10 on Tuesday

Edited to add: Ok, so I started writing this on Tuesday (on my phone) and got obsessed watching the 2 hour House finale and finished writing it today (on my slow computer).

I have been meaning to do a 10 on Tuesday but never remember ON Tuesday. :)

10 on Tuesday is really 10 random thoughts or things I've been thinking about all on one blog.

1. There are posted no parking signs for a reason people. I couldn't help but smile when there was some chaos at school pick up one day when people were getting tickets. Hello! If you park where it says you can then you won't have this problem! Did it stop people from parking in the wrong spot the next day? Nope. Lesson not learned. I wish they would do a mass ticketing at soccer too. So many idiots parking where it clearly is marked not to.

2. This weekend was quite the adventure. We camped in line at the school we are trying to get the kids into. It actually wasn't bad. We met some cool people. We played games, looked out for each other, ate together, etc. In case you missed it I will say it again. We were 5th in line. Thought we were 4th in line for 1st grade (with 6 openings) but one person ahead of us didn't have all of her paperwork so we were 3rd in line. We were 2nd in line for 3rd grade (Zero spots available so we will be on a wait list). There usually is movement in the summer so we are hoping to get her in also before school starts. Scott and I talked about it and even if he ends up getting a job back near Whittier and we end up moving back, this was all still worth it. The kids will remember what we were willing to do to get them into a better school. The top photo is seriously the smartest ice cream man ever. It was in the 90s both Saturday and Sunday so he had a captive hot audience for delicious treats. If it wouldn't have made me sick, I probably would have bought one. The one photo under that one is of the front of the line. Our tent is on the right. Second one on the right. You probably can't see the first because ours is a lot bigger. This is the corridor to the office at the school. Everyone was so nervous that they wouldn't have every little thing filled out on their paperwork or have exactly what they needed. Because we have heard about people getting told they can't register until they have everything complete. So they would be sent home to get whatever it was they needed and have to go to the back of the line (and probably not get in). Even with all of the checking, people still didn't have it all. One lady who was 3rd in line didn't have proof of residency so she was sent home to get it (and copy it). Can you even imagine waiting all weekend camping knowing you are 3rd in line (she was 2nd for 1st graders) and then not having everything. She must have thought she had it. It's one of the things on the checklist. So glad we had it all.

3. Courtney got her trophy for soccer! She was so excited. They were superhero themed. The boys got Hulk smashing a soccer ball. Soccer is now over. Skyler's party is next week and she will be getting a trophy too. It's been a fun season.

4. The girls did amazing at soccer last Saturday. Courtney had 7 goal attempts that were so close but didn't make it in. She did score a goal at her practice game the night before so we are counting it. :) Skyler scored 3 goals this game!!! She was rocking it this game. She was really going after that ball. (Was going to add a picture, but my computer is being weird.)

5. "House" is one of my favorite shows. I am obsessed with it and am sad to see it go. Watched the 2 hour special for the finale. The first hour was Hugh Laurie (the guy who plays House) doing a behind the scenes tour with cast members during the final days and scenes from the past seasons. Then the hour long finale. I won't do a spoiler just in case some of you haven't watched it yet. I liked how they ended it. Now I have all of the DVD sets (except season 7 and the current season (8) that just ended) to watch as well as DVRing it when it comes on. I think what really intrigued me was his mind. The vast knowledge and how he could come up with these random things that all fit together. I frequently look up diagnosis that they talk about just to learn a little more about it. So, to me, the show was/is educational.

6. School is almost over. It's always fun to have the girls here having fun and going on outings. Not a fan of the fighting that ensues when they spend too much time together. Looking forward to the fun, sleeping in, and no homework. Their school time has been my gym/cleaning time so we will have to figure out a new schedule or combine things.

7. I soooo badly want to go to Coffee Break tonight. My friend, Sarah is singing/speaking tonight. We have grown up together through our small choir, Inspirations. We have gone through a lot through the years. I believe it was 17 years we were in that choir together. However, it's in Whittier. And we already are going to Whittier this weekend and next week and the week after. Our gas bill is horrible. So, not sure if I convince Scott or not if I can drive there tonight.

8. Can't believe I'm almost caught up on posting picture to facebook of our personal pictures. I uploaded more to our computer to go through but I'm current through March. :) Just need to pick what to upload from April and what has already happened in May.  I was in September so this is huge.

9. This piggy backs on the previous one. I finally decided to just post straight from my camera to facebook for my regular photos. I kept feeling like I wanted to edit them so they would look better, but just did not have the time. I finally had to give myself permission to not have all of my pictures look professional. They truly are snapshots. I kept thinking that it would represent me poorly as a photographer but seriously? This is my personal page, not my business one. And I have a life. I have a family. I can edit those few that I really want to have fun with, otherwise they are SOOC (straight out of camera).

10. So excited for my first maternity photo shoot coming up next month. The woman is one of my new friends from MOPS. We really hit it off and have been hanging out. Speaking of hanging out. I have a few friends up here now and none of them knew each other. Or at least I thought so. (Turns out 2 of them had spoken before at MOPS.) So I thought it would be fun to arrange a girl's night out so they could all meet each other and we could all benefit from our friendships. 3 of us are new to the area and one is a veteran to the High Desert. We had such a great time and are scheduling our next meet up. So fun!

Ready, Set, Go!

Our camping adventure begins today! Not that excited about it but ready to endure it. Today is the first day we are allowed to camp out at the school we want to get the kids into. Yes, you read that right. Not some fun camping in the woods. But camping in a line all in the name of better education.

The actual registration is at 6am on MONDAY! They warned us about the amount of student openings per grade that they have. Saying that they usually have movement in the summer also. We are hoping we can get them in. There are 9  1st grade openings and 0 3rd grade openings. HOPING that there will be an opening in 3rd over the summer. We know at least 3 other 3rd graders who are trying to get in because Courtney recognized them from her own class. The majority of people camping will be for Kindergarten. There were tons of people at the information meeting for kinder. There are a ton of openings for kinder too. I think like 39 or something. However, they warned us that usually about 30-40 people show up to camp over the weekend. So, they warned us that we weren't allowed to be there until 4pm Friday (today). Even our cars can't be parked in the lot until then. Everyone who is in line will have their paperwork stamped in order and the kids will get in in order received and a waiting list after that.

We also are on the waiting list (no camping needed) for another school that is further away. First on the list for 3rd grade and 3rd or 4th in line for 1st grade. But they said they would call us in the beginning of June to let us know. (After this school camping thing is over.) And we won't find out about this school until I believe it was the middle of June.

What a hassle this all is. We could just keep them in their current school but it is just a much lower performing school. I forget what they call it, but their school is on review. And while their teachers did end up doing a little more with them (based on my asking), the base of what the norm of the school was, was so much lower than their level. They were excelling at their previous school, which had a much higher performing level. They were both doing so well there being challenged. Just want to have them have a similar experience with school here.

It will all be worth it in the end. Just have to endure this weekend. Not sure we would be able to make this happen if my mom wasn't coming to help out with the kids. She can stay at our house and sleep with the kids while Scott and I are at the school. That way if either of us need to leave to go to the bathroom or whatever, we can and someone will still be in the line. Ug. It will all be worth it....it will all be worth it...

Blogger Mobile App

Trying out my new blogger mobile app. I figured it would be fun and easier on the go to just add pictures from my phone. Texting this in however might not be pretty. ;) lol

I talked to some random guy at the gym. Normally people don't talk to you. He said, "You go girl!" as well as a few other things. Really wish I could know my heart rate on the stairs because my heart always feels so fast on there. Lol Of course the day after I talk about heart changes. Haha

I also ran a little today and feel great!!! I walked the first mile and didn't have any hip or back pain so I thought I would go for it. Happy to say I ran the second mile. Felt like I could have gone on but didn't want to push it. Baby steps.

Check out this awesome "Sweet Shoppe". Shauna did amazing. Loved it!!

Heart Improvements

I love it when I notice good health changes along the weight loss journey. Since I have been working out so consistently (almost every day), I have been noticing changes. Heart changes!

When I used to exercise and noticed my heart rate, I would start in the 150s and go up to the 180s. Of course at that point I would slow down because that is high. So now I am working out just as hard or harder and starting out in the 130s and going up to 150s usually. Occasionally I'll see a 160 in there.

I like to motivate myself by trying to work harder than the person next to me. But when I glanced over I just happened to see her heart rate. So, I slowed my speed to match hers and my resistance level lowered to match hers. This was a much skinnier person. Her heart rate was in the 160s/170s and Mine was in the 130s/140s. I was sooo excited about that. That is some serious change. I used to not like to hold on to the heart rate thing much because my heart rate was high usually, even if I wasn't doing too much. What a change.

Weight Loss Update: Things are going GREAT!!! I am consistently losing. I'm at 34 pounds lost now. This fitness app is really helping me. Picturing myself having to add something to my log makes me not want to choose certain things. Making healthier choices and keeping moving every day is my new norm.

I haven't run in a while. I tried once last week because my hip wasn't hurting anymore. (Probably because I wasn't running.) But I tried just for half a mile and all of a sudden my back starts hurting again. UG! If it's not one thing it's another. It was making me limp so I had to start walking and then even walking was hurting too much. Seriously need to call the doctor and make an appointment already. I'm not letting this stop me from working out though. I'm just choosing other workouts to do. NO EXCUSES!! So many of my friends ran in half marathons or full marathons yesterday. ahh really makes me want to run. Can't believe I would ever really say that. I actually like to run and I miss it.