May Your Beard RIP...

Yes, its true. My husband shaved his beard yesterday. It was a sad day (for me). I'm a fan of his beard. I'm probably one of very few women who actually prefer their husbands with a beard. I made him not shave it until after our night out (which was fab by the way!). So he shaved it early yesterday morning, before leaving for work.

The best part was when he came home from work yesterday. The first time we had seen him without it (in years). Abbi knew something was up, but couldn't figure it out. When it finally dawned on her, the conversation went something like this...

"Daddy, where's your broad*?"
*A 3 year old's translation of "beard".
"I shaved it off, honey..."
"Oh, so you lost it, huh?"
"Well, no, its probably just down a drain somewhere."
Then a pause..
"Daddy...you have a face!"

~

In other Nepper news my fab husband is now down 11lbs!!! I'm super impressed. His ph-ness is definitely working wonders. He is feeling really good, and getting so excited about it. So excited, in fact, that when we had friends over for dinner on Saturday night, within 5 minutes he was telling the husband all about it. That husband being an avid hunter. So when Rob said he was considering giving up meat, I think Dave nearly fell over in shock. Ha, ha.

I'm still stuck at my 7lbs, although I'm feeling really great. Not only more energy, but stronger. Generally Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I try to do a little workout on the living room floor while the kids play around me...or more likely try to climb on top of me! This is a normal Nepperess workout routine...

120 sit ups total (4 different styles in there).
50 side leg lifts on each side
30 leg curly things
60 (ish) squats
40 seconds of the plank (10 seconds each, 4 times)
40 seconds of side plank, on each side
10-20 push ups. Real man push ups...

In addition to those things I'm trying to incorporate lunges, but with two little ones running around that doesn't always happen. Another one I found on youtube is where you stand with your legs should width apart and then tighten your abs and then rapidly punch the air straight ahead, moving your arms up and down.

I was pleased to figure out that this is my 7th week of mall walking, and I've only missed one day. Not bad. Today I was able to get in 3kms of walking. It all depends on Gabe and how happy he is to sit. Which is why its easier to feed him breakfast at that time because it keeps him busy.

Oh right, and there was a breakthrough on the arch nemesis front this morning. There is a statue of a bull and a horse in the middle of the mall, and so we call it a cow (do bulls moo?). So every time we walk by Gabe will moo (so adorable), and he just happened to do it when I was passing the mall walking master (AKA arch nemesis). He said, "He's such a happy little guy." And SMILED! Whoa...intense sutff I tell you. A breakthrough was made this morning!

~
We have really been enjoying the pitas that I found at the "vegetable store." Super affordable at $2.50 for 6 of them (large size). The package of 6 small ones is $1.75. So I thought I would share what lunches are looking like around here lately.

A large glass of lemon water, Cauliflower, Leek, Potato, & Carrot soup, and a pita...
This little number is filled with romaine, spainch & endive lettuce. Some sunflower seeds. Half of an avacado. A handful of radish slices. Some grated mozza. And some most delicious Kraft Greek dressing (at 45 cals per tbsp, its a bit of a splurge, but sooo worth it!).
The child size version. Since they just rip the pita apart to get at everything inside, I just make it up all separately.
The "child" enjoying his lunch. I adore his giant, cheeky, full-mouthed smile...
Said child after feeding himself some yogurt...
I've been picking up this big container of sunflower seeds at Safeway for only $2.39. Normally lasts us about a week. I find we are adding them to so many things. They are salted, which isn't as great, but I just find them so much more palatable with some salt. Plus, its a good kind of fat (in moderation). Yum!
These are some fab Kraft dressings I've been enjoying lately. Especially the Greek. So good, and they are so good added to so many things. They may have just changed the bottle, but they are new to me, so I'm quite thrilled with my "finds."

~

Other than all of that, I'm keeping busy with school. I got my third History assignment back with a 75% grade. So that's gone from 72% to 73% and now 75%. Geesh, what's a girl got to do to please this woman! Although my ego was saved when I got my mark back from my Criminology midterm yesterday...102%. The teacher offered an additional 20 bonus marks, so you know I was there filling out each and every question! And apparently it paid off.

This week I'm really busting a move on my History. I intend to have the course units done by the end of the weekend. Then I will spend the next week working on my paper (which I'm guessing I'll get about a 78% on, heaven forbid I'd ever make my way into the 80's!). Then a short interlude for another Criminiology midterm. Then back into studying full blast for my History final mid-March. Phew, I'll be glad to have that one over and done with! Psccht...75%!