Piano Players Playing Proudly

Oh no...I discovered that Sis's camera takes video clips...you will be wishing that I didn't figure that out. Now the big dilemma of pics or clips will run through my head constantly!! I have been using Sis's camera a LOT lately because my nice Cannon SLR has broken and I just can't justify that $250 that it will cost to repair it...so if anyone has connections in the camera repair world feel free to let me know!

Tonight was our Christmas Piano Recital. A bunch of the kids in our neighborhood take from one of the cute, strike that, beautiful teenage girls in the neighborhood (I was hoping that this point would make Jake a little more excited about taking piano lessons - but NO - not even a beautiful girl can outweigh the bad attitude of my hopeless 12 year old...as will be apparent at the end of his clip!) I took little clips of each of the kids playing their recital pieces. I didn't realize I could take the video clips until after Keebler had already played his piece, so his is actually a reenactment that is why people are talking during the start. I feel really bad because he makes a small mistake in what I recorded, but you'll just have to trust me that he played it without any mistakes during the actual performance.

Enjoy!! (they are all short I promise)


Jolly Old St. Nicholas


Up On the Housetop


Pat A Pan

Just a Little Side Note...
Sis was just reading my blog checking out some of my latest posts and read the one titled "Before and After". Oh how I wish I would have had a camera handy to capture her expression when she saw my "Before" picture...it was priceless!! We both had a good laugh and I am glad she doesn't really remember me like that (even if it was just 6 short months ago). I guess all my hard work of making sure I wasn't in many photos really paid off!! That should be incentive right there to try and keep the weight off, right? Apparently, my kids will only remember me how I am today!!

Before & After

I have been meaning to post for a while but just can't seem to find the time...if I am ever going to really use this blog for true "journaling" and "family history" kinds of reasons than I MUST get better about posting! (Oh I feel a New Years resolution coming on....)

Many of you have been watching me over the past several months and can see that I am half the woman I use to be - LITERALLY (well at least a third of what I use to be)!!!! Back in May I joined a Biggest Loser contest hosted by my very caring and oh so wonderful friend and neighbor, Ann. I almost did not join the contest because just the thought of having to let others know my actual weight was almost unbearable! But when push came to shove I realized two things...first, it's not like I could hide the fact that I was fat! It was kind of obvious!! And second, I really wasn't joining the contest for any one else but me!! So I swallowed my pride and joined in the fun...determined that I would have to be successful OR would have to hide my fat butt in shame forever!!

The contest was from May 17th to August 9th and I felt I was very successful. I lost 40 pounds and was more determined than ever to continue to lose more! I was very sad to find out that Ann was taking a hiatus from hosting the contest, but being so very determined to continue losing...I decided to host my own. That second Biggest Loser contest ran from August 30th to November 22nd (I'm no fool...I wanted it over to enjoy the Holidays!!) And again, I feel I was very successful. This second contest I lost 20 more pounds. I am only 10 pounds away from reaching the original goal I set for myself back in May. But now that I am here so close and doing so well I have decided to tack on another 15 pounds to that goal. I am now hoping to lose a 25 pounds more. That would bring my grand total to 85 pounds...so wish me luck!! If I can do it I know I will be VERY satisfied!! Hence another New Years resolution (okay I know I am really a big dork...this year is not even over and I am already looking on what to improve about next!!!)

Let's just hope that is part of the new me! You see almost 5 years ago I was in that same bad shape and managed to lose 60 pounds. But as hard as it was I was always just focused on losing the weight. I never once thought about the future and how to keep it off. Unfortunately, I gained it all back plus 10 more! And as many of you know out there...it is a lot of hard work to get weight off....I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN!! So now it is all about thinking ahead and knowing what I need to do even before I have to do it!! Maybe that kind of thinking can rub off on some other aspects in my life :)

Needless to say when I am over weight I do NOT like to have my picture taken...so I really had to dig to find a "Before" picture to use! Here I am just 60 pounds ago. I am still a little amazed that some people haven't noticed that I have lost weight...but again I don't really care...I didn't want to lose weight for any one else but me!! BEFORE:





Here is what I looked like at the end of the First Biggest Loser. Sorry, I am really hardly in any pictures...so ones of just me are even harder to find! MIDDLE:





I got smart and with the second Biggest Loser contest I actually took pictures of everyone at the weigh-in! AFTER:



I just want everyone to know how thankful I am to Ann for inviting me to join her contest. I will be forever in your debt! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Ann! But that doesn't even come close to thanking you...honestly there are NO words that can truly express my deep gratitude!! It is funny because one of the contestants in the contest I hosted gave me a big hug at the final weigh-in and told me that she was grateful to me. And of course, I told her how grateful I was to Ann. I told her maybe this is a "pay it forward" kind of thing...since Ann was so kind in helping me and now that I have helped others...maybe they too can in turn help someone else!!

I have decided to host another contest in January. The first weigh-in will be January 10th and the contest will run another 12 weeks. Let me know if you are interested in joining in the fun...or if someone you know might be interested as well!