She's fabulous, but she's evil.

This extra hour I gained today has left me feeling very productive. I went grocery shopping, picked up lunch for the family, made dinner with enough leftovers for my lunch this week, and then made gluten-free PB cookies. I still have an hour until The Walking Dead starts. So, blogging it is. After a 6 month break it seems like I should just give up but I'm feeling the need to write again.

I'm not going to bore you with what we have been up to in the last 6 months. Life just kind of goes on and most people who will read this are my FaceBook friends so they know what has been going on.

Family Pictures in Canada

 I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which you can read all about if you click on it. It's an autoimmune disease and it means my thyroid doesn't work right. Fortunately my main symptoms are dry skin/hair, fatigue, stomach issues and extreme bitchiness. I mean, fortunately, because I have been reading blogs of people who suffer from Hashi's and there are some pretty horrible symptoms. So, to hopefully avoid these horrible symptoms, my doctor recommended some extreme dietary changes. I hate the term "Paleo" because it seems so trendy now but that is basically what he wants me to follow. Just when I was getting a bit comfortable with being gluten free, I now have to eliminate even more foods. Last night at dinner I wanted pumpkin pie but had to settle for ice-cream. I'm not a big fan of ice-cream but ya know, something is better than nothing.

Hanna is a cheerleader. I can't remember if I wrote here about how Ryan and I weren't too jazzed about this. When she told us in the spring that she wanted to try out, I didn't take it that seriously. She had never done cheer before or anything really like it. I did sign her up for a tumbling class at the rec center because she asked me to do that for her. So ya, she made the 8th grade cheer squad. It is expensive, requires a lot of time and is honestly, a pain in my ass (also Ryan's). That being said, their team is really good, they work really hard and they have had success in their competitions (first place in both!). What I'm trying to say is that I'm proud of Hanna, for going after something she really wanted and working hard. Oh, and yes, I appreciate the irony that Hanna is a cheerleader. I apologize for all the mean things I said about cheerleaders in High School. Marching Band Rules!

Hanna and her friend Jennie

 Last month I got my 20 year old tattoo covered up. Tip for those 18 year old kids out there thinking of getting a tattoo...research it! Don't get a tattoo based on how much money you have on you at the moment and don't get it done by someone you haven't researched or is wearing cracked glasses. I could have left it and been fine. I even could have had it removed but I decided to get it covered, so there. A big shout out to Gailon at The Yellow Rose for taking my idea and running with it. He was amazing! Three my three girls, red for Canada and poppies from a Robert Burns poem excerpt I found in a book as a teenager:
But pleasures are like poppies spread:
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow fall on the river,
A moment white - then melts forever,

Before (with Gailon's pen drawing over my old tat)

After

Yes, it hurt REALLY BADLY.

 I'm going to The Mall of America this Friday. I'm no stranger to big malls (West Ed) and I'm not going for the mall. A few of my February board friends are going and I'm always up for hanging with them. Minnesota here I come! I've never been, so this will be another state checked off my list. I'm looking forward to good conversation and hopefully, many hi-jinks.

These last 6 months have seen a lot of changes in my life. I appreciate the people/friends who have been understanding and accepting of who I am. It hasn't been an easy time for me so the support of others has meant a lot. Luvs ya! And yes, I'm being purposefully vague. Okay, time for some Walking Dead.