A Snapshot

What's at the top of my to-do list?
--Pack up last minute items for camping trip tomorrow. We're leaving for Meramec State Park for the Memorial Weekend. I look forward to getting away with my family, my sister's family and my parents.
--Catch up laundry before leaving

What have I accomplished?
--I sent out a volunteer schedule to 47 families that contained 205 shifts! It was a big job and I'm so glad it's DONE. I also sent out a family directory with e-mails and phone numbers if anyone needs to trade with someone.
--I packed up the trailer for the trip and brought it down to the campground yesterday. I caravaned with my dad and brother in law who also brought down their campers. We brought down our campers early and left them there so we were guaranteed a spot. We didn't register in time. This worked out great because it's only an hour and 15 minutes away. Thank God my mom watched the kids!
--Did my last Children's Liturgy for the season! Yaayyy! Now I get a 3 month break.

What's been bothering me lately?
--My long hair! I got it chopped off to shoulder length this week. She called it a Sha-bob (a cross between an shag and a bob). I really like it! It will be much better for summer.
--Another buggy computer. ARrgghh. We need to have my brother, the computer guy, check it out.

What's my latest obsession?
--Finishing that Swim Team volunteer schedule has cleared the plate for new obsessions! I worked on that thing around the clock!
--Starting to think about a dog again. I have settled on the Shih-tzu breed...although "settled" is a poor word for it...I really like the breed! They don't yap like the terriers. They are good for the alergy prone because of their low dander and non-shedding hair. They are small and easier to care for (as long as you don't mind taking them to the groomers). And they are CALM. Now we just have to wait for the right time. Which leads me to my next obsession...
--I started the process of purchasing the plane ticket for Australia. I got $1000 in gift cards through our Shop for Our School program. My next step is to get my cash rewards from my Capital One card and then purchase the ticket! Because of my trip, Ted doesn't think we should get a dog before then. So I'm holding on to this grungy, disgusting carpeting in my family room because I will NOT get new carpeting with dog that is not house broken. But can I wait over a year? I guess I'll have to. Either that, or get a dog sooner. But Ted won't go for that.

What's been making me happy?
--Mary finally going poop on the toilet!! Yaaayy! She's getting so big. Where has the time gone?
--School is almost out! Ben is graduating from preschool tonight. I'm really looking forward to the casual, non-scheduled (almost) summer. Sam has his last golf lesson tonight and then it's just Abby's softball for another month and a half.
--Looking forward to camping this weekend.
--Ted has been working from home more. This has been really nice...and we're saving on gas money!!
--The beautiful weather!
--Keeping up to date with my friends using "Twitter". Check it out at "twitter.com"
--I'm SO GLAD that David Cook won the American Idol Finals!!!

Ben and Mary at the Doctor's Office

This morning I took Ben and Mary to the doctor's office for their well exam. Ben needed his shots for Kindergarten and Mary needed a shot, too. I realized I would need to tell them this because I had forgotten to. We talked about the shots...we prayed for courage...and boom! They got them and all was well! I was so proud of them. They each turns on the examining table and when the doctor said that he could see they were fully potty trained because they were wearing underpants...I said, "Well...Mary won't poop in the toilet". He turned to Mary and told her she's big enough now and needs to poop in the toilet. The pull ups are gone now. I look at Mary, watching her take it all in and nodding her head.

When we got home, after eating lunch, Mary announced that she needed a pull up. I took a deep breath and said, "Mary, remember what the Doctor said? He said you are big enough now. Let's poop on the toilet." At first she protested, but then she went a long with it. I sat her on the toilet and out comes the poop!! Just like that!! My daughter had pooped in the toilet!! I called the doctor's office and left a message with the nurse that again, he had poop trained another child with his serious talk in the office! Praise God! I told Mary we could now pierce her ears. She was so proud and amazed at how easy it was. The next couple of hours she would say sporadically, "Guess what, Mom! I pooped in the toilet!"

I can't believe it. Finally. Both kids potty trained. Now if I can keep her dry at night.

"I'll Get You Moving!"

The title of my blog cracks me up because it is actually a slogan of a Real Estate Agent in our area. She has this pasted on every billboard advertising her services. Whenever I see it, all I can think of is BM's. You know...bowel movements? Is this just me? Does everyone look at that slogan and think the same thing? Is she our enema in the world of real estate? Of course, our family has often been accused of turning every conversation into one about the bowels. I don't know how it happens, but it takes someone outside of the family to make us aware of it, because we are so used to it, we aren't even aware it's happening. So this may explain why I look at this billboard this way. And you have to admit, the topic of this blog somehow gravitates to poop more than I would expect. I really don't want it to. Can you think of a lower form of existence than poop?

The above paragraph I wrote a couple of days ago. I don't remember where I was going with it...I know that Mary was constipated and I had to give her a suppository and now everything is operating correctly. So I'm just going to post this and pretend it was a full blog.

Loving the Outdoors!!

I'm loving this weather! This weekend Abby played her last two soccer games. The season was delayed because of rain, but it was worth waiting for the good weather. We celebrated Ben's 5th birthday on Sunday by going to Pizza Street and opening his gifts. He got a "new" bike (hand me down from Sam...with added training wheels), and a new race car Wii game. Lately, we've been enjoying the outoors whenever we can. Ben really enjoys playing wiffleball and has me pitch to him. And he loves his new bike! We are a corner house on a court, so we have the perfect street to practice bike riding (on the court side). I can tell Mary wants one now, too. Those tricycles were never popular with them. As soon as Ben got his bike, she said she wanted one, too....a Hello Kitty one. I'm thinking Abby's old bike will do. We'll see how it looks.

The only shadow cast on the past couple of days was Mary's constipation! She wanted to be held a lot and complained constantly. At Abby's last soccer game, I consulted the mom's and one was a nurse and suggested a suppository or enema. I tried a suppository on Mary last night and finally, with much pain, it came out! She refused to poop until this suppository and then she just didn't have a choice. This morning I had to do it again and since she refused to wear a pull up, I caught the poop with my wipe lined hands! What we do for our children! I think when we've gone to heaven and God shows us our life, He'll say to her, "And this is what she did for you here, and then she put up with this and look-she caught your poop here!"

It was all worth her glee when that devil was out! Does this remind you of another time in my life? It's all about poop I tell you.

This n That

Laptop getting funky on me--This isn't my excuse for not posting in a while...but we're in the process of transferring everything from my old laptop to my NEW laptop. Whew! Crazy! It all started when my old laptop started getting funky on me. I decided to make use of that new fangled back up hard drive and plugged it in to save all my precious files. Of course, those were just files...what about all the info in Outlook? My e-mail address, contact information, street addresses, directions to people's houses, deleted e-mails, sent e-mails are all in there! I can't lose that! And of course all the work I put into my digital scrapbook pages...those can't be lost either! This is one very good reason to have everything backed up on an external hard drive. I love that thing! I put all of my pictures on it from 2003 to the present, because CD's are not considered to be the safest storage method. I found this from a Creative Memories consultant, who I consider to be the expert on this stuff. Anyway, because my laptop is over 3 years old and acting funny (overheating and the screen turns black with no notice), we decided to get a new laptop. We got a very cheap one because I don't need anything fancy...but they're all fancy now. Ted got a funny look from the sales guy when he asked if it was wireless, because it didn't state this anywhere. Well, let's just say now we are supposed to ASSUME that every laptop is wireless! Duh! They are on to way fancier features to brag about in their advertising.


So now I am typing on my new laptop and my figures are slipping across the keys. What? No sticky peanut butter? Where's the letter that was jammed? I can see the screen so clearly...where did all the fingerprints go? Never fear...I'm sure this one will start displaying the same characteristics as the old one did...but not if I can help it.


Good bye, PTO!--Today I wrapped up some of the last minute duties of my PTO position. I went up to school to take Sam to get his lower braces installed (well...what other word should I use??), and while I was there, I discussed the calendar dates for next year with the principal, returned the 5th grade teachers jump drive, received the essays from the essay contest for $500 worth of help on one lucky 7th grader's tuition for next year, sat through Sam's appointment, returned him to school fulled braced, and drove to Barnes and Noble to drop off the artwork that will be displayed at our Book Fair this weekend. Whew!!

Tomorrow night is my last Board meeting, where I hand everything over, and I feel myself slightly sentimental about it. I was packing up a bag to give to the new President and felt a little sad to let it go. I won't miss the stress...but will I miss that feeling of being totally connected? Will I feel out of the loop? I'm sure other things will take it's place and I won't, but they were still feelings that were there. I'm in a different place then when I first took it on. The past two years have given me an idea of where I want to go and how I want to help in the future. I wouldn't trade it for anything...but at the same time, I wouldn't want to do it all over again.


Father Daughter Dance--We just had the most awesome Father Daughter dance! It was our best of event of the year! We had no idea how popular it would be! We had 100 daughters and with their dads, brought us to the total of 180 people at this event. The girls had a BLAST singing along to their favorite songs, dancing slow and fast with dad, getting their professional picture taken and eating and drinking to their hearts contents. It was a complete success! I think I want to do set up and clean up next year just so I can be there again.


Jazzercise--With the onset of spring, and the busyness of Abby in soccer AND softball, Sam learning golf and doing regional band, there has been little time for Jazzercise. I'm ashamed to say I've only managed a once a week attendance the past 2 weeks. I already have a plan for summer though. The kids go to swim practice at 9:30am. That's enough time for me to do the one hour workout at 8:15am (if I leave a little early).


Volunteer Coordinator for Swim Team--I think I am a volunteeraholic now! I had no idea how much fun volunteering can be! I swear you get more out of it than you give! We had our swim team sign up and I've been busy e-mailing last years' team with info, making forms on the computer, plugging people into spreadsheets and tracking their availabilities so I can schedule them for the meets. I love this stuff! The meets are a little bit of a juggle because they are the same nights as our Men's and Women's Group meetings. ARgghh! So we have to get a babysitter for every one and I might miss a couple of Women's Groups until I hit a groove in this job and Ted can help out when I'm not there. So far, it's easy, fun and stress-free! Because I'm doing this, I won't have to work a job at the meet. My busy times will be before the meet and in between the first half and second half when the new volunteers take over. I'll be able to watch the kids swim! I tell you , it's the way to go!


Abby and Soccer--Abby has been quite the little soccer player lately. She's very good at sticking with people as a defender, but recently, the coach has let her run up to offense when she gets a chance and has been scoring goals now! I'm really enjoying watching her games.


Toontown--Now Mary is hooked on Toontown along with Ben! This is not fun! My computers on the main level are totally taken. However, now that I have a new laptop...Mary is on the quirky one, I'm on the new one and we are all happy. Don't we sound disfunctional?? Hahaha. Well, I'm not happy they are playing on the computer so much, but it's hard to take them off when it makes them so happy. And it's hard to get them out of the house for anything like the zoo, or a visit with friends, when our days are interrupted with taking Ben to school at 12:15pm. This summer, I hope to get them out of the house more. This should help our computer problem. Actually, they have also been really into legos lately...so that is a good break from the computers.


Camping Plans--We've set up three camping trips for the summer: Meramec State Park over Memorial Weekend, Eminence over the Fourth of July, and Illinois State Park on Lake Michigan towards the end of July. I remember when we used to do 6-7 trips from Spring through the Fall. Now as the kids get older, our calendar gets busier and it's just too much work to be gone for short trips. I like the longer ones better.




I guess that's enough for you to chew on for now. Have a good one!

The Transformations of Spring

Last night I went to my CRHP group meeting, and at the "Good News and Intentions" portion of the meeting I shared something I've been thinking about lately. My good news was tightly linked with my intentions. My good news is that my two younger children, Ben and Mary, ages 4 1/2 and 3 respectively, are maturing beyond my imagination. They are more independent, better able to entertain themselves without my constant attention, and bringing forth personalities that are irresistible to me! I enjoy being around them! I'm also ending my PTO term soon...I will have more responsibility-free time!!

The change in Ben has been happening for a while, but Mary's is more recent. This is where my intention comes in...with this new found happiness in our household, I am finding myself searching for things to do and sometimes wondering how to spend my time. Inevitably, my old habits are still there of staying in the house and getting as much done as I can because time is valuable. I want to make a mind shift. I want to do take the kids out more and enjoy their company. It won't be long before they are in school full time. Yesterday, we went to Walmart to get some things I could only get there (it's not as convenient as Target is to me so I don't go there much). As we were leaving, I decided to check out the Subway that was in the Walmart to see if they had food for kids. They did! They had pizza! I told the kids to sit down while I waited in line...they did! As I waited, I looked over at them and watched them do something so simple that brought me great joy. Just the fact that they sat there quietly, happily talking to each other...was a huge deal. I savored the moment. When I brought back the food, we ate and talked. We were enjoying some time out together! I want to do this more!

As my PTO term comes to an end (14 days left, but who's counting), my mind will be freer in addition to my time. My other intention was that the new space does not become a dumping ground for anything and everything that comes along. I already see things sneakily seeping into that space. When I see them, I think, how did THAT get there...oh yah....I forgot I opened the door to that a while ago. They are volunteering tasks that are building up:
--I help with music at the monthly nursing home masses.
--I'm going to help coordinate the volunteers for the swim team this summer
--I'm helping with this big marketing effort for our school
--I told the principal to call on me this summer if she needs some administrative help

Now, before you say, "What is she doing??" Do remember that I really enjoy these things. I'm home full time and these activities are the playground for my brain! I just want to remember balance and not let them get bigger than my family and my priorities at home. As long as I'm not "in charge" and I'm helping the big picture...I'm happy and the job is more enjoyable. You'll be happy to know that I turned down a nomination for the school board. I'm trying to do things that I will really enjoy and not add anything that feels like a major responsibility.

My goals for this spring...take Ben and Mary out more. Take them to the park, the zoo, the mall. Pretty soon it will be dreadfully hot and we'll only want to go the pool. I just love the spring! The cool air that doesn't suffocate you, but allows you to breath freely! The sun that brings warmth that is just enough that you don't sweat. It's perfect for walks, bike rides and site seeing. I guess my life is going through a "spring" of sorts. The freezing air of my PTO responsibilities are blowing away and in it's place is a warmer, more refreshing air. The safe, but dark cocoon of this house is opening up because a butterfly is ready to come out! Make that three butterflies!

The Blinking Cursor Stage

A couple of days ago, I talked about the blinking cursor I was staring at. In a way, I'm in a little bit of a "blinking cursor stage" in my life. This isn't a bad thing. It's really kinda good. I think of the "blinking cursor stage" as a time to think and process where to go next. Kind of like on the computer when there is a blinking cursor...you just said some things and now you are trying to figure out what you are going to say next. I'm finishing up a big chapter of PTO, taking care younger, needy kids, watching my niece once a week... and I'm moving on to a little more freedom. This is a time to pause and say, "How do I spend this extra time?" Yes...as you've noticed...my mind has already moved on to helping school and helping an outreach organization in our church. But still, those are seeds of thought that I can't really act on yet. They really won't start until the next school year. So I am at pause. Not a pregnant pause...whew...just a pause.

I guess I don't let my mind stay idle long. Sometimes this is not a good thing. I want to make sure that God has room to play in there. I want to make sure my mind is not so noisy that I can't hear God's whisper to me. If we overload our schedule, we don't have time to help anybody, much less ourselves. And we don't have time to act on God's promptings. I hope I stay still long enough to hear him. And I hope he tells me something really good!

Pictures! Finally!

I'm bad about posting pictures. Sorry. Here are some from Easter when I celebrated turning 39!! And some others from the Zoo.

This N That

My little cursor is blinking. A black line on a white page. It just keeps blinking as if it were saying, "Come on! Don't you have anything to say?" Maybe it's that I have so much to say and I don't know where to start? Or maybe I've been DOING so much that I haven't had thoughts to share? I guess this is when I do my "This n That" blogs. Let's just see what's on my mind right now. It's like the Russian Roulette of thoughts.

--McTeacher night is tonight. I need to work the 6pm-8pm shift. I actually like this. I just go up and socialize with J&A teachers and parents. Ted will watch the kids.
--I have 22 days left as the PTO President. I'm a little stressed that we don't have anyone interested in the VP position. I keep trying to give it to God, knowing that he has someone picked out. We've contacted everyone we can think of. Our Secretary said she would do it as a back up, but I'm not too sure she really wants to. Our election meeting is the 17th. Times a tickin'.
--The kids are playing together right now. Talking and laughing. I don't know that there is anything that sounds lovelier to me. Thank you, God.
--For the first time in a LONG time, I am all caught up in my albums. I went digital as soon as I got my paper albums caught up and it's been so much easier to keep up digitally. I'm lovin' it! I can't wait to have a book actually made. I'm a long way from that, though.
--I have my Women's Group retreat in a week and a half. I'm really looking forward to it.
--I'm also looking forward to getting away for Ted's birthday. I can't write details because he reads my blog. He's turning the big 40. I wish we could do more than we are doing, but we're trying to watch our money until we pay off the new family room furniture. Some day we'll take a nice trip.
--I had a dinner party last Friday night. It was great! We started with French Onion Soup and then we had chicken and vegetable kabobs with a salad. We finished with a brownie trifle. YUM!! My new thing is trifles! I bought a trifle dish through Pampered Chef. It hasn't come in yet, but I borrowed one from a friend. The one I made has layers of cut brownies, cheesecake and chocolate pudding and whip cream. Oh my gosh...it's absolute heaven! And the perfect spring/summer dessert! You can do fruit trifles with pound cake, brownie trifles and more. I can't wait to experiment with them all. People will get sick of my trifles by the time summer is over...."Damn! She's bringing over ANOTHER trifle dish!"
--This summer we plan on camping at Illinois Beach State Park on Lake Michigan. We'll also go to Eminence, MO for an extended fourth of July weekend. My friend, Jackie, has commissioned me to make a book of campfire sing a long songs like "Brown Eyed Girl", American Pie, you get the drift. I started on this last summer and then shelved it for a bit. I think it's time to get it out so I can have it all ready for the trip. I have to find chords and everything. It's a big job.
--Still lovin' Jazzercise. It's so busy, I'm only getting in two a week.
--I've managed to maintain an 11 pound weight loss. It's coming off slower now. I need to step it up a notch.
--I just watched a "Bringing Home Baby" on TLC while I was folding clothes. At first I was put off about how rosy they were bringing their baby home and saying "we don't care how much sleep we get, we are excited to have a new baby!"...and then they'd show shots of them all bonding in each other's arms on the couch. As time progresses, they start looking less smiley and more haggard. Then their statements were more like "This is hard work!"...and..."I can't get anything done because she wants me to hold her all the time!". I like real TV. I like real pictures. People need to be prepared! It's hard work...mixed with little joys a long the way, of course. I'm just amazed that I can look at babies now, love them, hold them, kiss them and treasure the moment....and then not want another one for myself. I feel complete! I've got my four and I'm happy. Sometimes I fear a surprise pregnancy. I picture my reaction and how I might feel. Would I fear that I would go back to that dark place after having Ben and Mary? I don't know. I just know I'm very happy where I'm going and where the kids are now.
--Just recently I started thinking about what next year will be like...with two days a week free. I think I might volunteer one day. I might split the day with the Care Service (helps people who are struggling to keep their house, pay the bills....it's a pantry too. It's connected with our parish). And then I might spend the other half of the day helping our office at school. I'm hoping that through spending this time in both places, I can find a part time paying job once Mary goes to full time school. This a new thought for me, but it feels so right. When I thought of this path, I immediately felt happy...like I had a purpose. At first I thought, "Why even work if it's for a small wage?". Recently I thought of how much I admire people who work for low wages for the sake of helping a good cause. Of course, I could continue volunteering and not get paid, but I would feel better if I brought in SOME money to help with high school. I'll just start on this journey and see where God takes me. I'm pretty open minded right now.
--Mary is telling me she wants to use the "waptop". Now she's telling me she has "a wot of hello kitties on my shirt". I asked her "how many" to keep her busy while I type.

Ok...it's hard to focus now. But I was able to regurgitate pretty many thoughts for you. Now you have a snapshot of where I am. Actually, it's a very good snapshot. Now it's time to get things done.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I can't even tell you all that I'm busy with. It's all little stuff. I guess I can start with what was (or still is) on my dry erase board this week:
--Sign up Sam for CYC Instructional Golf this Spring
--Turn in updated Medical Info for Sam for Boy Scouts
--Schedule Sam's physical for sometime this summer (turn in physical paperwork for 6th grade)
--Deliver Creative Memories order to Teresa (Today)
--Make sure Ted brings Uppercase Living order for Cheryl to Men's group (to deliver to Paul who is married to Kay who knows and lives near Cheryl)
--Return pants to Kohl's
--Help Sam get his First Aid Kit together for Boy Scouts due by end of month...work on merit badge
--Design and print up tickets for Father/Daughter dance
--Write up Love Letter for Larry who is teaming for an ACTS retreat this weekend
--Send out e-mails to moms that principal recommended as possible VPs for next year...ask them if they are interested
--Call Music store...see if they have that little nut that holds in a guitar string

This is just a busy time of year. Getting the physicals in for next school year for those who need them (Sam and Ben), dental visits over Spring Break (Sam and Abby), registering for school (Sam, Abby and Ben) and Mom's Day Out (Mary). I'm just trying to knock out on thing at a time and get my breathers when I can. More later. It's too busy!! :-)

A Snapshot

What's at the top of my to-do list?
--Set out clothes for Spring pictures tomorrow
--Get the house back in order after a busy weekend
--Take Ben and Mary to the zoo while Ben is on Spring break (Sam's and Abby's is next week)
--Wash sheets after Ted's day of puking...yes you heard me
--Catch up in Ben and Mary's albums (the only ones left that are behind), so I can start digital scrapbooking!!! I'm so obsessed with getting this done. I've been behind since Ben and Mary were born. I'm almost caught up!! I vow to keep my scrapbook supplies on my dining room table until I'm caught up. I better finish in April, because Ben's birthday is May 6th!! I was intrigued by this digital scrapbooking when I went on my crop weekend...but thought it was too expensive to print a book. It was my friend, Stacey, who got me looking into again because she found an affordable option...Winkflash!! A website that prints your photobook at a much cheaper price!!!

--We're getting a computer fixed and bringing it into my bedroom for the kids who do NOT want to go downstairs to be on the computer... they will be able to go onto the one in my bedroom and I can have my laptop available to ME!

What have I accomplished?
--Hung mirror in family room (ok...Ted did that)
--Staying caught up on laundry with the "load a day" method
--Went on a date night with Ted and did NOT order off the Weight Watcher menu and enjoyed every minute of it. Followed THAT with a big chocolate candy bar purchase from the gas station and ate it during the movie. Did not count a single calorie
--Got to mass even though Ted was horribly sick. Managed to take Mary with me and had Sam watch Ben (Abby was at a slumber party and Sam had gone to the 5pm mass with Ted on Saturday--thank goodness!)
--Have kept my 10 pound weight loss holding steady. It's even creaped to 11, but I'm not counting it yet.
--Bought Creative Memories software for digital scrapbooking--Storybook Creator PLUS!!! It was instant gratification because I downloaded it! However, I'm putting off totally playing with it until I catch up my paper albums.

What's been bugging me?
--Mary is all over my scrapbooking efforts. Of course. I wouldn't expect her to do anything else. She is paging through my pictures, getting them out of order, looking for the ones with her in them, then she'll want to wear what's in the picture, so I have to get her angel dress from halloween and put it on her, and then she talks with spit spewing from her mouth (her mouth is just above the table) so I have to wipe the spit droplets from my pictures...*gaspforbreath*. She just cracks me up and she just goes non-stop. Talk, talk, talk, question, question, need. *sigh*. However, she is getting used to it all and I've noticed her interest in the whole thing, waning. This is what I hoped would happen! I just give her a pink pen and paper and she's happy!
--I was supposed to scrapbook at Archiver's today but Ted was sick so I stayed home. Oh well. It was a worse loss for him than it was me. It stinks to be sick on the weekend when you work full-time. Poor guy. He's staying home tomorrow to recooperate.
--We don't have a Vice President for next year's PTO board yet. Yikes.
--I WANT TO DIG INTO MY SCRAPBOOK SOFTWARE!! Breath...it's ok.
--Not having access to my computer. The kids are always on it. I'm looking forward to getting a computer in my room.

What's been making me happy?
--Mary. Can you believe it? Ever since my rant about that horrible weekend, she has totally improved! She's so much better. I'm actually enjoying her now. Thank you, God. I never had to resort to locking doors...didn't need to. Which reminds me... I should just stick to my instincts and trust that most of the stuff like that just blows over.
--DUH. Just the thought of digital scrapbooking...
--Spring is almost here and I'm ready! Goodbye winter!!

The Big Reveal!

It all started when I felt stuck with my full brick wall fireplace, when I decided to change the rest of the room instead and make the best of the wall that I had.

The first two pictures are what my family room looked like before...the rest are after:

The next two pictures show the two peices that pull it all together:

And this artwork...

It's mostly done. I have a mirror that needs to be hung over the couch, the mantel needs to be updated as well as the fireplace front. And I need a couple more peices for the walls. Oh yah, and new carpet! But it will happen in due time. This room is now more "me"...and it feels so good!!!

This N That

Mary--Today was a much better day. Mary didn't reach any of those dizzying heights that she reached last week. I just think sometimes they are more tired than normal and that can turn a typical, functioning 3 year old (is there such a thing?) into a raving lunatic. It doesn't mean she was an angel...she was just more of the Mary I know. I still want to make my changes of expecting more from her, I just thank God she is back to 'normal Mary'.

Family Room--Tomorrow we will be getting the two chairs delivered! I can't wait to see them because I forgot what my swatch looked like and I couldn't find it when I went back to the store. There is some bad news...the carpet will be much more expensive than I thought. I forgot to calculate waste. Argghhh. I just don't want to spend that money right now. I have to buy a plane ticket to Australia! We are less than a year away now! That will come first. We'll have to wait to replace our horribly old and stained carpeting. I like it when it's winter because when I'm entertaining this time of year, the sun goes down quicker and you can't see how bad the carpet is. However, Ben's birthday is in May. It will definitely be sunny then. Oh well. I don't really think my family cares.

Once the chairs are delivered and the mirror is hung above the couch...I will take my promised 'after pictures'. You'll just have to see it with old carpeting.

Ted is Back--It's so nice having Ted back home. He says his retreat went great and he's really glad he got to go. On Sunday we had a nice time catching up while the kids played outside in the 70 DEGREE WEATHER. Do you believe it is going to snow tonight? Welcome to Missouri!!! Anyway, I gradually told him about the Mary horror story and he sympathized, but was glad I came out of it more determined to stand my ground with her.

A Load a Day--Man, I'm bad. Would you believe I've already messed this one up?? I was thrown off by a busy morning of registering Mary for Mom's Day Out for next year, delivering the cousin's guitar hero they left at our house and then running Ben to school. I'll try to get back on track.

CRHP Meeting--I had a great CRHP meeting last night (on top of everything else this weekend!). We talked about the importance of doing an 'Examen'. When our leader for the night mentioned this, I wasn't sure what she was talking about. It's basically a review of the day. I used to journal in a binder nightly and realized I should get back to this because it was basically an examen. I would write what I was thankful for, how I failed that day, my intentions for others, and my own personal petitions. I decided to add a section where I could put any words of knowledge I received in mass, from others, from my groups, etc. This would make it possible for me to look back on them for encouragement. I also want to get better about my intentions which I have not updated. I made this binder after I wrote out my Rule...and decided I could do it from memory without writing it down. Now I know it won't happen if I don't write it.

Jazzercise--I'm so sad. I missed too much Jazzercise while Ted was gone. This week is so crazy with a Boy Scout meeting, a required meeting for parents of third graders, regional band practice, and a PTO Board meeting that I have no idea how I will squeeze in my two times during the week. I know Saturday will be a sure one. I think the only possible other day I can fit in is Wednesday. Darn.

Snow--The kids are probably going to be home tomorrow because of SNOW, SNOW, SNOW! We are supposed to get 4-8 inches. We've had 3 snow days already. This is when I keep kicking myself for not buying sleds at the beginning of the season. It will be my mission next year to get them BEFORE the first snowfall. My neighbor is getting frustrated with all the snow days. I'm not sure if it's because we're going to go later in the year, or if it's having all the kids home (she has four, too). All I know is that I'm a kid at heart and I LOVE snow days...even as a mom.

Last Night with Mary

Last night, when I left Ben and Mary with the sitter, they both just cried for me. Ben was better about giving me a kiss and hug goodbye, but still did not like be separated from me AND Sam and Abby. They are much better when Sam and Abby are with them. I had a nice break at Blue and Gold and thoroughly enjoyed myself. When I came home, both kids were crashed in the family room. The sitter told me they fell asleep at 8pm and she didn't want to disturb them. When the sitter left and carried them both into bed.

Mary woke up in the middle of the night, because she wet through her pull-up. I wanted to get quickly back to bed so I changed her into dry clothes and let her sleep with me. She must have woken up about four or fives times, running to the door and saying, "Mommy, wait for me! Don't leave!" I guess it kinda showed me the stress she is under and how much she really feels she needs me. It doesn't mean I'm going to accept controlling behavior, but it does help me to provide a balance that feels right.

I'm looking forward to Ted getting home. I'll meet up with him at the noon mass today. I'll do my best to let him fill me in on his weekend and be present to him without saying, "WAIT until you hear what MY weekend was like?"

This morning I was worried that she may not WANT to go to Mom's Day Out next year and that worried me, so I asked her, "Mary, do you want to go to school next year and meet some friends?" and she said, "Yes, I want girlfriends". Thank God! Not that if she said No, I wouldn't do it. It just makes it easier if she wants it, too. I'm so looking forward to the summer when the kids are home, our schedules are free and we can get out of this house more. Maybe that will help Mary focus less on me. And then of course next school year I've termed my Jubilee year, when Ben goes to Kindergarten and Mary will be gone two days a week...and I can take some time for myself.

Battle Weary over Mary

For someone who is only 38 inches tall, my little Mary packs a power punch. She's like a boxer who never tires. She will fight and fight for what she wants and rarely gives up. She exhausts me. She wears me out more than Jazzercise ever could. Where does she find the energy to display all of these emotions? I'm tired just riding her roller coaster with her. I don't really want to ride it...but I'm pulled along as an unwilling passenger. She needs me. For everything.

Things have been really rough since Ted left. I told you about her fit at Ted's send-off....well, it hasn't gotten any better. Last night she woke me at 3am and 5:15am like a three month old. It's like she had a dream of still fighting with me and woke up yelling at me...both times. And then when she got up in morning she started the day with another angry cry for me. I find it harder and harder to continue to be her maypole that she wraps herself around. But it seems that the more I put her off, the more she wants me. So I sit...I hold her...get her her milk...her blanket...whatever it is she needs for that moment to feel secure and at peace, but it's not long before she needs something else.

Mary's tantrums have gotten louder and longer and more demanding. They are little things that aren't even worth describing here. This morning after dealing with her through the night and then again when I woke up just put me to the point of exhaustion. Jane (mother-in-law) came over to take Sam to his basketball game for me...which I appreciated greatly. I told her I had a rough night and morning with Mary. When Jane came back with Sam, Mary was able to display some very ugly colors when she kept yelling at me for talking while she was trying to lay down and "sleep". I told Mary I was not going to stop talking and if she wanted to sleep, she could go in another room. Mary started screaming. Jane and I were trying to continue our conversation above the screams...but it was difficult. I told Mary to stop or I would put her in time out. She didn't stop so I put her on the stairs. She didn't stay, so I had to hold her down. Meanwhile, my frustration is building. I brought her to her bedroom and spanked her with my hand three times. I don't know why I let myself do that...it's fruitless. I just felt helpless. She did the same thing last night at my parents. She wouldn't listen to me and through a fit. She made everyone suffer while she expressed her displeasure.

I did the only other thing that I know works for both of us. Since I can't keep her in time out, I put myself in time out. I locked myself in my room. But then she said she had to go to the bathroom...and I accompany her on ALL of her bathroom trips. Are you getting the drift here? I'm just starting to realize how ridiculous all this sounds. Anyway, I came out of my room defeated. Jane was there to hug me as I cried. And then she gave me a wake up call. Just like my pediatrician did when I had trouble getting Ben to poop in the potty. In so many ways she told me I needed to take it to the next level. That things are getting worse and all that I am doing now is not enough. You really don't want to hear these things from you mother-in-law, but after she left I thought about what she said. I thought about how it must feel to see her daughter-in-law get bossed around and manipulated by her 3 year old daughter. She was standing up like a warrior, fighting for me, wanting me to fight for myself. Jane doesn't say anything like this unless it's absolutely necessary.

In my mind I defended myself. "Some battles aren't worth fighting with her"...."I DO discipline her with consequences....locking myself up can be very effective!"...I DO tell her no...and don't let her screams keep me from enforcing my stand". But deep inside I knew I was missing the point by defending myself so much. The point was, I need to try something different. I called my sister Lisa, who is someone I can always go to in despair. I can bawl like a baby and let her comfort me. Only someone who grew up sharing a room with you can know where you are coming from. Only another mother who has "been there" can truly hear you and giving the knowing "I know" nod, and you know...they really DO know. She dropped everything to be there for me. She had already been praying for me because I had called her and asked for prayers during the bad morning I was having. But she was there to hear my humiliation with the recent incident. She knows how to talk to me...she knows what to say and she knows how to listen. She's perfect active listener. She's in my corner, ready to defend me to the end. She agreed that she didn't like the way Mary had been treating me. We talked about the problems with time out and she suggested that I lock her in her room. She suggested getting a safety type door handle that won't let her out when she is in time out...so it can be a truly effective time out.

You can't always lock yourself in your room. When she disrupts our mealtimes, Ted has to take her to her room and stay up there with her so she doesn't leave. It's a total pain. When I was at my parents and she acted up, it was just unrealistic to lock myself up. This door handle thing might sound extreme...but I have to take control. I feel she's old enough to understand that this isn't acceptable. It took some women in my corner to make me stand up and do something about it. Something more than I was doing. It took Ted to be gone, in order for me to reach rock bottom, and reach out to them. Normally he gets everything (all of my emotions)....and he fixes everything, but on retreat...you are supposed to RETREAT! He deserves a break from all of this.

I can hear Super Nanny saying to me in her beautifully British voice, "She needs to know that this behavior is unacceptable." And then I hear Dr Phil asking while she's throwing a fit, "What is she getting out of this?" Most probably...HER WAY. It's not like I give in to her after a fit. I tend to keep the peace to AVOID the fit. For an example, I'm trying me new firmer way...in all the small things. After going potty she told me to turn out the lights. I politely told her she could turn out the lights...she's a big girl. Then she threw herself to the floor, spilling her gold fish. She then cried and told me to pick them up. I told her that she could pick them up. Before, I would have just turned out the darn lights. Now she is screaming while I'm locked in my room. Before I locked myself up, she said, "I'll stop crying!". It is really is a punishment for her to be separated from me.

I'll let you know how things change in our house. I'm hoping for greater peace at mealtimes and other times in our house, a greater sense of dignity for myself, and a sense of control. And hopefully, I'll be a better example to Abby on how she expect herself to be treated by her children. I've been giving Mary the age excuse too long. She's old enough to toe the line like the rest of them. Now I need God's help to see it through.

Has It Really Been That LONG???

I really can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged. My blogging time has been limited because Ben dominates my computer during the day. At night, when it's my turn to put the kids down, I sit outside Ben's door and that was normally my blogging time...but lately I've been reading a book about the saints called The Fulfillment of All Desire. I kind of fell into a habit of not blogging...or should I say, I fell out of the habit of blogging. I can't believe it's been 19 days. I was going about my merry way until my aunt said,"You have got to get back to posting.......that's the only way I can keep up with your life! So even if it's a short post.......enquiring minds want to know........WHAT'S UP WITH MISSY!!!!!"

I kind of forgot people read my blog and may be the slightest bit anxious to hear what I have to ramble on and on about! So thank you, Kathy, for bringing me back to my senses. Let's go topic by topic.

JAZZERCISE--It deserves all caps because I truly love it. I've been getting in 3 x's a week...and I feel totally indulgent doing it! Why? I can't quite explain that. I think I saw joining a class for exercise as being the epitome of self care. One deserving of mothers whose kids are older and all off to school. Not deserving of women who have no desire to get up at an ungodly hour to fit important things in before the kids wake up. That would be me. I knew I didn't want it badly enough to do that. So to find a solution that works for me...letting the kids practice watching themselves for a little over an hour while I exercise...is like a sinful delight! So far, my times flex from week to week. Last week, I did Tuesday at 4:25pm, Thursday at 5:35pm and Saturday at 8:15am. Saturday has been my most consistent day so far. The other two fall where our schedule allows from week to week. Thank you, God...for Jazzercise.

Diet--Ok...back to normal caps. I started this diet before Lent. I wanted to capitalize on my motivation. Can you believe after 3 1/2 weeks, I've lost 10 pounds?? I can't. Healthier eating, smaller portions, counting calories, more sensible snacking and no late night binges...have all helped. I said before, I want to make a lifestyle change. To do this, I allow some of my favorite "bad" foods in small doses....and I love so many bad foods. I love bread, pan crust pizza, brownies, custard, donuts, fried foods, etc, etc! I've tried to find healthier foods that I really enjoy and I keep my pantry and fridge stocked with them. I've added whole grain crackers, fruit mixed with yogurt and granola, dried fruit, romaine lettuce for salads, and spinach for my sandwiches every day. I took out the chips and substitute crackers (wheat thins), pretzels, or Sunchips. Sometimes just knowing it's healthy, makes it taste better to me, or gives me the motivation to eat it. Like fruits. I like fruits...but I like cookies better. It's a decision for me to chose the fruit instead. I'm trying to make those good decisions regularly. And then as a treat I'll have a cookie. This works for me right now...and I hope it continues to work for the long haul.

I was 132 lbs when we got married in 1992, 140 before getting pregnant with Sam in 1996, 145 before getting pregnant with Abby in 1998, 150 before getting pregnant with Maggie in 2001, 155 before getting pregnant with Ben in 2003 and went up to 160 before Mary. Lost 10 lbs on Slim Fast, gained back 5. Had Mary...stayed at 155. And now, for the first time in 10 years, I'm back to 145!!! I'd be happy to lose 5 more.

Illnesses--We've been battling colds, ear infections and sinus infections in this house the past couple of weeks. I had a since infection two weeks ago. My teeth hurt! I had to take 14 days of antibiotics for that! Mary is on antibiotics for a nasty ear infection. Carpool was bad the day it peaked. She cried so hard, no one wanted to sit by her. I had to take seven kids to the pharmacy so I could get a dose in her QUICK!! They all tolerated the stop because they felt so sorry for her crying out in pain. Sam has had a bad cough for over a week and I'm wondering if I need to get it checked out. Ben is waking up with matter in his eyes and green gunk in his nose. Hmmm...

New Furniture--I'm almost ready for my family room "after" picture!! I have everything in there but two chairs. They are being delivered Tuesday. We're also waiting on the new carpet. They measured the room last Tuesday, I'm waiting for them to call with the estimate. This all started with hating my fireplace wall. I decided to embrace it and make changes with the other parts of the room I didn't like. Now the fireplace wall is a non-isssue. You'll see why when I post pictures!! Ted got his big screen plasma TV that he'd been dreaming about. If you remember, it came free with the purchase of the furniture. TV's aren't a big deal to me, so it's cute to see him all excited when he doesn't get excited about material things. The TV is a guy thing I guess. I was more excited about my new couch!!!

Retreat--We bid Ted farewell for his ACTS retreat this weekend. We met him at the church for his send off. I wish I could have given him a proper and sincere goodbye. Unfortunately, Abby was crying about missing him, Sam had to take Ben to the bathroom, and Mary was crying because we made her give Daddy back his name tag. She just kept screaming, "I want Daddy's name tag!!"...over and over. I decided to take her outside, but that was no better because Ted was loading in the bus and I could see him, "That's my daughter...she's not missing me...she wants my name tag". *SIGH* That's the note he had to leave on. The screams of his daughter while the whole bus listens. I'm sure they all had a good laugh.

Single Mom--So yah, Ted was at Dallas on business at the beginning of the week and now he's on retreat. Friday, Saturday and Sunday I have the following: A meeting with the principal and priest of our school and the other two marketing committee members to do our "marketing" homework, a dinner at my mom's, Sam's basketball game, Blue and Gold banquet (bring a lot of mac n cheese), Abby goes with Grandma Jane to see Ted at Candlelight and spends the night with Grandma, babysitter for Ben and Mary, Noon mass to welcome Ted back, and a CRHP meeting at MY house! Yikes. I'm sure it'll all go by quickly.

PTO--I'm so grateful that I got the VP to take on the Father/Daughter dance in April. I'm not in charge!! Yaaayyy!!! We only have a McTeacher night, Art Fair, and PTO meeting with the parents left, besides the dance. And of course we have prep for next year and we don't have a VP yet...but I will be D-O-N-E. I can't wait to be a regular mom again....as fun as it was.

A Load a Day--It's my new mission. To put in a load of laundry a day, no matter what the size. I want to stay caught up. My neighbor inspired me because she made this change and seems so happy. She said putting it away is no big deal when you only have a load. I always thought that was inefficient. Why go to all those locations in the house for so few things?? Now I see it as exercise....and a chance to be less overwhelmed.

At the moment...that's all I can think of. Time to veg out in front of the TV. It's another long day tomorrow.

I LOVE JAZZERCISE!!!

I absolutely LOVE Jazzercise!! I went Saturday and felt like it was totally for me! It was exactly what I thought it would be: Led by an energetic and too happy to be real instructor, high energy dance/aerobic moves, all set to great music. They greeted me with friendliness, no clickiness and it was a classroom of women of all ages, shapes and sizes. The instructor was always offering ideas on how to make each move more of a challenge for you or less of a challenge if you wanted low impact. It is what you make it. I can come straight out of bed, throw on clothes that may be too tight to wear anywhere else and make a fool out of myself while I try to learn all the moves. It's awesome.

Although, really, I can only come "straight out of bed" on Saturdays. My goal is to fit two afternoon/early evening classes somewhere else in the week. This would not be favorite time to workout, but it will have to do until Mary is in preschool (a year and a half from now). Until then, I hope to have Sam and Abby watch the kids one day at 4:25pm and another for the 5:35pm sessions. We'll see how this goes. I'm a little nervous that the time of day is too crazy for me to be gone. But I am NOT one to workout at 5:30am in the morning and I really don't want to take my kids to the free babysitting because I could picture that being a disaster. I'm afraid to even try it like my husband is really wanting me to do.

The success of this hinges on my commitment to this. I hope this can be a regular pattern for me. One I stay committed to for a long time. Any new thing you try is an experiment and you never know how it will turn out. This just seems like it has all the ingredients it needs to work for me. Let's hope!!

A Snapshot

What's at the top of my to-do list?
--To try to focus on my sacrifices in Lent as a way to bring me closer to God, instead of focusing so much on the sacrifice itself!
--Plan my Children's Liturgy for this Sunday
--Update my picture wall before my Uppercase Living party
--Get a sitter for a date night with Ted
--Sign up for Jazzercise this Saturday and start my first class!

What have I accomplished recently?
--Stocked my kitchen with fresh fruits, vegetables and healthier foods
--Lost 5 pounds!!
--The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. It went so smoothly!!
--Registered Abby for Softball
--Registered Ben for Kindergarten (Yikes!)
--Got caught up on laundry (huge feet!)
--Bought valentines for the kids to exchange

What have I said I was going to do, but haven't?
--Remember those pureed vegetables? After the failure with the mac n cheese, I've abandoned the remaining vegetables in the freezer. I just didn't feel the kids were getting that many vegetables anyway since half the kids didn't like the food I was hiding it in anyway (my picky boys don't eat ground beef or hamburgers)
--I'm doing some of my Rule from Mother's Rule of Life, but not all of it. I feel like I have a long way to go to be consistent on the house and other routines with the kids. I've made permanent changes to my prayer life that I remember to do almost daily but my day seems to just "happen" after that. I'll have to focus on this more.

What's been bugging me?
--Staying outside Ben's door until he falls asleep. Ted and I hardly have any time together in the evenings because one of us is putting all the kids down and sitting outside Ben's door until he falls asleep. Sometimes it can take an hour! It's a pain. Sam had us going through this, too. It will pass as everything else does.
--Mary's clinginess. She screams if I'm leaving and she hasn't gotten to say goodbye the million times she needs to before she feels ready to part from me. She's just going through a really tough time with separation and fears of being alone in any part of the house.

What's been bringing me joy?
--The show John and Kate plus 8! It always takes away any residue of self pity I might have.
--American Idol. I love that show, too.
--I'm just so happy that I get to be at home with my kids everyday. It's such a gift. Even on the bad days.
--Eatting healthier. It's been so fun to find ways to eat healthier but stay under my calorie limit.
--I can't wait to start Jazzercise!!

I Haven't Told You Yet....

For the past week I have been doing something I always thought would be excrutiatingly painful...something that always sounded like pure torture to me and just a plain mood killing thing to do...I am counting calories. I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth. Not only am I counting them, but I have figured what my weight and height need every day and I'm taking in 500 less...to lose weight. I really don't like being on diets. It takes a lot of motivation for me to go in that direction, but once I do, I'm really into it.


It started with Lent. What can I give up? How can I cut back in my areas of excess? Do I stop eating my Rainbow Chips Deluxe cookies? I'd really been addicted those and it was getting worse and worse. Instead of just 2 after lunch, I was eating 3-4...and instead of just after lunch, I would eat them as a midafternoon snack and and after dinner dessert. It had to stop.


Or should I give up icecream? It's always been my favorite evening treat when the kids were all in bed and I could fully indulge myself. For some reason, after a tough day, frozen custard (especially my favorite turtle sundae) always cheered me up. After Thanksgiving, I always have to sacrifice this indulgence, but would still grab Dairy Queen every now and then.


Maybe I should cut back on my portions? I often eat past being full and never think twice about another helping of bread. My worst behavior doesn't really happen with meals at home, but parties with appetizers, eating out, and anything that encourages me to eat more than I normally would.


Or should I just eat more healthy? I often throw a meal together and realize later that I did not serve a vegetable. I always make sure I have fruit, granola and yogurt around for the kids, but did I ever make an effort to eat it? No.


I decided to do it all. Not give it all up, but cut back drastically on what I eat in a day and make sure what I DO eat is good for me. I decided to find food that didn't make me feel like I was on a diet. My breakfast hasn't changed much, because it was already pretty healthy. However, with lunch, I've changed my ham into turkey. I've cut back on my mayo and changed it to "light". I'm making sure my wheat bread is 100% whole wheat and not just "made with whole wheat" (I didn't realize the difference!). My chips have turned into baked Lays or wheat thins. And guess what...no more cookies (unless I want to waste 80 calories on ONE FRICKIN' COOKIE!!!). When your counting, if you add one place, you can subtract somewhere else...but sometimes that's at a great cost and it's just not worth it!


My icecream has been replaced with fruit and yogurt sprinkled with granola cereal. YUM!! And I don't have to feel guilty eating it mid day! If I'm hungry for a snack, I eat an apple, banana, a 90 calorie granola bar, or wheat thins. It's a challenge to find things that don't rob me of my allotted 1300 calories a day. Salsa, lettuce greens, pickles, mustard, parmesan cheese...are all surprises that contain basically NO calories. So I'll pile on the greens with a little of Paul Newman's Sesame Ginger salad dressing!! It's so good. I sprinkle it with Feta cheese for extra flavor and when I have fresh veggies, I love red onions and peppers thrown in.


This has been going on for a week now, and despite some boughts of real hunger (I kept telling myself it was burning the fat), it's not been too bad. Since I'm not totally strict and will allow myself a little treat (half a brownie at my sisters and an errant cookie every now and then), I think it helps me go the long haul. I'd never make it if it was too strict. I know myself better than that. My real challenge is at get togethers. At a Superbowl party I went to, I tried to eat lightly the day of the party and then let myself snack on chips and salsa and veggies in light dip. I did treat myself to half a chocolate cake. I know I went over that night, but I allowed myself to slightly over without a pig out binge (which is my normal party behavior...especially where there is buffalo chicken dip...DAMN that stuff is addictive!!)


OK...I know I'm making you sick now. I try not to talk about dieting. Does ANYONE really want to hear about someone else's diet? NO! It makes you feel guilty and jealous of the person with all the self discipline. I will talk at great length with other dieters (my sister, Becky, is on the same diet). People would vomit if they heard our conversations. I reserve all that obsessive talk with her. And since Lent is coming up, I will blend in quite easily. I just couldn't wait until Ash Wednesday. My Catholic neighbor thinks it's silly that I'm not going to have a true Fat Tuesday. Oh well. You have to strike while the iron is hot.


There is still one piece to tell you. I want to exercise, too. I know...isn't it all maddening?? I'm doing things my way this time. I've tried the treadmill in my house. It doesn't work. Kids follow me, they want to play on the treadmill and in the evening I'm too tired. I've decided to get out of the house! I'm going to try Jazzercise. The recent 80's Dance reminded me how much I love to dance...and any exercise I do, MUST resemble dancing. That's Jazzercise! I'm going to sign up Saturday. Since aerobics is dying out, I can't find these classes anywhere...but Jazzercise is going strong! They have so many times to chose from, I feel good about being able to fit it in. I'm thinking about doing Tuesdays 5:25pm, Thursdays 4:25pm (have Sam and Abby watch the kids for the hour I'll be gone), and Saturdays at 9:30am. If something comes up to mess any of those times, I can go to an evening slot (not preferred) or use their day care and do a 9:30am slot (also not preferred). Since it's not going to a gym and running a treadmill, doing stairs or pumping iron, I think I will like it and actually enjoy it. I'm hoping that will be enough to keep me going. I don't want this to just be a Lent thing. I want it to be a life change.


So after a week on this diet, I've lost 5 pounds. I'm sure it will be slower going from here. That was too easy. It must have been all water or something. I doubt fat could burn that quickly! Plus, it's not healthy to keep that pace anyway. I'm sure my body was just shocked by healthy eating.

Ok. I've divulged it all. I'll try not to talk too much about it.

SNOW DAY!!!

Today the kids had a snow day. I love snow days. The excitement reminds me of when I was a kid and we prayed that school would be canceled after the slightest bit of snow. To find out that we could stay at home and play in the snow all day was such a thrill. And now I get to relive that through my kids. It's great to have them home. And although it can get hectic with the in and out, snow trampled in and melting on the floors, and the coats, hats, snowbibs and gloves going in and out of the dryer, it's still a refreshing change from the regular day.

I would have to say this year marks a first for us. All four kids equally participated in all the sled riding activities. It was Ben and Mary's first year sledding down a hill. I can't honestly remember them doing it last year. I know the older kids went out to a special hill, but I think I stayed home and watched Ben and Mary. I was so happy to get out there and document it this moment. Not only did I document it, but I also went down the hill on a snowboard with a handle (kind of like a scooter). It was so fun and exhilirating. I felt like a kid again! I love showing the kids a different side to me.

As lovely as it was, it wasn't all roses. Mary had a rough time and cried most of the time. She wanted a sled that was the neighbors, but couldn't have it. Ben was pretty good most of the time. Despite the tears, we had a great time. We were in our neighbors yard, so it was easy to scoop Mary up and take her home after I felt everyone had had enough listening to her whailing.

After the neighbors, Sam and Abby went to a friends house to sled, then I picked them up and we went to my sister, Lisa's, to eat dinner and then sled some more! What great sleep they will have tonight!

Ted is on retreat this weekend so I'm going at it alone. Sam has a basketball game tomorrow at 9am, and then I'm going to a fundraiser tea with my mom and sisters. Other than that, we are pretty free.