Fun in the Sun

My sister and her family came to visit for 10 days last week and we had a fantastic time goofing around California.
Top ten list of things we did -
10. Visited Fisherman's Wharf where it was it's usual freezing, wind - blowing spectacular self.

9. Went to Henry Cowell State Park and walked around the redwood trees (which is really quite challenging with a 2 year old who doesn't walk well and an almost 2 year old who runs circles!) The 0.8 mile walk was very beautiful, and very long.

8. We went to the beach where we saw people swimming in burkas - I wish I had a picture (but that's disrespectful right?  I really really wanted to take one).
7. On our way to the beach we came to a light next to this in Santa Cruz.  As she passed one of her "Dominatrix for Dummies" cards into the car and invited us to the show I heard my brother in law say..."I love California". 

6. Cousins getting to know each other is awesome - and sometimes very very loud.  Getting to know you in 2 year old language is often filled with tears. But look at them, seriously, twins born a year apart.

5. Getting to hang out with my awesome 99 year old Grandma and listen to her stories about the "olden days" and how she's going to "snoopervise" my Uncle in her garden.  I love her made up words.

4. Visiting Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth really makes me happy.....It made me so happy this time that we are annual pass holders now....WOO HOO!

3. My child getting to know his Uncle Gregg and loving him so much that he has to hold his hand at all times, even through meals.....awesome

2. Getting to hang out with my niece and nephew and making some awesome memories.

1. This is my take away memory from my whole trip.....too bad there is no picture.
As we stopped for lunch in the quaint little town of Solvang we chose a sweet little Danish restaurant for some Abel skivers.  Halfway through our meal Erik vomited all over the table.  Which, is mortifying enough.  However, that was not enough for the Universe to give me.  When I pulled him out of the booster I realized there was runny poop EVERYWHERE.  It was going down both legs, (he had on shorts) and into his socks and shoes.  We couldn't carry him to bathroom since then WE would be covered with poop.  We had to get him to walk (while he was screaming) and try not to call too much attention to ourselves.  Well, as he walked poop fell in little cow pies behind him with every step.  Which caused a waitress to run after me and hand me a rag to wipe up the piles.  We then took over the woman's bathroom for operation clean up.  Woman were surprised to walk in and see Mike wrangling a poop covered child.........ah, the life of parents.
All in all it was a super fun trip and so very nice to have my sister and her family here.   Wish we lived closer so we could all hang out more. 

Now, onto diet progress.  I'm down 30 pounds in 6 weeks. I should be, because I barely eat anything.  Disneyland on a diet was a challenge, and I can imagine it would be a HUGE challenge to someone just dieting but not actually forced into how much to eat based on their stomach.  I carried a lot of my food in, and shared lots of bites with my mom and Mike. Ive' learned to look for high protein appetizers and just order those. At least I'm not thinking about eating, that would make it REALLY hard. I took little steals of my sister's Diet Dr. Pepper while she was here, then I got brave and poured myself one........I took 4 sips and was over it. 
It's tough to get all the vitamins down, the food doesn't make me sick, but the vitamins do - terribly.  I hate them, but if I don't take them my hair falls out.
I'm starting to fit into the "skinny" clothes in my closet - awesome.  I now weigh less than I did when I got married. Double awesome!
I live on chicken - so please send your chicken recipes!
I dreamed last night that I was SQUATTING down to talk to a child.  Like knees bent, and not out of breath or in pain!  I hope to be there soon. 
Oh, and I didn't have any anxiety about the rides at Disneyland because I knew I was thinner than the last time I was there!
The children at school don't have any idea about my surgery but I don't hide it.  Here's the conversation I had with a 3 year old yesterday.

Child: Teacher Becky how come you're not eating bread?

                             Me: Because I had special work done on my tummy and now I can't eat bread.
Child: Is the specialness your Uterus?

Me: (????????????????????) Um, no something else in my tummy.

Child: Oh, my mom told me "uteruseses" are special, I hope you have a special Uterus.

 My special stomach and uterus hope you are all doing well! And really people, chicken recipes, please.