Yipppeeee!

I'm so excited to say that I have 4 days off in a row and absolutely NOTHING to do!  I'm mean, there is certainly stuff to do but nothing that I HAVE to do.  The calendar is blank and I LOVE it!

Yesterday I had an awesome workout at the gym and then Rob and I took Max sledding and VanRaalte Park while Grandma watched the girls.  That, in and of itself, was a killer workout!  We had the entire hill to ourselves.  It was so much fun but by the end of the day I could feel it in my legs.  I had thought about bringing my camera but then was worried about where I would put it and didn't want it to be a nuisance. I'm really regretting not bringing it!  There were so many awesome picture opportunities.... oh, well.  There will be a next time, I'm sure.

Today, while it's definitely not at the top of my list of things to do on a day off, is being spent cleaning.  Just the normal everyday chores that go along with being a family with 3 little tornadoes.  But I'm enjoying it because I clean, play, clean, play.  And once I get the house cleaned, then I have 2 more days off and won't have to worry about it.  The house needs a really good "deep cleaning" but that's going to have to wait until the weather is warmer and I can send the kids outside!

I'm not sure what tomorrow and Monday have it store but that's EXACTLY what I like about my weekend with no plans!

The girls are napping and Rob and Max are running errands.  I better get moving before I end up horizontal on the couch.... which doesn't sound all that bad....

Slow but steady.

So I am in the middle of my 7th week of my Body Transformation Challenge.  Getting up at 5 am has gotten easier over the past few weeks but not so easy that I think I'll continue going at that time when the challenge is done.  Don't get me wrong, I love mornings... just when they start later.  All kidding aside, I do like waking up before the kids and having time to actually "wake up" before having to greet the daily demands of motherhood.  I come home feeling really good and ready to start my day but come nap time... I'm on the couch.  I think it's partly because I can't keep a regular schedule.  Working until 11pm puts a damper in my early to bed, early to rise plan.  But I've managed and have a new appreciation for mornings.  Sort of.

The progress has been slow.  Very slow it seems.  For me, the measure of success is seeing the numbers on the scale go down.   Since the challenge I have lost 7lbs, total about 14lbs.  I do feel better, stronger, more energetic and like my clothes fit better but the numbers on the scale are not going down fast enough.  I have been working my but off.  I've been training 3 days a week and then trying to do cardio 3 times a week as well.  Patience has never been a virtue but I want to see results to keep the motivation going.  Working for nothing isn't going to cut it.  Its really hard to focus on the change and not the results!  It's the results I WANT!

Last week I lost no weight so my place in the standings went from 6th out of 20 to 10th out of 20.  A couple of people had some big numbers the first week but have slowed down.  I'm hoping my slow and steady approach pays off.  I really wanted to win this but, at this point, I think that would require me to stop eating from now until the challenge is over.  Oh, well.  Now I'm hoping to finish in the top 3.

Slow but steady.... change, not results..... slow, steady, change, results.

Reality Check

I'm embarrassed to even write this but I am doing it because I want it as a reminder.  A reminder that my children are the most important thing in the world and that I need to get my act together.  I feel like the world's worst mom today.

I was having a bad morning.  Rob and I had a disagreement the night before and I was letting it carry over to today which I know is NOT the right thing to do.  Max was sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast and Rob and I were in there as well rehashing our disagreement from the night before.  The part that makes me so mad is that I know better than to argue in front of the kids.  It wasn't a blow out or anything but the tone of my voice wasn't nice either.  I admit to that.  Before I realized it Max had left the table and had come back to me with this piece of paper.

He says to me, "See this picture?  This person is smiling and you are not.  I want you to be like this picture and stop being mean."  Rob had walked out of the kitchen just before Max appeared with this.  When Rob walked back in Max said to him, "And this is for you too."

Talk about feeling like the worst parent in the world!  I absolutely hated myself that moment and did everything I could to keep from crying.  I apologized (profusely) to Max and told him that he was right- that it is not nice for Mommy and Daddy to talk mean to each other.  And I also told him that I was so proud of him for finding a way to express his feelings.  I'm still not over this and the way I acted but I'm not hating myself.  This was my reality check.  Rob and I made a pack that we would not make our issues our children's as well.  And I hung this on the kitchen cabinet as a reminder that my kids deserve so much more than a crabby mom.   I want the rest of his notes and letters to me to be full of joy and contentment and not of insecurity and disappointment.  

I still feel so little.  So disappointed in myself.

Florida- Day 7

The impossible feat.... getting a good picture with all three kids smiling and looking at the camera. But I suppose this is real life!

Can it be?  Is it really my last day in Florida?  I cannot believe how fast 7 days has flown by.  This trip has been awesome.  Despite the girls being sick and more cranky than not, we really  had a good time and I was so glad to have this time together as a family.

Early this afternoon we went putt putting at probably the nicest putt putt golf place I've ever been to.  Max loved it.  Leah didn't.  Sarah was all over the place.  Leah still isn't feeling good and was so tired she was actually asking to take a nap.  She only slept an hour before she woke up because she had to use the bathroom (yep, potty trained about 3 weeks ago.)  Needless to say, that nap wasn't long enough!  Rob and Max went to the pool while the girls napped.  The sun was shining and it was so warm.   But then it started to rain and the weather turned much cooler.  It was perfect timing- at the end of our trip!

Tonight I did laundry- I love coming home with clean clothes instead of having mounds to do when I get back!  And then I packed, packed, packed.  Our flight leaves Orlando at 7:30 am so it will be an long day of travel.  And then back to the cold-frigid-artic-weather.  The fun in the sun was nice while it lasted!!

Max loved Put Putting.

Sarah could care less about putt putting!

I was able to snap a really cute picture before meltdown!

Feeding hot dogs to the gators.

Florida- Day 6

Today we decided to hit the road and head to the beach.  When we came to Florida 3 years ago we took an afternoon trip and headed to CoCo beach.  So, we decided to give it a shot again.  Leah has been feeling miserable and I've had such a hard time getting her fever under control.  And then add being sleep deprived, it wasn't a good combination for her.  She really didn't have much fun but Max had a blast.  Sarah, well, she just went with the flow.  (The water temperature was on 60 degrees!) Brrrr!

Rob and Max playing frisbee.

I just love her.

Sarah watching the seagulls and pelicans.

:-)

Sarah Mae

Max LOVES the beach!

It was warm and sunny but so FOGGY.

Just playing.

Sarah, too.

The girls napping on the beach.  Leah slept probably 2/3 of the trip.

I told Rob it must be the Brink in them that allows them to sleep anywhere.  But seriously, who wouldn't want to sleep with the warm sun and sound of waves crashing in the back ground.  I was a bit jealous!

When she finally woke up she still wasn't that happy.

Florida- Day 5

Today we went to Magic Kingdom.  Today was completely Magical.  

We told Max this morning that we were going to do something fun.  He kept asking us what so I finally told him that we were going to a car wash and then back home to play UNO.  It was a completely off the wall and random comment but he was thrilled with the idea of this little adventure.  He was so cute!

Our resort is only about 10 miles from the entrance to Disney.  As we were pulling up to the entrance I asked Max and Leah who wanted to see Micka Mouse (that's what Leah calls Mickey).  They both screamed, "I do!".   After Max realized that I had been pulling his leg and there was no car wash or UNO in the near future he just sat, speechless, in the back of the car with a perma-grin plastered to his face.

As soon as we entered Magic Kingdom I became very emotional.  It was so cool to see the look on the kids face and to experience their excitement!  I felt so blessed to be able to do this with and for my children.  We really weren't planning on going to Disney this trip because the kids were so young and still napping during the day but Rob and I are so excited that we made the choice to go.  We spent the day at Magic Kingdom and stayed for the Electric Parade and then the fireworks.  The kids were absolutely fabulous.  Leah wasn't feeling very well and I believe she had a fever most of the day.  Sarah didn't nap a wink the entire day but was so good.  She got frustrated being contained in the stroller at times but after an occassioanal reprieve she would sit back and take in all the sights.  Max was in theme park heaven.  He had so much fun and I will never forget the look on his face while he was watching the fireworks.  It was priceless.

We spent about 9 hours at the park and really got to see everything we wanted too.  Rob and I sort of planned out what we wanted to see and do last night.  I was armed with a Magic Kingdom map and was on a mission to make sure we made the most of our day.  The weather couldn't have been any better.  It was in the 70's and mostly sunny.

Rob and I remarked about how clean and well run everything is.  It's kind of like they've been doing this for a few years or something!

Everything about this day was magical!  I can't wait to come back again.  Next time it will be when the girls are older and we don't have naps to contend with or strollers to push.  I guess we should start saving since next time the girls won't be free-  and we definitely don't want to end up at a car-wash!

I love this picture.  I only wish Sarah was in it!

The kids were so excited to see Micka Mouse.... until it was our turn to have our picture taken.  Leah was going to give them hugs and kisses and then totally froze! 

Waiting for the fireworks.

My sick, and exhausted, little girls.  They did ok but I wish they had been feeling better so they could have had more fun!

Max totally engrossed in the fireworks.

Florida- Day 4

Today wasn't exciting at all.  The girls are sick and both have fevers but they do ok as long as I have them loaded with Tylenol and/or Motrin.  Their naps were all off kilter today so the girls and I stayed poolside while the boys went fishing.  It was a nice relaxing day and I am actually enjoying the fact that we aren't making ourselves so incredibly busy.  Tomorrow we are heading to Magic Kingdom!  I think the kids will LOVE it... and I am packing the medication!

Florida- Day 2 and 3

My Bathing Beauties.

So the resort is cool but doesn't ROCK.  We are definitely in the minority.  About 90% of the population is 60+.  It's like a senior citizen convention.  But the kids haven't really noticed and they sure get a lot of attention from the little old ladies at the pool!

Our room is awesome.  We have a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite with a full kitchen.  The master bathroom has a huge jacuzzi tub that the kids (and me) LOVE.  Rob shopped for groceries our first night and it has been nice being able to eat breakfast and lunch here.  We're alternating nights eating out.  The only thing that stinks is I'm on vacation and still cooking and cleaning AND doing laundry.  But it's not that bad.  It's definitely better for the wallet and my waist.

About the waistline.... One of the resorts coolest features is the work-out facility.  It is really nice and I have been there 3 days so far.  I'm trying to lose 2 pounds while on vacation.  Honestly, I'll be happy if I don't gain!



We've been pretty lazy the last 2 days and have just lounged around the pool.  I can't imagine how people do theme parks EVERY day.  My kids are exhausted just from spending a few hours at the pool!  We're thinking about going to a theme park tomorrow and then the beach on Friday.  The weather has been nice, especially after the blizzard that is happening at home!  But it has been a little overcast and I wish it were just a tad bit warmer.

Lovin' the warm weather.

Rob working on his farmer's tan!

Sarah thought it was hilarious to offer Max a drink!  They did this over and over and she just giggled!

Sarah and Daddy

Leah showing off her tattoo!

What have we started?  The kids love tattoos.  Leah has butterfly and Max a gecko.

The kids are having fun but are all a little sick.  Max and Sarah have had a cough and Leah has had a fever last night and today.  I hope this doesn't throw a wrench into our plans!