Is competing with your husband healthy?

In this case, yes. So Russ and I are having a little competition (you can cheer for me, it's okay, I won't tell him), and the winner gets to choose whether we are going to Alaska or Africa next summer. Can you guess which one I am rooting for?

It's all about healthy habits - not dieting or losing weight. We are going until January and the one with the most points wins, end of story. So here's how it works - everyday you get one point for each of the following:
--No Soda, Etc (any empty calorie drinks)
--No Treats (this one you can actually get negative points if you eat more than one treat)
--Exercise (doesn't matter what, how long or how many times - just something)
--Eat Healthy (this means no chips, french fries, or anything you feel you have to sneak)

After one month, I was only ahead by 2 points. Now a couple weeks have passed and with Russ having one bad week, I am ahead by 9 points. We'll see what happens this week though - I have really faltered since my brother has been here, and I have two days of meetings this weekend, where I will probably sit around eating treats and drinking caffeine to stay awake. (Maybe I will have to leave Russ with something yummy to try and sabotage his weekend as well. he he.)


So I have had a bit of an extra challenge in this competition as I have been having serious problems with my hip. Just walking my son to school left me limping around like an 80 year old man. So I had to come up with something else to get my exercise in each day and here's what I found: The one-hundred push ups challenge. Check it out, see what you think; and maybe you will join me! I am on week 3 and still going strong. I will keep you posted on that one.

Wish me luck!

I just can't let it go!

Ok, so this post is a little over due, but it still holds true. Although I love colored leaves and football and fall decor (more on fall to come), I have a seriously hard time letting go of summer. For one, I love the outdoors and there are just so many fun things to do in summer. Once it gets cold, everyone shuts themselves up in their houses and there is no more visiting out in the street every night while the kids ride their bikes.

Besides all the previously posted excitement - Bear Lake, 4th of July, Fish Rodeo, Africa, the Maxwell Reunion, etc., etc. - here's what I love about summer:

Playing at the park:

Running through the sprinklers:

Digging in the sand pile:

Camping in the mountains:

Shaved Ice and Otter Pops

Swimming at the Payson pool:

And of course, playing with my boys:

What do you love about summer?

It's all about me

click on it if you can't read it very well.

PS Do you know why today is all about me? ;)

I always win

Because Corbin went to school wearing this:

He came home with this:

(Yes, it's lots of yummy chocolate. He won a contest for best dress up from another country. He also got a $5 gift cert to the book fair.)

Which prompted this the next night at dinner:

Mom: Corbin, do you want to tell Grandma how you got all those chocolates?

Corbin: Well, because I pretty much win everything.

(laughs)

Corbin: Remember I won that trip to California. Now I won this. I pretty much always win.

At the book fair about half hour later:

Corbin's name is drawn for bringing a grandparent to family night and he wins another $5 to the book fair and a poster of his choice. Like he says, "I always win."

Heeere fishy fishy

I was feeling a little despondent about not having Cody in preschool this year. Not because I feel like he has to, or because he will be behind, but because the poor kid is stuck with me all day and asked where Corbin was about 4 times the first day he was at school. I really just wanted him to have something to look forward to and get excited about. So after much discussion with many people I was somehow convinced to do one of those preschool swap things (even though I always said I would never do that). It is a little unconventional, and we pretty much just made up our own thing so that our kids (and us) could get together and do something fun. So here's the basic "rules": each mom takes a turn hosting - she can do whatever she wants besides just letting the kids run around and wreak havoc. The other moms come with their kids to maintain control and to join the fun. We do it once a week for an hour and a half. Basically, it is a playgroup with a bit of structure. I think it will be just what Cody needs. He already talks about his "playgroup school" all the time.

Last week was our first day and my friend Jennifer did a fantastic job. The theme was "fish". We did all kinds of fun fish things and even learned a little bit. Then we hopped in the car and went over to feed the fish (and the ducks) at the pond. It was an awesome first day of "school". I can't wait for more! Oh, and Cody can't wait either.

wise or foolish?

From Corbin's church class last Sunday:
Just in case you can't read the yellow crayon:
Foolish: Hit your brother and don't say sorry.
Wise: Hit your brother and do say sorry.

Great wisdom.