Best Day Ever, Best Day Ever

Today was such an awesome day, and 4 out of 6 of us agree. Today, after beating down much objection from everyone else, I took the family out cross-country skiing at Sundance. Of course, Dave thinks anything other than downhill is for hippies or baggie-pant-wearers. And Keaton (having tried cross-country himself last week) had convinced the others that it was hard and boring. I had some reservations myself, as it does require some coordination and EFFORT. I envisioned a 20 minute circus of flailing arms and legs, falling, shrieks, tears, and a hasty exit as the reward of our effort and money. However, we were delighted, first off, to find that all of us could ski, passes and rentals included for a mere $65! The gear was in excellent condition and fit well. Wow, what a deal! Next, it was a gorgeous, glorious day. Then, all the kids took to the sport like they'd been doing it all their lives. They could do the flats, the ups and the downhills like old pros! And did they work hard. Everyone was shedding coats, gloves and hats as fast as they could. No one complained when they tumbled; they were enjoying it so much, they just jumped up and continued. We found an open meadow area with several loops, and spent the afternoon skiing and playing. The kids are much braver (=Faster) on the downhills than I am. Dave took some pictures, which I will add when I get them downloaded. They want to join a cross-country kids club! Yeah, loving it.

Miso soup for supper tonight, from the fine Cooking "Fresh" cookbook. The kids kept calling the Tofu "cheese"! Haha, at least they were eating it!

Exercise yesterday: Run 4.5 miles. Bummer part: My friend Stacy told me she ran 13.1 miles on Tuesday and that she's lost 7 lbs. Rats, I've got some work to do.

Exercise today: Cross-country skiing, my new favorite sport!

What I'm Reading

When it comes to books, it seems like things kind of go in cycles with me. I either have nothing interesting to read (in which case I fall back on Jane Austin or Sharon Shinn, my two favorites, or perhads Miss Read), or I have so many things I go back and forth between them. Right now, though, I have only two books I am reading. One is the Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolutions that I already told you about. The other is called A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, by Donald Miller, the one who wrote the blog about writing a story, not making resolutions. I really love this book. He talks about how he slowly comes to realize that, although he writes interesting books in which things happen, his life is just a series of boring, disconnected events: go the the store, type, watch fake lives on TV. Finally, his roommate tells him his life is a blank page, just start writing. So, he slowly and deliberately begins to write a story about serving other through various charities he starts/gets involved with. He introduces other people he meets, who have written exciting, meaningful stories with their lives. Its very thought provoking.

It is interesting, too, that Dave just happened to have a meeting with a client, whose company is called In Our Quiet Way, that helps orphans in Kenya. Is it coincidence that these too things (the book and the service opportunity) came at the same time? Maybe it is time we started to write a more meaningful story. Two great books about people writing stories of service are Three Cup of Tea, and Little Princes. Clearly, however, Dave and I cannot go to Afghanistan or Katmandu with our children. It is just to dangerous. But, I'm sure we can find ways to get involved that our children can safely do. It would make them less self-centered, I hope.

On the menu: Chicken and Snow Peas. We had a spinach salad last night. I should have got a video of Makenzie gagging or McKay washing the dressing off his sopressata. haha.

My workout yesterday consisted of: shoveling the snow off the sideway and drive way. You laugh, but it burns a lot of calories, plus counts as weights as well.

Today I did the Timesaver by Cathe again, along with the Pilates section of Brand New Butt plus Pilates by Janis Saffel. I just love her, she is so cheery. Just squeeked that in, and have to run get the kids from school. Let the fun begin.

Wild afternoon

I really, really don't like days when I have tons of running around, and that seems everyday now. Here's what is on the schedule for Carson tonight: Piano performance class, math tutoring, music class, pack meeting, basketball practice and Cotillion, which is in downtown SLC. The times overlap, and he can't do all of it. I really want him to do Cotillion, though, because it is on table manners, which he needs. It also makes him feel good because the girls all love him, he's so sweet. But, I'd be gone from 4:30-8:00, and no one else would get anything done (remember those 200 math facts, that won't happen without mom home!) Hopefully as the day goes on I can see more clearly what needs to be done.

On the exercise schedule: Get Ripped 1000 by Jari Love. I love it, but it is hard, so I planned to do it with a friend so I won't just sit around, typing on the computer, avoiding it. Oh yeah....

How it all turned out....

My kids are adjusting to having such a loooong morning to wait before church, so today wasn't bad at all. It was fun actually. But, about the pot roast. Well, I decided to try a modified Boeuf Bourguignon. Makenzie told be she HATES boeuf Bourguignon. So do I, because I can't remember how to spell it. Nevertheless, I made it and put it in the oven. I couldn't do it full on because it takes several steps, and I would be at church, then at a friend home for her son's mission farewell. He is going to the Everett Washington Mission. I couldn't think of anything to say other than it would be really green. So, anyway, what the kids ended up having for dinner was plate after plate of desserts. I'm sure McKay had nearly 20 things. I'm surprised he is still alive. We stayed until six, by which time the Pot Roast was pretty hard. Dave ate some anyway. He said the parts that still had some squish were very tasty.

We are still a bunch of sugar addicts, while the veggies rot in the fridge.

Then Keaton insisted that I make him the bruschetta with the slices of French bread I had hidden away. I told him I was making bruschetta with prosciutto and oranges. He still wanted it. I made it. He ate 4 slices. I asked him if he would have tried it if I told him it was toast with ham and oranges. He said no. The names were what made it sound interesting. He loved it.

I'll make some more tomorrow with a tomato capresé topping.

I have some cucumbers I need to use, so I thought I would make some marinated cucumbers for my kids lunches. I found a recipe. It had these ingredient: ACV, EVOO, Agave, pink Himalayan salt, and hemp seeds. Wow, after thinking it over, I decided I have ACV, EVOO, and I've seen agave at Smith's, but the pink Himalayan salt and hemp seeds are not going to be found at the corner store, I'm thinking. The next recipe down called for tofu cream cheese. I think I need a new website.

I'm very excited about tomorrow. All my kids will finally be back in regular school, regular hours. We'll just pretend that the New Year actually starts tomorrow, what?

The exercise plan: A cycle class, then yoga fusion. Very fun!

Cindy

Cooking Without Ingredients

Arrrgh! Has anyone every tried cooking without ingredients? Its a situation that happens everyday at our house, and it is pretty challenging. It is not that I don't buy ingredients. It is just that they are gone before I have a chance to use them in a recipe. Frequent past situations include the chocolate chips being gobbled before I can put them in muffins, and limes gone before I can make a Thai coconut or Mexican chicken soup. Last night's crime occurred within minutes after I arrived home from the store with a particularly nice loaf of french-type bread, nice and wide, and dusted with Italian spices. I told the kids they could have a piece, but emphasized that I had bought it for a special recipe, so not to ruin it. The next thing I know, they had stripped ALL the soft insides out of the loaf, leaving only the crusty outside. I looked into the gaping cavity of the loaf, wondering how to make a delicious bruschetta, when there was nothing to hold up the topping. So, I sliced and broke up the crust, planning to serve it with a nice olive oil/balsamic vinegar dipping sauce for lunch the next day. After pouring out the oil/vinegar, I reached for the bread. Umm, kids, where are the bread chunks. Oh, we ate them all, they were soooo good. McKay also threw one of the lemons that I bought to have on hand if I needed it in a recipe, into the blender with blueberry Kefir and apricots, for a very sour smoothie. Luckily he peeled it first. C'est la vie, I guess. Tonight we will have pot roast with roasted carrots and parsnips. The kids are really going to regret their picky eating and junk food addiction over the past few weeks (months more like.) We're going to start having a lot more veggies going on here!

Still waiting for church to start. I hate 1:00 church, it seems like the day is twice as long.

Ode to Winterim

In many respects, today was yet another wasted day. I was gone from 8:00 until now, 5:00, with the exception of a shower at 10:00. So, where did the day go? Basketball game, Winterim presentations, and grocery shopping. Even though it was rough, with all the kids (-) Dave, at Maeser for Winterim for the bulk of the day, I have to tell you what an absolute fan I am of the Winterim concept. What a great opportunity for kids to have 3 weeks each year to devote to a special interest, career training, or trying something they wouldn't normally do. Here are some of the projects:

Humanitarian service in Peru/ or Mexico

Learning about Navajo language and culture

Learning to be a Vet

Learning to be a Piano technician

Learning about the holocaust and other atrocities

Ballroom dance

Comedy

"School of Rock"

Death March--Computer programming on a deadline

Scuba diving

Set design and other aspects of drama

Debate

College life

Independent Science Projects

Japanese Language and culture

Kenpo Karate

Digital Photography

Vocal training

Cake decorating

Fashion design

and of course, the BEST: Winter Sports, Survivial, and Service!!

I can't tell you how pleased I was with this course for Keaton. It was so much more than skiing. He learned to be more independent. He learned to service those with disabilities. He learned to SNOWBOARD! and cross country ski. And, he learned to crop and enhance digital photographs to put together a great slideshow, which he got and A on. Yes, I'm very pleased. We're hoping to do a humanitarian trip to an Indian Leper Colony next year. Any one else want to go? Either that or Surfing, Service and Protecting our Oceans!

Obviously, I did not get in any exercise today :( but I haven't had time to eat much, and I "just said no" to the bake sale. Mainly because all McKay ate yesterday was 3 donuts, 3 cups of hot chocolate and a bag of yogurt pretzels. All while turning his nose up at the creamy potato/sweet potato soup. Go figure.

Learning something new!

I've read a lot of articles from the Eat This, Not That authors, and I've actually learned a lot. I really enjoyed this article:

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/15-worst-health-diet-myths

It was informative, and surprising in some instances. For example, I learned that increasing your potassium intake was more effective in lowering blood pressure than decreasing your sodium!

I also like their articles comparing restaurant items. It can be astonishing to see just how many calories are in a meal--often over 2000! Wow!

So, why are the French thinner than Americans, but eat richer food? It's largely because they eat smaller portions. In addition, they also use fewer processed/fake foods and more fresh, real ingredients. Eat real butter, sour cream and cream, rather than margarine, and fat free products. Read the back of Daisy Sour Cream compared to any other brand. It is just cream, that is it. Any other sour cream has 15-20 ingredients, with reduced fat/ fat free having even more. It is the same with cottage cheese. Yuck, what is that stuff in there? I need Mike's recipe!

Eat real!

A Lovely Day

Today was one of my FAVORITE days EVER! I had told Keaton I would take him up to Sundance for his last skiing day of Winterim, and let him leave a little early. I didn't want to down hill ski, and I've really been wanting to take up cross-country, so after I dropped Keaton off, I went to the Sundance Nordic Skiing Center. I was worried it would be too cold, but the temperature was so nice I just wore my inner jacket and some light ski pants. Since I didn't know how to cross-country, I got a 1 1/2 hour lesson for only an extra $4! Wow! I really learned a lot of techniques during the lesson, and really enjoyed it. After about 45 minutes, we came to a sunny meadow. Although the trail was crisply groomed, a very light snow of 3/8 to 1/2" crystals had fallen over the track and everywhere. It glittered like diamonds everywhere. I finally said, "This is so beautiful", and my instructor said he had been thinking it was unusually beautiful as well. I ended up cross-country skiing for about 2 1/2 hours through some beautiful aspen groves and valley overlooks. Cross-Country skiing is excellent exercise. My instructor said that Cross-country skiers have the more efficient oxygen exchange rate of any group of people. I wish I had had my camara! I was exhausted when I was done, and got home just in time to shower and pick up the kids from school.

I was so pleased that McKay cooperated with his MATH better. I've been trying to teach him to add nines by "sucking" one from the addend to make 10, then adding the remaining addend. He acts like he doesn't understand, then (on 6+9) says, "Oh, I just need to suck four from the 9 and add it to the 6 to make ten, and there's 5 left, so 15. ARRRGHH.

Oh, then I had to go play basketball for 1 hour. I made a basket, though. I hope I sleep well!! tonight.

My Projects

One of the things I started to do last year, and want to continue this year, is sewing/knitting/home organization, and other type of projects. I am in the middle of an apron project right now, which I wanted to show you today, but I just couldn't get to it. I've been doing a lot of running in the past 36 hours. First, I cleaned and organized MOST of the house, but I kind of got bogged down in Keaton's room. I didn't get around to my exercise until about 1:45. Then I had to quickly shower, run carpool, take Carson to scouts, take kids to piano, do homework, go to Relief Society, try to get McKay to do math, go to bed. Get up, run kids to school, try to get McKay to do his math, run him to school and check him in tardy, drop Keaton off at carpool, go back and get him because his carpool was sick, take him 25 minutes to Maeser, run to the gym, get home, shower, go pick Keaton up from Maeser, pick up McKay from Sorensen's (nice fireplace, Jenny, I saw it before you!!), take him to Louis', run fliers over to Keaton and come home to help kids with homework/piano/reading. whew! Since Keaton obviously thinks I have nothing to do all day but run him around or pick him up when he is bored of skiing, so he wants me to just take the day to ski with him. Hmmm. Well, I guess that my kids ARE my main projects right now, and they are definitely works in progress. But, Makenzie did awesome on the piano today, and also reading Boxcar Children, and Keaton made high honor roll, so thumbs up keep on soldiering on!!

So, since this is partly a fitness blog, mainly to motivate me to get exercising again and maybe motivate someone else as well, here's how I did yesterday and today:

Yesterday, I didn't have enough time to do the awesome DVD I had planned, but since I had committed to doing something, I did a workout from Cathe's Timesaver DVD. 22 minutes of step cardio and 16 minutes of weights, for about 320 calories burned. Often, I think that if we find we don't have a lot of time to exercise, we just don't do anything (I know I fall into that category). I'm trying to be more flexible, and if the scheduled workout doesn't work, find another way to fit something in, even if you just walk around the sofa 6 times and do shavasana on the floor for 3 minutes. I really recommend Cathe's Timesaver DVD. It has 5 workouts, all under 50 minutes.

Today, I ran into trouble again because of my last minute trip to Maeser, so I was running late, but I made it to yoga (15 minutes late) then did a spin class. I don't usually do doubles, but I really need more yoga now that I'm getting older. Whew!

To gain an education

Wow, rough morning. I had two of my children who were stressed about going to school, worried about what the day would bring. McKay actually got out of the car and headed off, then ran back and climbed in crying, saying that his stomach hurt too much to go. I knew he wasn't sick, so I parked and talked to him. It turns out that he has a new math teacher that he thinks is really mean. It is interesting how maybe one sharp word or negative comment from a teacher can make a child fearful of their class for the whole year. Anyway, I walked him in and convinced him to go to class, then went in to see if I could find out more from the front office. It turns out they have a lot of kids having the same issue, which they think is mainly from the change in teacher, not so much the teacher herself. So, they are going to keep an eye on him.

It reminds me of when Keaton was in 2nd grade. He loved his teacher SOOO much. But, if he ever had a substitute, he'd freak out! He couldn't handle the change. I think a lot of us have trouble with change, even as adults. That is why so many new year's resolutions fail. One part of our brain wants to change, the other part fears it. I did manage to read that article last night, Living a Good Story, and Alternative to New Year's Resolutions. In this article, Donald Miller suggests that we set out to tell life stories, rather than set goals. He says that a story involves a person that wants something and is willing to overcome conflict to get it. He sets the following steps for writing a story:

1) Want something. If we don't want something, we feel unmotivated. As Alberta Jones once said, "I hate not having a hair goal." That is one great thing about being young--you have all these built in goals, or deadlines: mission, finishing school, getting married, etc. As adults we could have pay down our debts, get into shape, improve our relationships. So, the first step is to decide what we want.

2) Envision a climactic scene. How do you want the story to end? Did you know that JK Rowling mapped out the entire story of Harry Potter from the beginning. She didn't know what all the details would be, but she planned the climactic events from the start, and wrote towards them. Steven Covey's 2nd habit is Begin With The End in Mind. What do you want the end point of whatever you are trying to achieve to look like? If you have that clear, each step along the way becomes clearer too. Donald Miller recommends that half your goals or stories be relational, because they are the most fulfilling. So, instead of just saying lose weight, make a plan to run a race with friends, or have a contest with a fun ending.

3) Create an inciting incident. This is something that creates upheaval in the person's life. So, in order to return to stability, you have to solve the problem, ie reach your goal. When you invite someone to join you at the climactic scene, or let everyone know about it, you really need to do the work to get there, or you will be embarrassed. One man commented that he didn't have the courage to tell his girlfriend that he loved her. So, he made her a jewelry box with I Love You painted on the lid. Then, he couldn't give her the gift without the message.

I have some stories that I want to write this year. Some of them are fitness stories. You can see my list of races I am planning to do. Now, you are all invited to join me! I did all of those races last year, except St. George. I wanted to do the Top of Utah, but I was a little reluctant, so I recruited Jenny to do it with me. It was a lot more fun that way, and I knew I couldn't back out at the last minute. I also knew that Dave would be comparing my time to my previous St. George time, so I needed to try to beat it, and I did. So, now I am going to work on my fitness by doing an awesome weight DVD.

Finally, starting the New Year!

Well, it may be January 17 already, but I feel like I am finally ready to start the new year. Not only did Keaton not go back to regular school on January 4th because of Winterim, but my other kids didn't go back because their school flooded over the break, and they were still repairing the damage. So, although I did manage to exercise 4 times last week, I spent most of the week reorganizing the house, and doing some projects in the kids rooms. Then, of course, today was a holiday, when we were supposed to go skiing at Park City, but didn't because it was so warm and had been raining so much we figured the snow would be a mess. So, tomorrow, we'll start the diet, exercise, and generally get back on track for the new year. I've been reading a book for the last few days, a Chicken Soup for the Soul book called My Resolutions. I've never read a Chicken Soup book before because I've always considered them fluff for the American masses, and I wouldn't call it life changing, but it is interesting. Now I'm going to go to bed and read an article I printed out by Christian author Donald Miller, called Living a Good Story, an Alternative to New Year's Resolutions. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'll have to get up early tomorrow. We've decided to move scripture reading to 6:15 am. This is about the 10th time we've made that decision, and we just can't get ourselves up, let alone the kids. Have you ever heard beginning readers read the scriptures? Now try that when they are half asleep. But, night time is just too inconsistent, so to the mornings it goes. I also have to make lunches. I was so tired of the junk they got at school for lunch, literally candy from the snack shack, that I finally bought an assortment of lunch boxes, mostly bento style like laptop lunch boxes, a cute little stacked box by yoo'ee, and a couple of lunch bots. So, tried them out last week, and they were very excited about. Makenzie says all her friends raved about the yoo'ee box, but of course McKay only ate the "treats" out of his lunch. One day he didn't even open the container with the pepperoni and cheese in it because the pictures of vegetables on the lid scared him off. As he said, "I didn't want the veggies". He always wants me to pack a popcorn/pretzel mixture, because that was what the picture on the package showed. Think like a kid, I guess. I'll try to post photos of the lunch boxes (or anything else for that matter) after I figure out how to do it.