catching up...

Things are going fine around here - a few bumps in the road every now and then but overall I am trying to count my blessings :)

I am trying to get into an exercise routine ~ finding different things to keep me motivated and excited. I actually like working out and feel so good afterwards. And honestly, it is the best way for me to lose weight!

I walked a 5K with my friends on Sunday. The walk started at 6:30 AM! Yikes!! But I dragged my booty out in the dark at 5:45 and headed out. It was a great walk and I am really glad that I did it. Brandie and I did the 5K in a little under 54 minutes. Jenn walked the 10K and Holly ran the 15K.

The 5K/10K/15Ks are sponsored by Heels and Hills, a fun and supportive group just trying to get people to be active and healthy! I love it - no hard core competition, walkers and runners together, nice group!

I am doing a 10K with them in a couple of weeks ~ looks like we will have more friends joining us this time, should be fun :)

I am also planning a 2 day a week boot camp for 3 weeks next month...again with the early morning start!! But I figure I can do it for 6 mornings and survive.

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I am finally getting some projects done and weeding out others. I have painted a couple of things for the girls with my free Glidden paint. Have more to do this weekend. My decoupage table is done and I decided to use it as my desk instead of the craft table. It fits perfectly in the kitchen.

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My Ava starts Kindergarten next month ~ I am happy and sad all at once. My beautiful, smart, imaginative wonder child is moving on to her next adventure. We are planning a special day next weekend for shopping and fun to get her ready.

Uncle Andy...

I am sad to write that my uncle/godfather passed away last Wednesday :( He was the one that didn't make it to the reunion last month. He had a heart attack and it was just too much for him. He was 77 and was like a father to me. I spent summers with the family. He was so funny and kind and generous. He was really a good man and will be terribly missed. I am so sad that I didn't get to see him and that my girls will not spend time with him. I will always remember him with his tshirt on backwards and his baseball cap sitting high on his head LOL.
I love you Uncle Andy.

neighbors...

So I bought my house in March of this year. I was so excited ~ this house is amazing and has a great neighborhood with kids. My previous owner was from my mom's board and we keep in touch via email.

I have met a few of the neighbors - I will try to meet them all before the end of the year. Everyone has been really nice and I feel great about it, except...

The house next door is a couple about my age (40s) with a son the same age as Ava (5). Keith, the husband, is very nice, laid back, pretty casual. Sue, the wife, and I have met and introduced ourselves...and that's it. She never waves, never yells out hello, nothing. I asked Monika (previous owner) if this was normal or was it me? and if she had any advice since I plan to be here for quite a while.

Luckily she told me that Sue is pretty shy and needs a lot of coaxing to come out of her shell. I don't expect us to be BFFs or anything but I don't want to be uncomfortable and not talk, you know? So I am going to plan a couple of opportunities for us to talk and get to know each other. I will get a feel of how much to expect and/or pursue.

I am a little nervous about really letting it all out with everyone - yes, the girls have 2 mommies; no, they don't have a father; no, my partner and I are no longer together but she has joint custody and will be around often; yes, my garage is full of projects (ha ha)

So, my goal is to get the house in order and invite neighbors to meet us over snacks and drinks and Capri Sun juice ~ I also host bunco in October, so I need to get busy!! LOL

okay, it's been too long since my last post...

I kept waiting to get my pictures loaded but that is taking me too long! I'll fill in pics later (or not)...ha ha!

The family reunion was wonderful! I saw family that I had not seen in 30 years. I was also missing those who were not there ~ my cousin Lee who died of AIDS in 1993, my uncle Neto who died the year after that (although all of the kids look JUST like him!) and my godparents who are still with us but had to stay home because of health issues. We all just picked up where we left off and it felt so good to be around my own.

The next week was vacation at home and celebrating the girls' birthdays.
Ava turned 5 on June 30 and her day included our favorite water park in the morning, a trip to Toys R Us to pick out a gift (she did really great with this and took her time on picking out the perfect thing ~ I think we will do this every year) and dinner at Magic Time Machine with Mama and friends.

Zoe turned 3 on July 3. We planned to go to the Dallas World Aquarium but the line was around the building. I did not want to stand in that line and then be crowded inside :(
So we went to lunch at Spaghetti Warehouse, then to Chuck E Cheese and Toys R Us for her gift selection. Mama spent the day with us for all of that. Later on we went to Cici's Pizza for dinner and then to Baskin Robbins for free birthday cones :)

I really enjoyed my time with the girls and was sad for my week to end.

We spent the 4th with Bridget's family (she wasn't there) and had a nice time being around family again. I was hesitant to go on my own with the girls but there was no need for it. I was welcomed as I have always been welcomed and loved.

Back at work this week and back to the routines. I have finally started a project! The girls' arts & crafts table. I am trying decoupage - I really like how it is turning out. I will definitely post pics of that when done. I am trying not to stress about all that I still need to do around here. I have time. But I would also like to get the house in order before Ava starts school next month (next month??? !!!). She is like me and I know she will need routine and structure to be ready for the new challenge!

I met my friend Jacki for a night out last night - we went bowling! Christene had to bow out because she wasn't feeling well, I am convinced she was intimidated by my super fabulous bowling skills! LOL It was a fun evening and I always enjoy Jacki - she makes me laugh and I really needed it.

This morning I went to my Al-Anon meeting - I have been absent for much too long. I didn't realize how much I needed to be back until I started to speak and ended up crying. I am still dealing with a lot of hurt and pain and anger with the breakup ~ keeping busy just puts a bandaid on it. But I am getting there and every day is a little better.

walking...

so I have continued my nightly mile walk since Sunday! I feel great ~ it is a little boring circling the trail 4 times to get a mile, but it is a start. :) I even have visions of running it some day - we'll see about that though. Not sure my 42 year old knees can take running!

I am getting ready to go out of town this weekend. We are having a family reunion in Austin. It will be great seeing all the family that I haven't seen in a while. My favorite cousin Milly that I spent my summers with ~ we would spend ALL day in bed reading our books, only getting up to eat. My cousin Monica who has 4 kids now. A cousin Lisa that I have not seen since we were about 12 or 13. My girls are excited to see their cousins too, the next generation :)

The girls and I will stay in Austin on our own for an extra day. I have a few things planned for us and am going to enjoy the time! Next week is both birthdays ~ Ava will be 5 and Zoe will be 3!! I am planning some fun activities all week for us. Not sure when we will have an official birthday party - need to check schedules, but it will be soon.

I finally got a digital camera so I will be posting more pictures soon ~ of my girls, of all the house projects I have planned, maybe even of cooking! I am feeling inspired :)

moving on...

I have been feeling sad the past couple of days. But in my usual way, I have kept myself VERY busy and not dealt with it too much. Bridget picked up the girls today and it all hit me. I just kind of wandered around the house and felt sad. I decided to get out of the house for a bit and get some fresh, albeit HOT, air. I did a little retail therapy, which really needs to stop. Even if it is at Dollar Tree and Big Lots, it still adds up! But anyway, then I came home and worked on straightening up a couple of rooms, but it was still gnawing at me. So I put on my walking shoes and headed out to the trail behind my house (yes, right behind my house - absolutely NO excuse for not walking). No one was out there. There was a nice breeze and I could hear the different conversations and noises as I passed the houses. I let myself relax and just think about the moment. I noticed the bunnies hopping across the my path. I listened to the birds singing in the trees. I thought about how I am able to do this. I am able to move on and be happy with my life. I will not be guilty for my relationship ending. I was one part of the equation. I am working on forgiving myself and forgiving Bridget. I don't know which one is harder.

But I feel good at this moment ~ my head is clear and I feel able to take the next step, both figuratively and literally. I am going to walk again tomorrow and I am going to move on.

one more day until friday...

I am ready for the weekend - I feel worn out for some reason.

Sunday, the girls and I met friends at the nearby rec center pool. This place is awesome - lazy river, slides, big buckets of water splashing down on you. But I got sunburned and have been in pain all week. I made sure girls were protected and forgot about me! Won't do that again!
Bridget picked up the girls that evening and I had dinner with friends.

Monday, my car got broken into at work - they busted out the front passenger window and took my GPS. I had it hidden but the holder was on the window so they had a little clue :(
My Dad has great connections from working in the auto paint & body industry for so many years. He had someone come out and replace my window and my windshield (had a crack in it - might as well replace it too) the next day. He is also getting a few other things looked at and repaired/replaced. Love my Dad :)

I had bunco on Tuesday - we had a full group and it was fun! I didn't win anything but really enjoyed the company. I host in October ~ trying to think of something to make it special, maybe a Halloween theme??

I got the girls back on Wednesday and was really happy to see them - I missed them. We decided to stop at Chick-Fil-A for dinner (free kid's meal with purchase of value meal on Wed nights!) and stayed to play for a while. The girls had fun and got nice and tired! After a bath and a few minutes of Yo Gabba Gabba, they both crashed!

I followed shortly after that LOL.