very disappointed....

The Biggest Loser group at school has become the Amazing Race. Our walking group is no longer fun. What kills me is I was going to quit. I had already decided that they were pushing too hard and were not interested in what I wanted.... nice conversation, a tension release from the hectic school day and a little time with friends. I know I am not a fast walker. I know everyone could "lap me" if they wanted... today they proved it. We had 4 new people join the group today. They had been talking about joining us for a few days and finally did. They said they were worried that we went too fast and that they would not be able to keep up... I foolishly assured them that it would not be a problem. Skip, Megamom and Pepper decided that it was no longer a club but an all out opportunity to haul ass and took off at top speed. Three of the new people and I continued at our normal pace, but it was obvious that we belonged on the short bus of the group. I really doubt any of them will feel comfortable joining the group again. I am really disappointed about that. I am also disappointed that I was even talked into coming back into the group. Skip, Megamom and Pepper all told me when I said I was quitting that they missed me and really liked having me in the conversation. Well they sure did not show it today.

I thought the goal of our walking club was to encourage each other and be supportive. I feel so let down. I hope my friends feel proud of their walking accomplishments, because all they did was make me feel like crap... discouraged and left out.

Dill's Winter Program

We went to Dill's winter concert tonight. It is so cute what the music teacher could get the kids to do. Clapping their hands, waving their arms, spinning around on the risers in different directions. It really was a nice little show. Its great to go to these thing too. There were about 100 kids in the program and probably over 200 people in the audience watching. It was weird thinking that in 11 more years these kids would be graduating with Dill. The class of 2020. It sounds far off, but I think it will be here very quickly.

Pepper joined her schools Biggest Loser Contest. She is looking at all the labels on our food to decide which things are now edible (meaning worth their points). She is depressed about how fattening her beloved Carmel Lattes are. Our evening ice cream is now being replaced with popcorn and we've probably seen our last pizza for awhile. I am actually glad we are revamping things... it is time to get more serious about being healthy. I guess I should eat better so I can keep up with the walking club. They keep upping the number of laps we are doing... I am pretty sure they don't really like me and are trying to kill me!! They try to trick me by not saying how many laps we are on and chatting to keep me distracted... but I am on to them!! :)

These boots are made for walking

This morning the boys were getting ready for school and Dill asked how many inches of snow fell last night. Well, the news had said we were going to get 1, however from the view out our back porch it looked like we had more like 2 or 3. Pepper said, "probably 1-3 inches, why?" Dill replied that he was trying to decide if he should wear his shoes or if it was enough snow for him to wear his boots. I said it looked like quite a bit of snow and why couldn't he wear his boots and put his shoes in his backpack. Dill explained that his teacher would make him wear his boots outside for recess if he brought them even if he didn't need them. Pete asked Dill why that mattered. Dill replied that he didn't want to be the only one wearing boots because they'd all think he was weird. I thought I had a good response when I said, "Honey, its January. If you lived in Hawaii you would look funny. But you live in Michigan.... boots any day here would look just fine." He wore the boots... and came home from school saying he didn't need to.... indoor recess. 

Our walking group almost doubled in size today! We looked like quite the little club speed walking around the school. Lots of people were impressed by how fast we cruised around the building... but it was nice that a few of them actually joined us. Our times around increased to 25 (we usually due 10 to 20 laps)  Pepper and Skip (AKA... the long legged walkers) thought adding the extra laps would be fun and rewarding... but I couldn't tell you why. All I could hear was Megamom complaining about her shin splints!! We all survived the extra laps... but boy am I grateful for advil and a hot shower!!

Thanks for reading. :)

Not MEGA mom!!

Hurray!!! Megamom joined us for our daily walk after school today. She said it was because she was worried that her secret id meant that I thought she was a "Mega" (as in super-sized) Mom. That is not what I meant at all!! I am just so happy to know someone with more kids than me! Actually, now that I think about it, the first time I ever saw megamom she really was huge!! It was at our school district's opening day "pep" rally for teachers one year.... she was called down onto the stage.... I think it was to answer a question or win a prize, she was quite pregnant and actually was super-sized!! :) But she is not now.... big that is, I have no idea if she's pregnant again!! ;)

Yesterday, swim club started for the boys. The pool water was very cold because they turned the heater off during the winter break. The water temperature was 72 degrees. All the kids complained. Their skin turned a little blue but no pain, no gain right?!! The way this swim club works is the slowest swimmers (and those that can barely not sink) are in lane 1 and the kids move up the lanes as they become better swimmers. Pete has been in lane 5 or 6 for the last year or so, and Dill has been very content in Lane 1 since he joined the team a couple years ago. At breakfast this morning, Pepper asked Dill if he was still in lane 1. His response was, "No, I was the last survivor in lane 3." 

BTW... my suggestion for raising the water temperature was for the kids to pee in the pool. Pete was shocked and said, "Mom, sometimes I swallow a gulp of that water. That is so gross!!" Yeah, right... like I believe my boys have never peed in the pool. Dill answered that question quickly by responding with, "I peed in it. It was still too cold!!" Both boys laughed guiltily. I know my boys!!!