A trip to the Botanicals

We went to our local Botanical Gardens this week.

I need to go back, and probably sans kidlets as they pestered and whinged and meant that we didn't take many photos and couldn't soak up Creation as much as we'd hoped.



Liam insisted on taking a photo and this is it.  I love maiden hair ferns, do you?

 Instead of relaxing, we all became a bit highly strung.  But I managed to snap this one of my big fellas...

But then Rick took this photo of us.  Obviously, we weren't all ready for the photo and he wasn't going to take another one!

But life is precious and this time with the children being so little will pass all too quickly.  Do you find yourself missing your children about an hour after they go to bed?  I do.  I think it is because they can drive me nuts all day and when I've had an hour to myself, to collect my thoughts and gather a bit of strength, I miss them and want to pour out some love on to them and not my angry voice!

Rick will return to work soon.  Since returning to Port Stephens, we have actually been able to benefit from all this time away from work aka unemployment.  It has been 3.5 months and really, the last 3 weeks have been wonderful.  It wasn't so wonderful before.  As much as we wanted to make Hervey Bay our home and we miss our family and new friends there, it was a difficult time.  Unsettling.  Both Rick and I lost weight which we aren't complaining about at all.  But when I'm asked how I lost weight, I say "buy the book I am writing, it is called the unemployment stress diet!".  Actually, I don't recommend it (and no, I am not really writing a book!).

I am grateful that God listens to my prayers and answers them in His time.  Throughout these past weeks I have meditated on this text:

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

~Isaiah 40:31

Sometimes we have to wait, and He doesn't let us down, we do that ourselves.  So to avoid letting myself down, I claim this promise:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

~Proverbs 3:5,6

x's

Zumba Day Ten

Day 10

I have learnt some very good lessons these past 10 days. 

1.  Never give up even though you are not sticking exactly to the challenge
2.  Never plan a Zumba Challenge during the busiest time in the year on the homefront

This weekend we had impromptu house guests.  The perfect kind!  I love spontaneity, I love catching up with friends from out of town and of course, seeing my youngest Step Son.  Guests that were coming for lunch on Saturday stayed until after dinner on Sunday.  My kids had the best time and I felt wonderful being able to cook and entertain.  I got out three different table cloths- woo hoo!

So, Zumba day 9 & 10 fell by the wayside.  Am I worried?  No, I did 50% of the challenge which is more than what I had been doing.  I lost only 1kg (an incidental weigh-in at a friend's house), but that aint bad considering the amount of chocolate that was consumed.  I haven't retaken my measurements yet as dinner is still making me feel a little bloated . . . in the morning perhaps.  I have lost a kilo a month since moving to Port Stephens so I am happy!

Will I continue with Zumba?  Yes of course- heaps of fun!  Have I lost a dress size?  Perhaps half a dress size if I did only 50% of the workouts . . . I began wearing a pair of pyjamas that I haven't been able to wear since having children so I think that counts for something!

I hope you enjoyed this challenge and perhaps gained some inspiration and courage from it.  I have really appreciated the comments on this blog and on facebook from you guys.

I'm taking a break from new challenges, concentrating on old ones like eating 2 meals a day and completing my knitting!  But I will tinker with the new sewing machine.  Photos and details to come!

Until then much love and blessings from me to you for 2011!

xxx BNF

Zumba - Day Eight

Day Eight

Today starts with me thinking about when I should do Zumba.  When I catch myself thinking like that it usually means I don't want to do it really otherwise I wouldn't be thinking about it, I would just do it!  So, after I put Bubs down for his morning kip, I hop on the computer.  Then I hear it!  Zumba music!  Liam has decided HE wants to Zumba.  I'm starting to think that he is my personal trainer.  I mean, Rick has given up, he'd rather work, so my new Zumba buddy is my 2 year old son.

As Liam and I are Zumba-ing away, Rick walks in (he only had a small job on this morning), looks at us, looks at the TV and then flops on the lounge. 

Me: "Do I look as retarded as I feel doing this move?"
Rick: "Yep"  He's over it.  Gee thanks.

Well, it is done for another day and I am thinking, will I continue this after the 10 days?  How long does it take for a good habit to form?  Only two more workouts before measurement time!

I haven't heard much from you lately . . . methinks it's only me and Liam now.  We'll soldier on!

xxx BNF

Zumba - Day Seven

Day Seven

As my facebook friends would already know, my 2 year old son Liam surprised me yesterday.  Liam knows how to use the DVD player (he is very careful with the DVDs so we let him- despite the old bit of drool or fingerprints!!).  I was on my computer when I heard the Zumba music playing and was surprised to see that Liam had put it on despite the pile of Bob the Builder, Playschool and Toy Story 3 DVDs sitting there.  And not only that, he was doing ALL the moves!  I was sooo impressed.  He continued his routine as I skyped my sister in Berlin, Germany.  At first I thought he was doing the Beginners but later realised that it was the ADVANCED one.  Way to go Son!  Hahaha, infact, as I am typing this, Liam has put the DVD on again!!  Hahaha, he's put on the Abs, Buns & Thighs and is just sitting on the couch (slightly miffed as to why Beto and Natalie are lying on their backs on the floor and not jumping around- oh well, he's going with it!). He is as crazed as I am.

I have failed you the last couple of days with not only NOT doing the Zumba Challenge but not even updating you!  House guests and then ferral kids is the excuse reason.  So today, inspired by my 2 year old, I thought I would do the Advanced session hoping to make up for 2 days of not doing it.  Boyoboy, Advanced is hard (for me anyway!).   Liam ran circles around me - no really, he did!  As I was doing the moves, Liam was literally running in a circle around me!

Me: "LIAM! Stop that or you are going to get hurt!"
Liam: "hahahahahahahahaha- aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh" as he goes flying across the room from my leg kick (part of routine- I was watching the DVD not Liam!)
Me: "LIAM!  Are you ok?!"
Liam: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA" gets up and continues to jump around my legs, run in circles and grab my legs trying to run UNDER me! 

This continues several times!!  Eventually he gives up and Zumbas to the side of me.  Fun workout!

Liam has now given up on the Abs, Buns & Thighs and has now gone to Beginners.  Strange child.

Do you have children?  What funny foibles do they have?  I love hearing what other people's kids get up to - I'm comforted to know that there are other crazy kids out there too!

Have you been Zumbaring?  How do you feel?

I feel great apart from the ferral kid situation where I have had reduced sleep and have comfort eaten (stacks of christmas chocolates in our fridge!!)- I have noticed that when I have eaten chocolate, I don't feel so spritely a couple of hours later.

I would love to hear from you!

xxx BNF

Zumba - Day 3 (christmas post-mortem)

Day 3
I think I better start with my confessions:

1. My Zumba work-out goes for 42 mins (not 1 hr)
2. I didn't Zumba yesterday (Day 2 - Christmas)

I had all good intentions of Zumbaring on Christmas but it was scheduled for after we got back from Forster.  We left rather late and didn't get back until 10.30pm by which stage I was very very tired.  I am not beating myself up for it.  I hardly ate anything despite yesterday being Christmas, the annual eat-yourself-silly-day AND this challenge was to counteract the anticipated gorging which didn't actually happen. So there, rationalised and justified!

I must say though, I am seriously thinking about renaming my Zumba routine to Bumba (as in fatty-boombah) due to the amount of latino-style jiggling that continues on my body long after I've stopped dancing!!  Nevermind, a work in progress.

This is how my Zumba went today:

Me: "Rick honey, you wanna Zumba or are you just going to lie on the couch?"
Rick: "I mowed the lawns this morning, I think that should count towards the Zumba Challenge"
Me: "Ok, but don't look at me, you can watch the chicks on the telly do it"
Rick: "Alright, if I have to!"

And then after the workout I go and give Rick a cuddle:

Rick: "Babe, go and have a shower"
Me: "Do I smell?!"
Rick: "No, you are sticky and I am fresh, don't cross contaminate me!"

Goodness gracious me.

How did you go yesterday?  Anyone putting me to shame?  Keep it up, only 7 more workouts!

Here are my christmas treasures



L-R: one of my gorgeous 'steppies' Matt, Liam, Dean and Rick

I hope you are all enjoying this time-off with your families and friends- eat as much as you like if you are on the Zumba Challenge as it won't stick around.

Ciao

BNF

Zumba - Day One

Day One

6.09 am - no alarm, don't need one as Rick is either up or awake at this time.  I am usually trying not to wake up and this morning was no different.  Rick was up and I thought 'oops, he's ready and I am not' . . . well no, he got up but was coming straight back to bed!  I jumped out as I knew that if I didn't seize the moment it would pass and I would have failed the challenge before I even started!! 

Kids were awake too so they joined us (we tripped over them- poor fellas!).

Me: Who are you watching on the screen, the man or the women?
Rick: I'm not really looking . . .

We were puffed by the end of the warmup but persevered, baby on hips, toddler under feet.  I got a stitch halfway through and Rick (because of his terrible head cold) sat out the last third, holding the baby who was screaming to join in the fun again. 

Day two is going to be the real test!  Zumba is scheduled for the evening after we get back from a 1.5 hr trip. . . . this one is going to hurt. . . .

Last lazy day for 10 days!

A reminder that the Zumba 10-day Challenge commences tomorrow!  Today is your last lazy day for 10 days.  You and I can do it! 

Ok, I have taken my measurements (not weighing as we broke the scales- a slight motivating factor don't you think?!) and in addition to you, I have gotten myself a physical buddy to work out with.  Yes, my beloved Rick is going to shake his toosh with me!  He has promised to get up with me before the kids (arrgghhh 6 am!) for the workout.  Now even though we need to work out for an hour, I think I am only getting 30 mins from him.  Let's see how we go.

So, have you got your buddy ready?  If they don't want to do the 10-day Challenge, grab someone different each day!  Get your tape measure and measure where you want to see a difference (belly, waist, thighs, bust, arms etc) and jot it down.  Don't look at it again for 10 days.

Tonight, have your last hurrah with slothing on the lounge as tomorrow is the start of the new you!

Are you ready?

xxx BNF

Zumba Challenge over Christmas

I hate New Year's Resolutions so instead of pledging to be a better person from 1 January 2011, I have decided that my final challenge for 2010 is the Zumba challenge, starting before 2011.  Zumba reckon that if you do their hour-long workout everyday for 10 days, you will lose a dress size!  That means post baby me will go from a 16 to 14 in only 10 days.  And what better time to do it but over the Christmas/New Year break- if only to equalise the food gorging expected to take place and therefore I may just stay the size I am (better than getting bigger).

So who's with me?  Sign up by leaving a comment below and check in everyday for my updates and we can support eachother!  Let's start Friday, Christmas Eve 2010 and finish on Sunday 2 Jan 2011.  The prize is the brand new body you will have, the energy gained and the satisfaction of rising to this challenge- 10 days over Christmas! (yes I am crazy- had all year to do this!!)

If you don't have the DVDs you can join a class or ask around as I am sure every second person owns a set of DVDs by now!  You won't be able to purchase it in time before Christmas but you can get it here too.

Edited: Just saw an ad for Zumba DVDs, now being sold at Target!  No excuses!!

I know more people read this blog than are following so please leave a comment of support, I'd love to hear from you!

xxx BNF