This is a picture of a giraffe that The Girl drew a while back. I wasn't able to post it then, so I'm posting it now. Along with some cowboy/girl pictures a friend took of the kids. Enjoy.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
New Years Resolutions, 2006
***THIS IS MY NEW YEARS POST FROM LAST YEAR. AS I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO SIT DOWN AND WRITE A NEW ONE, I THOUGHT I'D CHEAT AND JUST USE THIS ONE. I SHOULD HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO SIT AT THE COMPUTER AFTER BEDTIME SOON, AND VERY SOON. WE SHOULD BE STARTING WORK ON OUR HOUSE BY NEXT WEEK. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED!***
Well, it’s 1:30 on the morning of January 1st, 2006. I’m sitting in front of my computer, thanks to an earlier ingestion of caffeine. I’m picking apart a salad, because I decided I only wanted to eat the baby carrots, not the lettuce or tomatoes. And I’m thinking, as I have been for the last several days, about New Year’s resolutions. Wondering if I should make any at all. And if I do, should I share them with anyone, or keep them personal? What should they be? Should they be deep, spiritual, emotional things? Like, strengthen my relationship with God by praying six hours a day? Or shallow, physical things? Like, take a shower every day? Maybe a bit of both? Maybe I should start by examining the things about me that I want to change. Get comfortable, ‘cause this could be a long list.
PHYSICAL:
1. Find a good haircut (and someone who knows how to do it).
2. Lose five pounds (preferably in my butt and thighs).
3. Learn how to do my makeup.
4. Buy proper makeup so I can do it right.
5. Do some sit-ups so I can get back the stomach muscles I lost after Tyner was born.
6. Start a regular exercise routine, whether at home or in a gym.
7. Eat healthier, i.e. less refined stuff, more fruits and veggies, less eating out, less soda.
8. Drink water, ‘cause really, I hardly drink any at all.
9. Start dressing better, more feminine. Lose the jeans and t-shirts all the time.
10. Start going to bed earlier (by 10 pm-ish).
11. Stop ingesting caffeine (because it’s EVIL!!!!).
EMOTIONAL/MENTAL:
1. Be a better mother. Less explosive. More fun. More consistent.
2. Be a better wife. Less explosive. More fun. More understanding.
3. Figure out who BETH is. Not who she’s supposed to be, but who she really is.
4. Finally take at least ONE step towards my career goal (career dream, actually, ‘cause I’ve got no goals right now): Accounting.
5. Find myself outside of my family (husband, children, parents, sisters).
6. Continue counseling with Jason, no matter where we’re living.
7. Do my LiveJournal more often, as it’s a good venting place.
SPIRITUAL:1. Get closer to God (how clichéd).
2. Do devotionals every day, instead of every...year?
3. Remember how well God provides for the Hudson family, and continue to trust Him.
4. Teach my children more about God, and be an example for them.
5. Pray more often for my family, and others around me. Maybe start a prayer journal?
FOR FUN:
1. Continue scrapbooking, and finding joy in it.
2. Try to schedule ME time every month, for something totally girly (eyebrow waxing SO does not count!).
3. Pick up a new hobby, maybe something Jay and I can do together (Jay suggested golf).
4. Do something fun with one or both of my children more than rarely.
Well, there is the list as I see it. For now, anyway. I’m sure I could think of a lot more if I really thought about it, and if it wasn’t almost 2:00 am. I don’t know that I’ll make these all New Year’s resolutions. Maybe they should be lifetime goals. Maybe I should really look at them and start making some short-term goals out of them. Why does it have to take so much time to better yourself? Man, I’m such a whiner. Maybe I should add “Stop whining so much” to my list.
So, maybe my NY resolution shouldn’t be all of these things on my list. Maybe it should be only one thing: BETH’S NEW YEARS RESOLUTION 1. Carefully review list of desired changes and begin setting attainable goals for yourself!
Yay! I figured it out. The secret to personal fulfillment and happiness. The Meaning of Life. Okay, maybe not your life, but mine at least. Okay, signing off at exactly 2:00 am on the first day of the New Year. Here’s hoping I can post this, and LiveJournal doesn’t kick me off like it did before. Good thing I typed and saved this in Word first, huh? I’m so smart.
Well, it’s 1:30 on the morning of January 1st, 2006. I’m sitting in front of my computer, thanks to an earlier ingestion of caffeine. I’m picking apart a salad, because I decided I only wanted to eat the baby carrots, not the lettuce or tomatoes. And I’m thinking, as I have been for the last several days, about New Year’s resolutions. Wondering if I should make any at all. And if I do, should I share them with anyone, or keep them personal? What should they be? Should they be deep, spiritual, emotional things? Like, strengthen my relationship with God by praying six hours a day? Or shallow, physical things? Like, take a shower every day? Maybe a bit of both? Maybe I should start by examining the things about me that I want to change. Get comfortable, ‘cause this could be a long list.
PHYSICAL:
1. Find a good haircut (and someone who knows how to do it).
2. Lose five pounds (preferably in my butt and thighs).
3. Learn how to do my makeup.
4. Buy proper makeup so I can do it right.
5. Do some sit-ups so I can get back the stomach muscles I lost after Tyner was born.
6. Start a regular exercise routine, whether at home or in a gym.
7. Eat healthier, i.e. less refined stuff, more fruits and veggies, less eating out, less soda.
8. Drink water, ‘cause really, I hardly drink any at all.
9. Start dressing better, more feminine. Lose the jeans and t-shirts all the time.
10. Start going to bed earlier (by 10 pm-ish).
11. Stop ingesting caffeine (because it’s EVIL!!!!).
EMOTIONAL/MENTAL:
1. Be a better mother. Less explosive. More fun. More consistent.
2. Be a better wife. Less explosive. More fun. More understanding.
3. Figure out who BETH is. Not who she’s supposed to be, but who she really is.
4. Finally take at least ONE step towards my career goal (career dream, actually, ‘cause I’ve got no goals right now): Accounting.
5. Find myself outside of my family (husband, children, parents, sisters).
6. Continue counseling with Jason, no matter where we’re living.
7. Do my LiveJournal more often, as it’s a good venting place.
SPIRITUAL:1. Get closer to God (how clichéd).
2. Do devotionals every day, instead of every...year?
3. Remember how well God provides for the Hudson family, and continue to trust Him.
4. Teach my children more about God, and be an example for them.
5. Pray more often for my family, and others around me. Maybe start a prayer journal?
FOR FUN:
1. Continue scrapbooking, and finding joy in it.
2. Try to schedule ME time every month, for something totally girly (eyebrow waxing SO does not count!).
3. Pick up a new hobby, maybe something Jay and I can do together (Jay suggested golf).
4. Do something fun with one or both of my children more than rarely.
Well, there is the list as I see it. For now, anyway. I’m sure I could think of a lot more if I really thought about it, and if it wasn’t almost 2:00 am. I don’t know that I’ll make these all New Year’s resolutions. Maybe they should be lifetime goals. Maybe I should really look at them and start making some short-term goals out of them. Why does it have to take so much time to better yourself? Man, I’m such a whiner. Maybe I should add “Stop whining so much” to my list.
So, maybe my NY resolution shouldn’t be all of these things on my list. Maybe it should be only one thing: BETH’S NEW YEARS RESOLUTION 1. Carefully review list of desired changes and begin setting attainable goals for yourself!
Yay! I figured it out. The secret to personal fulfillment and happiness. The Meaning of Life. Okay, maybe not your life, but mine at least. Okay, signing off at exactly 2:00 am on the first day of the New Year. Here’s hoping I can post this, and LiveJournal doesn’t kick me off like it did before. Good thing I typed and saved this in Word first, huh? I’m so smart.
Monday, November 20, 2006
My Secret Identities!
1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current street name) Dusty Highway
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (favorite cookie, fav ice cream flavor) PeanutButter Daquiri
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)B-Hud
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Blue Beagle
5. YOUR PORNO NAME: (most recent pet, grandma's maiden name) Chesty Racer (Hub's Gma's maiden name, misspelled for effect)
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, last 4 letters of mom's maiden name) Hud Be Murr
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The") The Pink Soda
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers/grandmothers) Doris Ila Raymond Robert
9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne) Polo Sport
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name) Lee Franklin
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (favorite cookie, fav ice cream flavor) PeanutButter Daquiri
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)B-Hud
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Blue Beagle
5. YOUR PORNO NAME: (most recent pet, grandma's maiden name) Chesty Racer (Hub's Gma's maiden name, misspelled for effect)
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, last 4 letters of mom's maiden name) Hud Be Murr
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The") The Pink Soda
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers/grandmothers) Doris Ila Raymond Robert
9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne) Polo Sport
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name) Lee Franklin
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Tuesday in Etna
Those of you who know me, know I hate to get up early. I love sleeping, and therefore I love sleeping LATE. I'm not sure what is so much better about sleeping late in the mornings as opposed to sleeping earlier in the night, but there you go. So, I have made a mid-November resolution. I need to start getting up earlier, so that I can be showered and dressed and going before The Kids get up. And I need to start doing this NOW so that when (if? when? if?) I start working, and when we move to our own house, I will be used to it and it won't be such a shock to my poor system. So, I got up at 6:15 this morning. Actually, the alarm went off at 6:01, and I sorta' fell back to sleep, but I did get out of bed at 6:15. I was out of the shower and dressed when The Girl got up at 6:45. Got her some breakfast at around 7-ish, since she was "SOOO HUNGRY!!!" Got myself some hot cider and a banana. And then came back and got on the computer, hoping to get some stuff looked at before The Boy wakes up.
Well, he is up now. He heard The Hubster in the garbage truck outside. The Boy was yelling for me and when I went into his room he goes "Daddy here. I want go see him!" So, we hustled to the backdoor to wave to Daddy The Garbage Man.
As for the rest of the day, we have MOPS in about an hour. We are taking pictures of the kids today as our craft. It should be interesting. Hope The Boy is in a good mood. When we get home I've got a couple loads of laundry to throw in. I should probably change the sheets on our bed and put the flannel ones on, 'cause it is getting COLD here at night (and during the day, too!). The kids' sheets could probably use a washing too, so I'll have to do sheets first before nap time. The poor Boy only has one sheet for his crib. GG and Papa have a potluck for their bible study tonight, so I'm in charge of dinner. The Girl wanted spaghetti, so maybe I'll make some meatballs (she doesn't like meat sauce, but the rest of us like meat). We have salad stuff and some french bread. So, that's dinner for the day. Not sure what I'll do between the laundry and dinner, but I'm sure I can find some chore that needs to be done. Funny thing is, I find that when I get up and going early in the morning, I tend to be more driven to do chores, or house-y things, throughout the day. Maybe I'll bake something while the kids are napping.
Anyway. Enough rambling about my day. I'm enjoying myself right now. The kids and I are back in my room. I'm on the computer and The Girl is playing with Legos on the floor next to me. She has discovered a passion for Legos since The Boy's birthday party, where he got a tub of them. The Boy was watching TV, but now both kids are digging through the box of shoes trying to find The Girl's high heels. That's going to be a fun clean-up job for them.
Some of you know I read this website called The Family Homestead. Well, the other day we ran out of chocolate syrup, and didn't have money to go buy more. And my kids love chocolate milk. So, I decided to make my own from a recipe on that website. It was good. Not as sweet as the store bought stuff, and I actually know what went into it, which is nice. I'll post the recipe down below. This website is great. A lot of good recipes and tips for homemaking. On days when I feel lazy I go and read some of her articles in the "Homemaking and Home Management" section, and it gives me the motivation to get up and do something. It also helps me to remember what the main goal is, taking care of my family, and that it's not all just drudgery. I urge you all to check out this website. I look at it everyday. So, here is the recipe:
Chocolate Syrup
Crystal Miller
This syrup works great for topping vanilla pudding or for using to make chocolate milk. My kids love it!
½ C dry cocoa powder
1 C cane juice crystals (you can use white sugar here)
1 C water
1 tsp vanilla
In a sauce pan mix cocoa powder, cane juice crystal’s and water. Bring to a boil and make sure all the chocolate powder is broken up and the cane juice crystals are dissolved. Remove from heat and add vanilla and stir. Let cool and use or store in a canning jar in the fridge.
To use for chocolate milk simply mix in the desired amount of chocolate syrup to 1 glass of cold milk and enjoy!
Okay, there it is. I need to get going so that I can get the kids dressed and ready for MOPS. Hope you all have a good day!
Well, he is up now. He heard The Hubster in the garbage truck outside. The Boy was yelling for me and when I went into his room he goes "Daddy here. I want go see him!" So, we hustled to the backdoor to wave to Daddy The Garbage Man.
As for the rest of the day, we have MOPS in about an hour. We are taking pictures of the kids today as our craft. It should be interesting. Hope The Boy is in a good mood. When we get home I've got a couple loads of laundry to throw in. I should probably change the sheets on our bed and put the flannel ones on, 'cause it is getting COLD here at night (and during the day, too!). The kids' sheets could probably use a washing too, so I'll have to do sheets first before nap time. The poor Boy only has one sheet for his crib. GG and Papa have a potluck for their bible study tonight, so I'm in charge of dinner. The Girl wanted spaghetti, so maybe I'll make some meatballs (she doesn't like meat sauce, but the rest of us like meat). We have salad stuff and some french bread. So, that's dinner for the day. Not sure what I'll do between the laundry and dinner, but I'm sure I can find some chore that needs to be done. Funny thing is, I find that when I get up and going early in the morning, I tend to be more driven to do chores, or house-y things, throughout the day. Maybe I'll bake something while the kids are napping.
Anyway. Enough rambling about my day. I'm enjoying myself right now. The kids and I are back in my room. I'm on the computer and The Girl is playing with Legos on the floor next to me. She has discovered a passion for Legos since The Boy's birthday party, where he got a tub of them. The Boy was watching TV, but now both kids are digging through the box of shoes trying to find The Girl's high heels. That's going to be a fun clean-up job for them.
Some of you know I read this website called The Family Homestead. Well, the other day we ran out of chocolate syrup, and didn't have money to go buy more. And my kids love chocolate milk. So, I decided to make my own from a recipe on that website. It was good. Not as sweet as the store bought stuff, and I actually know what went into it, which is nice. I'll post the recipe down below. This website is great. A lot of good recipes and tips for homemaking. On days when I feel lazy I go and read some of her articles in the "Homemaking and Home Management" section, and it gives me the motivation to get up and do something. It also helps me to remember what the main goal is, taking care of my family, and that it's not all just drudgery. I urge you all to check out this website. I look at it everyday. So, here is the recipe:
Chocolate Syrup
Crystal Miller
This syrup works great for topping vanilla pudding or for using to make chocolate milk. My kids love it!
½ C dry cocoa powder
1 C cane juice crystals (you can use white sugar here)
1 C water
1 tsp vanilla
In a sauce pan mix cocoa powder, cane juice crystal’s and water. Bring to a boil and make sure all the chocolate powder is broken up and the cane juice crystals are dissolved. Remove from heat and add vanilla and stir. Let cool and use or store in a canning jar in the fridge.
To use for chocolate milk simply mix in the desired amount of chocolate syrup to 1 glass of cold milk and enjoy!
Okay, there it is. I need to get going so that I can get the kids dressed and ready for MOPS. Hope you all have a good day!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
School Pictures
Here are the kids' school pictures. The Boy isn't actually in school, but we got his done anyway. Didn't his turn out so cute? To all the sister's, yours are in the mail!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Update
Okay, so I talked to one of my sisters today, and realized that I never know who I've told what to. There are so many people who I talk to, and I never remember who I've updated and who I haven't. So, I'll just update on here "from now on." On with the show...
The house thing seems to be moving along well. The Hubster's dad got called to the bank to sign more papers for the loan on the house they are buying, so that's all going good. We will hopefully be able to move into the small house on the grandparents property by Thanksgiving *keeping my fingers crossed*. That will be after ripping out carpet, cleaning, painting, and replacing flooring.
The Hubster is liking his new job. He's a garbage man (Waste Management Technician?), for those that don't know. I just made an appointment for him today at DMV to take his class B license test next month. I saw him driving the truck today for the first time. My husband looks very cute when he is all blue collar like that! He has been doing a lot of hunting with his grandpa the last few weeks. He got his resident hunting license and a bear tag, so he is hoping to get something (remember, we don't "catch" the wild animals). Papa bought a new quad, and gave The Hubster his old one, and he is loving that. I think so far he is content being down here. Liking work and having recreation time are big pluses for him and his sanity.
The kids are doing good. The Girl started preschool a couple of weeks ago. She is going Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I was hoping she would be going five days a week this year, but so far they don't have any spots open. If they get one, though, her teacher said she could have it. The Boy is good too. I can't believe he'll be three in two and a half weeks. Man, time flies. He still has his attitude, but we're trying to train that out of him. Both kids are able to go to Awanas this year (Wednesday night church). They are both in the Cubbies class, although they are in different groups. And darn it, they look awfully cute with their vests on! We have started talking about Halloween costumes. The Girl wanted to be Belle, but WalMart didn't have that costume. So then she picked a mermaid fairy, or something like that. That costume was too big for her, so she decided she wanted to be a pirate like her brother. Which I think is totally appropriate, because they are both SO into Peter Pan right now. Well, not so much Peter Pan as Captain Hook. So, GG and I are going to work on pirate costumes for the two of them. I'll post pictures when we get them all together.
As for me, well, I'm doing good. Still waiting to hear from someone about a job. Got a call from PremierWest Bank the other day, but it was for a full-time position. When I told her I wanted part-time, she sounded interested, like maybe a part-time job was going to be coming available. So, I'm still waiting to see. We could really use the money that a full-time position would bring, but I'm trusting God that his plan is for me to work part-time. He will bring something when it's his time. Until then, I know he will provide for our needs with what we have available. I have started going to MOPS and a bible study down here. The cool thing is, most of my friends from before go to the bible study, so it's been really easy to slip back into my place here. That's the thing I love about a small town like this. It's like we never left. Now I'm just continuing to pray that The Hubster will go with me to the bible study. You guys pray too, okay? Okay. Maybe after hunting season is over.
So, anyway. There is the rundown of whats been happening down here. Hope you all enjoyed it!
The house thing seems to be moving along well. The Hubster's dad got called to the bank to sign more papers for the loan on the house they are buying, so that's all going good. We will hopefully be able to move into the small house on the grandparents property by Thanksgiving *keeping my fingers crossed*. That will be after ripping out carpet, cleaning, painting, and replacing flooring.
The Hubster is liking his new job. He's a garbage man (Waste Management Technician?), for those that don't know. I just made an appointment for him today at DMV to take his class B license test next month. I saw him driving the truck today for the first time. My husband looks very cute when he is all blue collar like that! He has been doing a lot of hunting with his grandpa the last few weeks. He got his resident hunting license and a bear tag, so he is hoping to get something (remember, we don't "catch" the wild animals). Papa bought a new quad, and gave The Hubster his old one, and he is loving that. I think so far he is content being down here. Liking work and having recreation time are big pluses for him and his sanity.
The kids are doing good. The Girl started preschool a couple of weeks ago. She is going Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I was hoping she would be going five days a week this year, but so far they don't have any spots open. If they get one, though, her teacher said she could have it. The Boy is good too. I can't believe he'll be three in two and a half weeks. Man, time flies. He still has his attitude, but we're trying to train that out of him. Both kids are able to go to Awanas this year (Wednesday night church). They are both in the Cubbies class, although they are in different groups. And darn it, they look awfully cute with their vests on! We have started talking about Halloween costumes. The Girl wanted to be Belle, but WalMart didn't have that costume. So then she picked a mermaid fairy, or something like that. That costume was too big for her, so she decided she wanted to be a pirate like her brother. Which I think is totally appropriate, because they are both SO into Peter Pan right now. Well, not so much Peter Pan as Captain Hook. So, GG and I are going to work on pirate costumes for the two of them. I'll post pictures when we get them all together.
As for me, well, I'm doing good. Still waiting to hear from someone about a job. Got a call from PremierWest Bank the other day, but it was for a full-time position. When I told her I wanted part-time, she sounded interested, like maybe a part-time job was going to be coming available. So, I'm still waiting to see. We could really use the money that a full-time position would bring, but I'm trusting God that his plan is for me to work part-time. He will bring something when it's his time. Until then, I know he will provide for our needs with what we have available. I have started going to MOPS and a bible study down here. The cool thing is, most of my friends from before go to the bible study, so it's been really easy to slip back into my place here. That's the thing I love about a small town like this. It's like we never left. Now I'm just continuing to pray that The Hubster will go with me to the bible study. You guys pray too, okay? Okay. Maybe after hunting season is over.
So, anyway. There is the rundown of whats been happening down here. Hope you all enjoyed it!
Friday, September 15, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Akeelah and the Bee
So, I just watched the movie Akeelah and the Bee. It was a very good movie, and I would recommend it to anyone. It is even okay for kids, although younger ones might not be too interested in it. And if any of you are wondering who Akeelah's older brother is played by (as in, you can't figure out where you've seen him before), he is the guy from The Famous Jett Jackson that used to play on Disney Channel. Anyhoo. This movie is one of those that makes you want to run out and buy a dictionary. Okay, not really. But it is one that feels inspirational, that makes you want to push yourself a little bit harder at what you do. It also made me want more for my kids. It made me hope for more for them. It made me dream of what they might accomplish if I give them the support and love that they need. There was also a very good quote in the movie. I think they used part of this quote in the previews, but I'm going to post the entire thing here. I think I'm also going to print it out as a reminder for me. So, enjoy. And maybe be inspired.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-Marianne Williamson
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-Marianne Williamson
One Bottle of Water (or, The Post in Which I Call Myself a Schlub Five Times)
Yep. One bottle is all the water I drank today. I’m such a schlub. I have been so negligent lately about eating healthy and exercising. For a while I was doing really great about working out every other day. I was going to yoga twice a week, on my off days. I was drinking more water than soda. I was eating healthy foods and cutting back on my addiction (High Fructose Corn Syrup). Somewhere, that all stopped. Actually, I can tell you when it stopped.
It stopped when we went to Etna to pick up The Girl from her visit to GG and Papa’s. We were down there for three weeks. I did pretty good at first. I went to the gym every other day. I took a really long walk (almost five miles). Pretty much all I drank was water. I was eating really healthy. I only made it to yoga the last Monday we were there because of the holiday and a family dinner. I’m not so sure it stopped there, or if it stopped when we got back. The working out stopped when we got back. I don’t know why. The Hubster was unemployed, so I didn’t have to take the kids with me, so I don’t know what my excuse was. I was still going to yoga twice a week. Then, mid-August I cancelled my gym membership. And even though the membership doesn’t actually expire until the end of September, I stopped going to yoga. Like I said, I’m a schlub.
Something I’ve learned about myself over the last few years: I’m one of those people who have to start with working out, and the healthy eating follows almost without conscious effort. Therefore, when the working out stops, the healthy eating stops as well. So, since I’ve given up pretty much all physical activity, I’ve given up pretty much all healthy food. And really, it’s not that I’m eating tons of unhealthy food. Really, I’m just not eating much at all. I usually skip breakfast, which I’ve heard is a big no-no. Some days I have lunch and some days I don’t, depending on how much energy I need to put into the kids (meaning: more energy, no lunch; less energy, yes lunch). I usually eat dinner, because most nights I cook it. But I have been eating smaller portion sizes lately, since I was shocking myself with the amount of food I was consuming at the evening meal. My water-drinking has become almost non-existent. I’m back to eating lots of candy and chips, especially late at night (which again, I’ve heard is a big no-no). Again, I’m a schlub.
Something else I’ve learned about myself over the years. I am not very self-motivated when it comes to working out. I can’t pop in an exercise video at home and have a great workout. I don’t like to use the treadmill in the dining room, or run on the road, alone. The thing is, even though I didn’t talk to anyone at the gym, I was so much more enthused about working out when I was there. I could run on the treadmill for an hour. I could do a weight machine circuit in no time. I would just put my headphones on, sweat like a fool, and watch people. But the thing is, my life isn’t very conducive to gym memberships. I’ve got two small kids and a husband at home. I have other things I could be doing with that time. But I enjoyed that time so much! I enjoyed feeling healthy. I enjoyed being able to touch my toes for the first time in my life after four months of yoga. And let me tell you, after a month of no yoga, my body is protesting. That is definitely something I need to keep up with.
Anyway. I’m not sure what the point of this post is. I guess just to tell you what a schlub I am. How I don’t take care of my body. And I’m not even getting into showering and hair products and make-up and how many times a day I brush my teeth. Hygiene is a whole other post. But only because I’m a schlub.
It stopped when we went to Etna to pick up The Girl from her visit to GG and Papa’s. We were down there for three weeks. I did pretty good at first. I went to the gym every other day. I took a really long walk (almost five miles). Pretty much all I drank was water. I was eating really healthy. I only made it to yoga the last Monday we were there because of the holiday and a family dinner. I’m not so sure it stopped there, or if it stopped when we got back. The working out stopped when we got back. I don’t know why. The Hubster was unemployed, so I didn’t have to take the kids with me, so I don’t know what my excuse was. I was still going to yoga twice a week. Then, mid-August I cancelled my gym membership. And even though the membership doesn’t actually expire until the end of September, I stopped going to yoga. Like I said, I’m a schlub.
Something I’ve learned about myself over the last few years: I’m one of those people who have to start with working out, and the healthy eating follows almost without conscious effort. Therefore, when the working out stops, the healthy eating stops as well. So, since I’ve given up pretty much all physical activity, I’ve given up pretty much all healthy food. And really, it’s not that I’m eating tons of unhealthy food. Really, I’m just not eating much at all. I usually skip breakfast, which I’ve heard is a big no-no. Some days I have lunch and some days I don’t, depending on how much energy I need to put into the kids (meaning: more energy, no lunch; less energy, yes lunch). I usually eat dinner, because most nights I cook it. But I have been eating smaller portion sizes lately, since I was shocking myself with the amount of food I was consuming at the evening meal. My water-drinking has become almost non-existent. I’m back to eating lots of candy and chips, especially late at night (which again, I’ve heard is a big no-no). Again, I’m a schlub.
Something else I’ve learned about myself over the years. I am not very self-motivated when it comes to working out. I can’t pop in an exercise video at home and have a great workout. I don’t like to use the treadmill in the dining room, or run on the road, alone. The thing is, even though I didn’t talk to anyone at the gym, I was so much more enthused about working out when I was there. I could run on the treadmill for an hour. I could do a weight machine circuit in no time. I would just put my headphones on, sweat like a fool, and watch people. But the thing is, my life isn’t very conducive to gym memberships. I’ve got two small kids and a husband at home. I have other things I could be doing with that time. But I enjoyed that time so much! I enjoyed feeling healthy. I enjoyed being able to touch my toes for the first time in my life after four months of yoga. And let me tell you, after a month of no yoga, my body is protesting. That is definitely something I need to keep up with.
Anyway. I’m not sure what the point of this post is. I guess just to tell you what a schlub I am. How I don’t take care of my body. And I’m not even getting into showering and hair products and make-up and how many times a day I brush my teeth. Hygiene is a whole other post. But only because I’m a schlub.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
My Kids Are Short
As our kids get older, we all say things like “You’re growing up so fast,” or “You’re getting so big.” I myself have said these very things to both my kids in the last few months. Sometimes they seem like clichés, over used phrases meant to praise our kids. But really, physically, emotionally, and mentally, they are so true. The Girl has a pair of pants that used to fit her, but are suddenly capris. The Boy can sing most of “Jesus Loves Me,” as long as you can keep him calm, and he doesn’t turn into his rabid, weird self. My baby boy is no longer a baby, but a crazy, loud, energetic toddler. My chubby cheeked, big-eyed girl is no longer a toddler, but a slim, to-smart-for-her-own-good preschooler. The days go so fast, even when they seem so slow. But anyway, all this melancholy wasn’t the point of this post. I’ve gotten all swept away in the nostalgia and sadness that is motherhood. Here’s the point:
I realized something tonight, as The Girl came out of her dark room, “needing to pee” (even though she had gone right before bed, a half hour before). My children are really very short. I know this seems to be one of those “Well, duh!” statements, but it’s really meant in a profound way. I was irritated with her, because I don’t think she really peed at all, or that she really needed to go in the first place. I ordered her back to bed, and as I was walking behind her out of the bathroom, I realized how short she is. (Speaking of peeing, it’s now 1:00 am, and The Girl just stumbled in here bleary-eyed and half awake, needing to go. But she really had to go this time.) And in that instant, in realizing that she was short physically, I also realized that she is “short” emotionally, and behaviorally. I don’t mean to say that she is behind or that she has problems. Just that she is four years old, and The Boy is two, and sometimes I forget that.
The Girl, in my opinion, has always been a bit ahead of the curve. She hit all the milestones just slightly ahead of schedule. She walked at 11 months, she started talking around 15. She has always been so intelligent that I guess I’ve begun to think of her as being older than she is. Even in all the times I’ve reminded The Hubster “She’s only four!” I guess I too have been guilty of forgetting her physical age. As I walked behind her to her room, to lay her back down in bed, my anger dissipated. How could I be mad at someone so small for something so…small?
Sometimes I’m disappointed in myself, for how upset I get at the kids for such insignificant things. The Girl will ask me for chocolate milk when I’m in the middle of making dinner. I get so irritated with her, even though she hasn’t done anything wrong. She isn’t throwing a fit, or demanding that I get it for her NOW. She has simply made a request for something that she can’t get for herself. Most of the time, when I change The Boy’s diaper, before he can lay down, he has to hug me. Why should this frustrate me? My wonderful, loving son is only trying to show affection to me. And I’m annoyed because he’s taking up my time. Time that I could be doing what? Surfing the internet, watching TV, reading my book? How could any of these things be more important than getting a hug from my baby? Why am I letting myself miss these opportunities? Opportunities to make memories with my kids, build up their self-esteem, or show them that I care? I always said, growing up, that I wanted to be a mother. Why am I not taking this chance that God has given me to BE a mother? To BE involved, to BE loving, to BE there for my kids. How have I let everything else become more important to me than my own flesh and blood?
Whew. Okay. Guess it’s back to the melancholy, isn’t it? The whole point of this thing was that my kids are short, and I need to start treating them like they are. But then the Guilt Monster came in and took over. Well, I should go to bed now. Its 1:30 and I’m afraid the battery on my new laptop is going to give out soon. Oh yeah, did I mention I’m sitting in bed, typing this on my new computer I bought from my bestest friend? Sweet. Good thing The Hubster is hunting for the week, or I would still be exiled to the freezing dining room.
***EDITED TO ADD: This morning, at 6:30, when both of my children are already awake (one having been up for at least an hour already), and after getting five hours sleep, doesn’t seem like such a good time to test my “be nice to short people” theory. But I will try.***
I realized something tonight, as The Girl came out of her dark room, “needing to pee” (even though she had gone right before bed, a half hour before). My children are really very short. I know this seems to be one of those “Well, duh!” statements, but it’s really meant in a profound way. I was irritated with her, because I don’t think she really peed at all, or that she really needed to go in the first place. I ordered her back to bed, and as I was walking behind her out of the bathroom, I realized how short she is. (Speaking of peeing, it’s now 1:00 am, and The Girl just stumbled in here bleary-eyed and half awake, needing to go. But she really had to go this time.) And in that instant, in realizing that she was short physically, I also realized that she is “short” emotionally, and behaviorally. I don’t mean to say that she is behind or that she has problems. Just that she is four years old, and The Boy is two, and sometimes I forget that.
The Girl, in my opinion, has always been a bit ahead of the curve. She hit all the milestones just slightly ahead of schedule. She walked at 11 months, she started talking around 15. She has always been so intelligent that I guess I’ve begun to think of her as being older than she is. Even in all the times I’ve reminded The Hubster “She’s only four!” I guess I too have been guilty of forgetting her physical age. As I walked behind her to her room, to lay her back down in bed, my anger dissipated. How could I be mad at someone so small for something so…small?
Sometimes I’m disappointed in myself, for how upset I get at the kids for such insignificant things. The Girl will ask me for chocolate milk when I’m in the middle of making dinner. I get so irritated with her, even though she hasn’t done anything wrong. She isn’t throwing a fit, or demanding that I get it for her NOW. She has simply made a request for something that she can’t get for herself. Most of the time, when I change The Boy’s diaper, before he can lay down, he has to hug me. Why should this frustrate me? My wonderful, loving son is only trying to show affection to me. And I’m annoyed because he’s taking up my time. Time that I could be doing what? Surfing the internet, watching TV, reading my book? How could any of these things be more important than getting a hug from my baby? Why am I letting myself miss these opportunities? Opportunities to make memories with my kids, build up their self-esteem, or show them that I care? I always said, growing up, that I wanted to be a mother. Why am I not taking this chance that God has given me to BE a mother? To BE involved, to BE loving, to BE there for my kids. How have I let everything else become more important to me than my own flesh and blood?
Whew. Okay. Guess it’s back to the melancholy, isn’t it? The whole point of this thing was that my kids are short, and I need to start treating them like they are. But then the Guilt Monster came in and took over. Well, I should go to bed now. Its 1:30 and I’m afraid the battery on my new laptop is going to give out soon. Oh yeah, did I mention I’m sitting in bed, typing this on my new computer I bought from my bestest friend? Sweet. Good thing The Hubster is hunting for the week, or I would still be exiled to the freezing dining room.
***EDITED TO ADD: This morning, at 6:30, when both of my children are already awake (one having been up for at least an hour already), and after getting five hours sleep, doesn’t seem like such a good time to test my “be nice to short people” theory. But I will try.***
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
