45th Anniversary Date Night

To celebrate my parents' 45th wedding anniversary we surprised them with a fun date night.  My three brothers, my sister, and all of our spouses got sitters for the kids and joined them for a fun family date! 

 We headed to a great restaurant called Fire + Ice Bar and Grill.  It is a place where they have tons of "raw" ingredients and you can make 1000s of combinations and then  you take your bowl of ingredients to the grill and the grill masters cook your food for you.  You get to go back as many times as you want.  It is so fun to see what everyone makes.

We took a few family photos...

The Ladies

The Men

Then we headed down to the Balboa Fun Zone in Newport and boarded our own rented boat and Sam was our captain and drove the boat for us.

Captain Sam

While we were on the boat Mom and Dad told stories about how they met, their wedding, and we laughed about their old boy friends and girl friends.  We brought along fun desserts and drinks to enjoy as we sailed around Balboa Island in the Newport Bay and watched the sunset.

All Aboard!

The sunset over Newport Bay

It was a beautiful night in so many ways.  We all felt really blessed to be all together and to be able to celebrate our parents who have modeled marriage so well for us all.

Mom and Dad

Dan and Elizabeth

Lindsay and Ben

Kathryn and Jake

Kristy and Joe

Captain Sam and his first mate Kristen!

Just the 12 of us!

"ONE-derland"!

It took me a few weeks longer than I had planned but I finally reached "One-derland" yesterday!  (One-derland for those who aren't familiar is what some people call getting to the point where your weight starts with the number 1.)  My total weight loss is now 79 pounds and I am down 97 pounds from the day I gave birth to Lena.  I texted this picture to Dan while he was at work and he brought me flowers to celebrate me reaching this fitness goal.

Been waiting to see that "1" for a LONG time!

On May 5th Dan and I both ran the OC Half Marathon.  I was so glad to have Dan's company during the race.  It made it extra special to accomplish this goal with him.  We had perfect running weather and the ocean and bay views were awesome!  My IT band was really hurting badly but I pushed through and finished strong.

Before the race waiting to take the shuttle to the starting line.

Dan rocking it during the race.

Elizabeth rockin it during the race.

After with smiles and our new race medals!

 The half marathon threw my body into a funk and I actually gained a few pounds the 9 days following the race.  I am back to my normal routine now and I am super excited to celebrate hitting below 200 pounds!  For a treat I ordered a new sexy bathing suit to wear on vacation this summer!  Here is my updated sequence of weight loss pics

March 2012 - 270 lbs

July 2012 - 262 lbs

Sept 2012 - 245 lbs

Feb 2013 - 220 lbs

May 2013 - 199 lbs

39 more pounds to go before I reach my final weight loss goal of 160 pounds!

A special shout out to my loving and supportive husband who chose to work overtime so we could pay for my boot camp classes which have been key in my weight loss and muscle building.  And also to Lena who is a constant physical reminder to me to be a good example in how I live.

John and Cara with Lena and I at the Let It Be Foundation Charity 5k run

A second special shout out to the owners of my book camp who sponsored me for almost two months when we couldn't afford it because they believed in me.

Love my BOB jogging stroller!

A third shout out to all my readers, friends, and family who encourage me constantly as I make this big life change.  (And to my brother and his wife for watching Lena while we ran our half marathon!)

Lastly, thanks to the Lord who has gifted me with a healthy body and the means and the willpower to take good care of it.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

Lena 18 Months Old

Little Miss Lena is now 18 months old!  She has steadily progressed into the toddler stage and is changing daily it seems! Here is a list of Lena's favorites: 

• Brushing Teeth:  She loves brushing her teeth and will walk around brushing and sucking on her toothbrush.

  

  Lena's favorite part of her bedtime routine.

• Eating Carbs:  Lena's basic food groups are: chicken, cheese, bread, yogurt, pasta, and crackers.  Her favorite foods lately are quesadillas, pizza, spaghetti, Chick-fil-a nuggets, strawberry greek yogurt sticks, and Trader Joe's white cheddar puffs.  She also had chocolate M&Ms for the first time and loved those too.  

  

  Getting the hang of using her spoon!

• Climbing:  She has become quite the climber and continues to display her fearless spirit on the playground outside our house as well as around the house.  The other day I turned around and she was on top of the dining room table!

  

  Lena riding high on the rocking horse that my parents gave me on my first birthday.

• Being outside: Lena cherishes her outdoor time.  Luckily we live in a very temperate climate and can be outside a lot...but never enough for this girl!  She is constantly trying to escape out the front door and when she can't she will climb the living room chair and stare out the windows to watch what is going on.  And lately, when I make her come inside she throws the typical toddler tantrum (arched back, falling on the floor, you know...).

On a ride in her new wagon with her buddy Adam.

Lena is ready for a 5k jog around our neighborhood.

• Animals:  Lena has always been fond of our dog and she continues to get really excited around animals of all kinds.  It is amazing how quickly she can spot a doggie.  Whenever she does see one she starts barking in a really high pitched voice.  

  

  Mesmerized by the mice at the local pet store.

• Dancing &Music:  I suppose that this was inevitable considering I play music nonstop and always clap and dance around to music.  In the car we practice clapping to the beat and she is getting there!  Her favorites right now are the songs from Baby Signing Time.  She asks for that video everyday by singing the title song "Baby, baby" and signing the word "baby".  

  

  Having some cereal and juice while we get ready to watch Baby Signing Time.  

• Good Luck Bear:  I was waiting for it to happen and it finally did. Lena attached to one toy.  I had my Care Bear from the 80's out and she immediately hugged it and they've been inseparable ever since.  I try to enforce a "keep it in the crib" rule but she snatches it with a death grip every time I take her out of her crib.  

  

  Lena and her best buddy Good Luck Bear

• People:  Lena loves her social time.  She is definitely an extrovert and enjoys being around other kids and people.  In the store she says hi to strangers, waves at other kids and babies, and "talks" non-stop.  It is a good thing Lena has so many fun cousins and friends close by!  Generally, on Sundays we visit Grandma and Grandpa and Lena loves taking walks with Grandpa and singing songs and playing toys with Grandma.

  

  Lena and one of her cousins eating spilled Cheerios off the floor.

Grandma time!

• Time with "Da-da":  One of my favorite moments each day is when Dan comes home from work and Lena leaps up and screams "Da-Da!!!" and then runs over to Dan and gives him a big hug.  I've seen it dozens on times and it still melts my heart.  The girl loves her Daddy!

  

  Daddy and Lena on the mall train.  He always does fun little activities with her.

• Reading Books:  She likes turning the pages and is particularly fond of one book that a friend gave her called Ten Little Ladybugs.  She will make me read it over and over again.  She is also fond of pulling all of her books off of the kids book shelves in our living room.  It is quite amazing how quickly she can make a mess!
  
• Pushing  buttons and touching electronics:  The girl has picked up so quickly how to use various electronics around the house.  Her personal favorites are our phones (she can "pretend" text), the remotes, and the air purifier.

  

  Caught in the act!  Lena pushing the buttons...again!

More and more we are learning about the unique qualities and quirks our precious girl has been given.  She is a determined, energetic, verbal, outgoing, adventurous, friendly, musically oriented, observant, a quick learner, and a cuddler.  Every time she blows me a kiss, gives me a hug, or just wants to sit in my lap my heart warms and I remember that we are so blessed to be Lena's mom and dad.  

What a silly cutie pie!

OC Half Marathon 2013