WOO HOO!!

Just found out the following:

1.) My sweet son, Hudson, was a runner-up in a photo contest on psgetti.com! I submitted a baby picture of him covered in spaghetti sauce (natch) and we win some tasty sauce. ;) Sweet!



2.) I won a random drawing giveaway from McMommy and Me! Yeah, baby!



Check out these awesome sites and see what you might win one of these days. Plus - the McMommy Chronicles is one of the funniest blogs I read. I love it!

Awesome Veggie Tales Giveaway!

Head over to 5 Minutes for Mom and check it out! Super cool Veggie Tale giveaway - valued at over $500!!! Sweet! I am crossing my fingers to win this guy for our school - you should try too!

Lots of great giveaways this holiday season - in addition to just a great daily blog read!

Check them out!

Time to Shrink away.

And no, I do not mean shrink away from life or into oblivion.


I mean literally SHRINK away.


I am one of those super fortunate people who will just always have to work out. And eat right. And never touch carbs. Or else I will end up a zillion pounds overweight.


Aren't you jealous?


I have always been a "curvy" girl and I love that. I really do - I am not a fan of stick thin bodies. I love having a more hourglass figure and my husband loves it too. ;) However...the hourglass has been lost. Now it's more like a grandfather clock.


Not pretty.


After I had Hudson the lbs. just melted away (Hooray for breastfeeding!) Once we had to stop...slowly, but surely, the lbs. just piled on. So...16 lbs heavier than my lowest post birth weight (whew! did you get that?) I am really really really really really really ready for a change.


As you may have read on this blog, the past couple of months have been FULL of change. And all change for the BETTER. I am in such a better place emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically.

Last week I joined a Fitness bootcamp.


And it's at 5:30AM.


I must be crazy! I am SOOOO not a morning person, but after work/school is dedicated to family time and other commitments, so I never made exercise my priority. The hubs has had to alter his work schedule so I can go before work, which even though I complain every day about going, I sooo appreciate his doing this and so appreciate his thoughtfulness when he literally shoves me out of the bed. (He probably doesn't care at all if I go workout - just wants the whole bed to himself. Stinker.)

Anyway.

Last week I went 4 days and was so sore I didn't think I had the strength to sit down in a chair. It hurt THAT bad. But I pushed through and was really proud. I'm planning to go to boot camp 3 days a week and work out on my own the other days. I have two girlfriends that are going with me, so that helps TREMENDOUSLY! We totally encourage and motivate each other. I hope we can keep it up. I am having the most trouble with my EATING. I don't plan meals/snacks well, so I always forget to take snacks or lunch to school and end up gorging in the afternoon/evening because I'm so starved. And this is a bad plan.

Today I was reading The Miss Elaine-ous Life and saw her post about the Shrink-a-versary Extravaganza Challenge. I decided that I better check it out.


I am soooo glad i did!!! I am joining up. I love my online and bloggy friends, so this will be a great way to encourage my soul a little more. I have a long way to go - but I'm up for the challenge!

I am not ready to publish my weight (it's totally embarrassing!) but it's safe to say that I need to lose about 30lbs. I'd be thrilled with 20 though!

So for this challenge, I am challenging myself to run, go to bootcamp and eat more thoughtfully. I don't want to set a weight goal because I don't want to discourage myself if I don't hit it. I want to try to change my habits and I know that it took years to put the weight on, so it's not going (healthfully) come off overnight. So - to all those out there with fitness goals - come on board! Let's do this!!!

Homecoming 2009....in Lago Vista

This past friday night was Lago Vista High School's 2009 Homecoming game. We took Hudson last year and he has a lot of fun, so we toyed with the idea of going again this year.

On Friday morning I was so exhausted, I was certain that we'd just skip it.

Then PawPi called and said that our dear friend, Mr. Nick, had left a shirt for Hudson - that it was very important that we get it today.

You see, a few weeks ago, I'd mentioned to Mr. Nick that I wanted to get Hudson a LV Vikings Spirit shirt. Mr. Nick is very active in the booster club and said that we should get the "Running with the Vikings" shirt so that Hudson could run on the field before the game with the other kids. I said that would be cool - but left it at that.

Well, Mr. Nick is a very special fella and he and Hudson have a special friendship. So, Mr. Nick got Hudson the shirt just in time for the Homecoming game.

I figured I'd ask Hudson if he wanted to go and see what happened....well, the answer was a resounding YES!! He was THRILLED to get his new t-shirt. As soon as we got home, he got all dressed in his Viking gear, grabbed his football, and started running around the house "practicing" for how he was going to run on the field.

I took a moment to snap a few pic's of us in our Viking gear.



Um, yah. He's the cutest little Viking ever!



This is me, feeling slightly guilty for wearing blue and yellow. I'm a BA Tiger and am not sure how I feel about this new "hometown" team. At what point will I stop feeling like a traitor?

Anyhoo...we made it to the game and got to go on the field to line up. It was at this point that we realize that all of the other kids are in elementary school. Hudson is, BY FAR, the youngest and smallest kid. The decision was made for Jared to run with him. And no, Jared was not thrilled with this. However, because this was his alma mater, I felt that he should do it. Plus I wanted to see my sweet baby run his little heart out!





Anyhoo...the boys had a pep talk.


Then the football players came out and lined up behind the kids. Now Hudson looked REALLY little!



Then it was time to run! Daddy walked him through the big tunnel.



And then he took off!

This was the cutest thing I have ever witnessed and I had tears in my eyes because he was so adorable and determined and he RAN fast!

After we found a spot to sit, we started watching the game. Hudson was totally into it and stood up and cheered (without prompting) every time they scored!

All in all - a super fun night and we cannot wait to go back. Hudson fell asleep on the way home (at halftime) with his Viking shirt, hat, Dog Tags (souvenir), a Vikings koozie (another souvenir) on his arm, and his football in his arms.

I just wish I had a picture of that. ;)

My little musician.

Since Hudson was in utero, we have always surrounded him with music. In return, he is in love with music and instruments.

About a year ago - right around his 2nd birthday, his Nana started taking him to a music studio every couple of weeks. They would go during the day, before any lessons had begun, and the teacher, Mr. Eric, would let Hudson explore the instruments. They would talk about them and touch them and play them. Hudson loves doing this!

Mr. Eric is great because he doesn't "dumb down" anything just because Hudson is a toddler. We have never pushed or pressured Hudson to play any instruments, if he didn't want to go to his "lesson" he didn't have to - they were very informal and he could stay for 5 minutes or 45 minutes.

Usually it ended up over 45 minutes!

Anyway - for the past month or so, he hasn't really wanted to play his violin. We do not push this.

Then last week he pulled his violin out and this is what happened. =) I'm so proud of my little musician - he's not even 3 yet, but has a knowledge of music and instruments that I am in love with.


Click here to check it out (for some reason I can't upload videos today.)

Prayer Request - Longest Blog Ever

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."
Proverbs 16:3

A quick prayer request for myself! If anyone happens to read this tomorrow, this week, next week - or whenever. I ask that you please lift me up in prayer as I embark on a new journey.

Tomorrow I begin my new "job" as the Kindergarten/1st grade teacher at Rolling Hills Christian Academy. This is a very new, small Christian school in our little town.

A long time ago I thought it would be really neat to teach in a Christian school and I knew I wanted Hudson in a Christian based pre-school. So, we started him out in the Children's Day Out program at RH a couple of years ago. I really loved what they were doing and I really craved the spiritual nurturing that was going on!

Fast forward.

Several months ago I was fortunate enough to be cast in a lead role in our Summer Stock musical of Bye, Bye Birdie. I realized that I loved performing, being with people all the time, and sharing my God give talents and, most importantly, LEARNING. I realized that I was being incredibly stifled in my insurance job, and even though I appreciated the support they'd shown me during the musical, I just knew that God had other plans for me. I just wasn't sure what.

Early July, I was contacted about a job opening at RHCA. At the time, I really thought it over, but since they only offered CDO 3 days a week for Hudson, it would be really difficult for me to manage a pay difference AND find alternate care for Hudson 2 days a week. With a heavy heart, I turned down the offer.

I really hated to do that, but it just wasn't exactly right.

Late July, my family returned from our vacation. On Monday morning, our daily babysitter (my mother in law) told me that she needed to get a FT job. I understood as she'd been a blessing to our family and provided Hudson with care that was less expensive than a day care center AND he got to stay home. Then I promptly went into panic mode - what was I going to do? Where was I going to send him? Later that morning I read an email from RHCDO that said they were opening up the CDO program to 5 days a week.

The wheels in my mind started SPINNING! I immediately thought - THIS IS IT! I'm so unhappy in my current job situation, I MISS my family - the hours were brutal, and I was just NOT HAPPY. I had a great idea - if the K/1 teacher job was still open, maybe I could trade out child care AND take on the PT job as the Licensing Coordinator. I felt like we could financially work it out, and it could be the answer to my prayers.

I made a phone call.

A couple of hours later I had a voice mail. They had filled the positions.

I was super bummed. But knew that God would provide me with another avenue, I just had to keep my eyes and my heart open. I spent the next few days searching high and low for a new school for Hudson (one that didn't make my bawl my eyes out at the thought of leaving him) where he would be happy, and more important, SAFE. When you have a food-allergic kid, finding a new school is heart breaking, stressful, and panic-inducing.

Wednesday of that week, I visited a center and left in tears. I had no idea what to do. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't get the RCHA job out of my head. I knew it was filled, but it just seemed like it would be SO perfect. I prayed that God would help me find a safe place for Hudson and a job that my family could be happy with.

Wednesday evening I got a phone call from RHCA. I had told her that my circumstances had changed and that I'd wanted to discuss a job possibility. She asked me to elaborate and I told her the events of my week. I told her how I'd really felt like this was where I was supposed to be, but knew that the position was filled, so I'd love it if they would keep me in mind for other opportunities.

"Well", she said. "The other teacher was supposed to sign contracts today, and it's not going to work out."

WHAT!!!!!!! I heard angels singing - I am so serious!

I was giddy with excitement, I'm sure I sounded a hot mess on the phone - I thought my heart was going to explode! After a LONG phone conversation, I just knew in my heart of hearts that this is what God wanted for me. I agreed to think it over, talk to my husband and pray about it.

Which I did.

The next morning I went to work with a sense of relief and a smile on my face. I knew what I had to do. I just wasn't sure how to go about leaving the insurance job. I needed the income for August, and still didn't know what I was going to do about childcare for August. I had a lot to figure out. The most important - when do I put in my notice!

At 11:45, I was called into an office and let go. A huge sense of relief and happiness washed over me. This was THE answer to my prayer. I'd asked God to please tell me that leaving the insurance job was what He wanted me to do. I'd asked God to help me figure out childcare for Hudson and I'd asked God to help me have the words/timing for turning in my notice. In 10 minutes, all of my prayers were answered.

God answered LOUDLY with a resounding YES.

And now, after a month of planning, praying and thanking the Lord, and spending a lot of overdue time with my sweet, sweet Hudson...

My new year has arrived.

Friend Makin' Monday

September is a new year, in my opinion. Our lives have changed A LOT in the past month and man, we are BLESSED with the opportunities that God has presented. I am creating my school year resolutions and at the top of the list: Maintain my blog. I sure miss it! So - in the spirit of my new "year" resolution and making new Blog Friends....I'm gonna participate in Friend Makin' Mondays! I read this originally over at one of my favorite blogs 1+1+1=1 and linked up! I hope you will too! Let me know if you do so I can learn more about YOU!



Welcome back to another week of Friend Makin' Mondays!!


So with that said, here's my version of 20 questions for you.


1. Do you cook every night?
I cook most every night. But I am pitiful when it comes to meal planning. I typically make whatever is the easiest and quickest. Although, my new job will allow me to be home more (earlier) in the afternoon, so I hope to start meal planning and making more creative and healthy choices for my family.


2. What kind of laundry detergent do you use & why?
Whatever is allergy and fragrance free and ON SALE. =)


3. Do you do laundry every day or loads at a time?
I do a couple of loads every few days. I don't care to do laundry every day. It stresses me out. Inevitably I think I got everything, and then my husband comes home and changes socks. My mission to be caught up: FAIL. It stresses me.


4. How often do you eat out per week?
I used to eat out for lunch several times a week. Now we eat at home. We are trying to budget/save money a little better. Eating out is a challenge for dinner/family time due to H2's allergies. Which is good for our wallet!


5. Where do you usually eat out?
If we have Hudson, Chili's (they have an allergy menu), if it's Jared and I, we usually end up at Texican Cafe'. Yummy food and better Mexican Martinis!


6. What is your favorite retail store?
♥Target♥

7. What's your favorite thing to drink?
Dr. Pepper


8. Do you take vitamins? What kind?
I'm bad about remembering to take vitamins. They make me sick to my stomach. If I do remember to take them, then Melaleuca vitamins or a generic multi vitamin.


9. What percentage of the household chores to you do?
85%


10. Do your children do chores? {Or will they, did they, etc}
Not yet, but he DEFINITELY will do chores. After his birthday we'll start some small chores. He does help his PawPi read water meters and get's paid in Animals from the Tractor Supply store.


11. Do you go to church?
Not as regularly as we should. This is a goal for this year.

12. Do you have a housework schedule?
No, but I need one! I need an insight into yours. I make lists, but I would like to have a system.

13. Do you keep a working budget?
No, we're pretty bad at that. But we are good with our money. We just need to cut back a little more.

14. What do you do at night as a family?
We eat dinner together, and lately I have been doing a lot of work on the computer. I've been home with Hudson during the days (A BLESSING!), but need him to have his Daddy time in the evening so I can get my work done.


15. How do you prepare yourself for a new week?
I like to get the house in order on Sundays {except for today!!}. I try to get laundry mostly done, the house cleaned & in order. It helps me feel prepared.

16. What do your mornings look like?
Everything changes tomorrow! I am a little stressed - I have to be at work, with Hudson prepped and ready for school, by 7:45AM every day. I haven't had to be at work before 8:30 in YEARS. I am going to be figuring out my plan of action tonight! Wish me luck. =)

17. What time do you get up in the mornings?
I am NOT a morning person, which is why the above will be a challenge. I imagine we'll need to be up no later than 6:30 every day. Ugh.

18. What time do you go to bed at night?
I try to be in bed no later than 10 or 10:30. Hubby and I watch TV for a bit, then lights out.

19. How do you manage all of the paperwork that floods into your household? {bills, school work, magazines, ads, etc}
Piles, Piles and more Piles. Another resolution of this "year". I'm SICK OF IT!

20. How do you keep your household organized? {calendars, charts, etc}
We are implementing a new household calendar. We have lots going on and it's only going to get worse as Hudson starts lessons and I have staff meetings, etc. I am excited, but have GOT to get more organized. ASAP!

So....let's learn more about YOU! Link it up over here.

Are you there bloggers? It's me, Elisabeth.

Holy Cow.

How things have changed in the past two months.

I have so much to share - and promise to do so over the next few weeks.

I've missed my little blog here and can't wait to get all caught up and fill you all in on the new adventures of the Hunter family!

Life is good.
God is GREAT.

You Capture. Family.

The Challenge:

You Capture. Family.





When I first saw the theme of this week - this was the first picture that popped into my head. This was one of the first "family" photo's that my little family took. This was just a couple of hours after Hudson was born - and we were beyond thrilled.



Okay - now it's YOUR turn. Read up on the challenge here at I Should Be Folding Laundry.



Want to see more of this week's challege and link yourself up?? Go here!


Oh - and by the way - if you do it - leave me a comment and let me know!!

Conversations with my Son

(10:00pm - trying to get Hudson to sleep)

Hudson: Mommy, tickle my belly.

Mommy: (tickles belly)

Hudson: Do the caterpiller.

Mommy: (tickles like a caterpiller) Monkey, mommy's tummy doesn't feel very good, so I'm going to go lay down. I love you so much.

Hudson: Maybe if I sing you a song you will feel better.

Mommy: (heart has melted into a puddle of the floor) - I bet you're right.

Hudson: Jesus Loves Me This I know....(sings the whole song)

Mommy: Thank you honey - that was so nice of you to help mommy feel better.

Hudson: Now you are good. You are feeling good.

Mommy: (Smiles and kisses her boy.)

Hudson: Now tickle my belly.