Up until today I have been MIA from this blog.  I was on a journey - a journey to better health.  As the holiday season approached last year I began to notice more and more often some things that scared me health wise.  Numb hands, arm pain, constant heartburn, sleepless nights.... Through Thanksgiving and early December I just kept telling myself that I would change things tomorrow - because boy that comfort food tastes soooo good.  Well, after several sleepless nights that included arm pain I knew I couldn't put it off any longer.  Bless my dh's heart, he decided to get a Wii with Wii fit for our family for Christmas.  (No he really wasn't hinting, because he loves the food just as much as me & I had not told him about all that had been happening.) 

The day after Christmas I stepped on that balance board for my first body test.  BMI registering in the overweight category, and weight was 153 +.  I know there are people who struggle with much larger weight issues than me, but the only other time in my life I was that heavy was when I was very very pregnant. 

The first days and weeks of exercise were a struggle - I was truely a couch potato!!  I also completely changed the way I eat - cut calories, sodium, & added in lots more fresh veggies!  I couldn't tell a difference in myself for a long time, but dh was commenting often about how I was losing weight.  Now, after more than 3 months I am running 6 days a week - and wearing clothes I haven't worn in a LONG time.  All of the other symtoms have gone away & I feel better than I have in years!

December 25th - 153+ pounds and unhealthy

A picture my oldest dd took today - 121 pounds & feeling better than I have in a long time. 

Living on a farm out in the country we are surrounded by wildlife.  Recently a part of that wildlife ended up a little too close to our house for our dog's comfort.  After hearing Annie madly barking under the front porch, we went out to investigate.  Lo and behold she was fighting with a BEAVER under the front porch!  She would not come out no matter how we called her.  After about an hour and a half she let the beaver walk away.  Crazy!

We are blessed to be able to travel with Daddy ocassionaly.  He has to travel for business some weeks, and if we can tag along I try to find a field trip opportunity for us.  Recently we went on a whirlwind trip across Virginia with him.  Our first stop was Charlottesville, where we visited Monticello.  It was sooooo cold that day!

From there we went to Richmond for a short stop, and finally to Norfolk.  In Norfolk we spent the day at Nauticus - a Naval history musuem.  We even got to explore the USS Wisconsin.

The nature of dh's job (and our broadband connection) allow him to work from home sometimes.  On this particular day he had been up under our old farmhouse checking the ducts.  Our crawlspace is very, very dusty.  Dh often has to be on conference calls - and this day was no different.  I happened to glance out the window and see dh pacing in the side yard, still in his dusty coveralls - holding his Blackberry, earbud in, on a conference call. 

I feel truly blessed that he is able to work from home some - because he is able to spend more time with us, and has become more involved with our homeschool efforts.

Last month we took a trip to Colonial Williamsburg with several of the homeschooling families from our church.  We had a really good time.  Most of our group had never been to Colonial Williamsburg, or had not been in many, many years.  Some fun shots from the trip...

Waiting for Revolutionary City events to begin

Youngest dd and ds admiring the horses

Uh-oh - in the stocks!  In the second picture youngest dd decided it would be great fun to trap her older sister and her friend.  She lifted the heavy bar long enough for them to get one foot out, then dropped it back down and sat on it. 

Waiting for the next part of Revolutionary City

One of our favorite parts....the Fife and Drum group

Ater wrapping up our schoolwork on Thursday we decided to haul the kayaks down to the lake & paddle around for awhile.  There are lots of opportunities for nature study around the lake.   We saw quite a few turtles - both on logs and just poking their heads up out of the water.  Our silly dog could not stand the fact that we were out on the water without her, so she followed along.  We had to continuously go near shore so she could rest.  The highlight of the afternoon came when we heard "our" osprey calling out.  He was sitting in a nearby tree.  We watched as he took off, circle a few times, then dove into the water to catch a fish.  He took the fish into a nearby tree to eat it.

We have been enjoying the company of this creature in our tomato garden for the past week.   Last night I really wanted the huge red tomato under her web, so I loudly asked Ms. Spidey if she would mind moving, LOL!  I just about jumped out of my skin when she scampered up onto the tomato cage.  I called the kids out to see her & bring the camera. 

DH was bush hogging all of the unused fields last night & the kids and I enjoyed checking to see what we could find after he moved on.  Oldest dd and I saw several toads, a frog, and a wolf spider that was so huge we could hear it walking through the cut grass.  YIKES! 

I am looking forward to cooler weather so that we can spend more time outside.

While we were in Maine we visited the Owl Head Transportation Musuem.  While there we saw Bleroit XI - another FIAR connection (The Glorious Flight).

Other sights we enjoyed on our trip...

Walking the Breakwater - Momma & Abigail were too cold and Daddy had to take us back to the van, but Meme, Dede, Erin, & Austin made it all the way to the end.

Camden Hills State Park, where we read a poem written by Edna St Vincent Millay - written right where we were standing!

At the top of Champlain Mtn. in Acadia National Park...

We also visited Ft. Knox, Lane's Island Nature Preserve (where Momma sat mezmorized watching a tide pool - we talked about the book Pagoo by Holling C Holling), lots of lighthouses and small towns up and down the coast. 

When we got back to Boston we went on a whale watching trip...

...saw the USS Constitution....

...and we also walked parts of the Freedom Trail - visiting the Paul Revere house & the Old North Church (FIAR connection, Paul Revere's Ride).