17 Day Diet

I've had a fat, happy summer...but it's time to get back into shape.  I know that sounds weird-like summer would be the perfect time to exercise and eat right...but when you're a teacher, I think the opposite is true and the school year provides so much more structure.  During the summer I cook and bake a lot and eat things like Wheat Thins for lunch (yes...just Wheat Thins, but polishing off a box isn't that hard).  I've also been happily enjoying cocktails, vino, cervesa's, etc. and we all know what booze does to your waistline (Remember the "Freshman 15")  So the plan is to start the 17 Day Diet...I actually started yesterday, but don't actually plan on counting day 1 until the first day of school because I'm going to be in Seattle this weekend and I know that I won't be able to stick to the plan.

It's not so much a diet as making really good choices with food within the parameters of 4 different 17 day periods...and then continuing to eat right.  Rocket Science right?  I read the book and feel motivated to give this a try...mainly because my beer gut is growing exponentially and I have a ton of clothes I love that are just a teensy bit too tight to be worn.  I'll keep you posted!

Enjoying Every Second!

I'm rejoicing in the fact that I took huge advantage of some icky, rainy July weather to get my classroom ready because now it is H-O-T and my classroom miss done and ready!  So what am I doing instead of slogging away in my classroom...enjoying summer!  Today was the perfect day on the lake-hot weather, smooth water, and lots of good water skiing.  Husband and I plan on squeezing every last second out of our summer before it's over.

Husband showing us how it's done

Book Club

About two years ago I started a book club with some friends and we've had a really good time sharing some interesting reads...while really savoring the more important aspect of a book club...girl time with an assortment of ladies, snacks, and wine!  Each month a new person hosts (and the host gets to pick the book), so we really end up reading a large collection of books that provide good conversation and a variety of perspectives.  It's a really cool way to encourage reading and listening to perspectives from other people.  We always end up talking about if the book would be a good movie (we read The Help ages ago...and predicted it would make a great movie...we were right!) and what stars would play the characters.  Not rocket science, but we try to keep it light and enjoyable.  The coolest thing about our book club is that we are all busy, working, moms and our gatherings are a great time to relax, visit, encourage, and share with each other....exactly what women should do! Girl Power.

So I'm going to start blogging  about what we are reading and hopefully encouraging others to get out there and read, but more importantly find fellowship with friends. 

This month we read The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompson

It's the story of an Iowa family and the journey all their lives take.  It follows the siblings as they grow and adventure out into the world.  The book jumps around a lot and I periodically had to flip back to remind myself who someone was.  The book was pretty depressing and I found myself wanting someone in it to be genuinely happy with their life.  However, every family has "issues" and this book did a nice job of dissecting and examining those from the different perspectives of the siblings.  I'm the youngest of three kids and I'm a strong believe in birth order.  This book played into that and I found myself relating to the private thoughts the siblings had towards their siblings, and then their handling of their aging parents. 

Definitely not in my top 10 list of books you need to read...go enjoy the summer favorite The Help and I'll report back next month on what we read!

Stehekin

This past weekend we were lucky enough to travel to Stehekin for a very special memorial for Bob Lehman. My family has been friends with the Lehman's for most of my life...Bob and his wife Shari have known me since I was really little..and really bratty!  They've seen me move from Redmond to Omak, graduate from HS, college, get married, have kids, and "grow up!"  Bob passed away last Spring and they waited until his 70th birthday (Aug. 13th) to hold a truly special celebration of his life.  They've owned a cabin in Stehekin for many years and it was the perfect place to remember him and spend time with a lot of really good friends. 

If you haven't been to Stehekin (or maybe haven't even heard of it) GOOGLE IT!  It's amazing!  Even with our gaggle of children, cousins, and friends kids, it is still the most relaxing place on earth.  Super Zen!  No phones...yeah, that's right...no CELL PHONES! I turned mine off when we got on the boat heading up lake and didn't touch it again until Sunday afternoon. Felt soooo good!  All the kids played outside all weekend and we enjoyed a lot of catching up and enjoying the breathtaking scenery.

 Stehekin sits at the very head of Lake Chelan...brrrr, the waters is icy cold!

 Beautiful!

 The view from our room!

 BFF cousin's riding the boat up lake!

 BFF cousin's and husband on the boat up lake!

 All 3 boy cousins!  Yes...cousin time!

 Nana and Beau checking out the old Lade of the Lake dock.

 Nana and Sissy on the boat ride up lake

 A whole lot of hitching rides takes place in Stehekin!

 SIL time... in the back of a pick up truck named Fiona...only in Stehekin!

The bottom of Rainbow Falls...so awesome!

Finley, Harper, and Presley checking out Rainbow Falls

 

Presley fell asleep on the bumpy dirt road!

 

Trevor...I've known this kid my entire life..some of my funnest memories of childhood include Trevor and my brofus Ryan. He gave a wonderful talk about his dad!

Another ride in Fiona!

Harper and Finny outside the kids play house that Bob built

Uncle Ryan on kid duty

Cousins snuggling before bed

Finny and Harper having a sleepover

"Tibby Wenatchee" enjoying a quiet moment before heading down lake

Toes in the lake...

We told you it was cold girls!

A Camping We Will Go...

The Sackman's haven't been avid campers since we became a family of 5...it's a lot of effort and not always so relaxing despite the great amount of work that goes into preparing to camp...plus, mama doesn't love to sleep on the ground.  But husband grew up going camping to Lake Roosevelt and I hate feeling like I'm the reason that a 23year tradition ended...so we went camping this weekend!!!!  The weather was gorgeous and we went with awesome friends, so overall it was a wonderful weekend! 

Everything we took had to fit on the boat..can you say "possibly exceeding the weight limit?"

 And boy and a shovel...what more does a kid need?

 The kids spent a majority of their days catching tadpoles in blue plastic cups

 Always patriotic...thanks Ryan!

 Finley, Coley, and Tj with their tadpole catchers!

Slip-n-sliding

 C-U-T-E Kids!

 Beau was totally not into touching a yucky, slimy fish!

 EEEEK!

 Jumping off the boat!

 Go Beau! This kid has come so far with his swimming this summer!

 Coley...sweet belly flop girl!

I need my hair brushed...I need a bath...I need a potty!

 Cannon up in the tree fort!

 Roasting mellows over..a propane fire. Classy!

 Time for "campfire"...and songs!

 Saturday night's entertainment...a wildfire.  Load up the boats and let's go check it out! 

 It was pretty cool to watch...and ended up being out before we woke up.

 Sissy was not happy...she was sure it was going to burn our camp up. Poor kiddo!

 Bugsy!

Coley and TJ playing horseshoes..these two kid's are quite the funny team!