Exercise is good for me (Or so I have been told)

There is a place near by called Next Generation Training Center.
They were on groupon a few times.
$79 for 20 semi personal training sessions.
One day on a bit of a whim I decided to buy it.
Why you may ask?  Its time to get moving.  I am older now and well
the reality is I need to exercise for the future.
But really ~ after going for my first session yesterday where the trainer let me take it easy,
this morning I can hardly move around.  bending at the hips or knees is painful.  I am waiting
with great anticipation for the Advil to kick in!!!!
I will go back for the other 19 sessions because well, I paid for them.  I am a frugal Dutchie after all.
But my productivity level is way down already this morning.  Loading the dishwasher was an exercise in caution.  Everything is taking twice as long.  Just want to crawl back in bed.

A Little Peek

Outside my window: my patio ~ empty right now but soon to be filled with laundry I need to dry

I am thankful:  That one of my bff's had a healthy baby boy this past week and also that it didn't rain the whole day.

On my computer: various websites are open

In the kitchen: a pile of clean dishes, chick peas for making hummus, blender waiting for me to make a smoothie in it, chili on the stove for dinner.  Last night's leftovers waiting to become my lunch

 I am wearing: jeans, long sleeve t-shirt, & flip flops

I am creating: Lots of projects are in my head.  Need to find time to execute!

 I am going: to and from 3 different schools all year long.  :-)

 I am trying: to have more patience, be careful with my words, to figure out where exercise fits into my life

 I am watching:  Breaking Bad, Dexter, Top Chef Masters

 I am hoping: to we all stay healthy this fall

I am praying: my brother who broke his leg yesterday and for my church as we have some huge mountains to climb 

I am looking forward to: Meeting my bff's new baby boy.  The weekend (probably bad since its only Monday),

 A favorite quote for today: 

 A few plans for the rest of the week: school meetings, back-to-school night, cross country meet, girls night with my bible study group

Sea To Sea Day 3....

Our day three that is.
Dropped Timmy at the airport on Saturday morning bright & early.
He's out for his first ride today.
I am very excited for him
Not so much for myself.
I am home, tired, with three kids who with only 1 parent to make demands of are asking a lot.
I am doing ok but i need sleep.
Partly my own fault for staying up late part from a draining week of Summer Playground.
After the closing program I was so tired!  It is a very stressful morning hoping that all goes well.
I miss my baby ~ I really wish he was here but I know how very much and how badly he wants to be part of this.  I pray for safety each day ~ I know time will fly with keeping up the house & kids alone.  We are going to have fun!  I miss my love!

Happy Summer! ~ a note to my kids

School's out for 1.  Two more 1/2 days for the other one.
Summer has begun.
I love the lack of schedule.
Love not having to herd everyone out the door in a mad dash to not be tardy.
I don't love everybody being together all the time
I am am not that Mom.
I am not the Mom that loves playing endless games.
I hate messes.
I hate chalk, bubbles, mud, sand, and other things that make more work.
I like my kids to entertain themselves.
It boggles me that they can't just play with their toys
I was an only child until age 8 but by then the age difference was too great to gain a playmate.
I played by myself for hours, days at a time continuing the same imagination game.
I loved playing with all the paper & notebook, & pens & makers my Dad brought home from work.
All of them had KLM printed on them  :-)
I will do fun stuff with their kids but I am not the entertainment committee.
The daily stuff does not stop.
We have a few camp things set up.  A week at the beach.
A few day trips maybe.  Nana & Pop's pool will be a frequent stop.
Making paper is on our list for the summer.
Also fruit picking of many varieties.
They'll play in the backyard a lot.
It will be fun but I hope my kids realize they have to make some of their own fun.
I cannot be responsible to make it happen.  Let you imagination go wild

Wait May is 1/2 over already???

Not sure where time goes.
May has been filled with a wedding, track meets both near & far, birthdays, mother's day, lilacs,
flowers, music, beautiful weather & rainy days.
I've taken a ton of photos of various things including my children.  (not all 3 wanted to participate).
I've worked in the garden, I've worked on trying to find motivation for a lot of things.
I have a cat who acts more like a dog and follows me around looking for pets.

Things to Remember ~ the good stuff

Ben in conversation with his Daddy ~
The Easter Bunny, Santa & The Tooth Fairy must be nocturnal because they only come out at night.
And Santa must be magical because either he makes himself skinny to go down the chimney or he makes the chimney fat so he can fit down it.

Cali ~
Mommy can you please move the sun....pause...actually Mommy can you please close the shade.

Challenged

I am feeling most challenged and overwhelmed by motherhood this morning.
I am tired of repeating myself over and over and over again.
I am tired to listening to them fight among themselves.
I am tired to endless requests.
I am tired of not being able to complete a task without interruption.
I am sick of complaints about everything....its never enough or fair enough.
Nothing is ever "right."  And I am just fed-up.
Even as I take a few minutes to gather my thoughts I am interrupted with a request.
And when I say I will do it in just a few moments I am being battered with the same request over and over.  I am trying to find peace in all this.  I know there is so much out there that is much more and much worse that what I am struggling with.  But I am in my world, with my realities, and boy it is tough for me right now.  My kids issues is just one of the things that I am trying to understand/process/deal with/accept.  Just looking for peace.

2013

2012 has come to an end.
I am thinking about the year ahead.
What would I like to see happen, cares, concerns, plans, ideas, relationships, my mind is filled with
a to do list.  Stuff I'd like to do.  Personal Goals.
As I reflect about 2013 I don't want to set any unrealistic goals but have a few things in mind.
I am not good at daily scheduling for myself and sometimes have major time management issues.
I love lists.
I am trying to menu plan 2 weeks at a time in order to spend less time planning meals & to plan for better use of leftovers.
I want to catch up on all my "digital" photo books.
Make progress on my scrapbooks from years past.
A weekend away with my husband would not be unwelcome.
I want to be better about Bible reading & devotions.  I want to pray more.
I want to be have more patience.
I want to cook more especially for other people.
I want to take better care of myself ~ have some ideas of what that entails but how that is all going to happen I am not sure.
I want to support my friends as they plan to adopt a little girl from Africa ~ road trip???

Pinkalicious

Happy Birthday Calista Eden ~ a Pinkalicous birthday party for my pint-sized princess