SO much stuff!

We have had a tremendously busy week around here. There are times when going, going, going drives me nuts, nuts, nuts but thankfully, this week wasn't one of those times. While my big sweet pea has been pokey beyond belief and that's had me frustrated, I still feel good about all that I got accomplished this week!

The most exciting thing that happened this week is that I officially became a Pampered Chef consultant yesterday! I don't have a website yet as I haven't qualified (or even had my first show, obviously!) but check out the catalog online and get a hold of me and I'll be able to help you out. You know one of the host benefits is TONS of free products, right??

Something else that I was really excited about was taking part in Simple Mom's Project Simplify. This week was kids stuff and it couldn't have come at a better time. I never decluttered toys before Christmas and was starting to think about buying new organizational products for them. Ive found that once I start considering more organization, what I really need to do is change my thinking and get rid of stuff first! So, like I said, this couldn't have come at a better time. We didn't get a ton of stuff decluttered but I was so proud of the fact that my big sweet pea was willing to help out and that she was so willing to part with toys that she and her sister don't play with anymore! Our local JBF sale is coming up very soon so I'm crossing my fingers that I can get all of these toys tagged and sold to a child who will love them as much as we have!

Here's a picture of our toy bins before...

And here's the fruits of our labor.

We also cleared out the two play drawers that the girls have in the kitchen on another day but I forgot to take a picture of them!

I'm so proud of my big girl for all of her help. Now if we could just get all of the rest of the junk cleared out of here! Patience, persistence and time, right?

Germs! Ack!

We've got a bunch of sickies running around here right now. The girls and I are sick with colds - stuffy, runny noses, sore throats... The big one had a fever which broke last night thank goodness. I hate to see my babies sick. (I know all of you parents out there can relate.) I can usually tough out a cold pretty well but since we're going on three weeks now, I figured I needed to see the doctor as well. Try taking your whole family to the doctor and see how far you get! My doctor doesn't treat kids under six. I called a new pediatrician that we were considering switching to and they won't see the girls without their records being transferred. Our regular pediatrician was out sick too so we took a family trip to the urgent care this morning. You're jealous. I know you are. Thankfully, we never have to wait for very long there but $90 and at least two prescriptions later we have returned home with a sinus infection for me, an ear infection for the little one and an upper respiratory infection for the big one. Ugh. We don't get sick a whole lot around here so it's always difficult for me to adjust to the attitudes and crankiness that come along with illness. (If I'm being honest, the attitudes and crankiness are mostly me! When I'm tired, I'm just not pleasant. It's difficult for me to admit this because I like to "be the strong one" and I used to be able to pull it off before the kids sucked all of the energy out of me!)

So, the girls are napping. My kitchen's a disaster and I'm about ready to pass out myself. I think lay down on the couch and read a book through my eyelids. With any luck, I'll wake up refreshed and ready to un-wreck this house!

Five years changed quite a lot

So, I started this blog YEARS ago... before I had kids. When I had free time. And I just came back today after getting some anonymous spam posting and figured, on a whim, to start adding stuff again. I'm looking forward to reading all of my past stuff - is it possible that I ever had time to walk 4-5 miles in a day while training for the overnight?!?! - and adding new stuff. I promise nothing, though so I may not be back for months! 

Brief catch up... I've got kids. Two of them. It's amazing to me to realize that there was a point in my life when I wasn't sure I'd end up here. Between keeping up with them and my house, I've pretty much got my hands full but I'm most likely going to be adding something else to the mix in the very near future. And NO. I am not pregnant. Much as I love my girls, I'm done. I'm too old and tired to start over at square one again.

Catch up!!

Well, as you can see, it's been FOREVER since I posted - or at least it seems like that. Summers get really busy and I probably won't be posting a whole lot but I'll try to make it more often than lately!!!

Julia and I did The overnight at the beginning of the month which was a really neat experience.

I've started acupuncture to strengthen my body for our next pregnancy. My practitioner advised waiting 3 months before trying to get pregnant again but we've already waited over 2 years (?) and neither of us want to wait anymore. I've gotten to a place where I'm not OBSESSING about being pregnant and we're almost just taking it as it comes so that's good enough for me!

We're heading out for vacation soon - Chicago and Michigan - so we're both looking forward to that.

Other than that, I've just been knitting and cleaning and trying to stay out of the oppressive heat - it's only 76 out at 9:30 a.m. but the heat index is already 82 and climbing. I'll post pictures in a week or so (hopefully!!)

It's opening day!!!

Today is opening day for a knitting yahoo group that I belong to - love2knit_dishcloths. A few times a year (is it 4?) we do an exchange and my partner this round was Judy from Indiana. Judy knit me a beautiful margarita cloth in Sugar and Creme hot green in honor of Cinco de Mayo and I just LOVE it!!! Check out the cute little knitting note card that she used to write me a note!! I just love that too!! I think this is an original pattern by Judy and I'd love to have it as soon as she's ready to share it!!

Mood: Excited! (wouldn't you be after receiving this cool cloth?!?!)
Meditation: Yoga meditation downloaded online
Yoga: 15 minutes sun salutations
Exercise: will do 4-5 miles on the treadmill 'cause it's yucky outside!
           

It's been a while!

Busy, busy, busy this past week!

Mood: content
Meditation: None today
Yoga: None today
Exercise: 3 miles (training for the overnight!)
           

I went to see a 'spiritual adviser' on Friday with my sister-in-law and one of her friends. We had scheduled this awhile ago so it's really quite a coincidence that I've had so many readings in the past month!! The reading was mostly vague - we'll be going on vacations and to weddings. But she WAS specific about a few things like a cup of coffee that I would be getting with 'fancy (read: decorative) cream'. Then it dawned on me that I take my coffee black. Also, a 21 or 22 year-old will get pregnant from improper birth control use and the man will NOT be happy about it because he thought birth control was being taken care of.

We had a wedding to go to on Saturday which was really lovely! The weather has been beautiful lately and I've been pretty much keeping on schedule with my walking. This week will consist of:
Monday - 3 miles
Tuesday - 4-5 miles
Wednesday - crosstraining
Thursday - 4 miles
Friday - 3 miles
Saturday - 10 miles

Saturday's going to be tough since we're going to the Ride for Life and I have a feeling we'll be leaving early in the morning. I may have to either walk in the afternoon or try for Sunday.

Tomorrow we're going to a pet parade at my nephew's school (leaving Winston at home because I just don't trust him around kids yet) which I'm really looking forward to!! And then I'm going out to dinner at Black Dog Cafe for dinner on Wednesday with the Ladies of Harley!! I really love going out to dinner with all these different people because I have such a good time but I really need to start sticking to my plan of ordering salads or I'm never going to lose this stupid weight!!!

Another quick update

Mood: Tired!
Meditation: Satyam Meditation from Life Enhancing Meditations by Yogiraj Alan Finger
Yoga: None - not feeling up to it today
Exercise: none so far

I'm REALLY tired this morning - I don't think my body's used to all this exercise!!! I've also been having some really bad gas pains (I know, TMI but you chose to read!) since last night which seem to be subsiding but the combination has left me feeling like doing nothing other than laying on the couch! Unfortunately, I've got things to do today so I can't just lay around . Oh well, I'll just get stuff done as soon as I can so I can nap when I get home! Off to my appointments...

Quick Post!

Mood: Busy but happy!
Meditation: Meditations for Conception and Pregnancy
Yoga: None - didn't have time!
Exercise: 4.5 mile walk (training for the overnight)

Wow! That walk just KILLED me!!! The route I mapped out was very nice in the beginning but about half-way through, it goes STRAIGHT UP. I suppose it's good training and a great way to get back in shape but if I could've lifted my leg high enough after all of the exertion, I would've kicked myself squarely in the ass! I won't be doing that loop again for a LONG while.

We went to my nephew's baseball game tonight - they tied 10-10 - which was really nice! Tomorrow'll probably be another busy day so maybe only another short update.