Try a little harder

I have been reading a new book. I purchased it at my weekend away. It is called Dump the Guilt and Find the Joy. by Merrilee Boyack. I am enjoying it so much.

I am often heard telling my children that "just because you think it doesn't mean you have to say it!" I believe this. Our human brains are often thinking things that are not necessarily things that need to be said. I heard an acronym awhile back K-T-N. It goes like this. If it is not KIND, TRUE or NECESSARY think before it is said. Well, in this newest book Merrilee quotes a few of our Prophets. She summarizes them and basically says that we as women are often very hard on each other. Even if it is only in our minds! She goes on to talk about how different we would feel about ourselves and our situation if we would constantly think "she is doing the best she can."

I have often told my husband that I want to get to the point that I don't think the mean thoughts. I want to not have them cross my mind. I want to look at other people and see their true self, the soul. The person that doesn't talk too much, the person that isn't always dressed well, the person that IS dressed well! The overweight person, etc. etc. etc. I want to look at a person and not instantly see all of these frailties of this life. I want to see THEM. I want to have CHARITY. I want to look at a person and just know that they are struggling like I am and the Lord loves them every bit as much as he does me.

We are all doing the best we can. If we know inside that we aren't---take President Gordon B. Hinkley's advice. "Try a little harder to be a little better every day!"

Depressing

If you don't care about my diet/exercise program-skip this!~

I am trying to get healthy. I have been really careful about my diet and I have been exercising like a crazy woman. I have been starting to feel good about my progress. I have more energy, lost a few initial pounds, am doing well not eating lots of sugar.

Last night my trainer had a special class for us. I went not really knowing what to expect. It was a boot camp class like no other! I have taken boot camp classes at two gyms. I know what they are. This was so much harder! Besides worrying about overdoing it with my foot I was able to do everything--not really well or fast but I was sweating and breathing hard. This is not the problem!

The problem came before class started when my trainer brought out a hand held body fat indicator. You plug in your numbers, age, height etc. Then you hold this video game controller looking thing out in front of you. The number that came up for my body fat percentage was SHOCKING! It is so shocking that I am NOT going to print it. I had my body fat percentage tested last October and December--great improvement then. Had it tested again in March-it had stayed the same. I figured that it would probably be pretty close to the first reading, maybe even a couple of percentages higher because I have been so inactive since March.

I was NOT PREPARED for this reading. Now to know if it is very accurate and how to incorporate the information into my new routine!

I am taking this morning off from exercising. I am nervous about overdoing it with my foot. However, I don't want to not keep going. I have to get this extra weight off. I am not getting any younger--my birthday is coming up to prove it. With the history of my family's hearts I have to be in charge of my health.

So? I am just going to take the reading with a grain of salt(very depressing, yucky salt) and hope that in eight weeks it will be better!

Another early day!

I wasn't going to do it. I had decided to not get up early and be at the gym at 5:00 am. However, she(#1) decided differently!

At 4:55 am she comes into my pitch black bedroom and say's "Mom, are we going to the gym?"

When your fifteen year old daughter wakes you before 5:00 am to go and be healthy you probably better go!

So, three days in a row I have been up before 5:00 am. I believe that this hasn't happened since I had an early morning job in college at a meat cutting plant(ewh--yucky job!).

Good, Better or Best?

We are all plugging along. #2 is still in football, we have piano for #2 and #3. Preschool for me and #4 four times a week and also cub scouts for me. #1 and #3 have dance. #1 has all the things that HS students have. Sweetness (hubby) is still a Bishop(LDS) so that means he is going and going and going.(he is tired, he needs a vacation more than I do) School, homework, dishes, laundry, housework, cooking, etc. It is a whirlwind of activity all the time.

I often think about how busy we are. Why? I try to not over schedule my children. The problem that I have found is that with FOUR children it gets busy if they are involved in anything! So, I just suck it up and try. Some months(years) I do better than others. Last week was not such a good week. Combine a new eating/exercise program with the full moon(read-- middle of cycle crabbiness) and me teaching preschool.

This week is better! It is Tuesday and I feel good about my eating/exercising. I went TWICE to workout yesterday! One at FIVE AM!!!! That is like a miracle! I am so not a morning person! I then went in the evening to a cycle class. I was to weigh myself last night--I was nervous because I had weighed in the morning. I was down 2 pounds. Which really is good. I just wanted it to be more. So, I get on the scale after the class---I was down FIVE pounds! I am thrilled!

Today I got up and went to the gym again at 5:00 am with #1. She wanted to go, I was so proud of her! Tonight I went and worked out again. Sweetness thinks that I am crazy. I am trying to rev up my metabolism after so much inactivity. I have been icing my foot and it seems to be about the same pain level as when I have only been doing 1/2 as much or less exercise. I hope that the new inserts that I am getting tomorrow will help immensely.(I have only been waiting for them since the first week in July!)

Preschool went so well today! The morning class is my hardest class. The few with attention focus problems were so much better today. Perhaps it is just me getting used to how they work so that I can work with them better. I still don't know if I will teach again next year. It is just too soon to know. However, after today I felt much better than last week.

So, I am trying to remember to focus and prioritize. I had a great opportunity given to me for a new business. I had to really think about this. It is the type of thing that I would love, and probably be good at. However, I decided that now is not the time. I can not commit myself to anything else. How good am I if I am stretched so thin that I am only glossing over every single thing and person in my life? It was hard to decide this. However, I feel good with my decision. Other opportunities will come in my life.

Good, Better, Best----There are so many good things in life. Do I want to have lots and lots of good or do I want to be a bit more selective and have more best in my life? I am trying to find that balance.

Rainy Monday

Happy Monday!

It is raining and dark here. Usually that would depress me. Today it is actually creating quite a calm, soothing effect. Miracle of miracle--I got my lazy rear out of bed at 4:30 am and went to the gym by 5:00am for a great class! I know---I am so proud of myself.

I have a list a mile long today. I am hoping to get on top of the normal house stuff. Isn't it amazing that we all have to deal with the same things? Laundry, dishes, dirty floors-etc. I think that it should be mandatory that every mother has an Alice to come and help with these types of things!

Until my Alice comes I better get back to work!

Happy Rainy Monday!

I am still alive!

I am still going strong on my exercise and eating program. Why are the so many wonderful treats and foods to temp us to be unhealthy?

Sweetness(hubby) and I went to dinner last night with some dear friends. I kept telling myself before we went--"don't eat the bread, don't eat the bread".

I did so well! I didn't even take a tiny piece of the beautiful, golden sourdough loaf. I also didn't eat any of the perfectly toasted bread that came with the appetizer. I ordered a wonderful Mahi Mahi dish with fabulously fresh mango salsa and VEGETABLES! It was very good. I was tempted by Isabella's creamy tortellini--that is my favorite type of dish!

I had two tiny teaspoons of our Molten chocolate cake and felt thrilled with myself.!

Oh, I also DID NOT ORDER DIET COKE! I drank water!

Ok, I know that no one else really cares about what I ate for dinner. This is the boring stuff on a mommy blog---however, it is my blog and my Momma would be so proud of me!

I have also been exercising almost everyday this week. My foot is not hurting any more than it was before so I figure that it can handle it. I have to exercise, I felt SO good yesterday while I was doing the boot camp class at the gym. It was fun, hard, sweaty and great. I will definitely be doing it again.

So-I will keep plugging away and go and drink some water!!!!

What Now?

When I was a teenager and a young adult---before I had children, I knew that I would be a good mother. I had always wanted to be a teacher. I come from teachers. My Mom, Dad, Sisiter, Grandpa, Uncle--all teachers. It was just the right choice. So, I had lots of classes about children. I worked with multiple classrooms. I was a teacher's aide for many summer school sessions. Fast forward twenty or so years. I have been a mother for 15 1/2 years. I have four children ranging from 15 to 3.

I now realize that I know NOTHING!

Case in point:
My daughter is beautiful. That is a blessing. It is easier on a person when you aren't worried so much about your looks. The problem? She is beautiful. Therefore, when she was 12 she looked like she was 16. So the boys have been flocking since that time. In our LDS culture we don't date until we are 16--however, the boys still flock!

How to handle the boys. Sounds easy, she isn't 16 she can't date. Oh, yeah! That was the answer BEFORE I was a mother. There is school, school dances, etc. etc. etc. that this beautiful girl is around these flocking boys.

I just pray that she remembers all that she has been taught--

I told her last night that the most important thing that she will ever leave High School with is her own personal self respect.

Let's hope she listens to her Mom--it is one of the only things I know for sure.

A beginning

I did it.

I bit the bullet.

I joined the gyms Biggest Loser program.

I am crazy.

I am fat.

I hope that I can have success.

Happy Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday Mr. Man!

I can hardly believe that my sweet towe headed baby is already 12 years old!

Facts about my #2

Taller than his mom(not hard but still-he is only 12)

His feet are a size 12---bigger than his Dad's!

He has a kind heart

He is a terrible tormentor to his little sister.

He is a good reader

Good student

Loves Football, snowboarding, wake boarding, motorcycles and bikes.

All in all he is a great kid and I am so glad that I get to be his Momma!

Five Things

Five things I am grateful for on a beautiful fall morning!

1. My Mom is a singer--not a professional type, a silly-make songs out of nothing crazy type of singer. I sang to my 12 year old birthday boy today.(he doesn't appreciate it yet!)
2. Music that lifts my soul.
3. A dishwasher.
4. Sweet morning hugs from one little 3 year old
5. Changing leaves.

Time Out for Women

I am a very blessed girl. Friday and Saturday I got to go spend time with my dearest friend. We went shopping, to lunch and then to a wonderful women's conference called
Time out for Women. This is primarily an LDS faith gathering of women. It was fabulous! The speakers were outstanding. Very thought provoking and reassuring.

Now to use what I learned in my real life!

Here are some highlights that I took away from this experience.

*Life is a Gift
*God Loves ME
*God is a Loving Father--a Papa
*Up is down-down is up
*Bless and Release
*We can take U-turns
*Peacemakers
*Jeru Selamat-Expert of Peace-Jesus Christ
*Don't underestimate the power of a moment
*5 split seconds of Joy a day!
*CPR-Caring PLUS Response
*Open our eyes
*Open our hearts
*Pray
*Contribute
*Act
*Our Eternal quest is to help our children become disciples of Christ.
*My job is to love THEM-not Make Them love ME.
*Lighten up and Forgive everyday---this frees up your mind.
*Today could be the day that changes your life!
*You're Best is good enough!
*Don't sleep when you are getting instruction!
*Three lessons to lead a Happy Life--
1.Forgiveness 2. Trust in the Lord 3. Keeping Covenants

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to get away and go to this conference. I hope that it filled my bucket enough that I can be a better Mom, Wife and daughter of God.

9/11

Seven years ago today life as we knew it stopped.

Fly your flag today.

Patriot's Day is today. Let's always remember those that we lost.

Some Days are Just a bit crazy!

Tuesday September 9, 2008

5:30 am--turn off alarm--decide to NOT go to spin class at 6:00 am
6:50 am--say goodbye to #2
7:00 am--goodbye to #1
7:05 am--wake #3
7:09 am --get into shower
7:30 am --help #3 with breakfast
8:00 am--do makeup
8:25 am--say goodbye to #3
8:26 am--try and wake up #4
8:30 am--pickup and vacuum basement/preschool area
8:35 am--cleanup #1's mess in basement bathroom
8:45 am--get #4 breakfast
8:55 am --start greeting preschoolers
9:05-11:30am--circle time, nursery rhymes, counting, days of the week, books, outside play, picking apples, snack time, writing time, apple stamping, inside play
11:30-12:25pm lunch with #4 , vacuum upstairs
12:30 pm --greet preschoolers
12:35-3:00 pm--repeat earlier preschool process
3:10pm--sit down for 15 minutes.
3:45pm--cub scouts arrive for roadside clean up
4:30 pm --finish cleanup, take scouts for ice cream,scouts home
5:00 pm--warm up left-overs for Dad, #2
5:45 pm--take #2 to football practice.
6:20 pm--arrive home
6:30-8:00pm--think about doing laundry but learn about the new ipod nano instead!
8:00-9:00pm--bedtime routine(check homework, extra reading, prayers, scriptures etc.)
9:00-10:00pm --laundry
10:00 pm--bed

Tomorrow? Hopefully NOT a repeat!!

Talk about Tuesday with the Lazy Organizer.

Recent Bravery

I am not brave. I never have been. I haven't ever liked scary movies, spook alley's or anything involving risk. Bungee jumping? No. Cliff Jumping? Think again. Really steep ski runs? Maybe-but only on a sunny day.

I have had an experience recently that has changed my perspective. I am a very brave woman.

I have been in my car with my fifteen year old driving. If that isn't brave I don't know what is!

Today is the day

Excuses, excuses. My foot has been bothering me for about a year. In April I started treatments with a podiatrist. Since then I have not been exercising very much.

I have to start. I am fat. My clothes don't fit. I am grumpy.

Today is the day. I have to figure out what will work. I know that I feel better when I exercise.

So, NO MORE EXCUSES. I am going to the gym.

Updated: I did it! I went to the gym! I am iceing my foot as I type this! Hopefully, my foot won't be sore!

Sweet Baby of Mine

It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful little children are when they are sleeping.

Not as Planned

Today was my son's 12th birthday party. His birthday isn't for about 10 days but with football practice and games we knew that it would be difficult to schedule. Well, we decided that we would go to the IRock. It is an indoor rock climbing center.

This sounded great to me. I put on a skirt(one of three things I can wear) and a cute necklace, stashed a book and my ipod into my camera bag. This is what I had in mind while six boys climbed rocks.

This is what I ended up doing---

I was the belayer! I had to help ALL SIX BOYS. I had to wear some attractive shorts that they gave me to use.

This was much, much harder than I thought it would be! Two of the boys are as big(or bigger) than me. I was exhausted! My arms and hands were killing me. I was so glad that the remaining three boys decided they were finished. (three had to leave early for football)

Did I get to read my book, listen to my ipod or take pictures? No--lucky for me, my birthday boy took a few shots!

Happy Birthday, Bubba!

Cool or Not

I have always wanted to be "cool." The older I get the more I wonder what "cool" means. Who decides who is cool? How does one become cool? Are we born cool? Can we become cool?

If you ask my 15 year old daughter I am definitely NOT COOL. If you ask some of her friends they might think I am pretty cool for A MOM. The people in the singles ward think that I am pretty cool--in a big sister-a bit out of the loop kind of way.

So, why does this matter? It doesn't. Most of the time I am almost content with my life. I always want to be thinner and have cuter hair. Those things never seem to change. However, the fatter I am and the uglier I perceive my hair the "less cool" I feel. Also, add to the fact that I will no longer wear a pair of shoes if they hurt my feet. No matter how cute they are. Does this mean that I am finally becoming an adult or that I am turning into a fuddy duddy!

Let me give you an example of my "not coolness". Last night I had to take #1 and #2 to dance and football practice. I had not planned on getting out of the car. However, as things go #1 daughter needed a couple of things at the grocery store. I had on a darling skirt(one of the 3 things that I can actually fit over the expanse that I call my butt). I had worn it all day while teaching. My feet started to bother me after preschool was over so I put on my tennis shoes. Well, imagine how cute I looked in the grocery store will my cute skirt and my not so cute tennis shoes. Then, it gets worse! I went into the dance studio to pick up MissA. One of the girls on her team noticed my foot attire and commented that she liked the look I had going on! Am I actually okay with the fact that I will actually be seen in ugly shoes that don't match my outfit? Does this make me cool or totally NOT COOl?
Herein lies the question. Is cool a state of mind or a state of being. Who decides? Can one become cool? Does being able to wear ugly shoes make one cool or uncool?

I am not even attempting to analyze my hair!

First Day of Preschool.

Today was another first. It was the first day of preschool for the Little Man. I have been through the first day of preschool six times with three other children. Today was the first time that one of my preschoolers stayed at home for preschool! His Momma is the teacher!

It actually went very well. I had managed to get most everything taken care of last week for the open house. I had gone over the calendar and such.

The kids were really sweet. They are all so different. Little Man wasn't really sure what to think about all these kids in his house playing with his toys. He did much better by the afternoon group.

I hope that I can keep on top of my life with this new adventure. I really have to to make things run smoothly. Planning is so important. I have a calendar for the month of Sept. so that will help. I also need to start using my menu planning again. It helps so much to know what is on the schedule for dinner. I dislike the feeling at 4:00 of ?What's for dinner?

I have included a picture of the Little Man at the beginning of the day and then at the end of the day after about six changes of pants!

I have also included some pictures of our classroom. I think that it turned out great. I still want to do some embellishments to the little playhouse. Add some flowers and shutters.

It was so fun to watch the little boys play kitchen inside the little house. They loved handing things out the little window. Just like the drive through!

I got a darling picture of the class but can't share without permission from parents.

Check out Talk about Tuesday at the Lazy Organizer.