Four generations!David, David, David and David
My 4 Davids!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Great BC Trek 2009
Having WAY
too much FUN
to blog!
We have DRIVEN over
We have DRIVEN over
3500km
and I do not want this
ADVENTURE to end!
Having a BLAST!
Will share lots of
Having a BLAST!
Will share lots of
GREAT stories SOON!
XOXOXOX
XOXOXOX
laura
Thursday, July 30, 2009
I love me a nerd!
Whilst on vacation I am catching up on some reading. I just finished Gargoyle (Loved it!) I started The toss of the Lemon (Very interesting, just started and I am liking it).
I see vacation reading as an extension of my vacation. I like to bring along books I have been meaning to read, wanting to read, or even just a little book-candy, mindless reading. You know, light, fun, enjoyable reading... you know what I mean.
So, as I take over the wheel, David nestles into the co-pilot seat and pulls out his reading material. Within minutes I can tell he is fully engrossed in his book.
I glance over at his book cover, and do not recognize it.
"Whatcha reading?"
"Secrets of anti-gravity propulsion"
"Oh...........is it, um, good?"
"Ya, really good, it's a physics book."
"A physics book? A physics book is your vacation reading?......You're a nerd!"
Yep. I love me a nerd!
Whilst on vacation I am catching up on some reading. I just finished Gargoyle (Loved it!) I started The toss of the Lemon (Very interesting, just started and I am liking it).
I see vacation reading as an extension of my vacation. I like to bring along books I have been meaning to read, wanting to read, or even just a little book-candy, mindless reading. You know, light, fun, enjoyable reading... you know what I mean.
So, as I take over the wheel, David nestles into the co-pilot seat and pulls out his reading material. Within minutes I can tell he is fully engrossed in his book.
I glance over at his book cover, and do not recognize it.
"Whatcha reading?"
"Secrets of anti-gravity propulsion"
"Oh...........is it, um, good?"
"Ya, really good, it's a physics book."
"A physics book? A physics book is your vacation reading?......You're a nerd!"
Yep. I love me a nerd!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
WW - Say cheese!
Today's Wordless Wednesday is actually also a Wordful Wednesday post.
While the photos I am going to post all speak for themselves - a young family, travelling across Canada on summer vacation - having the best time ever - they do not express my gratitude and pride.
So far, we have taken approximately 140 photos and I am in many of them. In fact, I volunteer to be in many and throw the camera at hubby so that he can capture a special moment. This is a HUGE shift in attitude. Before loosing my weight I shied away from the camera. So much so, that there are months, and many special occasions that you would be hard-pressed to find a photo of me.
People always ask me to post before and after photos - and the truth is that I have very few photos of me - especially in the last year or so. I was ashamed of how I looked. I protected myself by being the one taking all the photos. Never posing.
Now, as I upload our adventure vacation photos, I am so very happy. Now, I am part of the memory. I am not just behind the camera. I am in the action!
Now my kids will have photos of me. Photos of mommy smiling. Confident. Joking around. Enjoying life. Playing with them. Goofing off for the camera. Relaxing. Happy.
We will all have fun memories captured of a family trip that we all went on together - that we all enjoyed. Images of their mother are captured forever, not only in photos, but also in their hearts.
For more Wordless Wednesday entries click HERE!
Or if you prefer Wordful Wednesdays, click HERE!
While the photos I am going to post all speak for themselves - a young family, travelling across Canada on summer vacation - having the best time ever - they do not express my gratitude and pride.
So far, we have taken approximately 140 photos and I am in many of them. In fact, I volunteer to be in many and throw the camera at hubby so that he can capture a special moment. This is a HUGE shift in attitude. Before loosing my weight I shied away from the camera. So much so, that there are months, and many special occasions that you would be hard-pressed to find a photo of me.
People always ask me to post before and after photos - and the truth is that I have very few photos of me - especially in the last year or so. I was ashamed of how I looked. I protected myself by being the one taking all the photos. Never posing.
Now, as I upload our adventure vacation photos, I am so very happy. Now, I am part of the memory. I am not just behind the camera. I am in the action!
Now my kids will have photos of me. Photos of mommy smiling. Confident. Joking around. Enjoying life. Playing with them. Goofing off for the camera. Relaxing. Happy.
We will all have fun memories captured of a family trip that we all went on together - that we all enjoyed. Images of their mother are captured forever, not only in photos, but also in their hearts.
For more Wordless Wednesday entries click HERE!
Or if you prefer Wordful Wednesdays, click HERE!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Realistic, Attainable and Measurable
Yet another frustrating weigh-in last night. I am up a pound...well, actually, not "A" pound, but, "THE" pound. Yep. That pesky little bugger that I have been gaining and loosing for 10 weeks now!
Full stop.
Let's switch up our thinking, and look at this from another angle:
Hmmmm...... how about looking at it from this angle?
OK - that was not very pretty, but it did get me thinking of this whole weight loss journey a bit differently.
Those photos above? Well, those jeans are the same size I wore back in 2000. In fact, they are the smallest size I have worn since getting engaged - forget the whole multiple pregnancy excuse! ENGAGED!!!
(ok, my tummy is bigger, and the pants fit me a bit differently, but these pants were bought at a "normal" store, in a normal size, with no tears of frustration or feelings of just buying something cause it fits!)
So, perhaps I should not focus on the number on the scale, but on how my body is changing. I am leaner, stronger, fitter and I carry myself with a feeling of confidence that has been missing for a long, long time.
Well, for almost 10 months my goal has been to loose weight. Period. PERIOD. Perhaps I am suffering from tunnel vision?
I really want to train and succeed at completing a half marathon. Can you imagine the feeling I will have crossing that finish line - exactly one year from the time I could not run around the soccer pitch or run up two flights of stairs?
I have come a long way. Ten months ago, I could not even fathom running 1km let alone 22.5km!
OK. So, I need to set new goals. They need to be realistic, attainable and measurable.
What a coincidence, the weekly challenge at Amy's 15 Week challenge is all about goal setting and rewarding yourself for short term and long term goals.
Here goes:
Short term goals and associated rewards:
1. Run 3 times a week while on vacation (getting in each of my LSD Sunday runs as per my training program. REWARD - A new, cute running outfit!
2. Journal everything I eat while on vacation - The good, the bad, and the ugly. REWARD - A new sleek black coat I have been eyeing for a few weeks.
3.Enjoy my vacation and get to at least 1 WW meeting in the 3 weeks. REWARD - A pair of AMAZING red shoes I saw at Winners!
Long term goals and associated rewards:
1. Run the half marathon in September - and cross the finish line with a smile, or simply beaming with pride. REWARD - a day at the spa.
2. By Christmas day be 160 pounds. REWARD - Treat myself to a boxing day shopping spree.
Well, I think those are all realistic, attainable and measurable!
Your encouragement, support and well, prayers, are all appreciated.
I am not in a race to lose weight, I am building, defining and reconfirming who I am and what I want out of life, but embarking on a healthy lifestyle and a commitment to me.
Full stop.
Let's switch up our thinking, and look at this from another angle:
Hmmmm...... how about looking at it from this angle?
OK - that was not very pretty, but it did get me thinking of this whole weight loss journey a bit differently.Those photos above? Well, those jeans are the same size I wore back in 2000. In fact, they are the smallest size I have worn since getting engaged - forget the whole multiple pregnancy excuse! ENGAGED!!!
(ok, my tummy is bigger, and the pants fit me a bit differently, but these pants were bought at a "normal" store, in a normal size, with no tears of frustration or feelings of just buying something cause it fits!)
So, perhaps I should not focus on the number on the scale, but on how my body is changing. I am leaner, stronger, fitter and I carry myself with a feeling of confidence that has been missing for a long, long time.
On Sunday I ran the furthest I have EVER run (15.8km) AND I purchased size 12 jeans.
Ya, the scale may be bouncing around the 166 mark - but I am not over eating, binge eating and I am trying to choose healthy foods. I am running 3 or 4 times a week, playing soccer, working full time AND being a full time SAHM. And my weight is not ballooning. It is not inching or catapulting up.
On Thursday our running clinic had a nutritionist as a guest speaker. She is a runner, and could easily relate to our running agendas, and she works with obese children. So, I really felt that she could relate to my struggles.
After a brief conversation she gave me a big hug and said, " Look at you! You look great! You are about to go for a 6k run! You have come a long way. But you are at a cross roads. It is very difficult to properly fuel your body to prepare and train for a half marathon while totally focused on losing weight. You need to decide if your goal is to reach your goal weight in the next 2 months or is it to successfully train, and complete a half? Maybe your new short term goal is to eat healthy and properly, and train - and then, after the race you focus on loosing the last little bit of excess weight. You may be pleasantly surprised how flipping your focus to be properly fueling your training and running your race to the best of your ability will allow your to meet your weight loss goals...but it will take more time. The key should be on refueling, repairing muscle and keeping healthy. Cutting calories and sacrificing your ability to train effectively will lead to huge disappointment. You need to set your goals."
Goals. My goals.
Ya, the scale may be bouncing around the 166 mark - but I am not over eating, binge eating and I am trying to choose healthy foods. I am running 3 or 4 times a week, playing soccer, working full time AND being a full time SAHM. And my weight is not ballooning. It is not inching or catapulting up.
On Thursday our running clinic had a nutritionist as a guest speaker. She is a runner, and could easily relate to our running agendas, and she works with obese children. So, I really felt that she could relate to my struggles.
After a brief conversation she gave me a big hug and said, " Look at you! You look great! You are about to go for a 6k run! You have come a long way. But you are at a cross roads. It is very difficult to properly fuel your body to prepare and train for a half marathon while totally focused on losing weight. You need to decide if your goal is to reach your goal weight in the next 2 months or is it to successfully train, and complete a half? Maybe your new short term goal is to eat healthy and properly, and train - and then, after the race you focus on loosing the last little bit of excess weight. You may be pleasantly surprised how flipping your focus to be properly fueling your training and running your race to the best of your ability will allow your to meet your weight loss goals...but it will take more time. The key should be on refueling, repairing muscle and keeping healthy. Cutting calories and sacrificing your ability to train effectively will lead to huge disappointment. You need to set your goals."
Goals. My goals.
Well, for almost 10 months my goal has been to loose weight. Period. PERIOD. Perhaps I am suffering from tunnel vision?
I really want to train and succeed at completing a half marathon. Can you imagine the feeling I will have crossing that finish line - exactly one year from the time I could not run around the soccer pitch or run up two flights of stairs?
I have come a long way. Ten months ago, I could not even fathom running 1km let alone 22.5km!
OK. So, I need to set new goals. They need to be realistic, attainable and measurable.
What a coincidence, the weekly challenge at Amy's 15 Week challenge is all about goal setting and rewarding yourself for short term and long term goals.
Here goes:
Short term goals and associated rewards:
1. Run 3 times a week while on vacation (getting in each of my LSD Sunday runs as per my training program. REWARD - A new, cute running outfit!
2. Journal everything I eat while on vacation - The good, the bad, and the ugly. REWARD - A new sleek black coat I have been eyeing for a few weeks.
3.Enjoy my vacation and get to at least 1 WW meeting in the 3 weeks. REWARD - A pair of AMAZING red shoes I saw at Winners!
Long term goals and associated rewards:
1. Run the half marathon in September - and cross the finish line with a smile, or simply beaming with pride. REWARD - a day at the spa.
2. By Christmas day be 160 pounds. REWARD - Treat myself to a boxing day shopping spree.
Well, I think those are all realistic, attainable and measurable!
Your encouragement, support and well, prayers, are all appreciated.
I am not in a race to lose weight, I am building, defining and reconfirming who I am and what I want out of life, but embarking on a healthy lifestyle and a commitment to me.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
WW - You've come a long way!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Making Mom Proud
Our HUGE family vacation is fast approaching...you know, the one where we put a 5 year old, a 4 year old and a 2 year old into a van and drive clear across the country. Ya, the one that Map Quest indicates takes 51 hours and 12 minutes (one way, not including washroom breaks, sanity checks, false washroom breaks, WW3 diversions, playground stops, middle-of-no-where-stops, traffic jams, bad weather, ferry wait times and whatever other types of stops a young family is forced to take in a 4602.46 KM/ 2860 mile car ride). Ya. That one.
Anyways, my mom (who gives Martha Stewart a run for her money in many areas) is a woman of lists, organization and efficiency. While, in daily life, her mutant gene hardly wears off on me, it does when I am vacation planning. I make lists of lists, I stay organized and well prepared.
So, I am happy to report, that while we are still a week from departure, packing and organizing is coming along.
I have a spread sheet that includes 234 rows and almost half of those have little check marks. COMPLETED. PACKED. READY. (I am not sure if being packed or if having a spread sheet of 234 rows or even having room for 234 items in our van is the more impressive feat!?!??!??!)
Yep, while one can never be fully prepared for a epic, crazy-a$$ trip of this sort, I am doing my very best!
Anyways, my mom (who gives Martha Stewart a run for her money in many areas) is a woman of lists, organization and efficiency. While, in daily life, her mutant gene hardly wears off on me, it does when I am vacation planning. I make lists of lists, I stay organized and well prepared.
So, I am happy to report, that while we are still a week from departure, packing and organizing is coming along.
I have a spread sheet that includes 234 rows and almost half of those have little check marks. COMPLETED. PACKED. READY. (I am not sure if being packed or if having a spread sheet of 234 rows or even having room for 234 items in our van is the more impressive feat!?!??!??!)
Yep, while one can never be fully prepared for a epic, crazy-a$$ trip of this sort, I am doing my very best!
Madigan, or line item 154, packed!
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