FRUSTRATED

This week I find myself OVERLY frustrated with things. It doesn't help that I have a tremendous amount of things happening right now. Oh well - such is life. Everyone has that, so I can't use that as an excuse.

My main concern right now, however, is my stinkin' diet! I started exercising about 2 months ago. I do this on and off from time to time, but I've done much better this go round. I'm so sick of always being the biggest one & being uncomfortably large. Which has led to my desperation of sucking it up & doing something about it finally!! I've talked about it for years, but now is the time for action!

About 1 month ago I decided to really start running & even counting my calories. That's an unheard of adventure for me on both accounts!! I'm a lady that can't even run a lap around the track! I never thought I really ate all that terribly, but this counting calories is hard work! It's almost a full time job. It's getting really old. As for my running - I quite enjoy it now. I walk/run 2 miles at least 5 or 6 times a week. Within that 2 miles I can now run a full mile without stopping. That is something I've never done in my entire life! So, I'm pretty proud of that. The other laps I always run the straightways & walk the curves. After my 2 miles I then run up & down the bleachers 3 times (I run at the nearby Community College) & then finish off with a cool down lap. It takes me about 40 minutes total right now.

Here's my frustration....

After 2 months you would think I would have lost something, right?! Not so in my case! A whole month of counting calories & running & a big fat nothing! My weight's the same & my inches are the same. I'm so frustrated!! I'm not going to give up, but I just don't understand what is going on. Plus, I thought exercising was suppose to make you feel better. Well, I just feel tired & worn out. Not to mention the fact that I'm STARVING all of the time. I think I can now comprehend a little bit of how Michael Phelps must feel! :)

Here's the only benefits for me so far:
1) I can actually run a mile! (Seriously - that's huge for me!)
2) My skin has actually been clearer. An added bonus I didn't think of. I can actually feel like an adult when I go out now & not like a paranoid teenager! Hopefully, it lasts & isn't just a fluke.
3) uh......uh......that's all I can think of at the moment

I don't necessarily feel better. Just tired & hungry. I can't even say I feel stronger. Oh - did I mention I do a workout DVD as well? That's how I get my strength training in. Wish it would help. I'm not going to give up. I realize I'm not like the contestants on the Biggest Loser. I'm not obese & realistically can't expect to lose weight the same rate they do. I know this, but a little something would be nice. To actually have my clothes look normal on me & not like they were painted on my body would be nice as well. It's not too much to ask for right? ;)

I've been even more sluggish the past 2 days. I'm hoping it's a hormonal thing & will go away soon. Oh well - I'll keep going. Don't mean to be a DEBBIE DOWNER on here, but I had to get it out.

Yesterday Erik was helping Kylie clean out her room after school. This is always an overwhelming project. She is the hugest pack rat. In fact, Erik is on the lookout for that "Horders" show to tape it & show Kylie how crazy it can be.

Anyway, not the point of my story. I hear this little conversation occur during the process over Erik trying to throw away some "Camp Rock" movie peraphinalia....


Kylie: "Dad, you can't throw that away! It's from my "Camp Rock" party which was my second favorite party ever!"


Erik: "What was your first favorite party?"


Kylie: "My baptism, duh?! That's everyone's favorite birthday party."


Well, gee - maybe I'm not the world's worst mother after all. Seems like I'm doing something right!

muscles

This is by far the cutest little boy

in the world!

Mr. Creed
*and this is what happens when his mom hacks into his aunt malorys blog and hijacks the site

RINGTAIL

This is my mom's newest pet...

His name is "Moki". My mom & Alan caught a ringtail cat awhile ago that was pregnant. They took care of her & her babies when they were born. They sold the othe babies & kept Moki. Kylie's class just recently did a report & learned about these animals. Her teacher asked if we would take pictures for the class & even asked Kylie to interview my mom about it. Everyone took a turn holding Moki....

He was fascinated with my glasses. Or maybe it's my red demon eyes that I'm too lazy to fix in photoshop. Gotta love overly large pupils!!

SHIP ROCK

Again, one of our favorite things to do at my mom's house is to go hiking. This time Jadyn picked up a bizarre new habit. She had to stop everytime she some a patch of dirt & feel how soft it was. I'm not sure where that came from - it was weird!

This pinecone definitely stood out from the rest....

I thought it was so pretty & just crazy! Kylie thought it looked like a watermelon with the red inside & green tips!

Here's a rock we looked for. On our last trip Erik & Kylie found this rock & Kylie named it "Ship Rock". (Yes, we like to name rocks at our house - see previous post) They named it this because it looked like the fron of a ship that was shipwrecked. Here's "E" & the girls on top of "Ship Rock".

The girls & I acting like pirates. Jay is steering while Kylie & I keep a look out.

This stuff is all over the place at my mom's. It's called resurrection moss & I think it's so cool! It's black moss all over the rocks. Poor a little water on it & it comes to life & turns green again. I poured a little water on one area to show the difference.

The girls also like to collect rocks while on our hikes. Jadyn had her pockets completely stuffed with rocks. She had to have gotten a work out with the extra weight hiking uphill. Here's the haul they made.

CONCERT ROCK

While Erik & I went running one afternoon my mom took the girls on a walk. They found this huge rock off the road a little bit that they decided to call "Concert Rock". They planned an entire Family Home Evening around this rock. Everyone had to come with a talent to perform while standing on the rock. They made awards to hand out & everything. It kept them busy for a couple of days. They did a good job & it was a lot of fun!! Here's an overview of the area. Alan's standing on "Concert Rock".

Jadyn wrote her own little poem about Junie B. Jones & then recited her poem for school. Along with her poem from the last grading period.

Kylie told a story she made up about a girl.


Erik did his crazy car alarm sounding noises. I love how this picture caught him with his mouth open in the act!

My mom called the ravens.

Alan sang a song that required audience participation.

I recited "Crowded Tub" by Shel Silverstein. It's the only poem I know off the top of my head. I can't imagine why? (It's a large vinyl quote in the girls bathroom!) Overall, it was a very fun family outing!

TEETH

Teeth seems to be a never ending saga at my house. At the beginning - it was a nightmare with the whole teething thing. Kylie didn't get her first tooth until she was 13 months old. But, she started teething at 4 months. Now that they're older - it's a nightmare loosing teeth! For some reason it just scares my girls to death. I'm not sure why. Especially since everytime when their tooth finally comes out they remember it doesn't hurt, but they still go nuts everytime. Jadyn especially! There's just no way to describe the torture it is to try & get her to let us pull her tooth out when it's just barely hanging on. It took days of screaming & crying & throwing fits to finally end in Erik just stealing her tooth when she was screaming & had her mouth open.

While up at my mom's house Jadyn had a front tooth just barely hanging on for dear life. She would not let us pull it! She told us one morning, making Kylie extremely upset, that Kylie also had a loose tooth. Which was funny because Kylie kept telling Jadyn it didn't hurt & don't be scared. Guess she doesn't practice what she preaches. Once Erik found out about it though she was awesome. He told her to stand still so he could pull it. It took her only a minute & then stood still - it came out without a whole lot of effort. In fact Erik just pulled it down & it just flipped out of her mouth in the air! It was actually quite funny.

We made Jadyn watch to see how non-scary it was, but it didn't help. She was still freaked out. I'm sad to admit this, but it ended up in us pinning her down & pulling it out. Which of course, as soon as it was out, she was fine & happy. It had to be done, it was literally hanging. And with a front tooth doing that it was just gross. I couldn't look at her pretty little face because it grossed me out - it had to be done!

Here's my toothless wonders showing off their teeth...

Erik told them that if they both lost a tooth in the same day that they would get extra money from the tooth fairy. So, they each received a $5 bill. (Actually, it was all Erik had in his wallet. We don't carry cash. They were lucky - at least he had something since we weren't about to drive into town to find an ATM at 9pm!)

The adventure is not over yet. Jadyn's other front tooth is loose. (I hope she looses it before Christmas!) She has now lost 3 teeth in the past couple of weeks. Kylie's other bottom tooth (the one opposite the one she lost) is loose as well. Fun times!!