M+B=E2O2

Gosh I'm lagging

I only have quick few minutes to post so I thought I'd better!   We're celebrating Owen's birthday on Saturday (his birthday was o the 12th).  My folks and sister come in town tomorrow and our guest room/kids computer room/ homeschool stuff room is in a huge state of - um-  well it looks like a homeschool closet worth of stuff threw up n it.  I spent all day yesterday and got over half of the closet back together,  I have until tomorrow afternoon to do the rest.  I didn't think to take a before picture, though I did think of it once i had emptied the closet of everything- so I'll post that and the finished product once I'm done. Maria I think you'll be proud!!

We went to a Messy Party last Saturday. Go check out the slide shows here- there are 3, since photobucket only lets you put so many in each show.  The party was a celebration of birthdays for two brothers that are homeschooling friends of ours.  It was really a great time! 

On the school front I've discovered that Emma con do simple addition. YAY!  I had only recently found that she has the one to one correspondence down when counting.  Numbers & math are something she seem to struggle with- or so I thought,  she just takes a little longer to absorb it.  Another unschooling math success thankyouverymuch.

I did 26 straight days of cycling-  now I am backing off a bit and will ride 4-5 days a week.  I feel pretty good and I am trying to eat smaller portions.  So far so good.

Monday I took a chance and overcame my fear of baking bread-  I made a two loaves of honey wheat bread!  YAY  ME!  I have been scared to try for some reason- but have been taking small steps toward actually doing it over the last few weeks.  It turned out great and was not nearly as hard as I tough it would be.  IT would have been a quicker process too had I not let the children get involved.  Jenny I know you make bread often- do your kids help all the time or are they over it? Don't get me wrong, I love to have them help- but at the same time if I were to do this often I'd want it to go a tad faster.  So now that I've done it once, I plan on trying again.  I'd love any recipes that are loved and not do crazy.  We love brown wheaty/grainy breads. 

Our bounty and more than your really want to know about it.

I really get a thrill out of our garden.  Now that I sized it down I wonder if I made the right choice.  Our pumpkins are insane!  They grew and spread all over last year, but the leaves were not nearly as big as our are now- they couldn't have been.  I've had to lower one side of our garden fencing to accommodate the suckers.  I'm scared to think how much of our yard will have been taken over by the beasty plant by October.  Seriously.  The cucumbers aren't too far behind either. 

My poor green onions, carrots and watermelon are just being dwarfed by the pumpkin and cucumber leaves.  The corn is holding its own for now.  I've had to redirect some of the cucumber vines but they seem to be growing strong.  The green beans are also flourishing.  They keep climbing and winding around every pole in sight.  Oh and the tomatoes!  Those appear to be taking over the other fence.  They are HUGE.  We have already spotted many little green tomatoes too- so I reckon in another month we'll be eating a lot of salsa. 

My bib lettuce was doing great for a while- then a few slugs started having their way with it so I'm letting it be and using it mainly to keep found caterpillars alive.  We just released one as a moth today!  We have one green inchworm in a cocoon, a black caterpillar with bright green racing strips eating lettuce by the ounce and growing at a phenomenal rate.  I rescued a teeny tiny green inch worm on the last bit of lettuce that we will likely consume from our garden yesterday. If I can get those pesky slugs gone we'll get to eat more on  future taco nights! We have one more caterpillar that will hopefully do it's thing and turn into a moth like the one that we freed today. 

I also have 6 romaine lettuce heads that seem to be doing well despite the pumpkin vine that has slithered past it and now stealing sunlight.   I planted morning glory around my compost and that too has taken off.  The pile is just slightly visible.  My mint, basil and cilantro are also just growing like mad.  I have one pot of strawberries that seem to still be alive, and a flat of strawberry plants that need to be potted. 

We have regular bird friends daily- lots of them.  We've even got a green parakeet that must have either escaped or been set free.  Owen and I named her (we assume "her" based on nothing at all).   Her name is LeeLee. Soon as I can get a picture of her I'll share it.  Now we just need to sod the rest  of the yard (old garden area) and get a climbing/swing set thing for the kids and our yard will be totally complete.  As it is I feel like it is darn near perfect and it all brings me so much peace and joy.

A Few Pictures

I thought I'd share a few pictures and movies to sum up the last couple of weeks.

Emma's
is in the pink, she won this showdown.

Owen is in green shirt and black pants, Emma is still in pink.

Here's my garden as of a few days ago.  I swear those pumpkins will cover the whole yard by Halloween.  They are already up to the yellow planter that you see!

 

Some Random Pictures!

21 DAYS DOWN....

I did it.  I did IT!!! I'm doing an achy happy dance today.  Despite a very achy and painful lower back I did the last day of my goal.    I have no idea why I'm hurting so bad, but I just couldn't let it stop me.  So today's ride was an easy one, but I rode.  I feel good.  I have not lost an ounce of weight (grrrr) but my clothes do fit better so things are shifting I guess.  I want to shift my focus to food intake now, but still keep  up my daily rides.  My  plan for the next 21 days will be to cut my intake for each meal and the snacks that seem to occur through out the day.  I will track every morsel that enters this body.  This is not to say that the yummy Henry and David's Moose Munch that is downstairs won't be consumed. No it means that I'll have a bite and leave it at that.    I'll have high protein lunches and continue with my healthy dinners (I am planning on freezing a bunch more this weekend I really love having so many meal choices at my disposal.) I will take control of what I eat and when.  One day at a time.  21 days to build this habit. 

Happy Birthday Owen!!!

6 years old! Man oh man I can't believe my boy is six!  Happy Birthday Big Guy!!

Ahhh well, what can I say?

We were on vacation.  Never mind the fact that we didn't leave the county but once, and that was just me and the kids for the day.    What a lovely vacation it was though.  I'll spare you the blow by blow, but I will touch on a couple of the highlights. 

Monday we headed south for a visit with the Pixilated Family and Jenny's crew.  What a great time we had.   Socialization was a bit of an issue- oh wait, no it wasn't-  those kids were off and playing right from the get go.  We moms were the ones with the awkward pauses and strained words.  Oh wait- nope, we got along grandly as well.  Socialization a problem for home schooling kids?  Bah!  Really that is such an absurd argument! 

Another of the highlights of the week would have to be the painting of our guest room/kids computer/TV room.  Ben did all the hard work, I just picked out the colors.  I have to say I did a great job! LOL!  So did Ben.  The room looks fabulous in the two tones of brown.  The room has a very cozy comfortable feel to it.  The walls were previously a pale yellow- as is the rest of the house for the most part.  The earthy darker tones just give the room a sense of calm.  He also stained the unfinished pine TV cabinet that is in the room.  It is a darkish walnut now and really looks amazing.  Once we get Emma a bunk bed we'll bring her day bed down here again- (it used to be in this room originally)  and match the stain to the TV stand.  Makes for a very nice room for our friends  and family to stay in methinks.  All that is left to do in the room is hang some schoolish stuff on the walls (maps and the like) and I am going to clear out the closet and put it back together in an ORGANIZED fashion.  I am inspired by Maria's homeschool cupboard (go ahead- just ask Jenny,  I think we both had to pick our jaws up off the floor when she showed us!- Maria- show a picture-  you really are an inspiration!)  I am going to take a leaf out of Maria's book and get this space working for us. It seems to be a magnet for clutter as it is. 

Other than that we really just spent time together.  We had Ben's mom over for dinner on several occasions, she had us over at her house in return.  Ben's bro also made his way over here for dinners and just to hang out.  All in all it was  a great week. 

Oh and me- me me me-  Today marks 14 days- 14 days of spinning.  In a row.  No less that 30 minutes a day.  The average is creeping up to 45 minutes.  Today I rode for an hour.  Next Monday will be 21 days, my goal.  I feel pretty darn good about it. 

Speaking of fitness, I happened across this blog- I'm gonna need to spend a bit of time looking over it- but for any of you looking for a fitness program for kids, it looks like it might be worth checking out.

Oh and Maria- here is the link to the blog that posts menu's every Monday.  And here is the link to Saving Dinner where I got my freezer menus- which by the way have been a big hit and I've decided that the payoff is well worth the 2-4 hours of prep it took.  I still have 5 meals or so in my freezer and so far the ones we've had have been fantastic and even more important- EASY!

Well, much as I'd love to post more of my amazing links and thoughtful prose, I think I'd love to sit on my comfy couch more! This week holds the promise of newly a turned 6 year old boy, park day with fellow homeschooling families, gymnastics fun, maybe a date for Ben and me, and Father"s Day.  I will also get pictures into my computer from our Pixilated play date, my garden ( oh my is it GROWING!!) and anything else of interest that happens to be in the camera. 

Oops I did it again

No I'm not with Lindsey or Britney in rehab!  Just couldn't get on to blog this last week.  So much to blog about too.  Oh well, I'll try to do a recap of this last week.

Over the holiday weekend Ben was on call.  Boy was he ever.  Friday he didn't get home until after 9pm, he left early Saturday morning and again didn't come home until after 9.  Sunday he left by 7 again, but was able to come home by 3ish. Thankfully he had Monday off.  I spent my time alone with the kids doing load after load (after load, after load, after load) of laundry.  I am quite proud to say I not only washed and dried everything on my laundry table in the garage (that easily had 3 ft x 6  ft x 3 ft of clothes) but I folded and put it away- in the drawers and hung up and everything.  (this is a big deal -really)

I'm not remembering what went on Monday-  I know it was a mellow day mostly if not completely spent at home.  I think we bbq'd even.   hmm?  oh well.

Tuesday took Owen to the dentist.  He has a mouthful of great teeth, no cavities.  He will also get to have a visit with the orthodontist after he turns 7 (Emma will have a visit in the next few months).  We likely did something else Tuesday- but well that was almost as long ago as Monday.

We'll just imagine we did lots of interesting things on Wednesday- but realistically I think we stayed home all day. 

Thursday took us back to Dr. B- but this time everyone was healthy (thank goodness!)  I had wanted to talk to him about some sleep issues with Emma.   We'll have a bit of a break in going back to his office-  Owen turns 6 is a few weeks- so he'll get a check up.  Oh well after that we'll have a break!

Friday the kids had gymnastics.  Emma won the handstand contest again.  Coach P told us that she is a totally natural at it and she would win every time , but she gives points to the other kids  so they don't realize that Emma is kicking their  booties LOL! It is not nearly as competitive as it sounds.  It is the  highlight of the class for all the kids.  They all practice doing handstands at the same time and whichever kid does it with the best form gets to run over to her and give her a high five and as they run back to their spot she whacks them with a pool noodle.  They love it.   Every kid gets to come up to her every class, but I think she picks a "winner"  each time or something.  I'm actually not very clear on the whole thing because I spend much of the hour chatting with 2 other homechool moms.  I will say Emma does a great handstand.

We had the IL's over for dinner- another BBQ.  FIL has been in Mexico- deep in the heart of nowhere for the last week so it was great for the kids to see him.   Ben and I watched Garden State after the kids went to bed.  I really liked it- it was slow moving, but sweet.  I really like Zach Braff- I think he is funny as all heck on Scrubs so it was neat to see him in such a different role.  (Cool too that he wrote and directed it).

Today we've been hanging out here at home.  The kids seem to be butting head waaaaay too much, but considering how well they usually get along I really can't complain. But I have been. All day.  *sigh*

I am proud of myself these days.  I have gotten up and gotten on my spin bike every day for 5 days now.  I've pedaled away for no less than 30 min with one 45 min day and today I rode for an hour.  After my spin I have faithfully gotten off the bike and done push ups and Pilates stuff.  I had MIL work with me yesterday on the 3 Pilate exercises I have been doing. The Hundred, the Roll Up and Plank.  It is much harder to do when done right! LOL and I was sore the first couple of days  even with my bad posturing.  My goal right now is to do this for 21 days.  I want it to just be part of my life.  I want it to be beyond a habit, but something that makes me complete. I want to feel as though my day is just not quite right if I don't get up and move.  Once I've done 21 days straight, I want to do it 4-6 days a week.  I also want to add walking back into my days.  Now that we have the double stroller it is sooooo much easier!  Now I just need running shoes- or walking shoes, but my flip flops are just not cutting it. 

Ben is on vacation this next week, so that will mean one of two things.  I'll get to blog often or not at all! LOL.