Lean In

Do I get a Bravo sticker for that?

Cause I definitely think I should!

I just got back from a 45 minute walk in cold and windy weather...now, in my head this morning, I was telling myself that it was too cold, I'll skip today, who in the heck would go walk in this, etc etc..negative negative...but then I retold myself to get off my butt, put on a jacket, and go for your walk....

I joined Weight Watchers on the day the kids went back to school..and it's gone well..I am not one to lose weight fast, and for this "immediate gratification" kind of girl, that sucks...but each little loss counts and adds up...I will admit that this week was my first week back after missing two weeks due to having a horrible cough for about a week and a half..should that have stopped me from continuing to eat right, go to my weekly meeting, etc? Heck no, but it did, per  my usual routine..HOWEVER, this time I didn't let that lapse make me throw in the towel! 

The leaders give out stickers like crazy in meetings..the Bravo sticker is for this (which I found on a leader's blog):

"BRAVO stickers are an acknowledgement of a behavior change that has led to a shift in how you approach your weight management journey. "

and some things I've come to realize is that life is full of ups and downs...I'm going to get sick 6 weeks into doing well on a plan...it's going to be cold outiside and not always ideal conditions to exercise in, we're going to go on trips and I'm going to want to eat a lot and drink beer (and I may), but that is NOT reason to throw in the towel and give up...I'm learning to press on..and that tomorrow is another day...and that I can get back on plan tomorrow...the important thing is to NOT give up!

Another thing I'm working on is comparing myself and my weight loss to others..there is a hilarious woman in the meeting I go to that should be doing stand up comedy.. I was telling her this week that she is a MACHINE..every week I go, she loses weight..she's lost like 30 something pounds already..and I admit, I feel a bit jealous...but then she blurts out "well, I'm fatter than you girl, of course I'm going to lose faster"...lol...we all lose at different rates, and I know my body loves it's cellulite and fat padding..lol..it doesn't like to let it go..I lose slowly...which I know will add up..with WW you weigh every week, so you have to keep in mind that each pound or two a week adds up to 4-8 pounds a month and that is GOOD! I like huge numbers, but I've got to learn to be thankful for any loss..lol

SO, those are the lessons I've learned this week...and I'm going to ask for my Bravo sticker next Tuesday if I remember..

(and I want to give a shout out to Pink, Beyonce, Snoop Dog, and Justin Timberlake for encouraging me on my walk today while the cold wind was whipping around my face and I was wanting to turn around and go home....that Justin, he's always telling me to "bring my sexy back"..and Justin, believe me, I'm working on it!! :)  )

 

30 pounds people, 30 pounds! It CAN be done..and actually, it's down to 24 pounds now... :)

"Mom, school is sort of fun"...

This, coming from my son, who belly ached for the first two months of school about how hard his teacher is and how mean she is and strict, etc etc...He was having real anxiety each night and morning before school..Brad and I were starting to get a bit worried about the anxiety level and was about to schedule a conference with his teacher (who has a reputation for being really tough and expecting a lot from her students..I was scared of her!)...Chaz had never acted like THIS about school...I consulted with a few friends who have kids in the same class..and their kids were doing the same thing--stressing out, worrying, having anxiety..but I also talked with some people whose kids had had her or knew her personally, and they encouraged me that it would get better..so we just encouraged Chaz to go to school and do his best, etc...well, now, it has turned around tremendously...and that makes us happy...

He made the statement to me on the way to school yesterday that "school is sort of fun"...inside I breathed a sigh of relief..I hated seeing him so stressed out..

He just turned in his first real paper I guess you could call it..an "imaginative narrative"...a few pages long, proofread, getting graded on puncutation, grammar, spelling, how the thing flows, etc..he gave us some flack about having to rewrite it after we checked it, but the day before it was due, his attitude changed and he put his nose to the grind and got it done...can't wait to see what he got on it..I know he did well!

He also brought home an awesome report card of all A's and a 98 in conduct...super proud of him!

Bailey brought home an awesome report card too...

Very thankful for our kids..they are really good kids, ya know? :)

Taking a look back...Halloween pasts...

I'm working on a Halloween book based on the one by Cathy Zielske..so far, I got to 2006 like a year or two ago..I've picked it back up to get it caught up..it's just nice and simple with a picture of each child in their costume for that year, and Cathy gives you a free template for the journaling...check it out in the link above!

It's so funny to look back..here are a few collages of their costumes from 2007 to 2010 since that is where I am starting from today..I'm too lazy to pull up the years before..

2007

(That Batman costume was my favorite of Chaz's)

 

2008

(Bailey was an awesome Snow White!)

 

2009

(Uggh, this is the year it rained..Chaz had makeup and hair color running down  his neck..lol)

 

2010

Sigh...where does the time go?

Now, back to work printing these out!

A layout...

Remember when we went to Atlanta Motor Speedway for our night of redneckness? Well, I scrapped it..I love the pictures from that night...I made the collage in Picasa...

I like how it turned out..

and now, I must go get my walk in..

Later!

I love seeing him sitting at the front door...

He's so darn CUTE!!!

and doing awesome with his house training, walking on the leash, etc etc...we *heart* him!

I have to brag on my little Viper for a second...

Yesterday at her game, she threw a girl out running to first base from THIRD BASE..she launched the throw, the ball took one hop to the first baseman, and then BAM...OUT! It was awesome..best throw I've ever seen the little thing make..we were proud!

She really, really wants to play the circle and begs the coaches every game (which it would be nice once and awhile for them to let her play it..I'm just sayin'), but she's at third base for a reason..she can throw that ball pretty well most of the time..and she's good at fielding too...so,I just keep telling her that...

Southern Belle Farm...

You know me and my love for Fall...I was determined to find a pumpkin patch or something to go to this year...Luckily, one of my friends, Shannon, told me about this place..it saved us from driving all the way to Rock Ranch..although McDonough is no hop and a skip either...the weather was cloudy and windy, which sort of stunk, but we still had much fun...Here are some highlights...

Chaz's friend Tristan went with us...

They had these horses out where you could race, but they were very heavy, so not sure how it was supposed to work? lol..but Brad was a good sport and played with Bailey...

Pedal Karts!

Corn launching! There were targets set up out in a big field..

A slide down a hill...

Buddies...

Lasso...

Pumpkin painting...

Jumping...

PIG RACES..did you know they could swim? Me either..very cute!

and the Corn Maze...

We went in and picked the hardest and longest path,naturally...they led the way..I warned them not to get too far ahead of us and get lost..lol..thankfully, that red hat of Tristan's helped us keep up with them...

Since we were in there for awhile, we took the opportunity to take some pictures..lol

After walking for some time (my feet were killing me..I had on cowboy boots..lol), Bailey melted onto the ground and said "I just want to get out of this maze and go home"...it was funny, but she was for real...and all she could see was rows of corn all around her like this..lol

Well, we finally made it out without cheating..yay! On to the hay ride...

I was kidding with the boys telling them I was going to make them ride this..and they gave me flack..until it was time to get on! They ran and fought over spots..lol...

She, on the other hand, was excited to ride it...

and from the look on T's face, apparently it was pretty fun..lol

and then, goodie, it was time to hit the "pumpkin patch"...

I made them go pick some cotton to earn their dinner..lol

and then they actually had pumpkins you could pick off the vine..super cool!

and the most beautiful garden of zinnias that you could pick and buy by the bunch...

We were starving when we left so we hit Three Dollar Cafe and shared a "nacho mountain"..mmm, it was good! and then we made the LONG trek home...a very fun day indeed :)  Gave me my "fall fix"...

Back soon...

with lots of pictures from our Sunday spent at Southern Belle Farms...

I'm feeling the need to scrapbook some Halloween layouts too...

and I just found a new awesome blog..lots of the type of style that I like: White Whimsy

New Fall pictures of the kids...

They had school pictures today, so I had to catch them when they got home and before they ripped off their clothes and changed into play clothes...which happens in milliseconds for Chaz..he already had his shoes off, so that's why his photos are cropped..lol

 

(Have I mentioned how much I love Carter's clothes for girls? I bought a bunch of stuff from this line for her for Fall)

and a few seconds after all these lovely shots, they started fighting...

and he pushed her down because she kept hitting him..she sort of deserved it, I have to say...

Just keepin' it real, folks..keepin' it real :)

So, it looks like this is what Chaz is going to be for Halloween...

We're getting to that age where he's running out of ideas..I've always loved me some Frankenstein..that original old movie used to freak me out...when I came across this on the internet, I knew it was now or never..so I ordered it and it's on the way...

I don't like costumes that are too scary or gory..so this should be a good medium...can't wait to paint his face up all green and stuff :)

Bailey is going to be a cowgirl..I think I got everything we need today..I just need to "glam up" a few of her things cause she said she feels like a boy..lol..no picture for it at this moment..I'm piecing things together, but she's going to look cute and be packing heat (pretend cowboy heat..as in a belt/holster with guns on each side)...Yee haw!