ON a lazy saturday afternoon!

Here I sit pondering life,

Having played my usual tetris on face book and made as many comments as I seem I went to check out craigslist - looking for a house to rent,

Not much around, I saw a nice one today but it is just a little "too open" a few doors would be nice - but it was a great garden and hot tub, the thought of living in the apartment for any more of a time makes me just want to grab anything cause no matter hat you have you make it work, but we cant really do that so on wards we go looking at some more - when they become available.

Simon is currently napping before we head out to Outback steakhouse for dinner, we should be going to chili's but since it is it's last weekend I fear most of the stuff would be out of stock, 

Chili's we will miss you!!

I guess the cheesecake factory is a good replacement!

being a weight watcher

So since January 2004, I have been a weight watcher and it has been a good thing, I lost a ton of weight and gave me some renewed confidence.

However being 10 - 15lb heavier the past year has made me scared, frantic about gaining all my weight back again, only someone who has lost weight kind of understands this dilemma,

here I am a normal BMI and within my weight range, wanting to get back to my "perfect" weight - and I will but I think my weight watching needs to be a little more secret, Nathaniel is talking a lot about diets and about "being fat" and he is so skinny I don't want him to keep going like that, so I will be good, I will chart, but i think I will stop going to the meetings and making a fuss about my size, we are who we are and I only wish I could see that it is OK to be the size I am, maybe someday, I don't want to diet forever!!

Punishments

So,

Nathaniel threw a fit in front of daddy at the weekend, (I am familiar with these they happen mainly every evening, and I throw him to bed!

However this one was because he didnt want to stop playing the wii, so infact he landed with a 1 week ban for the wii - we can still play it though!

Day one and 2 were fine but I did begin to wonder why we had imposed a ban like this on a bank holiday weekend. What would we fill the time with.

We ended up doing some really fun stuff, the discovery museum, the parks, riding bikes, more parks, talking and reading, making books etc etc. he is actually quite proud of his ban now!

Which leads me to wonder...how good is the wii and why do we let him play it at all, well it is a family game we can play together, it also allows me time free from him to prepare dinner, tidy up, take a shower, it helps him read, fight battles and learn about sports and taking turns.

So I guess the tantrum was just a moment of lost control, 5 year olds will have them - so do grown ups, but what we can learn is the lesson he learned yesterday in Karate - KEEP THE CONTROL WITH YOU!

Sensai was saying that as soon as you loose control it gets passed to another person to control you and that is now fun, we talked after and he decided he would take sensai's advice if he could and try to do the 3 breaths  to calm him down so he can control his temper.

Now with a weekend of me working and predicted rain - lets see how his temper is controlled

The Inauguration of Barrack Obama

So, I was going to write about something else but I will leave my thoughts on punishment for another day!

So....today the USA welcomed a new president to the white house! Much pomp and circumstance to lure citizens that this is the dawning of a new era, the beginning of  many wonders and lets not forget the fancy parade!

I am generally a pessimist with regards to politics - there is something funny about him I am not trusting - but then anyone who knows me knows that is pretty much how I feel about politics in general and no other "president" would ever really have me on their side - unless Nathaniel runs a few years down the line.  I do not know why I cannot celebrate but there you go, I want to wait and see how he does, I think my problem is that the american people voted in President bush - maybe by cheating the first time but he did rightfully get elected a second term, many people I talk to say oh he isn't our president but if a country should do anything it is come together and welcome the president who was voted in be a democracy! Don't ask people to vote if you don't want to hear the answer.  

Now I could go into dictators and how they could make a country work, but I wont....but just know this,  every leader has their own personal way to lead and we must trust them to lead.

Now onto Obama, the colour of his skin seems to be a big issue in this election but surely if we are treating everyone as one, that shouldn't be an issue that we have a mixed race president in the united states, cause he isn't black but mixed race and as my father pointed out, Americans are usual the first ones to be politically correct.

He seems to have a nice family and they seem happy (unless you read the "enquirer" while waiting to pay for groceries in safeway yesterday!!), so I wish him much success in his new job, he has a lot to achieve and unfortunately I believe the American people want miracles but that will take time.....we are in a deep recession and it will get much worse before it becomes better so Mr Barrack Obama (like every other politician/president) will find himself with some tough choices to make and they will not make everyone happy - not even you!!

What we all want in our lives is the same as our parents and grandparents is for a strong family foundation and a country to be proud of.

Lets support the new president in all he does and aims to achieve....

Welcome President Obama to the White house!

New Gym, new excitement

so what is making me smile these days!

Well, 2 things I think!

Sunshine - gosh the weather has been amazing we have been hitting the park so nathaniel is happier as I sit there with a book and read while he climbs and gets fresh air, it seems like a long time since he got out and about but it hasn't really!!

I joined a new gym - the JCC (jewish community center), I have not changed religions but am really looking forward to being a part of something again, I spend most of my days feeling very lost! Unable to keep contact with my friends since I took my new job has really isolated me and made me really sad, as well as being sick most of december, but I don't want to be sad, I want to see my friends and catch up on their news and have play-dates so from February, I have done some adjusting to allow me to work a 24 hr week but also have continuity so nathaniel can have play-dates, get to Karate and I can still have the dinner ready for when Simon gets home and get all the chores done!!  Rachelle, has told me so often to get a cleaner she has given up on me, but she also knows that I find it hard to explain the need for a cleaner - I feel everyone in the house can do it, unfortunately they don't!

Anyway, onto the gym and gosh that first spin class really hurt my bottom but I am positive and moving forward, Zumba was easier and fun despite my distinct lack of latin rhythm, and the equipment is great so over the next week I plan to try out all the classes I can in between working!!

So hopefully I will get better at my work, allow me to catch up with everyone a little easier and generally feel less overwhelmed!!

Watch this space!!

New Year - new challenges!

So,  the new year has come and gone, and are we still sticking with our resolutions!

Well so far I am, less food and drink more in the fitness department!

I am still trying to figure everything out in the job situation, it is pretty hard but as soon as my orientation is over with I will hopefully begin to feel more settled but for now it seems just a confusing maze!

Nathaniel is finding the return to school hard with the "getting out of bed part" being the hardest!! He is in the top group for reading which means in addition to the home work he also gets extra reading - thats doesn't quite make sense to me!

So not sure how our year will pan out we have a couple of ideas but have no time to sit down and work everything out!

We went skiing a few weeks ago and Nathaniel loved it and hopefully we will go again this weekend.

Simon is busy with all his theater stuff - not so busy with work!

California has been cool this month but apparently it is meant to be back up in the 70's this weekend - we certainly cant complain!

So,  onward and upward!

Happy new Year!