Just an update on the ever constant quest for the perfect school. Ok, I know there is no such thing as the perfect school. Believe me I know that.
But we are in search for the right school for our youngest 2 children. Mostly our youngest son. Babygirl will do fine wherever she goes (which will most likely be with youngest son). Anyways, after praying about it, we have made the decision and feel it is the right one. Unfortunately, that does mean the younger 2 kids will continue to go to a different school than the older two. We had just hoped to get them all in to the same school at some point in time. Now that would be a foreign concept to us. LOL. Well, it won't be next year.
At least we have next year figured out. (We tell the kids we take it a year at a time.)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Girls Night Out!!
Don't you love it when you get the chance to go out with just the girls, or the guys go out with just the guys!
Tonight was one of those wonderful times of GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!!
We had a blast just laughing and talking. One of the girls even made us play a game and brought along a prize for the winner. I didn't win. And one girl decided to treat us all and secretly paid for all our food and desserts. I didn't pay. But I did take pictures. And we all laughed and laughed. At one point I was laughing so hard I was crying. Gotta love those belly gut laughs!!!
I needed tonight more than I thought I did. Thank you girls!!!!
Tonight was one of those wonderful times of GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!!
We had a blast just laughing and talking. One of the girls even made us play a game and brought along a prize for the winner. I didn't win. And one girl decided to treat us all and secretly paid for all our food and desserts. I didn't pay. But I did take pictures. And we all laughed and laughed. At one point I was laughing so hard I was crying. Gotta love those belly gut laughs!!!
I needed tonight more than I thought I did. Thank you girls!!!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A month to go
Today is exactly one month until our first 5K run. Uh oh.
I feel as though I am going backwards in my exercise. Yikes. I ran last week or was it the week before? Hmmm. Not sure. When I did, I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. I was sooo tired by the time I was done. I was bored too. It took me 51 minutes to run the 4 miles. I have yet to run on the road or on a track. I think I need to do that soon.
Lately I have just felt so unmotivated to exercise. Maybe it is all this dreary rain we have had. It seems to be an unusual amount of rain. So many days in a row.
The weight loss has continued at a snails pace, still going, just ever so slow. I am at a total of 13 pounds lost as of yesterday. I am pleased that I am still at least going in the right direction, down instead of up. I still have a long way to go...20 more pounds at the minimum, 24 pounds preferably. I have not been strict with my diet, and therefore the snails pace. But I want this to be a life style change not a diet. So I allow myself a brownie if I want it, it is just one brownie not 3. Or if I want ice cream, I don't have a bowl full, I have a weight watchers ice cream bar for 130 calories. Better choices is what I am trying to do, and better portion control as well.
It took me many years and 5 pregnancies to put this weight on, it is not going to come off overnight. If it did, it would be so unhealthy and would surely all come back and then some. So I am trying to do it right. To do it a way in which I can live with for the rest of my life not just a period of time.
I guess I better get out there and start running so I know I can be ready for the 5K. Yikes, I have only a month left to prepare! At least I have 13 less pounds to be dragging along. That should make it a tad easier. I hope.
I feel as though I am going backwards in my exercise. Yikes. I ran last week or was it the week before? Hmmm. Not sure. When I did, I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. I was sooo tired by the time I was done. I was bored too. It took me 51 minutes to run the 4 miles. I have yet to run on the road or on a track. I think I need to do that soon.
Lately I have just felt so unmotivated to exercise. Maybe it is all this dreary rain we have had. It seems to be an unusual amount of rain. So many days in a row.
The weight loss has continued at a snails pace, still going, just ever so slow. I am at a total of 13 pounds lost as of yesterday. I am pleased that I am still at least going in the right direction, down instead of up. I still have a long way to go...20 more pounds at the minimum, 24 pounds preferably. I have not been strict with my diet, and therefore the snails pace. But I want this to be a life style change not a diet. So I allow myself a brownie if I want it, it is just one brownie not 3. Or if I want ice cream, I don't have a bowl full, I have a weight watchers ice cream bar for 130 calories. Better choices is what I am trying to do, and better portion control as well.
It took me many years and 5 pregnancies to put this weight on, it is not going to come off overnight. If it did, it would be so unhealthy and would surely all come back and then some. So I am trying to do it right. To do it a way in which I can live with for the rest of my life not just a period of time.
I guess I better get out there and start running so I know I can be ready for the 5K. Yikes, I have only a month left to prepare! At least I have 13 less pounds to be dragging along. That should make it a tad easier. I hope.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Want to do something fun?
Last week I got a text while I was at work from Hubby. It said "Want to do something fun?"
After nearly passing out (It was a school night, I had to work the next day, and hubby is not a spontaneous type of guy) I texted back "YES!!!!". That was my exact response. Then he texted "Want to go to the beach, have dinner and walk the boardwalk, and get funnel cake?"
What? Are you kidding me? That is one of my favorite things to do. Of course I want to do that.
WooHoo!
Wait a minute. My hubby is being spontaneous and asking me if I want to do one of my favorite things. Hmmmmm. Now, I am getting suspicious. I am thinking he has something up his sleeves. It could be good news, so he is in the mood to spoil me. Or it could be bad news so he is buttering me up. Hmmmm. The wheels are turning. He had been in meetings all day. I wonder what is going on.
Well, after getting the kids from school and ball practice. The kids were not so keen on our idea. They were tired and didn't want to be out late. PARTY POOPERS!!! Aren't mom and dad supposed to be the party poopers? So we do a modified version and go to the mall get dinner at the food court for one specific reason......they sell funnel cakes there! LOL.
Then we proceed to a nearby park that has a walking trail and several different playgrounds along the trail. Oldest son was not excited at all about this. His response was "Oh great the younger kids will have fun on playground, you and dad will be talking, so what does that leave me doing? This is going to be so boring!" The joys of having a 13 year old.
Oh phooey on you, was what I wanted to say, but I let it go. Well off we go. As soon as we are out of the car the kids dash for this real cannon that was used a way back when. Next thing I see is oldest son, climbing on it with the other kids, sticking his head in the barrel. Boring eh? So we proceed along our walk and come to the first playground and all are playing on it and even hubby and I were swinging on the swings. They had a high bar and oldest son was showing off how many chin ups he could do. I was impressed. I couldn't do a single one. LOL.
We proceed along the path and start having running races. Then we come to a fountain and the kids are all loving playing in the water and throwing coins in making wishes. Then we walk some more and stumble upon some fitness station so we are all seeing if we could jump on the logs that are standing straight up. Now that was interesting. Back on the trail for some more walking and playgrounds. We found lots of wild life. The kids spotted a Blue Heron. Oldest son is carrying babygirl on his shoulders and they are laughing. I asked oldest son "Was it as bad as you thought it would be?" He looked at me with this sheepish grin and said "No, it was actually pretty fun." I give him a half hug, smiled, and thanked him for giving it a try. I am so grateful he wasn't determined to be bored.
Time to leave and the kids were not ready, including oldest son. Ok, 10 more minutes. After all they were all getting along and having a blast.
That gave hubby and I time to talk. "Ok what is this all about?"
"Nothing."
"What? Nothing?"
"Nope. Nothing other than I just wanted to woo you and I know you like this kind of thing. I just want to court you."
AWWWWWWW! If that wasn't the sweetest. I love my Hubby! Too bad I was wondering what was up all evening instead of enjoying what was going on. That will teach me to look into everything, instead of just enjoying the moment.
After nearly passing out (It was a school night, I had to work the next day, and hubby is not a spontaneous type of guy) I texted back "YES!!!!". That was my exact response. Then he texted "Want to go to the beach, have dinner and walk the boardwalk, and get funnel cake?"
What? Are you kidding me? That is one of my favorite things to do. Of course I want to do that.
WooHoo!
Wait a minute. My hubby is being spontaneous and asking me if I want to do one of my favorite things. Hmmmmm. Now, I am getting suspicious. I am thinking he has something up his sleeves. It could be good news, so he is in the mood to spoil me. Or it could be bad news so he is buttering me up. Hmmmm. The wheels are turning. He had been in meetings all day. I wonder what is going on.
Well, after getting the kids from school and ball practice. The kids were not so keen on our idea. They were tired and didn't want to be out late. PARTY POOPERS!!! Aren't mom and dad supposed to be the party poopers? So we do a modified version and go to the mall get dinner at the food court for one specific reason......they sell funnel cakes there! LOL.
Then we proceed to a nearby park that has a walking trail and several different playgrounds along the trail. Oldest son was not excited at all about this. His response was "Oh great the younger kids will have fun on playground, you and dad will be talking, so what does that leave me doing? This is going to be so boring!" The joys of having a 13 year old.
Oh phooey on you, was what I wanted to say, but I let it go. Well off we go. As soon as we are out of the car the kids dash for this real cannon that was used a way back when. Next thing I see is oldest son, climbing on it with the other kids, sticking his head in the barrel. Boring eh? So we proceed along our walk and come to the first playground and all are playing on it and even hubby and I were swinging on the swings. They had a high bar and oldest son was showing off how many chin ups he could do. I was impressed. I couldn't do a single one. LOL.
We proceed along the path and start having running races. Then we come to a fountain and the kids are all loving playing in the water and throwing coins in making wishes. Then we walk some more and stumble upon some fitness station so we are all seeing if we could jump on the logs that are standing straight up. Now that was interesting. Back on the trail for some more walking and playgrounds. We found lots of wild life. The kids spotted a Blue Heron. Oldest son is carrying babygirl on his shoulders and they are laughing. I asked oldest son "Was it as bad as you thought it would be?" He looked at me with this sheepish grin and said "No, it was actually pretty fun." I give him a half hug, smiled, and thanked him for giving it a try. I am so grateful he wasn't determined to be bored.
Time to leave and the kids were not ready, including oldest son. Ok, 10 more minutes. After all they were all getting along and having a blast.
That gave hubby and I time to talk. "Ok what is this all about?"
"Nothing."
"What? Nothing?"
"Nope. Nothing other than I just wanted to woo you and I know you like this kind of thing. I just want to court you."
AWWWWWWW! If that wasn't the sweetest. I love my Hubby! Too bad I was wondering what was up all evening instead of enjoying what was going on. That will teach me to look into everything, instead of just enjoying the moment.
Spring
Spring is here. This so far, is the first spring in a long, long time, that I can remember not being so totally busy that I don't know which end is up.
Normally we are living at the baseball field, eating at the baseball field, and sometime someone is sleeping at the ballfield. Not this year though.
We did not sign up the younger 2 kids for ball this spring. Instead they want to take a tennis clinic, and cheerleading clinic which will happen in the summer. Hey, I am for spreading the sports around so I don't go completely nuts like every other spring.
We are still able to enjoy ballgames through oldest son, as he is playing on the middle school team. Widget is playing soccer. We love to watch him play, but I think he is getting either tired or bored with it. He wants to play tackle football come fall. Yikes. We will see on that one.
Normally we are living at the baseball field, eating at the baseball field, and sometime someone is sleeping at the ballfield. Not this year though.
We did not sign up the younger 2 kids for ball this spring. Instead they want to take a tennis clinic, and cheerleading clinic which will happen in the summer. Hey, I am for spreading the sports around so I don't go completely nuts like every other spring.
We are still able to enjoy ballgames through oldest son, as he is playing on the middle school team. Widget is playing soccer. We love to watch him play, but I think he is getting either tired or bored with it. He wants to play tackle football come fall. Yikes. We will see on that one.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Quest for the right Education
We are constantly evaluating, praying, searching, waiting, resting, keeping our eyes open for the right education for our children. We have had a real peace about the older 2 kids and where they are going to school. We plan and feel it is the Lord's plan to keep them where they are. They are thriving, enjoying school, their friends and are content to stay where they are at.
Now the younger 2 kids are a different story. They are not settled yet and we are in the process of finding that right fit for them. Baby girl could stay where she is and that would be ok with me. However the logistics and financial end need to be evaluated based upon little mans move. We feel very confident he will be switching schools next year. His present school only goes up to 3rd grade so he would need to switch soon anyways. I am concerned he may not be working at grade level. He might be, I am just not sure.
The school is very intense and challenges kids. If you know my little man, he is not an intense, competive, push-push kind of kid. He is a lovey, cuddle bear, who is very much an experiencial learner. Let him experience it and he will remember every detail, tell him about it and it might go in one ear and out the other. Anyways if you are aware of the A Beka program, you know it can be very linear and dry, no thinking outside the box. No experiencing the material, just lots of memory work. Now we kept him at this school because they push and concentrate heavily on reading. My philosophy is reading is the gateway to all learning. If you can't read the science or math problem how can you do the problems. Little man struggled with reading and therefore I wanted him to have intense focus on reading. We can catch up later on math, science, social studies if we need to, but lets get down the basics, the foundation....reading. Maybe that was a wrong way to approach his education, but that was how I wanted to proceed. I was afraid he would try to keep up on everything and his reading would suffer and then get brushed over in a big class. His class size now is 8, so he can get more personalized attention when needed.
Why are we proposing to move him? Well, it seems to be too much on him emotionally. I do feel his reading has greatly improved this year and that was what we wanted. I certainly want him to have a love for learning and staying there I feel would impede that. AHHH!!!
So the quest for the right school for little man begins. This is the hard part for me. I know, no school is perfect, but which school is right for little man. Dear God lead and guide us to the right school.
Now the younger 2 kids are a different story. They are not settled yet and we are in the process of finding that right fit for them. Baby girl could stay where she is and that would be ok with me. However the logistics and financial end need to be evaluated based upon little mans move. We feel very confident he will be switching schools next year. His present school only goes up to 3rd grade so he would need to switch soon anyways. I am concerned he may not be working at grade level. He might be, I am just not sure.
The school is very intense and challenges kids. If you know my little man, he is not an intense, competive, push-push kind of kid. He is a lovey, cuddle bear, who is very much an experiencial learner. Let him experience it and he will remember every detail, tell him about it and it might go in one ear and out the other. Anyways if you are aware of the A Beka program, you know it can be very linear and dry, no thinking outside the box. No experiencing the material, just lots of memory work. Now we kept him at this school because they push and concentrate heavily on reading. My philosophy is reading is the gateway to all learning. If you can't read the science or math problem how can you do the problems. Little man struggled with reading and therefore I wanted him to have intense focus on reading. We can catch up later on math, science, social studies if we need to, but lets get down the basics, the foundation....reading. Maybe that was a wrong way to approach his education, but that was how I wanted to proceed. I was afraid he would try to keep up on everything and his reading would suffer and then get brushed over in a big class. His class size now is 8, so he can get more personalized attention when needed.
Why are we proposing to move him? Well, it seems to be too much on him emotionally. I do feel his reading has greatly improved this year and that was what we wanted. I certainly want him to have a love for learning and staying there I feel would impede that. AHHH!!!
So the quest for the right school for little man begins. This is the hard part for me. I know, no school is perfect, but which school is right for little man. Dear God lead and guide us to the right school.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Motivation vs. Non Motivation
Hmmm. What makes that happen? Some days I am so motivated I could conquer the world. And then there are days like today when all I want to do is NOTHING.
Today is a rainy day, the house is quiet-no tv on, all the kids at school, hubby at work. It's a perfect time to go through baby girls room and get rid of those things she really doesn't wear or play with, but as soon as she sees me getting rid of them, they suddenly become her prize possession. Or it would be a great time to go to the gym and work out as long as I please, at my own pace- push myself with an extreme, intensity or just take a nice LONNGGG walk on the treadmill and do strength training. It would also be a great time to go shopping for all those miscellaneous items that I would rather not do with kids around.
There are tons of things I could do, should do, but probably won't do today. Then tomorrow when I have all the kids or I have to work, I will be so motivated and then frustrated that I didn't accomplish what I could've, should've, but didn't.
I need to spend time with my Lord and give this day to Him. That may be the only way I can get some get up and go.
BUSTED!!
As I was typing how unmotivated I was, hubby comes walking in the door (He forgot his cell phone and babygirl needed a sweater for school- he took the younger 2 kids to school on his way to work) and sees me just chillin on the couch with the computer. At least I was on the computer blogging, instead of what I want to be doing- watching a chick flick and eating bon bons. Then I would have really been busted. LOL.
Just kidding.
I asked hubby to pray for my unmotivation today. I think I will go and spend some time reading my bible and praying and then I will head to the gym. Maybe if I just get moving I will stumble upon that elusive motivation.
Today is a rainy day, the house is quiet-no tv on, all the kids at school, hubby at work. It's a perfect time to go through baby girls room and get rid of those things she really doesn't wear or play with, but as soon as she sees me getting rid of them, they suddenly become her prize possession. Or it would be a great time to go to the gym and work out as long as I please, at my own pace- push myself with an extreme, intensity or just take a nice LONNGGG walk on the treadmill and do strength training. It would also be a great time to go shopping for all those miscellaneous items that I would rather not do with kids around.
There are tons of things I could do, should do, but probably won't do today. Then tomorrow when I have all the kids or I have to work, I will be so motivated and then frustrated that I didn't accomplish what I could've, should've, but didn't.
I need to spend time with my Lord and give this day to Him. That may be the only way I can get some get up and go.
BUSTED!!
As I was typing how unmotivated I was, hubby comes walking in the door (He forgot his cell phone and babygirl needed a sweater for school- he took the younger 2 kids to school on his way to work) and sees me just chillin on the couch with the computer. At least I was on the computer blogging, instead of what I want to be doing- watching a chick flick and eating bon bons. Then I would have really been busted. LOL.
Just kidding.
I asked hubby to pray for my unmotivation today. I think I will go and spend some time reading my bible and praying and then I will head to the gym. Maybe if I just get moving I will stumble upon that elusive motivation.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The progress continues
That's right the progress continues. After a very tasty Easter weekend, I felt like I needed to start all over from scratch when Monday came. Whew! And of course those pesky 2 pounds that always haunt me came back.....AGAIN.
Ugh!
It is not surprising, just frustrating.
So I worked out monday on the eliptical, and took a break yesterday (I had to work and was way too tired by the time I got home) and back to the gym today.
I upped the ante today. I didn't even feel like working out when I went, but hubby came with me and that ALWAYS motivates me. I want to IMPRESS MY MAN, so I push myself a little more than I intended.
We could not get elipticals next to each other, so I decided to hop on the treadmill behind him. But there was a mirror in front of us so we could still keep an eye on each other. Woo Hoo! He looked good too. I am still so in love with him. Ok anyways. So I ended up running (ok jogging) 3.1 miles today. YeeHaw!!! That is the length of a 5K.
I DID IT!!!!!! I actually ran an entire 5K without stopping, slowing down or this time over doing it. I was actually able to talk through it the entire time. WooHoo!!!!!
Scary thought...I am actually starting to enjoy running again. I haven't enjoyed it since I ran track in high school. Yikes!
Ugh!
It is not surprising, just frustrating.
So I worked out monday on the eliptical, and took a break yesterday (I had to work and was way too tired by the time I got home) and back to the gym today.
I upped the ante today. I didn't even feel like working out when I went, but hubby came with me and that ALWAYS motivates me. I want to IMPRESS MY MAN, so I push myself a little more than I intended.
We could not get elipticals next to each other, so I decided to hop on the treadmill behind him. But there was a mirror in front of us so we could still keep an eye on each other. Woo Hoo! He looked good too. I am still so in love with him. Ok anyways. So I ended up running (ok jogging) 3.1 miles today. YeeHaw!!! That is the length of a 5K.
I DID IT!!!!!! I actually ran an entire 5K without stopping, slowing down or this time over doing it. I was actually able to talk through it the entire time. WooHoo!!!!!
Scary thought...I am actually starting to enjoy running again. I haven't enjoyed it since I ran track in high school. Yikes!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
A blond moment.....literally
I had a blond moment today, literally. Today I decided to throw all caution to the wind and change my natural red hair to become part of the blond community.
Yep that's right. I went blond. I still kept some of my red as highlights, just to keep a little bit of me in the process.
The big deal to this is I NEVER have changed my hair color EVER!!!! It has always been red. Not the bright copper kind of red, but still red. So to change to blond is quite a drastic look for me. And I am not stopping there. Tomorrow I am going to get my hair cut. Not sure what kind of style I am going to get, but my long straight red (oops) blond hair will be no more.
What's the occasion? The 10 lb. mark. You got it. I have lost 10 pounds. I have decided every 10 pounds I lose I am going to do something special for myself. This new hair is to push me through to the next 10 lbs. To motivate me. I hope it will work. Well it was fun even if it doesn't work.
So here is to me losing 10 pounds and going blond!!!!!! WooooHooooo!!!!!!
Yep that's right. I went blond. I still kept some of my red as highlights, just to keep a little bit of me in the process.
The big deal to this is I NEVER have changed my hair color EVER!!!! It has always been red. Not the bright copper kind of red, but still red. So to change to blond is quite a drastic look for me. And I am not stopping there. Tomorrow I am going to get my hair cut. Not sure what kind of style I am going to get, but my long straight red (oops) blond hair will be no more.
What's the occasion? The 10 lb. mark. You got it. I have lost 10 pounds. I have decided every 10 pounds I lose I am going to do something special for myself. This new hair is to push me through to the next 10 lbs. To motivate me. I hope it will work. Well it was fun even if it doesn't work.
So here is to me losing 10 pounds and going blond!!!!!! WooooHooooo!!!!!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
A great small group night
Tonight we had life group and what a great night it was. Each one of us in the group is telling our life story, one each night we meet. Tonight was our first story. It was amazing to me to learn so much about a person in just 20 minutes. This is someone whom I have known since I started going to the church 11 years ago.
Amazing.
There is such power in getting to know someone on a deeper level. The understanding of where they have come from, the experiences they have had, the choices they made, the challenges they endured etc. just makes you appreciate them even more. Then hearing the challenges they are facing now, the choices that will need to be made, what a priviledge to be able to join them in praying for those things, and then to see the results. WOW!
We also discussed committment. What is committment? What does committment look like? What does it mean to be committed to Christ, the church, each other?
One of the things, well two things that struck a chord with me, was time and money.
If you look at where you spend most of your time, and money, what does that say you are committed too. It reminded me of the question that I heard once "If you were accused of being a christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
Hmmmmm............
Something to ponder.
Amazing.
There is such power in getting to know someone on a deeper level. The understanding of where they have come from, the experiences they have had, the choices they made, the challenges they endured etc. just makes you appreciate them even more. Then hearing the challenges they are facing now, the choices that will need to be made, what a priviledge to be able to join them in praying for those things, and then to see the results. WOW!
We also discussed committment. What is committment? What does committment look like? What does it mean to be committed to Christ, the church, each other?
One of the things, well two things that struck a chord with me, was time and money.
If you look at where you spend most of your time, and money, what does that say you are committed too. It reminded me of the question that I heard once "If you were accused of being a christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
Hmmmmm............
Something to ponder.
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