The White Stuff Came

Anyone that knows me, knows I don't like snow.  I could go a lifetime without ever  seeing it again, and this includes on Christmas.  My children are my opposites.  They saw snow out the window and they were really happy about it.  I had to go out and get weighed at Weight Watchers (I lost 1.8 lbs since Dec 23), and I always go to Wal-Mart to get ice cream afterward.  I figured that since I was there, I would buy each of the children a sled.  We have a nice little hill in our courtyard so they can sled out there.

Upon returning home from Wal-Mart, I showed them what I got them.  They were really excited.  They had to clean their bedrooms before they could go outside and use them.  I got them each their favorite color for their sled.  The oldest got a green one, my 7 year-old daughter got a pink one, and my 4 year-old son got a blue one.  The green one doesn't seem to hold up very well.  He broke the first one, so we brought it back.  He then went out with the second one and that one broke too.  I am not returning it until Monday.  My children got several hours of enjoyment out of the sleds today.

They also got to share with their friends.  I saw them letting their friends use the sleds also.  I thought this was really nice of them.  I went to a local thrift store and bought the two boys a snowsuit.  The one I got for the oldest didn't fit him, but the one for my youngest son did fit him.  I have to bring the other back.  He looks super cute in it.  I have to find another one for him and then find one for my older daughter as well.  I got them each a pair of mittens also.  I hate to think of the children being cold.  I got the mittens at the Dollar Tree and it came with 2 pairs... so they were 50 cents each.  Not too bad, seeing how they usually get lost quickly. 

I am thankful that my children don't hate snow.  This gave them a lot of exercise (and Vitamin D) running up and down the hill.  The nice thing is, they don't think of it as exercise.  They think of it as fun.  Isn't that how exercise should be?

I look forward to getting back into the 40s and 50s, but for now, the kids will enjoy what we are getting!

My Children Want to Earn a Wii

My children have wanted a Nintendo Wii ever since they first learned what one was, which was when their uncle got one.  I am not into video games, so I have never really cared that all they have is their Nintendo DS and a Nintendo 64.  My youngest son has been asking me to win a Nintendo Wii for about three months.  There is no way to win one, that I have seen.  I asked my sister if her husband and son still play the Wii, and she said not too often.  I told her that my son really wants one.  All my children want one, but my youngest son REALLY wants one. 

Today she spoke to her husband about it.  He wanted to trade it in to Game Stop.  He called to see how much he would get for everything.  He then said he would let me have it for less than that (since I'm family).  Thank you!

My children now have a goal.  They want to earn that Wii.  My sister would be bringing it out to us when she comes to visit.  They now know that I expect them to help clean around the house daily, without crying or whining.  That is how they will earn it.  This isn't a cheap little gadget... I think it is fair that they earn it.  They should appreciate it more.  I let them know that if they don't keep up their end of the deal, I will call and tell their uncle to trade it in.

They also know that it is going to consist of teamwork.  They all have to help.  Not just one of them, or two of them, but all three of them.  If they are going to play together, they can work together too.  This was day one.  It had a few hitches, but it went over quite well. 

I am looking forward to having a clean house and not needing to hear the children argue with me about doing their chores.  I will have them continue their housework in order to be able to play on the Wii.  I am excited for them to actually have it.  I know that they enjoyed playing it when we lived closer to their uncle and cousin. 

My daily update... I completed my 212 push-ups.  I did 192 on the wall and 20 on a picnic table.   They are getting easier to do, which is nice!  I ran 1/4 mile.  Something kept telling me to turn around, so I did.  I have learned to listen to that still, small voice.

Tonight we had chicken tacos for dinner.  Tomorrow we will have Garlic Chicken (at least that is the plan), and Sunday we will have Thai Chicken pizza from Papa Murphy's.  I will pick it up tomorrow.  It looks really good :)

Ten Things About the Mommy in Me

Ten Things About the Mommy in Me

1. I am a Mama Bear.  I protect my children (and my family) with every fiber of my being. 
2. I will not be a mommy that will ever say, "My child would never do that."  That was something I decided a long time ago when I would hear other mothers say that, when I knew their child did do "that."  I will listen to what the person says and then have a talk with my child.
3. I will stay up all night with a sick child.  My mother did that for me, I will do that for my children.  It will take me a long time to catch up on the sleep I missed, but that is okay.
4. I will teach my children correct principles and let them govern themselves (as adults).  I have to believe that they will know right from wrong.  Of course, for now, I can't let them do much by themselves.
5. I will always let my children know that I love them.  I may not love something that they have done, or a choice they have made, but I love them regardless.
6. I will try to cook them good meals that will help them grow strong and healthy.  We will have chocolate, almost daily, but they get a good dinner too.
7. I feel bad for my children when they get in trouble.  I am sometimes the one that has to discipline them, and I hate doing that, but it is for their good.  I believe that children have to know that there are consequences to their decisions.
8. I am not afraid to die, but I do worry about the what would happen to my children if I did die.  We are not guaranteed any amount of time on earth.  I believe it is imperative to always let people know that you love them (if, in fact, you do.).  That is how I was raised.  We don't let a good-bye end without telling family we love them.
9. I try to always let my children know how proud I am of them.  They all have special characteristics which make them unique.  I try to point those out to them.  
10. There is nothing like having my child tell me he or she loves me.  It melts my heart, especially if it is unsolicited.  When I tell them I love them, they say it back to me, but it is really nice when they just say it out of nowhere.

A Walk Home

Today it is absolutely beautiful outside.  Actually, it isn't 68 to 72 degrees, but to be January and living in Utah, I consider the high 40s to be absolutely beautiful.  When I walked outside to bring my 4 year-old son to school,  I realized how nice it was.  It was too late to walk to school with him, so we drove.  On the way there, I asked him if he wanted to walk home from school this afternoon.  He said yes.  Then he remembered how cold his hands got the last day of school before Christmas, and decided that he didn't want to walk.  I told him that he wouldn't get that cold, there isn't even snow on the ground.  He then decided that he did want to walk.

I got the baby dressed appropriately for a walk, I put her in the baby carrier (I need a new one), filled up my Brita water bottle which has a filter and off we went.  It took about 10 minutes to get there.  I got my 4 year-old and my 7 year-old.  My 7 year-old told me that my 8 year-old already started walking home.  We then started our trek back to the apartment.  It was a nice walk with the children.  I told them that if tomorrow was as nice, we would be walking again.  I don't see any reason to use gas money if I can walk and not worry about falling on ice.  When we arrived home, my 8 year-old was already here.  We decided where we would be meeting tomorrow.

While we walked home we got to talk.  It is nice to have time to spend just talking with the children about nothing in particular, just shooting the breeze.  My 7 year-old daughter shared some raisins with my 4 year-old son while we walked home.  I thought that was nice of her.  She offered to share, he didn't even have to ask.  It is times like that which make me smile.

Last night, my husband, kids (except for my baby), and I went to the gym.  I did the treadmill and elliptical machine while I watched the first half of The Biggest Loser.  My sister likes to watch NCIS which is at the same time.  My children ran around in there.  Before we went to the gym, I had gone for a 1.47 mi run.  I figure if I am going to be getting back into shape, I should get serious about it.  I have finished my 212 wall push-ups for the day, today.  I am honored to be doing them.  I am thankful for painkillers too!  I knew that I would be sore, but this morning I could barely move.  I will continue to push through the pain for this cause.

My 4 year-old is currently protesting needing to help clean the house.  My older two children are doing it willingly.  It is nice to have them cooperating. 

I am going to start dinner... we are having shrimp fried rice with salad.  We were going to have baked chicken with couscous and salad.  The chicken isn't completely thawed yet.  That will be tomorrow's meal. 

What did you do today?  What are your dinner plans?  I can always use suggestions!

Spiderman and a Push-Up Update

Today was my children's first day back at school.  They got up on time and got out the door in plenty of time to get there.  I was worried about that, since they had been staying up way too late recently and sleeping past their usual time to wake up.  Last night, they were sent to bed at 8:30 pm.  They got to stay there until they went to sleep.  It was a little while, but it worked.

After I picked my children up from school, my 4 year-old informed me that he watched "Spiderman."  He watched it about a week ago.  Today is the day that he wanted to talk about the movie.  He told me that the boy got bit by a spider.  He then told me that Spiderman could shoot things from his hand.  My son then told me that Spiderman turned into a superhero when he got bit.

I explained to him that when people get bit by spiders it hurts really bad.  I told him that it puts poison in our bodies.  He counteracted by telling me that we turn into superheroes when we get bit.  I explained again that we really don't want to get bit by a spider.  Now I am somewhat concerned that he might go looking for a spider to bite him.  As far as I know, there are no black widows or brown recluse spiders in the area, which is promising.  He really wants to be able to shoot things from his wrist...

Have any of you had to explain that we don't have any of the superpowers that we might see on television?  Did your child attempt to use a superpower anyway?  It is amazing how influential they are!

On another note, I completed my 212 push-ups for the day, all wall push-ups but they are done.  I am still hoping to get out for a run, but I am not sure when my husband will be arriving home.  Is there anyone else joining me with the push-ups?  Please leave a comment if you are, thank you :)

A Push-Up Challenge Worth Taking

I was on Twitter today when I saw the hashtag #Patriotpushups whiz by.  I had to see what that was all about.  Upon getting to that search, I saw that it was a man that served in both the Afghanistan and Iraqi Wars stating that he was going to do a push-up for each American soldier killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.  When asked what that number was he stated that it was 6347.  When the blogger did the math, it comes out to 212 push-ups a day starting Jan 2. 

Due to a shoulder injury, I can't start out doing that many on the floor.  I am starting out by doing wall push-ups.  I am feeling it already and I have only done 60.  I will have to start earlier in the day tomorrow, but for tonight, I will get them done. 

Please read  the original blog at: http://funandfit.org/2012/01/push-ups-for-patriots/comment-page-1/#comment-16294.  I put this challenge up to anyone that cares to do it.  I feel that it is the least I can do.  Like I said, wall push-ups count.  I will keep you all updated on this challenge.   I feel honored to be able to do this.  I have to get to my running also.  That will start tomorrow. 

Let me know if you are taking the challenge.  I would love to have some friends and/or family join me.  Hope the 2nd day of the New Year has been good to you!

My New Year's Resolutions

2012 is here!  Can anyone believe it?!  It seems like I was just ringing in 2011.  I have a hard time believing how quickly the years fly by.  Doesn't seem right!  My children seem to get older daily.  They are truly the best things that ever happened to me.  This is where my first resolution comes:  I will continue to strive to be the be the best mother I can be.

I gained 50 pounds with my pregnancy.  Much of it I believe can be attributed to the Prednisone, which I continue to take.  I sometimes feel like I am fighting a losing battle with Prednisone in the weight loss department.  I will not give up though.  This resolution has a few parts.  I would like to lose 50 lbs this year, that will be less than 1 pound a week on average, which is totally doable.  I want to run at least 5 miles a week in January, 7 miles a week in February, 10 miles a week in March.   I want to exercise at least 5 days a week for 30 minutes a day.  I want to run a half marathon by the end of the summer.

My next resolution will deal with my peace of mind.  I always feel so much better when I have a clean house.   I will spend at least 30 minutes a day working on keeping a clean house.  I know that once it is clean, it won't take that long to keep clean.

This resolution will deal with spirituality.  I will read my scriptures daily for at least 5 minutes.  I can find 5 minutes a day to read uplifting words.  I will do my Visiting Teaching monthly.  I can do better than I did in 2011 as far as my spiritual goals.

I will blog more frequently.  I love to blog.  I love to sit down and write about the day in my family.  My goal is to have it printed off and bound in a book for my children on a yearly basis.  I do horrible at writing in their journals, so this is why I decided to blog.  I want them to know about what happened in their family on a regular basis.

I hope that 2012 is better than 2011.  I am thankful for all the friendships that I made in 2011.  I look forward to this year and seeing what happens.  I look forward to seeing how my children mature in this year.  I look forward to seeing my family again, whenever that may happen.  It is hard to plan a trip with 4 little children.  It is expensive to fly and it is a long road trip for them if I were to drive.  I would love to win a Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes :)  I know Ed McMahon wouldn't be showing up on my door, but it would be nice if someone would! 

Thank you to my friends who understand that just because I don't see them often, it doesn't mean that I don't love you and think about you often.  You are in my prayers always and I always want the best for you.  I love to read on Facebook about your successes.  I have the best family and friends around.  May you all have a wonderful 2012 and all your dreams come true!