just trying something out...

This is Ryan, I am trying something out. I have been wondering how to bold, underline and use italics so I thought I would try today. Hopefully I am doing this correctly right but this could totally slow down my posting!

Summer time

I think summer is going too quickly! Swim team is officially over. The kids weren’t too sad, the early morning practices were killer for them especially for the girls, they love to sleep until noon if allowed! Carlos wanted them to have a trophy at the end so he went out and bought bobble head swimmers, it was pretty cute. We got our neighbor one as well. They seemed to like them and had a good laugh.


My mom has made it a tradition to take the kids peaches picking the past couple of years. They went again this year but the peaches were hard to come by, everything was picked over and I don’t think there was much to pick from anyway but at least we got a cute picture of the kids and their friends Jackson in a peach tree!


Last week the girls took a sewing class. Kaela and my mom have been making bracelets and my mom thought it would be a good idea for her to learn how to use the sewing machine. They loved it and it was hands on from day 1. They each had their own sewing machine and it was a very small class so the girls got lots of attention from the teacher. They each made a pillow, which they gave to my mom and then they made a draw string bag. Kaela made hers for Jonathan. They turned out really good and they were both proud of their work.


Friday night we left the kids home alone. Yes kaela is old enough to babysit, she babysits other kids so why not her own siblings! I rented a movie for the each of them so they would stay out of each other’s hair. Carlos and I snuck out to see a movie, The Taking of Pelham 123. It was really good, action packed and it had a good cast as well. We were home by 10ish and they were all still alive and well!

Saturday we invited some family and friends to the pool to BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs. It was nice and relaxing, the kids play and we have adult conversation! We have been doing this the past couple of weekends and it is great – we love summer time!

Pounds and Measurement

Here are the latest and greatest results:

My results as of June 26th:
Weight: 158 lbs
Waist: 31 inches
Lower waist: 36 inches (Below my belly button where my baby pooch is)
Hips: 41.5 inches
Left thigh: 24 inches
Right thigh: 24 inches
Left arm: 12.5 inches
Right arm: 12.5 inches

My results as of May 8th:
Weight: 162 lbs
Waist: 31 inches
Lower waist: 35 inches(Below my belly button where my baby pooch is)
Hips: 42 inches
Left thigh: 25 inches
Right thigh: 25 inches
Left arm: 13 inches
Right arm: 13 inches

These results were done on April 4th:
Weight: 168 lbs
Waist: 33.5 inches
Lower waist: 37 inches
(Below my belly button where my baby pooch is)
Hips: 43.5 inches
Left thigh: 25.5 inches
Right thigh: 26 inches
Left arm: 13 inches
Right arm: 13 inches

Weight as of February 23rd: 173
At that point I didnt even think to measure myself.

This week marks the end of week 18. It’s been a slow process but one that I have not gotten tired of so I am thankful for that thus far. I look forward to working out most days. I have still have 18 more pounds to lose to get to my goal weight so I have a lot more to go. I am hoping that I can keep up the will to do this daily. I stopped doing the BL Boot camp because I wanted more cardio. Monday I started back with Jillian's 30 Day Shred and it's not any easier then it was back in February when I first began the video. It's a great and hard work out and I feel good when I complete it. I will weigh and measure again when I complete the 30 days.

I "heart" this movie

Love romantic comedies! This one was 2 thumbs up! Loved it, laughed almost the entire time, a bit teary eyed at a few parts, Ryan Reynolds...need I say more!

Critters

All three of my kids love to be outside. They love hunting for critters. They catch lizards with nets, dig for worms and chase after dragonflies and amazingly they usually get what they are after and never have fear of being stung, bit or juiced on!

Here are a few things we have found around the house lately:


Obviously the kids didn’t catch this one, their cat Dixie left this on the front porch for us but the kids sure did have fun burying it!


Bry ran in to get the camera for this one, not sure what it is but she thought it was super cool.




And then they found this strange caterpillar. They even looked it up in their insect encyclopedia; they watched it daily until it turned into a chrysalis.

Isn’t it fun being a kid? Who doesn’t want to be outside all day hunting for the unknown in your backyard garden?

Weight Update: Today I was supposed to weigh and measure…I did not! There was no way I was stepping on a scale after not doing my BL workouts for a week and a half. I could feel the difference in my body after not doing them…it was not pretty. I did not work my a*& off for 15 weeks to just drop everything. I have started back up this week so hopefully I will be ready to weigh and measure before we leave town for the 4th.

Pictures

Carlos and Jonathan on the paddle boats


Me and the girls trying to keep our eyes open for the pic...very bright outside!


They may be getting too big for a train ride but at least we were in the shade!


The beach pool we went to on Sunday


Kaela loves taking pictures of herself!


Kaela and her BFF Valerie

Weekends go to fast

Our weekend was good and HOT! I mean seriously I have lived in Houston all of my life but for some reason the hot summer weather always comes as a surprise to me or maybe it’s just too early for 100 degree weather.

Friday evening Bryanna went with her good pal Cassie to a Cheer Clinic. She loved it of course and loved her time with Cassie, they have become great buddies. Jonathan had his first golf lesson with his Grandpa and an instructor. He was so excited. He came home and showed me what he learned. He then started to putt in the house, using a cup as the hole. It was pretty cute and he was so serious.

Saturday we were up pretty early. The company that Carlos works for turned 30 this year so they had a company picnic. It was about 40 minutes away but the kids were excited because it was on a ranch. It was a neat place, hay rides, pool, train ride, paddle boats, snow cones, hot dogs and some more hot weather! We decided to leave a little early and head to our own pool for a refresher. Sunday Carlos decided to skip his softball games and we went out to a friend’s pool. It’s called the beach club. It had sand and it really did look like a mini beach. It was neat and the kids enjoyed it. A different pool is a nice change.

The kids have one last swim meet, on Thursday. The invitational is for invited swimmers only. We find out Friday if the kids are invited. I am thinking that Jonathan may be invited, he has had some pretty fast times although I would not be sad at all if none of them were not invited. Although it’s been a short season, it seems long. Two meets a week is a lot for everyone involved.

Work out update: The past 2 weeks have been really hard for me. I have not had the time to work out in the evenings. Last week I did however walk with my mom 5 days so at least I got something in but walking just doesn’t feel like enough exercise for me. I am going to try really hard to get back on schedule. I am going to do the last 2 weeks of the BL Boot camp starting today. I don’t think I am going to weigh and measure this Friday like I am supposed to. I am not feeling like I should get on a scale, I don’t think the results are what I want them to be so I am going to wait another 2 weeks so I can get back on track. I will definitely be weighing in before the 4th so I can eat like a pig that weekend! Carlos bought me an 8 lb exercise ball which they use in level 3 of the boot camp so I am excited to use that tonight.

I have pictures, I will post them this week.