Today the kids and I (even Alta helped glue) made our annual Christmas countdown chain. I think this is probably the 4th year we've made it. Most of our shopping is done. I had pictures made of the kids for the grandparents, and Sam's present has been bought. I still need a few stocking stuffers for the kids and the Santa gifts.
31 days to go!
The first few are Lady of the Snow, which is a wonderful place to go during Christmas, it has camel and donkey rides, petting zoo, crafts, puppet show, legos and little people to play with, Christmas tree exhibit, and of course, the lights.
The next few after will be Christmas at the nursing home with Sam's family, then Christmas eve at my mom's, and finally Christmas morning at our house. Enjoy!
Earlier this month was out towns annual Christmas parade. Since the parade started at 7 and Sam doesn't get of until 7:30 I ventured out with all 3, which wasn't very far, maybe 60 feet up the road. We enjoyed the parade and the jolly fat man in the horse and carriage at the end. Afterwards we waited for Sam while we played eye spy with the Christmas village. Then we walked home the long way as a family. It was nice and something I love doing every year with the kids.
When something big, like a birthday or major holiday, comes along,.we like to make a countdown chain. This time our chain is counting down to Christmas. Landon, Parker and I worked ever so hard to make our chain. We made it 35 days until Christmas. Every morning one of the boys gets to break a link on the end. When we get to the last one, it's Christmas. How exciting! We try to make a big deal by announcing, "30 more days till Christmas!!" And then we cheer. It helps the boys see how close Christmas is, and each day it gets that much closer.
So, here is a picture of our chain, its hanging in the doorway of the boys' room.
*note our ugliest decoration on their door as well. I am not even sure where we procured this awful thing, but anyway, there it is for your enjoyment as well.
The other day while looking for some non-maternity jeans, I came across my truck jeans. What's so special about them? Well for one, I haven't fit into them since I was 18, before kids. So I decided it is my goal to wear those jeans again someday. And today starts my walk toward someday. I probably couldn't fit them to my knees right now.
So I did 20 minutes of aerobics, and then 20 sit ups on the exercise ball to get started. I had Special K for breakfast and have already drank 16 oz of water. Let's get this weight loss started! My first goal is to lose 30 pounds by Christmas, which gives me roughly 8 weeks, so 3.75 pounds a week. My second is 80 pounds by my 25th birthday in April. 23 weeks, so 3.5 pounds a week or a little less after Christmas, if I make my first goal.
