A Week at the Movies

This past week, I was lucky enough to get to the movies 4 times! WOW - 4 times in one week may be a record - it is definitely way more times than I've been in a month since having HoneyPie 4.5 years ago. Here are the movies I saw:

The Princess and the Frog

MONDAY - HoneyPie and I went together to see Disney's "The Princess and the Frog". My mom was going to join us but sadly was unable to as my Dad was pretty sick with an inner ear infection, poor guy. We are looking forward to the next movie we can see with Nana.
HoneyPie and I had a great time together. We went to an 11:40 show, had popcorn and M&Ms (her choice) and cuddled up together to watch this magical movie. Set in 1920s New Orleans, the movie focuses on a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. Seeing such a wonderful movie with my little sweetie was just so awesome. She loved it, although was a little scared of the "shadow man" and his shadows from "the other side"...was a wonderful afternoon with my lovie.

Sherlock Holmes

TUESDAY - Date night for DH and I. Sherlock Holmes and dinner at Walker's Fish Market - Yum-O! Another fantastic movie. Sherlock Holmes is one of the most recognizable characters in English culture. Robert Downey Jr. did a great job bringing this classic character to life...and I'm not a huge Jude Law fan, but I thought he was pretty good as Dr. Watson. Set in old London, I found the entire movie a little too grey...not much colour to the movie, but overall, it was a great flick, although DH and I were pretty disappointed that they cut out the scene of Rachel McAdams in her lingerie that they showed in the trailers. We both think she's pretty great ;) Was a super fun date night!!!! ♥


Avatar

WEDNESDAY - First of all....WOW! This movie was amazing. I really didn't think I'd like it - I didn't know too much about it going in, just figured it was very spacey from the previews I had seen. I was a bit skeptical about the 3D glasses - I wear glasses for distance and always need them at the theatre...so I wore the 3D glasses on top of my regular glasses - ha! Was a bit bulky and uncomfortable but well worth it - the movie was so visually stimulating, that I didn't care about my discomfort. The story was touching, the colours and effects absolutely mesmorizing. This is one movie I would definitely love to see in theater. Perhaps in Imax, DH?


The Blind Side

SATURDAY - This year, my BFF, Mary-Beth and I decided instead of buying each other gifts, we would just do something together. We tried to arrange a double-manicure appointment, but with Christmas and then New Year's everything was booked. So we decided on a movie instead. We headed into a very BUSY theatre to see The Blind Side. What a wonderful, heartwarming story. The remarkable story of the All-American football star Michael Oher. I HATE football, but typically LOVE football movies (i.e. Any Given Sunday, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights, The Replacements and who doesn't love Sean Astin as RUDY!!!!) This movie fits into my list of fave football movies. Everything about this movie was great - the story, the actors - looking at Tim McGraw for 2+ hours was nice! We joked about how horrible Sandra Bullock looks as a blonde, but as the movie went on, it seemed as though her huge blown out blonde hair toned down a bit, and actually looked nice. Right, Meggy? I always love her movies...and this one was no exception. This is a perfect date movie....sports for the guys and a wonderful story for the ladies. Definitely a must-see!

Well, I never said I was a "movie-critic" so hopefully these mini reviews weren't too painful to read LOL
4 great movies in 7 days...made for 1 fantastic week!

HAPPY 2010!!!

Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.
Oprah Winfrey

Happy 2010! I can't believe it's been 10 years since we rang in 2000 and us all waiting for the Y2K bug. Gosh, how things have changed since then - New Year's Eve 2000 - a drunken night at DH's house (back then he was still living at his parents) with 4 other couples. It was lots of fun - we were looking at pics the other night, man, we all looked so young. I was only 21 at that time.

Fast forward to New Years Eve 2010 - a night with 2 other couples and 6 kids under 6. Not even a sip of an alcoholic beverage - it was a fun night with some old and new friends. Was nice to think we rang in 2000 and 2010 with the Crummy's. Hooray for good friends!

Well, I've never been one to make resolutions - I always think about them, they usually involve exercise, eating better, etc....they usually go in one "year" and out the other. (hee hee) So instead of making the dreaded list of new year's resolutions, I thought about some goals I'd like to set for this year.
Mmm....let's see....

1) Get to goal!
I've been doing weight watchers for almost a year. I have lost 23lbs so far, I wish it were more - but I know it's my own fault - I indulge...a little too often. I have to try and be more positive about my weight loss and not say "I've ONLY lost 23lbs" but be more proud of the fact I HAVE lost 23lbs. This was taken at Christmas...showing off a new outfit/accessories that DH bought me - but it also shows how far I've come since I joined in January/08.



2) Enjoy life more!
Over the last year or so, I've lost sight of who I am as a a person - I am a wife and a mother - but other than that...not so sure anymore. So this year, I hope I can figure out what I like to do - and do it! We are in the middle of renovations on my new daycare playroom - I plan to take a corner of it's space and create a pretty awesome scrapbooking space - Maybe something like this (ha ha)

I LOVE to scrapbook but can't seem to find the time. Once I get everything organized - I vow to get back at it. And finally finish Buddaroo's pregnancy album and start his first year album LOL - I'm so behind.

3) Be more patient!
Lately, I find I use up most of my energy throughout the day running the daycare and dealing with the children, that by the time the evening comes - my patience for my own kids runs very thin. I am going to try have more patience...which in turn equals more fun with my kids.


4) Read more!
I really enjoy reading - and I have a few new books that I received for Christmas that I really want to get started on - Instead of watching some silly shows in the evening, I plan to do a bit of reading. There are so many wonderful books out there - now that my kids go to bed so well - there's lots of time for reading.


Well, so far, that's all I have - and I know that my list is far from over.
I'll keep working on it - just like I'm going to keep working on ME!
Happy New Year, friends.
Love,
Hollie

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!!
This year, we had a wonderful holiday - despite Buddaroo having strep throat and croup on Christmas Eve. We spent the holidays surrounded by family and friends, the best way to celebrate.
Christmas Eve, we hosted 2 family parties - the afternoon was spent with my mom's side of the family - this is our annual cousin picture. (HoneyPie, Jenn, Buddaroo, Jason, Abby, Aimee, Me - in front, Taylor)



In the evening, we hosted DH's family. Was a busy day, with SO much food - but was a great day.
Christmas Day was wonderful - Santa came and brought the kids so many awesome new toys - they were spoiled by Santa, Mommy & Daddy and the rest of the family. We had brunch with DH's family and dinner with mine - by the end of the day we were stuffed and exhausted. Buddaroo did not get an afternoon nap, so he fell asleep in the car, and barely woke up 'til morning. =D



Was a wonderful holiday - spent with all of the people I love the most.

Christmas is the one time of year when you can count on smiling faces and bright lights and awesome gifts and giant twinkling trees and family reunions and childish games and believing in Santa...Christmas is the time when dreams come true.

He Sleeps!!!!

A couple nights after I returned from my vacation, DH and I had had enough of Budderoo waking up SO early and wanting us to take him to bed with us - so we let him cry it out. It only took 1/2 hr of him crying and then he was asleep - so I said "Can we handle 1/2hr of crying through the night"

And so it began...the CIO phase of our sleep training. The first few nights were ROUGH! Budderoo would wake up and scream cry for close to an hour - I would go to his door and say "night night, buddy" and close the door to his crying. He eventually fell back asleep. And...
a week or so later...

HE SLEEPS!!!!


He is sleeping through the night, from about 8:15pm - 6:30 when he hears DH in the shower. I am so proud of him - and wonder "why didn't I do this sooner"?
HOORAY FOR SLEEP!!!!

A Break for Mama

Wow, it's been a while since I have last blogged. I have been so busy with the kids and work - I have neglected my blog. =(
This past week, I was able to spend a week on the beach with my sister, Jennie.



On November 13, my sister and I boarded a plane for a week in sunny and hot Punta Cana. It was quite hard for me to leave DH and the kids but felt I really needed a break - a little time for ME! We stayed at the RIU Bambu. The resort was very nice, the beach AMAZING! The best I have ever seen (on any of our Caribbean vacations, anyway)



We spent the whole week, lounging on the beach or by the pool, reading (I finished 3 books in 3 days), drinking (so many lovely fruity drinks!!!) and resting.



I had a great time away - it was nice to spend some time for me. Sleeping in a bed by myself, sleeping until I wanted, and just getting some much needed rest. I felt guilty for spending a week away from my family {{spending time on me, made me feel selfish}} But I'm so glad I did it - I feel refreshed and "recharged" and although I missed my hubby and kids SO much - absence makes the heart grow fonder. Being away for a week made me appreciate my family so much more - even though I didn't think I could love and appreciate them more than I already did.

By the 20th, I was so ready to get home and scoop up my kids and hug them for hours! We arrived home on the 21st at 4am. I walked into the house and found this:

It made me teary - I wanted everyone to wake up so I could hug them. DH heard me come home, and eventually HoneyPie heard us talking and woke up too - I held her so tightly and we snuggled in the spare room until morning. When Budderoo saw me when he woke up, he screamed and yelled "MAMA!" It was just awesome.
Their reactions to my being home made me being away so much better! It was the most wonderful feeling to see them after a week away.

It's About Time!

I love the magazine Glamour...and last month, many of you may have seen it, a photo of Lizzie Miller, a plus-sized model (said to be a size 12) was shown on page 194...a 3"x3" photo that has left the fashion world gabbing...and thankfully most reactions have been positive.

I remember first seeing this photo, and I said to DH, "Look at her, how awesome...and see, she even has a belly like mine" A little loose and hangy...mine from carrying 2 large babies and delivering them by c-sections. What a beautiful photo - of a beautiful woman.

After readers came across this photo, Glamour was hit with thousands of e-mails "They were filled with such joy–joy at seeing a woman’s body with all the curves and quirks and rolls found in nature. (Raising a question: With all the six-packs out there, do you even know what a normal belly looks like anymore–other than the one you see in the mirror?)"

And really, how many of us have been that girl? I know I have, flipping through magazines trying to find just one person who looked a little bit like me. And when I don't find it I start to think there’s something wrong with the way that I look. For decades, magazines have featured models who are sizes 0 or 2...which in turn makes the average young girl / woman look at their own bodies with disgust, hatred and envy...to be as beautiful as the models shown in fashion magazines.

When I picked up the new issue of Glamour last night I was so happy...inside was something that I have never seen in a magazine before. After all of the positive reaction of Lizzie's picture, Glamour has been making the effort to push the boundaries of accepted beauty norms this month with a photo shoot featuring all plus-sized models...in the nude!!!!!

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

It's about time we see women who look more like the average woman, And Glamour has vowed to push forward by sending this message to young women especially those who are reading their magazine :
There are a million different ways to be beautiful. You don't have to be born pin thin. Whether you're voluptuous or lean, however you're made is the right way for you.

The simplest way to change the outlook on body confidence is to judge one another, and ourselves, less. Let’s start that change right now.


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CIO = Tired Parents

I'm not sure how long I have been catering to Budderoo's bad sleep habits. He has never been a good sleeper - As a newborn, he was up often to nurse...as he got older, he would wake through the night just for a cuddle...and now as a toddler, he wakes through the night to come and sleep with me. And it's my own fault!

Like I said, I don't know when this first started, it's been a while - one night, so long ago, I was just so tired from being up with him what felt like a million times through the night, I decided to bring him in with me in the spare bed - and the rest is history. He goes to bed pretty well...and then around 1230, he wakes up and cries screams until I bring him in with me. Once he is in the bed with me, he sleeps great!

I have tried a few times to let him cry it out (CIO) and see if he'll fall back asleep on his own - but this in turn wakes HoneyPie, making for a very tired and grumpy girl on days she has school. I just can't leave him to cry for long - it breaks my heart...and would rather all of us get some sleep.

Last night, Budderoo woke up around 12:20 and I headed to get him...DH said "STOP! I'll deal with him, don't get him - let's let him CIO"...so I headed back to bed, and DH tried to get him back to sleep for a long time. Budderoo is stubborn...he cried for a good 45 minutes. You just think he's asleep, goes a bit quiet...and then back to screaming again. So, about 1:10, DH brought him in with him. Perhaps if we keep trying this, the duration of his crying will decrease, and he will eventually fall back asleep on his own.

I wish I never had gotten into the habit, but having 4-5 kids in my home throughout the day, being an exhausted parent/caregiver just isn't an option....and it's not just me, who was exhausted...DH was tired at work, HoneyPie was tired throughout the day. We all just needed a good night's sleep, and if bringing him with me helped us to obtain that - even if it was the worst choice!

One good thing about letting him CIO last night - - we finally know that he can, in fact, say "mama" - which he refuses to do when asked - he was crying and calling my name. Made me feel good - he's been calling both DH and I "daddeeeee" for a while. LOL

Thanks, T for helping out last night - you are the best!

She Doesn't Need Me Anymore!

Last night, we went to a movie night at HoneyPie's school. It was so much fun - sleeping bags and pillows huddled on the gym floor watching Monsters Vs. Aliens. It was such a great atmosphere - we had a super fun time.

About half way through the movie, HoneyPie announced that she had to go the bathroom. So - we headed out and I asked her to show me where the bathroom was - she led me half way around the school to the "big girl bathroom" - I was so proud that she was able to show me where it was, after only a few days at school...but then...

She heads into the stall and says - "I'm a big girl, Mommy - I'll go in and you stay out here" and proceeds to go in and lock the door. OMG! This is a big step.

I don't like this growing up idea!

Weight Loss Wednesday

Since it is the last day of September...and it's a Wednesday...and because it's been months since I've updated my weight loss posts...I figured I'd close out the month with a weight loss thread.

Sadly, since my last post - where I excitedly hit 20lbs - I haven't really done that well. Over the summer, I indulged a lot and didn't lose too much. I finally hit 25 pounds lost and was thrilled...but then I was up and down, up and down...so after a slight "up" tonight, I am only at 23lbs lost.

My leader tells us that we shouldn't say "I've ONLY lost _____" It is a big accomplishment to have lost anything.I have been so angry at myself for cheating, but then still have been - not tracking, cheating and not exercising as much as I should.

A few weeks ago, I started an hour power walking class with my SIL, Cassandra. The first week kicked my ass. Oh my God, I couldn't walk for a couple days...and trying to get up and down the stairs was just ridiculous. It is a great class that incorporates power walking with strength exercises all while carrying 2 or 3lbs hand weights. Although this is more exercising than I have been doing - it's not enough....

So I am vowing to.

* move more...exercise more during the week
* track every day...every bite I take WILL be written down in my journal
* stop being so hard on myself...I have a lot of difficulty being angry at other people, but it is SO easy to be angry at myself. Any weight loss is a good thing - even if it is ONLY a few ounces...at least it's something
* stop using the word ONLY...and be proud of myself for any loss.


I will try and update again every week - and hopefully, next week I will have a good loss to report.
Also - a big congrats to my WW buddy, Christine who lost 3lbs this week. WAY TO GO, GIRL!

Proud

With HoneyPie starting JK this past week, I have been anxious about how she is doing. I drop her off in the morning and she is so excited to get there I have to call her back for a hug and a kiss, and when I got and pick her up, she is happy and excited to see Budderoo and I. But I wonder, what is she like during the day...I would love to be a fly on the wall to watch her in action.

I spoke to her teacher this afternoon just to see how she is doing. The teacher said that "she is doing amazing", "she is a very bright girl, you have taught her well", "the only thing is, she doesn't like to sit on her bum at carpet time, she sits on her knees making it hard for the kids behind her to see". Ahhh! If that is the only thing, I am thrilled. I was so happy to hear that she is doing well...we walked home hand in hand and I told her the wonderful things her teacher said about her.
We were both so proud of HER!