Let Me Make One Thing Clear

There are many things I like to do with my time and working out is not one of them.  I have to plan to work out.     Most of the time that plan includes waking up and dressing the part.  If I don't put on workout clothes first thing in the morning then I will not do it.  After I get the munchkins fed and Little Man off to school, then I pop in my DVD and get busy while Little Miss dances around my feet and Chubby Cheekers swings peacefully in the baby swing (he's got a hard life).

Usually, once I get passed the warm-up I'm good to go.  That wasn't the case yesterday.  I popped in the DVD, got two moves into the warm-up and turned the dang thing off.  I just didn't have it in me to work out.  I brewed a fresh cup a joe and checked my email...in my workout clothes.  Feeling bad about myself as I saw the muffin top just hanging over my yoga pants, I texted my friend Erica.

Erica is the founder of F.I.T Bootcamp.  I love her to death because she pushes me, and she rarely turns down a chance to work hard.  Unless there's a garage sale.  That's a whole other story.  Anyway, she has this program she likes to do called Tabata Training.  Both of our kids are in gymnastics at the same time on Thursdays, so I asked if she would be willing to go through a Tabata Training with me during that time.  I had done it with her once before, and apparently, I forgot how difficult it is.  As soon as we started with Belt Kicks, I was seriously thinking, What have I done to myself?  

I do that every time I begin a difficult workout or push myself to run faster.  I ask, Why did I even start this?  Let me make one thing clear.  I do not like to work out.  I don't look forward to it.  I only look forward to when it's over.  That's the only thing I like about working out.  Being done.  I like the results of working out.  I like the feeling of accomplishment once I'm finished, but I do not like the work.

Now my crazy machine of a husband, well, he's a different story.  That man is addicted to working out.  Oh well.  We all have our issues.  I just prefer to solve mine over a package of Oreos.

A Name Change

Initially our newest addition was named Littlest Man for the sole purpose of this blog, but his sister has another idea.  Since he's fattened up quite a bit in recent weeks, Little Miss will only refer to him as Chubby Cheekers.  I can't call him anything but now.  Sooooo, without further ado, I would like to re-introduce Littlest Man as Chubby Cheekers, pictured with his favorite sister.

He is her own personal baby.  She doesn't really play with baby dolls, just her brother.

Doesn't he looked thrilled?

 I'm sure he's feeling the love.

 Hey, Chubby Cheekers.  Could you stop growing?

I had to throw in some picture love of Little Man.  He needs a little blog time too!

Chez

This mom business is nothing new to me.  I'm on my third...and a half (I like to throw Chunky Monkey in the mix).  I've got the routines down, improved on my disciplining techniques, understand the workings of a baby, and stress way less than I did when I had one.  I would consider myself a somewhat seasoned mom.

Being a seasoned mom you would think I would not break the cardinal rule of newborn mommyhood, but I have. In fact, I've broken the rule at least a dozen times per child.  If you do the math you'll realized I've broken the rule 12.5 x 3...carry the one...yep, about 37.5 times.  Breaking the rule that often leaves you breathless.  Literally.  Breathless.

Are you curious about the cardinal rule?  I bet you too have broken it.  Maybe not as many times as I have, but I bet you've done it.  Here's the cardinal rule of newborn mommyhood...

Thou shalt not ever touch the chez in your baby's fat rolls and then smell it.

Come on.  You know you've done it.  You lift up their neck rolls and see that little white stuff just hanging out.  The soap you didn't rinse out well enough.  The roll you didn't dry completely.  The spot where the milk collects. Yes, the areas where the chez collects.   Well, you wipe it off and then check to see if it smells.  Have we not learned from past experiences?  IT WILL ALWAYS SMELL.

It's like that saying, "Don't do the same thing over and over and expect different results."  So from this day on, I promise to not touch the funk and then smell it.  I promise to get a wash cloth and wipe it away, resisting the urge to 'check' if it's stinky.  I will remember that it is always stinky.  Now, could someone please remind me of this tomorrow?  It's bath day.  Inevitably, I will find some chez under one of Littlest Man's many rolls.  Help me, Wanda.  Help me!

Menu Monday

Hello May!  Anyone look at this month's calender and realize there are no free days?  We are beginning to look that way.  I'm thankful for many activities that focus around family and our kids, but it's really cramping my cooking style.  This week we have quite a few 'fast' meals.

Monday-Spaghetti, Cheesy Bread, Salad
Tuesday-BBQ Chicken, Broc Bake, Twice Baked Potatoes
Wednesday-Baked Chicken, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole
Thursday-Pasta e Fagioli and Grilled Cheese
Friday-Club Salad with Honey Croissants
Saturday-Club Sandwiches and Chips (the kids will l-o-v-e this...they never get chips for dinner)
Sunday-Mother's Day Cookout...Steven's in charge!

Rain School

One of my favorite things is exposing my kids to real world experiences through books.  Yes, I'm a nerd.  A few years ago, I came across this book entitled Rain School.

It's a story that documents school aged children of Chad, Africa arriving on their first day of school.  When they get to the place where the school should be, there is nothing but their teacher standing there.  The students' first lesson is to build their school out of mud bricks, straw, and sticks.  They also build their desks out of mud.  Then they are able to start their lessons.  The school year comes to an end just as the heavy rains begin.  Those yearly rains wash away all their hard work for the year.  They know they will have to rebuild their school for the next year.  It's a great story of the lengths some children have to go to learn.

I wish I had found this book when I was a teacher.  It would be a Must Read on the first day of school.  I would even have the kids build their own 'mini' school out of mud bricks just so they could see the difficulties these kids face just to have a place to learn.  However, I'm no longer a teacher.  Luckily, I have little guys running around the house so I get to play 'school' with them.

When I first came across this book, Little Man was just 3 years old.  He had never been to school before so the story was just 'interesting' to him.  He had no prior knowledge of what school was about or what a classroom looked like.  Now he knows.

As he's rounding out his first year of public school, I thought it would be a good time to check the book out again.  This time he had all kinds of questions.

How come the kids are all the same color?

Why don't some kids have shoes on?

Where do they play?

Why are there big kids in the same class as the little kids?

As he was firing off the questions, I was in heaven.  I love answering questions and watching his face as he learns something new.  Now I just have to convince Steven to allow him to make a mini mud bricked school in our backyard.  It might involve messing up his precious grass, so maybe we'll shoot for the field a few lots away from us and let out neighbors think I'm crazy.  Who am I kidding?  I am crazy ;)

I Gots Me a Van

So a couple of weeks ago a lovely teenage boy rear-ended me.  To make matters worse, he hit me so hard it caused a 4 car pile-up.  It took forever for his insurance to complete their investigation so I could get my car fixed, but it has been in the shop for about week now.  It's getting a whole new front grill and fender, along with a new lift gate and bumper.

Since I can't go without a car, his insurance is paying for my rental.  I was secretly hoping for another SUV, but instead, I got one of these...

A 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan.  When I pulled up to the body repair shop, it was waiting for me.  Steven also came to help me transfer the infant car seat base.  He was so stoked to get a van.  I wasn't so much, but having a brand new car for a week wouldn't be so bad.  I was actually a little curious to see if I'd like driving a mini-van.  Maybe I would love one, maybe I wouldn't.  Here's the breakdown of my mini-van thoughts.  Specifically for the Dodge Grand Caravan.  I have no idea what other vans have to offer me.

LOVES

The trunk has an amazing amount of sunken space with all seats up.  It's very nice to open the lift gate and know that groceries shifted by driving won't spill out.  Just check out all this space...

And that's it for my loves.  I really thought I'd have a lot more, but this is the only one I have.  The rest are just likes.  

LIKES

The automatic sliding doors.  Even though my kids are old enough to open the doors themselves, it's nice to have them just push a button and the doors just open up.  I don't have to worry about them swinging a door open and dinging the car next to me.  However, it's not a feature I am just goo-goo ga-ga over.  It's nice to have, but not something I couldn't live without.

I also like that it is a bit roomier than my Explorer. I contribute this to the configuration of the seats.  This one has two 'captain' seats in the middle and a bench that holds three passengers in the third row, allowing for more room behind the driver.

DISLIKES

Even though I like the roomier feel, I do not like having the three seats all the way in the back.  On most days I tote five kids around in a carpool.  Little Man, Little Miss, Littlest Man, Chunky Monkey, and Little Man's friend from school.  It is a pain in my tooshy to climb between the 'captain' seat to get in the back and  buckle kids up.  In my Explorer, I just have to pull one handle, have a kid climb in and lean over to buckle.  No climbing in and performing acrobatics to get back out.  Just a lean and a push to get the middle row seat back up.  I also like that when I have just my three offspring, they can all sit in the middle row together.

I also dislike how low I feel to the ground while driving.  It has really taken me quite some time to get used to it.  It is also difficult for the kids to hear me when they are sitting in the back.  I don't know why, but I don't have this problem with my Explorer.  Some crazy sound configuration.

SURPRISES

One thing that really surprised me was the gas mileage.  I have heard from so many people how minivans get great gas mileage.  Call me crazy, but I'm not seeing it.  I'm getting the same gas mileage in this van (which is supposed to be an eco friendly gas vehicle) than I do in my Explorer.  This shocked me tremendously.  I thought the savings on gas was going to convert me to a van lover.

* * * * * *

In the end, there are pros and cons to the mini van.  I can't say that my next vehicle won't be a mini van, but right now I'm anxiously awaiting my the return of my SUV.  I miss her dearly!

Pulled It Together (A Menu)

I was really feeling bad.  Two weeks.  Two weeks in a row I didn't make a menu.  I couldn't be a failure two weeks in a row.  So I threw one together last night because flying by the seat of my pants is not how I roll.  I'm a planner.

Monday-Soft Tacos, Mexican Mashed Potatoes, Corn
Tuesday-Beef and Tater Bake, Honey Bread, and Green Beans
Wednesday-Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Sweet Potato Fries, Strawberries
Thursday-BBQ Meatballs, Corn Casserole, Garden Salad
Friday-Crock pot Lemon Chicken, Sweet Peas, Cheesy Biscuits
Saturday-Fried Chicken Salad with Honey Buttered Croissants
Sunday-BBQ Chicken Quarters, Mac-n-Cheese, Mixed Greens Salad