Happy New Year!

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For Christmas I received a New Camera, so this year I'm going to work on it, take more Photos with it, and do the Photo A Day Challenge from Fat Mum Slim. 

Last year, I took photos, most likely daily, but I didn't post about them.  

This Year, by gum, I want to.  

In addition, my New Year's Goals, are to Exercise More.  When I weighed in yesterday, I had lost a net of 3 pounds in 2019.  Yeah, not so groovy.  I'm starting to feel the weight of being heavy.  Being down with this last surgery, I have not been able to bounce back like before. Last night, I started a Wall Sit Challenge I found on Pinterest.  And a 31 Day Challenge of 5 minute exercise boosts from LiveStrong Women.  The Exercise is only 5 minutes, but it made me break a sweat.  That's Enough for This Month.  I hope to also work my way up to completing a Couch 2 5K.  Eric's going to train for the Mini Marathon again, even though he's also committed to Serving on a VDC Weekend the same time, so he'll have to complete it Virtually.  But that's a thing he can do.   Meanwhile, I'll be happy to drop 10 pounds, maybe more, and get my butt off the couch.  

I want to get out with the Kids more.  

They've spent this Break playing Video Games.  

But that makes them happy.  

We talked them into playing some other games this week. 

This is my HAPPY Photo.  

Eric's Parents come over for New Year's Eve every year, and this one we took  as we watched the 

Ball Drop. 

This is more like it.  

Boys playing games.  

Star Wars Monopoly. 

I like this version so much better than the other one. 

This one is from this morning, just a bit ago, because they are HAPPY playing their Minecraft game. 

They did all their jobs in record time so they could play.   

That makes them happy, therefore, I'm happy.  

 Cheers to a New Year! 

End of Summer Break

Missions Accomplished!  

Tonight, we did the last on our List of Goals for Summer. 

The last item on the list was Family Bike Ride. 

Jacob asked for this item to be put on our list since he learned how to ride in May.  So I figured at some point, we'd fix Eric's bike and get us all riding around the block together.  Nope, Eric's bike was toast.  But mine was ok.  So I rode with them once.  Tonight we took turns. 

I had Daddy take my bike off the wall, and I took these cuties around the block after our supper. 

Jake started off sprinting like a maniac.  I had to push to keep up, but by the corner he was slowing down. We kept a steadier pace, and at the end of the street pictured above, he needed to turn towards home. So we came home, Jake and I stopped, and Daddy took the boys around the loop a few more times.  

I love this, with the sun shining behind them.  Perfect. 

Actually, we had a great last day of Summer Vacation. 

We went and Kidnapped Daddy for lunch.  

We took him Mug-n-Bun. 

The kids didn't remember eating at Mug-n-Bun before. 

They wanted to eat outside at the picnic tables, instead of in the car, killing dolphins leaving the car on wasn't going to be an option, and outside in the breeze seemed better. 

So everyone got the sunglasses and looked awesome. 

And then there was the Root Beer. 

Eric's first job was doing dishes at Mug-n-Bun, the frosty mugs, or refilling them for folks.  

Nowadays, only the medium serving comes in a frosty mug, and the large comes in a take home plastic cup.  Our cups died long ago, so we opted to pick up a few new ones. ;)

Jacob with his Kiddie size root beer. 

Sam downed his root beer before his food arrived. 

Chris was open minded enough to try the root beer, but opted for water, a wise choice, since while we were there, the sun finally came out, and it got toasty. 

Mmm... fried with a side of fried. 

My foot long hotdog with sauce and cheese, a tenderloin, and onion bites tinier than the full onion rings, but still awesome.  The great thing we've always appreciated about their onion rings has always been that when we bite in, the onion doesn't come sliding out, they stay together. Mmm. 

This amazing lunch filled me to the brim, and we still took half home.  

Dinner was salad bar at Noble Roman's with E's Mom and Dad. 

What a great way to end our Summer Vacation! 

I am not fast

It's Time to Catch up

No seriously, Jake and I are staying in this morning.  While he watches Big Hero 6 over my shoulder for the 4th time this week, I get some time on the computer.

This is my mantra. 

Baymax is my cartoon other half.  

So, I don't mind letting him have his own way, he's in underwear, he's dry.  He's getting better and better at going potty on his own.  He's a good boy.   I am however, going to try to catch up on Blogging.  No really, I am.

So I took this picture like two weeks ago, with the full intention of writing a post about my new year's goals.  But I just didn't get around to it.   Do you know what this is? It's a Fitbit.   

Aunt Teri gave me this on New Years'.  It was hers, and she had a couple accessory bracelets with it.  She had received a new fancier one for Christmas, and she thought I might like to try this.  

I'd never been one for counting my steps, frankly I don't use my phone or carry it around enough to have it do the counting, like Eric does.   And he'd gotten me a watch thing ages ago, but it didn't work for me.  E fixed it this past weekend, now he's using it, and figures, it works just fine for him, now that he tweaked it.  Anyway, so I started counting my steps.  

I started on the 3rd. I went about 5000 steps without any extra effort.  Hmmm... 

That got me thinking that the 10,000 steps most people are going for, was gonna take me a while.  

So I opted to set a goal that week of 6000 steps. And I met it! 

Then last week, I started scheming about our Spring Break trip.  We are hoping to go to Washington DC. So I looked up how many steps on average, someone walks while in Washington DC. 

17,000!

 I looked up on the calendar as to how many weeks there were going to be between Right That Moment and our Estimated Time of Departure.  So I figured out, if I increased my steps per week by 1000, then by the time we go to DC, we'll be at 17,000.   So I increased to 7000, and that wasn't too hard.  But this week, I'm up to 8000, and though I do take one day a week off, I'm starting to feel it.  

And though I haven't lost a ton of weight, I'm down 5 pounds so far this year, which is extra great, considering post surgery, and my sprained ankle, I haven't moved much since Summer, and pretty much gained almost everything back I'd lost last year.  It kind of stinks, but it truly does take exercise and a healthy diet to get fit.  

I'm working on that too.  This month, I'm leading a Ningxia Red challenge with some Young Living team members and crossline members, with my Gold leader Val.  I've hosted this class before, and I drink Ningxia Red every day.  But this year, all 5 of us are drinking it, every day.  And so far, so good.  We're staying healthy, and getting healthier every day! 

So if you are among those who are in this challenge with me, and reading this... Cheers! 

It is Done

I had a follow up appointment with my doc Tuesday morning.   My 6 week post op check, though technically today was the 6 week day.  It felt good to go get all checked out.  My scars are healing nicely, there's just one place where it's not quite healing like I would wish.

On Tuesday when I went to my doctor's appointment, morning came too early.  I basically had to run Jake to school, and keep going.  I'm reminded of the line from the movie Airplane, "He never has a second cup of coffee at home."  Well, sometimes Yes I do.  I didn't today though.  I took my last Ningxia Nitro for the road.   This is such good stuff, lots of antioxidants and vitamin goodness, and the green tea extract gives me a tiny punch of caffeine.  

When I went in to the doctor, she liked the look of my scars.  The last bit is healing.  I've been putting on topical antibiotic in the spots where the wound is open, but I use my Essential Oils around the edges.   I created a roller with Sandlewood, Lavender, Helichrysum, and Myrrh.  My skin loves it.  I have to leave the stitchy areas alone because I just want to keep picking at them. I'm wise enough to stay away from the open areas.  It's not bleeding, it's just weepy, just enough to be annoying.  I used up all my boob pads, and actually had to go out last week and pick up more gauze pads after using up all of Christopher's.  It's still a bit scabby for my comfort.  One just covered over this weekend, so that's a good sign.  I just hope they clear up before we go to Great Wolf with my Mom and the girls next weekend.  The doc says it should.  I need to be able to Swim! She also doesn't want to see me again until next year, woohoo!  It was a brief appointment, just quick enough for her to take a look and ask how I was feeling.  She says I've got the OK to exercise too.  Excellent. I'd been pushing my walking limits a bit too, we hit the Children's Museum.   But now I'm pretty much done with my post op, and as soon as that last bit closes up, I'll be all set. 

I chatted with Lisa on the drive north, and afterwards gave her a call.  We agreed to meet for lunch.  

Lisa suggested the Thai place just off Main St in Carmel.  It was a gorgeous day, so we opted to sit outside.  Though it must've been a good 15 degrees cooler in the shade. I got downright chilly.  So I tried some Chrysanthemum Tea.  It's a lightly flowery tea, but heavy on the honey.  I love it!  I drank a pot and a half. Lisa wouldn't let me take her picture though, so no sister selfies on this day.  Still, I like to remember when we get the opportunity to get together, especially when I'm child free.  She was borrowing a friend's little girl, but that was much easier to handle one than um, 5, like usually happens when we get together.   It was good to sit and chat over tea and noodles.  I can't wait until we go on vacation over Fall Break together.  It should be a lot of fun! 

So now that I've graduated from the doc, yesterday, I went to kick it up at the Y.  I hadn't been in so long.  I felt like it was finally safe enough that I got the OK to exercise.  

Day 1, week 1 Couch 2 5K. Done!

Check it out: I can see my feet when I run!  This is new. 

This never happened with my old boobs. ;) 

And I broke a sweat.  

It felt good.  

Time to get back to getting serious. Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I am determined to get healthy again! 

Striving for a new day

 I have fallen off the wagon lately.  I haven't blogged much, I have been feeling in a funk.  This week, I tried to get out if it.  I got out for a Girls Night, I finally got myself some new clothes.  I kept meaning to go get myself something new, and I finally did.  A friend starts selling LulaRoe clothing, it's really soft.  

I never would have dreamed I'd put myself into leggings on purpose.  I'm reminded of that line from Steel Magnolias, "It's like two pigs fighting under a blanket.". Some things don't need to be seen.  I keep feeling shame for my body. I have spent most of my life hiding my bosom, and wearing things that hide me.  But I've come a long way, not as far as I wanted to be by now, in fact, I've grown kind of stagnant in my weight loss.  Time to kick it up a notch, but that's another story.  However, it got me thinking, Why should I wait any longer to celebrate the small steps I have made?  I decided not to.  If I want to look better in leggings, I can work on that too.  But really, they look pretty good on me now. 

Eric is getting out too.  He has joined the Team for a Via de Cristo weekend, which will be second weekend of October.  He's helping out in the Kitchen.  But he gets to zip away to Serve, get closer to God, and stuff.  And I get a chance to try to hold down the fort, something new considering the last couple months.  Today, I took all three boys to Sam's gymnastics.  

Jacob did well as long as there was a screen. 

He's happy to watch Yo Gabba Gabba or Superwhy.  Early in the day, he's easy to ply.  He's even figured out the preschooler Lego Games and Where's My Water games on my ipad.  He's a maniac!

Sam is the turquoise shirted youngster climbing up the wall, while big brother stalks and watches from the upper right.  Well done sir!  I can already see that in the last 4 weeks that Sam has been doing gymastics at Interactive Academy that he is already making huge progress.  He isn't the slowest one on the team when they do laps.  He's rolling faster, climbing faster.  He's getting stronger.  I am so Proud of him!  He knew that he wanted to do this sport, and he's going for it!  Chris loved watching him, he did a couple laps himself and reported back he wouldn't mind doing gymnastics here too.  High Praise!  Heck, so would I.  This place is Fabulous!  Expensive, but Fabulous!

This sweetboy is good at keeping me company.  

We've been running hot and cold of late, sometimes we get along so swimmingly, he thrills me with his maturity, and then he'll lose it over something minor, and it takes me too long to bring him back, or I have to take screens or ground him to get his attention.  It's been hard. Even just this morning, he wanted to stay home instead of load up, but I can't leave him alone for 2 hours yet.  He hasn't earned that much trust.  He objected.  Highly.  I am pretty sure it's just part of the process, normal stuff for a kid in his shoes, just his reactions prove that all those letters the docs diagnosed him with years ago were spot on.  

Still, then there are moments like this, where for a moment, I forget all the crap, and get to just enjoy their smiles and hugs.  Those good moments get me through all the bad. Someday we'll get more of them.  I look forward to more days like this, where I'm healthier, where they are all healthier, stronger, and happier.  

Firsts

It's the first day of a new month, and I have a lot of great ideas for this month.  Last month, I created an Oily Group of friends and we drank water, 1/2 our weight in ounces per day.  Considering the month I had, the fact that I stuck with it for most of the month was huge. I think it's helped my recovery significantly.

Yesterday, I went to the doctor a checkup.  They took a look at my wounds. This is where it gets a little graphic.    Most of my stitching is closed up, dry, a little scabby still in a couple places, but mostly looks good. There's a seam where three points meet on each side, and it wasn't looking good in my mind.  It wasn't bloody or smelly, just moist, and had the potential to worsen.  I've been putting Neosporin on it, and covering it with Chris's old feeding tube gauzies.  (HA!  Handy to have all these supplies around the house.)   And I've been using Essential Oils everywhere else that's sealed up.
The nurse told me it looked ok, that just happens sometimes when the body wants to break down the dissolvable stitches, and can't so much like a splinter it gets distracted trying to push it out, which is counter productive to healing up the wound.  So she gave me this insulation stuff, to put in there and cover with a gauzy.  The insulation stuff gets gooey when wet and kind of seals up the wound.   I am supposed to change that every 24 hours. So I am!  
I probably will not be changing sizes much more at this point.  There is still some swelling, but we're pretty well established.  I can Go Shopping!   I still can't swim or take a hot bath (Darn!) especially while the wounds are open.   But I am excited about the opportunity to buy a cheap crappy bra at Walmart, or hit the summer ending sales on swimwear.  That sounds like a lot of fun.
She also said I could sleep on my side again! That was another biggie.  Because I was out of my happy drugs.  I wanted either the ok to sleep on my side, or New Drugs.  Because I was out of the neurotin, and if I broke out the narcotics, they were only good at keeping me sleeping on my back for 4 hours.   I wondered if it was ok to use my Sleep Essence, my Oily sleep supplement.  She gave me the ok to restart that too!  Hot dog!  

The nurse also said I could sleep with no bra.   

She lied. 

I did not sleep with no bra.  I tried.  I tossed and turned uncomfortably for 2 1/2 hours.   I hadn't taken any drugs, just used oils, and it wasn't quite cutting it.  So I put my bra back on at 2 am, and slept much better after that.  That was helpful. This pic is me in jammies with no bra.   My boobs are not hanging by my belly button, and my nightshirts look downright cute.   I am kind of enjoying putting all my old clothes on  and seeing how they fit.   Still, I didn't sleep well.  I found enough energy (in the form of coffee) to get moving for a big day today though!

Mommy's first big adventure outside the house.  

We went Apple Picking with Jacob's Preschool!  

Jacob's favorite part was picking one and being able to eat it right away.  

He picked one, and would've been perfectly content to go home.  

Jacob hadn't been Apple Picking in a while, since the last time we went with Sam 2 years ago.

And he wasn't an active picker then.  So I had to break him in. 

Yes, I corrupted him. 

I taught him how to climb a tiny tree.  

Though I can't lift him, I can spot him.  So I helped spot him right up into this great gala tree.  

He climbed to where his head was almost a smidge taller than me.  

And he giggled with pride.  

Me and my Big Boy! 

This was our selfie from inside the apple tree. <3

That was Plenty of Adventure for me for a while. 

I sat on a bench while he played, and we shared an apple cider slushie.  

I was a little bummed I didn't pick enough apples to make sauce.   But realistically, I'm still recovering.  I can't do it all.  And Canning would've been too much.  It was enough to just play with a sweetboy on a Beautiful day.  It was in the 70s, it had cooled off enough for us to enjoy the weather.  I think because it wasn't too hot and gross I was able to enjoy myself more.  

Check me out.  

I walked a mile.  And drank 1/2 my weight in water.  Grr! 

And I did so, as a member of the 21st Century, listening to the Hamilton Soundtrack on my phone. 

Do you know Alexander Hamilton? 

It rocks.  

And I broke a sweat.  Sweating is a new experience with my new bosom.  I don't automatically get a heat rash every time I break a sweat.   The feeling was just different.  A little over half way around my scars started to sting, so I knew I was definitely pushing my limits to go all the way around the block to home, for the full mile.  I came home, slathered up in Oils, and then ran out to a PSG meeting, and Book Club.  

Then I got to go to Book Club with the gals, and got my First Pumpkin Spice latte of the season. 

I appreciate my friend A taking this pic of me.  I'm still a little self concious of my bosom.   

But as you can see, I still naturally put my arms in front of my boobs to hide them.  I didn't realize I even did this.   But I do.  I even still do, especially when the kids want a hug.  I gotta protect this region, it's still all pretty tender.  I love hugs, but I have to hug side saddle.  

I can't wait to let my arms go do their thing.  I just want to be a little smaller, and get things all healthy for a more complete picture.  That's why I'll be working harder this month at moving.  But I don't want to over do it. I got the ok to walk, just not jostle, so no running... Yet.   

Almost the last

School is almost out for the summer.  Today is my last free morning, with no kids.  I have to make the most of this last child free day for a while.  I have great family adventures planned for the summer, but getting some alone time in is pretty good too.

I went for a bike ride, did some weeding, took a soaky bath, and finished the boys sugar scrub gifts for their teachers.  All while the three were still in school.   I will have you know, I smell fabulous.

Christopher helped me prep the Stress Away mix this morning.  

I love that he is at an age where he wants to help, and participate in the teacher gifts.  

At last! 

But Mommy finished them off.  

And Daddy will be working on some Fabulous labels for the teachers. 

It's a family affair. 

My Sweaty self

I don't normally shout this sort of thing from the rooftops, but I'm a bit proud of myself today.  I hopped on the scale this morning, and was down another couple pounds.   I even got on the Wii Fit this morning, and played around for a half an hour, worked up a nice sweat.  I hadn't done the thing in years, but as part of my goals, I'm trying to move my body once a day.  So a couple weekends ago, I broke out the Wii Fit.  It called me names, like saying "Oh. You're Obese."  Well, yeah, that's why I'm trying move my big butt!  The kids thought this was Wonderful, wanting to join me in exercising.  Heck yeah baby!

So, this morning, I hopped on the scale, and exercised on the Wii Fit with the kids laughing and cheering for me along the way.  Something the Wii told me, my BMI was down, and that I met the goal I'd set last month.  Hooray.  But who takes a wii seriously.  Not me.  But then when I was done, I kind of began to take it a bit seriously, I started plugging and chugging, and I realized my BMI was below 40.   YES!  That means I'm no longer morbidly or severely obese, just regular obese.   Now in celebrating this online, I realize that I have to admit that was severely obese, and putting it out there may be embarrassing, but to the 4 of you that read this blog, you are the ones that would celebrate this milestone with me.  So what the hey - Hip Hip Hooray!  

So far this year, I'm down 17 1/2 pounds!  And my new BMI is 39.9!
This is a pretty awesome, since I ate out this week, ate chocolate, and went and had dinner with the Fam last night.  Though I have been drinking my lunch more often, and I think that's what is really making a difference.  My favorite lunch is a Chocolate Pure Protein Complete shake with milk, frozen banana, and a handful of fresh spinach.  If I know I'm going to be exercising in the evening.   I'll eat a solid lunch, and drink dinner.  And it really is making a difference.

I am enjoying seeing these differences.  I like feeling healthier, being able to rassle around with the kids, play with them a bit more.  I look forward to this spring, and actually being able to play outside with them.  After being unhealthy for so long, let me just say, being healthy rocks!

I used to speak in complete sentences

We had Book Club meeting tonight.   In the book we were reading, Where Things Come Back, which I didn't quite finish,  because I got confused early on, and just didn't have the mindpower.  The gals assure me it's worth finishing.  In it, the main character jots down a list of possible book titles.  When a question was asked what book title we would use, I immediately called out my favorite quote from Ghostbusters, "Dogs and Cats sleeping together, Mass Hysteria" - story of my life.  Only, we have no more cats. :(
So then we got to talking about life as moms, and how we'd probably never be able to even write a book nowadays, because our brains are fried, or rather our frains are bried.   Someone once told me, that when you have your first child, you lose half your mind.  With the second, the other half.  So really, any more than 2 kids, you're screwed.
I used to speak in complete sentences.
That became my book title.  I used to have thoughts, be able to blog, be able to tell a full story.  Now I'm lucky if the story makes it into a Facebook status.   But with little steps comes little progress, so here I am, blogging for the first time in a while, and thinking, I made it to Book Club, got to spend some quality time with friends, and turned around and ran for 22 minutes with my bestie.  Go me! Go Kathleen! We rock!
Tonight, that's enough.

C25Kw1d2

I had the best coaching partner to help me do Day 2 of my run yesterday afternoon.  

Check out my sweetboy!

On Thursday night, I didn't have the wherewithal to document Kathleen and I starting up the Couch to 5K program again after Book Club.  Though hard, we did a good job.  I think though, running this Day 2 was actually harder than doing Day 1.  My body objected.  About halfway through Chris and I had technical difficulties with the ipod. I downloaded a podcast (check me out, so 21st century!) to tell us when to start and stop running.  We had a little trouble with it.  Plus we were sharing headphones, one ear for me and one for Chris, so that kept us close and hopping.  And I sweated.  It had gotten back up to 75 degrees yesterday, and I was in long sleeves and pants for running.  It had been different weather when I had left for church at 8 in the morning for my Vendor Blender event, chilly.  And I'd slept since then.  We worked it.  But Chris wanted to come with me, and he is already talking about when we're going to run again.  He doesn't have any fat to make angry by sweating, but he was an enthusiastic partner, and just what I needed.  I'm so Thankful!

Sweat once a day!

This week I've made huge strides in taking back my health.  Kathleen and I started the Couch 2 5K.  I've been tired of being a lump, a couch potato.  And as much as I hate running, it does the trick, it gets me healthier, and helps me loose weight.   Time to get serious!

I started a support group last month and lost 8 pounds.  We did a study of Colossians, and I drank a gallon of water day, and walked at least a mile for about 2/3 of the day.  I lost a week there at the end due to allergies gone wild.   But I still felt good, and realized sweating once a day was working for me.  My friend Karin used to say Sweat Once A Day.  That was her key to good health.   And I can see why.   This month I started a different group, but it's small business based, so it's a little harder to do it without purchasing a bunch of products.  I've been using Young Living Products instead.  There's a protein drink mix I'd like to order, but don't have yet.  Maybe I'll get there next month.  This round, I'm drinking my Ningxia daily, and Eric and I just started the Cleansing Trio on the 1st.   So far so good, it's pretty gentle, I was worried about being on the pot all day, and it's not like that.  

 So I wanted to kick up my exercise regimen, and so did Kathleen.  So we're doing it.  We're running again.  Just like old times!  Too bad we don't have this to think about while we run.

 Running the 5K under the ball was our focus point when we trained in 2011/12.   This time we're simply running for our health.  Perhaps there's a Thanksgiving 5K I may be up for... maybe.

STEPtember

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine mentioned on FB that she was going to be doing an online challenge with her church, 1 mile a day during the month of September, STEPtember.  I signed up, and found that on top of 1 mile a day, and a study of Colossians, we were going to drink a lot of water.  What a wonderful opportunity for me to take back my health.  I'd been working on it slowly since the boys went back to school.  Through August, I've been getting over the Y about twice a week.  That has been feeling great.  But it hasn't made enough of a difference for my weight loss, and I'm weighing what I weighed when I was 9 months pregnant with Jacob!

Forget that!  

So, this week, I started getting out to exercise once a day, and drink 1/3-1/2 my body weight in ounces of water.  For me, that's about a Gallon!  It's a lot of water.  I've been using my old Ningxia red bottles and downing about 25 ounces at a time, so 5 of those in a day gets me my gallon.  I'm good with 4 of them, plus other cups all over the house.  I have to pee all  the time.  I've also noticed my back doesn't hurt as much as usual. Huh.   And the best compliment of all, my friend Cindi saw my Thursday afternoon, and asked me if I could be Pregnant.  Not to doubt the powers of God, but that would be a pretty huge Miracle. So, No.  But she said I glowed.  I didn't walk Thursday, but according to the rules, I'm allowed a day of rest, so I guess that was it.  Apparently, the triple cocktail, of getting into the Word daily, drinking lots of water, and moving my butt everyday is quite good for me.  I kind of love it.

Karate - Palooza!

141/365

 Yesterday was a big karate day for Christopher.  First they had a Belt Promotion Ceremony.  The last time we went, it didn't go very well for Sam and Jake.  They were hot messes so I missed most of the ceremony.  This time, I got smart.  I left the youngsters home with Daddy, and Chris and I went alone.  

He performed his Pinan Nidan kata for Shihan, and did so well, he got bumped up from level 2 to level 3! 

And he graduated from green belt to blue belt. 

From Sam's favorite color to Chris's favorite color. 

After the belt promotion, the studio was holding an open house.  They have been so busy, they are opening a secondary location.  It just turns out to be on our way home, next door to our chiropractor, dentist, and my preferred location to have a pedicure.  It's a great strip mall. And Chris wanted to pop by...probably because they were told there would be cookies.  And there were.  There was also a goofball who wanted to climb things, shoot things, and clobber anyone.  He was wound up by the black belt kids giving their displays.  I was so proud of him during his ceremony.  

When we came home - THIS was what I found.  

Eric and Sam were planting our flowers and plants that we got from the kid's school plant sales.  I got snapdragons, and a citronella plant, a lavender plant.  For my birthday, I received a passle of herbs.  And I'd found some pickling cucumbers.  So this year, for the first in ages it feels, we're going to have a Garden!  

Oh, and Jake was in the pen in the frontyard while Daddy worked.  Rather brilliant. 

Anyway, after a quick boobysnack for Jake, it was back to the Dojo for Chris and I....

For Karate Mom Olympics! 

Yes, it was as crazy as it sounds.  They have a Mom and kid class, and they call it Karate Mom Olympics.  Last year, I'd just had Jacob, and there was no way I could do anything like that.  Eric participated in the Dad version and had a good time.  Frankly, I was excited to finally be healthy enough to participate this year! And Chris wanted me to.  How could I resist?!

And I'd like to thank another mom for taking these pictures of Chris and I having our own epic battle.  It was a karate class for parents and kids.  And we got to battle each other.  I won, but barely.  We get points for tagging each other with the foam sword. I got him first, then he got me 1 point,  and lastly, I tagged him.  But we were laughing so hard, it was so much fun.  We got to have an epic Moms vs. Kids battle.  It was close, but the kids pulled it out in the end.   

It was quite a workout, but a lot of fun.  It was offered to get a free month free of karate class for all the moms, and for the first time I was tempted.  Chris even taught me some of his kata, which was a lot harder to remember than I thought. I was the only one who even tried to learn pinan nidan, which is the third level for him of moves to memorize.  I should've picked an easier one.  I was not very good.  But I did have fun.  

I don't think I've laughed that hard at myself in a long time.  I'm a big girl, and I don't move easily, but it was Fun, and I'm surprised that I didn't hurt myself.  Chris promised he'll try and teach me some of the easier things, so that if I ever decide to do karate, I'll be ahead of the game.  I think I'd like to sometime.  It was really fun, I was happily surprised.  

Free to Move

 

We got a great start to the day...I painted my toes and nails, for Festivity. Silly, but fun. And Eric made honey flakey egg biscuit sandwiches, the breakfast of champions.  Or at least, the breakfast for any holiday around here.  The boys have declared that any holiday needs to have honey flakey biscuits. 

And then we got all dressed up in our patriotic garb and loaded up to go to the Brownsburg Town Parade. The boys were invited to "march" in the Parade with the Kindermusik crew.  Their float turned out to be an open minivan, out of which streamers streamed and music played.  There was candy to throw, musical toys to shake, and pamphlets to hand out, but my kids didn't want to any of that.  They were so tired from walking from where Eric dropped us off to our actual position at the end of the parade, that by the time the parade was ready to start, the boys were exhausted.  So they rode.

Meanwhile Jacob got ready to walk.  

Jacob was ready to move!  He grabbed a rattle and we were ready to roll! 

After sitting for a while, the girls started throwing candy...which made my boys jealous.  They wanted to throw candy.  So Sam came out and threw some tootsie rolls for a bit.  

But Sam was a bit slow at throwing; when he realized that he was way far back from the van, in fact, the lacrosse team right behind us was beeping their horn.  I'd like to think they were beeping at people they knew, not at the fact we were slow.  But we were a little slow.  However, sometimes the whole parade would get stopped up on a corner or something, and everyone would stop.  But on this occasion, Sam took off for the van.  

Some time later, Chris wanted out.  He wanted candy.  Apparently, he was jealous that Sam was just sitting snacking on tootsie rolls...umm...he wasn't supposed to be.  So we took the bucket back from Sam and Chris got to take a turn giving out some candy.  

And Sam lost his mind.  The parade is only a mile I'd guess, but by the time we were done, we were exhausted.    

And when we got home Christopher had an accident in his pants.  He was double bucket sick on Tuesday, but felt better yesterday.  We thought he was over whatever bug he had.  But he doesn't seem to be.  Even after a flush, his bowels have been leaky.  So this evening Chris, Jake, and I stayed in, instead of going to cookout and fireworks with Ryan and the rest of the Fam, and we're going to watch Capital Fourth. 

I couldn't bend over after naps, my back locked up.  But I will take it.  I realized this is the furthest I've walked, the most I've Moved since the end of September.  And I did it.  I'm rather proud of myself, as long as all the stretches I'm doing, that I should not be too miserable tomorrow.  We'll see.  

Chris and I put on some festive tattoos while we were home "sick".  Fun! 

I love that we are free to be crazy, to march "to the beat of a different drum".  A little prayer said to those who fought for us to be Free.  Happy Independence Day!