I Can't Put My Arms Down!

I'm getting worried that my son is getting too "Vegas."  Getting stuck by a cactus doesn't bother him.  He loves neon lights and show-tunes (okay, he loves all music).  And he hates the cold.  Of course, "cold" to him is about 40 degrees.  He's never been out in anything colder.  "Bundling up" here is about tennis shoes, hoodies, and MAYBE a stocking hat.  Maybe.  And snow is an absolutely foreign concept.  The kid is missing out on so much.  I knew I had to fix this.

So, a few weeks ago I went online and bought some snow clothes for him (because--surprise surprise--I couldn't find ANYTHING for him here).  He absolutely fell in love with the boots and insisted on wearing them for the rest of the day . . . 

. . . while playing with his trains . . . 

. . . while "helping" me cook dinner . . . 

. . . while re-arranging the refrigerator magnets . . .

. . . and while watching 'Thomas and Friends.'

Even when I made him take them off (he would't fit in his high chair with them on), he insisted on carrying them around.  They had Lightening McQueen and Mater on them.  Come on--they were COOL boots.

Needless to say, I was pretty stoked.  I figured if he loved his boots that much, he would love an opportunity to really wear them.  We had to wait a LONG TIME for Daddy to finally get some time off work but, finally, today, we were able to head up to Mt. Charleston and test them out (oh, and our new sled, too).  We figured it would be one of the last weekends to take advantage of the rapidly melting snow.  We were right, too.  The "snow play" was actually closed due to lack of snow, but there was still enough on the ground to make a go of it in other places.

Boots, pants, heavy jacket, hat, gloves . . . this kid literally walked like Randy in 'A Christmas Story.'  He really COULDN'T put his arms down!

Once the initial shock wore off, there was trepidation about the white stuff . . .

. . . and then enjoying the sled for about 30 seconds.

And then came the utter frustration at being unable to walk, run, or generally move at ALL . . . which was also accompanied by several slips, trips, and falls on the snow AND the pavement.  In less than 30 minutes, this kid was DONE with the snow.

Mommy and Daddy sure enjoyed it, though. :)

52-Week Challenge: COMPLETE!

Well, I did it.  Last January, I set out to complete a new kind of resolution.  Taking a cue from the book 52 Small Changes by Brett Blumenthal, I resolved to make a small change every week in a quest to make myself healthier and happier by 2013.  It wasn't easy, but I'm happy to say that I did it!  I kept up with a small change every week.

Now, that being said, I'll also be honest.  There are some challenges that I tried for a few weeks and decided not to continue (things like keeping a food journal and eating fish twice a week), and there are a few things that I don't do every single day or week but still try to incorporate into my life as much as possible (like eating 3 cups of beans a week or doing strength training for 20 minutes, 3 times a week).  But, for the most part, I am really proud of the things I have stuck with and that are now permanent parts of my life (Just to name a few:  drinking water, taking multivitamins, running, wearing sunscreen, and getting rid of all toxic chemicals in my house).  And, reflecting upon where I was mentally, emotionally, and physically this time last year, I can honestly say that I AM healthier and happier now.  For once, I made a New Year's resolution that actually WORKED.

This started out as a group challenge, but really fell to a personal one about half-way through the year.  And, honestly, that is what I'm most proud of.  Despite having no one to hold me accountable but myself, I continued with my resolution and stuck with it, every week.  So yes, it may sound like I'm giving myself a pat on the back . . . and I guess I am. :)

But how in the world am I going to top this resolution in 2013?  Hmmmmm . . . standby for that one. :)

Happy New Year, everyone!