what a year....The Salters never stop!

As I sit here and think about the year that went by so darn fast I also get to reflect on what not only have we accomplished but then heart aches we had to go through to learn new things. This was a tough year for the Salter family in regards to the dynamics of our family. This year was the last year Eli will be at his current duty station and I won't even pour sugar on this one, this duty station for us was hard. He loves his job, I am so glad I was able to support him on that but it defiantly did test our marriage. We watched our daughter grow and learn new skills. She went though some bullying issues in the early party of the year....she was a victim not a bully and I as a mother had learned something about myself. That probably was the hardest thing I will ever have to go through s to watch your child be ridiculed, it was a lesson learned for all of us. New skills were developed and I am proud of myself that I was not a dirt bag dirty mouth crazy mom when talking to the parents of these children. Then You always walk away wishing you said something more or something less.
Kaitlynn developed a skill she's always really had but this year her love of music increased 10 folds. She wrote a couple of songs and is learning to put the music with it. It is amazing as a parent to listen to her. I am excited to see where this takes her.
I started my Masters program in Public Administration! It's been tough but I'm working though it. I should graduate in November 2011
Sadly we lost our dear Uncle Ron this year. It's been the biggest challenge of the year but we've worked through it. What was the best was how our family came together to fast to support each other. It was devastating to all of us, mostly to my mom. She loved her brother and was so close to him. My heart still goes out to her.
We didn't do much traveling (except for Houston for the memorial) but we did alot of little things and I posted pictures over the last year. Nascar was a blast this year but sad without Ron and Kevin.
A quick trip through our last year ....Today we are together and tonight we'll ring the new year in with good friends and new friends. It's something grand to know you can go anywhere in the states and have friends to see!
Happy New year to EVERYONE and thank you for being a part of my life! With much love ...
Deana Salter

Emotinal Eater

Today was a hard day for me, I am guilty being an emotional eater. I have found myself in the past pacing my office looking for something to eat when I am under alot of stress. Today was a very emotional day for me, I wanted to eat candy, but I didn't. I have started keeping gum in my desk and when i get that urge to go get something to eat I chew gum. If I already had my meal and snack for that time of day I won't go and eat more calories., I just can't. So, having said that this week is going to be a very tough week when i comes to my eating habits. I am definatly going to exercise alot this week and hopefully get out to hike Telegraph pass with friends this saturday.

here's the 2nd day I didn't post, I forgot to add it before I said submit

breakfast

cup of fresh strawberries 30 calories
4 kashi crackers 120 calories (way high snack)
Lunch

2 cups of iceburge lettece with onion and tuna 86 calories
the lettuce is only 16 calories , 8 per cup
I was eating tuna when I wasn't suppose too,
NO TUNA or SALMON because it's high in bad fat

Dinner
3oz chick brst 130 calories
1.5 cup of steam brocalli 50 calories
for seasoning you can find those Mccormick seasons low in sodium and lemon is good on steam broccalli
10 pretzel sticks 70 calories, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT I definately won' tdo that again
1/2 cup of ice cream 80 calories

Total Calories for the day 522
Did tread mill for 30 minutes burned 120 calories

total for the day 402

Couple Days I haven't posted yet......

Breakfast

3 peice of turkey bacon and 1 fried eggs 150 calories

remember NO butter or OIL

Snack
1 cup of straw berries 30 calories

Creamer for my coffee 20 calories

organice veggie burger 100 calories

2 cups of iceberg lettuce with 3 sprays of dressing 20 calories
the dressing is a no no but I found this dressing that is only 1 calorie a spray so I am not drowning my lettuce in it., just adds a little flavor

3 kashi crackers 90 calories

dinner
1 small sirloin steak broiled and broccali steamed 180 calories

Total calories 593

Did 45 minutes on treadmill that night burned 180 calories

total calories for the day 413

and lots and lots of water, the water and exercise will help your skin stay healthy and tight if you lose the weight fast. Remember you need to stick to 500 calories for 3 wks
no beer no wine no soda no crystal light even....No exceptions
EVEN NO SUGAR at all!!!

Todays menu

1 cup of strawberries and 1/2 apple for breakfast 60 calories

1 cup of coffee with low fat creamer and splenda 30 calories (still gotta work on this)

10:30 am

celery, cucumber, red and yellow pepper for snack 60 calories

Lunch green beans and a peice of breast of chicken with some soy sauce 150 calories

Afternoon snack 3 Kashi wafers 70 calories

dinner

turkey meat cooked with seasons and onion wrapped in cabbage

4 wraps (small) 200 calories

Total for the day

570

I went over my allotted 500 AND WILL NOT be exercising tonight mainly because of time constrants but I am going to work on treadmill tomorrow night. If I get my homework done tongiht in a timely manner I'll hit the treadmill.

wow...it's sooooo close

tonight I was sitting with a dear friend talking and hearing her deepest wishes. Those moments were so important to me because of the importance of our relationship. she wishes happiness and love...I wish that for her.

so as the night goes by she talks and i smile

she talks and I smile

she talks and I smile

I hear her....

but

my thoughts wonder

my thoughts merge

thinking about my lover

my deepest commitment

my husband

............................so when I have these memories always, not sure why, this particular memory comes into pay....back of bike, mini skirt!

I am sure ALL of you who know us, knows this memory!

that is the beginning of all memories!

our love has not only grown, it's become bigger then anyone could ever imagined. My husband and I have fallen so in love I still to this day...almost 11 yrs later pinch myself in awe!

he is my lover

my best friend

my hero

I love you eli and I can't wait until the next day we see each other !

Day 2

I'm probably not going to be this dedicated to blogging and tracking my menu everyday since I started a new class today. But I want to share with everyone what I'm eating and how it is effecting me already.

When I woke this morning I felt great. Remember I am taking a multi vitamin at night. I woke up right before the alarm went off so that was fabulous for me. I was NOT hungry right way and had no desire for coffee. ALREADY on the 2nd day.

My menu for the day

breakfast 1 cup coffee with splenda and a touch of cream = 20 calories

2 pieces of turkey bacon 70 calories

1 fried egg 45 calories

snack am & PM rice cake each time 35 calories

lunch 3oz grilled breast of chicken no salt no butter or oil 137 calories

2 cups of steamed broccoli no salt or pepper and no oil or butter 50 calories

Dinner - 1 3oz stk sirloin 140 calories

1 small tortilla 30 calories

Total 527 calories

LOTS of water

walked 30 minutes at a constant pace on treadmill burned approx 180 calories

no doubt this is hard, I thought today why the hell am I doing this because I could really use a glass of wine tonight......or a nice cold draft amber bock....then I looked at a picture of my daughter and a horrible picture of myself at this weight and reminded myself to stay strong. 1 wk of this and I'll have a good plan! Thanks to everyone who has giving me great low calorie food ideas! EVERYTHING HELPS!

Day 2

I woke up feeling great today, I was nervous it would be the total opposite. I remember a friend talking about adding more protein to my diet when your eating way less. I am going to make sure I have at least a 3oz chicken breast or sirloin steak every other day. Good source of protein, I think I'm really going to try hard to do the treadmill each evening. I started back to school this week also so I can read my book while I walk . According to this guide hubby sent me last night I actually burnt 180 calories not 150 so that does help to allow me to have extra veggies at lunch and dinner, I'll just hop on the treadmill at the end of the day. unfortunately the scale in the house has disappeared. i went room to room in a fog first thing out of bed this morning looking for the scale., did not find it so I'm still not totally sure if I lost anything yesterday. I will be purchasing a scale and will go off my last weight measurement that was last week at the doctors for a guide.

weight loss journey

So I found this new process in weight loss and I decided to try it. I started today at 500 calorie a day diet and I am walking on treadmill at a good pace 3 times a week to burn 150 calories a day. I will give those days my extra days but will try hard NOT to use them but burn those calories. i am finding alot of protein full foods that are low in calories and I am taking a great vitamin daily. I am excited for this and I am going to do my best to stick to it, phase I of this process is the hardest!

today I had

LOTSSSSSSSSS of water

2 cups of coffee with splenda and 1 tblspn creamer = 25 calories

1 apple = 45 calories

1 bowl of iceberg lettuce = 24 calories

tuna packet =70 calories

2 peices of sugar free gum=10 calories

3 peices of turkey bacon=110 calories

1 fried egg - 45 calories

1 cup strawberries 45 calories

1 packet of crystal light =10 calories

28 lightly salted pretzel sticks= 110

Total calorie intake =494

walked on treadmill for 30 minutes

burned 150 calories

Damn .......I could do this

Our Daughter turns 8yrs old!!!

WOW!!

what a week! Eli was home for 10 days, what a great gift to kaitlynn for her birthday! And boy what a birthday it was! House filled with friends and lots and lots of kids! Kaitlynn celebrated at Wild River family fun Entertainment and it was a blast, bowling, arcade fun, pizza and cake celebration! Then........the races! A majority of the party, about 15 of us went over to the Cocopah speedway to watch the races and it was a blast! Great racing...late it was Rockband time and then GOOD NIGHT! Exhausting day but it was so awesome for her! Happy Birthday My sweet princess! WE LOVE YOU!

Bullying, it comes in many forms and it's sad

This year my daughter was exposed to a bullying situation. I was affected way more then Kaitlynn was because I witnessed it and I was astonished. Kaitlynn is so happy go lucky....she didn't seem to notice. I was so shocked more because the parents of the children who bullied my daughter were approached by myself and didn't take it seriously.

I work every day with children who are bullied and those who bully. I teach parents on what to do to help their kiddo get through the horrifying ordeal. For me, this was devastating. I was SO SO mad watching my daughter, having to hear the mean words, and just seeing the look on these children's faces like it was so cool to be assholes. It took everything for me not to curse out these parents. When I approached them calmly for help I was accused of being a over protective parent and told I keep my daughter in a bubble.

Since then I have done tons of reading and research, I have found I am not alone. This happens so often in communities violence breaks out between the parents before the kids. I have gained a new found sadness for this family. I talked to my daughter and supported her and did everything in my power not to allow her self esteem to plummet. These parents at some point in their lives will have a rude awakening whether it's tomorrow or in 10 yrs. At some point something will be done by the rudeness and bullying treatment these children put out.

Today when I saw Kaitlynns face I knew, I knew something had gone wrong with a friend and I just had to let her tell me....and she did. Again, she wants to be a friend to this "school-mate" who had been her friend since Kindergarten and she just keeps being mean and meaner. If I hadn't seen it for myself I would chalk it up to being a kid. But boy kids can be so damn mean.

what does a parent do when this is a constant happening ...maybe I'm more aware because I not only am educated, but I educate on this subject. Do I look for these situations to ac cure? All this had gone through my mind and I analyze my actions so I make sure I am making the right decision for my daughter. Not only for her growth and encouragement but for myself ...to be a better parent. I won't deny that dad who told me to my face I hold my daughter in a bubble, his words constantly go through my mind. But I will say...as long as I am my daughters face and knowing every moment of her actions, she is less likely to be a victim and/or revictimized. I will not be bullied as a parent for protecting my child. This bullying shit has got to come to an end. These parents need to take responsibly for their children's actions. When do we as parents stop saying "their just kids, it'll pass"?

The Journey with my Mom

My mom and I went back to Houston to finish everything up with my Uncles house and belongings. It was so much easier this time, not near as emotional as the 1st time we all were there after his death. We are saddened still but each of us were able to get some of his "treasure" which will be a forever memory of him in each of our homes. Plus, he is currently sitting in a gently wrapped box in a velvet bag on the counter in my mom's house. He was loved and his memory will forever be strong! We miss you Uncle Ron!

So instead of flying back we drove through 3 states, Texas, New Mexico and into ARIZONA where we CHEER

ED when we crossed that AZ state line, it was sure a great experience. My mom was so good with me and my driving. It wasn't the first time I dr

ove cross country but with my mom ...it was! To top it off we ended up in a HUGE storm between El Paso and Tucsun, it worked out well. I occasionally glanced over and mom had the grip of life! LMAOOOOOOOO I love you mom!

We arrived home safe around 6:30pm Wednesday so it was a quick trip!

Love your family you never know when your life will be turned upside down

Pictures Continued .........MCAS Childs Play day

MCAS Child's DAY was pretty cool!

We hadn't been to the years past and it was pretty cool. They had a huge variety of hands on science type projects. Perfect for Kaitlynn because she loves Science. She had a good time!

Bday party Prep!

Kaitlynn is going to be 8 yrs old in 2 wks. We originally thought about doing Disneyland but now that we're planning a Disneyworld trip next summer we are doing a PARTA!! So she chose Wild River for bowling, lazer tag and arcade fun! Her theme is going to be Barbie the Magical Pegasus.. We also decided to let her design her own cake so I took her to a Cake Baker here in town and it was SO SO AWESOME to watch these two talk about what she wanted. All I heard in my head was "ching ching ching" dollar signs. Well for the 2 tier winter wonderland barbie cake kammy is doing she has her work cute out for her. I"M SOOOOOOOOOO excited to see the cake. Anyways, today kaitlynn and I made her center pieces for the 2 tables we're decorating and here they are! It was fun. I think I'm going to do a homemade bday party from here on out!

Play Date

We had an afterschool play date so i took them to feed the horses! They giggled the whole time, made me laugh! And there was a baby!! Thank you mom and Julie for letting us have some fun!

A wedding and a Funeral

I have only been to Houston 2 times in my life and it was for my Uncle Ron's wedding 9 yrs ago and now for his Memorial Service last week. It has been a tormenting journey the last 10 days. Not only because we lost my Uncle, my mom's brother but we lost a man who was so amazing, so intelligent, selfless, fun and amazing. I stood in shock when my mom told me about my uncle passing away in his home, legs getting numb gasping for air at the same time looking at my mom and seeing the pain in her eyes, knowing how broken her heart was. She and Ron had a bond as siblings you just don't see anymore. Over the last 6 yrs Ron has spent alot of time with us in AZ especially in November when we all went to Nascar.

My mom, step-father Greg, my hubby and my brother Kevin all rushed to Texas last week to work through this and support each other in this time of loss. I know myself I wanted to go and see him and know this isn't happening, in the beginning there was denial. It was devastating to us to go into his home, see his belongings and get to know more about a man who we thought we already knew and became regretful of the years we missed. Boxing up personal items, memoirs and even things that didn't need to be boxed up because we didn't want to be separated by just that little piece that would remind us of who he was.

I can't express to you how heart broken I was when I realized "hey this is real", he's gone!
My heart broke over and over as I witnessed the sadness in my moms eyes, seeing my family in so much pain. Knowing I can't help my mom and make it better. Knowing the guys were heartbroken over losing a fabulous member of our family, my daughter not understanding but knowing he's gone and she will never see him again. All of us so sad, it's indescribable. I thank my brother Kevin for rushing to my mom's side to be a support, I thank my dad Greg for just putting up with everything and being the backbone of the crew and I thank my husband most of all for supporting me through this time of sadness, knowing he's hurting too.

Good Morning Mr. Sunshine

Getting closer to the END of this Duty Station

Well we're getting closer to hubby being home and finally being a united family again. This duty station has been tormenting. I don't suggest doing GEO bachelor ever! It's such a roller coaster, sounds we're but I'll take a deployment over this any day. It's been a tough road, we've learned alot about each other, cried alot of tears but also had alot of laughs. These next 6 months will be very exciting preparing mentally for him to move back home!!! I don't like to be negative nancy, but I can't express how we've struggled as a couple. This seperation has also put some stressors on kaitlynn and we're all glad that it's almost over and we can move to the next chapter in our lives!

FUN IN THE SUN!

Kaitlynn had some girlfriends over tonight for a sleep over and we did some swimming before it got dark. check out the funny pictures! They have so much fun!!!