Happy BD Uncle John

A little birthday celli with the Mulvena's....

One year...

Hard to believe it's been a year...yet I can cleary remember that day as if it were yesterday!
Me, my mom, and some sibs went to the grave to visit my dad and put some flowers down...then lunch at Columbus Inn, followed by dinner at my mom's with lot's of friends and family.  This yr his anniv landed on FAT TUESDAY...so we 'tried' to make it as festive as we could with lots of food and drinks...but the moment 4:45pm arrv...I sort of fell into a very somber slump...it was that exact time that I noticed my dad's breathing very labored and we quickly gathered the family.  I held his hand and watched his last breath...and 5:10pm he passed...and so at 5:10pm every month me and my family 'cheers' him in heaven.

Weight...what?!

Ok, so I thought I'd share some embarrassing moments in regards to my weight...well, since my dad died, I blame my weight gain on the stress...sure, while most ppl lose weight with stress, I on the other hand, gain...(all in my GUT)...because my 'comfort' is to eat!  Can you blame me?  Do you know how much FOOD ppl brought over to my mom's when my dad was dying...I felt it was the right thing to do...ya know, EAT it...!!  Now I do occassionally excercise on my ellyptical and just recently as of January, started 2 days/week back to the gym....but I must say, nothing is working...and ultimately, I've gained! 

I have had some discomfort behind my left knee the past few mos, and noticed swelling, so I went to the doc yesterday...as you know, they always weigh you and take your BP...typical stuff.  I used to ALWAYS take my shoes/jacket off before I ever stepped on a scale, but this day, I chose to NOT...because what's the point, I knew I gained...but I'm here for my KNEE, so who cares...

So, the doc comes in, looks over my past paperwork, and FIRST thing out of her mouth is:
"I see the last time you were here was for your kidney infection follow up back in Jan 2011...and you have gained 8.5 lbs since then..."  She stops and just STARES at me...errr, ok, gosh, am I OBESE or something...are we really going to point THIS out...I was 116 then and now I'm 124.5 now...gee I thought I was a 'healthy' weight some might say...I wanted to go into how I had a crappy year with my dad dying, and my aunt dying, and 2 close friend's dads dying...but instead I just mumbled..."uh, yeah, I'm trying to diet..."  And she proceeded to talk about my knee after that...but too late, in MY head I'm already on a spiral downward on my weight and I sort of lost focus about my knee (which, btw, is cyst called Bakers Cyst, which has to be drained) OH JOY!

But let me back you up here...just 10 days earlier, my 6 yo asked me "mommy are you having another baby?"...I said "'no, why?"....she said "because your belly is FAT"...I kid you NOT, exact words,....I literally went to my bed and cried...she didn't mean to hurt my feelings but she said exactly what she thought...sigh...so, there you go...my DRAMA...I can't escape it!  So when you see me in big tee shirts, you'll know why...lol

Family Valentine's

What better way to spend Valentine's...as a family!  Me and the girls planned out a nice night...they picked out the menu (Hibachi take out/salmon & filet), and they set the DR table with fancy wine glasses, and our good China, candles and flowers that daddy bought...afterwards we grubbed on a choc chip cookie pie...it was a wonderful dinner...

Dewey!

Sunday funday...off to the beach to ck out some houses and enjoy some lunch on the bay!

Pub

Church and off to Erin's Pub with the fam...:)

100 Day

Ash sports her "100 day" hat...100 days of school celli...

zonked girl

"100" years old

For the school celebration to celebrate 100 days...Ash dressed up as if she was "100"...

Honor Roll

Haylee earned every bit of this award!!!!  Way to go, Hayleebug!

Jazzercise

All that JAZZ...

A fun day celebrating Lyndsie's 7th bd..jazz style!

Mug shot

So if any of you don't know, Delaware has a new law...when renewing your license, not only do you have to bring your entire life with you, to prove who you are...you are NOT allowed to SMILE....err, ok...whatev...so I go to renew it and OMG, all I can say is...
Thank you State of Delaware for my loverly MUG shot license...I look like a cross btwn a mug shot and a deer caught in headlights!  I literally CRINGE now whenever anyone asks to see my license...not to sound vain, but gosh, I have to admit most of my past license pics turned out fairly good all those years...and now THIS one...AH!  And, the KICKER...I don't have to renew it for another 8 long, glorious years....JUST GREAT...sigh...another new loverly rule...(I'm thinking I may 'loose' it by then)...
Now, to PROVE I'm not vain...I'll even post my pic...sure, take a good look and get yourself a good laugh now...sorry it's a bit blurry (or maybe that is a good thing)

Stinker!

The other morning I went to get into my car and was literally knocked out by the smell...It was awful...I turned to the back seat to see what died, and sure enough, my kids left there leftover "squid" aka calamari, in the back seat that they had for dinner that night....AHHH!  It took 3 days to air my car out...nothing like a brisk drive with the windows down in the WINTER! 
NOTE TO SELF:  ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS BRING IN THEIR LEFTOVERS!