One of THOSE Days!

Warning: this post will contain whining and complaining, as well as way, way TMI!!!!!
Monday evening, I had a lovely girls-night-out/farewell dinner for a friend. We sipped yummy beverages in a coffee shop until it was closing time. Unfortunately, my decaf hazelnut latte was likely NOT decaf, I discovered at 2am, still WIDE awake!
So when Tuesday morning rolled around and I headed out on my daily taxi route (see below), I was SLIGHTLY tired.
Here's the route:
7:30 - hubby drops older 2 to swim team
8:45 - I bring the younger 2 and pick up the older 2 from swim team
9:00 - drop the older 2 to VBS
Hurried across town (with cooler and ice packs) to Aldi to get groceries.
10:15 - KBH to town pool for swim lesson/entertain NJH
11:00 - drop off form/check to sign CAH up for synchronized swim trial lessons at YMCA,
hurry across town to drop off forms at preschool
12:00 - pick up older 2 from VBS
hurry home to unload groceries, hang towels, rinse and hang suits, make lunch, etc.
1:15 hurry across town to drop NCH off for tennis lesson
It was then that I decided to be a "fun mom" and let the younger 3 play at a nearby park (there wasn't time to go home before we had to pick NCH back up)...I sipped my diet peach Snapple and watched the younger ones play.
Suddenly my phone rang...it was hubby, who had questions about the schedule...along came one of the kids, who had to go potty, so I had her go in the van and use the piddle-pot...I continued my conversation on the phone when I terrible odor wafted my way...the child using the piddle-pot did a lot more than piddle! Oh no!!! I had ONE napkin to clean her with!! As I was assisting her, another one of my children ran over with a call of nature...tears began to well up in my eyes. I told them all to get in the van - "fun mom" at the park was gone! We were off to the library bathroom...with the stenchy piddle-pot wrapped in a plastic bag! When everyone finished potty duty at the library, it was time to get NCH from tennis camp. He gagged when he got in the van (which made me laugh - I know, how mean!!)
By the time we got home, it was 3pm and I was in DESPERATE need of QUIET TIME! I had 3 kids lay down for rests, gave NCH a workbook, poured myself an icy lemonade and sat in my antigravity lounge chair on the deck. Ahhhhhhhhhh! After an hour, I felt MUCH better! The kids got up and played in the pool for hours (even finding a dead frog, CAH named "Allie"...they proceeded to give the dead frog rides on a pool float until I said enough!)
The kids polished off a ton of food for dinner, and then I was off for a meeting with a friend from church (but not before I took a layer of skin off my bottom lip...I will give $10 to anyone who can guess how that happened!! I don't think anyone could ever guess!)


Oh, and one more thing: Midol Complete contains CAFFEINE and a diuretic...so if you take 2 in the morning and drink 2 cups of coffee, you will have a serious caffeine buzz and you will nearly wet your pants!!!!!

Crazy People

We were on our way to musical camp the other morning...
CAH suddenly exclaimed, "Those people must be CRAZY!!!!!!"
She paused and I looked around to see what she was talking about.
She pointed to the school bus traveling near us and continued,
"Sending their children to SCHOOL in the S U M M E R?!!!!!!!!!!"

Baby Birds & Berries

Two kids dropped off to musical camp,
Two kids quietly playing,
It was my moment...
I slowly poured the tantalizing raspberries into the strainer and rinsed them gently.
I placed a berry on my tongue and savored the tangy sweetness...
Bam! A blond little boy bumped into my thigh!
My two-year-old son...
And then another Bump! And there was my four-year-old daughter...
Both children stood there looking up at me,
Mouths wide open,
Like baby birds,
Waiting for me to place raspberries in their mouths,
One by one,
And within a minute,
The raspberries were gone.

Bad Blogger!

I have been terrible about updating my poor blog!! But I have some good reasons...
it's summer!
we're super busy...having fun!
three weeks of swim lessons for the older 3 kiddos!
swim team practice for the older 2 kiddos!
a week of afternoon art camp for CAH!
swim meets!
gymnastics class for KBH!
new summer school class at church for the older 2!
musical practice for the older 2!
lots of swimming and playing!
bday party (postponed from March) for NCH!
baby niece was born (and we are SO in love with her!!)
and still to come - musical camp, more swim lessons, more swim team, more swim meets, more gymnastics, more summer school at church, cheer leading camp, tennis camp, VBS, and lots more swimming and fun!
Hope to update soon - but not likely :)
Check facebook for pictures...

Summer Jobs

First, I have to thank a friend of a friend on facebook for sharing the original idea for this! Here is a list of jobs for my 8-year-old to do this summer. We are starting out having him earn video game time, but we will modify soon to include all "screen time." He really enjoys earning something for his efforts, and he NEEDS some structure in his day. He does have swim practice followed by swim lessons each morning, but there will be plenty of "down time" in the afternoon and some evenings.


Summer 2010
NCH’s Earning Video Game time
All rules are subject to change by Mom and Dad!
• Reading = minute for minute* (does not include one hour of reading time every day)
• Vacuum upstairs = 15 minutes
• Clean windows = 15 minutes... (Mom will explain further)
• Laundry (gather, sort, fold, put away) = 10 minutes per load
• Weed (see Dad) = 15 minutes per area
• Unload dishwasher (except glasses) = 10 minutes
• Dusting = 10 minutes per room (must move items)
• vacuum the kitchen=10 minutes
. vacuum basement = 10 minutes
. do dishes = 10 minutes
. book report = 10 minutes
. math practice = 10 minutes
The following chores are not included in earning video game time…
o Feeding fish
o Cleaning your bathroom
o Cleaning (tidying) your bed room
o Setting the table
o Clearing off the table
o tidying the backyard

Time can be lost for disrespect, fighting, not obeying and anything else deemed by Mom or Dad!

Follow up to Fitness Update

I promised I would get back to you upon completion of The 30 Day Shred, and here I am with a final comment or two:
I finished Day 30 last night and I am SO pleased with the results. Remember, I didn't lose weight and I didn't do a food log, nor did I eat according to a certain plan. I simply did the daily workout every day and found great improvement in my endurance and especially in my strength. I HIGHLY recommend this program, especially if you are confined to the home for fitness.
So what's next? I know I mentioned the Jillian Michaels "Making the Cut" book/plan, but I am putting that on hold for now. Why? Because there is a specific meal plan and our family schedule does not lend itself to cooking specific breakfasts, lunches and dinners. (Next Monday, for example, goes like this: 7:30am-9 swim team practice for older two, 9:15-10:15 swim lesson for oldest, 10:15-11 swim lesson for girls, 11 dash home for lunch, 1-5 craft camp for CAH, 3:30/4-8?? swim meet, 7:45-8:15 dance practice for Sweet C!!) Still not sure how it's all going to work, but I will drive myself crazy if I try to follow a very specific meal plan for the next 6 weeks!
Instead, I am going to:
1) repeat the 30 Day Shred, but this time I will do Level One one day, Level Two the next, and Level Three the next and keep rotating all month. I will also increase the weights I will use during Strength Training portions.
2) continue running a 5K through the neighborhood three times a week. It's not too bad in the summer, as I can run at 8:30pm and still see the road! I have two "races" later in the summer, so I want to be sure I can still complete the full course (my pace continues to hover between 9.5 min-10min/mile.)
3) keep a food log - writing down EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth! Usually when I start to keep a food journal, I start out ok, but if/when I eat unhealthy food, I stop logging. This time, I really want to stick with it, no matter what I eat.
4) do a yoga DVD a few times a week. I have noticed that although my strength has improved, my flexibility has actually decreased a bit. I am excited to do a yoga workout now that I am stronger (and hopefully can support myself better in some of the poses!)
So that's the plan. I am still very interested in "Making the Cut" but I will wait until Fall to go gung-ho on that plan.
I'll keep you posted...

Fitness Update

Many friends have been asking me about my latest fitness "kick." If you read my blog, you know I'm into fads and kicks, but I also have a true desire to be fit, in shape, trim, and healthy. Almost a month ago, I borrowed from my local library a DVD called "Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred." For those who may not know, Jillian Michaels is a trainer from the TV show "The Biggest Loser." Her Shred DVD includes three 20-minute workouts. Each workout has strength training, cardio and abs. I was drawn to this program for several reasons - Jillian gets results, the workouts are only 20 minutes long, and there are three levels (you spend the first 10 days on level one, next 10 on level two, and last 10 on level three.) This seemed reasonable to me. Also, I could do this in my own home, with the only required equipment being some hand weights. (I have 2, 3 and 5 pound weights.)
So here I am on Day 25. I won't lie to you - the first few days on each level have been extremely challenging!! Actually, half way into level three is STILL very difficult, but I am SEEING RESULTS. At the beginning, I could do 4 real push-ups. Now I can do over 20! Last night, I did 15 real sit-ups (no feet hooked under the couch.) The weight is not dropping off, but much of my flab is turning to muscle (hooray!!) (Also, I am not paying attention to what I am eating...the kids have swim team practice from 5-6:30pm for the month of June, which is not conducive to healthy family dinner hour!) But I WILL get back on track with eating - first by logging everything I eat, and then by making healthier choices and limiting portions.

Here are some things I never knew about fitness:
1) Your body gets used to exercise, so you have to change up your routine from time to time.
2) Strength training is essential! (I NEVER did any weight/strength training in my life - I figured "why bother building muscles you will have to maintain?") According to a brochure from Weight Watchers, "Building muscle tissue burns extra calories (even at rest!), tones your body, and helps to conserve and even increase bone mass."

So what next? I just discovered: Jillian Michaels' book "Making the Cut." I borrowed a copy from the library and then realized it would be worth the money to buy the book...it includes meal plans, exercise plans as well as "how to" photos and descriptions, and some healthy, yummy recipes! I can't wait to get started, as soon as I finish the last few days of the Shred. I'll let you know how it works for me...