Healthy weight manifesto

They say that stating your intention makes it more likely to happen. So, here goes:

I intend to lose 30 lbs (and keep it off by cultivating healthy habits) by 1 January 2010.

-I intend to post this intention on our Blog site so I'm not the only one who knows about it
-I intend to take a daily weight and send it to my friend Anna for accountability
-I intend to keep a journal of my daily food intake and send it to Anna for accountability
-I intend to drink a full glass of water before snacking to see if I'm really hungry
-I intend to do activity for 10 minutes before snacking to make sure I'm not just bored
-I intend to not cut out any foods from my diet, including sweets, but to make reasonable choices--making this sustainable
-I intend to record daily exercises and send it to Anna for accountability
-I intend to without-stopping exercise at least 30 minutes 5 days a week
-I intend to seek out other activities to do--weight lifting while on the phone, "stair-stepping" on the bottom step, cleaning vigorously--that I can incorporate into my daily life
-I intend to need a whole new wardrobe for Christmas this year

Who knew?

Anna: "Pbbbbft" (raspberry sound)

Daddy: "Pbbbbft"

Anna: "Pbbbbft"

Daddy: "That's just part of the special Daddy-daughter relationship."

Theological observation from a 4 year old

When the boys are riled up at bedtime, trying to pile on daddy or running around their room, I often sing a little song to calm them down for family prayer time. The song I sing is "Be Careful Little Eyes What You See" and since I sing it from memory of my own Sunday School days, I'm sure my lyrics are slightly off. However, I sing it as:

Be careful little eyes what you see
Be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is watching us with love
Be careful little eyes what you see

Then I sing through "Be careful little ears what you hear" and "Be careful little mouth what you say." By the time I finish those three verses the kids are settled down.

Last night, Sam picked up my song as soon as I finished, and this is his new and improved verse:

Be careful little nose what you smell
Be careful little nose what you smell
For the Father up above is smelling us with love
Be careful little nose what you smell

We were shaking with suppressed laughter. Well, it could be true. And I'm sure that if God is smelling us, He is doing it lovingly.

Well, the thought was good.

The kids and I went to Inflatable Wonderland today. It is, as you may surmise, a place for kids to play in all sorts of inflatable bouncy areas. It was half price day, and we met several other moms and kids from church there. As I got the boys and Anna buckled into the car, I thought to myself, "Self, you have to bring the camera." So I did.

Notice how many pictures are posted here? That's how many I took. Sigh.

We had a fabulous time other then the 40 minute drive. We'll probably go back for another half-price day, and then I can take the video camera so I can not take some video to post.

Where's the snooze button?

Two recent conversations that demonstrate why I don't need an alarm clock:
Daniel: “Mommy?”
Mommy, with eyes still shut: “Daniel.”
Daniel: “Mommy?”
Mommy: “Daniel.”
Daniel: “Mommy?”
Mommy: “Daniel.”
Daniel: “Mommy?”
Mommy: “Daniel.”
Daniel: “Mommy?”
Mommy: “Daniel.”
Daniel: “Mommy?”
Mommy says nothing, hoping this will break the cycle. It works for 10 seconds.
Daniel: “Mommy?”
Mommy: “Daniel.”
Daniel: “Mommy?”
Mommy: “Daniel.”
Daniel, with a giant grin: “Good morning Mommy.”
Mommy: “Good morning Daniel.”

Another day (I know it sounds whiny, but I swear it was done so matter-of-factly):
Sam: “Mommy?”
Mommy: Mzkrmkm
Sam: “Mommy, it’s daytime out. I want you to get me breakfast.”
Mommy: “I’m asleep.”
Sam: “But I want you to get me breakfast.”
Mommy: “I just want to sleep a few more minutes.”
Sam: “I want you to get me Cheerios with yogurt.”
Mommy: “It’s not time for me to get up yet.”
Sam: "With blueberries and a little bit of milk.”
Heard from downstairs:
Daddy: “Where’s Sam?”
Daniel, yelling: “Sham! Sham! It’s time to eat!”
Mommy: “See, Daddy hasn’t left for work yet. He can get you breakfast.”
Sam: “No Mommy, I want you to get me breakfast.”
Mommy: “I love you buddy, but I had to work last night and I’m not ready to get up yet.”
Sam: “OK.”
Two minutes go by.
Sam: “But it’s daytime out.”

I'm learning--slowly, but I'm learning--that I might as well give in sooner because I will always end up giving in later.

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Siblings

Have I mentioned that the boys adore Anna, often to her peril? They love to get down in her face and talk with her, and for Anna to grab their hands. Shown here are some of my favorite recent "sibling" pictures.

"So, what's new on the floor?"
"No, Sam, look UP if you want your picture taken!"
"Wow, my brothers sure love me!"

Everybody was Kung-fu fighting...hi-yah!

I don't know what the boys would do without John. Wait, yes I do. They'd try to attack their poor, defenseless mother more. Many evenings of the week the boys and John have an epic, no holds barred, every man for himself (and two boys against daddy) pillow fight. Here we've captured the beginning of their martial arts training from Master Daddy. They learn to punch, block, dodge and fall. Mostly dodge and fall. And no, daddy does not punch back.

"I'll get Daddy!"
"No, I'll get Daddy!"

This picture to the contrary, daddy still won.