Fitness Challenge with a Prize! Join me!

Here’s the lowdown on the Fitness (and Spiritual) challenge:

Each of the following will earn you ONE point per day, plus ONE bonus point per week if you don't miss a day. You must keep track of all your points:

No Desserts (6 points possible, plus 1 point bonus = 7 possible per week)
No Soda (6, plus 1 = 7 possible per week)
No Eating after 7:30pm (6, plus 1 = 7 possible per week)
Exercising (30 minutes, elevated heart rate) (6, plus 1 = 7 possible per week)
Scriptures (at least 1 chapter) (6, plus 1 = 7 possible per week)
Weekly Challenge (6, plus 1 = 7 possible per week)

Wait, you say! There are SEVEN days in a week! That's the beauty of it, my friends - you have Sundays off. Yippee! You can look forward to that one dessert or that one soda one day a week - easier to stay on track and get back into it on Monday!

There are THREE MORE possible points per week.

ONE point per week for Weight Loss - if you've lost at least one pound, or maintained your ideal weight, you get a point.

ONE point per week for Family Home Evening - that's right - doesn't matter which night you hold it on, just as long as you organize and carry it out! One point if you do!

ONE point per week will be a Mystery Point – participants will offer suggestions and then one will be drawn each week.

THAT MAKES A TOTAL OF 45 POINTS POSSIBLE PER WEEK

If you want in, you will need to mail a check for $25 to Shellie, whose hosting this challenge (or give it to me and I will send it to her for you) by Wednesday, June 2nd. (that's soon!) The Challenge will begin Monday, June 7th. - WINNER AT THE END OF 12 WEEKS TAKES HOME 80% OF THE PRIZE MONEY, SECOND PLACE TAKES 20%! The more people that enter the bigger the prize!

So… what do you think? Some of you already have awesome healthy habits and no desserts or soda will be easy-peasy. Some of you run your little pants off anyway, so doing some form of exercise daily is no big deal. The extra weekly challenges include things like fitting in your 5 servings of fruit every day for the week, doing 100 sit-ups every day, or getting your recommended 7 hours of sleep. These change weekly to add a little variety and new challenge.

Come on, you could win some decent money here… and get in shape… and develop or break some significant habits… all while having the support (and competition) of a fun group of people across the country! We’ll share ideas and probably taunt a little, it will be great. Let me know if you have questions… and let me know if you’re in!!! Swimsuit body, here I come!!

Will you join me? Please leave a comment or email me if you'd like to join. It'll be fun!

I want to repeat again that the challenge will start Monday, June 7th and go for 12 weeks.

Longest Winter Ever!

We pay a very high premium to live in Sunny California. The weather is supposed to be perfect and sunny 9 months of the year. We have now endured more than 7 months of rainy weather and it's about to drive me bonkers. I've grown too accustomed to unchanging weather to like the constant clouds. Blah! Please, please, please bring back the beautiful sun.

Is anyone else experiencing unusual weather this year?

Madeline 2 Years Later

May 2008
5 months old, no teeth, little hair, not mobile, cute chubby cheeks

May 2010

almost 2 1/2 years old, very mobile, talkative, mischievous, lots of teeth, more hair and she's still my darling baby girl.

What a difference 2 years makes! (Yes, she got into my makeup again today.)

Back Home

It is so hard to readjust to real life after returning from vacation. I have chosen not to accomplish anything today. I'm hoping that means I can be super productive tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Here are pictures from the rest of our trip to SoCal:

Grandma and Madeline walking together. This was a rare moment because Madeline didn't want anything to do with anyone other than me on the trip.

Madeline playing with rocks and sand


This was one of the amazing pools overlooking the ocean at the resort we stayed at. We went swimming everyday. Madeline screamed whenever it was time to leave the pool.

Much to our great surprise we got a call from Tom on Thursday night informing us that he would join us on our vacation, so Friday morning Tom joined us.

Mom and Dad at Laguna Beach. Aren't they cute?

Mom and Madeline playing in the sand together. Aren't they cute too?

Apparently, Andrew doesn't get his jumping skills from Tom. (o:

Dad enjoying a game of mini-golf. **It's important to notice the cell tower behind him.

Mom enjoying a game of mini golf.

Madeline loved mini-golfing. She just didn't quite understand the rules to the game. (Aren't you supposed to pick up the ball and run it to the hole?) She proved to be very helpful to those of us that don't play the game well.

We had such a great time on our trip. Thank-you Mom and Dad for driving out to see us and for being my chauffeur until Tom arrived and thanks for watching the kids so Tom and I could go out. You guys are the best! Andrew keeps telling me how much he misses Grandma and Grandpa! We love you guys!

Andrew Loves the Beach!

Andrew can't get enough time playing in the water or flying through the air. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this boy? He is so much fun.

Monday Morning

Meant to stay in bed.
Oh why did my house not clean itself on Mother's Day?
Not another whine!
Damn laundry pile.
Another rainy day!
Yearning for tomorrow when I will take off to where it is 75° and sunny!

A Funny Conversation

May 7, 2010 - 6:30 a.m. Awakened by the sound of someone rummaging through my nightstand. After assuring myself that it was not a home invasion, but rather my five-year old son Andrew, the following conversation ensued.

Me: "Andrew, what in the world are you doing looking in my nightstand?

Andrew: "I'm looking for scissors Mommy."

Me: "Why on earth do you need scissors at this time of morning?"

Andrew: "To open up a package of Swiss Miss Rolls."

Me: "zzzzz..."

When I finally woke up and went into the kitchen I discovered, to my great surprise, that the Swiss Miss rolls were missing. Sensing a teaching moment, I approached Andrew.

Me: Where are the Swiss Miss rolls?

Andrew: I hid them.

Me: Where did you hide them?

Andrew: In my drawer. I'll show you.

Sure enough, there in his drawer was one package of opened swiss miss rolls with one missing and the rest were unopened.

I think he thought I wouldn't notice they were missing. I did.


My Mom and Dad think this is payback for all the Swiss Miss rolls I hid (and ate) when I was a kid. They are probably right.

Random Facts

-Madeline handles long walks in the stroller better if she has a flower in each hand. She's such a girl.

-Andrew loves Swiss Miss Rolls as much as I do. He tried them for the first time tonight and immediately started searching the house for more. I did the same thing when I was a kid.

-My kids are at the perfect age to take regular field trips.

-Today we went to the Children's Discovery Museum in Sausalito for the first time. I didn't like it at first, but the longer we were there the more I liked it. I definitely like the San Jose museum better though.

-As we were driving yesterday I heard Madeline say, "3-2-1 blastoff". I thought it was hilarious. I'm not sure where she learned it.

-The wii is on vacation again. Andrew is more pleasant without it around.

-This has been a really long winter for the area. The weather is warm one day, cold and windy the next, then rainy the day after that. I look forward to summer coming.

-I've recently decided I like the show, "The Good Wife". Does anyone else watch it?

Here are some pictures from today:

Andrew and Madeline riding dump trucks down a ramp

I had to catch Madeline jumping at the beach too.

My kids were really tired after our excursion today.

Fun Day at the Beach

It was another perfect day here in California. The weather couldn't have been nicer. We enjoyed playing at the beach and basking in the sun all afternoon.

I think these two pictures of Andrew are hilarious. He loves to jump. We promised him our next house will have a trampoline. I hope we can keep that promise.

Don't you love Madeline's buck teeth from all her thumb sucking? There's no doubt there will be a big orthodontist bill for her in the future!