Congratulations Nicole and Dean!!!!!

Nicole and I became very good friends in nursing school...there is an incredible bond that forms with someone who is at your side through every clinical and class. I would not have been as successful without her...she is a very smart and skillful nurse and one of the most genuinely caring persons I have ever known. Four of my children worked for her husband in his restaurant and they all adore Dean. Nicole and Dean were married the same summer as LaNelle and Steven and they experienced many of the same fertility struggles so we were excited to learn they would be parents. It's a little bittersweet for me because I can't help but cry thinking of LaNelle and Steven's baby that was due next month but I do know that life goes on and LaNelle's turn will come...in the meantime, I am thrilled for Nicole and Dean!

Nikolas Steve Bitzas (Cole) was born on January 7th and weighed almost 7 pounds...isn't he adorable????

Happy Birthday to Pete...#56

Pete is the kindest, most giving person on this earth. He never does anything for himself but is always seeking ways to serve his family. He is the father with pictures in his wallet where his money used to be, holes in his shoes, and gladly wears whatever is on clearance so he can give the very best to his children...when I met him, he was 30 years old, owned a nice home, had no debt and a substantial savings account and was about to buy a snazzy convertible sports car...then came me and the car became an engagement ring. Only 6 years later, we had 5 children and Pete was working three jobs so I could stay at home with them. I know of no other man who serves his family better, NEVER asks for anything, never spends a dime, and never ever complains...seriously...if the house is a mess and there is no dinner, he walks in, picks up a broom or a child or a frying pan and says, "Go put your feet up...you've had a rough day. I'll take over." He is the most Christlike man on earth. I adore him.

We wanted to give him a gift just for him. Now I know we just started a diet and are planning to add exercise but we still want him to know it's ok to rest sometimes so we surprised him with a leather lazy-boy recliner... The twins were VERY excited to surprise him and loved the card they picked out...it was a musical one that said "We've waited all year long to say this.......we want ice cream we want ice cream!!" He laughed with them!

They gave Dad a warm soft blanket since I keep the house freezing cold!
Yeah...it's a little crowded but we like it like that!!

Happy Happy Birthday Pete!!!!

I will always love you!!!

New Year's Goals

Pete and I have had some serious conversations about healthy lifestyles, the word of wisdom, and our pitiful physical shapes! The following (rather disgusting and embarrassing) pics underline the sad truth that we had already accepted...The above picture cannot be of the former champion long distance runner I married...
and surely this chick was not the only Freshman voted on Coker College's May Court in 1978!

which brings us to our goal of losing a total of 200 pounds...by New Year's 2010! That's a very distant goal and a bit overwhelming so we needed some help. I have been successful in the past at Weight Watchers and years ago at Form-U-3 (a VERY low calorie plan) but Pete wanted us to do something together and all our own. I thought, "OK. He has supported me for years so I will support him and be open minded!" We have spent weeks researching every plan available and even looked into gastric bypass but in the end, my nurse's brain just couldn't take that risk without trying something less drastic ONE MORE TIME! We decided about the only thing I haven't done is a very planned pre-packaged food diet (because they are ridiculously expensive!!) such as nutri-system or Jenny Craig. Peter has been harping on that route for months and I kept blowing him off...not for me! But, Pete's employer will pay 1/2 of the super duper all inclusive program at Jenny Craig and even pay a good discount on the food. (and then I can join under the spouse program and only pay half of all that!) Then, it can take us however long and we only pay a $39 annual renewal. (so it evens out to less than Weightwatchers since we have soooo much to lose!) Now that we have stopped the fast food daily habit and eating out weekly (or more) habit and with only the twins at home, it is possible to buy the Jenny Food and add fresh veggies and fruit and dairy to it along with what little the twins eat and stay within our food budget (now that the bottomless pit boys are eating elsewhere!!)...still, I wavered...but in the end, I went and listened with Pete and was pleasantly surprised to learn that eating out (albeit only occasionally) and weekly "splurges" are built into the plan.

My only resistance now was health and hunger and taste.

The plan is certainly nutritious and meets dietary guidelines...protein bars and vitamins come with the plan...weight loss is planned to be 1% of body weight per week (or for normal folks...about 1 1/2 - 2 pounds weekly).

So...hunger and taste. That only time will tell...but I started today and the food I ate today was fabulous (although I could have eaten 2 or 3 of everything!!!) and I was even full after a supper of a HUGE salad with a few chunks of apples, grapes and cheese, a "soupetizer" and this delicious main course:

So, we start the journey of portion control and healthier food choices...adding exercise (ughhh) will be the next step...here I go again (but it's Pete's FIRST diet EVER...)...wish us luck...our health is at serious risk if we don't succeed!!!!!!

The twins go back to school, too!

The college kids donned heavy Columbia Sportswear coats and new Timberland boots to head back to campus but here in beautiful South Carolina, we just headed to the porch for breakfast and some lessons...We love being able to have class outside!

It was a little difficult to get revved back up after such a long break but we did it and school is up and running at the Sheridan House!!!

Back to School

We spent New year's Day with our good friends, The Dowdy's, in Charlotte. (Note we are NOT mentioning the dumb Bowl Game!!) The kids left the next day to head back to school. We were all exhausted and emotional and the pictures show that...so did Andrew's new luggage tag...The boys were NOT in the mood for pictures. The girls tried to cooperate...

Connor was just miserable. He HATES for is brothers to leave...

After checking luggage, we waited for Jenny to arrive...and Sarah Beth started getting sad, too

Jenny's Mom, brother, sister, and nephew came to see her off and at first they were all smiles

but soon the tears were flowing...

The college kids were soooo excited to get out West...

One last "secret brother handshake routine"...

one last sisters' hug...
and they were gone...
just don't forget what Patti's luggage tag states...

MAH (Mother Away from Home)

Andrew refers to LaNelle as his MAH, or...Mother Away from Home. She has had a very busy few days...

Andrew, Jenny, and Patti flew in to SLC on Friday afternoon. LaNelle had booked them seats on the shuttle up to Rexburg and tracked the flight, switching their shuttles back and forth to get them on the quickest one. They got into Rexburg about 9 pm and she picked them up and took them back to her apt where she had a hot supper waiting. On Saturday, she got everyone to their apartment complexes and unloaded...took Andrew for a haircut and everyone to Walmart for supplies, out to our storage unit and back to the apartments..to the grocery store and back...and even made Andrew's bed!!

I know the kids appreciated her efforts to welcome them and especially her desire to put Jenny at ease and make her feel as if she has family out in frozen world...they have all thanked her... but I wanted to take a moment and tell the world (ok my world anyway) how very thankful I am for not only her willingness to help them but her JOY at being able to serve them!

She saw Brittany Pinson and her Dad at Walmart and reports that Brittany looked happy and gorgeous! Holly is out there somewhere with her Mom and Jill and her husband will be back soon. So there is a little mini Palmetto State group in Rexburg and LaNelle wants to get them all together once a month for a home cooked meal and some "southern comforting".

LaLa, we are soooo thankful you are there to mother all the kids so far from home...

GOOD JOB MAH!!

Y'all have fun and tell everyone to post pictures!!!!

A Quiet New Year's Eve

Peter flew home from SLC on New Year's eve. Connor was so happy to see his big brother! Ellen picked him up at the airport and met us at the Embassy Suites in Charlotte.

We all went out to eat at Carrabba's. The food was delicious and the company great but Ellen and I were both feeling pretty rough...a nasty cold has been circulating and we got caught by it.

They are such a cute couple. We just adore Ellen and apparantly Peter does, too!

The plans were to spend New Year's Eve at First Night in downtown Charlotte but after dinner, I was really feeling terrible and as much as I wanted, I could not imagine walking around in the cold...and if you know me, you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE New Year's celebrations and can usually ignore feeling sick or tired so I am pretty sad about this...my sweet family chose to stay with me at the hotel and we watched football...

and played some games...

and then my non-alcoholic champagne needed an opener I did not have so we didn't even toast in the New Year...but we wore our crowns and blew our horns and exchanged our traditional kisses...we sure missed all our friends and family we normally party with but it's not a bad thing to stop occasionally and just enjoy the quiet moments in life...

Patti and Andrew were pretty bored so I am sure they will be even more excited to get back to the iceburrrgggg where they have so many friends...hopefuly later today I will feel well enough to visit with my good friends here in Charlotte! Regardless, it's now 2009 so...

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

Our wish is that 2009 will bring every good thing to your family...