Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

AHHH! I have a lot less time to get ready for the homecoming of my husband and hero! Deep clean the house, clean the car and truck, put up the signs and banners, wash the puppies, make mashy a yellow ribbon for her hair, finish all the little projects I started, lose a few more pounds.....Good gravy! Its so much in such a short amount of time.....What will I do? Then again....its so much in such a short amount of time! Woo Hoo! My husband is coming home!

A Visit from my Sister

Last weekend I had an amazingly awesome visit from my sister, brother, and nephew. Sad thing was that it went by way too fast and it made me miss my family even more than I already do. It also made me realize how much I am missing out on my little Gabriel's life. In his 15 months of life I have only seen him a handful of times. I have missed his rolling over, his crawling, his first Thanksgiving and Christmas, watching him transition to solid foods, so many things. It breaks my heart, thinking that he does not know me as his Tia.

Then again, maybe he does. Moments after landing, little Gabriel let me smother him with kisses, which according to my sister, he does not just let anyone do. And though he cried when we put him in my car, when we reached the restaurant, he actually let me hold him. He smiled with me, laughed with me, played with me, let m hold him, and tickle him all weekend. And the cherry on top......he began to walk for the first time here with me! Though he had already taken a few steps from time to time back at his home, my sister and brother both promise me that his real walking began here with his Tia! Yeah I do miss out on a lot and its a bummer but it makes me feel great to know that up until now, he always makes me feel special, like he knows that I am his aunt and that he realizes just how much he is loved by me. 

Thanks baby Gabriel (and My sister and brother, for making my weekend awesome.

**I love and miss you**

If you look closely, you will see a tiny little cutie sitting in the grass.

Daniella, Gabriel and Baby in the Front of the Space Needle that we walked quite the distance just to see. I had bought a stroller last month in anticipation for this little journey. But of course, we forgot it at home. Daniella and Gabriel sure got a lot of strength in their arms to carry Baby for so long.

The stroller we left behind. And the cutie with his thumb in his mouth.

 

There was a Sounders Soccer game going on and traffic cops all over the place. Gabriel had the awesome idea that me and my sister jump out of the car (at a stop light) along with baby to take a picture of him in the mitt. That is why he is missing a shoe in the picture. It must have fallen off in the car during all the commotion. 

Uncle Jeremy would have been so proud to see baby Gabriel so interested in the X-box remote. Tia Abby and his Mommy, although always proud of the cutie...we did not find this interest to be a good one.

Gabriel and baby by the port of Seattle.

A week

A quick post about my goals I mentioned a few weeks back....

I am proud to say I did pretty good!.....then again some might beg to differ....

About the Exercising (Was supposed to exercise 5 times in the week)
I exercised 5 times in the week. Well technically, I guess I exercised 4, but if you count, like I totally do, the fact that I exercised 2 times in one day, morning and evening, then I made it to 5! (Wow! That sentence is full of antithetical and complimentary expressions....more on that in a minute)

About the Puppies
And regarding the puppies out of the bed, well they were definitely out of the bed. The fact that I didn't sleep in my room and instead on the couch shouldn't negate that accomplishment, right?

Ok. Ok. So I was not as good as I should have been but that was because I  was studying like crazy for this WEST-E test. What is that you ask? (At least in my head I am hoping one of you is interested in hearing about it) This is a test to certify me as an elementary teacher here in Washington state. It is basically the same tests I took in California but Washington won't accept those tests and require me to take theirs. Frustrating but oh well....So yes, studying consumed my life the past few weeks and I was bad. No exercising. Eating out. In 3 weeks I  gained back the five pounds it had taken me about 1 month and a half to lose.


I am extremely tempted to throw in the towel and not make any goals again but I will not be defeated! I took my test this past Saturday and studying is over for good. (At least I hope so) I can now dedicate my time to exercising, cooking at home, and some new goals.  Today I ran with Baloo and exercised some more here at home. 1/5 days down. I am back on the wagon :)

 My Study Book, which surprisingly, I found many errors in. You can be sure I will be calling the publisher.

Oh! There is some great news! Mashy and Baloo are out of the bed :) A couple of nights of throwing treats on the floor when they would hop up got them to believe sleeping on the floor is the best thing ever. Geniuses... I know.

**We love and miss you**