Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from the Loftus Quartet! We thought we would attempt a holiday letter this year to let everyone know that we are healthy, happy, and optimistic that 2011 will be another great year for our little family. As we reflect on 2010, we realize time is moving at much too fast a momentum and life gets busier and busier with each passing moment. We hope this letter finds everyone in good health and joyful hearts. I’ll be brief in our family update and do my best to stick to the facts :o)

Martin J.Loftus once told me that boys should be born wearing helmets. Martin T. Loftus wasn’t sure what to make of that statement being that his father’s knowledge of this must have been based on his own childhood, but 2010 proved my father-in-law’s statement to be true. Christian is 100% boy and I find myself repeatedly stating, “Slow down, sit down, settle down, calm down, quiet down…” Apparently “down” is the common denominator in most phrases used towards our tenacious three-year-old. However, amongst all that wonderful energy, there lies a sweet and lovable little man. He adores his father and at least 104 times a day he claims that he will grow up to be a “fixer-helper” with his dad because HIS dad, and ONLY HIS dad, can fix anything in the whole world and they are the best buddies ever!

It is amazing how with your first child you cannot wait for their first words and phrases and then with your second child, you realize that as soon as they begin talking, silence as you know it will cease to exist. Christian’s speech has exploded this year and I cherish that adorable way he pronounces words with the “r” sound, but as you can imagine, we hardly get two words in while our children are awake.

Marissa is now in the 1st grade (unbelievable!) and her speech and pronunciation is starting to sound more like her brother’s…I guess we could blame her teeth for that, or rather, the lack there of; this has been a year of frequent visits from the tooth fairy. The lack of teeth has not slowed her down in regards to being a little chatterbox at school though! Regardless of her articulation, her reading and writing skills are sky-rocketing and she is excelling in all school subjects. This year, she has taken great interest in history. She’s always eager to learn more about Native Americans, Pilgrims, Colonial times and more recently, Maryland history. We took a couple trips this year to historical landmarks. We visited Uncle Greg and Aunt Diana in Colonial Williamsburg and then visited friends in Massachusetts to see Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation.

Marissa’s obvious true love is music. This is apparent in her non-stop singing. She is in her third year of piano lessons and she is progressing beautifully. I like to say that Marissa wakes up with a “song in her heart”. The happier she is, the more she sings. She finds music in just about every moment of the day and it is both wonderful and challenging to hear the music coming from every cell in her body. We will be amazed if Marissa doesn’t grow to have some career in musical arts. We do our best to teach her appropriate moments to share her melodious delight, but we’re quickly realizing that we are characters in the musical production, “The Life and Song of Marissa Loftus”. We’ll be sure and notify you all when this hits Broadway.

Marty and I are working hard, as usual, and there isn’t much to report on the business front. We’re still in business and that’s a blessing in itself based on the previous years in this economy! Our businesses were not immune to the struggles 2009 and 2010 brought upon so many, but we buckled down and persevered and we truly hope 2011 brings brighter days for all! Marty has started another business venture and we’re optimistic that it will do well. He’s working with a partner and they started the business, LB HOMES, a design and build company. As you know, Marty loves new projects and I think this will be something he can really sink his teeth into!
Our main goal for 2010 was improving our health, both physically and mentally. We both lost a substantial amount of weight and in my efforts to keep up with my young husband; I pushed myself to extreme goals and competed in a Women’s Figure Competition, a division of Body Building. I did very well, considering it was my first time competing in this athletic event. I worked with an amazing personal trainer for over 6 months and got into the best shape of my life! I was so fascinated by the science and the process that I went on to achieve a certificate in personal training myself.

Marty was an immense support and trained and dieted alongside me. He researched everything from supplements to diet plans, bought kitchen equipment, developed workout routines, tolerated “carb cycling”, etc. It gave us something to work on together and we truly enjoyed the process. We were both competitive and supportive towards each other and I believe we discovered another element in our friendship through it all. I would say that both Marty and I are in top shape and feeling very good!

Marty and I just returned from our annual trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We had a wonderful 5 days as a couple and enjoyed the weather, the food, the peace…but definitely missed the kids and home. We’re back just in time for the freezing temperatures, snow and holiday bustle. We will be spending Christmas here in Annapolis and then heading to Bethany Beach for the New Year. We hope that everyone’s holiday season is filled with love, laughter, family and friends and may 2011 bring prosperity and many blessings for all!

Loving Life

I think that my greatest achievement has been becoming a mother. My kids are an absolute joy and even in the trying moments, I see that they are beautiful people who love life.

My daugther is just about the happiest person I've ever known. She sings, dances, talks (a little too much at school) and rarely has a bad day. She's so thoughtful and is great at problem solving because she looks for a solution that makes everyone happy. I've always been a little strict with her, but that's because I want to instill strong values and a good work ethic; looking at who she is at 6 years old, I feel confident that she will grow to be an amazing woman!

I was thinking the other day about who Marissa really is and what makes her so happy and I realized that the answer is really so simple. Marissa LOVES life. She finds joy and beauty in just about everything around her. She's optimistic; she's a dreamer, but she always creates her own happiness. What a great lesson for us all to learn! She doesn't rely on others to fulfill her life, she strives to bring happiness to others and she is confident that the world is full of magic and love.

You know, I believe she's right! How could anyone argue that when they see the kindness of a stranger, the love and friendship of siblings, the devotion of parents to their children and the perseverance of humanity in a crazy world. Obviously, with beauty and love comes ugliness and hate, but I'll take Marissa's stance, "love your life and take each moment with a smile!"

Before 30

My birthday came and went and man was it lovely! My husband made sure that I had a relaxing weekend and I really enjoyed myself!

As I reflected back on my 29 years, I realize that I am truly a blessed individual and I have so much to be thankful for. I can't believe how my life has turned out and I know that I too often take my life for granted.

Not that I think 30 is old, but since it is noted as a "milestone" in life, I will go ahead and create a list of things that I would like to accomplish this year.

1. Run a half marathon
2. Participate in the warrior dash
3. have a real start to my first book
4. travel wine country
5. take latin dance lessons


I'm sure that the list will grow. I've got 364 days to go, so I better get crackin'!

Turning 29

My birthday is in less than a week. I'm entering my last year of my twenties and I can't tell you how much I've looked forward to my thirties! However, now that I'm approaching 30, I'm starting to feel like time is moving too fast. My twenties were hard. I had a lot of growing pains, but I had a lot of joy too! I met my husband, got married, had two beautiful children, started a business... I have so much to be thankful for!

I can't help but wonder what my thirties will bring... What will I accomplish and what things do I have around the corner? I'm going to create a list of things that I would like to do before turning the big 3-0 and I'm also going to compile a list of things that I would like to do in my thirties! I'm excited, I think that my life is moving in a fabulous direction and I look forward to what this next decade will bring!

Harmony

I'm not sure I should even breathe this aloud; perhaps I'll jinx myself or spoil the moment. I'll do my best to not sound as though I'm gloating, but I can honestly say that my life is pretty damn near perfect. It's about time, too! After the year we've had, it is sweet relief to be able to openly admit that things are going so well. Mind you, we still have the daily issues, the bump and grind of hard work and the challenges of the not-so-hot economy. But overall, I feel that life, my life, has found harmony.

My children are at an extremely fun age. I didn't think I would enjoy Marissa being 6 as much as I do, but its turning out to be one of my most favorite stages! She's such a sweet sweet girl! She's smart and enthusiastic and just so full of life! I love it! She has really blossomed at school and even though she's a bit of a chatter box, I think for the most part she's doing very well. She's quieter at home and more thoughtful. She's also much more helpful than she's ever been. She does chores, helps with her brother and her and I share the most interesting conversations. She is an absolute delight...

Christian has hit the terrible 3's. Whoever came up with the "terrible 2's" obviously never had children. 2's were a breeze! 3's are a nightmare! Well, only a nightmare when the 3 year old doesn't get his way. Christian is talkative, funny, strong-willed and persistent. He's enjoyable because he's communicating so much better, but because he's communicating so much better...he's also much more demanding. Well, at least I know that this is just a phase and soon I'll be wishing he was still 3 and allowing me to cuddle him in my lap. As we know, boys grow up and their mother will not always be their number 1 gal. I'll take this while I can and appreciate him being so young.

Marty is my best friend. We're closer now than we've ever been in the almost 9 years we've been together. He's a saint. I say that a million times, I know, but its the truth. He's solid and steady and just always knows how to handle any situation. He's my level head and my voice of reason; anyone that knows me knows I definitely need a voice of reason! I just feel so connected to him and confident in our relationship. I don't question his love for me or the kids and I know that I bring so much to his life as well. I feel balanced.

Life is good. I definitely feel like I see the rainbow I've been searching for!

My Baby Boy is THREE

It's hard to believe that Christian is already three. He is just the sweetest little guy in the whole world. He is constantly cracking jokes, giving kisses and hugs and the stuff he says will just make you turn your head and listen!

This year, we celebrated with a Monster Party. He loved every minute of it. We had the party at a local park and we could not have asked for better weather.

I wish I could say that I love how big he is getting, but its hard for me to see my "baby" grow so fast. With Marissa, I couldn't wait for each milestone, but with Christian each day is just one step closer the realization that I no longer have a baby boy. He's wise beyond his years and has the best sense of humor. He's curious and strong and thoughtful and inquistive. He's so much like his daddy.

Speaking of daddy, Christian absolutely adores Marty. He follows him around, mimics everything that he does and will brush me off to the side to spend some quality time with his "best bud". I don't really mind it, as I love to see my husband in this role. I really do love my Loftus men. Christian constantly tells me that his daddy is his buddy and that when he grows up he's going to be a "fixer helper" like his dad and build things.

Christian is all boy; running, jumping, climbing and crashing. My father in law wasn't lying when he said most boys should be born with helmets on; all they do is run into walls. That pretty much sums up Christian's activity level. He's athletic and nimble. I have a feeling he's going to wear me out!

So here begins another year, I anticipate great things for my young man. I'm so proud of him; of both my children. They are such good little people!

A good day!

Today was a beautiful day. I watched my brother, Michael, stand there with his wife, Jessica and have their daughter baptized. It was such a blessing to witness...

My brother was always my sidekick. He was my best friend, my buddy, my partner in crime and my guinea pig in everything that I did as a child. He's 5 years younger than I am, but I have always felt extremely close to him. He married the second sweetest girl in the entire world and together they have the sweetest girl in then entire world, Savannah.

I stood there today, one row behind them, watching them as they held their daughter, standing with her sister, Heather and his best friend, Vince. Vince's girlfriend, Ronnie, snapping pictures, Vince's brothers (might as well be Michael's brothers too) Tyson, taking a video, the youngest brother of the Leone boys, Jonathan, beaming with pride (all four men dressed in matching shirts, vests and bowties!) you get the idea... EVERYONE played a huge part in today's events. Heather got emotional while standing there as Savannah was being blessed; that's when I lost it.

I looked around the room and I didn't see a baptizm; I saw a family--love. People standing in this little church, proclaiming to God, "We love this child." It gave my heart wings. During the ceremony, Savannah smiled, cooed and pointed at my two children. I was so touched by all the happiness, love and adoration that our family shared.

We went back to my parents' home for a reception. There we ate, chatted, laughed... It was such a nice time. Jessica's family visiting with our family; the Leone's (all debonair men) showing their support to my brother and his new little family. I felt 100% at peace. As my husband, kids and I headed home, I was overwhelmed with comfort and love. I was so proud of my brother and so touched to see how loved he, his wife and his child are by so many.

I can't really put into words the feelings that were silently passed through all the people today. All I can say is that family is made up of many things. It does not require anything except that those included are willing to stop the world to be there for those they care about. We celebrated a life being committed to Christ; what we witnessed was a family being committed to each other.

It was a good day; a very good day.

Suddenly Six

How did this happen? Marissa turns six this week. I just can't believe it; it seems as if I just brought her home from the hospital yesterday. I remember her wearing this tiny little pink outfit with little pink mittens on her tiny hands to keep her from scratching her face.

We brought her inside the house in her infant carrier and set it on the kitchen table and then looked at each other and said, "now what do we do?" Both Marty and I were just lost. She rarely cried, she slept a lot and I nursed round the clock. I remember setting the pack-n-play up in the living room and just sitting there staring at her. I was paralyzed by this overwhelming love unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Over the years we've reached many milestones; first tooth, first steps, first words... We moved from crib to big girl bed, Goodnight Moon to Junie B. Jones, diaper bags to tye-dye messenger bags filled with lip gloss, sunglasses and iPods (carried by her not by me) Gone are the days of organized play dates where the toddlers toddle around while the moms gossip and catch up on the latest baby trends; our social calendar now consists of movie playdates, drop off parties and giggling girls hiding in the bedroom talking about the latest and greatest as they prepare for first grade.

So she's suddenly six and I'm suddenly feeling the world spinning wildly as I chase any evidence that she's still a baby girl. I'm not too worried though, she still enjoys a good snuggle with me as we read together, we share our own giggles over pedicures and with each day that she grows more and more into a young lady, I feel her grow closer and closer to me in a special way that only a mother and daugther can understand.

Happy 6th Birthday, Princess. I love you more than chocolate cake...

Good Bye Kindergarten!

I feel like I just posted about her STARTING Kindergarten! When did she get so big? So school is officially over and the summer break has started. I enjoyed having Marissa at the preschool camps with me yesterday, although she looked so big next to all the preschoolers!

Next week the chaos of summer camps begin. She goes to dance camp, then science camp, then we'll go the beach to spend some time with the Fabulous Five aka The Foley Family, then we're back for Spanish camp then water camp then camp theater...it goes on and on for the next 12 weeks!

We selected 6 chapter books we will read over the summer. She's reading "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" right now. She LOVES it. She said she loves it even more than the movies! :o) That's my girl! Its bittersweet to see her reading on her own. I'm so proud of her, but I miss the close cuddle time we shared over "Silly Sally" and "Goodnight Moon" Now, she's reading those books to her brother!

I'm always amazed by how incredible a person Marissa is and will continue to be! She has her father's heart, a spark of her own and good head on her shoulders! Good bye, Kindergarten; look out world, here comes Marisssa!

I'm HERE!

I am absolutely terrible about posting to this blog. I guess I just don't feel that I have anything really that "important" to say. My life is pretty busy, but I think pretty normal. :o)

Some new things going on for me are that I got my personal training certification, I have my first "gig" with the band this weekend (have I posted yet that I'm going to start singing with a band? That will have to be a separate post!) I'm teaching the pre-k 4 class now and really enjoying it! So, preschool owner/director/teacher by day, personal trainer on the side and rockstar on the rise! LOL! Pretty normal if you ask me!

Marissa is in her last week of Kindergarten. I'm a blubbering mess! When did she get so big? Why does she have to grow up so quickly!?!?! She's almost SIX years old!!!!! I'm so proud of her. She played Lacrosse this spring, is getting so good at the piano, loves dancing and we've recently learned that she has a GORGEOUS singing voice! Her teacher calls her "songbird". My heart just overflows with love for this precious little girl!

Christian is my bear...he's all boy and getting pretty brave and adventurous. He moved up to the Monkey (3 year old) classroom this summer and he's just a riot. He's sweet as pie, but tough as nails! His speech is amazing, he has zero interest in potty training, and his big brown eyes could melt you like butter!

Marty is doing great. He's working hard, looking amazing (he's working out too and really in fantastic shape!) and keeping me smiling! He's my very best friend and we've found that life has really been good to us, despite the curve balls we've been dealt recently.

So that's life for our little Loftus clan. I really will TRY and be better about posting over here!

Bemom

We love you, Bemom. You'll be forever in our hearts.

This is somewhat therapeutic for me. I just need to get it out...

Yesterday, I got the call that my mother-in-law had passed away very suddenly. She was a very healthy woman and this was a complete shock to us all. Our family is beyond devastated. Karen, was not simply my mother-in-law, in fact, she was one of my very best friends. She was my biggest cheerleader, confidant, supporter and we were closer than perhaps most women are even as close to their own mothers. I'm taking this very hard.

I met Karen when I was 20 years old. She and my father-in-law are not married, but have been together for over 3 decades. She immediately accepted me as part of the family and the more I got to know her to deeper I fell I love with her. She was the smartest, kindest and most brilliant woman I had ever known.

When my husband and I would argue, Karen was the first person I would call. I suppose she gave me the best advice on how to live with Martin Tiernay, as she had spent her life living with Martin James and they are absolutely cut from the same mold. She would tell me, "Alice Anne, there's a reason why those Loftus men need women like us... We're the only ones that handle them!"

Karen was there with me through the pregnancy and birth of both my babies. She loved those children with all her heart. Marissa was especially close to her. They would spend hours upon hours playing dress up, hosting tea parties, talking about birds (a love of nature that they both shared immensely!) and doting over Bebop. Karen loved to shower Marissa with beautiful dresses and toys and books; she spoiled the girl rotten! Karen's greatest strength (and weakness) was her ability to follow orders without fail when it came to Marissa. I really believe that Marissa was her world and vice versa.

As Christian was getting older, he was becoming closer and closer to Karen. He adored his Bemom. One day they spent together playing and then Christian had to take a nap. When he awoke, Bemom had already gone home. He searched the house, and after several minutes, his first words were, "My Bemom left me." I immediately called Bemom to tell her what he had said and she just laughed and then cried! She said it warmed her heart to the core because he was finally understanding and loving her!

Our lives are forever changed. The loss of Karen, Bemom, Friend, is so intense I feel empty and completely heartbroken. As much as I cherish and appreciate my time with her and feel blessed to have been able to have her in my life, I feel robbed. I feel that it just wasn't enough time and I'm devastated. I ache for my children and their loss, I worry for my father-in-law and I grieve for all our family. Karen was simply, the most wonderful person we have ever known and we love her more than words can express.

May God help us find peace and may Karen always know how much we love her. We will carry her in our hearts for all our days....

Family Update

I feel awful that I don't keep up with this blog as much as I do with Figuring It Out. I guess I just don't have tons to share that most people don't already know!

Life is super crazy right now as we wind down with the end of the school year. Marissa has dance recitals, lacrosse, piano, playdates, etc. I feel like her calendar is busier than mine! Tonight we have recital pictures and I won't lie that I'm probably more excited about it than she is. I absolutely love having a girly girl and the costumes, make-up, hair do's and glitz are just perfect for us both!

She plays lacrosse (LAX) two nights a week and she's really enjoying it. I'm proud of her; she's really pushing herself physically and participating in something she's not very skilled at. As long as she enjoys it, I will support it!

She had a piano recital a couple weeks ago and boy did she make us proud! She looked so tiny next to that big grand piano, but she played her "Baa Baa Black Sheep" with confidence, poise and without error! I definitely had to fight back tears!

Christian is more boy than I can handle! He's fearless, energetic, fiesty and all loverboy! He bats those big brown eyes at me and I melt. Marty tells me that I have no control over the child...he's probably right. I can't help it. He's in the potty training stages, and is as inconsistent as Maryland weather. I'm in no rush though. I'd be happy to keep him as a baby forever! He's moving up to the pre-k 3's class in June and I'm having a hard time with him growing up so fast!

Marty is busy at work, despite the economic times, he's staying busy. We're thankful for our jobs and just hoping to survive these hard times. I think things will get a little worse before they get better. I'm definitely thankful that Marty has a good head on his shoulders and had the foresight to buckle down and prepare for the hard times!

The preschool is going well, I'm pluggin' away and getting ready for the summer session to begin. Enrollment will be lower this summer, but I think we're all looking forward to the smaller class sizes and personal attention we can give the kids. The camps look like they are going to be tons of fun and then we'll be set to start the fall school year off with a BANG!

I'm 14 weeks out from my women's figure competition. I'm hitting it hard. I struggle some with the nutrition (not eating enough) but the workouts are going really well. Marty has been a huge support and my friends and family are such wonderful cheerleaders! I hope everyone can make it Washington, DC Aug. 14th to cheer me on!

So that's the Loftus Update! I'll keep you all posted!

Easter Pictures!

Friends

Friday night, we took our 5 year old daughter and her friend to see STOMP. There were absolutely adorable! We took them to a nice dinner beforehand and they were just giggling and acting as sweet as could be! It reminded me of what friendship really means; having someone there to share a special moment; a laugh, a smile, a tear.

The girls ordered the same dinner, talked about how "yummy" it was. They complimented each other's fancy dresses, held each other's hands, shared a dessert and just thoroughly enjoyed each other's company for the entire evening.

That same night, I received a text message from my best friend as she was excited about some new dinner menu planning she had just done. She's been following my journey through health and fitness and I suppose I've inspired her to some level. So we exchanged messages, learned that we were both running a 5k the following morning and wished each other the best.

During my race, I thought about my friend; I missed her terribly. After the race I immediately texted her to let her know my time and I waited until she finished to hear hers. Turns out we ran it in exactly the same time! How we wished we could have ran together, rather than on opposite ends of the country!

My life is rich in friendship and happiness. I am thankful for the friends in my life and I'm even more thankful to see my children share in that joy as they make their own friends.

"Happiness is time spent with a friend and looking foward to sharing time with them again."- Lee Wilkinson

Empathy and Comfort

On the car ride home today, my daughter announces that she's been having trouble sleeping at night because she hears noises. I tell her that sometimes houses make noise or it could be the wind or an animal in the woods. She doesn't find comfort in my words. She continues to explain how she's afraid of the dark and she doesn't want to sleep when she hears scary noises.

After several moments of silence (I was at a loss at how to comfort her and assure her that she was safe and that everything was ok) my two-year-old son speaks up and says, "Marissa, there are no monsters in the house, only storms outside. Storms are always happy and they will not scare you." I wanted to laugh, then cry, at the sincere honesty and care that my young son offered to his sister! He was so "matter-of-fact" and brave. The two of them chatted all the way home about monsters and storms and wouldn't you know it, we didn't hear a word about being scared of noises or the dark when it was time for bed this evening!

Take Time to Laugh at Yourself

Life isn't always easy. We deal with the daily stresses, emotional break-downs, arguements and insecurities. We all have our issues but we all must decide each and every day how we're going to tackle the world!

This morning, as I dressed up for work (its St. Patrick's Day) I felt child-like; care-free. As I entered my preschool, people smiled, many giggled and my mood immediately lifted! I realized, that I could bring laughter and happiness to others because I was willing to be silly and laugh at myself!

I take my work and myself very seriously. However, I believe that we all must take moments to enjoy ourselves, show our humor and share our silliness. Have you laughed at yourself today?

Why I Dread the Dentist

So my kids had dentist appointments on Saturday. I was already prepared for what they would have to say about Marissa's teeth. Marissa was blessed with my soft teeth and despite our tireless efforts to brush, floss, rinse, etc, we ALWAYS have cavities! She has another cavity and is scheduled for another filling next week. BLAH.

Christian on the other hand...well, he got his father's genes. Perfect teeth, perfect spacing, no cavities (can you guess how many times I've been able to wrangle him down to get a brush and paste on his teeth?) It makes me laugh, but I'm happy that we won't have the dental bills of fillings and crowns for him!

So, Marissa is in Kindergarten. She's never been late or even missed a day of school. We are very proud of her perfect attendance. Well, the dentist office was completely booked for all their Saturday appointments for the next 3 months (I can't wait that long to have her get her filling) so she has to miss a morning next week of school. I know, I know, not a big deal, but it just stinks that they couldn't get her in even in the afternoon; apparently because of her age they want to see her first thing in the morning-which isn't until 10 am for them, which means she'll miss the first 3 hours of school! I'm being petty, but it just makes me frustrated!

I guess the lesson in this, I need to work harder to keep her from getting cavities so that we don't have to cram fillings into the middle of the week! Any advice?

Recharing Your Batteries

I've always laughed at how people call me AA (like the battery). Its funny because that's often how I feel, like I just have to keep charged up long enough to get through everything I have to do in one day.

Today has been a sluggish and slow day; I haven't felt like myself. I feel "weighed down" and "drained". I knew that I needed a recharge, but wasn't quite sure how to lift my spirits and jump start my attitude. We all have those days, but that doesn't mean that I like being there!

My husband, Marty, IMed me at 11:00 AM and asked if I would be interested in having lunch with him today. Before I could even wait to hear what he suggested I answered, "Yes, I'll meet you there in 10 minutes!" HA HA HA!

We had lunch at our favorite little Thai place. I sipped green tea, ordered stir-fry veggies with ginger chicken he had Ka Pow chicken (with no vegetables!) and we just talked. We talked about the kids, discussed little business matters, complained of sore muscles from working out, poked fun at each other and just spent 60 minutes connecting.

I wasn't ready to part with him yet, so we went to Staples and the bank; taking our time and just enjoying each other. Simple pleasure # 221: having someone to buy pens and ink with on a sunny day! When we finally went back to our separate offices, I felt rejuvinated, refreshed...recharged!

I think that its important in life when you're feeling stressed, isolated, run down and tired, you reach out to those who are MOST important to you and soak up some of that positive energy. I know that it did a world of good for me today!

Figuring It Out

Check out my new blog "Figuring It Out" www.aaloftus.blogspot.com as I share with you my journey of working out and training for a Figure Competition! I'd love your support and encouragement and I also challenge you to get your booty into gear and reach for your goals!

Been a while...

I haven't blogged in a long time. The last 8 months have been an emotional roller coaster, but I think I'm starting to get a handle on things!

I started working out hard core in July 2009. I've gone through a major transformation, both physcially and emotionally and I can really see a difference in how I handle my life. I've created a blog titled, "Figuring it Out". My hopes are to track my journey through strength training and competing in a Women's Figure "Body Building" Show. My goal is to compete in the fall of 2010. Check that blog to see my progress!

The kids are doing great; growing fast. Life is finally settling into a routine. Marissa started Kindergarten in the fall of 2009 and she's just blossoming into a little lady! Christian is a full blown BOY. He's happy, healthy and oh-so-energetic!

I hope to get back to blogging regularly. I think with the other blog, I'll have a lot more to say. I'll keep you posted!