Getting Back

I've been wanting to write this blog for a while...but kept making excuses as to why I didn't have time that particular day. Ever since having children, it's been particularly difficult getting my body back into shape...I'm sure the sugar cravings and weaknesses didn't help any. So, after having Charlotte via c-section Feb 22, I've made a deliberate effort to get back into shape. Following that major surgery, I couldn't exercise right away. In fact, it wasn't until the end of March that I could take walks without pain. The discomfort was there, but I made sure not to push my body too far.

My running started slowly...jogging for a few minutes then walking for few. I would repeat that sequence for about 20 minutes. If my incision didn't hurt, then I'd increase that time bit by bit until I was jogging without walking at all. My main motivation to start running again was that I was registered to run a half marathon May 19 (I had been registered since the August before!). To walk most of the way wouldn't have been a bad thing, but I really wanted to run it...plus my pride didn't want to be passed by people I knew I could beat!

Though I had run my first 10 mile run a week before the race, my body certainly rebelled after the race. It was difficult to walk...the pain in my feet was pretty intense. Anyway, I have no regrets and have registered for another half marathon in September.

Since I started working out after Charlotte was born, I've lost 15 pounds. Not too shabby since it's been about four months since I started walking/jogging (I didn't count the weight lost at the hospital...it's doesn't count since it was baby poundage).

My goal is this--to lose another 10 pounds by Thanksgiving. That's four months to lose 10 pounds which makes 2.5 pounds per month. I'd love to lose 15 by Thanksgiving...in fact, I'm going to work really hard to make that. But 10 pounds is my official goal.

So, those of you who read this, would you help me in this endeavor? Could you keep me accountable? Email me, call me, message me...what ever it takes. You see, if I realize that folks will at any moment ask me what I'm eating, if I have worked out that day, or if I've given in to a craving then perhaps it will motivate me to stay on track! My email address is dlave518@gmail.com.

I'm serious about this. Below is me in March right around when I started (crazy hair was on purpose).

This is me about two weeks ago.

And this is where I'd like to be by next year.

And you can help me do it!

4th of July

For tradition's sake, we started off this holiday with a 10k race in Huntsville. When we lived in the South, Greg and I would run the Peachtree Road Race in Georgia. I remember it being hard to run that race since thousands and thousands of people ran it. In fact, when it was my group's time to run, the people at the beginning of the 10k had already finished! Our local race here isn't quite as populated. Last year when I ran it, I was six weeks pregnant with Charlotte and also had a sinus infection. Needless to say, I didn't run very well. This year, however, I beat my goal time by 2 minutes.

Since the race was early in the morning, our friend Cathy watched the children. Below is Charlotte who is getting used to her bouncer. So far, she hasn't enjoyed it like Paton used to enjoy it when he was a baby. I have hope that she'll love it before long.

Also, a tradition started last year is our family attending the local festivities at our park. There are many things for children, booths where locals sell their wares, and competitions like the mutton bustin', chicken catch, pig catch, and fish catch.

I rode the caterpillar with Paton...it was a tight squeeze!

 
This year, Paton wasn't scared at all to bounce in the bouncy house!

He was, however, very scared to ride down the bouncy slide by himself...so Mommy to the rescue! It was also very hot, and even I burned my legs a bit on the plastic!

The last tradition is watching the fireworks from our back yard. Since one can view much of the valley from our yard, it's a perfect place to watch fireworks. Last year, I put Paton to bed early. This year, I figured he was old enough to stay up. It doesn't get completely dark here until 10pm.

The 4th of July has become one of our favorite family holidays. I love spending time together as a family, and it's even more fun now since Charlotte has joined our family.

Pioneer Bible Camp

Whew! I finished off All Girls Week at Pioneer Bible Camp this morning. What a wonderful week! God was clearly working on many of the girls' hearts, and it was so encouraging to watch the changing. My mother-in-law flew in for this week in order to watch my kiddos so that I could be a part of camp without home obligations. She was such a wonderful Nana to give of her time in this way. Her other granddaughter came with her...Zoe. She's 6 months older than Paton and the two of them get along so well.

Our friend, Cathy, took these pics of the kids. She and Katrina are such a blessing to watch them so that I could prepare for VBS last week and camp this week. Anyway, Cathy cut a pool noodle in half and created a marble slide out of it. This toy has provided much entertainment for Paton. Then she shot a pic of Charlotte holding her bottle all by herself. NOOOOOOOOO......I don't want her to grow up that fast!!

Nana took these of the cousins together. Their hands are by their heads b/c Nana was shielding her eyes from sun as she took the picture. Zoe and Paton are imitating her.

Zoe helping Paton stuff his sock with marbles.....

.....and then she blogged about the process.

Friends of ours let us borrow their 4 wheeler so that I could get up to camp and back without using one of our cars. Pioneer Bible Camp is just up the dirt road, so it's not a far ride. Greg's mom is getting a ride, and Paton just loved riding with Daddy!

Cathy crafted these gifts for the kids. She doesn't really know Zoe but didn't want to leave her out. The kids loved their surprise! Thank-you, Cathy!

Greg and Nana brought the kids up to camp to visit me one morning.

 Dogs are very scary things for Zoe, so after watching Paton and Uncle Greg pat the dog, she was able to give it a very short but sweet pat on the head!

 Both kids got to see the camp's pigs...they feed on the campers' leftovers.

T-ball followed the camp visit...

...running the bases...

...and then tackling the coach!

Zoe's Greek lesson....her name.

Charlotte has been eating rice cereal for a couple of weeks now. It's really made this child sleep through the night so well!!!

Greg and Nana took the kids to a church member's home to see cows.

And then Nana took them to Kangaroo Zoo this morning.

My guess is that Nana is going to need a nap after this week!

VBS, Church Picnic, Nana & Zoe

What a busy week we have just finished up! Our church's annual VBS was held last week from 6-8:30 each evening. Since I have two fairly young children, I was limited in how I could help. That's been a real growing experience for me, by the way. Not being able to be at each ministry helping in the way that I'm used to helping since I have two little ones. There have been some dear friends, though, who have encouraged me by reminding me of my main ministry....my family.

I was able to tag team along w/ my hubby the Bible teaching for the older kids. He taught MWF and I taught TTh, plus I also was the final score updater at the end of each evening. Below is one of our dear ladies helping me with Charlotte.

Around mid week we visited a family in our church who just bought a pig (not for a pet...for slaughter at the end of the summer). Paton had never been up close and personal with a pig before, so I thought it would be a fun experience. The pig looks just like Wilbur!

We paint our own VBS props using the over head projector, large pieces of cardboard, and willing painting volunteers.

The Saturday after VBS ended, my mother-in-law and niece flew in from the South to visit us! I had actually asked Karen if she minded flying out here to take care of my kids while I speak at Pioneer Bible Camp. It's their "All Girls Week" starting tomorrow, and I was asked to be the speaker. My mother-in-law was happy to oblige, and we got the added bonus of her other granddaughter coming with her. Zoe is Greg's brother's daughter, and she and Paton get along very well together. Below is the "before church" pic. Such cuties!

Our church picnic was this afternoon following the worship service and this was my dessert contribution. Ice cream cone cakes...cones w/ cake batter, frosted w/ sprinkles. Funny thing though...the kids ate all of them except the cones w/ the clear sprinkles. What is it about multicolored sprinkles that makes food more enjoyable? Perhaps I'll put sprinkles on green beans and see what happens.

My mother-in-law took Zoe and Paton to the grocery store and you may notice on Paton's forehead his souvenir from the trip. After he got home, he immediately wanted to show me is owie and then said, "It's okay, Mommy. It happens." I'm glad he's a trooper b/c it looks painful!

Upcoming...I'll teach at camp this week. Greg teaches at camp next week during their junior high week. And then perhaps by mid July I can recover from all of this!!!!