10% off

10% off me that is! My weigh-in tonight marked the point where I have now lost 10% of my starting weight. And yes, I am very proud of myself. But I am more excited that after the shocker that was 2008 that I really feel in control of my life. I feel focused. I feel motivated. I have the power to change my life. Losing 10.5kg is more than just weight loss. It's the visible sign of the immense change that is going on inside me. I am well on my way to being the person I want to be. And it feels good. Really, really good.

Did someone call for a taxi?

I assume all mothers have days/weeks where they feel like a taxi service. At this stage I do school drop-off x5, school pick-up x5, daycare drop-off x2, daycare pick-up x2, Callum's indoor soccer on Wednesdays, Callum's swimming lesson on Saturdays and Annabelle's kindygym on Fridays. And I know it is only going to get worse!

A quick catch-up:
CASS
* I am feeling great! Physically exhausted, but emotionally great!
* I am off the anti-depressant medication (have been for nearly 2 months now) and I am feeling fantastic.
* I have been looking into completing a Grad Dip in Education (Primary). I've submitted the first of a heap of paperwork that goes along with it and will hear back from that within 30 days. Basically it will tell me whether my B.Sc degree have sufficient variety of subjects to qualify me, or whether I will need to go back to uni and do a few more subjects before I can enrol in the Dip.Ed.
* I have finally started to relax regarding the housework. I get the basics done (cooking, washing, clean dishes) but the rest gets done when I have a chance. I've discovered that the house might be messy, but my family are much happier.
* We've been catching up with friends a lot more too, which has been awesome. I missed seeing them last year when I was too down to organise anything.

CALLUM
* He is loving school. He has made a heap of friends and is doing great.
* Had a school concert last Friday. I had tears of pride in my eyes as I watched him stand in front of the hall full of people and speak into the microphone. He read a story while his classmates acted it out. He was loud and clear and didn't seem the slightest bit nervous.
* He has his soccer finals this afternoon and will be getting a trophy. Very cool!

ANNABELLE
* Annie has settled into daycare well. She seems to love the sandpit the most (at least that's what I assume from the amount of sand that covers her when I pick her up in the afternoon!).
* I enrolled Annie in Kindygym where she runs, tumbles, climbs, bounces and has a huge amount of fun.
* She has a few words - Mum, Dad, hat, cat, ummmmmm (for food), hi, bye, see ya, no. She also has the occasional sentence, usually "I did it".

DALE
* For a catch-up on Dale, visit his blog and hassle him to update it! :) Oh, and ask him to a recent photo since he has lost 16kg since the one on his blog was taken!

All is well

All is well in the King household. Annie was at daycare today so I spent 1.5 hours at Callum's school doing reading with his class. I love spending time with the kids and it reminds me why I had wanted to be a teacher years ago (note to self - look into what qualifications I need to get to be a teacher or teacher's assistant). When I got home I mowed the lawn and then gave myself an hour to relax on the lounge and have lunch. I'd earned it. ;)

Callum had a friend over this afternoon to play. It is interesting watching the two boys. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses. Each has areas where they are wise beyond their years, and each has areas where they really act their age. Each has a lot to teach the other.

Annabelle has worked out how to climb up on to the lounge, but not how to get off (without hitting the floor hard). Poor little thing!

Oh, and I lost another 0.5kg, bringing my total to 3kg lost this year. Go me! :)

Here are a couple of layouts from the retreat weekend.

Awesome weekend

I had a fabulous weekend in Kangaroo Valley with a super bunch of ladies. Lots of eating, drinking, scrapping, swimming, relaxing and simply enjoying each other's company. Can't wait to do it all again soon. Here's a group pic (minus two ladies who left early). For more pics, head to Cath's blog. For the layouts I created (I think I managed 7, you'll have to wait until I get around to scanning them in!).

Happy birthday Dale!

He's the love of my life, the father of my beautiful children, my partner for over 12 years (husband for nine of those). He makes me smile, he makes me laugh and most importantly he makes me believe in myself. Dale, I love you with all my heart and feel like the luckiest woman in the world to have you by my side. Happy birthday darling!