Works-for-Me-Wednesday

Okay, some of you smart people out there have probably already done this. I'm here for the not-so-smart ones. I was buying Kleenex the other day, and was going to buy some of the pocket packs too. Then I realized how ridiculous it would be to buy more tissues, when I was already buying three boxes. I decided to make my own travel packs. It is easy. Grab some tissue from the box, fold it up and put it in a ziploc bag in your purse. Not quite as small as the pocket packs, but definitely cheaper (since I already buy tissues and ziploc bags). And, you can put more than 15 measly tissues in one bag. So there you go. Works for Me!

I am a bad participant and forgot to add a link to the other great tips. Go here for more!

A new regard for kids.

I have a new-found sympathy for any baby or small child suffering an ear infection. No wonder they cry and whimper and generally act miserable. I have an ear infection in both ears and oh. my. gosh. it hurts. I had to sleep sitting up on the couch last night. Miserable! So, when my little ones complain of an earache or the littlest is crying and pulling at his ears I will really know what they are feeling, and it is not good.

Obviously no exercise for me today. I hate that but I don't want to get on the treadmill with an ear problem, what with the whole balance issue. Instead, I will lay around like a lump and let my kids watch too much tv and eat junk because I don't feel good and I don't have to do anything more than the minimum if I don't want to. Very mature on my part, isn't it?

"You can do it!"

Did anyone see the movie Waterboy? Remember Rob Schneider's character saying that? I was hearing that in my head today on the treadmill. Due to illness and whatnot last week, I only managed two workouts. I got way off track on my eating too, so I am hoping to change that this week. But back to the workout. I really wanted to quit--I did not think I would make it a full 25 minutes running. But I did! Now I am going to try to do it 4 times this week instead of just 3. I could definitely tell that I was not doing well last week--just didn't feel good. So it is back on track for me this week.

Lots to say and no clear train of thought.

Sounds thrilling, doesn't it? I don't think I have much of interest to share, but I feel bad relying on memes for content. So I will regale you with tales of my life. Or not. Whatever the case may be.

We are spending a gusty Saturday at home. We had planned to visit my parents and sister this weekend, but circumstances being what they were have delayed the visit until next month. Dad was going to be working all weekend, I have to work tomorrow night, and turns out I had to attend an RCIA function last night. So we are home and that is where we need to be, as we all continue to battle the allergy monster. So, since we're staying home, I figure I better get some stuff done around here. 3 small goals: clean out the pantry, reorganize the art supplies, clean out under my bathrooom sink. All tasks that can be completed with relative ease before evening I think. O.H. is also going to install cabinet latches in the bathrooms. We have managed without them so far, but Monster is just a little too curious and we need to be safe.

Tonight, a night out with O.H. and his parents. We are going to see the KODO Drummers in Dallas. These are Japanese drummers that my husband saw when he was younger, with his grandfather. When we found out they were here again we jumped on the chance to go see them. Should be fun. It is always nice to do something other than the standard movie and dinner, even though that is nice too.

Feeling like I am getting into the Lenten spirit, at least a little bit. I want to experience real growth this season, but I am having a hard time focusing on how I am going to do that. I did pick up a book of daily reflections for the season. I'm just trying to be more mindful of opportunities for prayer and reflection. Unfortunately, I have a very intense, very focused prayer request from friends. I say unfortunate because they need the prayers so desperately, not because I am having to pray for them. But I'm seeing it as a gift from my God to show me the need for prayer and the rewards of prayer, however intangible. And I've no doubt that His will is going to be done in the matter--just trying to remember it is on His time, not ours. And so I leave you with this.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement overflow." 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5

Love and Marriage

Marriage Meme: because I have nothing better to say right now.

.1. Where/how did you meet? His brother's birthday party. Flirted shamelessly but did nothing else, as we were dating other people.

2. How long have you known each other? About 9 years.

3. How long after you met did you start dating? 4 or 5 months.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged? about 2 years

5. How long was your engagement? 6 months from engagement to J.P. wedding, one year later we had our church wedding.

6. How long have you been married? 6 years

7. What is your anniversary? February 16.

8. How many people came to your wedding reception? 150 or so, I guess.

9. What kind of cake did you serve? White cake with white frosting (I'm sure there is a better description, but I don't remember) and chocolate cake with fudge frosting, which is what I ate. Both cakes were delicious.

10. Where was your wedding? As above, first the J.P. in Roanoke, TX then at our parish here. The reception was at the Knights of Columbus Hall because we're good Catholics like that. ;)

11. What did you serve for your meal? BBQ beef, chicken and sausage with sides. Ziegenbock beer, and some other kind of beer (didn't drink it, don't care what kind it was), and wine and soda and tea.

12. How many people were their in your bridal party? 6 not including us.

13. Are you still friends with them all? Mostly, we are at least on friendly terms, if not as close as were then. O.H. was best man for one of his groomsmen this past fall.

14. Did you or your spouse cry during the ceremony? I teared up right before going down the aisle, which is strange, since we had already been legally married for a year.

15. Most special moment of your wedding day? O.H. had written a song and the priest allowed him to sing it after Communion (supposed to only have sacred music in a ceremony). And of course walking down the aisle with my dad. I'm a HUGE daddy's girl, so that was very special to me.

16. Any funny moments? Yes! When leaving the reception in the black convertible Corvette our friends loaned us, O.H. revved up and promptly stalled out! Very embarassing for him, but I was cracking up.

17. Any big disasters? One bridesmaid had the wrong color dress. Hers was just lilac instead of Victorian lilac, but since each dress was a different style it wasn't that noticeable.

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon? Cape Cod. In March. It was freezing and everything was closed, but it was free and we enjoyed it anyway. I was also already pregnant with #2, so we took advantage of all the sleeping we could.

19. How long were you gone? 3 nights, 4 days.

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change? Nothing, really.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on? When looking at the bed from the foot of it, on the right.

22. What size is your bed? Queen.

23. Greatest strength as a couple? Shared faith and a sense of humor.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple? Balancing work and family and other commitments.

25. Who literally pays the bills? He does. I used to, but it wasn't working too well and now he does everything online. He does give me updates on what we have in the bank regularly.

26. What is your song? We don't have one. But we love us some Cure or Portishead when alone together. wink, wink

27. What did you dance your first dance to? "All I want is you" by U2. It is really long, so about halfway through we invited our parents and bridal party to join us.

28. Describe your wedding dress? Very simple. White (because I like white, not because I was pretending to be a virginal bride, there was a 4-month old in the nursery disproving that idea). Spaghetti straps, white band of satin right above the bustline. A-line cut with simple embroidery going around the dress, just one line of stitching at a time, so when you looked at it from far away it was hard to see it. I wore a crown and cathedral veil. Chapel train on the dress that pinned up for the reception. My shoes matched the dress pefectly and were kick-a**, but they hurt like h-e-double-hockey sticks.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding? I carried a bouquet of lavendar roses. The bridesmaids carried daisies I think, but I can't remember.

30. Are your wedding bands engraved? What do they say? Nope.

Anyone who wants to play is welcome. I got this meme from Musings of a Housewife.

A Thought

"The day was long. The burden I had borne seemed much heavier than I could longer bear . . . and . . . then it lifted! I knew someone had knelt in prayer; had taken me to God at that very hour, and asked for the easing of my load . . . In infinite compassion . . . He had stooped down and taken it from me. We cannot tell how often . . . as we pray, for some bewildered one, hurt and distressed, the answer comes! Many times those hearts we are praying for . . . find sudden peace and rest! Someone had prayed . . . and faith, a reaching hand, took hold of God, and brought Him down here to earth to life the burden away! So many, many hearts have need of prayer. Oh, let us pray!"

Saint Maximillian Kolbe

A friend shared this with me, I don't know where she found it, but I love it. Especially the part about faith reaching up to God and bringing Him down here. So many times we feel like God is above us and working on us from a distance, but that is not the case. He is right here with us, as close as we will allow him to be. It is overwhelming to think of His love.

Exhausted

In more ways than one it seems. Monster has chosen to wake up screaming the last two nights about an hour after we fall asleep. Nothing soothes him but a sippy cup and mommy, so my sleep has been less than stellar. My work schedule has not changed, but all of a sudden I am feeling overwhelmed by it. I am beyond grateful for my retreat preparations and my assigned role in the retreat, but right now I'm feeling like I'm not up to the task.

Spiritually, I am lost and wandering. I know what I need to do and what I want to do. I know that I can't solve all of the problems before me. I know that turning to God with the weakest of prayers is still turning to God. Yet I feel inadequate and unable to do so. I want to do many things this Lent to awaken my spirit and to renew my commitment to God. But right now, I don't feel like I can do even one thing. I know that all God wants of me is effort. If I give Him the time and the open and loving heart, He will do the rest. But I feel like I'm pinned to the floor and can't get up. Merely surviving, not thriving.

When I'm tired, I cry, a lot. A LOT. My poor kids have asked me if I'm sad several times. My friends at my meeting last night probably think I'm pregnant again and hormonal (not the case, at all) and that is why I am crying so much. But, really, I'm just tired. So tired that all I can do is cry and give that to God, for what it is worth.

I'm so glad Lent is here. I really do feel like this year I will experience growth and change and attain some new wisdom. I just need to stop falling asleep while trying to attain it. ;)

Gorgeous

Is what the weather is today. Warm and breezy but not gusty and not hot. I love it! My mood is instantly better because of the good weather. I also really want to take a nap. That might be because of two little boys and their interrupted sleep last night.

In other news, Nutball is learning to ride her bike! We have been slow to the bike riding party for some reason. Perhaps because I couldn't fathom how to teach two small children to ride bikes while trying to keep two other small children happy? Maybe. Anyway, we are finally embarking on the great adventure. Princess is not as interested yet, but that is pretty standard for her. Nutball actually went from a stop to slow forward progress by herself today! It was so exciting to watch her. I am looking forward to the fun in store.

I hope all of my readers that are local are able to enjoy this beautiful weather at some point.

I cry every Sunday night.

Why? Is it because I am consumed with feelings of enormous love and awe at Mass? Or perhaps I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my job? Well, no and no. But, my crying is a relatively positive thing and a much needed dose of perspective every week.

O.H. and I love Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Love it. It comes on Sunday evenings on ABC. I'm not a huge fan of a lot of ABC shows and causes, but this is one I can support. Since I am now working on Sunday nights, O.H. sets the DVR to record the show and we watch it when I get home. We did this when he was at retreat meetings on Sunday nights too. We have found it to be a great way of getting time together, even if it is time spent watching TV. And, truly, we turn it off every week thanking God for our countless blessings. We realize that our trials and burdens are nothing we can't endure without Christ. We realize that all that we have is His and could be taken away at any moment. So, if you are feeling like there is nothing good on TV, give this show a try. Yes, it is cheesy and sappy at times, but in a good way. We cry together every week. Don't tell O.H. I told you that though. :)

Preparing for the Season

Lent is upon us. I would like to think I have matured in what I do to observe the Lenten season. But I'm not so sure that I have. Are my motives any different than when I was a young person, unformed and really unaware of why it was I wasn't drinking soda or giving up meat on Fridays? Not really, unfortunately. I have been blessed to know some people who really get this Lent thing right. Yesterday we had an assembly at church all about Lent. I am really glad I went. I got some good ideas and some needed perspective. Lent is a season of penance and reflection. We meditate on Christ's suffering in order to more fully celebrate His resurrection. And hopefully we are more closely united to Him and His suffering through our own sacrifices. I'm beginning to think I should have prepared for the Lenten season, instead of just using Lent to prepare for Easter.

There are lots of things I want to do, but I know myself. If I make a commitment to too many things I will be overwhelmed and do nothing. I'm going to try to focus on one thing personally, one thing for our family, and also work on forming my children at an earlier age than I was. I want this time of year to have meaning. I want to come to Easter with some signs of growth, not just a desparate yearning for chocolate and soda or whatever. I'm going to keep my sacrifices and promises to myself, unless something comes up from them that I just have to share. That is what we are supposed to do after all.

Any thoughts from anyone else as we enter this time of year?

A Milestone

Today is a day to remember. I ran for 25 minutes (2 miles) without stopping! This is surely the first time I have ever done that. I do not like running and I have never exercised consistently. And, apparently, my legs are still functioning, so I should be able to repeat the feat on Wednesday. I'm taking tomorrow off to let my body adjust to an increased demand. If I can maintain this for the next two weeks then I might try to run the entire 5K on March 10. This running thing is starting to grow on me I think.

Sticker Shock

We are not going to AZ for spring training. O.H. took his car to the shop today (service engine light has been on for a while) and the cost of the needed maintenance wipes out any hope of a trip just for fun next month. We are thankful that we actually have the cash in savings to pay for it. If this had been two months ago, that wouldn't have been the case. So, we are delaying our overnight trip till football season. The Mean Green are scheduled to play OU and so we are going to plan to attend the game and stay overnight in Norman. That will be almost as fun. We also decided to start planning now to maybe make it to spring training next year or the year after that. So, disappointing, but not too bad. Again, we're just grateful to have the cash to make the repairs.

Post-a-riffic

I am a blogging machine today. Honestly, kids are sleeping and I am indulging in some serious internet time. Choosing randome sites to visit. Playing games. Whatever. It is my anniversary and I am going to do what I want to, at least for now.

Anyway, I need some help. O.H. and I have a free night at a Radisson and free overnight babysitting available to us. It was our Christmas gift from some family. We just have to allow time for scheduling. So I had the bright idea that we could jet to Surprise, AZ and catch a Rangers spring training game. This is something we have discussed doing more than once, and this seemed like a good time. Only, flights that leave one day and come back the next are pricey. We might (stress might) be able to leave on a Friday and return on a Sunday, if we can pull together some additional help. But we can only make it happen for around 100 bucks a round-trip ticket, which seems way optimistic. I guess I don't really need help, I just wanted to share my dilemma. Has anyone ever scored a sweet deal like this before? Throw me a bone-give me some hope. Please! I really want to go to spring training.

Precisely What I was Thinking

Go read this article at Testosterhome to see where I have been in my thoughts lately. That anxiety I mentioned a week or so ago? The article is related (but I'm not in her shoes, don't worry). The author managed to capture my feelings exactly but much more clearly than I could ever express them.

Missy Trick

That is my rapstar name. I like it, kind of. Well, not really. Who wants an allusion to illicit night-time activity in their name?

go here to find out your rapstar name

Six Years of Bliss!

Okay, mostly bliss. Today is our sixth anniversary. And our fifth anniversary. It all depends on which wedding you count from (we count from the first one). You see, on this day six years ago we were married by a J.P. We discovered I was pregnant while we were engaged and our priest encouraged us to go ahead and get married legally as soon as possible, so we did. We were then able to plan a Catholic wedding for the same day a year later and we were so glad about that. It was very important to us to be married in the Church and our priest made an exception and let us do it a little sooner than is usual in our situation (usually the Church encourages couples to wait at least one year after the birth of the child, I guess to prevent hasty decisions). So today I am going to share a bit about what my marriage means to me, and other thoughts on love and such. Don't expect anything profound though--I didn't prewrite this after all, so it might be a bit muddled. :)

One of the biggest blessings of my marriage, besides the obvious kids, has been my emotional maturation. I am learning what is important and what is not. What is worth fighting for and what to let go. There was a time, even when we were engaged and then married, that I would watch a romantic movie and wish I had that kind of romance. Who doesn't want to meet someone, connect, have a good time, make a mistake, break up and mourn, then by some twist of fate get back together? Seriously, there was just that feeling that somehow I was missing out. I can now say that those feelings have passed me by. No, we don't have that kind of relationship, but that is a good thing. We have real romance and real passion. More importantly, real love. We realize that love is found in the little things and that what we expect of love and how we love each other will change often as we go through life together. With 4 small kids under foot we don't get to indulge in spontaneous intimacy all over the house, but we do get to treasure the times we are intimate that much more. Sorry if that is TMI. What I'm trying to say is, when I watch those silly movies now, I just appreicate what I have that much more. A real relationship, one that takes work and attention, but that has a deeper quality to it.

I guess what I'm saying I have gained in these 6 years is perspective. We have already endured or experienced more than a lot of couples will, in terms of family size and how that has affected us (especially me) emotionally. 4 kids in 4 years is a lot to adjust to, but God graced us with each other and with a community that has encouraged us through it all. I always said I would only marry a Catholic guy, and I'm blessed that God didn't challenge me in that. He gave me a man dedicated to his faith and willing to place his trust in God. For that I will always be grateful. And while I'm talking about family size, I just want to say, what the Church tells us about the benefits of natural family planning (abstaining when fertile) is true! Intimacy means so much more when we know that we can't always turn to that for a connection. It is something we treasure and I know that it is better than the alternative (artificial contraception of some sort). What a blessing my faith has been to my marriage!

Moving on, I want to share what I love about my marriage right now. I love that we both are passionate about sports, particulary Mean Green athletics. Let me tell you--even if I didn't like sports, I would make the choice to get involved in this passion of my husband's because it is something fun to share and we have enjoyed it so much. I love that he has encouraged me to get back out and get involved in the Church again (after taking time off for babies) and to work (stressful as it is right now) a little bit. He wants me to use my talents and he recognizes that I have been "O.H.'s wife" for a long time and it is time for me to regain my identity (in a healthy way of course). But I love being known as his wife too, because he is a great person. I love how he has embraced our family life. We didn't plan any of these kids, really, and it can be hard to be our age and raising a family of 4 kids already. We have had to miss out on some stuff, but he never seems to regret it or resent it. He has changed himself to fit into our life now and that is so great. Mostly, I love that every day I am finding some new blessing to be thankful for in our marriage.

So there you have it. Sappy. Mushy. Strange coming from me. I love him! He loves me! Yea!

Look at me! I can be productive!

And use lots and lots of exclamation points! So after a week of accomplishing very little, this morning has been a whirlwind of activity. Yea me.

I worked out first thing, then did a quick morning prayer (quick is not ideal, but better than nothing). After that I checked in on all of my online buddies and distractions. :) Princess has been begging to make cookies for two days, so I finally gave in. She was hoping for sugar cookies shaped like hearts, but I did not have all of the ingredients for the recipe I like to use. Thankfully, I had chocolate chips and so we used a recipe on the back of the bag to make chocolate chip dreams (chocolate cookies with chips), courtesy of Nestle. They are yummy! While baking several batches of cookies I managed to put away dishes, clean the counters and vacuum/sweep the kitchen floor. I even cleaned off the highchair seat and underneath it too! After all of that I needed a shower, so I took one.

Now I'm enjoying my lunch (my usual deli meat bites and veggies) and blogging around. We have dance in an hour, and for once I won't be scrambling around to get myself or Princess ready. She already is! And so am I!

The burst of activity felt good. I knew I would come out of my slump, and I think the exercise had a big part in that. I have a busy afternoon and evening ahead of me, so knowing what is already done will motivate me to get through the rest of it cheerfully.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I like about February

13. Pitchers and catchers report!

12. Full squad spring training opens!

11. It is only 28 (or 29) days long.

10. It is NOT January.

9. One month closer to warm weather.

8. Our anniversary is Feb. 16.

7. Sometimes it is warm.

6. Ordinary time in the Church (at least for some of the month).

5. The cold and barrenness is good preparation for Lent.

4. I got married two Febs in a row (that's another post though).

3. I'm not pregnant this February (a rare thing these last few years--hope I don't hurt the feelings of my friends that would love to be pregnant this Feb.).

2. Pitchers and catchers report!

1. Full squad spring training opens!

Can you tell we are baseball fans around here? Saturday is the big day for our Texas Rangers. Woohoo!

Thwarted!

After that last post, I felt like a lazy slob and decided to get on the treadmill. Only to have my efforts thwarted. Turns out, all of my sports bras were in the washing machine, wet and waiting to be placed in the dryer. And, well, these girls can't handle a run without adequate support. So, I'm not working out. Which leaves ample time to clean up before O.H. comes home. We don't do Valentine's Day around here, but I could make the extra effort to have a clean home for him to come home to and relax. So I will. And now I have to workout the next two days to get my weekly quota in. And I will do that too.

Static Electricity is Making Me Crazy!

Seriously--the shocks are going to bring me down. I know why they happen, but that doesn't stop me from complaining about it. My wool-blend coat doesn't help!

This has been a difficult week for me so far. I can't seem to overcome this lethargy. I am merely going through the motions and doing the minimum. I seem to have let sloth creep in and I can't get it out. I am confident that I will be filled with a burst of energy at some point and will get back on course. But for now, I'm waiting for the push. I realize I could get up and get moving without the push. In fact, that is what I should do. Yet I am still sitting here, waiting.

By the way, I haven't abandoned my weekly goals. They just haven't changed much in the last few weeks and I have not made much progress on any of them. The exercise is the only thing that has been consistent and even improved. I'm a work-in-progress, no doubt.

I blame the weather.

For not getting anything done today, that is. It has been a gray, cold, very windy day. When you can hear the wind howling it is hard to be motivated. At least for me. I have done nothing all day. I have eaten junk. I have been online. I have spent time with a good book. But, as far as real, visible work, nothing. No workout. No cleaning. I will rally and get some dishes done and straighten up the living room, so O.H. can relax when he gets home and I'm at my meeting. Also, no dinner on the table. No food to cook, since I haven't been to the grocery store. It is shaping up to be a fantastic week, can't you tell? Even my blog post is really nothing. Sorry to let you down. I'll try to improve before you all stop reading for good. Bye now.

Thoughts Shooting Around My Head

I have thoughts whizzing around and bumping into each other and generally refusing to settle into any kind of coherent order. Will that stop me from blogging? Of course not--hopefully something worthwhile will find its way to the page.

Our anniversary is Friday. 6 years! I have a post in the works (in my mind anyway) about love and things like that. I might actually write a draft! Will wonders never cease?

Busy, busy week here in our home. With meetings and work I'm going to be gone 5 nights in a row. O.H. and I prayed last night for the grace to make it through the week without losing control of our tempers. I'm beginning to regret taking on my part-time job. It did not seem like that much of a commitment when I made it, but it is harder than I thought. But, God has laid an idea on my heart about the job, and I'm going to pray about it and I think it will turn out to be a great blessing, not just for us but for others. Or so I hope.

And some final thoughts.

Matt Redman has a song, "The Father's Song," and I have been listening to it recently after forgetting about it for a while. It is a beautiful song. One part keeps coming back to me.
"The Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart"

Why does it keep coming back to me? The part about it being written on our hearts--God has a plan for us and He has written it on our hearts. St. Augustine said "our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O God." I think what the good saint said and what Redman is saying in the song speak to the same truth. When we finally lay it all down at the feet of Christ, our hearts are filled with a peace, a joy, a lightness. Our hearts are united with His, and they sing with joy the song He wrote just for us. The searching, the attempts to fill ourselves with things on this earth, are really just empty efforts. They are borne of our hearts desiring to be with God. That is not to say we don't find happiness in our relationships with the people we love. Rather, we seek to make those we love aware of God in their lives, for how can we keep this joy to ourselves? We see everything through the love of God, and hear all things with His song on our hearts. So, today, I'm going to try to hear the song. I'm going to try to find where God wants me, so that my heart can rest in Him.

Not a Good Mommy Day

Just in case any of my faithful readers thought it was all hearts and flowers around here, let me quickly remove the illusion. Do you ever have a day where it seems like every single thing annoys you? I am having one today. I am just irritated and on edge and my poor children are suffering for it. I'm cranky and impatient. The running, the laughing, the screaming--it is all making me crazy. And I know that sounds terrible, that even the laughing is making me crazy. But do they have to be so loud? It is more of a squeal than a laugh it seems. Making it all worse is the wet and cold outside, keeping us all penned in with no place to go. I guess this is where I should turn to God and ask Him to help. But, really, I just need to change my attitude.

I'm blessed to have kids that play well together. I'm blessed that my kids want me to play with them. I'm blessed to have kids at all.

I'm sorry, God, for not being grateful. I'm sorry for being selfish. Help me, Lord!

"I didn't wanna do it"

I am officially old and nerdy. I just referenced a hoveround commercial!!!!!

What was it I didn't want to do you ask? Exercise of course! What else would I be avoiding? I truly, with every fiber of my being, did not want to get on the treadmill today. Yet somehow I found myself lacing up the sneakers and turning on the DVD and stretching and eventually making it on to the beast. And my shins were on fire! At least, they felt that way after about 2.4 minutes of running (leaving 17.6 minutes to burn). Yet I persevered and did my 40 minutes and that made 3 workouts this week and I don't have to do any more if I don't want to. So there.

Yes, I'm a very mature parent of 4 children. Can't you tell by the whining and complaining?

Tagged Again

ABC's of Homemaking

I've been tagged by Nutmeg!

Aprons- Y/N? Yes, I have one and I wear it when washing dishes by hand more than any other time. I'm very messy, even when I'm trying to clean.

Baking- Favorite thing to bake? Kahlua Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake

Clothesline- Y/N? Nope.

Donuts- Ever made them?No, we are loyal patrons of Donut Palace.

Everyday- One homemaking thing you do everyday? Wash sippy cups.

Freezer- Do you have a seperate deep freezer? No, but we need one.

Garbage Disposal- Y/N? Yes, use it almost daily!

Handbook- Y/N? I have referred to several over time, but don't really have one I go back to.

Ironing- Love it or hate it? I try to avoid it at all costs.

Junk Drawer- Where is it? One in the kitchen.

Kitchen- Design and decorating? Open to the living room with a "breakfast nook" but since there is no other dining area, it is the only place we eat. We have deep red (almost rusty) walls with white window casing; tile floors with a reddish tint and white appliances. Standard builder cabinets.

Love- What is your favorite part of homemaking? Cooking and baking.

Mop- Y/N? Big downfall of mine. DH gallantly steps in and does it most of the time. I truly dislike doing it, but it needs to be done more often than it usually is.

Nylons- Wash by hand or in the washer? I try not to wear them, but wash in the machine if needed.

Oven- Do you use the window or open it to check? Always open it, lets the yummy smell out!

Pizza- What do you put on yours? Pepperoni. I know I am terribly dull.

Quiet- What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? Blog, or read.

Recipe card box- Y/N? No, I have a notebook with recipes taped to paper in plastic sleeves.

Style of house- Typical tract home in a subdivision. Split bedroom ranch with open living and kitchen space. I love it though!

Tablecloths and napkins- Y/N? Sometimes a tablecloth.

Under the kitchen sink- Organized or toxic wasteland? Bordering on toxic probably.

Vacuum- How many times a week? Not enough.

Wash- How many loads do you do a week? 5 or so.

X's- Do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off? Not usually.

Yard- Who does what?DH does it all. And he helps inside the house too. He is so awesome that way.

ZZZ's- What is your last homemaking task for the day? Ideally, cleaning the sink and highchair.

I tag Anne, Aimee (did you already do it?) and Amy.

Back on Top

Despite cramps that could take down a horse and legs that felt like they were melting, I resumed my workout today. I did manage 40 minutes again, and 20 minutes running. The middle 10 minutes were the hardest! I wanted to stop many times but kept going and then when my 20 minutes were done I felt like I could keep going. But I didn't. Mainly because I didn't want to push myself to pain or set myself up to not reach the same point during my next workout and end up disappointed. I'm going for consistency and so I want to know that I can do it again before I step it up. My plan is to keep running for 20 minutes through next week. Then for the two weeks before the 5k increase my running time to 25 minutes (which will cover 2 miles) so that the day of the 5k I can (hopefully) run at least 2 miles, if not more. It felt fantastic today though. I was actually smiling as I finished my running time.

So, don't get discouraged if you have had a setback. I had one yesterday but didn't let it get me completely off track. You can do the same.

Cheap Dates

A fellow blogger is hosting a blogging carnival for cheap date ideas. We can all use a break and I know a cheap break is even better. Go here for other ideas and to add your own.

Here is my suggestion. If you don't like sports, you probably won't like it.

If you live in a town with a college or minor league sports team, you have cheap entertainment at your fingers. Well, some college sporting events are expensive if they are major colleges (like UT and A&M and such), but if they are smaller tier colleges you can find good deals. On weeknights you might find a buy one, get one free ticket. We can see UNT basketball for 5 bucks a ticket, and sneak in snacks in my purse. Also, minor league baseball is lots of fun and can be cheap. Single A and AA leagues will be cheaper than AAA leagues, but you can find good deals at all minor league levels. These games are very fan-friendly, and often offer promotions, especially on weeknights. Even if you don't like sports all that much you might find that you have a blast anyway.

As for babysitting, it can be expensive, but a lot of teenagers are involved in clubs at school or church and need community service hours. Ask around and you might find some kids willing to babysit for free!

My Legs! They are Burning!

(Imagine a fake Arnold saying the above and it is a lot funnier)

So, after my great day yesterday I got on the treadmill this morning determined to repeat yesterday's workout. But then I actually started moving. I think each leg weighs about 100 pounds this morning. I managed a measly 12 minutes before giving up. I'm telling myself that since I increased my workout yesterday I need to take a break today and resume tomorrow. My body needs to adjust to the increased demand. Or something like that. So, no real workout today. And tomorrow will have to happen earlier than usual, so we'll see if I actually do it. Could be a downer of a week, but it is only Tuesday. Plenty of time to turn things around.

Mood this morning: Anxious

A Change in Time

This week marks an increase in exercise time. As I have been doing 30 minutes fairly consitently for a few months, I decided to increase my workout to 40 minutes. I ran 20 of those 40 minutes today! I managed to cover 3 miles (well, not cover, b/c I was on a treadmill, but whatever) too. I'm hoping to maintain the 20 minutes running all week and perhaps increase it next week. I have a 5k coming up in March and I'm working on being able to run at least 2 miles of it. We'll see how it goes.

I don't know if I have lost any weight yet, but I am definitely seeing some positive results from exercising and eating better (most of the time anyway, last week just won't count). I feel like I'm a tiny bit flatter in the middle and my clothes are fitting better. It feels great to know that I have made a commitment to improve my physical health and stuck to it. Now I need to work on my spiritual health.

Pray for me and I'll pray for you!

Bloodshed

Blood has been spilled in this house. Princess and Nutball were sharing the recliner like two loving sisters. Or so it seemed. All of a sudden there is screaming and crying and initially I think only feelings have been hurt. Until I look upon the face of Nutball and see a river of blood pouring from her nose and into her neck cavity. She is sobbing because she can feel the blood and it is scaring her. Princess is crying for an as yet undetermined reason (I believe at the realization of what she had done). Monster is crying because everyone else is crying. It is determined that Princess kicked (yes, KICKED!) her sister in the face, unleashing the blood. So Princess is sent to her room while I try to stop the gushing. I'm afraid the poor girl thought all of her blood was going to come out I think. After bathing Nutball (she needed one anyway) I sit down to have a "talk" with Princess. It is determined that she made a bad choice, apologies are made to Mommy and Jesus (yes, we make our children apologize to Christ on the Cross for these egregious offenses) and she has to stay in her room for 5 more minutes, so that she will have been in there for about 1/2 an hour. Also, the Charlie and Lola DVD from the Library is in timeout until further notice. Peace has been restored, sisters have reconciled, no one is crying, one kid is clean and we await the next flash of interest in the day.

Oh yeah. O.H. is on his way to work while all this happening. Just the way to begin a Saturday. And, his idea for punishment was spanking. I have spanked my kids before, but I just couldn't see how spanking her would send the message that we don't hit. So we took the DVD course, which is really far more traumatic for Princess anyway.

I Want to Win

Found a fun little contest over here. It is very easy to participate, and even if you don't have kids, the jewelry is very fun. I have only looked at what was on the contest page, but I will be perusing in short order. So go here and try to win!

Killjoy

I'm no good at snow. From the warm confines of my house I can admire it and enjoy the peaceful quiet. That is about as far as I get when it comes to liking it. I am just not a girl who wants to be outside in the cold and wet. It doesn't help that we are unprepared for snow, lacking the much needed waterproof gloves, good shoes for snow (sneakers just get wet) and the like. Why am I sharing this? Because apparently it is passing on to my children.

We woke this morning to a nice dusting of snow. More than we have seen so far, despite numerous snowfalls. This time the snow was sticking and there was ostensibly enough for snowballs. So we gear up in whatever we have to withstand the elements and proceed outside. My dear children had found the carrot from their box of toy food, gathered a dress-up scarf and hat and were ready to make a snowman. Only, when it came time to actually touch the snow, the plans didn't last. I had no gloves, and Monster came outside with us but kept falling down and had to be taken inside. I left it to the big kids. Well, about one minute after coming inside Buddy decided he had enough. Nutball soon followed, leaving Princess on her own. Her gloves kept falling off. So she too soon made her way indoors. Maybe if we had the proper gear and a more significant snowfall (we have maybe an inch this morning, maybe) we would all have more fun. But, alas, we do not and there was not. So we are all comfortably settled inside, left to admire the snow from afar.

Have I forever scarred my children with my dislike of cold?

I'm So getting an IPod

I told you all about the New Deal. Now I'm here with an update. So far, I'm a lot closer to my goal than O.H. is to his. I got my 3rd workout in this week today. It was hard though. I could barely manage a mile running, and I didn't do my usual 15 minute split or running and walking. Nevertheless, a workout was completed and it was the 3rd of the week, so I'm one week closer to that bit of music and technology goodness.

In other news, I have a sweet tooth that just won't quit. If there was a bag of chocolates in this house it wouldn't stand a chance. In fact, the only thing keeping me from making a chocolate run at the store would be the 4 small people that live with me. I don't want to share and they would demand sharing. Not to mention the bitter cold and rain. But, really, it's the sharing that is stopping me. Another example of how bad it is: The kids know we have ice cream in the freezer. They even got to eat some when I was at a meeting. There is not a lot left. So I'm preparing dinner (soup for grownups, PB&J for small ones) and they ask if they can have ice cream for dessert. I told them no! I told them ice cream was a special treat just on the days they try new food for dinner. Little do they know that excuse was made up on the spot and others are sure to follow. I need to know there is something just for me.

I'm sick. Someone stop me before it all gets out of control.