Day 4 - Wide Awake

Today is Day 4 of my Clean program. I feel GREAT. Prior I went thru 4 days of what is called the Elimination phase, preparing for the program - eliminating sugars, starches, caffiene :( - and it really seemed to help transitioning into the program. While 8 days seems to be such a short time to notice changes - I'm sleeping like a baby...every night. I've even been waking up before the alarm goes off (and then shutting my eyes of course - because that would be crazy to actually get up!). I thought it would be harder than it has been - but it's really been great. Wonderful shakes for breakfast and dinner and a good Clean lunch.
*Special thanks to my sweet husband who has helped me be strong and been my guinea pig for Clean meals :) (He's actaully eating them for dinner before I eat them the next day for lunch)...and for not laughing at me for too long - after the food processor spit my cucumber and lemon soup all over myself and the kitchen. Apparently the appliance is not quite as big as I thought.

Day 1 - Surviving Temptation

OK, I'm not going to post on every day of my cleanse - but yesterday (day 1), I made it thru Candy's Monday Spaghetti Dinner and then sat there while everyone drooled over a fabulous Cinnabon recipe that Tanya did for dessert. I'm pretty sure that deserves a post :)
p.s. I will be looking forward to trying the Cinnabon dessert post cleanse - Tanya, need to get that recipe...

CLEAN

Ok - Today is day one in preparation for my CLEAN program.
To do: A list of things to ELIMINATE from my diet.
It's noon - I'm really craving anything other than what is on my OK list :) Headed to Sprouts for some coconut water and fresh fruit.

Zippy the Matrix

Our first car! We got it last night...and we're so excited!

Rocky Ridge

yea - that's me...my first dirtbike trip. Only one wipeout, and the most fun ever!

Franklinton, Louisiana

A couple of weekends ago - we went on a road trip - Mom and Dad, Hollen and Joseph, and Jeremy and I. Dad rented a big Yukon, and we made our way down to Franklinton, LA. Mom was born in the small hospital (house) on the main street thru town. Mom and Dad were married at the church a couple miles down the road. A beautiful, quiet town - jam packed full of family history. My great uncles still live on the farm that my great grandparents brought to life.
We used to go to Louisiana when we were little - in the dead of summer. It was hot, mosquitoes everywhere - and some of my favorite memories. We'd start the day in kitchen - MawMaw made us REAL oatmeal and MawMaw biscuits. After an afternoon running around, we'd have watermelon outside - then come in, for hopefully a dinner of chicken and dumplings - the best chicken and dumplings,period.
MawMaw's still cracking jokes - at 102 - just thinking about her now, makes me smile. What a wonderful weekend.

Flag Football

Little brothers are fun. We went and hung out with ours last night - ok, technically he's my brother-in-law, but at 9 years old (almost 10) - I think "brother" suits him better. Jacob had flag football practice last night at the elementary school. It was a refreshing night, standing over the chain link fence we watched Jacob catch passes, weave in and out of the other players, and run like crazy. Arguably the best one on the team. It's funny how a night with a 9 year old can help put things into perspective. For a couple of hours, the worries and stresses of work and everyday life - don't even cross your mind. For a couple of hours you're reminded of what's really important. Hearing stories of playing with friends and the anticipation of summer camps coming up...
Oh, and our little football fan - just happens to be a gentleman too. He opened all the doors for me, and insisted that I go first wherever we were going. He's quite the little man. We finished by watching the last regular season Mav's game - laying on our tummies - me reading a magazine (that Jacob carefully chose for me), and him practicing his drawing. A real good day.

Preparing for Ledger

A proud Dad to be - Jose prepares for baby Ledger. He's even arranged the transformers into to fighting poses for Edge. Don't get too excited Joseph, Zea says the toys have to stay at his house...

Sunday Nights

Sunday's are the best days, and are always looked forward to in the Malazzo house. Part of the anticipation is the consistency, part the reboot for the week ahead. As it usually does, today it was a fresh start at a wonderful church - today addressing the world's view of religion. Next a great study on Exodus with a teacher who can seemingly blend the Old Testament with what we all faced just last week. We finished the morning with brunch with friends, at Aubrey's best Mexican restaurant.

We had an afternoon nap on a beautiful Texas afternoon. Sunny and 70 - also known as the perfect day in God's country. Jeremy cleaned his dirt bike, after "the best day ever" of riding yesterday - and I caught up on a couple of magazines - with Glenn Beck in the background.

The perfect day was completed with the perfect Sunday night. We picked up Hollen and Joseph and headed over to Mom and Dad's - for Dad's "Chimenea Night". We got to Plano just before sunset. I would guess that a lot of people enjoy time spending with their parents - even more so once older, and you can appreciate the relationship and wisdom. But if I could have one wish tonight - it would be that my kids would look forward to it, as much as we do. We can't wait to get over there - to sit down, reflect on our past week and our week ahead, and get the update on Mom and Dad's weekend Estate Sale buys. This week it was toys for Ledger, did I tell you I'm going to be an aunt? :) Mom and Dad are everyday blessings. The perfect balance of soft and tough - the combination of what every person longs for in their own lives. While vastly different, they are perfectly suited - and very similar in the most important ways. We love every minute spent with them - every remembrance, and everything that we all look forward to sharing together in the future. Thank you Mom and Dad, love you :)

Today

So - I'm just getting started...inspired by my Dad, to chronicle my life and thoughts. Where do I start?