Spring break style update post!
It's been several months. We are on our last weekday of Spring Break and honestly, I could use another week. We had a medical adventure resulting in our second-ever ER visit with one of our kids, Aidan (age 5). He is OK, healing up from his trauma. No stitches, no broken bones, and in the end, we are fortunate with how that all turned out.
I am participating in the Crossfit Open for the first time. I'm "competing with myself" as a benchmark for future years. It's been mostly fun, although Workout 16.3 sucked in a big way. Jumping chest to bar pull ups are NOT my thing. I'm looking forward to running 16.4 tonight.
The kids are doing well. I'm looking forward to school concluding, however well they are doing! I am dreading science projects and looking forward to warmer weather. Required science projects should burn in hell... that's my opinion of a 'required' graded major pain in the @ assignment.
I am on day 24 of a "Whole 30" diet. So far, I've lost 11 lbs. I like the awareness of 'added sugars' that I really don't need to be eating. This particular day, I'm feeling like I could eat ANY and EVERY thing without discrimination, but most of the days I have NOT felt like that.
Due to the whole Spring Break starting off with an ER run thing, it's been a bit stressful to 'come down' from. I'm wondering if that is playing into the wanting to eat everything feeling. Not typically something I do. In any event.... ugh. Here's hoping the roasted veggie surprise I have going in the oven right now hits the spot. If I get back to regular blogging, I'll try to post an update on how that all ended up going. I'm a little bummed that my Day 31 is actually Good Friday - so no big feast for me on Day 31 either!!!
If you've done this, how did you 'maintain' after the Whole 30? I'm considering sticking to Whole 30 or paleo-ish stuff unless there's a legitimate special event like people in town, a holiday, etc. I've been disciplined like crazy, no licking ice cream spoons, making but not sharing in pancakes for kids, and so on. I don't want to eat myself unhealthy and I think more attention to food is a really good thing!
Friday, March 18, 2016
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
winter has arrived!
Much to my surprise, winter arrived - and stayed! We have had consistent snow on the ground for about a week.
The kids love it, playing outside, sledding, constructive creative snow games... snowballs at the house. It's been a blast to play with them, hike out in it with them, and simply watch them experience the joys of it. With Alex being almost 4 and Aidan being 5, there is a new level of independence attained that our family hasn't really experienced before, as there's a limited amount of outdoor stuff you can do with a baby before it gets grumpy, cold or both.
Things here are hopping and mostly good. I am finding it difficult to find the time to consistently review Andrew's homework in an everyday fashion as I suspect it's intended to be. Go ahead and pass the parenting cone of shame. I let him play outside yesterday for over an hour in the snow, and several days this week I've been alone and my focus has been on making sure the evening goes smoothly vs. overseeing his handwriting. Unsmileyface! We are doing the best we can. (P.S. - Seriously.... save the judgement for elsewhere, because I just don't care...)
I'm looking forward to concluding some home improvement projects and starting others. Stuff that was supposed to take a week at most has dragged way out - my fault, in the end of the day, but at the same time not as some of it was extended due to things way outside my control. Again - doing the best I can. If you're not part of the solution, and all that.
I also joined a new Crossfit gym. I've been going to Crossfit since early this year and am excited to work out at my new spot. It really deserves it's own post, so that will be in the offing as soon as I get a minute. In a nutshell, it's a great stressbuster, I love getting stronger and feeling strong. I love what I do there. It's a great way to start a day.
So ends a stolen moment from my day - I really have other things I need to do besides sit at the computer typing!
The kids love it, playing outside, sledding, constructive creative snow games... snowballs at the house. It's been a blast to play with them, hike out in it with them, and simply watch them experience the joys of it. With Alex being almost 4 and Aidan being 5, there is a new level of independence attained that our family hasn't really experienced before, as there's a limited amount of outdoor stuff you can do with a baby before it gets grumpy, cold or both.
Things here are hopping and mostly good. I am finding it difficult to find the time to consistently review Andrew's homework in an everyday fashion as I suspect it's intended to be. Go ahead and pass the parenting cone of shame. I let him play outside yesterday for over an hour in the snow, and several days this week I've been alone and my focus has been on making sure the evening goes smoothly vs. overseeing his handwriting. Unsmileyface! We are doing the best we can. (P.S. - Seriously.... save the judgement for elsewhere, because I just don't care...)
I'm looking forward to concluding some home improvement projects and starting others. Stuff that was supposed to take a week at most has dragged way out - my fault, in the end of the day, but at the same time not as some of it was extended due to things way outside my control. Again - doing the best I can. If you're not part of the solution, and all that.
I also joined a new Crossfit gym. I've been going to Crossfit since early this year and am excited to work out at my new spot. It really deserves it's own post, so that will be in the offing as soon as I get a minute. In a nutshell, it's a great stressbuster, I love getting stronger and feeling strong. I love what I do there. It's a great way to start a day.
So ends a stolen moment from my day - I really have other things I need to do besides sit at the computer typing!
Sunday, October 18, 2015
It's been awhile!
Life has been very full since school started. Five kids in school full time has been an adjustment - with it came sports, some higher level academic demands, lots of decision making and other challenges.
It's nice to still have Aidan and Alex at home. Aidan will start Kindergarten next year and there will be an adjustment to having "just one" for at least part of the day, since Aidan's school is half-day for Kindergarten.
The days are getting shorter. Kids are reading a lot. We decided not to participate in Junior Nordic this year because after careful evaluation of the kids' academic loads and the way our schedule has been running, sadly, there is not the time to add in another evening activity. I hope that decision helps us to maintain some of the balance we have left.
Not really sure what else to put here - I miss writing regularly, but the time to do so comes up short any more.
Life has been very full since school started. Five kids in school full time has been an adjustment - with it came sports, some higher level academic demands, lots of decision making and other challenges.
It's nice to still have Aidan and Alex at home. Aidan will start Kindergarten next year and there will be an adjustment to having "just one" for at least part of the day, since Aidan's school is half-day for Kindergarten.
The days are getting shorter. Kids are reading a lot. We decided not to participate in Junior Nordic this year because after careful evaluation of the kids' academic loads and the way our schedule has been running, sadly, there is not the time to add in another evening activity. I hope that decision helps us to maintain some of the balance we have left.
Not really sure what else to put here - I miss writing regularly, but the time to do so comes up short any more.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Summer recap
Things don't always turn out as one would hope or plan.
I had a tough July. I suffered a miscarriage. The pregnancy wasn't advanced but the loss was felt. I won't go into the awful experience except to say it was probably one of the worst things that has ever happened to me. I feel that over the last several years life events have hardened me but this one has demanded a new level of 'life isn't soft'. It's not. And if yours is, well, bless you.
While that event tempered every bit of joy I had since, we have also had some adventures. We got stuck on the south side of a 7 car accident at Portage on the Seward highway. Since the road south was opened, the kids and I (day trip, remember? No camping gear) headed south to Seward since they were projecting a few hour closure of the highway. Better to play in town than sit waiting for a closed road to reopen. Long story short, the road was closed for ten and a half hours (!!!). For those out of state, there is literally one road back to Anchorage from there, and that was it. We were kindly taken in by friends who have a second home in Seward. I got to see a friend from elementary school and her kids. My children played with friends from school into the late hours of the night. We had pizza, ice cream, salmon, halibut and broccoli pasta. A nice way to be "stuck" somewhere!
The kids have had some separate summer adventures. A youth group trip to Seward for the day, and just today, a whitewater rafting trip. Lots of friends popping in and out. We made it twice out to Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine. We hiked to Gold Cord Lake. New things, new experiences.
Pet and Rose will be attending a new school this year. I hope the change is a positive one. It's difficult to make changes like that without the perception that you are being silently critical of the thing you've moved away from. If I can confirm anything, it is that every school can have issues and each student has different needs. With that in mind, I'm looking forward to having all the kids except the high schooler in the same place this year.
I have back to school supply shopping mostly done, which I suppose is good since school starts on Wednesday for most of the kids. Hopefully this explains a bit of why I've not been around. Life has been demanding and I am doing my best.
I had a tough July. I suffered a miscarriage. The pregnancy wasn't advanced but the loss was felt. I won't go into the awful experience except to say it was probably one of the worst things that has ever happened to me. I feel that over the last several years life events have hardened me but this one has demanded a new level of 'life isn't soft'. It's not. And if yours is, well, bless you.
While that event tempered every bit of joy I had since, we have also had some adventures. We got stuck on the south side of a 7 car accident at Portage on the Seward highway. Since the road south was opened, the kids and I (day trip, remember? No camping gear) headed south to Seward since they were projecting a few hour closure of the highway. Better to play in town than sit waiting for a closed road to reopen. Long story short, the road was closed for ten and a half hours (!!!). For those out of state, there is literally one road back to Anchorage from there, and that was it. We were kindly taken in by friends who have a second home in Seward. I got to see a friend from elementary school and her kids. My children played with friends from school into the late hours of the night. We had pizza, ice cream, salmon, halibut and broccoli pasta. A nice way to be "stuck" somewhere!
The kids have had some separate summer adventures. A youth group trip to Seward for the day, and just today, a whitewater rafting trip. Lots of friends popping in and out. We made it twice out to Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine. We hiked to Gold Cord Lake. New things, new experiences.
Pet and Rose will be attending a new school this year. I hope the change is a positive one. It's difficult to make changes like that without the perception that you are being silently critical of the thing you've moved away from. If I can confirm anything, it is that every school can have issues and each student has different needs. With that in mind, I'm looking forward to having all the kids except the high schooler in the same place this year.
I have back to school supply shopping mostly done, which I suppose is good since school starts on Wednesday for most of the kids. Hopefully this explains a bit of why I've not been around. Life has been demanding and I am doing my best.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Hello out there!
It's been a long time - the time doesn't seem to be there much any more. We took a break from the internet, but missed its siren song when it came to things like math review over the summer (no, I'm not going to design 5 different leveled math worksheets and then correct them while making dinner... some people can do that, kudos to them!) So back to very limited internet it is, for us.
What's been going on?
*We have made a couple trips to Byron Glacier/Portage Glacier area. These are day trips and just fabulous in warm weather. On one of them, I took my mother in law and I think she enjoyed it. Regardless, the children love these trips. We make them fun with special foods, water guns, and so forth.
*I got to visit my folks in Ketchikan for five days, inclusive of travel time. What a treat! I love, love, love seeing my folks. I helped get their landscaping in order, I cut down a tree, we gave plenty of business to Cape Fox Lodge (yum!). I took a kayaking trip for pleasure. No, I didn't take any kids and they had a blast here with Allen while I was gone!
*We went camping in Seward. This one went less smoothly than I had hoped. I did sleep "enough" the night we stayed. We did get to see the Sea Life Center and Exit Glacier, and Lowell Point as well as Seward Playground. Someone (one of the older kids) might've vomited with no warning in the middle of the night and that sparked a long cleanup job, very inconveniently timed!
*We hiked Winner Creek in Girdwood. Reality: we had to leave the hand tram with a l-o-n-g line with kids in tears because the wait was too dang long to wait through to get rides ourselves. Bummer. But still such a nice hike!
*I have been Crossfit-ing with really nice results! I'm very pleased and I really enjoy Crossfit. I will also talk about it at length to anyone who gets me going... so I try not to go there unless someone brings it up or is interested. I have to give credit for this to my mom, who reminded me that I used to enjoy lifting weights in high school (8 million years ago). It's true. And I still do!
*I got to kayak Campbell Creek here in Anchorage with a friend. It's really neat to kayak in the biggest city in the state. Salmon are spawning in the river and we would glide right over their pink swimming forms!
*I saw three bears (a mom and two babies) while hiking the Turnagain Arm Trail (known to be a good place for a bear encounter, not that I want those). We turned around.
*Everyone's health has been good - thankfully there's not much more to say about that.
*Kids are happy in general. Lots and lots and lots of reading. I have 2 library cards almost maxed out with books for us and for them. Math review.
*Allen (son) went to JROTC camp. He is enrolled in the NJROTC program for his freshman year of high school which starts in the fall.
*The kids have a new violin teacher as their last one quit teaching for now. Things seem to be going well there.
*Allen (son, again) also scored his first job at Dimond Skateland. He is a skate clerk/cleanup guy! He enjoys working and enjoys the paycheck too.
*Allen (husband!) is on a 2 week vacation "stay"cation. There is so much to see right here in Alaska and we are having a great time. It is positively amazing to sleep in and not have to say goodbye to him for the whole day. It's so much fun to have him around and I'm so glad I recognize I feel that way! I think a lot of people drift through life bored... maybe that's just the impression they give.
*Today is our 15 year anniversary, and 17 years since we got engaged. Wow, huh? That's a long time. And it's been a BLAST. Looking forward to the next 15!
That's about it for now. I can't promise I'll be back soon, but I'll do my best to jump on as I can. I miss reading people's blogs!
It's been a long time - the time doesn't seem to be there much any more. We took a break from the internet, but missed its siren song when it came to things like math review over the summer (no, I'm not going to design 5 different leveled math worksheets and then correct them while making dinner... some people can do that, kudos to them!) So back to very limited internet it is, for us.
What's been going on?
*We have made a couple trips to Byron Glacier/Portage Glacier area. These are day trips and just fabulous in warm weather. On one of them, I took my mother in law and I think she enjoyed it. Regardless, the children love these trips. We make them fun with special foods, water guns, and so forth.
*I got to visit my folks in Ketchikan for five days, inclusive of travel time. What a treat! I love, love, love seeing my folks. I helped get their landscaping in order, I cut down a tree, we gave plenty of business to Cape Fox Lodge (yum!). I took a kayaking trip for pleasure. No, I didn't take any kids and they had a blast here with Allen while I was gone!
*We went camping in Seward. This one went less smoothly than I had hoped. I did sleep "enough" the night we stayed. We did get to see the Sea Life Center and Exit Glacier, and Lowell Point as well as Seward Playground. Someone (one of the older kids) might've vomited with no warning in the middle of the night and that sparked a long cleanup job, very inconveniently timed!
*We hiked Winner Creek in Girdwood. Reality: we had to leave the hand tram with a l-o-n-g line with kids in tears because the wait was too dang long to wait through to get rides ourselves. Bummer. But still such a nice hike!
*I have been Crossfit-ing with really nice results! I'm very pleased and I really enjoy Crossfit. I will also talk about it at length to anyone who gets me going... so I try not to go there unless someone brings it up or is interested. I have to give credit for this to my mom, who reminded me that I used to enjoy lifting weights in high school (8 million years ago). It's true. And I still do!
*I got to kayak Campbell Creek here in Anchorage with a friend. It's really neat to kayak in the biggest city in the state. Salmon are spawning in the river and we would glide right over their pink swimming forms!
*I saw three bears (a mom and two babies) while hiking the Turnagain Arm Trail (known to be a good place for a bear encounter, not that I want those). We turned around.
*Everyone's health has been good - thankfully there's not much more to say about that.
*Kids are happy in general. Lots and lots and lots of reading. I have 2 library cards almost maxed out with books for us and for them. Math review.
*Allen (son) went to JROTC camp. He is enrolled in the NJROTC program for his freshman year of high school which starts in the fall.
*The kids have a new violin teacher as their last one quit teaching for now. Things seem to be going well there.
*Allen (son, again) also scored his first job at Dimond Skateland. He is a skate clerk/cleanup guy! He enjoys working and enjoys the paycheck too.
*Allen (husband!) is on a 2 week vacation "stay"cation. There is so much to see right here in Alaska and we are having a great time. It is positively amazing to sleep in and not have to say goodbye to him for the whole day. It's so much fun to have him around and I'm so glad I recognize I feel that way! I think a lot of people drift through life bored... maybe that's just the impression they give.
*Today is our 15 year anniversary, and 17 years since we got engaged. Wow, huh? That's a long time. And it's been a BLAST. Looking forward to the next 15!
That's about it for now. I can't promise I'll be back soon, but I'll do my best to jump on as I can. I miss reading people's blogs!
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
At the park
This morning we visited Balto Seppala park in Spenard. My overall review would be positive, but mixed - the park is listed online as having play equipment for 2-5 year olds - but you know what that consists of? 4 swings. There is, I suppose, a multi-age digging area with sand (and two "diggers") that is nice, but I definitely think this is geared towards older kids.
Three year old Alex thought the MOA guys powerwashing the picnic tables was pretty nifty.
Next, they checked out the digging area. I had to help Alex figure out how to manipulate the controls but he got it pretty quickly.
Four year old Aidan!
We wandered off into the trees and did many rounds of "let's climb that hill!" This park has a GREAT - HUGE open space, though, unfortunately, unconscientious dog owners just left some poo around in a couple spots. Yuck. Overall the park was clean and the grass was not wet.
Aidan on this spinny contraption. He thought it was pretty great.
There is a "Little Free Library" at the park.
Alex pouting about Aidan getting his turn on the preferred swing. He took off his coat and shoes in protest.
Aidan on some of the "big kid" climbing equipment. I think Andrew would have been all about it had he been here, but he was in school.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Andrew's DinoStars kindergarten play
Here is a picture of one of their dance numbers. Again - it doesn't get cuter than kindergarten kids performing.
Random life shots
Finished dining room
Friday, March 27, 2015
Priming: Done!
Last night I had a few hours without much responsibility since many household members were either sleeping or absent. I took advantage of the time, after a week of tending people with a nasssssty long lived stomach bug, to tape and prime the walls in the dining room. They look great! I have zero intention of leaving them white (we love color!) but it looks so great. I am still remembering how very dark and busy the old wallpaper was. I love this difference, and I'm so glad I did this!
Here are a couple mediocre-quality pictures from my ipad to illustrate the finished primed walls. If you want to see what it looked like before, this link will give you a good idea!
Here are a couple mediocre-quality pictures from my ipad to illustrate the finished primed walls. If you want to see what it looked like before, this link will give you a good idea!
Saturday, March 21, 2015
post-Spring-break update
Well, the dining room walls are still waiting for their primer. There are reasons though - of course.
Aidan has been felled by some kind of GI bug which is really quite sad. He has spent most of the past two days sleeping and/or crying in pain as his stomach bubbles. Say a prayer for him if you are inclined to do so! We are working on keeping him hydrated and I expect him to recover as usual, but it's pretty unpleasant in the midst of things. We had him sleep in our bed on a giant beanbag and checked on him every 2-3 hours throughout the night. I was up with him from about 3-5 AM when the stomach pain was bad. Sick kids - it's hard to watch.
As of right now, we thing Alex is also coming down with it. I am pretty sure they got this from a McD's playplace that we all went for a playdate with friends at. I guess one can't be too sure. Who knows where we got it. I'm not sure if Allen or I is also coming down with it - when there's a stomach bug in the house, every little twinge becomes more significant.
In more positive and non-illness-related news, I am down 10 lbs from when I started being super careful about food intake and exercise. I still have lots to go but I am happy to be down 10! It's unfortunate that I let that get out of control but I feel good about taking positive steps to fix things. Here's looking forward to the next 10!
Til later - if I'm not posting, just imagine that I'm reading people dinosaur books, sewing costumes for school plays, out on a hike, helping someone with homework or craving a chai tea. It's all applicable!
Aidan has been felled by some kind of GI bug which is really quite sad. He has spent most of the past two days sleeping and/or crying in pain as his stomach bubbles. Say a prayer for him if you are inclined to do so! We are working on keeping him hydrated and I expect him to recover as usual, but it's pretty unpleasant in the midst of things. We had him sleep in our bed on a giant beanbag and checked on him every 2-3 hours throughout the night. I was up with him from about 3-5 AM when the stomach pain was bad. Sick kids - it's hard to watch.
As of right now, we thing Alex is also coming down with it. I am pretty sure they got this from a McD's playplace that we all went for a playdate with friends at. I guess one can't be too sure. Who knows where we got it. I'm not sure if Allen or I is also coming down with it - when there's a stomach bug in the house, every little twinge becomes more significant.
In more positive and non-illness-related news, I am down 10 lbs from when I started being super careful about food intake and exercise. I still have lots to go but I am happy to be down 10! It's unfortunate that I let that get out of control but I feel good about taking positive steps to fix things. Here's looking forward to the next 10!
Til later - if I'm not posting, just imagine that I'm reading people dinosaur books, sewing costumes for school plays, out on a hike, helping someone with homework or craving a chai tea. It's all applicable!
Middle Fork trail, March 2015
Today was a beautiful Alaskan quasi-spring day with temps in the mid to high 30s. I took advantage of the weather and got out on a hike on Middle Fork trail. It is a really fun one with lots of variety, that tends to turn VERY muddy if there's rain in the summer (or meltoff in spring) so I thought I'd better get it right now, figuring it will be very wet pretty soon.
Both fun hikes I've really enjoyed!
Here is some of the boardwalk melting out of overflow, with ice bubbles.
More overflow to cross. We crossed several.
In the spring and summer this just translates into wet ground - but there is a spring pumping and freezing away all winter long, leading to this lovely ice formation.
More overflow
Yes, I was VERY happy to be out in the sun on such a great day! I am wearing mini-crampons on my feet which is how we crossed all the ice.
My friend and her dog after crossing one of the overflows.
The splitting of the trails - Middle Fork on the left, Williwaw Lakes trail headed to the right!
I love shapes in nature!
Flowing river near Prospect Heights end of the trail
Ice covered trail at Prospect Heights. What a great way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday morning!
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