Its FINE Friday

Boy am I glad its Friday today. One reason is my work week is over. No more daycare kids for at least a couple of days. Secondly its our eat out night and we are off to CICÍ pizza tonight. Michael and Joey are having two friends spend the night so they will accompany us and my friend Becky and her two kids will probably come as well. I've been great on my diet all week and even did DDR today.....for over 30 minutes.....but i am ready for some good eats with a POP!

Michael finished up his last subject yesterday. He completed his classsroom portion of drivers ed online yesterday. He took the final exam that he has to have a 90% on and passed it first time. Didn't even study....not sure whether to be proud ...or jealous HAHA.

But he is finally done. Sending in our transcript information to our cover school and get his diploma soon. I can't believe he is done. But I still have 3 more kids to get thru their schooling. Joey started his 9th grade year. He wants to complete his high school in 2 years. He can do it as long as he stays his course. He tends to have a few lazy days...as do we all.

I was reading a fellow Christians blog today and I love his idea that he puts a praise to God at the end of each writing.

So, not to completely copy what he does, somewhere in my blog i will put a praise to God. .....HOPE THATS OK JOHN LOL.

I am very thankful to God that even though i only have a high school education, and no Christian upbringing as a child, that God has given me the abilities as a mother(my mom died when i was 11) to teach, and train my children in the Lord. I am amazed sometimes at what God has done in my life. I never thought I could successfully teach my kids. Self esteem issue maybe? But I've done it and my kids are great. Not perfect....but two out of the four children I have are baptized believers in Christ. They are smart, well mannered, (mostly), get along great together,(except for when they don't lol), and just didn't give me any of the trouble I expected when I thought of raising children. I thank God for that because with the background that I've had, my kids shouldn't have turned out so good ...But with God ALL things are possible.

REmember that...

Weight loss update

WOHOO!
When i began my new way of eating about 2 weeks ago, I was at 154. I weighed in today at 149. That is a loss of 5 pounds. Its just changing my food habits. I eat salads and fresh fruits and vegetables and drink my carrot juice at least once a day and drink alot of water. I still have our eat out nights once a week and have a coke once every couple of days or so. I wish I had the motivation to get out and exercise a bit cause the weight will come off more if I did that but I am happy with the results.
I think i have about 4 weeks or so left before mike gets home so hopefully that means a total of 8 more pounds i can lose, for a total of 13 pounds. That is definitely a reachable goal!!!

DOing our new way of eating brings about alot of ways to teach nutrition to kids :)
I use every teachable moment that i can think of. Its just the teacher in me lol
Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!

More sadness...

In the past week, two tragedies have occurred. One of my friends lost her mother very suddenly. She wasn't ill and I do not have all the details yet but any loss is sad.
Then another lady in my congregation at Bayside finally is at peace. She died from a long run with cancer.

Bayside is full of sadness this week.....

On a good note, Sweet Inspiration, our ladies singing group, is working VERY hard getting ready for our recording session coming up in June. Its very exciting being a part of this. I will miss this group when I move back to our roots in Martins Ferry, Ohio.
Ok, kids need me. More later :)

Weight loss and stuff

Well, i've lost a pound so far. But I haven't stuck with my diet really well. I know I am doing a ton better than I used to though. Mike is doing so good though. Running, lifting weights, eating right. I've got so many distractions here at home. I'm running my daycare, taking care of and homeschooling my own 4 kids, spring cleaning and when i get depressed, my emotions say i want FOOD. Not carrot juice either...hormones want chocolate and salt.

Anyway, i hope to lose another couple of pounds in this coming week. Need to find the time to excercise as that will help get this weight off too.
More later
Nikki

The competition is ON!!

Well, Mike and I are starting a little friendly competition.
Going to see who can lose the most weight in 6 weeks.
My starting weight wasn't something i wanted to tell anyone which was 154....BUT when i wanted to drink a cup of my International coffee this morning, its funny, it made me sick to my stomach. Just didn't want it so I am drinking my carrot juice in stead. I have to do this. Don't know what the winner will get but I know if i can lose about 10 pounds, that is winning enough for me. Then we will do it again the next 6 weeks he is gone.

Water, juice and salads and frest fruits and veggies for me.
Updates will come ...

Its Tuesday.....:( Unhappy Day

Well, my wonderful dear husband and best friend left today with his command to go underway for about 6 weeks. Because of Security i cannot say what command he is with but I hate when he goes away.

The kids and I are doing great though. Mike came home yesterday only to go back out to buy me a new washing machine. That wasn't fun but I sure do love to get new things LOL.

The juicing is going great. The real juice has so much taste to it. I wouldn't want to drink the jar or canned juice ever again.

I'm not 100% on the no meat diet. I have done good but I am not going to stress over this. We are doing alot better than we used to and thats good enough for me.
More later...

DEHYDRATED FOOD IS AWESOME

Ok, in the past couple of days, I've dehydrated bananas and today made apple slices. Oh my goodness are these things DELICIOUS!!!!
This dehydrator is one of the best things I've ever bought. Right now I have potato slices in there and going to see how they taste as chips. Healthy alternatives is what I am looking for.

These snacks are sooo good that I just can't keep enough here lol.

Keep checking back...

Thursday

Well, I think my body is starting to go through its detox stage. So far, I just have a headache. Thats ok. I can live with that. I've been doing so good though. Yesterday I made banana chips in my dehydrator and they were so good i had to make more today. I also put in some apple slices so we will see how they turn out this evening.

Mike has duty today. He leaves on Monday for 6 weeks. GRR. I hate when he leaves. We are a close family and we don't do well with seperation. At least end July of next year, its Navy Retirement!!!!

My son Joey who is 13, almost 14, started his 9th year of highschool. His first course is Psychology. Its interesting. He wants to finish his 4 years of highschool in two. I think he can do it if he stays motivated.

Tony who is 9, hasn't been feeling well lately. I think he caught a cold and cough. Its also aggravated by his asthma. Too bad he doesn't like carrot juice lol.

I will take some pictures soon to post here. My 17 year old son has grown ALOT lately. He has PASSED my husband by alot.
More later...

Wednesday

Hello everyone! I've had some people write me with concern on my new diet. First of all I understand your concerns about no meat in my diet but the only thing that meat really is good for is the protein. Meat is the hardest thing to digest and it sits in your colon for a long period of time. What if I can still get the protein I need....but don't have to have it sit in my body for a long time? Beans have a ton of protein. They are also easily digested. So, that is route that we have chosen to take. I can tell you that yesterday I had my very first PURE carrot juice. It was deliciously sweet. And I had energy for HOURS. It was fantastic.
Anyway, I hope you all like to keep updated on my happenings here.

I will be posting links for information on the diet that I am doing. Also, will link recipes in case you all would like to try it for yourselves. :)
Blessings to all
Nikki

Raw foods

Hello again!
Well today I ordered our food dehydrator and my juicer will be here this evening. I am keeping this daily blog to keep up with our progress.
Here are the problems I have before starting this diet.

I'm probably at least 20 pounds overweight.
I have a skin condition with alot of moles and I hope with this new way of eating, the moles will go away and my skin will be healthier.
PMS and mood swings EVERY month.
I've been a nail biter my whole life.

My 9 year old has coughing asthma.

My 14 year old has a problem with his knee.

Those problems are things that I know about for sure. We will see about the before and after things later. I will keep everyone updated on the progress.

My daughter and her hair cut

My 8 year old daughter got her 1st major haircut over the weekend. Enjoy the pictures :)

Starting Raw foods diet program

Ok, soon my family and I will begin a raw foods and organic way of eating...
Now, this is not going to be easy. We eat processed and fast food ALOT because I am so very busy but since my daycare is slowing down, now is a good time to start this. I have alot of cancer that runs thru my family and in order to be as healthy as possible, our family needs to make this change.
I will keep you all updated on our process ....

Another day...another dollar?

....Well, my morning usually begins with a trip to www.cnn.com.
I've been trying to keep up with the murder of the preacher from the church of Christ in Selmer, Tennesse. Now, the wife is being detained. Its soooo terrible what is happening to this family. My prayers are with this family and the church family there and all who are involved.

Today brings good news...ITS FRIDAY!!!!!
Sad news partly because the baby that I have been caring for in my home childcare...its his last day here. I had to give notice because he isn't on the same nap schedule as my other daycare kids and his care was interfering with my teaching time for homeschooling. It was very hard for me to do but I know God will take care of him and his family no matter where they go. Great family they are.....

The kids are all doing fantastic. You saw the picture I posted yesterday. They are all fine little people. My daughter and I are thinking about starting to learn how to make jewelry. I think it would be fun to do.

I need to get back to the kids now...
Until next time....stay tuned....

Ok, so i didn't go to sleep yet...
I decided to post a picture of my kids that i took around the holidays but they pretty much look the same...

Day 1

Hello everyone. I thought since I love to talk and write, I would combine the two so everyone can keep up with the happenings of me and my life!!
As you will see later when I post pictures of my kids and family, I have 4 fantastic kids. My kids are Michael 17(almost 18), Joey 13(almost 14), Tony,9 and Angelina 8 years old. The first three kids are boys and my daughter is the youngest.We are a homeschooling family of over 10 years!!! So, just imagine how interesting my blogs will end up being lol.
Its late so I think I will just end this night's blog with this short introduction. Good night and I will write more soon.