Goin' Home

3 more weeks and we'll be in Utah to see our family. The good parts about the visit is that I am excited to see my family I have not seen in two years...I wonder how much has changed? I am also looking forward to seeing the mountains again and to revisit our old eating hang outs with Mexican food that you just can't find out here. Sure I may splurge and gain back a little of the 13 lbs I've lost thus far, but am hoping I will just maintain that week. It will be hard, but it is vacation right?

I am also looking forward to just being away too. No housework, no dog hair, and no work!! It will be so nice to just get away. The drive will be quite a chore, but we'll make it through. Airfare is just too much for us right now - it is actually cheaper to drive even with gas prices and all so we rented a car through Charlie's employer discount program.

I am hoping my stepdad will be up to visiting while we are there and that our visit can lift his and mom's spirits - I can't imagine what he and mom are going through emotionally and wish I could be there with them more than this one week out of the summer. I am praying for the best, it may be the last time we see him.

Even with both the ups and downs we are facing, I am getting excited and counting down the days!

A trip to "The Farm"

So we went to a quaint Farm up in Door County last weekend.You could tell The Farm was a real farm at one time but was made into an exhibit. It was such a beautiful day to go and we found a nice little trail for a nature walk that was attached to it. Oddly enough out here in Wisconsin you find these hidden all over the place and once you start the trail you are what feels like deep in the woods before you know it. Luckily before my camera completely broke (from when I fell with it while tripping over one of the dog's chewies on the floor) I was able to get some good pictures of Savannah feeding the farm animals...

This little baby goat was so cute!

Savannah feeding the baby goats...they were so funny, they would stand right outside the door of where the goats milk was sold to the kids...just waiting for those baby bottles. Yep. Goats eat. A lot!

More feeding, this one was only a couple weeks old and tiny as ever!

Giving the cow some grain. I got this picture just before he swallowed her hand!

Took this one for dad. They also had an old buggy with the wooden wheels.

Savannah was grossed out milking the goat...she actually didn't get any of it in the bucket. I just love the look on this mama goat's face. She's like..."Please."

There were kittens in the field playing and dogs just wandering around, I liked how free they were. Lots of baby sheep too....so dang cute! Oh and there was also an egg incubator on display where baby chicks were hatching. They take a long time so we didn't have all day to watch, but it was neat to see the little cracks in the eggs they made.

The Farm had picnic tables in front by the parking lot under the most gorgeous bunch of shade trees. We brought a picnic but unfortunately we ate breakfast later than we should have and wasn't hungry. On the way home we stopped at a place called Waterscape Designs pond store. We are planning on putting a pond and waterfall in our back yard where the hill is on our lawn by the brick wall. I just love the hyacinth's and the frogs and the coi. It will be a lot of work but will be a nice addition to the yard once it is done.

We will definitely go back again and make both of these trips. :)

Making room for change

So I am back on the weight loss roller coaster. To tell you the truth I am not sure why I stopped eating right and went back into old habits. I think I just became relaxed and felt good and well moderation became routine again.

I am not doing the plan to lose weight so much as I am wanting to feel better. Approaching 40 I have noticed some differences in how I feel physically so it is past due that I do something about taking care of myself and quit being lazy. We all got new bicycles too and have enjoyed riding at least a couple times a week. Even Savannah is feeling the burn!

Being on Weight Watchers helps me focus on something too, so a lot of times I don't find I get as bored because I am either thinking about what I am going to eat for the day and pre-planning so I don't choose the wrong choices or thinking of new recipes or ideas for healthy meals and snacks. My mind is one that likes to be constantly busy. I just wish I could keep these good habits for life and not get distracted.

My stepdad has just been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (a type of blood cancer) and life is going to change yet again. I am so far away from my family that I can't offer much help so I find that since there is nothing I can do about it but pray and enjoy what little time we have left with him, it is helpful that I have Weight Watchers to keep me focused on something off and on throughout the day.

He is not doing well in that he has staph infections and now pneumonia all on top of the cancer. We moved our vacation date from Thanksgiving up to August in hopes we can visit and give him our love. I just pray things will work out.

Life is always changing.