6/52

So I (meaning Britt) didn't get a pic of Makade and me until our marshmallow roast with Brittany on Monday the 15th. It will be for this coming Friday so I have time to get it from Britt's camera, so until then.... a 'monkey armed technique' picture of Kellan and me. A bit blury, no touch up, no make-up, just us sitting at the computer desk with a camera close by. (Which is usually how our life is.) *Man I'm getting gutsy throwing pics on the web with no make-up on!*

I'm adding another 'monkey armed' pic of Corban and me.... just because.

A short lived sports career.

5/52

Today Cambrey (sis-in-law) was over to pic up her son. She commented how far behind I was on my 52 week project so while I was reading a story to Kellan, she grabbed the camera to "help" me out. Obviously I shouldn't have been in front of a window, and something seems to be wrong with the settings on my camera because everything seems so grainy. I tried to work with it, and this is what we got.

Oh, did you notice I didn't cheat and post one pic as 5/52 and the other as 6/52? I may be late, but I still have my integrity! ...Plus, I've GOT to get a picture with my camera shy son, Makade. I've officially made this my project for tomorrow.

4/52

This was taken in the time frame of 4/52. I was getting ready to go out for a big to-do regarding my Father-in-law's retirement. I felt great, and my kids thought I looked great. My sister, Shaunna took the picture for me so I could email my other sister pics.

This is as good as it's getting for this week as I now have 3 weeks to post. Bleh!

A thing of the past...

As Brandon and I signed up for a new gym membership in July, we vowed that we would end our fast-food sprees in order to not only increase our health, but have a means in which to pay for the membership. We told the kids our plan, and they were not all that supportive. After I would finish my work-out, I'd pick up the kids from the daycare and they'd immediately start in on, "I'm starving! What's for lunch?" After running and working your muscles for over an hour, cooking lunch is the last thing I was interested in doing, so I'd give in and take them to one of the adored chains that can get your food to you within 5 minutes of deciding what you want to eat.

Obviously, our plan wasn't working. In fact, you know there's a problem when your three year old can spout off what he wants to the tee. We've even joked around about having him order his own meal in the drive through. "I want chicken, and fren-fries, and wrootbeer to drink!"

We needed a new plan, one that the kids would cooperate, and we didn't feel like it was such a struggle to keep up. I came up with the perfect solution! Turn it into a game!

On August 2nd, we started our game with the same rules as the quiet game, but with fast-food instead. First one to eat fast-food is out; whoever lasts a month gets a $20 bill, and winner gets a brand new pair of shoes, their choice(Tarryn has her heart set on some new Heeleys, Brandon has an Adida fettish, and I'd love some new runners). What is our definition of fast food? Anything with a drive-through window (minus sandwich chains), or anything that can be served to you in less than 5 minutes (IE, Panda Express, Cafe Rio, etc.)

Tarryn, age 6

Like most adventures, this hasn't been always easy. Brandon had a three week trip away from home! Do you know how hard it is to find food in an airport that applies to our rules? Running errands with the kids was difficult as well because I'd have to plan ahead and pack a lunch. But we've had some fun teasing the kids telling Grandma to take them to McDonald's on their outing, or saying, "If your that hungry, I can just take you to Wendy's" to which the kids reply, "NO WAY! I'm not eating that stuff!"

Makade, age 4

What has been the most amazing part of watching the kids, is their opinion of fast-food and how it's changed (Brandon's and mine as well). Makade was doing a school project involving cutting out magazine pictures and making a collage of things that he likes. I mindlessly cut out a picture of the golden arches with the logo, "I'm lovin' it." beneath, and he said, "That's fast food. I'm not putting that on there!" Tarryn found a picture of french fries and cut it out, "I DON'T EAT FAST FOOD!" was the reply from Makade.

Corban went from saying, "Mom, I want chicken, and fren-fries, and wrootbeer to drink" every time we were in the car, to, "Mom, I'm hungry, lets go home and eat." Music to my ears!

Our entire family is still in the running for this race. 41 days.....and counting! We've all admitted that we don't even miss the stuff and we all feel a lot better without it. I'm so glad we've made fast food a thing of the past.

Idioms Taken Literally

Waking up and starting the day (especially a school day) often ends up in a whirlwind of sharp words flying from every one's mouth, and little arguments break out about almost any little thing such as "he's not sharing", or "don't tell me what to do!"

This morning it was like we were in a completely different household. Makade gets Kellan out of bed for me, Corban shares with Kellan, Makade shares with Corban, Tarryn isn't being moody about what she's wearing, and the list goes on.

Like me, Tarryn seemed to have noticed the kindness floating in the air and stated, "Wow! We all must've woke up on the right side of the bed today!"

Makade corrects her by saying, "No. It's just that nobody rolled off of their bed today."

*giggle*

Yes Makade, not falling off my bed is a good reason to have a good day.

Gotta love the mind of a seven year old.

Late, late, late.

I know I'm super late on 4/52 and sorta late on 5/52. I swear I will work on this tomorrow! I wish I had some great excuse for reasoning and justifying why I'm late but even then, it would be just that. An excuse. It's coming soon, I promise!