Day in San Francisco

We visited San Francisco for the day.

It was such a blast.   The kids had never been.  Here are our pics:

Union square

The family w/ the bridge in the background.  Taken at Crissy field.

Walking about.

China town fun.

Riding the cable cars!

There are cool fountains everywhere.

Grace cathedral

Grace cathedral - inside

Grace cathedral - outside

Grace cathedral - outside

Cable car museum

Architectural details.

Lombard street

Lombard street

Riding the cable cars!

Chocolate...

 

The beach. 

Crabs!

Tired boys.  But it was a FUN day!

Getting Healthy

You know how in the Breakfast Club movie Judd Nelson tells Molly Ringwald how in some skinny people you can see the fat person hidden inside… waiting to get out?  

For years, I have felt the opposite.  

I always struggled with the illusive 10 pounds I wanted to loose.  So many of us do.  Then I got pregnant with my first son & gained 50 lbs.  Someone told me it would all melt off while I nursed…. Wrong.  I did lose some – 30 but that left me 20 up from my original 10 I wanted to lose.  Then I got pregnant again.  And again.  3 children later I found myself technically obese.  Obese.  That reality was really really hard.

I was walking around fat but knew there was a thin person fighting to get out.  In fact sometimes I’d catch my reflection in the mirror and think… who’s that fat chick.  Only to realize with horror it was me.  

Have you been there?

I tried Atkins.  I tried South Beach.  I tried Weight watchers.  They all worked.  

For a bit.

But TSFL and my Certified Health Coach Susan LaBelle are what really did it.  I lost 35 pound in 12 weeks.  Now 6 months later I'm going for another 15 to reach my Optimal Health.  The difference between the others and TSFL?  The Certified Health Coach.  Not only was she there the entire weight loss time but she is STILL there.  She helps me set health goals.  Weight goals.  Exercise goals.  She is always there checking on me.  Texting me.  Emailing me. Calling me.  Stalking me.  (Just kidding)

She's been my inspiration to take the next step.  Over the holiday break I became a Certified Health Coach.  I want to be held accountable and to maintain good health.  To pay it forward.  To help those around me who are stuck.   You know who you are.... and you just can’t get a leg up on your health and weight loss. The program I support can help you... if you are truly ready to be helped (not everyone is).

We should all be in this together.  We should talk about this stuff.  We should make health a family topic and a priority.

Another layer I can bring to my new mission of Optimal Health is how to cook.  Now don't get me wrong... I'll still be making pumpkin chocolate cookies during the holidays.  But I won't binge on them anymore.  To help anyone who is interested I'm going to add a new category to my Joyfully Domestic blog titled Lean and Green.  A Lean and Green recipe is just that... made up of lean protein and vegetables.   One of the key components to Optimal Health is removing all the refined & starchy carbohydrates from our daily diet.  Let me help you!  

If you know anyone who could use a Certified Health Coach to help them reach their Optimal Health... let me know!

Jennifer Z. Lewis

 Certified Health Coach

Web: teamlewis.tsfl.com

Email: teamlewistsfl@gmail.com
"Like" me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamLewisHealthCoach

Merry Christmas!!

Yes it is that time of year again!  And this blog post will be up serving as our Christmas "letter".

So lets see.... we've had quite a year.  As usual....

It started right off with a bang.

Darren was laid off in February from HDR Inc.  He spent the next 6 months working his contacts and picking up some contract work.  That was a difficult time for us to be sure....

BUT...

 It opened doors and allowed God to work his magic and led to Darren being offered the Director of Design Technology job at Lionakis in Sacramento California.  By all rights this was Darren's dream job and he had been training his entire career for it.  This was IT.  After much thought & prayer we were convinced that Sacramento was by far the road we needed to go down.  So... off we went!

It was hard to leave our family and friends behind but when you are pretty sure God is telling you to do something or go somewhere... you go.  So we had to say a lot of good byes.

This is our Portland family. These people have been our angels.  They have gotten us through the past 8 years w/ 3 babies.... many broken bones, several houses, and jobs.  We miss them terribly.  We are thankful for cheap SW & Alaska flights.

We have had a great time so far in Sacramento. 

The boys visiting the Capital building.

These are the Parmans.  We met Sally WAY back in San Diego days (2000-2003).  She married John.  Then when we moved to Portland, they moved to Sacramento.  They are our ready  made family friends and we love and cherish them.  Even if they live WAY out in Folsom. (haha) 

Fall in Sacramento is stunning.  Winter has been pretty good too.  In fact the weather here so far pretty much delivers.  We are super happy with all the sun.  

Quick update on the boys

Jack has recovered perfectly from his fall out of the window.  Read more about that HERE if you care to.  

He is actually measuring taller than either of his brothers at similar ages.  He did have a tonsillectomy this year.  And since it, he's been much healthier.  Here he is "recovering".

Jack started preschool this year.  He has "school" Tuesday & Thursday mornings mainly so I can volunteer in the older boys classes.  He LOVES it.  We are learning he is quite the charmer.  He has somehow managed to get all the little boys to hunt for his favorite car first thing so he can have it.  They just want to make him happy. He SHINES when he is happy.  We all love Jack's little smile.

 Calvin also had a brief hospital stay with rotovirus.  But he's all better now!

He learned how to ride a bike with NO training wheels this summer!

Still the charmer.

He's doing great in Kindergarten - getting top "marks".  He is learning to read & sound out bigger words which is super exciting.  This is his big buddy (3rd grader)

And Oscar.  Oscar is doing great... at everything.  He loves school (2nd grade), loves his hobbies, LOVES to read, loves to play, love lots of stuff.  A typical kid I suppose... only we think he's exceptional.  

He just turned 8.  He had a TaeKwonDo party.  And what a party it was.  

He's quite a kid.  Funny.  Hard working.  Intelligent.  Kind. 

Speaking of TaeKwonDo....now all 5 of us are taking classes.  Yup, that's right.  ALL of us.

So I guess that about covers our year.  We are all healthy and happy.  Darren and I slimmed down a bit - I am finally back to my pre-pregnancy size (for the 1st time since getting pregnant w/ Oscar).  So that adds to the healthy and happy part.   

So if you find your self in the Sacramento area ever.. please come and say hi.  

You have a friendly place to go!  

Happy Holidays.  Merry Christmas and; Happy New Year!