getting fit? !

I just fought, and lost, the urge to do crunches. huh!? Who is that person? I have never been very athletic. I made jogging the 13 minute mile an art, in Highschool. (yes, jogging ... sad, I know) Now I'm jogging a little on the tredmill for fun. I'm lifting weights semi-regularly (depends on when a car is available), and am starting to have teensy weensey ab-definition. (only when I clench really hard). Now, I gave in to an urge concerning crunches? And liked it!? Who is that person?

I do notice an extra spring to my step. I can run up the many steep stairs to our apartment and not be winded. A practically bounce up and down them. This morning I noticed some definition in my upper arms. Hooray! The flab is becoming toned!! Maybe I'll start on my legs soon. Maybe I'll like that, too.

weird.

Which would you choose?

Grocery shopping:

Sunday afternoon in a store sooo packed and insane that traffic lights need to be installed ... the trip takes 2 hours, but no kids are with you.

OR

Weekday morning, a few people shopping in a patterned and orderly fashion ... the trip takes an hour, but that's because the kids are with you.

Simon

We bought a dog. No, we did not leave the house, this morning, and say, "let's buy a dog, today." We left the house thinking, "let's go to Home Depot and buy some faucets, and then let's go work out at the gym." Long story short, we went to a pet store to let the kids giggle at the animals, and ended up leaving with a 13 week old male sheltie. My husband says I can name him whatever I want, but that he will call him Simon. So, Simon it is. (I was rooting for "snuffles" or "albus")

I was supposed to send email of pictures to family. I decided it would be easier to post them here. As he is not a child, and neither myself nor my husband, I do not feel I am breaking any of my own rules to post them. :-p

Besides, you'd never understand how darn cute this puppy is if you didn't see him for yourself!!

go figure!

"It's not about winning, it's about playing the game." --my 5 year old.

Maybe I am doing something right ...

reasons why I love Valentines Day

I was recently in an email conversation with my single brother, regarding valentines day. For the most part, I think the whole hting is retarded, but did remember some reasons to like the day. I emailed him my list. His reply was,"Thats really cool about why you like Valentine's Day - thats a GREAT list." So, it occured to me that I'd like to post it here, too...

**Daddy Daughter Date Nights – several years in a row (from about 9-10 years old until 12?? consisting of a park district dance and cookie decorating. Dad would buy me a corsage, hold the doors for me, and take me out for ice cream afterwards. Precious memories, especially now that he is no longer with us.)

**The neat cards we would put on each others plates at dinner, and mom would put out the china?. (my mom says she doesn't remember that china, but I think my brothers and I would do that part...again, when we were younger...)

**Coincidence only (I cannot stress that enough) it’s when my husband proposed. (seriously … completely separate from it being “the day,” as well as being unplanned)

other than that, and those similar things for other's, it’s pretty much a holiday for commercial revenue … people doing for their s/o , and thinking of their s/o in ways that they should strive for all the time.

ON a family level, however, it can be a very endearing holiday, as I discovered recently. My daughter is a very wonderful, loving, and thoughtful 5 year old.


Love is unconditional. Love goes beyond physicality. LOVE, true love, is not limited to romance. True love is experienced in bad times, good times, boring times, regular times ... true love is also not limited to romantic love.

Love is truly one the most powerful forces on earth. May you all experience it. May you all be true to it.

Party in the Potty!!

ANNOUNCING: The Potty Training of my son.

I had been trying to potty train him for some time, and finally decided to back off for a little while. This past Thursday, he got and used the potty by himself. Yes. By himself! Since then he's done a good job of keeping his pull-ups dry. He's worn "big boy pants" a few times, too!

We still have a little way to go, but this is fast breaking news, I needed to share.

I like this picture .... and, no ... it has nothing to do with post. :-)


Without getting into details, I wanted to tell you all about 2 nice things that happened today ...

First, I get an email from my husband, asking what we should do for Valentines day. (We stopped doing "couple-y" things on Valentines Day a very long time ago. In fact, I really only remember 3 times in 10+ years that we did anything ...) I emailed him back wondering why he was suddenly wanting to celebrate the day. His reply was that he knew he'd been working alot, and away, and that we hadn't spent enought time together lately, and he wanted to simply be with me. --doesn't get much nicer that that, no? (I hope he doesn't maim me for publicizing this exchange ... with any luck, he won't read it!!) I am definitely married to a "winner." Trust me when I say that I know how lucky I am.

Secondly, my sister-in-law called me and asked if it would be helpful if she were to take a day off this week, and come over to watch the kids. I need to sleep. And, by Thursday, which is when she likely coming ... I will REALLY need to sleep.

She's a first grade teacher, and I know it isn't easy to take a day off of work.--It's not like she can leave the work on her desk, and tackle it later. (!) She and I are pretty good friends, but even so - I can't get over how sweet this gesture/offer was.

Neat!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/everydaylife365/sets/72157594462246118/

If you're looking for a new site ... here are some neat pictures ...

update on a quest ...

I've joined a gym! --Okay, so I'm currently suffering from major shin splints, but at least I'm trying. I have also learned that I should not jog on the treadmill at an incline

I also had the pleasure of discovering that I've dropped another pant size. Let me be clear -- I'm going for whole-body health, here ... The pant size came with those efforts, I guess. I've gone from the size 12 I was in highschool up to size 16 (after my first pregnancy) to a size 6. It's weird. Shouldn't I feel like I'm totally skinny? This is a size that I used to think my bones kept me incapable of ("big-boned"). The sad truth is that although I feel good at my "achievment," I do not feel skinny. All of my problem areas, all of my visual insecurities still exist. -they're just on a smaller scale, now. I'm okay with that. really. truly. It's just weird, because I always figured those insecurities would go away if I ate better, got into shape, et al...

I need to restate that I am on a quest for ultimate healthiness. I want to feel good inside and out. I want to model a good lifestyle to my children, and teach them an abundance of good habits. I want to know that I am doing all that I can do for myself and my family. I am taking responsibility for our well-being and peace of mind.

Do I sound like some kind of commerical?? Probably. DO I sound like some kind of fruit?? Most likely. That's okay, though. This has become very important to me, and I'd love to make it more important for others. I guess that's why I'm suddenly talking about it more. I know I usually write about the kids ... there are plenty of stories I plan to tell...but I think I may write more about my lifestyle transition...

Pathetic?

Is it pathetic that I stay at home and take care of the kids? Am I less of a person because I do not make much more than $60 a month? I am dependent on my husband's ability to bring home a paycheck. Is that bad? I've come to the realization that there are many people out there that would answer "yes" to these questions. I don't recommend staying at home for everyone. I'm aware that it isn't for everyone. (In fact, sometimes I wonder if it's really for me.) I am a huge advocate of making your own decision with regard to the issue. Truth be told, my husband and I stumbled into this, when I got laid off, while pregnant. Childcare simply became too expensive to contemplate while trying to be financially responsible. That being said, am I kidding myself that I'm making a statement in my kids lives? I thought I was giving them something, by being at home. Apparently not? My husband's schedule, during the week is horrid. He often works long hours, with a commute of over an hour on top of it. I always felt that by staying at home, I was reducing some of his stress over home issues; taking care of financial matters, groceries, errands, etc. so that we can spend more time as a family on the weekends. I like to think that I'm offering the children some extra stability in light of their father's week-day hours. According to some, this must all be a pretty pathetic attempt at dodging fiscal responsibilty and life, in general???

I am my own person. I have a college degree. I have interests outside my family. I've been elected by a body of more than 700 people to a national church committee. I'm on 3 such committees, as well as having district and local church responsibilities. I give voice lessons and direct a children's choir. I love to read and cook; I am learning cake decorating, sewing, and yoga. I love being a wife. I love being a mother to my children. I also love being me. -Those things are part of being me, but they're not everything. I have And yet ... When people see "stay at home mom" I'm suddenly a pathetic woman who is incapable of supporting herself and completely dependent on others.

I don't know whether to feel sorry for individuals with these opinions, or to get angry and start shouting. Neither reaction is likely going to help. Will anything?? No. But should I be happy with this status quo? I don't think so. Where does this leave me? I don't know. All I really know is that I hope these folks are wrong.

Lifestyle

I don't really do New Year's resolutions. It's much of a coincidence, really, that the new year coincides with my resolve, this year. Several years ago, after the birth of my daughter, I dedicated myself to a more healthy diet. I have had more energy, felt better, and lost alot of weight. The last few months, though, well ... food took a dive. I knew I needed to re-dedicate myself to better eating, but also knew I needed to do more than just this.

I've been experiencing an increasing amount of headaches and other ailments (due to hormones, and various other reasons). Advil is the only option available to me, and not always effective, due to the nature of these headaches. (Tylenol makes me feel sick, and the only prescription I can takeknocks me out flat, leaving me unable to take care of the kids.) My husband and I both decided that I should try a more holistic approach. I let him know that it's much easier for me to do this if everyone is on board.

I've begun doing yoga, eating better, and trying to go to bed earlier. I had my first headache all month, yesterday. It was a doozy, and lasted all day. The kids had to watch movies, in the dark, but basics such as food and snuggles were covered. While I'm unhappy that the t.v. had to be resorted to, I am happy that this hadn't happened in weeks. Is my holistic approach working, or is this merely coincidence? I have no idea.

I plan to continue the lifestyle "conversion." I've already noticed that the yoga helps my daughter. She does breathing excercises, now, when she's frustrated with her lessons (home-school pre-school). It really helps her clear her mind and calm down, too! It helps me, too. (That is when my son doesn't decide to jump on my back, stepping on my hair, or kicking my head. --don't get me wrong, he isn't trying to be malicious, he thinks he's doing yoga, too.)

SO ... more yoga. Join a gym (hopefully this week). Lots of nutrient-rich foods, less processed food, smaller portions. Experiment with new foods and recipes, work on converting old ones with more natural ingredients. (I make wheat pizza dough, and add flax seed ... it's good! really. I promise. Today, I tackle Polenta again. My last attempt failed miserable, but I'm feeling optimistic)

reccomend: lime.com

photography

I hope to blog more later ... but for now, go here and look at the pretty pretty picture!

nighty-night wii

No joking here ... My son could not be talked out of his choice of bedtime story, tonight.

Are you ready?

It was the Best Buy Wii catalog/magazine. (The one you get in the store, not the sales flyer in the paper.) Yes. There I sat on the couch, this evening, describing some of the pictures of games to him. I felt ridiculous, but he wouldn't even discuss changing his choice of story. Darnnit ... I wanted to look at that later, and now he has it in bed with him...

My son is two and half, and said,"dehtjsu god fo mawio" in his prayer this evening. Thank goodness he prayed for his Papa Brown and Mama, too, or I'd be really worried.

-----------------------
This all parallels a desparate search for a Wii. My husband wants one for Christmas. I believe him when he says somethingliek this is good. He loves to "game" (as they call it...), and used to work for a video game company. He's no dummy ... I did my own short-term research, too. I decided it was likely a good buy, and decided to go ahead with things. Unfortunately, this started this past Sunday (17th). Friendly advice: When someone tells you something is sold out everywhere, believe them. You are not going to find it in Sticksville, or anywhere else. Don't bother calling Best Buy or Toys R Us. They are so completely sold out, they've added this bit a trivia to the recording that picks up their phone, when you call the store. Toys R Us online might offer a bundled package, but it's not likely that you really want to pay that much for a bundle including games you'd never buy without the bundle. Don't bother with Circuit City, Target, or Wal-Mart, either. Wal-Mart may be offering a Wii gift card, but it ain't the real thing. I've got a bid in on one on Ebay, but since I'm not willing to pay more than the $300 minimum bid, I'm really not holding my breath ...

Wii shall have to wait until January for our game play.

'Tis the Season

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la laaaa la la la la!

Fun, Fun, Fun 'till the roaches take the bread away

Yes, cockroaches. In my kitchen. Two different kinds. I am often disinfecting countertops and sinks ... I'm paranoid about that sort of thing ... but, this week, I think I've disinfected, boiled, washed, disinfected again, bleached, disinfects, washed more times than snowflakes on my porch. I've called our association, because I want an eterminator in here, and I'm guessing it's not just my unit that needs attention. Here's hoping they actually pay for it. (hahahahaaa! I'm so funny.)

(normally, I'd insert a picture of the topic, now ... but I've been staring at these pictures all week, trying to identify and learn about my new pets, and they make my sking crawl ... I've decided to spare you that. You may thank me now.)

On the bright side, I have a brand-new-shiny stainless steel (with a lid) garbage can and many pretty (and very expensive) new containers for cereal, pasta, and other misc. food items.
---------------------------------
On an entirely different note, I've started my son's very first "potty chart." For those of you not familiar with the concept, it's very simple. Every time he puts his pee-pee in the potty, he gets a sticker to place in that day's column, on a chart. When the chart shows the required amount of stickers (this week it's 2), on each day of the week, a treat has been earned. I thought it would make it more tempting for him, if he knew he could pee standing up ... so I tried to tell him, and position him for the deed ... he thought I was a very silly, silly mama. Here I am, putting him on a step stool, lifting the lid to the toilet, and trying to show him how to direct his pee into the potty ... my daughter (who cannot mind her business) keeps peeking around the corner and giggling. I said to my son that this is what Daddy did sometimes, and my daughter yells out,"Daddy doesn't do that!." --To which I responded, "yes he does, he just closes the door, first." This, apparantly, was a suprising and new revelation. My son, giggling now and trying to instruct me that the seat should be down, still thought me loony. When I related this to my husband, he laughed and said he supposed he could understand how I thought it was an enticing novelty, but asked me to please not encourage our son to do this for at least a few years. He was anticipating pee being sprayed everywhere. Funny, but in my efforts to make this whole thing "fun," I hadn't thought of that...


<--------------- the cat gets it ... how hard can it be!?

better late than never ...

As promised ... a little late, ribut better than never! Allow me take you on a tour ... to the left you'll see the pumpkin I carved. I'm very proud of myself, so please feel free to oooo and ahhh. On the right you'll notice the lovely purple wizard robe sewn by my very own hands. The black one was sewn by my mother. It needed to be drastically cut down from the pattern, and veteran sew-er that she is, took on the task. I'm breaking some of my own rules, here, to show you these pictures ... go ahead and remark on how cute they are...
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Happy Birthday to my daughter ... this castle is my first time working with fondant. I liked it, but wouldn't mind another crack at it sometime ...

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We visited family at Thanksgiving, and had our annual trip to Chocolate World ... I get very nostalgic there.

snowed in

It took my daughter's antics to get me out of my blogging funk. I absolutely had to write about it. Every school in the Chicago area is closed. It's windy and cold and the snowhas been coming down all night. My daughter is soo excited that she actually got up, got dressed and came into our room wearing a spring jacket, asking if she could go outside to play. It was 6:30am. Too funny. It's 8, now, and the snow is still coming down. Every 15 minutes or so, she asks if she can go out, yet. No way. No how. I am not standing out in the bitter wind and snow while she plays. If that makes me a monster, then call me Sully or Mike and get over it.

Now that I'm actually typing again, I guess maybe I should do this thing up right. Updates, apologies and promised pictures. On second thought, I think I'll make it a second entry, and I'll try and do it later on today...

the great costume caper

As previously mentioned, I'm sewing the kids' Halloween costumes. It's really a pretty simple thing, these wizard's robes ... unfortunately, I've never done this before, so it's taking me quite a long time.

Saturday. My Mom came over and helped me to pin the pattern, and cut the material out. Quite the hilarious task, as we were both exhausted, and the material turned out to be slippery (we hadn't thought it would be a problem). If you've ever used a pattern ... 'nuff said.

Sunday. wasn't feeling well, nothing happened.

Monday. darn cold.

Tuesday. I wanted to start sewing the pieces on but realized that although I ahd been running errands all morning, I had not bought the thread I needed. Argh!

Wednesday. I meant to begin, but didn't get much further than getting my brand new machine set up and ready to go.

Thursday. I got a phone call from my daughter's dance instructor. She was calling to remind me that that evening's class was a costume party. My daughter was a cat for the party, not a wizard. (No big deal ... she really like that she got to wear make-up for the nose and whiskers.) I did start, though. I was very proud of myself.

Friday. The main robe is done, the sleeves are sewn, but not attached. The outer hood is done, but not attached. After several calls to my Mom to ask her what to do next, I finally invited her over. She's making my son's robes because the pattern only went to a 7 and he's a 3T. She's good at the whole sewing thing, so we both figured she had a better chance of doing a good job with his. Anyway, she needs him to try it on, so she figured she might as well drive up here, tonight, and "hold my hand." I'd like to make it clear that I've done everything for my daughter's costume. --Just had to be talked through it, is all. :-)

I wish I could have done my son's, too ... but it wasn't possible. I should have started earlier, I guess.

I will be sure to post picture when I am done.

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ...

When you have young children, it's wasy to mark major events by the changing of the seasons. For example, it solves repeated inquiries as to Christmas, in the middle of the summer. "Christmas is when it is very cold and there is snow." Today is October 12, yes October 12. It snowed this morning. No longer concerned with Halloween, my daughter ran around the apartment singing about Christmas. Grand. My husband and I have dug a small hole for ourselves, here. Not too difficult to get out of, I don't think ... but a hole nonetheless. Who would have thought it would snow so early?! Yes, this is Chicago. But I've lived in this area since I was 8, and thought I could at least count on no snow until November. Often, the first snow is on my Mom's birthday, in December. Of course my husband, who has lived in the Chicago area his whole life, took the opportunity to inform me that it was snowing the day he was born. (October 14.) That day and today must be the only days it has snowed in Mid0October in 30 years, because I certaintly don't remember it happening before. I was only 9 months old when he was born, and in Pennsylvania at the time. So of course I was not privy to this strange Chicago weather behavior. [note: I hope you've used a sarcastic inner voice while reading this.] At any rate, my children have now been involved in their very first snowball fight, with one another. By the time I grabbed the camera, though, it was over. Pity. It was cute. My daughter was doing snow angels, too. I had to grab a couple of blankets for them, because we had to get into the car after all of that snow-time fun. Their joy almost made me excited for the snow. Almost. Can I move to California now?
Mention of my husbands birthday reminds me ... he's turning thirty in two days. He made so much fun of me, last February, when I was turned thirty. Now he faces the same issues I did. Growing up. Gone are the fun twenties. Here come the responsible thirties. What a mind job an age does to you. We've been responsible adults and parents for 5 years, now. But saying "thirty" freaks us out. What-ever. (<----please use valley-girl "w" with your hands when you say that.) Since thirty is such a momentous occasion my Mother has agreed to watch the kids and keep them overnight, so that the hubbie and I can spend some much needed and highly unusual time alone together. How nice. How very very very nice. Bet we are so confused by the lack of whining, giggling, screaming, crying, demanding voices that we end up frittering the time away do not much of anything; only to regret it and realize what we should have done, when it's time to pick the kids up. Isn't that always the way of things? Sigh ... it will be nice no matter what.

I tried to post this picture last week ... I had trouble, and then forgot I hadn't done it!! I'm still having trouble geting the picture posted, but I did want to say that I have a brand new (and very first) niece. YAY. Her mother was only 24 weeks along when she was born, but mom and baby are doing extraordinarily well. The daddy is my husband's brother. CONGRATULATIONS to them!! (even though they don't read this.) She is almost 2 weeks old, and I got see her last weekend. What a precious bundle. I had to try hard not to cry, she's that precious. I was a little suprised at the force of my emotions, when I saw her for the first time. I just wanted to scoop her up and take her home, she's that beautiful. Seriously.

I'm sitting in the airport, my flight's been delayed. This post will get online later tonight, or tomorrow morning, if I have time at my hotel. I have a meeting, tomorrow, and then I fly home again. What a whirlwind. I feel like a split personality...but -- that's an entirely different blog.

(aahhhh ... the United terminal at O'Hare)

read a banned book

Some people like football; others like baseball. Some people love music, others would rather play chess. Some people may prefer the NY Times; other's a nice work of fiction. We are all different. By allowing people to read as they choose, we allow those differences to be celebrated, not stifled.

show your support of the freedom to read as you choose, here.