December menu

I have slacked the last few months on a few things - first I have not been making a monthly menu.  Things got really busy and I forgot and before I knew it the month would be half over.  Secondly I haven't been posting as much - again because we got super busy and because I hot tired of it - I am in grad school full time and I do enough summaries and essays with it that I kinda got burned out from blogging.

So today is my attempt at getting back on the horse so to speak and killing two birds with one stone.

My December Menu (through the 27th

1st - Stuffed Zucchini and oven fries
2nd -  Pizza (with homemade sauce and homemade pizza dough (wish me luck)
3rd - grilled pork chops, baked potato, salad
4th - (lunch) sandwiches (dinner) out to eat
5th - turkey and dressing, corn
6th - beef stew (crock pot)
7th - leftovers
8th - grilled chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, peas
9th - steak, long grain rice, salad
10th - venison spaghetti
11th - out for dinner
12th - chili
13th - leftovers
14th - mexican casserole, corn
15th - grilled pork chops mashed potatoes, peas
16th - venison k-bobs, black beans, broccoli
17th - slow cooker cheese stuffed turkey meatballs, spaghetti
18th - out
19th - pot roast
20th - leftovers
21st - pork chops, oven fries, spinach
22nd - grilled chicken, mac and cheese, salad
23rd - leftovers (to clean out fridge) or pizza
24th - prime rib, salad, twice baked potatoes, salad
25th - ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans
26th - leftovers
27th - leftovers (ham and cheese frittata)

Explaining "Base"

We do not live on Base.  Hubby bought the house before we got married, so we have lived here ever since.   We occasionally go on Base, and often we talk about going on Base around the kids.  My kids are different than a lot of military brats - their daddy works fairly regular hours, is usually off for Dr appts, school trips, etc., and aside from the 2 or 3 weeks here and there and the occasional overnight shift, he is here at home.  We have been fortunate enough that the first few years we were married he was in a non-deployable unit - and now that he is in a deployable unit he will be retiring soon after they leave so he is not going (now he was deployed to the 1st Gulf war - but that was years ago)  So they view his being in the military much like a normal job - just one in uniform - (and the uniform is still confusing to them when we go somewhere that there are a lot in uniform - like the exchange ...lol)

SO yesterday Eve had a Dr appt on Base and we had of course to stop at the gate and be "let in" - or waved in - either way - Iz noticed the police officer and asked why he was there -
I explained that he lets people on Base
what's Base?

How do you explain "base" to a 4 year old?
I told her that her daddy works on a Base or a large area of land with a fence and a gate - and there are officers at the gate who let you onto the Base
She said why do we get to go
I said - Because we have a sticker on the car and I have a card that says we can
Iz - is it a special card
me - yes
her - so we have both a special sticker and a special card?
me - yes
her - do I have a special card?
me - not till your older
her - ok - I can't wait till I have my OWN special card

This prompted another conversation with hubby - should we move after retirement - Andrew will have some memory, Iz even less, but Eve will have no memory whatsoever about living in and around a military community....It will be weird trying to explain it all to her as she grows up

5:20 am

It is 5:20 am on our first day of vacation in Orlando.

I can't sleep.

We rolled into town about midnight, got everyone snug in bed around 12:30    and guess who was wide awake at 3:55...Eve.  It took us 45 minutes to get her back to sleep, and by that time I was awake...and it looks like I am not going back to sleep.  At home we run a cd player with a classical cd on repeat - someone failed to pack both the cd player and cd.  So hubby just turns on the radio station - and they play some pretty rousing music @ 4am v all of that PLUS of course we are just a few miles from DISNEY v so who could sleep anyway.  So here I am - awake - and ready to start the day a few hours before the rest of my crew...stay tuned for more ...

posting from the road

This is the first time I have posted from my Droid - and I am not sure it is the easiest thing my keyboard is tiny, and I have found that using it while Mike is driving is proving to be harder than I originally thought it would be.  So bare with me :)

We aare on the road...again - this time to Charlotte - we bought Mike tickets to see his team "Tampa Bay" play the Panthers.  We decided to make it a family outing, so we are driving out tonight aaaand are staying at a hotel for the night - then tomorrow we will watch the game from the nosebleed seats.   Originally it was supposed to be around 85 tomorrow - but yesterday they had changed it to the mid 90's - can you say sweat box!

So wish us luck tomorrow - look for 4 people in Panther gear and 1 lone soul in Tampa gear.

Closer and closer....

This time next week we will be on our way to Orlando.  The thought makes me happy, but I am also really anxious.  By this time when we went last time I was packed - seriously bags were packed and ready to go. This time I have nothing packed - nothing - not one single thing.  The suitcases are still put up - I have started a packing list - but I haven't packed one thing.

I have however finished tye-dying the shirts - in fact the last set are in the washer now as we speak - now I need to get the black fabric to add to the front of the shirts for the Mickey Mouse head.  I plan on taking this craft project (as well as the ribbon to make bows) with us to Charlotte - oh yeah - that's right...instead of spending the weekend packing and getting crap done around here we are going to watch the Panthers play Tampa Bay.

Oh and top of it all I have a ton of homework I need to do - but have no desire to do - but will have to do...on top of packing, and cleaning, and practices...etc

I am SOOOOO going to need this vacation!

Soccer mom

Growing up I played sports - Cheerleading (yes it's a sport), basketball, softball/baseball, and there was the occasional flag-ish football game here and there.  I never played soccer though - not once - in fact I"m not sure if I have ever played a game yet.  Yet here I am taking my kid to soccer - this is his 4th season, and I can honestly say I can see some improvement - the first season he didn't stay on the field much - usually ran off crying.  Second season he was more interested in tackling the other players (I think he may have watched a little football or something)... Last Spring he wasn't crying or tackling, but he was more interested in picking up grass and dancing around (about that time I started thinking it might be better to enroll him in dance)

SO today was the first practice. Mike is the coach, but he is currently playing in the woods, so he isn't able to do these first practice or the first game (he is going to miss the first game by a few hours).  We originally asked a father from last season if he could do it - he of course waits till the day of the first practice to tell us uhm no I am too busy.  SO we had to cancel practice.

Let me back up by saying that in order to hold practice or work with the kids you have to have a background check...

So dude 1 didn't do the background check - and since DH was gone we had no one to do practice.  Then last week hurricane Earl KO'd the practice.  SO I had time to find a replacement for the replacement.  SO mom & dad #2 said they would do it - I stressed to them they had to do the risk assessment etc - and of course I find out yesterday they hadn't done it - and more importantly they weren't returning my calls.

Just so happens though I did the risk assessment just in case - so today I coached soccer - We had a pretty good time - the kids listened - and I ran them enough that I think they will sleep well tonight.   I will now apparently be coaching them on Saturday.  I much prefer to be taking pictures, but right now I'm all they got.

Wish me luck!

T - 17 days and counting

ARGHTHTHTHTHTHEHDHD

We have 17 days till we leave to go on our vacation (much needed) at WDW.  I feel so unprepared - really - I mean last time at this point the suitcases were pretty much packed and I was so prepared.  This time??? Oh no, I don't have a thing packed - my "to buy" list is long and I still have 3 sets of tye dye shirts to make.  WHEN will it get done?  I have no idea - hubby is gone - every day this week we have an appt or practice of some sort - I have 2 (or is it 3) assignments due - plus I need to pick up something for hub's birthday.   I know - I know - it will all get done - sooner or later - right?

I think tonight I am going to start some packing just to make myself feel better - plus I can do a little shopping while Iz in practice tonight (thank goodness k-mart is right next to the dance studio)

What I really need is a massage and pedicure...or just a nap!

OK so this post is a little scatterbrained- but right now that is just the way it is :)

Goodbye Earl

4:37pm

I'd like to thank (aka smack upside the head) the person who added "Earl" to the list of Hurricane Names.  All day long the Dixie Chicks song "Earl" has been playing through my head.

So this morning I got up and the sky was mostly clear - but I was able to get a photo of a few of the clouds.

I woke up the kids, and got them off to school.  Eve and I stopped by the grocery for the obligatory hurricane supplies.  These weren't your run of the mill milk, bread, water....oh no instead my list consisted of chips, dip, milk (really though ours expired 2 days ago ), bananas, and bacon (ok so bacon wasn't on the list, but was on sale)

So the day went on and I have felt more and more at ease with not evacuating.  The weather people have said that we aren't expected to get more and 50mph wind here (hey they're the experts - not me) and some rain.  I had reserved a room in Raleigh just in case we needed to leave, and I still might have even considered it now if Andrew didn't have school tomorrow, but he is just under a 2 hour delay, and I am not going to drive back from Raleigh so he makes it to school on time.

I have however bungeed the trash cans and grill to the privacy fence just in case.   I have plenty of flashlights, batteries, candles, food, water, and I am charging the cell phone and laptop - so I am covered there.

I am saving this here so I can update it later

10:21pm

I have waited around to see what's going to happen - but I am exhausted - the kids don't have to go to school till 9, but that doesn't mean Eve will sleep in.  I have been up late the last few nights doing homework - so I fully intend to drift off to sleep as soon as the 11pm update is over.

I just looked outside and the wind was barely blowing - there was a light rain - but overall I feel this is going to be a pretty non-event - which it's funny but when Ophelia came through it was much worse than this, and I don't remember feeling this worried about her.

So unless I can't sleep (which as tired as I am I find that doubtful) I am closing out this blog entry and will start a new one tomorrow - I also have some cloud photos to post on here...and I have to remember hot to do that first :)

Another one for the record books

Yep - it's another busy week here in one parent land.  We have made it 8 nights so far - only 13 more to go.  I am not sure Iz is going to handle going back to her own bed, we may have to make the switch sooner than later because she has her first day of preschool TUESDAY.  YAY!!!

This week is just as busier - if not busier than last week.

Monday - get Andrew off to school - clean house - Iz has a preschool home visit - Andrew OT appt
Tuesday - get Andrew on bus, Iz to preschool, run do some grocery shopping, pick up Iz, wait for Andrew to get home - Iz has dance
Wednesday - Andrew school bus, Iz to preschool, pick up Iz, wait for Andrew - then Andrew OT
Thursday - kids school - kids home - Andrew soccer
Friday - kids school - kids home

Thankfully my Fridays are pretty tame.

Eve has started standing on her own - as in just stopping mid crawl and standing up - so yeah - I know walking is near - real near.  and no - I am not ready for it - lol

I ALSO am not ready for whatever is lurking off the coast - right now it might or might not be here this weekend or later - yeah real specific huh?  I told DH we'll stay through a 2 unless it's supposed to be a direct hit - then we'll leave and head inland I'll have my laptop and cell and kids and we'll be fine.

She's In!

We hae been going through drama trying to get Iz into preschool this year.  I put 2 choices on the list, someone wrote in 2 more choices (wasn't me) so instead of a preachool in town they were sending her to the neighboring town for preschool - which if they were picking her up it wouldn't have been a big deal - but since I was having to drive there was no way I could pick her up, be back in time to get Andrew, then turn around and drive BACK to the other town for Andrew's appts and/or dance/soccer.  I was going to be spending hours onthe road every single day. So after a lot of calls, a lot of belly-aching, and a lot of prayers I got a call late yesterday afternoon that she was in and to go pick up her paperwork. 

Another bit of excitement - I got a new laptop - despite everyone telling me the Mac was the way to go - I just opted for a PC for around 500.  I really just need something for word processing for my classes - and right now there are other things more important that a super computer - lol - once I get my fancy schmancy Masters I might spring for a Mac as a graduation gift, but for now this one will do.

Disney Ketchup

Today Iz had her 4 year (I can't believe she is already 4!) Well Child Checkup.    She was 38lbs & just a hair short of 40".  I sure hope she grows that extra hair before we leave on the 23rd of Sept.  That way she can ride the rides she missed last time at WDW.  We are keeping her on Zantac for her reflux, Zyrtec and Singular for her allergies and discussed in the future getting her tested so we know what environmental factors we need to restrict from her.  (For example I am severely allergic to dust mites.  So I have dust mite protectors on my pillows and we no longer have carpet on the floors....and when I know I am going to have to stay in a hotel I make sure to take my Allegra.  I am also allergic to oak trees so I watch the pollen meter online for the area and when oak starts to rise I take my meds - otherwise I really don't take mine as much anymore.)

On the way home I was flipping through XM and stopped on the Disney channel.  Most of the time there are a lot of songs I don't know, but this time they were playing a lot of songs from Imagination movers, They might be Giants, and other Disney shows and movies.  Anyway - the Disney Ketchup song came on - yeah - like they remade the Ketchup song with Mickey in the lyrics etc.  The kids loved it, I thought it was pretty crazy.  The next thing they played was back to back toy story songs - Andrew was in heaven, Iz was confused and wanted me to flip down the video monitor so she could watch the movie...lol

So if you haven't heard the disney ketchup song - google it - listen - enjoy

Meet the teacher

Today was the Primary School's "orientation" or meet the teacher.  They had 2 time slots and Andrew had a OT appt in the morning so we were stuck going to the afternoon.  I have to say it is soooo different than when I was in school. First of all yes I do realize it was like 27 years years ago that I was in Kindy AND that I grew up in a rural area, but I do still remember some.  Andrew's teacher is Mrs P.  He is in 1 of 10 kindergarten classes (I only had one...and his all have at least 23 students in them) and his school is only k-2nd grade (unlike k-6th).  He has one girl in his class from his preschool class, but other than that I didn't recognize any kids on his list.  

We also got a few more things we now need to shop for - so it looks like we will be heading shopping later this week (hopefully early in the am when the crowds are less)

Overall - Mrs P. seems to be a nice lady, and hopefully a great teacher!

Bring on the caffeine - gonna need it this week!

I have a busy week - perhaps busier than normal this week. I am thinking coffee is going to be my new friend.

I usually don't drink coffee- no idea why.  Even when I do I prefer the milk and sugar with coffee mix rather than coffee with milk and sugar - lol.  I admit I will - if it's really cold out and I am up early - occasionally stop in for a flavored coffee - but not very often.   I did stop yesterday at Dunkin donuts after dropping DH off. I had been up since 5:30 and I knew it was going to be a long day with the kids, so I had a small cappuccino.  I have 2 free any drink, any size, any flavor that never expire from starbucks in my purse - I just get so frustrated there too many choices.  Back in Minnesota I liked the turtle mocha and the caramel high rise I guess I could check out Starbucks menu and see if they have anything similar.

Anyway back to being busy - my week (so far) looks like this
Monday - Andrew appt & Andrew open house for school
Tuesday - Iz appt
Wednesday - Andrew starts school & Andrew has appt & I start school
Thursday - Andrew has school then soccer practice
Friday - Andrew has school - then nothing ...thankfully the weekend is empty too.

So today in preparation for the chaos that is soon to start I am declaring it PJ day here - all the kids are still in PJ's (well except for Eve - she kept trying to crawl and was getting really mad because her feet weren't staying in the legs - so she was essentially crawling inside her PJ's- so she got changed to a onsie)

We are doing nothing but watching TV, reading books, surfing the internet, playing wii, and eating whenever we are hungry (I might even spring for pizza tonight).  Just a lazy day because they are becoming numbered :(

OBX

So I mentioned Mike is retiring.  We really have no idea where we will end up next, so we discussed doing some of the touristy things around the area just in case we move, because depending on how far we move away we may or may not be back for several years and there are things we'd like to take the kids to do or see.

So far our lists include the aquariums and zoo's of the area, a few of the historic places (pepsi museum, tryon palace, lighthouses, forts, etc) and a few yearly festivals.

Our first adventure will not happen though till October - mainly because it is this will be the first chance we will get because of previous obligations we have.  Hubby is on his way to SC for 3 weeks of fun in the woods, and he texted me suggesting we head to OBX for columbus weekend (for those who do not know, OBX is the outerbanks).  We have been twice before - once just hubby and I went camping (we were dating) and once when Andrew was 8/9 months and my parents went up with us for a day trip.  This time we are planning on leaving after Andrew's Saturday soccer game and travel out and find a place to camp (ok really I will find a place and reserve a spot before hand) then check out the lighthouses (Bodie, Hatteras, Currituck, and Ocracoke) and the Wright Brothers National Memorial, as well as the aquarium, coast guard museum and of course the beach (and I will have to find the house used in the Nicholas Sparks movie and take a photo of Serendipity aka the Inn of Rodanthe).  It should be fun - We have never camped with a baby - but Eve is a pretty flexible baby.

So that is our first planned adventure - stay tuned for more :)

it's been a while ... part deux

ok - time for an update on me -

Soon I am going to be knee deep in soccer/dance mom mode.  Between school, soccer, dance, and maybe preschool I am going to be running the road constantly.  I also am going back to school in the Fall - my classes start Aug 25th - I am FINALLY going back for my Masters in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  I will be doing my classes online (all 3 of them) so finding time to get them done will be interesting.  I am looking into getting a netbook with my cell phone provider so if I am waiting on kids appts or dance/soccer I can still get work done if I need to.

I guess that brings us all up to speed - well except one thing I forgot to mention yesterday - Mike's retirement.  Yep - we are getting much, much closer - as in his "official" date is May 31st, but with his terminal leave, etc we are looking at mid march.  We have no idea if and or where we are moving, nor do we really know much of anything except that we are kinda stuck in "hurry up and wait" mode.  In the current economy we aren't being too picky as to where we go - it's kinda where can we afford and get a job.  After all it's much easier to find a job where you want to be if you have a job to support you while you are looking.

Well its time to get off here and decide what's for dinner - Im leaning towards a ribeye and some fresh garden veggies....

It's been a while

The other day my husband and I watched Julie & Julia - he said hey - you used to blog - but I never see it anymore.  I then realized I have been neglecting my blog.  SO in the spirit of the movie I am now going to try to get back on the blogging wagon. SO right now I will update everyone on the Allen house.

Andrew - starts school next week, he has orientation on Monday - where we will meet his teacher - (Ms P.) and see his room etc.  He will be riding the school bus and has informed me that he wants to ride the bus on his first day - so assuming everything goes ok for orientation I guess I will let him.  He also is insisting on bringing his lunch the first day.  Maybe once we find out what's for lunch he'll change his mind, but I doubt it.  He also starts his 4th season of soccer in September - Mike is coaching his team again - so our Saturday's will again be filled with soccer games.

Isabel - may or may not go to preschool - some lovely idiot when processing her paperwork put her into a preschool in the neighboring town - (one that was NOT in my choice of schools) instead of the preschool in our town.  So we are still waiting to see if she got a slot or not.  She also missed the date to play soccer by 10 days (the cut off was Aug 1st and her birthday is on the 10th) - so instead she is taking ballet/jazz/tap on Tuesday nights.  She is very excited about this, and if she does not get into preschool I will probably enroll her in gymnastics on Monday nights to make up for missing out on preschool.

Evelyn - is growing like a weed, and doing everything short of walking.  She loves her big brother/sister, and has started making all sorts of letter sounds.  She also has 4 teeth and 2 on the way.  on top however she is missing her right front tooth and instead had her canine on that side, so she looks a little vampireish.

Mike - is leaving soon for 3 weeks of fun in the sun (aka field exercises) - I know the kids are going to miss him (ok I will miss him too) and once he gets back we (him and I) are going to Charlotte to see the panthers play the bucs.

as for me to be cont......

I'll sleep again in a few years

The last few days Eve has once again started waking up in the middle of the night.  Part of it is she doesn't want to nurse before bed - she is too tired and just wants to snack then go to sleep - then of course she wakes up a few hours later ready to fill her belly -

Last night however she refused to go to sleep afterwards - she nursed off both sides - but then every time I put her in her bed she started crying - which after 3 times I then decided to let her cry to sleep - so I put her in her bed - and I came into the living room - after a few minutes she was sound asleep till 7 this morning - however I am tired - I could use a nap or a cup of coffee - maybe both.

Mike comes home on Sat - and I have already told him that on Sunday and Monday he has baby duty - and truthfully he's pretty good about baby duty - but I have to have a break - otherwise I will end up toasting cheese without bread (almost happened) or try to use detergent as softner (again almost happened)

ah to be a teen again

SO the last few days I have been transported back to a time where I was much younger.  My face has broken out like a teenager right before a big date or prom (isn't that always when it happens).  I seriously haven't had acne this bad in well over 10 years.  I am assuming it is stress related - yet I don't feel super stressed (just a little)

We are on day 11 of Mike being gone (don't worry folks - he's not gone for good - just taking a little training trip to New Mexico) and while the house is running like a wheel (a squeaky one) it is still running despite him not being here.  He should be home sometime in the friday-monday time frame (because as normal the military loves to hurry up and wait)

I am slowly but surely getting things done off my check list - this weekend I plan to buy the white shirts for Andrew or Iz or maybe Eve - or perhaps all 3...lol

Pins part deux

Again I scored some pins at an awesome price (40 of them) which brings my total up to 70.  I had planned on getting 80, but I think right now 70 will have to do.

The kids pins from last year still need to be displayed - I have an idea of how to display them, but I need to get some new paint before I start (some of my craft paint is looking kinda gummy)

I also need to pick up some neat frames at Michaels - so once I am done I'll be sure to post my finished product.

Hi Ho - Hi Ho - It's time to plan ya know!

4 months 2 weeks and 4 days

That's how long 'till we leave for WDW.

It sounds so far away, but if you look at it this way...

Andrew is in T-ball till June
Mike's going to be at training for 3 weeks in may/june
Andrew "graduates" from preschool in June
Iz does her preschool testing in June
We are going to Arkansas for vacation during the 4th of July for 10-14 days
August we have Iz's birthday (and mine)
Then Andrew starts school & Iz starts preschool & I start grad school
Then before you know it we are heading to the Mouse House!

I have SOOOOO much to do before then - and I have SOOOOO many projects I need to get done
I hope by posting them here I will have some sort of "checklist" I can keep track of it all

I need to order blank shirts
I need to decide what to put on these shirts and buy it
I need to MAKE the shirts (8 days of shirts x 5 people = a whole heck of a lot of shirts!)
I need to buy some pins for the kids to trade (I just won 30 pins today off ebay for 21.00 thanks to autionsniper.com!!!) but I figure I will let them trade 5 a day x 2 kids x 8 days = 80 pins (I think eve may be a little young to understand the whole trading of pins)
I need to start scoping out the dollar tree for glow sticks (much cheaper than buying glowing things at WDW)
I need to make some bows for the girlies to match their new shirts
I need to finish reading the guide book (again) - I know I have read it all before but a "refresher course" is always nice

Thankfully though -  I already have some things done
As mentioned I have 30 pins now bought
I have the kids autograph books bought (high-5 to Michaels 1.00 section)
I still have the clicky sharpy's from our last trip
I have already bought leopard print fabric to do a safari mickey for our animal kingdom shirts
and
Most Importantly
I already have our ADR's (Advanced Dining Reservations) made - this time (and probably only this time) we are going deluxe dining plan - so I had to make a ton of ADR's but I am sooo excited

So keep an eye out for more updates - I hope to get the 'ole blogger going double time here in the near future!

Prayers for the CV-22 families

When you first hear of a crash a million things run through your head.  Even when you KNOW your husband is safe and sound stateside on base.  Your heart cries.  You know there was a possibility that you could have met these people, even if for a brief moment at the commissary, at the exchange, or just around town.  While the crash was not one of ours (USMC) it was one of the Air Force, and my husband has worked with a few of them during his time at the school house.  It's scary because you know it could have been your husband - if he went to different unit sooner - if it would have been a V-22 instead of  CV-22, if for some reason he was in the bird instead of on the base...it's a whole lot of IF's and thankfully they weren't.  So tonight I'll hug my husband a little longer and send many prayers to the families that won't be able to do so again.

Day 5 and 6

Day 5


I walked 1.068 miles, 187 calories...

I was not happy about walking today.  It was beautiful outside, and I knew after walking I was going to have to clean the living room and I wouldn't get to experience the beautiful weather.

Day 6


I walked 1.130 miles, 194 calories...

I didn't "want" to walk today either.  I have tons to do today...Mike is at the range this week which means he has to leave here by 3:15am in order to get there in time...and today he didn't get home 'till 6pm, but I did it...

Total
6.998 miles
1192 calories

Lent day 3 & 4

Yep I made it through 4 days - only 36 days left.

Day 3

Once again Eve did not fall asleep on the way home. So today I put her back in the exersaucer and popped in a Baby Einstein video ... she hated it. REALLY hated it. At 18 minutes I had to stop my walk and move her from the exersaucer to the bouncer (another thing she hates) and gave her a chew toy (ok so it's really a teething necklace, Iz calls it a chew toy)

That kept her content for....oh....30 seconds.

But I made it through...

Today - 1.188 miles, 201 calories, 30 minutes


Day 4

Today was supposed to be a relaxing day of exercising...meaning once Eve went to sleep, Mike was going to take the other 2 in the jogging stroller for his lent goal (running 3 miles a day).

Problem? - The tires had gone since the last time we used it (oh about 6 months ago)

So we drug out the air tank and filled them up...and they were on their way. I got on the treadmill and started...3 minutes into it I realized I needed music, so I paused my workout and turned the channel to some techno channel on sirus (I need to seriously find my I-pod charger)

Everything was going great until - with 4 minutes left - In run the kids, and husband - I tell them I have a little over 3 minutes left can they please go to the bedroom so I can finish....

It's not that I mind them watching, but it's hard to work out with people asking you things....plus come on...I only have 3 minutes left.

Mike gets the tv on for them then leaves....Iz comes out...I'm starving (which BTW is her asking for a snack, somehow they thing starving=snack, hungry=real meal)

I keep waiting for Mike to walk back in....no mike...I pause the treadmill...look outside...no Mike...

Eve wakes up, I jump back on and finish the last 2 minutes with one child asking me to be fed and another screaming in the swing....

10 minutes later hubby returns...thankfully I had a chance to cool off (mentally) and I ask him where he went...he said it was too much work pushing 75lbs in a stroller...I then tell him...you get to exercise 5 days a week by yourself...no kids crying, no one asking you questions...can I PLEASE have Saturday and Sunday to myself...if they are too heavy then just walk with them...either way I need a break...

Hopefully he'll listen...

Today 1.215 miles, 204 calories, 30 minutes

Total
4.8 miles
811 calories
2 hours 1 minute

Lent - Day 2

Today was hard...

It took me forever to find my good walking shoes.

Eve didn't fall asleep on the way from taking Andrew to school.

So I fed Eve and put her in her exersaucer, turned on Diego for Iz and started walking...I started a little slower today...mainly because my special (aka expensive) walking shoes the shoe man told me I needed to correct my overpronating gait need to be warmed up. They sure do their job, but when you used to walking "wrong" it takes a bit to get used to walking "right".

10 minutes into my walk I felt great...20 minutes I was still going strong...22 minutes Eve began to cry...seems she had enough "exercising" today...Somehow I did finish despite almost killing myself while trying to turn and convince Iz to help mommy and give Eve a new toy...

2 days down - 38 days to go

Today - 1.177 miles, 200 calories, 30 minutes 25 seconds

Total

2.397 miles
406 calories
1 hour 1 minute total time

What will you give up?

Today starts the first day of Lent. Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial.

It is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. The forty days represent the time that, according to the Bible, Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.

Some Protestant churches do not observe Lent, but as a Methodist we do observe it.

The idea is to "give up" something that will be hard to do without. Caffeine is something I have given up many times. This year however I decided to do something a little bit different - I am giving up my excuses for not exercising....specifically my excuses for not using that eyesore that sits in the corner of my living room...the treadmill (aka coat rack)

To help I enlisted hubby...I asked him to have it cleaned off so I wouldn't have an excuse today - much to my amazement it was clean when I got up this morning.

So after taking my kid to pre-school (late...but that's another blog in itself) - I got Iz breakfast and left Eve in her car-seat asleep and I lowered the treadmill to start my journey. My goal is to do 30 minutes every day for the next 40 days.

8 minutes into it my foot started hurting
10 minutes into it I was having trouble walking because my 3 year old kept asking me if she could step on the back
12 minutes into it I decided I amend my goal into just doing a mile.

What came next may sound silly, but my treadmill flashes info on the screen...one of the screens it shows the distance...so here I am thinking I should give up on my original goal and up pops the distance - .666

That there made me realize that this goal is attainable, it's just satan's voice telling me I can't when really - I CAN!

So I did...I did 30 minutes, 35 seconds, 1.22 miles, 206 calories...on day 1

cakes, high chairs and mops

Yes the little things in life make me happy....

Yesterday we took Andrew to Walmart so he could pick out his cake for his birthday - well actually 2 cakes. One for Friday and his pizza party at school, and another for his actual birthday. He ended up picking out a transformer cake for school and a batman cake for home. Of course they had all these cute fairy cakes which Iz insisted she needed for HER birthday...

Then we headed back to the back of the store and picked up the high chair my mom sent for Eve. Now she will be able to join us at the table for meals instead of sitting in the other room in her swing or exersaucer.

Next we headed to SEARS to pick up my shark mop. I have had my eye on one for a while, but couldn't justify charging it. Then when we got our gift card from SEARS I knew what I wanted to get... I am going to try it out today - it's probably the only time in my life I have been excited to mop....and truth be told after the first time I will probably not be excited because even if it's a breeze it'll still be cleaning...and who gets excited about cleaning????

I'll post an update (with photos) later and give you my full report on the mop (as well as my food saver I got for Christmas :) )

Slacker party of 1....

Yeah that's me - I'm a slacker.

I haven't started my treadmill workouts - mainly because there are boxes stacked up in front of it - and I think once I got them moved I'd be too tired to work out....well that and I am a slacker.

I started the photo challenge of 1 photo a day .... and I am already missing like 4 days (and its the 10th of January) - the reason??? I like to keep my camera put away so the kids don't break it....well that and I am a slacker.

I did keep the goal of keeping up with what I save with coupons....but I have tons of coupons to clip and add to my binder....no real reason....except I'm a slacker.


ON ANOTHER NOTE

--I have my taxes ready to file on January 16th!

--I have a good part of our Disney trip planned (yeah....the one that is in Sept...no slacking there)

--My parents are coming out the last full week in March - she is on spring break so they are coming out to see the kids. (and me and hubby too) I'm not sure what we will do - Mike will have to work most likely - I know one day will probably be out on the beach...we'll probably rent a seashell for the day so we can have a shower and shady area.

So now on to some photos.....some were from my "photo challenge" and others are just because...


1. Mike introducing Iz to static electricity



2. Eve at 3 months



3. This is what Eve does when you try and lay her down - she tries to set back up....just working those abs!



till next time!

So it begins....

A few weeks ago I put a little seed in hubby's head that maybe we should move our next WDW vacation from March 2011 to the Fall of 2010. My reasoning was in 2011 DH will be retiring and we will be moving, and finding new jobs etc - so taking a week vacation during that time might not be the wisest moves.

So last night I started prepping our taxes - and thanks to our little tax break (Eve) - we are going to be getting a nice return this year. I told hubby how much - and the rest is history. He has now decided that it would be a good idea - so the planning begins. This is actually a good thing...Eve will be close to one and should be eating table food and be weaned (or if she is like Iz...only nursing at night) & I will have 9 months to gather up the gear for the vacation. What gear? Last trip we had matching shirts...and I made Iz hairbows to match her shirts....but I had only 3 months to get it all done - now I'll have 5 months to procrastinate - 1 month to worry and 3 months to get it done...lol

I'm sure I'll be on here a lot sharing my plans

As of right now though I will be concentrating on making us some shirts - scouting the internet for cute designs and doing some basic planning.


Free Disney Tickers

Sunday Savers

Technically I haven't saved any thing this year. I did my January shopping on December 30th - but since it was from January's paycheck....and the food was to be eaten in January I am going to count it as saving for this year!

I haven't did much "stockpiling" the last two months, so this month was a bit more than usual to pad my stockpile a little.

At the commissary I had 300.46 in groceries

and 85.10 in coupons

Total OOP 215.36


I then headed to walmart...I had 105.56 in items (I had a lot of storage item I did not have coupons for)

and 32.00 in coupons.

Total OOP 73.56

So my total savings to date is 117.10

A cut above the rest.....

Looking through the holiday pictures I noticed one thing...

Andrew's hair was in his eyes




So I decided to give him a trim.....I usually do it outside so I won't get hair everywhere...but since it is in the 20's at night I decided against it. So I had him sit in the tub and I trimmed his bangs....but then I noticed the back needed trimmed...so I trimmed it - then It really needed to be layered, and I am not the best at layering, so I got out the clippers and cut it all of....

He was so worried, he kept asking me if it'd grow back, I laughed and told him he had many years till It would stop growing back.

So he end result looks pretty good. I know in a few month's he'll be back to sporting a shaggy hair style, but his new look makes him look soo much older ....

What a way to start the new year!

Last night we let the kids stay up late(r) and we watch one of the movies they got for Christmas (shrek) then the kids headed to bed.  Mike and I then had steaks (mmmm good) and did some channel surfing while getting Eve wound down for bed.  She finally drifted off about 10pm...so we took her to bed.  I decided that she'd probably be up again near midnight so I was heading to bed too....Mike soon followed.

What seemed like a few hours later I woke up, elbowed Mike to tell me what time it was...and low and behold it was 5:45....and Eve was still sleeping!  Wahooo!

Now I know there are old wives tales revolving around New Years Eve/Day - one such says you whatever you are doing at midnight you will do lots of during the following year.  We were sleeping - and if our year is filled with lots of sleep I'll take it....because we are going to need lots of rest for the next year (2011) that year is going to be filled with all sorts of chaos, job changes, life changes, moves, etc....so we'll take a nice restful 2010...we're going to need it!