The family ride

Hubster bought this 1979 Camaro some time ago. His goal is to spruce it up as a race car and go racing baby.

He tinkers with it during his spare time and has done a great job of bartering for the parts he needs. Working on the car helps his stress level go down and I'm all for that. Ha Ha

He's been working on it for a while and has been telling us how fast it's going to be. He talks car lingo to me and I honestly have no clue what he's saying. I just hear the words fast car.

Yesterday evening, he tells the boys that we are going on a ride. To test the car out. I'm not sure about going for a ride, but AB comes in excited to tell me to get dressed that it's going to be a family ride. Woo Hoo!!

We all head outside and load up. It takes the car a while to warm up, but that's OK because Hubster is still tweaking some things.

Down the driveway we go, all of us with our seat belts on and ready for the fun family ride. All is good, then Hubster gets on the road and floors it. I grab onto his arm and yell at him to stop, UB is in the back seat holding on to the front seat telling Hubster to stop and AB is yelling. Hubster is laughing.

Now, just to clarify, I like fast. I like fast cars. But I also like to drive the fast car. I want to be in control. It's a little different when you are in the passenger seat.

He wasn't going fast, it just felt fast.

He then turns onto another road and is driving and then all of a sudden, he floors it again. I yell and grab his arm again, UB is yelling at him to stop and AB is just wanting out. Hubster is laughing.

We get to the end of the road and turn around. Then the car stops. In a secluded area.

Some country roads are dark and desolate, and this was one of them. I'm sitting there quietly laughing while Hubster gets out to see why the car won't turn back on. It's super dark, can't really see much and we are over a mile away from the house. AB is saying how he knew this was a bad idea and just wants to go home and UB is telling AB what if stories. You know, what if someone were to show up out of the tall grass. Those kind of stories.

Hubster finally gets the car started and off we head back home. AB is saying how he's ready to be back home and UB is actually having fun by this time. I'm just sitting there laughing.

We finally, I say finally because even though this all took place in about 15 minutes it seemed longer, arrive home. We all get out of the car. Hubster with a big grin talking about how he knows what's wrong with it and knows how he can fix it. Me, just glad to get home. UB actually saying he wants to go again. AB was actually a little shook up. So much so that when he was getting out of the car, his foot got caught in the seat belt and he fell.

We did tell Hubster that he was going alone on the next trial runs. We would gladly just cheer for him from the sidelines.

That was enough family fun in a fast car to last me a while.

The joys of science experiments

I bought a science experiment for the boys that I knew they would enjoy doing. Simply because it was about digestion. Come on, who doesn't get excited learning about digestion?

After they completed all the other assignments I gave them, they got all the stuff ready to make the experiment.

My biggest problem with the boys is getting them to follow the instructions carefully and to have patience. Two criteria that are not in my boys agenda.

"Can we get this started please?"

With my supervision, they proceed to add ingredients to the bag, also known as stomach.

"Hmmmm, I wonder what would happen if I pulled that out of his hands"

The tricky part was getting them to wait to add the warm water in the bag. Slowly. I finally had to take over and add the water myself. Then we waited as we watched the bag,stomach, fill up and go down the tube, small intestine. Interesting.

"Look mom, poop!!!!"

Yes, that's poop. Not real, but the experiment was to show them how the stomach digests the food. It was pretty interesting and the most important thing was that it kept the boys entertained. So much that they wanted to do it again. And again. And again.

Isn't it amazing that this cheap experiment would entertain kids so much? Kids are so easily amused.

Bonkers anyone?

It's been a busy, crazy month so far and I'm ready for it to slow down. I get to a point where I don't like the month of December. I love the fact of what Christmas means and stands for but I get irritated with the hustle and bustle of life.

I tell myself every December that I will be on top of things, that I will not wait for last minute gift shopping, but every year something comes up. Something that is unavoidable.

So for the sake of my children, I will make this a great Christmas by showing them that it is better to give that to receive, but most of all, that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Enough of a pity party. I'm good.

The boys have been driving me bonkers lately. Yesterday was a bad bonkers day.

The boys wake up and they rough play which usually results in someone crying.

They start school and AB is staring at the wall, or out the window with a blank stare. While UB is whining over not remembering what he had learned a month ago. Then AB starts scribbling all over the big pink eraser while UB starts to dump his crayons out because he'd rather draw than do math.

I send them outside, in this cold weather, and they end up fighting over who gets to ride a certain bike.

After lunch, it's reading time. AB picks a spot to read and is quietly reading, while UB sits on my lap to read to me. UB is finished before AB, so he goes off to play. At least that's what I think he does. That is, until I see a head bopping up and down as I sit on my bed folding laundry. I look down and there is UB, doing some yoga poses on the yoga mat. After the allotted time to read, they rough play some more. And they end up crying. Both of them this time.

AB goes to play on the computer while UB decided to use the bathroom. So when he comes out, I notice that my femenine pads are opened and in the trash. I ask him what he was doing with them and he says just playing. I tell him that they are for girls only and I stop myself from telling him that they are special napkins because I sure don't want to see those special napkins at the dining table when we actually need napkins. He then runs to AB and tells him that he was playing with mom's big band aids. (deep sigh)

I'm still doing laundry when I hear UB laughing. I go in my bedroom to see what is going on and I see my chihuahua's bed and blanket in the shower and my poor chihuahua shaking like a leaf, terrified of UB. I save her for the second time that day.

I send him to his room, but he stops at the Christmas tree to turn on and off the lights because he wants to see the lights blink. After I get on to him, he keeps the tree lights off because he says he doesn't want to waste the battery. (another deep sigh)

My mom had given us a bread machine as an early Christmas present so we tried it yesterday. AB wanted to make pretzels. When the machine beeped that it was time to get the dough out, UB decides to push the button again and the machine turns on to start the process all over again.

I get to it in time, take it out and am about to let the boys make the pretzel shapes when I see that there is about a pound of flour on my countertop. There stands AB, with a grin on him face, telling me he's ready to roll the dough in the flour and form the pretzels. He says that is how Emeril does it.

Now, it was just flour on the countertops I wouldn't be so flustered, but the flour was on the flour, on whatever else was on top of the countertops, but most of all, on the boys. (another deep sigh)

When they finish forming the pretzels, they decide they want to put cinnamon and sugar on a couple of the pretzels. Before I could react, they had already tag teamed each other and were making the mix. So now I have flour, cinnamon and sugar all over my floor.

We put the pretzels to bake and the boys went off to play while I went to finish the laundry. I figure the mess in the kitchen can wait a while.

As I sat there, folding laundry, I realized that it wasn't about me. I was making memories with the boys. That even though they weren't doing things the way I would have done them, they are learning. I have to remember that I was once a kid.

So as the boys continue to do things that drive me bonkers and make me speak in Spanish to them during those times,that probably to them sounds like I'm speaking in tongues, I will thank the good Lord for those opportunities I have with them.

The good, the bad and the ugly

We just finished a wonderful week celebrating Thanksgiving. Hubster's family all came. By all I mean his brother and his family, both his sisters and their families, his aunt and her four kids and all their families. We had about 30 something people here. Lots of people but it was lots of fun.

We only had one almost catastrophe. And it involved the stove and a little fire, but all was good.

Needless to say, I was exhausted yesterday. So exhausted that I did some crazy things. So I'm telling on myself.

The boys and I were running late to church in the morning. Hubster is in the Praise Band, so he was already there. We ended up sitting in the very back. The kids go off to Children's Church and Hubster comes down to sit with me.

We listen to the message being preached and it's good. Well, in my hastiness to get to church on time, I forgot my Bible at the house. I do however, have a Bible on my phone. As I was looking at it, I saw some messages that AB had sent me. They were actually pictures. I decided to open them up and look. Brother J was already closing up his message at this time. I zoom through the pictures and click one that starts to 'play' the song, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly".

Remember, we are at church. It's very quiet as people absorb the message that Brother J has shared. He's getting ready to start the invitation and then it happens. Cue music.

It was loud. Hubster gives me a look. The people in front of me look back at me. I am beat red and panicking and trying to turn off the sound that I thought was already on. The song keeps going, but I finally stop it.

That was the first instance.

The second one happened after Sunday evening church. I was leaving church to go to the store for some milk and eggs and chips to dip in the last jar of homemade salsa I had left from the family gathering. I drive down the main road and stop at the stop light. I am behind a car and there are other cars next to me. The light turns green and the car in front of me goes. I follow. As I'm crossing the road, I see red.

I then see it. The green ARROW on one stoplight and the red as can be red light on the other stoplight.

I am already in the middle of the road. I can't stop. So I just keep going. Good thing there were no cars turning from the opposite direction.

So as to not draw anymore attention to myself. I turn at the next street to go down the back roads to the grocery store.

I did make it to my destination and got what I needed then went straight home.

Exhaustion makes you do crazy things.............

Ramblings

UB was complaining of his chest hurting on Wed. night. His asthma has been pretty bad due to the weather. By late Wednesday night, he had a fever of 101. During the middle of the night, it had gone up to 102. I gave him a breathing treatment and a dose of Tylenol. By the morning it was at 100. I called and made him a doctor appointment.

When UB woke up at 1 am, I had a hard time going back to sleep, so I stayed awake. Praying about everything and anything. I think I dosed for a while then woke up at 7. Hubster's alarm had not gone off so off I went to get him up. While making him breakfast, I noticed the temp on the fridge was not correct. The items in the fridge were sweating and they were getting warm while the items in the freezer were defrosting. I started to take the stuff out of the freezer to put elsewhere. Then I put the stuff in the fridge in the freezer.

I called the repair guy to come see what was wrong with the fridge. I was tempted to just unplug and then plug it back in. But someone, no names (Hubster) told me not to. I should have just listened to myself.

It brought me back to the days of when I used to travel as the training supervisor for Wal-Mart. When I'd get all the new equipment unloaded and put in it's proper spots, I'd have to start it up. When the main office equipment wasn't working, and after I tried everything I could (including unplugging then plugging back in) I'd have to call in to Network Support. The only problem I had with those people was that they were computer knowledgeable people. People that I couldn't really understand. Literally.

Their first question, always, was "Is it plugged in?" Hmmm, well, I would have never thought to do that. Seriously, what kind of question was that? Duhhhh

So I would have to pretend to do what the person was asking me to do. But since most of the times I couldn't understand them anyway, it really didn't matter.

They would tell me to plug it, unplug it, move it to another plug, change chords and on and on. Crazy stuff that after wasting 2 hours of my time, they would come to the conclusion that I had originally called in with. The equipment was defective and I needed a new one.

Well, yesterday, when the repairman showed up, he started removing all the panels. Checked everything possible with the gadgets and could not find anything. I should have just unplugged it while the fridge was out.

After an hour of no answers, he reset the control panel and left. Wouldn't you know it, it started working again.

On the bright side, my fridge is as clean as the day I bought it.

It seemed overwhelming during this time. Dealing with the stuff laid out all over my kitchen and every space imaginable; dealing with calling places to find grout for my shower; dealing with making sure UB was OK; dealing with cooking all the food I had in my fridge so that it wouldn't spoil; dealing with trying to clean the house so that no one else would get sick.

But then Hubster came home and told me a story of a person he knew. A sad story. I thought I was having a bad day, but this story made me realize that my issues were petty. So I made the best out of the situation. Loaded everything back into the fridge, washed the dishes, mopped the floor and did only what I could.

My fridge situation was not bad after all. So what that I had to clean it. So what if I had to actually cook something. So what if I had to sweep and mop what seemed like 20 times just to clean up the mess on the floor.

Going back to UB. The Doctor said that he had the flu. Prescribed him some tamiflu and off home we went. But not before I picked up some cheap Chinese for Hubster and myself.

UB never whines, gripes or complains when he's sick. He'll do his usual kid griping but nothing major. I had no clue his throat and ears were hurting. Or that his head throbbed. He is a quiet sick kid. Unlike the other one. The other one can have a hurt finger and it's the end of the world.

So today I will do nothing. At least in my mind I will do nothing. But in reality I will tend to a sick child, wash load after load of laundry, spray Lysol on all of us, and wish that I could take a nap to make up for my lack of sleep for the last two days.

All is good......

Cow herding 101

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to stay in bed while Hubster got up and ready for work. My mom and step-dad were in town and I figured I would sleep in, make Hubster breakfast and take it to his workplace. Yup, the plans that I make.

Hubster got up and I turned over in bed, snuggling back up under my blankets. As I closed my eyes, I herd a loud moooooo. I opened one eye to see if Hubster was playing a joke on me. No one there and nothing I could see. I got comfortable again and closed my eyes again. Moooo.

I raised my head this time and looked at Hubster's phone, surely he wasn't playing a trick on me with his phone. Besides, we don't own cows.

Nothing there, so back to bed I went. Mooooo, again. I got up, looked out my bedroom window and wouldn't you know it. A cow. In my flower bed. Mooing away. At 6:30 in the morning.

I then look past the cow right outside my bedroom window and see more cows down our front yard. Lots of them.

I go to Hubster and tell him in a panicky, yet calm voice, "There are cows all over our yard. There is a cow outside our bedroom window. What do we do?" I don't think Hubster believed me. I think he thought I was wacko. Until he heard the mooo.

My neighbors own cows. These cows try to be David Copperfield and usually get out of the pasture. I call her to ask her if the cows on my yard were hers. "How many are there?" she asked. "15 " I respond. "No, I don't have that many" she said.

So I call my other neighbor who owns the field in front of us. I got no answer. I'm standing outside in my robe, making sure these cows don't eat my bushes and few trees that we have, when my neighbor comes running outside. She said she came to see if they were hers. She took one look and yes, they were hers.

I go inside the house to get dressed to help her get 15 cows back into the pasture. Since I'm a city girl living in the country, I own lots of cow herding clothes. NOT!! Shorts, a t-shirt and tennis shoes is what I get on.

I saw my neighbor at the front of my land starting to get the cows back to her land. I ran to help her and she is making these noises to the cows. Clicking her tongue and hollering. Sounded like I was in a western movie. So I panicked. I didn't know any cowboy/cowgirl terms to round up cattle. Hee yaw is all I know. Along with 'move it', I got the cows to move some. At this time I should say that while I was getting dressed, my neighbor was able to send the cow that was by my bedroom window, back home. So we were down to 14 cows. Actually, 13 cows and 1 bull. Lovely.

We started running after the cattle, but they wanted to go a different way. Hubster was still here and was in his truck trying to help us. We chase the cattle up the field, then we chase them down the field. These cattle would not go in the gate that led to their pasture.

The cattle end up on the south of our land. Hubster is at one end, in his truck, and tells me to get on the opposite end. I slowly walked over there because there is no doubt that I am scared of cows. Especially 13 cows and 1 bull all staring me down. Oh, and did I forget to mention that when I rapidly got dressed in my cow herding clothes of shorts, t-shirt and tennis shoes that I hastily put on a reddish pink shirt? Nothing like being stared down by a bull while wearing a reddish pink shirt.

Can you say rut row?

So Hubster was yelling at me to get in front of the cattle. I started walking, but I was praying y'all. Praying that being run down to death by cattle is not the way I die. Praying that the bull that is looking right at me, at 5 ft away, doesn't mistake me for a barrel or something. "Move some more" Hubster said. I inched over slowly. Right foot, then left foot until Hubster yells some again "More" Hmmm, easy for him to say, he was in the truck. "You come out here and let me get in the truck" I said. No answer then. I was wishing at that moment that I was like a cow whisperer or something. Then I could talk to these animals and tell them that they were making me workout and I wasn't wanting to. That they were making me get scrapes on my legs from the tall grass we were running in. But most importantly, I wanted to tell them that they WOKE ME UP when I was able to sleep in.

We somehow managed to get the cattle to move again. But this time they went all the way to the back of my land. Only 12 cows and 1 bull because one cow decided to go through the gate that led to the pasture. My neighbor decided to go get her 4 wheeler to go get the cattle. She drove back there, but it's rocky terrain. She ended up falling off her 4 wheeler. I told her to leave the cattle back there. They weren't in my way and they weren't eating my little trees.

My mom and I went for a walk. We were up, so why not. She was actually laughing at me because she said I looked funny chasing the cattle. Thanks mom!!

When we were on our way back from our walk, I noticed that there were some cattle by our pond, but more cattle at our other neighbors house. They don't own cattle either. By this time, all the cattle, even the ones that had previously gone back home and the ones that were still in the pasture that didn't join in the great escape the first time, were out there.

I go to my neighbor, the cow owner, and tell her to drive me over there. We drove and she was herding the cattle with her car. She then stopped because there is no where else to go, I got down and tell her that I would chase the cattle one way, on foot, and she could drive the other way. As I am chasing the cattle, I hear a crash. She had backed into a tree. She drove to the edge of my land and we proceeded to follow the cattle through my land. I told her to drive home. I follow the cattle and they went to their land. The stinking gate was open. It looked like someone had actually opened the gate for them to go out.

We laughed about it after all was done. But it sure wasn't funny at the time. Stinking cows.

I tell you, always an adventure with me. Which I'm glad, because it makes life a lot funner.

Me and My Mouth Before my Caffeine

The alarm beeps, or should I say, makes annoying sounds at 6:00 in the morning. I roll over and Hubster pushes the snooze button. This goes on for another 20 minutes. He finally gets out of bed. I lay in bed contemplating whether I should pretend I'm asleep or get my hiney up and make him breakfast.

Now, before you think I'm the wonderful wife. Let me tell you, I am no June Cleaver. I do not have a smile on my face while doing this so called wonderful thing for my husband. I make him breakfast because of his diabetes. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I usually get up and quietly and alone proceed to make breakfast. Usually breakfast tacos of some sort. I'm alone in the kitchen, no one to talk to me, no one to distract me and I'm great with that. Simply because I need my caffeine in the mornings. Caffeine in the form of an ice cold coca-cola. Caffeine that is usually not ice cold at 6:30 in the morning because someone (me) forgot to put it in the fridge the night before. Caffeine that is stuck in the freezer getting super cold, super quick.

One day this past week, I was in a not so good mood. I let other people get to me especially at 6:30 in the morning. I was thinking about something that someone did and that got me riled up. I then took it out on Hubster. I didn't hold back. I told him what I thought about the situation.

I had forgotten that when I haven't had my caffeine, I am a not so nice person. I say things without thinking them through. I say things that are hurtful. I don't ask God to shut my mouth.

Hubster went on to work and I grabbed my can of coca-cola that I had stuck in the freezer and I went to sit down and have a talk with God. Just me, my coke and God.

It's funny how He never says, "I told you so" or "why did you do that" or "are you stupid or something?"

He shows us in a loving way how how we were wrong, and then He waits for us to acknowledge it ourselves.

Well, while I was spending time with Him, I realized what I had done and said and knew that I was wrong. And I am never wrong. Ha Ha Ha, that was a joke.

I did the right thing and called Hubster and apologized.

I have to remember that I can't control other people. I can't have that hang up in my life.

All I can say is that I'm glad I have a loving Heavenly Father who showers me with His Grace and Mercy on a daily basis. Even though I don't deserve it.

A little miracle

I'm baaaaaaacccckkk!!! I've been in hiatus for what seems like forever. I just got tired of writing. Mostly because even though this is MY blog and I can write about whatever I want, I still care about people's feelings. So therefore, I don't write what I really feel as to not hurt anyone.

But I'm over that.

Lot's has happened. End of school, summer break, vacation, death, mission trip, family time, salvations, new friends, new school year, frustrations, joys, and the list goes on and on.

There are these friends of ours that had a baby last Wednesday. All seemed well with baby Jenna and then they tested her oxygen and it was low. They medi- flighted her to a bigger hospital and there they determined that she had heart problems. Yesterday was the surgery, so I found me a substitute teacher. Actually, she volunteered. She came over to the house, did school with the boys and then hung out with them.

While I was walking into the hospital, I was thinking that my problems just seem so small compared to others problems. I think that is God's way of humbling me. And boy is it humbling.

When I saw my friends, the mom and dad, they looked tired, wore out and just plain weary. They had talked to the surgeon and the surgeon had done many surgeries like this one, so it was a relief to find that out. The surgery was risky but the Doc said there shouldn't be any problems. We waited and the phone kept ringing. Updates on how baby Jenna was. Finally four hours later, they received the call they had been waiting for. Surgery was over and baby Jenna was doing great.

Praise the Lord!!!

The relief on my friends faces didn't show right away. Might have been because there were many people there they were trying to inform, maybe it was because they hadn't actually talked to the Doctor. But when that Doctor came to talk to them, to tell them that their baby was going to be fine and was doing great, that is when the relief showed.

It was awesome to witness this miracle. Baby Jenna has to have a couple more heart surgeries as she gets older, but a big obstacle was conquered yesterday.

I find it amazing that a baby's heart is the size of a grape. Add to that all those tiny vessels and veins that probably look like thread, but God equipped Doctors to perform surgery on this. But only God is in the miracle business. And His miracles are many.

I'm still being used as a jungle gym.

I'm going to start posting pictures of my food again. I've noticed that this helps me be more accountable.

I've just been doing an exercise video and haven't ran. I guess I need to get my booty out there and run. I just don't feel like running enclosed inside a gym when it's so pretty outside. And I am a little scared running alone down my country roads way early in the morning. I've got to find me a running partner. In the meantime, I've got my dog. I do need to buy her a leash so that she won't run away from me and chase the cows.

I've got a quick story to tell.

I previously told y'all that I've been doing yoga. I try to do my exercises alone with no one watching. Nothing like having an audience.

Anyways, the boys always seem to make it into the room to watch or they become peeping Toms.

During the time of the video when I think that I can't do it anymore and Bob is telling me to keep going, that he's almost done, the boys try to encourage me as well. Not like Bob, but more like "That's not how they are doing it mom" or "Come on mom, I can do it better"

While I'm trying to do the poses, they think I'm a jungle gym and crawl under me, jump over me, try to avoid my hands when I'm swinging them around and so forth.

At first, it was a little annoying, but the more it's done, I enjoy it because I'm not thinking of my legs shaking, or my arms feeling as if they are going to fall off.

As a matter of fact, by the time this all happens, my whole body feels as if it's been tortured and I can't go on anymore.

The boys will show me how it's supposed to be done. I am not as agile as they are.

I do believe the poses are getting better because I've heard less of "that's not how to do it mom" and more of "that looks hard mom"

I'm getting there. Slowly but surely.

My weekend

Well, I had a great weekend with friends and family. It was wonderful, but I can honestly say that I was tired last night.

My brother in law and his son and my sister in law and her kids and her boyfriend came down for the weekend. We had tons of fun.

My friend from Texas came as well for the day on Friday and I didn't get to see her anymore. Sorry G, we'll spend time in San Antonio.

I hadn't worked out since Friday, so this morning I woke up and did an exercise video. Need to get this extra weight off. It did feel good to workout again.

We had a get together here on Saturday night with family and friends. We had a big turnout. Hubster and the guys set up their band stuff on the back porch and played music for us. They played until it rained hard.

The kids all rode the dirt bikes on Sunday afternoon. We had one that flipped, but he was okay. No tragedies.

Fishing was a spur of the moment event that happened Monday. We all went to the Lake and the only drama that happened was a fishing rod sinking onto the bottom of the lake.

Nothing else to write about at this moment. As I'm trying to clean my house and catch up on the laundry.

Yoga is exercise

We've been busy with a visit from some wonderful friends, last days of school work, the everyday business of life, baseball and whatever else has been thrown our way.

I've been eating better. I might not see results but I sure can feel them. I sleep better and I definitely feel better.

Since my last run posted , I have done some home exercises and did 20 min of running up the hill and walking down the hill. Butt kickers is what I like to call them.

I was showing my friend yesterday my little so called muscle on my biceps. Telling her that AB just kept looking at me when I was bragging about it and Hubster is a good man by telling me that it seems like they are getting bigger. She asked if I lifted weights. I said no. Simply because lifting 5lb weights every other week is not going to get me some definition in my muscles. And going to the gym every three weeks is not going to cut it either.

I do think that maybe my arms are getting a little toned just with the combination of exercises I do. I get bored doing one thing over and over. I have to break that monotony. I sort've make up my own exercise combinations and it works for me.

But the thing that I have been doing that is helping out my core(that also helps incontinence) and helps tone up everywhere is yoga. I've been doing yoga with Bob (biggest loser) only about twice a week, but those two times kick my butt, literally.

When I heard of yoga, I constantly told myself that I would never do that. Seriously, how was I going to stand like a flamingo and then suddenly lift my leg up into the wild blue yonder all the while trying to keep my balance. Not to mention, keeping all my body parts from moving out of position. No way!!

I ended up buying Biggest Loser Yoga weight loss video some time ago. It sat unopened for months. I tried it and was sore the next day. Bob keeps you going. I learned new names for exercises that I had never heard of before. Downward dog, upward dog, cow, cat, triangle, warrior, and the dreaded plank.

I do have to admit that the first time I turned on the video to view it just to see if I would like it, I saw them do these poses and told myself, "that's easy, you can do that"

Ha Ha Ha laughed my body when the next time I turned the video on and actually tried it. Your body stretches and reaches and moves and works. Never again will I say that yoga is not exercise.

So L, I think that's what's happening to my little so called muscles. Yoga baby!!

I ran another 3 miles this morning. 30 min this time. I was trying to do a slow and easy 3 miles.
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The boys had baseball games this week. It's been fun to watch them. UB is still in Tball and gets bored during the halfway point. He enjoys it though.

AB is still in coach pitch with Hubster as his coach. During the opening tournament, their team won the championship. It was great. Since then, they've won some and lost one.

AB hit an infield home run on Tue and was quite proud of himself. I was proud of him as well. This is the same kid that last year hit maybe 4 times the entire year. He's been doing so much better this year. It was a good home run. He hit it down to left field, hit the fence and he ran and ran, they threw the ball to the catcher and AB slid right between the catcher's legs(not touching the catcher). The catcher dropped the ball. It was great.

It's funny how even though his daddy is his coach, and he wants to impress him, he still looks for his mom for approval. I love it. He'll tell me that he's going to hit it hard again, or that he's going to catch a pop fly. Well, last night during one of the times that he hit the ball, he made it to first base and was looking at me for my thumbs up sign, he smiled and waved when I gave it to him. I hope he always looks for me.

He even caught a pop fly. He just lifted his arms that are 3ft long and caught that ball that was going high up. It was great. And yes, he looked to see if I had seen it.

Anyway, enough bragging. I'm just a proud momma, what can I say.

We are having company this weekend. My brother in law and his son and my sister in law and her family. Along with more family and friends for a get together or two.

Time to go finish mowing, clean the house, do the laundry, change sheets and just get ready for the company that is soon to arrive.

Have a Blessed Weekend!!!

3 miles in 28 min. Wooo Hooo!!

For the last week and a half, I have done nothing.

I haven't been eating right and I definitely haven't been exercising.

It seems that when that dreaded unwanted monthly visitor is arriving, my body rebels. It wants to eat what it wants and it will only function with sweets and fried foods. It certainly doesn't want to work off this bad food.

Hubster took the boys for a while Saturday morning and I was going to do nothing. Again. Nothing but lay in bed in my pajamas. It didn't matter that I had 5 loads of laundry to wash and dry and another 3 loads that needed to be put away. I was not going to do anything.

Then Hubster called and needed me to take him something. So much for not doing anything.

I get in my workout clothes thinking that since I'm out, I'll go to the gym and run a little. My mind was playing games with me but in the end, my strong will won.

I was only going to run two miles. I hadn't ran in a while and didn't want to hurt myself. At least that's what I was telling myself. It sounded like a good excuse.

I had my ipod on and was listening to some tunes and I looked down at my nike+ and saw that I had already ran two miles. Let's go for three, I told my body.

So I ran three miles in 30 min. Then I went down to the little weight room and lifted weights for about 15 min. It felt good to have all that sweat pouring out of me. Not that I lost any weight.

This morning, I got up early and went back to the gym. This time I ran three miles in 28 min. I'd like to shorten my three mile runs to 24 min, but this is a big improvement for me.

Eventually, I'd like to increase my miles and run longer. My mind and my legs are just now starting to get along well, so I'll give them some time to adjust to this.

I'm off to get ready for the last three days of school and to plan my good eats for the day. Starting off with a bowl of muesli.

I'll leave you with a UB moment.
I was in my lounge wear (t-shirt/bra and pajama bottoms) on Saturday afternoon. The boys and I were making some craft they had been wanting to do for a while.

UB adjusts my shirt in the front and says "Mom, you need to fix your shirt, your crack is showing"

A trip to the State Capital

You know what is the best thing for a day of hormones kicking it up in full gear?

A brownie fudge sundae.

Just kidding. It's a big hug and kiss and a sincere "I Love You mom, You are the best" from your child. Everything seems better after that.

Anyway, don't have pictures of my food. I've been too lazy to download and post. I'll post tomorrow.

I have had plenty of yummy food. Most good, some not good for me. But all so tasty.

We went on a field trip to the State Capital on Tue. It was so much fun. I never thought I'd say that History is fun because I am the one that flunked history and government in High School and College.

Even though the kids were young, our tour guide, the secretary for our State Senator, made it very interesting for them. She even had them role play so that they could understand how a law becomes a bill and trying to get them to understand checks and balances.

I do believe they all enjoyed themselves. We were able to meet Our House of Representative and our State Senator. The man this is our House Representative goes to our church so we already knew him, but were able to talk to him about Home school issues.

The State Senator talked to the kids first. He was sweet in that he commended us parents for Homeschooling and said wonderful things about Homeschooling. It makes you feel good to know that someone is behind you.

The Representative was as well. His wife was a Missions Kid and was Home schooled. He was a public school teacher and coach, so he has the knowledge on both ends.

All in all, it was a great day at the Capital.

Yesterday was spent mostly catching up on what should have been done Tue. It was a rough day in school. Both boys acted like they didn't know what they were being taught, when in fact it was just review. Days like that make me feel inadequate. My self-doubt sets in. All the pressure from the public seeps in takes over my thoughts. I question myself whether I'm actually teaching correctly. Am I not getting the point across the correct way? Am I doing the right thing?

We took a little break until after lunch and then continued with school. It was much better. The boys suddenly remembered how to do the lesson and all was good. Then the insecurities that I had earlier were gone. All was good.

I leave you with this little story.

Hubster and Teenster came home for lunch yesterday. Hubster had taken his motorcycle to work and therefore that is how they came home. UB made a comment about that to them and said, "Two guys riding one motorcycle? I just don't get it."

I don't think Hubster liked that comment.

Zucchini Lasagna

Not much to talk about exercise wise or food wise. Did good until Sat. morning. Then it went downhill from there.

I ate mostly leftovers on Friday and then made some gluten free pancakes for breakfast on Saturday. Mixed pecans in the batter then I put some frozen strawberries in a saucepan with a little water and mashed them. That was my syrup for my pancake. It was good.

Won't tell you what I ate for lunch. It was definitely not good for me.

I did come to the conclusion that bad food just makes me feel horrible. I can't breathe, can't sleep, just feel bloated. I definitely don't want to feel like that again.
******************************************************************

The weather has been crazy lately. Rain every other day or so. I supposed that's good news for our pond since it's finally full.

The only complaint I have with rain is the grass that grows twice as fast and all the water and mud puddles.

The other thing that comes out with this weather are toads. Lots and lots of toads. Toads that are coming out of hibernation to play in this spring like weather.

Boys and toads go well together. The boys enjoy playing with these nasty animals. UB more so than AB. I have to check UB's pant pockets when he comes inside. He likes to carry them with him.

Last week, he was walking into the house with a yellow tool box. Trying to discreetly make it to his room. I was in the kitchen with my back to him but my eyes on the back of my head saw him.
"What do you have there?" I asked
"Nothing mom." He innocently says
"Open that up and let me see."
He slowly lifts the lid to the toolbox and what do I see? Ants. Red fire ants. He was wanting to put this tool box in his room and the ants were going to be his pets. I tell him to take that back outside and put those ants back where he found them.

I look at him and realize he's holding something else. A mesh bag that is tied to his belt loop. Inside this mesh bag was a toad holding on for dear life. That was another pet he was wanting to put in his room somewhere.

Hubster comes home and makes UB put the ants back where they belonged. I go outside to see what is happening and see 3 toads inside that mesh bag. Tied to the handlebars of the bike.

If I were those toads, I'd find a different place to live when they were set free.
******************************************************************

Zucchini Lasagna
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 8oz cans of no sodium tomato sauce
1 lb extra lean ground turkey
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Italian herb seasoning(optional)
1 egg
2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
1 tsp whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup skim, fat free mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
3 zucchini sliced into 1/4 inch think pieces

Preheat oven to 350.

Saute onion and garlic over medium heat until tender. Add turkey and brown. Season with salt and pepper. Add tomato sauce. Season with Italian herb seasonings. Remove from heat.

In a small bowl, slightly beat the egg. Stir in cottage cheese, flour and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.

Pour 1/2 of meat-tomato mixture into a 1 1/2 quart roasting pan. Top with zucchini slices and cottage cheese mixture. Then cover with remaining meat-tomato mixture and zucchini.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake 10 minutes longer.

A nature walk does the body good

The boys and I went for a little nature walk in the misty fog yesterday morning. I've got to say, that's the extent of my exercise for yesterday.

We were walking down the road from Hubster's office and were looking for birds. We came across this pretty bird. Have no clue what it is. The bird book doesn't tell me.
And we saw lots of Cardinals. It was fun to watch them play with each other. They just don't like to be approached. This is as good a shot as I could get.

While walking down this road, an audio tech van drove by us. He waved and continued down the road to the office. A couple of minutes later, it showed back up and stopped next to us. I started to freak out because I'm thinking, "I'm alone with two little boys, in the middle of nowhere with no one to hear me if I scream." Previous episodes of CSI came to mind.

He asked if a person lived down this way. Only the guy Hubster works with and his family live down that dead end road. I didn't know the name he mentioned and he wouldn't leave. I soon see another vehicle approaching and realize it's the man that works with Hubster, R, and his wife R. (I'll just call them R& R).

Anyway, I tell the van man to ask them. They stopped next to us and R tells him no one by that name lives down the road. Van man left and R&R stayed to talk to us for a while. They ask the boys to be on the lookout for wild pigs, bobcats and skunks. They proceed to leave to the office and we walk a little further.

The boys were spooked by this time and with the van incident and R&R telling them about the wildlife out there, we head back to the office.

It was a nice little walk and an adventurous one as well.

Yesterday for breakfast, because of eating that small portion of salad on Wed night at church, then going for a run later that evening, I was starving.

I had 2 egg whites, 2 slices of turkey bacon and a whole grain English muffin. It sure filled me up.

For lunch, I made some chicken tostadas. I had lots of leftovers in the fridge and needed to get rid of them.

Tostadas consisted of low fat refried beans, grilled chicken, low fat cheese, lettuce, tomato, jalapenos and we can't forget the avocado.

I wanted something sweet but didn't want to eat junk and wasn't in the mood for an apple, so I had me a bowl of non-fat plain yogurt topped with flax seed and Ezekiel cereal with almonds, and fresh blueberries. Topped with a splash of agave nectar. This was really satisfying. And so filling that I wasn't even hungry for dinner.

UB had a baseball game and when we came back home, Hubster wanted another chicken tostada. I munched on a couple of pieces of baked chicken while making his tostada. Then I made me some air popped popcorn.

While at the baseball field, there were some people sitting next to us that were chain smoking. I'm so happy to receive second hand smoke, I really like it. I don't understand why some people aren't considerate to smoke elsewhere. People can smoke all they want, just not around me. I'm sorry if I offend anyone on this topic, but If I wanted to inhale cigarette smoke, I'd smoke myself.

Just had to get that of my chest.

It's Friday and have to go do tests with the boys and then clean the neglected house.

Coyotes, snakes and cows oh my!

I didn't get to post yesterday because I had lots of catching up to do with my laundry.


Here's my food for Tue and Wed.
Tue: For breakfast, I had my usual bowl of blueberry oatmeal
For lunch I made some salmon patties. I usually add eggs and crackers but this time I just added flax seed and whole grain bread crumbs.

I thought it was pretty delicious. I had some veggies on the side and then some fruit for dessert.

For dinner, I had roasted chicken wrapped in a herb and garlic wheat tortilla and a sweet potato on the side.
Wed: For breakfast I had a bowl of muesli. It's so yummy. You have to try it.

I made this zucchini lasagna for lunch. I really liked it. Hubster said it was just OK, but he's used to eating heavy. This was not heavy but was very filling. I will post the recipe later.

For dinner it was salad at the church. I didn't eat much because it was lots of different cold types of salads. Corn salad w/chips, broccoli salad with lots of mayo, pasta salad with vinegar and ????, cornbread salad, Chinese cole slaw and fruit salad.

I did eat some but not much. I even ate the brownie that had no nuts. You know I had to be hungry in order to eat chocolate.

I hadn't gotten my run in for the day. Didn't make it to the gym early in the morning since UB woke me up at 3am to inform me that he had a bad dream and he needed to sleep with me. I of course am a mean mom and said no. I went back to bed but didn't get to fall asleep right away.

Anyway, after church last night I went for a jog down my country road. I ran for 2 miles and walked .7 of a mile. It felt good.

While I enjoy running out in the open air as opposed to an indoor track, I don't enjoy the little creatures that are out on the road. Trying to sabotage my run.

Coyotes have been spotted both on my front yard as well as back behind the house. Not just one little coyote. But a pack of about 6 in front and 2 in back.

I'm from a town where the mascot is the coyote. I'm just not wanting to become close friends with the coyote. A pretend one is easier to pet than a real one.

The other thing I have to watch for out there are snakes. They are out now, trying to get some sunbathing in.

Cinnamon goes jogging with me and I feel a little safer. I run down the hill and then hit a gradual slope up a hill. It seems to be going on for a long time. I make it to the top and see cows on both sides of the road. The cows on the left of me run with me and then run away. The cows on the right of me just look up from their dinner and moo. I'd like to think they are encouraging me. They are telling me "Come on and moooooove it mooooove it"

During my run, I hear the grass moving. I hear scurrying. Mice or some little creatures. Birds finding worms.

I get to the bottom of the hill and then there is yet another small hill to the stop sign. I make it over and back but now it's time to go back up the other way. Up and down the hills again. My legs are hurting and my butt is dragging but I push and push. All the while, the cows encouraging me again "Mooooove that booty, yooooou can do it"

I make it to the top of the hill and then back down again. I turn down a road and keep running. While running back down the road to head home, I see a snake in the middle of the road. I stop and look and stay still. Thinking that if I run, it's going to get me because I sure can't out run it. But if I just stand there, his friends will probably come out to play around me.

I realize the snake is dead. But it's weird because I had just ran by there and it was not on the road. You bet your pretty little head that this Mexican girl ran fast and hard to the house. I don't think I had ran that fast in a long time.

I can easily run 3 miles at the indoor track but it's a killer running 2 miles down these hilly roads. I'm just a wimp.

See y'all tomorrow.

Food for me?

For exercise today, I did some pilates. Good grief, those exercises hurt. Makes you use your core. My core? I don't have a core, I think the fat is hiding it behind the door.
One day soon I'm going to find that core.

I decided that if I posted what I ate then I am more liable to eat better. Sure don't want y'all to see the unhealthy chicken fried steaks I eat. Loaded with gravy and huge steak fries on the side.

For breakfast, I had my usual bowl of oatmeal. I used to not be a big fan of oats but it's actually yummy now. I think I'm going to start adding some almond butter to it as well. The Almond milk makes it a little sweet. I like it not sweet. You could add Splenda or Agave Nectar too.
1/4 c oats
1/2 c almond milk
3 TBL flaxseed
blueberries
walnuts


For lunch, I had a tuna pita. I like these things. I reeeeeaaaaallly like these things. I put tuna in mine, along with lettuce, tomato and I couldn't forget the avacado. Avacado is a must on everything. In my opinion. The pita is an Ezekial whole grain sprouted pita. Very delicious. I think it would have been better with some baby spinach, but I forgot to buy some at the store.

See this scrumptulous food? Makes you hungry huh?

I did have watermelon for dessert and then carrot juice for a drink. Freshly juiced carrots.

For snack, I had this Nut bar. I think it's one of my favorite kinds right now. It's not sweet, but it's got enough sweetness to satisfy that sweet tooth.

Dinner was a salad. That nut bar filled me up but I knew that I had to eat something. I made me a salad with leaf lettuce, boiled egg white, tomato, cucumber and then some shredded chicken. I forgot my flaxseed but oh well.

I normally eat salads without dressing but last night I wanted some spunk. I juiced one lemon and added some cayenne pepper. Poured it over my salad and presto, tasty salad.

So that's what I had all day yesterday.

The boys played out in the rain and brought some mud into the house. While I was cleaning it up, UB and the 3 yr old neighbor boy came inside to hand me some fresh picked wild flowers.

Sweet boys.

Until tomorrow.

I'm back

So I'm back. I've had a hard time getting motivated to write anything. Mostly because what I would like to write about, I can't and what I can write about, I don't want to. Call it stubbornness if you must.

There have been many changes in my house and most of them good. We are still adjusting. But we are all doing great. Boys are growing and Hubster is working hard.

I did run the 5k that I had signed up for back in March. I finished with a slow time of 32:14.
Not bad since I had been hurt, but it could have been better.

AB wanted to run it as well. He wouldn't go train with me and said he could do it. We started the race with some friends and then AB and I went off together. Before I knew it, I left him behind.

I guess if I were a better mom I would have stayed with him. Hope he's not scarred for life.

I was the first of our group to finish and then 6 min later another friend finished and then the other friend after her. I sat there and waited for him and waited and waited. I walked back towards where the last quarter mile was and finally saw him. He was walking with some people. I cheered him on and told him he had a little ways to go. He started running again and then stopped again. But he did finish the race. I was proud of him.

When we got into the car to head home, he said that it was harder than what he thought. He wants to start training with me in order to get better.

I want to do a half marathon in November so I'm starting training for that. I do need to find me a good training plan. I think I'll do some more 5k's between now and then and maybe a 10k. I wish I could say that I'm doing it for the time and winning but i'm only in it to finish.

Since the weather had been so pretty here, I was running outside but it's crazy weather time and now in order for me to guarantee myself a workout, I started back at the gym track.

So this morning I went running for 30 minutes (3 miles) and then walked for 20 minutes.

My next goal is to start eating better again. I've sort of not been doing very well in that category.

I like to make excuses and say that busy times at the baseball field for games is the reason we don't eat good, but I can always plan ahead and make something to take. Those concession stand nachos are pretty yummy as well as those burgers. Of course, everything is pretty yummy when you are starving.

So enough babbling for now. Going to finish up school with the boys and then go for a nature walk. Taking advantage of this pretty day.

Spring Break

It seems like I've been on vacation but really haven't.

But now I am going on vacation.

Spring Break here we come!!!!

See y'all next week.

The bug is here

The bug has entered our homestead.

UB got sick on Friday night with the pukey's and then went on the the pukey's on the other end. Hubster helped Friday and Saturday night cleaning up puke.

I don't really do well with puke.

Then on Sunday evening AB got the same thing that UB had.

I knew Hubster was tired and had to go to work the next day so I kicked him out of our bedroom and to AB's bed while the boys camped out in our room.

So from 12:30 am until 5:30 am AB and I stayed up.

Him to puke and me to clean up.

I was so tired that at 2:30 in the morning I was putting doing a load of laundry and cleaning the toilet.

My life is so exciting.

Poor AB was complaining that his stomach hurt so bad. When at 5:25 he let it all out. Then we fell asleep shortly after that.

I was so tired yesterday. I still had loads of laundry to do and did as much as I could.

I think the boys are doing better. Still complaining of hurt stomachs, but they are fighting now.

Hopefully the bug is gone and Hubster and I don't get sick next.

Lysol has been my friend for the last three days.

Is it wrong to Lysol your kids down?

My book therapy review

1. From the Inside…Out: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You

Blurb: Have you always wanted to write a novel, but didn’t know where to start? This book is for you. With proven techniques, easy to understand explanations and practical steps, From The Inside...Out will teach you how a story is structured then take you through the process of creating and marketing your novel. Topics include: Character-driven plotting, How to HOOK your reader, The elements and flow of SCENES, How to build STORYWORLD, Secrets to Sizzling Dialogue, Proven Self-Editing techniques, Synopsis and Query letter writing, How to manage your writing career ...and everything in between!

Link to buy the book: http://stores.lulu.com/mybooktherapy


2. Blog-A-Book!

Blurb: Write a book with My Book Therapy Voices in 2009!

Remember those games you used to play where your friend started the story, and you finished it? Or the “Choose your own ending” books? Ever wanted to be a part of the story process, giving input on the character’s decisions, learning how to write a book as you go? Me too!

Here at My Book Therapy, we love to write, and we love to teach writers how to find their voice. So, in 2009 we’ll be writing a book together! Starting in January, we’ll create characters, a plot, develop conflict, the black moment, the epiphany and finally…the happy ending. Then, week by week, you’ll be a part of the creation process, voting on the next step of our hero’s journey, watching the book take life, and learning the nuances of crafting a story. You’ll Blog-A-Book with the My Book Therapy authors and get tools to help you how to write your own novel.

And, at the end of the year, we’ll have a book we’ve all created, something that we’ll publish! And, best of all, the proceeds will go to support IJM, an organization that fights human trafficking around the world.


Come and Blog-A-Book. Learn. Fellowship. Bless.

My Book Therapy…Discover the writer in you.

3. My Book Therapy Therapists and Services:

The site is: My Book Therapy www.mybooktherapy.com
The Therapists are: Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck and Sarah Sumpolec

Every Sunrise By Tricia Goyer

About Every Sunrise: The bleak winter days make February on Heather Creek Farm a test of endurance, and as winter wears on, Sam becomes more and more withdrawn and unhappy. Bob is busy planning a surprise for Charlotte, and Christopher is excited about a local writing competition, while a Valentine’s Day flower from a secret source lifts Emily’s spirits. But when Sam disappears from the farm one night, chasing a memory of the father who abandoned them all, Charlotte and Bob need all the help—and prayer—they can get to bring him home safely. This broken family needs God’s help like never before, but their trials remind them all that every sunrise brings a new beginning.

About the Home to Heather Creek series: Charlotte Stevenson's world is turned upside down when her daughter, Denise, dies in a tragic car accident. She ran away at eighteen and Charlotte has never forgiven herself. Now, Denise's children, abandoned by their father, are coming from California to live on Heather Creek Farm in Bedford, Nebraska.

Charlotte is uncertain about her ability to care for three grandchildren who are not thrilled to give up the beach and sunshine for snow and farm chores! But she sees a chance to make amends and will do whatever it takes to keep her fragile family together. Feel the courage, strength and commitment of this family as their lives unfold in the Home to Heather Creek series.


Link to buy book: http://www.guideposts.org/heathercreek/linked_pages/book7.html The books come in a series and you can order those at the link. However, if you just want to order Every Sunrise you must call the customer service number (1-800-431-2344). Please include this information in your post!


About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of eighteen fiction and non-fiction books, including Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. Tricia writes magazine articles for publications like Today's Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia also enjoys speaking. She and her family makes their home in Montana.


Contest: Okay…this book is loaded with yummy food: strawberry cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, baked chicken with cornbread, chocolate cake, pancakes with homemade syrup, French onion soup, parmesan crusted chicken…well you get the idea! So the contest for this tour will be the EVERY FOODIE contest! Leave a comment on the blog tour post (http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2009/02/every-sunrise-blog-tour-and-contest.html) at Tricia’s site with your favorite meal and a recipe (feel free to post more than one recipe!)! She’ll choose the one that most tantalizes her taste buds to receive an entire set of the Home to Heather Creek series (books 1-7)! Five runner’s up will win a copy of Every Sunrise (or another Tricia Goyer book of their choice). Let the mouth-watering commence!

Back to the old fashioned way to drying clothes

My dryer is broke!!

Don't know what's wrong with it, but what I do know is that it won't dry my clothes.

Last time I had an appliance mess up, I called the repair guy and he came to charge me $55 and to tell me that the microwave just needed to be unplugged and plugged again.

Can you say RIPOFF?

I could have bought a new micro for that amount of money.

AND, it still doesn't work properly.

So I spent last night after church playing repair woman.

Hubster is out of town, so that means I get to figure this out on my own.

I'm determined not to call a repair guy(dryer no longer under warranty) until I have done everything I can to make sure it's not something that will make me look like an over worked, underpaid house wife/mom.

I got my handy dandy little screwdriver and my just as handy dandy little flashlight and set off to work.

I took off the lint screen thingy ma jiggy and vacuumed all the lint and sand and you don't want to know what else, out of there.

I then pulled the dryer out and tried to see if the vent hose was clogged up. It's such a tight space so I can't really see.

Then I talked to Hubster and he said just to wait for him.

So I guess I'll wait for him to come home and pull the dryer out enough for me to clean the vent hose.

I'm sure I'll have to call a repairman, but in the meantime I am making sure that it's not those things.

I had washed two loads yesterday before I came to the conclusion that the clothes were just not going to dry in cold air. There was no hot air coming out.

If you come to my house today, you will see clothes on hangers all over the house. From undies to bras to shirts and karate uniforms.

Very cool huh?

It's a good thing nobody comes visit me.

Nothing like having to explain why all my undergarments are drying in the dining room.

My favorite Reality show

While I don't watch television all day long. I do revel in some shows.

I like to watch the CSI's, Numbers and NCIS. I also watch Hallmark channel or Lifetime Movie Network when Hubster is out of town and he can't tell me that the movie I'm watching is plain dumb.

I do watch reality shows like The Apprentice and The Biggest Loser. For a while there, I watched a little bit of The bachelor, but that show is just plain dumb. I don't know why people subject themselves to that. But that's a whole other story.

The Biggest Loser is my favorite. I like to watch the transformation these people make. Some have been obese their entire lives and some only since a trauma happened in there lives.

I do find it hard to relate sometimes because it is their job for that amount of time they are at the ranch. They workout up to 8 hours a day. Who has that time in real life?

They have a personal trainer there. Who but the rich have a personal trainer for that many hours all the time. Maybe I'm wrong about that.

While I enjoy watching the show, sometimes I become perturbed with it.

Last night was one of those times. As a mom, I believe that I would do anything for my children. When I was single and kid less I couldn't understand why parents sacrificed what they wanted just to give their kids what they needed.

Having kids changes the way you think.

The ones to be up for elimination last night was a mother/daughter team. I think I was a little bothered that the mom said she wanted to stay and to send her daughter home. I had mixed feelings about this.

Yes, the daughter had already been at home for a month and had lost some weight, but she wanted to be there as well.

The previous mother/daughter or father/son teams all had the parents fighting for their child to stay on the ranch. I took it as being selfish on the mother's part to not fight for her daughter.

The mom had been skinny at a time, so she obviously had some insight as to how to lose weight. The daughter has never been skinny. To me it's a no-brainer.

The daughter said that she would rather go home because then her mom would get to stay on the ranch and lose weight and then she would be able to have her mom live a little longer in life.

I see that point as well, but it doesn't change the fact that the mother should have sacrificed her spot so that her daughter could have a chance in life.

Obviously, the mother met a man and had children or the daughter wouldn't be there. The daughter deserves that as well.

Maybe I am looking at this wrong, but as a mother, I would think that if put in that predicament, I'd fight for my child.

The other thing that bothers me is that the contestants say that they can't make it without Jillian or Bob.

Don't get me wrong, I would like to have a Jillian or a Bob in my home kicking my booty with their workouts.

If they don't think they can make it without the trainers, then they aren't really learning anything.

Getting healthy is not about starving yourself and depriving your body of nutrients it needs.
It's about eating the right foods and exercising daily.

In real life, unless it's your job, we can't workout 8 hours a day. We can't have that personal trainer to push us those 8 hours.

We have to push ourselves and find the time in our busy lives to exercise and to eat the right foods.

We even have to find our own Jillian or Bob in our friends. Maybe with an accountability partner they can push us until our booty's hurt.

Rambling Monday

Eating better is what I'm trying to do. That doesn't mean that I do it all the time. I still have my weaknesses.

Like this weekend for example. UB's birthday is later this week, but Hubster is not going to be able to take the day off, so we took UB out to eat.

It was also Valentine's Day, so we killed two birds with one stone.

UB chose a steak house. I could have gotten a steak and some veggies and a salad with the dressing on the side. But what's fun about that? Especially since it was V-Day!

I miss those wonderful tasty chicken fried steaks from Texas. And this place has an awesome chicken fried steak. So I got it. And boy was it good.

I indulged in a chicken fried steak, steak fries and some bread. Not something that I should have been eating.

I have lost 6 pounds as of today. It is slowly coming off. And I'm OK with it being about 2 pounds a week. I want to make sure I keep it off.

This morning when the alarm went off, I snoozed it, and snoozed it and snoozed it. I really didn't want to go run. But I knew that if I didn't go, my day would not be good.

Been running for 30 min. now. At a pretty good pace. Today was a slow pace. Guess that chicken fried steak was slowing me down.

Wordless Wednesday

I did it!!

I did recover from the twisted ankle. And proceeded to continue on towards my goal of running more than a minute without feeling like I'm going to pass out.

I had been discouraged last week. Discouraged because in my mind I didn't calculate my age plus the fact that I hadn't been physically active for a long time.

I only saw me running 3 miles on the first day. That's when my body went into shock.

As I began training for the 5k I started slow. And I was supposed to pick up minutes every week, but excuses and obstacles came barreling towards me.

On and off I'd run/walk down my hilly road. I'd make it up to 10 minutes (don't know how far) and then I'd stop.

So last week, I was disappointed in myself because I was only at 5 hard minutes. I'd do sprints up and down the hills along with the running.

Yesterday I did it!!!!

I ran 2 whole miles without stopping. I know I probably could have kept going but didn't want to push it. The furthest I had run was almost a mile.

I did talk to several people who run this hilly roadside and at the gym and they said that the gym is much easier to run at.

I guess I was doing good with what I was doing outside. Even if it meant not running as long.

I even ran the 2 miles in about 17 minutes. That is a big accomplishment for me.

I'm hoping to add on another mile by the end of the week.

See? Gloria Gaynor was right "I did survive"

I didn't fall, I was just looking for something

Oh what a glorious day! No ice. No rain. No cold. Just a nice windy 70 something day.

A great day for jogging.

We had finished tests and I sent the boys outside to play while I walked/ran. I hooked up my pedometer to my pants, laced up my shoes, strapped on my ipod and off I went.

I turned on the music and I warmed up by walking. Enjoying the warmth of the sun but trying to stay erect from the force of the wind.

Up the hill and then down the hill. Breathing in then exhaling out. Faster and faster I walked to warm-up.

It was finally time to start my jog. One foot in front of the other, listening to good music. All is well, and then it happens.

My weak ankle didn't get enough warm-up and it turned on me. Knocking me off my feet and onto the ground.

I quickly get up and look around. Making sure that no one saw me make a fool of myself. Living out in the country does have it's advantages.

Coming to the conclusion that nobody was around when I gracefully fell, I pretend to be stretching (just in case someone is coming up the road) and check out my hurt knee.

No scratches, just a bruise starting to form. I give my ankle a lecture and continue on. Fighting against the wind, to finish what I started.

Ironically, the song that I was listening to said "Every time I fall" Maybe I need to start listening to "I will survive".

My top 10 reasons to exercise

1. My body can't be eating more calories than it's taking out. My body tends to become friends with the fat that comes in it and it won't let it leave.

2. I don't want to look like a flabby soon to be 40 yr old.

3. I want my kids to learn that exercise and nutrition are good choices to make.

4. I would eventually like to get Hubster off his medications.

5. I don't want to have cottage cheese looking legs.

6. I want to fit back into my skinny jeans.

7. I don't want UB to play with my muffin top anymore.

8. I don't want AB to tell me that my fat looks like an extra muscle.

9. I want my boys to run races with me.

10. I want to live a healthy lifestyle.