Thirty Four!!

Hello there!
Notice anything different about me?

Well, I guess that's not a completely fair question to ask on a blog so I will tell you:  It is 10 am (!) on a Thursday morning(!!) and I am ALONE(!!!) in a QUIET house (!!!!) and have the freedom to do WHATEVER I want (!!!!!) to for the next 2 hours! (!!!!!!) Wooooo hooooooooooooo!

Okay, maybe that was a little obnoxious with all the exclamation points, but I am just really excited about this new season of life that has a perfectly built-in window of time each week where the boys are both in school and Summer is getting some much-needed Daddy time.  I think it is safe to say that we are all doing something that makes us happy which only makes this Me Time that much better.

Speaking of moi, up next in our Summertime Extravaganza series on the blog, is my birthday from back in July.  And with the changing of the seasons and the fresh start of a new school year, I have high hopes of making some big changes in my own life and so I guess, on this fine morning of freedom, I will share them both with you :)

In a nut-shell, I am TOTALLY out of shape and I am TOTALLY over it.
I have never been thin, but I have always been very strong, athletic, agile and solid. It is just how I was built and who I was.  (Sounds a little like some other small people I know...)  Growing up I was always one of the fastest and strongest kids. Gymnastics was my sport of choice and I always got my highest scores on the vault and on the floor because I just had a lot of power.

And lately, I just don't feel that powerful anymore.
I feel squishy and weak.
Raising my kids has been mentally draining which (along with the 5 years of Not Enough Sleep) has just worn me down physically, and for the last year or so, I just haven't really cared to do anything about it- partly because I just don't have the time, and partly because I lead an active life chasing after my kids and I thought the "baby weight" would eventually come off on it's own, and a lot because there is some horrible part of me that doesn't think that I could ever be back in shape and so why should I "waste" my precious time on something that I know that I will fail at.  I have already failed in that area and it would be too painful to fail all over again. So I just accept the fact that I will not be in shape and concentrate on things that I can do....like play with my kids or clean my kitchen. At least when I do these things I have something to show for all my effort.

Whew...did you enjoy that little field trip through my brain?!!

Anyways, I turned 34 this year and although I don't feel sad about getting older, I do remember that in every text book from nursing school, the term that would be used to describe an average adult person was as a "35 year old male" or a "35 year old female", and for some reason, it just stuck with me that a 35 year old was officially an adult.  And I would like to begin my Official Adult Years in a physical state that better reflects how I feel on the inside (which could also use a little work, but maybe I will get to that next year :)).  

I am not really sure how this is all going to happen, but it is going to happen and I wanted to share it on my blog so that you can encourage me and help keep me accountable.  My greatest fear is that I will make all these big statements about what I am going to do and how much weight I am going to lose, and that after a few weeks, after the thrill of it all fades away, or after I hit a plateau, that I will not be successful and that the shame of Failure Again will be more than humiliating.

But, I have decided that that might happen and that is OK too.

And it won't be the end of the world. I will just start over and keep going.

But I have to try. I've got ONE BODY for the rest of this life and at the risk of sounding incredibly corny, it is up to me to take care of it or not. Somewhere in the months since I turned 34, it dawned on me that it wasn't that I was treating my body poorly but that I wasn't doing anything to make it better- so I made up my mind that I was going to take the next year to do just that.  I've joined Weight Watchers (down 7 lbs in 2 weeks!) and I am starting a 90 workout program that I will be doing alongside some girlfriends (via FB) starting on Monday.  Hopefully by my next birthday, I will feel more energized with less caffeine, sleep better, think clearer, not look like I am still pregnant and most importantly feel like my strong self again!! Oh, and run a 5K without stopping. (And no, Sam Sorbello- not a 1/2 marathon....I know what you are thinking!! ;))

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And before I sign off for the day, I'd like to give a huge thanks to my 34th Birthday,  for being the perfect inspiration to help me realize that i could do better

(And just like Sean's birthday fell on a Normal Tuesday, my birthday fell on a Normal Monday.  It just so happens that our Normal Life on Mondays is way more exciting than our Normal Life on Tuesdays...sorry Babe!!)

Best Husband Ever managed to decorate the kitchen (and wrap a gift!!) for me sometime between waking up at 4:40 am and leaving the house for work by 5:15 am.  Major love points for him...even if the tape holding up the streamers didn't stay :)  

And then we met up with some family and friends for an afternoon at, where else, the Rec Pool! 

(and yes, I took full advantage of the fact that there were some extra adults who could watch my kids so I could safely take some pictures of the things we love to do at the pool)

Discussing their synchronized jumping plans :)

These two...

Soaking up the California weather before making the big move to England!!

Elliott and Henry...experts of mischief :)

The last time these two saw each other Henry said, "Heeeeeey, remember me? We are best buddies!!" 

And then they did one of those hugs where they pick each other up and spin until they fall.  

It was also a Band-Uh night :)

And nothing says "I am the second born!" like going to the Band-Uh for her first outing.

Welcome to your life Lucy Houk

The most popular person at any picnic is the one with the bucket of cupcakes :)

Camera Hijackers!

My grandma and her granddaughters plus one great granddaughter :)

Heading across the street to play with Uncle Benny's new toy...

Meet The Drone...but don't touch!! :)

Setting up the shot...

And voila!! How cool is that?!!

And when it isn't taking pictures, you can use it to chase children!! 

Hoping for a ride? :)

Trying to get a picture of Bree and Elliott....

Ahhh...that is better :)

(almost)Sisters!!

Typical Burtt Family Fun

Summer wanted my dad to take her home with him.  

I think this was the highlight of his day. 

It's just another day in this amazing life.  

Thank you God!!

And thank you, Thirty Four... 

I can tell that you and me are going to have a great year together!!