Long Time No See!

Our laptop was not working for months and we finally got around to fixing it!  We were getting by on just using the iPad, but there are some things that are just easier done on the computer.  Like blogging!  I feel like it has been so long since I have updated anything that I wonder who even still looks at my blog anymore anyway?!  Oh well!  This is as much as a family journal than anything, so I will make a new post for journaling sake!

In June we had our awesome friend and neighbor and photographer (Tia Chapman) do a family picture for us. It was a beautiful evening and we all got together for a photo shoot.  It had been three years since our last picture with my family.  The kids have sure grown and changed in those years.  Our family even had a new baby since the last one.  So, here are some of the pictures!

My Lifestyle Change

So, I hope you will all forgive me a moment while I write a little bit about a personal experience in my life.  My blog is mostly a "journal" for me and my family.  A place to document the things we do and to post pictures of what is happening in our life. So, I suppose I should document this too!

Well, I decided that I would jot down some of my feelings of my current lifestyle change.  Mostly because it has made me feel so good and I want to remember these feelings.  Especially for when it gets hard and I have to remind myself of why I needed a change!

I haven't exactly been in a "normal" weight for the last several years.  And it of course has to do with several reasons.  Four children in 7 years, living a somewhat sedentary life, not really caring what I ate.  I could probably list more, but those are the biggest.

So, I have known for a while that I need to lose weight.  I needed to start exercising and I need to eat a better diet.  But 1- I hate exercise. Especially those classes and videos that seem so long!  It is almost torture for me.  2- I love Dr Pepper.  I love dessert.  Dr Pepper has been my drink of choice and dessert has been my favorite food group!  So those were my issues.  No exercise and eating a less than stellar diet.

But I was comfortable.  Sure, I didn't look like I had in years past, but I could live with that........maybe!  Well, several weeks ago, I was no longer comfortable.  I didn't quite like what I was seeing and feeling.  I didn't quite like that going up and down the stairs was tiresome.  I didn't quite like that bending over to put on socks was getting harder!  And this may sound awful but it is the truth, I was to the point where I hated to even look at myself! I could get my hair and makeup on, but beyond that I couldn't stand to see myself in the mirror.  Sad, I know!

They say you have to hit rock bottom to make a change.  Well, I suppose you can say that this was my rock bottom. 

New Year's Day was my last day of soda consumption and I promised myself that I would start there. Then it was my diet in general.  .

 

No more sweets. No more runs to Kneaders after 7:00 pm for half price desserts (yes they have such a thing on Saturday night!) I would start sending Kelly to Dunford's on Monday for bread, so I wouldn't be tempted to buy donuts! In my last two pregnancies I had gestational diabetes and had to make drastic changes to what I ate. So, I decided to go back to that diet. I had huge success with it while being pregnant. In fact, being on that diet during those pregnancies, I lost an average of 1 1/2 pounds per week! I figured if it worked then, it would work now

 

 

And then I remembered a friend telling me about a workout video that she liked. It was only 20 minutes long and since she had success with it, I thought I would try it out.  I started Jillian Michaels' "Shred" and I have loved every minute of it.  Remember, I hated to exercise.  I didn't love videos because they were long and hard and my kids always got in the way.  I didn't like to go to the gym because I am easily intimidated by others and I used the excuse of what to do with my kids.....again!  But this video is perfect for me.  20 minutes of intense interval training.  I have stuck with it and haven't missed a day since I started it 3 1/2 weeks ago. 

 

I have lost 13 pounds since my last drip of soda and my last day of non exercising! Some of my clothes are starting to fit differently (in a good way!) and I can run up the stairs and not feel out of breath afterwords!  Oh, and putting on my shoes and socks is no longer a chore!

So there you have it.  A once miserable me is turning into a person who is determined to get fit.  I have made some lifestyle changes and so far so good!  I know it might get hard.  I might wake up one morning and really not want to work out.  I might go out for dinner and really want a sweet treat for dessert. And I have not become "Miss Super Fitness" who doesn't let a trace of sugar touch her lips! I have enjoyed a "treat" from time to time, but I am learning to not over indulge myself! I know that I am not going to be perfect.  I just want to get back to a point where I enjoy being me and I think I am well on my way!

Snowy Afternoon!

We had another snowy day on Sunday!  We decided to let the kids go out and play for a little bit.  They always enjoy getting all bundled up and playing in the snow.  I have to remind myself that I was once a child who liked to do the same because sometimes I don't understand their fascination with it!

 

 It soon turned into a "photo shoot" in trying to get a picture for our Christmas card.  This year we didn't have a nice professional picture to use, so it was up to me and Kelly to try and get something decent enough for our card.  We had fun doing a snowy one for the first time in a long time!

 

 

 Of course the kids all had to taste the snow.

 



Then they all played some football!

 



Jace loved knocking the little icicles off the garbage cans and daddy's car.

 



And Katelyn cleaned off Kelly's patrol car!

 



The boys wanted to help mom shovel, which lasted all of 10 minutes!

 



And one shot of mom!

 

It was a fun little activity and something that we don't always do on a Sunday.  But, we were all together, which hasn't happened on a Sunday FOREVER , so we took advantage! When we were all done, we had some nice hot cocoa!

 



I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!

 Katelyn had her Christmas recital yesterday.  Every other year her studio has a big Christmas concert on the "big stage," AKA the high school! 

 

On the off year, they just have a small recital in their studio.  I do love the big Christmas concert.  It is a special way to feel the Christmas spirit.  But I will say, that I love the studio recital too. December is a busy and hectic month.  Having a performance during her normal dance hour helps ease the craziness!  I love the intimate setting and that you get to see your child close up.  I also love seeing them show off their technique and all the different things they learn in class, not just the dance.  It was definitely a fun afternoon of watching my little girl turn into a little dancer!

 

And, it of course brought back all the memories I have of dancing in that very same studio.  I can name every single song I ever danced to in there!  And I can picture every single costume and every single lovely teacher that taught me!

 

 

 Kate's dance was to "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas."

 

Her teacher was Shannon.

 



 

She has learned all 5 ballet positions.

She has learned the names of meanings of several ballet terms. Here she is doing her plies!

 



I love her pointed toes!

 



 

They each go across the floor showing off their leaps, kicks, and sashays.

 

Then they perform their dance.  Loved all the cute Christmas jammies that they wore!

 



 

Then they finish off with a free dance.  I loved watching Kate and it is amazing how far she has come in just a couple of years! So proud of my Katelyn!