Flag Football ~ Fall 2013

We love the YMCA. When we were looking at new towns to live in I also did a double check to make sure they had a nice family friendly YMCA. While living in Parma we were apart of the North Royalton YMCA. We loved that YMCA & all the family friendly sports. While members we participated in swimming, Tball, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer & Flag Football. It was great because more of the sports were included in our family membership.

Here are a few pictures from our Flag Football season. (Let's just say that it was a very cold fall & practices were on Saturday mornings & our boys do not like mornings. Luckily most weekends both Bryant & Myles were willing to participate. But, there were many Saturday's where it was like pulling teeth to get Myles to play). 

It was a fun season but I think we had a little more fun with the indoor sports.

Exercising & Healthy Eating Update ~ Week 3

I can't believe it's been another week. I really should have done this as monthly updates b/c some weeks as not as great as other weeks. 

The good news is that I am still diet pepsi/coke free since October 1st. I haven't really noticed any personal changes because of this change. I think it's because I really only would drink it a few times a week unless it was an extra stressful day. 

BUT…. dropping coke/pepsi has dropped the urge to want to eat out.

AND….dropping coke/pepsi has helped everyone in our house to drink more water. Everyone is drinking water from water bottles instead of other beverages.

Anyways…I will continue on with this challenge in hopes to see more healthy results.

As for my weekly weigh in: 

Loss is only 0.4 lbs.

Total loss is 6.2 lbs.

I wonder is the 0.4 lbs is a "real" loss b/c it's so tiny.

BUT….at the end of the month my gym trainer will be doing her measurements again & we will see the official results of all this healthy eating & exercising.

Hockey ~ 2013/2014

Last year I found out that Parma Ohio has the greatest Learn to Skate/Hockey program for beginners. I was so excited to sign Bryant up for a Canadian sport. He too was pretty excited to participate in a Canadian sport. 

The program took place every weekend from October to March. 

On the 1st day all the beginners were given their hockey gear, hockey bags & skates. 

On Bryant's 1st day we got him all dressed up & headed onto the ice. 

Luckily the hockey team had lots of older experienced helpers to help the beginners try to stay standing on the ice. It was so fun watching all these tiny hockey players coast, slide, push themselves around the ice using chairs. It was also a lot of fun having my Dad in town for Bryant's 1st practice. My Dad showed us how to put on all the hockey gear & make sure his skates were extra tight.

And once my dad left town I became the honorary skate laces tightener probably b/c I'm the Canadian mom & know how to tighten skates :)

Here are a few pictures of my cute little hockey player.

Grandpa Roy helping our hockey player get ready for his debut on the ice.

 

Starting out on the ice with the chairs. 

Bryant was one of the youngest on his team & the cutest 

 

Grandpa & Grandma & the whole family at Bryant's 1st practice.

We loved watching Bryant 1st season of hockey.

Thanks Grandpa Roy for showing us the ropes & helping us out with our 1st practice.

As the months progressed Bryant ditched the chair & was given his 1st hockey stick. 

He also started moving a little bit faster across the ice.

He are some more pictures from last December 2013 when Bryant got his 1st hockey stick. He is still the cutest little hockey player.

The 1st Day he got his hockey stick. He was so excited.

His brother's were excited too so everyone started to play hockey.

We decided that hockey was an outdoor stick once Hudson started using the stick as a weapon. 

A few more pictures with Bryant on the ice. 

And a few videos too. 

The hockey season allowed us to instill a few more Canadian Traditions into our little men. Bryant loved hockey because "hockey is Canada". 

These cute little Canadian Olympic outfits were sent from their Aunt Lilly & Uncle Rob.They were so comfy & cute. 

The boys also had fun cheering on the Canadian Hockey Teams especially when it involved the Canadians beating the American's. 

 

I really do thing I have the cutest little red head hockey player.

Christmas Story Run December 2013

Last December 2013 we got to participate in Cleveland's 1st Christmas Story Run.

It was a 5K Run held in the beginning of December 2013 

The Run took place in downtown Cleveland & ended at the Christmas Story House.

The Christmas Story Movie was originally filmed in Cleveland. Clevelander's love this movie. I used to think it was possibly the worst repeated Christmas movie ever to be played at Christmas time. However, now that I have lived in Cleveland for 7 years I have come to appreciate the movie & knew we had to run this run. 

Last year we ran the run with Dave's Dad, Dave's brother & a few other friends.

Here are a few pictures from our run.

I am hoping that we are able to incorporate more fun family runs into our year.

Exercising & Eating Healthy Update ~ Week 2

It's time for another update on my healthy eating & exercising challenge.

Technically it's week 3. However Week 2 we had technical difficulties (our laptop had a computer virus) & I was unable to blog. 

And since last week was a little crazy I am going to call this week 2. 

Week 2 Update: 2.1 lbs lost

Total lbs lost: 5.8 lbs lost

Over the past few weeks I have been exercising regularly & getting to the gym. I have been really trying to stick to recording everything I eat but night times still go out the window but we are trying to fix that too. 

October 1st starts this week so new month means challenging myself even more. 

My trainer suggested I cut back on the pepsi/coke. Ugh!!!

I love diet pepsi/coke!

It's my little caffeine addiction & stress reliever after a long day.

I love my diet pepsi/coke with extra ice. 

I know it's the worst thing to drink but I love it. 

I justify it b/c I don't drink juice, coffee, tea, alcohol or really any other beverages.

 BUT... they say diet pepsi/coke makes us fat.

So for October I am going to try cut it out for the whole month.

 I know I can do it. 

I still love it but I want results more so this is my challenge for October. 

For November I may just drink it on special occasions :)

But for now I am cutting it out for October. 

Here's hoping we have a diet pepsi/coke month. 

Alana

Apple Picking Fall 2013

We love Apple picking. This past year I got a groupon to visit an Apple Orchard. 

We had a lot of fun but it was a very cold day so it was a very quick apple picking trip.

Here are a few pictures of our Apple picking adventure from Fall 2013.

I am determined to catch up on blogging soon. I hope.

The great thing about Apple Picking with Daddy is that he is able to help us reach the apples on the top of the trees. Some of the best apples are only meant to be picked by people over 6 feet tall.

Myles & Daddy picking apples in the tree.

Bryant & Daddy picking apples in the tree.

Hudson picking apples:

We love the fall season.

Exercising & Healthy Eating Accountability ~ Week 1

It's time to add a little extra accountability to my healthy eating/exercising lifestyle.

There are no more excuses b/c summer is over & Dave has gone back to work. 

The boys & I are officially in routine mode with school, the gym & extra activities.

I have been using all my Gym Apps, Workout Apps, Healthy Eating Apps & Pacts. If there is an App for Working Out & Eating Healthy I/m pretty sure it's on my phone & I am using it.

I also started working out with a personal trainer at the gym a week ago.

You would think I would have this all under control.

BUT I needed some more accountability.

B/C I love cheating & Dave loves cheating. We are a bad combo when it comes to treats & sweets. We both LOVE treats. 

A few years ago a friend of mine posted her weekly weight losses on her blog & she was/is a major motivator b/c she did an amazing job. I loved reading her weekly updates.

Now it's my turn. I am going to add even more accountability to my life by blogging.

I figured since my trainer did all the "lovely" measurement info a week ago I would use last week as a baseline & weight myself  weekly on Tuesday mornings. 

Week One: 3.7 lbs lost

Many more weeks to go.

Alana