Circus

I promised photos of the circus and here they are! :)

This one is from the 2008 Circus-


And here's the ones from this year.

Here's Vince, Lela and I with the lion, when we first got to the circus.


Here's us dressed as clowns, during intermission.


And here's Lela with Grandma Kathy.


Lela was just so happy to be there. She really loved it. I still remember my dad taking me to the circus when I was her age, and being thrilled with it too. So much fun!

Snow

It snowed here today, but other then that it was a lovely day. Today is our eighth anniversary. Wow it sure seems like time has flown by.

We took Lela to the circus and she had a ball. She was so excited, she told every one in the apartment building on the way to the car, she was going to see the elephants!

We bought her a light-with a elephant on a ball, and a plush white tiger in a purse, as she really liked it because of the Bengal Tiger in Wonder Pets.

We had a few photos taken too, I liked the clown ones, but the one with the Tiger the lady didn't center well and I think would of looked better with Vince on the tiger with us.....well, I'll know next time! I'll post the pictures when Vince can scan them in.

She just loved the whole circus she smiled and laughed the whole time. She liked the dogs tricks the best.

This year was really good. Last year, I seemed to be bored with it, as it wasn't that good. But, this year it was really really good. So I was happy for her, and it seemed like the time flew by!

Whirly

We made popcorn in our new whirly popcorn maker, and we LOVE it. It's the best popcorn ever. We are so happy we chose this style of popper, no more icky microwave popcorn for us! I ended up ordering some Kernal Seasonings I have been wanting for a very long time, I can't wait to try the chocolate marshmallow.

I've been exercising up a storm, six mornings in a ROW! Yeehaw! And my new Richard Simmons DVDs came, I'm so excited to try them. While I'm on a DVD kick I was able to finally for the first time order JoAnna Lund's DVD's I've been wanting them forever, I can't wait to receive them.

For only the second time in our entire marriage we went to the movies! We went to a matinee, of Madea Goes to Jail, it was hilarious!

We were also able to get 4 more dresses at 75% off such nice dresses, some came with hair clips and a purse too! I just love them, she's set for dresses till she's 4!

I also found a recipe for my favorite thing at Red Lobster, the Pina Colada sauce, I can't wait to try it!

I took Lela to the park today, she sure had a good time. I wish we could of spent longer, but it started getting cold. I was surprised how many older children was so good to Lela. Even a little boy was extra gentle with her and helped her on the equipment, and would tell the other big kids to be careful with her, she's a baby! And we have to protect babies! It was so sweet, and kind. I'm hoping we can go again tomorrow. She wants to go now! But, now it's dark and cold.

Any way it's been a good few days.

Raw Honey

Last time I went to Whole Foods they had raw honey, for half the price of our regular grocery store, and it's been so many years since I have had raw honey, I bought it.

It is sooooooo delicious!

I had just a small teaspoon on a small roll, and it was better then any "cinnamon" or "sticky" bun I've ever eaten. Just a plain old roll and a teaspoon of that raw honey. mmmmmmmm YUM! I love "real" food!

Did I ever mention, I also have discovered the joys of almond milk. I had been using soy milk for a few years and it was good and low calorie, but then I heard it wasn't good for us. So I switched to almond milk and I really like it. Plus it was on sale this week! YEAH!

More great news, I did another exercise DVD today. YEAH, exercise two days in a row. This time I did 60's blast off, I didn't even remember having it, let alone ever doing it before, but once I started I remember it used to be one of my favorites. So it was a lot of fun, along with feeling good about finally exercising again after months of nothing!

Richard Simmons DVDs

I had a GREAT day today.

First of all, I order the new Richard Simmons DVD's, so I'm excited to get them. But, because of ordering them, when Lela woke me up at 5 am this morning, I decided to just get out of bed, and dig out my old DVDs and just do one! I did one. Whoa, boy am I out of shape. But, it felt so good to finally get off my franny and do something!

Then a few days ago, I received a gift certificate from Tanger Outlets (For being a member of their coupon club), when I went to outlet today, I had to go to the office to turn in the paper I received in the mail, to be turned into a gift certificate. Once in the office they gave me a 20% off coupon for the store I had planned on using the gift certificate in, AND since I am a member of the club, when I seen the strollers, and asked how much they cost to rent, they are normally 5 dollars, but I got to use it for free, since I'm a member of their club. Whoo whoo.

First off, I had a coupon in my email that came this week also for my new favorite children's store, called Strasburg, it was for 75% off! Whoo whoo, I ended up with a beautiful dress for Lela that is normally over 100 for only 24 dollars, and that was with tax! It is very very good quality, all hand made and hand smocked. It is a very very good heavy nice material as well. Their clothes are the kind you clean, box, and save to hand down to future generations. Their styles are the kind that have been in style since my grandmother was a child, same with the materials they choose. They had a lot of dresses, at such good prices, but we could only afford one. I wish I could of gotten her more. There was few though that would work for her, as most were for Christmas, but there was still at least 4 that I would of liked to of gotten her. I just love the baby blue corduroy, with hand stitched embroidered white snow flakes on it, with beautiful smocking that we got her the last time we were there. This time we got her a nice heavy material, red and green plaid dress, that is smocked at the top. It really is a beautiful dress. Both dresses (the blue one, and the plaid one) also has full slips/lining sewn in! Just amazing quality. I highly recommend them to any witness, especially any with more then one child, as these are for sure dresses that will last through several children, and are so very modest, yet cute too, and no worries about them going out of style.

Then I went to Le Gourmet Chef to get my popcorn popper. Well, great deal is not the word to describe it! hahaha I ended up with a 30 dollar popcorn popper for only 6 dollars! And that included the tax! Between the gift certificate and the coupon I made out like a bandit.

Then we went out to eat, to one of my new favorite "healthy" restaurants, Chipotles. I love their black beans, lean pulled pork, and their guacamole is so fresh it's wonderful, best of all Lela ate a LOT! She hasn't been eating much for a while, so we were really happy with her. When I say a lot though, that is relevant to her, she never eats much, but it was at least more then her usual 1 to 2 tablespoons of food, so we were very happy with her.

Then I decided to go to The Icing, because I am growing my hair back out again, and needed something for my hair. Well, again another sale! Every thing I got was only 2 dollars each! I was so happy. I was able to get a pony tail holder that doubles as a broach for only 2 dollars, it's a great BIG ivory rose, with pink on the tips, it goes so well on my coat. I liked it when I seen it on the rack, but when I put it on my coat, it just made me smile. And for some reason just makes me think of Donavon, but in a happy way. It just makes me smile when I see it. I think because it's so huge, and I never wear anything that huge. But, I can't help but smile when I see it. For some reason, like I said, unknown it just makes me feel happy, and I haven't really felt "happy" since the miscarriage, so it makes me feel good for some reason. I was glad to get it, and I think I will think of Donovan every time I see it, since the rose seems to reminds me to feel happy again after his loss. Lela likes it a lot, she keeps wanting to smell it! lol hahaha

Then when I got home, literally I just walked in the door, and the UPS man came with our order. We bought some furniture with our tax return and it arrived today. Along with Lela's name puzzles from Highlights.

I can't wait to get my furniture made-hutches for our kitchen. We have no storage in the kitchen and these hutches will give us a place to put ALL the stuff piled on the counters, and the side boards, I bought 4 years ago! I bought the side boards 4 years ago, and I've been saving now for 4 years to get the hutches that are sold to go on top of them. I am just so excited. It took 2 years to save for the side boards, and I was so very happy when they finally arrived, but now to get the hutches as well, I'm very happy. Finally the kitchen will be organized!

So today has been a wonderful day.

Lela Furniture

I'm so happy, I've been looking for some good school furniture for Lela, and I found some perfect furniture. A online store that sells school furniture! Great desk, I can't wait to get for Lela. However, I'm debating which chairs to get for her and I! Plastic, or birch/wood. The plastic looks more comfortable, however, the birch is better environmentally, and would go better with our decor in the house. I also for sure am getting her a book cart (for libraries!) from there. I love it. She's been needing a book case, but I haven't found anything I'm in love with. Well, I love these book carts. They remind me of school! AND they can be rolled around where ever we want. And they will be so durable they will probably last forever, since they are made for schools.

They have a ton of stuff I want though. But, we'll just get things as we can. I really love all their play stuff too-kitchen, living room, puppet theater, etc.

I'm also in search of a good air pop, popcorn popper, I think we're going to go primitive and buy one you use on the stove top. lol

And one of my favorite people is on TV today, Richard Simmons, I need to get to exercising again! So I'm going to order his new DVDs. And hopefully start getting off my fanny and working out again! I need it.

Homeschool Beginnings

On happier news, we started Home Schooling Lela a couple of weeks ago, on February 27th.

She just loves it!

We use HighFive Magazine, along with their puzzles, matching games, play dough, and the like, we also are using the Great Teacher and My book of Bible stories books. She is having a great time with it.

I'm having a ton of fun teaching her too. She's a real joy.

Tragic Loss

Sadly the night of my last post (February 16th), I broke water and delivered Donavon Jeremy Woodford preterm, he didn't make it.

I had one great nurse, and one horrible one. Because of the horrible one I also ended up with a infection.

Emotionally I didn't think I would get through it. I cried every day so so much. I'm finally moving on though. And doing better.

We have his ashes home, and put away, and now it seems I can move on.

And will work much harder at updating the blog more. I should be able to stay on track better now.

18 Weeks

It's been forever, since I have updated any one.

I am 18 weeks pregnant with our second baby! It's been a hard pregnancy though, as I there is a hematoma in there with the baby. There's been a lot of bleeding and a lot of medical problems. It took a lot of work, but I'm now at a high risk clinic getting the medical help I need.

I've been on pretty strict bedrest now for months. So I've gotten a lot of stitching done. I entered another pillow case swap and finished it. I got some really cute little pillow cases from that swap. I did a new Aunt Martha pattern for my part.

I'll be glad when the nausea and tiredness goes away though during this pregnancy. It's starting to get a little better. But, I've been in a lot of pain for the past two days.

Lela is getting to be such a big girl, it's hard to believe! I bought her a dress a couple of months ago that is so cute, I have her wear it a lot. It's light blue corduroy with white embroidered snow flakes. I found it at a new children's clothing store that is really really sweet. All nice, vintage and age appropriate clothing. She is so cute in them. :) They also sell clothes to match for American Girl Doll's. I think we'll get Lela one later this year.

Pre-K will start this fall for Lela. I am going to buy the curriculum soon. With the extra music package. I'm also going to check out the New World pre-k down the street and see how much it cost. It may help next year to keep her busy during the day while I'm taking care of the new born. But, we'll see. Sisters run it, and it's all sisters teaching it. Vince's cousins all went there, till the third grade. I'll see what I think of it, after we visit, and see what the enrollment fees are.

Vince took Lela to a train show on Saturday and she loved it. I sat the whole time. What was great is we found a new place to shop, they had Super Wal-marts and Aldi's and lots of places to eat. Where we go in Pennsylvania there is no places to eat, and takes longer to get there and home. So I'm pretty happy we found a new place to grocery shop. We ate at Denny's there, it was good, and I was soooooo full, I had to bring a lot home.

As I always say, I'll try to do better at keeping the blog updated.

Shoes!

As usual it's been busy around here.

I was able to get some new dress shoes at Macy's. I haven't bought new dress shoes in about 4 years. So it was nice to get a new pair. They are a cute red leather mary jane, from Naturalizer. Even Vince likes them. So that was nice.

I finally found a lipstick color I really like on myself too. I usually do not wear make up. But recently have found I would like to start wearing lipstick. So I finally just last week found a shade I really really like. I think I'm really liking revlon. I also like the new lip liners that you don't have to sharpen. Mine never did sharpen correctly so these are nice. I wish they would make some transfer pencils like that for iron on embroidery patterns! Cause I never can get those pencils sharpened correctly either.

I'm still working on my step grandma's towels. Taking much longer then I have hoped. I've just been so busy. So I don't even have one done yet. But, getting close. I hope to get done with the other shortly.

I'm thinking we really need some more towels as well. So after I am done with this other pillow case swap I joined, I'm going to make us at least 2 if not more towels.

Only a few days left now and I start my new cookbook cooking club! It was so much fun last time. I hope I can have that much fun this time. I really need to get a menu created and a shopping list made.

Lela is saying such large sentences now it's so much fun! Things like, Look, I found a sock!

I have also kept up with my daily walking. I am exhausted, but so glad I am exercising again. December 1st, I'm upping the time from 30 minutes a day to 40 minutes.

I will try to get back soon. It has been frigid here!

Happy Days

A lot has happened in the past week, and it's been terribly wet and windy. Thankfully today it's just windy and not so wet.

Lela started singing full songs last month and it's so cute! She sings Sesame Street's Sing, Sing a Song, Sesame Street's Sunny Days, Backyardigan's Theme Song, Patty Cake, Old Mc Donald Has a Farm, and a few songs I made up that I sing to her. It's just so cute!

Last Saturday, not yesterday, I was painting my nails, and she got really close, face right up on my nails. I started with my toes, and she watched every toe, then I did my fingers. When I had about 4 fingers done she stuck out her hand to get it done too! I went ahead and did hers after I finished my fingers. I only did her fingers at first, then she looked and seen her thumb wasn't done, so she stuck that out at me, as if you forgot this one! So I did that too. She was really good with it. And she blew on them and every thing I showed her. It was cute.

I forgot to take photos though. So I thought I would the next morning, but she sweats so much the polish was pretty much gone the next morning. Next time though!

Then on Monday I returned some DVDs I rented from the library and thought all was well. On Thursday when I checked my library account online it showed two had not been returned. So I had to straighten that out. That took forever. And then they said all had fines, cause I renewed them online instead of in real life. Well, they had told me previously I could do it online. So they thankfully straightened that all out.

However, Thursday I also had tivo'd Wednesday's Oprah and seen every one going to Snapfish could have a photo book for free. Well, the site was flooded and it took me till Friday, but I got it done finally. I used over 50 photos in the book, so it seemed like it took me forever. I can't wait to see what it looks like in real life. If I like it, I noticed Wal-mart offers the exact same thing for cheaper. So I may buy more from them.

I was able to get another sweater for winter at Costco, and that will probably set me for this winter in the sweater department, however, I would like to get a couple of wool skirts if I can find any good ones.

I also was able to get a really nice wool coat at Walmart that looks really good on me, and I really like, and it has a hood which you desperately need here in NYC.

We took Lela to Chuck E Cheese yesterday, it was crowded but not as bad as a usual Saturday. I seen there is a dress up wardrobe that comes with a lot of dress up stuff for 5000 tickets. So far Lela has 1000. She likes to play the duck game and a bee catching game and we are able to get a lot of tickets at both! Next time I want to play the Deal or No Deal game. I've never even watched the show, and probably never will, but the game they have there looks fun. After we get Lela the dress up thing, they also have a toss across bean bag game I know she would love at home, and it's only 3000 tickets. I know the way Vince and I rack up the tickets helping her play, it won't take us long!

Then I went to Whole foods and got a few more reusable bags. They have vintage ads on them and are so cute. I had been seeing other people with them, but always seen on the racks ugly bags, well I finally figured out where the vintage ones are! On another isle! I have some with bananas on them and some with clams. They had some with grapes for a while that were so cute, but I never did find those! I only seen other people with them all the time. Oh well. I just love using them though. And it's like free, since every time I use them at all the grocery stores I go to, I get a discount, and now I don't have to have those stinking plastic bags piling up every where either! And they work better then the plastic ones too!

Then, I finally was able to get something I've been looking for, for 5 years! A 8 slice pie cutter! I can never seem to slice the pie exactly even. And I've been looking at every cooking and baking shop I've went to for 5 years! And all they ever have are 7 slice cutters. But, being diabetic most the recipes I have for diabetic pies are to cut into 8 slices, and I don't really need more then 1/8 of a pie any way, with diabetes especially. So a couple of weeks ago I seen in the Bed, Bath and Beyond ad circular, a ad for one, and it had a 5 dollar off coupon on the back. So YES, finally. Now I can't wait to make a pie, just so I can try it out!

Then I finished my shopping with going to Barne's and Noble. I had a internet coupon, and a membership discount, so I was able to get one of my favorite secular magazines for 20 percent off, which that ended up taking almost a dollar and a half off! That's quite a bit!

So it was a happy a day.

And the shopping for this month, and pretty much winter in general is over!

However, I have joined another pillowcase swap. And can't wait to get started. I'm hoping I can find the new primitive Aunt Martha patterns soon so I can use them, in this swap! Thankfully the end of the swap isn't due till mid February. So I have plenty of time to work on them. I am still working on my grandmothers kitchen towels though. I got lazy doing them cause the hair on the pattern was difficult, but I finally got past the hair, so I need to just speed stitch my way through and finish!

My Wardrobe

My wardrobe had been a little pathetic for a while. And I really have no winter clothes, so I went to Burlington Coat Factory and I actually found some really classy sweaters. I also found cute and classic ones at Costco. I can't believe it. For sweaters I usually end up at several stores and come home empty handed. This time I came home with 5 and had to restrain myself! haha But, they look so good on me even Vince commented on them, which he doesn't do often. So that really made me feel good.

I've been taking Lela to the park quite often and that's been fun. I hope our community center will start having something for me to take her too now for winter.

I've been having fun coming up with new Tea recipes as well. So far I've came up with two really yummy ones. One I call Decadent Peppermint Patty, which is my favorite. And the other I call Lela's Caramel Chocolate Kiss.

Last night my K key came off my lap top so that's been aggravating. I'm going to work on replacing the whole keyboard I think.

I was able to get some neat crafting books from the library, and one showed how to make a yo-yo quilt. Now I'm all fired up to try it! It looks fun! I have some cute ideas for it, and can't wait to try it.

And now I need to get back on the ball at trying more Healthy Exchanges Recipes I've been lax at trying new things, it's time to get back in the swing of things!

But, at least I finally started exercising. I am in a 100 day challenge where I have to exercise every day for 100 days. So far so good. I'm up to walking 30 minutes a day now. By, the end of the challenge I want to be walking 50 minutes a day!