Weight Loss Update--16 Pounds Down!

Since I made my weightloss journey somewhat public, I figured I should give you a quick update. This isn't probably the best comparison picture I could do, but it's the best I could come up with for now. Lou was kind enough to find a car part that weighs 16 pounds and let me hold it to see what I've lost! It was pretty heavy! I was impressed! It's pretty exciting to be having such success! Thanks for your support and interest! By the way, this weight loss has happened over the past 7 weeks! Not bad, eh? And, if you're curious how I've done it, let me know, I can hook you up! :)

Carlianne & Blake

My baby sister, Carlianne and her new husband, Blake! Isn't she breathtaking?! I love how much they adore each other.

My mom made all of these darling dresses for the nieces! I had fun making bows/headbands and necklaces for the girls.

The mature trees outside of the building they had the reception in provided a bunch of fun for the boys and girls,

until. . . .

My mom with her mother and sisters (Shirley, Mom, Grandma, Cathie, Heather), some of my favorite people! :)

My Grandma King and Aunt Tanya (a couple more favorites)! :)

I know this picture is blurry. I should be getting a better version of this, but this will have to do for now.

I had to include this one b/c it is such a personality shot! Don't you just love getting pictures--EVER, but especially at weddings? The results always make it worth it.

We had such a great time with family for the couple of days we were in Idaho! We all (with the possible exception of Lou) wish we could have stayed a little longer. It went by much too quickly! The only person missing in the King family was Katie's husband Scotty (which we really missed). It was a great, wild time! This picture is a bit random, but I took it because I thought it was funny. This is where I found Emma when I mentioned that it was time for her Happy Nappy! :) By the way, we had a lot of help with babysitters, wedding planners, photographers, decorators, etc. It takes quite a bit of help to pull off these weddings. Thank you to ALL who helped out! It was a beautiful family time!

Aerospace Museum

Last Wednesday, we stopped at the Aerospace Museum on our way to Idaho. Once I get in the car headed somewhere, it's really hard for me to stop, but we always see the airplanes on our way to Idaho and I thought the kids would enjoy it. We took a vote and they wanted to stop. I'm so glad we did because they had a wonderful time.

They were so impressed with the large airplanes outside. Gehrig brought his notebook and colored pencils with him and stopped often to draw what he was looking at. He's a much better artist than I am (I know that's not saying much, but he's pretty good for a 7 year old). I love how Emma is looking at his artwork.
This cute man gave us a tour.
After we finished, we took off for one of the better trips to Idaho we've had. The picture below shows Isaiah singing along to the song, B-I-N-G-O! He really gets into it! I gave Gehrig and Damian each a new notebook and colored pencils which they used to "carschool"! Damian kept asking me what time it was and where the long and short hands should go. He was obviously drawing a clock. Gehrig figured out multiplication and tested himself with me. He'd say, "7 times 5 is five seven times." Then he'd count and say, "That's 35." He was so excited about it, he came up with all kinds of multiplication problems. Then he worked on this addition and subtraction with double numbers. Anyway. . .it was really fun to hear my kids learning in the backseats. Such cute kids. Of course, the trip wouldn't have been normal if Isaiah didn't scream for the last hour (falling asleep about 3 minutes before we arrived)! It can't all go so perfectly well, can it? :)

Gehrig's Creative Side

I found this note on Gehrig's door
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In case you can't read it, it says, "Author and Illustrator's Room. Only! Please come in only if givin permition!" In the past month, Gehrig has decided that he wants to see himself published. :) He told me that he plans to write at least 8 poems and have them published. He gets much of his creative inspiration after he should be in bed (go figure!). He is also setting some of his poems to music, but I haven't had time to help him get it written. I have recorded them on video though, so we can write it later. I LOVE to see how much he loves to learn. He's not just a sponge--he actually figures things out himself and loves it! Here are a couple of samples of his work.

Tracy Aviary and Liberty Park

The boys were out of school on Thursday and Friday for UEA, so MaryLynn and I and our 8 children decided to take our families to Tracy Aviary and then spend time at Liberty Park. We left around 10:15 AM and didn't get home until about 4:30. What a fun day! The weather was amazing! The kids had a blast! And I took WAY too many pictures. Sorry. . .They started out rolling down the first hill they saw on our way to the Aviary.

Then, they chased the ducks around and watched them in the water. (MaryLynn is holding her baby--in case you were wondering why there are only 7 children in this picture.)

Gehrig, Kimberly, Emma, Annie, Damian and Alex (To make things easier, I had Isaiah in a stroller and MaryLynn had Brittany in a stroller.)

Just thought this bird was interesting. . .funny looking!

After we visited the aviary, we at lunch on some grass near the cars (away from the park so they would eat before they played). And then, the real fun began. . .They had so much fun in this little playhouse. Damian was serving me the ice cream I ordered.I should have timed how long they stayed in each section of the park. They were here for a VERY long time. I'm still finding sand around my house! By the way, Gehrig made the "hand" in the bottom right picture. Isaiah was cracking up in this swing. I think he thought it was more exciting than other swings because it was so high up from the ground. And Emma would lean back with her arms out, close her eyes and squeal with excitement. Isaiah was mad when I finally took him out, but he kept standing up in the swing and a fall wouldn't have felt too good.
I love this shot of Gehrig. Isn't he a handsome monkey?

Again, they spent an amazing amount of time here. I was sure Isaiah would get hurt walking around inside this climbing gym, but it was actually Gehrig who got kicked in the eye. He's fine. Just another slight shiner (oh, I think I forgot to post about the golf club black eye-an accident from his brother D). Anyway. . .I was impressed with how well Emma was able to climb this. It's really meant for the older kids, but she and Isaiah had a blast on it too.Isaiah was quite brave for a little 16 month old. He kept climbing up to the very top and going down the big green slide. If you look closely, you can see him in the bottom right picture. Damian wanted me to take a picture of him up there too (top left). This was a pretty fun toy. I'm sorry I missed getting a shot of Damian on it. They each had a blast, even Isaiah. It scared some of the older kids, so I was impressed with how much fun Isaiah and Emma found it.There were even musical "instruments" to play.

Isaiah was asleep before I made it to the first stop sign. We wore the poor baby out! We picked up a couple of pizzas, made a green salad and a fruit salad and finished our day off at MaryLynn's house for dinner. What a fun day we had!

Damian Celebrates his Un-Birthday at School

Since Damian's birthday happens during the summer, we came in to celebrate an unbirthday. Gehrig slipped out of his class just long enough to join us for introductions to Damian's class.

Lou read the class Max Lucado's book, Because I Love You.

Here they are, listening to the story.

Isaiah and Emma got a little restless, so they had fun on the side playing with some of the toys.

Ms. VanAdrighem is writing Damian a letter from his class (that they all eventually signed). It says, "Dear Damian, We think you are a good writer, a good fried, and nice. You are a good speller and very COOL! Happy Un-Birthday!"

I know this picture seems random, but this is what Emma was wearing to and from school that day and I just think the coat looks so darling on her! She's carrying Damian's letter home for him.

Birthday Parties

Our good friend, Alex had a birthday last week. The boys had a blast dressing up in costume and eating spider cupcakes! They went straight from that party, to another friend's party and from there to picking our green tomatoes in the freezing cold weather (with even a little snow coming down). We've been eating tomatoes all week as they ripen.

Alex, the big birthday boy!

After School Snack

Would You have been this excited about cucumbers and tomatoes for an after school snack? I know I wouldn't have, but look at how cute they are! Maybe part of the excitement was because they came from our very own little garden!

garden