Our Day at the Environmental Center

This was an interesting trip. After going to the center with the 6th Grade, I couldn't wait to take my family up there and share all the fun and the amazing surroundings. As usual, I built it up in my mind way too much and was quickly brought back to reality by my kids and other circumstances.
First, Rod got a new camera for the trip just that morning and of course, when we arrived at the Environmental Center, there were problems with it. He (with my permission) went back down to town to fix it.
The whining started on the hike up to the lodge and it didn't really stop until we got to the top of the ridge in our snowshoes and I just lost it. I was all ready to pull out my camera when I realized this was not a moment I wanted to have a permanent memory of. I told the kids we were hiking down and then leaving. This is when the real crying started (me and the kids). So, I laid it out for them, either stop whining and crying and start being nice to one another or, it was back to the van!
For the first time ever, my emotional blackmail actually worked on my kids. AMAZING! Not only did they stop whining, they were actually helping each other and laughing. If only I could capture that moment and bottle it up for a rainy day.
The rest of the day was very nice. Rod returned with the new camera (still didn't work) and we got the size one ski boots for Jared. The kids all liked the cross country skiing but Jared was a natural. I am so sad we weren't able to get more pictures or any video of that.
So as Rod always says "To make a short story long" this ended up to be a pretty good day. The fact that I didn't delete every photo of our snowshoe hike it the real proof!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Rod and the kids decided to let Sabrina have a little fun in the snow. She looks like she enjoyed it so much, I just had to share these photos Rod took.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Something to Post!

One of my cute students and I on our skis. (starting hour 3)

Hey Look! I found something other than my weight to talk about.

A couple of weeks ago we took our 6th graders to The Environmental Center. It was such a great field trip, well other than almost loosing one of my girls to hypothermia (not kidding).

The kids got to do four activities: Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shoeing, Boondoggles, and making Bread on a Stick over an open fire. I really wanted to try everything (OK, maybe not boondoggles although I could sell them door to door to earn money for college).

What actually ended up happening was I skied for 2 50 minute rotations, ate lunch, snowshoed for one rotation, and then ended up skiing for the rest of the day (about 2 more hours). That's right! I was on cross country skis for almost 4 hours.

I really didn't plan this, and I was really sad about missing the bread!

The best part was, by morning, I could still walk. Amazing, I know!

So, on President's day the school district has an employee day at the center. They do all of the same activities, minus the bread , so I am dragging my family up there for the day. I honestly can't wait.

Who knew I would have to wait until I was almost 40 to truly enjoy the Environmental Center?

So Sorry!

I promised myself that I wouldn't turn this blog into a "Let's watch Angie's Diet" site but, here we go again.
It is going really well. I have my forth weigh in tomorrow and I think it should be another good one. The only bad thing about this is I could just kick myself for not doing it sooner.
Oh, and there is another awesome thing. I was trying on some of my old jeans and not only did a couple of pairs fit (sort of ) but one pair had six dollars in the pocket! I'm telling you, this diet is really paying off. (see the pictures to the right)
Again, sorry about the lack of any other posts. I wanted to get some shots of the kids and me making their Valentines (they are super cute by the way) but I was too busy cutting, pasting, and wrapping to take any pictures. Plus my kitchen is a mess and I would be way too humiliated to put that out there for all the world to see.

Progress

If you didn't already notice my Good Scale cheer, I have lost some weight over the last two weeks. Truth be told, I kind of had a bit of a "eat what ever I want" celebration the three days before I weighed in for the first time Monday. I probably gained a couple of pound thanks to that but after the weigh in I was committed. Something about paying good money, standing on a scale, and being accountable to all of you makes me really want to do this.

The best part is, I have been feeling so good. I'm not hungry and I haven't felt "icky" since I started eating right.

Anyway, I don't know if you can really see a difference but I am looking forward to making one of those slide shows where you can see my 30 something pounds melting away. I'll be just like those pregnant ladies who show their bellies growing only in reverse.

Clothes on the Line

Today in Relief Society Jan Shaw shared this poem and it made me think about our blogs. Our clothes may not be out, but I feel like blogging is the new way of letting the people we care about know what is going on in our lives. So thank you for having a look at my clean laundry every now and then.

The Clothesline Said So Much

A clothesline was a news forecast

To neighbors passing by.

There were no secrets you could keep

When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link

For neighbors always knew

If company had stopped on by

To spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the fancy sheets

And towels on the line;

You'd see the company table clothes

With intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth

To folks who lived inside

As brand new infant clothes were hung

So carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could

So readily be known

By watching how the sizes changed

You'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck,

As extra sheets were hung;

Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,

Haphazardly were strung.

It said, "Gone on vacation now"

When lines hung limp and bare.

It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged

With not an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon

If wash was dingy gray,

As neighbors raised their brows,

And looked disgustedly away.

But clotheslines now are of the past

For dryers make work less.

Now what goes on inside a home

Is anybody's guess.

I really miss that way of life.

It was a friendly sign

When neighbors knew each other best

By what hung on the line!

Author: Marilyn K. Walker

The Dreaded "BEFORE" Picture

Well, here it is, the before picture. I figured since it's Fast Sunday this would be a good time to officially start documenting my (say a little pray for me) weight loss.

I hate looking at pictures of myself. I promise you I do not look this bad in the mirror!

Also included in this post is my first "after" picture. Sure it was taken just 10 seconds later but what a difference! Isn't it amazing what a smile, a flip of the hair, and a sideways pose can do for one's figure.

I have always loved the way they do that in all those diet ads, like we are all too naive to figure out what's going on there. Still, until I'm down at least 10 pounds, I will be holding all conversations looking over my shoulder. :)