bootcamp

so i started a 12 week bootcamp on the 4th of july. a week late, so really it's only 11 weeks for me. the first class was miserable. i ran to the bathroom 3 times thinking i was going to lose my cookies (i never did, though). i knew i was out of shape, but really didn't know just how bad off i was until that class. when i decided to do this, all i was thinking was "i just want to lose my ellie-belly". but after that first class, i changed that goal to "get through a class without feeling like i'm going to throw up". i thought i had reached that goal until tonight, but i'm sure there will be those days. i'm definitely improving in endurance, though. now i get excited for the challenge that each class brings. i'm still always last at everything, the MOST out of shape and a lot of times i'm the one holding everyone back, but everyone is always so supportive and encouraging to me, which motivates me to give my all. i often think of one of our family mottos we always are telling the boys "DAHLSTROMS DON'T GIVE UP!" and i won't. what i lack in self motivation i make up for in work ethic. if that makes any sense, anyway.

i'm really awkward still when it comes to meeting new people and trying new things scares the heck outta me, so i'm really really proud of myself for putting myself out there. it's a bit embarrassing that i don't know how to stretch properly, and that i have to copy others b/c i don't know the proper technique of anything really. BUT... i KNOW that i will only be better because of this, in more ways that just the obvious.

i'm being realistic about what the outcome of this session will be for me. it ends in september, right before my birthday. all i want is to NEED to buy new clothes by then.

my lowest weight ever-senior yr of HS- 120ish
when i got married-125
pregnant w/jax-130
9mos w/jax-160
pregnant w/ boomer-145
9mos w/ boomer-180
pregnant w/ellie-191
9mos w/ellie-222
start of bootcamp-175
end of bootcamp goal- i couldn't care less about my weight. i care about how my clothes fit me, and getting rid of this soft, round belly i've got. i should have measured myself to see if i'll have lost inches, but didn't. so i'm just hoping to have some jeans be too loose to look right anymore once i'm done.

BUSY BODIES

we've been keeping VERY busy so far in the month of july.

my cousin cory got married to his high school sweetheart, whitnee. it was a very beautiful wedding, i loved their entrance. he came right up to the aisle in the old truck he built with his dad, and her in a horse drawn carriage. so sweet. i can't believe that he's old enough to be married. which means my baby brother is, too! weird.


the fourth of july this year was jam packed. i started Xfit, a 12 week bootcamp that morning. it kicked my butt, but there was not rest for the weary. our tradition of watching fireworks at maritime heritage park was broken this year. i was sad to not spend the holiday with our best friends like every year since forever, but had a great time with family instead. i made ellie this hairclip and sweet dress (without a pattern) the night before, and i LOVE it. having a girl is so fun!

we had planned to go to the waterslides anyway, but our bank had a deal going on where if you take pics of your family participating in all their deals for the month on the 8th, then they'd give each family member admission and wrist band for rides at the fair for free. what a deal! so we went to the waterslides a day early. it was a spontaneous and super fun adventure!


yesterday was the relay for life. it was nice to spend a short amount of time with our team. next year we'll walk at night so we have more time to be there and be more involved.

this kid is an amazing inventor! he builds legos like none other. here he built a videotape. how he knows what a videotape is? i have no idea. sad, that makes me feel old. please excuse the crazy face.



little miss is getting to big for her britches. she loves to stand up and hold onto things. she didn't pull herself up into this position. i put her there. but she did stand up for a really long time, i have about 20 pics of her standing there to prove it! she's scooting all over the place now. not crawling yet, but girl gets to where she wants to be!


boomer is mr personality. as always. this is his newest trick, he says he learned it from uncle andy. i tell him "your face will get stuck that way!" it is my job, afterall to say motherly things like that, right! i also tell him "just look at uncle andy, you want to have a permanent goofy face like him?!" which is my sisterly duty ;)


next up on our busy schedule...birthday party BBQ for jason, more bootcamp, picking berries and making freezer jam, some other fun adventures while daddy has this week off, denson family reunion...and who knows what else july'll bring!

TEETH

she's working on popping out her fourth tooth already!

sleep update

so moving ellie to her own room has proven to be successful. for the last week ellie has been sleeping like a champ. we put her down at 8:30 and she'll sleep until 4:30 to eat and go right back to sleep until 7:00 or 7:30. and last night she slept all the way through until 6am! and now i've got my two babies napping at the same time. it's silent. well, other than the hum of the dishwasher. i should be cleaning the house but i'm choosing to do absolutely nothing but document this free time.

yesterday we washed and detailed our cars for the first time in forever, set up the kiddie pool and mowed and weedwhacked. we were outside soaking up the sunshine ALL DAY long. we were sure to slather up the kiddos with sunscreen, but did i remember for myself? no. and i've got quite the red back and shoulders to prove it :( boomer got a bit too much sun i think, too. so we're hanging out inside today, even though the sun is summoning us. we'll probably go play in the pool when jax gets out of school today and pool is in the shade.

WARNING:

MAY INDUCE CANNIBALISTIC INSTINCTS!!

ellie's first swimsuit 7mos old *swimsuit size 18 mos!

seriously, though?? how much do you want to eat those knees?!

wish us luck!

today is a momentous occasion in the dahlstrom household. we are moving ellie into her own room tonight. i really hope this helps. i started missing her when i was moving the crib pieces into her room. let's hope i don't end up sleeping on her floor!

4 Generations of Anne

4 Generations of firstborn daughters

Patricia Anne Denson 70
Linda Anne Denson 48
Crystal Anne Dahlstrom(Denson) 29
Ellison Anne Dahlstrom 6months

Wow, writing out our ages just made me feel really old. My mom had me when she was 18, grandma had my mom (her 3rd child) when she was 22. I can't imagine having 4 kids by the time I was 24! You sure are a superwoman, grandma! I'm so thankful that i have my mom and grandma in my life, and that they are so young and spunky! Today was a great mother's day!