Inside Out

Distance: 2.172 miles
Time: 34 min.

The boys are home with me this morning. As long as the boys aren't bickering, I love these kinds of mornings!

We snuggled in my bed while watching cartoons. I bribed the boys with Fruit Loops and Egg Nog so I could get my run done on the treadmill without having to stop and referee a fight. We all took a bath. (Someday I'm sure I'll be able to bathe alone...but for now when the two monkeys hear the bath water, they come running with their clothes flying.)


In no hurry to get dressed.

Now I'm doing a little web surfing in my bathrobe and towel, Hudson is using his brother's toothbrush to brush his teeth, and Evan is probably watching tv. We have some errands that we are going to run in a bit. Haircuts and shopping.

Oh, and the toothbrush? Husband forgot the rule that Santa always brings a new toothbrush to the kids in their stocking and allowed Child #1 to get a fancy battery spinner-type brush a few weeks ago. Of course, Child #2 is fascinated with it. And yes, I'm closing me eyes to the fact that the kid is using his brother's brush. Believe me, they share more than toothbrush germs, so I'm not too worried.

I just received a super sloppy kiss from a little naked boy. And he is climbing on my desk and chair as I try to type. Good thing he's cute.


This kid is always in the way. He just has so much to say and do. Busy busy busy boy.

My final random thought for the morning is that it is irritating when you put your contact in your eye inside out. When the contacts are in properly, you can't feel them at all. Well, I could feel the right one, and it was freaking me out. I took it out and didn't see any lint, so I put it back in. Still felt weird. I took it out again, flipped it inside out and realized that was the problem. All better now.

My Day

34 minutes on elliptical - I wish my elliptical gave a mileage. I would love to know how far I've traveled. It gives a distance, but I can't figure out what kind of a distance. It doesn't even correspond to when my feet press down, so I'm not sure what kind of distance it is. Is it steps, is it feet, is it inches? I don't know.

Today was my day. And I spent it cleaning the house. Both boys got sent to daycare so I could work my way through the house with little interruption. I think they prefer to go to Linda's. They get to play with friends there. Mom is not nearly as appealing.

I did massive amounts of laundry, cleaned and organized, listened to Christmas music at very high volumes, and worked out on the elliptical while watching The Bounty Hunter. I also colored my hair and did grocery shopping before picking up the kids. I wanted to get my nails done, but I couldn't quite fit that in today.

There is still much cleaning and organizing to be done, but the house looks way better than it did yesterday. I want to clean the boys' room and playroom tomorrow. We need to make way for new presents that Santa is sure to bring!

We also need to finish up a little bit of Christmas shopping for Dad. I wish it would stop raining. At least the tree is still standing.

Storms

Distance: 1.921 miles
Time: 30 min.

We woke up this morning to very wet and windy weather. I didn't mind not being able to run outside because I wanted to finish watching When In Rome. Cute movie.

I have been running in 90 second intervals. Today, however, for my long run I decided to run for 1/4 mile intervals at a 5.1 mph pace. Then I walked for 1/10 of a mile at a 3.0 mph pace. I made it through three of the running intervals before I gave in to lack of air and fatigue. I just couldn't maintain the pace for almost three minutes.

At first I was really disappointed with myself. Then I had to remind myself I've only been back in the running game for two weeks. I'll be starting week three on Tuesday. I need to give myself time to build up again. I should enjoy the "easy" runs while I can, because they will increase in duration before I know it!

After exercising, we met my mom and sister to pick up the kids. By the way, we had a gloriously quiet morning together. Husband even wrapped all the presents because he knows I hate doing the wrapping. I didn't once have to pour someone else's milk, watch cartoons, or break up an argument!

My mom and sister wanted In N Out Burger, but I wasn't willing to spend the WW points on a treat like that, especially after my great meal last night. I ended up not eating lunch which isn't good.

When we got home, we had to get to work cutting down our wonderful and fabulous climbing tree on the side of the house. With all the wet weather we've been having, our back fence fell down again and our tree starting leaning towards the house. Not good.


You can see the bump of soil near the base of the tree where the roots are starting to come up.


A little too close to the house for my liking.


Poor little bare tree.

We'll probably cut the rest down as well. No more great climbing tree for the kids. Sad day.

Date Night

My mom and sister took the boys home for a slumber party after we all saw Yogi Bear. It was a cute movie. Better than yesterday's flick.


The boys getting ready for the movie.

Husband and I did whirlwind Christmas shopping while we had the chance. I was on a mission to finish! Done but for stocking stuffers. Phew. Oh, and the boys and I will get Eric something this week, but I couldn't do that tonight with him with me.

We ate at Cool Hand Luke's, and I feel really good about my food choices. I am being a little bit obsessive right now, but it's okay. I'll settle into the WW program.

I had a 7 oz. sirloin and ate probably four ounces of it. I ordered rice pilaf and separated it into what looked to be about a 1/2 cup portion. I ordered salad with ranch on the side. I dipped corners of lettuce into it and probably used about a tablespoon's worth of dressing. I enjoyed a scrumptious sourdough roll with a smear of butter. I'm not even a huge bread fan, but these rolls are so delicious! I also had probably five bites of the ranch beans and enjoyed them so much.

I calculated everything I ate and still stayed under my points target for today! I am quite proud. I don't feel deprived. How could I when I ate steak, rice, roll, salad and beans? I didn't leave feeling so full that I could hardly move. That never feels good. I also didn't have my stomach rebel on me while we were out shopping. That is huge for me.

It's reassuring to know I can enjoy dinner out without feeling like I'm a diet freak or have to be severely restrictive.

I'm not counting them as activity points, but we also walked and walked and walked while shopping. Probably burned off the five bites of beans at the very least!

Tomorrow morning I need to deal with wrapping and hiding of the presents.

And while the kids are at Grandma's, they did some of the following things:


Played with cousins.


Made a giant cookie.


And got an early Christmas present from Grandma. My two stinkers are the little ones in the middle.

When In Rome

Distance: 1.992 miles
Time: 32:30 min.

When In Rome is the movie I started watching on my phone while I did my run this morning. I'll go back to Benjamin Button some other time. After yesterday's boredom at the theater, I was really hoping for a romantic comedy that would lift my spirits. So far so good with Rome. It certainly doesn't hurt that Josh Duhamel is in the movie.

I felt WEAK while running this morning. I attribute that to the fact that I didn't eat a whole lot yesterday, and I didn't eat anything before running this morning. Now I'm scarfing on an apple and Fiber One bar. Maybe someday soon I'll start trying to make myself breakfast rather than try to unwrap breakfast.

I am looking forward to the rest of the day.

The boys and I are meeting my mom, sister and nephews to go see Yogi Bear at the movies. Then I'm handing the kids off to my mom and sister who will take them home for a cousin slumber party. Then Husband and I get the rest of the day and night to ourselves!!! Yay!!!

We plan to do some whirlwind Christmas shopping and enjoy a nice dinner out. We may even go to church in the morning and actually be able to listen to what the priest is saying! I swear, I haven't been able to really pay attention in church for over six years. I'm either dealing with my own two boys or I'm dealing with school kids on Friday Mass day. I am willing to bet all I own that if just Husband and I go to Mass, I won't have to scold him even once for talking too loud or touching someone or standing on the pew! I bet he'll behave just fine!

Can't wait for tomorrow's run so I can watch more of When In Rome. I'm going to save my little Netflix movies as an incentive and motivation to get my butt moving.

Early and Late

Distance: 1.992 miles
Time: 32:30 min.

I was able to sleep in until 6 a.m. today! It was glorious not to be woken up by a blaring alarm clock. I didn't need to be at Mass until 8:45, so I threw caution to the wind and risked waking up the 3-year-old by running on my treadmill this morning.

I actually really enjoyed my workout. A few days ago I noticed that the Netflix app was on my iPhone. When I asked Husband about it, he said it was so I could watch movies if I wanted. Gee, what a concept!

I figured I'd try it this morning. Much to my non-techie self surprise, I was able to log in (thank goodness Husband keeps the same passwords for things) and watch Benjamin Button while I ran. I've never had a run feel so quick! I just might need to avoid running outside from now on!

In any case, I want to run more because I want to see the rest of the movie. Plus, we are supposed to have buckets of rain all week long. I'm not hardcore enough of a runner to run in the rain.

Got in a good workout, but then I was late to Mass. I was so embarrassed. Luckily I only missed the first two minutes, and I slipped in next to the fourth grade teacher. Other teachers were later than me!

We had a really nice retreat. The priest led us in a great talk about Joseph. All the attention usually goes to Mary, so it was a nice change in perspective.

I wasn't about to pick up the kids until I had to! I went and saw How Do You Know? with Reese Witherspoon.

Now, I am a sucker for a romantic comedy, and I enjoy just about any movie, but I was thoroughly bored. I never get bored at a movie, but I seriously didn't care one way or the other how it ended, and then once it did end, the way they did it SUCKED. I should have gone to see The Fighter.

I really need to get my camera charged so I can post pictures of my super exciting life. For some reason my phone isn't loading photos to the computer without freezing everything up.

Vacation. I am so happy to be on vacation.

Lost 8!

Time: 32:30 min. on elliptical

I am so excited! I weighed in at WW today and am down 3.8 for the week and 8 pounds total! I lost 8 pounds in two weeks! I fully don't expect to keep losing at this rate, but it sure feels good to see high numbers to begin this journey.

I am also pretty proud of myself tonight because I came home from directing our school's Christmas play and still got on the elliptical for a pretty good workout if I do say so myself.

I can barely contain my excitement because tomorrow is our last day of school before vacation, AND it is a half day! Yay! And I declared it to be a free dress day! Double yay!

I have got to go throw a load of laundry in the washer so my one hard core workout bra is clean for tomorrow. I'll be able to run outside in the afternoon while Child #1 follows me on his bike. Can I hear another cheer for half days?!

Maybe I'll finally have time to shop, wrap presents, and get Christmas cards sent.