The last of 2011 in Picture

 Linzi turns 10! 

Trip to Tessa's school for a little play she was in.

Christmas Eve fun ... we opened presents this night to keep the Sabbath more about church and Christ and less about presents.  (didn't get great pictures obviously ... the pickle is a little ornament that is hidden on the tree and the first one to find it gets to open the first present.  Kate was the lucky one!)

We do our big dinner on Christmas Eve.  We had roladen and spaetzle, rotkohl and did our "crackers" and wore our crowns!  The kids had fun!!

 

Christmas morning.  (Santa brought Brielle makeup!)

After church we got a quick picture of the eight of us!

And now it's 2012.  What a fast year 2011 was.  Can't believe it's over already!!

Baby Steps

Getting healthier and losing weight will take baby steps.  I have been reading a lot of different methods and diets and things I can/should do.  I think for me the first thing is to cut out sweets.  Candy, cookies, anything baked (no more baking.  Unfortunately I love to bake), that kind of stuff. 

I also need to incorporate more exercise.  I keep thinking of all the reasons why I haven't exercised ... Isla's too difficult, I don't have the time, where would I do it .... etc.  and they're all valid reasons, but I could have excuses for the rest of my life and never do it.  So I just need to do it.

I'm starting simple.  Doing things I can do at home with no special equipment.

I found this:


The 100 Workout is a fast, all-encompassing workout that any girl can do, at any time of day, and from the comfort of  her own home. What makes The 100 Workout so appealing is the short amount of time it takes to exercise the whole body (glutes, quads, thighs, core, and hamstrings) as well as the convenience of not having to go to the gym.
Thinking of giving the workout a try? Here’s how you do it:

• 100 jumping jacks
• 90 crunches
• 80 squats
• 70 leg lifts
• 60 jumping jacks
• 50 crunches
• 40 squats
• 30 leg lifts
• 20 jumping jacks
• 10 minutes of running/stairs/jumping rope

I know I won't be able to do all of this at first, but baby steps.  I bet within a few weeks I will be doing better than now.  So I'll keep you posted on how it's going.

A Better Me

I have a problem.  I think I may be addicted to sugar.  I just crave it all the time.  I have decided that my sugar addiction has been the culprit of my weight gain and tight clothing.  I wore a skirt to church on Sunday ... the same skirt that I wore the day Isla was blessed, so 2 weeks after she was born.  And it was tighter this week than 2 weeks after she was born. 

*hangs head in shame*

So my "new year's resolution" is to kick my sugar habit and try to lose some weight.  I've never TRIED to lose weight before.  My weight has fluctuated so much from having 6 kids that I hardly know what a normal weight would be.  As it is, I'm still nursing Isla for the next 8 months at least so I don't have a totally normal body, but I can still do something.  This will be a new adventure for me. !!!!  (right?)

I think it would be cool to get down to the weight I was before I had my first baby ... that would mean losing 30 pounds.  I keep telling myself that if I can have a baby at home in my bathroom, I can certainly discipline myself enough to lose a little weight and get healthier.  I'm sure I would feel better too. 

So I will keep a little "journal" here to hold myself accountable and see what happens.

Wish me luck!!