In the throws of potty training

  So I began potty training Bree now that I'm home most days and really have run out of excuses.
  I HATE potty training. On the other hand, I'm not sure I know anyone who has ever said, "Oh, I love it! Sign me up!"

    Parents dread it because of the mess. Small ones don't even realize what is coming until one day you walk up to your 2-3 year old and let them know that they now have to pay attention, with their 5 min attention span, to the stuff leaking from their body. Yes, it is gross. So let's try our best to put it in a place that will make the least amount of nastiness. What do you say!?

   Bree has done a fairly good job. Most day we are 75% making it with one or two accidents. That percentage isn't bad for 3 weeks working on it. When she does have an accident I fight the need to say all of the horrible mean things that come to my mind about how disgusting it is to clean poop off the floor, or complaining about having to give her yet another shower. I realize it isn't her fault. Sometimes it's mine. I've put on clothes she can't get off, or bought her underwear that are too small around her chubby little thighs and she can't pull them down fast enough. We are working through it.  Everyone gets it eventually right???

Injury Downer

During our trip with Brent's family, I pulled my right groin. I wasn't doing anything crazy, just walking into the house. Nothing that would create such ridiculous pain!

It made me so frustrated! 

I have had three serious injuries in six months right around my menstrual cycle. I don't know if it is hormonal, but it totally throws off my "get in shape" mojo REALLY BAD. Nothing like an injury to make you want to eat chocolate and feel sorry for yourself. 

Of course the only way to heal a groin is to stay off of it. So...I haven't lost any weight these last two weeks. I have been on the "I hate my body" band wagon and new the only way to get off was to try to start doing something about it. Dieting alone doesn't work for me. I NEED, no CRAVE exercise. I realize that sounds completely ridiculous, but it's true. 

When I workout I feel better, which makes me want to eat better, and makes me want to be better.

Today I took a step back in the right direction. My friend Bekka came over and we did water aerobics in my swimming pool. It was so fun!  Her boys swam in the shallow end with Bree, while we exercised to a CD she had purchased in the deep end. I FEEL so much better today than I did yesterday. I'm back to counting my points and keep track. I realize that my weight isn't going to fall off, but that it will be a struggle to keep moving in the right direction until I reach my goal.  Hopefully as I continue on this path I can look back at this post and realize that it's a marathon not a sprint, to just keep swimming, and anything else that puts me back on the path to conquering my weight issues. 

Riddle Reunion 2012

Riddle Family Reunion!

In 2011 we decided that the Robert and LaNell Riddle Family would have a reunion once a year. Last year we went up to Lake Tahoe for some fun, but we wanted to try something new for 2012. 

LaNell found this great cabin large enough to sleep all of us up in Twain Harte above Sonora. Our family and Robert, LaNell, and Lexi headed up Friday afternoon. We had dinner, the kids played outside, and then we watched We Bought A Zoo together. It was really a nice evening with the kids. 

Saturday morning we woke up to the smell of Brent cooking pancakes. Right after breakfast Allen and Traci arrived with Addie and Emily and the kids raced outside to play.  The cabin had advertised a playground, but there was much to be wanted. It's amazing though how the kids still had fun and found something to do. 

Ben shows Addie the monkey bar.

Aubree thinks they are funny!

Uncle Allen "helps" Ben out

Cutie Cousins :)

Allen shows them how it's done!

Traci and Brent making a plan of action for later that day.

CUTE!

 While waiting for Aunt Rachel to arrive we played some games as a family.

Musical Chairs

Not sure what this one is...Conga line?

Hokey Pokey
Go Robert! Go Robert! GO!

We made lunch and Aunt Rachel, Nolan, Claire, and Evelyn arrived!  Robert had brought up his kayaks and so we headed up to Pine Crest Lake for some fun.

Grandpa and Ben take a ride.

Lexi takes a turn with Brent.

 Hannah with Addie

Bree takes a turn

My adorable niece Claire

Evelyn staying cool

We had a blast at the lake and then headed home for more playing and dinner. Craig arrived right as we were eating, having had to work that day. We had about an hour all together when Allen and Traci had to head home. The kids watched a movie as the adults played cards. 

Sunday we got up and had breakfast together, cleaned up, and headed out. For us it was too short. We are looking forward to future family reunions!