Lose It Girl...Week 4 and a Recipe

Another week down....and 2 lbs down! I just knew with Easter and all the junk I consumed and not being able to exercise at the beginning of the week (because we were stuck in closets because of tornadoes...) that I was going to have a big gain. I stepped it up at the end of the week and worked out 4 times but I was still surprised that I lost 2 lbs.

Exercise: I did 1 Zumba class, 1 day of cardio and weights and 2 runs. I can't believe what I am about to type...but I actually like running. Anyone who knows me, go ahead and pick yourself off the ground! Yes, I just said that and no, I haven't lost my mind! I started out on my run last night and realized how fun it was to get out there by myself and just clear my head. I had so much "fun" that I ran again this morning. Now, I still huff and puff like crazy but I am actually beginning to like it.

I also have a recipe to share. I am on Weight Watchers and I am trying to tweak my recipes to make them lower points. We LOVE us some Mexican food so I wanted to post what we eat at least once every other week. Jason and the boys love it!

Chicken Fajitas:

2 or 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 bag of frozen 3 color peppers and onions (feel free to use fresh produce but as a full time working mom, this saves me some time by not having to cut everything up.)

reduced sodium taco seasoning

whole wheat tortilla wraps

fat-free refried beans

toppings: reduced fat cheese and sour cream, tomatoes, black beans...whatever you like

Cut your chicken into strips and throw them in a hot pan or wok. Toss those around and when they are cooked through, throw in the onions and peppers. Cook for 5 minutes and put in a little water and your taco seasoning. Cook until thickened and make your fajitas however you would like. 

They are SOOOO yum! I eat mine with a big side salad and spray Balsamic salad dressing. 

Hudson even agrees that they are good...

...make that finger-licking good.

*If you are on Weight Watchers, the whole dinner is about 10 points. Not too bad and VERY filling!

That is all for week 4. 6.8 lbs down on this challenge and 10.8 total. Next week, I hope to have a BIG announcement.

Easter-Part 2

(*I hate that this post is so late. We have had our computer unplugged with all the bad storms we have had and then last night when I was about to write this post our power went out. How do you like that. 3 days of storms and our power goes off AFTER the storms...I digress.)

This year, Easter was so fun. When the boys got up on Easter morning, we had to rush to the dining room to see what the Easter Bunny left them...

Hudson's basket.

And Jackson's basket

Jackson was super pumped about the new underwear that he got. (Seriously...that is what he wanted in his Easter basket!)

And Hudson got some super cute sunglasses. Don't they look like Ray Bans?

After eating M&Ms breakfast, we quickly got ready for church and managed to make it to Sunday School at 8:15 (which is a miracle in itself!) After church, we headed to eat lunch at my parents house. On the way there Jackson told us all about Easter and Jesus dying on the cross. 

The Easter story as told my Jackson Haynes:

"Mommy, Jesus' hands were bloody. Some men put nails in his hands. He died on the cross and then he was alive. And Mary was there. Did you know that? He died for me." (Music to my ears to hear my little boy tell me Bible stories.)

At my parent's, we took family pictures and ate lunch then it was on to the 2nd annual Haynes/ Whitworth/ Ware Easter egg hunt

Family Easter picture

My 2 cute boys (I love Hudson's smocked outfit with skinned knees.)

We take our Easter egg hunting pretty seriously. You see, there is money in those eggs. There may or may not have been some fighting. Don't worry, no one was hurt!

(Funny Jackson story: We went to a birthday party at the beginning of the month that had an egg hunt. We mentioned it to Jackson and he said "Is there going to be cash money in those eggs?" We had to tell him that not all egg hunts have money in them. I thought it was funny that he remembered last year and the money that he got. That boy loves him some money!)

My Dad helped Hudson find some eggs. (I couldn't help him, I had to find my own money. Ha!)

Jackson has a basket full of eggs!

When all the eggs had been found, we came in and counted all our "cash money"...

...and then the boys did a little swimming. It was the perfect day spent with our family and our church family!

Easter-Part 1

What a busy day we have had! We started out the day with a little guest...

Our elf, Max, came for a visit. With the economy being so poor, he now has a part-time job working for the Easter bunny. He came to us dressed up for Easter and he brought the boys a sweet little note.

Jackson was very surprised when he got up this morning.

While I went to Weight Watchers, the boys had powered doughnuts. (The only way I could have will power to not inhale those doughnuts was to leave the house...ha!)

Then we went to Lowe's to do a little shopping and to let Jackson build a birdhouse. I love taking advantage of all the free children's clinics out there. Jackson thinks they are the greatest thing in the whole wide world. 

This video cracks me up. It shows his "concentration face" (mouth wide open) and then at the end watch how he hammers those nails in. All I can say is that Jason is VERY brave for getting his hands anywhere near Jackson when he is hammering!

Jackson with his building buddy, Daddy!

So proud of his bird house!

Then tonight, we have been getting ready for tomorrow morning. (Is Sunday morning the most hectic part of the week to anyone else?) All 3 of my boys needed haircuts, so had to brush the cobwebs off my hair stuff.

The boys watching the Griz game sporting their new handsome haircuts. (Yes, I realize that Jackson is wearing Christmas PJs. He dressed himself for bed...ha!) Looking forward to tomorrow-ready to worship my Risen Savior with our church family.

Lose It Girl...Week 3

This week, I'm still truckin along. I lost 1.8 lbs. (4.8 lbs on this challenge and 9.8 lbs overall)  I have to say, I was a little bit let down by this amount of weight. I just felt "skinny". I exercised 5 times this week (1 night Zumba, 1 day on the eliptical and 3 days running.) I'm just going to stick with it. So there is my update for this week.
(*Sorry this is so short...I am getting ready for Easter tomorrow. Happy Easter friends.)

Best $2 Ever!

Today, I ran into the Dollar Tree to finish a job for a certain bunny that is going to be coming to our house this weekend (...if you catch my drift). As I was checking out, I decided to get 2 balloons since the boys have been so good lately. Little did I know the joy that would immediately fill their lives!

Jackson got a Spider-man balloon.

And Hudson got SpongeBob.

The squeals that were coming from my car were just too much. Hudson could barely contain himself. He kept pointing to his balloon and saying "BungBah" (which in Hudson's language translates to SpongeBob) and then laughing the funniest laugh I have ever heard.

When we got home, he decided to do a little jumping in the kitchen (-jumping for joy that their Mom got them the coolest surprise on the planet!). Both boys have been carrying their balloons since we got home. 

Attention Grandparents and Family that read this blog: If you are looking for something special to get them...apparently a balloon is the way to go!

Worn Out

Today has been SO fun. We spent the morning at Shelby Farms. We walked around the lake and then went to the new playground.

Hudson loved being able to run free.

And Jackson liked pretending to be Spider-man.

He thought he was really big when he climbed up to the tree house. (Then Shawn had to go rescue him cause he couldn't figure out how to get down.)

Hudson still running free.

The slide area of this park is so cool.

Shawn and I commented that we don't remember cool parks like this when we were growing up.

After slides, we went to the sand part of the park.

This is Hudson's favorite part. And this is where the pictures end. Hudson gets caked with wet sand (I mean it is EVERYWHERE...eyelashes, armpits, diaper area...) and we had to go to the bathroom and clean him up in the sink.

After the boys 4 HOUR NAP! Yea, they were worn out! Jackson and I colored Easter eggs. 

 I think he liked coloring the eggs, but I think he liked getting some alone time with Mommy the most.

I know this picture is blurry but I still love it.

Time for dinner, baths and early bedtimes. This Momma is super sleepy!

What I Am Loving Today

*I love Sunday morning SpongeBob.

*I love sweet brotherly love

*I love springtime grilling and yummy burgers!

*I love playing outside.

*I love how Hudson LOVES balls. He even learned to shoot a basketball tonight.

 *I love ending the night with a round of Superhero Chutes and Ladders. 

I am going to bed with my heart full. I love my family!

Lose It Girl...Week 2

Week 2 of this weight loss challenge went really well. Since I started the challenge last Thursday, I have had 2 weigh-ins (since I weigh in on Saturday mornings). Last Saturday, I lost 1.6 lbs and this week, I lost 1.4 lbs. That's 3 lbs (8 lbs. total since starting on March 12).

Exercise: Saturday and Sunday we walked ALL. DAY. LONG. at the zoo (and I might add pushed a heavy stroller loaded down with things-not an easy feat).  Tuesday and Thursday, I did an hour of Zumba. This week, I am planning on stepping up the work outs.

Eating: I did pretty good with eating. I am actually enjoying eating vegetables and trying new things. (Who thought I would like spaghetti squash and broccoli?)

I am 3 lbs. closer to my 8 week goal of 12 lbs!

More Jackson-isms

*Each night at dinner we do a little Bible time which consists of a verse and story out a little devotional book and then we say the blessing. Jackson's favorite blessings are the tried and true "God is great, God is good..." and one that says: "Our hands we fold, our heads we bow and for our food we thank God now." Well last night, that prayer turned into "I hold my hands, I bow my head. Thank you God for shaving my head. Amen." As soon as the word "shaving" came out of his mouth, Jason and I lost it.

*Last week on the way home from school, I wanted to see if Jackson knew any nursery rhymes. I stared out with Jack and Jill.
Mommy: Jackson, I want you to finish up my sentences. Jack and Jill went up the...
Jackson: Hill. (Thinking to myself "Nice. He must have already learned this.")
Mommy: To fetch a pail of...
Jackson: Dirt. ("Umm...not so much.")
Mommy: Jack fell down and broke...
Jackson: His head. ("gross.")
Mommy: And Jill came...
Jackson: Across the little bridge.

*This weekend when we were at the zoo, we went to the farm area. We were trying to teach Hudson what all the animals say. (On a side note, Hudson wants NOTHING to do with anything educational. He doesn't care to learn anything!!!) We went to the chickens and cows. Jackson was being so sweet to try to help his little brother. Well, then we got to the donkeys....
Mommy: "Hey Jackson, tell Hudson what that donkey says."
Jackson (using his best Eddie Murphy voice): "Donkey says "You need a tic tac or something cause your breath stinks."
Ok, that little boy watches too much Shrek!

Lets Go Play

One word to sum up our weekend...Gorgeous! High 80s= gotta get out of the house and go play. Friday when I picked the boys up from school we headed to the new Shelby Farms playground.

Awesome does not even begin to describe this park. They had a mini rope course, hammocks that were swings, tons of slides but my boys favorite part was the sand area that had a water table. We had fun and the boys were FILTHY which means they had fun too. (Note to self- Next time, bring a change of clothes and a towel for the boys and me)

Saturday, We decided to spend the morning at the zoo. I had Weight Watchers that morning (down a total of 6.6 lbs...what! what!) and Jason had to go to the eye Dr. so we decided to just spend a few hours outside before nap time.

The weather was perfect and maybe almost a smidge hot but I am not going to complain. We were able to break out the flip-flops and shorts.

We packed a picnic which Jackson loves

And we checked out the new bunny pen in the farm area.

No trip to the zoo is complete without a visit to the fountain. Today, Hudson got to play. He didn't get in the water but he loved being able to run free out of his stroller for a bit.

Sunday, we went back to the zoo with Shawn and Darris. After church, we came home and packed our lunches and out the door we went. 

Hudson loved riding up high on Daddy's shoulders.

Jason's sunglasses didn't stand a chance, Hudson grabbed them as soon as he could.

Jackson took a break with Shawn and Darris. He absolutely loves them

Before we left, it was fountain time. Hudson was so brave this time and hung with the big kids.

Jackson gave this weekend a big thumbs up!