And WHY am I doing this, again?

Only 2 days until my first Triathlon.  Oh my goodness.  What was I thinking?  I don't know if I can really do this.  I was looking at the list of people competing in the Try It.  They are so kind as to list the shirt size of all participants.  Guess what?  I'm the ONLY fat chick.  There are a couple big guys, but we all know that it TOTALLY not the same!  So now the anxiety really gets to come out.  Not to mention that I decided to rent a wet suit so I don't freeze in the lake.  That was an adventure just in itself.

 

My friend Sarah found a place in Portland that rents Tri suits.  They are NOT like regular wet suits.  They are more like divers wet suits.  They have a rubber outside and the neoprene inside.  The key with these wet suits is that you can't pull on the outside or the rubber will tear.  Therefore, you need to turn the suit inside out and pull from the inside.  Did I mention that they don't actually make wetsuits in my size?  So I'm trying on a men's suit.  For a man that's like 6 feet tall.  Um, I'm only 5'2".  Can you see the problem that I might have?  I can't tug on the outer layer of the suit and I'm a whole foot shorter than the person who's supposed to be in it.  The suit is "rolled" down so I'm trying to pull on, essentially, 2 layers of suit.  Maybe I should have prefaced this whole thing by mentioning that there is a roll of paper towels in the dressing room to wipe off sweat because it's that hard to put these thing on a NORMAL person!  To try to make a long story short, I had the lady that owns the store in the room with my trying to cram me into this suit.  Oh, by the way, I never thought I was claustrophobic until I tried putting that thing on.  And "try" is the magic word here.  Because after 30 minutes, and the suit not even covering my butt, I gave up!  I took the dumb thing off.  Seriously, this HAS to be a sign that I shouldn't do this!  But no.  Karri came back with ANOTHER death trap wet suit.  However, this one was a little easier to put on.  It didn't have the rubber on the outside, so it was much easier to pull on.  So, I guess I am set, right?

 

This week I have made 3 batches of cookies and eaten most of them.  I'm a total wreck!  I don't feel prepared.  I feel fat (ok, I know I'm fat, but I FEEL it!!!).  I'm stressing.  I don't know what to expect.  I'm on edge.  UGH.  Come Saturday afternoon, it's gonna all be worth it right?  Right?  RIGHT?

 

Ok, enough about me.  I'm sure I can find something else to post about later!

Happy Birthday Princess Adrie!

I know I'm a little late with this post, but here it is:

 

Adrie turned 3 this week.  We lucked out because Ann-Elise's game was canceled, so we were able to spend it together as a family (ok, for a few minutes before the kids just HAD to go play with friends!).  Earlier in the week we had given her her  gifts.  She received a Dora bike and "glass slippers".   Just what she had been asking for.  We celebrated on Thursday (her actual birthday) with cake.  It was fun.  She is a doll.  I look at her and am constantly amazed at this feisty little spirit who adds so much to our family.  

Love you Adie!

 

And I just LOVE this picture of Caile.  I had to add it too!

I'm back on the wagon

So we all know how the weight "wagon" goes.  I think I've spent more time in the dirt than actually riding on it, but I think that's pretty typical.  As long as I don't decide that it's better in the dust and mud.  Well after taking a nice long shower, I've decided to hop back on.  Again.  I know that my determination will only last as long as I "feel" like it.  So, as long as I keep moving in the right direction, I'm moving ahead.  I don't know if any of that made sense, but I'm going with it!

 

Willpower and determination only get you so far.  It actually takes work too.  Ya know, I spent about 4 months in those Weight Watcher's meetings.  I was totally excited and paid my money every month.  The thing I didn't get was that you have to do more than that!  You actually have to like eat right and exercise.  Who knew? 

 

I hadn't been to Jenny Craig in a month due to some financial workings on my part.  With gas so stinking high, I was having a hard time justifying the cost.  But I went in yesterday and do you know what???  I actually lost over 2 pounds.  I also had my councilor take my measurements again.  I was down another 7 inches for a total of 12.  OK, that's some motivation right there!

 

So, now I'm back on.  I can do this.  I will do this.  It's hard.  But what in life that's worth anything, isn't?  I know that I'm gonna quit.  A lot.  But as long as I get up and decided to start again, then progress will be made.  So, here I go again!

Way to go Huskies!

Conner's baseball team had their first tournament this weekend.  They started off at the ball field at 8 in the morning (OK, so I was late and he got there at 8:15) they had pictures at 8:45 and we had him stay at the field with his coach until their first game at 11:45.  The boys hung out and the coach had them working on batting.  The first game went really well.  The boys finally woke up the bats and had some great hits.  They ended up calling the game because we had a 10 run lead.  That was kind of fun (ok, it was A LOT of fun.  These boys have worked so hard and their regular season has been really hot and cold, so it was nice to be on the winning end of a blow out!).

 

The next game was scheduled for 3:15.  That gave us enough time to run home and put Caile to bed.  Conner, again, opted to stay at the field with his coach and watch the other games.  We got back in time for the start of the game.  You could tell the boys were tired.  The first 2 innings were ended due to the other team scoring 5 runs each time.  We didn't return the favor, so we were down.  Conner did some pitching that game.  He was doing ok.  The boys were just really tired.  The bad news was that if they lost this game, they had to play again right after this one!!!  But that wasn't enough motivation to pull out a win.  They lost that one.

 

So, we ended up playing again at 6.  That gave me enough time to pick up the babysitter and drop the babies off at home with her and get back to the ball field, again, right as the game was starting.  This time the boys were on fire.  They played amazingly well and pulled off another big win.  Now they were in the "medal" brackets.  They would play twice on Sunday.  Once to determine which game they'd play in, for either 1 /2 or 3/4.  Then the second in the actual game for that place.  Following me???

 

Well, we don't play on Sunday's.  Period.  So that meant that Conner wouldn't get to participate in the actual games.  The first one was scheduled for 8:45.  We called his coach at around 11:15 to find out that they had won the first game and would be playing for the championship at 1:15.  Conner was pretty excited about that.  I must just add that this is (one of ) my difficult child.  Everything is an issue.  But bless his little heart.  NEVER did he complain about missing the games to go to church and spend the day with our family!  NEVER ONCE! 

 

At church I happened to glance at the clock right at 1:15 and was filled with so much love for this little boy who never questioned a decision that we have stuck by even when it's difficult.  I am truly blessed!  That's a hard one, no playing on Sunday.  But we've made it a family priority and his coaches know this and respect it.  Thanks Chip and Walter!  We have had coaches trying to "convince" us that they needed Conner and could we please just this once, make an exception...  So having coaches respect a decision and not try to talk us into changing our minds was great!

 

OK, so I get a call in the middle of church (I was teaching the lesson, so I didn't really think I could answer!) and let it go to voice mail.  Mike came into my class to pawn off Adrie and I had him check the message.  THEY WON!!!  The boys pulled it off and won the whole thing!  I told Conner right after church and he was so excited!  So, all in all, it was fabulous.  I'm sorry we missed it, but it was an awesome teaching opportunity. 

 

Great job guys!!!

 

*disclaimer*  I am NOT judging anyone who allows their kids to play on Sunday's.  This is OUR FAMILY'S decision.  Don't get mad at me and think I don't like you!!! :P