Craft-mania 2

Here is the second batch of coasters!  I think all 23 sets (two sets are doubled) took me about 6 or 7 hours to complete - I spread it over 2 days.  Like I said before, nothing like having less than 2 weeks' notice to get a whole table-full of stuff ready for a craft sale!

I kinda like this one - didn't turn out how I expected, but I still like it.

The leaves aren't very visible on this set - I much prefer the fraternal twin to this one!

Hmm...where have we seen this concept before?  I still like it.  I think I like the blue background better, though.

This was one of my first ever design concepts, about 4 years ago, for coasters.  People seem to like it, but I'm kind of 'over' it now...but I'd still make them if people wanted 'em!

I *really* like this one.  I'd probably never put it up in my house, but I *really* like it.

A "City of David" scene... the main stamp is what I made the pharmacy cards out of last year.

Ahhh...the berries again!  This set turned out better than I expected, too.

I *had* to use my baby stamps to try something...I liked it so much I made 2 sets!

Pretty simple & basic...

The twin to the other "All I Have Seen" set - only the colors are reversed.

Ummm.... not too sure about this one.  Maybe someone will like it enough to buy it?

Last night I also made some magnets...but they don't scan very well.  The 'rocks' on the top are kind of iridescent, so any kind of light shining directly on them doesn't work so well.  I might try to take a picture later and see if that turns out.  But for now, coasters is all you get to see!

I've also hand-stamped some Ikea candles...I love Ikea candles...

I've also etched some glassware, but it's not cleaned up & picture-worthy yet...

'Till next time...!

M.

Craft-mania 1

As per Jen's request, I am presenting a smattering of what I've been up to, getting ready for the craft fair missions fundraiser!

COASTERS!!

Click on the pictures to see the original size & more detail...if you want...if you dare...  :)

This is one of my favorites - kinda girly, but for the right person...  it's just bright & cheerful!

I also LOVE this one - kinda masculine-ish...

But so far, I think this one might be my all-time favorite...I'm thrilled with how it turned out...

Kinda Christmassy - 'nuff said...

This is a set I did a long time ago, had left over... I have two sets of these.

Hmm...not too sure about this one...

...or this one...

Discovered a mistake on this set - gotta go do some fixing!

 Just an average set...but I like it anyway.

This turned out WAY better than I expected!

More to follow...

Rediscovered love

I have been ushered into the land of crafting again.  A friend of mine asked if I'd donate a few things for their church's missions team fundraiser...and then it turned into me having my own table to sell my stuff at.  (This was NOT my idea, by the way...farthest thing from my mind, actually!)  So anyway, I've been crafting up a storm - 2 weeks notice when you have nothing prepared is NOT a lot of notice!

Anyway, my point?  Yes, I love crafting.  I've whipped up 21 sets of coasters, a bunch of candles, etched some glass dishes and mirrors... but what I realized tonight is that while I do love crafting, I like even more how I'm able to let my mind roam a bit.  

...to my friend LeeAnn who will be induced tomorrow morning at 39 weeks; she's only gained 3 pounds this pregnancy and they're worried that the baby has stopped growing.  I can pray for her while I'm crafting.

...to another friend who is getting close to delivering her second baby; the first ending in still birth...to pray for peace on her life and in her heart, and continued health and strength for the soon delivery...

...to my friend's daughter, who has a friend in serious condition in an Edmonton hospital - to pray for strength and comfort, but also to pray for healing and God's hand to be evident in that hospital room.

...to my children, and the obedience struggles we have some days, and the fact that I had to apply the board of discipline to the seat of learning tonight when they wouldn't settle down at bedtime...to pray for softened hearts for them, to pray for patience on my part and to discipline in the *right* moments...

...to this unborn baby, which has still not 'popped' and whose movements I still cannot feel...to pray for peace in my mind, and strength for my body...

These are often things I cannot dwell on for more than 10 seconds at a time.  God still hears  and is honored by those 10-second prayers, but it's nice to just set awhile and meditate on the needs around me.  And to praise Him for His faithfulness and love.  I'm thankful for my 'outlet' where I can be still and know that HE is God.

18 weeks

I just feel funny.  Kind of fat.  But not where one would expect to feel fat when pregnant!  I think this baby must be standing straight up.  I'm still not showing in the bottom half of my abdomen, but the upper half is sure chunkin' out!!  My theory is that this almost half-baked baby is standing straight up, glued to my spine, and pushing up all my insides (think:  Hercules) until they have no choice BUT to pop out.  I just feel really funny-looking.

Tonight went well...I think.  :)  There were in excess of 325 women there, so it was a busy place.  We had to wear these very unflattering velvety caroller's capes, with hand-muffs, and a bonnet-type hat...it was ridiculous.  Combine that with the heat of the building and the stage lights, and I was ready to pass out by the end of the second carol.  I told the girls I was taking off my hat so that I wouldn't pass out - V's mom got all worried and wanted to get me a stool, etc.  The other thing with those hats is that they sort of covered the ears, so it was impossible to hear each other properly!!  We all thought we sounded like we were in a tunnel.  Once I removed my hat, I was much happier, cooler, and I could hear sooooo much better for blending purposes.  We kind of messed up the closing song - oops! - one of the gals forgot that we were going to ritard the last line.  Ha ha - we had a good laugh over that one.  It didn't end until after 9:30, so no swim for me tonight.  I've been slacking these last few days... *sigh*  

Tomorrow I won't be home all day - will be at a friend's house as we are having windows installed all...day...long.  I'm hoping little D naps there.  I plan on crafting my little heart out.  More on that later.

Time for bed.  I'm wiped out!!

Fun!

I am officially excited for tomorrow night!  I am singing soprano in a trio of ladies who will 'entertain' the marketplace at my old church's ladies' Christmas event - we will be singing a variety of carols for about an hour - singing about 6 or so, taking a short break, singing again, etc, etc.  Tonight we rehearsed for 2 hours, and V's mom came and played for us.  I had a blast!  We had a rehearsal on Tuesday night that didn't go so well, but tonight it came together nicely, and V's mom was such an encouragement and fun lady to work with.  

I'm looking forward to singing with my girls tomorrow night!!  It's the first *real* singing I've done since we left our church this past summer - I still haven't broken into the music scene at our new church, sadly... I really want to, but we'll see how it goes.  They're pretty "tight" - as in *almost* exclusive, unfortunately.  That's my perception, anyway.  So I'm thankful for the chance to sing with my "old" crew once again. 

Must go help finish up bedtime - I just finished my supper (a slice of peanut butter toast).  Mmm.

His Mercies are New

Yesterday was a crazy day.  Graeme went to work early, and I *needed* to exercise (did I blog about my disastrous night the night before?), so I threw in a video for the kids (Veggie Tales Christmas) and hit the weights.  Then while they were playing, I did some stability ball stuff and lunges and squats, then stretched.  (They thought the squats were hilarious.)

Then we were off to Playspot, and at the end, Dustin had a meltdown.  He wanted to keep playing.

Then we had a nap.  I had a short nap, as my sleep the night before was much less than ideal.  After Graeme got home, I can't remember what I did except for giving 3 boys haircuts after supper and bathing them and cleaning up.  After I did a bit of other housework, I climbed on the elliptical and sweated mindlessly & profusely over a previously taped show that I like to watch.  I was sore from the earlier weights, so the cardio helped work out the lactic acid, and I felt much better.  Did some more stability ball and squats.  Stretched.

About an hour later, after I'd cooled down, I was verrrrrry tired.  It was late.  And bright and early this morning, the boys bounce into our room, happy as clams.

My first reaction?  Surprisingly, I laughed.  And played with them.

This is *not* a normal reaction for me.

I got up, and before Graeme went to work, I went outside for a brisk 2-mile walk (we have a meeting tonight and exercising is likely out of the question).  It was early, the fresh-fallen snow was still fairly pristine, and it was crisp.  It's the 2nd time in a year and a half that I've gone out for a walk alone, without pushing a stroller.  

Normally my shin splints flare up with speed-walking.  

Not so today.

Normally I'm sluggish and grumpy in the morning.

Not so today.

Normally I'm pretty tired the morning after a hard workout (never mind TWO workouts!).

Not so today.

So either I'm doing the 2nd-trimester happy-dance, or His mercies are new every morning.  I think that the latter was definitely primary, affecting the former.

I couldn't help but reflect on Lamentations 3:22-23:

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed (Oh Lord, how I feel so overwhelmed at times!!), 

for His compassions never fail (I think it must be my own failing to trust!)

They are new every morning (that's sure how I felt this day!),

Great is Your faithfulness (day after day after day...)

Chicken & Rules

Yesterday Joshua was being impatient with me and how long it took me to come downstairs and get his apple cut up for him.  So he did it himself.  With a steak knife.  Just the way I do it.  

He did a good  job of it, although I do wish he'd asked my permission first - it's the first time he's ever used a knife, and although he did really well, it was still a shocker when I came downstairs to find him with knife in hand!  He was basically done so I grabbed my camera and snapped a picture.

Sleep did not go well last night.  Joshua was up at 2 a.m., then again at 5:00 a.m., after which I was unable to fall back asleep.  I kept thinking that it would only be a few minutes until I *really* fell asleep... but it never came.  I should've gotten up and exercised instead, as I was busy doing homey stuff and accounting paperwork last night and missed my workout.  Now I'm just too tired.

The family nugget of the day yesterday, from Dustin, as I was making supper:  "Mommy, I don't like chicken.  That's the rules."

The missing phone

My phone was off the hook.  And missing.

For four hours.

And lo and behold, people were actually trying to get through today!!

But I found it under a laundry basket (!!!), somehow, the "talk" button having been turned on.

So strange.  But I'm glad it turned up.

I know I said I'd only talk about my workouts once a week, but I have to say I was pretty happy with my efforts last night... weights, elliptical, some stability ball, and lots of good stretching!  And... I am not one tiny bit stiff or sore today.  I feel pretty fabulous... just a bit tired, but that's par for the course.  I *really* hope Graeme is back from work in time tonight so I can go to my swimming lesson...or at least the adult swim after the lesson!

Today's treasure... hm.  I'll have to get back to you on that one.  I'm still trying to find it.  If it's anything as elusive as my phone, it could be a while.

Baby-land

So *whew*, all is well in baby-land.  The heartbeat was good & strong at 150.  The baby is just hiding - apparently I'm 'measuring' just fine, even though the baby hasn't actually popped out yet.  Basically I'll wake up one morning and be huge.  :)

I haven't gained any weight since my last appointment a month ago, but the doctor doesn't seem concerned.  I actually asked him about that - lost 15 lbs, gained 3 back, and there I stay.  He is more than fine with that... so I can basically keep doing what I'm doing - lots of exercise, healthy eating, etc... it sounded like he would be fine if I didn't gain any weight for a while yet.  That makes me verrrry happy!!  :)

Lasagna is out of the oven, I have a music rehearsal tonight, and then I plan on coming home and exercising!!

See ya!

17 weeks

Here I sit at 17 weeks.  Tomorrow I have my next dr's appointment.  

Sorry to disappoint, but I am SO not into belly pics.  I leave those to the skinny girlies.

That being said, I have nothing to show.  I'm not THAT overweight, and lost a lot at the beginning of this pregnancy.  I'm 17 weeks and not even remotely ready to be out of my pre-pregnancy pants.  I'm not showing one bit.  I'm a little disappointed, and actually starting to wonder if all is well in babyland.  With Joshua, I popped around 16 weeks or so, and with Dustin, it was MUCH sooner, as most 2nd-time (and 3rd-time, and 4th-time, etc) moms can attest to. 

With this one, nothing.

The only reason I'm wearing maternity shirts is because my regular shirts don't cover my belly when my pants keep falling down.  So I need longer shirts.  That's it.

Maybe all really is well, and I'm concerned for nothing.  But the thought has got to cross my mind... I will know in 26 hours, I guess.  At 13 weeks, all was well, so we'll wait and see. 

I hope to swim tonight.  It might be my only swim of the week - we're triple-booked for Wednesday night and I just don't feel right about getting a sitter again for the boys just so I can go to my swimming lesson.  I need *bigger* reasons, I guess.  I did it last week, but don't really want to repeat that.  Oh well.

It's grey and cold outside.  Unfortunately, I'm feeling much the way inside the house, too - boys have been fighting/screaming at each other, pulling down shelves (J was climbing in D's closet), whining, complaining... needless to say, I *lived* for naptime today.  I didn't nap myself, but at least they are.  Graeme will be home in about 2 hours.  Whew.

Time to think about supper...?

Week's workouts

So I thought I might borrow one of my friend's ideas and just post my workouts weekly instead of boring you with all the details every single day...  :)

It was a slow week - was sick for part of it (pukey-sick, and on the day of a funeral, too!), so there are less workouts than intended.

Sunday - off.

Monday - weights workout.  Nine diff't upper body exercises, totalling 15 sets of 10-20 reps each, depending on the exercise.  Lower body - 7 diff't exercises, totalling 13 sets of 10-15 reps each, depending on the exercise.  No cardio - bad way to do weights!!  I ran out of time.  :(

Tuesday - swimming in the morning - 30 lengths, no flippers, 45 minutes, still needing tons of breaks.  The breaks are what's taking me so long!!

Wednesday - swimming in the evening - 30 lengths during and after my lesson, plus some relays and some lung-busters, totalling one hour.  No flippers.  I think I'm done with flippers.

Thursday - sick.  Ick.

Friday - Elliptical early afternoon, 21 minutes, 6.09 km (Walked?  Ran?  Maybe it's miles?  I dunno).  Stability ball - wall squats, scissors, seated leg extensions, crunches, and thigh squeezes.  I don't remember these being as hard last time I did them!  Evening - swim, 30 lengths in 45 minutes.  10% of that was front crawl.  

Saturday - good intentions, no follow-through.  Felt sick again - very  nauseous.  Incredibly hard to climb on an elliptical or jump in the pool when you feel like chucking.

My goal is to do 30-40% front crawl by the end of December, and 30-40% back crawl.  The rest will be "resting" lengths in varying strokes.  My goal is to also go a LOT faster - maybe 1 minute per length average? - by the end of December.  This is if my body co-operates in the lung/breathing department.

I revamped my workout journal/chart again tonight - got it all to fit onto one page, including all stretches that I should do, etc.  Can't wait to see how it works this coming week!!

Ramblings

I didn’t sleep much last night – went for a swim and was nauseous getting out of the pool and it continued  all...night...long...!  It was pretty miserable – between the nausea and the restless legs, it was a horrible night.  I napped sooo solidly this afternoon!  I think I got almost 2 1/2 hours – glorious.  I really want to exercise tonight, but it’s not gonna happen.  I got 4 1/2 workouts in this past week (2 shorter workouts yesterday – one at home and one at the pool), so it’s still considered ‘consistent’.  I’m still nauseous tonight to a degree, and if it’s a bug, then I just need to give my body a break.  *sigh*  Just when I get motivated, I get sidelined.  Happens every single time.  Drives me NUTS!

So we’re trying something diff’t with the boys and bedtime – unfortunately the ‘putting them to bed together’ thing isn’t working out so well, so we’re trying putting Dustin down first, and Joshua about 20 minutes later.  Last night Dustin was cryin’ his little eyes out endlessly and Joshua couldn’t sleep, so I took J out to read to him for a few minutes.  Ten minutes later D was sleeping, and J happily went back to bed.  So tonight I put D down first, and G is finishing up with a late bedtime for J (we slept in for our naps this afternoon, so a later bedtime is definitely in order!).  Dustin went down without a peep.  Maybe I’m onto something???  Maybe tonight Dustin won’t wake up at midnight and cry for an hour, either...that was an added bonus to last night's difficulties...

I’m craving popcorn.  Yummmm...

I had leftover lasagna sauce from my escapades last weekend.  I added some tomato sauce and made it into spaghetti sauce... Oh my GOODNESS... Best spaghetti sauce I’ve ever made/eaten/served.  Graeme even said so – it was his declaration!  I think it was the italian sausage that did it... Sooo good...  We had s’getti and sauce for lunch today.

Graeme played lumberjack while I was napping.  At first, I was kinda drowsy and thought that Dustin was whimpering/crying in his nap again, but it was just the chainsaw.  Graeme is pretty sore tonight from hacking down trees, so I've just tossed him in the tub (we have a jet tub that doesn't get much 'jet' use) for a warm/hot soak.  He's been hamming up the achies a lot, and I don't have any 'manly' bubble bath, so I tossed in some of the kids' lavender stuff.  Then I read the bottle, "Helps babies sleep better."  We got a good laugh out of that one.

Tomorrow - church, post-church dinner at church, letting a friend's dog out as they're away for the day tomorrow, birthday celebrations for Jordan at his & Carly's house... and that's it.  Somewhere I have to cut my 3 boys' hair, though!

G'night!

A thousand times better!

Wow - today I feel like a brand new person.

No nausea...I could eat breakfast...I am no longer completely stuffed up (although still a little sinus-y)...I feel alert(ish)...slept well...minimal headache...

Not sure I'm ready to go swimming, though!  :)

I like my playlist.  Is there a way to make it so that it doesn't start with the same song every single time??

Boys sleeping in the same room didn't go so well last night.  They were both goofing around for over an hour!  They were both ready for sleep, but they just couldn't stop egging each other on and saying goofy things, etc... eventually I just took Dustin and moved him into his old room.  They weren't showing any signs of stopping.  He wasn't happy about it, entirely, but was also too tired to fight it.  Maybe they'll learn that if they can't tone it down, then the fun has to stop altogether...  I dunno.  How DO you get kidlets to share a room and ensure success without them being up all night?  Handcuffs?  Duct tape?  What????

Hindsight is 20/20

Well, there are always reasons for why I feel certain ways, physically... I just have such a constant succession of illnesses that I begin to wonder if it's all in my head...

But then this morning I started throwing up.  A LOT.  Try getting yourself and two children ready for a funeral when you have to take puke-breaks.  Not fun.  I almost didn't make it to the funeral, but somehow I managed to get there (although Graeme had to come home and pick us up) and not toss my cookies while there.  Whew!  Morning sickness?  Maybe, but I'm well into my 2nd trimester already and don't normally throw up with my pregnancy nausea.  I probably picked up a bug.

But it explains why I felt so 'off' yesterday, and why I felt sluggish while swimming last night...

Like I said, hindsight is 20/20.

Convictions

Tonight as I was driving home from my swim, I heard a song... I have no idea who sings it or what it's called, but its essence was to remind us: are we speaking words of life or words of death to those around us?  It even talked about words of life or death to our children!!  (I know there's a scripture reference, but I can't place it...help!)

Today was not a good day. I've gotten, as I've previously mentioned, VERY little sleep these last few nights.  I am tired, I am sick, I am grumpy, and I am now short-tempered.  The kids are not doing well with all of this, and we are now in a spiral effect with them disobeying/defying, me losing my temper with them, them disobeying, me getting upset again, them making a mess they know they shouldn't make, me sending them to their rooms with an angry pointed finger...

Ugh.  I would daresay I spoke more words of 'death' than words of life to my boys today.  Did I bless them with how I talked to them?  Not necessarily.  Umm, nope.  Not in the discipline situations, anyway.  I usually keep it together much better than this.  We hardly ever spiral like this.  It's horrific, embarrassing, and belittling to all of us.  

Some days I don't feel like a very good mama.  They deserve better than this.

Oh God, may tomorrow be a much better day...with Your strength and grace alone...not on my own, 'cuz I've got nothing...

S'eepy...

I didn't even stay up too late last night... but I'm still sick with whatever sinus garbage Graeme brought home, and still can't get a half-decent night's sleep.  I've gotten about 10 hours in the last 3 nights and am a little grumpy, and naps haven't been working out.  Having a newborn gives a mama more sleep than this!!

Yes, I'm complaining.  I've been so sick this pregnancy overall, and am trying SO stinkin' hard to get myself better by eating well and exercising, and here I sit, STILL sick.  I'm frustrated to the point of tears with this whole mess!!

Sleeping, school, & snow!

SNOW!!  We have our very own winter wonderland here, and it's beautiful, white, wet, and messy!!  I got home from my swim this morning to find the boys had JUST gotten inside after an hour in the white stuff.  Their cheeks were rosy, and their tummies were being nourished with hot chocolate with "pa-lellows" (marshmallows, Dustin-language).  We woke up to find 4-5 inches of it on the ground.  It was fairly dense, so I wonder how deep it would've been if it wasn't so moist!  Perfect snowballing snow...hehe...

Playing school yesterday afternoon - Dustin was learning 'scissors' (check out the tongue of concentration!) - he has yet to master the "Cut AWAY from yourself" technique.  Lotsa work went into his half-hour of cutting.  Joshua worked in a matching workbook, a dot-to-dot workbook, and a printing workbook.  He does so well, and really enjoys his schooltime!

Sleeping beauties - I took this on the first night that they shared a room, two nights ago.  Unfortunately I can't get a 'room shot' with both beds in the same picture, but this'll have to do.  They both did SO well, and last night went even better!!  

Education

I love shopping at Old Navy when I want new kids' clothes.  Their stuff is cute and good quality, and when you buy two (mix & match - I prefer 'match'), you get an even better deal.  And I buy clothes big, so it'll fit for a while.  :)

I snapped this shot after church today, and it turned out way better than I even imagined it could've.  I tried uploading a 'large' version of it, but kept getting an error message.  So, this one'll have to do.

Church was really good today.  The associate/family pastor was preaching today, and talking about kids' programs and family involvement in their own kids' upbringing.  For example - it's so easy to stick a 4-year-old in soccer and let the 'experts' teach them, but is that really any better than a mom & a dad going out and kicking the ball around with their little Beckham?  Must we toss our kids in program after program and let 'someone else' teach them all the things that they could just as easily learn at home?  Obviously, at a certain skill level you'll pass them along to someone who will train them further, but that's not the point I'm making here.

I guess I've always struggled with 'programs'.  My kid is writing words all over the house, writes his name, writes me notes, and he's not even in kindergarten.  There are kids in J's preschool who don't even know how to spell their names, much less write them.  I'm not tooting my own horn, but I just wonder how many parents pass their kids off to let someone else teach them the fundamentals?  There is such a pressure on our society to have kids in 2 or 3 organized programs before they're even old enough to be in preschool.  I've always kind of struggled and rebelled against that thinking, and until today, I didn't know why.  I still can't really articulate it, but I guess I can best voice it by saying, "Why should I let someone else teach my kid how to _____ when I am more than capable?"  An even bigger premise is that our kids NEED and WANT us in their lives, and when we pass them off to someone else all the time, what does that tell our children?  That they're an inconvenience?  That we don't know how to do anything/teach anything?  That we're too busy?  Or, worst of all, that we don't care? 

On another similar note, same sermon, I was so surprised, blessed, encouraged, and excited, I wanted to jump up and down and clap (but it's a baptist church and there's not a lot of 'expression') when Pastor Mike said this (almost verbatim):  "Since when have we as a society decided that it's more important to let someone else kick a soccer ball with our kids, than to have our own hands and feet invested in a very fun and active part of our children's physical education?  Since when did we decide to devalue parents who decide to whole-heartedly throw their hands into their children's education and home-school them, placing more emphasis on everyone else being responsible for our children's education than being responsible ourselves?"  He was quick to add that he was not devaluing public school by saying such a thing, but that it's a shame that parents who decided to home-school have been degraded and devalued in society, when the sacrifices and contributions and hands-on investments they make into their kids' lives are also of infinite value!

I loved how he was able to tie those statements in with how our society works, and how we can STILL have a very active part in our children's faith and growth even if they are involved in programs.  With public-schooled children, he gave practical insights into how we can integrate God into the homework our kids bring home.  

I can't wait to start schooling my little man.  We've come a long way already.  I'd love to homeschool - I think I really would.  Whether or not God has that for me is another matter altogether.  I've seen some not-s0-successful home-school families, and some highly successful ones.  Regardless of how my child will be educated, one thing is for certain - I'm excited to be involved and toss myself into it.  My kids deserve it.

My decision

Drum roll, please...

Graeme got home just as I finished my last blog post.

I still went upstairs to try and nap... but the phone rang 15 minutes into it, just as I was falling asleep (I almost typed "falling apart" hehe).  Then it rang another 10 minutes later.  Then 20 minutes after that, my alarm went off.  The kitchen was a disaster and we had a babysitter coming, so I had to be a little bit responsible and set my alarm to get up and clean the kitchen.  I told Graeme, 'I really love my Saturday naps.  I wonder what it would be like to actually get one."

So I got up and started my noodles.  I've used the no-boil kind before and I haven't been happy with the results, even with added water in the pan when baking...so I'd be curious to see how not preparing the kind that should be prepared would work.  Wow, that was a messed up sentence.

Got the lasagna all done - 10 little pans and 2 big pans.  Got about 75% of the kitchen cleaned, grabbed a shower, and ran out the door.

Not sure if running out the door counts as exercise.

My head is in a fog today... maybe later will be better.  My plan for the day - go to church, go to the pool, take down the trampoline, make some cookies, play and read with the boys, and maybe even grab the elusive nap!  I really want to road-trip it today, but I'm not sure that'll happen... awwwww....

Serious decision time

This is serious.

I was doing a big-batch lasagna today - some to give to friends who just had babies, and some to keep.  Sent Graeme to the store to buy lasagna tins (yah, the disposable kind, that way I don't have to worry about whether or not I'll ever get my dishes back).  I also sent him for mini chocolate chips so I could make chocolate chip cookies to send to friends as well (and keep a few for me).

But... he's not home yet.  He took J to swimming, then to run my errand, then to run his own errand, then to take J for a lunch date... and they're not back yet.  

So... here's the decision I have to make.

Do I just do my 'usual' and go for a nap?  And be fresher later on?

Or do I wait up for Graeme, and work while everyone else is sleeping?

Should I exercise in the meantime?  

Will I even have enough time to get the lasagna done, when all is said and done?  The fillers are ready, but I don't want to cook the noodles too far in advance...  

We have to go out tonight to a friends' place, so I also need time to shower after all this stinky cooking today.  

I'm just at that awkward time, deciding whether or not there's time to do it all, or maybe I should wait till tomorrow afternoon... *sigh*... decisions, decisions.

Same old, same old

I feel like whenever I come to sit down here, and I have nothing new to blog about.

I feel like my life currently consists of (and this is not complaining, by the way) - 

Sleep, Exercise & swimming, Trying not to gain too much weight, Pregnancy, Discipline, Cleaning, Paperwork

So let's run it down briefly:

Sleep.  I never get enough, it feels like.  I went to nap today, and got a tickle in my throat that lasted for over half an hour.  HALF AN HOUR of precious sleep, lost!!

Exercise.  I did elliptical last night for almost an hour; felt great.  Went swimming tonight, did 45 lengths, but never felt like I got in my groove.  I'm blaming the lifeguard and the fire alarm.

Trying not to gain too much weight.  Thankfully, with all the weight I lost when I was sick (what, 15 or so pounds?), I've only gained back 3 lbs.  Even when not pregnant, I would've expected to gain the 'rebound' weight - we all know that weight lost when sick doesn't really usually count as weight loss, but here I am.  I'm really happy about that.  I had it to lose, and I have a goal about how much weight gain I want to limit myself to in this pregnancy, especially since I started out 'more' than I should've.

Pregnancy.  Occupies a lot of my thought life.  I *may* have felt the wee babe move earlier today.  When I was *not* sleeping during my coughing fit.  It wasn't gas, and it wasn't my own heartbeat.  Hmm.

Discipline.  The boys have been on each others' nerves a lot lately.  Today not as much as yesterday or Wednesday, but still...  I wish I had a magic formula that just worked with them.

Cleaning.  Confession time:  when I was sick for those few weeks, I didn't lift a finger to do pretty much anything.  And I've never caught up.  And it's been driving me crazy.  Graeme took it up on himself to find someone to do it for me the other day.  Unfortunately she didn't do the greatest job in the world (and I feel like I can say that, since we had to pay her), and I still have to pick up the duster.  But at least I feel like I CAN pick up the duster now.

Paperwork.  I've been behind on the business stuff... but finally caught up this past weekend, and it feels GREAT!!  No more of that type of paperwork for a few months now...

Other than that...Christmas is coming!  I've been listening to some Christmas music already, and it's been nice.  I'm prepping (sort of) to sing in a trio for our old church's ladies' Christmas event - we're doing some carolling for about an hour while people mingle and stuff.  I'm looking forward to it!  I will sing soprano, and the tenor is also a woman, so hopefully that doesn't kick my soprano part TOO high!  

Tomorrow:  lasagna-making day, party at Jon's house (something about some guy I've never heard of - we always pick these obscure holidays to 'celebrate'), and hopefully another workout session.  I'm 'short' for the week, so hopefully I can get one more in before tomorrow's party.  (See, there's that 'exercise' thing again!)

Time for another drink of water (not sure why I'm so thirsty after I swim!), and bed.  My head is still wet but I don't really care; I'll be chilled but will just throw on another blanket.

G'night!

Babies

In light of all the fighting my boys have been doing lately, we had a sweet moment yesterday.

I was at Playradise at our old church, and I got to hold and play with Baby Sophie.  She's about 5 or 6 months old, and such a sweetie.  I had her laying on my lap, and I was talking to her, tickling her, and just loving on her.  (I am so ready for a girlie!)  Then Joshua came up and started being so gentle and loving with her, too.  And then Dustin came up and gave her a little kiss on her head.  They were just in awe.  She giggled at them and they just melted.

They're going to be good big brothers.  I hope they're as good when this sweet little baby wakes them up all night, too!

Swimming

I like to be able to breathe.  I think I may have mentioned that before.  That, combined with still trying to fully recover from the bronchitis, has made me not too eager to work on my front crawl/freestyle in the pool.

I bought goggles a few nights ago before doing my 1500m at Millenium.  They were good - felt funny, but they kept the water out and I was able to have happy non-irritated eyes at the end of my swim.  That was only with backstroking, though.  The pool is so deep in the middle (3m) and with not being comfortable yet with front crawl, I haven't been doing it.

But the Kinsmen is different.  The pool starts at about a metre and goes to just below 1 1/2 metres.  It's not deep at all.  So, I figured that if I start freaking out and not being able to breathe properly, then I can just stop and stand up.  I did a couple of lengths, and the instructor (it was my lesson last night) gave me a couple of pointers.  

What a difference!!  I think I maybe pulled 14-16 lengths of front crawl last night.  I can see, I can breathe, and I just need to work on my endurance as usual.  I feel like I definitely got somewhere last night!!

The neatest thing I witnessed with my blind goggled-eyes was a pair of swimmers who seemed to know each other very well, were having 'races' all night, and working on different strokes and generally having fun.  I asked, and it turns out that it was a mother and her 16 year old son.  How blessed am I, to have witnessed a mom and her teenaged kid still doing fun things together, and genuinely enjoying each other's company in friendly competition.  It was really quite neat.  I guess there are still families like that out there.  That's what I want to be with my boys... the mom playing soccer with them, swimming with them, playing volleyball and one-on-one basketball with them... That's why I'm so desperate and determined to be/get into the best shape of my life!

Hmm...

Just when I think I'm out of the woods... wham!!  

I felt like a switch flipped a few days ago - I woke up nausea-free.  I've been feeling pretty good in my tummy!  Today... I woke up too early (with chubby little fingers tickling my foot - how cute), and it took me over 1 1/2 hours before I could get some food into my tummy.  Every few minutes that passed brought another bigger wave of nausea.  The causes for delay were legit - Dustin got hit/poked/something in the eye, boys needed their fruit, mama needed to go potty and then when I got out, there was another fight to break up, etc...  So I finally got some hot cereal into my tummy.  It was the one thing I could even consider swallowing this morning.

Well, the nausea hasn't even begun to subside yet.  *sigh*

Oh well.  Maybe tomorrow will be different.  Better.  

I need to get groceries, but the thought of me not being at the top of my game and dragging two crazies out with me today just doesn't exactly motivate me.  We're having dinner company tonight, and I have no idea what I'm going to do/make.

I think I'm going to skip Playspot today.  I don't need the chaos today.  I'm glad it's a flexible thing to go to.

I read a funny story on Beth Moore's blog this morning - she is asking for funny illustrations and embarrassing stories from people, for material to put in her next video Bible Study series.  I giggled through the entire story:

My dad is a pastor. One Sunday morning as he was guest preaching at another church, he realized that his pants zipper was unzipped. This church had a clear acrylic podium, so he couldn't step behind the podium to zip up his pants. So he kept preaching while looking for a way to subtly zip up his pants. Then he noticed the American flag sitting on one side of the stage. (You know, old school baptist churches with the American Flag on one side and the Christian Flag on the other side) He walked over to the flag, somehow managed to add a little patriotic twist to his sermon, and zipped up his pants. But his zipper got caught in the tassels on the flag. And he was stuck. Zipper 1/2 way down, tangled to the flag. By now, he was sweating, and trying inconspicuously to wrestle with the flag tassels. Realizing there was no way out, he managed to keep the patriotic twist in the rest of his sermon (thank you, Lord, for quick thinking - and strong arm muscles to carry the flag for the rest of the sermon) and then told the congregation that he "thought it would be patriotic to all process out of the church like the kids in VBS do." He finished his sermon, led the entire church in the "procession" out (all while carrying the flag) and untangled his zipper. All without anyone in the congregation being any the wiser.

What a hoot!!

Bit off more than I can chew...

Today was my turn to bring snacks for Bible study, along with my friend, Karen.  We co-ordinated: she was bringing banana bread and fruit, and I would supply something 'chocolate' and some cinnamon buns.

Well, I decided to play Suzy Homemaker and bake two-bite brownies last night, and got up early to ice them this morning.  Chocolate overload!!  YUMMY....

Last night while Graeme was doing an online course for the PCN, I cleaned the kitchen and started making dough for cinnamon buns.  Around 10:30 last night, I got the cinnamon buns (two huge pans!) prepared with their goo in the bottom of the pan.  Covered them up and stuck 'em in the fridge overnight so that they wouldn't rise all crazy-like on me.  When I got up to frost the brownies, I pulled the buns out of the fridge and set them on the counter to warm to room temp before baking, but I found I was running out of time so I 'proofed' them in the oven to speed things up.  

They came out of the oven, steaming fresh and hot, at 8:30 this morning.  Ten minutes later, after flipping them out of their pans and so that the goo could run all over them, I put them back in their pans, bolted out of the house with two kids, a preschool backpack, my Bible study stuff, the brownies, oven mitts, and the cinnamon buns.  I was even 'fortunate' enough to grab a shower before we left the house.

The work was worth it.  I love baking.  And the cinnamon buns were an absolute HIT!  :)  I only brought the large pan to Bible study, and brought the small pan to the pharmacy, where, of course, they were a hit, too.  Graeme says that my cinnamon buns are the best, and his staff loved them, too, but he's never tasted Gramma Ann's.  I have a tentative date to drive out to Daysland to take a cinnamon-bun lesson from her one day before Baby comes.

No workout last night... it was too late by the time I did stuff I had to do, even besides the cinnamon bun prep.  Tonight I'm exhausted already... I really want and *need* to work out tonight, but seriously, I feel just railroaded.  Boys will be in bed in one hour and life might look much different by then...

The boys are "shooting the moon" - Joshua pulled out his big watergun and is firing away at the moon!  Funny kid...  I think that they might be a little wet by now themselves...

Time to get supper on the table!

A good one, finally!

I'm not sure what it was about today.

Maybe it was being able to sleep in, because Graeme got up with Joshua this morning (kids don't 'get' time changes) and Dustin slept in, too.

Maybe it's that the boys have been MUCH nicer to each other these last couple of days - and Dustin is his downright joyful and happy self again.  Oh, and goofy.  And dare-devillish.  *shudder*

Maybe it was the fun lunch at Tim Horton's with the boys after church today.  Or the stress-free shopping at Costco and Superstore so that we could have some food in the house again.  I know, I know, Costco & Superstore & stress-free do not belong in the same sentence.  But there they are.

Maybe it was the fact that I got to take time to make a yummy roasted chicken & mashed potato dinner for Graeme tonight.  I didn't really enjoy it, but that's just hormones talking.  This used to be one of my favorite meals.

Maybe it's just the boys being happier overall to everybody... not just each other.

Maybe it's the accomplishment of 1 1/2 years of business paperwork compiled, organized, reconciled, etc, in the last 2 days.  I gotta tell you, that feels pretty good.

Maybe it's because it's getting close to Christmas.  I've already started listening to Christmas music - something I *never* do this early!

Maybe it was that I'm feeling so much better overall - out of the first trimester, not fighting bronchial or other infections, finding energy again, and only dealing with a bit of a stuffy head from the kids & Graeme being sick.

Maybe it's because I feel so blessed that I've been able to exercise again in light of the recent abovementioned illnesses...  5x last week, and once already this week (I count Sunday as the start of my workout week).  I did my first ever 1500m swim - it felt great, and I'm so amazed at what my body has been able to accomplish in the last few short weeks.

Or maybe it's *just* God working His handiwork in me, enough so that I could count today as a *good* day and that I can still see His hand orchestrating things amidst the chaos.  But I sure do feel blessed.  'Cuz I am.

Diff't sort of day

Petra.  Oldddddd.... petra.  Graeme's music from...high school?  I'm not sure.  But he pulled it out one day a year or so ago, and the kids are in love with the song called "Destiny".  First thing this morning, Graeme and I were both zonked out, and the boys put their heads together to find the CD, pop it into the CD player, and dance their little hearts out first thing in the morning.  It's pretty rockin' 80's (or early 90's?) music.  The house was shaking from their dancing!!  Dustin was in *that mood* ALL day today.  It was rather fun.

I won't even talk about the middle part of my day... it was frustrating and I walked away feeling steamrolled and disrespected again.  Joshua said to me a few days ago, "I don't think _____ likes you."  He got to see it in action again today.  He's not a dumb kid.  He knows when someone is disrespecting someone else.  We've taught him how to respectfully talk to other people even when you disagree with them (as do his teachers at church and preschool), and he certainly does not see the same mannerisms reciprocated sometimes.  I hate being made to feel like my goals and my wishes are worthless.  I am frustrated because just when things seem to start to get better... wham.  Steamrolled again.  I didn't even have any control over this one, really.  But it happens time and time again.  

This is where I get to press into God and find out what He thinks of me... what He thinks of how I handle situations, and what He thinks of my goals.  I am not perfect or more righteous than the next person, this I know.  But I am led once again to surround myself with positive people who seek to lovingly motivate and inspire - people who can tell me like it is without attacking my character or my desires.   I don't mind being challenged... but by the right people who are gentle enough to expose the flaw instead of trample the person.  Make sense?

We had a pancake party tonight.  Yum!  Forgot to buy milk today - good thing there's leftover pancakes for tomorrow morning's breakkies!!  :)  Little pancakes can be tossed in the toaster.  Sounds good to me!

I skipped working out tonight.  Well, it wasn't in the original plan anyway, so I guess technically it's not 'skipping', is it?  I did go to the pool last night, though, after the kids were in bed.  I was tired all day from it, though!!  I swam 1000m (40 lengths) - a personal *record*.  Even I'M starting to be impressed!!  :)  So I did 5 days this week, and am very happy with that.  I would've liked to get some weights in, but 5 strong cardio workouts is better than sittin' on my butt all night every night... 'cuz believe me, the urge to be lazy is STRONG sometimes!! ...especially when my ONLY guaranteed consistent workout time is after the boys are in bed, and my brain begins to shut down...

Tonight was filled with baths for the boys, paperwork, and more paperwork.  Taking a blogging break here, and then I'll finish off a few things before hitting the hay.  My tummy is rumbling, and I have a strange craving for veggies and dip.  Must be partly due to only eating one little 3" pancake tonight.  It wasn't going down well, so I just sorta stopped eating.  Are veggies bad before bed?