Wednesday Weight loss

Well this is a big step... but Dave and I have decided that this is the year we knock off the excuses and we get in shape... We started it last year.. and we were doing really good... but... one day we could not work out because of whatever reason and it led to another day and pretty soon we were not walking every day and we were back to eating too much crap.. eating out, desserts, and soda are the big problems for us... so we are going to limit our eating out to once a week... and no more sodas.. and no more desserts... we will do some jello's and applesauce and things like that.. but no more cakes... or ice cream.... our two favorites. I am bringing my calories down to about 1500 a day... which if I am not really careful I can eat that in one small meal.... I have found that being sure to eat a small bowl of breakfast in the morning does help.. then I have my 100 calorie snacks on a schedule.. so I know they are coming and instead of being starving I can think about the fact that I AM going to get something soon.. getting one between each meal works out nice for me....I am also going to be posting here every Wednesday..... it will be an update on how it is going and my weight... nervous about writing my weight down.. but it will truly hold me accountable... Knowing that I will be posting my weight here and that others will see if I have lost or not.. makes me want to stay on track.. lol I know no one really cares.... but that is ok.... still makes me want to stay on track. I have been getting a lot of support from my friends on twitter too *thanks everyone* and there is a group of people all working on losing weight.. they are part of the #tweightloss @miacupcake got it all started... she was right on it tonight when I was whining about having A piece of almond roca instead of cheese cake.. great support... nice to know there is someone out there giving you a kick in the butt or a shoulder to cry on type of thing when you need it. *thanks Mia*

My goal.... is to lose about 60 lbs
get in good physical shape
be able to go for long hikes in the woods
wearing my chaps and coat comfortably enough for long bike trips
play racket ball
go swimming

my plan.....Walk everyday
eat less overall and more healthy
no soda
drink Lots of water
tone and strengthen muscles with weights and resistance tubing

weight.....current 262

Holding off Tomorrow

It is Sunday night.. moments before midnight... my eyes are so heavy that most of this will be typed with them shut. I wondered to myself what I was doing being awake and why I was playing some game on facebook when I could not even see the different colors. Well.. I believe I am trying to hold off tomorrow. I have had a wonderful long weekend.. lots of time at home... lots of time with Dave and the kids. We took down all the Christmas stuff and put most of it away.. Dave and I spent a bunch of time just being together... we went shopping.. bought a new treadmill, some new clothes, some grocery's, some other toys and we went out to dinner and spent some time having some serious heart to heart talks and then spent some time joking around and just being silly with some friends. It has just been a nice relaxing weekend were I felt growth in our relationship and friendship. Tonight we sit and work on our computers.. getting ready for the new week. We have some changes planned.. in our diets.... our exercise.. our schedules... this next year is going to be more focused on having some fun and getting healthy... I am really looking forward to the changes.. not that they will all be easy.. but we will do them together and become even stronger and closer. I think I was fighting going to be bed and waking up to tomorrow because I was trying to hold on to the time I had this weekend instead of enjoying it and reaching for the times to come tomorrow that will be wonderful. Off to bed I go now.. so I can wake up tomorrow and start some more wonderful moments.

Big Four Mountain

Big Four Mountain
Originally uploaded by glass_identities

Yesterday we had to run to town and decided to head out on an adventure since we were out. We were also looking for a bit of time with no kids... seems a rare thing these days.. which surprises me... I had always thought that when the kids became teenagers they would be off busy in their own lives.. they are more glued to my side now than when they were two. We headed down to Granite Falls and then up the Mountain loop Highway. Everything was really frosty/icy but we did not really see any snow. The mountain here is called Big Four which I found odd since I was thinking it was about the humps... but it is not.. I guess there is a large 4 shaped snow patch on the other side of the mountain. There are also said to be some really awesome ice caves here that people can go in and view... I have not yet been in there but hope to do that this spring. Click here for more information on all of this. It was a beautiful way to end a wonderful holiday weekend.


Here is a video I took while driving through the gravel (ice) part that connects the Granite Falls side to the Darrington side.

Bridge Girders

Yay!!! we are getting a new bridge onto Camano Island...(click here for info on the construction) This week they have been moving the girders in...the girders are 187 feet long... they are really really long... there is a semi in the front driving and then another one in the back to drive the back half... they placed the first two earlier this week but it was raining and there was some snow and it was cold.. so we did not get to see those.. last night though the timing was perfect... we were at the park and ride in Smokey Point and were able to get on the freeway behind it and then drive past it... got off the freeway ahead of it and took some videos of it coming down the on ramp and getting itself backed up so it could head down 532. We were not able to get any video of them lifting it off the truck and over the bridge as we were not in a good location for that. We were able to get some picture of the car in front of us who I believe are the rudest bunch of people on the island. At least two cars full of people.. honking their horns.. screaming rude things at the flaggers...I guess they were blind and did not notice the huge truck in the bridge.. and that would also explain how they missed the weeks/months of notices that were up all over town and in the local papers. To all the construction workers not only on the 532 project.. but all of our DOT people.. Thank you!!! You really do a great job and put up with a lot from some pretty stupid people. Example below of rude and stupid.


Be sure to click here to view more videos of the bridge girder

Brians Graduation from Washington Youth Academy

He is graduated and home! His graduation was in Bremerton so it was a long day.. a little over 2 hours there... picked up his stuff from the academy at 7:30 am.. then we all went out to breakfast...then over to the high school for the graduation... we were there right when they opened the door at 9 am so we were able to get pretty good seats...the place filled up fast. They started right at ten.. as with all graduations there were a lot of people doing a lot of speaking and many thank you's.

I did record one speech.. give by Colonel Pettit, it was a very heart felt speech and very touching. You can tell the people who work with these kids do it because they care.. and they want to make a difference.. and they really do. 121 kids... high risk... came to WYA for many different reasons but for many of the kids it was their last chance. There are kids who were getting into crime.. gangs... dropping out of school.. very low grades... horrible attitudes... and yet This man spoke of kids who in 6 months went up 6 full grade levels... one child there lost 92 pounds.. in 6 months... these kids, when given what WYA gave them...were able to work so very hard and to change their lives in 6 months. I will forever be grateful for the differences I see in my son... for the chances they have given him and the things they have taught him. I look forward to watching him use the skills and knowledge he has gained while at WYA to continue making changes in his life and in others. I have always known that Brian can do it.. and WYA showed/taught him that he can.

One of my favorite parts... yes I cried in it.. I cried like a baby through the whole thing.. was when they showed a video of before and after photos... I enjoyed watching the video and seeing how much each person had changed.. not only did they all get short hair.. but you can see in their eyes a different attitude... the best part though was watching and listening to the group of cadets as they watched their own photos and that of their friends... you could tell from the sounds and pointing that there was shock and surprise at who they themselves had been and had become.

Washington Youth Academy... Thank you.. to each and ever person involved. If this sounds like something that might be good for your child.. I highly suggest looking into it.. and I do believe it is offered in other states too. On the main page there is a drop down list of other states so you can find one near you.

Washington Youth Academy

Posted some pictures here Flickr

and some videos here youtube