Butterfly Lifecycle

Continuing with our butterfly study and JoAnna's zoology badge, we created a model of a butterfly lifecycle. We used cuscus and noodles. The littles enjoyed it so much. 

Fun Projects

We have been talking about zoology. We talked about the monarch butterfly, the butterfly life cycle and painted a butterfly. Tomorrow we will make the butterfly life cycle with pasta!  This is also part of the requirements for the AHG zoology badge!! 

We also did a sugar painting with chalk. The directions were to mix warm water with sugar. The dip a piece of chalk in the mixture and draw a picture. Once dry the chalk would shimmer from the sugar. FAIL!  But the did have fun. 

Co-op

We had another great day at our homeschool co-op. JoAnna made cinnamon rolls. That she of course did not eat but she had fun making. 

Jace mostly played with the balloons, chalk and parachute. He didn't care much for the group game. 

Jacob played octaball which he enjoyed greatly since 4 of his cousins are in the group. 

Birthday weekend !!

It was s good birthday weekend. It started off with cake and gifts from my boss on Friday. 

A card from my boss. Fits perfectly since we have had so much trouble with our dogs digging out of the fence. 

Then my family gave me a sweet card and some shopping money. 

Then Saturday I had lunch with sweet friends, went to Sam's, then took the kids to the book store. 

I celebrated with my siblings and parents last weekend and with the in laws the weekend before. 

I did not reach my weight loss goal before my birthday, but I made progress. I did get off a few days but am back on track today. 

We also celebrated my husband's grandfather'so 90th birthday yesterday. Here is my little one dressed up at the photo booth...  

JoAnna made her own circle shirt

JoAnna liked the circle shirt I made her so I helped her make one by herself. She traced drew the cutting line, cut the fabric and sewed the sides.  She asked me to sew in a pocket. It turned out so cute. She actually like it better inside out. Whatever works. Lol! 

Not too bad...

Here is dinner... 

... Hamburger patty off the George Foreman, mashed potatoes and baked broccoli.  Bad thing is it is 9:30 at night!!! 

I got off work at 6:05 and had AHG at 6:20. Meeting was over about 7:30 and we got home about 8:00!  Needless to say we had a late dinner- but at least I didn't cave into the fast food drive thru lane!! 

I am still struggling with my daily fat percentage. 

My carbs are looking good, protein not high enough, but the fat is just outrageous!!  One thing that's contributing is the peanut butter I add to my protein shakes. It helps keep the hunger away but it sure piles on the fat. Today I also had bacon for breakfast, because it was so kindly prepared and ready when I got out of bed. Then the burger for dinner was loaded with fat.  

I'll work on it. I've got chicken and fish thawing for the rest of the week, hopefully that'll get me on the right track. 

CAMP FORKS

The kids and I made camp forks last night. I had bought a wooden dowel for $1.19 and we each took turns sawing it into 5 inch pieces. Then we drilled a hole in one end and sanded the rough edges. Then we took an uncoated hanger and cut it into pieces long enough to roast a hot dog or marshmallow. Then we got glued it into the hole. 

They turned out great and the kids loved using the saw, drill, sand block and hot glue gun. 

They still have to paint their handles but we cannot wait to test them out on a campfire. 

I also made s solar hot dog cooker out of a Pringles can. We set it outside for two hours while we finished up school work. It worked!  I still prefer a campfire hot dog but it did work. 

First Place!!!

Jacob's baseball team won first place this past weekend in their first tournament of the season!!  We were all very excited. They got a baseball signed by the governor and a first place ring! 

Jacob did great pitching this weekend, he made some great catches in outfield, and had several good hits. 

The team looked fantastic considering this was their first tournament with three new players this year. 

We are very blessed to have this group of boys, coaches and parents. 

These two were worn out from cheering on big brother all weekend. They fell asleep on the way home from the last game and slept for at least another hour once we got home. 

Ugh!! So FRUSTRating!!

So almost thru the week and I have GAINED two pounds!!! UGH!!  I haven't changed anything. Still low carbs, low fat and trying to eat lean protein. So last night I indulged in some thin crust pizza and cheese sticks. I know I shouldn't have but after not losing weight I was discourage. 

But today I am back at it. Here is my lunch- lots of green!!

Fire station and air national guard base

Continuing with our busy week, we visited the fire station.  We had a great turn out and our children learned so much. Thanks to Mrs. Lisa and the firemen that took time out of their day to talk with our children. 

Then today we went to the air national guard base. We went this pay spring so my oldest didn't participate but this was JoAnna's first time. This as our main homeschool group and again we had a great turnout. We were able to tour a cargo plane and we one take off. 

I let JoAnna take my phone into the cockpit to take a few pictures. This one turned out good, this is a window in the cockpit area which overlooks the interior of the plane. 

What a fun filled week!!! 

Busy days

We have such a busy week. Today was our first Co-op and it was highly anticipated. We had many new things going this year and we had such a great turnout. Things went so well!!  Jacob is taking woodworking and outdoor sports- four of his cousins are in both of his classes so he is estatic!!  JoAnna is taking cooking and Jace is doing outdoor sports twice. I think they all had fun. We even had to buy Jacob a new hammer and screwdriver for the class. He was a little embarrassed with the tools I sent him with today. One child even offered to let Jacob borrow his hammer if his broke.  It wasn't a bad hammer, had a wooden handle and the head was a little rust tented but not that bad. Oh well. 

We have two more field trips this week, speech and a meeting with the County attendance officer to fill out our attendance cards. Busy busy week!

But the favorite part of my day... 

Jacob reading his Bible!!

New way of snacking

As my family snacks on Twizzlers and Cheese Its, I have to find SOMETHING heathy to snack on.  Something low carb, low fat and possibly high in protein. Hmmmm ....

.... steamed broccoli??!!!  I love those Ziplock steamer bags!!  I cut up my broccoli, seasoned it a bit and in three minutes.... a healthy snack!  

I do need to tweek the seasoning a bit. All in all not bad and quick and easy. Something I could bag up and take to work for a quick snack as well. 

Frustrating weight loss week

I'm not surprised. It happens everytime I try to lose weight. I'll have a great week of weight loss and the next week I may not lose anything or I may even gain a few pounds!!!  It's so frustrating!!! To stay on course and not see results!! 

I did have two chocolate chip cookies last night.  We are taking some to the firemen today since we are going on a field trip to the fire station. One batch of cookies looked a little over cooked so I HAD to try them to see if I could include them or not. Then of course I had to have a perfectly undercooked gooey one as well. I had plenty of calories left for my day so I wasn't concerned about the calories. But oh my the fat and carbs!!  It'll be fine. That's not the reason I gained two pounds this week. But what is the reason??!!  It's so frustrating!!!  

But I WILL lose the weight. I WILL NOT stop at a bump in the road!!

WEIGH IN DAY!!

Who am I kidding???? I weigh EVERY day!! YES I know I shouldn't but I can't help myself. I like to see the scale go down and it helps to keep me motivated- usually. 

Mao after 7 days of low carbs, trying to lower my fat intake and increase my protein.... I have lost .... 8 POUNDS!!! 

I think that is the most I have ever lost in one week. I know it's the first week and there is a lot of water weight lost but who cares. It's still a loss. 

Hopefully this week I'll find time to get some walking in on the treadmill- it's September but still so very hot here. Plus I have a very busy week ahead. 

Here's looking forward to another good week. Hoping I can find some low calorie, low carb, high protein, low fat meals this week!!

Day SEVEN!!

Well today is day seven on my journey to losing weight. I have stuck to the plan and can tell a difference. Tomorrow will be my official "weigh in" day. Hopefully the scale will be nice to me-although I can already tell a difference in my pants!!  

I'm still trying to lower my fat intake each day. I've done a lot of research and it seems I have it set at a good percentage. It just seems very difficult to find food items that are low in carbs and low in fat, high in protein and low in fat, and still seem appealing. 

Almost!!

Here is my nutritional stats for today.  This is about the closest I have come to hitting them. 

Staying healthy

Still sticking with the healthy eating and drinking plenty of water/Splenda tea. 

I am still trying to balance my fat, protein and carbs it seems everything low in carbs is high in fat. 

I've lost a few pounds and it's only been four days!!

Happy Birthday

Today is my sweet baby boy's birthday, he is six years old today!!!  I decorated the house last night and his daddy brought him donuts for breakfast. He saidnitbwas the best birthday ever!!  He was so very excited. He didn't want me to get him a present, he wants me to take him shopping so he can pick out his own present.  So we will do that tonight after work. Then we will go to my sister's house and have cupcakes for him. 

We didn't do school work today because I had to have dental work (UGH!!) but we went to lunch at his favorite place- McAlisters!!  We met my sister in law and the cousins there, he was so excited. 

He is such a loving, affectionate child. He tells me at least 30 times a day that I am beautiful, he also tells me I am his best friend. He gives me hugs and kisses all day long. He is such a momma's boy and I wouldn't have it any  other way!!

It was also my grandmother'so birthday today and I was able to visit her gravesite today. She came to live with us when I was in second grade and she passed away after I graduated college, so we were very close. 

UPDATE:

Here are a few pictures from the day. Cookie cake at daycare and cupcakes with CC, Roo and Ms. Amy!! 

And cookie cake with daycare. 

 For his birthday he wanted me to take him shopping so he could pick out his present. Lucky for me and him Walmart had several toys are clearance. He ended up with four toys and three hot wheels. He was super excited !!