Growing Pains

In a little less than a month, McKenna will be off to preschool. While we've started crossing things off of her school supply list and she already has her backpack and lunchbox ready to go, it's still something that I haven't fully processed yet. I'm having such a difficult time wrapping my heart and my head around the fact that the first chapter of my little baby's life is coming to a close. She's growing up. Wasn't it just yesterday that she was crawling around in diapers?

A couple of weeks ago while the girls and I were out doing our grocery shopping, we picked up a few things from the supply list. McKenna couldn't wait to show off her new folder, pencils, crayons, and glue, all packed up in her Disney Princess backpack, ready for the first day of school, to Alex when he got home from work. When she brought out the Kindermat that she's going to take for nap time, I fought hard to hold back the tears.

How in the heck am I going to handle dropping her off on the first day of school? I hope I don't bawl when or if she does; I hope I don't lose it when or if she doesn't want to let me go. I need to be strong for her on this nerve-wracking first day of school... At least until I make it out of that classroom door, turn around for one last wave and a blown kiss goodbye. Ugh, parenting is hard.

I told Alex, "What am I going to do all day!?"

"You still have another one at home," he said with a wink and a little boop on the nose. But Kendall's wondering the same thing, too...

On our way over to a friend's house, McKenna and I were talking about her going to school soon and Kendall chimed in, "I'm going to miss you, M'enna" to which M'enna replied, "I'm going to miss you, too, Kendall; but don't worry, I'll be back." My heart melted like a popsicle on the Fourth of July!

I know that McKenna is ready for school and I think she'll do great; she loves to learn and enjoys making new friends. She's excited, but "just a little nervous."

She sounds so grown up when she tells me that.

Weekly Weigh-In 7/28/14 & One Goal DOWN!

One goal down, -15 lbs -- WOO HOO!!

Last week's weigh-in (7/21/14): 169.8 lbs
Today's weigh-in (7/28/14): 166.4 lbs

Change in weight: -3.4 lbs
Total change in weight: -15.4 lbs

At 166 lbs, this is where I was last April, my lowest weight after having started Weight Watchers at the beginning of 2013. Next up: -25 lbs.

Weight Loss Goals

Goal 1: 166 lbs (-15 lbs)

Goal 2: 156 lbs (-25 lbs)

Goal 3: 146 lbs (-35 lbs)

Goal 4: 136 lbs (-45 lbs)

Goal 5: 126 lbs (-55 lbs)

Keying in that last one, I started to get a little shaky. It seems impossible right now as I haven't weighed anywhere near the 120s since my early college years; however, breaking it all up into small goals helps me to breathe a little easier.

Patience, persistence, dedication.

I can do this!

TP Roll Binoculars

We had a blast at the zoo on Saturday.

Alex and I let the girls take charge of the trip and we followed them around from exhibit to exhibit, allowing them to indulge in their every whim. 

Kendall had a sweet moment with the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana

And we rode the train for the first time!

Earlier that morning while Daddy was out doing his rounds at the garage sales, we kept ourselves busy with some arts and crafts.

Coffee and crafts; it was a very happy Saturday, indeed :-)

Here's what you'll need:

2 toilet paper rolls

Construction paper

Yarn

Hot glue

Scotch tape

Hole punch

Markers

Stickers

First, cut the construction paper to fit around the TP rolls and let the kids decorate to their heart's content. Then wrap the construction paper around the TP rolls and secure with tape; hot glue the two together. Use a hole punch to make two holes (one on each side) in one end of the binoculars and tie the yarn.

One pair of binoculars almost didn't make it to the zoo, while the yarn in the second pair was ripped out right after our first stop at the giraffes. By the end of the day, they both ended up squished and tossed in the trash on the way out. There's plenty more TP rolls where that came from, though! Waste not.

Wordless Wednesday - I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

<3 <3 <3

Cardboard Princess Castle

Alex was starting to question my stash of cardboard rolls in the hall closet, so I did what any mother would do and went straight to Pinterest for some crafty inspiration so that the girls and I could put those babies to use. There were some really cool ideas like these binoculars, this Ring Toss Game and this super cute butterfly, but when I came across this carboard Castle and Loo Roll Men, I immediately pinned it and logged off -- my work was done here! You see, there comes a time in every little girl's life where they are utterly obsessed with princesses...

Normally, we do our arts and crafting during the week while Daddy is at work, but it was a particularly hot, humid and rainy Sunday last weekend, and Daddy had gotten caught up in a craft of his own.

McKenna and Kendall were over playing dress up and all movied out, so it was time to get this princess castle rolling.

Here's what you'll need:

Small cardboard box

4 paper towel rolls

4 toilet paper rolls

Masking tape

Felt

Scissors

Hot glue gun

Box cutter

Acrylic paint

Buttons, rhinestones, stickers, glitter, etc. to decorate

First, using a box cutter, VERY CAREFULLY carve out the crenellations on one end of all four of the paper towel rolls; these will be your turrets. Next, VERY CAREFULLY carve out the drawbridge, leaving the bottom intact. (Did I cut myself with the box cutter? No, why do you ask...) Using masking tape and the four toilet paper rolls, form the top tower. Then secure all of these pieces to the box with masking tape (turrets) and hot glue (top tower).

I couldn't get the paint out fast enough; the girls were ready to get to it!

Add glitter.

Some to the castle, too, if you like ;-)

Once the paint had dried, I cut out a semi-circle of felt and hot glued it to the top tower to form the pointed roof while the girls rummaged through the odds and ends in our crafts supplies for decoration. 

Ta-da!

Progress Photo & Weekly Weigh-In 7/21/14: Old Habits Die Hard

It's been a while since I've posted my weekly weigh-in, but I haven't been neglecting the scale altogether. Our staycation ended up being a complete fucking disaster and I found myself succumbing to the quick emotional fix of food.

When I first heard the term "emotional eating," I thought Pfft! That's the lamest excuse that I've ever heard! Yet here I am, CRAVING pizza when I'm feeling down in the dumps, completely unsatisfied by healthy food choices no matter how full I am and unable to think of anything else until eventually I throw in the towel and dial up Domino's, usually fighting back the tears.

Here's how it's been going down:

Previous weigh-in (6/30/14, before staycation): 169.6 lbs 

Weigh-in (7/7/14, after shit went down):  178.0 lbs

Change in weight: +8.4 lbs

We ordered pizza the night before I weighed in. 

...And two or three other times that week. 

And one day I had ice cream for lunch, straight from the carton.

^ So guilty :-\

I did get back on track "starting Monday," though.

Weigh-in (7/14/14):  172.8 lbs

Change in weight: -5.2 lbs

My focus last week was just to plan and track, as I still did not have the energy desire to work out... Baby steps? And that brings us to 

Today's weigh-in (7/21/14): 169.8 lbs

Change in weight: -3.0 lbs

Total change in weight: -12.0 lbs

Monthly progress photo

Just 3.0 lbs away from my first goal (-15 lbs)! 

Game plan for next week

Plan, track, exercise. 

Stay positive.

20 Ways to Beat the Boredom Blues

Bored no more! Here are my go-to boredom blues busters (say that 5 times fast!):

1) Beach Day

2) Zoo Day

3) Farm Day

4) Library Day

5) Play dates

6) Picnics

7) Puzzles

8) Blocks

9) Books

10) Sidewalk chalk

11) Board games

12) Coloring books

13) Arts and crafts

14) The sandbox

15) The swing set

16) Dog walking

17) Bike riding

18) Puddle jumping

19) Cookie baking

20) Target.

What are your boredom blues busters? Do tell!

List your top 12 solutions for bored children.