Snot Stew ?

This was the chorus we heard tonight on the way home from the restaurant: Is Not, Is Too, Is Not, Is Too, S'Not, S'Too...Snot Stew. I don't know why I found it amusing. They weren't seriously arguing, just goofing off.

The dinner was a celebratory one. We had our camp swim tests today and did well. I don't recall if I mentioned it in my blog, but I've volunteered to help out at Son #2's Cub Scout Day Camp the week of June 4-8. Son #2's best friend's mother (UberMom) volunteered last year and again this year, so I thought I'd step up too. What the hell was I thinking? I hate to sweat, I hate bugs. It's going to be a lovely week indeed. UberMom and I are going to be Co-den leaders. We also signed up Son #3, and UberMom's daughter for the "Gator Bite" program for younger siblings. Being the wonderful moms that we are, we also signed up Son #1 and UberMom's oldest son as junior volunteers (Son #1 and Uber's Son #1 are in the same Boy Scout Troop). At least I won't be suffering alone. Kidding. It will be fun. Really.

In order to participate in any of the water activities at Day Camp, one must pass the swim test in the lake at the camp grounds. Water shoes are required, goggles are prohibited. No underwater swimming. The water is so murky that the lifeguards want everyone swimming on top of the water, which I completely understand. However, underwater swimming is probably my best method, next to dog paddling (also prohibited for reasons I do not know).

So today I ventured into my first dip in a lake in 25 years. Heck, in the past decade my only "swimming" has consisted of bobbing around a pool with a toddler in my arms. I asked one of the lifeguards to swim along side me. Truth be told, I didn't think I'd have real trouble (after all, I could call it quits and dog paddle back to shore). However, it seemed sort of lonely swimming 25 yards from the shore to the buoy and back again - 50 yards round trip - and I wanted someone to chat with.

I did pretty well until I was about one-third the way back to shore. At that point it hit me: 1) my legs are pretty out of shape, and 2) those water shoes are heavy when they're wet. What's the old saying about the duck? Gliding serenely atop the water, paddling like the dickens under the surface. Yep, that's me. I muddled through. I swam the last 20 feet or so with one leg straight down waiting for my little toes to touch the ground. Dear Hubby and other folks that I knew said I did great and it looked effortless. Little did they know.... It took a good twenty minutes for my leg muscles to quit spasming so I could walk again.

However, I think I did quite well for a non-athletic, 35+ year old (those who know me can quit snickering), swim-lesson drop out. :-)

Son #2 also did the swim test, but he struggled and was classified as a "beginner." He'll be able to participate in most water activities at day camp but he'll have to wear a life jacket. He'll also have the opportunity to develop his skills and re-test during the week, if he so chooses.

Son #1's swim test was different. In addition to volunteering at day camp, he is also attending Boy Scout Camp later in June and the Boy Scout swim test is 100 yards. Son #1 struggled mightily with it last year (click here to read about it) and barely passed. Boy Scouts' test is either pass or fail. The troop had a swim test a couple of weeks ago in a swimming pool (clear water, water shoes not required). Son #1 gave it a try, but panicked and decided he didn't want to continue the test. I was actually surprised that he would even try the test in the lake - not being able to see the bottom can be very intimidating to some people. Yet try he did.

One of the adult leaders swam along side Son #1 and he closed his eyes and swam three laps between buoys (25 yards per lap), then swam the 25 laps from the buoy to the shore. It was a sight to behold. His technique is awkward (he's hypotonic), but his persistence is amazing. Woo Hoo!

Dear Hubby also did the Boy Scout swim test since he'll attend camp with Son #1. Dear Hubby is athletic (running, biking) but he too struggled a bit. In his defense, he has a case of bursitis in his hip and his doctor said not to exercise for two weeks. Today was the end of the two week break and probably not the best time to swim 100 yards. Nevertheless, he completed the test.

Son #3 didn't have to take the swim test because he's too young to participate in the waterfront activities. (He's 5.)

Weight Watchers Wednesdays (& Other Stuff)

week 1 (Wed. 3.9.07) ~~~~~~ Just getting started!
week 2 (Wed. 3.14.07) ~~~~~ - 3.4 lbs
week 3 (Wed. 3.21.07) ~~~~~ - 1.6 lbs
week 4 (Wed. 3.28.07) ~~~~~ - 2.4 lbs
week 5 (Wed. 4.4.07) ~~~~~~~ + 0.6 lbs
week 6 (Wed. 4-11-07) ~~~~~~ -0
week 7 (Wed. 4-18-07) ~~~~~~ -3.2 lbs
week 8 (Wed. 4-25-07) ~~~~~~ -1.2 lbs
week 9 (Wed. 5-2-07) ~~~~~~~ -1.4 lbs
week 10 (Wed. 5-9-07) ~~~~~~ -1.4 lbs
week 11 (Wed. 5-16-07) ~~~~~ -1 lb (est.)
week 12 (Wed. 5-23-07) ~~~~~ -1.6 lbs

total weight loss: -16.6 lbs

Sorry I've been out of touch. I got involved in a little home improvement project which consumed quite a bit of my time. Monday evening, Dear Hubby was out of town on business. I don't sleep well when he's away, so the pass the time, I got the grand idea to repaint the master bedroom - for the 3rd time in 6 years. It took two days. I still have some minor touch ups to do, but it looks pretty good.

I've also been rushing around trying to finish all the errands I have to run while I only have one boy with me (Son #3). The older boys' last day of school is tomorrow! And it's a half day. Any other errands I run this summer will require my traveling in a pack of four. :-)

Today, Son #3 and I took "Steve" (our minivan) to the dealership for its 12K mile maintenance. Fortunately we got there early enough and therefore didn't have to wait long. A quick stop at Weight Watchers to weigh in and we were on our way. (With three kids, I haven't thought about how or whether I'll be able to attend any meetings over the summer.)

This was the Very Last Mom & Son#3 Day - just the two of us. Oh, I'm sure we'll have others, but this is the last regular one before the brothers get out of school. Come autumn, Son #3 will head off to school too. I asked him how he wanted to spend his day. Get this: he wanted to go to Barnes & Noble to play with the Thomas the Tank Engine trains they have set up in the kids' section. Afterwards, he wanted go to the coffee shop inside Barnes & Noble for a chocolate milk with whipped cream and a giant chocolate chip cookie. Iced Mocha for me. Of all the things he could've picked (Chuck E Cheese, McDonald's PlayLand, a movie), he picks chocolate. That's my boy!

Deena (check out her fun blog, Junk in the Trunk) tagged me several days ago to do the 8 Random Things About Me meme...

Here's how it works:
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

Here are my 8 Random Things--
1) I like shopping at home improvement stores as much as I like shopping at the mall.

2) I once repainted the entire kitchen because I wasn't in the mood to clean the stove.

3) I have three boys (which most of you know), but I have never felt a strong yearning for a girl. Of course, if God had so blessed me, I'd be happy, but I've never craved 'pink.'

4) My first - and perhaps favorite - car was a 1976 dark olive green Ford Granada. My dad bought it (used) for my 16th birthday. I drove it for 9 years. Ah, the memories.

5) While I don't especially like snakes, spiders or rats, it's cockroaches that would have me running and shrieking.

6) I love snow! Living in southeast Louisiana, we only see a couple of flakes every decade or so, but when I lived in the D.C. area, I loved making snow angels during my lunch break. Then I'd return to my cubicle and admire my handiwork from the 6th floor window.

7) My handwriting changes with my mood. I try to keep my signature consistent for obvious reasons, but my penmanship varies widely. If I had criminal tendencies, I'd be a master forger. Fortunately, I'm too honest for that.

8) My mom and dad disagreed on what to name me. My mom liked the name "Dixie Lee" (why, oh why, mother?). Actually if I recall correctly, that was Bing Crosby's wife's name. My dad thought it sounded like a stripper's name. I have to back him up on that. :-) It very well might have been the only disagreement with my mother that he ever won.

So there you have it. I'm not going to tag anyone specifically since many of you already read Deena's blog and she already tagged you. However, if you want to play along, create a post on your blog and leave me a comment letting me know to check it out.

Weight Watchers Wednesdays

Okay, I'm a day late...

week 1 (Wed. 3.9.07) ~~~~~~ Just getting started!
week 2 (Wed. 3.14.07) ~~~~~ - 3.4 lbs
week 3 (Wed. 3.21.07) ~~~~~ - 1.6 lbs
week 4 (Wed. 3.28.07) ~~~~~ - 2.4 lbs
week 5 (Wed. 4.4.07) ~~~~~~~ + 0.6 lbs
week 6 (Wed. 4-11-07) ~~~~~~ -0
week 7 (Wed. 4-18-07) ~~~~~~ -3.2 lbs
week 8 (Wed. 4-25-07) ~~~~~~ -1.2 lbs
week 9 (Wed. 5-2-07) ~~~~~~~ -1.4 lbs
week 10 (Wed. 5-9-07) ~~~~~~ -1.4 lbs
week 11 (Wed. 5-16-07) ~~~~~ -1 lb (est.)

total weight loss: -15 lbs

I actually skipped this week's meeting/weigh in. We had some heavy thunderstorms pass through in the morning and I just couldn't bring myself to get out of bed. Son #3 and I were enjoying our lazy morning, snuggling and watching a movie. I could attend another meeting time during the week, but most are too early in the morning for me, or too late in the evening. I did weigh myself on my bathroom scale and it registered one pound less than yesterday.

I'm officially at the end of my 10-week pre-paid Weight Watchers session (ten weeks plus two "missed" meeting passes = the 12 weeks you see above). I am, however, about halfway to my personal goal so I will renew for 10 additional weeks when I go next Wednesday. You have the option of paying per week as you go, paying upfront for 10 weeks (a slight discount), or paying for the "monthly pass" which automatically bills your credit card unless you call to cancel. The monthly pass option gives you the greatest discount, plus access to WeightWatchers' e-tools. I figure I spend so much time online doing other stuff, that I really don't need another reason to spend even more time online. Ha Ha!

I can say that my body has finally adjusted to smaller portions. It took about eight weeks to get to that point though - longer than I expected, but thankfully it did happen. Although I've met my goal of drinking more water, I have not yet begun exercising regularly. My results would be more impressive if I do exercise, I realize, but I've only just recently started feeling more energetic. Probably due to getting acclimated to smaller portions, plus my cutting out the massive amounts of Diet Coke that I used to drink (at least 44 oz. per day). In fact, I've only splurged once and had 20 oz of Diet Coke at a restaurant about a week ago. My first time since giving it up on April 23rd.

Feelin' better, lookin' better. That's what it's all about.