August!

I can't believe it's already August!  20 more days till I go back to work...but we will have some summer relaxation and memories before then.
The last four weeks I have taken the kids up to my school for their community library days.  The kids get to check out books for the week and lots of activities to do.  There favorites was Paws for People day, where they had volunteers with animals come in and the kids got to read to the animals.  Another favorite was when they got their face painted.  Spiderman and Catgirl :)

Both kids have had a blast at their camps the three days a week they go.  Gabby is looking forward to going bowling this week with her own bowling ball that has been passed down that I gave her cousin when he was her age.  Tyler loves his water and ice cream days and last week was one of his favorites-Super Hero Week!

Last weekend we got to take our Annual Trip to the Delaware State Fair!  We all enjoyed ourselves.  We got to do the rides, see a pig race and even a circus.  They love going every year and seeing all the animals, especially the baby chicks.  Can't wait till next year!

 The rides!

 Pop-pop showing Tyler the chicks....

 Gabby is so proud she is brave enough to hold one by herself!

Although Summer is winding down...we still have one or two beach trips and Dutch Wonderland to look forward to!  Hope to end the summer with a bang!

White Water Mountain-Girls Day

Yesterday, I went on a field trip with Gabby's came to White Water Mountain.  It was tons of fun! The water felt so nice and it was a blast to go down the slides with her!  Haven't done that in years!  Can't wait till the next time we go!
She is doing great with her swimming.  Spends half the time underwater!  I think swimming lessons are on the agenda for next summer or very soon!

 Smaller slide that she was able to go down head first and dive into the pool!

 Time out to take a pic of the two of us!

 Love her face here! She had a blast on the bigger slides.  Can't believe she was so brave!

Looking forward to taking both of them to the Delaware State Fair next week!  Update to follow!

Summer Flying!

Summer is really flying by.  I can't believe it's halfway over.  I've really enjoyed the time I've had to relax, the slower pace, and being able to do things I don't get to do when I'm working.  I'm looking forward to enjoying the next month by myself and with the family.  We have some trips and activities to look forward to. 

One focus this summer has been getting back into a more healthier lifestyle.  I have lost 66 pounds total since I first started a while back and almost 20 pounds the past two months.  I have a ways to go and it can be really discouraging some weeks when the scale doesn't move, but I'm eating proportionally and exercising on a consistent basis.  I know with working, I am not moving around as much, and my doctor says the humidity holds on to fluid and I"m gaining muscle from working out, but I still want to see results.  I have to just remember to keep plugging along....it's not how fast I get there, but that I do...and I will.  It's been nice to get back regularly to jazzercise and to have that support and a way to de-stress.  It's nice to be in control of my eating, even though I don't have control over the scale!

I have been back to therapy this summer, after taking a little break for two months.  I have had a breakthrough it seems, and now the hard part is keep the positive self-talk going and start a new chapter in my life completely.  To not that things that trigger feelings from the past dictate my future, because I am not that person anymore. 

The kids are enjoying summer as well.  They love their camps that have water days, ice cream days and special visitors and trips.  I'm going to be able to go with Gabby Wednesday when her camp goes to White Water Mountain.  Should be a fun day for the two of us!
We also took them to the blue rocks for the first time.  They had a blast watching the baseball game, and eating ice cream out of their very own baseball souvenir cup.  They also loved the cowboy monkey rodeo they had during some of the innings.  They had monkeys dressed up as cowboys and riding dogs that had saddles chasing goats!  Perfect ending to the night was a firework display.  Was a great night for all of us. 

We have the Delaware State Fair to look forward to next week and a trip to the beach and Dutch Wonderland in August.  Now we just want summer to slow down!

Celebrating the start of July with a bang!

We  Tyler had his first trip to the dentist last week.  He was such a big boy and took it like a champ!  He loved picking out a new toothbrush and a spider man sticker!
We enjoyed one of my favorite holidays yesterday and celebrated the 4th of July.  We headed to Dover to have dinner with my dad and went to the parade and fireworks.

Hanging out at the parade

 Waiting for the fireworks... They both loved the fireworks and Tyler summed it up in one word....AWESOME!

Successes!

Although I seem to have a day or two here and there where depression tries to sneak back, I'm doing okay overall.  I am continuing to lose weight and sticking to my regimen of working out three times a week. It's a long journey, but glad I continue to move forward.
We are happy to announce that Tyler is potty-trained and wearing underwear!  It has really paid off to take a relaxed approached.  He woke up two weeks ago, and started telling us when he had to go potty!  We are very proud of him!
He also went to the Dentist for the first time yesterday.  He was so brave and did a great job!  He was proud when they told him he had 20 teeth!  We left with good reports for both him and Gabby with no cavities. 
We are moving into fourth of July which is one of my favorite holidays.  If the weather cooperates we are planning on going to the parade and fireworks in Dover.  Looking forward to spending it with my family.

Relaxing Summer!

Summer is off to a great start.  Been out almost for two weeks and have actually enjoyed every minute!  I'm finding that I really did need the time to get perspective of a lot of things and get back into the things that are good for me.  I have been able to watch Tv shows I don't usually get to, catch up on reading and relaxing. I have sat back and looked at my life and really appreciate what I have.  I have a wonderful family and two great kids. (which I already knew, but forget sometimes) I am up to spending more time with the kids and really enjoying them.  Not a day goes by that one of them says or does something that has me smiling or busting out laughing!
One of things I have been able to do is to get back to jazzercise and working out three times a week.  It's good for my weight loss and my depression.  I enjoy the people there and they are very supportive of what I want to accomplish.  I went back to the doctor for my first month check-up.  He was very happy with 12 pounds.  The last two weeks, things slowed up some, with my menstrual period, the humidity and toning up from working out.  I hope I am over that slump and back on my way downward!  I know it takes time, and I'm trying to be patient although I really want to feel and see the results as fast I can to keep me going and knowing all my hard work is paying off.
Right now I'm having a hard time struggling with loneliness from time to time...course this is not something new.  My family have always been busy, tend to find it easier to talk to Julio if we are around, and I lost a lot of friends the last time I had a relapse with my depression  This summer I have come to realize that maybe God is letting me learn to rely on him completely and then once that happens he may bring genuine people in my life.  Family is frustrating.  I have different expectation for relationships and family than the rest of the world.  My grandmother and mom helped to instill the importance of family in me.  With the business of life, I think they forget the extended family is just as important and these relationships should also be invested in.  There are times, I want to back up so I don't keep getting disappointed and hurt, but I know that won't help either...so really do not know how to make peace with all of it.

Last week was Vacation Bible School.  It is always a great week.  This year, Tyler was old enough to also participate.  They had it every night for to hours and did crafts, games and learned music all while learning about Daniel from the Bible.  They can't wait till next year!

Last weekend, we took our annual Trip to Killens Pond.  The kids had a blast and Tyler's favorite was the frog slide and Gabby's was excited she could reach and go in the big pool and practiced her underwater swimming.  It was a nice day we all enjoyed!

We are all just enjoying the time to be outside and the extra time we have to be with each other.  Looking forward to lots of fun and memories in the next couple of months!

Catching up and on to Summer!

School is out and Summer is here! I hope it's a summer of lots of relaxation and fun!
A lot has happened since April.  Julio and I ended April by celebrating our 10 year Anniversary.  We took our traditional trip to the Poconos.  It was absolutely wonderful!

The beginning of May I got to go with Gabby on a field trip to the Rodeo.  It was lots of fun! 

Mother's Day we took our annual first trip to the beach.  The weather was much nicer this year and the kids enjoyed playing in the sand and of course the rides!

                                                              

Now the weather is getting warmer, we are spending more time outside and at the park.  We had a perfect day to go out and fly a kite. Kids had a blast!

We were even able to get the pool out already!  Were also spending time at Uncle Oscar's house and taking advantage of his pool!

Memorial Weekend!

We are starting summer off by celebrating Julio's Birthday.  The kids made him a cake and we are doing a cookout with dad's famous chicken.  Should be lots of fun!