Election Tuesday

So there are a couple of things I want to talk about besides the election. First off, for my mom's birthday I got her tickets to go see Mary Poppins the play and it was AMAZING! We loved it and had a great time. Her best friend and her daughter went with us and it was just a great memory for all of us to make together. Secondly, my big news of the week is that I FINALLY hit the 250's it seems like this has taken FOREVER!!!!!!! I am officially 256.5 lbs and that puts me at a 73 lb loss. I can't believe how far I have come, it's amazing how much this has changed my life. I remember losing my first couple of pounds and thinking this is gonna take forever and I didn't think I could do it. I am past the half way mark now.

So about this election, I am going to vote when the boys get out of school because Adam wants to go with me. I think that is amazing! I remember going with my parents and wanting so badly to be a part of what they were doing. I do not have a political party, I vote for the person, and if I was perfectly honest, I am not entirely thrilled with either of our choices. I usually steer clear of political conversations so I will keep this vague, all I want you to do, is go VOTE!

This is a right in our country that we should exercise with pride, I don't care who you vote for as long as you do it! There are people all over the world who are dying to have this opportunity, to have a say in how their government is ran. I will proudly take my son to the polls with me today, and en still in him the importance of what we are doing.

Halloween!!!!!!!!!

So life got in the way and I haven't been blogging. This is a good thing right? That or I have had writers block and no idea what to write about until now!

So we just had Halloween, which in my house as been HUGE ever since I can remember because it is also my mom's birthday. When I was growing up she always dressed up with us which I got a kick out of, she still does and I have joined her and my kids have a BLAST.  So first we will cover costumes, because as we all know this was a big issue for me :)

We start with the boys because as you can see they are just stinking adorable. This was Cole's 2nd year going as Mario, but he needed a new costume cause he won't stop growing! It was Adam's idea that they go at the Mario Brothers.....I think it's awesome and Cole was just as excited to do it. The mustache's didn't stay on long cause they tickled, but it's ok at least I got pictures.

Here we are together and as you can see we look AMAZING! This has to be one of my favorite costumes of all time! It was sooooo much fun. So Cole didn't do much trick or treating, he went to one house. It was REALLY cold. Adam on the other hand, we walked about 3-4 miles and he filled two pumpkins full of candy so there is plenty for the both of them. He had a blast, and so did I which is all that matters!

After trick or treating we had cupcakes for Gram's birthday! I made them all by myself, very yummy and I only had one.

As I think I wrote in an earlier post, I have a huge fear of clowns. My friend Erin came down from Chicago a couple weekends ago and we went to a scary house at an old Insane Asylum near here, which is thought to be really haunted. It was totally scary.....

As you can see, this guy was trying really hard to get me to look at him. I never did!

So Halloween wasn't all sweets and games, I got some exercise in too....

This was a VERY cold morning up in Naperville with my 5k running partner Aunt Suz....we had fun and I have my last 5k on Dec. 1st for the year. I am pretty excited and I am down 7 more pounds! With the holidays approaching I am focusing on staying on track and the family time! Not the food :)

10 Things Thursday

1. On Facebook I keep seeing all kinds of statistics about Autism. Statistics are basically a crock pile of horse manure. Especially when people just throw numbers out and give you no information. So 1 in 88 kids are diagnosed with Autism. No, Autism is not on the rise people....and no these numbers shouldn't scare us! The truth is that we are better at diagnosing Autism then we ever have been. Catching it early is key people!!!!! What should scare us is the lack of accessibility of the therapies to help these kids learn to cope with their sensory needs!

2. Why is it that when you get divorced some Dad's seem to think that they can do LESS??? Why wouldn't you want to call your kids EVERYDAY!!??

4. I love my coffee...but I might have a slight addiction to it. I am now on cup number 4!

5.  My friend is coming down from Chi-town this weekend with her son and we are heading to an awesome haunted house! So excited.

6. Fred water rocks my world!

7. I hate dating!

8. I am so madly in love with my kids it scares me. Except when Adam says "Let me tell you, I am not putting my shirts away." Really little boy? You shouldn't mess with your mother, she can make you miserable! LOL

9. I don't think that me and this running thing are getting along, but I am determined to conquer this damn thing!

10. I am truly thankful for all the wonderful people in my life who support me and help me whenever I need it.       

24 years ago.....

This is Adam Harris...yes my Adam is named after him. He was 3 years old when he was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma. I was a mere 7....such tender ages to experience something so profound. You know that question that you always get asked...."Who is your hero?" Mine was never an athlete, or movie star, or politician. It was Adam. The strength and faith that this little boy taught me has carried me through the years.

I was always annoyed by my little brother just like any other sister. We fought....even after he was diagnosed. I actually looked at him one rainy day while playing in the garage and said "It's ok, cause when you die your trucks will be mine." How awful, I still feel guilty for that to this day. The horrible things we say as children.

Today it has been 24 years since Adam died....I was 8. I remember vividly that day....and night. It forever changed everything.....it was my loss of innocence which my sister would tell you is where my fear of clowns come from! Yes, I deal with everything with a bit of humor. I was never the invincible teen, I knew what could happen.

Cherish every moment, make sure you do today and say today what you need to. Tomorrow may not come....always kiss your kids goodbye, good night, and just for no reason. God and I struggle back and forth with my anger and my pain, but today will be a good day! Adam my have only lived for four years but the point is he lived. He loved everyone and wanted to save everything. I commend my parents for allowing Adam to be involved in his treatment, I realize as a parent now how difficult it had to be to allow treatment to stop....even if there was very little hope of success. I no longer blame them...they did an amazing job thinking of what was best for Adam as well as me!

I am who I am today....because I knew this amazing little man! All my love is sent to you in heaven today!

An Autism Birthday

Well Cole is now officially six....and as if I didn't have enough going on last week we had to throw in his birthday which is much harder to plan then Adam's. Large groups can make Cole uncomfortable so I always try and do something intimate with close friends and family. Usually this takes place at our home because Cole is most comfortable here. But lets face it I HATE kid's birthday's. Making food, planning, cleaning up, the noise....ALL OF IT! No one told me when I had kids that I had to do birthday parties too!

So this year we thought outside of the box....we made reservations at the Fish Bowl at Bass Pro....it was a hit! He loved it, I made him eat dinner first and then he threw a fit once the bowling was over. I am a horrible mother, I got no pictures of him bowling, or opening gifts, or interacting with other kids.

His dad and step mom came with his sister which was nice and they actually paid half of the cost. We had an awesome Autism birthday...

I love these pic's. He was so involved with the cake and candles....even if he doesn't eat the cake :)

What's Shakin??

So I plan and organize the Ice Cream Social for my kids school. Which typically is a blast...but let me tell you what a pain it has been this year!!!! We have a pumpkin auction where we ask the middle and high school students to paint some pumpkins that we can auction. They are usually a big hit....I email those art teachers at the beginning of the school year so that we have plenty of time to organize seeing as October kind of creeps up a little fast.....or as my awesome friend Amy calls it "Rocktober".

Naturally these teachers decided to wait and reply to my many emails and messages on Thursday...did I check my email while in Chicago....of course not....that is crazy! Why on earth would I check my email when I took the trouble to pack my lap top! So I didn't get the email until last night....I ran this morning after the PTC treasure ran a check to my house and I bought 21 pumpkins....I got them delivered and did all my other errands.

I then cam home and cleaned up the house. I guess my birthday and vacation are OVER! Reality has crept back into my life and so has exercises and diet. I am eating better and start running today. My Aunt got me to sign up for another 5k on October 27th. I need to get back into the swing of sparkpeople.com again as well! I am looking forward to Friday when I head to my fave local bar and have a few drinks with friends. I am excited about the size LARGE...yes you hear correctly.....this fatty squeezed into a size LARGE dress....just you wait....it's pretty darn cute! I will post pictures!

It's Monday and My Birthday

So, normally Monday's would suck big time. However I am coming down from an awesome weekend where I met some pretty cool people, got completely drunk a couple times, shopped til I dropped, and walked all over Chicago......with one small cause of sickness....and it's My Birthday!

We had a Long long long long long long long train ride home yesterday, then a 45 min drive home! But we made it....Cole was asleep when I got here...Adam was awake but not nearly as excited as I had hopped. They both loved their gifts and Adam complained that is all he got....ungrateful! LOL Christmas will be fun!

I got some awesome birthday presents and my parents took us to eat at Red Lobster which was ymmy. Now, I am curled up watching the Bears Game and relaxing....I am looking forward to some relaxing time....but my next 5k is apparently on Oct. 27th that my aunt has talked me into! Back to training I go......so wish I had worked out now in Chicago! LOL

Hope that everyone had an awesome fun weekend! I had some fun times ya'll.