Fun on the Range: Running in Circles

Second Son has my old camera. It works perfectly but the lens is smudged. Because it would cost something like $80 to have the lens professionally cleaned, I just picked a new cheap camera and gave him this one. He loves it. I frequently find the memory card full of thousands (thousands) of pictures of all the pages of Star Wars books or videos of him following the dog around as he (the dog) attempts to escape.

Recently, Second Son and Second Daughter have been making exercise videos, or perhaps they are just videos of them exercising. Second Daughter started it, I think, but this video from Second Son's camera is my favorite.

This kind of activity is what the Range kids call fun.

What I Loved About the Last Two Weeks (47th Ed.)

Trying out my new camera

Kansas Dad says this picture says just about all you need to know about our lives.

Yet this one manages to add something.

All four kids - and three of them are smiling!

1. We had a wonderful trip to the zoo after a morning of dentist appointments.

2. Soccer games - They wreak havoc with schedules, but it's so much fun to be outside and running around! (Or to be outside watching others run around.)

3. We've had lots of play time outside, especially at the playground at our parish. I love watching the kids run around and dig in the dirt with so many friends.

4. We had our first monthly faith formation coop. First Son played games after listening to a Glory Story. First Daughter learned how to sew on plastic canvas. Second Daughter learned about the courage of St. Clare (and drew a fantastic picture of her). Second Son and I hung out in the nursery but he got to play outside with everyone else.

5. First Daughter had a birthday party! For some reason, she wanted a mermaid party. I didn't really know what to do with that. I found some cupcake toppers in sea animal shapes. Kansas Dad picked up colored sand and we made bracelets with the girls. First Daughter drew a "pin the hair-shell decoration on the mermaid" game. (Apparently, my kids think you have to pin something on something to have a respectable birthday party.) Amazingly, the girls spent the first hour coloring mermaid pictures I printed off the web and decorating them with some jeweled stickers. (Believe me, there are a lot of bad mermaid pictures out there, but I found a handful appropriate for the 4-8 crowd.)

6. After the birthday party, Kansas Dad and I did our final P90X workout!!

7. A few days later, First Daughter celebrated her sixth birthday. I can't believe she's six! I have a birthday post in progress.

First Daughter with her birthday pancake (aka Pancake-as-Big-as-Her-Head).

8. I've gathered costumes for the children to wear with our parish float in the local parade. It's an invitation to our All Saint's Trunk or Treat celebration so they are all wearing saint costumes: St. George, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and St. Gianna Molla. I imagine they're going to have a fantastic time. What kid doesn't want to be in a parade?

Changes and Timing

For a while now I've been posting on Mondays (What I Loved About Last Week), Wednesdays (My Favorite Picture Books) and Fridays (whatever else was on my mind, usually a book or homeschool review). Frankly, the Monday morning post just doesn't work well for me. I'm so tired on Sunday nights after finalizing our week's school plans and I just don't want to sit at the computer!

So I'm going to start posting about our weeks on Saturday mornings. I think Friday nights will be a better time for me. (And this Friday I firmly intend to figure out how to get the pictures off my new camera!)

I think I'll post about picture books on Tuesdays and other random things on Thursdays, if I have anything to share. Perhaps I'll only post regularly twice a week. Surely the world will continue if I don't post three times every week...right?

In the meantime, let us all do the dance of joy because P90X is done!

I'll pause for your dancing.

Kansas Dad and I completed the whole thirteen weeks (though I did miss two days) and will be doing the final fit test tonight. I'm not sure how much I'll have improved, but I do know I could actually succeed if for some bizarre reason someone demanded, "Drop and give me twenty!" (I don't recommend you try this if you know me in real life because, even though I can, I probably won't.)

Also, if you're lucky, you may see Second Son cross his arms and yell in his deepest-two-year-old-voice "Bring it!" It's fabulously funny.

One of these days I'm going to write a review of Power 90 and P90X for the blog, though I'm sure you can read much better ones already online.

What I Loved About Last Week (46th Ed.)

1. Children's adoration started at our parish this week. I don't think we'll make it every week, but it was wonderful and I am very tempted to give up some lessons so we can make it. (Unfortunately, it's more getting-ready-for-dinner and exercise-time that would be missed.)

2. Soccer started! We were pleased to learn First Son's coach is from our parish. He had his first game on Saturday. Kansas Dad and I both had to miss it, but Grammy was there to cheer him on. (The girls play their first game on Monday. They'll have their first practice the Thursday after. Good thing U6 is so relaxed!)

3. Grammy and her wonderful friend helped us out tremendously by watching our children on Saturday when Kansas Dad was teaching and I was at my Catechesis class. It's not often that we are both busy (and not together) and we were so very thankful the children were in good hands.

4. We finished week 12 of P90X, our last week of strength training and ab workouts! Next week is the last week and is a recovery week (though not what I'd call easy with Yoga X twice and Core Synergistics twice. We've already picked another series of workouts to do next, but it'll be nice to have something a little less time-consuming.

5. Second Son's stories. He jabbers and jabbers, obviously telling us something. I don't understand most of them, but they sound very exciting.

6. Kansas Dad and I celebrated our 14th anniversary last week. It was a busy week (and an even busier day), but we found time for a glass of wine and some fantastic chocolate. I wanted to write something for the blog in honor of the occasion, but found myself unable to express how wonderful he is and how thankful I am for all our time together and the promise of many years to come. May God continue to bless our family tremendously!

Book Review: Made to Crave

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lisa TerKeurst

I started reading this book last summer with a couple of women from church. One of them had ordered the DVDs that went along with the book, so we would read on our own, then come together to watch the DVD and discuss everything. I read most of it last summer and finished it in a final spurt in the spring. Then it took me months to find the time to review it.

I don't like to write about the need to be healthier for lots of reasons. The top of that long list is a reluctance to admit I'm displeased with my current health and to open myself up to comments from people who read the blog that I "look fabulous" or "like you've been losing weight" which are based more on the desire to make me feel good than any real difference they've seen. So, please feel no need to say anything if you happen to see me in person.

This book is very easy to read. Ms. TerKeurst has an easy conversational style; I felt very much like I would like to sit down and have tea with her. She was upbeat and realistic but she didn't gloss over anything. She reiterates that though God loves us just as we are, He wants better for us.

Ms. TerKeurst provides a good Scriptural study in eating, food, and cravings. It doesn't provide examples of diets or recommendations for how to go about being healthier; it's more about finding Biblical reasons and supports for converting to and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. I found many of her insights helpful and revealing.

In particular, I liked one part in the book where she encouraged the readers to focus on obedience rather than results. It's hard not to look at the scale in the morning or focus on how clothes are still tight, but it's not really about how much we weigh. It should be about eating food that is nutritious and beneficial to our bodies, moving and using our bodies to their full potential and focusing on what God wants of us (rather than on how bummed we feel when we look in the mirror or at the scale or go shopping for clothes). It's better to slowly but permanently change our habits than to see quick results that disappear just as quickly.

It's not a Catholic book. Though I think it would be valuable for Catholics, I also would encourage Catholics to read it with other Catholics. It seems like there would be a lot of room for discussion about the spiritual food we receive in the Eucharist at Mass.

I had the Participant's Guide as well. I thought it was nice to have, but there are plenty of questions and thoughts to ponder within the book itself so it's not necessary.

I can't compare this book to others in its genre, because I haven't read anything like this before. I think it could be a nice supplement for Christian and Catholic women who are attempting to change their eating and exercise habits for the better.

What I Loved About Last Week (12 Ed.)

1. This week I pulled out an old exercise tape. This is one I originally used back in 2001 and have used off and on in all the years since. I never remember it being easy. Well, this week it was easy! Despite knowing the entire tape by heart, I was shocked when it ended. I guess all that time with the Wii Fit has been doing some good after all. (Not having lost significant weight or inches, I must take my successes where I find them.)

2. We met some good friends for a playdate at the zoo this week. It's been a while since we were there and it was very fun to see Second Son enjoying himself.

He doesn't have mittens! Maybe he'll get some for Christmas.

A very pretty picture of First Daughter

First Son pausing for a picture

Second Daughter in her furry coat

3. Peppermint marshmallows. Enough said.

4. A Small Miracle by Peter Collington. We read it this week and Oh! How I love it!

5. I love how much children love Advent. They are excited each day for our picture book, for the new magnet for our fridge Nativity, to light the candle on the Advent wreath at dinner, to prepare for the feast days. Second Daughter doesn't remember last Advent (being only two at the time) and the older two love to tell her exactly what to expect.

6. Etsy - I ordered something for the first time ever from Etsy. It was easy, the site was beautiful and I found the perfect gift.

7. Video of Second Son. I think this video is from May 2011, so he's about ten months old. I found it while going through my pictures.

8. Video of Second Son last week. We're not entirely sure what he's doing here, but we think he's shooting "guns." First Son has been playing "Hero Factory" which involves saving the world from bad guys who shoot some sort of weapon. Second Son wants to play along.

9. Dishwashers that work. Kansas Dad washed all the filters on our water softener. It took a while, but the cleansing finally worked its way to the dishwasher.


Take a deep breath. Next week we have St. Nicholas's Feast Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, First Son's birthday party, First Son's First Reconciliation, and First Son's actual birthday. Somewhere in all that we're going to have some lessons, too. I make no promises to post What I Love About Last Week on time next week, but I do promise there will be much to love!

Seven Quick Takes Vol. 2

1. The Cosby Show is one of the best shows. Kansas Dad and I have been enjoying it much more than we remember when we were children. Not only is it much funnier now that we're parents, but I can appreciate how much of the writing created a show perfect for the entire family to watch together and discuss. We're up to the third season. It's available to stream on Netflix.

2. Can anyone tell me the chigger's place in the ecosystem? I'm having trouble imagining them doing any good whatsoever. I'm starting to think they're a result of the Fall.

3. I have been exercising consistently every day for over seven weeks and am just starting to think I sees some results. Sadly, I have sprained or strained a muscle in my abdomen and now have to take a few days off. I'm afraid it's going to destroy all my momentum. It also ruined part of my plans for today as I was going to take the kids to a museum, but I'm not anxious to be walking around that much. (It hurts to stand straight or lay down straight -- much better to be sitting or curled.) I'm very thankful for my doctor's office's walk-in clinic that let me visit a PA who assured me it wasn't appendicitis. (We didn't really think it was, but it's nice to hear it from someone "official.")

4. Yesterday I was in the middle of mixing a batch of muffins using a new recipe when I opened the refrigerator and discovered we had NO eggs. For a few seconds, I wondered what I would do. Then I remembered, we have chickens! I sent First Son out to collect one for me, but he couldn't find them. So the girls and I trooped out as well (while Second Son napped) and I dug five out from under a hen who was resting in the nesting box. We went in to finish the muffins. It was a good country moment.

5. Speaking of muffins, I have made three batches this week and a number of loaves of bread. We've been busy with all the great summer offerings in our local community and with our friends. My house is reasonably clean and (as I mentioned above) I've been exercising regularly for the first time in years. All of that is good and yet I still find myself thinking in the evenings of all I (and we) haven't been doing during the day. I feel like I'm always asking myself if I have my priorities in order. Am I accomplishing what I should be each day? Should I be doing more? Or something differently? Perhaps my list of things I'd like to do is too ambitious? I have grand plans to finish our alphabet (Alphabet Art) and do some experiments (Creepy Crawlies and the Scientific Method). I want to pre-read all our read-aloud and reading lesson books for next year. I want to read some grown-up books about next year's topics as well to prepare myself. I want to finish my liturgical year binder. I'd like to be cross-stitching, working on Second Son's baby album, organizing pictures from the last year (none of which are in albums). And so on. Logically, I think I'm in a good place for a wife and mother of four young ones, but it's hard to convince my emotions of that. There are just so many good things to do each day and my time is no longer entirely my own. (It hasn't been for many years, but since I was pregnant with Second Son I struggled so much just to get the bare minimum done I haven't had time to think about how my time is not my own.)

6. My "new" laptop is up and running again. It's about three years old, I think, but that's two or three years younger than the desktop I was using. I'm still getting used to it and still haven't pulled pictures from the camera, but it's nice to have my own computer again. It's surprisingly hard to go back to a Mac after (dare I admit it?) more than a decade away but Kansas Dad keeps telling me I won't regret it. Another task on the to-do list: figure out how to get the desktop out into the living room where First Son and First Daughter can use it but Second Daughter and Second Son cannot destroy it. And figure out if we need a parental protection program. They won't be searching for anything but still...

7. Our summer reading program ended yesterday with a pizza party and a run through the librarian's sprinklers. The three older ones all received prizes (for showing up yesterday): a book each. I love our summer reading program! You should all have one as wonderful. I'm glad it's over, though, and we have Mondays and Thursdays to ourselves...for a week before swimming lessons start. I think our summer is turning out to be as busy or busier than our school year. Just without the lesson planning.

Jen has more 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

My Small Successes XLIII

Time for some small successes!

1. I have exercised every day in the past two weeks.

2. Last night, there was a spider the size of a baseball in our bathroom. I have issues with spiders, but restrained myself from screaming bloody murder four feet from my baby's crib. Instead, I walked carefully to where Kansas Dad was reading and quietly informed him of the monster in the bathroom. After a brief quiet battle, he emerged victorious. Baby slept through the whole thing.

3. Second Son is officially night-weaned. He goes to bed around 8 or 8:30 pm and sleeps at least until 5 am, but more often until 7 or 7:30 am. He'll be 11 months old next week. While I think it would be acceptable to be nursing him at night, he often slept through on his own so this week I just decided I would not nurse him during the night. I'm not sure he noticed.

Now...if only I could sleep through the night!

Head over to Chocolate for Your Brain for more Small Successes!

Time

So I started exercising again. This, I'm sure, is a good thing. I'm up to about 40-50 minutes a day. The thing is, that's 40-50 minutes I was using to read a book or blog or a million other things I like to do more than exercise. I kind of miss my time.

Of course I can't take it away from laundry or dishes or changing diapers.

My Small Successes XLII

1. We made our first batches of strawberry jam! So far we have four pints of strawberry jam and seven pints of strawberry lemon marmalade. The harvest is later than last year, but hopefully we'll still have a good one. Last year's was great, but I was too tired to can as much as I had liked. I tried a new recipe for pickled watermelon rinds, too, just because we had them. Kansas Dad is outside picking strawberries today so hopefully we'll have some strawberry sauce soon! (We also had strawberry smoothies for breakfast. Yum!)

2. We ordered a Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board. So far I've managed at least 30 minutes of exercise on all but one day. (That's 12 of the last 13 days. I didn't exercise on my birthday, more because I was worried about getting four adults and four kids to Mass on time than because it was my birthday.) I haven't noticed a difference in tone, strength, size or weight yet, but these things take time, right? I have been sore, so something must be happening. At the very least, I haven't exercised this much since I was playing basketball in high school.

3. I bought something for myself just because. I've wanted a Kindle for a long time but have never wanted to spend the money on something I so obviously didn't need. I had just enough birthday money for one, though, and my parents were encouraging me to order it. After consulting with Kansas Dad, I did. It should arrive tomorrow. I'm posting it as a success because it's the first time in (probably) years I haven't spent my birthday money on something for the kids, something for the kitchen or something for our homeschool. Not that I don't like spending money on those things, but Kansas Dad thought I was due to buy something for me. Now I'll be downloading all those classics I haven't read that are available for free. (Recommendations welcome.)

Head over to Chocolate for Your Brain for more Small Successes.

My Small Successes XXXVI

We had some wonderful successes this week!

1. Kansas Dad fixed the dryer. It's been squeaking horribly for at least two months. He took it apart (three times), ordered parts, replaced them, put it back together, got it working, and even fixed the little knob on the top that's been broken for almost two years. I am still getting used to not reaching for the pliers to start it up. He also replaced the stereo in the van. The old one chewed up and spit out a CD (one of my Music Masters, of course). It's wonderful to be able to listen to CDs again!

2. We took the kids on a field trip to the State Fair on Monday. It was dollar day and Kansas Dad didn't have any classes so off we went! We learned a few things about taking our kids to the fair. Next time we're going to let them ride for a while as soon as the rides open and then wander to look at animals and other curiosities. They only rode four rides each at the end of the day and were perfectly happy!

3. I got up and exercised yesterday. It was still dark. The first number on the clock was a 6!! Then, because I was up and the kids were sleeping, I was very productive. I recognize the value in this plan, but that doesn't mean I'll successfully manage to do it again. We'll see tomorrow morning...

Head over to Faith and Family for more small successes!

My Small Successes XVI

Each week, Faith & Family hosts Small Successes, where we celebrate the small things we accomplish each day.

1. I took the kids on two field trips last week and an evening out and we all survived. The house doesn't even look too terrible. Now a cold is running through the family so we've skipped our outings for this week.

2. I've baked and pureed about half of the pumpkins Kansas Dad grew. We've been eating some yummy treats with more on the way (just as soon as I get more butter).

3. I just realized two days ago this is the last week of the month, but I managed to request our November books and CDs from the library for Kansas Dad to pick up yesterday.

None of you have asked, but I know you're wondering: I'm still exercising. I missed it on our crazy day last Friday, but I made it up on Saturday.

Check out more Small Successes at Faith & Family.

My Small Successes XIV

I skipped Small Successes last week. I figured you were all tired of reading about how I'm still exercising (I still am!). (Like how I sneaked that in?)

1. I've pulled out all the fall and winter clothes for the kids and found places for them in their bedroom even though they no longer have a dresser. (The bunk beds have lots of little drawers.) The spring and summer clothes are still out, but I thought there might still be some warm weather in front of us. (I may have benefited from a look at the actual forecast on that decision.)

2. I am already planning our Thanksgiving menu because I am so very excited that my family are coming! (For Uncle A., broccoli and rice casserole. For Papa, chocolate pie!) I may even make up my pie crusts this weekend!

3. Kansas Dad butchered nine of our roosters (leaving one to hang out with the ladies and give us our wake-up call in the morning). We've eaten two of them with some cooked chicken in the fridge from a third for a casserole or something tonight. (Wish I had a plan for dinner...would have made this small success a little more successful.)

As a bonus, our new homeschooling schedule is going well. Deciding to not make up morning lessons in the afternoon if we have other activities in the morning has made me much more relaxed. The kids have also transitioned well to no videos on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'm even considering changing Mama's choice on Fridays to either a baking time (letting the kids take turns helping me make something; I've discovered it's much easier to deal with one of them at a time) or a game time.

Head over to Faith & Family for more Small Successes!

My Small Success XIII

It's hard to believe it's Thursday already, and time for more Small Successes.

1. My mom and I made these lovely jars of applesauce and tomatoes. It was my first time using a water bath canner and it wasn't as hard as I thought. It was also much harder than I thought, but we were had ambitious goals for the day. We also sliced some apples for the freezer, so an apple pie is in order...as soon as I've recovered. By the way, my mom brought her Pinzon Apple and Potato Peeler, Corer, and Slicer and it's amazing. I told her that's what I want for Christmas. I also finally chopped and froze the growing pile of hot chili peppers on our counter. Let's not think about the hundreds still out on the plants.

2. First Daughter's birthday party was a success! I hate birthday parties, not attending them (that's great), but hosting them. I'd much rather declare our family a non-birthday-party-family, but Kansas Dad says they're required. He planned the games (apple bobbing for preschoolers and a pumpkin hunt) and I managed some cupcakes and an apple cake decorated with cut-out apple cookies. First Daughter's favorite part was when the Bob cake-topper got all dirty (with frosting) on the cupcake. The highlight for most guests seemed to be when Kansas Dad showed them how to catch grasshoppers and feed them to the chickens.

3. I did not exercise last Monday, so I missed a session. I planned on missing it because my parents were in town and I wasn't comfortable working out while they sat on the futon right behind me and watched, but I was all prepared to surprise you by making it up on Tuesday. Instead, we adopted a dog. I may still make it up on Saturday. I did, however, exercise at my regularly scheduled time on Wednesday. I'm considering this a success because I didn't let missing a session derail me altogether. (Too convoluted?) I was nervous with the dog, worried he would get in the way, but I put his pillow down and rewarded him a few times with treats and attention. He only strayed a few times right at the beginning. (I don't know what his previous owners were thinking; he's fantastic.)

Bonus: We had our first homeschool field trip (pictures still to come) at the botanical gardens. Still to come this week: our first Nature Study Club meeting.

Head over to Faith & Family Live for more Small Successes!

Conquering Illness & Getting Something Done

It's been a slow week on the blog, mostly because I was sick earlier in the week and now I'm busy preparing for a visit from my parents and a little party for First Daughter's birthday. I did want to take a few minutes to post some small successes, though.

1. I'm still exercising! What's that now? Eleven times? I even worked out on Monday when I was feeling sick and exhausted. (Something to do with having a cold and being up with a crying baby for two hours in the middle of the night.)

2. I ordered the September pictures. Can you believe Snapfish doesn't print the file name on the back of the picture? Such a disappointment. Winkflash and Shutterfly both do. So they're not in albums yet, but neither are the August pictures which do have file names on the back. However (this is supposed to be a post about successes, after all), I did get the sunflower picture Kansas Dad took into the frame in the bathroom. First Son noticed it immediately, "Mama! I have wonderful news! There's a sunflower in the bathroom!"

3. We have our first group activity meeting today. I volunteered to help in the nursery and put together two bags of toys and crafts to take to keep the four and under crowd entertained (along with the contributions of two other moms). And I did it yesterday!

Head over to Faith & Family for more small successes!

Query IX

How unreasonable is it to feel anger when the remote controller won't work to stop rewinding the exercise tape after I've exercised?

My Small Successes XI

It's time for Small Successes again.

1. I have exercised every Monday, Wednesday and Friday since we started homeschooling. That's eight times. (How many times can I put this as a Small Success, do you think?)

2. Kansas Dad built the new chicken coop and moved the ladies to it. Now they have lots of room to roam. (I know, it's not really my success, but I managed to keep the kids from hurting themselves too badly as he built it, so I feel I contributed a little.)

3. I already made the cake decorations for First Daughter's birthday. Remember: parchment paper is your friend.

Head over to Faith & Family for more Small Successes.

Query VII

Should I worry about First Son watching my exercise tape?

In general, I think it's a good thing when he watches me exercise. He sees that I'm taking my health seriously, as I want him to take his. A few weeks ago, though, he told me the woman on the tape makes him shy (as if she could see him). And today, he led First Daughter through a three minute exercise routine complete with a cool down nearly word for word from the beginning of the cool down on my tape.