One gain, One loss AGAIN!

Yes, that's the case again this week! Only this time I'm not so lucky. I gained. Again. I think I'm going to have to work on the old portion control this week...I'm going to have to start writing down what I'm eating. I think it's that I have been exercising a LOT so I think that I can eat a lot more...it doesn't work that way. I did have a lot of temptations this week, which I think I handled very well, but obviously not well enough. I am very disappointed that this is my third gain already, but hey. I'm not giving up! So here's to my .6 lb gain. (Once again, at least it's not 6 lbs.)

Mom gained too...JUST KIDDING! She LOST 2.6 lbs!!!!!!!!! So proud of her... That means she's lost 9 lbs at this point. She's catching me.

Oh, I almost forgot I do have some good news. I got measured at the gym today... I have lost 10 lbs. since I joined and 22.5 inches. I was happy with that! Until next week...

Thank you Grandpa Kocher!

Last week we brought home Gavin's pedal tractor from Grandma and Grandpa Kocher's house. Grandpa fixed it after it's been out of commission for nearly a year. Since the weather has been so nice we've been outside a ton. You know how much he loves to ride his bike, but he must have been missing this tractor...he has only ridden his bike once since it's been here. We went on a walk today...I walked, Maddox rode his bike, Gavin rode his tractor. I don't know how he does it...but he kept up with us pretty well and didn't even get tired! I think he has big plans...someone must have mentioned riding in the parade next to Grandpa on his antique tractor, but didn't know if he'd be able to ride that far. I think he's on a mission!

Just in case you're wondering...Maddox did pick out his entire wardrobe for this afternoon. This is actually his second outfit. Gavin is USUALLY very good about picking things that match or coordinate in some way and he always has been. Maddox on the other hand told me that both his shirt and shorts had a white stripe so they matched. He's got a lot to learn. He was very offended when I told him that he didn't match. He was, however, very prepared for the water he was going to ride through on our walk.

This is just one of the small ponds that you will find at the end of our streets in the neighborhood. At least those potholes are good for something. It does make our street a little more entertaining.

Maddox emptying water out of his boots

Gavin drying his tractor off with his shirt. He just got done cleaning his tractor earlier in the afternoon, so he took it easy in the water today.

Maddox filling up one of the potholes at the end of our drive. Our poor neighbors! I am going to blame it on Grandma Kocher...saying summer time was the best time to potty train those boys for the ease and fun in peeing outside. It worked for us! They both know they're not supposed to pee outisde...at least in the front yard, but are having a hard time giving that up.

Happy Birthday Taylor and Brent!

Today is my niece Taylor's 18th Birthday and her Dad, Brent's 42nd birthday! We wish you both a very happy birthday today!

Taylor and Jordan designed this scrapbook page when Gavin was a baby and they were staying with us in Mt. Zion...I couldn't get the whole page scanned, but it gives you an idea.

Over Christmas break, Brent and Jordan took Gavin snow skiing. They live about 5 minutes away from the slopes. Although in these pictures Gavin doesn't look thrilled it was all he talked about once he got home. All of his sore body parts were worth it.

This video was from last weekend when we went to visit The Marshall's. It was a good time. This was just one of the highlights. I was thinking of editing it so it wasn't so long, but then I

figured I might just leave something out. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to you both! We love you!

* You can thank Jordan for the music...Larry thinks it stinks!

Come to Papa!

I decided to go ahead and post Maddox getting all pumped up for his "unsuccessful" ramp that wrote about in my last post. I left out the wreck...it wasn't quite as fun to watch. Listen carefully....you'll hear a rough and tough "Yeah..." then a "Come to Papa!" He must've gotten that from his Dad, I'm pretty sure I don't say that...or maybe it came from Alvin and the Chipmunks he's been into that movie here lately.

It was his idea to ramp, not mine. I just figured he wouldn't have a problem...he's done it many times before with training wheels. He took right to turning and stopping so I figured ramping would just come naturally too.

I can ride my bike...

WITH NO TRAINING WHEELS...NO TRAINING WHEELS!

This afternoon we played outside once Gavin got home from school. Maddox pulled out Gavin's good ole Tonka bike and asked me to push him. He took right off...I was so proud of him! We had planned on taking his training wheels off once we started playing outside regularly again anyway, but I wasn't expecting him to do it today. It was getting to the point that he really wasn't using his training wheels anyway, except when he turned. They were so bent out of shape that it was ridiculous. However, they were there when he needed them.

He only had one big fall, and it was one with only a few tears. It also included a ramp. I know, a ramp already! He just didn't quite have his speed up and did this slow motion move off the top of it. He did cry, but got right up and took off again with the ramp put away for now.

I have it all on video...we were watching it after Larry got home from work in even slower motion. Too funny! The funniest thing is that as he was headed toward the ramp if you turned the volume up you could hear him saying "Come to papa!"

Can't wait for it to warm up some more so we can take some bike rides around the neighborhood.

Here's some footage of my big boy...

One gain, One loss

Let's see...can you guess who's up and who's down this week? You really just never know, do you?

This week I am down... 2 lbs. My total 11.8 lbs.

Mom was up.... .6 lbs. Mom's total 6.4 lbs.

As I told Mom earlier today when she called to give me her news. I think that we're doing pretty good at keeping our gains to minimal amounts. We were laughing because we've both had gains that were her number minus the decimal point. So, I'd say we have a lot to be proud of in that aspect. Did you know it was possible to gain that much in one, maybe two weeks? It is...we know from experience. Of course we couldn't have possibly been trying very hard to lose at that point in time, but it does happen! It's a good thing Dad doesn't read blogs, right Mom! Then your secret would be out.

(if anyone has any good, healthy ideas as far as recipes for lent, please share) I'm not a fan of fish, unless it is fried! That's not really an every Friday option for me these days. I can handle tilapia...tuna...even if it's a recipe that I can adjust a little here and there that'd be great. If you have any favorites to share...please do!

Rock Stars!

So, Gavin got this guitar for his birthday and none of us have a clue as to what to do with it! Thursday we got a call from a friend of ours...her son has been playing guitar since about 6th grade...now he's a Freshman. She said he wouldn't mind coming over and showing Gavin a couple things....

So Robert and his friend Chris came over and did exactly that...he couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. Imagine two teenagers taking the time to teach Gavin how to play a little. Priceless! He's been practicing a little here and there. He has talked a lot about his "jam session!" I was amazed at how well they did with him. It's obvious they are both great with kids.

Thanks a ton Robert and Chris!