My New Clothes Dryer

So about two weeks ago, my dryer decided to go out in flames.  Literally.  It caught on fire and set the smoke detector off and stunk up the house.  Fortunately I was standing right nearby and shut it off and unplugged it before it did any damage.  Our friend Aaron looked at it a few days later and declared it dead.  So, Molly and Nick graciously agreed to give us the extra dryer that they will have when they close on their new house, 3 1/2 weeks after my dryer broke.  So for now, I have this lovely drying rack, which is currently in front of the fire since it is 9 degrees outside.  And my parents and Molly and Megan have also dried a few loads for me.  So we are making do for now, but I will be so happy to have a dryer again soon!

Still Frozen

Not the movie this time.  Us.  We woke up one day this week to 9 degree weather.  In Georgia.  After we dropped Sierra off at school, Alexa continued to wear her hat while she did her school.  Here Alexa is doing her math test, and Jordanna is making a letter "O" book.

They also made underwater pictures using Goldfish.  Both Jordanna and Alexa studied fish in science this week, and this was a cute, fun, and easy craft.

When Sierra got home, she brought me her hat because she wanted to wear a hat like her sisters.

Sweet, snuggly warm sisters.

More Frozen

Apparently this is what happens when I take three little girls to Kroger with me.  Because everyone needs Collector's Edition Frozen cereal, right?

Sew Fun

Jordanna loves wearing her nightgowns that were sewn by Grammy!

Trim Healthy Mama

Before I tell you about Trim Healthy Mama, rewind to summer 2013 when I was rather frustrated that I hadn't lost the weight I had gained from pregnancy with Sierra (who was 1.5 at the time, but remember that she was quite possibly the grumpiest baby ever).  I joined the gym and worked out regularly and lost exactly 0 pounds.  Or maybe 1.  When school started back, I canceled my gym membership because life was just too busy to have time for it.  And it wasn't really working anyway.

Fast forward to March 2014. I had actually gained several pounds since the previous summer.  In fact, I weighed what I weighed at 40 weeks pregnant with Caleb.  I had heard about Trim Healthy Mama, and in desperation one day, I bought the e-book so that I could read it immediately.  In fact, I read it while drinking a large Coke from Chickfila.  The last one I would drink for about 8 weeks.  It's a 600 page book, but I read fast, and I finished it in a matter of days.  The book really resonated with me, probably because it is written by two busy, homeschooling moms.  They clearly explain how a mom's dietary needs are different from her children's and how to make meals for the whole family (rather than two separate meals) that will meet everyone's needs.  I went to the grocery store the night I first got the book and bought a few ingredients, and I jumped in with both feet, not really sure it would work, but really hoping it would.  I lost 7 pounds the first week, which was just the encouragement that I needed to keep going.  And, I felt better than I had in a long time.  I continued to plug along, thrilled that I was losing weight, while eating 5-6 times a day.  And I could still have bacon, chocolate, and alcohol.  This was an eating plan (not just a diet) that was sustainable for the long term.

Fast forward to today.  I have lost about 40 pounds since March, going from a size Large and 12/14 to a size Medium and 6/8 (BTW, Dave has also lost about 20 pounds by making several small changes in his diet even though he does not follow the plan exactly).  I have way more energy and am less tired.  My knees don't creak when I walk up stairs. My headaches have lessened.  And like I said before, I just feel better, healthier, and more energetic.  I'm not exactly at my goal weight, but I never expected to wear a size 6 again in my life, so even if I don't lose any more weight, I'm content with where I am.  I still eat on plan the vast majority of the time and I plan to indefinitely.  I know exactly what I need to do to maintain my weight loss, and I also appreciate all the other health benefits from eating on plan.  I've also introduced this plan to four friends who are also following it with me.  We are able to share recipes and encourage one another along the way.

It would be easy to look at the things, I can't (or don't) eat or the things I have given up: white flour, white rice, regular pasta, sugar, Coke, Chickfila sandwiches, fries, regular bread, typical snacky food (chips, pretzels, crackers, etc.).  But I prefer to look at the things I can eat: bacon and eggs, oatmeal, muffins, chocolate, burgers (bunless), a glass of wine, chicken fingers (breaded in almond flour), broccoli cheese soup, pizza (coconut flour crust), sandwiches, salads, fruits, vegetables, sprouted bread, and more.  There is an on plan alternative for almost everything.  And I prefer to look at what I have gained: a trim figure and health and strength with which to serve the Lord as I serve my family and my church and my students.

Before - November 2012

After - November 2014

One Trim Healthy Dinner - Homemade broccoli cheese soup with homemade bread topped with aged gouda (in the interest of full disclosure this is called a crossover and is better eaten when at goal weight not when still trying to lose weight)

Books, Books, Books

All of us love getting new books for Christmas!  I always buy each of the kids a book or two, and Grammy and Uncle Phillip bought each of them books as well.   We are enjoying having new things to read.

 Some of Sierra's new books.  I have read each of these approximately 1000 times each, and Dave has, too.

Even Jordanna reads to Sierra (because she has the book memorized).

Some of Caleb's new books.  He especially likes the one full of facts to annoy your teacher.

Alexa got a few new readers in addition to her Frozen books.

Jordanna got these and a Pinkalicious Christmas book.

Dave got his annual bathroom reader.  I usually read this as well.

And he got two of the Maze Runner series and bought the rest with his Christmas money.

I didn't get any books this year, but I still did a lot of reading over break.  I think I finished four books.

After Christmas Presents

My mom did some after Christmas shopping, and my parents dropped by to bring the kids two more presents.  They got Sierra some squishy sand (not pictured) and the big kids this Discovery Kids Construction Fort set.  You can use the pieces to build a fort or castle or igloo then cover it with blankets to play in.

Or if you are a nine year old boy, you can build a weapon out of the pieces.

Thanks, Grammy and Gramps!

Christmas 2014 is Brought to You by the Letter "F"...

...for Frozen.

All three of the girls had a Frozen Christmas this year.  Here are some of the presents they received.

2 Elsas, 2 Olafs, Anna, and Sven.  Four of them talk.

 Sierra's new bedspread.

 Elsa crown from my grandparents.  We have an Anna one around here somewhere, too.

 Sierra's Frozen tin from Grammy, and Alexa's chapstick.

 Another tin from Grammy.  And there's one more somewhere.

 Alexa's shirt (Jordanna has a matching one) that sings "Let it Go", one of two pairs of socks, and Sierra's shirt.

 Jordanna's personalized pillowcase from Aunt Molly and Uncle Nick.

 Alexa's bedspread (Jordanna has a matching one.)

 Little Elsa figurine.  We have Anna, too.  And a color-your-own purse from my aunt.

 Some Frozen books.

 The sing-a-long DVD (this was actually my present).

 And finally Alexa's snack/drink cup.  Jordanna didn't get one, so we went to Walgreens this morning where she spent her $10 from my grandma on her very own Frozen snack/drink cup.

And that, my friends, is a Frozen Christmas.

December Photo Project Day #25

New scarf from Dave and the kids

December Photo Project Day #24

We brought the presents downstairs this afternoon.  Here's hoping we can manage to keep Sierra out of them until tomorrow morning.  She loves presents.

December Photo Project Day #22

I went to take a shower this morning and came back to find a pile of pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals in front of the fireplace.  I'm not exactly sure what the girls were doing, but they looked like they were having a good time.

December Photo Project Day #15

Fun afternoon treat thanks to a gift card from one of Dave's students (although it would have been more fun if it was a peppermint mocha, but I stayed on plan with a coffee with cream)

December Photo Project Day #14

Getting my baby fix in the church nursery this morning

December Photo Project Day #13

First round of presents wrapped and ready to be opened tomorrow

December Photo Project Day #11

This little snowman sits on the fireplace reminding me of how few days are left and how much is left to do.  We don't have our tree up yet.  I haven't finished shopping, and the only presents that have been wrapped are the ones that have already been given to Sierra's teachers and therapists.  Oh well, it will all come together somehow.

December Photo Project Day #6

Sleepover with the silly girl tonight

December Photo Project Day #4

New rug for the front door.  The kids helped me pick it out at Kohls today, which explains the lime green.  But it was only $4.99, which is good!

December Photo Project Day #2

The cute, little advent tree that someone (I can't for the life of me remember who) gave us last year after Christmas.

There is a drawer for each day and an ornament inside.

The kids were SO excited to get this out today and put the first two ornaments on.

December Photo Project

Who knows if I will actually manage it, but tomorrow begins the December Photo Project here?  So stay tuned for 25 days of pictures.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Dave getting some Sierra snuggles.

Sierra wearing a pillowcase dress made by Grammy.

Opening Mother's Day presents.

The girls with our pastor.