Every summer has a story

This summer my story is going to be entitled:  Sleeveless Shirt.  Why?  Because I'm gonna work my ass off until I can wear one and not think twice about how I have old lady swinging arms.  You know what I'm talking about. 

I completed 3 weeks of my bootcamp and missed the 4th due to our Boston trip (which I'll blog about next!).  For 3 weeks I was hardcore consistent with the nutrition of clean eating and water drinking.  I worked out 3 days a week at boot camp and 2 days a week of 45 min. cardio at my gym.  I lost 6.5 inches and 10.4 pounds.  It's not noticeable because I have so much further to go but it's a damn good start and therefore I'm sold and I'm continuing. 

Boot camp #2 starts tomorrow.  I'm starting another 14 day detox tomorrow which I found to be pretty easy with boot camp #1 four weeks ago.  It SUCKS BIG TIME but it's not hard.  It's just clean eating.  It's not complicated, there are very few rules, it's just clean eating.  Rid the toxins then don't introduce them back in in any great quantity.  And yes, that includes caffeine.  I know.  That bites the big one.  

Clean eating and regular exercise.  I'm not gonna lie to say I'm kinda bummed it works but I'm pretty sure that's the magic secret everyone searches for in a pill.  Swallowing a pill would just be so much easier.  This, however, is the real deal and so for now it's a new way of life.  I have so much further to go and I'm committed.  

Operation Sleeveless Summer may become Operation Sleeveless Fall but that's ok.  I'll be with it as long as it takes.  And if you see me in November in a tank top, please don't ask me if I'm cold.  Just notice the old lady swinging arms aren't following me around anymore.  I may even order one of those shirts.  You know the ones I'm talking about.

Oh, yeah.

    

I'm gonna pahk my cah in Hahvahd Yahd. For realz.

Today Drew and I leave for our 2nd annual DrewMommy trip to Boston.  We are going earlier in the summer than usual because my cousin is graduating and we're going to see her ceremony.  Did I mention she's graduating from Harvard?  She is.  This is actually her third degree and our third trip back east to see her receive her degree.  I consider myself as smart as the average bear but for my self esteem I'm calling it quits on going to East coast smart schools to see my family members continue to get smarter.  Anyway, I'm glad Drew will get to experience this and see the life that Jennie has been leading.

Chris is going to hold down the fort here at home with the other two while Drew and I are gone.  I have this fantasy that Lauren will wet the bed at 3am and he won't be able to find the sheets.  I dream that William will get grass stains on his pants at school and Chris will fumble in the laundry room trying to figure out what to do with that.  I notsosecretly hope that the fridge will become bare and he'll have to take the two grocery shopping and it'll be a melt down disaster day for both kids.  But, the truth is, none of that will happen.  The reason?  Chris is awesome.  He's capable.  He's confident.  He's 100% daddy and he's got this.  It upsets me a little.  I want him to NOT got this so that he'll marvel over the job I do everyday.  Oh, well. I'll just appreciate the fact that he is here pouring juice and giving baths and doing laundry while I'm... not.

If you are at all interested, I will likely update a bit on Peters Party of 5 facebook while we're on our trip.  Cape Cod, Harvard, Fenway Park, oh, my!

It's what we do, afterall

Happy Mother's Day

I hope you get a chance to do what you'd like today, whatever that may be.  And if it means leaving your kids with your husband or someone else to have some alone time, so be it.  No guilt.  It's your day. 

Detox = CPS

Not gonna lie.  I'm a little scared.  On Monday I'm starting a 4-week boot camp slash fitness program slash nutritional program.  I'm worried about the sugar detox and the caffeine detox part.  Honestly, that has kept me from even thinking about the fitness part.  I'm pretty sure I'm 90% toxic, 10% caffeine.  It's gonna be Withdrawl City this week I'm afraid.  I've never detoxed from anything before and I'm worried for the safety of my children.

I may keep you posted on how this goes.  With 100% commitment to the fitness and the nutrition, it's inevitable that results will follow.  Obviously I need to do about 12 boot camps to be where I want to be but you have to start somewhere, right?  Results means progress.  I'm confident I'll see them.  I'm not confident, however, that my children will survive the next 28 days unscathed.  Pray for them. 

Click here for the bootcamp information.

Mommy is good at...uh...um...

While sitting at the dinner table tonight I mentioned to Drew that we were going to review a math paper she brought home today where she'd missed far too many.  William said, "I saw that.  I can do those in my head so fast."  I said, "Stop that, we all have certain things we're really good at.  Drew is an amazing reader and you are amazing at mental math.  We don't put others down for the things they don't do as well as we may do them.  We are all good at our own special things."  William said, "Like Lauren is really good at talking.  And daddy is really good at fixing things.  And you're good at... well... you're good at..." then Drew said, "Well, mommy is good at taking us places."  William concurred.  He chimed in and added, "And she's probably the best at cleaning the kitchen!"

Chris thought it was HIL-ARIOUS.  Me, notsomuch.  I don't wanna be known for those things.  Chris added that I am really good at writing but I'm pretty sure it was just to save his own ass because I'm sure my expression was one of not being all that happy with the way the conversation was going.

Now my biggest fear is that something tragic happens to me and my kids most prominent and lasting memory of their mom is that I was really good at dishes and taking them places.  Good Lord.  Just don't let that be put on my tombstone.  PLEASE. 

ZOMG, I love this song

Even Lauren knows all the words to the chorus.  We blare it in the car and I rock it out like I would have back in 1992.  If it's not on your playlist, go git it, blast it in the car, and embarrass the hell out of your kids.

Couldn't narrow it down to one...

I have not one real topic - just a couple things I've been thinking about...

Instagram.  Do you have this app?  Surely you do.  It makes everyone a fabulous photographer and I'd like to thank the creators of Instagram for that.  See what I mean?

Amatuer, lame, no editing, I suck (pre Instagram)

Professional, fabulous, I'm an awesome photographer (post Instagram)

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It's officially Open Your Windows weather.  This is good, right?  Wrong!  Now when I yell at the kids I have to be aware of which windows are open.  If one nearby is open I need to consider that what I'm hollering is being heard but someone other than the intended 5 year old ears.  Ugh.  I don't want to sensor myself.  I want to yell and scream and be irrationally irrational without having to sensor myself.  Damn.  Can't wait 'til it hits the high 80's so we can close the windows again and just turn the silencing air conditioner on. 

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I have two cousins.  David got married a year and a half ago and Jennie just got engaged a few days ago.  Our family is very excited to be adding another fabulous soul to it.  She's gotta keep up with stupid birthday cards, trips out here from Boston to visit my kids, and cruddy gifts at Christmas.  Looking forward to it all!  Welcome, Maura, to our family!

Maura and Jennie

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I entered the lottery for the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco.  To say it's out of my comfort level is an understatement.  I don't run.  I should be more specific and say that my girls don't run.  And a full marathon would without a doubt kill me but I think I'll survive the half marathon just fine.  I think.  I hope.  I'll be walking 13.1 miles with a great friend of mine, if we are lucky enough to be one of the 25,000 chosen ones.  We'll find out later this week.  It's 2 days after my 37th birthday and this will be a gift I'm giving myself.   

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After a week of warmer weather I think it's an appropriate time to weed through closets.  It always makes me sad to see another size go.  Push the long sleeved to one side, put the short sleeved in front, and stock up on shorts.  Ho, hum.  Drew in an 8?  William in a 6?  Lauren in a 4T?  How can it be?  Wasn't Drew just in a 12 month onesie that said, "My mom is hotter than your mom"?  Ugh, those were the days.