While in Rome...

I realized this morning that at the start of the year MANY people have started their "resolutions" and many of you be battling the forever popular "loose weight for the new year" resolution.

I am telling you, I am here to help!

If you didn't know, I joined Weight Watchers last April to loose the baby weight I put on with Olivia and FELL IN LOVE! I am not here to push Weight Watchers on you (if you want to know, IT REALLY WORKS). But to give you a list of the top trends of weight loss success:

1. Track what you eat, period. Seriously, this works.
2. Set yourself up on portion control/consumption control. Weight Watchers does points, maybe you want to count calories, or portions, etc...point is, give yourself daily points.
3. Use online resources as a point of inspiration: My Favorite: www.hungrygirl.com
4. Ask for help & support of your family & friends. Last summer I straight up told my family - we start eating healthy at the lake or we're not coming. And guess what? We had lots of fun trying to cook healthy (Right Dad?).
5. My Favorite Grocery Staples: Curves Granola Bars (1 pt), Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges (1pt), Weight Watchers or Dole Carb Control Yogurt (1pt), 100 Cal Popcorn Packs, Spray Butter, Low Fat Ice Cream Treats (Like Weight Watchers Bars), Low Cal Bread (2 Slices = 1 pt)....

Take it from me, this is not my resolution, just a life style change. I am challenging myself to hit goal weight by June, but we'll see! Slowly it is coming off! I am down 26 lbs and only 15 to go! Woot! Woot!

Ice Cream on a Cold Day!

Cafe Latte?

I have some terrible news.

Call child protective services.

I am a terrible Mother.

While getting ready to leave this morning, and playing the balancing act I so often try to perform: Carrying Baby, Purse, DVD underarm, Coffee, all while digging for my keys (because my stupid auto-start locks the doors when you start it!). As I am performing this magic trick, guess what happens? My coffee spills...where might you ask? All over my poor innocent baby girls face! I can hear your aw, shock & surprise. I am sure your shock is nothing like the sounds that came from my house this morning.

First, screaming baby. The kind of scream that is silent. I hastily throw everything down, scream "OH MY GOD" and Corey comes to my rescue as we both fumble to get her out of her seat to quickly put a cold compress on her face. I, trying to get to work early, show up a 1/2 hour late due to the sobbing that followed by me, and the giggles from Little O.

I have to say, she is 100% OK. THANK GOD, THANK GOD, THANK GOD! Her & Grandma called me at work today to tell me she is ridiculously happy today, they are playing with dolls & having a grand time. Well, Olivia is playing with dolls. When Grandma tries to play, Olivia quickly takes the doll away from her and slams her (the doll) on her face. Jealous? It is very funny to see this from her, as when her & I play with dolls she laughs & helps me feed her baby a bottle, jump in the Jumperoo, etc...but not with Grandma. She is Grandma's only girl, no sharing. Lucky for Miss. Olivia she will be the only grand baby for awhile!

Have a great weekend everyone! And remember...take two trips when you are carrying coffee & a baby. Lesson Learned.

Do you think it was the minnows?

Funny Conversation between husband & wife:

Me: Corey why does our house smell like a fart (has since about last Saturday)?

Corey: I don’t know hun?

Me: (I walk down stairs to put away laundry and sniff around, thinking we have a dead animal in our chimney)

Me: Core, it’s something down here, I think it’s in the Chimney but my nose is stuffy can you come see?

Corey: HEY, do you think it’s the minnows in the laundry room?

Me: COREY SCOTT SORENSON

Corey: (Only hear laughing….)

*about a million dead minnows were ‘hiding’ in his minnow bucket in the laundry room for ‘safe’ keeping. What if I have a son of his someday?

Happy Ice Fishing!

It's Begining To Look a Lot Like Christmas

Can you believe it is that time of year again already? I was looking at pictures from last Christmas, with my cute baby bump and thinking "only 3 more months" and now I am so excited to celebrate Olivia's 1st Christmas and am thinking, can she be a year already in "only 3 more months"?

If you havn't met her, you must! She is the most amazing little thing, and if I havn't meantioned it before, hands down the funniest human on this earth!

We have been busy babyproofing our house. When OJ first learned to crawl she was just so amazed to be moving she didn't take a big interst in the tables, stairs or any single thing in our home that can now turn into a death trap. I have put a gate on the stairs and corner bumpers on the tables. If you came to my house, you would know just by looking around I am a mother to a crawling baby.

I have totally been slacking at updating Olivia's blog, and do you want to know why? Facebook. I am totally obsessed with it, and can't stop. So I deeply apologize, that my new obsession is causing a lack in these precious Olivia memories.

Now for what you are waiting for...New Pictures! Enjoy! And if I don't get back to you before the holidays, have a blessed Christmas & a Safe & Happy New Year! XOXO

November Fun

I have to say, life is busy & I have been so lax at updating Olivia's Blog! We have been having a great fall! Olivia is crawling like a maniac and we keep thinking she is getting close to walking, but she really has no interest in it. She just loves to stand up on everything!

It has been a busy month! We had our last Kindermusik class a few weeks back, and quickly started into swimming lessons with Olivia & Brody. The first day she was VERY skeptical (in her Juicy swim suit - From Uncle Drew) of the water, with clenched fists and a very serious face! The second week, she eased up a little and was even smiling at the other babies and the third week she was splashing, tring to blow bubbles, kicking her feet & drinking the water! Her & Brody have so much fun splashing around together in the water. I have some very cute pics of the two I need to get from Cassie, hopefully soon! Next week we are all going to stay for open swim after her lesson & I think her Papa Brian is even going to come over for a dip!

We went up to the Northshore to visit Corey's Aunt & Unc for Thanksgiving! We drove up on Wednesday afternoon with Olivia & Corey's Grandma. It was a long drive for us all, Olivia actually did great! About 40 mins from Jan & Larry's she decided enough was enough & let us have it all the way from Duluth to their house (South of Superior, Wi). Jan even lined up a babysitter (Olivia's first stranger babysitter) and we went out & hit up the lumberjack bars. It was great fun!

I am not feeling my creative writing skills flowing today, so I will stop here & just start posting pics (which is what you are here for anyway, right?). Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for everyone that keeps up on our goings-on.

Pumpkin Patch!

We took Olivia to the cutest pumpkin patch a few weekends back! We had so much fun! They have an apple orchard, honey farm & grow pumpkins. And they grow Honeycrisp Apples (my favorite!), but we were too late in the season to get any. So next year we will go back earlier.