He makes me smile:-)

I have the best husband in the world! It's little things like this that just make me a happy person!! He probably has no idea how much little things like this effect me:-) I am lucky to have him!!!!!! Not sure that you ever read my blog honey...but if you do...I love you more than anything in this world!!! I would be lost without you:-)

He sent me an email this morning that said:

From: Joel Patterson

Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 8:08 AM

To: Kenzey Patterson

Subject: Good morning

I love you and hope you have a great day honey

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was the picture that was attached to the email:-) How cute is he!!! My hard working man!!!!

Family time!

It was a good weekend:-) We had family supper at Evy's Sat night...then an Easter cookout with friends and family Sunday. I am such a blessed person to have such great friends and family in my life! I couldn't be happier...ok...well maybe a little more financially happy...lol...but money only does so much as far as happiness goes.

Here are a few pictures of our weekend:-)

My niece Silke:-)

Oh how I LOVE being an Aunt. It almost makes me want to have a baby. I said ALMOST...but not quite:-) Silke is growing so fast!!! The other night we had family dinner at Evy's house. Silke was a little fussy...you could tell she was tired...and she is teething..so she didn't feel good. I held her...and rocked her to sleep. It was the sweetest thing you have ever seen. She loves her aunt Kenzey!! She was out like a light after I got a hold of her:-)

It reminds me so much of Thomas being a baby. Gosh, it seems like yesterday....but it was almost 15 years ago that I had him....wow...where does the time go?

I really enjoy spending time with miss Silke and getting to know her. I can't wait to have sleepovers and take her shopping etc... what fun!!!

Healthy Meals

While I don't cook bad now...I really have been struggling to find really healthy meals that taste good and are simple to cook. What a pain. I have managed to make some of our "regular" meals a little healthier...but still...dang!

I am going to get back into trying a new recipe every week...or every other week at least:-)

I will post the link to each recipe and my review for it as well. Hopefully I will find some "comfort food" recipes that are healthy and yummy! Joel is a meat and potatoes man...and I can't change that. I just need to find a way to make him meat and potatoes that are healthy...and still tasty. We will get there!!

Weekly Menu 4/25/11

Ok...Easter is behind me..whew! I made lots of "bad" food...but was so busy cooking and entertaining I didn't manage to eat a lot of it! WHOOT WHOOT!!! We do have LOTS of leftovers though that I just can't bring myself to throw away...so we will be eating them throughout the week:-)

Monday: Chicken Parmesan, rolls, salad

Tuesday: Chili Dogs, corn

Wednesday: Beanie Weenie's, potatoes, green beans

Thursday: "Book Club Dinner" Joel and Thomas are on their own:-)

Friday: Sloppy Joe's, black eyed peas, salad

Sat: Taco Salad

Sun: Not sure yet....probably leftovers:-)

Day 15-21 WEEK THREE 30 Day Challenge

This week went ok. I have mostly good days and a few bad:-( I lost a pound...158. I did start working out again...so that should help! I will not give up. The day will come that I am on track with my health and weight. I had my body fat mass (or whatever it's called) tested the other day...and I am on my normal range...so that's good....but I still want to lost a little weight and tone up. Once I lose the fat I want to lose...I won't pay so much attention to my weight...because I know I will start to build muscle...but for now...weight is my main focus!

Looking forward to week four!

Weekly Menu

Ok..trying to get back on track this week:-) Everything that I make this week will be good for us:-) I will be using lean meats....whole grain pastas/tortillas....and will be watching our portion control:-)

Monday:Mini meatloafs,veggies,salad

Tuesday: Book club night (Joel will make supper for him and Tman)

Wednesday:Chicken and black bean burritos, corn avacado

Thursday: Out with co-worker for dinner (Joel will make supper for him and Tman)

Friday: Tacos

Sat: Family Supper at Evy's house!

Sun: Easter Cookout with family and friends:-) Hot dogs...burgers...etc!!!

Book Club - Out of My Mindl

The next book our club is reading is called "Out of My Mind". When they mentioned it at out last meeting it sounded really interesting. It's not like anything I have read before so I was excited!!! I am almost half way through it and am really enjoying it so far!!! I will let you know what I think of the whole thing once I am done with it! We meet in a few days....so I better get on it!!!

Description

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people—her teachers and doctors included—don't think she's capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can't, because Melody can't talk. She can't walk. She can't write.

Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind—that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it.

FREE SAMPLES

I LOVE me some free stuff! I must admit...I am a TOTAL dork when it comes to this. Yes, I go to "free sample" site every day and sign up for stuff. It's pretty fun in the long run though and it only take a few minutes out of my day:-)

The other day I got a free sample of Fekkai shampoo and conditioner. I had to write about it because it ROCKS!!!!!!!!!! My hair was so soft....light and pretty today! I love the smell of it too....it's very natural smelling...not too fu fu! I used the glossing shampoo and conditioner. I looked them up. It's not cheap stuff at all....so I will probably NOT be purchasing it in the future...but I will take more samples if I can get them! $35.00 for a 16oz bottle...yikes!

http://www.fekkai.com/

Day 10-14 WEEK TWO 30 Day Challenge

I was really bad all week:-( I didn't work out...I ate what I wanted for the most part. I did take my vitamins and drink my water...but that was about it. It showed too. I gained 2 pounds this week. I am at 158:-( I won't give up though. Tomorrow starts a new week:-) Think positive!!!!!

Weekly Menu 4/11/11

Monday: Spaghetti, bread Tuesday: Eat out! Wednesday: Chicken and sausage kabobs, brown rice, veggies Thursday: Tuna Melts, veggies Friday: Thomas has a performance at school...so probably eat out Sat: Phot Shoot in Rockwall....probably eat out again:-( Sunday: Breakfast for dinner! YUM:-)

Day 8-9 - 30 Day Challenge

The past few days have been overall really good! I did go out to dinner last night and have a burger...but other then that I have been really good! I have been drinking my water...eating good (except the burger)...taking my vitamins...working out....getting plenty of sleep...etc...! GO ME!!!!

What teens will do to get what they want:-) LOL

Ok...so to make a long story kind of short. Thomas had plans a few weekends ago to work the Janet Jackson concert with his friend Forest. He was REALLY excited about it. It would be the first time he actually worked a job and got paid for it. A few days before the concert Thomas decided to act like a bunghole and I told him that he would NOT be working the concert that weekend and that he would just have to tell his friend he was grounded. Thomas was really upset and mad that he got in trouble.

The next night Joel and I left to take Singer to puppy kindergarten. We were gone for about an hour and on our way home I called Thomas to see if he wanted me to pick him up something to eat. He said no...he was fine....and asked that we didn't get anything for ourselves either. I told Joel and we were both like...hmmm...wonder what he has done. Well,,,,this is what we came home to.

When we pulled up there were signs on the garage that said "broken..use front door"

We giggled:-)

Then we walked up to the front door and there was a sign that read:

Dear valued quest,

I welcome you to "Le Fluer ze Moore!" An origina; vegetarian eatery from Tennessee itself. Please make your way to the dining area, where your romantic "vegetarian" meal awaits you.

We accept tips (i.e. :Saturday")

Love from the heart,

Management

So...we walked in....the house was dark...candles were burning...and there was slow country music playing softly. It seriously brought tears to my eyes:-) We walked into the dining room and Thomas had made both of us salads and a platter of fruit.

It really was pretty cute I must say. We sat down with him and talked to him about what we expect out of him at this age. I ended up letting him work the concert....(yeah I gave in).....

It's things like this in life that I will NEVER forget:-) Even on the days when Thomas isn't my favorite person in the world...and doesn't listen...and gets in trouble at school...etc... Moments like this make it all better:-) Oh how I love that boy!!!

Day 2-7 WEEK ONE - 30 Day Challenge

So this week went ok. I have been a little stressed and haven't been focusing on this as much as a should have been. I am feeling a lot better now and hope for a much better week:-) I did really well in all areas of my challenge except working out. I have so much going on I just can't seem to get that part done...ugh! No excuses this week. I am going to kick my butt into gear:-) I still weight in at 156...so good thing is...I dodn't have a gain!!! Week 2 here I come!!!!!

Day 1 - 30 Day Challenge

Ok.....I am starting a NEW 30 day challenge. I will focus on the same things I did last month....and hope to have better results this time. Day one went well! I am starting out on the right track...lets see how the rest of the week goes:-)

Weekly Menu 4/4/11

Monday: Spaghetti, salad and bread

Tuesday: Taco salad

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken, brown rice and green beans

Thursday: Pulled pork sandwiches....beans...coleslaw

Friday: Pizza/movie night with kiddos:-)

Sat: hot dogs....chips....(cookout by the pool)

Sunday: Dinner at Mom's for Peter's B-Day!

DAY 30!!!!!

Well...I didn't do as well as I had planned...but I could have done worse! Over the 30 day period I have lost 4 pounds. I now weight 156. I am going to start another 30 day challenge next week...and try it all over again! I enjoyed doing it...and won't to work even harder next month:-) Let's see what happens!! Whoooo Hooooo!

Day 25-29 30 Day Challenge

Well.....lots of changes were made this week in my diet due to the information we found out about Joel's heart. So I have been eating REALLY healthy! I haven't worked out at all...nope...not once...lazy! Other then not working out...I am on track with everything else!