Well we are nearing the end of four weeks in the operation. Do I fit in my pants yet? I have been asked that question. The answer is: "yes and no". What does that mean? just what it says bucko! I do fit better in my pants. But they are not swimming on me as I have hoped they would by this point. This has been a battle and test of wills and yet, for some strange reason, I am still finding that my belly is lapping over my belt....but not as much as before. That is a moral victory I suppose. Here's the big thing though: today I played tennis for four hours. This is not an exaggeration. I really played Tennis all morning! We went to Chik-Fil-a for lunch and I went into the bathroom and placed my head under their automatic faucet. Then I walked out with my dripping head and some lady who looked an awful lot like Kate from jon and kate plus 8, looked at me strange. I think it was because I was this big oafy sweaty guy with a beet red face sitting at the next table and I was dripping wet. I did it. Four hours of tennis? Four weeks ago, this was not possible. I probably would have dropped in sheer fatigue and you bet I am tired right now, but it just felt good to know that I could do it...I could hang in there and make it!
so operation FBIMP has been somewhat of a success as far as shrinking by belly so I'll fit back into my pants, but I have more stamina now. I also think my posture is better. And my pecs are awesome right now!!!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Emily turns 5!!
Emily's Fifth birthday!!
Last weekend we had Emily's fifth birthday party...it was awesome!! It was a warrior princess theme...She LOVES anything to do with dressing up (just check out other posts from her blankie dresses!!) and she also LOVES karate, and this ninja warrior show we all watch where they do obstacles to become the next ninja warrior. So, we had the bright idea of creating an obstacle course in our 'backyard' (the hart hall courtyard) and having each kid go through it. Then Ry wrote a story for the kids to interact through...here is the story with photos from the kids doing each activity...enjoy!
Ryan reading the story to the kids (story begins below this photo)
Franklin is the most curious dragon you would ever meet and this has caused its fair share of problems. He always wants to know what’s out there. He always wants to find buried treasure. If you were to tell Franklin you saw a red tree, he would want to see the tree to see how red it is. If you told him your juice was sweet like honey, he would want to taste your juice to see if it really did…taste like Honey. Yes Franklin wanted to see places, do things and he always had questions…He was indeed a very curious dragon.
One day Franklin’s mother told him he needed to stay home while she went to the blue berry meadow to find them berries for their pie she was going to make. Franklin said “Yes mommy” but as soon as she left he pulled out an old map that his friend Bartholomew the dragon gave him (bartholomew is a dragon from another story adventure Ryan wrote for the kids, "The adventures of Ellie Mae and Daley aka emily and dave (will's middle name) ellie mae and daley is a play on their names). On this map was the directions to the secret hideout of yockopo the pirate, and everyone knows that yockopo was famous for finding the lost candy caverns…. Franklin wanted to see if he could find this lost Yockopo the pirate and find the buried treasure. Franklin gathered a tshirt, his pillow, a bottle of water and put them in his white backpack. He put his backpack on and set off on his journey, he left a note for his mom it said: “mom, I went to find Yockopo the famous pirate and to see if he’ll tell me where his famous buried treasure is… Franklin was a little ways from the house when he discovered he forgot the map but he didn’t mind because he remembered it very well.
When Franklin’s mother came home she found the map that Franklin forgot and now you are here and she needs your help to find her poor son and bring him home. Will you help her????
Yea!!!!! (the kids all screamed!)
the map leads over the ocean and we need to get on some boats to follow franklin. Here is the note Franklin left for his mom:
here is the map ry made to show the kids where there adventure would take them:
Here is the adventure:Now, they need to take the boat through the stormy seas to the bubble forest, then go through the murkey swap which will take them to the pirate yochopo's hideout (aka the bounce house)
we had AWESOME parent involvment...thank you dads and moms (and mel!) for rockin' the sheets to create a stormy sea!
Sweet Haley and my nieces using their swords ($1 at the dollar tree! yeah for 40 swords and gifts for all so they truly could be warrior princes and princesses!)
The bubble forest...(awesome photography provided by Charity Glaeser!!)
Slay those bubbles!!
Ryan reading the story to the kids on what to do next)
Emily beginning the murky swamp obstacle
Sophia climbing over the swamp to the next challenge (we used benches from our home and climbing rope, sheets and play sponge squares to make our course)
Here is a view of the course...stay on the squares or you'll get all murky muddy from the swamp, go under the tunnel, over the swamp, turn and go under the tunnel again...
Lucy climbing under the tunnel to then go around and climb onto of it to get to the climbing rope which leads them to the pirate's secret hideout...luc, you are super concentrating on your mission..way to go warrior!
my niece Alicia
using the rope to guide them through the swamp (we rolled up old picnic blankets to use as a balance beam in the swap)
Yeah! They made it to the pirate's secret hideout! Now, you need to dance to show you are trustworthy to be in his hideout...
Ah...our son...dancing to the pirate's favorite song 'jungle boogie!'
Sigh...it was a lot of work, but Emily loved every moment of it, and isn't that worth it??! They never knew that the obstacle course only cost $40 in swords and we could even have done without the bounce house (which, btw...the company is AWESOME! use them!!) We ended the time with cake and presents...phew...what a day! THANK YOU parents, friends, family, Ryan, Charity, Mel...we could NOT have done this day without your help
Emily Blowing out her candles with all her friends surrounding her
me and my five year old...my lu lu lamb is no longer my little lamb...i need a new nickname for her, she'll kill me for calling her that in public one day!
before the guests arrived, emmy and will testing out the bounce house
Thursday, June 11, 2009
set back...
Hey all!!
So...aly here...there is a set back to my "FBIMP"...i hurt my back doing situps...my tummy is so out of shape that i hurt my back. I am still getting up and walking and stretching in the morning and hopefully when Monday rolls around, i can do arms and lunges...sigh...the body is getting old folks and it is high time to take care of it...i'm soooo sore!!! BUT i woke up every morning at 6:15 to meet my girl charity at the gym at 6:30...i've woken up to be there...now we just need to care for my back...
sarah-sweet comment/post, thanks for the encouragement and i'm sure i'll be contacting you at some points for tips and further pep talks!!
on another note...emily's fifth birthday party is this weekend...can't wait! it's a princess warrior theme. she LOVES all things princess, and LOVES all things kung-fu or obstacle course-y...so we tried to incorporate them both...and it also allows us to include boys in her party fun, so we'll talk lots of photos and post them next week!
now..off to write all those thank you note for all the thoughtful graduation notes and gifts y'all got me! i hope to get my sewing machine in the next few weeks...we are planning our family vacation to cedar breaks utah to explore some great national parks (all i've ever been to is yosemite!) and heating and stretching my back so it heals!! oh...and for those who gave me money for graduation, THANK YOU so much...i'm stock piling it so it can go towards a nikon 40 dslr camera... : )
have a great weekend! what will you all be doing?
So...aly here...there is a set back to my "FBIMP"...i hurt my back doing situps...my tummy is so out of shape that i hurt my back. I am still getting up and walking and stretching in the morning and hopefully when Monday rolls around, i can do arms and lunges...sigh...the body is getting old folks and it is high time to take care of it...i'm soooo sore!!! BUT i woke up every morning at 6:15 to meet my girl charity at the gym at 6:30...i've woken up to be there...now we just need to care for my back...
sarah-sweet comment/post, thanks for the encouragement and i'm sure i'll be contacting you at some points for tips and further pep talks!!
on another note...emily's fifth birthday party is this weekend...can't wait! it's a princess warrior theme. she LOVES all things princess, and LOVES all things kung-fu or obstacle course-y...so we tried to incorporate them both...and it also allows us to include boys in her party fun, so we'll talk lots of photos and post them next week!
now..off to write all those thank you note for all the thoughtful graduation notes and gifts y'all got me! i hope to get my sewing machine in the next few weeks...we are planning our family vacation to cedar breaks utah to explore some great national parks (all i've ever been to is yosemite!) and heating and stretching my back so it heals!! oh...and for those who gave me money for graduation, THANK YOU so much...i'm stock piling it so it can go towards a nikon 40 dslr camera... : )
have a great weekend! what will you all be doing?
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Operation "Fit back into my pants" day 6
we both worked out yesterday. today is saturday. we are going to a wedding in the hill country of san diego. Both Alyssa and I struggled to physically raise our bodies out of bed. Very sore. i did a leg centered weight workout. my hamstrings basically feel like to large pieces of ham. gotta get through this!!!! gonna fit back into my pants.
Next week we make some adjustments with diet. aly and i need to strategically create a plan/menu for the diet and then shop right. Rock steady FBIMPers!
Next week we make some adjustments with diet. aly and i need to strategically create a plan/menu for the diet and then shop right. Rock steady FBIMPers!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Operation "Fit back into my pants"
Ryan here!
Aly showed me how to blog so here we go...my first post.
Just recently Aly and I have begun a new journey in our lives. It is called: "Operation Fit Back Into My pants". Why did we begin this new journey? Very simply, our motivation for this change in our lives derives from two factors: A. our pants don't fit right and B. we are too cheap to buy new pants.
Oh Ryan, c'mon on, your pants fit fine. they don't look bad at all.
Thank you for thinking this, but it is not the aesthetic appearance of our pants that concerns us, it's the fact that they hurt, especially when I'm driving. I have recently begun unbuckling my jeans when I drive! How did it come to this?
You know you're in trouble when you are thinking of ways to build a case with your boss that basketball shorts are indeed professional enough to wear to the office.
So yes friends...our pants do not fit right... they are downright uncomfortable and this needs to change.
okay, so why not buy new pants. comfort is important right?
uh...no...wrong! Not spending money is important. Not having to go shopping is important! I did consider getting new pants. I even went to Savers (our local "I take all my crud clothes and give them away and then Savers sells them for two bucks" store) and found a virtual ton of old used jeans and pants that fit my new size. But then I'd have to spend money on them, and NOT spending money is important. I'd have to try them on look at them in the mirror, ask the question: "honey does this make my butt look big, is this too tight on my large calves (thank you father for this inherited trait); and these questions fall into a certain class that qualifies me as SHOPPING. I don't Shop. It is one of the most emotionally and physically draining activities I can engage in.
So........ I didn't buy new pants. And why should I! There are two painful paths here. One is the path of defeat and painful it is (because I have to spend money and go shopping). The other road is the pain of WAR!!! I will wage war against my bulging "Omentum" (medical term for the fat layer that forms under your abdominal section and sends toxins into your blood stream- see "You on a diet"). I will fit back into my pants. I will not give in. My body is too bootylicious for me and it's time to engage in a precisely well oiled mission to fit back into my pants!!!
So we decided we were going to do this. There are several easy directives for this mission:
1. Soda go bye-bye.
this is not easy. I drink about 100-150 ounces of straight up Coca Cola a day. Add to that the fact that chocoalte is one of my three main food groups along with burritos, and burgers; and you've got yourself a one way ticket on a big smog belching bus destined for "Adult onset diabetes land". So cola needs to go bye bye.
2. We must eat better.
This is easier said than done. remember when I told you about my three major food groups. yes, none of those fit into the "Eating Better" category. We have chosen the abs diet to help with this. The food is great and i still get to eat fruit. I do like fruit. especially covered in chocolate. but Fruit alone will do.
3. we must exercise.
No, chewing is not enough exercise. I actually have to run, lift weights. Greg Stump and I are going to play tennis twice a week. I will also be going to the beach to swim. Aly is working out with Charity every morning.
So it's been five days and I can honestly say, we've exercised, but the diet is still a work in progress. my hope is that we can get structured and we will leave occasional updates here. the point is to fit in our pants and stay in our pants forever, so we never have to buy clothes again...or go shopping! :0 Hahaha. Alyssa is shaking her head right now..
Aly showed me how to blog so here we go...my first post.
Just recently Aly and I have begun a new journey in our lives. It is called: "Operation Fit Back Into My pants". Why did we begin this new journey? Very simply, our motivation for this change in our lives derives from two factors: A. our pants don't fit right and B. we are too cheap to buy new pants.
Oh Ryan, c'mon on, your pants fit fine. they don't look bad at all.
Thank you for thinking this, but it is not the aesthetic appearance of our pants that concerns us, it's the fact that they hurt, especially when I'm driving. I have recently begun unbuckling my jeans when I drive! How did it come to this?
You know you're in trouble when you are thinking of ways to build a case with your boss that basketball shorts are indeed professional enough to wear to the office.
So yes friends...our pants do not fit right... they are downright uncomfortable and this needs to change.
okay, so why not buy new pants. comfort is important right?
uh...no...wrong! Not spending money is important. Not having to go shopping is important! I did consider getting new pants. I even went to Savers (our local "I take all my crud clothes and give them away and then Savers sells them for two bucks" store) and found a virtual ton of old used jeans and pants that fit my new size. But then I'd have to spend money on them, and NOT spending money is important. I'd have to try them on look at them in the mirror, ask the question: "honey does this make my butt look big, is this too tight on my large calves (thank you father for this inherited trait); and these questions fall into a certain class that qualifies me as SHOPPING. I don't Shop. It is one of the most emotionally and physically draining activities I can engage in.
So........ I didn't buy new pants. And why should I! There are two painful paths here. One is the path of defeat and painful it is (because I have to spend money and go shopping). The other road is the pain of WAR!!! I will wage war against my bulging "Omentum" (medical term for the fat layer that forms under your abdominal section and sends toxins into your blood stream- see "You on a diet"). I will fit back into my pants. I will not give in. My body is too bootylicious for me and it's time to engage in a precisely well oiled mission to fit back into my pants!!!
So we decided we were going to do this. There are several easy directives for this mission:
1. Soda go bye-bye.
this is not easy. I drink about 100-150 ounces of straight up Coca Cola a day. Add to that the fact that chocoalte is one of my three main food groups along with burritos, and burgers; and you've got yourself a one way ticket on a big smog belching bus destined for "Adult onset diabetes land". So cola needs to go bye bye.
2. We must eat better.
This is easier said than done. remember when I told you about my three major food groups. yes, none of those fit into the "Eating Better" category. We have chosen the abs diet to help with this. The food is great and i still get to eat fruit. I do like fruit. especially covered in chocolate. but Fruit alone will do.
3. we must exercise.
No, chewing is not enough exercise. I actually have to run, lift weights. Greg Stump and I are going to play tennis twice a week. I will also be going to the beach to swim. Aly is working out with Charity every morning.
So it's been five days and I can honestly say, we've exercised, but the diet is still a work in progress. my hope is that we can get structured and we will leave occasional updates here. the point is to fit in our pants and stay in our pants forever, so we never have to buy clothes again...or go shopping! :0 Hahaha. Alyssa is shaking her head right now..
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
vacation...
Hey all!! We are officially on vacation!! After all the celebrations, bbqs...etc...post graduation stuff...we are settled. There is a bit of construction going on in our apartment again this summer, but only for this month of june (thank GOD!) and they put us up in the lido apartments (where students live off campus during the school year) in a two bedroom while the hallway is abated (sp?) for asbestos. they are going to:
1) move our front door in about 8ft creating a little alcove and along the new wall, a fuse box for the new ethernet (yeah better internet for hart!!) as well as
2) a bedroom closet for the kids! they don't have a closet, we made them a closet out of the hallway closet. i'm sooo excited and can't wait to see the plans that were made translated!!
okay...so now we are truly on vacation!! it's soo nice over here at the lido! we had to bring a TON of stuff over, but there are couches, great internet connection, the kids are sleeping on mattresses on the floor, but we set it up sort of like a fort and they are just loving it! we are still super close to campus, so i can make it to my morning workouts with charity!! (third day in a row! yeah! tomorrow she is workin my abs...arms were monday, today was my toosh and legs. oh, i'm sore!!) just soooo thankful to not be living with my in - laws again. i LOVE them, but it was just not our space and we were not near our friends!!
so...another thing about being on vacation, not having any school whatsoever...is that one of the things on my list of things i wanted to do upon graduation...was...to learn how to sew! i picked out a sewing machine today and hopefully, once my in laws approve...that will be my graduation present from them!! that may seem sort of dorky to y'all...but i'm sooooo excited! my daughter, emily, is beyond creative (i'm a bit creative too!) and she makes these dresses out of her blanket. she's amazing! i'd LOVE to learn how to sew with her and we can create all kinds of fun things! so, i talked to her about it and she is just so excited. i might actually take her with me to pick out some fabric with my joann's gift card (thank you HEATHER! your card is forthcoming!!) and make some simple skirts (hey heath...can i get that pattern from you!?) and learn how to make them. the place we are getting the sewing machine from also gives me classes on how to use the thing. brilliant!! i have sooo many ideas and there are so many fun blogs out there on how to sew and what you can repurpose out of something to make it into another something, i can't wait!!
another thing that i'm sooo stoked on besides working out (finally have time!) and sewing is all our other summer plans that seem to be happening! we might go camping next week (have yet to talk to ry about it!) as a family for the first time, i'd LOVE to try to get away for a night or two to just be with ry w/o kids to celebrate being done and i think i might be close with some graduation money-just need a bit more-and i'll be able to get a new camera. sooo excited!!
okay...can you tell i'm excited to have some free time!! i LOVED school, but i'm sooo done!!
i'm sure there is a ton more that needs to be communicated, but i'll sign off for now...no new photos, i forgot my camera at the house and we can't get in till the weeks end. saturday we as a family are going to julian to celebrate heather and luke getting married (i think this is the third or fourth wedding so far this year for us)!! heather is em and will's dear babysitter and our former RA and dear resident. we love them and can't wait to celebrate them!!
okay...signing off...what are you excited about for your summer? any plans, trips, anything?
1) move our front door in about 8ft creating a little alcove and along the new wall, a fuse box for the new ethernet (yeah better internet for hart!!) as well as
2) a bedroom closet for the kids! they don't have a closet, we made them a closet out of the hallway closet. i'm sooo excited and can't wait to see the plans that were made translated!!
okay...so now we are truly on vacation!! it's soo nice over here at the lido! we had to bring a TON of stuff over, but there are couches, great internet connection, the kids are sleeping on mattresses on the floor, but we set it up sort of like a fort and they are just loving it! we are still super close to campus, so i can make it to my morning workouts with charity!! (third day in a row! yeah! tomorrow she is workin my abs...arms were monday, today was my toosh and legs. oh, i'm sore!!) just soooo thankful to not be living with my in - laws again. i LOVE them, but it was just not our space and we were not near our friends!!
so...another thing about being on vacation, not having any school whatsoever...is that one of the things on my list of things i wanted to do upon graduation...was...to learn how to sew! i picked out a sewing machine today and hopefully, once my in laws approve...that will be my graduation present from them!! that may seem sort of dorky to y'all...but i'm sooooo excited! my daughter, emily, is beyond creative (i'm a bit creative too!) and she makes these dresses out of her blanket. she's amazing! i'd LOVE to learn how to sew with her and we can create all kinds of fun things! so, i talked to her about it and she is just so excited. i might actually take her with me to pick out some fabric with my joann's gift card (thank you HEATHER! your card is forthcoming!!) and make some simple skirts (hey heath...can i get that pattern from you!?) and learn how to make them. the place we are getting the sewing machine from also gives me classes on how to use the thing. brilliant!! i have sooo many ideas and there are so many fun blogs out there on how to sew and what you can repurpose out of something to make it into another something, i can't wait!!
another thing that i'm sooo stoked on besides working out (finally have time!) and sewing is all our other summer plans that seem to be happening! we might go camping next week (have yet to talk to ry about it!) as a family for the first time, i'd LOVE to try to get away for a night or two to just be with ry w/o kids to celebrate being done and i think i might be close with some graduation money-just need a bit more-and i'll be able to get a new camera. sooo excited!!
okay...can you tell i'm excited to have some free time!! i LOVED school, but i'm sooo done!!
i'm sure there is a ton more that needs to be communicated, but i'll sign off for now...no new photos, i forgot my camera at the house and we can't get in till the weeks end. saturday we as a family are going to julian to celebrate heather and luke getting married (i think this is the third or fourth wedding so far this year for us)!! heather is em and will's dear babysitter and our former RA and dear resident. we love them and can't wait to celebrate them!!
okay...signing off...what are you excited about for your summer? any plans, trips, anything?
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