Results of the experiment

So, I was supposed to post this yesterday, but I was too busy. So, you're getting it today. Here are my findings from the experiment I started last week:

1. I wore my pedometer until Thursday evening. It drove me nuts! I would look at it one minute and think, "Hey, I'm doing great. I've gone 2,413 steps already." And the next minute I would look and think, "Crap, how did I get back down to 12 steps?" I kept accidentally pressing the reset button. So by Thursday, any time I got up or sat down, I would look at it and try my best to remember what number I was at in case I reset it. I couldn't stand it!! So I didn't do it on Friday.

What I did find was that it's super easy to add extra steps to my day. And I am amazed at how quickly they add up. Just going to the grocery store for a quick shopping trip was over 2,000 steps. So I figure if I just take a few extra trips down the hall to put laundry away or take the long way back from the bus stop, I can easy get more exercise in.

2. I did write down everything I ate every day. I'm actually still doing it. It's really helpful too! I am way more conscious of what I'm eating and how much. I also realize I've gotten into the habit of eating sweets during quiet time, so I'm not working on stopping that (except for today because I really wanted a bowl of ice cream, so I had one...and it was good. It was chocolate with peanut butter chips.)

I'll just have to see if any of these new discoveries have a lasting affect on any of my bad habits. Only time and bathing suit season will tell.

I am succeeding as a mother

Want to know how I know? It was something Eli said to me last night that made me realize this.

He was standing in the hallway when he was supposed to be in bed. When I asked him what he wanted, he walked up to me and said, "Mommy, you're ruining the two things I like...reading and watching this show."

I made him go to bed without turning the light on or being able to use his flashlight to stay up and read books. I also made him go to bed and not stay up late to watch the show. I'm such a mean mommy. I figure if I'm not ruining something (ie. not letting him do everything he wants, when he wants) at most times of the day, then I'm not doing my job!

Just like one of the big kids...

Obviously, Eli always wears a backpack to the bus stop. Leah usually does too, just because she likes to pretend like she's going to school. (I worry that one of these days she's just going to hop right on the bus) Today, it was Noah's turn to wear a backpack to the bus stop. As we were heading out the door, he came up to me and said, "Mommy, Mommy," which means "do this for me". He says it to anyone he wants to have do something for him. In his little chubby hand, he was holding Leah's little, pink backpack. I knew right away what he wanted. So, I slipped it onto his shoulders and we were off and each one of the kids had a backpack. I guess now I need to invest in a little blue backpack so Noah's not walking around looking gender-confused. Or perhaps there might be a Grammy out there willing to make a Noah-sized one. Hintidy-hint-hint!

After conquering the small backpack, Noah decided to try out Leah's big one after we got back.

Not bad for a first-timer!

I want to try a little experiment

And you are welcome to join me.

I realize that I am not the most healthy eater. I LOVE sweets and sometimes (or maybe all the time) I eat too much of it . I want to change that so I'm going to try two simple things.

1. I'm going to wear my pedometer every day. I know that doesn't help me to stop eating sweets, but I have heard that if you take 10,000 steps a day, you can lose weight. So I'm going to give that a go and I just happen to have a pedometer. I've been wearing it today and sadly so far I've only taken 6696 steps. I better get walking!

2. I'm going to write down everything I eat and the time I eat it. I have also heard that if you do this, you are more aware of what you're eating and tend to eat less since you have to write it down. I also think it will help me find my especially week points during the day so I can avoid chocolately temptations.

I've done that today too and I think it's gone well. I only ate 5 cookies today, which isn't too bad for me since I made 3 dozen! I also tried to eat less at lunch and dinner. I think it may work.

This isn't really a New Year's resolution or anything. It's just something I want to work on. I guess you can say it's a project to work on. I want to see how I do and I figure if I blog about it, I will be more likely to do it so I don't look stupid by writing this big, long post about it and not follow through.

So, I'll try to remember to post next Monday and update myself/you on my progress. Feel free to join in if you want to. Let me know how you do!!

We now have a major infestation

The rodent has returned. Only this time, he brought friends and they are BIG!

Do you see the way they mock me with their smiles and laughter? I just don't know how to get rid of them!

Anyone else's kids going crazy?

Mine sure are!! I'm not sure if it's the post-holiday-back-in-school fatigue or the going-crazy-because-it's-too-cold-to-play-outside wiggles. Either way, the kids have been bouncing off the walls. Please, how do I make it stop?!?

Pics of the Faves

Is it the "LOVE SEAT" or is it something else?

There's something unusual about each of these pictures. The children in the photo are being loving and snuggly. There's no fighting, pushing or screaming. Upon further analysis, it can be seen that they are all seated on the same piece of furniture. That piece of furniture just happens to be the love seat. Could it be that this one item contains magical powers? Does it posses the ability to make my kids love each other? Who knows?

Unfortunately, if you'll also take note of the direction of each head in these pictures, they are all facing the same way. That way just happens to be in the direction of the television. Perhaps that's the piece of furniture that really has magical powers. It has the ability to make my children completely unaware of their surroundings, so much so that they don't even realize when they are snuggling a sibling.

Further tests must be run in order to establish a solid conclusion. The next of such tests will commence this afternoon, when Eli returns from school.

Pics of the Faves