Working on my fitness...

I have a love/hate relationship with the Wii Fit. I love it, mainly because I love the Step Program and the Yoga. I hate it because it can be super mean. For example… I had not used it in a crazy amount of time because I was using the Wii active some late spring/early summer, and then the batteries went dead in everything, and I was just super lazy and didn’t replace them… until last week. I was just really busy, and we didn’t have any batteries and I never thought about it…So low and behold Dave came home with batteries and we put them in the remotes and the Wii Fit Board…. I got on it, and the Wii chewed me out for not playing with it for 200 and some days….yes it kept a record. Then it informed me I gained 5lbs from last playing with it, and that I need to get a move on it. Also, because I gained wait my Mii got fatter and looks all fat and depressed now.
You will be happy to know though that I got a charging station and chargeable batteries for the remotes, so there will not be any more excuses, so the Wii can get off my back now. I also have been to the gym twice since the holidays, and almost all of the leftovers are gone. I also am back on Alli, and I am attempting to eat better. However, my moms red velvet cake isn’t gone yet, and every night I have a fatty moment with it. Her red velvet cake is to die for by the way.
Despite all of these efforts, I am thinking about selling the elliptical that we have in the playroom. Our gym membership is super cheap and I tend to use the gym one more then the one we have. I am also kinda nervous the kids might hurt themselves on it, as they like to climb on it. Also, I am sure the kids would like more space for all their crap they got for Christmas. It’s a really nice one, and I didn’t pay much for it, so I am hoping to come out ahead in selling it… and my plan is to buy myself something really nice and super selfish with the money. Like a new purse or something of the sorts. Hello, maybe I can get the LV I have been sweating, or some jewelry. I figure I might have some luck making a sale on Craigs List with people trying to get fit in the New Year… Doesn’t hurt to try…

Christmas...

The Giles Family had a wonderful Christmas. Christmas is always so busy, and lots of running around. I love it though! Santa spoiled the girls rotten. The girls love their scooters, and doll house. That was the big hit from Santa. Their other favorite items are new earrings, and cowgirl boots (for Laura and Rachel). The problem is always trying to find a place for all of the toys...I went through the playroom yesterday and packed up a bunch of toys they have outgrown to make some room, and slowly I have been putting things away...

I was also a good girl for Christmas. Dave got me a pair of Tory Burch Revas that I have been obsessed with, and my parents got me a David Yurman bracelet. I was a very happy camper Christmas morning to say the least. Dave received some tools he wanted from me, and some playstation 3 games. He also finally got a big honking gun safe from my parents, which he is making room for in the garage. (Side note: he made a mess of the garage again, and actually had the nerve to ask me to help him clean it out. Ask him how that went over)

Yesterday I hit some after Christmas sales. After Christmas sales put Black Friday to shame. I think so anyways...I always hit up the mall, and Target after Christmas and I was not disappointed. Gap had killer deals, as everything was marked down, and then it was 40% off. I got some adorable things for the girls. Gymboree continues to be kinda a let down for me these days, their sales have not been all that. At Target I got some christmas ornaments for the girls pink tree, and I also scored a really cute tree skirt for their tree. I will take a picture of their tree before I take it down this year. If I had it my way I would leave the trees up year round. I hate taking down the Christmas decorations. For some reason I think taking down the decorations is just depressing.

Catching up....

The big news around here is we had some snow this past weekend.... nothing major, but any time we get snow that sticks we get excited. Laura and Rachel were so excited, and wanted to be outside playing in it 24/7. We took Emily out for her to experience it, but she wasn't to thrilled as it was hard for her to walk, and she didn't like the cold. But, I made her go outside for few for some pictures and to just experience it. She will like it more when she's older.

The girls got to test out their snow bibs. I always find some in their sizes at a local consignment shop. Since we don't get much snow around here it doesn't make sense to spend a small fortune on snow clothes. Their snow bibs were super cheap, and barely used. Later on in January we are going on a vacation to a ski resort, so I know the kids will get some use out of their snow clothes this year.

I have been off work since Tuesday, and I have spent some time wrapping some presents, and finishing my digital albums for the grandparents.... I printed the pages at costco, and I have been working on getting them into the albums in proper order. It was so much easier to go the digital route this year..... I think in the end digital scrapbooking and classic scrapbooking cost about the same. It seems like digital scrapbooking is cheaper at first because of all the freebies out there, etc... but when you go to pay for your pages your probably spend as much as you would on stickers, paper etc...But I guess since you are saving a ton of time and don't have to deal with creating a mess, you come out ahead in the end... I keep telling myself that anyways...

Last night we went to see some Christmas lights. We went to the Newport News park ones, and the girls loved it! Tonight we plan on seeing some neighborhood ones in Hampton. I just can't believe that Christmas is in two days! It sure did sneak up on us fast!

Some Rambles

First and foremost, I have to mention that my father in law had triple heart bypass surgery today, and did well. Dave has been visiting him lots, and stayed in the waiting room all this morning while his dad was in surgery. I hope to go see him maybe tomorrow, once he is out of ICU. The kids are not allowed in the hospital, and they are going nuts asking about Grandpa. He’s a wonderful man, so please keep him in your thoughts, and wish him a speedy recovery.
I am almost done with my Christmas shopping! Can’t believe I am not done already, but hey… I honestly just have some gift cards to buy, and I can probably get them all done at my local grocery store since they have that nice gift card set up with every gift card known to man. Don’t you just love that! I ordered Dave’s big gift today, after I went to every Lowe’s and Home Depot in the immediate area trying to find the dag on thing. Speaking of which, if you try to go to those stores early in the morning, you will notice everyone there shopping too is Mexican. I settled with ordering it off Amazon.Com, and it is supposed to come on Christmas Eve. That’s cutting it close…. but oh well, at least it’s free shipping…
Next week I am working Monday, and then taking the rest of the week off. I hope to do some fun things with the girls while I am home with them. Maybe do some baking, play some games, go see home Christmas lights, etc etc.
Laura had a Christmas program yesterday where she sang some cute Christmas songs. She was adorable! She was all into it with hand motions etc, I am very proud of her. Rachel’s age group doesn’t do any programs, but tomorrow I am the parent helper, and I am bringing in some things for snack time. The girls already brought home their gifts to Dave and I, that they made. Laura made an ornament with her picture on it that is in the shape of an angel, and Rachel made and ornament with her picture that looks like a snow globe. They were so proud to give them to us, and I know I will treasure them forever.

Santa Progress...

Ok so this is as good as it gets...and major progress.... Last night we visited Santa at in Hampton at Bass Pro...Let me take you down Santa lane....

Year one, Laura is 10 months old. She's an only child, but Rachel is due in two months. We dress her up, and we make the journey to Richmond VA to visit the Real Santa. The Real Santa is the same Santa thingy my parents would take me to every year... Once upon a time he was at Miller and Rhodes.... now that it's closed up and Broad Street = Ghetto, he is now at The Children's Museum....You can see Santa come down the chimney, speak to the snow princess, and then Santa calls you by name to sit in his lap for a photo and or video for a fee.(yes, there are many videos of me seeing Santa as a wee one) So year one goes wonderful.... Laura was the easiest baby ever, and we spent the day in Richmond and had a great photo with her all decked out with Santa.

Year two.... Laura is a year older, but almost two. Rachel is 10 months...We make the mistake of going to Richmond on a Saturday closer to Christmas and we end up waiting in line for freaking ever....Laura and Rachel are dressed in matching outfits, with their monograms on their dress, and I am excited to have a precious photo of my two little girls..... Once we get to Santa Laura freaks, and the picture is Laura begging for her life, and Rachel looking confused....The picture horrible....

Year three.... we forget going to Richmond, and this is the first year Bass Pro starts a Santa Land, in which they have a pretty nice looking Santa, free photo, etc. No snow princess but whatever... and Santa sure as heck doesn't know your name... but hey it's free... We visit Bass Pro probably everyweekend and even some during the week but my older two refuse to get near him... We get a million photos of Emily and Santa, but mine have full blown panic attatcks if they even see him from far away....We do however have a run in with a Santa at the Picture People who is able to get in a photo with my kids and my sisters kids and my kids keep it together for that...

Year four is the above result.... Instead of dressing the kids up, we go on a whim to Bass Pro, while the kids look their worst as we figure it wont even happen... Laura and Rachel team up and tell us they will do a photo but under no circumstances are they getting on his lap.... When it's our turn the kids freeze up, and say they will do it if we are there with them, resulting in a family Santa photo..... Laura and Rachel at least talk to him and shout what they want at him, and end up giving him a high five.... Emily plays is cool but is confused.

Maybe next year we can attempt Richmond....In the mean time we are doomed for cheap free photos at Bass Pro...

Ho Ho Ho

Santa is offically done Christmas shopping for the kids... woohoo! It has been no easy feat to buy for three girls so close in age, and poor Emily, pretty much everything age appropriate for her we already have, but Santa still figured a way to get some cool stuff for her... from Costco of course =) She's going to be a happy girl.

The older girls are getting a doll house, barbie scooters, little people noah's ark, little people nativity, some art stuff, books, clothes, cameras, some other doo dads, and of course some lipstick. Stocking items have been purchased, and the traditional new pj's to open on Christmas Eve are taken care of....

Santa even got Dave's first gift today, but it was just a playstation three game, so he needs to hurry up and give some more ideas before time is up....

Thanksgiving pics... late but better then never...

I did this yesterday with some ribbon. Yeah kinda tacky, but I thought it was fun, and whimsy. I don't leave the lights on long though cause I am afraid I will burn the house down!