The year that flew by...

Wasn't it just yesterday that we were ringing in 2013?? No? It sure feels like that to me. This year, my oldest kiddo started High School, my middle daughter turned 10 (TEN?!? *Sobs into pillow*) and my youngest turned 1 year old! I promise you, I only blinked! Siiiigh.

This has been such a busy year, full of football, and soccer, and school functions, overseeing homework, trying (sometimes not so successfully) to keep the house running smooth, team leading a monthly weight loss challenge... Sometimes it truly felt like we were constantly on the go go GO. We had our downs, fights with the teenager, fights between the hubby and myself, being broke more times than we can count, dealing with a few extra nasty bouts of depression, getting sued the week before Christmas over a medical bill that we never received!! That one was the icing on the cake. Having to scrimp and scrounge and beg and borrow to pay a bill right before Christmas when you haven't bought a single present yet. That my friends SUCKED.

But we have also had many many ups. Watching my youngest daughter J take her first steps, chasing said daughter around the house just a few days after that (because once she realized she could go, she went) watching my son M play High School football and then wrestling (and daaaayum he is good!) as well as becoming a more responsible kid, watching my middle daughter L play soccer, and actually throwing a (small) bday party for L where she could actually have friends over! That was the highlight of her year, I think. Being so close to Christmas, she always seems to get the short end of the stick. I have continued losing weight (tho have recently stalled something awful) but I am continuing to eat sooo much better than I had been the year before.

Some of our ups captured on pic:

L, ready for her Choir Concert

M, winning his very first wrestling match.

Enjoying lots of silly play time with baby J

Mr and I got dolled up for his company Christmas Party: (ok, this was pre-dolled up in the parking lot at the hotel. We hadn't put on our formal outfits yet)

Ohhhh yeeeah, and I fit my ass into a pair of size XL pajamas! That had coffee cups all over them. Can you say perfect? LOL

Things really haven't been that bad. And if I think about it, there really has been more good than bad this year, which seems rare lately. I am looking forward to 2014 and all of the things it brings. While I'm not doing resolutions per say, I plan on focusing more on life. Spending more quality time with my family, reclaiming my house from all this clutter, continuing to live a healthier more active life in general. This WILL be my healthiest year ever.  There are great things in store. believe that! Keep looking ahead and just you watch!

We wish for you nothing but the best of luck, the sweetest of love, and the greatest of friends in this coming year.

Sending you all lots of love and light!

So, what are your hopes for 2014?

Merry Christmas!!

For a while there, we really didn't think we were going to have much of a Christmas. Getting sued a week before Christmas over a medical bill that we never received really sucks. I'm still a bit bitter that it all went down the way that it did. The stress, ohhh gawd, the stress. But, by the grace of God, some very smart shopping, and a lot of help from some truly amazing friends (some of who I have never even met in person yet!) we were able to pull off not just a nice Christmas, but one of the best we've had in years.

I know that it isn't about material things, believe me I really do know this. I am one of the least materialistic people. I'd prefer to have nothing and be happy than to have everything and be miserable. But, the last few years have been really crappy money wise and my kiddies have been really great about it, and I had planned to make this one as nice as a could. Then all that shit hit the fan and blew that plan to smithereens. As parents, sometimes we just want to be able to give our kiddies some extras that they really want, ya know? My kiddies got a lot of stuff off of their wish lists, but it was I who received the best gift of all: I got the reminder that in this world, in this day and age, there are still good people left. People that go out of their way to help you out when you are down. I am still floored by these people. Each and every one of them will forever hold a special place in my heart. My cup absolutely runneth over! If you are reading this, I could never thank you enough. I'm posting these pics to share with you a bit of the happiness that you helped create. Love you all so much.

My penguin army is stroooong

This Christmas Eve, I built a mighty penguin army. It was strong and they were ready to help me fulfill my plan to take over the world. Victory was to be ours!

All night long, they served me well and kept watch over the festivities, just waiting for the right time to make their move.

  However, after hosting our big family dinner/present exchange, too many hours on my feet, constant go go go, without sleep and a couple beers later, my penguin army met a terrible fate. They turned against each other and the battle that ensued was just awful! Sooo... much... carnage. Penguin pieces and blood everywhere!

It was a brutal fight but in the end, there could only be one victor...

And I ate him. BAHAHAHA VICTORY IS MINE!!

Wordless Wednesday

Greek Quinoa Salad... nom nom nom!

To say that I enjoyed this, would be a massive understatement! Even the fairly picky hubby loved it. As a matter of fact, he couldn't get enough of it! He kept going back to the bowl and picking at it. I had to fight him off of it so that I could have leftovers for lunch the next day. Lol! And actually, I wound up splitting it up and sending half of the leftovers with him in his lunch the next day. See what an awesome wife I am? Sharing my food? My delicious, mouthgasmic, light but super filling food, nonetheless. ;) Enough rambling, let's get this show on the road!

● 2 chicken breasts
● 1 cup uncooked quinoa
● 2 cup English Cucumber, diced
● 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
● 2 tsp garlic, minced
● 1/3 cup reduced fat feta crumbles
● 2 Tbsp Olive oil
● 2 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
● spinach and lettuce to serve it all on

★Cook up some chicken breast in the oven at 350º. I had some fairly hefty breasts, so I sliced through them horizontally to make 1 breast into 2 (like 2 pieces of bread) so they took no time at all to cook.

★While that is cooking, cook up 1 cup of quinoa in 2 cups of water til boiling. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes til the water is all absorbed. Uncover, fluff, and let cool a bit.

★While THAT is cooking, in a large bowl, add 1 cup English cucumber diced, 1/4 cup sliced black olives, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1/4 cup reduced fat feta crumbles, 2 Tbsp Olive oil, 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Stir to combine.

★When everything is done cooking, and your quinoa has cooled a bit, add the quinoa to the mixture in the bowl. Toss it all together very well.

★Serve on a bed of lettuce and spinach and top with sliced chicken. Now go! Go on! Eat! You can thank me later! I'll still be here. ;)

Wordless Wednesday