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.

My Friday Ramble

So yes, it's Friday and I am more then motivated to go exercise. I am somewhat sore from Body Pump...but when am I not???? When I walk outside its raining...are you kidding me????? I hate...no correction, I loathe running on the track at the gym. It is so boring and the scenery stinks.

I instead have all the candle's in my house light and keep watching for the rain to stop. For those who don't know  I am a candle whore in the same way that I am a horror movie whore! Yes, that time of year is once again upon us and I can't wait to hit the movie theater.

So Adam, my 8 year old decided to bring home his drama club form yesterday....as his aunt says he is a "Drama King" he comes by it naturally....I am a "Drama Queen" of sorts. So he is all ready to be an actor...this is the same kid who got sent to his room last week for talking back and his response you ask, in his most Adam like tone he says "Fantastic.....That is EXACTLY what I wanted to go do!" He has a bright future as an Actor/Scientist/Musician/Artist/Dad....I think that is his list thus far!

Cole hasn't eaten much in three days! I wish I could be like him, live on freezer pops, lays, grapes, apples, water, and the occasional meal from McDonald's and still have rock hard abs! He has turned around in school though I think!

Looking forward to the Bears this weekend! Urlacher is my honey!

Happy Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still feel FAT!

So this fat girl is down 63 pounds which is awesome right...yet there are times when I still feel fat. I was so excited to go to Chicago last weekend and do my 5K...My best friend Neal walks faster then I can run! He always has, in high school that wasn't a big deal cause I could easily keep up....well Not...any...more!

He kept turning around asking if I was coming....I was not complaining mind you. He can go as fast as he wants! I will just meet him wherever we are going LOL. It just made me feel fat!

Feeling fat moment number two...looking at the pictures. I realize that they are a lot different then this time last year...yet I still see "fat girl"! I wish that she would just leave already.

My Aunt and Uncle were full of compliments on how great I looked and how proud and fierce I am. It's not that I don't believe them, or that I am not thankful for the uplifting comments.....I just don't always feel that way.

Fat moment number three...oh wait this is a skinny moment....I ran to catch the bus and the train and kept up with Neal...now this was just a dash. However, when we were up for my birthday last year....which yes was at the same time all the wonderful ladies were up....I couldn't run to save my life!

So today I dragged the "fat girl" back to the gym and we did Body Pump together! I ran into my high school counselor whom I LOVE! She is awesome and hopefully convinced her to join Zumba....tomorrow morning I shall start my three mile run/walk training for my next 5k Dec. 1. I am pretty stoked about it. The count down is nearing ladies....I cannot wait to meet you all! I workout so I can drink...so if anyone wants to join in some Chicago running or something let me know! 

I promise to try and leave "fat girl" at home and not bring her to Chicago with me. But no guarantee's the damn bitch seems to sneak up on me at times!

My 5K PLUS weekend

So Saturday morning I woke up and got ready and my dad and I headed out making our way to Chicago for the Make A Wish 5K. We stopped at Dunkin Donuts....I LOVE their coffee, I haven't had a donut in probably a year until Saturday...but we all deserve a treat now and then.

I drove ALL the way to Chicago which I have never done before, I have always rode. My best friend Neal lives right off 90/94 aka The Dan Ryan for those of you that know which is high traffic! I only ticked one person off and lets face it....she had no reason to be mad! LOL Once we got to his Condo we decided to head down town for lunch and walk to Navy Pier....which I had never been too!

Neal took us to his fave mexican place downtown and they made fresh guacamole right at our table! The food was amazing. I wish I had taken a picture of my taco's...but oh well. After lunch we walked three miles to Navy Pier. Which was AWESOME! My dad and I also shared a funnel cake which was yummy! Afterwards we headed back to Neal's condo.

 This is the view from the top balcony of Neal's. I sat up here with my book and some water reading while the guys ran to the store for fish and things for dinner. It was peaceful and the view is even better at night. I can't wait to go back....with the boys soon!

I think I actually walked/ran a 10k over two days LOL.

The morning of the Make-A-Wish 5k we headed to Montrose Harbor and met my Aunt and Uncle.

It was a beautiful morning!

Before the race!

At the start line!

at the finish!

I didn't finish in 45 mins like my goal. But I did do it in an hour. I am just glad I was able to do it a year ago I don't think I would have been able. I am thinking of doing another 5k December 1st! The accomplishment feels amazing. I did learn that I need to hydrate better before and after. I ended up with a killer headache Sunday night!

My Week in Review

So, I have been a major slacker this week in just about everything! But Hey, we all deserve to have that at least every so often right?

Sunday- We started out good, taking my boys on The Rock Island Trail near our home. Cole was already tired when we started and I could have easily done 6 miles or more....Adam wouldn't have been happy but he would have done it. So we went 1 1/2 and then turned around and went back. However, Cole did not like this idea one bit....for those who don't know...Cole is autistic and he will walk FOREVER sometimes. My dad has had to call me to come pick them up because Cole won't turn around and head home! SO.....I carried him for about a 1/4 mile. Cole weighs about 50 lbs....I can't believe that I carried that on my body!

Monday- I spent the day around the house. I actually cooked dinner that night....we had bacon and eggs LOL if that is actually cooking. I had great ideas from pinterest...just no energy to actually do them. Helped the boys with some homework...fought with Adam about reading! DIDN'T GO TO ZUMBA, I am going to hell for sure.

Tuesday- Over slept! Got the boys off to school, got my self ready and headed to get gas and pick-up Subway for me and Adam to take on his field trip to the ZOO. Our Zoo sucks....although we do have 4 new baby Tigers. But the rest is nothing to get excited about. When you are a third grader though it doesn't take much to impress you! I spent the day with them...it was fun! Came home and had to get ready for Back to School Night, I am the PTC Secretary so I had to go. But even if I wasn't I think that this is important...it's a great time to meet the teachers and other parents in the class! We went to Culver's for dinner....Epic fail! But I only had a Tenderloin so it wasn't so bad!

Wednesday- Cleaned most of the day and had to pick the boys up from school so we could make it to their Hair cuts at 4! Cole did his whole hair cut without any electronics! It was amazing and he looks great. If I wasn't going to hell for not going to Zumba on Monday.....today will get me there. Not only did I not go to Zumba AGAIN.....I picked up Chinese and McDonald's of the kids.....nothing more to say.

Thursday- I hardly ate anything....ran some errands with my mom. I actually cooked tacos for dinner and still didn't work out! My first 5k is approaching on Sunday and I am not ready! I will do the best that I can....maybe I will redeem myself from going to hell. It's for Make-A-Wish which is an awesome organization. My Aunt is doing it with me which should be twice as fun! Getting excited about BOOBS!!!!!!!!! Hope you all are too :)