Here we go again!

After a long and much needed vacation and visit back to Omaha we are home. Jason is back at work, the girls are at each others throats and summer is in full swing.  We've been taking advantage of the new pool in our neighborhood. We go a few times a week and both girls are really improving in their swimming abilities. Next week Abby will be attending vacation bible school each morning so it will just be Emily and myself in the morning.  I think Emily will really miss her big sister. 
Speaking of Emily we are still struggling with her weight. I'm back to being fully committed to this and am open to suggestions. If anyone has any thoughts, comments, I am ready and willing to listen.  I need my little girl to gain a few pounds so the doctor's will leave us alone!

Here is a picture of the girls enjoying their summer of fun.  What could be funnier than bubble wrap?!  Nothing I tell you!

Magic 8 ball anyone??

I am ready for a trip out of Jersey and I know Jason is too.  We need to get away from his work, his work  and his work.  Sometimes I  wonder if we made the wrong decision staying here for another year and today I can reply with absolute certainty that the answer to that question is YES!
 I will miss my dear friends and all the perks of living on a big base but I would give it all up in a second if I didn't have to see my husband try and do the right thing and get punished for it.  I guess that is life and what can you do?  You pick your self up, do a little self reflection and start again.  That is what he is doing and I think I will do the same.On that note,  my self reflection has led me to seriously think about resigning  my position as the Ombudsman because I can' t effectively aid these families anymore.
I wish we had a magic 8 ball that would have told us to , "GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!"  Oh well, hindsight is 20/20 and all that. I'm full of cliches today aren't I?

Girly Girl time!

I really don't know what I would do if I had a boy!  I'm grateful I have girls who love to get dressed up in pretty clothes, wear make-up and put on masks.  They really are the best! Now I just need to go out and buy a cheap mask so they don't keep using up my expensive one.  I tried to trick Emily by not putting a large amount on her face but she kept looking in the mirror and pointing to her face and telling me that she needed "More!"  She is hilarious!

Always a battle

I've learned a lot in my short 33 years. One of the most important things is that  everyone has an opinion and that you can't make everyone like you or be happy with you.  You make choices that they don't agree with or understand or even try to understand and then they judge you for those choices.  I'm so very tired of having to justify myself and my family to others.  I'm happy, everyday I am happy and that is what matters.

Coast Guard Cutter Eagle

Last weekend we were lucky enough to get to go see the only Tall Ship in the Coast Guard fleet.  The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle. It was really a spectacular thing to see.  The boat is amazing! It is like stepping back in time. It boggles my mind to think that people used to sail like this all the time.  The boat was in Philly for a few days so we drove down to Penn's Landing and saw it.  Well worth the  17.00 parking fee!  We actually got a special tour because Jason let the officer of the day know he was active duty Coast Guard.  It was really neat to see where they slept and ate. Here are a few pictures from our trip to Philly! Enjoy!

Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

These little bites are a tasty treat!  I had one warm out of the oven and I didn't even feel like it was diet food!  I have to give credit to Weight Watchers for the recipe, I did modify it a bit but it didn't effect it.  I used what I had on hand. I will definitely be making these again! I have a feeling they won't last long in our house.  Only 1 egg too which means Emily can have some too!

Nougat...Yum!

Like pretty much everyone else this year I jumped on the diet bandwagon on January 3rd. I joined Weight Watchers and I am making some great progress. I'm down almost 12lbs and I love it!  I'm averaging about 1.5 lbs a week and it's fine with me. After being so sick in November and December it is nice to be at the gym again and see the weight come off. This morning in fact I saw the scale hit it's lowest number in a very long time. Like a decade!  I'm not kidding.  It's a great feeling and I love that I'm healthier and I really only have less than 10 lbs to go till I'm at my goal weight.  On that note why is it that I'm craving chocolate?  Not just any chocolate either.. a very specific kind of chocolate.  See's Candies, chocolate assortment. And within that assortment there is a chocolate candy with sprinkles on it that I really want to sink my teeth into!   I haven't eaten See's candies since before I was married and Dad would bring home a box for us kids every Christmas. I have a great memory of my older brother and I sitting on the couch with the box of chocolates between us and we must have ate at least half the box. I never thought I would want nougat again after that but here I am thinking of nothing else!  I've even found myself trolling See's Website looking at the Chocolate Assortment boxes.  I think I need to go for a run tonight!