More of the same?

We have made plans to take a cruise in September without the kids...  I'm hoping in my head that by then I can loose 20 pounds... and the cruise is the incentive I need to make it...  I'm averaging a pound a week though so realistically I'll probably only loose 10 pounds before the cruise, but I'll be happy with that too! :)

My snacking is really my downfall.  If I can keep my snacking in check, and get my exercise consistent I think I can get a little more than just one pound a week.  We shall see.  It's hard to stay on a schedule with a house full of kids running around.  I'll have three weeks after school starts before the trip so we'll see what I can accomplish until then and then do a little boot camp with myself to see if I can kick up the weightloss in those weeks.

Budgeting and menu planning

Many many years ago when we were a family of 2 adults and a toddler and infant I was so good at budgeting our family's finances... I did menu planning and planned out 2 weeks of meals at a time.  I made dinner almost every single night and did so in a budget conscious way with lots of stuff made from scratch and not many premade short cut items.

Many years, and two kids later we are a family of 2 adults, 1 teenage boy, 1 preteen girl and two kids... our grocery bill has multiplied by leaps and bounds and I've decided I have to go back to some basics that I've long since stopped doing.

So I'm going to start doing meal plans again... I've seen lots of places where you can buy preplanned meal calenders with grocery lists etc, but the reality is while my hubby and I would enjoy the new menu items, the kids would stage a revolt.  So here is what I have planned for the next week of meals- all meals that I know 80% of my family love and the remaining 20% each night that doesn't love it, will still manage to find enough on the table to eat.

Sat- Ward Picnic (bring 3 dozen rolls)
Sun- Taco dinner night, baking day- bake cinnamon rolls and no bake cookies
Mon- Chicken Rolls, carrots, and salad
Tues- Leftovers for the kids, Bunko night for mom, Big lunch for dad
Wed- Sweet and sour meatballs, coconut rice, salad and a veggie side (corn or broccoli from the freezer)
Thurs- Leftovers or a pre-prepared freezer item (pizza rolls, frozen waffles, etc) (we will be gone all day on an outing, and have things that night for 3 of the 4 kids so it has to be something quick.
Fri- Spaghetti, corn fritters, garlic bread, salad.

Now that I have my menu, I just have to remember to not only take my grocery list to the store tomorrow, but look at the list and get everything on it- and not a bunch of extra un-needed stuff! :)

Talents

My kids never cease to amaze me with their talents. I was cleaning out my Sunday bag and came across this. All done freehand just looking at a picture on a cell phone to copy.

Checking in

We have had a busy weekend here. 4 birthday parties for the little girls over the weekend. A band concert, church meetings, watching nba playoff basketball and cheering on our Thunder team, and one child fighting a bad cough, fever and some vomit for good measure.

Sick child is still home today, but three kids are at school and having fun with the last week of school festivities. Tonight hubby scored some tickets to the thunder game so he and I will get a fun night out.

I feel like I could make excuses and not get my workout in today, but I made sure I got it in and done with and now I don't need to worry about it until tomorrow.

Well I did it

I went and changed into the exercise clothes and turned on the DVD and I did my exercise today.

I still ate junk food, but I exercised.

It's a step in the right direction.

Not a good start

Ok. I am determined to be honest here about my exercise and eating. This week I've done squat. Nothing, nada, and eaten horribly- junk food and cookies and sweets. Posting this makes me nervous because I'm going to be truthful in this blog here. And I hope that by forcing myself to be truthful about it here- I will motivate myself to change things so I can be proud of my posts instead of embarrassed.

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day!! 

Happy Mothers Day to all my mommy friends, all my sisters, sister in laws, mother in law, and of course my wonderful mom.  I truly never full appreciated all that she did for us until I became a mom myself and I love her even more now for the years and years that she put up with me and my siblings and taught us to love, laugh, work, and play.  Thank you mom for all that you have done.  The example you were to me then and continue to be now!