Daddy's Taking Us to the Zoo Tomorrow

Jason's annual staff barbecue was held at the zoo again this year.  They let us into the zoo at noon and we spent the afternoon looking at the animals.  It was a gorgeous day and we had alot of fun as a family.  Bowen was a bit crabby (he's been acting like a moody 13 year old lately), but overall we had a great time.

First up was the baby giraffe and the hippos (Bowen's favorite).

Then over to the lions (one of Jason's favorites). 

I wanted to get a picture of both boys, but Bowen was not cooperating!


Notice his new lemur (Jason's work gave each of the kids $20.00 to spend at the gift shop).  Ashton bought the lemur and a pen.  Bowen bought a dinosaur toy with a sucker, and a pen.

I thought the baby gorilla was so cute - it's a bit freaky how human they look!

It was a hot day so we stopped for screamers (slurpees with icecream).  I'm proud to say I didn't order one, but I did eat a bit of Bowen's.  Yum!

We couldn't get very close to the elephants.



Only one tiger was out, I remember on Jason and my first date over 10 years ago we saw baby tigers.  I wonder where they are now?

Me and my boys!!

In the butterfly conservatory.

Then we let the boys play in the playground and took pictures in the kangaroo until the barbecue started at 6:00 p.m.

Bowen kept hiding his face and didn't want me to take his picture.  When I finally got a shot I said "Gotcha!" he screamed back "No!! I don't want my picture on your blog!!  He'll get over it!

We then went to the barbecue.  We had a bit of time before the food was ready so the boys tried out their new pens.

They had salads, hamburgers, hotdogs, drinks and apple cobbler for dessert.  They had a animal game for the kids and everyone had lots of fun.  As we were headed out of the park we stopped to take a picture by the future penguin exhibit.

Then they wanted their new animals to pose as well.  They both laughed hysterically at these pictures.

I love the zoo!  I have many great memories going as a kid with my family, and feel very blessed to now have my own little family to make new memories with.  I love spending time with my husband and boys.

New Shoes!

Thursday night we did some back to school shopping for the boys.  Backpacks, lunch kits, clothes and of course new indoor shoes.  As these shoes are meant to be worn only in the school and are to never touch the outside world the boys weren't able to wear them home after we bought them.  Of course, as soon as we got home they put them on and have been hanging around the house in them ever since.

They LOVE their new shoes!!

They've been wanting to wear their new clothes as well, but I keep telling them it's to hot for jeans and long sleeved shirts!

Friday Weigh-In - Week 5

It's been 5 weeks already since I started on this weightloss journey.  I was soooooo hungry this week.  It was "that" time of the month (sorry too much information), and I felt ravenous.  It was a hard week for me to not eat the house - but I feel I controlled myself quite well.  However, I did fail miserably in the working out area.  I only exercised ONCE!  I was feeling bloated, crampy and overall yucky so I just didn't exercise when it was exactly what I should have done.  Oh well, I'll recharge and do better this week.  Despite the odds against me this week I did manage to lose ....

1 lb

Which brings my grand total to 8.5 lbs down so far.  I'm excited to be getting close to the first 10 pounds.  I think when I reach my goal I deserve to get myself a little something - maybe a banana split (just kidding).  Maybe a new pair of jeans or a shirt!  Obviously I don't feel too much of a difference yet but yesterday I tried on some jean shorts that I could not do up 5 weeks ago.

Voila



Note to self - face looks wider when hair pulled back into a pony tail!

I think one of my main challenges is later in the evening.  You know when you are sitting around watching mindless drivel like "Hells Kitchen, or Big Brother".  I get the hankerin' to snack.  Any ideas of healthy, craving satisfying snacks that won't derail my weightloss?  Til next Friday - Happy Weight loss!

That Can't Be Comfortable!

This is how I've found Bowen the last three nights.  Sleeping on his little fold out spiderman couch!

Sorry the picture is a bit fuzzy - but you get the idea!

Swimming Lessons

This past week I took the boys to Grandma's farm so that they could have swimming lessons in the little Champion pool where I took lessons as a kid.  Champion had renovated their little pool and it was great.  Mom and I also went into Aquafit 3 mornings.  It was so nice to be in the water first thing in the morning.  I enjoyed the fresh cool air as we exercised in the warm water.  Anyways, I digress, the boys did really well with their swimming lessons.  Ashton is really starting to improve.  He is building much more confidence and can swim a fair distance now.  He is especially good swimming on his back.

His favorite part of lessons was jumping off the diving board and lifeguard chair.

Bowen's first lesson he was up to his usual tricks.  Refusing to put his face in the water.  Not wanting to participate.  I think maybe he thought it was all a bit beneath him.  We had put him in the same class as Liam and Calum and they are quite a bit younger.  At one point he was standing at the edge of the pool and when his teachers talked to him he'd just shut his eyes and completely ignore them (what a little pill!)  After a good talking too after the first class he did much better the 2nd day.  By the 3rd day he had discovered his inner frog and was dunking and swimming all over the pool.  Of course as soon as he starting doing great - my camera battery died!

I was really proud of both my boys.  They passed their classes - but more importantly, they both built up their confidence and improved alot.  After we came home I asked the boys where they wanted to have their lessons next year - here in Calgary or at Grandma's - the answer was a resounding "Grandma's".  Hopefully next year Rachel will be able to join us too.

Friday Weigh-In - Week 4

Well I thought last week was a challenge - it was nothing compared to this week.  It all started early Sunday morning when Rachel's little Jonas was airlifted to the Children's hospital with viral meningitis.  Thank goodness he is doing so much better now.  Then Monday night I headed with the boys to my moms for the week for the boys to take swimming lessons.  Rachel's other little boy who we were taking care of and taking to his lessons got pink eye, so we've been trying to keep the other 5 kids from getting it and it was been a bit CHAOTIC around here.  So much for my relaxing week at the farm.  So again, needless to say, focusing on my weight loss hasn't exactly been a priority.  So I weighed today at my moms and I lost ....

1 lb

That brings my grand total to - 7.5 lbs.  Slow and steady wins the race, right!  I'm not making excuses - really - but it wasn't my scale and I weighed in a wet swimming suit.  One good thing I did do was go into an aqua fit class with my mom 3 mornings at the Champion pool.  My calves are killing me today.  I love working out in the water.  You don't realize how much resistance and how good a workout you are really getting until you get out of the pool.  I'm hoping I can find a class at a pool in Calgary in the afternoon when both the boys are in school.  Tomorrow I'm headed back home.  Hopefully now the drama has stopped for a while and we can all enjoy the end of summer.  My goal this week is to exercise 4 times rather than 3.  I'll report how I do next Friday.

Round Two

Last summer good friends of ours gave us their old pool for the boys.  The boys love playing in it so much.  This year we found a few holes made some repairs and set it up again for the boys.  Last weekend we returned after being away for a couple of days and found this ...

So off to Canadian Tire.  We found the exact same pool for a really good price but we decided to wait until payday to buy it.  A few days later we returned and found the pool was now even $30.00 cheaper.  Score!!  The boys are now back in their pool and loving every minute of it.

Friday Weigh-In - Week 3

So I tentatively and nervously stepped onto my scale this morning.  This week has been a challenge and I wasn't sure how I had done with my weight loss.  Well I'm surprised excited to announce that this week I lost ...

1.5 lbs

That makes a total of 6.5 lbs down so far!  It's not alot, but hey it's something.  I had alot of challenges thrown my way this week, but I must say I'm really proud at how I handled them.  First Jason took me out on Saturday for dinner (it was so delicious!), then we went to my aunts for dinner on Sunday, but I made good choices.  On Tuesday night two girlfriends from Lethbridge came to Calgary and we went to the Olive Garden for dinner.  If you know the Olive Garden you know why I'd be nervous about losing weight this week - but I did really good.  I had to have 2 breadsticks, but my main course was grilled chicken with pasta in a herb and lemon vinegrette (oh how I wanted that alfredo!!).  I made sure I exercised, I still need to increase how often however, but I'm pretty pleased with myself.

On Wednesday I got lots of exercise as the boys and I went with Sheri to Calaway.  We had lots of fun with her and I even resisted the mini donuts and icecream cones (okay maybe I had a few licks of Bowen's cone).

Yesterday evening was cooler so I made one of my favorite soups out of the "Eat Shrink and Be Merry" cookbook (I do cook out of other cookbooks too!).  But this recipe is so yummy and healthy.

CREAMY SALMON AND CORN CHOWDER WITH DILL

1 tbsp olive oil or butter
1 cup sliced leeks (white part only) or chopped onions
3/4 cup each chopped celery and diced red bell pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp each dried thyme and dried tarragon
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
1 can (14 oz) cream-style corn
1/2 cup light (6%) cream

12 oz boneless, skinless salmon fillet, cut into bite-sized pieces

1/2 tsp each salt and pepper

2 tbsp minced fresh dill (I used 2 tsp of the dried)

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp each grated lemon zest and Dijon mustard (didn't have any Dijon so I just used regular mustard)

Heat olive oil in a large, non-stick soup pot over medium heat.  Add leeks, celery, red pepper, and garlic.  Cook and stir until vegetables begin to soften, about 3 minutes.

Add thyme and tarragon.  Cook and stir for 30 more seconds.  Add flour and mix well, until vegetables are completely coated.  Add chicken broth.  Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.  Soup will thicken slightly.  Stir in corn and cream.  Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in salmon, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer until salmon is cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes, depending on size of salmon pieces.

Remove soup from heat and stir in dill, lemon juice, lemon zest, and mustard.  Serve immediately.

This soup is soooo good.  Enjoy!!

Now my next challenge is the boys and I are spending the week at mom's so the boys can go to swimming lessons in Champion.  Let's see how the weight watchers leader feeds me!!