Friday Weigh In - Week 1

Well I weighed in this morning and this week I lost ...... (drum roll please)

3 lbs!!

Not bad for my first week.  To be honest I only kinda started on Monday.  We had company on the weekend - I didn't eat horribly, but probably more than I should have.  I've been eating so much better.  I've added way more fruits and vegetables and been cooking more.  We bought a Magic Bullet at Costco on Saturday (I swear you go in there for a sweater and come out with a canoe), so I've made a couple of fruit smoothies and that has been a nice treat.  The boys love them too! 

I exercised 3 times this week.  Oh my goodness I am so out of shape.  My first day I did a Jillian Michaels DVD - Level 1 (it has 3 levels).  Let's just say I need a sports bra before I give myself a black eye (sorry for the mental image).  The jumping jacks about killed me.  The next two times I did a power walking DVD, bit lower impact.  My goal this week is to workout at least 4 times.  I know I'm starting off slow but I want to keep going and not give up.

Time for breakfast.  I'm going to have oatmeal with blueberries - yummy!

Asian Beef-Noodle Salad

To assist me in my recent weight-loss efforts I've been trying to make really delicious, healthy meals.  Not that I usually cook non delicious fattening meals, but I think if you feed yourself foods with lots of flavor you never feel deprived.  So last night I made an Asian Beef-Noodle Salad from the "Eat Shrink and Be Merry" cookbook.  I've made it a few times and it is always a favorite.

Dressing
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 tbsp grated gingerroot
2 tsp grated orange zest
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp each salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes

Salad
8 oz uncooked spaghetti (I usually use rotini or penne)
1 lb sirloin steak, grilled and cut into strips
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
1 cup diced cucumber
1 cup grated carrots (I just slice thin)
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves (I never seem to have this in the house, so I skip it)

Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

Cook spaghetti (or other pasta) according to package directions.  Drain.  Rise well with cold water and drain again.  Transfer noodles to a large salad bowl and toss with remaining ingredients.  Add dressing just before serving and toss again.

This recipe is so yummy and perfect for a hot summer day.  Enjoy!!

Family, Food and Smores

This past Sunday Jason's mom Debbie and brother Mitch were visiting from Cardston.  The weather was just gorgeous, so after church we invited Jason's other brother Tyler, his wife Jill and their little boy Dane to all join us for a barbecue.  I usually am not a big fan of eating outside.  The bugs, wind, etc. seem to bother me, but lately I've been warming up to it.  If I can find a piece of shade I'm good.  We ate hamburgers, potato salad (which was delicious, if I do say so myself), lemon lime delight salad, chips etc. and for dessert neopolitan icecream cones.  I think a good time was had by all!!

Dane chillin' in the gazebo

If you can't quite finish your cone - Ashton can finish it for you!!

Later that night we built a fire and roasted marshmallows and had smores.

Looks like somebody enjoyed their smore.

For the best gourmet smore on the planet - take 2 hazelnut wafer milk chocolate cookies and place one perfectly roasted marshmallow inbetween press and enjoy.  Just try to only eat one!!

Bottom Line is ....

This past week I finally made it to my doctor's office to get the test results from the plethera of tests I've been having lately.  My MRI showed that the extra spots on my liver that they weren't too sure about are just thicker fattier deposits.  My X-rays showed I have 3 vertibrae in my lower lumbar that are thinning, probably partially due to age and weight could be a factor.  Other tests came back great.  

Bottom line is .... I need to lose weight!! 

Not that that information is any big surprise to me, but it seems most of the things going on could be eliminated or at least improved by losing weight.  I was relieved that there was nothing major happening but feel like before there is, I really need to take a hold of my health and get fit.

So as my kickoff and to celebrate a bit my hubby took me out last night for a date.  We went to Chop Steakhouse by Chinook.  It was delicious, will definitely go there again.  I literally almost picked up my plate and licked it.  But I did pretty good at the movie - we saw "Harry Potter" - so good!!  I was a bit emotional that it is all over.  I only ate a couple of handfuls of popcorn and that was it.

So there it is - out in blog world my committment to improve my fitness.  How will this be accomplished?  Well, my goals are to blog every Friday on how much I have exercised during the week and whether or not I have seen any weight loss at my Friday morning weigh in.  I've belonged to Weight Watchers in the past - and even worked for them so I know I have the skills that I will need I just need to implement them.

I'm hoping by making this goal a public one it will make me more accountable.  You, my few faithful readers have now been recruited to be my own personal weight loss cheering section.  Til next Friday.  I'll see you, and hopefully you will see "less" of me!!

BEFORE SHOT- July 22nd, 2011 (Photo courtesy of Ashton Atwood)

Baby Jonas

JONAS DAVID HAGUE

My sister Rachel and her husband Jared welcomed their new baby boy to their family on July 6th.  We traveled down to Lethbridge on the 7th as I couldn't wait to meet my new little nephew.

He is so tiny at 5 lbs 10 ounces, and 18 1/2 inches long

Ashton loves babies so much and spent a great deal of time holding his new cousin.  I love to watch him with babies, he is so sweet with them.  He'll be a great daddy someday!

Rachel, Jonas, Jared and Liam

Congratulations Rachel and Jared on your sweet little family of four!!

Summer So Far

We've been busy enjoying mine and Jason's time off that I haven't had any time to blog.  So I'm warning you now this may be picture overload.  We've been having a great time so far this summer.  Before Jason had a couple of weeks off of work the boys seemed to be getting restless so I brought out a craft Sheri had bought them a couple of months ago and they got to work.

I was amazed at how well they did painting their dragons.  They both spent alot of time on them and they turned out terrific.

Another favorite activity for the boys is to have a friend over.  They were very excited when they learned that their friend Ashley was coming over to spend the morning with them.  I'm grateful Ashley is so kind and patient with them - they always seem to have a great time.

A highlight for me this summer thus far was a night out with my mom and sister Rachel.  We went for a delicious dinner at Joey Tomatoes and then to the Jubilee to see "Wicked".  The production was awesome, I want to go again!  We had a great time together.

We bought Calaway passes again this year so our holiday wouldn't be complete without a few trips to Calaway.  We were able to go twice while Jason was on holidays.  Once with Uncle Ty and little Dane, and then again with just us.  The boys really enjoy Calaway.  Ashton is our daredevil and will go on anything that he is tall enough for.  Bowen is more timid and still enjoys the little rides like the train, trucks, boat etc.

This was the one and only time Bowen was smiling on this ride.  We've decided it will be his "last" ride on the bumper cars.  He cries EVERY TIME!!  If somebody runs into him - he cries, if he gets stuck in the corner - he cries, if his car just goes in circles - he cries!  I give up!!

Jason's brother Ty and his little boy Dane



Ashton loves the swing - I'm always nervous he's going to slip out!



Ashton tried the new "Mindblaster" - I can't believe the rides he will go on!

I was proud of Bowen this year as he tried the little roller coaster again - and liked it!

Ashton was so excited as he was tall enough to ride the big roller coaster this year - good grief!

I'm sure we'll be back for a few more visits before the end of summer.   Jason was off work this year during Stampede so we decided to take the boys.  We were going to go to the parade, but with all the royal hoopla we decided to skip it.  Mom came up and we headed for the stampede grounds.  The boys tried a few rides that they don't have at Calaway.

We watched the "human canonball" which was quite exciting. 

The boys checked out all the military tanks - a highlight for Bowen.

Of course, no Stampede is complete without Corn dogs, cotton candy, caramel apples, elephant ears, etc.  The boys had a great time.

We were also able to celebrate Uncle Ty's birthday with him and his family.

And no "stay-cation" is complete without roasting hotdogs and marshmallows in the backyard, and lots of swimming in the backyard pool.

Bowen ate 3 hotdogs!!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer!!

July Long Weekend Fun

Our fun began on July 1st at our Ward Pancake Breakfast.  The food was yummy and I was in charge of games and treats for the kids.  We had a cookie face race (where you put an oreo cookie on your forehead and try to get it down to your mouth without using your hands)

We had three legged races, a tug of war over a little pool filled with water, and a pedometer head race (where we put a pedometer on a child's head to see how many times they could bob their head in 30 seconds).  The kids had lots of fun!!  After games I'd been asked to sing a song "Be Strong Ye Sons of Canada" and I accompanied myself on the guitar.  Then we sang O'Canada and the kids held little Canadian Flags and had a parade behind the bishop.

Now I want to apologize that the remainder of this blog has NO PICTURES.  I either forgot my camera everywhere we went and when I did remember to bring it the battery died!  The afternoon of the 1st we went to the Snider's for a barbecue.  It was great food and great company and we had a fabulous time.  Then we headed home to finish packing to go out to the farm for my home town's 100 Year Celebrations.  That night we all headed into Champion at 11:00 p.m. for the firework display.  I must admit I wasn't expecting much (after all Champion is just a little village), but the fireworks were awesome.  Some of the best I've seen.  So much fun - I oooded and awwwed as much as the kids. 

As we were walking back to the truck on the road beside the school Bowen says to me "this road sure has alot of rocks on it", it just struck me he doesn't even know what a gravel road is, I guess I'm raising some "city" kids!!

The next morning we went into town for a pancake breakfast and then the parade.  The parade was great.  Lots of fun floats, bands, and tractors of course.  The kids scored lots of candy and had a great time.  We spent the afternoon watching acrobats, looking at family displays, face painting, a musical program and seeing old friends, followed up by a beef on a bun supper.  I enjoyed being home and showing my boys where I grew up and running into people I haven't seen for years.  I'm grateful for my hometown.  It was a wonderful community to grow up in and I have so many good memories to cherish.