Catching up

If anyone is actually still reading this I'll be surprised. I feel like I live in my office and on Interstate 30 traveling back and forth from Dallas to Little Rock which leaves little time for blogging. I can't tell you how many times I've said to myself "today is the day...I'm going to blog" but next thing I know I'm wrapped up in something else.

Quick update on the Beene clan:

Taylor: Miss thing got her braces on Oct 29 and let me tell you she looks as if she's aged 5 years. I'm not ready for her to grow up.

Jakob: He has started wrestling in Maumelle and loves it. He's a strong little sucker and at 8 is ripped with muscles head to toe. His first meet is tentatively Dec 5. I can't wait!

Lulu: Lu is just Lu! She's constantly singing a song or making up a scene for the movie going on in her mind. She will be a superstar one day and hopefully support her momma and daddy.

Daddy: our daddy is doing great. He's running himself around doing the job of two parents. He says he's ready for me to be in AR. Truth be told, I don't think its because he misses me, I think its because he needs a 2nd set of hands!

And me: I've had quite a bit going on myself. As most of you know I was a weather forecaster when I was in the Air Force. Loved it. I will always be a weather nerd. :) I had a brainstorm that with all the weather presentations I have done and the lengthy education, I wondered what it would take to forecast on the news. So, I sent out emails to all the local channels with my resume. Guess what...I got a hit!
Ed Buckner of CBS Channel 11 emailed me back. What a nice man. Truly. Everyone in LR should watch Channel 11. He invited me to the station and I spent the afternoon helping him with that nights forecast and graphics. I had such a great time. I asked him what it would take for me to be considered for a position if one were available. He said my education/background was more than enough and he could teach me any camera work I might need. So, once I get a job in LR, I will try to meet with him at least once a week or so to get a resume tape together. They will be hiring a 4th forecaster sometime in the next year or so. I'm hoping by then I've wow'd them enough to be considered. We will see!

My other big news is I have been interviewing with a company in Little Rock for an Executive Assistant for a CEO. Great company...great job. I've made it to the final rounds and should know something by weeks end. My stomach is in knots knowing that this 2 year separation of our family could possibly end in the next month. What a relief it will be.

Anyone have any big plans for Thanksgiving? We are staying home (in Texas) and working on our house. Remind me next time we buy a fixer upper that we need to start one project at a time...we have about 20 started and very few finished. So while you are enjoying your time off this coming week just think of JD and I slathered in paint and boo boo's from all the construction/updating we will be doing. If you are bored...come join us. I won't hold my breath...but if you are good friends and family you will show up...I'm just sayin. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mr. Mom

It's amazing how uneventful my life is without my kids. I live each week thinking only 4 more days until I see them again. Each week is a countdown. If I didn't have my boot camp to keep me busy 2 of those nights I might go stir crazy. What I need to be doing is getting off my tv watching hiney those other two nights and getting that house decluttered so we can put it on the market!

I have to brag on JD a little bit. Let's be honest...I had my doubts about how him having the kids full time was REALLY going to work. I'm a bit of a control freak (I know...some of you are so shocked! HA) He's always been a very attentive daddy - always interested and involved with whatever the kids might be up to. I called him fun Daddy. While he was having fun I was nagging mommy. I pretty much did everything myself..not because he wouldn't help, but because I liked it that way. He wouldn't do things my way or on my time line, so I'd just rather do it all. This situation with me being here and the kids being in AR with him might have been a good thing. Don't get me wrong, I still hate this. But, I've been able to let go a little and let him show me what he can do...after all he is their daddy and is capable of handling the situation, I just never gave him the chance. He's also been able to see that there is a method to my madness - why I do the things I do. It's been good for both of us. He's managed to keep the kids health, alive, and happy. I joked with him about all my free time and he said he's got about 15 minutes of free time after all the chores are done at night. Poor thing. :) I'm hoping that once we are all under the same roof, I can continue to let go some of that control. Who knew there would be a silver lining to this situation?

K...now for my boot camp update. Today I feel like I am 72 years old, maybe even 73. I've already been made fun of in the office for limping around. Overall it's going great. I love it...can't wait to go...that was until yesterday. I had a busy day at work and was a little frustrated and not really looking forward to going. I really just wanted to go run through Arby's drive thru and head to my couch. But, I went. I struggled the entire class. Couldn't catch my breath. Couldn't keep up. Couldn't do those dang arm movements with the footwork...seriously, when did I become so uncoordinated. I've been discouraged also because somehow in this process I've gained 5lbs. My sweet husband told me that he's sure it's just muscle. I hope to goodness it is. I've been eating 90% the way I should. I do fall off the wagon, but not bad and not often. Overall my eating habits have improved by leaps and bounds. Before this, I literally would go days with snacking and maybe eating one decent meal. No wonder my metabolism went AWOL. I know I'll be fine. 3 more weeks to go. I plan on signing up for the next round. By Christmas I hope to be lean again. Those mirrors in the workout room remind you of why you are there. I'm convinced they have those carnival mirrors in there that make you look a little wider than you really are. Where are the skinny mirrors when you need them?? :)

More bootcamp, a phone call and my family is heading home!

Day 2 of my boot camp went much better than day 1. Wednesday's class was lots of cardio and weight training. I would have updated this yesterday except I couldn't move my right arm. PAIN! :) Today is better...a little. Saturday wraps up my first week and we will be doing cardio and toning focusing on abs, which is what I need! I felt like I kept up on Wednesday and was proud of how I managed to make it through it all without passing out although my limbs were shaking at several points. I've done pretty well with my eating, but I do need to find something else to eat besides chix and green beans.

On a good note. I'll share this info with my Beenestalkers since the blog is private. I received a call yesterday from a position I had applied for in Little Rock on Sept 3. Spent about 15 minutes on the phone with the CFO and I feel like it went really well. He told me he was impressed with my resume and my level of skill and executive management that I have supported. Cross your fingers. I had not planned to leave Dallas before the end of the year, but if this turns out like he said it might then it would be worth going ahead and making the move. He said I was on "the list" whatever that means and I would hear from him in the next week or so. Hopefully he calls back! We will see.

The best part of my day is JD and the kids are heading to Texas after work/school. 1030pm can't get here fast enough. I think we are going to see Cloudy with a chance of meatballs at some point. Uncle E and Aunt Sissy have invited us over for Ribs on Saturday night...and boy am I excited about that! Still haven't figured out if ribs are on my nutrition plan or not. But, either way, I'm allowed one not so great meal a week and this will be it. I can't pass up these ribs...they are goooood.

Hope all of you are having a good week!!

Boot Camp Day one

I've always been a skinny girl. I can thank my Daddy for that...thank you Daddy. He gave me the genetic genes that I didn't appreciate nearly enough. When I went into the Air Force I was under weight. I had to get a waiver to even go to Basic Training. I've had 3...count 'em...3 babies and my jean size never really changed. I know, I know...poor me. But, this has been my life...well, up until this year anyway. For some reason 2009 changed all that. That is why I'm calling it "THE YEAR OF THE GUT." Let me tell you folks, it ain't pretty. :)

About February I noticed that I had gained a few pounds. No biggie. I gain/lose a few pounds regularly. My not so healthy eating habits had never been an issue. I am one of those people that ate whatever and whenever I wanted. It took me a few months to realize that I can't do that anymore. My age and my metabolism were playing dirty tricks on me. By the time I realized this, I was 15 lbs into it and I've been going through months of denial. HA! But, the sad true fact is I have a gut, a spare tire...the dreaded muffin top. Now I have to do something about it. I know in the big scheme of things my weight isn't bad, but with these extra pounds I just don't feel like me. It was time to do something about it.

My sister in law Rachel has attended boot camp classes for quite some time and I thought this might be a good way to get back on the healthy train. I need someone there to tell me what to do and I need accountability for showing up. I will make every excuse in the book not to exercise or to eat that brownie for dinner and promise to eat chicken and salad tomorrow. I need someone to be disappointed in me or excited about my progress.

Last night was my first class. I was pretty confident. I was by far one of the youngest people in the class. This will be easy I'm thinking. Ummm...let me say...I'm embarrassed to be me. Those 50 year old women kicked my butt. I thought for sure with my active life (kids and work) I wouldn't be behind the power curve. People, I haven't even made it to the curve...I can't even see it. I have some work to do on myself! We started off doing some simple warm ups that involved a little coordination. Apparently, I left my coordination back in 1992 with the Stingerettes because I didn't have any last night.

I left feeling defeated and disappointed in myself. One of those nights where junk food on the couch feels like the only thing to make you feel better. But, I was strong. Went home and had chicken. Today I have stuck to the plan and not faulted. GO ME! :)

So, as my loyal BeeneStalkers you guys stay on me. I'm a people pleaser and I don't want to disappoint. I keep telling myself its only 6 weeks and that will fly by. Right? :)

Next class is Wednesday. Wish me luck.

Decisions...being an adult is hard!

As I mentioned before, lots of decisions have been made in the Beene house. Our family has been in limbo for almost 2 years and it was time it came to an end. Although we aren't able to end the situation immediately, we are making steps to remedy this.

Unfortunately, when we moved to Arkansas the first time we did it in a bit of a rush. I was so dang excited to get back home that I'm not sure I thought the entire situation through. So, as most things turn out when you don't plan, it didn't work and the kids and I headed back to Dallas. JD has been working at Arkansas Children's Hospital this entire time and that is going really well. So, we decided to plan a little better and bite the bullet. We are moving back...again.

The really crappy part to all this is that the kids went ahead to start school and I didn't get to go with them. Daddy is running the show and doing a great job at it if I might add. The kids LOVE LOVE LOVE daycare and school. We are so pleased with it all. Couldn't be any happier.

Dumb Mommy didn't think about the humidity in the air and my dang lens wouldn't stop fogging up, but here is all 3 monkies before we walked in.

Lu was the first to be dropped off...she was EXCITED!

Next was Jake who was equally excited, but trying to look very cool for the sweet honey sitting in front of him flashing him a smile.

There are no classroom pictures of Taylor. I made the mistake of asking her if I could take one and I got a big fat no! So, since I asked I had to comply. Another dumb mommy mistake. Never ask! I'll remember next year!

Our plan is for me to hang out here in Dallas until the first of the year and then I'll make the transition. We still have lots of "planning" to do as far as work for me and selling the house. Until then I get daily phone call updates and I will either come see them in AR on the weekends or they will come here. Let me tell you, I HATE this, but we are going to make the work. My family is my life not having them near me makes me feel like I've abandoned them. Overall they seem happy and our weekends are full of hugs, snuggling, and smooching. I have never lived alone and my focus has always been the caretaker of my family and now its just me...and I'm bored out of my friggin mind. :) But, who knows, maybe this will be good for me.

With this change I'm also considering a career change. I've been an Executive Assistant for about 10 years. At one time I loved it. Well, I'm pretty much over it now. LOL. Don't get me wrong. My bosses are EXCEPTIONAL and this company is safe and so family accommodating, but I just feel like I'm missing something. I feel like I've spent all this time making sure my executives look good and they are successful, but now its time for me to do those things for myself. I have a few ideas running around in my head of what I would like to do. Some are dreams and some are the reality of making $$ to pay bills, but until I settle on one thing, I'll keep those to myself. Half the time I feel like the crazy lady that can't make up her mind. My problem is when I think I speak. This drives JD crazy...I talk too much and he doesn't talk enough.

My blog might take a bit of a turn since I'll be trying to figure out what to do daily with myself. I plan on starting a fitness bootcamp next month and I'm really excited about that. During my first week alone I decided to cook more and try my best not to live on fast food or chips! When I turned 35 my speedy metabolism got lost, momma's got to get that under control! HA! So, I've been trying new things. Some have turned out great and some not so great. Tonight is fried chocolate pie night. So not on the healthy train...but toot toot I'm jumping off for some chocolate fried pies. While I eat these I'll thing fondly about my Mawmo who knew these were my favorite and made them for me anytime I asked. This will help take away any and all guilt I may have for eating myself into a chocolate coma.

I'll keep you all updated on my not so stable life. LOL. Until then...

Back on the Blogging Wagon

Hi...do you remember me? I hope you do! What a summer it has been! Our family has gone through some changes lately...not bad, but lots of changes.

Which, I will get to in the next few blogs. :)

I think the last time I really blogged was in May so I have the entire summer to cover. The kids were able to visit quite a few grandparents this summer which was very exciting for them. I really hate that they have school all year and then daycare all summer. I want them to have time to just veg out and do nothing...sleep til noon...stay in pajamas all day. So, thankfully all the grandparents kicked in and we had very little daycare time this summer. We had a few outings on Uncle E and Aunt Sissy's boat. JD and I have decided that we need a boat.

Not WANT...but NEED. LOL.

The girls and I went to the Jonas Bros concert. SO.MUCH.FUN. I think we have found our thing to do together. I guess I listen to that music so much that I actually have a really good time when we go. We laughed, ate, spent a small fortune on tshirts. But, the fun part is that they are still talking about it and that makes it worth every penny.

JD is still in Arkansas, so lots of our time was spent playing around with him while he was home or us traveling to Arkansas to see him. We were able to get lots done on our 6 year project (also known as our house) :) Next time we rehab a house we need to remember to start one project at a time.

I'm offically addicted to Facebook. It's sad, and I might need help. :) Maybe its just the feeling it gives me to rekindle old friendships. I love that feeling. I love knowing how everyone is doing. I love that I'm getting to know people I didn't know very well in high school. Lynn and I were able to meet up with our friend Tricia a few weeks ago and we spent HOURS just talking and laughing. I didn't want to leave, but I'm pretty sure that waitress was ready for us to get our hineys out of her booth! I've spent the last 8 years submerged in mommyhood, which is wonderful, but its been fun now that they are a little older and I'm able to have some me time.

All in all, we had a pretty good summer. Lots of decisions were made and I realized that being an adult is hard! LOL!!!! I'll update more this week on all our big decisions. Most of you might think we are a little crazy, but its been a tough few years and its just taken a while to sort out.

And so it begins

As you can see...I've moved. I'm just not smart enough to be blogging on typepad...it was way over my head. Blogger seems a little more user friendly and oh did I mention...FREE!

My longtime BFF Lynn helped me set this up...it seems that Blogger was a little over my head as well...obviously figuring out new things is not my strong suit. :) I need a 'go to' person and Lynn has no idea what she just got herself into. She is now my Blogger tech support.