Mission: SUMMER SLIM-DOWN is in progress

So this week I started my "Summer Slim-down". Holly got this fantastic idea to attempt this program called the Summer Slim-down. Although we have accomplished great things with our weight be have both been in a maintaining phase and need a jump start! Basically, it is two personal training sessions a week. Couple the training with watching what we are eating and regular cardio...and now we have a goal in mind by the end of summer. Mission slim-down is in progress. The goal is to see our measurements change and be firmly into the next 10 pound bracket. 

Let me begin by saying that Day 1 was Monday and it was purely just learning the equipment and exercises. My triceps hurt so bad after...it was major pain. I am thinking, Ok if that is just the first day where you learn stuff....I am in trouble. Today is the morning after day 2 and I feel ok. I am sore but it is not unbearable. Ok so I am going to put it all out there and I can't believe that I am about to do this but here I go. I am thinking that if I actually post numbers it will hold me accountable. My weight usually fluctuates around 144 pounds. Give or take a few + / - depending on stress and my period. The lowest I have ever seen is 142.6 and that is on a really good day. When I am stressed and on my period....146 is pretty normal. Let's just say this last week was rough with all of the emotional things happening at the end of the school year. So my starting weight is a few pounds higher than I would like. The trainer said that the weight will go down but it will be the last thing to change. My measurements will probably change first. My plan is to measure again at the end of the 5 weeks so that we can see...together....if there is a difference. I plan to post my weight weekly. YIKES! I am weighing in every Friday morning.... which is tomorrow. Wow that came fast!

Starting Weight: 146.2 lbs

Hips: 38 1/2 inches

Waist: 32 inches

Triceps: 11 inches

Thigh: 22 inches

Yikes!!! Ok there it is....no turning back now!

The kids are off to a great start for summer break. We have a nice little routine down. They both do workbooks and quiet reading time daily that earns them TV time, or computer time, or Wii time. In addition, we have done lots of swimming, they start tennis next week, and Little Gym camp starts today. They are active kids. Abel took these pictures of them from his phone because I forgot my camera on Memorial Day. 

As you can see below, we have had a few days that end like this. One day while I was making dinner, the kids climbed into Gianni's bed and were reading to each other. Gianni came down and said, "well I guess she is going to just take a nap in my bed. She fell asleep mom!" 

We are off to a great start!

The Highs and the Lows

The month of May has been filled with highs and lows. Here are some of the highs first! I'm going to start with Gianni. He has been patiently waiting for his first tooth to fall out and then he lost two in a one week period. Here is a picture after the first tooth. Since then he has lost the one right next to it so now he has a big empty space on the bottom. He was so happy! 

 He finished his baseball season last weekend with a bang. He got to play all of his favorite positions (catcher and short stop). All season we were trying to get him to slide. The kids, coaches and parents have been cheering him on for weeks and on the last game he finally slid, actually he did it three times. We took him out for ice cream after.

 Gianni also had some big moments at school this week. He was selected to receive Extreme Recess and he was voted "Math Wiz" by his classmates and teacher. He received the certificate in a small ceremony this afternoon. One more day of school left! We are thrilled that his teacher is moving up to second grade and he will have the opportunity to be with her one more year. 

 Miss Carmen has also had an exciting week. This week she graduated from preschool for the first time. I say first time because she has to do one more year because of her birthday. Kindergarten students must be 5 by September 1st and she will not be 5 until October 15th. She is sad that some of her friends are moving on without her...especially Sophia Pearson, but she is looking forward to being a leader next year. Here is a picture of her at her graduation ceremony (purple dress and white shoes)

 We are going to miss her teacher Mrs. Revord. She has taken such good care of my munchkins and had both of them for preschool. We are so so sad that she is moving on next year. 

 We are so proud of our baby girl! Here she is with one if her friends that she will get to stay in preschool with. 

 She and Sophia Pearson are pictured below and I will miss seeing these two together in class!

 On to the grown ups! The high for me is that I am leaving the classroom after 10 years of teaching and moving into the world of administration as a Student Advisor next year. The lows....our only low actually...is that I have to move schools and leave the best people I have ever worked with in my entire life. These girls are more then just team members. They are my best friends. We eat lunch together, we share stories, we laugh everyday together, and sometimes we pull our hair out together as we teach 8th graders. Today is the night before the last day of school. My 8th graders have graduated and usually by now I am kicking back and relaxing as I await the last Friday. Usually by now I am planning my summer and getting excited to spend time with the kids. But tonight...I am sad! My classroom of 7 years is empty and my world is changing in a scary way. I love these girls more then anything and I must do what ever it takes to keep them close to me as I embark on this new journey. It will be different...and it will be hard...but I truly believe if our friendship is as strong as I think it is...we will all find a way to make it work. 

Our last 8th grade promotion together 

5.24.12

Pictured from left to right: 

Angela - staying at Wigwam Creek and my next door buddy

Jenni - leaving to teach 2nd grade at the school in our district that her kids attend

Lora - leaving to teach in China

Me - leaving to be a Student Advisor

Holly - staying at Wigwam Creek and my BFF

Beth - leaving to teach 6th grade at the same school I am moving too

I love you girls. Thanks for the best years of my life!

Our Crazy Life

So since my other amazing collage making site Picnik closed, I have been looking for something that is user friendly to make collages. I am giving Smilebox a try today. You can pay a small fee and get the collages without adds but I thought I would just try it out first before I pay. I had no idea that you could add music to the collages until I was posting. Interesting. The collages are cute and it was an easy site if anybody else is needing a good collage site. I don't like that it is a link that you have to click on so I think this may be the only time that I use it.

Things have been very busy lately. The kids are involved in all kinds of activities, work has been stressful and it seems as if we never have any free time. I have started to take classes to obtain my Principal's Certificate and I just found out last Friday that I will be moving schools to take on an Advisor position at a different middle school. It has been an emotional few weeks and I am happy and sad to be packing up my room and preparing to move from the classroom to an office. I am so sorry for not posting updates to my blog but today I had some time to mess around and try some new things. We will see!

A few weeks ago we participated in the spring supper club. The food was great as usual, although my falafel was a complete flop! Holly and Adam hosted a Jewish themed dinner and we each had to use a Jewish word as the night went on. We played games and hung out for what I will say was the most interesting and different supper club yet. Nice job Holly and Adam

This free digital collage made with Smilebox

Gianni is having an amazing year. He is now having baseball practice and games 4 times a week. He is always hungry and always tired but he is managing to do great. His team is fantastic and supportive and we are so lucky to have such a great group this season. Go Reds!

Create your own free collage

Carmen is having so much fun in school and at dance. She loves to be creative, make art, and she sings at the top of her lungs in the shower. She is always making us laugh with her silly little voice.

Free collage made with Smilebox

Between dance and baseball, we had two days where we were able to spend some time cooling down with friends. One time we took a picnic lunch up to Papa's pool and the other was some time in the back yard on our Slip n Slide. Both times we were able to hang with Sydney. The adults and the kids are ready for summer!

Personalize your own digital collage

Digital collage created with Smilebox

I promise to be better about posting! Three more weeks of school, so at this point I am just trying to make it through. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of my friends and family.