Wednesday Weigh In (On Thursday)

This week was well...rrr...shameful for me. I didn't get much of any weekly goal done, atleast in the way that i hoped. Not to say i sat around all week, i had plenty of activity, but i also had lack of REAL excersise. I had no excuse of snow for the first part, but after Friday it was so cold i didn't want to leave the house, by Monday we had 9 inches of snow, and -28 degree weather...this without winchill factored in. I worked hard cursing at the kitchen pipes for freezing over night...i am still unable to use the washer since the pipes to it will not unfreeze anytime soon. So Aidan's blanket full of spilt chocolate milk will have to wait.

To work off the frustration i had an hour long jumping dance party with Layla and Aidan until we were sweating like pigs on a warm sunny afternoon.

The amount of snow tromping that i did, chasing two tots, i think that might have counted as a good walk...its like walking in the sand, but in heavy clothes . I even got in a quick round of golf with Layla as the large snow flakes were falling...and her little body trying to trudge through the snow to keep up.


Flapping my arms and legs in the snow, making numerous snow angels could count for something? Ok now i am pulling at strings, but it sure brought the kid out in me...The kids love making snow angels, even when we are inside and there is no snow at all, they make them on the carpet, with such strong imaginations they remember exacily where their pretend snow angel lays.

Aww, See how much bigger my snow Angel is to Aidan's? We have small heads don't we...weird.

Something i will count for the most excerise was the amount of snow i shoved off our pathway to the car for Kendall, 3 days in a row (wind blows it right back) and then to build a front yard snow fort and a backyard snowfort plus a toddler size snow slide....it was exausting, and then i was asked to be mommy dragon and run all around the yard chasing Layla and Aidan until sweat dripped inside my layers of clothes...yes did i mention it was 1 degree out this whole time? We had a blast.

So...with that babble over, how is everybody doing on their goals? I hope much better than i this week. I need to get it in gear, with superbowl this weekend, and a party with a potatoe bar...i really need to work out before i eat 10 potatoes loaded with bacon, ham, cheese, butter, salt...oh not good for my health.

Still waiting on the WII fit to arrive...

Sledding!!!!!!!!

Remember the joy in sledding? Dressing up in so much clothes to keep warm, so that each Layer will hold the wetness away until the very end?

Sledding was one of the best times for me in the winter, that and building snow caves in the LARGE snow drifts almost as tall as our house from the wind in my hometown. I remember bundling up, with long socks, sweatshirts, thick pants, snow pants, winter coat, snow gloves, hats, and scarfs. With all the Layers we were guaranteed atleast a good 45 minutes before our inner most clothes were soaked. We would then proceed to walk down the street to the open fields pulling our sleds behind us. When we got to a good sledding hill we would crawl under the neighbors electric fence and just sled, crawing up the hill and sledding down until our legs hurt. I remember sitting on my sled, with my wet gloves grabbing the electric fence just to see how strong the shock was. We all did it. I guess it's something i got from my dad...who once told us he actually pee'd on the fence to see what would happen as a little boy...you can guess.

After sledding, with our wet clothes and snowsuits we would waddle slowly back to house. Where we would peel off the wet clothes, toss them on the heat vents throughout the house, in hopes they would be dry for later snow fun. We then proceeded to hunt down our beloved Daschound Buddy with our cold hands...he was always so warm! Hot chocolate was always served, the kind with the marshmellows.

This past weekend, we bought Layla and Aidan their first sled. It is amazing how memories of sledding as a child swarmed me as i watched the two go down the hill together for the first time in their lives. The petrified look on Layla when Kendall put her on the sled...in front and slowly pushed the sled to the edge of the hill...the look of "You are letting us go down THAT?!" The look on Aidan's face as he smiles huge, the excitement of being able to go down a hill, to go fast with the wind blowing in his face. Aidan is a thrill seeker, Layla is the cautious "be careful" kind of gal. Total opposites.

I can remember talking my dad into going down the "big" hill with us. This hill was the rare special occasions we got to go to "snob hill" in town. Where kids from blocks away in town would walk to sled down, a hill that if you got going to fast, the softball field fence at the bottom would definitely stop you quickly. I remember the times i heard my dad laugh the hardest was going down that hill on a sled with me on his lap. It is just one of those activities that brings out the kid in anybody! Hearing Kendall and Gary go down that hill on the sled with Aidan, their laughter, their faces were of small kids again, enjoying the care free nature of sledding with no worries of being cold, wet, or running into an Asian man taking pictures of the snow fun and almost knocking him over. No, it is just something that is pure fun, brings out the child from the adult shell we have put up since becoming parents.

There is nothing more "big kid" like than going on a sled alone for the first time. Being able to be trusted in handling the sled and staying on by yourself. Seeing Aidan jump to this within a few times going down the hill as if it was nothing at all, as if sledding with his sister wasn't enough, he wanted to do it alone, be a big kid, seek the thrill by himself. He mastered the sled as if he had done this a million times before. Physical activity is his thing, he pushes him self to do more, dare more, despite bumps, bruises, and scratches.
I hope they are able to be kids as long as society will allow, longer if i can help it. I want to see the joy in their childhood like i had, the joy of no worries, no cares, just being a kid like we all should be allowed to. Be able to laugh, smile constantly, enjoy the simple things, and keep their wild imaginations fresh in mind. I want to give them the opportunities to experience sledding, to experience any activity they want in order to broaden the joy and keep the spirit of childhood within them. Aidan recently asked for a skateboard after we told him to stop using his xylophone as a skateboard in the kitchen...Kendall and i turned to eachother and said..."Yes, for Easter when it is warmer." We want both of them to be able to try and practice things that they are interested in, even if we have to put them in a full body padded suit. So be it :)


So how is everybody else enjoying the winter weather? Or warm weather depending where you are at!

Layla's First Haircut!

Almost a year after Aidan's first haircut, we finally decided to get Layla's cut professionally. Even though i had cut her bangs from time to time in order to keep them out of her eyes, i never cut her hair in the back. I wanted to go to Lollilock's kid hair salon, where Aidan went to get the special lock of hair and poster with her picture on it. Also so her first haircut experience would be a good one. Her hair had grown long enough for me to put two small, and i mean SMALL braids in it, but it was really scraggly and thin on the ends because it being her baby hair. Ohhh her baby hair, probably why it took me so long to get it cut, it was the hair she was born with!

Anyway, it was a good experience. I had called the day before to set up an apointment to insure we would get in and have time to go get Kendall some suits (the reason we were going to Colorado in the first place). I had looked online for the best hair cut for her, with thin hair and her bangs that i had already cut previously. I finally decided a little bob would be the best, kind of like Suri Cruise or Matilda Legder. I can't believe HOW different she looks with her hair cut, it also helped to thicken up her hair a bit too by getting rid of the thin ends. I love it, and she said she likes it too, the lady went a little shorter than i wanted it but its still VERY adorable and it flips up on the ends naturally.
Since we were there and Aidan's hair had overgrown SOO much since his last haircut in the beginning of September, we decided to just get him a hair cut too. He chose to sit on a Hippo, and Layla sat on a Dragon. Afterwards Aidan climbed up on the car you see here to smile for a picture with his new haircut. They both had fun, and Aidan didn't cry over the clippers like he did the first time. He even got to where the drape thing as a cape! The cool thing i like about this hair salon is it was an idea created by a couple Colorado moms, in order to create a fun atmosphere for children when they get their hair cut. It is brightly colored and everything is just FUN!

Wednesday Weigh In

Well, can you believe it has been a week already? I have mentioned before it seems my time lately just flies by faster and faster, and the kids grow more and more each day. No matter how much i am around the kids, i seem to miss some development that just "appears" one day. I guess that goes with the amount of softness that seems to just appear one day on another part of the body, even though it was a slow process in reality.

I have had so many comments over the past couple months, by family, friends, and strangers, about the amount of energy and physical work it must take for me to keep up with two two-year-olds, but still after all the effort of chasing through stores, tackling for diaper changes, endless toy pickup duty, and lifting for hugs and kisses, i still do not seem to lose weight from this activity...i wonder how things would be if i DIDN'T have all this activity daily!

So before i reach my goals and ask for yours, i want to give credit to this idea of a Wednesday Weigh- In is from another blog that i read daily, a lady i have never met, but enjoy reading the stories of her juggling her triplets and 18 month children. And i thought i was busy! Her blog is amazingtrips.blogspot.com if anybody is interested. Anyway i hope that in the next couple weeks after i have more interest in this idea, that i will give out a small prize, such as a ipod shuffle 1 gig mp3 player. I think this would be at most a motivation and something smaller than the typical ipods to use during our workouts, walks, or just to drown out the world now and then.

So here is how i have been on my goals, trying to stay as motivated as possible, to turn things into habit, even though i was spoiled with nice weather in the middle of January, i am sure i will have to be more creative (such as a wii fit eventually) for those snowy below zero days that are around the corner.

Last week i felt i could handle a jog or a brisk walk twice this week, and so that is what i did with the great weather. We took the dog for a walk, realizing its best if i hold his leash, or leave him off the least to trot nicely next to me. The place i went was the local city greenbelt, and from my calculations it was about 4 miles from where we started and then looped around to back to the beginning. I did manage to pull this off Friday and Monday, with the kids in the double stroller which they are outgrowing, to my realization that the bottom is dragging on the ground and soon the holes will allow their feet to fall through to the pavement.
Now call me crazy to expect two toddler ages children to sit side by side in very small quarters for an hour walk. They do begin to fight, bicker, and do what they can to get on each others nerves...such as pulling hair, leaning on each other, and not letting go of clothing when the other one cries for them to. So with a few quick stops to load them with fruit snacks or chips to keep them concentrating on the task at hand...wait patiently for mom to take this long walk and then we can play at the playground at the end! And so i keep to my word, and they love it, there is also a dog park nearby that if Batman was more EXPLORITORY and less attatched to my side, he could enjoy running off his leash freely without frowns from other passerbys (he stays by my side when he is off his leash anyway so backoff people!)
So to reward for 4 days well done, why not have a girls night out? Singing Kareoke and cancleing out all the calories i burned walking, lunging, and pullups by filling up on chick drinks, and then proceeding to have the wonderful idea of walking the 3 miles home...ugg to the blisters i felt the next morning.
So after a week, i have managed to maintain my weight and reward my kids and myself with a refreshing hike at Veaduawoo with the puppy. We all had a blast hiking, playing in the snow, climbing rocks, and looking for "tigers" AKA mountain lions.
I did also all the lunges that i planned to, and have one more night to knock of 3 sets of pullup ab workouts...which hurts...burns my abs badly! As for the not eating after 8, i only did two nights this week, and regret every moment, atleast one was a salad right? The weekends are always the hardest for me, less motivation for sure.

How about everybody else? How are things going? Any soreness or scars to show your hard work? Maybe that is just Bucko who i found this scratch on him after Veadauwoo...he is optimistic saying "Chicks dig it!"
Whats working and whats not, lets get this next week over with now! :)

Oh and guess what...Kendall just said Wii Fit may be in our near feature! :)

Random

This past weekend we went to a birthday party for some good friends. There daughter Antastasia AKA Stacy just turned 1, so the kids got to practice another birthday party for a friend. It was nice to see everybody in our little friend group down here and just being able to have a weekend at home!
Sweet little Layla posing in one of her "princess dress" seems every dress is a princess dress. I braided her hair in two little braids and it looked darling...cannot believe her hair has grown so FAST!


Batman meeting Huckleberry pig. He was very confused as to what this thing was.
The birthday girl Stacy surrounded by Aidan and Layla eating heart valentine candy...it is hard to believe in a year how much kids grow...1 year old and 2 year olds here and such a change!


On another note, Wednesday is just around the corner, how is everybody doing on their goals? This week i have stayed motivated, but the key is motivation to start and turn that into HABIT! Keep it up!

Wednesday Weigh In

With the beginning of the new year, it seems that every year one of the top New Year's resolutions is to lose weight. I had never really had a worry or concern about my body, weight, or eating healthy at that until after i had Layla and Aidan. It really took a tole on my body, mostly in my stomach area, being 110lbs when i got pregnant with twins, i didn't really have anywhere for them to grow but out...WAY out. My stomach is now no longer nice and firm like it once was 3 years ago, it is now full of excess skin and love handles. That is what i want to get rid of the most, if it is cutting back to eating healthier then so be it, i am ready to be able to feel like i am in my own body and not someone else's. I am always tired, feeling worn down, and hungry. I want to change that by eating right, by working out with what i have to boost my energy, boost my metabolism, and replace the fat i have gained into toned muscle. I am 23 years old, and feel that i should not be this out of shape.

So here is the deal, the plan, the idea that i am not only going to throw out there but encourage and plead that many of you will join me in. The more people i have around me that is working on their own health will encourage and motivate me more, and you all more.

I am going to set weekly goals, that lead to an overall 3 months reflection of how close or far away i am from reaching that 3 month goal. I feel that weekly is the best way for my lifestyle because things do happen, illness, vacations, work, weather, whatever may alter that particular week of workouts and eating right. I am going to build on each week, adding or subtracting the things that are working best and those that are just wasting my time.

So here is the start of Weekly Wednesday Weigh In.

3 Month Goal
Here is my main goal that my weekly goals i am hoping will lead to:
Right now i am 20 pounds over what i was when i got pregnant, what was a healthy weight for my body type. So my goal in this next 3 months is to lose 15 of that extra weight while toning and strengthening my muscles. That is 5 pounds a month, and with gaining muscle i figure that will be the extra 5 or so pounds...so be it as long as i look and feel healthy again.

Weekly Goal
So here is my smaller goal...my goal for this week.
Jog/fast paced walking 2 times this week. I figure with 20 degree weather at 730am, why not? i am outside with the dog anyway, anything below that i will have to substitute something else...but this week is supposed to stay a little warmer in the 30s so if i get it out of the way fine.
Ab workouts on the iron gym bar 3x this week, 3 sets of 5 each. I know i am a pussy but i can't do a pullup on the dang thing but i can do the ab workouts so that i will do.
15 lunges 2x this week.

As for eating well, i am continuing to cut out pop. I am going to aim to drink 5 pint glasses of water daily and increase that as much as possible. I am going to have 3 meals a day, and not fill my plate to over indulge. I am going to have a leeway of 2 small snacks such as crackers, an apple, or string cheese for examples. The most hard one for me? I am going to work on not eating after 8pm, if i am hungry? Water and juice will have to do.


So, what i want from those who will help me out, is to comment your goals, weekly goals what not. Something you feel comfortable with enough to encourage others to do and read back on for next week to comment how you have been doing, good or bad. I don't care if it's situps, eating right, or just cutting out pizza or playing Wii fit...whatever it may be its a step toward the right direction. I guess this can be seen as a little support group to spill how good your own goals have been going or how its been rough.

Ok. Lets do this.

Future Basketball AllStar

Here is a video i took recently of Layla trying to dribble the basketball, she started this on her own and luckily i had the camera next to me. When i asked her why she wouldn't shoot the ball after wards and she said "Mommy, i am not good at it". I told her she can practice to get better, and she said "No, i just dribble." So i guess she is our little point guard...Aidan loves to shoot and has learned to bank shot it in from about 4 feet back, give credit to Kendall who i think loves the basketball hoop just as much as Aidan...pretty good for a two year old!

I'm a Big Kid Now!

Did i forget to mention this? We converted the kids cribs into toddler beds this past week. Layla seems to fall out all the time so we are working to find a small rail or something for her...right now blankets and pillows catch her.
All i can say for this picture of Aidan is..."Yesssssssssssssssssssss"

Christmas to Now

Christmas came as fast as it went. It seems like as the months, weeks, days go by, it gets faster and faster gaining momentum. It is hard to believe that the kids have already had 3 Christmas's, Layla is learning to pee on the potty 4 out of 5 times, they are understanding emotions, making new friends, and learning to feed the new puppy as one of their chores....of course with my help or the poor dog would have all the food at one time.

Christmas.

So lets start....Christmas was great except on Christmas eve Layla was crying and i could not get her to stop. Kendall picked her up and well we found out why...she was sick. She would have the flu for 24 hours and be fine, Aidan picked it up late Christmas eve and his lasted a little longer into Friday. Despite that, the kids still enjoyed their gifts, the family around them, and soon bounced back to eating the cookies and rice crispy treats they had made with their Grandma Gail.
The kids love playdoh and got a whole new pack of it, so most the time we had them occupied with that so we could get some card games in throughout the weekend at Gails. I am thankful the kids got well and bounced back and that nobody else caught the flu from them. We are pretty sure they got it from a friend of theirs that recently had a flu shot and well...got the flu...and passed it on kindly, just like Layla and Aidan did last year when they got the flu shot.

New Years.

New Years we spent back home at a friends house. We had a group of us to celebrate the New Years, and included the kids by planning a sleepover at the house so they could attempt to stay up as late as they could. 10:30...i was impressed. We had the little party favors, a dance party led by Layla to the spice girls debut album, and just played games and hung out. It was a good time and its hard to believe how much our group of friends have come in the past 3 years...we now prefer hanging out at our own houses laid back instead of the past which was huge parties, a lot of time with people there we didn't know.

The kids had fun and talked about it all day before...Layla insisting to wear a princess dress...Aidan just talking about his Bobbob time. The kids enjoyed the party favors, the little horns, and playing with their little friend Karl's toys.

New years flew by and now its hard to believe we are in the second week of January 2009. My life gains speed daily. Layla's speech is incredible and Aidan is trying his best to catch up...on the flipside Aidan's physical development is insane, he is definitly our little daredevil. It is hard to keep him from jumping off things, sumersaulting into chairs, and running too fast he runs into doors because he can't slow down.

January.

This year started as busy as last year left us. Kendall started a new fulltime job at a bank here in town, he is training to do teller work, loan applications, and so much more since he will be working in a smaller branch that only has 3 other employees to share the work load. He is still doing real estate part time, we are making by with what we have and i am still looking for a job that will fit within our schedules. I work on the weekends when needed which is nice to get some extra money for groceries or whatnot. Right now its cheaper for me to stay home then pay for childcare for two toddlers...I am working on learning the alphabet still, numbers and counting...with Layla we are potty training 101, she refuses to miss anything that is going on so i have moved her potty seat out into the living room where she will sit just fine and go. The kids love each other but some days they seem to just get into the sibling rivalry, so much that Layla's ear has been bruised, Aidan has had a bump on his head, and its hard to believe they can switch from hugs to pushing and hitting.

We recently adopted a puppy from the local animal shelter here. He is much younger than we werre really looking for but is pretty good at the housetraining since his previous owners had worked with him before turning them over to the shelter. He is a three month old Border Collie/Lab mix and is a sweet heart. They named him Batman and we felt that name fit him and he already knew it.

The kids adore him, and he loves them. There are times throughout the day, they will all three just run in circles around and around the house chasing eachother. Wears all three out. He is very playful but not full blown hyper which is perfect for us. We are beginning to work with training him and teaching him the habits we would like. He seems to always be at my ankles when i am walking, he will not leave more than 10 feet diameter around me, so i encourage this by taking him for short walks around the front yard and street to teach him to stay by me without a leash.

He sleeps next to our bed at night on his pillow and is always concerned when he hears the kids cry over the monitor...he will run into the room with me and lick whichever one is crying on the hand or face...whichever is closer. Last night i felt him scratching at the bed, i figured he needed to go outside, i started to get up when Layla began to cry...he must have known something was wrong. I ran in there to find blood all over her face, and hands. I was scared...what had made her bloody at 2 in the morning??? I picked her up and carried her to the living room where the light was on and noticed it was a bloody nose. I am worried, for i am not sure she hit it on anything, since she was on her back covered up in her blankets..so i ruled out falling out of her bed.