Lest We Forget…

Memorial Day. 

Yeah, our family might have a picnic, and work in the yard, buy something on sale, but we are not going to forget what today is really about. 

Mud Monster Mayhem

Mayhem might be an appropriate description of the month of May in our home. Lots of good mayhem and some bad as well. I apologize for being so absent (in more ways than one) over the past 18 days.

Tonight I’m breathing a huge sigh of relief because the garden is Planted! All of it! Done! Whippee! Just in time for the rain. It’s nearly triple the size it was at it’s largest. I promise some before and after pictures soon. I realize the work isn’t done because no sooner have the plants started poking their tender shoots out of the ground then the the weeds start rearing their ugly tops as well. So I know it will be a long haul but I’m totally invigorated by the thoughts of constant dirt under my nails. Maybe the farm girl in me is awakening after all.

My girls loved working in the garden with me, boys - not so much. Little Hope took every opportunity she could to play in the dirt, and when lucky, the mud puddle as well.

Some of the other frantic stuff that’s been happening in our neck of the woods is, well, rather frantic. A little over a week ago (in the middle of the night) I had a proper scare when I discovered my sleeping Hope not breathing. I snatched her up and she immediately started breathing again, but it nearly put me into shock. I couldn’t sleep the rest of the night as I was hyper sensitive to her every breath. She would stop breathing for periods of 5-8 seconds (an eternity to a worried mom), twitch, then start breathing again. Who ever heard of a three year old with sleep apnea. I took her to the clinic the next day and we’ve now got her scheduled for appointments, sleep studies and possible tonsillectomy. The doctor said she had some big-uns that could be obstructing her airways while sleeping but we won’t know for sure until after the studies. Oh, and he told me not to worry – that’s been hard to do. I must check on her 4-5 times a night I’m so paranoid.

Princess flunked her well child eye exam with the doctor and so today we visited the eye doctor and lo and behold the darling needs glasses. Far-sighted little sweetie might actually be able to read now. She’s tickled pink that she’s the first kid in our family to get glasses.

I finished my six week Helga workout and survived. Completed every challenge.

Good news – I lost 10 lbs of fat!!!

Bad news – I gained 8 lbs of muscle :(

Only 2 lbs for six grueling weeks. T-rev did it with me and won one of the prize drawings. Get this – Exercise your kiester off and they put your name in a drawing to win fabulous prizes. He won tickets to a movie theater and a Domino Pizza certificate. I think they want him to enjoy those certificates so that he will have to continue to come in to lose the weight he’ll gain participating in those yummy activities. Smart marketing?

I got a plaque saying I survived the fitness challenge – All umpteen categories of the challenge.

So much more happened - maybe I'll come up for air and tell you about it sometime. Right now I'm just going to sit back and listen to the rain patter on the roof and windows, and envision all those juicy veggies popping up out of the ground.

May Day Fun

‘…sometimes on a sunny day it began even to be pleasant and genial, and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which freshening daily, suggested that Hope traversed them at night and left each morning brighter traces of her steps.’

from Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’

I love May Day. Gardening, Spring Flowers, going outside after a long wet winter. This is only the second year our family has really celebrated May Day, but I can only see the tradition getting stronger.

This year we did everything we did last year. From the flower crowns, to taking around May baskets to our neighbors.

You know to thank them for putting up with us, the screaming kids, and our messy yard for yet another year.

Who cares if they were delivered barefoot. It was a gorgeous day.

I really wanted a May Pole but I wasn’t willing to cut a live tree down. I’m still waiting for one to fall naturally that I can save and decorate. Next year – maybe.

This year I added a bit of whimsy that I found in this fun book.

The writer talks about knowing two old ladies that collected the first morning dew of may and used it to keep their skin flawless.

Yeah, I know it’s a bit Looney, but I’ve found the best way to encourage my darlings to do something drab and boring, like washing with soap, is to add a bit of the fantastical to the chore.

So bright and early this morning I set out to collect some May dew.

Just got a tiny bit.

Found my sweeties some bud vases at Target, bought some cork tops at the local craft store. I let the girls decorate the tops with glue, gems and flowers. Each vase held a couple of drops of May dew to which I added some body wash.

What better way to get them to wash often than to add some whimsical magic to their routine.

I Love Spring! and cherry blossoms, and flowery scents.

I have to admit it’s finally here. I even got some peas finally planted in my garden. I know I’m a couple of weeks late but considering spring was a few months late I’m hoping I’ll be o.k.

The old clunker get’s a tune-up!

So every now and then your old jalopy needs a wee bit of a tune – up.  Trouble is when you take a vehicle in for a little work they generally find a lot more than needs to be done.  We took the beast in for new front tires and lo and behold it needed brakes, bearings and what-not as well.  So $1,800 later we drove it home and it’s been parked ever since.  Blasted money pit.

So my dear friends decided I needed a tune-up as well.  They said it wasn’t a make-over (because miracles are rare) but a little spa pampering.  So Monday they took me to the Tune-up shop.

The Ladybug Lady  (as Hope calls her), gave me a much needed trim and layer.

I wasn’t brave enough to have her whack it off.  I’m waiting to hit goal weight for that.  Then I’ll have her give me an Alice Haircut.

 

But only if I’m a skinny little thing.  Meanwhile Prince Erik is relieved that a trim and layers is all I had Ladybug Lady do.  Too bad she could get rid of my double chin as well.

Then Mommiverse  helped me put on a little paint.  I’m not a make-up girl.  Prince Erik wishes I was.  What you see is what you get.  But hey, I don’t mind applying some stuff every now and then (church and dates).

O.K. I’m sick of posting pictures of me, it’s not that fun.

After my war paint was applied Fancy took me shopping.  TJ Maxx and $100.  She wouldn’t tell me who donated the money.  So whoever you are Thanks from me, thanks from my family as well.  And my wardrobe thanks you greatly.  I guess my friends were tired of seeing me in workout clothes, and tee shirts all the time.

 

This picture is not the best but I love this coral colored top.  It even hides my muffin top – Kind of.  I ended up getting a couple of darling skirts, shirts and a yoga mat.  I’ve promised DARling that I’d take  a Hot Yoga class with her soon.  Maybe I can sweat off the weight.

Sunshine stopped by with her daughter to chat while I was undergoing my tune-up and take evidence of my overhaul.

 

Fancy and DARling treated me to a healthy lunch and even took turns watching Hope.  How cool are my friends?  It was one of the sweetest birthday presents I’ve ever received. Thank you ladies.

Now I’m off to help the Herd as we Tune-up the Garden.

And for Earth day don’t forget to check out my Mommy Blessings Blog for a free Green Giveaway.  Enter there for your chance to win this book.

Toodles!

Helga Here

So my DARLing trainer has been putting me through the torture ringer for the past few weeks and I’ve been putting myself through the Gladiator's Extreme Workout the rest of the time.  The weapons I use (just my body), no maces, or swords allowed.  The amount logged in three weeks of sweat soaked clothes, gallons of water sucked down and burning muscles from Hades is:

77 miles on the bike, 19 miles run on treadmill, 26 miles on the elliptical,  1000 Floors (Not steps but Floors) on the Stairmaster, and over 550 set (10 reps is 1 set) of Free Weights, Circuit Machines, or Core Exercise.  Currently averaging 1 1/2 hours a day – 6 days a week.  I know I’m insane so you don’t need to bother pointing that out.

I’m going for the biggest exercise challenge with hopes of qualifying, among the handfuls of other people weird enough to kill themselves, for 1 free years membership at the Health Club.  I could really use that free membership.

Results:  The muffin top is shrinking and my clothes are not feeling like the seams are going to burst anymore.  I now fit 3 pairs of pants instead of 2.  And I can run a 5K in 33 minutes (improved over 7 minutes off my time of a month ago, and 1 measly pound.

Just 1 lb.  (How discouraging is that?)

My young and gorgeous counselor told me to throw out the scale and not weigh in again for another 3 weeks (duration of workout challenge at the local gym).  I’ll take new measurements then too.

No I haven’t over compensated in eating more.  In fact I’m sticking to my WW points like they were gold.  I’m just waging war with my fat and it’s trying to see if I’m woman enough to keep going.  Stupid fat.

My goal – Hope that I can get back on track for my Marathon goal.  I feel borderline now as to if I will try the 10K in June.  If I manage it then I’ll feel like I’m back in the groove.  We’ll see.

Meanwhile, I think if I keep this insane workout schedule up I may be able to give Helga from American Gladiator’s a run for her money in muscle size.

Sorry I haven’t been around that much.  Spring Break was last week and the kids kept me hopping,  This week I relaxed a bit(recovering from what the kids did to me over Spring Break).

Well I’m off to find my garden among the weeds.  Pray I don’t get lost in that jungle.

Easter, Simply Easter.

This year Easter was the simplest we’ve ever had. Partly because of finances, partly because we’re really trying to teach our children the true meaning of Easter.

No Easter Bunny, no new clothes, no baskets. What? Nothing?

I did want to repurpose my girls some dresses but ran out of time, I wouldn’t have minded giving them little gifts like I did last year, but I waited until there was no money in the checkbook to think about getting anything. The girls got stuffed lambs that I got on clearance last year. The boys chocolate Easter bunnies that we got at a community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. So were they deprived?

We spent the entire week celebrating Easter! Had a special Birthday Dinner & Passover Feast. Read scriptures daily about the last week of Christ’s life. And had a special dinner today.

It was simple but lovely. It’s simplicity reminded me of a trip my husband and I went on to Denmark around 7-8 years ago. (Wow, has it been that long?) My husbands Wonderful Uncle and Aunt live there and were kind enough to host us and take us to many of the different tourist sites there.

My favorite experience happened to be when we visited Frederiksborg Castle.

It was amazing. Here in America you go to museums, or tourist places and everything is roped off and guarded. There although I’m sure it’s heavily secured you feel as if your going back in time because you don’t see the guards, glass walls, or any of the security devices. You're there walking through history. You can read more about the castle HERE!

The most fascinating part for me was the Palace Chapel, and one small ajoining room.

Opulent, ornate, Baroque through and through. Truly a marvel to look at. But really spiritually empty compared to a little dark room off to the side of it. The little dark room is the Kings Prayer room and it contains 23 of the most beautiful pictures of Christ’s life you have ever laid eyes on. It’s like walking on sacred ground – these pictures are so touching. And the joy and peace you feel is wonderful. You forget the worldly materialism of the chapel as you focus on the Savior’s life.

The paintings were commissioned when the castle was restored after a fire. It took Carl Bloch 14 years to paint the 23 paintings and they transformed his life in so many ways. He is one of the greatest artist’s to ever interpret the life and death of Christ. To see more of his paintings go HERE.

My favorite painting, which I had never seen until that trip to Denmark, is called ‘Agony in the Garden’.

It’s humbling to know how much the Savior suffered in my behalf. Some day, after I’m out of debt, I love to purchase a large copy for my home.

I guess what I’m saying is that Easter can sometimes, like Christmas, get too ornate for it’s own good. You can focus on the ribbons, baskets, fancy dresses, colorful trappings much like the Chapel in the Frederiksborg Castle. But to get the true feelings of this marvelous holiday you have to simply go to the Scriptures, feast upon the words of Christ, feel his love, and remember with gratitude the greatest sacrifice ever made in your behalf.

I hope my kids got it, and if they didn’t I hope that they will at least remember all that we’ve done. They might not get it until they are grown and parents themselves. I didn’t get it as a child. Why does the Easter Bunny visit everyone else’s house but ours? I didn’t get it until years later. So I’ve really tried to do activities with my kids to help them remember what Easter is really about. Hopefully that will help.

I hope you all had a wonderful and peaceful Easter Sunday!

Snow and Show

So it’s tried to snow during the early morning hours of many days this week.  Thankfully it didn’t stick.  Snow be thou GONE!!!

On second thought, maybe I should pray that it hangs around. 

Why?

After two straight days of near freezing constant downpour the sun peaked itself out from behind our ever present clouds…

and…

a conversation like this ensued when my husband called me from work.

“Hi Hon, how’s your afternoon going?”  Prince Erik

‘O.K.  I’m a little tired.  Hope decided to take off on me again today.’

‘The weather must be getting warmer.’

‘Wearing only her underwear.’

‘It must really be getting warmer.’

Fortunately when I discovered the little vanishing sprite gone it was about the same time I ran into the neighbor bringing her home.  The little vexing vixen.

I guess Hope considers 49 degree’s warm enough to strip down and prance around outside. 

So the couch is now blocking the back door. 

Heaven help us when the temperatures rise above 50 degree’s Fahrenheit, or when she discovers that the couch is easy enough to push out of the way.

And Heaven help the neighbor’s view because she might turn into a streaker.

Maybe I should purchase her this little tutu from Sugar Plum Fairy Princess.

Although I may have to replace those tiny jingle bells with Cow bells in order to hear the little sneak.