Checking in

Things are slow here in the office today so I'm going to take advantage and catch up on my blogging and blog reading! I have updates all over the place.

NY resolutions are going pretty well!! John and I went on a double date last weekend with my gf, Susan and her bf. We saw The Lovely Bones. It was a good movie! We all really liked it.

Back in Sept (aug??) I won a two night stay in Newport, RI at a Bed and Breakfast John and I used to frequent pre-kids quite a bit. www.armisteadcottage.com I'm SO excited to say we are going to finally USE IT!!!! YAY!!! Susan is helping us out with the kids. VERY generous of her and I am so grateful!! We both have Monday, President's Day off. The stay is supposed to be "mid week" but I called Romana and asked if it would be okay if we came on a Monday. She said absolutely, she is so excited that we'll be the guests this year. YEEEEESS! (this means I get to use one less vaca day too lol) So, we'll go and check in on Monday. Susan will stay with the kids Monday night, take Tuesday off and stay Tuesday night. My FIL (God bless him!) will come over Wed am before Susan needs to leave and he'll stay with the kids. The boys have DC on Wednesday so he'll drop them off and hang out with Erynn until we get home. Probably late morning / early afternoon. I'm very excited. John and I really need some alone time to reconnect. The B&B pkg also includes a $75 gift cert for dinner at www.22bowens.com I've never eaten there but I've heard great things. I really lucked out on this auction!!!

Working out and eating well. I am doing fantastic if I do say so myself. This week I've been to the gym two days, I'll go tonight, tomorrow night and again Saturday morning. Not too shabby for not having gone in about 3 months! My goal is 4-5 days a week and I'm right on track. I need to learn to "woman up" and go even if I don't have anyone to go with me. Susan and I joined together but she only wants to go 3 days a week. That's just not enough for me - I won't see the results I'm looking for going so few days. Kellie joined months ago and she is back on the gym boat as well so I can always call her to see if she wants to go. As a matter of fact, Susan isn't going tonight but Kellie is. She will also be the one to do Zumba with me on Saturday as well. I'm happy I'm sticking to it and I'm eager to see the results.

I am also doing Weight Watchers. My co worker joined up and she does the Monthly Pass program but she doesn't use the online tracking feature at all. She told me to use her name and pword so that *I* can track my food on there. For free! YAY! So, I've been doing it. I have tried WW in the past and it's not worked for me BUT I will be 100% honest and say I didn't really help it work. I would save up my points for pizza or some other kind of "crap" food and what good would that do me. This time around I'm eating really well. I have been for a few wks now and if I do go ahead and eat the "crap" food it makes me FEEL like crap. Physically. I have an adverse reaction and I feel super sick. I'm okay with this though - it's just that much more motivation to eat well!

The kids are doing so great. They really are the lights of my life. Aidan and Erynn will go for their 5 and 2 yr check ups soon. I'm looking forward to seeing the numbers. I know not all Mom's still keep track but I do. I love seeing how much they've grown and where they are at. Maybe I have issues. Who knows.

John was finally able to get in touch with the school on Monday about registering Aidan for Kindergarten. (*gasp* HOW is he already going into K?!) Apparantly we haven't received our packet for him yet b/c he wasn't on the town census. What?! How does that even happen? They are going to go ahead and send the packet out now. Registration is March 1- 31st. I think we're going to try and get him into full day but I have to see what the cost is b/c right now that will definitely be a factor. Ryan has to be screened to see if he qualifies for Pre K. They only do it for kids that have some kind of issue in our town OR they do a Lottery for the "normal" kids to be model students. Ryan has a speech impediment so we're having him evaluated for the full time Pre K. If he doesn't qualify we'll enter him in the lottery. I'm hoping he qualifies though. I'd love for them to be in school full time with other kids. Either way, Erynn will start going to DC with Darlene when Aidan goes into school. She'll take his spot. IF both boys happen to get in Erynn will go to Darlene 4 days a week. I think she will *LOVE* that. She really doesn't spend a whole lot of time with kids other than her brothers. I think it's important for her to interact with other children on a regular basis before she gets into school. Can't wait to see how this all plays out.

I have a conference call with my boss and HR on Monday to discuss my going on a Compressed Work Week schedule. I am keeping everything I have crossed that they give it to me. I'll work (4) 10 hour days Mon - Thurs and will be off on Friday. It will make for VERY long work days but, you know what, it will give me 3 full days home with my family and that is all that matters to me. My company is always preaching the work / life balance so I'm going for it. When I brought it up and was asked why I'm interested that is exactly what I told them. Work /Life Balance. Putting it right back at them. Now it's time for them to practice what they preach. I'm the only one in my office who doesn't have some kind of "flexible arrangement." Two women work full time from HOME. 1 woman works 50% from home. Another only works Tues - Thurs. Lastly, a woman works the compressed work week AND 50% at home. That leaves me. The only administrator that doesn't have anything. So, I'm going for it. I really hope it works out. Three days at home with my family would be a wonderful thing for me.

I guess that's all for now. Hopefully more great updates to follow!