Skiing is one of our favorite things

When we're not being lazy, we ski! And when I say 'we', I mean 'WE': me, Lea, Lucas, Abbey and yes, even Ammon. We ski in shifts:

 Here's the early morning crew - 6:30 am......I am NOT a part of that group. :) I actually prefer the 8 am group with my nephew Brendan, since he was on a mission, I had to take what I could get. :)

 This was actually one of those early mornings - see the pj's??

 The 'little' kids

the 'Not-so-little' kids and some of us who should wear shirts to match our tan lines.....ahem, Keith.

But we ski, no matter when unless the water is too rough, then we tube or take a break.

look at that beautiful water!

 Lea's turn! I have really amazing brothers who love to help because they love to ski too!

 Rustin getting the rope ready - Lea looks excited.

 Kraig and Lea

 Steven and Lea (this was another day)

 so close!

Lucas' turn! Doesn't he look thrilled!! Uncle Rustin

 He was dragged a few feet, got a face full of water and never tried again the rest of the week. If Jeff was there, he would have tried more. I can't convince him to do anything....next year!

Abbey's turn! Again - totally thrilled!

 Uncle Steven and Abbey

 Skiing all 'by herself'....She actually had a great time.

And......if it makes you panic, then don't look at the next couple pictures, but it's Ammon's turn - he's 11 1/2 months old.

 Ammon and Grandpa

 Ammon and Uncle Steven - he did not love being in the water, but skiing he did, not so much the life jacket either.

Our newest skiers!

 And when we ski, Grandpa buys us ice cream!! We love it every day, just about breaks Grandpa's bank to pay for 10+ grandkids to have ice cream cones every day....I don't think he'd have it any other way if it gets his grandkids involved in something he loves.

And sometimes he leaves his camera in the boat and gets this:

Funnies

Last night Jeff went in to talk with Lucas - this kid is so funny, sometimes it's difficult to keep a straight face when having to discipline him. 

Jeff had just returned from playing basketball and was playing with Ammon who was suddenly 'awake' so Jeff HAD to take him out. Conversation went something like this:

J: 'Hey little man' (to Ammon)

'Hey big man' (to Lucas)

If Ammo is 'little man' and you're 'big man', what does that make me?

L: Bossy. ha!

After some more comments and questions from Jeff, Lucas finally says: 'You stink.' haha!

Tonight he was practicing the Articles of Faith - in a 'Cowboy' voice.....ohhh-kay.

Pity party's over

So my pity party of weight loss is over - time to get back to work. 

Started using www.myfitnesspal.com and it really helps - keep track of the food you eat and exercise done. 

I have a new salad recipe - very filling and tastes good. As much spinach as you can - 1 serving is 3 cups and 20 calories!! In case you didn't know, I'm allergic to lettuce...yes. lettuce. So spinach I will eat.

Spinach, craisins, feta cheese and a raspberry vinegrette.

I figure if I can watch a 30-1hr show, I can workout for at least half of it. The more I exercise, the more I can eat. :)

And had I just started and done the work, I'd be 5 weeks in and the weight loss would have occurred instead of thinking I could just do nothing major, eat what I want and lose weight - not as young as I used to be. Hopefully by New Year's, I'll be a few lbs lighter and happier with my efforts.

Failed

MISERABLY.

So I posted a few months back (here) I wanted to lose weight.....well I have not accomplished one step towards that goal. In fact I've gone the opposite direction - slowly, but the number continues to rise and my clothing is becoming even more limited to:

one pair of jeans

one very loose maxi dress

one skirt I bought 4 years ago for $4 (awesome deal!)

a few very worn t-shirts

a select few 'dress' shirts to wear with said skirt

I was going to by myself a really cute dress for this next weekend and have decided I didn't earn it, so I'll try to find a new skirt instead @ Ross.

I have joined myfitnesspal.com to keep track of my calories and exercise. Actually need to use it.

I tried the workout videos, even trying this workout: (Britney Spears inspired)

90 minutes/4x a week
Warm up: 10 minutes on cardiovascular machine (treadmill, stationary bike, etc) at a medium pace.
Abs: 50 crunches, 50 bicycle twists, 50 hip raises
Strength Circuit: Use weights to work on arms, chest, back, and lower body. Bicep curls, tricep kickbacks, and fly exercises and presses.
Abs: 50 crunches, 50 bicycle twists, 50 hip raises
Strength Circuit: Use weights to work on arms, chest, back, and lower body. Bicep curls, tricep kickbacks, and fly exercises and presses.
Abs: 50 crunches, 50 bicycle twists, 50 hip raises
Strength Circuit: Use weights to work on arms, chest, back, and lower body. Bicep curls, tricep kickbacks, and fly exercises and presses.
Abs: 50 crunches, 50 bicycle twists, 50 hip raises
Back to Cardio & Abs: 30 minutes of jogging on treadmill or elliptical machine
Abs: 150 crunches, 150 bicycle twists, 150 hip raises (Do each 3 times)
Yup that’s a total of 1950 ab exercises…how else do you think Britney looked so hot?!?!?!
Last but not least…STRETCH! And maybe take a yoga or pilates class on one of your off days.

Haven't done all 1950, but 400 in one day was plenty to make me want to cry the next day I did the first crunch. :)

I've come to this conclusion:

"I wish I was as thin as I was when I thought I was fat"

Anywho, back to the grind and continuing to do something active every day.

Could we BE more lazy....

 How beautiful is this?! Who doesn't want to wake up on vacation, open the door and see this???

 This is Sunday, but it looks like this every morning. My dad likes to take picture of the smooth water and all the boats covered up.

Grandpa's Ladder game and some really cute kids. :)

We eat dinner together behind my mom/dad's cabin. Friends are always welcome!

Who knows why because my mom loves dogs as much as I do.....love is relative - we love animals FROM A DISTANCE and behind glass or at the zoo. But some dog always finds her and follows her. A couple years ago, this little dog followed her EVERYWHERE. It would sit by the bathroom door and wait for her - we'd just look for the dog and know mom was someplace close by - hilarious!

More rides on the wave runner

Georgia (my niece) was 'helped' into a cold rain covered lake by 2 mischievous cousins - Tanner/Trenton

we intertube - can you see Lea's face?? Not so sure if she's lovin it or not. I will say, she should have ridden with Lizzie and not Calla - she's a daredevil.

Rylan, Rachel, Lea, Calla

We wait out the rough water hoping the smooth glass of first morning will return.

We sit and chat, read books and enjoy our time together as family - no assigned seating, take an open seat and enjoy the company and view. Ammon is helping Grandpa read.

This week we had some special visitors: I was standing in the little store there and this lady (in the yellow came and stood right by me, touching my shoulder......awkward.) Thought it was my mom and had to do a double take - it was my aunt, from Logan, UT. Not anywhere close - they were in the neighborhood.....oh-kay.

Mom and Aunt Geri

Uncle Kenny (my dad's older brother), my dad, Aunt Geri, my mom - my dad was 'sucking in' to look thinner.......silly man

Ryan and Uncle Kenny

Brothers out for a boat ride.

Probably one of my favorite pictures and the sweetest girl you'll ever meet - Liz too, didn't get any pictures of her and my sleeping baby. Both are my baby whisperers. This is Maddy (my nephew's girlfriend) and Liz is a friend of my nieces - same group of friends and family. I love these girls and I love that they love my kids. Lazy mornings and afternoons.

Lazy days

 So the rest of Twin Lakes week, we spend in our swimsuits and life jackets, applying layers of sunscreen and hoping the water stays smooth for just 'one more ski'. But when we're not skiing, we do this:

 Make bubble designs - it's a whale

 Chase bubbles

 'Shoot' the camera mom

 And at least one day a week it rains. This week it was Monday......major bummer - it really hurts to ski when it's raining. So day #2 of no skiing. Instead us Phoenicians enjoy catching rain drops - it poured off and on all day.

 she was really thirsty

 Other times, we ride the wave runner: Aunt Caryn, Uncle Jim and Lea

 We play in the water, build stuff, 'ride the waves'

 Throw rocks and play with cousins: Lucas, Tyler, Ryan

 The girls cousins: Rylan, Lea, Lizzie, Calla, Abbey, Melissa

 We eat

 Make silly faces and eat more: Abbey and Aunt Caryn

 Take afternoon naps - early mornings and late nights make for TIRED kids.

 Move camp chairs from the front of the cabin, to the lake front to enjoy breathtaking scenery and watch kids in the water, to behind the cabins for dinner and relaxing, and back again. Capturing each moment - it's a beautiful way to spend the week.