Catch up post

Has it really been a month since I have blogged <gasp>????? I guess I have just been busy with then end of semester stuff at work and then the holidays.

There isn't much to catch you up on for the last month. I worked, I shopped, I ate. We had a potluck at work every single day for the last week we were there. So glad that is over. I gained a few pounds over the month, putting me back at 73 pounds lost. I am totally back on track now and not a bit worried about it.

Christmas was great around here. We spent Christmas Eve at my mother's house with my sister and her family (not the sister I haven't talked to, but my oldest one). The room was filled with presents and we all had a great time eating dinner together and opening gifts.

 The boys got way too much. The big boy got an Ipad, a new Iphone, shoes, clothes, and some DVD box set he had been wanting. The Boy got some fancy schmancy microphone, some fancy recording program (he is becoming an audio engineer), clothes, and some other small things. The Rockstar has always gone crazy at Christmas with the boys. He was also very good to me....an Ipad Mini, 2 necklaces, a ring, Kohls gift card, perfume, and a stocking full of goodies.

Harleigh loved her first Christmas. She got lots of new toys and treats. She took her first road trip to visit The Rockstar's family. She was so good in the car and during the entire visit. I couldn't ask for a better behaved baby...until she gets back home.

 

 

We have been sleeping late every day of our break. It has been wonderful!

We are having a small New Year's Eve party. We have one every year. I like hosting the party so I don't have to get out and drive any where.

I have a consultation next week for a tummy tuck. I needed a tummy tuck even before I was ever overweight. I have no idea if insurance will pay for any of it or not. Either way, I plan on eventually getting one. I am looking at possibly doing it over spring break.

Well that's all I really got for this catch up post. Toodles!

My job is keeping me fat

Today is Tuesday and ya know what that means... the kids get out of school early and the adults have a "social" gathering. Kids get out early and teachers are supposed to do professional development, which we actually do, but it is also an excuse to have a "social". That's what they call it...but it's really just a code word for "let's eat a bunch of shit and chit chat".

Each time we have a social there is usually a "theme". Today's theme was "Souper Tuesday".

We had every kind of of soup, chili, bread, cracker, and dessert you could think of. Here is just part of what the lounge looked like...

I made chicken and dumplins for the social. I don't eat the dumplins, but I do eat the broth and the chicken.

It is so hard not to overeat at these socials. I usually really suck at sticking to a plan on social days. I sucked at it today. I ate homemade pound cake (OMG it was soooooo good!), homemade pimento cheese, and chili and cheese.

Oh well, what has been done is done. Can't change it now. I actually don't even really feel that bad about it. Of course I may be singing a different tune the next time I get on the scale.

By the way, in case you were wondering....I sent my sister a text today asking her if this weekend was good for meeting for lunch. I told her to pick the restaurant...my treat. She hasn't texted me back.  Oh well...maybe she needs to think about it ( I know she read it because my phone tells me when the text has been read).

Happy Tuesday! Tomorrow is hump day!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

My Thanksgiving is coming to an end. We do our big meal and lunch...and then lay around in a turkey coma the rest of the day.

For the most part my day was great. Our gathering was much smaller than usual. One of sisters only comes in every other Thanksgiving. She alternates years so she spends one year with her husband's family and the next year with us. It was her year to stay in Atlanta...boooo. My dad decided to spend the week with his girlfriend (several hours away), so he wasn't there either. My other sister wasn't there, of course, because we haven't seen or talked to her in 3 years....until today.

Let me back track just a bit. Three years ago she decided she would not come to Thanksgiving dinner. She told my dad that is was because we didn't like her boyfriend. Well, it's true, I don't like her boyfriend...but I have never been rude or mean to him in any way. But I also don't go out of my way to pretend that I like him. Any way, she didn't come that year and hasn't come since. She also has not talked to me and I was even told that she saw me once in Walmart and quickly turned down an aisle so I wouldn't see her. Back in August (the month of her birthday) I sent her a text every day for almost a month. She never once responded to any of those texts.

Fast forward to today...

She sent me a text....I responded.

 

 

I am a little disappointed in myself that I didn't accept the offer, but I just didn't want to put myself in that awkard, uncomfortable position. I don't even know where she lives (although I do know it is some where close to my dad's house). Although I would like to mend our relationship, I just think the first time we see each again should be some where neutral. Do you think I am wrong??? It's ok if you do, I'm a big girl...I can handle the truth.

 

 

So, I went to my mother's house like I always do. She did most of the cooking. All I had to cook was the green beans and mac and cheese.

 

The food was great and although I ate more than I do on a normal day, I didn't eat any where near what I would have a couple of years ago. This was my plate when I started...

 

 

 

 

I would have taken a pic of the "after", but I got up and left the table and when I came back the plate was gone. My mom said she knew I wouldn't finish it, so she threw it away. I ate all of the turkey, some of the ham, and about half of everything else. I also had two bites of fudge pie later in the day.

 

 

My mom tried talking me into going shopping with her tonight...not gonna happen. Her partner is going with her and I am sure they will have a great time...but it's just not my thing.

 

 

 

 

That's my Thanksgiving in a nutshell. I hope all of y'all had a great one too!!





On a cereal high

Why, oh why, have I not learned that when I have cereal in this house I WILL eat it. I don't care anything about eating cereal for breakfast...never have. But I could eat it every day for lunch, dinner, and snack if I would let myself. I am totally addicted to this cereal....

I love it. I am in love with it. I could eat the whole box. Nobody else in my house eats this cereal...which means when I buy it I can't even blame the empty box on anyone else. It's all me.


In unrelated news today is my Friday!!! I am off for the next 5 glorious days. We are doing a small Thanksgiving at my mother's house. I am not really worried about eating too much. It's just one day, one meal. If I do eat more than usual on one day, for one meal, I certainly won't beat myself up over it.

I will NOT be partaking in the black Friday shopping. I hate shopping crowds and unless they are giving it away for free it is not worth it to me.


We are doing a secret Santa thing at work. Wouldn't you know that I got the ONE person in the building who I do not like. Buying a gift for someone you don't even like is no fun :(


That's all I got for today.

Happy Tuesday y'all!

Triple T!

Thanks to the gorgeous Laura Belle we have Ten Things Thursday!!

1. I can not get used to the time change. By 7:00 at night I feel like I need to be in the bed. I have, in fact, been going to bed earlier, but I am more tired during the day. I don't love this time of the year.


2. Today one of my kids had a birthday. His mom is deployed right now. My heart hurts for any kid who has a parent deployed, but it hurts just a little bit more for kids who have a deployed mother. I didn't know if his step dad would make a big deal out of his birthday, so I wanted to make sure that his day was special. All of my kids get a small party on their birthday. They get a choice between cupcakes, cookies, or ice cream (and all the toppings). When I asked this little boy what he wanted he said "I wish my mom was here so she could make me peanut butter brownies".

Well I couldn't make his mom magically appear, but I could make him some peanut butter brownies...

I didn't eat them, so I don't know if they were good....but he loved them :)


3. I am so excited about my 3 day weekend! I don't have any plans, but I love any day that I get that doesn't involve the alarm clock.


4. I really can't believe some of the nasty things some people have said (either in person or on fb) about the election. It has really made me think very differently about some people...and not in a good way.


5. Marriage is hard....very hard. And that is all I want to say on that topic right now.


6. The Boy just started a new job this week. He works for the company that delivers packages to your house and the men wear brown suits. He looks so cute in his little brown suit.


7. My mother was going to go out of town to spend Thanksgiving with her friend's family. I totally laid a huge guilt trip on her and told her I guess we would just have sandwiches that day. She fell for it and changed her plans. And before you ask....no, I do not feel bad about it. I don't mind sharing my mama any other day...but I do NOT want to share her on Thanksgiving or Christmas.


8. I bought a new lunch bag. I got it for only $5.00. My local bff (my other bff lives far away) got a matching one (one with her initial on it). I love it.

 

 

9. Tomorrow is jeans day at school. I will be wearing my new size 10 jeans. I will definitely have to check out my badonkadonk in the trophy case when I take my kids to PE :)

10. New Grey's episode tonight....just in case ya wanted to know :)

One Year Bandiversary!

Today is my one year bandiversary!!! I really, really can not believe that it has been one year. The time has flown by!!

If you have followed my journey then you already know I completely made my choice to get lapband surgery purely for health reasons. Wearing smaller clothes and seeing collar bones has really just been a bonus.

I was sick. I was way more sick than I even wanted to admit to. My blood pressure had landed me in ICU, I was no longer able to go up even one flight of steps with having severe heart spasms, and I dreaded getting out of the bed every single day.

What a difference a year makes! I wish I could say I was off all blood pressure meds, but I am not. I do, however, feel a million times better. I can walk up numerous flights of stairs and not even think about it. I have more energy than I ever thought I would again.

The bonus....I have lost 73 pounds and I wear a size 10 jeans. I wish I could tell you how close I am to a "goal weight", but the truth is, I never set a goal weight. A number on the scale was never my goal....feeling better was. And that, I have accomplished.

Within this past year I have never done any type of formal or structured exercise. I certainly don't recommend this to anyone. I am quite sure I would even feel better if I had exercised. My hypertension specialist would never clear me for exercise. Although I have not been cleared for exercise, that doesn't mean I sit around all the time. I am moving all the time. I even get my students up and moving every chance I get.

Do you want to know what and how much I eat??? Of course you do....and if not, too bad...I'm telling you any way :)

Most of the time I eat what I want...just not a lot of it. I can not eat scrambled eggs. I keep trying about every month or so, but most times they sit there like a heavy brick for what feels like hours. I don't eat a lot of bread, but I do still eat it at times (like in Chicago when I had that awesome pizza!). I eat slow and I never drink while I am eating. I still eat chocolate every day, but instead of  King sized Snickers (or two), it's only a bite size Snickers. I eat a lot of chicken....so much so that I think I may grow feathers soon. I don't measure my food as much as I did for the first 7 or 8 months, but I would say that I rarely eat more 1-1 1/2 cups of food at a time.

I have had 2 fills since being banded. I don't really remember how much is in my band....I would have to look up an old post to the last time I got a fill (which was some time back in February if ya really want to go back and look it up). I think it is some where around 5 cc's.

I will leave you with some before and after pics. I had to REALLY, REALLY search for the before pics because I simply wouldn't let people take my picture for more than year. Here they are...


Then....

 

 

 

 

 

 



Now (well maybe not right now...but from June-September)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Liebster Award!!

Thank you Cheri for nominating me for the Liebster award!

"The Liebster Award is for bloggers with less than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word meaning dearest. The award is given to up-and-coming bloggers who deserve recognition and support to keep on blogging."

The rules:

1. Think of 11 facts you'd like to share about yourself.

2. Answer the questions I asked.

3. Think of 11 questions you'd like to ask (come on, have fun, it's a way to be nosy without being rude)

4. Nominate 5 bloggers (apparently they should have less than 200 followers).

So here we go!

11 Facts about myself:


1. I am still friends with my very first best friend from the first grade. We are VERY different people now, but have some how still managed to stay friends through all of these years.


2. I eat chocolate every day.


3. I am afraid of the dark.


4. I shave my legs every single day.


5. I don't sit around thinking about death, BUT when I do die I hope it is right after I have cleaned the house, done all the laundry, AND am having a good hair day.


6. I only knew The Rockstar 3 days before he asked me to marry him.


7. We were married 6 weeks later.


8. I can not sleep with socks on and I also usually do not have my feet under the cover.


9. I have never drank beer in my life.


10. I talk to my mother on the phone every day...usually 3 times a day. Once when I get off of work, once when she gets off of work, and once again before she goes to bed.


11. When I put my groceries away everything has to be lined up, with like items, labels facing front.


Cheri's Questions:

1) You are throwing a dinner party - what three famous people would you invite?

Matthew Mcconaughey (so he can feed me dinner AND serve me dessert), Paula Deen (so she can cook the dinner), and Tyler Perry (dressed and in character of Madea)


2) Who was your first crush?

His name was Tony and he was in my first grade class. He was the class clown and was always in trouble. Yeah, I had a thing for the bad boys even back then.


3) What would your dream job be?

I have my dream job :)


4) Favorite television show?

No way I can pick just one. I am a reality tv junkie and just can't force me to choose between Real Housewives of Atlanta and Real Housewives of OC....ya just can't make me choose.



5) You are being served your last meal on earth...what do you want?

Fried chicken, fried corn, fried potatoes, fried cornbread, Mountain Dew, and my mama's chocolate pie...I'm gonna die any way...right??


6) Place you haven't been yet and want to see?

I want to go to Germany. Mostly because I miss my German son and would like to see him.


7) Something that annoys the snot out of you?

Parents who send their kids to school sick.


8) Something that will always make you smile?

When one of my kids at school learns to do something they have been working on for months.


9) Oprah, Dr Phil, Kelly Rippa, and Barbara Walters are on a boat. It's going to sink unless you throw two of them off into shark infested waters. Who are you dumping?

Kelly Rippa...she has no meat on her bones so the sharks probably wouldn't bother her any way. Barbara Walters...no real reason why....I just like Oprah and Dr. Phil better.


10)You can wave a magic wand and solve ONLY ONE world problem (ie: water for everyone). Which would you solve?

I would end all child abuse.


11) What are three things you most like about who you are?

I am a good mother, I am a good friend, I can get along with people from all walks of life.


Sorry, but I am not nominating anyone because I have to cut this short (gotta be some where in 15 minutes). I also don't know who all has already been nominated...but I love reading these!

Waste not, Want not

One of the hardest things for me to do throughout this journey has to been to be ok with throwing away food. My grandmother always said "waste not, want not"...and I have even been guilty of saying it to my own kids.

At home I am really good about putting smaller portions on my plate (I also use small plates), but when you go out to eat you can't control the portions they bring you. I automatically ask for a to go box so all that food isn't sitting right in front of me. The problem is, I don't eat reheated meat. So many times I end up throwing it away. It still makes me feel guilty to throw food away.

Not sure what's going on with my body. I haven't lost much weight over the past few weeks (3 pounds or so), but all of my pants are getting too big. I just bought several pairs of pants over fall break (early October) and now all of those pants are baggy on me.

I am not one of those people who realize I am gaining or losing weight based on how my clothes fit. When my clothes are getting tight I always think "I can't believe I have had this for a year and the dryer is just now shrinking it" or if it's getting baggy I think "damn cheap ass material...it's starting to stretch out".

In unrelated news, I have officially been in regular shoes for over a week. My poor little piggies are screaming for release by the end of the day. Flip flop weather come back!!!!!!

Happy Halloween!

I haven't had many trick or treaters, so I have a feeling I am going to be left with a bunch of candy....not good. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a serious addiction to chocolate. Very Serious.


I don't really have too much to report or talk about. I have been doing great through the week with food choices. I pack my lunch and my water every day.


Things have been a little hectic at work. We had the big shot head honcho over the schools (not just our base, all of them in a certain area) come to our building today. The principal chose certain classrooms to "showcase". Yep, you guessed it, I was one of the lucky ones. On top of that I was already scheduled to be observed this week.

My kids are learning how to tell time. I made this clock (thanks Trest of Pin) to help them learn how to tell time...

Tomorrow the kids are making their own clocks like this one. Should be fun...if they aren't too jacked up on sugar. And if they are...well, I will just make them share :)


Baby Harleigh loved seeing the few trick or treaters we got tonight. She has a costume, but she would NOT keep it on. She also has a pacifier now, and she loves it. Yeah, I know....it's not normal how much I treat her like a baby. But she is my baby.

 

 



 

I went shopping this past weekend. I am easily in a size 10 Petite jeans...woot woot! Sorry about my self portrait skills....

 

 

That's all I got for now. My one year bandiversary is next week!!! Can you believe it has already been close to a year????

 

Ten Things Thursday!

Thanks to the gorgeous Laura Belle we have Ten Things Thursday!!

1. I have been in a bad mood for over week. I have no idea what is going on. I am almost always in a good, happy mood. I think it must be the change of seasons. I think I should go to the tanning bed once or twice a week. I used to do that several years ago in the winter and it seemed to help.


2. I love my husband every day...but there are certainly days that I don't like him. Since I have been in a bad mood, there have been several days lately that I don't like him.


3. The Rockstar has had a pulled muscle in his back since last week. He literally spent 3 days in the bed. I can push a baby out of my vagina and be back to doing laundry and cleaning house within 48 hours...but a pulled muscle has him down for 3 days. It gets on my nerves.


4. I don't think I ever mentioned how my doctor's appt over fall break went. I didn't get a fill. After really thinking about it I felt like I could do more on my end before getting a fill. I have been doing better for the last two weeks.


5. Since my little poop slinger moved schools I had to lose an assistant. Of course they took my favorite one. I think this is actually part of the reason I have been in a bad mood.


6. I read on fb where one of my friends just finished her Christmas shopping. I know some people like to get it done early, but I swear, I can't even begin to think about Christmas shopping until we get Thanksgiving over with.


7. The journal topic for my kids yesterday was to describe their family. One of my boys wrote "I have two dads. One dad lives at my house. He is in the army and he likes to play video games with me. The other dad is drunk and has a beard."

Kids....gotta love their honesty.


8. I think I should get a massage and a pedi this weekend. That always puts me in a better mood.


9. I have a co worker who is tall and thin...really, she reminds me of black Barbie. It gets on my nerves when she eats a (singular) m&m and then says "oh I really shouldn't eat this...I am getting so fat"

 

 

10. In case you were wondering.....Grey's is on tonight!!!!

I like big butts and I cannot lie

I have always been well blessed with a big booty and boobs. I thought some of this would go away when I lost weight...but it has not. And I am completely ok with it. I had on new pants today. I caught a glimpse of reflection as I walked by a glass trophy case at work today. I backed up and did a second look. As I looked at my bootylicious backside in that glass I said "KaBlam!"


Of course I thought I was in the hallway alone. I was not. Unbeknownst to me the gym coach was standing in the gym doorway. He got a good laugh at me admiring my own badonkadonk.


I am back on track with measuring and logging food. Yay me!


Remember me telling you about my angel baby poop slinger?? He moved off base so now he has to go to public school. I know he was a handful (his new teacher has already called me asking for help) but I loved that little booger. Things seemed too quiet and boring today without him.


I had an "old friend" send me a friend request on fb. He sent me a private message telling me how great I looked and how hot I still was after all these years (it's been 25 years). It felt good to have someone say I looked "hot"...but then I remembered, the Rockstar says that all the time :)

Triple T!

Thanks to the gorgeous Laura Belle we have Ten Things Thursday!!

1. I have been having a great fall break, but it is going by way too fast.


2. One of my besties spent the night with me last night (she is a teacher too, and also on her fall break). I cooked dinner for her last night and then we shopped all day today. She fell in love with Harleigh and now she wants a baby just like her.


3. We shopped a little for Harleigh today too. I got her Halloween costume, but I am going to have to take it back and get a different size. I also got her two other little dresses. She was not interested in posing so these are the only pics I could get...

 

 

 

4.  I have an appointment at the band doctor tomorrow. Still undecided about the fill, but I am kinda leaning more towards no right now.

 

 

 

5. I will be so stinkin glad when this freakin election is O-V-E-R. I have been woke up every morning this week by someone wanting to do some kind of political survey. I am sick of it!

 

 

 

6. And Grey's won't be on tonight because of the election.

 

 

7. I have just about gotten caught up on my reality tv addiction this week. It's a good thing, my DVR was almost full. I like it that when one Real Housewives ends, a new one starts. I saw that Atlanta and Beverly Hills will be starting soon. Yes, I know how sad it is that I get excited about reality tv.

 

 

8. I bought a new purse today....

 

 

 

9.  We have a new store that just opened here today. It is called Clothes Mentor or something like that. They sell used (actually some of it still had the tags on it) designer clothes and purses. I bought a new pair of pants (forgot what brand) and a Calvin Klein top for $16.

 

 

10. Happy Friday Eve y'all!

 



This and that Tuesday

I am feeling very random today, so this post may seem all over the place. That's how I roll.

I have an appointment at my band doctor this Friday. Although it's not quite a year yet they want to go ahead and do all of my bloodwork. I was flirting with the idea of asking for a fill. I have only ever had 2 fills. I was sitting here saying to myself "Self, why are you not losing weight any more?? Could it be that you are able to eat way too much and you could possibly need a fill??"

Just after that conversation with myself I read Lap Band Gal's post today. She included this link. I had a bit of an ah-ha moment. Then I turned and looked right beside me at this...

Well helloooooo.....this is why your fatass isn't losing weight. Yes, that is a Baskin Robbins spoon you see on that table along with the bag of doritos and Peanut Butter M&M's.

I have been eating simply because I could. I stopped logging food and I stopped measuring. Co-winky-dink that this happened at the same time I stopped losing weight???? Um, I think not.

So, now I am not too sure I need a fill at all. I think I just need to get back to doing what was working.


The Rockstar and I are both on fall break this week. He is in the recording studio with his band all week. Part of me is happy to be home alone so I can actually clean the house properly. The other part of me gets pissy because I am here cleaning it by myself.


I am doing a closet purge tomorrow. I have a shit ton of stuff to get rid of. My friend is coming over to go through the stuff because her sister's house just burned to the ground and she is about the size of the stuff I am getting rid of.


Crap....The Boy just yelled at me from upstairs and asked me to go on a "date" with him tonight. He wants to take me to "Crack"er Barrel. Doesn't he know that I JUST said I am going to stop eating a bunch of crap??? I can't go to Cracker Barrel and not have a yummy biscuit or corn muffin. What to do....what to do????

Don't do it.
Yes, do it.
No, you will regret it.
But The Boy wants to take you on a date, you can't say no to him. Do it.
That's a load of shit. The Boy just wants you to go so you will pay. Don't it.
Oh dont say that about my sweet boy. He loves his mama. Do it.

Please excuse the random voices talking out loud on my blog.


Harleigh got her first haircut today!!! She was NOT a good girl and strangely I think from now on when I call to make her an appointment they may say they are already booked up. She may be a brat, but she's a cute brat :)

White Trash

Some people aren't sensitive to being called names. I am not one of those people. Today I was called "white trash" by someone I barely even know.

My fb status today was this : "In the 40's and I still haven't put on real shoes...I am the flip flop Queen :)"

A few minutes after I posted it a girl who was a year behind me in high school (and who I think I have never spoken to in real life) posted this...

I know that she was directly referring to me because later in her comments she directly quoted the "flip flop queen" part of my status. I seriously don't understand how you can call someone "white trash" simply based on wearing flip flops in cold weather. And I really don't understand why I even let this bother me that she called me that. I know that I am not "white trash" (I paid good money for this tan, she could have at least said light brown trash). I am not on food stamps or welfare. And even if I was that still would not constitute me as "trash".

I sent her a private message. It said this...

She did not respond, but I feel better for letting her know that words can be hurtful.


In unrelated news I am on fall break! We went out of town this weekend for The Rockstar's 25th high school reunion. It was as good as could be expected for a spouse at a high school reunion. It was actually nice to spend the whole weekend alone with The Rockstar. Normally we would stay at his dad's house, but this time we decided to get a room...bow chicka wow wow :)

We got up early this morning and after visiting his family we headed back home. I am about to make the first pot of chili for the season. This white trash girl may not be ready for shoes, but I sure am ready for cold weather food :)

Back to the real world

I sure did hate going back to work on Monday after such a fabulous weekend in Chicago. I still feel like I am not caught up at work. My grades are due in by Friday, my kids go on a field trip tomorrow, and I have an IEP meeting first thing in the morning. After working on the IEP most of today I left the computer to go across the hall, came back and EVERYTHING was gone....G-O-N-E! Apparently there is a glitch with our new IEP system that if someone else works in it at the same time you are in the file it deletes everything you have worked on. The physical therapist had opened the file and poof...my stuff was gone forever. So I had to stay late putting it all back in...I was not a happy girl.

Oh well, enough about my work woes because guess what??? I will be off all next week for Fall Break.....yipppeeeeeee!

My time in Chicago was filled with fabulosity! I met some of the most amazing people!

The first night we ate some famous Chicago pizza!!

My roomie Sandra was the perfect roommate for me....I loved her to pieces...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



I don't know what it is about Arizona, but those girls are gorgeous....

 

 

 

Jen is just a sweetheart. She has perfect hair and a smile that could light up any room. Bless her heart, she is a little geographically challenged...I had to explain to her where Tennessee was.

 

 

 

 

I really enjoyed the architectural boat tour and the lunch with great people afterwards...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sofie turned over my giggle box many times. She is so funny. I have been practicing my Canadian accent and using the word "out" as often as I can. I think I am actually starting to get on my coworkers nerves with my Canadian accent.

 

 

 

 

I absolutely adored Beth. I threw my hip out Thursday night...and I blame it all on Beth :) I couldn't be mad about it though, because she is so precious!

 

 

 

 

 

I even talked her into doing the duckface...

 

 

 

 

 

I am so happy I went. I feel like I made some life long friends...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Unfortunately, there were some very scary moments in Chi-town. Those damn taxi drivers are crazy! I thought I was gonna meet my maker a few times...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a lot more pictures but I am too tired right now to post any more. If you are friends with me on fb you can check them out there :)