where did the time go

It is amazing how fast the time seems to be flying by - except when I think it has only been 2 weeks since Erik left for Qatar then the time seems to stand still!
I realized last night that next weekend is Mardi Gras. There are sooo many people heading to disney next week, they should just call it south Louisiana week there. We have the whole week off and all I have planned is a trip to the dentist, which I need to make an appointment for.
I should be icing a cake but I am enjoying the quite morning before the kids get up and start fighting about one thing or another, I really need to work with Jaxon on seeing the positive side of things. Last night we went to a parade with Ethan and Brayden and Rachel, charley and Taylor. We all had fun, but instead of seeing the things he did get he kept pointing out all the stuff he did not get - he doesn;t even play with the footballs but he was upset they were throwing them at Brayden and not him - well Brayden was on his dad's shoulders and he was at ground level - explain that to a 7 year old! Before that we went to a birthday party at the skating rink - the kids skated the whole time but when asked if Jaxon had fun, he says no because he hurt his knee. AHHHH, you did have fun and now you have a man mark (as he calls it)
But we did have a super fun saturday - Pinkalious in the morning, skating, then a parade all that was missing was Erik

now I really need to go finish this cake!

Why Worry?

Thanks Hillary for this article!
http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/01/26/o.questions.change.your.life/index.html?hpt=T2
Here are the 3 questions that I can relate to the most:
Why worry?
These two words, considered sincerely, can radically reconfigure the landscape of your mind. Worry rarely leads to positive action; it's just painful, useless fear about hypothetical events, which scuttles happiness rather than ensuring it. Some psychologists say that by focusing on gratitude, we can shut down the part of the brain that worries. It actually works!
What's so funny?
Adults tend to put this question to children in a homicidal-sounding snarl, which is probably why as you grew up, your laughter rate dropped from 400 times a day (for toddlers) to the grown-up daily average of 15. Regain your youth by laughing at every possible situation. Then, please, tell us what's funny -- about everyday life, about human nature, even about pain and fear. We'll pay you anything.
Are my thoughts hurting or healing?
Your situation may endanger your life and limbs, but only your thoughts can endanger your happiness. Telling yourself a miserable mental story about your circumstances creates suffering. Telling yourself a more positive and grateful story, studies show, increases happiness. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, choose thoughts that knit your heart together, rather than tear it apart.

Why Worry that is something I really need to remember and work on! I wasted a day yesterday on a worry - a useless fear about a hypothetical event! when you put it that way I kinda feel sick thinking I wasted my day, one of only 12 with Erik. Worry has consumed too much of my time lately. I need to just live life and deal with the events as they happen not worry about the what ifs! That is so much easier said then done! I have a great life and I really need to enjoy what I have! This month I am going to work on Stop Worrying! Erik thinks I am looking for something to worry about. So now I am worried that I look pathetic. It really is a horrible vicious cycle that I need to break! With saying all this my thoughts are absolutely hurting me. I need to cut off the negative thoughts as soon as I start having them and replace them with happy helpful thoughts.
I am now going to exercise, I started the 10 years thinner work out (not the diet too restrictive for me) I am on day four and I get to rest tomorrow! My legs are hurting so I hope that means I really will see a change in about 2 weeks like they say!
Why Worry???

Homemade love

Here is our really big valentine for Erik. We ha fun making it! It is a mix of jaxon's and Katie's hands.

Friday nights artwork

I finally added the black around the kids artwork. I think they turned out great.



Jaxon's artwork


Katie's artwork

Loves her doll

Yeah life!

Katie's new doll KK

She is so excited her doll came today! She saved all her Christmas and bought it last week!


Yeah life!

Day at the Zoo

we have a plan - I think

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel for Erik working in Qatar. It was kinda up in the air - was he coming home in May for good or extending till Nov. The people in Qatar really wanted him to stay and we were really debating it, he would not have missed any more holidays and maybe we could have actually saved some money instead of just paying off the bills. Well we did not have to make the decision, Erik's manager in Texas made it for us. He will not grant permissions for Erik to stay another 6 months. I fully understand that. He either wants Erik back in his position or leave so he can fill the position. Which leads me to assume he actually has jobs for Erik to work on - when Erik left he was having to find his own projects and they were not very good ones. (at least I did not think they were). So now the managers in Qatar are pissed that he is leaving, but at least he is not the one burning the bridges and if a really cool expat job comes up and one of them is the manager over it he has a good chance at getting it. so with all that being said he is coming home next Thursday staying for 2 weeks, back there for 6 weeks, home for 2 back for 3 and done. Then he will take off all of May and half of June before going back to work in New Orleans or where ever they may send him.
Then we found out Erik's brother is getting married - again - but this is the first wedding we are invited to (it is his 3rd) so we are heading to Colorado in May. So we are not rushed we are taking Jaxon out of school 3 days early. I need to talk to a few more people but it looks like the grades have to be in the friday before so I am not sure what they have to do on Monday - wednesday. Well I know Wednesday they only go to school for 2 hours. He may miss awards day, but I do not see him getting any award except honor roll, and that award doesn't even have his name on it.

Found One!!

I am so excited that I actually found a picture of Erik and I together in uniform! This was when we were going through the Suez Canal! I wish we had more together but one is better then none!!

what am I doing???

I am driving myself crazy - that is what I am doing! I need to figure out a lot of things, how do get rid of more stuff without feeling guilty that I am giving away so much money. How not to yell at my kids and how to raise kids that will listen! And not just listen when I yell. How to stick with a healthy eating plan!!!! This is the big one. I have the workout thing down, I work out 5 times a week, 6 times last week. But I will not stick to a eating plan. I love WW, I know it works but for some reason I will not do it. I already have plans to start again tomorrow. I am going to get some more fruits and veggies and running shoes after I workout tomorrow. I did really well when Megan and I did our little game but as soon as we stopped I stopped. Why do I need a something like that, why isn't being healthy good enough? WHY WHY WHY?????
Tomorrow is a new day. I have things in place to make it a successful day - I can do this

makes me happy!

It is amazing how cleaning out my panty made me happy and made me feel like I did something today. I ended up with 2 1/2 trash bags of expired stuff! Wow I need to do this more then once a year!!
I plan on eating out of the freezer this week also so I can clean that up!

what's up with today?

Today is an off day. I have no desire to do anything!! I did get on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes this morning and stayed above 4.2 almost the whole time, but now I am done. I need to be doing things - cleaning out my pantry is on the list today.
I started a new work-out program, I told Erik I would give it 3 weeks, if I do not see a change then I will stop since I do not really enjoy it. I do not hate it but it is not may favorite thing to do - what is that - running. Maybe I need better shoes also, my shoes are not running shoes. If I keep up with it for 3 weeks then I will go get new shoes. Tomorrow will be the true test since it is Saturday - will I actually get up and do day three?

raining Sunday

Ok so the points plan are not working so well for us, I forget to give out the chips - maybe this week will be better. I did have a good week, I tried cleaning out the toy room but the kids were helping so there was not a whole lot they were willing to part with, but this week I will get in there again and get rid of more stuff - right now it is just a box and a black garbage bag. I didn't workout as many times as I should have but I did make it to church with the kids and had a great lunch with my friends instead. I even took Katie on a play date which everyone enjoyed. I planned on staying 2 hours and we ended up being there for almost 4. The Mom and I worked on box tops and CC labels for the school (if you need a place to send yours I will take them) The school had a teacher doing all the work and she was too busy so we were losing money because they were expiring before she got around to mailing them in. Today I separated 750 Community Coffee labels which is over $75!! This is what the school had collect since the last pick-up in December! Oh back to the play date, Katie's classmate has an older sister in 3rd grade and her Jaxon played the whole time! So it was a great afternoon - minus the Saints oh well next year!
Today we had Jax indoor soccer game, which is always fun to watch such a fast pace game. His coach was getting on him for not following through with the ball, hopefully he will listen to him.

Now lets talk about the report cards.... Jaxon got all A so that is great, very proud of him
Katie does not get grades but she gets S - satisfactory , N - needs improvement , and c area of concern. She got 4 Ns
Listens attentively , stays on task, concept of Rhyming words, and directional words... when I saw this I wondered who's report card I got. If she is not listening and staying on Task then why has she never moved her clothes pen, shouldn't I have been made aware of this before it is on her report card. And rhyming words - come on we read Dr. Seuess all the time and their favorite ebook is the Rhyming Dust Bunnies. She runs around the house rhyming. The Directional words does not make sense either. So I need to find out if everyone got that mark (I know at least 2 other girls did) because they are just now learning them in class and felt they have not taught them enough or what. What is the testing or evaluation used for this. Ok I now this is only Pre-K and I should take this with a grain of salt but don't put marks like that on a report card with out explaining the process. One of the other Moms is just going to wait and see, while the other Mom had already sent the teacher an email. Really what are you expecting for a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds??

New Plan

With the new years brings some changes and outlooks. I am looking forward to what ever this year brings and I have started my new year today. I have started a new points system with the kids and also decided that I need to add my own points. That way I have someone to hold me accountable even if they are 4 and 7. I will get points for working out, drinking water, writing things down, no yelling, cleaning trouble areas, folding the clothes the same day ... I will have to come up with some more things

Playhouse

The kids love playing outside at my parents house and who blames them there is so much to do and see and explore! Plus this weather makes it super great for playing outside!





The boys are staying at my parents and the girls at Jerry and amanda's so I am going to get some house cleaning done before we head to Texas! All that is Erik :(

Location:MaMere and pawpaw house

Taco Dinner

I am not sure if I posted this or not but my kids love Tacos - ok Jaxon loves Taco and in one of the WW cookbook they have Healthy Beef-n-bean tacos

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 lb lean ground beed
1 onion (i use what ever I have - sweet, white or red and the all work great)
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoon taco seasoning mix
1/2 cup water ( I use 1/2 cup when I double the recipe)
1 1/4 cup fat-free refried beans

cook beef, onion, garlic, and season mix,
stir in water cook until liguid has evaporated
stir in beans and heat through
spoon about 1/4 cup of beef mixture into each taco shell

2 tacos - 318 cal, 9g fat, 41 carbs, 7 g fiber

I made it tonight with Tommy and Maddie here, after telling me it did not look like their Moms they tasted it and ate it. The beans make the taco meat look more like a paste then the crumbed meat.

school parties

The kids had their parties today at school. They had fun. Each did crafts and played games. Jaxon's class played bingo and decorated cupcakes while Katie did sticker crafts and played toss games. I was running back and forth between the 2 classes but they too busy to really care that I was not there all the time.
So now the holidays have begun!

comeaux family christmas

a little back step for the blog - Sunday we had my Mom's family Christmas party, Erik said it was the best one he had been to. The kids were at a prefect age. We did not have to worry about them at all - plus it was at my Mom's house so that helped.

then we tried to take a family picture - the kids did not want to do this but this is what we ended up with..

Making spin art

We started the holiday off by making crafts - spin art

End of great 2 weeks!

Well Erik is on a flight back to Qatar and this was the hardest good-bye so far. We had a wonderful time while he was home. Jaxon had he birthday and a super fun party. He also started indoor soccer, which is a very high speed game that he loves. KK finished another round of gym and had her parent watch for Dance. 2 painting date nights which we have beautiful pictures from - if you had not try it - what are you waiting for??
Erik was home for the Christmas parties - our neighbors Friends Christmas and then the Comeaux party. It was just a wonderful 2 weeks! for the first time I actually cried this morning when it was time to get up know that he would not be there for 6 weeks to keep me warm. Then at the airport KK was crying so that mad both of us cry.
This is not our first Christmas morning with out Erik, he has missed due to shift work but this is the first time we will not see him at all on Christmas. So I have to keep a smile and make this a great Christmas for the kids! I think the hardest part is going to be when I tell them they have to wait to open Santa gifts till Daddy gets on Skype!