Hellooooooooooooo Weigh In Wednesday!

Oh how I love me the instant gratification of RUNNING! Not only do I FEEL better mentaly, I have an amazing response to dropping pounds - especially when I first start out running consistently. I figure since last Sat. I've put about 9 miles on my feet. I'm giving them a break today since my right foot is still a little sore and I don't want to overdo! Anyhow, good ol' Jillian from The Biggest Loser once did an interview which I read and she said hands down, the #1 best way to lose weight is to get OUTDOORS and run! Granted, my cute little neighbor that looks ever so FAN-TAS-TIC is experiencing the temporary weight gain from running as a result of enduring long distance running from training for the SL 1/2 Marathon next month. Just remember Kristen...from everything I've ever read, that's totally normal due to the stress your body is under and should just melt off as soon as you are done with the long distances.....

Anyhow, good news is, thanks to me and my 903's I'm down 2.2 this week! Only .4 to go to get back to where I was a couple of weeks ago.

Now if I could just get a handle on the eating thing! Then maybe I'd be into my goal pants before my birthday! :0)

I've said it before and I'll say it again...MY HUSBAND IS TALENTED!

I'm so proud of Tracey. He just finished up shooting his first "spec" video as he has several potential music clients that wanted to see what he could do for them. I know I'm a hormonal wreck these days, but I have to say that watching this video made me cry. I'm not sure if it is because of the content of the video, or if it is because I am so incredibly proud of my husband and awed by his talent.

I love you Tracey! I can't wait to hear what your clients think of this!

Enjoy!

Oh and the entire video was shot with the Canon 5D

KIDS! Let's face it....they are not easy

It's been one of "*those*" weeks around here. One of those weeks where I have found myself slipping into not so positive thinking and finding myself thinking on a whim that I regret the spacing that we chose for our children. I know, I know...a lot of that stems from having a hurt foot, not sleeping well, and the crazy weather keeping us more or less house bound.

It's also been an exceptionally trying week with Aaron and his seemingly non stop whining in conjunction with being ever the bully to his little brother.

And then there is Matthew...the kid with the face of an angel but the energy of a tasmanian devil.

The combination of those two, day after day, while the girls are at school is nothing short of wearisome, and I sometimes wonder why we chose to have our kids spaced out enough that we will have a high school graduation and a kindergarten graduation in the same year. Wrap all of that up with a mom that is 36 years old and there are days that it is hard. VERY hard.



However, it makes me grateful for little moments like these...when the purity and sweetness of our boys shine through, to give me a boost when I need it. It makes me grateful that even though I must put my own personal every day freedom on hold for a few more years, that I HAVE this sweet little face to greet me each day. It makes me grateful that somehow we were blessed to have our 5 children. It makes me more aware of the pain that many struggle with who have the challenge of infertility in this life. It also makes me incredibly grateful for a husband that understands the sacrifice of staying home and just being mom.

Honestly, as hard as days may seem at times, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Please vote! and a little Weigh In Wednesday!

Apparently as has been brought to my attention by one of the parents that had a child disqualified from the Nick, Jr. contest there were some unknown factors involved in resulting thousands of votes for at least her child.

I do owe "J" an apology as it apparently wasn't her fault that her child was disqualified Hopefully that was the same situation with the other two children and if Nick has mistakenly disqualified these children I hope they will put things right. I do feel badly as anyone that knows me knows I would never intentionally set out to hurt the feelings of anyone. So, lesson learned! Think before I type!

Anyhow, THE GOOD NEWS IS, it isn't too late to HELP ALIZA WIN! Please, if you've got the time, go to the Nick, Jr. website, look for the photo above and cast your vote! If we get enough of us together, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Now as far as Weigh In Wednesday goes, I've had the worst gain that I've experienced in a VERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY long time. I'm up 2.2 pounds. It just frustrates me that the minute I start exercising I start packing on the pounds. But frustrations aside, I LOVE the way I feel, I LOVE the sense of accomplishment in running and pushing my body to it's limits.

Unfortunately this past week, I obviously pushed too far and I am currently suffering from a running injury. Honestly today I can barely walk. I thought I was pretty much healed up so merely went out for a walk last night and half way through thought I was going to die. TOday is even worse. I'm actually quite heart broken and have cried because I just want to run. I want to be healthy. I want to look good.

I will not get discouraged over my weight gain and as soon as I am able I am going to pick myself up, brush myself off and get on track to those size 8's!

Project 365 Upload #9

Here's to another week! I admit...this was the first week that I thought "Why am I doing this...I think I'll quit". Hopefully I can get over those thoughts, cause it really will be fun when all is said and done, and I have a nifty book in my hands.


Mar 2nd:

I really do love our house with the exception of our laundry room. You would think in a house of 2,750 square feet that the architects could have found a slightly bigger nook to put a laundry room. I guess for an "average" sized family the laundry area would be workable, but for a family of 7 it is truly not practical, especially since the laundry area is also the walkthrough to our garage, and when laundry is a constant, there is always a mountain you have to tread over walking in our out of the house. We're hoping to figure out another solution to our laundry woes this year.



Mar 3:


After a good run there is nothing better than hitting the gas station for an early morning Diet Coke. Yeah, yeah...I know, if I'd just give it up, I would probably not hurt as bad running, but it is one of those simple pleasures in life that I'm just not willing to sacrifice. And it's not even the caffeine that is an addiction. 90% of the time I am drinking Caffeine Free Diet Coke...at least whenever it is available.

The boys don't seem to mind when I make my morning stop for a beverage either because they most often score a little treat themselves.



Mar 4:

I've been trying to work hard at shrinking myself and being fit so that I can enjoy my children and enjoy my life to the fullest. Last year at this time I was a size 12. I bought a pair of "goal pants" that were a size 10, that I wanted to fit into by my birthday in June. It was such a great reminder every time I was in the shower to see the pants hanging on the door. I decided that I wanted to repeat the same incentive this year and bought a pair of size 8 pants that I hope to fit into by my birthday. It will be very exciting to reach that goal, as I have not been a size 8 since I was 15 or 16.



Mar 5: Today the girls had their orthodontist appointment. It's always fun to see the colors that they choose for their elastics. I'm so grateful that we have been able to make the investment to give our girls a perfect smile. Both Tracey and I recall all too well the negative impact of having a "monster mouth", and hope that our girls will always appreciate the gift of straight teeth.



Mar 6:

I'm always so impressed with the "DIY" abilities of Tracey. If it's something he is interested in having he will make it happen. Tonight he and Aaron spent the evening in our garage making a dolly for Tracey to use in filming. They tore the wheels off of two cheapie skateboards and used some PVC piping for track. I love that he can make a great tool for a fraction of the cost of a "professional" rig.



Mar 7:

Today Tracey spent the morning using his DIY dolly and 5D to begin filming a mock music video. The video is a Johnatha Brooks cover of the Alan Parsons Project song - "The Eye In The Sky". Tracey is incredibly gifted in his filming abilities and I can't wait to see what the final product looks like. This is a photo grab from the video that he recorded.

PLEASE VOTE~!!!!

My very good friend Michelle Hammond, the owner of Polar Bear Press and our amazing accountant who is crazy fantastic, who also has 5 kids, very close in age to our kids' ages, and whom I am trying to convince to audition for THe Amazing Race with me.....well her little girl is a finalist in Nick Jr's Super Fan of the Year contest. How cool is that!

So if you have a spare minute, would you mind popping over to vote for Aliza?

Click on THIS LINK, scroll over until you see THIS PHOTO and cast your vote. You don't even have to register. You can vote once from each computer in your home per day.




Michelle has been such a great help and blessing in our lives and I'd be thrilled for little Aliza to win a huge party and bedroom makeover. I mean truly...what 4 year old kid wouldn't want that?!!?

THANKS!

It's Weigh In Wednesday again...with a little added motivation!

So it's Weigh In Wednesday again. I guess it doesn't matter if I eat like crap or exercise like a good girl....I'm just sort of on this steady 1 pound down a week thing. It makes me laugh that over the 4 weeks I have dropped exactly one pound each week. I guess that is a good amount since it's likely going to stay off as it's not a massive quick downfall. I tell you what though....I'll take the being active over the eating crap lifestyle anyday. It FEELS GREAT to be running again. I ran 4 miles this morning and can't wait to get back out there...even though my foot is protesting! I may have to give it a rest for a day or so, so that I can be ready for my 5K on the 14th.

Anyhow, some of you may remember my "goal pants" that I bought last spring that were size 10's. I had those babies hanging on my bathroom door for about three months before I could even get them on. I did it by my goal in June and on my birthday I wore the jeans for the first time.



I thought I'd like to get another visual to work toward and have a new pair of cute size 8 capris hanging on the back of my bathroom door. I hung them on a hanger from a size 16 something or other that I bought 2 years ago. It will be a great day to cut my pant size by 1/2! Here's hoping again that by my birthday I will be able to take a photo in these, cause heaven only knows it isn't a pretty sight in them right now! It will really be a dream come true for me as I have not worn a size 8 since I was about 16 years old. Granted I think the sizes are a little more "generous" than they used to be but hey...I don't care. Call me vain. Call me whatever. I'll just be one proud mama, to have 5 kids and have a label size 8 huggin' my butt!

Keep up the good work everyone out there that is striving to get more fit! It's a long process, but if you keep at it, you'll make it!