Twizzlers, Yum!

Dear Diary,

Well today is kind of a weird, ordinary day around here. Instead of taking today off like everyone else, Garrett decided to work so he could take Friday off instead and help pack and get ready for vacation. It's just the girls and I today as usual, but I'll be thankful to have his help on Friday. My organizational skills are going to be in full force as I prepare 4 people for a week at the beach!

Addy is watching Elmo and Olivia is asleep (weird) so I am going to take a few minutes to enjoy my laptop and write about my little life. Will this entry have a point? Probably not, but enjoy anyway!

Sleeeeeep. I love sleep. And I especially love sleeping in a childless room for a good 8-9 hours, uninterrupted. Once again I've got a good sleeper on my hands. Not sure how I have gotten so lucky, twice, but I have. Olivia is in her own crib in Addy's room and she's sleeping like a champ. She goes down around 10:00pm and she wakes up around 6:00 or 7:00am! Hopefully before long she'll go down a little earlier in the evenings but until then, I'll be happy with this little routine we've got going!

I never had issues with Walmart when I lived in Pittsburg. I did most of my grocery shopping there actually. I don't know if it's because I HATE how our Shawnee Walmart is set up, or because I have other options, but I DO NOT like going into that store...so I don't. I shop at our Price Chopper for grocery's and at Target for anything else I need. We did have to go there this weekend however and I was reassured at how much I actually hate that place. I feel dirty as soon as I walk in the door, I immediately encounter someone who thinks their business needs to be every one's business, and our checker might be the most unpleasant lady I have ever had to speak to in my life. What are their problems? The checkers at my Price Chopper are doing the exact same job and they are as nice as can be! Shawnee Walmart, you suck.

It is an understatement to say that I LIKE Bite Sized Cherry Twizzlers. It is more accurate to say I am OBSESSED. Fruit-like snacks are normally not my snack of choice. If I was standing in the candy aisle and could pick one thing it would probably be chocolate and it would definitely have peanut butter involved. But, I no longer have the luxury of picking whatever I want unless I want to make a sacrificial trade-off of numerous points. What points am I referring to? Well those would be Weight Watchers points. I can have a whopping 17 delicious Bite Sized Cherry Twizzlers for a mere 2 points. Needless to say I've gone through my fair share of bags. This light snack has done me well - 33 pounds lost since I brought Olivia home from the hospital, and 20 of those pounds have been from WW! I'll keep on counting those points...

Packing. Ugh. I do it all the time for our little trips to Pittsburg but this is going to be a bit different. One husband, two kids, and me - all trying to fit our things for a week at the beach in as few suitcases as possible. The good news - comfortable, loungy clothes fold pretty tight. Bad news - toys do not. I am going to cross my fingers that the number of new faces, the fun of the beach, and books can keep my child entertained for 7 days. Besides the fear over our first plane ride with two kids, the anxiety of breastfeeding in public and the anticipation that our family will hate us after being around so many small children for a week, we are REALLY excited about this trip! The last time we went on our Fripp trip, they were throwing us a mock bridal shower! (We were much more tan and much more thin back then, sigh) So we are definitely ready to get back to the ocean this year! And who knows, maybe the flight will be a piece of cake, no one will even notice I am breastfeeding my baby under that blanket and all the children will be little angels all week! At least there will be plenty of alcohol =)

Happy Memorial Day Everyone! And a BIG thanks to all the military today and every day! And, as always, I am keeping Joplin in my prayers!

Sincerely Yours,