Sheesh!

I don't know why I feel so tired this week! I can't stop yawning. I guess it's from the busy weekend. But I didn't sleep as well as I could have last night. Brett and I were very chatty. It was nice. But we also switched sides of the bed. He has had trouble sleeping the last month or so because he is so hot. (Yeah he is! ;-) I told him we should switch sides because I was sleeping closer to the vent, but we were sleeping in those positions to try and keep my shoulder from hurting. I have a bad shoulder. So he wouldn't switch. He just said he would play around with the vents when he has time.

Well yesterday morning he was in the bathroom when the alarm went off (which is on his side). So I rolled over and turned it off, but didn't get up. So when he came back from the bathroom he laid down in my usual spot and immediately said "Wow. This side is cooler." So last night we switched. It was a little disorienting. In a couple of weeks, I will have created a "spot" but right now I feel like I'm on a hill. That side of the mattress isn't as worn. I kept thinking if I didn't hold on to the side of the bed, I would roll over!

Anyway, my point is, goodness! I'm tired!

So Much To Say!

I hate when I don't blog because I am busy, because by the time I have time to blog, I have SO much to say!

This weekend was pretty much all shower all the time. It was great! Well actually, Friday night we went to see Transformers at the IMAX. I liked it even more the second time. The things that shocked me the first time, weren't as big a deal the second time. I'd still say it is a strong PG-13 though. Too much language for kiddos.

But the best part is who we saw there! While we were in the giant line waiting to be let in, Brett looked behind us and saw Jenn and Rich! Jenn was one of my bridesmaids. She was one of my best friends in college and someone who I wish that I saw more often now. But we love them and it was so great to visit with them! When they seated us at the theater, there was still 30 minutes or so until the movie started so we had a good chat!

Saturday was very busy! I had a lot of shopping to do for the shower and some prep work as well. I got a lot done but we were tired! Then Saturday night was Madi's dance recital. She could not be cuter! I love that she likes her dance classes and I hope that she wants to continue with them.

Sunday we visited First Baptist again and it was really great. Sitting in the sermon, it was the first time that I felt like "I want to be a part of this family". We are still deciding, but if that is where God wants us, I will be very happy!

The shower was at 4 so we got there at 3 to set up. JDs family is really great. Melanie looked beautiful and I thought she handled herself very well even though it is incredibly uncomfortable to be the center of attention at a shower. She got great gifts too! Woohoo!

The weekend had another buzz of excitement running through it though. That is another story and I should probably wait until tomorrow to tell it, but I will blog for sure! (I'm not pregnant, so don't get any ideas Jenina =-)

Summer Movies

I love the Summer movie season! This year, for us, it started with Star Trek. I really enjoyed it! Last night we saw Transformers. Again, I enjoyed it. I don't think that I liked it more than the first one, but I did enjoy it. (I tend to prefers originals over sequels because I enjoy being introduced to the characters and getting to know them.)

I would have changed a few things. (I will issue a possible spoiler alert here. I am going to mention a couple of actors who are in the movie so if you haven't looked into that and don't want to know, skip the rest of the paragraph.) I'm always uncomfortable when I am watching a movie that I know younger children will see and it has a lot of profanity or inappropriate subject matter. This movie definitely had a bit too much of each. But other than that, I enjoyed it. It was like the first movie, but more of everything. More characters, more fight scenes, more chase scenes, more dramatic slow motion. It was good. I could do without the roommate and the "other girl" at school, but I loved the Rainn Wilson cameo and I am glad John Turturro was in it again.

So I enjoyed Transformers, but my big movie for this summer is without a doubt Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. My count down says 21 days to go, and I am thrilled! I am officially not going to a midnight showing, Brett is not up for it on a Tuesday night and it would hurt his feelings if I went without him, but I am very eager! I have recently discovered that it is my favorite of the books. Up until this point, the third book has been the one that I most enjoy reading. But this time through (I always read the books before a film or book release) I have taken the most joy from book 6. I will be finishing it up this weekend, and it is SO good!

Okay, lunch is over. Back to work.

What A Weekend!

Man! We had a very full weekend! Full of activity and full of blessings! Saturday felt like one weekend, and Sunday felt like another. Crazy!

I have already said how thankful I am that things went well with Brett's car on Saturday. It is nice to have a Monday morning where Brett can make plans to leave the office for lunch and not worry about being ticketed. And I mentioned that my family was coming over yesterday for Father's Day...

I was nervous! I wanted to have the family over to see the apartment. We always seem to do that... whenever one of my sisters or I move, after we settle in, we have the family over for a meal. Father's Day seemed liked the perfect opportunity, so I invited everyone over, but as the day got closer, I grew nervous! I was nervous about what I was cooking and nervous that people would be bored... well that's just crazy talk! It's never boring when the Holland girls get together.

I made the desserts (brownies and banana pudding) Saturday night so I wouldn't have to worry about them on Sunday. We slept in Sunday because we needed some rest, and then I cleaned, cleaned, cleaned! Brett made his famous grilled macaroni, which is delicious, but takes HOURS to make, so he was working on that while I was cleaning up. And then suddenly it was 4:00. I jumped in the shower and then got ready to cook! I was racing the clock, or so I thought. I was expecting the family to come at 6, but somehow, most of them thought I had told them to come at 6:30. So we were done with time to spare. Brett and I got to visit with Laura while we waited for everyone else, and then it was two hours of food and fun! Madilyn played with Chris's daughter Ragan the whole time and they had a blast! Neither one would try the pork chops, but they loved the roles and banana pudding.

My sisters and I discussed Mel's upcoming shower and tried to finalize plans... I don't feel as prepared as I would like to be at this point (it's this Sunday) but a couple of emails this afternoon and it will be all taken care of.

So I had a great time seeing my family. Everyone fit into the apartment just fine, dinner was great, and it was a nice celebration.

Brett and I finished the good guy side of Lego Batman when everyone left. It was a great night! I feel good about starting a new week =-)

Many Blessings

God is so good. Brett's car is officially taken care of. We fixed several little things and got it inspected, without thankfully, having to max out the credit card. There's not much room left, but there's a bit. If we had a flat tire, we would be able to take care of it. Now, I hope, I hope, I hope we will get the credit card balance down over the summer!

I am definitely feeling better. Not great. But better. I'm shaky today. Feeling a little weak. But tons better than I did mid week.

Tomorrow I will see my family =-) They are coming over for a Father's Day dinner. I have been feeling especially thankful for my dad lately, so that will be nice.

Next weekend is Mel's shower. I am looking forward to it, but I am always a little nervous when I am playing hostess. I hope it goes well! I hope that she enjoys it and feels special.

Okay, just wanted to share my thankfulness about the car. Back to work!

A Kitchen Fiasco!

So, I'm sick, right? So yesterday Brett offered to make dinner. Very nice offer. But we were planning to have tacos (which I've been wanting all week!) and I had planned to try something new the night that we made tacos. An idea that I had that would make Hungry Girl proud! Some low point enchiladas. I had the idea last week and really wanted to try it out. So I said that I would make dinner.

I started browning the meat and onions while some butter was melting to cook the rice. I look up, the butter is melted. So I grab the box of rice and dumb it into... not the rice pan, but the meat! Are you kidding??? I REALLY wanted tacos! So I spent the next 45 minutes picking all of the rice out of the meat. It took forever! What a mess! It was a true kitchen fiasco. I guess Brett was right. I was too sick to cook.

The Bad Germs Are Beating The Good Germs

Do you remember that episode of The Cosby Show where Rudy is sick and Cliff is taking care of her? He crushes up the medicine in a spoon full of orange juice and makes the airplane noise. And when she asks him why she is sick he tells her that the bad germs are beating the good germs, and he explains to her about germs and our body fighting off sickness.

Well I always think about that when I am sick. And right now, the bad germs are beating the good germs! I actually stayed home from work yesterday which probably happens once a year due to sickness. My throat started to hurt Sunday night and was a little worse Monday. By the middle of the day Tuesday I felt feverish and achy all over. I left work an hour early so I could go home and lay down. Then yesterday morning, when the alarm went off, I stood up and fell right back into bed. I was so dizzy! My head was full of snot and my throat was so swollen it really hurt, and I ached all over. So I stayed home.

I am feeling much better today, but still fairly lousy. But if I improve as much tomorrow as I did today, I will be WAAAY better! I need a good nights sleep and some down time.

That is all. Just thought I would explain my lack of blogging this week. No energy!

Up

Well Friday night was really fun. I picked up Madi from school and she was a BLAST! We picked up dinner and took it to my apartment to eat. I'm not sure why, but Madi loves our apartment! We ate together and then she jumped on the bed while I tried to make it. It was really fun. We did a lot of singing. Random! And they were all show tunes. She is SUCH a Holland!

Then she and I picked up dinner for Brett (for him to eat in the car on the way to the movie) and then we picked up Brett and headed to Grapevine Mills.

I really liked the movie. It was hilarious and beautiful! The balloons! They really were gorgeous! BUT... it was quite a tear jerker. Way more than any of the other Pixar films. Finding Nemo and The Incredibles have been known to make me cry, but this was really tough. It was too much for Brett. He couldn't enjoy the funny parts because the sad parts were too sad. But Madi and I discussed our favorite funny parts on the way home and again the next day when we saw her briefly. So I give Up two thumbs up! But consider yourself warned. Take some kleenex!

Saturday was full of errands. Actually, Sunday had a few errands in it too. It was a fairly full weekend, but productive and not without some down time. Yesterday we accidentally took an almost three hour nap! I love a good nap, but when I nap too long I have trouble sleeping at night. Well apparently, we were tired enough yesterday for a nap and a good nights sleep!

My throat hurts today. It started yesterday and I was hoping it would be gone today but it is actually worse. Nothing killer... mostly just when I swallow... but I am going to pick up some Tylenol sore throat today to be on the safe side.

Last week was an improvement over the couple of weeks prior (in most ways). I hope that I can say the same this week!

Date Night!

Brett and I have a date tonight – with my niece Madilyn! I'm so excited!

I am picking her up from school after work and she and I will eat dinner somewhere and then hang out at the apartment until Brett gets off. Then the three of us will head to Grapevine Mills to see Up. Woohoo!

I hope that the movie is good. I have heard that it has some sad parts but that it handles them well, and Madi loves all of the Pixar movies, and Nemo deals with the death of a parent also. That was a long sentence.

I went to buy movie tickets at lunch because the show starts at 7:35 and Brett won't get home until 7:00. I love looking at movie posters while I stand in line for a movie. I want to see My Life in Ruins. I loved My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Nia Vardalos (whose name I just CORRECTLY guessed how to spell... I double checked on IMDB, thank you!) seems really sweet and genuine. I want to support her and I believe that the movie will be relatable for any woman who has ever felt out of place, ya know? Maybe I will go see that one day next week when Brett is working late. Jennifer, wanna come??? It's summer! Oh... you are still in school though. I forgot. Hmm... let me know if you need a study break!

This week, mercifully, moved much quicker than the past few have. We have officially begun our summer project at work, so I have plenty to do. In fact, I think I could work tomorrow if I wanted to. Brett and I are running errands all day, so I don't really have time, but soon it will be overtime city! It will be tiring in the end, but right now, we could REALLY use the money, and I am happy to be working again.

Okay, that's enough of that. Come on clock, keep on moving! I'm ready to see Madi!

After The Rain

Rain is a funny thing. It can be terribly destructive and miraculously healing. Sometimes at the same time. We all have rain in our life. It's a given. Though it can be painful, it is comforting to know that I am not the only person in my life who sometimes braves a storm. AND, as a Texas gal, I can state confidently that weather can change in the blink of an eye, so I shouldn't fear the rain. I just have to keep moving, regardless of what the scale, my bank account or my boss says.

We had quite a storm last night/this morning in the Dallas area. As far as I know, no one in my family suffered much damage, and I am thankful for that. And the rain gave Brett and I a very nice hour or so of alone time that we were not expecting, as we had a few errands planned last night. We used the time well =-)

I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday, and I am thankful for the blessings that today has brought, rain included.

Getting Close!!!

Can I say how much fun it is to help plan SOMEONE ELSE'S wedding? Melanie is getting married August 1. She is mailing invitations this weekend and it has been so much to fun to help put them together! I wish I could help more though. My sisters were so great helping me. I hope that I am available for Mel like she was for me.

I'm also excited because there are only 36 days until Harry Potter! Woohoo!

Sorry I was such a Moaning Myrtle yesterday. I am feeling better today and still thinking about things... trying to make a plan to put some positive changes into effect. Thanks to Jennifer and Kriss for your encouraging words yesterday.

Going For An Emmy

Brett and I have a new expression. When someone is being dramatic, we say they are "going for an Emmy". It came from watching a few minutes of an episode of The Land of The Lost. Those kids are crazy!

I feel like such a jerk. I'm at work trying, unsuccessfully, not to cry... BLOGGING, when I should be working (I'm sort of ahead of schedule, but still...) I feel so melodramatic. Like I'm going for an Emmy... but it's so... maddening? Discouraging? Hopeless? I don't even know how to put into one word what I am feeling right now. I swear... I am gaining weight just by THINKING of food. I don't understand. And at the same time, I do.

I'm too inactive, and points or no points, I'm eating more than I need to. Sometimes. Not all of the time. I make good choices too. Just not all of the time. And obviously not enough of the time. I can't keep doing this. It's, literally, killing me.

I'm so tired. Mentally exhausted. I wish I were somewhere else.

I can't pretend like I don't know what to do, because the problem is easy to identify and the solutions are plentiful. I just can't seem to do anything right. At least, not two days in a row.

I Love My Husband

Have I mentioned that? I do. I totally love my husband.

It is Saturday night. I am posting a quick blog (because I need to gush a bit) and he is playing Street Fighter. We're not always exciting, but still, life is good.

Last night we wanted to have a date night, but we also needed to keep things cheap and easy. So we ended up rearranging some plans to kind of give today some date elements and keep yesterday a little safer.

We have decided to start weighing in on Saturday mornings at Weight Watchers and attending the meeting on Sunday. We love the Sunday afternoon meeting. We prefer it to the Saturday meeting by a long shot! It just is a better fit for us. But the problem with weighing in on a Sunday is having to be super careful about everything you eat on Friday night and Saturday. Not that we aren't careful all week (well... we INTEND to be) but Brett and I like to use our flex points having a tasty, less healthy meal at a restaurant of our choosing. The easiest time to do that is on the weekend! So for the past few weeks, the Sunday weigh in has added an element of stress to the rest of our weekend that was starting to get old.

Thursday night it occurred to me that as long as you weigh in once a week at WW, you can attend as many meetings as you would like to. SO, our new plan, which we put into action today, is to weigh on in Saturday mornings and attend the Sunday meeting. I think it will be a good change for us. I hope!

So, back to my point. Last night we ran a couple of errands, found a strategy guide and Wii remote converter that Brett wanted, and then came home for an easy dinner.

Today, we slept til 9:40, got up and threw on clothes and then went to weigh in. After that we came home to shower and clean up, then we went to one of our favorite places for lunch - Pappasitos! It was delicious as always!

Then we went to a Bank of America and added me to his bank account so that we can have direct deposit into ONE account (hopefully that will make finances a little more manageable). Then I dropped Brett off at home to go get my car inspected. Then we went for an ice cream treat (goodbye flex points... we enjoyed you VERY much!). Then we ran one more errand before coming home to watch a movie.

I like to watch movies. Brett... sometimes likes to watch movies. He has plenty of tv shows that he enjoys, but movie watching is only a sometime enjoyment for him. Well, I wanted to watch a movie. There are several movies on pay per view that I want to see. I offered up a few choices to Brett, but he said he really didn't care so to pick whatever I wanted. I felt like a lighter movie so I chose... He's Just Not That Into You.

That's right. My husband loves me enough to let me watch a chick flick now and then. Sometimes he enjoys them. Tonight was just okay for him I think, but I enjoyed it very much. What a cast! Some of my long time favorites (I heart Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Anniston is definitely on my list!) and Gennifer Goodwin, who I LOVED in Mona Lisa Smiles and whose career I am very interested in following. Also, I had never noticed that Justin Long looks like Keanu Reeves.

Anyway. My husband loves me, and I am so thankful that we are newlyweds and we are happy and we are dealing with life one day at a time.

Thank you Lord for ALL of the people in my life who I love and whose love you have blessed me with.

Giving Thanks

It's been a pretty good week. Brett and I are in a very sweet place right now. Life is a little crazy, but we find such peace in each others arms. So we are sweet when we are together and sweet when are looking forward to seeing one another. It's nice.

I'm so excited that Melanie's wedding is almost here! It was decided yesterday that Brett and Chris will be ushers, so now the whole family is in the wedding!

Next weekend my family is all coming over for Father's Day. I'm excited that we will all be together and I am excited that pork chops are on sale at Kroger this week! That's what I was planning to make!

And speaking of sales at Kroger, cherries are on sale for $1.99 a pound!!! I've been gazing longingly at the cherries for weeks now! I couldn't afford them at $5 a pound, but I can't wait to grab a bag tomorrow!

God has been preparing my heart lately... a lot of verses have been speaking to me, and as lives of others around me change, and sadly in some cases, even come to an end (my heart is both sad over the loss of Betty and Cliff, and happy that they are in paradise), I am examining choices and situations closely and thinking about changes.

I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday. I am thankful that I get to have dinner with  my husband tonight and hopefully go on a little walk.

God is good. I am most of all thankful that He is a God that does not cling to His anger, but instead delights in the long suffering of His love. (Micah 17)

Even though I am missing a lot of friends right now, I am warmed just by thinking of them. I hope I see Jeff this summer. Maybe we will be able to go visit!

Shout Out!

"Shoop" by Salt-N-Pepa just came on came on my iTunes.

MEMORIES!

What Am I, Wolverine?

Apparently I need to find night gloves. I am not one of those girls with super long nails. They are never painted and, believe it or not, I have never had a manicure. I'm just not that girl. I like them long enough to help me untie knots, but not long enough to get in the way of my typing. In fact, that's how I know when they are too long. When I start to hit all of the wrong keys when I type.

BUT, turns out, they are long enough to scratch my husband up every night. Somehow, I scrape him with my nails during the night and he wakes up with scratches! Today he had a large spot on his leg that looks like I was trying to whittle! Poor Brett =-(

I don't mean to! But I also like having nice little nails. I don't want nubs! So maybe I need to get some of those sleeping gloves at Target. I can even use the lotion and get nice and moisturized while I sleep! Protect my skin AND Brett's!

I Heart Harry

I needed something to read this weekend. Brett has me reading a story line in some of his graphic novels, but he wasn't home to tell me which one to start next and I needed a book. I have been itching to read a little Harry Potter lately because I downloaded two of the movies into my iTunes to listen to in the background while I am working. I am familiar enough with the stories that they are sometimes less distracting than listening to music and they make the time move faster. But watching the movies always make me want to read the books.

It was my HP tradition to read through the books when the next in the series was about to be released, which means I haven't read through them from the beginning since the release of Deathly Hallows. But, though I love it, I was worried that I would get bored if I started in book one this time because I am probably most familiar with that story. But it is short so I grabbed it off the shelf.

BORED? That's crazy talk! The first book is SO good! What a wonderful story! And I am completely obsessed with the Weasley's, so getting to meet them and slowly know them is an experience that I treasure every time. I started it Saturday and finished yesterday. Brett wasn't thrilled when I started on book 2 (he wants me to go back to his comics) but I can't help it. I haven't quenched my thirst yet. And if I am going to read the first two, I HAVE to read book 3. It's my favorite!

I learned today that book 7 comes out on paperback in July, so maybe I can read the first 6 this month and finish it off with a read through of the paperback of book 7! I have looked forward to revisiting the series since I completed it because I am sure that I will notice details that I didn't realize were significant before I read the final installment. I'm considering skipping 5 - it takes a LOT out of me to read about Umbridge. She is a monster - but we'll see.

The next movie will be in theaters in 45 days. WOOHOO!!!

Two Exciting Discoveries

Oh dear! This is quite a find. I have always been a fan of caramel flavored Quaker Rice Snacks. So much so that I have never ventured into another flavor. Well goodness gracious! I just tried apple cinnamon and it was DELICIOUS! Bags of minis are on sale at Kroger for $1 so I grabbed one to use this week to add a little crunch to my yogurt. I bought apple cinnamon to add one more fruit flavor to the mix. (When I eat yogurt, I buy Yoplait Light Vanilla and add fresh fruit to it.) It added more than a little crunch! It added a whole new level of tasty goodness! Give them a try! I believe it is 70 calories for 8 pieces. Not a very filling snack on their own, but throw 6 on top of your yogurt and for one point you've seriously upped the yumm factor!

What was my other discovery? I can't remember now. I got too excited about the yogurt...

OH! I just saw a trailer for Toy Story 3!!! I LOVE the Toy Story films. I can't wait to see another! But it doesn't come out for another year. Hmm... well, I will eagerly await more extended trailers. Woohoo!