55 pounds.

This past week I have decided that I need to attack my (walk-in) closet.

Ok, it's always a huge mess (it's my "pile of shame") and I say this all the time, but this time I meant it.

I had EVERYTHING on the floor that was mine so that I could go through it all. It was a LOT.

I had clothes in there from after I had Aubrey: And she turned 9 this past week. I haven't worn them in years.. but I DID like them at some point in time and just didn't want to get rid of them. I spent money on them! I'm a "things" person (to my husband's dismay) and I often refer to hot spots as Organized Chaos.

Anyway, as I attacked, I also let go. I'm not going to wear the pink plaid shirt from 9 years ago (I know- Pink Plaid??). Black bootcut stretch pants from 9 years ago? Haven't considered them an option in years. I have jeans that are much too big.. 2 sizes too big from my super chunky days that were years ago. Maternity pants? Don't need them. Maternity shirts? Buh-bye. (actually I did keep a few that don't look "maternity".. the extra space in the cut is helpful with my big rear end.. but I wont' ever fess up if I'm wearing one, so don't ask).

I even got Hayden to help me out a little while Kaitlyn and Carson went "swimming" in them.

After FOREVER I was able to declare that I was at a stopping point and felt quite accomplished.

Presenting: 55 pounds of clothes.

I now need to go through everything and hang it all back up. Yeah.. putting it all down was probably not my best idea. For now, it's all laying neatly in piles. Good thing I rock at procrastinating.

I WANT to share.. but..

My computer is fighting with me. Pretty sure my hard drive is kicking the bucket.

So I'm sitting on the kid's computer which is mainly used by Aubrey. The background shows Hannah Montana. The internet homepage is for Webkinz. The MSN messanger has 3 people on it.

It's so not my computer!! *sniff*

I have new pictures to share.. but the uploading software is on MY computer.

So, you will get random updates.

Let's see..

Aubrey is super excited about her birthday next week. She'll be nine. NINE! Feel older than dirt. She's supposed to have her party on Saturday but STILL hasn't figured out what she wants to do. Right now she's deciding between a) movies b) going out to dinner or c) beauty college for a makeover. It would be with 2 friends rather than a large group of girls. She doesn't know what she wants for a birthday present.. tick-tock, my love! Oh and she's saving up money for a laptop. Costco has little ones for $350. I know it's not something a 9 year old needs.. but really, didn't most of us dream of things we couldn't have at that age? I figure if she can actually earn that much, and save it, then she deserves it.

Hayden is doing so well in school. Things have clicked and he knows almost all of his letters and their sounds. At the beginning of the year he knew like 3. He just wasn't interested. At parent teacher conference last week his preschool teacher said he's doing so well.. has LOTS of friends, the kids love him.. he's one of the best artists in the class (totally agree.. the other kids scribble and he is very particular about what he draws).. and he's super at rhyming. It's a favorite pastime.

Carson is talking more and more and is so silly. What a funny kid. He likes smelling things right now.. wants to smell everything. In which he takes two huge sniffs. He is doing worlds better at not running off when we're out and about. Last week at Costco I was able to let him walk around the ENTIRE time and he only ran off once. When we walk Hayden to school he pretty much stays with me. When we're outside he stays by the house. It's AMAZING! Dare I dream of a lovely summer vacation this year with him STAYING BY ME?

Kaitlyn is getting so big! Ok, not BIG big.. she's still under 17 pounds. BUT- she's walking all over! It's adorable! She loves to yell out Ay-en for Hayden.. she'll even lay her head on him and say awww.. she totally loves him (he's totally in love with her too- that child has her back!). She will gaze out the window and say Da-da and then ba-ba (bye bye) while waving. She can say shoe, cookie, more and makes purring noises when she sees the cats. Love it.

I've been busy with PTA stuff doing all the treasurer things. My mom might be stopping by on Friday so I'm getting all excited and anxious about that. It's very difficult to travel with my younger brother and she won't have him on Friday.. she hasn't been here in years so I'm crossing my fingers she can come.. but... In the mean time I'm looking around at the dirty laundry pile next to me and thinking I should do something about it. I don't want me mom to see that! So if you "see" me online tomorrow, make sure I've taken care of that, please. I've also lost 23 pounds on WW so far! Woo hoo!!

OH! And we bought a trampoline. Every year we try to buy something fun for the kids with a little of our tax refund.. that was this year's item. I helped Drew set it up on Monday night although he did most of the work.. holy muscles, batman!! And then he jumped on it. Did you know my husband can do FLIPS?? Ha! Who knew! Of course he was totally out of breath after and pretty sure his heart was about to explode.. but still.. dang! Too cool. I didn't try.. I've found in my old age that my tummy doesn't like that jumping feeling. And after 4 kids, what if I peed my pants?? :-S

And that, is my pictureless updates.

(p.s. Carson is still crazy too.. today while I was in the shower he dumped out cat food in the kitchen and all over the back deck including a pile that resembles Mt. Everest. And when I discovered this, he happened to be playing in the sandbox. With only a shirt on. Mother of the Year reason #602).

Lock up your valuables.

I love Girl Scout Cookies. Small bites of bliss. Actually, correction: Small bites of expensive bliss. But they are what they are and I buy them.

Because of my "lifestyle change" I only ordered a box of Thin Mints, Tagalogs and two boxes of Samoas. My thinking is that I know my family will consume them in a decent amount of time that it won't be tempting for me.. I would make it work.

Yesterday afternoon, our Girl Scout neighbor dropped my order off and we opened the different boxes. My children were bight eyed as they experienced the small variety of delight and happiness. I ate two Samoas and they were everything everything I remembered them to be. Mmmm... Samoas... *drool*

After our sampling, I placed the glorious boxes on the top of my piano. Didn't really think much about them the rest of the day with the exception of eating more today (it's all about portion control, right???).

Apparently Carson and I were totally on the same page.

This morning I was awoken by Aubrey's (LOUD) voice saying, "Mooooo-ooooom (two toned), Carson locked himself in the bathroom and says he's eating cookies."

No.

Say it's not so.

Please. Please, say it's not so!!!!

It was so. And we jumped out of bed.

After unlocking the door, we were horrified to see him in there with The cookies. Upon taking inventory of an empty plastic tray, Drew delivered the bad news that Carson had consumed the rest of the box of Tagalongs.

Hayden, who doesn't care for Thin Mints or Samoas, flung himself to the ground and rolled around in despair. Crocodile tears were involved. His Best. Cookies. Ever. were gone. Gone! He wailed. Really though, do you blame him??

And then we discovered the empty tray which belonged to the Samoas. Don't tell Drew I said this, but I'm pretty sure he temporarily considered joining Hayden on the floor, rolling around and all. Carson is very lucky that we have another box.

The best part is that Carson only had thismuch chocolate on his face which I'm sure he could have easily ground it into his shirt, a towel, or my nice things. Had Aubrey not woken up, he totally could have played the "I'm a cute three your old and I don't know what you're talking about" card!

After cleaning up the cookieless trays, I did discover a few cookies in their boxes (including 3 Tagalongs). Yay for Hayden! I headed towards the kitchen to put the garbage in the Recycle container and I saw... the Chips Ahoy cookies. I bought them because I knew Lock, Marci and Danno would be over the night before and if we were going to enjoy the G.S.C. then I would need a cheap filler cookie to give the kids (Mom of the Year reason #579). Obviously we had not indulged the night before. But Carson didn't let that stop him.. he had gone ahead and consumed about 1/4 of that package.

Lesson Learned: Lock up your valuables and your cheap filler valuables when cookie monsters are involved.

Do you guys enjoy Girl Scout Cookies?? Do you have a favorite?