Swim, swam, swum

I mean, seriously. Come on, now. Thursday, we went to Nana and Pop Pop's house to go swimming. This is Jack's swim getup. Can you stand it?

That shirt used to fit until I washed it once, but I think the midriff shirt and long trunks totally makes him look like a surfer dude.

Here are a few pictures of him and Patrick in the pool from the weekend. Can you tell who's having more fun?

I can't.

We had an adventurous Fourth of July weekend, to say the least. On Friday morning, we went to Virginia to meet up with some ladies that I met online who all have babies born in November of 2006, like Jack was. We met when we were pregnant and have stayed friends through until now. It was fun to put names with faces and to see them with their babies in person!

Then, we went to Aunt Tori's house for the rest of the weekend. It was busy-busy, but fun to catch up. Jack and O'Malley the cat were reunited, much to Jack's glee (and O'Malley's dismay). Jack calls him "Maow-Maow" and would walk around the house trying to find him. The poor cat stayed holed up as much as possible, but would occasionally oblige Jack and come out to eat now and again.

I personally did not don my bathing suit once, although it was hot as you-know-what. This brings me to my exciting news...well, exciting for me and for my friend, Andrea. We are using the buddy system to lose weight, and have a goal for outselves by the end of the year. I won't share it with you lest you snarf the beverage you're drinking out onto your laptop and fry your hard drive, but let's just say we'd like to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year. It's challenging, but it's perfectly attainable with some self control.

Of which I seem to have none.

But I did today! I even worked out!

Go me!

Have you ever buddied your way towards a goal? Whether it was losing weight, quitting smoking, or working out - did you find that having a buddy helped you stay on task?

I think it has to be the right person, though.

It's hard for me because Patrick's metabolism is so dang fast that he can really eat whatever he wants and not gain an ounce. Don't you hate friends like that? I mean, I really love him, but he can eat three hotdogs at one sitting and not flinch. I gain 5 pounds just opening the package. If he were my buddy, he'd be justifying the cookie dough I ate last night - before the diet officially started - by telling me that dough has fewer calories when it's raw.

So not helpful.

Andrea and I are weighing in every Monday, so I think that will scare me enough to stay on track. Pooh was right - it's so much friendlier with two.

Oh, and thanks for all your money-saving tips! I knew I could de-lurk some of you! Glad you joined in on the conversation!