So Anyway...

Top 10

Happy Things:

 

1. Kitty cats and little girls that love kitty cats.

2. Little girls in hats.  Particularly little girls that never brush their hair in hats.

3.  Boys that build Titanic ships, which, in keeping true to history, float for a while, then begin to sink.

 

4.  Brothers that are usually each other's best friends.

5.  A neighborhood full of boys, so when brothers are fighting, there are plenty of other friends to choose from.

6.  Boys that are creative and actually think about building and floating and nails and brackets and decks.

 

7.  Me feeling creative AND frugal after finding a gorgeous "CHEERS" sign at Pier One for $30, deciding Jack wouldn't be happy if I bought it, then coming home and cutting, painting, crackling, antique-ing, inking, and printing my own damn sign.

8.  Putting said sign in hallway that greets everyone as they walk in our door.

9.  A fabulous night of fireworks in Litchfield Park that was neither too hot, nor too crowded, of which not one picture was taken because I was already carrying water, wine, phone, lip gloss and $40 and therefore could not throw somewhat heavy DSLR into the mix.

10.  Finding a wonderful blog that I used to read, but lost the link to - I spent much of yesterday catching up, laughing out loud, tearing up...you know, all those things that good reads do to you. 

2009 - Year of Living Dangerously...

ummm...make that HEALTHFULLY.

My New Years resolution this year was to get on my treadmill.  I challenged myself to do 21 days in a row, because studies showed that if you did something for 21 days, it would become a habit. 

So I got on my treadmill - in the beginning even sometimes without shoes, sometimes after a glass of wine.... even while on a business trip and getting up at 6am...and I did 42 days in a row.

And yes indeed, it did become a habit.  Only problem was, my body wasn't changing.  I was still 160 or over (on a bad day), and my size 12's were getting even tighter.

In April I put on a bikini to go swimming with the kids, and got a rude awakening.  I was flabby and jiggly in all the wrong places - the mirror didn't lie.

And then I realized the treadmill wasn't going to solve all my problems.  I needed to change my eating habits...which weren't TOTALLY awful.  Just , maybe, mildly awful.  Like most American adults I didn't eat nearly enough fruits and veggies.  And my two pieces of whole wheat toast every morning could probably do without the 1/2 stick of butter I soaked them with (seriously...this had been my breakfast of choice for YEARS).

After watching Jeani have so much success changing her eating habits with the help of the 'Patch', I signed up full tilt to become a distributor and starting wearing the patch.

Here's what happened:

The patch is not a diet.  I do not feel like I'm on a diet.  There is nothing I CAN"T eat. 

What the patch has done has changed the way I shop at the store - it has changed the foods I WANT to eat.  It has made me become more aware of fiber and protein.  It has made me appreciate the delicious juicy nectarines and strawberries of summer.  It has helped me find out that I LOVE black eyed pea soup (with extra tomatoes please), and black bean burritos, instead of putting hamburger in everything.  It has made me re-think my go to breakfast, and instead discover Kashi Go-Lean Crunch (extra crunchy sugar-smacks, anyone?) which has protein AND fiber. 

The patch has helped my whole family eat healthier - Jack is down to 160 for God's sake.  His pants are falling off his thin frame.  And since, unlike me, he refuses to go shopping, he just wears the baggy clothes.

Lastly, the patch has changed my portion sizes.  If I listen to my body, I realize I'm not hungry sometimes after half a sandwich, or one bowl of soup, or one piece of peanut butter toast.  If I listen to my body (especially in the afternoon) I realize that I'm hungry for an apple, not an entire bag of butter-lovers microwave popcorn. 

I'm considering this my 1/2 year check in for the Year of Living Healthfully.  So far, RIGHT ON TRACK.  WooHoo! 

I know!

Oh sweet blog of mine, I've missed you.

Where does the time, years, days, hours, moments, go?  I want to remember and I know I can't rely on myself for that...fo sho.

So, we finished up homeschooling May 20th.  All has been fab since then.  Kids are happppppppy and playing.  Jake is 12 (as of Friday) and the cul de sac is brimming with pubescent boys...Jake, 12, Trevor, 11 (and farther along in hairyness and deep-voiceness than most), Trenton, 12, Carson, 13, KK, 13 - yep, we should invest in Old Spice deoderant.

Trevor has about 7 inches on Jake and weighs 93.

Trevor got his tooth pulled today.

 

Then he went out to play.

Saturday I went to Pei Wei and got a salad.  I came home with it, and sat down on my bed to eat it (that's where it is quiet and I can watch what I want on tv).  Trevor came in, saw what I had and immediately went and got a himself a napkin, a fork, and a tall glass of milk (spicy chicken = hot).  He set up a little picnic on my bed and ate with me...it was super sweet, super random, ...and I just felt so much joy and happiness that he is my son.

I'm trying to make him read while we are on break....no small feat.  I finally had to let him set 'the rules' ...he decided he would read on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for 30 minutes.  I can almost live with that.  I'd like to think of a way to manipulate trick talk him into doing one more day per week.  Working on that.

I got some new biz cards in the mail today - free from Vista Print...gotta love that!  While jewelry sales are slow this summer, I'll be working on the Patch biz ...bathing suit season is busy time for Nexagen! 

So far I'm down 9 lbs and 13.75 inches...in 6 weeks...can't wait to see myself in 6 more weeks!!!

I. I. I. I. I.

I had a physical yesterday - nothing like an 8:00am speculum call. 

I resisted the urge to draw a smiley face after writing my name on the  'urine specimen' cup.  Jack says I totally should have and he is going to when he goes for his yearly cardio check-up in June.

I am totally addicted to Deal or No Deal.  If I'm out and about and it's 3:30, I race home to try to see the end.

I did my 100th workout today on my treadmill!  Yay! 

I didn't run yesterday, and felt like crap, then didn't sleep well AT ALL, then had stress and tension in my neck all morning super bad. Wanted to just go back to bed.

I said 'Duh' at about 2pm, and got on the treadmill.  I ran that stress and tension right out of my neck.  WOW, I can't believe it took me 45 years to realize that exercise REALLY DOES do a body good.

I downloaded some new songs to work out to.  Ting Tings, Nickleback, Fall Out Boy.  I listened to them, mostly, and then went right back to my running go-to song.  Nothing does it for me like Check Yes Juliet by We The Kings.

Camping Recap

I need to preserve these camping memories while I still can remember them, so I'll have stuff for my Project 365 because a very bad thing happened on our camping trip...

...my camera flashed the 'E E' signal and stopped working!!!!!  GASP!!!

So, after freaking out, crying, screaming, bargaining with God, and resigning myself to a trip without photos (it was even cloudy and raining...PERFECT photo lighting conditions....booo...hooooo.....) pulling out the memory card 10 times, the battery 20 times, and generally probing every button, number, and f-stop setting, I PUT THE DAMN THING AWAY and enjoyed my weekend.

Thursday night - spent a couple hours cleaning, sprucing, organizing.  Jack and Jake were riding bikes up and down the cul-de-sac (Jack his blue dual sport and Jake his blue bicycle) having fun at 9pm.  It was cool and breezy -perfect riding weather. Perfect camping weather.

Friday - grocery shopping and packing.  First time EVER that I did not pack a single kid thing.  They were told they are 'old enought to pack for themselves'.  We got in the RV and I quizzed them: "Shoes?", "Tooth brush?", "Underwear?", Pillows?", "Underwear?", "Socks?", "Underwear?"

So we get to Lake Pleasant.  It is crowded, we find a sight a little ways from the lake, but up on the hill with a nice view.  We park, get situated (fire pit, ramada, picnic table, sweet!), then take off.  First DOWN the hill to the lake.  Not a bad hike, hang out at the water's edge - rocky.  Trevor and Jack attempt some fishing casts.  Jenna, Jake and I scavenge around, taking it easy.  Beautiful pictures of kids playing and exploring and lake vista views would have been taken.

Then it's UP the hill we go, up to the Visitor's Center.  It's getting dark.  It's cloudy and breezy.  StarGazing with the Park Rangers is cancelled but we have a great time checking it all out, scenery from the different balconies is beautiful, checking out the dam and surrounding area is cool.  Dinner, wine, Law and Order, then sleep.  The kids, that is.  I DID NOT SLEEP.  Might have been the savage winds rocking the RV.  Or the pelting rain that sounded like pebbles thrown against the metal walls...whatever.  Big storm...HUGE...we definitely needed that rain.

Saturday, rain off and on most of day.  Hiking during dry times, Sorry during rain.  Big puddles, RV floor getting trashed. Whatever.  Decorated Easter eggs. Jenna informs me she has no underwear. Crockpot with yummy roast.  Ended up knowing the Park Host from last trip.  He gave us a free pass for Sunday.  Yay, now we don't have to leave at the normal check-out time of noon - We can stay all day!~!!!!!

New neighbors that were fun to talk with. Stacy and Kathy came for a short visit.  It was cold.  They were wimpy. (And they're even from MONTANA for gawd's sake...).  I slept a little better - no annoying hurricane to sleep through.

Beautiful cloud/mountain/rain/rainbow pictures would have been taken...

Sunday - goregeous sunny day.  Easter baskets for kids when they woke up.  Easter Egg hunt at the campsite playground.  Watched all the OTHER moms take pictures of kids at easter egg hunt. Whatever. Had our OWN easter egg hunt at our campsite, then the kids hid the eggs again and Jack and I got to search - HA! Hiked down to lake, fished, no luck.  Hiked over to island, Jake and Trevor swam over to island on hot-twenty-something-girl-in-a-pink-bikini's-air mattress.  Jack just sat back and enjoyed the view.  Jenna played with her cool Queenland something-or-other terrier? dog. 

LACY WENT FOR HER FIRST SWIM!!!  Would have been great to get a picture of that!!!

I drank wine and wished I would have had that girl's body when I was a twenty-something. Drank more wine and wondered to myself (or was it out loud?) why I was BORN with cellulite.

Back to RV, packed up, drove home.  5pm.  Unload RV.  Carry in 38 loads of food that we didn't eat.  How did we not even OPEN the ice cream?  We are weird.

Shower, bed, slept like a baby. The end.

Honest

I tried to log on the other day to post, but I forgot my log in info...

Guess that means I should blog more? 

Now that Project 365 is back ON, I need to blog a little every day.  Yes I do.

And now that I'm sitting here ready to type, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is coming to my mind to blog about....

....all those cute things the kids have been saying...gone

....all those funny stories about our life....gone

....all those interesting happenings...gone

 

Here, I'll try bullet points:

• I got Jenna a cell phone.  One day at Costco I gave into her whim and asked the guy at the phone stand how much it would be to add her on.  Phone cost?  Free.  Activation Fee? Free.  Monthly service? $10.  Then I realized I could totally use the phone to get some behavior modification going on.  And I can't even believe I waited this long...it's been HEAVEN.  Any sign of a temper tantrum, annoying tick, hitting Jake, taking off without asking, brushing teeth, combing hair, wearing underwear, wearing shoes...you name it - I USE IT!!!

• We started drinking red wine to counteract the bad that alcohol does to your body with the good that tannins and such do to your body.  It's called D.E.N.I.A.L. that we drink a teensy weensy bit much.  Actually we don't drink that much, just a little on MOST days.... 

• I started Menu planning this month and absolutely LOVE it.  Why have I never done this before?  I'm getting about an hour a day back into my life by not worrying about dinner and then running to the store at the last minute.  Using this website as my guide www.simplemom.net

• Still walking/running most days (6 days/week).  Loving it and starting to see a difference in my body.  Not necessarily weight loss (only about 3 pounds and that fluctuates so much depending on time of the month), but more like jiggle loss.

• Went on a spring cleaning spree today.  Hated it.  Wished I was doing something else the whole time.  But things are looking better.  Cleaner.  Wishing that I liked cleaning.  Or felt an inner need to do it for theraputic reasons or something.  But I just hate it.

• Since we are getting tax money back and can now afford to pay our land taxes, Jack bought a new washer and dryer yesterday.  Since the old washer only worked on the HOT water setting, in order to not actually wash everything in HOT water (which ZAPS the color right out of most things) we had to turn our house hot water heater to 'vacation' mode, thereby not having any hot water available for washing dishes or taking showers.  Then when the dryer quit working unless you manually turned the drum while holding the door holder button down, then tried to simultaneoulsy shut said door while pulling finger off door holder button and hoping like HELL that you don't slam your fingers in said door....Aye yi yi...I can't believe we did laundry like that for so long...now laundry is a dream.  That my mom and Jack do. Not me so much.

• So it looks like I hate cleaning and don't do laundry...what good am I then?  I cook. I parent. I work out. And I work once in a while.  Oh yeah, and I BLOG!

• We went to the lake weekend before last in the RV.  It was wonderful.\

Old Fashioned

So today I wake up with totally good intentions.

Lot's of important, relevant schooling, work out, yada, yada.

But first things first when you are out of milk and bread.  Everyone hop in the car (Grammy is on leave at Grandmas) and let's run to the store are 9:30am.

Wait.  Trevor wants to stay home by himself. 

OK, no cooking, no answering the door, hide in your room and watch tv...

On way to store we see that neighborhood school is having FIELD DAY.  Hundreds of kids on the playground/field doing FUN, FIELD DAY THINGS.

So we decide it's FIELD DAY FOR US, TOO! 

Gatorade and chips were added to the bread/milk list.

Came home from store and I told the kids "As soon as I work out we can go to the park".  Then immediately feel stupid because why the heck can't I walk around the park a few times and THAT could be my work out?   DUH?????

So we gather Ipods, water, gaterade, chips, sunscreen, scooters, towels, books, blankets, swords, light sabers, bathing suits....cell phones...gawdddddddddd.....

And the park was wonderful.

I walked/ran 2 miles on a path that goes around the whole place.  Had my tunes and Jenna by my side on her scooter....it was a glorious 70 degree day...

Met some fun AZVA families that CAMP, and talked for a few more hours with them and our shared experience...

Came home right as Jack got home - perfect!

Jack and I have been going through some old papers of his dads.  Most of it is correspondence from when Jack's dad was in the Navy.  Brochures of houses that they bought in 1969 with CASH...Newsletters that Jack Sr. wrote as part of his job...Social lists of Officers, wives and info on kids...really fascinating to Jack The Historian and Kelly The Scrapbooker...

It's so interesting that things that were relevant then are so relevant now....Energy comsumption and our economy and how it directs everything that goes on in the world...

It's so funny to see that Jack has some of his fathers' similarities - his handwriting, his political and world views....his sense of humor...

Jake just said SHIT while running down the hallway...must go see what's up!

Seriously...

... time is flying by.

So

damn

fast.

Just realized sitting here on my old brown couch watching tv - I have owned this couch for TWENTY - SIX YEARS. And I didn't like it going into ...oh about....year 5. 

And now I've not written a damn thing about my life for nearly 4 weeks.  I'll just take up where I left off with cute things said.

Today, Jake and Trevor had to talk on the phone with their Speech Therapist.  They have only met her once and all of their lessons are on the computer and with me.  So Trevor is talking to her, kind of quietly, kind of monotone-ish, not really saying much.  Then it is Jakes turn.

He grabs the phone out of Trevor's hand and says cheerfully  "Hi!  I have SO MANY interesting things to talk to you about today!!!!!!!".  And he begins to tell her how the whole family played Poker last night and he won a few times and it was so fun and we were just betting pennies and Jenna won the most and mommy gave me some pennies when I ran out.....yak, yak, yak.

And we have the CUTEST pets, a dog, a cat and a SNAKE. And yes it is a cool snake and it is in a cage!    

Really.  His enthusiasm is so fun. 

In other news, I got a package in the mail a few days ago.  The Project 365 Kit from the whole CK/Becky HIggins fiasco.  When I bought the kit/thought I bought the kit/paid for the kit/got a credit MANY weeks later for the kit/ was told I would never see the kit/the kit is now on backorder/...and now it is 70 days into the year, AND I HAVE THE FRICKEN' KIT.

What the hell do I do with it NOW?????

Guess I'll start taking a picture a day again and see what the next 365 days look like.  Who says you need to start a New Year's Project at the beginning of the NEW YEAR???

Not me.

I'm a rebel that way.

'Cute' Remembered

I've been meaning to write these things down to remember them when I'm old and gray and don't have much to smile about...wait, maybe I'll have an 'all access' pass to lots of good prescrition drugs...old age might not be that dire.

Anyway, let us begin:

1.  About a month ago at the Science Center, there was a Star Trek exhibit.  My kids would have been BALLISTIC had it been a Star WARS exhibit, but I digress.  There was this 'space ride simulator' that two people could get strapped into, they close it up pod-style, then on the inside you watch a screen and pretend your cruising through the galaxy, encountering battles and such, all the while the pod is rocking and rolling and pitching and flipping and ... you get the idea. 

So Jake DOES NOT like roller coasters or anything, but since it is 'almost' like a Star Wars ride, he's in.  Trevor loves anything that flips over, so he was all over it, too.

They get in and it gets going and it's so cool cuz the people standing outside the thing can see the people inside - there's a camera in there.  So I'm standing there with about 5 other people, an older couple and a couple other guys.

It's so dang cute watching their faces...and you could hear them talking loudly inside to each other, lots of "OH MY GOD's" when something exciting would happen.  It was so funny...

At one point the pod flips over slowly backwards and you can hear Jake SCREAMING inside... "TELL MY MOTHA' I LOVE HER"... 

Everyone in the line was ROFL...I had tears down my face...it was too stinkin' cute!

2.  One of my jewelry clients is a young mother and lives with HER mom.  She has a 3 year old little boy, Connor, who is the cutest thing.  He talks A TON, and always helps me set up my jewelry, talking to me the whole time. 

But he does the CUTEST thing I've ever seen...He calls his Grandma, whom he lives with, BABE!!! 

So you'll hear him call out, "BABE, can you get me some water?" and "This is pretty, isn't it BABE?", pointing to some jewelry.

I swear, it is the dang, dang, cutest thing evah!!!

3.  Yesterday while watching one of Jenna's Disney Channel shows, "Sonny With A Chance", very Hannah Montana-ish, the girls in the show are talking.  I walk in and hear this from the cute pre-teens on the tv:

"It's a skort..."

"...It's a skirt in the front,

...and shorts in the back."

"You know...it's like a MULLET FOR YOUR BUTT!"

OMG...Jenna and I laughed about this ALL DAY.  Last night, while laying on the couch watching the stupidest show ever The Bachelor, we kept repeating it together...loudly, then dying laughing!

 Ha..

Ha...

HA!!!!

OK, that's all I got...

Confessional.

So, I did my treadmill for 41 DAYS in a row.  That is almost TWO 21 Day Challenges, right? 

And then yesterday, I totally FORGOT!

Yep, I did. 

And I remembered at about 5:42pm, while standing at the sink peeling potatoes and drinking a glass of wine.  And how could I get on the treadmill after some wine?

Well, actually, in the EARLY days of the challenge, when I was just doing it to GET ON the treadmill, I did walk a few times after a glass of wine.

But then I started taking it more seriously and began actually changing into tennis shoes. And going a little faster.  And ACTUALLY SWEATING.

So yesterday was busy, busy, and I forgot and all that...and I considered treadmilling in the evening but THEN my internet went kaplunk...and that was the kicker.

I have not treadmilled ONE TIME without my internet.  NO lie.

So, I kind of felt bad last night about the whole thing.  But, worse even, I felt SO TIRED - no energy what-so-ever.  For God's sake, I even went to bed at 9:15. 

Was it the boredom of no internet? 

Was it the lack of whatever that work-out homone is (what IS THAT CALLED)?

Whatever, I had zippo energy.

So this morning I got up early and did my walking/running - even did a little extra. 

And I felt GREAT all day.

Kind of like this.