Wednesday, May 30, 2012

So what gives?

I am nearing the end of week five of Matt being away for work.  I have been very lucky in that he has been home some of the weekends during this stint, so I shouldn't complain too loudly. 

But as usual, something has to give in that time. 

We have been busy.  I walk to school every morning with Hunter and also walk down to pick him up at lunch time.  Cavan goes to playgroup twice a week.  We are swimming, digging for buried treasures, taking more walks, tending to our yard, baking, cooking healthy meals, visiting with friends, going to the library, going to the little Kettle cafe, keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, reading books, and more.  I am a planner and have each day organized well in advance.  But even with everything organized there just isn't enough time in the day for everything.  So what has to give when I am doing this on my own?

Sadly, my craft time!  In the last five weeks all I have made are two fleece hoodies for a friend and wee fleece poncho.  I am missing my sewing room a lot! 

But our days have been filled with so much fun that it hasn't been that hard to put my crafting on hiatus.  Good thing I made a lot of stuff throughout the winter that is selling down at our local visitor's centre. 

After this week I am pretty sure that Matt will be working just in Faro for the next year.  Hurray!  I am already excited about the craft time I will have over the next year. 

But until then, I will stick with my outside, quality time with my boys instead of hiding in my lair.  Thankfully spring is here in full force for us to enjoy out there!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

New Deck and Sign

The back deck is now finished and is more amazing that I ever could have imagined.  It adds so much to our house and that view from the backyard is surely worth a million dollars. 

We also bought a nifty little sign to go by the front door.  I had the idea for it and this shop on Etsy created it for us.  It makes me laugh every time I look at it.

Now just a bit more yard work that will take place over the next couple of summers and we will be set!

We are definitely content in our home and community.  Even the few crazies in town cannot detract from our happiness in living here!

View to one side of the deck.

And our gorgeous mountain view!

Completed back deck!

Our new house sign!

Front stairs are painted now too!

Monday, May 28, 2012

How Many Steps?

I ordered a FitBit and it arrived last week.  It is a pedometer, but on crack.  Not only does it tell you how many steps you have taken in a day, it tells you how many floors you have climbed, distance walked, and calories burned.

Today is my third day wearing it, and so far I am very impressed with my activity level!  Take today- it is only 2pm and I have already logged nearly 9000 steps (that is 6km), climbed 24 floors, and burned just over 1000 calories.  I walk Hunter to and from school ever day and it looks like that sure helps bump up my numbers.

I had that 10000 steps number in my head as a goal and today I came across this:
Classification of pedometer-determined physical activity in healthy adults:
1) Under 5000 steps/day may be used as a "sedentary lifestyle index"
2) 5,000-7,499 steps/day is typical of daily activity excluding sports/exercise and might be considered "low active."
3) 7,500-9,999 likely includes some exercise or walking (and/or a job that requires more walking) and might be considered "somewhat active."
4) 10,000 steps/day indicates the point that should be used to classify individuals as "active".
5) Individuals who take more than 12,500 steps/day are likely to be classified as "highly active". 


I am probably going to hit the "highly active" status for today since I still have another walk and a squash game for this afternoon.

The idea of me being in the highly active category seems unreal.  Here I was thinking I was still quite sedentary and worried my activity level was too low.  This little gadget sure did boost my confidence in myself today!

**Update**
7:20pm and I am at nearly 17000 steps.  That is 11.5km and I have climbed 37 floors.  Wahooo!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

When Pirates Visit

What fun is having kids if you can't screw with their heads once in a while.

I used to tell Hunter I plugged him in at night with a cord to his belly button so he would be re-charged for the next day.  I have told both kids that I bought them at Walmart.  Repeatedly I tell Cavan I am going to feed him to the wolves.  I am sure therapy later in life will fix them right up.

But the stunt I pulled between last night and today was fabulous.  I will even use that overused word, epic, to describe it.

Pirates visited our house last night.  Well actually, it was just me but I was singing, "Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of milk" to myself as I crept out into the backyard.  A few weeks ago I had a friend pick me up 300 plastic gold coins from the DollarStore in Whitehorse.  I had been saving them for nice weather and it finally arrived this week.  So last night around 10pm I went outside to our large sandbox/swing area and spent about 20 minutes burying my treasures all around.  A hole here.  A hole there.  One coin here.  Five coins there.  Awesome.

This afternoon the boys and I went outside to enjoy the sun.  I didn't say a thing, I just sat back and watched the boys do what boys do best.  Oh wait.  What boys do best is fight.  Okay, what boys do second best- dig in sand.  It only took about 10 minutes for the first coin to be unearthed and then all hell broke loose.  Digging and coin stealing went on for over two straight hours. 

They have found maybe 100 coins so far.  I think they will be digging for treasure for the next three months.  And you know what that means to a mama?  It means lots of (semi) peaceful time outside with a good book.  Am I smart, or what?

Arrrrr Mateys!  Stay away from me buried treasures!  And yes, this is what 10pm looks like in the Yukon.  Sunny!

Dig, dig, dig!

Over 300 coins are buried in here!

Just playing....

First coin!!

DIG BEFORE THE PIRATES COME BACK!

He will make a great pirate.  He was stealing all his coins from Hunter.

Mom, I am rich!!

They decided they needed water to assist in the coin excavation efforts.

This kid was on a mission!
I think every parent needs to do this activity.  It is cheap, lasts for hours, and the look on their faces when they realize pirates were in their yard is priceless.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Apology Note from a Four Year Old

Hunter has been pushing his boundaries at school the same as he has been at home.  All normal kid stuff.  But yesterday he especially caused his teachers some grief.  So on the walk home we decided that an apology note would be a nice thing to do. 

When we got home he told me what he wanted the note to say and I wrote it out in dots so he could write over it.  So here is what he is taking to school today:

Apology Notes
Drawings on the back
And the reason for the apology?  Well the pictures on the back of the notes help...  The first picture shows Hunter stacking blocks.  A much better option than throwing them around the room!  And the second drawing shows Hunter with scissors in one hand and a piece of paper in the other demonstrating the proper way to use scissors.  Definitely a better option than threatening to cut a classmates hair with scissors!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Seven Month Update

At seven months post surgery I can feel myself coming out of my sixth month funk.  I am keen to log my food again, the sun is out and making me feel cheerful, and I am making healthy food choices. 

All of the books I am reading about life after weight loss all talk about hitting a wall around that six month mark.  So I guess I am completely normal!  And speaking of normal, the mental health worker I have been seeing has deemed me normal enough not to see anymore.  Hmmmm....  good thing I didn't tell her all about my evil plans to take over the world.  I had been seeing her to help work through the reasons why I overeat.  I know that I am definitely not cured and will struggle with this for the rest of my life.  It is too bad I don't have access to an eating disorder councilor to talk too.

At seven months I can now eat about one cup of food at a sitting depending on the density.  I eat around 1000 calories a day, sometimes a bit more if I have been exercising a lot.  My gym membership is done for the summer, but I am still playing squash and doing a lot of walking.  My biggest problem is still grazing.  I am working hard to keep my eating to set times, but it is still a struggle.

I have now lost a total of 87lbs.  That is the equivalent of Hunter, Cavan and two and a half blocks of lard.  Seeing it really puts it into perspective for me:

Hunter
Cavan- he sure isn't far behind his brother!
I have lost these boys plus those two boxes of lard.  Feeling pretty darn proud today!
 By the way, my boys think the scale is a device to measure how much their feet grow!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

What was he thinking?

My kids do odd things. 

Today when I went to pick Hunter up from school his teacher told me about the adventures she had with him this morning.  He was chosen to be Star of the Day in his class at school.  Each day a kid in the class has a turn and they get to wear a little plastic star medal around their neck.  Hunter was distracted with the medal today and would not stop playing with it.  He was warned a few times that it would be taken away.... so then he decided to shove it down inside the front of his pants!   ahahahhahahah

Such an odd child.  Must get it from his dad.

He had to retrieve the medal and it was tossed in the garbage.  I doubt anyone wanted to touch it after it had been hanging out with his willy.

I asked him on our walk home from school why he did it.  He had no real reason at all!

I have 13 more years of him being in school.  I wonder how many more tales I will be able to write down to embarrass the crap out of him later in life? 

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happiness is....

wearing pasta around your neck! 

Thank you little boys for making this mama nearly forget about the rock and toothpaste troubles by looking adorable as you gave me my new jewelry.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Crane and Sheep and Community

This weekend, the Town of Faro will be hosting our ninth annual Crane and Sheep Festival and I sure hope you are coming!  The weekend is full of fantastic events that you won't want to miss.  It is the perfect opportunity for visitors to see how the community of Faro really shines.

What makes our community shine?  Volunteers!  I find that around here, the people who bitch and complain the most about town and people are the self-centered ones that never even bother to attend events, much less volunteer to help at them.  Luckily, Faro is filled with amazing volunteers always ready to help out.  A small army of volunteers will be working hard all weekend to make sure your Faro experience is a great one!

So what is the schedule for the weekend?  Check it out:
Friday May 11th, 2012
5:00 – 9:00pm – Chili Dinner
Let’s kick off the 9th Annual Crane & Sheep Festival with a chili dinner at the Interpretive Centre. All are welcome! Chili Dinner provided by FARA. Musical performance by DENA ZAGI from Ross River.
Location: Campbell Region Interpretive Centre (CRIC)

6:00 - 9:00pm - Faro Kettle Café Open
Come out and support the Faro Youth’s fourth year of serving up the Best Coffee in Town!
Location: Recreation Centre Concession Area

8:00 - 10:00pm - Movie Night
Join us in the gym for a film to get ready for the nature-filled weekend ahead. “From the makers of “Planet Earth” comes “Life—Birds” - narrated by Richard Attenborough.”
For children, we have supervised craft activities in the Youth Lounge.
Location: Recreation Centre

Saturday May 12th, 2012

World Migratory Bird Day

8:00 - 10:00am - Breakfast
Enjoy a fundraising breakfast organized by Girls Night Out, the 2012 Grads, and the Kettle Cafe before a busy day of nature-watching.
Location: Recreation Centre Concession Area

8:00am - 3:00pm - Faro Kettle Café and Concession
The hottest spot in town to enjoy fresh brewed coffee and baked goods before heading out for wildlife viewing. GNO are running a concession throughout the day so you can refuel before heading out again.
Location: Recreation Centre Concession Area

9:30 - 11:30am - Walk to the Falls—Bruce Bennett
Learn about plants on this guided hike to Van Gorder Falls.
Caution: Steep Sections.
Location: CRIC

10:30 - 11:00am – Motion at the Mineral Lick – Matt Clarke
Learn about the motion-sensor cameras that have been gathering information at the mineral lick for over two years.
Location: CRIC

11:00 - 11:30am – Sheep Work – Ryan Drummond
An overview of the health of our Fannin Sheep, and the work that biologists have been conducting behind Faro.
Location: CRIC

11:30 - 2:30 - Local Art Demonstrations/Workshops
11:30 - Lucy Moreira - Moose-poop paper-making demo
12:30 - Peter Kazda - woodcarving workshop ($10/person)
Location - Campbell Region Interpretive Centre (CRIC)

Release of a Rehabilitated Crane
In 2011, a crane landed at Lynx Track Farm and didn’t follow the others. After overwintering at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, the crane is scheduled to be released during the Crane & Sheep Festival – location and time to be determined by YWP personnel. (See posters around town)

TOURS & TALKS Crane & Sheep Viewing
View cranes flying overhead and spot Faro’s unique Fannin sheep on the mountain slopes. Wildlife experts will be available to answer all your questions.
Location: Mt. Mye Sheep Centre (Blind Creek Road)

TOURS to the Mineral lick 12:00, 1:30
CRANE TALKS at the Cabin between 11:00am - 4:00pm

Plein air painting demonstration from 2:00-4:30pm by Jackie Irvine

SHUTTLE SERVICE to Mt. Mye Sheep Centre
Meet at the Recreation Centre/DVG School Parking Lot. Departure and Return times to be posted at CRIC and Recreation Centre

5:00 – 8:00pm - Wild Meat BBQ & Potluck
Enjoy tasty wild game skewers and burgers—a Festival favourite—and listen to the bluegrass tunes of ONE WAY TRACK! Wild game donated by local outfitters. Vegetarian fare available for the non-carnivores among us. Bring a side or salad if you’re able!
Children’s activities during the BBQ led by the Grade 9 SASE students from Porter Creek
Location: CRIC (Deck)

7:00pm - Desserts & Coffee
Have a sweet treat before heading in to hear the keynote presentation. Coffee available from the Kettle Café, desserts provided by the Faro Bible Chapel
Location: Recreation Centre Concession Area

8:00 - 9:30pm - Keynote Presentation – Dave Mossop
Join Dave Mossop for a presentation looking at the relationship between the gyrfalcon and the ptarmigan—the top and bottom of the tundra food chain—and the troubling trends arising in the changing Northern environment.
Location: Recreation Centre Gymnasium

8:00 - 9:30pm - Children’s Environmental Activities
Environmental games and activities for children who might not be ready for the keynote presentation. Supervision will be present, and the games will be led by a coordinator from Yukon Environment.
Location: Recreation Centre Youth Lounge

Sunday May 13th, 2012
Happy Mother’s Day!

8:00am - 12:00pm - Faro Kettle Café
Location: Recreation Centre Concession Area

9:00 - 11:00am - Mother’s Day Brunch at the Studio Hotel
Location: Faro Studio Hotel

10:00 – 11:00am – Birding Walk at the Lagoon
Join Mary Whitley of the Yukon Birding Club for her popular birding walk at the Lagoons.
Location: Gather at the Recreation Centre

10:00am - 1:00pm - Seeing the Sloughs - Cost $5/person
Hike with local naturalist guide Yasmine Djabri to observe wildlife. Hike is approximately two hours. Fresh Coffee and Snacks will be served at Lynx Track Farm to all participants.
Registration at Mt. Mye Sheep Centre: 9:30 - 10:00am
Please wear appropriate foot and outer wear.

1:30 - 4:00pm - Walk About Faro for Breast Cancer
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region Mother’s Day Walk for Mom. All proceeds will be donated to CBCF. Pledge forms available at Town office, CRIC, Recreation Centre or download it online.
Location: Register and Start at the CRIC - 3Km.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Poopy Relations

Oh the stuff that my boys say....

Cavan: Mom look in the toilet! Here is my big poop and my little poop. I think that is the mommy poop and the baby poop. I think that is you and me!

Best comment after I posted this on facebook came from my friend down the street who wrote: I think that's his way of apologizing and saying, "Mom, I realize that sometimes I'm a little sh*t." :)

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Calvin.... errr I mean Cavan!


Thank you Letia for sending me this comic strip!  Nothing could have come closer to the truth for describing my afternoon yesterday.

Hunter and Cavan were in the backyard playing and I went inside to make an important phone call.  While on the phone I hear this really odd bang. And then again.  I though the boys might be kicking our tidy tank that we use to fill up the truck, but as I peeked over the side of the deck they weren't there.

I ran through the house and burst out onto the front stairs just in time to see Cavan pick up and throw a rather large rock at the side of our truck!  He was reaching for another rock as I was yelling for him to stop at the top of my lungs and hanging up on the poor woman I was talking to.  I dashed out there in my sock feet and asked him what the heck he was doing!  The kid just looked up at me confused as to why this was an issue.

I dragged him into the house and shut him in his room.  I was too shocked to do much of anything!

So last week was Hunter and the toothpaste incident and this week Cavan and rocks.  I am thinking the grey hairs will be starting any time now!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Deck nearly complete!

Our HUGE deck is nearly complete.  Check out the pictures:


Just waiting on railings!



My house is looking great!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Still so far to go.

I still have a long ways to go to hit my weight loss goal of weighing 170lbs.  At times, it feels very overwhelming. 

I have come a long ways, but I look at pictures of myself and still see how much further I have to go.  But those pictures of myself sure do look a lot better than they did a year ago.  Will I ever be happy with pictures of my body?

I am 235lbs today.  That is a huge accomplishment, but still so overweight.  Will I really be under 200lbs one day?  I haven't been under 200lbs since I was probably 14 or 15 years old.  Being 200lbs at 14 years old is pretty hellish.

Riding Betty the Quad around town yesterday, I noticed how much easier it was.  Last fall I was nearly 85lbs heavier and I didn't realize how little agility I had.

I feel guilty at times that I weigh less than some of my friends.  I want the same success for them.  I don't even know why I feel guilty about this.

I am playing squash a lot lately and am making shots I know I wouldn't have been able to do a year ago. But I want to hit all of those shots I am missing.  I am wanting to be even faster on my feet. 

I know I just have to be patient.  It will all coming with time and a hell of a lot of work. 

People are complimenting me all the time.  But in all reality, I am still very obese.  I don't know how I feel about that.  It is all still a struggle.  A struggle that I will probably deal with my entire life and that is exhausting to think about.

Well that is enough moping. 

I needed to vent, but now it is time to pull up my big girl panties and move on. 

I need to celebrate my accomplishments thus far.  Nearly 85lbs gone and 65 more to go!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Silence = Trouble

Oh Hunter.  One day when you are bigger I will get even.  Maybe I will toothpaste the handlebars of your dirt bike when you are 15.  Or fill your shoe with hand lotion.  I will think of a great revenge. 

While sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a visit from a friend, her son comes running up and says in French something about Hunter doing something bad.  We head down the hallway and find him on my bed squirting toothpaste into a mug.  A mug he had filled with jewelry, keys and coins.... and hand lotion too.

So what possesses a little boy to do this?  Curiosity?  Mad that his dad is working away right now?  A love of toothpaste?  A desire to clean my jewelry? 

Somehow I didn't lose my mind.  I put him in his room for about 45 minutes while my friend and I laughed until we cried.  I cleaned up the mess without too much fuss.  Later when I asked him what his punishment should be for this, he said, "How about I just give you a hug, mom?"  So I went with it and just decided to get even later in life.  Although, today I made him brush his teeth with my toothpaste and I laughed as I watched him gag on it!