My cute kids...

I just wanted to share this picture that I took of my kids today. They look so cute when they are getting along.

Nice and peaceful...

We had a great no stress Christmas this year. I am so happy that everything turned out so well. The kids were very happy and we had a lot of fun spending time with our family. On Christmas morning, we woke up early and opened presents just the four of us.




I made a nice breakfast for all of us and then my Dad, Step-Mom and Step-Grandmother came over. They stayed for about an hour and a half or so and we had a great time visiting with them and playing with all of our new presents together.




When they left, the four of us went over to my Mom and Step-Dad's house for Christmas dinner at their house. My Uncle John and cousins Ashley and Zach were there as well. I helped my Mom make the best prime rib ever and we also had homemade biscuits, broccoli with cheese sauce, salad and roasted red potatoes with garlic and herbs. My Mom even made all of us fresh squeezed orange juice made with satsuma mandarins. It was soooo yummy!





It was great to be able to spend Christmas with so many people in my family this year. Hopefully next year, my Brother and his family will be home for Christmas too. I hope that every year we can have a nice peaceful Christmas like this one.

I am ready!

I feel so good about Christmas this year. I have bought all of my gifts already, we have the tree up and there will be no stress this year. We already had our Christmas celebration with Matt's family last Sunday, my Dad and Step-Mom are coming over on Christmas morning and then we will head over to my Mom and Step-Dad's house for Christmas dinner. She is cooking prime rib this year and I can't wait!

I still haven't gained any weight even though I have been eating bad stuff all week. I guess working out at least 5 days a week really works. :) I even plan on going to the gym on Christmas Eve. I am so happy that my gym is open that day.

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday. :)

16 pounds down!

I usually try not to get too excited and tell people when I lose weight, but I really feel like it is just falling off this time. I have lost 16 pounds since the beginning of November. My goal is to lose at least 10 pounds per month until I am done. :) Matt has helped motivate me quite a bit. He started going to the gym in September and has lost about 20 pounds since then. I on the other hand have been going to the gym for almost 3 years, but I started doing no less than 45 minutes on the elliptical at least 5 days a week and it has really helped. Eating less and has helped me as well. I really hope to be a healthier me by the time summer rolls around. :)

Monica's birthday

Monica officially turned 10 yesterday. WOW! I cannot believe that I actually have a child that is 10 years old! I guess that means that I am really an adult now.

She had a birthday party for friends on Saturday and then on Sunday night we took her out to dinner at Billy McHales. Here are some photos of her party and of us at Billy's on Sunday night.