Another slow start, Eight minutes of Tae Bo can hurt, so long, little fishies, a van full, a Lawn and Leisure show and a bike trainer! ;D

Rex was up and ready to go to the Lawn and Leisure show to help sell some furniture with our friends at Yoder's Amish Furniture! I was SOOOO not inclined to get up so I lay around until the yelling started downstairs and I hustled down in my Pj's to knock heads together!! ;D Whilst downstairs I checked mail and chatted on the phone with my Mum..... hours passed...!! I realised I had to get going as I was planning on picking up Elayne's hubby and kids to take them to the show as Elayne was working there TOO! :D Before I left though I needed to do a quick work out. I figured 8 minutes of Tae Bo couldn't hurt anybody.... right!?!?!? WRONG!! Man that man is SICK!! ;D Still, I did it and hustled to the shower to freshen up !!!

After my shower and getting dressed of course, I had to get all my lady fishes gathered together with two lucky males in order to take them to this poor guy who answered my Craigslist ad WEEKS ago and I kept promising I'd get in to drop them off!!! Today was to be the day! ;D I also found a library book that was overdue and needed to be returned and I knew that today the Yankee Candle place had all votives for $1 so I needed to plan to go there and get some more!!! Rex called and asked me to bring lights, an extension cord and some twist ties so I started to gather them together THEN realised that I didn't have the van seat installed in the back of the van as I had removed it on Thursday when I went to pick up Lisa and her bike... SO I installed the seat ( which had been snowed on, by the way! )

I got the kids cleaned up and ready to go, I'd packed a bag with a change of pants for Jack, just in case. I had phoned the Fish guy for his address and had google mapped Elayne's address and fish guy's so my errands should run smoothly. He was leaving his house at 3 so I had to get there before then.... I checked to make sure I had my badge to get me into the show, there it was, hanging on it's lanyard around my neck. We were JUST about to leave when I realised the children hadn't eaten any lunch and 8 minutes of Tae Bo can leave a person surprisingly hungry. I quickly whipped up a smoothie ( banana, rice milk, blueberries, organic orange juice concentrate and some chia seeds ) and Jack and I slurped them up. Jessie, who claims not to like smoothies, had an apple. And a taste of Jack's smoothie. Whereupon she decided she would like one. She was informed that this was not very likely as I'd just emptied the blender, maybe next time... go go go !! ;D

We got out to the car. I ran to get the extension cord from the garage, checked the mail box on the way out the driveway and off we went. I followed Google Maps ( which was stupid. What's WITH Google Maps?!!?? Do they deliberately pick the most unlikely route???? On the way home I realised how easy it would be to get to Elayne's house... following the directions was ridiculous!!! ***sigh*** ) needless to say I got lost....!!! BAH!!! I finally found it, thanks to my COMPLETELY IGNORING the map and following my BRAIN instead. ( who knew!! ) Still I was running short of Fishy time so we hustled to get the three extra kiddoes, two extra car seats, and the assorted paraphernalia that goes with kids into the van. The children were all so agreeable about their cramped quarters and got along great. I looked at my clock and had ten minutes to get to fish guy! Jay navigated and we sped off ( very carefully, Elayne!! )with a van full of small persons!!! We found fish guy with but a minute to spare and he was very gracious about accepting my fishies! I'm sure they'll have a lovely new home with him!.... From the Fish Guy to the Show!! ;D We drove there without incident and I parked impressively in a rather tight gap quite near the doors. It was at that moment that Jay realised he'd forgotten his tickets. I said, well, I have my super duper pass....and I pulled up my lanyard.... which was empty. Wah?!!? We searched the van, looked under the car seats, looked everywhere. Nothing !!! LOL!! So both of us thought we'd done a great job to get the kids organised and I'd remembered all of Rex's stuff and to drop off the fish find a library book and all that... and somehow NEITHER of us had our passes!!! HILARIOUS!! I called Rex and he sorted it all out for us after I had repeated myself a few times... yes... yes.... neither of us have got our tickets. Yes. Yes....!! ;D

We all struggled out of our seats, the little kiddoes put on their back pack / reins / tails and my bigger two just hopped out ( ah the joys of older children! ) but GAH!! It was FREEEEZING out. The wind was whistling and it was only 35 degrees. We fought the wind all the way to the doors ( spotting a parking place only TWO spots away from the door.... dang it! ) and walked in.... only to find we were in the wrong building and we had to harangue the poor kids all the way back and across the parking lot.....!! Poor blighters! ; D FINALLY we got inside and it was lovely and toasty warm. After about ten minutes it was a bit TOO toasty and after twenty minutes the swimming pool displays were in danger of being leaped in. We were shedding layers left and right to try and cool off!!! Anyway, the kids played "find as much free candy and loot as you can" ... they also played on the playground display stuck their fingers in the water fountain displays, made face masks, got balloons and enjoyed the heck out of their little selves! ;D It's one heck of a job keeping track of two toddlers and two older kids though... they seem to move so fast!! It was pretty noisy too and before long we all decided that we'd had enough fun and it was probably time to go home!! ;D We loaded back up, called in at Runza for some lovely hot fries and then dropped everyone off at home. Jay and Elayne said I could borrow their bike trainer so he got it out the garage for me and we put it in the back of the van!! ( I'm so excited!!!! I can't wait to set it up!! Tomorrow I'll put on a movie in the basement and hop on my bike for a few miles!! ;D Wheeeeeee!!! )

We waved goodbye, the kids wanted to visit with each other some more but we thought another day would be a better idea, so I took my two and headed south! ;D We stopped at the library on the way home, Yankee Candle where I picked up a few more votives and Jack had me smell EVERY SINGLE ONE and also Super Target's pharmacy to pick up my prescription ( duh! Closed!! ) and spent a lot of time checking out the toys ( kids ) and the yoga / biking / camping stuff ( me! ) We actually left without buying ANYTHING!!! It's a miracle folks, I don't think I've EVER done that before!!! We eventually got home about 8pm... just in time for bed!!! ;D

Rex arrived home just as Jack was about to fall asleep so he came up to say goodnight... and what had he found on the floor outside the garage door???? Yup..... my pass. !!! LOL!!!

What a full and fun day!! ;D

Starting out starving, some stretching, snowing and snoring.

I was STARVED when I woke up this morning!! I'd forgotten THAT little side effect of riding! Oh and my Bee~hind was not happy with me either!! LOL! I read some info today on the BRAN ride and they mentioned that we can expect to burn 6000 calories per day. Um. SIX THOUSAND?!?! Sheesh! ;D That sounds like quite a lot, but then I guess, when you think about Pie... it's not so much really!! ;D

I couldn't ride today if I'd tried as the weather decided that the warm weather was too much, too soon, so it's snowing. Ooooo ....kkkkkaaaay. *sigh*. Buuuut I did go to the basement and stretched my muscles along with the Billy Bank's Tae Bo DVD. Holy cow. It's no wonder Lisa is so damn fit. I only did the 30 minute work out and I about DIED!! She used to do the one hour one. I have SOOOOO much training to do! ;D

Hmmm..... I wonder if there is any parenting stuff I should mention today????!! ;D Ummmm.....!! Oh yes!! We did do Child's Play Domino Math today which was fun and I showed Jessie how, if she turns the domino vertically we can make fractions! I'm going to have her work on adding, subtracting and multiplying fractions with the dominoes...!! Swwwweeeet! ; D

Anyway, the snoring part of the title is what I aim to do very soon.... but first.... a cup of coffee and a bit of a read is in order! ;D .... and maybe a liiiittle chocolate! ;D


Toodles!!

Friends to visit, a walk to the park and a 14 mile bike ride!

We had a lovely day today! ;D Our friends Mary, Will and Charlotte came to visit and we played and played... well the kids did, Mary and I talked and talked and drank some tea... and some more tea...!! Later the children persuaded us to go for a walk to the park where they played basketball, played on the playground equipment and played Tennis. Mary and I talked and talked....!! ;D They had to leave after another too short visit and shortly after that I got hold of Lisa and we arranged a bike ride... the first of the year.... dum dum duuuuummmm!! ;D It took a bit of sorting and she didn't have her bike rack on the car and I had to watch the kiddoes, so we drove up to get her in the van and got home just as hubby was driving in!! Lucky for US as he was able to inflate our SEVERELY deflated tires....we've got a LOT to learn...!! ;D We set off, wobbling all over the place and gear shifters grinding as the children and Rex worriedly waved us adieu..! We soon realised that riding a bike is exactly like, well, riding a bike and we got back in the swing of it pretty fast. One of us got back in the swing of it a LOT faster than the other and the other got left behind more than once, though one of us DID take the time to stop and wait for the other.... ugh....!! The other should have done the boot camp perhaps!! : } Anyway, we had a really nice ride, lots of HILLS and THICK GRAVEL both of which were unexpected developments along the way... biking in really thick gravel is SO hard!!! We made it home and had ridden 14 miles. Not bad for our first day out... we now have 8 weeks to get up to 100 miles a day. Um.... !!!

Don't tell Lisa but I could barely walk when I got in the door and my legs felt like Jello!! Shhhhh!!!

Sleeping in, cleaning house, friends to visit and MORE friends to visit!

What a great day!!! It started out nicely by my waking up and thinking it was probably about 6:30 or so and finding out it was already 7:30!! I'd slept really well and felt great! I puttered around the house as usual and chatted on the phone with my friend Elayne and arranged for her and her family to come over and visit around 4 pm. I wrote a quick Examiner article as I felt so guilty I hadn't written in MONTHS... I scurried around and tidied the house and was ready when they arrived around 4 laden with TWO pies from Village Inn!! ;D (Slurp!)

We sat and chatted and the kids played... we drank tea and coffee, ate pie, chatted, the kids played.... repeat... and repeat..... and repeat.....about 8:30 the phone rang... it was the Stunning Lisa B asking if her and hubby could come over and visit since they were out and about!! SURE !! The more the merrier!!! We made more tea, ate more pie... chatted....!!! We all sat around and talked and talked and talked!!! ;D I had a wonderful time!! Once 11pm rolled around all the children were about done in!! The grown~ups realised that it was probably time for them to go home and everyone left together. It was a totally spontaneous really wonderful day and I LOVED it. I have such great friends and am so very thankful for that.

And now.... to bed! Looking forward to another friend filled and fun packed day tomorrow! ;D

I THINK it was Tuesday today.....

Yowzah!! Ever had a day that flew by so fast at the end of it you aren't even sure WHAT day it WAS?!?! I've still got whiplash from this one! ;D

We all slept in, again. I chatted on the phone with my pal Lisa in Michigan only to be reminded by my husband that I had said I would take Jack in for a haircut at noon. Um... it was 10:20. No biggie, right?? Except only Jessie was dressed...!! We hurtled around to get ready, Rex left to run errands and said he'd meet us there.... we shot off and got to the appointment on time... phew! Jack was SOOO good and looks great! He loves to get his hair cut and is always so proud at how han'some he is ! :D

After haircuts...lunch at "Shimmy Shons".... Oh I LOVE their sandwiches and I realised today if I get a Vegetarian #6, no cheese, no mayo and an UNWICH it will be RAW and I can still EAT IT!! :D Yeahy!!!!!!!! Yeah. I know. I'm an idiot and this too shall pass...!! Keep watching this space and something shiny will no doubt catch my attention, until then, do like my husband does and just nod your head and indulge me?! :D

Anyhoo, after lunch....GROCERY SHOPPING!!! Whoot. The kids were really good and we just ambled around the store. I KNOW that buying fruit and veg that is not organic WILL NOT KILL ME. But I CAN NOT bring myself to do it. I can not. **sigh** I try... I'll even pick the stuff up... but I can't bring myself to buy it. I KNOW I'm an idiot, I KNOW it's not rational... but there ya go. You knew that about me before I did! ;D So anyway, our grocery shopping consisted of a whole lot of cleaning things, laundry stuff and glad wrap. I called Rex and asked him to pick up a whole bunch of FOOD from the Organic Store... ya know, where it's good and cheap. ( sarcasm people! )

Actually the sarcasm is mostly because my head is KILLING me tonight. Another migraine. Thanks. And just my size!

I'm going to go to bed and sleep it off... typing is becoming difficult as I keep having to backspace... one mistake after another....!!! Just have time to say....

MY BRAN TICKET ARRIVED TODAY!!!!! Looks like I am one of the lucky ones who gets to ride FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE MILES in 5 days.....!!!! um..... Whee???!! :D

( actually I'm really excited about it. Migraines make me a little pissy (er) ! ;D )

Goodnight Peeps! :D

LOL!! Monday.... a LOT like Sunday! ;D

Another day with not much of note...!! ;D I always say that then think of a dozen things we did, of course !!

Jessie tried to buy a $50 violin on Amazon.... and then we realised she would totally be wasting her money! The ONE review it had said it would be best used as kindling! ;D Ah..!! :D She appreciates that you get what you pay for and I'd hate for her to have a go at an instrument and to give up because it sounds crappy ( I mean, for reasons other then the obvious!!! )

Um...... Oh I ranted about an article on the homeschool list I belong to! That was fun!!

I did a bit of work... not as much as I would like, but that's the way the whole wheat cookie crumbles... ( especially if you don't put enough butter in it...! )

I spoke to my Mummy..... I also got a parcel in the mail from her with a really nice sporty top in it and several WISPA bars!! ;D ( I ate one tonight by dunking it into hot coffee and sucking it!!! YUMMMMMERS!!!! **happy sigh**!! ;D )

Um.... we went out for dinner with my friend Lisa and her family! That was a nice treat!!! ;D We all ate faaaaar too much, but it was VERY tasty!! I do wish I'd had a Margarita though!!! They are the best in town! ( apparently!! I wouldn't know or anything...!! )

I talked to Jessie about Fibonacci numbers and Pascal's triangle. She was thrilled by the idea of figuring out if a number could be divided by three by adding the digits together. If they make a multiple of three then the whole number is a multiple of three! We played LOOOOOTS of games where she would give me some outrageously large number and ask me if it could be divided by three!! ;D ( that's MATH there people! ;D ) She's also been coloring in some of those optical design pattern books and really enjoying it!! I am so glad she likes them! I used to LOVE those things! ;D I've spent a lot of time marveling at how much I have to do and yet not actually doing any of it. It's quite a skill I have!! I could spin in place for the Olympics!! Anyhoo!! Tomorrow is another nother day and I have BIG plans for it!! HUGE!!! You wouldn't believe me if I told you what they were.... so I won't... and we'll just find out together, won't we!! ;D

Sunday....!! Um.....

LOL!! We really didn't do much of anything today!! LOL!! If we DID I'll be "jiggered" if I can remember what it was!!! I slept in, well we all did, until 9:30 this morning thanks to the clock change! It was wonderful! ;D ....Other than that I can't think of a solitary thing we did that is worthy of note!!!!! My!! I know I sat and watched a TV movie with Rex and I did some crochet... Oh, I played dominoes with Jack, sort of, in that I did a domino math thingy that the fabulous Risa had on her blog.... um.....I ate far too much chocolate in preparation from my latest latest fad, Raw Food! I have tried Raw before and it didn't last long as I was all hung up on not having a dehydrator etc etc and the recipe book I had ( and long since sold ) was reeeeeeaally complicated!! Since I've been vegan for a while now, the Raw stuff is a lot easier to imagine! I thought I'd try and go mostly Raw for the month of April and see how it goes. I also need to start doing some exercise again! I exercised all of February and then..... ppppttthhhpppptttt. Nothing in March... well, Yoga, which has surprised me by making my muscles ache, but still, nothing aerobic. I need to get out on my bike and start running again too!!! Need need, must must. I wish I were happier in my skin sometimes....

Anyhooooo!! Oh I DID watch America's Funniest Videos tonight and I about lost it watching folks trying to fly model airplanes!!! Honestly I was rolling on the floor clutching my sides and crying from laughing!!! It really struck me as hilarious and I just couldn't stop!!! I love shows that can evoke such a positive reaction!! ;D

Well I suppose I will go and do some felting, or knitting, or crochet.....or probably I'll clean the kitchen. Someone's got to!! ;D