A Healthy Birthday!

Hi Everyone!

Welp, the big 4- 0 has hit!

To be honest, it was a pretty great day.

I am not bothered at all, and actually look forward to my 40's.

I think part of the reason is that I am healthier now then I have been in YEARS. I mean, as in almost a decade. That's pretty great. Looking better, feeling good, dropping sizes.... those are all going in the right direction. Additionally I find myself way less stressed (except being perhaps more stressed then usual about eating) in general, less tense, less grumpy or bothered by things. More patient, more calm, more energized. All those lesses and mores due to working out. I love it! I missed it! My "one word" has become my everyday - MOVE.

Sorry, getting sappy up there.

So - apart from being a little lonely (because my friends and family in CT spoil me rotten on a regular basis on my birthday and I really miss you all a lot) I had a wonderful day. My morning started with a step class at the gym, then Ethan and I got ready for preschool, then while he was in school I went to the mall to get my fingernails done. First time for me having a manicure in years and years. I also tried on clothes just for fun. And, it was fun too! Hard to walk away without buying a thing or two... but I managed. I thought I should have a souvenir of my big day, so I took the below picture at a mall kiosk. I wanted one of those with four in a row so I could make silly faces, but I couldn't find a machine that did that.The thing is earlier that same day Ethan needed pictures of everyone in his family and guess who I could barely find a picture of??? You got it. Good ole Mommy. So, once I get a camera again (hopefully soon) my goal is to get pictures with me in them too. Even if I do as Kristin usually does and have one of the children be taking it.

So... after my mall fun I picked up Ethan and we headed home and these had been delivered. Beautiful! (see I am still getting spoiled by my wonderful friends)

And I had a card in the mail from someone far away... and it was very ffffunny (she'll get that).A little later the same day I got a delivery of these - and they also came with a subscription to Health magazine! What a very healthy gift!!! Sorry by the way for the state of the bouquet. I took a picture with my cell phone when it was whole and uneaten, but couldn't get it off there. So... Jeff used his work camera for me and got these pictures (all three) but meanwhile the fruit was just so tempting...... {pineapple is my favorite}Then I went to soccer, in the rain - had to stay because of the rain.... Jeff got stuck behind an accident on the highway and so was very late - and from there my whole night got VERY crazed. I had to get my parents to take the boys (with me at the soccer fields) fly through McD with them (for them only, don't worry) and drop them at Nana's. Then rush home, change and make it to the gym by 7:30 for my 1.5 hour workout with the team and trainer. When I got home to change this was in my garage........

Pretty funny huh?!

And there was a book with it too.

So, that was my day of surprises. No cake, no fancy dinner - but two bootie killing workouts (pull ups - uh!) and lots of spoiling. I felt very healthy, not deprived at all, and loved.

Thank you to everyone. Thank you for the calls, the emails, even the happy thoughts.

I hope you have a fantastic week! :)

OUCH!

Okay, I hurt at the moment.
Rather a lot.
Especially my knee.
That Jessica - little but mighty!
So, I've been working on my new blog.
The one to follow the contest.
Here's the link.

Try to remember it's a work in progress... and also it's a kind of emotional as well as physical journey. Oh and by all means COMMENT people!

Oh and to the commenter who noticed my ability to smile at the camera while hurling down a log flume... thank you! I am pretty skilled that way aren't I?! [lol!]

Oh and to Kimmy our trainer on staff for the Croppy blog - Kim my knee is killing me! Any ideas? It seems I finally get it better only to have it go back downhill again. Today started with my calfs being really tight and sore and then my knee had to get into the action. I'm living on a lot of motrin which I'd like to back off of.... That said - there have been a couple of times now while working out I get to that turning point of the "runners high". I then go totally mental and waaaaaaaay overdo what I should do probably. It's hard to know when to push through and when to listen to pain. Advice??? {actually anyone please feel free to weigh in on this topic, you don't have to be Kim to do so... any advice is welcome!!!}

One Last Hurrah

Well, summer is (FIN-A-Lee!) over. This weekend we decided to go to Michigan Adventure, something we've been meaning to do for awhile.

We had a FANTASTIC time. I am sooooo glad we went. What a great way to end twelve weeks of summer fun. It was a smallish theme park, think Lake Compounce if you live in CT. Just big enough to comfortably do in one day. Rides for everyone. Max was tall enough to get on anything, and even Ethan crossed the 42" marker and could ride a lot. The park was clean, relatively uncrowded, and user friendly. What more could ya ask for?!

Sadly my camera is still caputz. This is the ONE picture we have from our adventure. But we made memories and that's important too. Along with the ride rides there was also a water park with a lazy river (my personal favorite and ethan's too), a huge wave pool, and numerous slides of different heights. Also there was a family style "rapids" ride where you sit in a round tube like boat (with shoes on... think BIG) and Ethan and I got SOAKED. But it was all good, we had our bathing suits and flip flops on by then.

Favorites were.... me - the flume, ethan - roller coaster, max - HUGE roller coaster, abbie - tubes that lead to the lazy river, jeff - the giant splash down boats (ethan couldn't get onto that one).

A happy ending to a great summer.

Good luck to all on their first day of school!!!!! :)