I'm back!

Ok, so it's been a few weeks since I've blogged. Both my sister and my mom had to remind me that I had lapsed in my writing. Right now the majority of my family is sick with some form of the cold. Evan actually stayed home from school today and in 1 1/2 days I've only seen him a handful of times and it's usually to get a drink, then he goes back upstairs to his room. Not even on the computer, so I know he's not feeling well. Eli has a stuffy, runny nose and little cough, but it doesn't seem to be slowing him down much.

Today I joined a gym. A women's gym who had a deal I couldn't refuse. They waived the $100 enrollment fee and it's only $39 a month. Workout places are a dime a dozen here like Starbucks it seems as though there is one on every corner. Considering a good treadmill costs over $1500, the price is reasonable. I actually met one of the trainers at the Women's Networking Luncheon in December. Their cardio kickboxing class was featured in a write up in the fall issue. Anyway, I'm thinking if I know they're taking my money out of my account that I should go use the facilities. The plan is to go at least once a week to walk on the treadmill or elliptical and Saturday mornings do the cardio kickboxing. There goes my only morning to sleep in - sigh. I've decided that I'm not getting any younger and I really live quite a sedentary life. I'd like to lose about 20 pounds to get to a healthy weight which also means...diet.

This whole Steelers going to the Super Bowl may blow my diet out of the water for a day, but I have figured out it's all about portion control and watching high carb foods and sugars. Speaking of the Steelers...woo hoo! I think with the Cardinals in it too I would be happy if either team won with Russ Grimm coaching on the Cards side and of course the hometown team. I drove past a guy today who had a Steelers window car flag flying. See, the Steeler nation is strong everywhere you go. I read an interesting column on yahoo.com about the Steelers and how it's hard NOT to like them. I'd post it, but I can't find it.

The Spring issue is going to print hopefully at the end of this week - then I can invoice for the rest of my payment for that issue and then I'll invoice for the first half of Summer. I've decided with my Summer pay I'm going to take the kids (at least Maia and Evan) back to PA for our spring break which begins March 13. They return to school on the 23rd. I'll take two days to drive up and two to drive back, but it will give us a nice chance to see friends and get some work done at the 307 house. Jeff is still deciding whether to go and if I'll take Eli. He certainly has the vacation, but he's concerned about the long car ride. It would cost us close to $1,000 to fly back plus a car - so I'm driving. I'm going to try to get the majority of work done at the house, but will come back for a week or two in June to finish things up.

Jeff and I have been looking at some houses here in Houston as we would prefer not to rent another year and put down permanent roots. We're not done with our lease until June so we have some time, but we don't want to just settle either because we need to be out. Our landlord would like us to buy this home, but Jeff and I are not in love with it enough to invest for the long term, and she's asking more than what brand new homes are going for here in the plan with them closing out the plan (meaning it goes to the Homeowners Association) in June and they have great discounts. I think she'll have a hard time selling this. There's a house that has been for sale since we got here, but they want to much. Whereas another home we looked at down the street was reasonably priced and sold within a few months. We'll see.

I've decided to join the church here. I'm involved like crazy and I really like the church and the pastoral team. I'll go to a three hour new members class on the 8th of Feb. then be received by the church during the service March 1 by letter of transfer from Calvin United. I transferred my membership to Calvin when I had Evan baptized some years after I moved back home and Jeff and I were talking about getting married.

Well after a four hour nap today, it looks like Eli is crashing for the night which means I go to bed too and get up early to see if Evan is up to going to school tomorrow.

Winter in Houston

Now you know I love and miss you all, but you can't beat winters in Houston and I'm sure my sister in Florida would concur. I can feel my blood thinning after living here six months. I'm officially cold when it gets to 45 here! Today it is only 62, but the sun is shining and there's the slightest breeze. It's so comfortable I can just wear a light sweater and darn it I still wear my flip flops! As we were watching the Steelers playoff game yesterday evening and I watched the snow flakes fall and thought of my friend Kelli freezing her tushy off in her awesome seats - I remembered how much I enjoy watching games in the comfort of my home and how miserable I was when Jeff and I went to one of the last games at Three Rivers and we left after the third quarter because it was so frigidly cold. I believe we ended up at a bar across the river at Station Square until the game ended then we ate at my favorite Chinese Restaurant there.

We're in the final stages of putting together the Spring Cy-Fair Magazine issue that will be out on stands Feb. 15. While the entire issue isn't mine from inception to finish, it will be exciting to see the finished product. Summer will be all me and I'm already compiling a list of stories. I'm really enjoying the job so far. Tomorrow I'm going to a networking luncheon then I'll head to a major Chamber event at 11:30.

We resumed bell choir rehearsal last week and will have regular rehearsal this week for choir. We will also have our music ministry Christmas party this Saturday evening at a home that is supposed to be just fantastic! Jeff is going and it will be the first time we're leaving Evan in charge with Maia and Eli for a few hours....yikes!

Well the kids should be walking in the door soon. :)

Eli's birthday & Maia

Eli getting ready to blow out the candles on his Spiderman birthday cake and Maia and her friend Katylin on their scooters.

Batman

Eli napping with his Batman Bear and showing off his new Batman bike Christmas Day.