#90/365--Just Me

I did a new workout tonight. I think it was called something like, "Slow, Painful Death." My muscles are gonna be really sore tomorrow! That is, however, a good thing. I have come to like having sore muscles after a workout. You can tell something's going on inside! This has really been a long road for me. I think officially I've been working out 2.5 months. I know I don't write about it that often (or...maybe I do?) but I have been keeping up with my workouts, doing 3-4 workouts/week at about 45 minutes each. I have been combining cardio with strength training. I have a start weight...but unfortunately I didn't measure myself until a month into it. I have lost about MAYBE 7 pounds...I'll let you know about inches when I measure again in about a week or so.

It takes a lot for me to post a picture of myself on here. Not real fond of my features in my old age. I say old. But I'm not old. You just wait til you get up here. You'll say the same thing. Your mind, somehow, never thinks it's older than maybe 25 or 30. But anyway...as my shirt says..."It is what it is."

#89/365--Passover/Seder

#88/365--No Bake Flake

I am celebrating the Jewish holiday of "Feast of Unleavened Bread"--I've been studying the Hebrew roots to the Christian faith and find it very interesting. It's sort of like an onion--the more you peel away, the more layers you find, and thus a deeper meaning. So in celebration, you are suppose to get rid of all the leavening in your home and eat unleavened products from the night of Passover and for 7 days following. So I attempted to make some 'No Bake' cookies so we would have something to snack on around here. The recipe flopped. The no-bake cookies were sticky and gooey and you had to use a spoon to eat them...so, in the trash they went. :( Maybe I'll try again...(This picture is gross, I realize that...but...it is what it is...)

#87/365--Movie Day

We went to Tinseltown today and saw "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." Both cute movies. Then, I saw that Pinocchio was on sale at Target (70th anniversary) so I bought it and we watched it tonight. I forgot how much I love old Disney movies.

#86/365--Sports

Today (Saturday, March, 27, 2010), Mikey pitched his first entire ballgame. He did really well, striking out about 6 kids and taking a win (17-12). He got some hits with RBIs but got out at first.
Then, we went bowling!

#85/365--Franco Supreme

Mikey cooked dinner tonight after his baseball practice. He's been "cookin'" this up in his head since our "family meeting" on Sunday night. My kids both decided they'd like to try to cook at least one night/week (we'll see how that goes...). Mikey picked Fridays. He's been talking about going to shop for his ingredients ever since. He invented this himself. Yes, I let him experiment. Yes, I helped--but not much. Here's the picture:

He calls it "Franco Supreme." The ingredients are browned ground beef, refried beans, and jalopeno cornbread...mixed together on a plate....with cheese on top. Not bad...not bad...

#84/365--Baseball

First game of his season on the Rangers. Played at first base all night. I think he walked twice and struck out once...? Here's one of his at-bats:

#83/365--Sewing

I pulled out the ole' sewing machine today to stitch up a couple of my chair pockets that had ripped along the seam. Lauren also wanted to sew a "French Fry" pillow for her dad for his birthday (inside joke). So, we sewed.

#82/365--Teeth

I had my teeth very thoroughly cleaned today. Thought I'd share how wonderfully shiny they are now! It'd been awhile since I'd been in for a cleaning. I'm not saying how long--but not because I'm embarassed. It's because I really don't know--and probably should be embarassed! The dentist had to do some sort of abrasion cleaning on my teeth. Can I just say that it was NOT fun!? Never again, will I go without a cleaning for longer than 6 months at a time!

#81/365--More Sunrise

This was our first day back to school after spring break. What a gorgeous day it was! This was the sunrise today. It was really cool because it seemed that we could see it moving higher in the sky. Happy Spring...maybe....

#80/365--Napkins

I was doing some cleaning...Going through old stuff, packing unused items to give away and came across Lauren's old lunchbox. As I was making sure it was empty (I know, gross...) I came across some old napkins that I had written notes on. It just warms my heart to know that instead of throwing them away, she kept them. I think this lunch box, and thus, the notes also, are from 4th grade.

#79/365--New....Barbie doll?

Commercialism has corrupted an excellent series of books...

#78/365--Cleaning

Steamed the upstairs hallway carpet and some spots in my bedroom finally! Now time for a spring storm so Sandy can ruin it again. :(

#77/365--Road Construction

Yes. The entire way back from Arkansas. Well, not the ENTIRE way. I exaggerate. But a lot of places along the way we saw things like this:

We are just glad to be back home safely! Lots of things "to-do" before spring break is over!

#76/365--Cousin Time

Wednesday, we went to visit the daffodil fields. It was amazing. Daffodils all over the place. And all I think of when I see daffodils is, of course:
Daffy-down-Dilly

Has come to town

With a yellow petticoat

And a pretty green gown



Then, later, Erik put up his tent in his awesome backyard and camped out with the kids while Tara and I stayed inside and bonded with Food Network and wigs. ;)

Needless to say, we had an amazing time with our Arkansas family. Thanks, family, for your graciousness to us! Looking forward to our next time together!

#75/365--Mexican Food in Arkansas?

Loving all this family time! We had lunch, today, at a local Mexican food place here in Conway.

#74/365--Sister-in-law

While at my mom's in Arkansas, I got to spend extra time with my sister-in-law, Tara. She took me to her gym and worked me out on the eliptical and then with weights on our arms. What a great workout! The girl could be a personal trainer--and not a "Jilian" type trainer...she was very positive and encouraging. Inspired me to go get heavier weights (instead of the itty bitty 3 pounders I currently use).

Also, I went with T to her women's group. They are currently studying the book, "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus..." which is a book I have read but want to go thru again with my small group. This was such a sweet time of fellowship and worship. God just gives me grace upon grace, and mercy upon mercy.

I really enjoyed spending time with you, T. You are a master chef (any person who can get my son to eat asian lettuce wraps without complaints and ask for seconds is high in my book!), home-schooling mom, scrapbooker-extrodinaire, and workout queen! ;) Love ya!

#73/365--Hiking

This morning, we went up to the mountain where we spread my dad's ashes. Then, we took the kids for a short hike in the mountain. This is Petit Jean Mountain--about 30 minutes northwest of where my mom and brother live (Conway, AR).

#72/365--Family Visit

Yeah! Spring Break and a visit to see my brother, his family, and my mom! I got to have some good quality "lovin' on my sweet 4 month old nephew" time!!

#71/365--Pond Visit

After our study of pond habitats, our Kindergarten took a "walking field trip" to the nearby pond. The kids loved it, although we had to revisit how to act when we are away from school...it was a beautiful day.

#70/365--Preparing

...for Open House...

...for the Baseball Season...

...and for Spring Break...

#69/365--In Bloom

Spring is here...

#68/365--Walkin' the Dog

Mikey had baseball practice tonight. Usually his dad takes him but we've switched days this week. I was going to do my usual "workout" around the nearby track...but there was some sort of track meet/track practice going on...so....

Sandy and I walked around the block. :) It was a great day for being outside!

#67/365--Hallmark

Sending out some love...

#66/365--Flip Flop Ready

Finally, I was able to get my pedicure today. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Now, my feet are "Flip-Flop Ready."

If only the weather would cooperate...

Time for a nap!

#65/365--Clouds

#64--Ominous Onion Rings

First of all, GROSS! Second...GROSS! And third....YUCK! I don't understand how a person can eat onion rings if he doesn't like onions. He claims it's the batter...but these babies--they took him off guard. These suckers were enormous. More onion than batter. No kissing me tonight bucko. EEEWWWW!!!

#63/365--Empty

I'll let it speak for itself...

#62/365--Sunset

Wishing all the clutter surrounding this beautiful sunset could be cropped out. This was my view this evening, pulling out of my driveway. It was amazing.

#61--Moon in the Morning

I've always loved the moon. All the way back to when my daddy used to carry me on his shoulders and I would say to him, "Moon get you daddy." One of my favorite children's books is "Goodnight Moon," by Margaret Wise Brown. And this one time, at band camp, I even "mooned" the street from several floors up in the dorm room.

#60/365--Journaling--by Lauren

She's been working on this for a few weeks now. (Obviously, not everyday) She brought it in for me to read just now. It brought tears to my eyes. And my daughter isn't a "touchy-feely" person. So she doesn't get all "huggy" when she's upset or has had a bad day. She internalizes it. Oh, she'll cry. But won't talk about what's bugging her. Much like her mama; Apples don't fall far from their trees.

"This" is a story about Papaw (my dad). It reads more like a journal entry. I hope this becomes a habit for her--journaling. I journal frequently and it's such comfort to me to be able to write my thoughts out where no one looks at them. I can put them there, in my journal, tuck them away, and keep them between me and God. God and me. It's very.....cathartic.