Back at it.... Still at it

Back to school!?

Yes I am.

So watch out. My moods may become erratic and my schedule might get overbooked.

After such a struggle with last semester, this semester I'm determined to keep up with my studies by setting aside time to study and sticking with it. I also need to remember that I'm a mom and wife. My family depends on me for things and I need to set aside time for them. If I can organize my time well, everyone in this house should be just a little happier this semester.

It's worth a shot.


I've completed 10 runs in January, so far, with some bike rides and walks thrown in here and there. I've been sticking under my allotted Weight Watchers points as well. So far I've lost 11.2 pounds over 4 weeks and I'm still feeling very motivated to continue.

I'll keep you posted.

Unless, of course, I become unmotivated and give up. In that case I may never mention it again.

My Grandma Tandy

My birthday always makes me think of Grandma Tandy. The last time I talked with her before she passed away was on my birthday. She would call every birthday to tell me she remembered the day I was born and how it seemed like only yesterday.

Recently I added all my home videos from CDs back to a hard drive for easier access. Many of the videos weren't named so I had a bit of a jolt when I opened up the video I'm posting. There was my smiling Grandma Tandy having a special moment with little Carley. I silently sobbed as I watched it. I miss her so much. I am happy to have this video to watch when I need a grandma fix.

So in celebration of my birthday and my grandma, here is the video.

For those of you who loved her, get the Kleenex first.

Confidence

I haven't played much with my new camera. I think I'm nervous.


I'm scared I'll find the old camera wasn't holding me back but I'm holding me back. I'm scared to find a new, expensive camera won't help me be a better photographer.


I know it's just a wall in my own head that I have to get through. And I will.


So for now, I haven't ventured much farther than my back yard.

Better Late Than Never

Day 7 of 7 daily (or almost) posts.

I've let you down!

I know you all were anxiously awaiting my 7th post.

I don't know what happened.

I got busy.

I was enjoying the weekend.

I didn't have anything to say.

I just plain forgot.


Another thing I forgot was to update you on our 2010 Summer List.




Swimming pool: check. We went to the pool many times. The gym pool, a friend's apartment pool, a friend's parents' pool. You name it, if the kids had access to a pool they were swimming.


Camping: check. The entire family camped with Shelly and Nick at Ice House.

The kids and I went camping on the coast with friends.

Make something from our craft box: check. Carley and her neighbor friend, Sunshine, pull out the crafting stuff one day and made whatever they felt like.


Folsom Lake: check. I took the Josh and Carley and two friends to the lake for the day. Fun as usual.


Find twenty-five Geocaches: not complete. For the record we did find 20 caches and looked for several others that eluded us.


Kiele sleep over: check. Kiele stayed over summer while Grandpa Thiel and Aunt Emma visited us.

Read a lot of books:check. The kids were enrolled in a reading program for 6 weeks over summer break. Also, we read The Indian in the Cupboard together before renting the movie.


Go hiking: check. We did a little impulse hiking while camping at Ice House.

Library reading club: check. The kids and I joined and completed a library reading club over the summer. After turning in our reading "bingo" cards, I recieved a reusable bag and Josh and Carley were able to pick out a new book each.

Make and keep a summer journal: did not complete

S.F. Exploratorium: did not complete

Paint picture: did not complete


See a play: did not complete


Have picnic: check. We probably had two picnics with our new picnic basket.


Make worm bin: check. I created a worm bin but between hot weather and busy schedules, they've all dried up.

Davis Market: check. The whole family went to the farmer's market in Davis one Saturday. It was very crowded and the selection was surprisingly small. We did come home with a large variety of meats, which is something I can't get at the Sacramento farmers markets.

Plant sunflowers: did not complete

Write a Letter: check. My mom sent the kids self-addressed, stamped envelopes and they returned a letter or picture to her.


We didn't accomplish everything on our list but the summer was jam-packed with fun and new experiences. Right now, the weather is damp and very cold. We mostly hunker down inside and play games or watch TV. Soon it will be summer again with a boat load of new adventures.

Family Day

Day 6 of 7 daily posts


Since Christmas and New Year's Day fell on Walt's normal days off, he had two floating holidays to use within a month. So last week he took a couple days off in order to spend time with the kids while they were still on vacation.


We made a trip to San Francisco to visit the California Academy of Sciences. Walt and Josh went a couple years ago but I stayed home with a sick Carley.


Unfortunately is seemed that all of Northern California had last week off. This was the line of ticket holders trying to get through the door.


We finally made it to the door. But the museum was at capacity so we had to wait a bit longer.

Once inside there were more lines for everything from food to entry into the rain forest. We enjoyed the museum though. There were some really neat things to see.

























Click HERE to check out Carley and me in the "photo booth" at the museum. There are four pictures.


Taken at the front door of the museum.

Winter "Grays"

Day 5 of 7 Daily Posts: don't forget to check back tomorrow!

I went for a bike ride along the river yesterday. Another fun way for me to "move more".

The sun was out and the air felt like that day when it just starts to turn spring. There was still a slight chill in the air but it wasn't cold.


I took my camera with me just in case I was inspired to snap some photos. But once I hit the trail I felt discouraged. Everything around me seemed dead. The trees have no leaves, the weeds have gone brown. There seemed to be no inspiration around.


And then it occurred to me that everything is still alive but just dormant for the winter. The trees and weeds are just saving up some energy while it's so cold in order to make a beautiful come back in spring.


People do that too sometimes. People need to do that sometimes.


So instead of viewing winter as a time of dull, gray, blah, I can view it as a time for reflection and stillness in preparation for a renewal in spring.

And so I found my inspiration in that.

Randomness

Day 4 of 7 Daily Posts: don't forget to check back tomorrow!
Only day 4 and I'm running out of things to say.

I haven't been about to think of anything specific to post about today so as I browsed recent photos I decided to just post about small random things going on around here.

********************
First off, there is very important news!


When my sister, Shelly, visited me last August she had a bun in the oven.

That beautiful "bun" was born December 7th. Congratulations to Shelly and her husband, Nick, on the birth of their first baby.


Madeleine Ryan Jones. I'm so happy to have another niece!

********************


I want you to know I do NOT have time to do everything. Especially during finals. My house got a little crazy cluttered during the couple weeks I studied and took my semester finals.


It wasn't only my stuff laying around either.


And Walt definitely doesn't want me to share this with the internet world but I figure you all have this happen in your house sometimes, right? We just don't like to show it off. Well I'm showing you, baby.

********************


Speaking of Walt, how great is he? He hand-stitched elastic to a ribbon to make a headband for Carley. Since I was busy or gave Carley the "maybe later" routine, she asked her dad. And he did it.


Look how great this headband fits!

So does that photo remind you of The Shining at all? It sort of reminds me of The Shining.


Well?

********************


Remember I said the kids, especially Carley, likes to play with the Christmas tree ornaments like toys in this post? Here's proof.

I used to be worried about the ornaments getting broken. I just don't worry about it much anymore. She really enjoys playing with them. And none of the ornaments mean more to me than she does. So why not?

********************


Josh isn't much of a reader. He views it like a chore or awful homework. Unless he gets the right book. Lately there have been a few books that he's really gotten into. Of course the latest editions of Diary of a Whimpy Kid was a big hit.

Right now he's reading Gulliver's Travels. I told him I'll take him to the movie when he's done. He's pretty excited about that. And at the rate he's getting through the book, we'll see the movie this weekend.

********************

Well that's it for today folks. Come back tomorrow. It may be randomness all over again.

Move More, Eat Less

Day 3 of 7 Daily Posts: don't forget to check back tomorrow!
I plan to post before 9 a.m. every day but today errands took priority. Keep checking daily though. I promise I'll post something new every day this week.

Move more, eat less. That's the goal.

It's a goal, not a New Year's resolution! I feel like resolutions made at the start of the new year fade faster than a fad. I like setting goals in my life when I feel inspired to do so, not just based on a date.

As the semester ended and I recovered more time for myself, this goal kept nagging in my head. So I've decided to do something about it.


A month or more ago I bought a new pair of running shoes. My old ones just plain hurt. This is where my new running shoes sat. In the closet untouched.


The day after Christmas I decided to lace those bad boys up and go for a spin. Finally.

The last time I'd gone for a run was in May! I feel so out of shape. I run, walk, run, walk, run, walk. But I get through about 30 minutes and just over two miles. It's a start. I know I'll get stronger.

As far as "move more" goes, I don't have to run. I could do other activities. But right now I find running the easiest activity to talk myself into. Especially on a day like today. It was spring-like outside.


I always run with my iPod and Nike+. That little doohickey tracks my speed, distance and time.


The small, oval sensor can slip right into a special spot inside my Nike shoe but I prefer to put it in this Velcro pocket that easily attaches to my shoe laces.


And after I attach my iPod to the computer the run information uploads to nike.com. I can see my run stats. The dips in this graph are the times I walked.

It's so gratifying to me to see my run. I can track how many runs I've completed in a week, month or year. I can see if I'm improving or not.

My intention is to exercise 30 minutes per day five times per week, at least. Sometimes life gets in the way and I can come up with a million excuses. But only I can make myself feel better!

So I've covered the "move more". The "eat less" part seems to be my biggest problem.

I've gained 30 pounds over the past three to four years!! And from what I hear, it only gets harder to keep weight off as I get older. Sometimes I have to sort of trick myself into losing weight by doing something like a Biggest Loser challenge with family or friends. But after a couple times, the trick doesn't work for my motivation and need to try a new way to challenge myself.


This time around, I joined Weight Watchers online.

I feel so silly saying it! But now it's out, isn't it?

Often I get naysayers giving me "You don't need to lose weight!" or "Look how much skinnier you are than me!" But technically I am overweight. And better yet, I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. I finally want to do something about it!

I have successfully completed my first week of Weight Watchers and counting points. Some days I feel so strong and in control. And some days I just want to quit paying attention to what I eat! My first weigh-in is tomorrow. I know that I've lost a couple pounds and that's great! But my biggest obstacle is me. Sometimes I want change NOW and quickly grow impatient when change is slow.

But I'm going to keep at it.

Move more, eat less!