Happy Birthday "Bumpa" Mike

Today is my husband's 54th Birthday. We celebrated yesterday with the family. Here he is with the grand-kids. Noah, Carter, Abby & Gray. It is a job to get all 4 to pose in one spot, especially on Bumpa. Gray named him Bumpa.... Cause it sounds like Grampa. Mike does not like for people to fuss over his birthday. He would rather let it pass by, but he is so deserving of a special day just for him. He is a hard worker and is always there for people in need. He puts himself last so many times.

I wanted to get him something he would really enjoy, so I got him tickets to a concert to hear his favorite singers Celtic Women on April 6, in Chicago. I thought we could ride the train up there and have a nice day in Chicago. Mike has always loved Irish music and folk type songs. He loves Peter, Paul & Mary, which we have been to their concerts as well. We went last year to see Celtic Women and really enjoyed it.

It is also my Great niece, Madigan's Birthday.....

Madigan is holding Abby. Her brother Corbin is on the left. Abby visited them in Louisiana a few weeks ago. Corbin & Madigan are my sister's beautiful grandkids......

Boys and Playdoh

What ever happened to keeping the colors separated? The boys came over last night while their parents went out to dinner. I had 2 packages of freshly new playdoh for them for Easter but we never got around to opening it. We started out by playing with one color each and making cookies with the cutters and everyone was sticking to the rule of no mixing the colors.............Then as the night went on......there's Gray.....He decided he wanted to design his own snake, as you can see. Noah even joined in the action. Well, you might ask, "who is the adult here and why did you break the rule of mixing the playdoh?

I see it as, it eventually gets mixed anyways and if the kid is quiet and having fun, Big Deal! It was on sale.....No one got hurt....and I have something interesting to blog about..... P.S. we even played with bubbles in the kitchen. Now I don't have to mop the floor!

Pink Lady Apple in Ciberspace....Delicious

So, I was emailing my sister this morning who is home from work taking care of her sick grandchildren.....most of you know, she lives over 1,000 miles from me. I am telling her that I ran out of the delicious pink lady apples....next thing I know, she emailed me this pink lady apple from her house. I wanted to reach thru the screen and grab it......I was the one who turned her on to these apples....My daughter, Steph told me about them. I have to say, they are scrumdillyicious.
She even put it on a fancy stand. Thanks sis, it was a great apple! Didn't leave an after taste.......

Spring Break from the Biggest Loser Couples

Diane & Mimi's Toes......on the Sandestin Beach in Florida last July.....Wishing we were there!We are taking a break this week from the Biggest Loser Couples....Tune in next week. We might be taking a break, but we are still working on getting our numbers down......

Diane, my sister is relaxing in this cozy hammock last year in Jamaica. She wishes she were there right now.

A delicious Tropical drink puts a smile on my face along with sitting by a pool with the ocean to my back last year in Florida on my sister vacation.....

How I wish I were there right now.....

Happy Spring

Wishing all my Blogging friends a Happy Spring and Hoppy Easter.

The Biggest Loser Couples week 11

"Maintain" 1.) keep up; carry on 2.) keep in working condition 3.) declare; assert 4.) support
This is what good ole' Webster's Dictionary says about this word.
My sister and I "Maintained" our weight this week. We are not failures, we are going to keep on keeping on. We are still in working condition. It might take us a little while to reach our goals but we are a team and we are supporting one another in this battle. I am so thrilled that we haven't given up the fight and we are not giving up. Next week we will have a Loss to report...Stay tuned!

Friends Through Blogging "T"

My good blogger buddy Sharon over at sit with me awhile is giving away a special T-shirt. Go on over to Denise at Samaritan Woman and check it out. Denise designed this blogging T for women. Sharon's blog is so inspiring to me. She is a special Lady!

Mimi's new look, you vote

So, my daughter Steph,
sent me these new looks. See, she has always been trying to make me over. Which one fits me best? Go to Face in Hole and check out a new look for you. Have fun.....
This is my after picture when I am done with the Biggest Loser.....I could only wish for these thighs...

Happy 1st Birthday Abby

My grand-daughter, Abigail is "1" today. Here she is with her mommy & daddy (my son) taken today at my sister's house in Louisiana. They went for a visit and are flying home tonight. I can't wait to see her. She really got attached to my sister, who is in mourning right now, missing them. Abby has brought so much Joy to our family. I was able to be at her birth to experience the miracle. I can remember the excitement my son felt and looking over his shoulder as he cut the cord. She has such a sweet spirit, just like her mommy. We celebrated her Birthday March 2 with the family.
Happy First Birthday Princess Abigail....Mimi Loves you! XXOO

Clicker's needed

Crooked eyebrow is in need of clicker's to keep her on top today. Go to Top Momma and just click on her picture to keep her on top. She is the one with the square on her forehead and finger on her cheek. She would love your click or lots of clicks. She is a very special lady and one of my favorite blogger buddies....

The Biggest Loser Couples week 10

10 weeks into this and still playing the game.......There were many temptations this week AGAIN...but I tried to be good about my food choices. I did have another birthday party to go to and did have yummy chocolate cake and ice cream.....Was it worth it? YES....I can't live my life depriving myself. I didn't eat the large sugared flower on top. I discovered some yummy 100 calorie Nutter Butter, Oreo & Chips Ahoy granola bars that make you feel like you are eating a candy bar. On the show, they are no longer playing as couples or teams anymore, they are competing as individuals. Our rules will remain as couples. We are supporting one another as sisters and partners. We will be winners together, no matter what.

I did do my last chance workout last night while watching the Biggest Loser on t.v. and burned 308 calories, walking for 30 min. on the treadmill. I didn't have a snack after the walk, even though I could have. I filled up on water instead. I figured, why would I put calories back in after working so hard to burn it off?
Here goes the weigh in......

Drum roll please.........

I lost 1 lb. My sister, Diane lost 0. She maintained, which is better than a gain. So, guess who is the Biggest Loser this week? I am.....Hooray

That brings our totals to 15 lbs. for me and 16.6 lbs. for Diane. I am catching up with you sis. I would love to lose another 15 lbs. by Memorial Day.

Here we are exactly 1 year ago. I like my red hair much better. Me on the left, Diane on the right.

Crazy Eights

I was tagged by Lisa at Sunny Side of the Street for this Crazy Eight meme....I will do my best to entertain you all.
8 Things I want to do before I die:
1. Deliver a Baby
2. Go to Disney World for Christmas with the whole family.
3. Get out of debt
4. Go on a cruise (Hawaii)
5. Meet Paula Deen and eat at her restaurant "The Lady and Son's" in Georgia
6. Meet my sister for a vacation in the Smokey Mountains or Las Vegas
7. Visit my brother in Boise Idaho
8. Swim with the dolphins
8 Things I say often:
1. Hanker Boy & Pen Pen let's go out-side side..Hank..one, two, three (gotta count sometimes)
2. Mike, what do you want to eat?
3. Dear God, help me
4. Hey
5. I can't believe
6. Thank you for calling
7. I hate to weigh
8. Mimi loves you
8 Songs I sing over and over again:
1. Jesus Take the Wheel (Carrie Underwood)
2. You Raise me up (Josh Grobin)
3. God is so good
4. Amazing Grace
5. From this moment (Shania Twain)
6. The Prayer (Celtic Women)
7. Oh Danny Boy (Celtic Women)
8. Independence Day (Martina McBride)
8 Things I'm Passionate about:
1. God, who I can always count on to get me thru the hard times
2. My kids and grand-kids (family)
3. My snowbaby collection
4. My Penny girl (doxie) dog that we adopted
5. My Coach purse
6. My Clarks shoes
7. My piano
8. My web cam (being able to visit with my sister everyday who is over 1,000 miles away)
8 Books I've read recently
1. Where's Weenie? (read to Gray)
2. Don't you Tickle Me! (read to Gray)
3. Thomas the Train (read to Gray)
4. Pet the Duckie (read to Abby)
5. Daily Scriptures (forgot the author's name)
6. Paula Deen Cookbooks
7. A Debt Free Marriage (hasn't worked yet?)
8. Don't sweat the small stuff (I still sweat it!)
8 Things that attract me to my best friends
1. Sense of humor
2. honesty
3. Faith
4. Love for kids
5. Love for animals
6. Love for food
7. understanding
8. good listener
8 People I think should do this:
If you would like to play, just go ahead and have fun....This was harder than it looks. It took me my whole lunch hour to do this.
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Mimi's Gym

Ask and ye shall receive.....I have been wanting a used treadmill cause the new ones can be very pricy and I didn't want anything too complicated. In talking to a family member, they wanted to get rid of this treadmill cause she didn't use it, so she sold it at a very affordable price. I am so excited to get this and I Thank God that he answered my prayer. It is really what I wanted. So, now I have no excuses to not exercise. I have my own gym now. Let the toning begin!

Lego Mania at Mimi's

Friday night the boys came over while Steph & Jeff went out to a fancy dinner event. It was Lego Mania at my house. These boys are Star wars/Lego fans big time. They named each of their people Star wars characters. It amazed me that 3 little boys can keep themselves amused with these little colorful plastic pieces for 3 hours. Thanks to my son Nate, when he moved out of the house, he left all his toys from the past. He said if he ever has a son, he will take them. Noah and Carter are posing with their pretend Star wars people. I think one of them is named "Anacon"(sp.?) , who I thought was a girl, but they quickly corrected me that he was a guy.

Here is Mr. Gray building a tower with the legos. He wanted me to sit and play with him. I would build them and he would take apart, then ask me to re-build.
The dining room table never looked so used. Whatever makes my 3 little grand-son's happy and doesn't hurt them, is what it is all about. And to think, this is not all of the Lego's!
And, after a rough night of Lego playing, it was time for a treat and guess what they ate as a snack besides the popcicles? Lego fruit snacks....I found at the store. I sent the rest of the box home with them and Steph said that Gray wanted to sleep with the box. They wanted to watch Star wars on t.v. while having their snack. .....Next year, the empty chair will be filled....with another little boy? or a little girl? Mimi had a fun night, as always!

The Biggest Loser Couples week 9

Week 9 and still going strong. My new best friend is the chicken,
spinich/mushroom Panini by Lean Quisine. I can actually eat them everyday and still not get sick of them. I also love the weight control banana bread oatmeal. I find something that I like and eat it until I burn out on it. But that is what works for me. I do get in some fresh steamed veggies now and then and let's not forget the fruit & boston cream pie yogurt & weight watcher's ice cream....YUM. My grand-daughter's birthday party was Sunday. I had a small slice of cake since my lovely daughter-in-law baked it and it was a celebration, but I said No to the scoop of ice cream. I was so proud of myself for not snacking on the chips and other munchies and dips. Having 4 grandkids to chase after and play with kept my mind off the food....Thanks kids!
Now to the weigh in.....Drum Roll.......
I lost .4 oz. My sister, Diane lost 1 lb. I guess every ounce counts. Way to go Diane...you are the biggest loser this week. Watch out, cause I am stepping up my game this week.
That brings our totals to 14 lbs for me and 16.6 lbs for Diane. I am buying that treadmill this week for sure......I can't let my big sis beat me.....although it is really not about competetion for me. I want us both to be healthy together. Thanks sis for being here for me and keeping me motivated..... It won't be long until we are back to our girly figures like in this picture taken in the 1980's. We were babes! Diane on the left, me on the right.

Princess Abigail's 1st Birthday Party

My little grand-daughter, Abby will be "1" on March 13. Her Birthday party was today because she and her parents are flying to see my sister, Diane in Louisiana next week. Her party theme was "Princess", which she is. I can't believe it has already been a year. Her mommy designed a Castle birthday cake. She got lots of girly presents. She didn't like the chocolate frosting on her fingers and would not eat the cupcake.......she was full from cookies that her grampa snuck her before her cake. She took 3 steps to her aunt Kari. It was a fun party.