Trip July 2010

I had the most awesome opportunity this summer... it started with how about driving Sarah Jean and the babies with Vickie.... it turned into driving to see Sarah, driving to see Kristal and driving to CHICAGO with my mom!  I so wanted to go see Sarah just to see Ethan before he wasn't a baby anymore and truthfully just getting there and back was all I had in mind... but to get to see Kristan and the kids and do all that we did on the trip was amazing!

It is 1800 from to Chicago and 1800 back plus driving to Saint Louis and Indianapolis!  Over 3700 miles! 

Our first day got us to Tunica, MS.  We stayed in the Sam's Town hotel which is across from Harrah's Casino which has the PAULA DEEN Buffet!  This is the reason we went to Tunica!  It was really neat!  We got there after 8:00 so we were really, really hungry!  The restaurant looks exactly like her home!  It was beautiful, we got to eat cheesy grits, fried green tomatoes, cheeseburger meatloaf, bacon wrapped corn and of course there was butter on the side.  I did okay diet wise... we knew we were going to eat here and I decided to just try a few small bites of whatever I wanted and I did!  I had one plate, but went back for another fried green tomato and a little bit more mac and cheese in lieu of dessert!

The next day we headed for St. Charles, MO.  We were going to the exact place that the Lewis and Clark Expedition started!  I was very excited and this is one of the bigger reasons that we are homeschooling!  WE studied them and we saw them!   It was amazing!  We went to the Boat house (it hold a replica keelboat ) and museum.  It was all really well done and we had a great time! 

Sarah and the kids met us at the museum... I  cannot believe how big Emily Jean is getting!  Ethan Drake is adorable!  I could not get enough of him!  Emily was hilarious doing her scavenger hunt of the animals in the museum... she is sooo smart! 

After the museum we met up with some of Sarah's extended family for dinner... her brother was there and other "family" members... it was a fun group and I enjoyed visiting with Kevin and Samantha! 

We stayed the night in the Boone's Lick Inn.  It is a historic bed and breakfast in downtown St. Charles.  It was very nice and we enjoyed the special treat of a bed and breakfast- it was the kids first time in this kind of hotel! 

The next morning we headed for St. Louis.  We had plans to go to the Zoo being in the middle of a heatwave we skipped it, we just made other plans.  Sarah and the kids were running a little late so we ended up going to the ARCH earlier- which was nice because it hadn't gotten as hot YET!  We got to the arch just as it was opening and were greeted with another reminder of life after 9/11.  Security checks at a National Monument.  It is disconcerting to say the least... but we made it though!  Once in side we got to go all through the museum of Western Expansion and see a TON of Lewis and Clark stuff.  This is all what we will be working on as the school year progresses so I know we can think back and remember what we saw in the museum!

We met up with Sarah, Robbie and the kids, had a nice lunch and headed to Target for "Grandma Carrie" to buy the kids some stuff!  We got toys, clothes, a few school things for the kids!

We headed out for Indianapolis after this... we nixed seeing some more history stuff in Illinois but it couldn't be helped!

Finally we got to Indianapolis and met up with Kristal, Sam and the kids at Cracker barrel.  We had some trouble getting around town because we picked a week almost as bad at the INDI 500 to come to Indianapolis.  It was a the Brickton (?) race they had streets blocked off and police directing traffic! FUN!

We got to our hotel which was really neat... it is really like dorms that are rented out during the school year.  It had two rooms and a small kitchen and living room so we all got to just chill and everyone had enough room!  Kristal and the kids stayed the first night with us!  Mom cooked a great dinner and we let the kids swim!  I got to wash clothes and have a work out!

WE had a birthday party for the birthday girl!!!  3 years old!!!

The next day we went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum... I cannot say enough good things about this place.  It is 15.95 for adults at first I thought this was way too much but IT WAS WORTH IT!  It is HUGE!!!!  We spent over 4 hours there and did a little over half of the exhibits!  It was just so neat and had so many cool things to see.

 My favorite was a glass blowing exhibit.  They had computers that simulated glass blowing and a glass ceiling full of blown glass!  There was a round seat that spun very slowly so that you could lean back and see the glass!  It was so beautiful.  You could just sit and look!

They had a big Barbie exhibit.. It was really neat

They got to dig at the Dino dig and dress up like raptors!

And there was an Egypt Exhibit!  It was really, really neat.. Here the kids are on a crocodile on the Nile River!

We left the museum and headed out to eat at BOB EVANS.  I love this restaurant and never get to eat there unless I'm up north!  After a fabulous dinner we went to Trader Joe's!  Mom and I have always wanted to visit one and it was really cool.  The one we went to is obviously small and there is a much, much bigger one is Chicago but we didn't have time to fit it in!

Okay, Chicago tomorrow!

okay, so much to say and show

I will begin with I just got back from a trip.. a very long trip. Well it was only 8 days but it was long as far as miles... over 3700 miles! We went to Chicago and back with many stops in between...

I have to get my pics in order for that post but to catch you up on HERE and scheduling and cleaning and dieting and child raising and home schooling....I thought I needed a separate post!

Weight:

So before our trip I did not get to the doctors to weight because Kate had a rash and we went to her doctor instead! It is all better now, thank goodness!

I know that I had lost weight but unsure of how much at this point so I will let you know after my doctors appointment which I think is next MONDAY! I did pretty good eating on the trip.. I made some great choices and even though I didn't want to miss everything.. I choose to try things but not have much. I walked a TON! In Chicago alone I am pretty sure that mom and I calculated us walking about 6 miles in the 12 hours we were about the city! That doesn't account for stairs and ramps. I worked out in three of the four hotels we stayed in that had fitness rooms even at 10 at night after a full day of doing stuff so I felt good! It was different for me than most vacations... usually it is eat what you want because it is "special" and fitness rooms have never seen me before at a hotel!

Scheduling:

I am giving myself till Sunday evening to acclimate and catch up on laundry etc before starting my full week of STUFF getting ready for school and our new "year" to start.

On Monday the kids switch to a new schedule, no electrons till after 3:00 currently it is 12:00. A little more serious about bedtimes and I plan to do one unit study to have them sitting at the table working. This is more for fun though! We have had 3 weeks off minus math and a Lewis and Clark study for the trip!

On next Monday we launch school full schedule minus science and history. this will mean school table promptly at 9:00, chores done, memory work(which we haven't done since MAY!), math, spelling, writing, Bible, ETC and LLTLA for Emily. I will update our curriculum choices later this week but not much is changing.

The following Monday we will add science and history!

I am really, really expecting a different school year with NO AGH and very little BSCH. I know that I am excited and have big plans, just gotta work on my FOLLOW THROUGH.

I have always wanted to do Tea Party Tuesdays for example and always start out with the best intentions. But the extra stuff gets cut as outside stuff adds to much to our schedule so I plan to have Tea Party Tuesdays this year as a staple! I gave big plans for it too!

As far as other scheduling goes we will continue Sunday church, Sunday night church and Wed night church, we have not had that with much consistency throughout the school year so it will take some getting used to. We tried so many churches and that took up a lot of weeks but never with the intent of making it our home church and long term commitments.

Emily will continue gymnastics, Kate volleyball assuming they offer a Fall session and Matt well ... we don't know maybe a home school PE class at the gym Emily goes to. We will see depending on cost and timing!

My workout will still be paramount! I am unsure of the child care situation for my older children come fall at the YMCA so it is a wait and see I guess. I might have to go early or later to accommodate us!

We will add more outreach, service projects this year, I hope to do one a month at the least but a few might be more ongoing and we don't know what the church offers yet either.


CLEANING

this could be under home schooling or scheduling I don't know but I have got the kids notebooks for their room almost done, hopefully will finish those next week and be ready for our Monday school start.
It will include:
their rooms
chores
devotions
money accountability
a daily journal- which will count as a writing exercise for school
a food journal (we are working on food knowledge and our bodies and how they work best so I thought the kids could keep a food journal for a while and SEE when their bodies work best.)
and school assignments - which is new for us!  we will see how it works for their seat work.

I am still using the House That Cleans Itself. ---this is another post in itself!


Child Raising...

We had some issues on the trip.  I have some work that I have honestly been putting off with Kaitlin.  I need work just bite the bullet and add a few OT and neuro work to her day.  It is necessary.  I know for the most part what needs to be done to make a difference I just don't do it!  So we will be working on that more.

Emily was not very agreeable.  She wasn't really bad just a pain.  We had a few out right defiant moments.  I can blame  some of it on food (we had been doing so much organic and being careful for her to be thrown into eating out for 8 days wasn't good), I can blame some of it on just being tired... we WENT and WENT and WENT for 8 days straight!  The rest is of course her personality and that is what we are going to simply have to crack down on more. We have but a few things are just going to have to be a zero tolerance situation.  I think after a little bit of that  a few things will simply go away although it seems that just as something goes away another "problem" crops up!  do you know what I mean!  We also had what I would deem pure and simply jealousy when mommy gave attention to all the babies!  This is a definite work on!

ALL three of my kiddies showed a little more ungratitude than I would have liked so that is first on our character traits that we will work on this year.  

Honestly they did do really good, it was a long trip and we did sooo much!  But something I just found unacceptable- it is one thing if a a child disobeys the other parent on a trip but them disobeying my mom made me much more stressed out.  I found myself much crankier with them. 

Soooooo many things to work on do and accomplish!!!  Oh and finance are a different story... now that the trip is over we are on lock down besides some school necessities and of course Garner in October.  We need a new vehicle!!!  It is priority number one, you know under everything else!!!!!

Treacherous actions...A Fitness Friday Post!

Do you know what the word sabotage means? I mean the actual definition?

Sabotage:
2. Treacherous action to defeat or hinder a cause or an endeavor; deliberate subversion

I am hindering my own endeavor.  I am a sabotager!

I am repeating or initiating treacherous actions that are hindering my cause!


Treacherous action number 1:

whip cream in a can.... yes it is only 15 calories per 2 tablespoons, yes it is a delightful bubble of happiness, yes when you spray it directly into your mouth it tastes great and makes you and your children giggle. 
BUT WHEN inadvertently spray about 12 Tablespoons a day into your mouth or food..... that equals sabotage!

12 T= 90 calories.

NOT GOOD.

Treacherous action number 2:

The Biggest Loser... yes it is inspirational, yes I want to see who the winner is, yes there are great tips that will help me on this weight loss journey.

BUT WHEN you watch it all day long at the expense of actually MOVING, you defeat the purpose of buying them to get inspired to move because you are NOT MOVING... good thing I have bought all of the seasons that can be bought....


Treacherous action number 3:

Misconceptions about fat vs. calorie and carb vs. calorie and calories IN vs. calories OUT.  Yes we do not all have the information necessary for weight loss, we are obviously mistaken about food OR we wouldn't be soooo fat!  We have too many conflicting ideas also which is frustrating...I mean the professionals don't even agree...

BUT WHEN you decide to not take any of the conflicting information and use it to your benefit you are sabotaging yourself.... JUST PICK ONE!


Treacherous action number 4:

Planning an 8 day vacation.  FUN wonderful, get to see so much more of the world!  VERY EXCITED!

BUT planning a trip that is going to be incredibly hurried and involves literally hundreds of miles of driving during precious, " I HAVE TO FOCUS ON ME AND MY FOOD AND STUFF" time, not very helpful and scares me!  Hopefully will not fully sabotage myself.  Did get hotels with small gyms, do have days planned for walking, hiking etc!

Treacherous action number 5:

Muligrain tortilla chips.  ENOUGH SAID.

BUT even though they are tasty, muligrained, baked, not fried... it doesn't mean they are healthy and you CANNOT eat two servings a day, even if you have the calories for it!  Your calories need to be used for things that are helping your body to MOVE!  So occasional chips and salsa.. GREAT!  Not for daily consumption!

Treacherous action number 6:

Sugar free jello, yes a tasty refreshing treat and hey ONLY 10 calories.

BUT WHEN you eat three of them in a day and ....wait for it... add whip cream in a can

NOT GOOD!

Treacherous action number 7:

Asking my dear sweet unsuspecting hubbie to get me a sweet treat at the store... YES, I have been working hard, yes, I deserve a sweet treat, yes I have the calories for it, yes I still got SKINNY COW!

BUT WHEN sweet dear hubbie brings home Skinny Cow Fudge Bars and you eat the delectable treat that is only 100 calories of chocolaty goodness... you have to remind yourself NOT TO EAT THREE!!!!!


Okay so do we all agree that I have sabotaged myself and that I am doomed to failure.

NO NOT REALLY... but at least I am aware of the actions and repercussions of what is going on.  I am changing things and making adjustments and planning for how to minimize sabotage in the future!

HOW do you sabotage yourself???

Belated Birthday Matthew

I want to back up and give my boy a belated birthday post! I love this boy so much. There are so many things about him that are "ME" and just as many that are his daddy. He is definitely BOTH his parents. All the things he inherited from are us aren't great, he has many obstacles to over come. I KNOW that he can do it and I know with a shadow of a doubt that he is going to grow up to LOVE THE LORD, and to serve Him with all his strength. I know that he will be a great man of God and a wonderful husband, father, son, brother... whatever life brings him, he will prosper and bless those around him.

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.    Ephesians 2:3-5 (Proverbs 29:17 )

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.   (Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV)

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.       

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

                                                                              (Psalms 127:3-5)

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."    (Matthew 18:10)

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.  (Deuteronomy 12:28)

But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD'S love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--  Psalms 103:17

Proverbs 20:11


Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.

 

 
Proverbs 8:32-33



Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

Proverbs 23:15-16



My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

 

I LOVE YOU MATTHEW BRIAN THOMPSON.

bummer...

Not a bummer on weight loss! Bummer that I didnt get to weigh. We had to cancel my appointment to take Katygirl to the doctor, she has a rash on both arms that was spreading! Thinking it is allergic but the doctor went ahead and gave her a cream and told her to stay in out of the sun and getting sweaty for a few days! Soooo bummer, I have to wait to weigh and since YOU are totally curious about my weightloss number....You have to wait too!

I did three miles on the ellipical and only a quarter mile on the bike but I had NO focus today... all I could think about at the gym was that I had so many other things to do! On other trips to the gym I have been able to set stuff aside and focus but today it just wasnt there! Next time I will simply HAVE to push through that feeling and do more than I want too! That is my goal, each time I think I am done to just push a little more!

Target is my target...

Emily LOVES to say that. She thinks it is hilarious!

So today I decided to try walking down the walk/ bike path that winds thru the Heights and goes under I10 to the Target shopping center. My sister in law who had biked it thought it was about a mile. So I was like I can do that!!! So today we did! Dave took the girls to a movie and Matt and I were home so we decided to go for a walk! It is a beautiful pathway, you get to walk over two bridges which is neat to Matt. You walk underneath I10 which is really loud but Matt thought was cool. We got to Target, Matt bought a snack and I had water and then we walked home!

pedometer wise it was 4797 steps and mile wise it was a little over 2.3 miles there and back! It was a good little walk and I really think we could all do it several times a week!

Now being the freak that I am I used the walk time to talk to Matt a little about safety. I had him hold the cell phone in his pocket and said if any thing happened, if Mommy got hurt or someone tried to attack us... he was to run away as fast as he can and call 911 with the phone. It made me feel better to have a plan and truly for Matt's personality it helps HIM to have a plan too. He would rather know a situation, even if it is awful or gruesome so that HE feels prepared. I have to really remember that with him. Kate is not like that, I think she would generally rather not know or think about it. Emily is still young although I think she will like to have a plan too but not as badly as Matt.

So anyway, it was a good day! Here is a pic of my route to Target...

BTW... I think the last number of what I had done on the Elliptical was a half mile, well I did a mile and a half a few days after that and  YESTERDAY I did a little over 4 miles!  I was on it for 1 hour and burned over 350 calories.  It felt AWESOME!