I missed my brother's first father's day, but it is sometimes hard to coordinate schedules. Despite that we had a really nice visit. Kelsie is always excited when we get together in general, but she really loves it when we are celebrating something! To her it really doesn't matter what we celebrate, she just loves "special days". We had a great time! I am so blessed to have my family close enough to us that we can get together like this. I am looking forward to the next get together!

Roller Derby

We always get together with our neighbors with the kids. Well we decided it was time for us all to "escape the cul-de-sac" and go out for an adults night out on the town. We decided to check out the roller derby. We weren't sure what to expect as none of us had ever been to that one before, but it turned out to be a really fun night. It was great to watch the games and we were amazed at how strong some of those women are! We sat up above the rink and were able to see everything really clearly without being in danger of getting run over. We will remember next time to bring our own chairs, because there is very limited seating unless you want to sit in the "danger zone". Other than that we had lots of fun.

Afterward we went out and played some darts. Mike and I won which is pretty amazing considering it was my very first time to play darts!! I have to say though I definitely had some beginners luck. I got at least two bullseyes and made some other pretty good shots. It was a great night and I hope we get another opportunity to "escape the cul-de-sac" soon!

Our Trip to Mike's Work

Mike took Heather, Heather's sister Sonja, me, and the kids to take a tour of NASA. None of us had ever gone before and it was very exciting to see everything that you usually see on TV up close. I had worked there before, but Mike was able to take us in places even I hadn't seen before. The kids enjoyed it, but I think the adults had even more fun. It is really neat to see and hear about the innerworkings of NASA.

The highlight for everyone was when we went into the old mission control room. We could touch and play with all the equipment and pretend like we were working a mission. To top it all off the kids had a chance to run around and were able to explore more than anywhere else, which made for a good break for them. I am so sad that much of what we learned about may not exist if the current administration has thier way. I am glad I got to see everything before that happens!

Maja's Birthday Party

We went to Jump and Jungle for a friend's birthday party. Kelsie had so much fun!! As always she wanted us to accompany her on most things, but we were very pleased that she handled the party so well. The only hiccup we had was when it was time to move to the party room from the play area. She of course wasn't ready to stop playing, but after a little consoling we were able to get her into the party room. Considering this is the first birthday party we have had in a while I would say it went great! I will definitely consider taking her to Jump and Jungle more often now that she doesn't seem to be as bothered by the noise.

First Time on the Zipline

At occupational therapy one of our main goals is to get Kelsie to try new things and take risks. We have been going for about a year now and she has never even considered trying the zipline until the last time she went. Out of the blue she said she wanted to do the zipline! Although it is hard to tell Ms. Mary is barely helping her at all. I was so happy that she asked to try something new without prompting!!! I hope this trend continues!

Kelsie's First Family Portrait

Kelsie decided to draw a picture of our family, which is a huge deal for her since she hardly ever wants to draw. She drew a family portrait of the three of us and I think she did a great job! She was very proud of herself and so were we!

Swim Lessons

We started swim lessons at the YMCA this week. We thought she might do a little better if other kids were around for her to watch. She seems to enjoy them and she loves her teacher Mr. John. He is really patient and kind to her even when she doesn't want to do what he asks of her. I am pleased that he knows how to push her just out of her comfort zone without getting her too upset. He already has gotten her to put her face in the water which is always a battle with her!

Also, unlike last summer, she says she really likes swim lessons. She asks all day when she gets to go. She even discusses them with the child watch folks apparently. I am so happy that she is really having a good time. I think it is so important for her to learn to swim and it is so much easier to take her to lessons when she enjoys them!

Kelsie's First time at another YMCA

Today we went to the other YMCA I am a member of for the first time. I was so proud that Kelsie walked in like she had always been there! She is really enjoying the YMCA child care areas and I couldn't be happier for both of us. It allows me to workout without worrying about how she is doing and it keeps her in the habit of having someone else care for her for a little while. I hope it continues to go this well all summer!!

I finally reached my weight loss goal!

I started my weight loss journey in March of 2009 at 10lbs overweight and essentially no exercise besides normal activity. I began by making small changes to my diet and exercising a few times a week. Those changes slowly became big changes. As I continued to alter my diet and began exercising daily. For the first year and a half I exercised exclusively at home, but hit a plateau and found myself unable to lose those last 5lbs. Well, in April I joined the YMCA and I am extremely happy to report that I finally reached my final weight loss goal! While I will still continue to work on toning up and getting even more fit, I am able to proudly say that I do not feel that I need to lose any more weight!!!

I have now lost a total of 32lbs!!! I can't believe it! I never thought I could get this far. I am so proud that I have finally made it to where I am today and I am excited about looking into a way to help others reach their goals.

Before

After

Sprinkler Fun

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First Time on the Slip and Slide

Our friend Nick from next door got a slip n' slide and had it setup for the neighborhood kids. Kelsie wasn't too sure about it at first, but she decided it was a lot of fun. She didn't really try to slide on it by herself, but she would let me help her slide on it into the little pool at the end. All the kids had a blast! It was a perfect way to spend a warm summer evening!


Ms. Heather was getting frustrated that none of the kids slid correctly, so she decided to show them how it was done despite the fact that she was fully dressed. It was pretty funny!

Kelsie's End of Year Program

Kelsie has been excited about her end of the year program for weeks. She comes home singing the songs and talks about practicing at school all the time. She asked almost every day if the program was that day. I love to see her get so excited, but it is really hard to explain time to a four year old.

They finally had the program and it was adorable! They had the youngest kids perform first and I think only one of the kids actually sang, but it was very cute to watch them all do the hand movements. Then the rest of the school came out to perform. They sang songs and said a bible verse or two. Kelsie was so happy and proud! She sang and did everything she was supposed to. We were all proud of her and loved watching her shine! :)

Afterward they had a slide show of all the kids throughout the year. It was wonderful, because we got to see the kids in true form at school. As a parent you only get to see them at school during parties or special events, so to see them captured at times when you can't be there is a special thing. It also reminds you how much they have grown throughout the year. They get big so fast!!

Unfortunately, the end of the year program marks the end of the school year. Kelsie loves her school and her friends and school so much that it is hard to see it end. She is very sad that she won't be in Ms Jana and Ms Cristina's class anymore. I hope she enjoys next year as much as she has this one!

Mother's Day Part 2

On Sunday we got together with Mike's mom to celebrate Mother's day. We fixed enchiladas, Grammy's favorite, for dinner. Afterward we visited and exchanged gifts. Kelsie as always was being a turkey about taking pictures, but she did better once we had her take a serious picture and then allowed her to take one with a funny face. For some reason that is her favorite way to take pictures right now.

It was a really nice way to spend Mother's day. We had a very relaxing and fun evening. I am so glad we were able to get together with everyone over the weekend. We are so fortunate that both grandmas live so close!

Mother's Day Part 1

On Saturday we celebrated Mother's Day with my family at my mom and dad's house. We had a nice lunch and then my brother and sister-in-law took the kids (and Lola their lab)swimming for a little while in the pool. Kelsie was so excited about going swimming until it came time to get in the water. For some reason she didn't want her swimsuit to get wet. She eventually did get in the water at the steps, but that is as far as she wanted to go. I think she may have been a little afraid that Lola might knock her in, but she got over that after a while. She had a good time throwing the ball to Lola and watching her jump in and out of the pool. She had even more fun when my mom brought out the water guns. She enjoyed squirting everyone!

As always it was a great family get together. After swimming we went in and opened gifts and had some dessert. (Kelsie's favorite part) Then we visited until it was time to go. It was a lovely way to spend mother's day with my family!

Maja's Birthday Party

Kelsie was invited to her friend Maja's birthday party. I wasn't sure how it would go, because it was at one of those jump places and Kelsie sometimes loves them and sometimes hates them. Luckily this time it wasn't too bad. She wanted someone to come with her at first, but eventually she got to the point where she would go down the smaller slide by herself and she would go jump by herself. She seemed to have a really good time until it was time to stop playing. By that point I think all the commotion of the party caught up with her. She had a little meltdown, but she recovered fairly quickly and we were able to go enjoy the pizza and cake at the end of the party. Overall I was very impressed with how Kelsie did and we all had a great time!

Playdate with our Mommy's Group

With the weather being so nice lately, I decided to host an outdoor afternoon playdate for our mommy's group. I limited the number of kids, so that it wouldn't get out of hand and it turned out wonderfully. All the kids played very well together and it was nice to see them all having such a great time. We ordered pizza for dinner and the older kids were thrilled! I hope to have more playdates like these before the weather gets unbearable this summer!

Playtime at the Park with Abbie and Timmy

We went out to luch with our friends Denise, Abbie, and Timmy. Afterward we went to a park we had never been to before that the kids all loved. It had several hills, some ball fields, and lots of playground equipment for the kids to play on. It was such a perfect day to be out at the park and the kids had a blast. Kelsie didn't want to leave when it was time, but we had been out there so long that it was way past naptime. She was definitely worn out, becuase she took an extra long nap. We will definitely be going back to that park soon!

The YMCA

The YMCA was having a special that allowed me to join without paying a membership fee, so I decided to join at least for the summer. I was very hesitant about putting Kelsie in the childcare area, because I didn't know how she would react. Mike and I decided to take a tour of the facility and while we did we put Kelsie in the childcare area. She walked in like she had been going there for years! I was so impressed that she didn't even look back when we left the area. When we came back she was busy playing with a puzzle and they said she did great the whole time! I can't wait to start working out there!

Easter Sunday

Kelsie couldn't wait to see what the Easter Bunny brought her when she woke up on Easter Sunday! She came and got us out of bed and kept saying let's go see what the Easter Bunny brought me. She really loved it all. She got lots of cute stuff including a sticker/coloring book, some figurines, a fishing game, a mini bubble machine, and a stamp set. She couldn't wait to try it all out! She played with it all morning and was looking forward to showing everyone what she got when my family got here.


Through some of this video Kelsie was being a turkey and closing her eyes. That is her new thing when she doesn't want her picture taken!


Kelsie showing us what she got from the Easter Bunny

My family came over to celebrate with us around lunch time. We all had some BBQ and then did an Easter Egg Hunt for Kelsie. All through the hunt Kelsie kept asking if there were more eggs to find. She didn't want it to be over. It didn't take long for her to find them all with a little help from everyone. After the hunt we went back in to let her see what was in her eggs and we all opened our gifts from my mom and dad. Kelsie and Riley both got cute Easter Baskets filled with goodies from grandma and grandpa. They both seemed to like everything they got.


Kelsie hunting for Easter Eggs


Kelsie opening her Easter Eggs

I was pleasantly surprised that Kelsie wanted more to do with Riley this time. She gave him hugs and kisses and she wanted to know what he was "saying" the whole time. She got really upset each time he would cry and wanted to know how to make him stop. She was a very concerned older cousin. I can't wait until he gets a little older and they can interact more. I think Kelsie is going to love having a little cousin to play with!

We had such a great day! The weather was beautiful and everyone had a wonderful time visiting. I can't wait for us all to get together again soon!

Timmy's Birthday Party

Our friends Denise and Martin's son Timmy turned one and we went to his birthday today at the park. It was a perfect day for it and the kids had a blast. They got to play on the playground, bust a pinata, and have cake what more could a kid ask for! :) Although it was during nap time Kelsie had a great time. She wasn't even ready to leave despite the fact that we were there for almost 3 hours! She just loves being outside anyway, but when you add a playground and party she was happy as could be.

After the party Kelsie still wasn't tuckered out. We ate dinner and she spent the rest of the evening playing with Nick and Sophia outside. I couldn't believe she had enough energy to run around with them after all the activity that went on today. I am not complaining though, because we all had a wonderful day filled with lots of fun!

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

Since all the neighbor kids (Nick, Sophia, and Kelsie) were going to be around for Easter weekend we decided to have them do multiple Easter egg hunts. This morning was the neighborhood one we planned. Each house had 24 eggs hidden in the front yard and then we let the kids have at it. They all did really well, but they kept following each other instead of spreading out to find the eggs. It took them quite a while to find all the eggs, because we did hide some pretty well. I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't any fighting over eggs and they all came out with enough to fill their baskets.

Once the three of them had found all the eggs, Kelsie and Sophia started taking turns hiding their eggs for the each other to find. Nick stayed out and searched for a little while, but then he was done so the girls continued to take turns hiding their eggs from each other. We started the egg hunt around 10 and they were still enjoying hiding eggs for each other to find when we finally decided to go in for lunch around noon! It was such a fun morning and it was a great way to keep the kids out playing and enjoying the beautiful weather we had today!

Coloring Eggs

We got together with our neighbors yesterday to dye some Easter Eggs. It was Kelsie's first time and she wasn't really sure about it at first. She seemed to enjoy it, but she definitely took the speed dying approach. She would put the egg in the dye for a couple of seconds pull it out and be done with it. She had no interest in trying to let it sit and darken like Nick and Sophia would. Everyone had a good time and it was a perfect activity for such a dreary day.

Kelsie's School Easter Party

Thursday was Kelsie's school Easter Party. She was so excited about it for days before it actually happened, because her teacher told the kids she was making mini cupcakes for the party. I always enjoy the school parties too, because I get to see her interact with her teachers and classmates which I don't have a chance to do very often. She had a great time and had no trouble leaving to go to tumblebus afterward despite the fact that I was there. The only thing she seemed to get upset about was that I hung out on the playground with some of the other parents without her while she was at tumblebus. I explained quickly that I was there waiting for her and she seemed to accept that, but she still didn't seem to like me being on the playground without her!:)

Easter Bunny

We took Kelsie to see the Easter Bunny on Friday and she was super excited. She didn't seem to have any problems until it was time to sit on his lap. She let me sit her on his lap without any issues, but we had a really hard time getting her to crack even a hint of a smile. She finally did smile a little at the end. I asked Kelsie why afterward and she said she was afraid the Easter Bunny would look at her. In other words she was a little scared of him. I can see why. I mean really how many times are you asked to sit on a big bunny in your lifetime?!? I am just glad that she did it and we got a pretty cute picture out of it to boot!

The Rodeo

We decided to take Kelsie to the Livestock show and carnival at Rodeo Houston. She loved it! She liked riding the train (metro rail) into the stadium. She enjoyed seeing all the animals and really loved the little petting zoo they had there. Surprisingly she also wanted to ride several of the rides they had at the carnival. She rode a genie ride with kids she didn't know which really shocked us. She also gave a kiddie roller coaster a try. She did say that it was a little scary, but that it was fun.

Her favorite part was a little section they had for the kids to act like farmers. They collected milk, wool, and some crops by doing certain tasks (like milking a cow or planting a seed) and then the kids sold their crops at the end. She was really excited when she realized that the money she made would buy her a real juice and snack! She couldn't stop talking about that for the rest of the time we were there. Kelsie is really into what is real vs pretend right now, so it thrilled her that the snack was real!

I can't wait to go again next year! I hope by then she will be ready to experience the actual rodeo by then, but we will see.

Our Visit with Riley

We went to visit Riley again now that everyone was finally well in their household. Unfortunately they have been passing a cold back and forth between them for a few weeks! Kelsie finally agreed to hold Riley (with a little help of course)! I think she liked it, because this time she wanted to sit by whomever was holding him. She even kissed him on the head a few times. As usual a little too quick for a picture.

We had a really nice visit at my brother and SIL's house and then we went to eat at Stake and Shake (one of my favorite restaurants). I was worried when there was a wait at the restaurant, but both kids did wonderfully! No crying, no whining and Kelsie ate fairly well given that it was only her second time eating there. I can't wait to visit again!

Kelsie's First time Carpooling to MDO

Yesterday morning Kelsie rode with Ms. Heather and Sophia to MDO for the first time! I couldn't believe how willing she was to do it and Heather said she didn't give her any trouble when she dropped the girls off. We have decided to switch off every other day from now on, so the girls can stay used to that routine. Kelsie even asked if she could ride with them again today. I explained that we were going to take Sophia today and she would ride with them on Tuesday and she said "that's a great idea Mommy!". I am so excited that my big girl is trying so many new things lately!

Zoo

Our fun day at the zoo!

Valentine's Party

Kelsie loves party days at MDO, and her Valentine's party was no exception. They had ice cream sundaes for their special treat and got to hand out Valentines to each other. She loved playing with everyone after the party. I was excited to get a few pictures with her classmates. Kelsie decided it was her turn to take some pictures and she actually did a really good job. I was a little worried about attending the party that day, because she was supposed to go to tumble bus afterward. I just wasn't sure if she would be OK with me leaving, but I had nothing to worry about. She lined up without even saying goodbye to me! I was so proud of her!

Our Independent Girl

Kelsie has really started to work on becoming more independent especially at her school! The school offers a few after school activities that we decided to let her try. The first, tumblebus, was completely her idea. Tumblebus is a bus that has been converted into a gym class. She LOVES it and she can't wait until Thursday when she gets to go. Someone comes and gets her from class and takes her, which is where I thought she would have a problem. Apparently she does great!

The second is called stay and play. She stays after on Wednesdays and they take her to a new classroom with different teachers to do craft projects and play. So far she loves that too. She always wants to know what they will be doing for the day. Although I can't always tell her, she is still excited to go. Every time I go to pick her up they say she had a great time and had no problems with her.

Those two activities are huge leaps from where we were when we started this school year. She wanted no part of tumblebus when if first started. She always would say she was too little and would only try it when she got bigger. I am so proud that she has decided completely on her own to give it a try. I was a nervous wreck the first days of both after school activities, because Kelsie has a tendency to say she wants to do something but then throw a fit when it comes time to do it. I was pleasantly surprised that she seems to have had no problems this time! In fact she couldn't wait to tell me all about it when I picked her up. :)

Today she shocked me again by deciding to try the drop off at school. We tried the drop off line when it first started as well and she threw a fit and cried when I dropped her off even though she said she wanted to try it. However when I suggested she try it today, because it was raining and very cold outside, she agreed without too much hesitation. Again I was nervous to see how it went once I left. Again I was pleasantly surprised that she did great! When I asked her teacher about it, she said that she walked in line and got her stuff out without any help. She even told her teacher what a big girl she was for doing the drop off today!!

I know to some kids these are very small steps toward independence, but in our world these are HUGE steps. Kelsie has been very slow to separate from mommy in any way. I am so proud of her for taking these steps. I am especially happy to see how proud she is of herself! Hopefully this trend will continue, so I won't have to worry so much when the time comes for kindergarten.

Kelsie Met Riley

Kelsie finally got to meet her new cousin Riley this past weekend. She was so excited on the way over to my brother and SIL's house. As soon as we got there we introduced her to her new cousin. She wasn't sure what to think. I honestly think she was disappointed that he couldn't do much right now. We tried to get her to hold him, but she wasn't having it! I think she was a little scared and jealous of him. The whole day she avoided sitting by whoever was holding him. I just think it is going to take some time for her to adjust to sharing the spotlight with Riley. Hopefully after a few more meetings and when he is able to do a little more she will want to have more to do with him. For now we will just have to take what we can get from her!

Luckily while we were there she got some special treatment, because my brother and SIL weren't able to make it to her birthday party. They had her presents from them and some cupcakes for her to celebrate. She even said that the celebration they planned was "The best party ever!". I am glad she got to have her moment in the spotlight. She also got some special one on one time wiht my brother when he took her upstairs to help him play guitar. Hopefully it helped lessen the blow of having to share it the rest of the day.

Our Little Star

At Kelsie's MDO they assign each child a week to be the "Star Student". This week is Kelsie's week and she was very excited to be the line leader and to get to talk about her poster they have them do for the week. It asks them their favorite color, favorite food, how old they are, for a picture of the student, for a picture of their family, their favorite place, what they want to be when they grow up, their favorite thing to do, and what they would wish for if they had one wish.

Kelsie has always said she wants to be a Fireman and a Doctor when she grows up so she can help people. She wanted to add teacher to the mix while doing her project, but there was only so much room on the poster! :) I love it that they do things like this at her school. I think it helps make each student feel very special. At least I know it did for Kelsie!

Welcome to the world Riley Grant Atnip!

On Friday, January 15th our nephew Riley Grant Atnip was born. He was 6lbs and 18in long! I got to go meet him right after he was delivered via c-section. Mike got to meet him the next day at the hospital. We can't wait for Kelsie to meet her newest cousin and see how she reacts! We are so excited that he is finally here and that mom and baby are healthy!

A Day of Parties

The Sunday after Kelsie's birthday we were invited to two of her best friends' parties, Sophia and Abbie. Luckily the first one was Sophia's and was right next door, so we were able to make it to both of them without having to rush around too much.



Sophia's party was a princess party. I didn't think Kelsie was going to participate too much, because as usual when she saw that there were more people than just Sophia and Ms. Heather there she clung to me and didn't want to do anything for the first few minutes. Once they started the crown and wand projects she finally decided she would give it a try. It was so cute to see all the kids making their crowns and wands and then dressing up as princesses and there was even a prince at the party (Nick). Kelsie and I both had a great time and she dressed up along with the rest of the kids, which really surprised me since she hardly ever wants to play dress up at home. It was such a cute idea for a party and everyone had a blast!



Next it was Abbie's party. Her party was Tinkerbell themed and it was very casual, but still so much fun. Abbie's cousins were there and they both went out of their way to make Kelsie feel included in the festivities. They played pin the tail on the donkey, chase, and there was even a pinata. Kelsie tried it all, but decided that she really didn't like hitting the pinata. Instead she wanted the bigger kids to break it open and she just wanted the prizes inside! We stayed there until almost dinner time and then it was time to head back home.

Kelsie had a blast at both parties. She didn't even seem to miss her nap that day at all. However once we got home I could tell she was tired from all the excitement!

Kelsie's 4th Birthday Party

For Kelsie's 4th birthday, we decided to keep it small and have it at Chuck E. Cheese. It was great! Her 2nd and 3rd birthdays were at places where they charged for 10 kids, so we always had at least that many, and those parties were just crazy. This year we only had 5 kids inlcuding Kelsie, and it was so much better.

Chuck E. Cheese was great place to have her party. The hostess was great. She did practically everything for us.

When it came time for the celebration, Kelsie was treated very special and she really got a kick out of it. She was so excited that the "real" Chuck E. was there. Her table was the closest to Chuck E., so he interacted with her quite a bit.

All the kids had a great time! Kelsie, Sophia, and Nick kept riding a roller coaster simulator together. It was really cute and their expressions, which we could see in a monitor on top of the machine, were quite funny.

Kelsie got a lot of tickets from the games, and Abbie and Emma were so nice and gave her their tickets as well.

We were very pleased with how everything turned out. Chuck E. Cheese was definitely the way to go. All the kids had a great time and I really feel that we got more than what we paid for, which has not been the case for her other birthdays. We all had a blast and her smiles made it all worth while!

4 Year Pictures

We had pictures taken on Kelsie's birthday for her 4 yr pictures. Since it is so close to Valentine's Day we also went ahead and had some done in her Valentine's outfit. She did a great job and we got lots of cute pictures. It was really hard to narrow down our choices!

Skating

For several months before Christmas Kelsie kept asking for some roller skates. I think she got the idea from one of her favorite cartoons "Max and Ruby". Well we decided to get her some Dora roller skates with the knee pads and elbow pads to go with it. We decided to let her give them a try for the first time in the cul-de-sac. At first she really seemed to get a kick out of them, but then her foot slipped a little and that was the end of that for now at least. I never gave it much thought, but learning to roller skate is hard work. It requires balance and coordination that is hard for little ones to master. I hope she decides to give them another try in a few months. I know better than to ask now, because it is too fresh in her mind!

2010 New Year's Resolutions

Since I was successful in keeping my resolutions last year, I decided to go ahead and make some for this year as well.

1. Continue to Exercise a minimum of 4 times a week
2. Continue to work on improving my diet and the family's diet
3. Spend more Quality time with my family
4. Try to stop worrying so much about what the future holds
5. Work on cherishing everyday and trying not to take things for granted

I realize most of these are repeats from last year, but I want to keep making progress on those areas. Hopefully I will be able to improve even more in 2010! I hope I can keep my resolutions this year like I did in 2009!

2009 New Year's Resolutions

At the beginning of the year last year (2009) I decided to make some New Year's Resolutions for the first time since high school. I felt that if I wrote them down I would be more likely to keep them. I am pleased to say that I have been able to keep them and have even done better than I ever thought I would on number 1 and 2.

1. Eat Healthier and hopefully get Mike and Kelsie to do the same
2. Exercise more
3. To have more patience especially when it comes to Mike and Kelsie
4. Take a little more time to myself (hopefully this will help with #3)
5. To cherish everyday and not take anything for granted - life is just too short

Resolution 1 - At first eating healthier didn't come easy, and honestly it still doesn't sometimes, but I have made some huge improvements over the past year. Mike and I both have reduced the amount of red meat we eat, increased the amount of fruits and vegetables we eat, and decreased the sweets we eat. I even took it a step further in that I gave up sodas completely and I drink mostly water. Kelsie as you can imagine is a challenge when it comes to changing her eating habits. However I am pleased to report that she is eating a larger variety of food than when the year started and she has been eating lots of fruits again lately. Vegetables and meats are still a struggle with her, but the idea was improvement not a complete overhaul!

Resolution 2 - Working exercise into my daily routine just didn't seem possible to me at first, because it seemed like I was always tired. In fact for the first two months of the year I just couldn't seem to make it work. However in March I got very serious and decided to wake up early enough to fit at least 30 minutes of exercise a day into my routine. Once I got started it just grew from there. Since March I am proud to say that with every few exceptions I workout from 30-60 minutes everyday and I even have some days when I work out twice a day. I am also very proud of the fact that because of the first 2 resolutions I lost 27 lbs in 2009! I feel so much healthier and I have a lot more self esteem. I still have some more toning up to do, but I am very happy with how far I have come.

Resolution 3 - Again I am not perfect, but I feel like I have made some great strides in this area as well. I think feeling better has made me much more patient in all areas of my life and I am so thankful for that. It can be very stressful staying home with a 3 yr old especially when they throw attitude your way about what seems to be everything some days. Over this past year I have tried to find the humor in everything even the most taxing situations and that has helped me to take a deep breath before deciding how I react to Kelsie and Mike in those times when you just want to scream.

Resolution 4 - Mike, my wonderfully supportive and loving husband, has helped tremendously with this one. He seems to know when I need a break and often pushes me to take one even when I don't feel I deserve one. I am one of those lucky few that has an equal partner in parenting and in household responsibilities. Although Mike works and I stay home he recognizes that being home doesn't always mean you can accomplish everything you need to with a 3 yr old underfoot, so he willingly helps with the household chores that often have to go undone during the day. Having the frequent breaks have made all the difference in the world to me and I cherish my husband for making sure I take them.

Resolution 5 - This last one is a tough one and is something I plan to continue to work on each year. It is sometimes hard to cherish those days when nothing seems to go right and you feel like you have failed at everything you have attempted that day. I do cherish my life and my family. I am so thankful to have a wonderful daughter and husband to love and share my life. They make even the hard days bearable and worth it all!

I am very proud that I made such strides in accomplishing all my resolutions this past year. I am thankful that my husband has been so supportive and willing to help me in my quest. Hopefully I will be just as successful in reaching my 2010 resolutions (but that is a different post altogether! :))