Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easter Family Fun

We had such an enjoyable Easter Day!



We started the morning sitting out on the screened porch to have our protein shakes. Then we got ready for church service.Mother took our picture as we were out the door.



Then we came home and threw on some tennis shoes and hid about 200 or so eggs in the back yard. We wanted to stay dressed for photos, and the kids were on their way. The kids all arrived...I gave them a bucket of goodies...


We took the obligatory photos. Here are Shannon and Jason with their boys...

don't they look nice all spiffed up? Shawn and Darris looked nice, too. Easter sunday was their one year anniversary. Where has the year gone?


These two were so cute in their new duds. Hudson doesn't usually wear smocked outfits, but if it has tractors on it, then it's OK. I think Hudson fell into the dirt right after I snapped this picture.
We came inside, and tried to take some pictures with Mother and Daddy, but Hudson was not too cooperative by that time.

We were ready to eat. Jackson helped me make our placemats. I forgot to take pictures of the food until it was half eaten, but we had ham, maccaroni and cheese, fruit salad, deviled eggs, roasted asparagus, lima beans, rolls, and strawberry shortcake.


Then everyone was ready to hunt for eggs. It is amazing what you can get them to do when you put some money in a bunch of eggs.





You can see the action here. Joey had pulled the tractor out into the yard for hiding eggs.
They take their egg hunting very seriously.


In fact, Joey had to help Hudson find some eggs,

because the adults were all out for themselves.


Jackson held his own this year.



The boys decided to take a little ride around the yard to hunt for remaining eggs. Once again, I think Hudson fell out right after I snapped this picture. He is a bit clumsy, but he is only 17 months old.


Although he thinks he is big enough to drive by himself...not yet.


They all came into the porch to check out their "loot".


The boys played in the water in Hudson's pool Nanny and Gaga gave him.


The rest of the day was spent visiting and relaxing with the family. I am tired, but so blessed to have all my family so close.
Shawn and Darris took a little nap in the hammock.
Joey was kicked back on the chaise lounge.


I thought Jason was sleeping when I took this one...almost.

Pop, (Joey's Dad ), and Miss Anne came to eat and spend the day with us, too.

The weather was beautiful, the food good, and the company enjoyable.

Thank you God for so many blessings!





















Sunday, April 17, 2011

My Easter Home

Still during...down 37 pounds...






Welcome to my Easter home.



a little mini typewriter with a favorite Scripture verse...

carrots and bunnies...



.

and an antique typewriter with a typed welcome message ...



my Easter tree...





entry display...



dining room buffet...




a little thrift store lamb...



my rooster egg dish...another thrift store find...




Easter chalkboard...




We are having our Easter lunch and egg hunt tomorrow with our parents and kids and grandkids. We are enjoying visiting a church that we have found just a few miles down the road. Our lunch will be ham, mac and cheese, roasted asparagus, deviled aggs, fruit salad, rolls, and angel food cake with strawberries.
I pray that you will get to celebrate our Savior's ressurrection tomorrow with your family.
I better get to cleaning, cooking, and setting my table.


In Him,



My Journey and Resolutions

I promised you I would share something in my next post. Well, here goes. I have decided to lose weight and get healthier. This is definitely easier said than done. I weighed more than I ever have, and found out my cholesterol was too high, as is my blood pressure. With a high family history of heart disease, I decided it was time to make the change. Mother and Daddy got us an elliptical machine for our Christmas present, and I have been faithful to use it at least 4-5 times weekly. We have been trying to walk outdoors when the weather is nice. We have protein shakes or high fiber cereal for breakfast, eat a lot of turkey, salads and chicken. We limit our red meat consumption, and eat tons of vegetables and beans.

Here are a few "before" pictures. double chins and belly fat

I am a nurse, and I know better. Weight is something I have battled all my adult life. In fact before I had children, I remember saying I would not end up like this. NEVER say "never".
I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, and I don't usually announce them so no one will know if I fail. I like to stay in my comfort zone, you know. I have lost 33.6 pounds, and I am continuing this way of eating and exercising, hopefully, for the rest of my life. I am not calling it a "diet", but just a healthy lifestyle. I go back to have my cholesterol checked in a couple weeks. It better be lower!!! I do feel much better, and I have more energy. There is just one BAD thing about it...all my clothes are too big. This can get expensive. I will continue sharing about this journey I am on. Here is my "during" photo. Much better, I think.