exercise

It's official. I'm a gym addict. At first I thought I liked to go because of the cute guys on the weights. But he hasn't been there in 2 weeks and I actually look forward to going even more. 

I'm self motivated!!

How did that happen?

At first, it was all treadmill, treadmill, treadmill with an occasional bike thrown in there. Then I found the rower. I love the rower. Feeling my back, shoulders and stomach get worked encouraged me to move out onto the weight floor. Because of the nasty crunching sounds in my knees (doctor says 50 straight leg lifts per day to strengthen my quads - no weights), I only work out my arms, shoulders and back. I love that I can feel my arms getting stronger.


The weight loss is slow, but I'm building a strong heart and a healthy habit. I'm instilling in my kids that the exercise is for my sanity and health. I want them to grow up enjoying exercise. 

On June 4th I participated in Relay for Life. It was a last minute decision from a last minute invite by my friend. Her friend had just finished chemo for Breast Cancer. I have always wanted to so something and here was my opportunity. I joined her team, arrived at noon and walked for the next 18 hours. Instead of taking turns, we all walked together. Talking and enjoying the rare day of Seattle sunshine. We averaged 1 mile per hour (not sure how that happened). My hip was displaced, I got a blister on my heel and under my 2nd toe. I walked for 4 hours in just flip flops. But I knew my whining was nothing compared to all the cancer survivors that were out there walking. 

Making it through the night with the luminaries lit around the track. Finding the luminary for my Mom and watching the sunrise turned a corner for exercise for me. It was time to get serious and make some progress. I started the Couch to 5K program last week. I'm doing it on the elliptical to strengthen my quads and not get discouraged. I'll finish the 9 weeks and then try it on the treadmill. Today was Week 1, Day 3. Even though I only had 45 minutes to get to the gym, exercise and get home, I was determined to get it done. I'm so glad I did because I feel FANTASTIC. And really, isn't that the point of exercise?

Our camp name

My baby turns 11

For her annual birthday dinner (our kids get to pick where they want to eat), Miss M chose Sichuanese in Redmond. How many 11 year old choose spicy food? She loves to eat the pea vine and drink hot tea. I love how my kids are willing to try most foods. We enjoyed a wonderful day with our eldest. Hard to believe that she has turned 11 already.

She spent the majority of her birthday at school. But, she had a wonderful day. Marc took her to breakfast where they shared some doughnuts at Frost. I brought her cookies for her teacher to pass out at lunch. We took her to Sichuanese Cuisine for dinner. We all came home for her to open her presents (books, of course, some Bayala figurines, more Harumika dolls, a littlest pet and 2 Harry Potter Lego sets). We finished the night with some cake and ice cream.

I think our kids are a little spoiled when it comes to birthdays. The have a friend party, their actual birthday with just us and a family birthday. Because I have 2 kids in June, I am so partied out by the end!! 

pea vine

Hot Chicken (Sichuan style)

Sliced Fish Delight (aka fuzzy fish)

Miss M telling me how much she loves the hot chicken

Pineapple Chiffon cake (her choice of dessert)

Basketball Park

Enjoying the Washington sun and emerging from my winter cocoon. Thanks for blogging the winter away. I've enjoyed reading about your adventures while planning my own.

It's always great to find a new park. Even if it's old. I was so happy to see the sun (despite the wind chill making it almost unbearable). I'm still trying to figure out when Spring will arrive here in the Pacific Northwest. It's the end of May, we've had about 19 days of sunshine this year and we have yet to break the 70 degree mark. I think I've given it a good try, but 8 years later - this weather blows!!

Your favorite camera

Do you have a favorite camera? One that you would never leave home without? Something that takes fabulous pictures and is small?

I've killed yet another camera. I have been a Canon user for years. Starting with film cameras. The first one died because the flash died. I was told that I could add an external flash (and even more weight). So, I bought a new one. The next one lasted me a few years until I was ready to go digital.

I've had 2 Canon digital SLR's in the last 5 years. I bought a new Canon Rebel and added some fabulous lenses. It worked wonderfully until summer 2007. While on a roadtrip, my camera gave me an Error 99 warning. I took it into a local camera store and was told that it was cost as much to fix it as to buy a new one. I decided to do some online research and buy a new body (since I already had all the lenses). My Canon Rebel xTi was wonderful (rest your photo driven soul). It recently died in Fall 2010. Again, Error 99. I again did some research and have tried all the explanations to fix this. I've read that it's a lens error. I've used the eraser technique to rub the connection pins and lens. Now I'm torn.

Do I take it in for service or just buy another new one? And, if I'm buying a new one - what new camera should I buy. I've loved my Canon. I love that I can take clear pictures. That I have a great zoom (I don't leave home without my 28-200 lens attached). I bought a semi fisheye that takes great photos (my kids with the whole St Louis arch). 

But, I hate the weight and size. I am constantly bonking a kid in the head with my camera. It's heavy and very touristy. I'm not a professional photographer or plan to be. I just love to take pictures of my kids, vacation, sports, holidays. 

Here's where I hope you can help: suggest to me your favorite camera and why.

I'm looking for a camera with:
great zoom
fast shutter speeds (multiple frames per second)
light weight

I'm considering (it's all over the place. It's really zoom and weight that I'm looking for). I'm brand loyal. I just want a great camera that can take great photos and capture them in motion (as well as multiple shots). So tell me, what is your favorite camera?

Nikon CoolPix100

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Sony NEX 3 or NEX5 (comes with lenses)

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Olympus SP-800UZ

Chester Cheetah

In November, our elementary school hosted a food drive for the local food bank. Our school secretary has a son that works for Frito-Lay. They sponsored our food drive and donated snacks, drinks and a visit with Chester the Cheetah for the class that brought in the most donated foods.

I created these cute little turkeys to keep track of the amount of food donated by each class:

Each day I walked around the school with my little two and collected cans and boxes of food.  I have a class list that I keep track how many I count and then I would color in the turkey feathers. The classes loved to come out at last recess and see how full their turkeys were. Here's the problem, the classes responded to the prize of meeting Chester the Cheetah. This is great for the food bank and community, terrible for me. I was out there for an hour, coloring in each feather in the freezing cold! Each feather was equal to 8 cans. After awhile (2 days), I gave up and just posted the totals on a piece of paper across each turkey.


Our school was extremely generous. Our 1/2 day Kindergarten brought in 500 items! Overall, over 3000 items were collected. I was very proud of every student in our school. We collected items for 4 days and the Frito-Lay people came to collect all the items on Monday.


We broke the prizes into 3 grade levels, K-2, 3-4 and 5-6. Grades K-2 and 3-4 won a visit from Chester the Cheetah. 5-6 weren't very interested in spending time with Chester, so I provided the winning class with ice cream sandwiches.


Chester the Cheetah arrived on a Friday and went to our school's gym (less obtrusive for the school). My hope was that he could go to each room and say "Hi", but the costume is hot and the kids were aggressive. The Kindergarten class was great. We had very excited kids (including my little two that I got to bring with) and one little girl who cried because "he isn't real. It's a costume." The third graders (my sons class) were a little more aggressive and were hugging and hitting. We finally had to put food and drinks in their hands so that they would keep their hands to themselves and we were able to get class photos and individual photos for the kids (and our yearbook).


It was a fun afternoon. Here's a photo of Miss R and Mr N with Chester the Cheetah.

There are no words

For Lori - rrsahm your loss is felt around the world

My love and strength will envelope you when you need it — Heather from Seattle, WA, United States

Community

Imagine your life changing in the blink of an eye. Imagine your whole world falling apart without any warning.

We all may have this experience at some point (I myself found myself in this situation when my Mom felt bad, I took her to the hospital and she never came home - this is another story), but I'm writing to send my concerns, hopes, prayers to a fellow blogger.

I've never met Lori from Random Rambling of a SAHM but she is in my thoughts. Her husband is in the hospital, barely holding on. She is being vigilant, sitting by his side and we bloggers are sending ALL our positive thoughts towards her. I hope she is comforted from us strangers holding our hands and our families, projecting our love to her family and holding her hands through this life changing moment. 

You are in my thoughts.