Life goes on...

I never thought I'd be one of those crazy sports moms running to and fro with kids and gear and trying to get a meal in between - I gave up my mini van before Sophie was 3 and let's just say that my hot red convertible is not a good car for toting sporting kids around - but here I am. Last night Sophie had cheer practice in Sun Prairie from 5:30 - 7:30. Nicolas had a Special Olympics basketball game from 6:00 - 7:00 pm on the East side of Madison - Sophie and I dashed out of the house at 5:00 and hit the interstate to run her to practice and I raced back to watch Nic's 1st ever basketball game. Jim was there, helping to coach and Grandma, Grandpa and Nic's teachers were there too. All too soon the clock said 7:15 pm and I raced back to Sun Prairie to get Sophie and bring her back to Culver's for some post-game custard with Nic, Jim, Grandma & Grandpa. When we got home at 8:30 pm I was ready for bed!

This was the very first game our little team of 7 athletes had ever played. We played against an adult team!! Giant men towering over Nic and his 6 female teammates! They played their hearts out and stuck it out 'til the very end - but the scoreboard was turned off after the opponents were beating us by 20 points. Nic shines on the basketball court and I can't wait to see how the season progresses.

Sophie's cheer squad had a competition in Appleton, WI last weekend - they took 1st place! Its so fun to see her confidence and tumbling grow with each competition.

I got a distressing call today from a friend who is suffering financially and its spilling over into her marriage. I could relate - it is often so easy to point and blame rather than work together I can see how the economy and financial difficulties can stress out relationships. I feel for her, I've been there and I gave her an ear for awhile and then I called Jim and asked him what he wanted for dinner. I want to show him that I appreciate his long hours in the cold weather while I sit comfy in our house and work from home.

It's still cold, at least two feet of snow on the ground - but spring is coming - it does every year!

Snow day #2...

Already this season we are on our second snow day from school. Perhaps the fact that it is the last day before Christmas break may have prompted the decision to close schools, but we did get a lot of snow too. I can only remember a handful of snow days in my entire school career here in Wisconsin - one in 1977; the year of the infamous ice storms. (I'm dating myself here, aren't I?)

But, yes, that is the top of our mailbox barely sticking out of the snow, so maybe closing schools was a good idea.

My sweetheart Jim shoveled all that snow all by himself. I really need to get him a snowblower - and soon!

I spent the snowy day dipping chocolates. It all started with cookies and over the years I've added chocolate covered cherries and truffles - this year I made toffee, lemon, cherry & coconut truffles. Now I just need to pack them up and deliver them to friends and family so I don't eat them!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

So, in the last 72 hours we've had rain, 20 below and now a beautiful snow is falling. I'm a total indoor girl, but there is nothing prettier than watching big snowflakes fall outside. (of course, I'm inside with hot chocolate and a blanket)

This time of year always gets me thinking about what I've accomplished this past year and what I want to change for the year coming up. My career is a new thing in my life. Since 2005 I've gone from being a student, to be a certified physician coder, to getting fired and being unemployed for 10 months to being hired and trained as a facility coder. All that means little if anything to most of you, but it has been a journey where I have learned a lot about my strengths, even more about my weaknesses and learned about just how hard it is to be a really good working mom. I'm so blessed to have a boss who saw more in me than my skill set, who took a chance on me, hired me, trained me in a new type of coding and, as a devoted mom herself, has offered one of the first home coding jobs in Madison. I am blessed to have the ability to walk from my bedroom to my office to go to work. I have the flexibility to be here in the morning for my kids and make them breakfast and be here for them after school - and still work a full time job. My self esteem took a beating last year when I got fired and was unemployed for so long, but I'm now in a place where I can do a good job for my employer and still be a good mom. Right now, my career is one thing I don't want to change at all.

In the picture above, I'm working - ignore the back fat; I'm working on that one.

If you don't like the weather in Wisconsin, just wait...

So, yesterday I mentioned that it was 42 degrees and rainy. The snow was melting and it was a generally yucky day. Me and my big mouth! Today we were blessed with minus 20 degree temperatures with the windchill. Too cold to snow, too cold for recess and too cold to go out.

Jim and I recently joined a gym. I lead an almost completely sedentary lifestyle and since I'm on the downward slope to 40 those pounds just keep packing on. Jim claims his weight gain is all my fault since I'm such a good cook, but those of you who know Jim and are familiar with his eating habits know that Jim can pack away several hamburgers, brats, sandwiches - whatever's on the table with very little encouragement from me. So, Jim still looks good, I look old and fat. I met with the personal trainer and as she was having me try out the machines she checked my heart rate and it was so high she restricted me to 30 minutes a day of "light" cardio. I like walking on the treadmill and riding the bike for now; she'll get me on a weight program when I attain some semblence of physical fitness. Getting older is tough. In my head I'm still that 23 year old, 125 pound bride that Jim could carry. I have like reverse anorexia. I look in the mirror and don't see the pounds - until recently. We'll see if I can get a routine going and get some of this off and try to be healthier.