First Day of School 2013

Thursday was the first day of school!!!  I took the obligatory pictures, and my kids cooperated for the most part.

 David my handsome 6th grader!

 Both boys in the same school!

 Timothy my awesome 4th grader!

Just a day before I had a new plan for exercising.  Aaron said he would get up with Melanie if she woke up while I was exercising.  So I got up at 5:00 am and did my workout, and heard her get up around 5:35 when I was almost done.  So I nursed her while Aaron showered, and then I showered.  It worked great.  Except Wednesday night didn't go as planned at all.  First of all Aaron was on call - which is not normal for a Wednesday night.  He was busy up until mutual, so I dropped off David for scouts.  Aaron barely had enough time to drop David off at home before getting a page, and he had to go back in.  He was gone until 2:00am!  That almost never happens.  Just as I was getting ready for bed at 10:00 Melanie woke up crying.  I went in and she had thrown up.  So I pulled her out of her crib, washed her up, and changed her pajamas and bedding.  I rocked her for a bit and put her back in bed.  At 10:45, when I was almost asleep she woke up again, and had thrown up again.  I changed her clothes again, but I didn't have another crib sheet, so I pulled off the sheets, and brought her into bed with me.  She is a restless sleeper, so I didn't sleep much.  She woke and I nursed her just as Aaron came home at 2:00 am.  He took a twin size sheet and tucked it in tight in the crib so I could put her back in her crib.  She didn't throw up again, but she didn't sleep well either.  I was not in the mood to get up at 5:00 am, so I slept in.  Aaron did too.  But I had to get him up so he could go into work, and I still had to get up early enough to take the kids to school.  I made pancakes, and off we went.  I really intended to exercise after I dropped them off.  At first I tried to do it while Melanie was awake, but she kept climbing over to me, and I had to stop and block the bike with a crate, then she just whined, so I finally put her down for a nap.  I got back on the bike, and about 15 minutes later I was so exhausted I had to stop.  That's as far as I got.  So I showered and barely got out in time to get Melanie when she woke up.  I didn't get much else done that day.  Just tried to keep the house clean and that's it.  I don't remember what else we did other than talk about the first day of school.  David's teacher won him over by having a nacho party on the second day of school  He helped me put together a 7-layer bean dip to bring.  He also brought the rest of our chips and some plates. 

Memorial Day 2012

I really wish I had taken some pictures.  However, we were having so much fun I forgot to bring the camera.  So my words will have to do.  Our ward does a Memorial Day Breakfast which is a fun tradition.  This year a friend decided to add a fun run to the tradition.  Br D* said he might dub it the Chellethon - her name is Chelle if that wasn't already obvious.  It was only about 2 miles, starting at the church and going down to the cemetery, then past the "downtown" area, and back up to the church.  I decided to do the walk, part of the "Run, Walk, Bike".  The boys were mad that I didn't tell them they could ride their bikes.  I figured David would run ahead, and Timothy would stay with me while I pushed Amy in the stroller.  Well, David took off and Timothy went with him.  I figured that wouldn't last long and soon I'd catch up to him.  There was no way I could push Amy in the stroller and catch up with him.  So I let him run.  I walked with a couple people for a bit, until they decided to jog.  Amy and I jogged for a bit from time to time, but pushing her in an umbrella stroller wasn't great for jogging, so we mostly walked.  About 3/4 of the way through the course I finally caught up with Timothy.  He had a map, but it's not like it helped him figure out where to go.  I'm just grateful he was still on course.  I actually had to slow down so he wouldn't get left behind.  It was fun.  Maybe I can convince the kids to take a morning walk with me during the summer.  We'd have to drive somewhere because I can't push Amy's stroller on our gravel road, and I don't want the kids walking/running on the highway with cars zooming past at 55mph.  So maybe the park or the church will be a good starting place.

Anyway... back at the church several people were starting to gather for the breakfast.  Of course we didn't start right on time, so really I would have had time to run home and shower, but then getting the kids to leave wouldn't have been easy, and leaving them there wasn't an option.  Aaron was there, but he was also on call, and in charge of the scouts doing the opening flag ceremony.  So I stayed.  Amy enjoyed the stroller so much she stayed in there for a good 20 minutes after we were done walking.  Eventually she wandered around and played.  We enjoyed the short program beforehand, (flag ceremony, songs, prayer, and a short message and moment of silence) then we got in line for breakfast.  David took off and ended up finishing his breakfast before I even sat down to eat mine.  It was good food ( loved all the fresh fruit!), and I got to talk to a lot of people.  Although I realized that there were a lot of people I didn't get to talk to that I had hoped to.  Oh well.  We stayed until about 10:00.  Aaron ran over to the clinic and the hospital for a bit to do some paper work.  I went home with the kids and finally showered.  Then Aaron called and needed me to bring him some cash.  The grocery store next to the clinic closed a few months ago, and reopened for one day and put everything 70% off, but they were only excepting cash.  So we stocked up on a bunch of things.

When we got back it was time for lunch and naps.  Then Aaron and I worked in the yard for a bit.  Aaron had to go to the clinic for a bit in the afternoon, while Timothy and I made a dessert for our BBQ with friends.  David went to play baseball with Benjamin and some other kids, and Br. K* dropped him back off at the church at 5:00.  We met up at the pavilion (where we had breakfast) and had a BBQ dinner with the Rebecca W*'s family an Crystal K*'s family.  It was fun.  It got a little windy, but otherwise we had some great food, the kids got to play with a big bouncy ball, and frisbees.  And two dogs that came with their owners to use the field.  The adults got to talk a lot and have fun too.  Oddly the most entertaining part of the evening was when a frisbee got caught on the pavilion roof, and the dads were trying to get it down with the bouncy ball.  The kids were captivated!  We headed home around 7:00.  We were all tired after a fun and busy day.  I still wish I had pictures, but I hope this will be good enough.

End of January Update

I really need to stop waiting so long to post.  Well here's an update anyway.

David is doing a report on Poland.  Everyone in the class has a different country.  This should be fun.  Today he came home with a poster to display his information.  He is supposed to come up with some fun facts, and bring in something like food, clothing or a game from his country.  Maybe I'll find a Borscht recipe!

Timothy is doing well at school.  They are doing timed tests for math now.  He isn't finishing them, even though he knows all of the answers.  At first I thought he had brought home someone else's paper.  Not because he didn't finish but because the handwriting was neat and tiny.  That's the opposite of his usual handwriting.  So now when speed is important he's taking his time to make it neat?  Oh boy!

Amy has had two preschool days so far.  Melissa taught the first week, and I taught the second week.  It was fun to have the 4 little girls all together.  They got along for the most part.  Except for Amy telling them that they couldn't play with her toys.  She's also had some bladder control issues.  I'm not sure if she's back sliding a bit in potty training, or if she has a bladder infection or something of the sort.

Aaron has had a very busy week at work.  There has been some crazy stuff going on, and that has resulted in some late nights.  When he finally gets home he has to finish up a few more things, and then we usually watch an episode or two of Fringe.  We are almost caught up now.

As for me I have been doing well with my new diet.  I am consistently exercising and tracking my food intake.  It's getting easier, and I'm not so worried about being exact.  Close enough is good enough for me.  I had a little snack binge today, and I contemplated not recording everything I ate.  However that would only be cheating myself.  Surprisingly I was still within my goal ranges in every category.

I've been spending my time watching Downton Abbey and Fringe.  Is that weird that I like two completely opposite shows?  One a period drama the other a fantastical science fiction.  I also love the crime dramas too, but they didn't have new episodes over the last couple of weeks.  I typically watch one show during my workout. 

I also hit a bit of a emotional slump.  I was feeling really sorry for myself.  Don't worry I'm over it now, but I wouldn't be honest if I didn't share.  In the past month or so I have had several friends ( 7 or 8 I'm not exaggerating) announce that they are expecting a baby.  And for most of them it's #4.  The number we've been working on for about 2 years now.  I could handle it at first when it was one or two, but to have... let me count - M*, A*, H*, A* M*, B*, J*, K*, M*,T*. OK, so it's 10, one is #1, one is #3, one is #5, and the rest #4.  That doesn't mean I'm not happy for them.  It doesn't mean I don't want them to announce it.  I just wish it didn't affect me, that I didn't let it make me feel sad that I can't make the same announcement.  Of course I realize that I also have friends that haven't been able to make that announcement ever.  I also realize that I have friends and family that have lost children, or are dealing with sick children.  Just this past week one of my sister's best friends had to take her 7 year old to the hospital, where they determined she has cancer.  I know I have many blessings which I am grateful for, but sometimes I throw myself a pity party.  Luckily I have been able to pull myself out of that with some help from my always wonderful husband.  Wow this post turned out to be a lot different from what I planned it to be. 

I don't even have any pictures to share.  I have a couple on my camera, but I haven't uploaded them.  I'll get to that soon I hope.  I'm trying to think of any other things that went on in the last few weeks.  I already talked about the pinewood derby.  Church has been great.  I'm working on a lesson for Sunday which I hope will go well.  I've enjoyed reading with the kids in David's class, and being involved in Timothy's class as well.  I read with them, or help with worksheets.  Tuesday we surprised the kids with a new TV.  We replaced the old tube TV we bought when we were first married.  The kids are excited with the flat screen, and the Roku box.  Now we can watch BYUtv, among other things.  We are using some of the money from our tax return to pay for it.  I was pleasantly surprised that we were getting a tax return, and then Aaron reminded me how much was taken out of our checks, and that we bought a house last year.  In fact tomorrow is the one year anniversary of us closing on the house!  We didn't move in for a couple of weeks, but I can't believe it's been a year now since we made that purchase.

So that about sums up the last couple of weeks.  Hopefully soon I'll have some pictures to post.

Living Healthy

I consider myself to be a fairly healthy person, but over the last few months my diet choices haven't been that great. Since my gall bladder surgery I've been able to eat everything again, and I went a little overboard. It was also hard while Aaron was gone. I fixed a lot more quick meals, and ate late night snacks, ok all day snacks. Meanwhile Aaron started exercising while he was at his parents' house. He asked me if I wanted to exercise with him in the morning. So we agreed to wake up early at 5:30 am to exercise. The first morning was great. I put in a Tae-bo video and had a great work out. Aaron wasn't a big fan. He wasn't used to all the different moves etc., and missed his bus. He decided walking 20 flights of stairs was better. So at the hospital he is taking the stairs now. He's often on the 9th floor, so he gets quite a work out!

The next day I got up at 5:30 again and Aaron got up 10 minutes later to get ready for work. He still missed his bus.

Day 3 - I was really tired but I got up at 5:30 and Aaron got up with me to get ready. While Aaron was in the shower Amy woke up. At 5:37! And insisted that I turn the "movie off"!! So much for that. Aaron discovered that his bus come 10 minutes early!!! So he's out the door at 6:20 am.

Day 4 - I decide to sleep in. Aaron got up to shower and guess what - Amy woke up. Aaron got her some breakfast, I tried to sleep. Aaron had to leave, so I took Amy out of her seat, and went back to bed. Amy found her half-empty bowl of oatmeal and decided to finish it off in our room. Some time later, half asleep, I brought her up into the bed, and I don't know if she fell asleep or not, but I did. Until Timothy woke up at 7:00.

Day 5 - It was a beautiful sunny day, so I got up with Aaron at 5:30 and made him breakfast. Amy woke up just before 6:00. Instead of doing Tae-bo I decided to walk the kids to school. It's been a while since I've done that. It seems like I always have places I need to be, or the weather isn't cooperating. But I finally did it, and it felt good. I even did some Pilates after Amy and I got back.

Now I have another incentive to live healthier. We had life insurance exams a couple weeks ago, and the results came back. We qualify at their lowest rate, however my cholesterol is high again (it was high about 5 years ago). Not really high, but over the 200 mark. So hello to more beans, flax seed and oatmeal, and good-bye to lots of eggs, cheese, and processed foods. Maybe this time I can keep it down for good. So send me all your bean recipes!