I MADE 50!!!!

This am at Weight Watcher's I made a big milestone. I not only reached the 50 pounds lost mark, but I also weigh the lowest I have in 15+ years!!! That is a big accomplishment and I am taking a lot of pride and excitment in this. The pre- weight loss Debbie would have treated herself to a Big Mac, but now that I have made eating right and exercising a way of life, I instead treated myself to a nice manicure. I also did something else this week that many would think crazy. I went through my closet and got rid of 4 garbage bags filled with clothes. They were not bad clothes, in fact many were very nice clothes. They were just too big now and I decided that because this is the last time I am going to do this, I was going to get rid of clothes instead of holding on the them for when I needed them again. It actually felt pretty good and also a little scary at the same time. As I look at my also completely empty closet, I wonder why I did it. Then I remember that I am not going back only forward and I remember why I did it. I am also not thrilled to fill the closet up right now as I still have 43 pounds to go. Like my darling son in law said today - "43 pounds - that's nothing - your more than half way there!" So I will focus on that..continuing to move forward .... All is well here. Michele and I managed to get through outdoor ed. Except for the bugs, heat, rain, dirt, food and no sleep it was a good two days. !!! It is just one more thing to check off the list however, so I am glad it is done. We are well into the pageant planning phase of our lives. The pageant is quickly approaching and when the phone rings now, we respond with "Pageant Central" We had our first meeting and had 29 darling girls competing for an opportunity to reign as this years queens. I also enjoy/dread this time. Love doing the pageant but hate all the work involved prior to the big event. Without Michele this would not be possible. We are at the point now where I make phone calls , provide my credit card, and look important the night of rehersals and the pageant. Michele does everything else. It is a system that is working for me. However Nate, would probably not agree. This Friday night is also the performance of Hello Dolly. Michele and I are looking forward to this event also being over. I think if our plates were not so full right now, we would have enjoyed this experience a lot more. Oh well, summer is a coming and so is relaxion hopefully.

Another Dress option...

Here is another dress I bought. It actually has a brown shade shirt under it but it could be switched to beige. Let me know what you think...

Down, Down, Down I go

Well after switching to a Saturday am meeting Weight Watchers meeting I am pleased to announce I have lost another 2 pounds. That gives me a total of 48.6 pounds. I am so close to 50 I can taste it - and it taste somewhat like pizza!! Michele and Nate are still gone, so until they get back tomorrow I will not be able to update my ticker or post the picture I took today of another dress possibility. We are really totally helpless without Michele. I have a very busy week ahead of me. Tuesday night we welcome the incoming 2nd grade parents to our school - give them a tour, explain the school, etc. Michele and I then leave on Thursday am for outdoor ed. This is a fourth grade experience, but they ask the really fun third grade teachers to come along!! I am teaching a class many students try to get into - Solar Ovens. It is probably not me that makes them want to go to my class, but rather the fact that they get to cook smores! Hello Dolly is next weekend and dress rehersal is on the 31st. We had another long rehersal on Saturday and I think I can now say that I am learning to not only say my lines, but be able to walk on stage at the same time. This is a major accomplishment and has taken a lot of work. I just hope I can remember every thing I am suppose to when the big night arrives. It is probably not a great thing that the day of the preformance I am taking my class to Chicago for an all day sight seeing tour and boat trip. Just happened it worked out to be the same day, but oh well it will keep my mind off the evening preformance. Once this is over I can start packing for California. Can't tell you how excited I am about this trip. Having Michele go with me is a real plus. Also being able to see Biggie and Matt and Cortney makes getting on that plane worth while.

It's official - I've hit a plateau

Happy Mother's Day. It is Sunday here and we just finished dinner. I have had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Rich gave me a day at the spa yesterday which was so wonderful. Lots of pampering which I love. Then we went out to dinner with Michele and Nate and I stayed within my points which is always a good thing. Speaking of points (which is what I usually do most of the time) I went to Weight Watchers this Saturday am. I am going to change my meeting because going at night is just such a bite. I always weight 2-3 pounds more and it is getting to me. So I went to the Saturday morning session and I really liked it. However, I only lost 1.6 pounds. It looks like I am in the dreaded "plateau" phase of my weight lost. I kept thinking it wouldn't happend, but as much as I stay within my points, and exercise, the scale does not seems to be moving in a downward tread as quickly as it did before. My sister Marcia and told me to drink more and exercise more which is what I will do, but at this point I do not know how much more I could drink and besides taking time off from work, my exercise routine will have to stay the same. It is a bit discouraging, but because I feel so good I am not letting it get me down. I have a very busy week. My teacher's union is in negotations for a new contract which is not going well. We need to show lots of support for our negotatators which means lots of meetings. IN addition, rehersals for Hello Dolly are really getting very numerous and intense. We rehersed last Thursday night until 11:00 which for me was way past my bed time. Add to that all the end of the school year stuff which is always there and I am in a bit of a fried state. I am really looking forward to going to California for Whit's wedding. It will be after Hello Dolly and after most of my school stuff will be complete. I will also get to visit with Biggie Boy and Matt and Cortney and Cooper and Kenzie and oh ya, Marcia and Dick too!!! The picture tonight is for my sisters. It is another dress possibility for the wedding. I personally think it looks a little frumpy, but you decide.

Sunday dinner

These pictures were taken at our weekly family dinner. David brought Kelly. I got them to agree to a picture so you could all see how cute she is. We love her and love spending time with her and David. The best part about Kelly is she loves to cook and David loves to eat. They seem to be a match made in heaven! Kelly also has a dog which gets along with David's dog Bear. Life is good. I put a picture up of myself. I am wearing a new dress. I was thinking I would wear it for the temple ceremony for Whit's wedding, but I will wait and get the final approval from my family. I still need to get something for the reception, but Michele and I are coming out a day early so we can shop. Get your shoes on Aunt Marcia, we are going to be ready for some power shopping!!!

Trying Not To Be Discouraged!!

Happy Thursday!! It has been a good couple of days. I went to Weight Watchers last night and only lost 1.6 pounds, but that put me at 45 pounds total so I should be happy. I am losing at a much slower pace than I would like but I realize that one pounds down is better than one pound up. I also realize that due to some health issues, I have not been able to exercise AT ALL this week. I really feel this is the reason why I am not losing more. Hopefully these issues will resolve themselves and I will be back sweating, puffing, and losing more very soon. Things here at school are very intense as the end of school quickly approaches. I struggle with understanding what happens to 9 year olds when the weather turns warmer. Their ability to sit and listen just flies out the window. All they can think about is recess, extra recess, gym and lunch. Forget any math, reading, or science I may be trying to teach!! Oh I guess I am not so old that I can not remember being 9 and feeling the sun and wanting to be in it. All is going well here. Michele and I got our flights booked for our trip to California for Whit's wedding. Michele is looking pregnant which makes me want to rub her belly (she is, for some reason opposed to this however). David is doing well and so far so good with Kelly. She seems just perfect for him - loves to cook for him - and my hope and prayer is that the relationship continues. Rich and I went to visit David last Sunday (well we visited with David, but really went to spend time with BEAR - love that dog and miss him. However, the amount of chocolate brown lab fur that we brought home with us, should make me miss him a little less at least for awhile). I talked with Matt last night - or a least I tried to talk with him. He was outside with Kyle and was trying to get Kyle inside and Kyle was having none of it!! I can not wait until Kyle (oh ya and Cort and Matt) comes to visit. Kyle can stay outside with his grandma all day and night if he wants. The best part of Grandma's will be playing outside and a Grandma (and Grandpa) totally devoted to his every whim.