Vermont Photo Journal

Easter dinner

Crossing the reservoir on snowshoes, I couldn't resist this beautiful picture

Liam and Conor at the Fun Zone -- I've managed to avoid this all week!

Conor and Liam ready for another day on the slopes

Mmmmm, Mommy's Time Out -- what a perfect name for a wine!

Conor at the splash pool

Liam in the pool

The hot tub is ideal after a glass of Mommy's Time Out!

We have had many intense Uno competitions . . . . I learned that Conor will cheat and lie without the slightest hesitation . . . .

My MOOSE sighting . . . . ok, it is made of wood, but I love this guy!

During my snowshoe, I went across the reservoir and up the hill straight ahead

Liam showboarding!

Liam and Conor all set to head down the mountain

Conor doing jumps. . . . the next photo was on his bum!

Liam looking good!

The boys are doing great skiing. They hit all three mountains yesterday. I got out to XC ski for the first time all year and it went ok. I didn't want to push it, so 45 mins. was enough for me. I've been busy swimming, lifting, doing elliptical and yoga -- whew! I've needed a nap every day at 3:00 . . .

I've also been busy cooking, doing laundry, and reading too. Much needed R&R along with my workouts . . . .

Shampoo, Swimming, and Skin Cancer -- OH MY!

Coloring eggs Saturday night

Happy Easter from Vermont!!

We arrived yesterday and settled in to a different condo. We all like our regular condo better, but we needed the switch to make it out over spring break. And yes, the Easter bunny found us this morning and the boys really cleaned up with the sweets and treats!

So, what's the "S" theme all about?

SHAMPOO - remember that old school kid trick of making someone repeat after you, "Ohwah tagu, siam" faster and faster? Well, that is what I felt like yesterday morning when I awoke in a hotel room just past Rochester, jumped in the shower and went to shampoo my hair. Friday when I packed, I filled my gym bag shampoo bottle with conditioner and my conditioner bottle with shampoo -- both were half full when I refilled them. A combination of shampoo/conditioner doesn't seem to work very well for either purpose. Today I dumped out half of each and I hope i can stretch them out through the trip. . . .

SWIMMING - yes!! After 3+ weeks out of the pool, I swam 20 mins. OK, the water was 88 degrees hot, but I swam. It felt great and my stroke seems fine. I just felt a little tightness across my pecs, but I'm sure it is from 3 weeks of not moving in that manner. I'm so psyched to be back in the pool, I won't let the HOT temps bother me. Plus, I'm taking it easy this week getting back, so the heat won't kill me like it would for a tough workout. OK, it was weird to have the teenage lifeguard boys watch me . . . good thing none of the kids swimming needed help!

SKIN CANCER - I have a pre-cancerous spot on my right cheek that we are treating with a cream that will basically make it raw for several weeks while it destroys the cells. I can't put anything on it except the cream (I got approval for some sunscreen), so I'm a little nervous when ever I'm outside. The sun is shining and the sky is blue and I'm freaked out whenever I step outside. Thankfully the pool is a short walk from our condo, but I'm nervous each minute I'm out. I have the nickle sized scar on my leg from the basal cell cancer in '97 as a constant reminder of what I don't want to have happen to my face.

Yes, I will put my post-op pics out soon! Patience grasshopper! These things take time to settle into their final place. My left side is there and I expect the right side to be "done" by the end of this week. Heck, I'm still bruised slightly. Dr. G. was really pleased with my progress on Thursday and I have the go ahead to start back to running. A special shout-out to Naira and Chuck for the HOOTERS t-shirt that arrived this week!! Excellent, my friends!

The boys are heading back out to ski now and I'm doing my yoga. Later I will make my Honey-Baked Ham recipe and King Crab Legs for Easter dinner. Yes, vacation for me is working out, cooking and laundry in another place . . . . not complaining though, enjoying the time with my boys.

More soon . . . .

Yeah, they're fake!

Training has been going great and the weight training has really put me in my best body shape in years. . . . . with one exception. My boobs (ok, not that there was much, but at least I had a little) -- totally gone. I caught my reflection in the window after a swim and saw that my heart rate monitor protruded farther than anything else (see photo -- that bump is the HRM), and well, damn that just stinks! I also noticed that some of the fit, healthy women in Oxygen and the fitness center have had breast augmentation and I thought "why not me?" I spent 1 1/2 years pregnant, 5 1/2 years breastfeeding, and I have 13-15% body fat. I think I've earned a little boost. Bill was supportive (no pun intended) and the boys were cool with it. So, long story short, I got my "twins" on the 29th (does that mean they only age every four years???)!

I am amazed at how I walked into the surgery center at 10:30 and walked back out at 2:30 (albeit with an extra pound and a half on my chest!) and was out watching (what else) soccer and basketball the next day. OK, I was on pain meds and Bill was shuttling me around, but nonetheless, it was almost too easy. My recovery is going great, but I still have some bruising and they need to settle down into place. I was able to lift and ride a week after surgery and now I'm back to everything except running and swimming (no, they won't make me more buoyant!).

The other benefit from this (ok, I'm sure there are a number of benefits :-)) is that we discovered I have a umbilical hernia that needs repaired. I just chalked it up to the second pregnancy, but now I'm looking at a hernia repair later this year. At least I am totally comfortable with my surgeon (Dr. Steven Goldman at Beachwood Plastic Surgery -- love the whole staff!) and have no qualms about going under again.

DeSoto Sport was wonderful, as always, too! I bought a couple bathing suits last year before my Snickers discount was gone. Well, I started with a small top which was more suited for a 9 year old girl. So they let me switch it for a medium top which has been hanging in the bag -- tags and all -- behind my bedroom door since December -- patiently awaiting the warm days ahead. Well, ummm, I now need a large (their sizes really do run small -- I didn't go crazy with the size -- really!!). I emailed them and explained my "predicament" and they told me to send them back and we could exchange with no problem!! I love DeSoto! The 2008 DeSoto catalog does include my cocktail fueled love note about the T1 wetsuit . . . . which I'm not sure will fit any longer . . . . oh heck, I may be ordering more. . . .

Oh, a special thanks to Kathleen and Alyson for the personalized card with my blog photos photoshopped onto the likes of Pam Anderson and Anna Nicole Smith! Nice!

I guess it isn't ALL about the booty!