1st Day and Last Day - Ana

First day of Toddler school - September 15, 2010

Last day of Toddler school - June 17, 2011

What a difference 10 months makes in a toddler!  This short time makes the whole difference between a baby and a girl.  And, oh my goodness, is Ana ever a girl.  (I mean... check out the fancy headband!  The girl likes accessories.)  Even her little face just looks so different to me.  She's just loosing the "baby".

Along with the baby cheeks she's losing the baby ways.  She is such a charmer... she has this way of getting things she wants.  She's a comedian... I don't know where she comes up with 1/2 the things she says.  She's a smarty pants... she is definitely too smart for her mama's good.  She's just getting so big so fast.

I've always been a mom to girls... but now I'm definitely a mom to big girls.  Sigh.

1st Day and Last Day - Zoe

Zoe's first day of Kindergarten - September 7, 2010

Zoe's last day of Kindergarten - June 17, 2011

I don't know.  She looks the same.  She looks different.

All I know is this... my baby is technically a 1st grader now.  A 1st grader!!!  She can read (when she feels like it) now.  Her favorite thing to do is to write books and illustrate them... and then put a medal on the cover (like a Caldecott or a Newbery).  She can add (a little) now.  She's a pro at riding the school bus.  She wants to do everything on her own because she is a BIG KID.

Weight for Me Monday - week 12

I have a couple things to share...

1.  I am really trying to get exercise in every day.  It is really not easy while trying to get use to the new schedule of having both kids at home all day.  I did get in 4 days this week: 2 treadmill walks and Couch to 5K 2 times (week 5 day 3 and week 6 day 1).

2.  Without being on a specific diet, I am trying really hard to be more conscious of what I'm eating.  I'm trying to watch portions.  I like to snack so it's hard not to snack when the kids snack, but I'm trying to choose more fruit. 

Even with the efforts I've been making... my weight just seems to have a mind of it's own.  This morning the scale was back at 178.5 lbs.  In the past few weeks I've been 178.5, 177, 178.5, 177 and now 178.5 AGAIN.  Talk about yo-yo.  I gotta figure out how to cut the string!

It's getting really frustrating.  I keep making the effort and don't seem to be getting anything from it.  If it was just the weight I'd be less annoyed... but I don't really enjoy C25K (or jogging at all for that matter), my stamina for jogging isn't really improving much (like, I can pretty easily jog 3 minutes which I couldn't do 10 weeks ago... but that's not gonna get me far), and I really can't say my energy level is increasing. 

It's hard to keep trying when I don't seem to be getting anything out of it.  Keep trying I will though.  And... when I go for my physical at the end of July I'll certainly have a lot of questions for my new doctor about what I need to do to get a change.

Grace in Small Things - 121

1.  A night out in Brooklyn.

2.  Paying just $8 for a parking garage for an entire evening.

3.  Randomly finding the Sweetwater Restaurant and having an awesome hamburger.  (Also... I kinda love the music on their website.)

4.  Pomplamoose live.  (I love them on YouTube... now I love them in person.)

5.  Being able to relax and take our time getting back from Brooklyn to Madison because Zoe and Ana were having a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Priceless!

Weight for Me Monday - week 11

I'm just full of excuses this week.  How does one fit in exercise (or personal time at all) during the last week of school/dance/soccer/t-ball/husband travelling.....???  And now it's summer and we DON'T have anything on the schedule.  Now, how does one fit in exercise while the kids are ALWAYS around?  It is definitely going to be harder to get my exercise in.

I didn't do too well this week... but I did fit in 3 days out of 7.  2x I got in my 30 minutes treadmill walk.  I also got in "week 5 day 2" of Couch to 5k.  I guess I'm happy I squeezed anything into this week.

On a positive note... my weight went back down to 177 lbs. 

My only explanation for my 1.5 lbs loss would be that while exercise didn't fit in too well... I also didn't find too much time for snacking.  (And... there may have also been an issue with suddenly being nervous about attending my 20th high school reunion this past weekend!)

Let's see how summer treat me!

Where, oh where, oh where is Zoe...

where could Zoe be?

Oh... there she is!

Zoe likes to play hide and seek... just a little bit.

Chalk Time

(Photos from 5/19)

Sidewalk chalk is not my favorite thing.  I just can't stand the feel of my fingers covered in chalk dust... and the scrapping of the chalk on driveway.  Nope... just don't like chalk.  (Perhaps that's one reason I'm not a teacher like I planned?  Maybe I'd like it more now that they all have white boards?  No?)

I don't like chalk... but boy, do my girls like chalk.  If it were up to them we might draw with sidewalk chalk every single day.

Hey Mom... wanna do chalk?

I wonder if Ana's hair will start out occassionally flippy and then end up a wavy/curly as Zoe's.  (I know this isn't REALLY a chalk photo... although she IS holding 3 pieces of chalk.)

 Zoe has the chalk drawing position perfected. 

Sometimes there are actual pictures drawn... but most of the time we just get color blocks... rainbows of chalk.

I do like the fact that sometimes chalk drawing takes quite a bit of time.  It's amazing how much one can concentrate on drawing dusty lines.

"OK... that's it... this big bucket of chalk is mine, mine, mine!  I'm done sharing this treasure."

"Oh alright.  OK, Julia... I will share my chalk with you... but only to teach you how awesome sidewalk chalk is.   I suppose it's only fair since we ARE actually drawing in YOUR driveway today."

"See... look Julia... you have to do it like this."

"Don't worry... we'll keep practicing with you.  That way you'll be as obsessed with chalk as much as we are!"

For these 2... I draw with sidewalk chalk.  But ONLY for these 2.

Do you like sidewalk chalk?  Does anyone else have issues with just not liking it???

Sassy Hair

(Photos from 5/10 and 5/11)

We decided to try growing Zoe's bangs out.  (I've personally never done that.  I've had bangs my whole life.  I can now say I totally know why I didn't try.)  To start the growing out process... I figured it would be best to chop off some of Zoe's length.

A couple of before photos...
Front...

 Back...

And the after shots... 

Front...

Back...

I'm loving her new short spunky sassy look.  I had kept it short like this for a long time before she decided she wanted to grow her hair "long like a princess".   I am SO thankful that Zoe's friend Sydney got a shorter cut.  It made it MUCH easier to convince Zoe that shorter would be better (for summer especially).  It's just so much easier to keep brushed.  It dries quicker.  Honestly... I think it fits her personality better too.

Hopefully I'll be able to convince her to keep it shorter once the bangs are done growing out.

Motivated by Pink

I realized I still had photos on the camera from early May.  I used to be obsessed with taking photos photos photos and getting them off the camera the same day (or the next) and getting them posted and shared as soon as I could.  I just haven't felt very motivated lately.  I'm not sure why.  Weather?  Busy schedule?  Juggling girls?  I don't know.  I've just generally not be feeling motivated.

Then... I finally upload the photos.  I slowly scanned through them.  Each and every one made me smile.  I want to share from each set of photos that was on the camera.  How can I not be motivated by these 2???

May 9th...

I was able to squeeze in our 2011 spring "pink" photos.  It was so chilly early in May.  We found a day right before all of the rain started and snapped a few shots.

Zoe's an old pro at cherry blossom photos.

Ana couldn't quite understand at first how I could possibly expect her to sit on the ground surrounded by grass and petals WITHOUT her binky.  The nerve!

Once I gave her a new book to concentrate on she cheered up and let me get some photos.  My girls... they just both LOVE their books.

OK Mommy... take your picture so we can be done with this crazy annual pink thing.

Zoe... what are you doing?

See Ana... look... you just do this and then Mommy will leave us alone.

Um... no.  I'm busy reading my book.  LMNO Peas is very captivating.

Hhhhumph... alright fine.  Here, take this picture and leave me to my book.

Let's try getting a shot of both of you from above!!!

Um... no, that's not quite it.

Yeah... uh, no... those faces don't quite do it.

Ok now... what exactly are you trying to do to your mother's patience?

That's it.  Good enough.  I give up.

2010 Pink Shots

2009 Pink Shots

2008 Pink Shots - I can't find... I believe it poured down rain and all of our blooms fell and were a yucky mess before I took any photos.

2007 Pink Shots

And there are 2006 Pink Shots mixed into those posts (since I didn't actually HAVE a blog then... imagine that?)

Tomorrow I'll post another set.

Weight for Me Monday - week 10

I can't believe I've done this for 10 Mondays.  I wish I could say I've made huge progress in 10 weeks.  Oh well... slow and steady is better in the long run right?  (Long run.... ha)

I didn't do too well on the exercise front this week.  Not horrible... but not great either.  I don't know if it was the heat wave... or just a lack of desire... or maybe a lack of desire caused by the heat wave?  Or a lack of energy while Nick was away on business in Spain all week.  Or maybe a lack of time because of end of school year stuff.  It may have also been the idea of starting Couch to 5K week 5 that slowed my momentum... eek!

Whatever it was... excuses are lame.  I just didn't get in as much exercise as I have lately (but still... much more than I used to!)

I did get in my C25K week 4 days 2 and 3 earlier in the week.  And, on Saturday we participated in The Valerie Fund Walk and 5K.  (I walked... I am in NO WAY ready to even consider a 5K).

On Sunday I pushed myself and got in C25K week 5 day 1.  (Alternating 5 minute jogs and 3 minute walks to take up the 1/2 hour.)  Amazingly... I found week 5 seemed almost easier than week 4 for me.  Those repeating 5 minute jogs made me anxious... but I did them.  I actually did a straight jog for 2 of the 5 minute spots, and just had to step off a couple times during the 3rd 5 minute jog.  I have to say I'm quite impressed with myself.

So, I did get in 4 days with exercise.  I got in more than I thought I did... but not the daily activity I've been aiming for.

And my Monday morning weigh in?  178.5 lbs. 

I gained 1.5 lbs since last Monday.  That kinda sucks.  Sigh.

So... I'm feeling pretty good about my physical activity and the fact that it's getting easier jog, but I'm feeling rather dismayed by my weight loss (gain, ugh).

Grace in Small Things - 120

1.  A successful and fun end of school year carnival (and the fact that it is OVER).

2.  A walk with friends (for The Valerie Fund)... even in the rain Zoe said it was "the best walk we ever took".

3.  Girls wearing little pink gardening gloves and using little pink shovels.

4.  Berry "smoothies" made fresh.  (is it still a smoothie if you add vanilla ice cream?)

5.  Nap time.

Weight for Me Monday - week 9

Quicky post...

I fit exercise into my week 5 days out of 7. 

1x was on the bike at the Y. 

2x was walking on the treadmill. 

2x was Couch to 5K.  I did week 3 day 3... and week 4 day 1.  Running 3 minutes at a time was hard.  Upping it to 5 minutes at a time left me wondering if I'll be able to finish week 4.  I had to step off a couple of times in the middle of the 5 minutes runs to take a breath.  I did it though... and I'm planning on tackling week 4 day 2 today.

Weigh in this morning... 177 lbs.  No loss no gain.  Try again. 

(I REALLY need to work on drinking more water!!!)

Grace in Small Things - 119

1.  New comfy pajamas.

2.  Spring days that aren't too hot... aren't too chilly.

3.  Outback Steakhouse.  God I love steak.  And lobster.  And sweet potatoes.

4.  Accidentally on Purpose.  I'm watching it through Netflix on my laptop while I walk on the treadmill.  I don't know how I missed it while it was actually on tv.  Hysterical.

5.  Oh... and the fact that I can watch Netflix streaming on my laptop while on the treadmill.  AWESOME.