Finalizing Disney Plans (Jan.30, 2023)

It's Monday so you know what that means - weigh in day!

I was 212.8 lbs

 

That's down a little from last week, 1.8 lbs.

That's a reasonable loss for a week.

I still need to get better at tracking though.

I walked out into a hall full of kitties this morning.

Frank is the only one missing - not sure where he was.

Shennelle's birthday was yesterday so we took her out for lunch today.

Shennelle and I.

Bonnie.

I had a turkey club with a salad.

I thought it was a good choice but when I added it all up points wise, it was 20 points for my meal.

I only get 23 per day and I already used 4 on my coffee creamer this morning so that put me over my points allotment for the day and it was only lunch time.

The sandwich was really good.

We are back to having chilly weather but I got out for a walk to the road this afternoon anyway.

I just tried to move fast so I'd stay warm.

Freya spend the afternoon with Mom and I arrived home to this.

She did Mom's make-up.

Her version of PennyWise - she was pretty proud.

Today on my training schedule I had to do a 30 minute run.

10 minutes easy pace, 10 minutes tempo pace then another 10 minutes easy.

I did the easy at a speed of 3.5 and the tempo at a speed of 4.0

Freya laid on the floor watching YouTube videos for my whole workout then when I was done, I asked her for my phone to take a picture of my totals but she insisted on doing it.

A bit better this time.

The totals blink so you have to catch it at just the right time.

The totals for today.

I almost always do a 3 minute warm up and a 3 minute cool down so that's why my total time is 36 and not 30.

My little side kick.

Covering my one eye.

Now covering both.

She's wearing the little dress I picked up at the second hand store on the weekend.

It looks super cute on her.

I had to carry her up the stairs - she was stuck to me but I'm not going to complain.

One day I'm going to miss all the cuddles.

At 7:30, Crystal, Zepplyn, Rob, Mel, Alivia and Hunter all dropped by to kind of figure out what we want to do while in Disney.

Morgan, Mom and I were already there and Jason got home from work too but he kept the kids busy while we made plans.

I think we decided to do 4 parks, Universal, Disney Hollywood, The Magic Kingdom and Discovery Cove.

It's going to be expensive but worth it (I hope).

It will be the trip of a lifetime and we'll make lots of memories so I think it will all be worth it in the end.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Bell Production Under Way (Jan.29, 2023)

I got up this morning, made a coffee then proceeded to watch the whole second season of Love on the Spectrum - the Australia version.

I loved it. 

Jason made pizza for the guys at work today.

It looks so good.

I was going to go out for a walk to get some steps in but first I did a bit of shoveling.

It was super cold and windy so I decided to scrap the walk and hop on the treadmill instead.

I walked for 20 minutes then my hip started bothering me so I decided to stop and give it a break.

I know Christmas is over but I really love making these bells and thought I could use them on some wreaths next Christmas so I got a bunch started.

I got quite a bit done on them actually, all the boring stuff.

Next they'll be ready for the painting which is the fun part.

I had been trying to get steps in all day but I still needed about 4000 more and my hip wasn't hurting any longer so I decided to go down and get back on the treadmill.

It took me another 40 minutes (I didn't reset the time, just picked up where I'd left off earlier) but I got my 13,000 steps in so I was happy about that.

I did some laundry and cleaning but otherwise, a very quiet day.

I was going to have everyone over to make some plans for Florida but Mel had to work so we are going to do it tomorrow night.

My sister called and she and the boys are getting so excited - the countdown is on!

Haylee posted this cute picture of she and Freya - love it.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Super Long Train Wait (Jan.28, 2023)

 I'm not sure if we got snow last night or if it just did some drifting but either way, the sidewalk, walkway and driveway all needed to be shoveled so after my coffee, I went out and got that done.

While I was out there, it was nice and sunny and clear so I decided to take a quick trip to Whitecourt to pick up a few things.

There was a train crossing and I just happened to look at my clock when I got up to it - it was 10:40 am.

The training was actually stopped and stayed like that for a loooooong time.

This is the line up of traffic that was building up behind me.

I sat there for over 40 minutes - It was ridiculous, I couldn't believe it.

It was 11:23 when I was finally able to start moving again.

Not cool.

What if an ambulance needed to get by or something?

I put the car in park while I was sitting there and called Jason for a bit to see if he needed anything.

I also browsed Facebook and Instagram for a bit (I had the time).

Crystal posted this drawing Freya did of her.

I love Freya's drawings - they are so great.

This made me laugh.

Yup - me too Priscilla.

When I was finally able to get moving again, I stopped at the second hand store to drop off some donation I had for them.

I also went in and had a look.

I found a couple bathing suits for Freya and a cute little dress.

I stopped and picked up food from the vet for the cats then I stopped at Walmart for a few necessities.

I had wanted to go to a few other places as well but I just didn't feel in the mood so after Walmart, I just went back home.

I had to run 4 miles today (6.4k) so I figured I'd go down and get that done.

I was kind of dreading it because my run on Thursday night had been so hard and I only had to run 3 miles.

The run today ended up being not bad at all though.

I started off at a speed of 4.0 thinking I'd put it down when it got hard but I ended up bumping it off and ended at a speed of 4.5.

I was super sweaty and I love it - means it was a great work out.

We have a stained glass pool table light fixture in the room where the treadmill is so my face always looks really red (even redder than it is from the running) so I decided to take a picture in the bathroom down there to get a truer picture.

Did my check in video in there as well.

That's 4 miles in the bank!

After my run I had a nice long, hot bath.

My body has been aching (my hips mainly) so I figured a hot soak would do me good.

I spent the rest of the evening bingeing on Love on the Spectrum.

It's a series on Netflix about people with autism looking for love.

It was so good - I was really rooting for all of them.

This one is based in Australia and there were two seasons.

I only watched the first season.

There is a US version as well so I still have lots more to watch.

I had planned on doing some crafting but the evening just kind of got away from me.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Quiet Friday (Jan.27, 2023)

 Yay for Friday.

Haylee came down to the office to work today.

I was going to take her home for lunch but Kody came and picked her up so I just went and grabbed some sushi and came right back to the office.

My lunch.

I was thinking of leaving early and heading to Whitecourt - that's why I decided to work through lunch but the weather was crappy so I decided not to go after all and just ended up working my regular hours.

I ordered a couple things on Amazon yesterday and they arrived today!

I couldn't believe it.

I got some elastics for doing Freya's hair and then I got this headband with bluetooth headphones built in.

I really like it.

When headphones stick in my ears, it kind of hurts to this will be great.

I did a bit of shoveling when I got home and then I still needed some steps to make it to my 13,000 so I went down and hopped on the treadmill.

It is a rest day for me so I only walked and I had been trying to put lots of steps on at the office today so it didn't take me that long to reach the 13,000.

Getting some activity in always feels good.

It was a quiet evening - no Freya and Jason went out for a run when he got home from work then we pretty much just went to bed when he got home.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Show & Tell and Frank Says Hi (Jan.26, 2023)

It was very blustery and cold and snowy out there today so I did not make it out to the road for a walk.

It's snowed some and covered over all the ice so I didn't want to take the chance of falling.

Instead I tried to do lots of laps around the office, I took the long way to the washroom and the photo copier - it got me a few extra steps.

Haylee had to go to Whitecourt to get her cast off today and Kody had to work so they asked if I could pick Freya up from school.

She had Show & Tell today and these are the things she brought with her to show to her class.

I asked her to give me a recap of how it went so here it is.

I spent most of my lunch hour shoveling the driveway, we didn't get a lot of snow but just enough that it needed a shovel.

Kody went to pick Freya up when he got off work but she didn't want to go home so I said she could stay.

Mom is going to watch her in the morning anyway since both Kody and Haylee are working so at least this way she can sleep in.

I had a 2 mile or 3.2k run on my training schedule today so I popped down to get that done.

Freya came down with me and sat on the chair by me and watched YouTube videos.

I had a tough time getting my phone back from her to take a picture of my run stats, she insisted on doing it herself.

Ha ha.

Here's the actual picture.

I ran at a speed of 4.0 for the whole run.

It was hard and I really wanted to slow it down but I wouldn't let myself.

I do need to push myself a bit and sometimes it feels hard but that's ok.

It feels so good when you push yourself a little and realize you can do it.

I was a sweaty mess again but to me that just means it was a great workout.

My workout check in for today.

My little partner wanted to be in the video.

I had leftover chili for lunch today and I had it again for supper.

I love leftovers - knowing supper is already prepared is awesome - I'll eat it everyday as long as it lasts.

Freya asked if she could have a bath and if I could do her hair which was an unusual request for her, normally I have to fight to do her hair.

I love how she looks with two little buns.

She just loves Frank and is always trying to cuddle him - normally he doesn't stick around but he did for a bit today.

He was even giving her kisses.

Frank says 'Hello everybody'.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Icey, Icey, Icey Out There (Jan.25, 2023)

Haylee was coming to the office to work again today so I went and picked her up around 9.

Bonnie is off to a service for her nephew that passed away over the weekend but she left lots for Haylee to do.

 Boy, thank goodness for these guys.

We have been having temperatures in the pluses each day then it drops down over night so the snow melts then freezes and everything is a sheet of ice.

These cleats come in very handy

I didn't let that stop me from getting out for my walk to the road though.

At lunch Haylee and I went to Subway and got lunches for us and Mom and Freya then went back to my place to eat.

I did a little shoveling on the walkway and driveway where some snow had drifted in.

Freya was a little upset when we had to leave to go back to work but Crystal had arrived to give mom her weekly massage so that kept Freya occupied.

When I got home from work, I finished shoveling the rest of the driveway and I did the sidewalk too.

It was a rest day for me today but I still had to get my 13,000 steps in so the shoveling helped with that.

Jason is eating vegetarian this week (he eats vegetarian for one week each month of the year) so I decided to make a big pot of vegetarian chili when I got home from work.

I had some veggie ground (imitation ground beef) and I added all kinds of veggies, some lentils and tomato sauce and threw it all into the slow cooker.

It was filled right to the very top.

I didn't realize it would make that much.

I had to pour it all out into a huge bowl to be able to stir it up then I poured it all back into the crock pot.

I had half of my sub from lunch still in the fridge so that is what I had for supper - the chili was nowhere near ready at that point.

When Jason got home from work, he, Morgan and I spent the evening chatting - it was nice.

The chili had cooked enough by 8:30 that we could all have a bit.

I'd already had my supper but I did have a little bowl to see how it turned out and it was delicious.

I spoke to Crystal about Disney plans (it's coming up quickly) and I think I'm going to have everyone over this weekend so we can finalize some things - like which park we want to go to, how many car rentals we'll need and stuff like that.

I was speaking to my brother as well and while he isn't coming, Mel and the kids are trying to.

She took the time off and she's still working on getting their passports and stuff.

I sure hope it all works out and that they can come.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Wednesday Addams in the House (Jan.24, 2023)

 Jason is coming home today and I'm excited to see him, I've missed him.

We needed to hire a temp to do some scanning for us at the office so I asked Haylee if she would be interested and she starts this morning.

I picked her and Freya up, dropped Freya off at school then brought Haylee to the office.

I gave her a tour then handed her over to Bonnie who she'll be working for.

She just had a short morning today, she worked until Freya was finished school then we picked her up and I dropped them both off at home.

Freya really wanted to go over and visit Nanny but I promised her that papa would come and get her when he got home.

I went home and had a quick lunch, did a little bit of shoveling then headed back to the office.

It was another busy day but I did manage to get out in the afternoon for a walk - It was a bit windy but mild out again.

If winter could stay like this it would be great.

When I got home after work, Jason had just gotten there and was heading out for a run so I went down and got Freya so she'd be here when he got back.

The little Wednesday Addams dress I ordered for her arrived yesterday - as soon as I showed it to her she wanted to put it on and do a pose.

She had to do a serious pose like Wednesday.

Then she wanted to do a smiling one too.

Then we decided to give her little Wednesday braids and she insisted on red lipstick too.

Jason got back right around that time so he took over hanging out with her and I went and hopped on the treadmill to do my workout.

She told him he had to be her little brother Pugsley, ha ha.

He got some more pictures of her but this time with the braids.

She just loved the dress.

Serving 'tea' to Nanny.

I'd seen Hunter when I was picking up Freya and told him he could come over after his supper if he wanted so Adrien dropped him off for a bit.

I was pretty much on the treadmill the whole time he was there but they had a great time running around playing with Jason.

I had to run 5k today and OMG, I struggled to do it.

I don't know why it felt so hard today.

I had to stop several times and there were a few points where the fastest speed I could run at was 3.0.

It felt like it took me forever.

I was running 5k in 45 minutes and less before the marathon - I've sure slipped back pretty far.

So not my best workout but I didn't quit and that's what counts.

I don't care if I'm the slowest, as long as I'm doing it.

I was super sweaty when I finally finished up.

My video check in for today.

Haylee is coming down to the office again tomorrow to work and Kody is working as well so Freya spent the night since Mom will be watching her tomorrow anyway.

I tried to get us to be early but Freya was kind of wound up, it was after midnight I think before she finally settled down and fell asleep.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!