Babies, say what? Yes, my little Woodie (that just don't sound the best =] ) had 3 babies yesterday about noon-ish. I was nervous when I found them because momma was under the bedding, hiding. The babies were all calm and doing good but I only seen 2 of the babies at first.


On with the slacker end of this post....
I said that I would come back (the next day but obviously this is not...) and post about my #1's. So yes, I'm late. I should know to never plan a post on Calvin's days off. I am no good at blogging when he is home.

Is that good or bad?
    Read on and then decide.


[one] pick up my bible that is collecting dust! Teach and learn from it!:
 Well I am happy to say this is a big YES!! Not only have I picked my bible up but my family and I have been going to church. God is great and we feel so good!
[one] believe in myself:
What exactly does that even mean? I would say there are many points of this short goal. I seem to have complications with believing how good I am at a certain things. I know I can do a lot of things but I have little faith that I can really do them, and so I don't. This is still a changing manner but I can and am slowing believing in myself again. Since starting a serious weight loss (healthy living) life I have seen that I can do it. I can be reliable. I can set goals and reach them. Now the next thing to work on is not procrastinating. I believe I procrastinate because I have a long thought process and (again working on this goal) I am not sure I can do it correctly if I do it now without thought, even though many people tell me YES you can.

[one] be more thankful for my husband and his hard work.
I have always been thankful but I did lack in letting him know. I know how awesome I feel after I have cleaned the house and how down I can suddenly turn if Calvin does not praise my hard work. Why shouldn't it be the same for him. Yes, he is working for our family because, well, he has to. I expected him to tell me "It looks good in the home" but I would give nothing in return for how awesome he is and how greatly I think of him and the many things he does for our family. (Honey, I love you)

[one] take more time for family and family activities:
We are always doing things as a family. Since Calvin has been on a 10 on 4 off work schedule, we have so much more time to really do things together. Last year he began this schedule and on his days off we would still sit at home and he would relax and enjoy it. As time went on he was feeling more rested and more used to the schedule and we would head out of the home on the days he had off. Now you hardly see us home when he is on days off. We are always out doing something. I love it and it is so healthy for our family. We have grown this past year, for that I am blessed.

[one] get healthy for my family and myself:
If you have been following me this year, you will know the answer to this. Not only am I getting healthier for my family, but Calvin also. We have been eating healthy for well over a year but lacked on activities to get us moving. That is no longer the case. and since winter is finally over (even if we have had snow in may) we are outside even more and doing many things to keep active and get healthy.

[one] spend more intimate time with hubby
I will not go into details, but this goal has been succeeded and the way it has pulled us together is bliss. I love that I am loving myself and in return loving my husband wholeheartedly.

One year ago I made a Top Ten Fifteen. How have I done? Did I accomplish anything? Well lets have a run down on the list.

((ten)) less arguing and yelling and more praise:
While I would love so say, "I don't even yell anymore" that is not the case. But less, YES! It takes a lot more to get me to the point of *OMG!!* How did I change this in myself? I had to tell myself, "Do you enjoy being yelled at? How would you feel if every time you tried to do something and did not do it right or was unsuccessful someone yelled at you. Like a failure and not good enough." How could I expect my children to think any differently...I couldn't. I still work on it daily. I am a stay at home mother with a 24/7 job and I DO get tired, and frustrated and yes, I do yell, but again it is NOTHING like I was.


((nine)) strict T.V. time and more dance/craft/activity time:
No, I do not have a strict schedule but we have cut back and we often are outside or trying to find fun things to do outside the home. This has helped keep the kids less rowdy in the home, less fighting, better listening and not so much "annoy mom because we are bored" attitude.

((eight)) less computer time {{yet here I sit}}:
I have my days. Some days I am so okay without being on the Internet, mostly when Calvin is on days off but when he is not home and it is just the kids and I, I will sit and waste time on the computer. With winter coming to an end, this goal will be more successful as we will have something more to do than sit home or go on short outings and hurry home before roads freeze and such.

((seven)) night time routine {.bath.book.bed.}
We are still working on this. Addisyn has issues with sleeping in the big bed so her "bed" is the couch or the recliner. I know, this is not the best solve to the problem but we are still working on a solution. Brianna is getting better and better with sleeping all  night in her bed. She still watches a movie to go to sleep but it is for under an hour. Again, not the best solution or routine to do but it is what is working for us honestly. One day bed time will be a breeze.


((six)) organization:
Until we have a place for everything, organization is impossible. When we moved into our trailer, we out grew it. Hall closet, sure would be nice. Linen closet, what is that? Coat rack..Ha! So you get it, we need more room to store things and get them out of the kitchen, living room, bedrooms even. I have taken steps and gave us what I call "a healthy clutter". We will one day have the room for my to label, file, store and tote everything we have.

((five)) more photography, as my girls are growing so fast and i don't want to miss anything:
Yes. With the help of others I have also had some great pictures. I have my camera out constantly, my children pose at first then begin to ignore the camera because I have it out so much. I love to edit them, I love to take crazy pictures, serious, silly, colorful, and black and white. You will see more and more of my photography love on the blog, promise.

((four)) become better house wife -cooking.laundry.dishes.dinner ECT:
Laundry...dread! It is my nemesis. I believe any mother would agree. Even if laundry may get backed up, I am doing better in every other aspect of "house wife" title. I love to cook. We cook with lots of veggies and chicken so this also goes for my "get healthy" goal. Dinner is done every night. yes, I do opt for pizza some nights but this is nothing like it was!! Trust me or ask my husband.

((three)) save money . spend less:
I am doing a good job..Calvin, not so much. No we are not doing to bad. The purchases we have mad this year were things we honestly needed. We have money in the savings, which feels awesome, we have everything we need and things that we want, and that feels good to. We have to have that balance for sure. I feel that this goal is squashed and we are doing well with our money without taking all of our entertainment and wants out of the question.

((two))take time for myself:
This is still a hard one for me to do. I feel like I will miss something that my children will do. I also feel that if I have mommy time when Calvin is home, that I am missing out on his days off. It is a weird thing I have going on in my head that I still need to straighten out.


I will follow through with all my "#1's" tomorrow. Be sure to stop in! Remember, you only have until May 8th to enter for the giveaway... please link up to enter or take steps for more entries. How... READ HERE!
((*[one]*)) pick up my bible that is collecting dust! Teach and learn from it!:

((*[one]*)) believe in myself

((*[one]*)) be more thankful for my husband and his hard work

((*[one]*)) take more time for family and family activities

((*[one]*)) get healthy for my family and myself

((*[one]*)) spend more intimate time with hubby

Link up here!

Ok, just say it... SLACKER!

I have been cleaning, and decluttering, I just have not been posting. Or doing any before/after pictures. But I decided after I threw out a toilert paper bag full of junk from under my bathrrom sink yesturday that I had been do something for the blog-a-roo. I was avoiding my blog, yes! I am still so crammed with how to do the whole thing. I may just do a one day give away! How does that sound?

Moving on, I will come back to that in another post. Ok on with the cleaning. Want to see what I have been up to?



Stove- this is a catch all, not any more! (don't mind laundry back there, it was clothes day)

So I haven't been on track with Lynnette exactly but I haven't been completely worthless either.

Need some motivation in Simplifying your madness for the sake of you sanity? Grab this button from Lynnette, set goals and enjoy decluttering, dejunking and reorganizing your home.

My goals this week will be set in my living room. Remember the shoe self from here. It tends to get out of hand so I want to donate shoes we are no longer wearing and clear the top of it. Also want to come up with a "hat box" because I know from experience, it becomes a catch all of hats, mittens and junk. Then I want to carpet clean the other half I didn't get to last week. I want to replace my curtains with something a little more bold than blue and white (boring) and I would like to replace the welcome mat. They may not happen this week but it's something I plan. Maybe will a new feel to the windows I will explore some new couch pillows. (Or cover current ones) My light colored chairs are a complete disaster of a mess so one gets covered with my blanket and the other one, well it's Calvin's so I just kind of leave it since he brings oils and muck when he comes home anyways. Maybe I will find some slip covers some day. Other than general pick up and dusting that's it for the living room. It seems pretty cluttered to me a little claustrophobic even but what to do when you are growing out of the house, you make it work, that's what you do.

I am just not loving the way my blog looks. I know, I am driving you insane with all the changes but I just can't find that love I want for my blog's look. I am pushing so far to even change the name. I used Turn the Page because my last name happens to be Page, but I am in a rut here. Do you have any play on the word Page? Do you have any suggestions? PLEASE help a fellow blogger out.

I finally have something worth blogging about. Not that you readers don't enjoy my day to day life in my shoes, but hang on to your pants (no pants on the ground here) I think you will enjoy following along with this!



Today is the sign up and weight in for Calvin. Our town is finally doing something worth participating in. Weight Loss Challenge. Signs ups are at a local Holiday Inn today, you give in a little bit of cash, and if you win...cash $$ and prises~a good motivator. It is a 12 week program with a weigh in every week. Calvin and his sister are going to participate and sign up, and while I am not going to sign up I am still going to participate and loose the flab.

My goals are as follows:

• work on a healthier menu for the family
• work out at least 20 minutes everyday. this includes, but not limited to, Wii fit plus, treadmill and a stationary bike.
• set a realistic weight loss goal
• motivate and encourage my husband

I am not sure how my posts will go from here on out about the Challenge so stick with me as trial and error will only lead me to the best result. I also want to mention that I would love to share progress with you but only after it has begun. I do not think I am comfortable enough to go public with my weight just yet, but I think once I have lost 10 lbs or so I will then share, knowing I am heading in the right direction.

Look for an update
to Calvin's experience after
he Weighs In

What's that saying? Looks are deceiving. This runs true in many aspects of peoples lives. When you are fat, people seem to think you are shy, unlovable, gross and so on. When you have an awesome car like a Cadillac, people assume you have money, and lots of it.

There is also that other saying. Don't judge a book by it's cover! I have suffered with weight issues for a long time now and I know of the judgment people pass when they see me. I have to say it's a shame (not to toot my own horn) that they didn't get to know the real me. I am so much more then what they see. Same with the nice vehicle. I drive a Jeep just to clear things up, but you see someone in a Cadillac and think, whoa that must be nice. What is nice? The insurance that is high, the payment that is even higher. Now I am not saying that everyone with a Cadillac is in debt over their nice ride, I am just saying, you truly never know!

Where am I going with this. Well I am going a lot deeper then the car you drive. I am talking about the relationship I have with my husband. We have now been together for 8 years. Things have always seemed to be okay. But in the house, behind closed doors, it was more like a friendship. Someone I was living with. Someone who was depressed and I was also. It was not sexual 98% of the time, it wasn't lovey dovey, it was more like I am mom, he is dad and that was that. We were not husband and wife. Somewhere in being mother, taxi, wife, cook, cleaning lady, I lost Jessica. I lost Jessica as loving wife to my more than wonderful husband. I lost Jessica the fun going mother of 2 adorable daughters. I was just gone.

Who knew that one chat with the hubby, and the expressions of emotions and feelings between the 2 of us could change everything. Guess what?? I found Jessica. I found my sex drive (maybe more than Calvin can keep up with) I found that mother I have always known I was, I found the joys in cleaning my home to feel good not just to have it clean enough. I found that drive I needed to start working out and really hunkering down on my eating to get in shape and healthy for myself! For Jessica! For Calvin, who loves me no matter what but is right there on my weight loss journey pushing me and working out (literally) right beside me and keeping me positive about my acing muscles and sore legs/arms/abs and such. But more importantly, for my children who want to run to the car with mommy but can't because mommy can't breath (lol) or want mommy to slide with them, but I am lazy and would rather watch from the grass. I don't want to die a young age from problems cause by being obese. I don't want to deal with diabetes if I can avoid it. So while the most important person is me, my weight loss is very important to and for my family as well. (sorry that kinda of jumped off the relationship anyways..)

Are you struggling in your relationship with your spouse? Don't be ashamed, no one EVER said love was easy! So here we are with another saying, Don't sweat the small things. Well I guess it all depends on how you take that, but it was the small things *(see below) that the hubby and I put back into our relationship that has helped us move up in the love department, helped the sex drive, dissipated the depression and made this house a home again.

*more than a peck. I don't expect you or myself to go into a make out session, but a deep kiss can lighten any mood, make you hubby feel at home when he arrives home and with Calvins makes him long for more (after the kids are in bed of course)
*holding hands. in the car, at the mall, even at home. the power of touch is amazing and makes me as a women feel that even if he is not saying I love you, his hand, entangled with mine shows me the love.

One more saying before you go.

We were given: Two hands to hold. To legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else. For us to find.

I want to start this off with ((drum roll)) Smoke free since Aug. 12th 2009! Nice right. Well I take that back, I did have one the other day, and ICK! It was gross, and that was a little encouraging. I felt accomplished. And honestly the only reason I did smoke, was out of pure habit. I have not had patches on for days, so I know it's wasn't anything to do with nicotine. anyways, YaY for me!!

I know...

I have been slacking with FLYbaby Fridays. I am sorry I am just not feeling them! I would love for it to hit, but I am just not loving it! I will continue to give different little cleaning hints and tips, tricks though. They will just come whenever.

Moving on.

I am a movie GEEK! I would love to talk about movies. I am not sure, but I think it would be fun. I was thinking of doing it a few different ways. We all think of the weekend as movie night. So maybe Thursday I can review a movie (or two) that way on Friday on your way home from work you can pick something up.

-or-

Sometimes I get movies before they hit shelves, but since that is not always true I can just review after I watch them so you know to reserve it or whatever on Tuesday.

-or-

Yes, another option! I can just review them as I go, because I can watch a movie every night some weeks but do I really want a movie post everyday. No.

So give me some of your ideas, thoughts, suggestions please. I think it could be real helpful since I do watch so many and you may want to know what you are getting ahead of time. Something to think about! But please think out loud.


This has been a great week. The little boy I have been watching (we now can call Korbyn) is doing better everyday. Less crying when Meisha (his mother) leaves, eating well, and we are getting to know each other. Oh and can't forget about his sleeping! First day when he slept 20 minutes, I was like my goodness I could not even re coop that quickly, but back at it I was. He is VERY busy little boy, a bit of a bully (it's all good) but most importantly he is fun, and blessed, and has a good mother and great people surrounding him! I expect things to get even better and soon we will have nothing but fun while Korbyn and the girls are together! Ain't he a stud!

Well there is a little catch up to my life! While we get used to having Korb around, I will blog, as I continue to do well with cleaning and not smoking, I will blog, but as money runs short, I may not blog. Sorry to say but my blog my have to go on an end of summer vacation as we are flirting with the idea of turning off internet and cable while we need a little extra money. I will update that as we know more and decide.

Hope you enojyed your mashed post-atoes! HaHa!

5:33 P.M.It took me a while to get back to my blog because I have a craving that I felt was going to defeat me. I felt shaky, dizzy, I was day dreaming and just not together. I could have cried on request and turned around and blew fire from my nostrils. How did I deal, well I took a nap. Addisyn was sleeping and Brianna was watching cartoon and almost asleep. When I woke up I felt fine. No craving, no need, nothing! It was nice. I think one thing that triggered it was that I ate. Well I also just ate dinner, and this time I feel well. So far! I am not even wearing a patch! There was one time that I thought about going outside, and that was right after I ate and I was thinking I will let the family finish then clean up when I get in, but honestly it was not that bad of an urge. I got over it fairly quick and like I said feel good now.

Calvin is feeling much the same way that I am. He is short tempered right now, and I forgive him for that! He also can't handle a noise going on for an amount of time (ex. Addisyn crying) without getting frustrated and hanging his head. Again I forgive him and understand! I am sure I am the same way, but I don't really see it. I know I am triggered by the smallest thing, and tears well up, but I don't let them roll! I take a breath and chill! haha. I am now at 18 hours from my last cigarette!

7:09P.M.Success! We went to Calvin's fathers house because it is his fathers birthday. Well while we were there I seen at least 4 cigarettes light and it the smell was obnoxious! Was it torture? Not really, because I prepared myself before we went over there with a fresh patch and also with the mind set that I was strong enough to make it. Not only that but I know that this would not be the first time in this situation. I am proud of myself! I feel like I have done well!

Since it in 9:00 in the east, I am going to post this now, and my updates will be at the top for the rest of the night!

I know readers, again I am late but it's been very busy around here. My baby just turned one on the 6th and then my brother from FL is here, and he is leaving today, so I spent some quality time with him. I am going to miss him like crazy when he leaves.

On to the (late) post.
You commenters (here) made my day and gave me more motivation! Thank you. This week, I did poorly at FLYing but I was very busy, as said above, BUT tomorrow I am back on track and going to set my timer and see what I can get done in my hour of bliss. Then see what else needs to be done before my interview on Monday (read below).

BBR=Before Bed Routine
After children are in their beds sleeping, hopefully, I take this time to think about "tomorrow". Do lunches need to be made, are clothes picked out for the day, including myself, are there any errands I need to run, mail needing to be stamped/mailed out. These little tasks taken care of and known about the night before save you time, and help me to remember. Anything that needs to be taken out of the house, like mail, I have a "launch pad". This to is a reminder the next morning that I indeed have something that I need to do. I am guilty of forgetting that Calvin needs something done, but now that I use a launch pad (except for bill NOT placed here oops) I get those honey-do's done. Another bed time task would be my living room and I need to work on this. A quick pick up is all it would need, but sometimes after kids are in bed, I rush and want to also get to bed. If you have children I am sure you can relate. I think it's nice to wake up to my shined sink, so why not a clean living room also. Speaking of the sink, since you have loaded all your dishes all day long into your dishwasher (or washed them as they were dirty to those who don't have dish washer) you can grab a clean rag, your Windex and clean up water spots on sink. Then turn right to your dishwasher and turn it on, or on your drying rack, get a head start and put everything dry away. Sometimes I will also start another load of laundry because we all know how it tends to pile up so quickly, and then in the AM, switch it all over and start again. If you are making a dinner that requires meat, now is a good time to pull it. One less thing to do tomorrow. Now this I kind of just made up on my own, but when I am satisfied with my BBR I spot clean. This is one very small task, that will take less than 30 seconds. Dust the top of your T.V., wipe off front of fridge, or even just the handle, wet rag your kitchen floor, but maybe only in front of stove...what ever you decide your spot is, just do it. Fast and get over it. This spot clean is just one more thing to keep you FLYing.

Interview: I have an interview on Monday for a nanny job. One child, 2 weeks on 1 week off, no weekends. I got a call on Thursday, and he wants to interview me on Monday. I am very hopeful but nervous. This job would be ideal. Stay home with the children, and also it will be in my home. What better of job could I pray for? So tonight when you lay me down to sleep, please ask that this job go through and maybe finally we will get out of this financial rut!

I don't know what it is about Flylady that just gets you up and moving, but I know I love the result and my hubs is so happy to see the home nice and clean and me happy. I enjoy cleaning now. Yes you heard right, I enjoy cleaning. This week has been very successful. My bedroom got vacuumed for the first time in probably a year.(I know, gross huh, but we sleep in there, and that's it, never crosses my mind to vacuum in there) My kitchen has looked great all week, and what has helped me in there is shining my sink. Once the sink looked great, I had to clean the rest of it! Just had to. So it looks awesome now. Another thing that has helped with the kitchen is I will not leave dirty dishes in there. In the morning I unload it, all day load it up and then at night, after all dishes are in there, start it and start over in the am with unloading. I also have been taking 15 minutes a day and setting my eyes on a Hot Spot or I pick a place to declutter. 15 minutes, not a big deal!


Something I want you to do this week (kind of a challenge) is get a timer, and go into a room, set it for 10 minutes. Clean organize, dust, vacuum whatever in that 10 minutes and when the timer goes off, you are DONE! Stop! "Don't obsess, set your timer for 10 minutes for each task, then QUIT!" ~ Kelly Please refer to the weekly home blessing hour While I take my ten minutes in each room, you may dedicate your time to different tasks. Today will be my first home blessing hour and I choose to do 10 in each room because I have 6 rooms in my home. You may find that it actually take under 10 minutes for a room, especially if you have been doing your swish and swipe in your bathroom(s) it may only take you 5 minutes. What you do with the remaining 5 minutes, totally up to you =]! So what do you say ladies, set your timer and get that grime!!

This is mucho better! It is this condition I would love to see the play room in. Of course this was all me. Brianna is staying the night at her g-ma's so no help from her this time. I am hoping to work on some kind of system between her and I to keep it picked up!

Well I decided to do a new about me so be sure to check it out >>

-----
When you hear "the grass is greener on the other side" what comes to mind? I thought about this as I was helping and talking to a friend struggling with her marriage. Am I the greener grass to others? Are their many levels to this expression? Now I am not saying that I have a perfect life, but who does. It just made me think of the people who look up to me or my family, my children ect. and whatever. I have never really stepped back to think how others wish they were something like me, or had something that I do. But then there I sit, looking at skinny ladies, thinking that's my green grass, I wanna be skinny, or people with big backyards and houses ((i live in trailer)) and that's my green grass. Is it tho... my green grass or would you classify that as jealousy? Yes?....then what exactly does it mean when you hear "the grass is greener on the other side"? This post is random and kinda out of place I suppose, but sure does make you think, for me at least

I must also add that I thought I was defined by the thing I said and the things I do/have done but it's nothing like that at all! I am most defined by the people I love, the people who love me, my heart and most of all my prayer!

If you have been following (thanx Holly and Jelene) you will notice some changes! I am going to be going for more relaxed setting! Earthy colors are wonderful!! You will also notice new banner...same name just a little different twist on everything! Turn the Page is about me and my family makeing decicions to better ourselves, and make a turn around on some situations but it is also MY place to sit and read, post and enjoy! So I hope these changes you will ALSO enjoy! Like a goood cup of coffee! I want to also make it somewhere you enjoy reading, I want to make you laugh and just feel comfy here in your morning ((or afternoon =])) pajamas!!

ADDING: I am NOT loveing what I have up now...so it's bound to change a few times today and maybe even tomorrow! I will let you know when it's complete!!

AFTER: