Total upheaval....

So we have decided to replace the flooring on most of the first floor of our house... the only room not being touched is the office where I am composing this post.

The guys are working on the family room today and (hopefully) finishing the hardwood install today- then they will work on the kitchen/hallway/laundry room. We chose duraceramic for those areas because it looks like ceramic tile and is grouted etc... but is probably half the coast of real ceramic tile.

The poor "girls" (our two yellow labs) are penned up on the second floor so the guys can work.

We are also replacing the carpet in our finished basement. The carpet guys came this morning and have started on the basement... they will finish that and then replace the dining room & living room carpet before they leave today.

I am sure it is all going to look beautiful when it is done, but right now I feel like I am going a bit crazy....

I am officially in hell.....

On the bright side with all the upheaval I won't be able to cook for a few days.... DARN!  ;)

prep for family room

beginning front hall

beginning kitchen with duraceramic

getting stuff off of bakers rack so it can be moved

just a mess!

front hall moving into family room

running out of places to put stuff

ugh.....

it's going to look great... my mantra.....

Empty nest

So cheergirlie and QB1 both left last weekend for college... they had to report early- both had preseason camp.

It is really quiet around here.

I cleaned both of their rooms yesterday and changed the sheets etc. Their rooms look strange without a lot of their "stuff"" in it.

In a way it is a good thing that we scheduled to have new flooring installed this week- at least it offers some background noise ;) I will post some pics as soon as I can figure out how to upload from instagram.

Everyone I've talked to has said it is strange at first with the kids gone but then it becomes really nice.

We shall see... 

All I know is that a large part of our identities has been as parents. Even with all of the ups and downs hubby and I have truly enjoyed being parents. Sure the kids drove us crazy at times, and yes we did become frustrated with them- but through it all we really enjoyed our kids.

We have to learn how to "do this" empty nest thing.

On probation

So last week I did not make weight for the month...

I stayed even- no loss but no gain either....
My quota to lose for the month was 2.25 lbs.... That is also the quota for August so I have to lose 4.5 lbs. total by the last Wed. in August.

What I find strange is that the program does not allow you to attend meetings the month you are on probation... Is it me or does that seem counter productive?

It is not my leaders fault- but it kind of pisses me off... do they want us to succeed or not? Do they honestly think that by punishing me and not letting me go to the meetings it is going to help?

So I have been more careful with my calorie counting... I had been eye balling stuff too much and am back to weighing and measuring .. and I am upping my exercise. This morning I ran(OK it is a term I use loosely- it is a slow jog)  1.8 miles without stopping, and then went to a one hour zumba class with daughter #1 tonight. Going to zumba again tomorrow night.... going to mow the grass Wed. (w/ push mower) in the hopes of sweating off some pounds... but the scale is being really stingy!

I am plateauing.... I have decided no matter what happens by the end of August I am not giving up- I feel so much better minus 33 lbs!

Plus this is a LIFESTYLE change for me!

Jammin'

                                Just got done making raspberry jam! YUM!!!!

totally out of normal for me & kind of freaky

Lately a funny thing has been happening...

I mean this is so totally not me that it is kind of surreal...

In the past when I have been frustrated/ upset etc... I would either:
1. Eat- (something preferably either chocolate, breads, or cookie/cake etc....)
or
2. Clean- yeah I know - weird, but at least it was productive!

Lately with the "new" way of eating etc... the eating has not been as much fun- I mean if I eat what I'd REALLY want- I'd blow my calories for the day. So that has not been an option....

Cleaning?- Just not really feeling that lately- plus it isn't too bad around the house with me off for the summer.

So my replacement activity?
I have been jogging more. I have graduated from a pathetic shuffle to an actual jog!

Now I'm  not going to win any races or marathons by a long shot, but it HAS gotten easier.

Plus I don't hate it as much as I used to- I usually have worked out some of my problems in my head or at least asked God for guidance by the time I am done- which is usually about a half hour later.

I am starting to understand why people like to run- *waiting for the walls to begin shaking*

Hubby and I are actually considering buying an elliptical machine so we can use it once the weather turns bad this fall/winter! 

I think my own mortality in the form of my upcoming birthday is helping to fuel my metamorphsis.

I just hope I continue in this frame of mind because it is good for me!

wedding pics

Some preliminary wedding pics...these are from my brother in law- the photographers pics have just been released and I should have some of them soon...

Back from vacation!

the Highland Mist cabin

We just returned from a week in Banner Elk, NC (near Boone, NC). We went with two of Jeff's sisters and heir hubby and another couple (we even brought our dogs!). It was a GREAT vacation complete with a white water rafting excursion on the fourth! Good food, friends & family!!

Our view @ sunset

Living room

Puppy cousins!

Front deck

outside fireplace

hubby cleaning up

our friend who kept getting in the garbage

our rafting excursion

me & hubby