I turn 35 halfway through 2013. 35 is a magical age for women. After that age you are considered "advanced maternal age" and your chances of twins and babies with Down's Syndrome increases, your fertility and metabolism reportedly go into the crapper, you are at higher risk for some diseases, etc. etc. So, I'm hoping to finally get to my goal weight (per my doctor, not some weight I'm making up!) by my birthday. That gives me 25 weeks to lose 20 pounds. I've gotten good at maintaining my weight, but losing it is so hard.
In preparation I visited with my aunties over Christmas who have lost a TON of weight. In that the aunts who used to be the biggest ladies in the family are now the smallest or close to it, I didn't ask, but I'd guess they maybe weigh less than I do. I also watched some documentaries about food. Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and Food Matters. I took away two truths that I'm living by because I don't want to just go on a diet. I want to completely change how I think about food... eating to live rather than Living to Eat. These truths are:
1) If you fill your body with good food, there is no room for the bad.
2) It takes 10-15 times of trying a food to learn to like it (or at least no longer dislike it). Interestingly, since the kids are all going through growth spurts and eating me out of house and home, I've discussed this with them and they've expressed interest in trying some things with me, especially after I admitted I don't like everything we'll be trying either, but I'll stick with it if they will.
So: I'm still hitting the green smoothies hard for breakfast. However, I used to stay away from anything besides fruit, veggies & water and I was starving and hitting the cookies by noon. Now I add a little greek yogurt, soy milk and sometimes have some cottage cheese besides. Snacks are a handful of nuts or some veggies with hummus. All things with a little bit of protein. I've also bought some veggies I don't really like-grape tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.
So far: I've not gained any weight. I'm not exactly losing a ton, but our scale is in .1 incriments and I do think SOMETHING is happening. My body is definitely adjusting. Also, I'm losing my sweet tooth that used to make me obsessed with sweets all day long. In fact, somethings are too sweet! I also am less focused on food in general because, well, trying to stomach these foods I'm not fond of has made me lose interest in eating. I eat because I'm hungry not because something is super exciting. In fact, I didn't finish my dinner tonight. That's not normal for me! I filled up on grape tomatoes (trying to keep a straight face as the kids were watching me-Carter even tried one!) some carrots, hummus, balsamic grilled veggies from Costco that were left from yesterday and brown rice with sweet & sour meatballs from dinner swap (with green peppers, pineapple and carrots). When I'd heated it up for lunch I thought, well, there's more in the fridge if I'm still hungry since that probably won't be enough. I was a little astonished when there was some rice and 2 meatballs left and I realized I was stuffed!
Swim Lessons
Our swim lessons for the little kids are great. Wednesday afternoons we get to the pool at Carter's elementary school at 3:10, they can free swim 3:15-3:30 before their lesson, under parents supervision (the teachers are teaching other students during this time) and then they have their lesson 3:30-3:45. Carter gets out of school at 3:35 so it's prefect, the kids go with their teacher and I head over to pick up Carter from his class. We get them out of the pool at 3:45 and head home by 4:00 pm which is almost when we get home normally from pickup in carline anyways.
Normally Valerie stays on the stairs while waiting. She blows bubbles, walks along the stairs, hangs on to the stairs and practices kicking her legs, etc. Now that Henri is doing more swimming, he puts his goggles on and swims with his head in the water while waiting. It's a great way to get a little extra practice in. When the kids hated lessons (at the beginning) I'd get in with V with my swimsuit, esp before she was walking, but now that they happily go in I haven't. About 2 months ago, Valerie was jumping on the bottom step and jumped right off backwards. She panicked and couldn't get her feet underneath her. I had my pants rolled up to my knees and was sitting on the side and calmly walked in and reached out to grab her hand. The bottom of my pants were soaked, but it was summer, it was no big deal.
Well, now V is a little taller and has figured out she can walk off the edge of the stairs. What she has not realized is that the pool has a gentle downgrade to the deeper end. She will walk so deep that her little nose & lips are tilted up above the water just barely poking out. The problem is other kids are hanging out before their lesson. She plays with them or they swim and wave happens and she doesn't realize she's not quite tall enough for that... you know where this story is heading, right?
So today, TWICE she walks right up to the rope and goes under. The first time I walk right in with my jeans because she was panicking and not getting back up. Another mom goes, "did she go under? I didn't even notice, you were so calm!" Inside I'm panicking trying not to cry but I KNOW if I panic she will and then she'll go back to hating swim lessons. The second time she went under. Her face was under water, eyes open, drinking in water. I calmly went in again, because, now, why the heck not." She coughed up the water and cried a little. What she was crying at was I was holding her on the stairs, both times she wanted to go right back in! There's no fear in this child!
So, today her teachers informed me that they were going to take time each lesson to have her walk out over her head and practice getting into a floating position in case it happens again. This is why I love having private lessons (they are only $3 more a lesson more than our class lessons that were 20 minutes away). If there are particular things they need to learn, the teachers can work with them on it. Things that they get quickly are learned and then improved upon, things they don't quite understand get more time spent on them. I'm thinking when we come for early swim time I'm brining extra pants or her swim floaties..... the icing on the cake was when we got out of lessons after I'd picked up Carter in soaking wet jeans, it was POURING hail/snow mix. I'm not kidding. I almost had to laugh at that point, I mean, what's a little wetter! Now I'm about to head to curling and I'm thinking I'll be sleeping with my poor frozen butt on my heating pad tonight since Paul is still away (he returns tomorrow!)
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Organization strikes again
So after such a motivating post last time, I have to say, if every day was like January 2nd, nothing would ever get done and we would never leave the house. Even after everyone was dressed and fed, it still took an hour to get out of the house. The second we'd pulled out of the driveway V says, "I poopy!" Awesome.
Anyways, so I'm still organizing stuff. I cleaned up the basement for the most part but today was deep organization. File Cabinet and Suitcases under the stairs which never got properly put away after our trip last month.
In the file cabinet I found about 1/2 a bag to recycle and 1/2 to shred. Also found in there was hubby's bank card we thought we lost about 18 months ago!!! Woohoo!
In the suitcases... I have 2 huge suitcases I used to use when I traveled internationally and you could bring 70 pounds in one bag. Alas, as we all know airline rules have changed and 51 pounds will give you a $100 over poundage fee. On the Heart of Giving site that serves our local military area, there were two posts, one recently, one back in October for large bags to move overseas with. Military bags have a higher pound limit or none and they only are allowed to take 8 bags and 4 carry on with them. Can you imagine moving your family with those restrictions to a foreign country? Anyways, so I sent a message, "I'm an administrator on the page and saw you need large suitcases, but since it was months ago, I'm not sure if you still need them, but I have them and would try to meet somehow to get them to you." (The area they are from is 1.5 hours away.) I got an IMMEDIATE response from the post back in October yes she needed them AND she was in my town running errands TODAY. The Holy Spirit speaks to me again, I listen, something good happens, maybe there's something to this! So after all this, my suitcase area which usually has stuff falling all over me now looks like this:
Anyways, so I'm still organizing stuff. I cleaned up the basement for the most part but today was deep organization. File Cabinet and Suitcases under the stairs which never got properly put away after our trip last month.
In the file cabinet I found about 1/2 a bag to recycle and 1/2 to shred. Also found in there was hubby's bank card we thought we lost about 18 months ago!!! Woohoo!
In the suitcases... I have 2 huge suitcases I used to use when I traveled internationally and you could bring 70 pounds in one bag. Alas, as we all know airline rules have changed and 51 pounds will give you a $100 over poundage fee. On the Heart of Giving site that serves our local military area, there were two posts, one recently, one back in October for large bags to move overseas with. Military bags have a higher pound limit or none and they only are allowed to take 8 bags and 4 carry on with them. Can you imagine moving your family with those restrictions to a foreign country? Anyways, so I sent a message, "I'm an administrator on the page and saw you need large suitcases, but since it was months ago, I'm not sure if you still need them, but I have them and would try to meet somehow to get them to you." (The area they are from is 1.5 hours away.) I got an IMMEDIATE response from the post back in October yes she needed them AND she was in my town running errands TODAY. The Holy Spirit speaks to me again, I listen, something good happens, maybe there's something to this! So after all this, my suitcase area which usually has stuff falling all over me now looks like this:
Those flip flops tags were given to us from the resort we stayed at. Each one lists the type of bag that is in each large suitcase. Ie: "Purple suitcases, laptop bags, detachable straps." Pretty good for a previously uncloseable closet!
The bonus was that in one of those bags was a laptop charger we thought we'd lost about 9 months ago :)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
If all my days this year are this productive, I'll be bored by June...
I love, love, love organizing. Seriously, it's a high for me. So, to start the new year off right, I let the kids play video games and mess up the house and got my organizing on in the garage....
I went straight out in my pjs and had pulled Paul's car out the night before so I could go through some 3T and 4T stuff in bins. I buy stuff the year before on clearance at the outlets with coupons and also have friends who are generous with their hand me downs. I organize everything by size/gender in Rubbermaid 14 gallon bins which fit 3 perfectly on my Gorilla Racks I got at Costco when I lived in a 740 square foot house with 740 square foot unfinished basement that needed to store pretty much everything. Most sizes are 1-2 bins. Then I made a spreadsheet (I'm not kidding, I'm really that Type A) of all the clothes V has in her bins to figure out what we are light on (I've got a list for the boys-once the kids are potty trained, they need a lot less clothes!) and anything above what I need got donated.
Then I went through other bins (I try to do it once at new years and once in summer) it didn't take long since I purged a ton of stuff last summer, but I had bought 6 bins and found 2 others I wasn't using that I promised to my friend who runs a Garage of Blessings (think free garage sale/thrift store so people can get stuff they need FREE) the bins for her shelving she had donated and my goal was to fill as many of them with donations as possible.
Between the clothing, random items around the house, going through the bins and organizing the pantry for the most part the day before (and getting rid of a few things I never use and making things fit better!) I think I got 4 or 5 filled :) I also made labels for things that didn't have labels and moved V's 3T stuff up to her room in her closet and one drawer under her Captain's bed since she'll most likely need them next summer since 3T starts weightwise at 30 pounds and she's 27.7 now (Sidenote: Henri just had his 4 year checkup-only 2 shots then none more until he's 11! He's 3'1" and 33 1/2 pounds. By comparison, Carter at THREE years was 36 pounds and 36 inches-Henri's a tiny kid!) I'm almost ready to give up her 2T summer stuff that we used last summer and then I had stored in the suitcase for our trip, but want to be sure she's ready for 3T plus, no one else will need summer clothing now.
But the clothing bins and pantry were yesterday. Today besides going through the garage, I moved some shelving around to accomodate the fact that we are now a 4 bike family (Carter used his Toys R Us gift certificates to get a 2-wheeler) and make the shelves more bin friendly. Then I vacuumed out both our cars, swept the garage (no I did not mop---a line must be drawn somewhere...)moved Paul's back in and made some offers to get rid of some other big items that we no longer use.
Oh, also took down the Christmas tree, vacuumed and put the furniture back. Putting back the tree was no easy task since for about 4 years now I can't get the two bottom parts to separate!
All the beautiful bins!
As a reward (I know, it's a sickness) I took the pantry I organized yesterday and put in my new baking supply bins. The pantry stays pretty organized, but I have been baking more and supplies are dirt cheap at Costco, but then I have to store it and that poor shelf makes me crazy every time. I got these Modular Rubbermaid containers that hold just as much as the old glass cracker jars (that's their actual name...) but are taller and squarer.
Now to get 50 pounds of bread flour into smaller containers... use a rubber silicone mat as a funnel, easy to make the size you need and smoosh until it's the right shape to get it in the container...
Yesterday it was busting at the seams!
I went straight out in my pjs and had pulled Paul's car out the night before so I could go through some 3T and 4T stuff in bins. I buy stuff the year before on clearance at the outlets with coupons and also have friends who are generous with their hand me downs. I organize everything by size/gender in Rubbermaid 14 gallon bins which fit 3 perfectly on my Gorilla Racks I got at Costco when I lived in a 740 square foot house with 740 square foot unfinished basement that needed to store pretty much everything. Most sizes are 1-2 bins. Then I made a spreadsheet (I'm not kidding, I'm really that Type A) of all the clothes V has in her bins to figure out what we are light on (I've got a list for the boys-once the kids are potty trained, they need a lot less clothes!) and anything above what I need got donated.
Then I went through other bins (I try to do it once at new years and once in summer) it didn't take long since I purged a ton of stuff last summer, but I had bought 6 bins and found 2 others I wasn't using that I promised to my friend who runs a Garage of Blessings (think free garage sale/thrift store so people can get stuff they need FREE) the bins for her shelving she had donated and my goal was to fill as many of them with donations as possible.
Between the clothing, random items around the house, going through the bins and organizing the pantry for the most part the day before (and getting rid of a few things I never use and making things fit better!) I think I got 4 or 5 filled :) I also made labels for things that didn't have labels and moved V's 3T stuff up to her room in her closet and one drawer under her Captain's bed since she'll most likely need them next summer since 3T starts weightwise at 30 pounds and she's 27.7 now (Sidenote: Henri just had his 4 year checkup-only 2 shots then none more until he's 11! He's 3'1" and 33 1/2 pounds. By comparison, Carter at THREE years was 36 pounds and 36 inches-Henri's a tiny kid!) I'm almost ready to give up her 2T summer stuff that we used last summer and then I had stored in the suitcase for our trip, but want to be sure she's ready for 3T plus, no one else will need summer clothing now.
But the clothing bins and pantry were yesterday. Today besides going through the garage, I moved some shelving around to accomodate the fact that we are now a 4 bike family (Carter used his Toys R Us gift certificates to get a 2-wheeler) and make the shelves more bin friendly. Then I vacuumed out both our cars, swept the garage (no I did not mop---a line must be drawn somewhere...)moved Paul's back in and made some offers to get rid of some other big items that we no longer use.
Oh, also took down the Christmas tree, vacuumed and put the furniture back. Putting back the tree was no easy task since for about 4 years now I can't get the two bottom parts to separate!
All the beautiful bins!
New bike storage area. Well, we were always using it for bikes, but I took the shelf off the storage rack so now you don't have to pull all the bikes out just to get the one you need! The green one is Carter's new bike.
Above there is some scrap MDF and I screwed some pieces of pressure treated wood into the studs to make a shelf for our tree (not today... last time we put it up there-I can't find a bag big enough for it, so an old sheet goes over it.
Look, the strollers are on a different wall! I can walk around the car now without tripping!
I also organized a few things in the back of the car, but I'm waiting on some new totes to complete it.
As a reward (I know, it's a sickness) I took the pantry I organized yesterday and put in my new baking supply bins. The pantry stays pretty organized, but I have been baking more and supplies are dirt cheap at Costco, but then I have to store it and that poor shelf makes me crazy every time. I got these Modular Rubbermaid containers that hold just as much as the old glass cracker jars (that's their actual name...) but are taller and squarer.
Now to get 50 pounds of bread flour into smaller containers... use a rubber silicone mat as a funnel, easy to make the size you need and smoosh until it's the right shape to get it in the container...
This tip is your reward for looking at all my friggin' organizing pictures which probably are pretty boring to anyone who doesn't get too worked up when the silverware is in the wrong spot in the drawer.....
Seriously.. how beautiful is this baking shelf!
Yesterday it was busting at the seams!
Gratuitious pantry postings...
paper products and stuff to transport food on the top (kills me all the wasted space that is up there!) then pantry extras (basicly my in home shop for things I run out of or my backup items) then storage containers, foil & stuff in the scrapbook paper holder, next down are lunch box things like reuseable bags and lunchbags, papertowels and baggies, basket of our cloth napkins and a magazine holder with appliance manuals. Then my nice MDF to try to hold up the shelf above it. I probably will have to so something about that sooner than later as it's just making the lower shelf sag now! OOhhh, maybe a pantry remodel? Be still my beating heart! Oh, wait, got sidetracked... bottom is the heavy appliances I don't use every day... ice cream maker, ice tea maer, bread maker, stand mixer
The other side...
Top shelf is first aid kit and the liquor/wine cabinet as well as food transport items we rarely use because we never leave the house-we have 3 small children! Then my incredible baking shelf, the snack shelf below that and below that is breakfast and cooking shelf bottom is oversized items and some storage of large items,like 50 pound bags of flour put into 2 gallon bags, Costco animal cracker jars and those cracker jars. And, why yes, those are Blackboard contact paper labels I cut on the cricut so I can label what type of flour are in the containers. :)
So then I we had dinner (cornbread from a box for the kids and almost the last of the two hams I cooked up on Saturday and made 15 ham casseroles with and 12 ham, cheese & broccoli quiches all for the freezer (using my new 1/2 gallon bags-love the idea, but about 4 of them had to be thrown out because they were leaking on the seam :( There will be an e-mail to Ziploc, I assure you. But I did like making quiches in them because you need more space than a quart size, but using a gallon size is wasteful and the fact that all you have to do for the quiches is put in the ingredients and smoosh them, the flat bottoms make it easy to do quickly.
Then I cleaned up the kitchen since small children had been running loose, it looked like woodland creatures had eaten crackers and cereal all over the floor and about 1/4 a pound of my 50 pound bag was on the counter from trying to lift the full bag up to use the funnel I made.
Bath, bed & blog... whew.
Oh, other random pictures...
Our 15 minute walk through Bellevue Botanical gardens because it was raining...
Henri showing off his new Hot Wheels helmet he got with his Christmas gift cards. Maybe we'll take the cardboard off before riding.
Seriously, if I'm this productive every day WITH THE KIDs here at home... we'll be bored by June. I'm sure someone will start going through a stage that will keep that from happening, it's never boring around here :)
New toothbrush?
So about 18 months ago I was part of a focus group regarding Sonicare toothbrushes (you know the ones that vibrate while you wave them around in your mouth and you are supposed to feel like you just got done at the dentist?) I took my $100 and said, "thanks, but I think I'll stick with my manual toothbrush. My husband's been using one for years and I just don't think it's for me."
Fast forward to about a month ago. Paul's was getting scraggly (not just the top, you can change those, but the bottom was getting gross, etc. anyways....) so he asked me to look for them next time I was out. Well wouldn't you know it Costco had a two pack with travel bags for $20 off. Perfect, I thought. Maybe I'll try it. If I hate it, he has a backup.
So it sat on my counter for a month because they are exactly the same and I wanted to make mine a little different so I wouldn't be sharing germs (yes, we do kiss, but seriously people, sharing toothbrushes is a little different). Well, he's away right now, so I figured I'd pop that baby on the charger and give 'er a whirl. Tonight I finally got up the courage to try it. Here's my initial reaction: I was seduced into trying it partially because the box sais that it brushes gently the first 4 times to get you used to the vibration. So I put my toothpaste on and turn the toothbrush on. It immediately throws my glob of toothpaste into the sink and sprays toothpaste all over the counter. I panic and shut it off, chiding myself for possibly using up one of my gentle uses. I put the toothpaste on a little deeper into the bristles, put it up to my mouth and try again. OMG, no wonder the people in the ads are smiling after using it. I was laughing my butt off because it tickled so danged much. It was as if about 8 gentle bees had been released into my mouth and were searching for a way out. I made it through and was smiling still a little at the end, but I don't think my teeth are any cleaner. Now I'll give it the benefit of the doubt... I never did make it to the shower or brush my teeth this morning. I was organizing all day because it's the 1st and I love making a fresh start and may as well do it in my pajamas. Plus, I was on the gentle setting, so maybe I'll feel "fresh from the dentist" at the higher setting. Though now my dentist is doing seals on everyone so I'm actally more likely to be "sticky from the dentist."
So I'll try it a few more times and see if I get used to it. Before I decide to glam it up so I can figure out that it's mine. Wouldn't want Paul to take it on a curling trip with rhinestones all over it. That could be awkward.
Fast forward to about a month ago. Paul's was getting scraggly (not just the top, you can change those, but the bottom was getting gross, etc. anyways....) so he asked me to look for them next time I was out. Well wouldn't you know it Costco had a two pack with travel bags for $20 off. Perfect, I thought. Maybe I'll try it. If I hate it, he has a backup.
So it sat on my counter for a month because they are exactly the same and I wanted to make mine a little different so I wouldn't be sharing germs (yes, we do kiss, but seriously people, sharing toothbrushes is a little different). Well, he's away right now, so I figured I'd pop that baby on the charger and give 'er a whirl. Tonight I finally got up the courage to try it. Here's my initial reaction: I was seduced into trying it partially because the box sais that it brushes gently the first 4 times to get you used to the vibration. So I put my toothpaste on and turn the toothbrush on. It immediately throws my glob of toothpaste into the sink and sprays toothpaste all over the counter. I panic and shut it off, chiding myself for possibly using up one of my gentle uses. I put the toothpaste on a little deeper into the bristles, put it up to my mouth and try again. OMG, no wonder the people in the ads are smiling after using it. I was laughing my butt off because it tickled so danged much. It was as if about 8 gentle bees had been released into my mouth and were searching for a way out. I made it through and was smiling still a little at the end, but I don't think my teeth are any cleaner. Now I'll give it the benefit of the doubt... I never did make it to the shower or brush my teeth this morning. I was organizing all day because it's the 1st and I love making a fresh start and may as well do it in my pajamas. Plus, I was on the gentle setting, so maybe I'll feel "fresh from the dentist" at the higher setting. Though now my dentist is doing seals on everyone so I'm actally more likely to be "sticky from the dentist."
So I'll try it a few more times and see if I get used to it. Before I decide to glam it up so I can figure out that it's mine. Wouldn't want Paul to take it on a curling trip with rhinestones all over it. That could be awkward.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Books read list for 2012
A lot more books were read on CD this year. The car saves CDs that are loaded on to the Hard Drive, so I can record the book and return to the library and still listen to it as we drive around town!
I read 60 books this year, 15 1/2 of them on CD/cassette, 44 1/2 in print, so technically I didn't make the read 52 in a year, but I got through 60. Considering we've been so busy this year I think that's a great success! Can't wait to see what books 2013 brings. I'd love to hear any suggestions you may have.
1 The Collectors-David Baldacci
2. Real Boys
3. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet-David Mitchell
4. Secret Daughter
5. Excellent Wife on CD
6. State of Wonder on CD
7. Tales of the Alhambra-Washington Irving
8. My name is Mary Sutter on CD
9. Save Me by Lisa Scottoline
10. Letters to a Young Doubter by William Sloane Coffin
11. Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
12. To Hell with it all: loving and loathing your inner housewife
13. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
14. A Room of My own-Tatlock
15. Five Little Peppers and how they Grew
16. Secret Gift-Ted Gup
17. Anne of Green Gables
18. Tightwad Gazette
19. One Thousand Gifts
20. Hole in the Gospel
21. Heaven is for Real
22. Bitter & Sweet, Ashley Judd
23. Mistress of Nothing , Kate Pullinger
24. Flip the Switch, Lose the Weight
25. Terms of Endearment
26. The Tiger's Wife
27. Have a New Kid by Friday
28 life on planet mom
29 hometown humor
30 If I stay on CD
31 Miserly Moms
32 Making Chilrdren Mind without Losing Yours
33-13 Reasons Why, Jay Asher-CD
34-Crank-cd
35-Just Listen, Dessen-Cassette
36 A Great and Terrible Beauty-CD
37- The Chocolate War
38-The Perks of Being a Wallflower
39- Let's Pretend this Never Happened (a mostly true memoir) by Jenny Lawson the Bloggess (LOVE THIS BOOK)
40-The Golden Road, LMMontgomery-CD
41-Cut your grocery bills in Half-
42-Before I fall, Lauren Oliver-excellent, stayed up 1/2 the night to read it all in one swoop.
43-Go ask Alice-CD
44-Escape from Camp 14
45-Speak
46-13 Little Blue Envelopes, Maureen Johnson
47-Hush Hush, Fitzpatrick
48-Dreams from my Father, Barack Obama-CD
49 amoung the shadows, LM Montgomery
50 Cry, the Beloved Country-CD
51 The audacity of hope barack obama on cd in
52 All the Broken Pieces-CD
53 -the book thief-very good 1/2 CD, 1/2 print
54-good, but disturbing-We need to talk about Kevin-CD
55-Doctor's Sweatheart
56 The River Why-CD
57 Against the Odds, LM Montgomery
58 Story Girl on CD-LM Montgomery
59 Wild, Cheryl Strayed on CD in Car
60 Uglies, scott Westerfield
I read 60 books this year, 15 1/2 of them on CD/cassette, 44 1/2 in print, so technically I didn't make the read 52 in a year, but I got through 60. Considering we've been so busy this year I think that's a great success! Can't wait to see what books 2013 brings. I'd love to hear any suggestions you may have.
1 The Collectors-David Baldacci
2. Real Boys
3. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet-David Mitchell
4. Secret Daughter
5. Excellent Wife on CD
6. State of Wonder on CD
7. Tales of the Alhambra-Washington Irving
8. My name is Mary Sutter on CD
9. Save Me by Lisa Scottoline
10. Letters to a Young Doubter by William Sloane Coffin
11. Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
12. To Hell with it all: loving and loathing your inner housewife
13. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
14. A Room of My own-Tatlock
15. Five Little Peppers and how they Grew
16. Secret Gift-Ted Gup
17. Anne of Green Gables
18. Tightwad Gazette
19. One Thousand Gifts
20. Hole in the Gospel
21. Heaven is for Real
22. Bitter & Sweet, Ashley Judd
23. Mistress of Nothing , Kate Pullinger
24. Flip the Switch, Lose the Weight
25. Terms of Endearment
26. The Tiger's Wife
27. Have a New Kid by Friday
28 life on planet mom
29 hometown humor
30 If I stay on CD
31 Miserly Moms
32 Making Chilrdren Mind without Losing Yours
33-13 Reasons Why, Jay Asher-CD
34-Crank-cd
35-Just Listen, Dessen-Cassette
36 A Great and Terrible Beauty-CD
37- The Chocolate War
38-The Perks of Being a Wallflower
39- Let's Pretend this Never Happened (a mostly true memoir) by Jenny Lawson the Bloggess (LOVE THIS BOOK)
40-The Golden Road, LMMontgomery-CD
41-Cut your grocery bills in Half-
42-Before I fall, Lauren Oliver-excellent, stayed up 1/2 the night to read it all in one swoop.
43-Go ask Alice-CD
44-Escape from Camp 14
45-Speak
46-13 Little Blue Envelopes, Maureen Johnson
47-Hush Hush, Fitzpatrick
48-Dreams from my Father, Barack Obama-CD
49 amoung the shadows, LM Montgomery
50 Cry, the Beloved Country-CD
51 The audacity of hope barack obama on cd in
52 All the Broken Pieces-CD
53 -the book thief-very good 1/2 CD, 1/2 print
54-good, but disturbing-We need to talk about Kevin-CD
55-Doctor's Sweatheart
56 The River Why-CD
57 Against the Odds, LM Montgomery
58 Story Girl on CD-LM Montgomery
59 Wild, Cheryl Strayed on CD in Car
60 Uglies, scott Westerfield
Christmas is here!
Since we spent our vacation with Paul's family and we went back to Ontario last year, this year was a Seattle Christmas (ie: rain, no snow)
We put up our tree, but with vacation never got around to the outside lights. The boys kept asking me when we'd put up lights outside and I kept asking when they'd help me. Our tree is enormous... we have a lot of ornaments, my parents bought me one a year while I was growing up and now buy 1 for each kid (as I try to do as well) each year, so until they move out it's gonna be pretty heavy. Not to mention the ornaments the kids have made...
This is how it got decorated. Carter (and Henri after the first few nights) slept on the couch by the tree. The first day we got it up and put lights on. Then in the middle of the night Carter decorated the middle. We woke up to find our tree with a belt of ornaments. He was too short to reach the top but wanted them too high for Valerie. Then Henri decorated the bottom with the ornaments that wouldn't be hurt by a toddler playing with them and then I decorated the top.
Valerie carefully examined the ornaments. She then took a lot of them off, but did as well as a 2 year old could be expected to with a tree full of little toys sitting there.
Valerie's hoping for snow, but so far there was just a dusting one morning that was mostly melted by the time we woke up. When we got snow last time you literally couldn't get the little kids out of it.
Then we went to see Santa. Carter asked for "a Pokemon plush toy" Henri asked for "pretend grapes" which Santa asked to be sure of. Henri says he's going to pretend to eat them when they arrive in his stocking. I realized he's not looking for the plastic food kitchen type grapes but the ones in the craft stores to decorate your house that I always tell him he can't have. Luckily Santa did deliver both requests as well as lots of candy.
We love the Santa at Molback's! Free, take your own pics short or no line, free coffee and Kringles (like a donut-but don't tell your kids it is a donut, they will repeatedly correct you. But it can be fun to call them a donut over and over to keep hearing the employees correct you repeatedly...)
Since we had a lot to do, Mom did a lot of internet shopping this year. V loved the boxes
Our friends came over for some graham cracker houses. The boys spent a lot of time and energy on them, esp Henri. Valerie pretty much just liked frosting off a knife...
The Saturday before Christmas we went to Dad's side of the family and did a gift exchange and had a Southern style meal catered which was awesome not to have to bring food, lol. The boys got more sticky ninjas (that's all H asks grandma for anymore) unfortunately some got stuck on the ceiling and Paul had to rescue them)
He then joined my cousin in some hula hoop tricks. My grandma called later to say how much she enjoyed Paul's unusual outgoing nature :). Unusual meaning he's not known as the most outgoing person, not that he's got an unusual nature.
The gift exchange got Henri 2 boxes of chocolate which he refused to give up and Carter a new blanket for his bed so I could have my quilt back. Which ended up going to Camp Unity since I never realized how "loved" it was getting! (P.S. bonus post about blankets next)
My independent girl has been incredibly snuggly lately. Not sure of the reason, but it's taking some getting used to... Grandpa doesn't seem to mind, though.
Valerie liked opening presents even if she would get sidetracked with something she particularily liked
The boys "helped" her a lot.
On Christmas Eve, my brother, his girlfriend & son came over with my parents. All unwrapping stopped when the kids unwrapped these felt handmade angrybirds from my brother's girlfriend. She said, "I guess I should have warned you and had them opened last." They were a hit!
I almost got all the stockings made. Valerie's left and assuming we spend next year in Ontario where we use our childhood stockings I have 2 years to do it. I'm going to need it. The pattern I chose is pretty complicated.... I cross stitch and my mom sews them up for me. Yes I could sew them, but I want them to look nice.
I love that Henri's at the stage where everything he opens is.... "oh, just what I wanted/needed!"
So after stockings we open our gifts to each other. Valerie's loving a new Dora Dollhouse and furniture, the boys got Skylanders video game for XBox which they pretty much play or talk about every waking moment now. When I made them turn it off, they got out art supplies and drew the characters. I got Paul a few things I thought he'd like.
So I'd been looking at Costco for a SLR camera. As you can see from my photos above, the light and focus are starting to not be as crisp in my point & shoot handy little camera and now that the kids are getting bigger and Valerie's getting faster I'd hinted for a Cannon T3i that was a great deal with an extra lense until after New Year's. Paul found that they also sold the T4i online that was also a deal, but more expensive, being the next generation. I hemmed an hawed and mentioned casually that the T3i would be nice (has auto shooting options, the Nikon does not) but maybe we should go for the 4 since technology changes so fast. A few days later, I'd seen a box wrapped up in his office and casually asked if it needed to go under the tree. Paul got upset and pulled out a T3i box and said, no, he needed to return it since I clearly wanted the 4i and I got upset at having ruined the surprise and he said, "I'll just get you an Xbox and after new years you can get what you want." I was disappointed, but I guess I learned about snooping before Christmas.
Christmas morning, I saw a box the right shape as a camera and had high hopes. Imagine my disappointment when I opened an Xbox. Seriously? I thought... who would give their wife who plays maybe one video game a month an Xbox. Well, I thought trying not to be sad, I guess I could connect it to our bedroom TV so we can watch TV in there (we don't have cable, only Netflix & HuluPlus). I smiled, said nothing and set it aside. All the presents got opened, the boys ran down to play Skylanders (we got them one game, my parents the other in the series) and Paul brought up an envelope with a camera flash in it. I got a little hopeful thinking, "ok, at least I can go get one after Christmas, I guess" Then Paul finally came in and said, "aren't you going to open your Xbox?" I warily smiled and said, "ok. Instruction manual, hmmm...." Under the manual was the camera. He completely tricked me. What a stinker! I tried not to overly freak out as I'd been kind of a pain in the butt about the whole thing but inside I was glad it wasn't an Xbox!
Then I played. OMG, even in auto mode I love it!
I mean seriously, doesn't she look adorable! Makesyou want to forget the fact that she totally stole this from my stocking and is going to be a sticky mess when she finishes it...
plus, with the portrait mode that blurs the background my kid messiness will be at least blurred in my shots instead of clear and focused...
experimenting with the "no flash" mode
We put up our tree, but with vacation never got around to the outside lights. The boys kept asking me when we'd put up lights outside and I kept asking when they'd help me. Our tree is enormous... we have a lot of ornaments, my parents bought me one a year while I was growing up and now buy 1 for each kid (as I try to do as well) each year, so until they move out it's gonna be pretty heavy. Not to mention the ornaments the kids have made...
This is how it got decorated. Carter (and Henri after the first few nights) slept on the couch by the tree. The first day we got it up and put lights on. Then in the middle of the night Carter decorated the middle. We woke up to find our tree with a belt of ornaments. He was too short to reach the top but wanted them too high for Valerie. Then Henri decorated the bottom with the ornaments that wouldn't be hurt by a toddler playing with them and then I decorated the top.
Valerie carefully examined the ornaments. She then took a lot of them off, but did as well as a 2 year old could be expected to with a tree full of little toys sitting there.
Valerie's hoping for snow, but so far there was just a dusting one morning that was mostly melted by the time we woke up. When we got snow last time you literally couldn't get the little kids out of it.
Then we went to see Santa. Carter asked for "a Pokemon plush toy" Henri asked for "pretend grapes" which Santa asked to be sure of. Henri says he's going to pretend to eat them when they arrive in his stocking. I realized he's not looking for the plastic food kitchen type grapes but the ones in the craft stores to decorate your house that I always tell him he can't have. Luckily Santa did deliver both requests as well as lots of candy.
Since we had a lot to do, Mom did a lot of internet shopping this year. V loved the boxes
Our friends came over for some graham cracker houses. The boys spent a lot of time and energy on them, esp Henri. Valerie pretty much just liked frosting off a knife...
The Saturday before Christmas we went to Dad's side of the family and did a gift exchange and had a Southern style meal catered which was awesome not to have to bring food, lol. The boys got more sticky ninjas (that's all H asks grandma for anymore) unfortunately some got stuck on the ceiling and Paul had to rescue them)
The gift exchange got Henri 2 boxes of chocolate which he refused to give up and Carter a new blanket for his bed so I could have my quilt back. Which ended up going to Camp Unity since I never realized how "loved" it was getting! (P.S. bonus post about blankets next)
My independent girl has been incredibly snuggly lately. Not sure of the reason, but it's taking some getting used to... Grandpa doesn't seem to mind, though.
Valerie liked opening presents even if she would get sidetracked with something she particularily liked
On Christmas Eve, my brother, his girlfriend & son came over with my parents. All unwrapping stopped when the kids unwrapped these felt handmade angrybirds from my brother's girlfriend. She said, "I guess I should have warned you and had them opened last." They were a hit!
I almost got all the stockings made. Valerie's left and assuming we spend next year in Ontario where we use our childhood stockings I have 2 years to do it. I'm going to need it. The pattern I chose is pretty complicated.... I cross stitch and my mom sews them up for me. Yes I could sew them, but I want them to look nice.
I love that Henri's at the stage where everything he opens is.... "oh, just what I wanted/needed!"
So after stockings we open our gifts to each other. Valerie's loving a new Dora Dollhouse and furniture, the boys got Skylanders video game for XBox which they pretty much play or talk about every waking moment now. When I made them turn it off, they got out art supplies and drew the characters. I got Paul a few things I thought he'd like.
So I'd been looking at Costco for a SLR camera. As you can see from my photos above, the light and focus are starting to not be as crisp in my point & shoot handy little camera and now that the kids are getting bigger and Valerie's getting faster I'd hinted for a Cannon T3i that was a great deal with an extra lense until after New Year's. Paul found that they also sold the T4i online that was also a deal, but more expensive, being the next generation. I hemmed an hawed and mentioned casually that the T3i would be nice (has auto shooting options, the Nikon does not) but maybe we should go for the 4 since technology changes so fast. A few days later, I'd seen a box wrapped up in his office and casually asked if it needed to go under the tree. Paul got upset and pulled out a T3i box and said, no, he needed to return it since I clearly wanted the 4i and I got upset at having ruined the surprise and he said, "I'll just get you an Xbox and after new years you can get what you want." I was disappointed, but I guess I learned about snooping before Christmas.
Christmas morning, I saw a box the right shape as a camera and had high hopes. Imagine my disappointment when I opened an Xbox. Seriously? I thought... who would give their wife who plays maybe one video game a month an Xbox. Well, I thought trying not to be sad, I guess I could connect it to our bedroom TV so we can watch TV in there (we don't have cable, only Netflix & HuluPlus). I smiled, said nothing and set it aside. All the presents got opened, the boys ran down to play Skylanders (we got them one game, my parents the other in the series) and Paul brought up an envelope with a camera flash in it. I got a little hopeful thinking, "ok, at least I can go get one after Christmas, I guess" Then Paul finally came in and said, "aren't you going to open your Xbox?" I warily smiled and said, "ok. Instruction manual, hmmm...." Under the manual was the camera. He completely tricked me. What a stinker! I tried not to overly freak out as I'd been kind of a pain in the butt about the whole thing but inside I was glad it wasn't an Xbox!
Then I played. OMG, even in auto mode I love it!
I mean seriously, doesn't she look adorable! Makesyou want to forget the fact that she totally stole this from my stocking and is going to be a sticky mess when she finishes it...
plus, with the portrait mode that blurs the background my kid messiness will be at least blurred in my shots instead of clear and focused...
Poor Henri who was an Angel in Turks has been a whiny mess since we got home. I think he's had a hard time being off his normal routine... I told him to put his clothes in the dresser, after freaking out I found it silent in his room.
Valerie's also been very outgoing and talkative the last few days after about a week of pretty much giving us only the grunting treatment...
I'm guessing she wants a cookie??
She's been obsessed with Dora, hence when I heard about a dollhouse up for grabs I nabbed it. Note her Dora videos, which she will watch for HOURS if you let her, which it being the season of lots to get done, Mommy has graciously let her. Because thats the sign of a good mom, right?
Humbling...
Well, if you've seen over the past 2 years, I've been incorporating more prayer in my daily life. Usually while driving or in the shower when I get 2 minutes of peace. Driving you say? Let me introduce you to my car that I love with the wireless headphones and DVD player, I now listen to books on CD instead of children's CDs :)
Anyways, so one prayer that I've been praying because I'm still working on it is to be less judgmental. Erin, you aren't judgemental! you say You donate your time and efforts to helping those less fortunate, you are doing fine! Well, let me tell you, there's an inner dialogue in my head that can be vicious when it comes to making snap decisions about people after taking one look at them. I admit it. This is my biggest character flaw (there are others, I never said it's my only... just the one that bugs me most). So I pray God will quiet down that inner dialogue long enough to let me get to know the person before judging them. Wait, I mean let me get to know that person and accept them as they are. Right.... that's the end goal. So 2 years into this apparently I'm not much closer than when I started. Especially when I'm tired. Yes, there's a story here.
We got home from Turks. I'm shivering with the kids in our shorts and tank tops waiting for Paul to get the car outside baggage claim. I'm tired, we're freezing. A college age guy stops his little car just in front of us, puts on his flashers and goes inside. My inner dialogue became an outer dialogue because my filter was just too tired to work. I say, "Wow, that's a no parking zone, he must think he's better than everyone else and the rules don't apply to him." Traffic starts backing up as people arrive and their rides arrive as well. "Ug, look, now there's a backup because no one can move!" Then he's back in his car, still not moving. I'm pretty sure he heard some of my comments and he comes over and says, "do you guys need a blanket? I have one in the back of my car." I snottily (pridefully, I'm sad to admit) reply, "no thanks, my husband's almost here with the car" in my head "if you would move your car he could get in here, too. Plus, I don't need help from a kid who can't even follow parking rules." We're still shivering. Finally Henri announces (you know what's coming, right?) "I have to go to the bathroom" Sigh. Now decisions must be made. Do I haul 3 kids and luggage in? Do I wait for Paul to rush Henri in? These are the times when having 3 kids on your own sucks. I call it triage. Figuring out as fast as possible the best solution to an immediate problem and hoping you made the right choice.
"Carter, will you please take your brother to the bathroom?" ok, maybe not the best choice to send 7 and 4 year old boys to a public restroom on their own. 1 minute later. Carter comes back crying without Henri. "Henri hit me when I tried to hold his hand" "You left your 4 year old brother by himself???!" I grab Valerie and tell Carter, "stay with the bags, wait for dad, I'll take him." Again, leaving a 7 year old with cars passing by by himself, probably not a great choice either.... I figured we'd waited long enough he'd be by himself 5 minutes at most, besides, the college kid was right there and knew what his mom looked like. Yeah, that guy I just totally judged was my backup plan for my most precious thing in life. I was really tired. I take V and H into the bathroom, he goes, I get back and yes, Paul is there, he was 2 minutes behind, if I'd been awake I would have just waited for him to show up and run H to the bathroom by himself, but clearly decision making was not at it's best that evening.
I get in the car. Carter has a blanket. "Mom, that guy gave me this blanket, he said I could have it." I sigh. "That was nice, did you at least say thank you?" C: "No, I forgot." Ug, so now I have completely misjudged a stranger AND my child has no manners. I believe I started crying at this point and realized God's humbling power. Not only did he keep my children safe when I couldn't manage on my own, but he grew my inner character at the same time....
Anyways, I was reminded of the incident 2 days later when I dropped Carter off at school and impatiently told the minivan infront of me, "come on! There's plenty of space, move up!!!" and heard from the back seat, "he must think he's more important than the rest of us." My heart dropped this was my opportunity to start making amends, "Honey, I never should have said that. I should be more patient. Remember how that guy ended up giving you his blanket? " C: "Yeah, mom, that was pretty cool."
Then in church this Sunday when we passed peace between each other, our pastor mentioned something he does periodicly, "When you pass peace think of someone who you have wronged or who has wronged you and keep that person in mind when you pass peace today. Let the sign of passing peace let you forgive or be forgived as Christ forgives us" (paraphrased, sorry, Pastor Kelly!) the guy immediately came to mind. I know he's forgiven me a long time ago. He forgave me when he gave my child a blanket (which later was passed on to Camp Unity... part of my penance!) I needed to forgive myself and take away the lesson I'd learned.
So thank you college guy from the airport. For your blanket, your forgiveness and your tolerance and non-judgement of a tired, cold, grumpy mom.
P.S. And please, no one call CPS on me for this story. The kids were fine and people around us were interacting and watching out for them. I am sharing the story so hopefully someone else can take the lesson I learned to heart.
Anyways, so one prayer that I've been praying because I'm still working on it is to be less judgmental. Erin, you aren't judgemental! you say You donate your time and efforts to helping those less fortunate, you are doing fine! Well, let me tell you, there's an inner dialogue in my head that can be vicious when it comes to making snap decisions about people after taking one look at them. I admit it. This is my biggest character flaw (there are others, I never said it's my only... just the one that bugs me most). So I pray God will quiet down that inner dialogue long enough to let me get to know the person before judging them. Wait, I mean let me get to know that person and accept them as they are. Right.... that's the end goal. So 2 years into this apparently I'm not much closer than when I started. Especially when I'm tired. Yes, there's a story here.
We got home from Turks. I'm shivering with the kids in our shorts and tank tops waiting for Paul to get the car outside baggage claim. I'm tired, we're freezing. A college age guy stops his little car just in front of us, puts on his flashers and goes inside. My inner dialogue became an outer dialogue because my filter was just too tired to work. I say, "Wow, that's a no parking zone, he must think he's better than everyone else and the rules don't apply to him." Traffic starts backing up as people arrive and their rides arrive as well. "Ug, look, now there's a backup because no one can move!" Then he's back in his car, still not moving. I'm pretty sure he heard some of my comments and he comes over and says, "do you guys need a blanket? I have one in the back of my car." I snottily (pridefully, I'm sad to admit) reply, "no thanks, my husband's almost here with the car" in my head "if you would move your car he could get in here, too. Plus, I don't need help from a kid who can't even follow parking rules." We're still shivering. Finally Henri announces (you know what's coming, right?) "I have to go to the bathroom" Sigh. Now decisions must be made. Do I haul 3 kids and luggage in? Do I wait for Paul to rush Henri in? These are the times when having 3 kids on your own sucks. I call it triage. Figuring out as fast as possible the best solution to an immediate problem and hoping you made the right choice.
"Carter, will you please take your brother to the bathroom?" ok, maybe not the best choice to send 7 and 4 year old boys to a public restroom on their own. 1 minute later. Carter comes back crying without Henri. "Henri hit me when I tried to hold his hand" "You left your 4 year old brother by himself???!" I grab Valerie and tell Carter, "stay with the bags, wait for dad, I'll take him." Again, leaving a 7 year old with cars passing by by himself, probably not a great choice either.... I figured we'd waited long enough he'd be by himself 5 minutes at most, besides, the college kid was right there and knew what his mom looked like. Yeah, that guy I just totally judged was my backup plan for my most precious thing in life. I was really tired. I take V and H into the bathroom, he goes, I get back and yes, Paul is there, he was 2 minutes behind, if I'd been awake I would have just waited for him to show up and run H to the bathroom by himself, but clearly decision making was not at it's best that evening.
I get in the car. Carter has a blanket. "Mom, that guy gave me this blanket, he said I could have it." I sigh. "That was nice, did you at least say thank you?" C: "No, I forgot." Ug, so now I have completely misjudged a stranger AND my child has no manners. I believe I started crying at this point and realized God's humbling power. Not only did he keep my children safe when I couldn't manage on my own, but he grew my inner character at the same time....
Anyways, I was reminded of the incident 2 days later when I dropped Carter off at school and impatiently told the minivan infront of me, "come on! There's plenty of space, move up!!!" and heard from the back seat, "he must think he's more important than the rest of us." My heart dropped this was my opportunity to start making amends, "Honey, I never should have said that. I should be more patient. Remember how that guy ended up giving you his blanket? " C: "Yeah, mom, that was pretty cool."
Then in church this Sunday when we passed peace between each other, our pastor mentioned something he does periodicly, "When you pass peace think of someone who you have wronged or who has wronged you and keep that person in mind when you pass peace today. Let the sign of passing peace let you forgive or be forgived as Christ forgives us" (paraphrased, sorry, Pastor Kelly!) the guy immediately came to mind. I know he's forgiven me a long time ago. He forgave me when he gave my child a blanket (which later was passed on to Camp Unity... part of my penance!) I needed to forgive myself and take away the lesson I'd learned.
So thank you college guy from the airport. For your blanket, your forgiveness and your tolerance and non-judgement of a tired, cold, grumpy mom.
P.S. And please, no one call CPS on me for this story. The kids were fine and people around us were interacting and watching out for them. I am sharing the story so hopefully someone else can take the lesson I learned to heart.
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