Fun at the lake!

It's been HOT here, unusually hot for Southern California. Hot and miserable. Hot and humid. I am not one for heat, I like mild temperatures. So we decided to escape some of the heat and head to the lake. Of course it was 113 at the lake but close to the water, and having the water to dive into if the heat becomes too much to bear made it feel more like 102.

What a great day! Everything went perfect. We got there at 10:00 a.m. and were sad to have to pack up and leave at dusk. We didn't drive out of the parking lot until 10:00 p.m.

Since water skiing was almost impossible due to the choppy waters caused by the billion Sea Do's Scott decided to try the knee board. Not as easy as you would think since you have to velcro yourself in while on the move. He got a little help from his uncle close to shore.

He's up and he LOVES it! He can't wait to get out there and do it again.

Yes, he is proud of himself, he is hooked for sure!

Every knee boarder needs a brave flag man to hold up the red flag when the knee boarder goes down in the water or those nasty Sea Do's will run you down everytime. Christopher was pretty proud of the fact that he was picked to be the flagman for his brave big brother.


He held that flag high in anticipation of an ugly Sea Do trying to run down his brother. He did a great job!
Whew, that was actually a little tougher than he anticipated.

Tayler enjoyed just hanging out near shore playing on the Boogie Boards and collecting sea weed of all things.

That dang game boy stuff wins out every time with Jeff, my couch potato.

Elyse is hooked on the whole boat thing. She loved it and is still talking about it. She didn't even fight me on the life vest this time around. A true water rat like the rest of them.

Small steps

Is it the indecisiveness, the delay, the weather, the hurt feelings, the over thinking or just plain life that is making me feel so down. Could it be the knife sticking out of my back put there by those that I held close that is making me hurt so much.

I often wonder if I was meant to be a solitary person. To live alone and be a hermit. I am withdrawing more and more lately. I have to make deliberate efforts to leave the house daily. Once out I am in a better mood and life seems simple again.

Then again, If I didn't have Dave and my kids to draw me out I don't know where I would be. I picture myself wallowing in self pity curled up in a ball in the corner of a darkened room. That image scares me.

I am continuing to work through these feelings without the help of food to numb myself, that is one thing I feel good about these days. As my physical health continues to improve my mental health diminishes. Or does it. I am working through my *problems* constructively, no one ever said it would be easy or painless. I am finally helping myself through the pain and allowing myself to feel it, I almost embrace it before deciding I don't need it and dispose of it. It is a process, small steps.

It's getting better

I am recovering nicely. I still have a nasty cough but my energy is coming back. I didn't realize how bad I felt until I started to feel better. The awful rattling in my chest, that even bothered Dave at night has subsided and I am able to sleep again. I actually slept from 11:00 until 5:00 this morning without waking up once. I slept for 6 hours straight, that never happens to me. And that was a medication free sleep.

Elyse is doing wonderful. Fever free today and as active as ever. We are even going to venture to the pool today and I am planning on going to the beach tomorrow, just the little beach but it will be nice to be out and about again.

I wanted to share another good thing too. I have posted in the past about being miserable with the state of my body. I was heavier than I have ever been and just felt fat and ugly. In the beginning of May I decided sitting around and griping about it wasn't going to help so I started to do something about it. I threw out the junk and we have all been eating healthier. I have also been fitting in exercise a few times a week. That in itself is quite a feat. I decided the only way I could do that, with some privacy was to get up early. Yes, early. I am not an early riser but I managed and it actually feels good to get the exercise over with for the day. I also ride bikes with the kids and instead of watching them play I get out and play with them. We play football, baseball, basketball and kickball. I was thinking the other day that we need another kid to play outfield. Nah!

So, as of yesterday I have lost 20 pounds! I still have a ways to go but I have made huge positive changes in our lifestyle and I know it will happen. I have even received a compliment or two lately. Dave, who notices nothing told me I looked *skinnier* the other day. Notice he used the word skinnier and not the term less fat. Yes, that got him some.

I truly believe that if I had remained on my diet of junk I would have been much sicker than I was. I continued to eat healthy throughout my illness instead of comforting myself with gallons of ice cream like I would have done 3 months ago.

I feel better about myself and I have a more positive outlook on life in general. Life is good.

Calling in sick

I tried to post about our fun trip to the fair a couple of days ago but blogger wouldn't let me post pictures, so that will be for another day.

I have been sick the last few days, I guess it has been more like two weeks. I dragged my sick sorry ass to the doctor today and I have bronchitis. I am on an antibiotic, inhaler and I got me some prescription cough syrup. Too bad I can't take it while Dave is out of town, someone has to be alert enough to hear the kids if they need me, or in case there is a fire or something catastrophic like a kid needing a glass of water.

Elyse has also been fighting a cough. She started running a fever Saturday that was topping off at 104+. So I took her to the doctor early this morning and she has pneumonia. Yes, I feel like a stellar mom right about now. The ped said *we* caught it early and she is on a strong antibiotic that should knock it out quickly. I hope!

Summer should be filled with swimming, the beach and having fun. Not doctors visits and so much coughing that it brings on a migrain and breaks a rib. Tomorrow is a new day, a healthy day...

July 4th

Happy 4th of July! We pulled out our red, white and blue to celebrate our country's 230th birthday.

We celebrated my moms birthday yesterday as well. She is not quite 230, but she loves the fact that the whole country takes a break to celebrate her birthday as well. At least that is what she likes to think.



Our city is one of the very last city's in our county and surrounding counties to allow fireworks. I have heard rumbling that our city's *firework legal* status is coming to an end. This could be the last year. We chose to celebrate the legal way, with fireworks purchased at the local stand that supports the local high school.


Others did not. People on both sides of us were shooting off fireworks that are brought into our country illegally from the country South of our border. Our street sounded like a war zone. In the end it looked like a war zone too. Trash and debree scattered along the street, some of it swept into the gutters, front lawns looking like the local land fill. This saddens me. Yes, it was beautiful to look at and yes we enjoyed the show, and what a show it was, but this kind of display and behavior has ruined it for all.

On with the fun. Go Angles, we are big fans.

Hmm, wonder why he had an asthma attack last night. Anyone, anyone?

Sparkler fight! See Elyse in the background safely seated on grandmas lap? That was her safe zone.
At least we got him out of the car this year to enjoy the festivities. He told me last night as I was putting him to bed that it was the best night of his life.

The night ended early for Elyse, she just couldn't take the thrill of it all.

Bonus picture, I just liked it.