8 Week Challenge! Day Two &Three-Week One

So it's day three and I am doing pretty well. I am getting all my healthy meals in and exercising is back up to an hour-yay! I had a southwestern burrito on a whole wheat tortilla for breakfast, followed by a fruit smoothie for a snack. For lunch I didn't get much in today, I mostly snacked today- I'm not sure why, but I had half a granola bar with some veggie sticks. Then a delicious slow cooked, bonless country rib pork, which I covered with onions, salt and pepper; and a homemade bbq sauce of: ketchup, mustard & honey..yum! I served it with rice and peas with carrots. I got 100oz. of water in and I am still thirsty. I worked out this morning by way of jogging for an hour outdoors-it was really cold, in fact colder than I thought it would be, but being out felt great, and I'll hit the trail again tomorrow.

I thought since I didn't recap my day two yesterday-it was a busy night; that I'd do it now.

I worked out for 45min. via the treadmill-I hate jogging indoors! If I had been outdoors I would have jogged an hour, but I wimped out-out of boredom, I know it's pitiful.  Yesterday’s menu went as follows: 

Whole wheat  toast w/ almond butter/honey

Turkey & Whole wheat Wrap w/ spinach

Smoothie

Protein shake with almond butter

Granola bar

Sorry about the ugly menu, I just copied and pasted it from my electronic food journal because I’m feeling lazy =)

Well, there’s my two days in a nut shell. I still have to fight it out with my cravings for chocolate and sweets in the late afternoon/evenings. But I am holding strong, this is the part I don’t want to mess up. I know I can do it!

Falling Off The Wagon

This is not the meal of champions! Buuut, lately it's all I'm craving. Yum,yum! Although, when one is training for their first little 5k, they should be eating better, I don't like to rock the boat too much, ha ha! Not a brownie specifically, just anything sweet and if it's chocolate it's better.  I had to add the picture of the chocolate brownie with caramel frosting I ate. It's was way to moist and fla-va-full! The caramel frosting was mmm, mmm, good! Are you wondering if I could ramble on about for another paragraph or so...well yes, quite frankly I could. But I won't.   I have a bunch of fall dessert recipes I want to try these upcoming weeks. I think the first will have to be some pumpkin butter biscuits that a friend of mine made, I tried them and they were gooood. The next one I 'm going to make is a pumpkin muffin using yellow cake mix and canned pumpkin. You don't even need to add the eggs and oil-we shall see.  I'll post those later.

Registered!

Okay! So yesterday I registered for my very first 5K! Yay me!!! I am so excited! Can you tell by the use of all the exclamation points. So, my jogging buddy found this website,(they are hosting this 5K, so I thought I better give credit since I put up their pic.)
They are Bodies by Brad & Jen, they have a running
club that looks great. I may go check them out. We'll see... I am so looking forward to the upcoming events, stay tuned to see how it all turns out!

My Jog

Today I jogged early. 5:45am early! It was great!

I don't think I could use enough exclamation points!

Jogging under the stars, the sun not up.

It was a little chilly here in the mid west,

but I had my gloves on and my ears covered, 
I was good to go.

I'm looking forward to my first 5k in a couple weeks.

 I can't wait!

Thank Goodness It's Thursday

I don't know why Friday gets all the love for the start of the weekend!? I think someone should have at least considered, 'thank goodness it's Thursday!' day. When Thursday rolls around I am just the happiest person, because I know that means Friday is next, and that means the weekend. I'm not sending a petition around or anything, but I mean...maybe TGIF is just a little over rated with all the advertising it's gotten. Can I get a little love for Thursday. That's all.

Feeling Fine

We were sitting in the family room laughing about how ridiculous the whole weekend turned out to be. I hurt my lower back(actually pulled my psoas muscle,it's in your hip and attaches at your back) last week during my workout and have been down and out for a week. With a family of seven to keep up with, this has been a major set back.
Then my husband goes and twists the wrong way and tweaks his back too. Ugh!!!
Thankfully his back resolved itself in a few days.
I made it in to the chiropractor and I'm really glad I did.


Anyhow, you would think that between my husband and the older kids we could keep up with laundry.
Buuut noooo. Everyone was so busy-between scout fundraisers, camp out's, family dinner to plan for(yep, at my house, and yep, I said they could all still come.) I had my hair appointment that I make six weeks in advance and I wasn't cancelling that, ha! We were running around in every direction. Then my daughter came down with a 48hour something-or-other. We were literally down and out, but not hopeless. My husband and I felt fine, we just couldn't move much.
Needless to say it's a new week, a new outlook and we're feeling...almost fine.

Back Slacker

Wow, am I a slacker! I didn't even remember to blog. I messed my back up last week and haven't been able to do much for days; no driving, lifting, standing in one spot for any period time. You get the picture.

Any how, one would think I could at least use this down time to get some daily updates on here. 

No, not me...I guess.

Okay, well, I'm forgiving myself and moving forward.

After several lazy days, my back is starting feel better, I get to visit the chiropractor, and I'm thinking things are looking up.

Lazy Indeed

Watching movies is something I like doing. I love reading too. Today I've been pretty lazy. I think I sat half the day away just watching a couple movies. First it was Thor, then something my daughter wanted to see on Netflix.

Okay, the more I think about it, I didn't squander the entire day away. I had my  nephews over to play with their cousins, visited with my parents for a bit. Started some chores....well let's just say we started some chores. Finishing them.....I don't think it's going to happen today.

Now, the dinner hour is upon us and I think I will use the power of delegation to get that done.

Yeah, It's a lazy day indeed!

Pot Roast

Question?
Will the crock pot roast ever cook if I don't plug it in?
I think I'll have better luck with dinner if it actually cooks. ::flat hand to the forehead::

My Morning Jog

Got my morning jog in! Yay me! It was so cool out this morning and I forgot to layer up, eek! Took forever for my body to warm up. It was beautiful this morning. On the jogging trail there were wild turkey and bright yellow wild flowers; I'm going to have to get a pic of those. Today there was a young buck and doe right on the walkway. They stared me and my jogging buddy down for a while then meandered off into the tall grass. From there they kept a close eye on us. The buck walked away slowly, as if to say, "Yeah, I own this place, and I'm watching you." He was slightly intimidating. Although, while my friend just laughed at me, I tried sending mental messages to the buck not to mess with me. Ha ha.

I couldn't ask for a better start to my day than this. It was beautiful!

Getting Ready

Today we have guests coming for dinner. We are having my go to easy dish of lasagna with green salad and garlic bread. Dessert will be a surprise as our guests asked to bring some. Hope it's yum!

I just need to get the old lady(refer to yesterdays blog) to be quiet long enough to get the house picked up. I also need to find time this weekend to cut the boys hair, and gather all the clothes that don't fit anyone in my house and to give to goodwill. They've all been washed and mostly folded, they just aren't sorted from the everyday wear, ugh! It'll get done...sure it will, tomorrow.........yeah, tomorrow.

This morning

Wow! I haven't blogged in forever. Got my jog in today, and I really needed it. I was so bummed yesterday, I didn't even feel like working out. Today feels much better. I think the 80 year old woman who shares my body isn't liking what this cooler weather is doing to her bones. Thankfully the eighteen year old girl who inhabits my heart is on top of things today!

One Week Down

It's been one week of school and we are still alive! 

There have been no injuries to report or illnesses! LOL

Other than it now being time for everyone to get their eyes examined, the hum of the 

school year is upon us! 

Let the PTA meeting, Back to School BBQ's, and host of other school year festivities begin!

Karma or Consequence?!

Alright! If I didn't know any better I would think that Karma had just dealt me a bit of medicine. After re-reading my last post, I realized I may have sounded a bit boastful about my checklist of tasks that I was able to go through in my day. I mean it's not like I accomplished any grand feats or anything. The day felt like a whirlwind, all while being able to accomplish the things that were needed. 

Yet! This past weekend I have somehow managed to pull my hip and lower back out. Leaving me completely unable to get any chores done...for the last four days! This may not seem like a big deal, but in a family of seven, well, it's an avalanche waiting to happen.

So. One might say that if I hadn't felt so great about getting my two loads of laundry done before anyone woke(and posting it in my blog,) that perhaps I wouldn't now be seven loads of laundry behind for the week.

Well...I'm at least smart enough to know that it is not karma, but the consequences of my own behavior. Rather, the lack of my behavior that has put me in this position.

I know that when I don't exercise and keep my muscles strong that my back will eventually go out. Well, that 's exactly what happened. 

Here I find myself, the product of my own design!

The result of my own making.

Now, I must regrettably make the decision to..........................begin exercising again!!!!

Today

Today I woke up a little later than I would have liked.

I still manage to get two, count em' two, loads of laundry in, and a shower... before any kiddos get up.

I check my emails. For some reason I still have two email accounts...I need to condense(because I never really count my third account that I use for online junk.)

Made my replies and fed the boys. My two oldest are still at their cousins spending the night, we sort of swapped kids.

We have a couple cousins spend the night, which means I have five boys today.

They play the Wii and hide-and-go-seek!
The four year old needs help counting to fifty. One, two, three.....
I load the dishwasher, for the first time today.

I bathed a couple kids up. Switched some more laundry around and checked a suspicious ear ache for infection. It's now around 7:45am, I need to get a call in to the doctors office, but they don't open till eight! I tell myself not to let it get too far past eight or the day may run away with me. Wouldn't you know the ear infection hits on a weekend.

I make the call and they can fit us in this afternoon! Yay us!!

After I take the suv to the mechanic, pick-up the oldest, (I need him to watch the younger two,) I drop Grandma off. She was watching the little ones while I made the run to the mechanic. We all clean up. Which means a complete outfit change for the kid with the ear infection, and a discussion on why we shouldn't wear clothes with mud on them to the doctors office.  I leave reminders to be kind, and for the oldest to remember to give the little ones some lunch.=)

We head off to the doctors and... of course it's an ear infection!

This makes number seven in the past fifteen months, not including the four ruptured ear drums. Looks like another set of tubes for the six year old. Yay us!!

We pick up the prescriptions and head back home.

Now its around three and I realize as I check my email that I forgot to pick up my daughter. (Sends quick text to patient Aunt)

No big deal of course, everyone is having fun. 

Hubby calls and is on his way home...................early!!! Yay ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday is Date Night in our house! 

All-in-all, it's been a good day.

Quote

From a book by Sheri L. Dew

Summer So Far

This summer is flying by. Although, summers usually do.

It seems like each week is a flitter of activity. We have visited the local art museum, been to the fountains, seen the Clifford exhibit, gone to the park countless times, ridden the roller-coasters relentlessly,(we bought season passes,lol.)

We've been to BBQ's galore and birthday bashes. We have sat through performances, some good, some well...

We have put miles on the Sequoia and have nothing but time and an oil change to show for it.

We have dined with family and friends and laughed and cried at the movies.

Ahhh, summer-so-far has been good to us!

Living Up To Our Potential

It's not that I haven't read or seen an uplifting story before, it's just that today I decided to pass it on...via my blog.

I am grateful for those who not only believe in Jesus Christ, but regardless of the reason, strive to share the truthfulness of his gospel to others. I am a Mormon. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I am thankful for the opportunities to live up to my potential as daughter of God. I am grateful for the gentle, and not so gentle reminders of this. I am blessed. I am a wife and mother, a daughter(in-law), sister(in-law), aunt, niece and friend. I am loved by many and I am striving daily to fulfill Gods purpose for me on earth. 

I watched this video today via Mormon Messages, I wanted to share it.

Rachel

p.s. click on the link in the post below,as I haven't figured out how to embed it here yet.

Consistency Or A Lack Thereof

March has come and is almost gone. I can and can't believe it.

I never did get back to this blog!

In fact, I don't really have anything to blog about in particular other

than I really wanted to get this updated.

So here I am wondering why I didn't get my last blog in. 

I have no excuse really. Hence the title of this blog, 
"Consistency Or A Lack Thereof",

I think it's kind of like soup, some are rich and creamy 
and others are thin.

I believe my consistency was lacking a bit last month. 
I was running a bit thin. 

Here I sit today, feeling a bit more...creamy, if you will.

Hence the updated blog.   :o)

Sore Noses

I'm back! Almost. More than half the family has been down with bronchitis and sinus infections. Whew! It's been a doozy. Between the piles of tissues and sore noses, the aches and coughs, and everything else that goes with a good ole virus, we are up and running again. Of course our Doctors' office knows us by name and face. I remind them that their Christmas bonus is on us. 

We are still in recovery mode but, doing so much better. Energy is starting to pick back up and I'm feeling like doing laundry again. That's always a good sign in a household of seven. I am so happy to have a husband who jumps right in and gets the job done without blinking. It sure makes a difference to not have to play catch up on everything. 

As a side note, by way of observation; I love how when my children are sick they still seem to be pretty cordial. They smile, hug, and play. Whereas we "big kids" seem to crash and get a little cranky if you will.
Children never cease to amaze me, sore noses and all!