I hope all of you have had a great week. I took this past week off to get started with school. I realized that this year I’m schooling a preschooler, a 1st grader, a 3rd grader, a 5th grader, a 9th grader and a senior in high school. (My oldest daughter is a junior in college this year.) Yikes.
Anyway, even though I took a break from blogging – don’t think that I wasn’t thinking about what I wanted to share with you, and that I didn’t miss catching up on what’s happening with your weight loss/weight maintenance efforts.
To round out my busy week – yesterday evening we celebrated my birthday. Which one you might ask? Well – let’s just say it’s more than 40. Sadly.
My birthday theme was in celebration of my new iPhone, which I have enjoyed. Here I am sitting at a giant display of my iPhone. The kids made pictures to represent things about me. One child drew a picture of our 12-passenger van, another drew running shoes, my second daughter drew weights and a stop watch and several of the kids drew cooking related things. It made me stop and think how my life is defined. Cooking, family, and healthy living. Not bad.
My hubby made me a delicious lemon cake that I ate a good-sized piece of. Very tasty!
Then the kids, John and I posed for the traditional birthday shot. With nine people – it’s hard to get everyone a) looking at the camera, b) smiling and c) even remotely paying attention!
I opened my presents. I got a little food processor, some make-up, some fancy tea, a subscription to Runner’s World magazine, desk accessories and these really fabulous purple garden boots from John!
I feel so blessed! Not for the material presents, but for my health, my ability to tromp around in the garden without feeling tired, running on occasion and being surrounded by such an amazing family.
Thank you to all my blogging friends for being with me on this journey for the past two and a half years. Diane
It was your blog that got me started blogging and I am still motivated by looking at your before/current pictures and reading your words. I’m also going to enjoy watching the progress of your family as they grow up. Hope you continue blogging for a long, long time! Happy Birthday, Diane – you are a friend to so many people!
Sharon´s last fabulous musings ..The Blog, It Is A Changin’
That is so humbling!
very glad you have a joyous day. loved the pics.
Vickie´s last fabulous musings ..not running from the camera, still find the mirror my friend
A big Happy Birthday to you and I am glad you have enjoyed it with your family.
blackhuff´s last fabulous musings ..Weight loss, patience and goals
Happy bday Diane! I love how your life is defined & what a wonderful one with family all surrounding you! Not bad gifts either!
You have a beautiful family!
Jody – Fit at 53´s last fabulous musings ..Lessons Learned & Happy Bday Dad
Happy Birthday Diane!!! Looks like you had a wonderful day!!!
Looks like you had an awesome day and I love your big iPhone
Great idea.
Happy Birthday
Julia´s last fabulous musings ..Catching up and cooking
Happy birthday!
Karen@WaistingTime´s last fabulous musings ..Toto, We’re Not in Healthy-Eating-Ville Anymore
Happy Birthday, and I’m so glad you had a wonderful day with your family. Thank you for all you give to the weight loss blogging world. You have made a difference.
Happy Birthday, Diane!!!! What a great idea…the iPod dinner table.
What a testimony you are…thank YOU for sharing your healthiness journey with us these past two-and-a-half years. *hug*
Leah´s last fabulous musings ..C25K on Hold
No “sadly” about it. You look great and I’m sure that you can run circles around the under 40 crowd.
Happy Birthday…
‘Drea´s last fabulous musings ..The Energizer or The Gospel According to My Yoga Teacher
Happy birthday! You aren’t the only one past 40, and although I look in the mirror in increasing horror (that is my MOTHER’S neck, not mine!), I have to say that the years piling up is better than the alternative
Cake is awesome. My birthday is an annual excuse for massive, outrageous cake consumption, no matter where I am on my weight loss journey.
Your family is beautiful
Amanda´s last fabulous musings ..WW Weigh-In, Week 24
Thank you for sharing your joyous and healthy celebration! Happy birthday to a awesome mom and inspiring friend!
Jane~
Keepingthepoundsoff
Jane C´s last fabulous musings ..Introducing the Final Number
Happy Birthday!!! I love your family picture! We have so much in common with 7 children,living in TN, homeschooling, and August birthdays (I won’t mention that over 40 thing)!!
Now if I can get to my goal weight, we will have more in common! ha. Well you have a few more things I’d like to have in common like gardening! Your blog is just very inspiring, and always makes me think.
Brenda´s last fabulous musings ..7 Days of Juicing DONE!!!
happy birthday! everyone’s getting so big! i’m with ya on the school: we have 2 graduates, and i’m homeschooling a kindergartner, 3rd grader, 7th grader, 10th grader and a senior. time really does fly.
love your encouragement and appreciate you, diane!
jodi
Happy Birthday! It sounds like your family went all out and made it a special day for you. That huge iPhone is just amazing. What a talented family. I’ve never tried lemon cake before but that sounds like it would be fantastic.
Happy Birthday again – what day was it? I just hit the big 3-0 last Friday!
Ali @ Peaches and Football´s last fabulous musings ..Earthquakes and Thunderstorms
Happy Birthday, Diane!
Knowing you has been a real pleasure!
Hi Diane! I’m glad you had a super birthday! Your kids made your birthday so special, as mine do for me. It just makes my heart melt with happiness for you. What a truly lovely family.
I really like your purple gardening boots. So cute!
I think birthdays are a time for compliments. You are a very classy and special person. And you are quite pretty in for your 40-something age. Plus, you are inspirational. Yay for you!
Affection for Fitness´s last fabulous musings ..Eating Healthy 30-Day Challenge: Day 1
Happy birthday! The cake looks delicious.
Lisa´s last fabulous musings ..The Portland Century – Part 3
Happy Birthday Diane!
You are have a beautiful family. I really enjoy your blog.
Sue
Happy Birthday Diane! You look so happy in all of these pictures! You have a beautiful family!!!
Jill´s last fabulous musings ..Gluten Free is not a Free Pass to Unhealthy!
Happy Birthday!!! Glad you enjoyed the cake because birthdays without cake is just wrong.
The 40somethings are not so bad especially when you have so much to be thankful for.
You are very lucky to have such a beautiful family and be surrounded by loved ones on your special day.
Happy Birthday Diane!
Lori´s last fabulous musings ..Taking a tumble
Happy Belated Birthday! I always remember from past posts that you guys have “themed” parties and I’ve always thought that was so clever. Hope this is a great year for you, Diane!
Happy Birthday blessings to you! That Iphone table decor was so cute! You are very blessed Diane!
Tami@nutmegnotebook.com´s last fabulous musings ..Celebrating Life
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great year!
Jenna´s last fabulous musings ..Small things help me get back on track
Love the family picture here!!I hope I can experience that too…
Angela´s last fabulous musings ..muscle building shakes
Another Happy Birthday Wish Diane, looking great, fine and fit!
Particularly love the Pink / Purple Gumboots! Very handy for the garden.
Jolie
Jolie´s last fabulous musings ..How to Get Great Looking Abs
Happy Birthday Diane, you’re looking so fit and healthy! Love the lemon cake – that’s a must on a birthday – a slice of cake!
Liz@LastChanceTraining´s last fabulous musings ..Learning the ropes!