Random

Let's play "catch up" shall we?

Kera working out with me.

• School is nearing it's end, I think there's something like 6 weeks left, and almost every single of those 6 weeks is already jam packed with school activities, volunteering, field trips, etc. I think it's almost busier than Christmas time! I'm really loving the opportunity to be involved in both girls' classes, but I'm also looking forward to the freedom of schedule that summer vacation will surely bring!
• Remember a couple weeks ago I posted a music video of an Aaron Shust's song? And I talked about the beautiful piano music? Well I'm super excited, and Kera is probably even MORE excited, that we're going to his concert here on Friday night. I'm eager to see what the girls think of a true blue music concert. 
• I'm still lifting heavy stuff, although I had to take about 1.5 weeks off of all working out because I caught a really nasty cold that just hung on and on. I'm finally feeling better and am starting to get back into the "gym" this week. 
• We are in the process of sorta looking at summer and what we'd like to do for fun, and I'm pretty sure I've got Erik convinced that this is the summer to take the girls to hike and camp in Glacier, and I'm beyond excited about that! :)
• I'm still LOVING my oil cleanse method of skin care. I realized today that I haven't had to use any tea tree oil on any blemishes for a couple weeks, even through my monthly time. I just love how my skin looks and feels right now.
• Treated myself to some new duds recently and ordered these puppies. So comfy and fit perfectly, I love them and can't wait for warmer weather to actually wear them.
• A couple weeks ago our church had a couple from California up to do a parenting/evangelism workshop for our marrieds ministry. They stayed a couple nights with us, which allowed us an opportunity to talk with them and it was so encouraging to share our lives with each other. I learned a ton from their classes, but one thing they talked about was about how when our children started to become pre/teens, it's an age of opportunity for us to really impact their lives. They recommended this book: Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Second Edition (Resources for Changing Lives). I ordered it and have read a couple chapters so far. It's really convicting in that it talks about how instead of dreading the teenage years and treating it like a time we just have to survive, we should be embracing the opportunity it holds for us to help our kids. I'm hoping that it'll have some great practical advice as I get into it more.

Well, that's all for now. I gotta go do book club w/ some fourth graders now! :) We're reading a great book: 

It's about a boy born with cerebral palsy in the 40's and lives most of his young years at the Montana State Hospital. It's really interesting and sweet and heart breaking what Petey goes through in his life before people realize what is truly wrong with him. It's a kids book, so it's a fast and easy read, but it has some beautiful language in it that I truly enjoyed reading it. It's also been interesting to talk with the kids about how people get treated differently based on how they look or how we perceive them. 

Eleven Randoms

Here are the rules:
1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
6. You are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!


Just so you know, I'm not tagging anyone and I wasn't tagged, just saw it in a blog I follow. So, if you wanna do this for something fun and different go right ahead! I just ask that you tell me so I can read your answers! :)


Randoms:


1. Although I really don't like sports, I am actually quite competitive when it comes to things like board games, etc.


2. I do not remember anything that has to do with numbers very well. Words, yes, numbers not so much.


3. Sometimes I wish I would've paid better attention in school to things like science and social studies. It didn't interest me then, but now I wouldn't mind knowing that stuff.


4. I can watch and read all the CSI/coroner type shows and books, but I cannot stomach any kind of blood or injuries in real life.


5. I think I might have fallen out of love with scrapbooking. It's just not very fun to me anymore, feels more like work.


6. I love cats, but because of allergies in my family I will never own one again and I'm okay with that. It's a lot less housework.


7. For a while I wanted a third kid, but I'm good now. Two is perfect and I don't really want to re-live the baby years.


8. I like to be comfortable, the first thing I do when I know I'm home for the night and it'll be just us family is either put on my sweats or my pj's.


9. I love to sing along with the music, even if I sound horrible and can't carry a tune.


10. I love giraffes. It all stems from a book I got as a kid that was personalized for me. In it I met a friendly giraffe named Ardnek. 


11. I brush my teeth usually at least 3x a day. In the morning, and at night but then also before I leave the house to go anywhere. I'm paranoid about having stinky breath.


Questions to answer:
1. Would you rather run in rain or heavy winds?
Well, seeing as I don't run anymore, I'd say neither. But before, when I did run, I'd much rather it be rain.
2. Coffee or tea?
Coffee, all the way! 
3. Are you obsessed with Lululemon too even though they are overpriced?
Honestly, I don't think I've ever checked out their stuff. I'm more of a Title Nine/Athletica type.
4. Ever been outside the US?
Yes. Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean
5. What is your dream location?
To live? I'm living it with the exception of being out of town w/ some land and a mini-farm.
6. Favorite song right now?
"God Gave Me You"
7. One thing you hate about running?
Definitely the fact that long-term it's bad, bad, bad news.8. Favorite book of all time?
All time? Yikes. I'd have to say "Shadow of the Wind" or "Thirteenth Tale"
9. Can you swim or are you a doggie paddler like me?
I definitely doggie paddle more than actually swim.
10. Do you burn candles with wicks or prefer the wickless ones like Scentsy?
I have both, depends on what I feel like doing at the time.
11.  Favorite candy?
Honestly, I love Snickers, but it's a very rare treat considering all the garbage in them!


Questions for YOU!
1. What is your favorite cut of meat?
2. Do you crave salty snacks or sweet ones?
3. Least favorite household chore?
4. Weirdest habit?
5. If you're a gal, do you shave your legs in the winter, or just let 'em be?
6. Any class in school you wish you would've done better/tried harder in?
7. Are you a fainter when it comes to seeing blood/injury?
8. Movie you've watched the most times?
9.  What are your top three most visited websites?
10. Did you ever have a snail-mail pen pal?
11. Scariest thing you've ever done?

Ten Random Thoughts

Right now, as I type, or as I sit with hands ready over keyboard and brainstorm about what to type, these are the random thoughts dancing around in my head:

1. I can't believe I forgot to be the tooth fairy last night and then tried to sneak the money under Kera's pillow after she brought it up. What a way to ruin a kid's day. And now she doesn't want the money and knows I'm the tooth fairy (Shhh! Don't tell!). I wonder if I try again tonight with the money if she'll take it.

2. I should post a link to the trailer for The Hunger games on my blog. I seriously can't wait for it, I know it's going to be so much better than Twilight. Hmmm, maybe I'll wanna see that one at midnight, although I'm still not paying $12 for a movie ticket. Utterly ridiculous!


3. I hope I can spend some time writing later today after I get back from helping in Kera's class. I'm really liking what I'm working on.

4. I really need to have the girls work on their Christmas wish lists, as much as I hate to do it this early. It would be nice to start working on the whole gifts thing early and be done with it. I'd love to just hang out for most of December.

5. Twitter may have been a bad idea. I'm definitely going to start implementing a "tech free" day each week. I'm thinking Sundays.

6. I am so excited to make chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream tonight with Kera. Paleo-ish version, of course. I hope its good. Or maybe not too good.

7. I love my new birthday pants. So warm and cozy, it's a good day to test them out on a morning hike.

8. Why am I so tired? I got almost 8 hours of sleep last night. Maybe I should read that book about sleep sooner rather than later. I might not be getting good sleep!

9. I really need to sit down and brainstorm some good blog post topics. I'm boring myself even.

10. I love my "job" and that I can drink coffee, blog, hike and volunteer in the classroom all in the same day and call it a good day!

Nuttin'

That's what I have for you today. 

Nuttin'. 

I don't have any pictures of yummy food to share with you because I only tried one new recipe and forgot to take any pictures--Erik was gone and I was dealing with a pukey kid and a garage sale, so I was a bit distracted.

I don't even have any useful tidbits or thoughts on paleo this week. We were just making it through, I guess. Summer vacation for the girls starts Friday at 11:30, which means I'll either be so busy entertaining refereeing   that I won't have time to blog and you'll see me even less, OR we'll be doing such fun/cool things that I'll want to share them with you. 

Stay tuned, only time will tell!

In the meantime, go check out my dear friend Aubrey's first ever giveaway! She makes these most fantastic swaddling blankets that she's going to give a set away for one lucky reader. Her blog has some awesome recipes and cool ideas for kiddos--you should definitely go check it out! :-)

And that's all I got!

Stream

Randomness, otherwise known in literary circles as stream of consciousness...

I had to laugh yesterday as I ran on the treadmill (I did 4 miles) when I listened to a song by New Kids on the Block and then one by Michael Jackson. And I mean a NKOTB song from back in the day because I was their biggest fan. And I think the MJ song was "Wanna be Starting Something", which is sorta old too. My mp3 is like that, new and old all mixed together. It's quite an eclectic collection of music. Running felt good though, although that might be because Erik was painting the back room at the same time and I was high on paint fumes. The room is gonna look good--it's light green. He still has to do trim and put in some flooring before we can start moving furniture back in. It was going to become a craft room but he's since decided he need a quiet room/den more. Not sure where all the furniture will go now, I have a feeling the basement it going to turn into a huger project of rearranging, sorting and just plain ol' throwing things away. I'm both excited and dreading it. I know it needs to be done but the amount of work it could turn into is a bit overwhelming. One thing at a time, I suppose though? Maybe it's because I am just so stinkin' tired today. It could be because we were up later than normal last night, had a double date after church with a young dating couple from church. They came over for dinner and then we all watched a movie. It was a good time and the movie, "Unstoppable" was awesome. However it did put my bedtime closer to midnight when I actually do much better when it happens closer to ten. Not sure if that's why I'm tired or if this new way of eating is finally catching up to me? Possibly. One thing I do know is that I really like coconut milk. Hadn't tried it until last night in this dish I made (which I will share more about later, I promise) and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not much of a fan of coconut (more the texture as opposed to the flavor) but coconut milk actually doesn't really taste like coconut. It's kinda weird. I look forward to trying it in more recipes. I've gotten to try a bunch of new recipes lately also as a result of my going "paleo". I love trying new recipes. I don't want to go into detail on all that because I want to tomorrow, so stay tuned I guess. Right now I'm tuning into Pandora Radio, which if you haven't tried, you should. I love that I can plug in one song I like and get a slew of them, some new and some old. Much like my mp3. The one I have on right now I entitled, "Love the Way you Lie" because, yes, I admit it I like Eminem. But it's not all his music, it's like a bunch of other stuff too. I use to listen to music all the time. I'd play it to get ready in the morning, to do homework or write--I almost can't write without music--but now the only time I really ever listen is in the car. I think it's probably because I spend more time listening to my kids playing, talking to me or fighting. Half the time I turn music on but then have to turn it off because it just seems noisy. Wowzers, I'm turning into my mother. That was quick! :-) But that's okay, I love my mom and think she's pretty smart, so to be like her wouldn't be a bad thing. Although I think my personality is a good mix between her and my dad, unlike my brother who is totally my dad--a complete goofball. I think its funny how sometimes you an hear a song and it totally brings either a person or a memory to mind. Like almost every time I hear the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I think of my brother. Bone Thugs & Harmony or TuPac makes me think of my sister. Matchbox20 brings my college roommate Staci and all our adventures to mind. And then there's a song at church, "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!" that totally reminds me of my dad's university glee club music. Whenever we sing it, I think of how I used to love listening to the record of it. Yes, a record! How funny. I just finished another cup of coffee and I'm still so very tired. Maybe if I go fold some laundry really quick before the girls get home it'll wake me up a bit. It's worth a try at least.