the new thing is

a new competition that a group of us are starting.

We are doing our version of The Biggest Loser in an effort to lose weight and get into better shape.

During our AFAP conferences I remembered my friend Teah's (from West Point)explanation about her neighborhood and her putting together a group with the same objective-- so as I sat there waiting in the group I turned to my friend Van and mentioned to her how it would be so cool if we did this and she was totally into it.

So Van and I have decided to put together the competition that will be pretty much the same as the show, with the prize being incredibly smaller of course. We will start next Monday and perhaps finish on the 31st of December. I don't know what the specifics will be yet until we vote on them this upcoming Thursday. But doesn't that sound like fun? I so want to be the biggest loser! lol

I will most definitely blog here short updates on how this thing develops.

Another new thing is my exposure to Facebook. Yeah people, I finally opened an account this morning! Hard to believe right?

No shots at this time again solely because I am too lazy this minute to run downstairs into our dungeon to the other lap top where I have my photo files-- so sorry... (sorry mom)

'nite y'all!

tgif

AFAP(Army Family Action Plan) conferences have kept me busy for the past 2 days. I should probably say busier since this house is jam-packed of busy bees! I made myself stop, sit, and blog while have a cup of joe this morning.

My highlight of the day this morning will be my visit to the spa. No, no don't start chanting "lucky her" I am not going in for a massage or facial-- people I am FINALLY going in to get my hair done! Oh my, I am so in need of a touch-up, trim, and my ever so glam foils! Yay! With the move and getting this house unpacked, getting in to the salon was way down on the priority list. So today is the day! I am trying a new place out: Jabez Salon and Day Spa it is an Aveda joint so I am hoping for the best.

Did I mention last week that I fell? I can't remember but last Friday Alexys had volley ball practice at 6:30am and while I was walking down the steps of my porch outside, I ate it big time! I fell and I messed up my ankle or the ligaments around it-- couldn't say for sure since I never went in to see the doc. Well, one leg is swollen still and the other has a 6-inch deep cut on my shin. Very attractive, right? Well, today Alexys had 6:30am practice again and I made Frank drive her! My neighbors are on me about going to the doc to get it checked out. I think I may end up going in since I have not gone on a run now for 7 days! I am gaining weight as I type this!

Which brings me to a perfect transition point to mention my new project-- it is in the development stages so I can't say much about it yet. All I can say is that a few of my friends and I are thinking about creating a contest here-- one that mimics the Biggest Loser sounds like fun right?

More to follow later...

book: thumbs up

I finished reading Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran last week and I am so glad I read it! This was my book club's September selection and we all gave it 2-thumbs-up. I am not too keen at writing long winded reviews mainly due to time constraints. I am always blogging in a hurry! Having said that, I do want to take a couple of minutes to encourage everyone to pick up this book and read it. It is a story told through the eyes of a child that lost his father on September 11. Okay, that is all I am saying. Read it.

oooh where do i begin...

Hello family and friends... I am so sorry I have been so bad about checking in here. Life in good ol' Kansas isn't as slow-paced as most of us would think. My girly girls are sure keeping me busy! Here is a brief synopsis on the happenings of our lil' clan:

1. Alexys is still very busy with volleyball and swimming. Last Saturday they (school team) had a tournament and they came in 2nd! That is a good thing. They are getting ready for this Saturday's tournament. She also has meet season starting in a couple of weeks so she is putting in many hours in the pool. She is very much settled into her new life. Fabulous.

2. Angelene is learning a lot in swim class. She was introduced to the butterfly this afternoon and she was excited about that! Soccer is also a big hit! She is naturally high-energy and this is very helpful in the sport...She is a little energizer bunny that keeps going and going and going... Fabulous.

3. Alanah going strong in gymnastics although she complaints all the time why she isn't doing soccer and swim lessons. Geesh-- I am only one person!

Frank tries to tag team and help out but he is limited on time as well. He is not only doing the school here but now he decided to earn yet another masters-- since having one isn't enough I guess... lol more power to him. We are all about learning and growing and this is great. I don't do well when people live life idling. So the poor guy has gigantic amounts of homework and reading on top of papers.

Fort Leavenworth offers so much to do. Last night some friends and I went to a Mexican Cooking class hosted by the company that leases the homes to us. Blah blah blah-- long story but you know what I mean. It was pretty cool. They demonstrated the proper techniques to prepare salsa, rice, mole, and tamales. Yes my people, the real McCoy! They also had pan dulce and great margaritas! We had a blast!

So much to say and so little time... Life is calling me off the PC again so come back tomorrow--

HEY BTW people... I really would like to add some of you to my favorite blogs to visit... BUT first you must start one! So c'mon people, give it a try!Tata for now!

soccer in the mud

super-- just great! Yeah, the continual rainfall finally seized this afternoon to a drizzle here and there and soccer practice was not cancelled. Today was Angelene's first soccer practice for the season. Let me just say, this kiddo loves soccer! She was very disappointed by the mere hour that the practice lasted. She said she wanted more hours!

I am very glad and feel very blessed that all three girls are doing activities they enjoy. Alexys apparently likes volleyball after all to her surprise-- of course she also loves swimming. Alanah is loving gymnastics and wishes she could go more often. She is asking for pool time as well. Angelene is doing soccer and swimming and so far so good. Life here here is now on a true roll.

Today I was able to enjoy fellowship at a WOSI meeting; watch Angelene play soccer; and attend a spouses' brief on nutrition. Of course with all of the fillers in between. It was a full day... it was a good day.

game 1

The 9th grade volleyball team had their first game last night. It didn't go as they hoped and I hear that the biggest complaint was playing in a no-A/C gym! The nerve of the school... Keep in mind that Alexys' school has not one, but TWO gyms and well, overall the school is very high-tech and up-to-date. I wont go into a rant about how the kiddos are spoiled by their school's aesthetics because let me tell you-- Alexys' last school had one of those small non-A/C gyms and overall small and old everything! BUT--and a BIG BUT: She loved and loves that little school!

It has been pouring here all day today-- this morning some loud, very loud sirens went off all over post... Was it a tornado watch alert maybe? or was it a flash flood warning? I don't know! I haven't really been around in such weather in a long time! The last time we lived in KS (over 14 years ago) and we heard sirens go off during a storm, we happily opened the door and enjoyed the rain. How were we to know that those loud shrills were a warning to take cover-- tornado watch in effect! Remember people, both Frank and I are Californians-- So.Cali to be exact! No such thing as an earthquake watch/warning siren!