Throwback Thursday - Grandparent's Lunch

One of the traditions at the elementary here, is an "Invite Your Grandparents to Lunch" day. It's always the second week of March. This year, it was one week ago and as the next few days passed, I kept seeing the previous years pictures popping up in my Facebook memories. I thought I'd create a comparison post to look at the pictures from the past five years!

The picture above (my parents) and below (my MIL) with the three youngest boys.

 

It was 2012, and the boys were in 5th, 2rd and kindergarten (just a half day, so it was a treat for him to come eat lunch at the school too!) It was a luau theme. One of the most memorable things about it for me (as I go and take pictures and visit with the grandparents as well) was that #4, could hardly wait to get out to recess and didn't really want to stop and take the pictures. Now I know for most kids, that wouldn't be considered unusual, but for THIS kid ... we'd been struggling with a weather phobia and extreme anxiety. He rarely went to recess at all for months because he was too scared to go outside. I remember feeling so happy as he skipped off to play.

In 2013 ... the school did a circus theme. They had a cute photo booth with funny props; hats, wigs, glasses, etc. But ... the line for pictures was quite long, and once again, my boys were anxious to hit the playground. They didn't want to wait around for the official photos, so I just snapped this one in front of one of the other displays.

The boys were in 1st, 3rd and 6th grade this year. My MIL couldn't make it out, but my parents came. My boys generally bring a cold lunch from home. I prepped a "lunch" for my folks too. A note is sent home prior to the event, and grandparents are more than welcome to purchase a school lunch. Sometimes the visitors would grab something special on the way and bring it (a Little Ceasars lunch or McDonalds). 

The different grades have various lunch times, but the kids would be excused from classes to join siblings and grandparents to lunch together.

The following year, after much contemplation and consideration ... we switched elementary schools. The year-round schedule was difficult on #4 (every time we'd stop and start it would be like the beginning of school again) and I sure like a routine. With the older boys on a traditional schedule, we wanted all the kids with a full summer for family activities.

In 2014 ... 

the two youngest were in the 2nd and 4th grades.

I was a little surprised when March rolled around and there is was ... Invite Your Grandparents to Lunch day!  I thought it was just something our old school did. I guess not. My parents were planning on coming, but then had a medical situation pop up with my dad. Luckily, Maga (my MIL) was able to to get off work and come down. No theme or props this year, but of course I still get pictures!

#4 proudly wearing his new school t-shirt!

In 2015 the boys were in 5th and 3rd grade. My parents made it out this year.  The boy's lunches overlapped, so I didn't worry about checking one out to join the lunch party ... but then it was just taking TOO long, especially standing in line, as #5 was taking hot lunch. #4 was anxious to hit the playground. Too anxious to wait around for his brother and a group picture. Individual pictures with the grandparents it was.  Note our cute basketball lunchbox *Ü*

... and this year! Just last week, March 10, 2016.  The boy's lunches were very far apart this year. #5 (4th grade) had lunch starting at 11:10, and #4 (6th grade) didn't have lunch until 12:40.  Knowing there was NO WAY #5 would miss any of his lunch recess to eat with his brother, I told the grandparents the earlier time. #4 was excused from his class, and then got to go to recess after we ate, giving him an extra long time on the playground! Even with that, he ate quickly as was ready to get out and play (and get steps).  My MIL was sad she missed it, but she was out of state with other grandkids.

Take a look at the change in #4 from last year to this year! He's always had a round face, and been a bit more stocky than his brothers. He'd gotten a little heavy. I was having to purchase pants in the "husky" size and his shirts were about the same size I'd buy for his brother who was three years older. I'll have to do a complete post on #4's transformation. Through eating and exercise, all on his own, he lost almost 20 pounds and has been holding steady for a while now. I know that kids do change a lot at this age, and he has gained some height as well, helping with the slimming out, but still quite the change for a 12-year old kid!

Next year ... I'll only have ONE in elementary school!

Progress Pictures

I've seen a lot of transformation photos ... I mentioned I watched The Biggest Loser for the first time this past season (My Thoughts On The Biggest Loser) and the makeover week there was pretty amazing (as was the change during the season as a whole). Of course that is an extreme ...

The theme for this week's Motivation Monday is "Progression Pictures".  I have taken a couple of the infamous "before" shots which will stay secluded on my computer for my eyes only. I have done an update or two, but unfortunately, I haven't really been able to tell too much difference. After my initial 15 pound loss, it's been slooooow going... and unfortunately I didn't take my "before" pictures until after I'd lost that. 

As I was considering what I was going to write for my post today, I started by trying to find some "before" photos of me. It was HARD. As I'd put on weight over the years, I did a really good job of staying behind the camera. I was rarely in pictures. I'd often delete pictures I didn't like (which were the majority of them) and when I had to pose for a family photo, I'd try to position myself in the back, so as little of me was showing as possible.  I went through our family photos from 2004/2005 and could only find myself in a few (I'm really surprised I hadn't deleted the bottom two!). 

2005

What a difference a year can make!

2006

It's been a struggle to keep the weight off ... in my Family Photos post, you can see some of the ups and downs over the past several years. I did a Comparison Pictures post of two family photos from this past year and there were some pre/post weight loss pictures in my Vacation post as well.

Ever after losing weight again, I still have problems with pictures ... as I mentioned in my Picture Imperfect post. Hiding from the camera. It's a hard habit to break. But it is important to be included in your family photos. I remember another blog post I read that emphasized that (So You Think You're Too Fat To Be Photographed).

I'm still working on it all ... still trying to lose a few more pounds. Trying to improve my picture taking technique, and just trying to be more comfortable in front of the camera. It's all progress ...

The Motivation Monday team
Tiffany/Morgan/Wendy/Alisha/Betty
JenB/Brandi/Jen/Gwen /Theresa

 

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Comparison Pictures

Last May (Memorial Day), we went out to breakfast as a family. Hubby snapped a picture ... I was really not happy with how I looked. I had even attempted to look nice. Pictures add five pounds, right? I had actually just started at MFP, and I did track my calories this meal (or attempted to, it's hard going when eating out, isn't it? Especially when it's a local restaurant that doesn't provide nutritional information. )

Today, we went out again... our annual "Back to School Breakfast."  Same table, same kids (#4 isn't visible, we didn't notice that until we had left). #3 is even wearing the same shirt, slightly different goofy expressions. I know I feel better about myself, I think I look better too. Three months later, down 20 pounds. What will the next three months bring?

Can I Take a Vacation from the Vacation?

"Vacation. All I ever wanted. Vacation.  Had to get away"

 That's the Go-Go's singing. Not me.  

I'm just a homebody at heart. 

We didn't do a lot of family vacations when I was young. I wonder if I'd be different if I'd been raised as a traveler. My first trip to Disneyland was with my choir group in high school.  I'd never been on an airplane until I was in my mid-20s.  I'm not afraid of flying, but the lines, the waits, the cost... just makes it unappealing to me. Of course a car is even worse. I DO have extreme anxiety in cars, even as a passenger. Being on the road for hours is torture to me.

I HAVE gone on vacation ... hubby and I went to a dude ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona where we rode horses, shot skeet and floated in a hot air balloon. We went to Florida where we tried parasailing and swam with the dolphins. We went to Cancun and saw the sites. So ... I think I'm done now *Ü*

I don't have many pictures from these vacations ...

I didn't like pictures when I was overweight.

This was 2005. 

Mexico.

For family vacations, we've gone to Oregon a couple of times (hubby's brother lived there). We've taken the crew to Disneyland twice. There have been smaller trip to Moab and Bear Lake. There were good memories made, pictures taken. But every trip has the inevitable stressful stuff that seriously impacts my enjoyment. I'm do tend to have the rosy glow looking back, remembering the good more than the bad. But during the vacation, I often can't wait for it to end and fade into just the happy memories.

Oregon - 2006

Disneyland - 2009

A couple years ago, when Hubby planned a trip to Seattle (where his brother's family lives now) I just did not have it in me to make the 16+ hour drive there- and that's just one way! I elected to sit this vacation out. Child #4 (mama's boy and fellow homebody) decided to sit it out with me. The others went and had a great time. Back at home, we homebodies kept ourselves entertained and comfortable in our routine. I never regretted my decision. There were plenty of pictures from the trip and I felt I enjoyed it more vicariously than I would have had I actually been there.

Last Fall, we received early Christmas gifts ... tickets to Disneyland. This was to be a vacation with extended family (Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, cousins - although not all could attend).  Again ... I really debated staying home, but in the end I decided to try it.  The car ride actually wasn't too bad. I planned ahead with a portable DVD player, some audio books, and some Valium from my doctor.  I probably should have taken a pill at the park. The crowds, the lines, the chaos. The "Happiest Place on Earth"? Not for me. I really tried to put on a happy face, but I wasn't always successful. I did regret coming and think it would have been better to have everyone wish I was there, than to wish I wasn't there :(

The whole trip, the stress before, the depression after ... it really affected my eating and exercise. I just gave up a couple of weeks before the trip. What did it matter? I'd be spending hours sitting stationary in the car. While there is a lot of walking around the parks, there is also a LOT of just standing around in lines. My Fitbit Ultra was cracking a bit ... a worried it might fall off, or that it would get wet on one of the water rides. So I left it home. I took my Omron pedometer, but wouldn't you know it, it's battery died the first day. So I got no feedback for the steps I was taking. It was discouraging. Why not indulge in an overpriced churro or two?  Even if I had been trying to eat healthy, it would have been hard when the only options are fast food or snack items stashed at the hotel.  I gained 10+ pounds in just a couple months before/after Disney.

... So, guess what's on the calendar? Another family Seattle trip. What to do ...

I've been doing so well these last couple of months. I feel like I'm just in the habit forming stages. I've tracked every day on MFP for 85 days now. I'm down almost 20 pounds from where I was mid-May.   I wouldn't mind trying kayaking, but I'm not one for jogging on the beach or biking on the open road.  I know I wouldn't get in any "exercise" for an entire week. I NEED my exercise. I'm seriously addicted to it. And I have extreme eating issues, I don't want to have to have everyone plan menus around me ... but I don't want to starve or subsist on granola bars either.  Of course the car ride is the most daunting part ...

Child #3 and #4 have both inherited Mommy's anxieties (I'm SO sorry!). I'm not sure if they are up for the trip either. If I stay home, that gives them a choice.  If I go, they go. If I don't go, would they be ok without me there? If they go ... will I be ok home alone?

"Should I Stay or Should I Go" ... I opened this post with a song, and shall close with a song (it's by The Clash by the way, just in case you wanted to know) ... although I AM singing this one myself.

Does anyone else not like vacations, or is it just me?

Family Photos

I'm usually behind the camera, not in front of it. A lot of that does have to do with my weight. If it's a family photo, then I guess I'll have to be in it. So here's some visuals of how, I (and the family) have changed over the years. Here we are December of 2005 ... shortly after the birth of baby #5. I was probably at my heaviest here (180). 

 November 2006 ... at my goal weight (135) *Ü*

Feb. 2007 (Weight 135)

September 2008 (weight 145)

 May 2009 (weight 145)

... a family 5K

June 2010 (weight 155)

Family Photo Shoot

June 2011 - Father's Day

(weight about 160)

December 2012 (weight 175)

New Sunday Suits

When I think back on my weight changes over the past several years ... in my memory, it was a slow, steady gain. There seemed to be a five pound gain each spring. But when I actually plugged in the numbers, I can see I had a LOT of ups and downs. There were a few times I tried a little harder and did manage to lose a little weight, other times there was a pretty fast gain. 

... and the most recent pictures!  June 2026