Today was a busy day at work, but what else is new. I have tomorrow off, then I work all weekend. Next week I only work Wednesday - thank goodness!!!

Tonight I joined back at Weight Watchers. I am sooo excited. I haven't been since June, and since then I've gained 10 lbs! It's obvious that I need to follow it whole heartedly...or I will be back where I started. I am still down LOTS of weight, and I can't wait to be at my goal weight. I am so inspired.

Dora the explorer...is Paige's new favorite! She saw an episode in Ontario, and now she only wants to watch Dora! We don't have cable so I bought her a DVD on Tuesday. It's the first thing she goes to in the TV room! She says "Do, Do, Do" while frantically signing "please, please, please"!!!

So right now, as mommy is unwinding after working all day, then driving home and eating supper, Paige is watching Dora DVD.

I woke up early this morning at 6:30. I wonder if my body is still living in the Ontario time zone. Anyway, it's okay because Paige is still sleeping, and I got to read all my emails in peace! Now I am going to go shower, and take a long hot one too! You'd never understand the value of a long hot undisturbed shower until you become a mother.

Today I am meeting Christina (a mom friend of mine) for breakfast at McD's so our kids can eat crappy food, then run around playing! Yup, good times!

Also on my brain - I am going back to Weight Watchers this week. I am so excited! I can't wait to get down to my goal weight. I should near it by the beginning of 2007 and by my 30th birthday in May, I'll should be where I want to be physically in life. Someone needs to give me the boot when it comes to exercising though! I need a workout buddy that is close in Sherwood Park....Anyone??!!!

Julia and Alan - August 26th, 2006

Here is the wedding party ...

And the ladies....(and you can see the flowers I made!)

Welcome home! We had a great time in Ontario. It was so nice to visit with family and friends, and my cousin's wedding was beautiful. I was her Matron of Honour, and I had such a great time. I also did all her flowers for the wedding. It was a busy week, and I am happy to be home. I am so happy I don't have to work until Wednesday becuase I am exhausted.

I am having troubles uploading photos - so I will try again later!

Good Morning from Ontario! We have just eaten a big breakfast of ham, toast and eggs. We are going to get showered up and have lunch with my grandfather Ray. Last night we stayed with Brian and Mene. It was actually the best night we have had so far! My grandmother Betty and her hubby Morris came over. ALSO all my Aunts and Uncles (and all their families too) that I have not seen since I was like 8 yrs old! My father is one of 6...so you can imagine how many people were here. It was the most fun we have had so far.

All the wedding stuff starts on Thursday, so we are visiting with assorted relatives around Ontario until then!

OH!!! AND you should see the rental that I got from Budget! I ordered a mini-van, thinking I would need lots of room for transporting people and/or stuff all around the province. I showed up to pick it up Saturday - and they gave me a Chevy Trailblazer! This is a massive SUV. There are so many cool buttons and things in the car, I feel like I am driving a rocket ship. I might have to take to looking for a new SUV when we get home.

Could someone please explain to my dear daughter that 6:30am is waaaaayyy too early to wake up on a "day off"!!!

So here we find ourselves 7:30am, Paige and I have already had breakfast, I've done a load of laundry and she is playing in the tub. Going to do some major cleaning and laundry today.

Oh, and for your general giggle factor, Paige has "discovered" her "pee-pee". Yes, you know what region I am talking about. She constantly points downstairs and says "pee-pee". I nod approvingly. Yes...she's named it sorta correctly, and yes...it's okay to touch. She's too young for this!!!!!

If my morning were summarized in a newspaper clipping here is how it would read:

Dallas ***l, 29, from ******d P***, embarrased herself early this morning by spontaneously vomiting at her daughter's dayhome. While on her way to work, Will also had to pull her vehical over on the Whitemud and throw up on the side of the road. The icing on the cake for this puking mother of one, was arriving to work only to be told to "go home" by her boss when he simply "looked" at her. Will is now recovering at her home of usual residence sipping on ginger ale and playing on the internet.

Darren and I picked a dayhome. I know she's no "Amber", but Dee will do. I am hoping things work out great for my little girl. Today Paige and I walked to her house, and it was a 20 minute walk. She's pretty close to us too. Only a 3-5 minute drive. I signed her contract, and Paige starts September 6th.

I had high hopes of actually getting things done today, but we played at Dee's all morning. I came home and tried to feed Paige some lunch, but she was just too tired. I just got sick of her smacking the food and flinging food around our kitchen, so I put her to bed. She is so grumpy. Her nose is runny, just like mommy's, so I am sure she's feeling pretty similar to me.

Dr. H. put me on a corticosteroid nasal spray, and some antibiotics. I NEED to be better before we fly out on Friday. I still feel so crummy. I think I'll go for a nap now, then get up and make some guacamole for our dinner at some friend's tonight, then I'll work on some laundry or clean the bathrooms - we'll see what I feel like doing.

I have been working like a dog since the beginning of August...now I am suffering for it. I got a sinus cold two monday's ago that just caused me to snort bright green boogies for the last couple of week. Then yesterday it trasnsitioned to my front sinus, and it is now leaking out my nose. My throat has been sore for two weeks, and today I feel like my head is so congested that it could actually float up in the air above my body. Yup - I'm stubbed up.

Paige and I were supposed to travel to Calgary today for a visit to my Aunt's, but we've bailed. I am NOT up for getting out of jammies today, let alone make a three hour drive in 28 degree weather. Thank goodness my doctor will see me at 3:30pm today. She is squeezing me in. I love my doctor.

Other than that. Today I am resting. Tomorrow I start packing and preparing for our trip to Ontario.

I have been working like a dog since the beginning of August...now I am suffering for it. I got a sinus cold two monday's ago that just caused me to snort bright green boogies for the last couple of week. Then yesterday it trasnsitioned to my front sinus, and it is now leaking out my nose. My throat has been sore for two weeks, and today I feel like my head is so congested that it could actually float up in the air above my body. Yup - I'm stubbed up.

Paige and I were supposed to travel to Calgary today for a visit to my Aunt's, but we've bailed. I am NOT up for getting out of jammies today, let alone make a three hour drive in 28 degree weather. Thank goodness my doctor will see me at 3:30pm today. She is squeezing me in. I love my doctor.

Other than that. Today I am resting. Tomorrow I start packing and preparing for our trip to Ontario.

Tonight we went to our second of four dayhome interviews. I am so sad to be looking for a great home. I thought we had the perfect home with Amber, too bad she's decided to go back to school. I am hoping we can find someone that can live up to our expectations.

So...what else has happened in the week I have neglected my blog...

I worked all week, up until Saturday night at 7pm. I then drove out to Edson to join Darren and his slo-pitch team for the wonderful tournament. We stayed at a friend of a friend's home just outside of Edson. It was gorgeous! They had a pool, and a firepit! When we wern't playing ball, we were chillin' by the pool, or sitting around the fire. (Always with a drink in one hand of course...) Paige spent three nights with her Auntie and cousins. It was such a treat for Darren and I to have two night alone together.

So here it is Tuesday already, and this week is virtually half over. I will clean up some tonight, then watch Big Brother. Yup, my life is REAL exciting.

So shopping for a Matron of Honor dress was horrid. I spend two full days, and came up with only two options. I have been in every single wedding shop in Edmonton and area. I was told directly and indirectly that I was "too fat" for most dresses and that if I wanted a "big size" I should have ordered it 8 weeks ago. Well for goodness sakes, I only found out I was in the wedding party last week! The wedding is August 26th, and we fly out of the province on August 18th. Sheesh!!! I came very near to slapping the Sposabella lady in WEM. I didn't even get through the entrance way before being shut down. "We have nothing for your size"....thanks, but no thanks.

Yes, I know I am a plus size...
Yes, I know I only am looking for a pink strapless gown...
No, I don't want to change my mind on the color...
Yes, I do need it within two weeks...
No, I don't want you assume I need a 3XL - a size 16 or XL IS MY SIZE!

I am feeling empty and sad after two full days of being looked over as if I was garbage....mostly by skinny bridal shop owners.

I know I look smokin' hot in the dress I chose, and I DAMN proud of my body. I have lost 49 lbs! To those skinny bitches, that's half of their whole bodies!!!!! If only they knew how far I've come. I will show you all (my REAL loving friends and family) my choice when I pick it up. Screw them, and their judgemental selves. I am happy with myself. Too bad for them, they missed out on me dropping a whopping load of cash.