I think that everyone, their dog and their grandma's dog has seen this video.
The thing is that this guy is SO right! When we lost power recently, we were out of our house for 7 days. Thankfully we were able to stay at my parent's house and be safe. We were reminded of how very spoiled we are and it was a little embarrassing! We couldn't stay in the house because it was cold! And there was no running water! And what would we do all day? And what would we eat? And we would have to keep the fire going all night! whah!
I love the opportunities we have in this part of history. I love computers, the internet, gaming, cars and my Wii. I really don't want to take them for granted but I really, REALLY don't want my kids to be those "noncontributing zeros" of the world. Who think they deserve something because it exists.
My goal is to remember where we came from and why right here, right now is so special - then pass it on.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
One size fits all
One year ago I was very sick and lost a ridiculous amount of weight, making me look like the undead. I lost so much muscle that I couldn't go grocery shopping and I began to change Brea's diapers on the floor so that I wouldn't have to lift her to the changing table. As time went on, I gained some weight and muscle mass but not in the way I would have liked. So, in November I began to go to an Ashtanga Yoga class at the gym. This class has changed everything about my body and I LOVE it! But (you saw this coming) I am building muscle and keeping the fat.
No, I am not saying I am fat. I am saying that I don't fit into my jeans right now and it really sucks. I don't have money to get a new wardrobe while my body gains muscle and starts to reduce the fat. So I have been thinking I will help it along. In a healthy way.
I am taking a good hard look at what I eat and what I feed the fam. Ironically I am the fruit/veggie Nazi. I refuse to serve a meal without either present but that doesn't mean that I eat enough of them. I don't practice what I preach. Some would call this hypocritical and I am inclined to agree.
We don't eat out more than the average American but more than I would like. Mostly we like to meet Dustin in town for lunch because, if I had my way, I would get him home all day. Therefore, if we are in the vicinity of his workplace and it is time for lunch, why not? We do try to choose healthier options for all of us but every now and again all I want is fried fattiness, topped with fat sauce and a side of fat fries. By every now and again, I mean about once a week. I also suffer from dehydration in the winter with the symptoms ranging from swollen legs to kidney stones. With all of this in mind, salt and fat is not the best thing for me to be consuming with such regularity.
The tried and true, scientific things that work and are good for you include: eating whole foods, eating multiple small meals and tracking food intake. Also exercising, which I am doing but could be a little more regular about. I have signed up for FitDay, a free online food and exercise tracker.
My goal is to remain within my budget and be common sense about this health thing. And of course, fit into my jeans again. That would be super!
Interested in peeking? Go for it!
No, I am not saying I am fat. I am saying that I don't fit into my jeans right now and it really sucks. I don't have money to get a new wardrobe while my body gains muscle and starts to reduce the fat. So I have been thinking I will help it along. In a healthy way.
I am taking a good hard look at what I eat and what I feed the fam. Ironically I am the fruit/veggie Nazi. I refuse to serve a meal without either present but that doesn't mean that I eat enough of them. I don't practice what I preach. Some would call this hypocritical and I am inclined to agree.
We don't eat out more than the average American but more than I would like. Mostly we like to meet Dustin in town for lunch because, if I had my way, I would get him home all day. Therefore, if we are in the vicinity of his workplace and it is time for lunch, why not? We do try to choose healthier options for all of us but every now and again all I want is fried fattiness, topped with fat sauce and a side of fat fries. By every now and again, I mean about once a week. I also suffer from dehydration in the winter with the symptoms ranging from swollen legs to kidney stones. With all of this in mind, salt and fat is not the best thing for me to be consuming with such regularity.
The tried and true, scientific things that work and are good for you include: eating whole foods, eating multiple small meals and tracking food intake. Also exercising, which I am doing but could be a little more regular about. I have signed up for FitDay, a free online food and exercise tracker.
My goal is to remain within my budget and be common sense about this health thing. And of course, fit into my jeans again. That would be super!
Interested in peeking? Go for it!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Addicted to Elimination
My daughter, Brea, is going to be 3 in April. That is very close, you know. She and I do a "Mommy and Me" gymnastics class once a week, however, when she turns 3 she will be able to move up to the Big Girl Class. Where they begin to learn actual gymnastics stuff! The only clincher is that the kids have to be potty trained to attend. Huh. That is a problem since she refuses to do the potty thing. We have tried bribing (with money, candy, toys), we have tried practicing and we have tried letting her do it in her time (which was looking like 15 years old).
So we decided to try the "One Day Potty Training" technique. I hyped it up as the ALL DAY POTTY PARTY!!!! w00t!! We did decide to give her a full weekend of family attention, in the hope that she would get 'er done. We had some party paraphernalia (including bazooka things, special cups and a medal for her). Every time she successfully used the potty she got a sticker on the chart (special stickers for poop because it is, you know, special) and we all blew our bazooka things. When she got ten stickers (total, not in one day) she earned a toy (read: educational game) I bought for the very purpose of "Potty Encouragement".
It really did take the whole family, since she is a little attention whore (she gets that from her mommy) and a few accidents to prove that we knew what we were talking about. But really? She is golden! We have just celebrated 2 weeks diaper free and we love it!
The other day she was sitting on the pot and she looked up at me all happy, full of little person life and proclaimed, "Pooping is fun!"
These are the milestones of motherhood.
So we decided to try the "One Day Potty Training" technique. I hyped it up as the ALL DAY POTTY PARTY!!!! w00t!! We did decide to give her a full weekend of family attention, in the hope that she would get 'er done. We had some party paraphernalia (including bazooka things, special cups and a medal for her). Every time she successfully used the potty she got a sticker on the chart (special stickers for poop because it is, you know, special) and we all blew our bazooka things. When she got ten stickers (total, not in one day) she earned a toy (read: educational game) I bought for the very purpose of "Potty Encouragement".
It really did take the whole family, since she is a little attention whore (she gets that from her mommy) and a few accidents to prove that we knew what we were talking about. But really? She is golden! We have just celebrated 2 weeks diaper free and we love it!
The other day she was sitting on the pot and she looked up at me all happy, full of little person life and proclaimed, "Pooping is fun!"
These are the milestones of motherhood.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
My hero
For Christmas my in-laws gave us a Wii and the Fit. Also for Christmas, my parents gave us Guitar Hero World Tour, with 2 guitars. Their family (which still houses all four of my siblings, ages 7-20) received GHWT with all the bits. You know, microphone, drums and both guitars. Needless to say, it was one of the most fun Christmas days ever!
My son, 7 years old, was unsure about the whole thing. He is so self conscious about everything that it has taken Dustin and I YEARS to get him to stop racing from the room, in tears, from embarrassment. So, getting him to participate in the GH festivities was a time consuming process. He started with the drums. Then tried a guitar. But really, he was so frustrated at his inabilities that he refused to play more, until he could practice at home. So, in desperation, I tried the last bit. The microphone. But he was hesitant, so I said I would sing with him. The boys (because, in my family there are a lot of them) chose Linkin Park's song, What I've Done.
A side note: You know how I said I was nerdy? Well, my whole family is, meaning husband, son and daughter. We love movies and specifically superhero, fantasy, sci-fi, action. So this song? Yeah, it is THE closing song for Transformers (which if you have not seen, you should do so before you do anything else, ever). My whole family loves Transformers. But my son LOVES Transformers.
So the music comes on, and he goes all, "Hey, I know this song....." As the lyrics come across the screen, I begin to sing into the microphone he is holding. He starts to warm up to it. Reads the words (OMG!! He is reading the words without trouble!!!!) and then, suddenly, with the crescendo of the chorus, goes all rock star on me! He is totally belting out the words, head banging and adding dance moves during the guitar solo, hogging the mic! RAD!
My grandma, who was watching the whole thing called me over to tell me how proud of him she was. That she knows he is unsure of himself but that she is so happy we work hard to pull him out of his shell.
And wouldn't you know it? He kept on trying other instruments for the rest of the evening.
My son, 7 years old, was unsure about the whole thing. He is so self conscious about everything that it has taken Dustin and I YEARS to get him to stop racing from the room, in tears, from embarrassment. So, getting him to participate in the GH festivities was a time consuming process. He started with the drums. Then tried a guitar. But really, he was so frustrated at his inabilities that he refused to play more, until he could practice at home. So, in desperation, I tried the last bit. The microphone. But he was hesitant, so I said I would sing with him. The boys (because, in my family there are a lot of them) chose Linkin Park's song, What I've Done.
A side note: You know how I said I was nerdy? Well, my whole family is, meaning husband, son and daughter. We love movies and specifically superhero, fantasy, sci-fi, action. So this song? Yeah, it is THE closing song for Transformers (which if you have not seen, you should do so before you do anything else, ever). My whole family loves Transformers. But my son LOVES Transformers.
So the music comes on, and he goes all, "Hey, I know this song....." As the lyrics come across the screen, I begin to sing into the microphone he is holding. He starts to warm up to it. Reads the words (OMG!! He is reading the words without trouble!!!!) and then, suddenly, with the crescendo of the chorus, goes all rock star on me! He is totally belting out the words, head banging and adding dance moves during the guitar solo, hogging the mic! RAD!
My grandma, who was watching the whole thing called me over to tell me how proud of him she was. That she knows he is unsure of himself but that she is so happy we work hard to pull him out of his shell.
And wouldn't you know it? He kept on trying other instruments for the rest of the evening.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Oh yeah.....
My son got the hankering, after breakfast this morning, to draw a picture.
See it says Nice But (because he is 7 and doesn't know it has two t's yet). This is his title. How classy!
See it says Nice But (because he is 7 and doesn't know it has two t's yet). This is his title. How classy! What is that? Why yes, in fact those ARE hairs!
This is a very proud day for me.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Like being vaccinated but BETTER
Ring Around the Rosy
as sung by Brea (AKA Girl)
Ring around the Rosy
a poppet dull da dosey
Run around in a circle
Everyone falls down!
as sung by Brea (AKA Girl)
Ring around the Rosy
a poppet dull da dosey
Run around in a circle
Everyone falls down!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
They are onto me
My children know me all too well. Today my daughter clomped over to me, wearing an "evening" gown and clear, plastic dress up heels. She laid her head on my lap and begged for lunch. Poor starving girl! Of course I will feed you, child who ate less than 3 hours ago!
The following is what occurred:
Me (internal dialogue): Lunch, okay, to the fridge for the cheese..and...oh, hey! My white board is empty. Isn't there something that belongs on there? Sure, yeah, gallon sized baggies. Oh, and I forgot to write down the dinner plans for each day this week. I can just do that now! I love the way this pen writes. Don't I have a bunch of other colors, somewhere? Okay, so quiche for Thursday, but oh, no wait, we changed our plans, so we will have to change it out with Friday and then, oh shoot, what are we doing for the weekend? Oh right we have that party, so we will all be doing THAT........
Girl: "Mom? Moooooom?? MOM!!! No! I. WANT. LUNCH."
Two years old and this girl already knows her mom is easily lost.
The following is what occurred:
Me (internal dialogue): Lunch, okay, to the fridge for the cheese..and...oh, hey! My white board is empty. Isn't there something that belongs on there? Sure, yeah, gallon sized baggies. Oh, and I forgot to write down the dinner plans for each day this week. I can just do that now! I love the way this pen writes. Don't I have a bunch of other colors, somewhere? Okay, so quiche for Thursday, but oh, no wait, we changed our plans, so we will have to change it out with Friday and then, oh shoot, what are we doing for the weekend? Oh right we have that party, so we will all be doing THAT........
Girl: "Mom? Moooooom?? MOM!!! No! I. WANT. LUNCH."
Two years old and this girl already knows her mom is easily lost.
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