Weight loss..

I'm putting this out there for my friends who are still working to meet their weight loss goals.  I keep this paper in my pantry as a reminder of where I was and where I don't want to go back to. I got these pictures from a race I did two years in a row. It's a little backward in that it goes from right to left. In the course of that year I changed my diet and increased my exercise. I also went through an acupuncture program that was the catalyst for change for me. I think I've continued to improve since 2011 so these images are a little out of date but they do show progress. I know I have a few friends out there going through the acupuncture process right now. All I can say to that is, stick to that diet and try to change your habits for a lifetime. I feel so much better than I ever have. I also have noticed that I am almost never sick. I've caught a few things but even they have been mild. I take a daily multivitamin and my protein intake is fairly high due to a morning shake, nuts and evening meats. I don't eat fried foods at all. No soft drinks. No bread. I do eat carbs though. I love sweet potatoes. I also am a confessed fan of sweets. I try to do natural sugar substitutes but my indulgence probably comes in that area. I also believe in having cheats. I'm definitely not perfect in my diet. I try to make sure my breakfast, snack and lunch are always perfect. That gives me freedom at dinner to have something I really want. I also try to only have one cheat a day or less. As far as exercise goes, my goal is 5 days a week. I usually hit that. If I miss one during the week, I'll pick up a Saturday morning class. I hate doing that so I try not to miss! :) These pictures are a bit on the embarrassing side so I hope they are inspiring to someone still on the journey. I will forever be in this lifestyle and if I can ever help anyone, I want to. I know what it's like to work hard and see no results. I did that for years. I thought I understood how to eat healthy but I had no idea. 

So the far left is 2011. The middle is (gulp) 2010. The far right is 2012.

First Days

 I officially have a first grader. She has no front teeth and she is beginning to become her own little person. I love her so much! She really is a treat. I can't get her to focus for more than two seconds on anything unless I give her a book and then she's lost for hours. She'll read in the car and wont even know I've stopped the car. One thing we are working on this week is responsibility. She is not naturally neat. I've made her organize different areas of her room. Last night was her clothes. She had to take all her clothes she stuffed in her drawers and hang them in her closet. It took her all night long! sigh. She loves to please others and tries hard to get positive points in class. I really never worry about her in school and that is a huge blessing. We talk about ways we can be kind to her classmates and help others.She still lets me make clothes for her and she is proud to say that I made them. I love that. 

 This is the second day of school but I made both of these outfits so I thought I would add this shot in too. She's such a cutie with those missing teeth!!! :) Also she loooves wearing something on her ankle. Hairbands, anklets, whatever she can find...

 Now this one worried me about his first day. He was one of two kids that cried buckets on his meet the teacher day. I saw him about 6 that night and asked how it went and he said he didn't like his teacher or school. sigh. This boy. I talked to him about being a big boy the next day and his lip quivered and he said he didn't want to. Well, I'm not sure what happened but he shocked me with all smiles! He is a hoot. He is all about having fun all the time. He loves the Backyardagains. Kaylen did too when she was younger. He loves to put his little (usually dirty) hands on my cheeks and give me fish lips. He also loves pile-ons. Usually it involves him pushing me down and jumping on me and screaming for Kaylen to come and make a sandwich. He hates to eat. Hates it. Will not do it! We call dinner a snack. He will gag if you make him eat anything that he thinks looks remotely gross. Even if it isn't healthy. I thought boys were supposed to be eaters!!!! He has energy for days. He never stops moving until he goes to sleep. I am about to call the ENT because he snores and I am starting to think he may have some sleep apnea issues. He wakes with nightmares a lot and always has had these issues. It's so sad.

 Bye buddy! You never cease to amaze me! Just when I think you'll zig you zag. Thanks for always keeping me on my toes!

Summertime

I loved our family pictures this year! Every summer I get family pictures made and then I put together a 16x20 collage of the images. I hang them up around the house. I love being able to see the change in the kids from year to year. This is a great age for them. Kaylen has really grown up and is developing such a great personality. Tripp is, well, I just shake my head when I think about that kid. He's a mess!

 9 years strong!!! :)

 My little ones are so sweet together. When we pick Tripp up after school he gets so excited to see Kaylen. He really misses her through out the day while she's at school. In this shot you can see Kay's front teeth... they only lasted a few more weeks.

 Kaylen is really as peaceful as this picture portrays her the majority of the time. She reads for hours. She stays up extremely late at night reading after we put her to bed and never wants to get up on the morning. She is not neat. Her idea of cleaning her room is stuffing her things in a hidden place. She wants to please others. She loves doing well in school and helping her classmates. I can't break her of using the word for inappropriately. she says I am going to put on shoes for I can play outside. I say SO or SO THAT a million times a day!

 This is what my silly little man is like. I love this shot. It makes me laugh just like he does. He says the funniest things ever! He is in to calling people babe or baby. The other day he told me, "You're freaking me out, baby!" He is always saying something crazy like that. Also he is really great at giving very specific compliments such as noticing when I put make up on and telling me my face looks pretty or when I paint my fingernails that they look pretty. Also things like I had a migraine for about a week. One morning he woke up and came into the bathroom where I was getting ready and asked me if my head was hurting. He really is a thoughtful little boy.

 This was right after Kaylen got stung by her very first wasp. She is still terrified to go anywhere near anything that is flying. Sigh. I hope that ends soon.

 Tripp was trying to cheer K up and get her to take more pictures with him.

 When she was finally coming around he decided it was too little too late... he was done!

We had a wonderful summer and I have loved every minute with them! I really can't believe how much they have grown and I'm so glad I get to be a part of their lives! They are the coolest!!!