everyone

Mark left bright and early for a long bike ride, from which I'm waiting for him to return. We had banana strawberry bread and a smoothie for breakfast. The boys didn't get their socks on after I told them 5 gazillion times to, so we didn't go for a walk to look at yard sales for junky matchbox cars that he can smash with a hammer to go with his monster trucks. (Wow, that was a long sentence) Eli has been lying on the floor on a blanket with his toys for about an hour now. Zack sorted all the kids' laundry in the hallway and played a mindless game on the computer. Xander set up super friends on the toybox and he and Jessie (Toy Story Jessie) sort of exercised with me. And me, I completed the first cardio workout on the Biggest Loser DVD. Eli smiled and laughed at me. The question is, can I get a shower now??

strolling

I feel good about the activity I've gotten this past weekend and week. On Tuesday night after dinner, the boys and next-door neighbor and I took a walk to a little pond and playground in our neighborhood. I had to carry Xander part of the way, and I let Zack and Lanaysia run ahead so I could walk faster. We played on the swings for a little bit, then I challenged them with a little obstacle course. They had to go up the ladder, down the slide, around and under the slide, through the tunnel, over the picnic table benches, in and out of the swings and back to the picnic shelter to tag the pole. I even timed them. Then it was my turn of course! We ran part of the way home and caught a couple of fireflies.

Two things struck me about this walk. When I was little and would play outside with my neighbor, her mom would always have us stand with our arms and legs spread out to put bug spray on us. I remembered this clearly as I was putting bug spray on Lanaysia. Then I realized that I' the mom!! The second thing that struck me was when we finally got back to our street and were coming up the hill. The boys were dawdling, so I said let's race. And right there, running up the cul de sac with my two older boys is when I realized how much fun I was really having.

Tonight, sort of last minute, the other little boy got to go for a walk with Mommy. He sat in the stroller talking to the trees and chewing on his fingers the whole time, but he didn't fall asleep, until now, when I've been holding him and typing this post with one hand.

Race day

We were up bright and early this morning for Mark's race. This is the 5th time he's done this race, and it's still one of his favorites. The only bad part is that it's in a really expensive neighborhood, so we get to see all the houses and amenities we'll never get to enjoy. Mark's mom has a friend who lives nearby, so the walk wasn't all that bad. We got the sit-n-stand down from the attic, though, and with two kids, it gets heavy pushing it. At one point walking back to the transition area, I was pushing Zack and Xander on the stroller. So that was part of my activity today. I have a big blueberry muffin for breakfast and a vanilla frappucino. We snacked on chex mix while we were there, but I also drank a lot of water. Lunch was a turkey burger from Hardee's, with the last little bit of mint brownie ice cream. After lazing around for a while, we decided it was time to grout the bathroom floor. Being the aesthetic part, I took on this role; plus, Mark had done his share of work on his knees. Man, let me tell you, that was a workout all by itself!! Grouting, scraping, cleaning, cleaning, running back and forth to fill the bucket, rinsing the bucket, spraying Xander with the hose, but finally admiring our finished bathroom floor!! We were very tired, so we just had Chinese food for dinner, then I was off to work, where they had chocolate cake. So of course I had a piece. Not the best day food-wise, but I was moving today, too! Thought for the Day: Balance!

Field day

Today's food...Breakfast was scrambled eggs, a piece of bacon and waffles. Lunch was a subway sandwich with pretzels and a cookie at the school. There were a few freezy pops/chilly-willy pops while at field day, mostly because Xander didn't finish his. Right now, reece's cup ice cream. Yup, ice cream. I've been outside all day, I think I deserve it. I was serving the popsicles, but it also meant some back and forth across the field. Xander got to join Zack for the sprinkle station, the music station and the bouncy house. He also got to go down the water slide three times! He loved it, Zack loved it, but Mommy is pooped! So no workout today, but I think I burned some calories.

check

After putting it off all day...making phone calls to take care of the AC running behind, feeding Eli, making a grocery/dinner list, having lunch with Nicole and Austin at McD's and dealing with a 3-4-year-old bully, running to Lowe's for new air filters to see if the AC could keep up...I did it!! I worked out!!! I did the sculpting workout on the biggest loser DVD. Eli laid on the floor next to me the whole time, just looking up at me and smiling, and even by the end of the stretches, he wasn't really crying, just talking with spirit. So YAY!!! And I feel great! Now for a shower before work, while Xander is sleeping (he fell asleep in the car with his hand in his snack cup!), and Zack trying to keep Eli happy. Thought for the day: YAY!

eating

Have to post what I eat, maybe I'll stay away from the stuff that I wouldn't want to write down. So today...

Breakfast: two chocolate chip muffins (only 150 calories each, we had to run to Walmart before school, so breakfast was something convenient) and a Diet Mountain Dew

Lunch: Watermelon, Smart Ones roasted potatoes and broccoli, small piece of chocolate cake (I guess it was normal size, 2x2") and two bites of mint brownie ice cream, cup of water. There's one piece of cake left, which I will let the boys split after school, then that temptation won't be there anymore!

As of now (2:25), I haven't exercised, and unfortunately, I don't think it's going to happen. We've gone shopping for tiling stuff and a birthday present, gone to story time, eaten lunch and done preschool/alphabet adventure time. Three more loads of laundry in the hallway trumps exercise for today. Thought for now: It's okay if you don't get it all done, as long as you take care of the important stuff...and people.

Update...Did not exercise, barely got dinner cooked before going to work. Had creamy primavera pasta for dinner and a yogurt parfait at work. Only two loads of laundry are still on the floor, but the one that came out was folded immediately and put away.

now

I just read through all of my old posts from over a year ago. I'm still having the same struggles now. I actually just called Mark today and cried on his voicemail. I think every day needs to be 30 hours long instead of 24, then maybe there would be time for everything. Laundry, dishes, cleaning, spending time with Zack, spending time with Xander, spending time with Eli, exercising, cooking, eating, cleaning up, working, shopping, sleeping, spending time with Mark, and, oh yeah, taking care of myself ie. showering, resting and doing the relaxing things that I enjoy doing. I'm worried that I'm really going to go crazy in just a couple weeks when Zack is out of school again. He and Xander only have a short amount of time that they get along each day. Maybe I have to look at it as having an extra little helper. Maybe. Anyway, though I still have struggles, it is encouraging to see how excited I was about the progress I was making. I remember that feeling! I remember feeling good about myself, feeling in shape, feeling healthier, feeling I could do it! So tomorrow might be another new start...writing things down that I eat, drinking water, and fitting in even just a ten or fifteen minute workout when I can ie. when Eli or someone else doesn't need me. Thought for the day: Just do it!