a day at the resort

Many of you might know or remember that Scott teaches an early morning spinning class at Lifetime. He was at some staff meeting , with the whole club, and some "corporate" guy was there. Anyway, he kept calling the "gym" the "resort". Now don't get me wrong, I do LOVE Lifetime, but it's a gym...a nice one but it's a gym. Over the summer I would treat myself to a smoothie there at the "resort" when I wasn't going home right away...you know...swimming, mall or the grocery store. Whatever. But, at the "resort" smoothies are about $5. See, I could never be a Starbucks drinker, I just don't sense a value. Why get something, you can make at home for a fraction of the cost? During the summer, I thought it was a great thing, because then I was "refueling within 45 minutes of the workout" (a must people) and they are really very tasty. Well, now that I'm usually coming straight home, I haven't indulged. But, I have been craving them. The one I get at the club was a whey protein smoothie with peanut butter and banana. I thought it sounded gross too, until I tried it. Yum. So, I stopped off at the organic food store this morning and bought $12 worth of whey protein. Came home, and Hope and I (not really Hope, but she WAS watching) made a tasty duplicate. Here is my recipe:

The Whey of Life

1 banana, 1 scoop whey protein, 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 1 cup plain yogurt, and some milk to make it creamy.

Update: throw in a few ice cubes to make it nice and cold. I made it for the kid's after-school snack and it was even better that way.

I nursed Hope, while I was nursing my smoothie, put her to bed and decided I would keep the whole "resort" theme going. I needed a little TLC. I used to use Origins salt body scrubber. A few years ago, I ran out and haven't bought any since. BECAUSE I started to make my own. I know you might think this is weird and kind of...well gross, but it's been my favorite body scrubber/exfoliate ever. Here are my recipes: #1 is my favorite...just so you know.

You are going to smear what all over your body, body scrubber

recipe #1

about half cup sugar and then enough olive oil to make it smooth and workable

recipe #2

about half a cup of coarse kosher salt mixed with enough honey to make it workable.

Don't worry, after you exfoliate, you just wash with soap like normal, and your skin feels like heaven.

Then I got out my foot scrubber and gave myself a little at home pedicure. If you will remember, I don't like going to have a pedicure done at the salon, because I have issues. But that doesn't mean I don't like them/need them desperately. Especially since I started running. I really do HATE having snaggly feet. (i think i just made up a word, but it's a good word) My feet rival Hope's now for the softest feet of the house.

Then I thought...all I'm missing out on is a massage. So, I got my foam roller out. If you don't know about these, or you don't use one regularly, you are seriously missing out. This all took only about 1/2 hour, but what a great half hour. I haven't showered without Hope playing on the tile, or somebody else coming in to "talk" to me for a while. What a day at the resort!!!

saddle up cowboy, we're ready to roll!!

The baby steps have proven fruitful today. No, I didn't get everything done that I wanted, but it's a work in progress and there was progress. If I don't EVER buy another crayon I will be happy. Hope has had a day from heaven. She has crawled around, played with the most random of things and made a huge mess. She even ingested some chalk. I hope it's not too toxic. Now I have two shelves in my kitchen that are open...just waiting for me to spread something out over there. That will have to wait for another day.

Another day because...in just a few minutes some of the craziness is back. By 6:30 we have 3 different activities starting within a 1/2 hour of each other. So, by then we need to have books read, piano practiced, math facts done, (if you love math facts like I do :) check out that math counts link-good stuff) dinner eaten...what else can I cram in there??? Hunter has football, I have a band meeting at Hunter's school, and Hayden starts soccer practice tonight. Good thing Scott is home to join in the fun.

I happened upon some old pictures while I was sorting and organizing the computer room today.

Hayden is just two here. He was so chubby.

It's crazy how much Hope and Hannah look alike! Same eyes. Hannah is about a month older than Hope in this picture.

Little baby Hunter, I love that nose, what a sweet little boy. Memories.

baby steps

Sometimes I come up with a good idea and I wonder...why the heck have I not done this before. The kids crayons,markers,coloring books, pencils, paper and all manner of art supplies, have been taking up some prime under the island cabinet space in the kitchen and getting way too messy and out of control. Not to mention the other hot spot for crayons,markers ,coloring books, pencils, papers and all manner of art supplies in the computer room. I have just recently decided I've had it. Rather than pitch everything in the garbage, which I did think about...I have just returned from a run to Target. Wouldn't you know, that Steralite containers are now on sale through Saturday?? It must be meant to be.

So, instead of sitting on my butt reading my book today, on my morning off from the gym, I'm going to organize. I can already tell, I've got way too much I want to get done for the time I've got. That's always my problem. Well, baby steps Heather, baby steps.

My new normal

Hope has been getting up early with the kids, and I'm hoping she stops that. I don't want that routine to become the new normal. She has been kind of fussy lately. I think she misses the action...you know her siblings...they do provide a bit of entertainment to say the least. I took her outside yesterday to look at the bugs and the pine needles. She always finds that oh-so exciting. (seriously she does :)

I do have to say it's nice to pick up the house/dust/vacuum/clean bathrooms and have it stay nice and neat for a few hours. And the kitchen...CLEAN by 8! What a change. And the quiet, I can't say I mind that either. Everybody is back to getting in bed early again and I like that. I really am an "early to bed early to rise" kind of gal. I'm not really so nice after about 9.

You know the worst time to hit Costco? No, it's not on a busy Saturday with your husband AND all your kids...it's when you are hungry right after working out. I should have gotten that smoothie today Jennifer! But I did try these burritos today (thanks to Jori's recommendation) and they are very good. What's better, they are low fat and have 7 grams of fiber. Even Scott liked them, usually he hates all things "low fat". Have you tried those Disney animal crackers at Costco yet? Yum! I now have a year supply, well probably what should be a year supply, but they will never last that long. What about fruit leather?? I love the "Fruit Island fruit leather in 8 delicious flavors". I could go on, but I won't. Let's just say I love Costco.

The real reason for the trip to Costco, was to pick up first day of school pictures. So, I'm off to scrapbook some memories.

I usually don't do these, but Natalie had this on her blog today, and I was mentally doing my own. SO, I said what the heck and did it!

10 splurges/10 bargains.

Splurges:
1) Hair cuts- I don't have any trouble justifying the expense here. It seems to be my experience you get what you pay for. With that being said, once you top out at a certain price...I don't think you are THAT much better than say a $45-$50 cut.

2) Hair care products- again I hate to say it, but I do think the more expensive stuff is better. I'm liking my Aveda and Bumble and Bumble right now.

3) Makeup-I'm a girl when it comes to makeup. I love it. I don't always go for the super "made up" look, but I do enjoy a little Bobby Brown or MAC makeup. What's even more fun, is to go to a nice department store and have them apply it for you! I love going to Marshall Field's in Chicago and have "Heather" (not a typo another Heather :) apply some Bobby Brown for a new look. Fun stuff.

4) Bras-if you haven't been fitted for a good bra, in your size run, don't walk and have it done. I about peed myself when I was fitted for a bra (when I was prego with Hope so I was bigger than normal-bummer for me) and I moved up from an A to a D. A good bra can make all the difference!

5) Purses-I've been a purse snob since junior high- I think. I love me a good Coach handbag. I had a houseful of sisters and a Mom that all had the same addiction, so it's easy to feed off one another.

6) Shoes-I love love love shoes. It doesn't matter if they are running shoes, sandals, heels, I like nice shoes. I have feet issues, so I can immediately tell a good shoe from a bad one. I do look for good deals though.

7) Clothes- for the kids and for me. The quantity more than quality. I will buy things at Target and Old Navy- no problem. But I do love Gymboree for babies. Again, I like to find good stuff at good prices.

8) Magazines/books- I love to read, and I love to go to Barnes and Noble! It's always a good day when I get a good mag in the mail.

9)The gym- I like a nice place to work out. I'm a snob when it comes to this too, I have been told. But, I spend a lot of time at the gym, and so I want a nice one! It's just my thing.

10) Facials/massages-although I don't do either one nearly enough, I do sense a value in having them whenever I can.

Bargains:

1) Manicure/pedicure- I keep my fingernails pretty short and unpolished, I can do that myself just fine. And I'm weird about feet...like I don't know if the stuff they are using on me is clean. I'm weird I know, but I just don't enjoy it. I have many fine scrubbers, clippers and polish and I do just fine on my own....with my own stuff and my own cooties.

2) Eating out- don't get me wrong I do like to eat out, I just don't like to eat out all the time. Depending on where we go, 9/10 I'd rather eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (with good peanut butter and bread), yogurt and a banana for lunch than to stop and just get "something". But, if we are talking Chipotle, or something really good, I'll got for it every once in a while (once a week maybe)Not only do I like to cook and I think I can make some pretty tasty things, eating out really adds up. Just not worth it to me all the time.

3)Car washing- I hate to go to the automatic car washers. I'm very picky about car detailing/washing. Plus, a car just isn't clean until it's vacuumed. Don't get me wrong, my car isn't always clean, but my kind of clean is how I like it.

4) Sweets/cookies- I just like homemade cookies better than store bought, and I don't think they are so hard to make. Plus, much to the disappointment of my husband, I like air popped pop corn better than microwave. And YES, I do put butter and salt on mine, but I can control how much and what kind I put on.

5) No maids here-other than me that is. You might come over and think I need one, but for now it's all the kids and I. Oh and Scott too.

6) Cars-we have finished paying ours off and I'm just fine with driving mine around until it dies. At least that's what I'm saying now. I just need to keep it clean (see bargain #3) and we are good.

7)Skin care-I have been told (by a dermatologist) that all you need to clean your skin is Dove soap and/or Cetaphil. That's cheap, I figure I'll cut costs where I can!

8)What else...? I'm thinking here people. I've had the same Sonicare toothbrush for like 8 years. Different toothbrush heads of course, but I'm going to keep that thing forever I think.

9)Cleaning products/ laundry soap- give me the Costco laundry detergent, Wal-mart brand dish washing soap, and Target brand most anything else and I'm fine. Although, I do like the Lysol toilet cleaner, call me crazy.

10)Orange juice-weird yes I know. But my family drinks a gallon of OJ everyday. So, I buy the frozen 100% OJ and make it myself everyday. I do buy the fancy Tropicana occasionally, but the kids like the other better, and it's fine by me.

As far as tagging goes, I'm not much of a "tagger". But, do it if you want, it was easy and quite painless. ha But I won't be offended or hunt you down if you don't.

report on the first day

Yesterday went off without a hitch, that is all except the bus. Hunter made it home about 20 minutes late, but poor Hannah and Hayden were a little over an HOUR late. 5:00 is just too darn late. The problem was this: when the bus finally picked up my kids yesterday morning the bus was about full. More children ride the bus home than they do to school. So, by the afternoon that bus was too full. They had to wait for another bus to finish dropping off kids and then go back up to the school and take about 1/2 the kids off their bus and follow behind bus #1. It was a mess and it better be better today.

But as far as school days go, everybody had a good day. Hunter's assigned seat is in the very back of the bus with his friend Seth. So, I'm sure that will be a highlight of his day. Hannah almost finished her lunch before she could go out for recess. Everybody was back for "horse club" plus a few new members-all is well. Hayden liked the little potties in kindergarten, and didn't even complain about the long bus ride home. He said he even enjoyed the rest time after lunch. He got to play with several kids he knew out at the playground and his teacher brought snacks-bonus!! He was all smiles getting off the bus and enjoyed talking about his day. Jabber jabber jabber. Until about 7, he said he was done playing and went up and took his bath. Then, he proceeded to lay down and watch a show. After that (he was very tired) he announced, "I'm not going back to THAT kindergarten, I missed you too much" and then he proceeded to cry. Poor kid was worn out. He was up and at it this morning though, all excited and ready to go back for more fun.

Have a good day Hayden!

I did it, Hayden is out the door and at school. I will miss that boy, but I know he is ready and he is going to have a great day. He has been practicing letters, numbers, his name, you name it for the last week. Yesterday, he HAD to take his kindergarten workbook to church and he worked on it most of the time. When he wasn't bugging...I mean playing with Hope that is.

Everybody was up early today. Hayden said he was up 4 times to go to the bathroom last night. I think I had some excited/nervous/anxious kids. Hunter was the first out the door at 7 am. His bus is due at 7:09, but it didn't show up until about 7:20. That's a good first day. Hannah and Hayden were outside by 7:45, but the bus isn't supposed to be there until 7:59 (i love the exact times they give haha), but it didn't show up until 8:30, oh well. We had fun out at the bus stop with the other kids...telling Hayden to calm down, and not to cut in line, oh and to stop swinging his backpack ;0! He WAS excited. I teared up once, just while I was standing there, and Hayden was looking sweet and peaceful. The peace didn't last long, and neither did the tears. Those kids are going to have a great school year.

We finally loaded everybody up on the bus, and I was off to meet the bus at the other end (the school) and snap a few more pictures. I wasn't going to go...until the last minute and then I though...get your butt there girl, you did it for the others, you need to do it for him (Hope too). I'm a second child and I'm all about fairness.

Have a good day, I know I will. (Insert evil laugh here.)

First day of school!!

I'm not sure which picture of Hayden captures him best, but for better or worse, here he is!

Hunter and Hannah ready for 6th and 3rd grade!

the itchy thing

Ohhh, ohhhh look at me, I'm stealing a minute on my own computer. Scott is mowing, Hunter is eating, Hannah is sleeping over at a friends and Mom is showering. Shoot, I don't really have anything to say. Other than I went for a run this morning and got "that itchy thing on my legs". Do you ever get it? It's where my inner thighs and butt feels like it's on fire. Without even toughing my legs they are all red. It takes some serious self control to NOT scratch bloody marks on my legs. But just as fast as it came, it went. Thank heavens. I have been back running for a while now and I hadn't gotten it at all, so I guess it was time. I was doing some drills, and it's really humid... soooo maybe that's it.?? It was feeling so good outside in the humidity (not), that I just went for broke and pulled some weeds. Scott and I were both out there, when our friend David drove by and said "Oh look, it's the 2 amigos lawn service". Seriously, those men earn their $$. Maybe I'll give them some of mine to do that torture!!

The LAST day of summer

Have I ever told you that I sweat like a man? I don't just glisten, I sweat. Like after a spinning class, sometimes it looks like I have peed in my pants. It's nice. Today, was hill day in spinning and my gray little tank top was totally saturated. I came out of the spinning room and I was headed over to lift some weights and this lady says to me, "Wow you really were sweating...what were YOU DOING?" Just like that too. I said "Yeah, I know it's gross, I sweat like a man, but at least I know I'm hydrated." I guess that's a good thing.

Today was officially "the last day of summer", well at least that's what Hunter KEPT telling me...whenever I asked him to do something. "Pleeeeease Mom not on the last day of summer." When I told him we were going to the gym, when I asked him to vacuum upstairs, when I asked him to practice the piano...he had playing on the brain and that's it. He did get his fair share in too, just so you know. And yes, he did a good job on the carpet.

My Mom is here, so between Hunter, Hannah and now Marleen, I might never be able to get on my computer again. hahahaha-ha. She's got a Kohl's coupon that Hayley gave her that's burning a hole in her purse. And it's a Coach, so we can't have that. We'll have to take care of some shopping business after football tomorrow. I'm going to drag my poor, travel weary parents to a football game in this Houston/August heat and humidity. It should be good times. I will fill the little cooler with drinks and ice, and I WON'T forget the umbrellas for shade. Sitting on the bleachers in the noon sun can be a killer. At least I'm not pregnant this year. It's the first game of the season tomorrow, go Patriots!

Oh, I must go, Scott now needs the computer. It's fantasy football draft tonight, and he needs TWO computers. Good grief.

Update

When Scott and Hunter got home from football, I set the timer for 10 minutes and told him he had that much time to finish his few bites. He did. And not 5 minutes later...Hayden says to me, "Mom I'm hungry". You've got to be kidding me! You know usually, I'm a fine don't eat your dinner... but this is dinner... nothing else tonight...breakfast is in the morning...kind of a gal. But when you go against what I said...Momma's gonna get tough.

The Mexican stand off

So, I am in the middle of a Mexican stand off right now with Hayden. I've got this neighbor, Chase...you have heard of him before. He's the dude that has ducks in his back yard that I have wanted to shoot on SEVERAL occasions. He is also the guy that gave us Myrtle the Turtle. So you remember, right? Well, he also likes to pass out ice cream sandwiches RIGHT before dinner. I have told the kids to come ask before they take one. If it's at least an hour before dinner I probably will let them go ahead and indulge, but it bugs me when they eat it minutes before and then don't want to eat their dinner. Tonight Chase's little girl comes over to see if Hayden could play. I said, "Sure, but no ice cream we have about 10 minutes before dinner is ready...Hayden did you hear me??". "Yes Mom." Fair enough, I've got ice cream in the fridge anyway, I tell him for our own little treat. You already know how this is going to end don't you?? 10 minutes pass and Hannah goes over to get Hayden. She comes busting in the door, "MOM, Hayden ate an ice cream sandwich at Chase's". We sit down to dinner and I proceed to tell Hayden I'm glad that he enjoyed his ice cream, but that's not how it works. Good food first and then the treats. AND he has to eat EVERYTHING I put on his plate. There!! So, I proceed to put a small serving of sweet potato, a small serving of asparagus, a small serving of squash, a small serving of brown rice, and a 1/2 of a little meatloaf. It's a fair amount of food, I was not being excessive, healthy yes, but not excessive. He is all done but a couple of bites. He is a stubborn one, that one. I wonder where he gets it? He has now been in there for an hour, at the table, telling me he "is serious, I can't eat this, I can't take it, I can't eat anymore, I feel like I'm going to barf"!!! I have ignored him for the most part, but I did say he could stay in there all night if that's what it takes, because I'm serious too :)

I'm not usually a bow person,but sometimes you just need a bow!

I found a new picture place that I like today, Portrait Innovations. Since Hope was 10 months on the 19th and today was the 22nd, I needed to get my butt in gear and get her monthly picture taken today. You know, before it was her 10 1/2 month picture. :) I haven't been jumping up and down the last couple months at Sears. Although, I picked up last months pictures on the way to get this months pictures taken, and they were pretty cute...cuter than I remembered anyway. But, I guess I was looking for a change. I seem to be changing things up around here a lot lately. I have been contemplating "cheating" on my hairdresser. I was, in fact, talking to my Mom on the phone today about how Josh's haircuts have gone up again, and he has lost a bit of his "mojo". It was not 5 minutes later, that I bump into Josh at Target of all places. Hunter says, "Speak of the devil Mom". Why do I feel guilty about going to somebody else to get my hair cut? Who cares, right? I do have a strong guilt thing going. When I went to Sears to pick up last months pictures, oh course it was Andrea that helped me check out. (She is the only one that's any good there.) She very sweetly asked if I was here to take Hope's 10 month pictures. (she knows the routine too) "No, not today" was my response, with a guilty look in my eye. Oh well. I didn't feel guilty for more than 2 minutes though. I got over it pretty quick.

We did have a big, fun day of shopping. We hit Target for a few things, and bought a few more things than were on the list. Isn't that just the way it is when you go to Target? Then we hit Barnes and Noble. We had a little over an hour to kill in there before Hope's pictures were to be taken. (they were right next door) I finally found Twilight and can't wait to start that tonight. But it was so fun to just sit and look at books with the kids. I didn't get enough time for MY books, but Hope and I can go back next week, and I can look for 2 hours, if I want. Well, I won't want to...not with Hope, but you know.

Some days it's just like that

Why is it that some days it takes until 2:00 to get the breakfast dishes done? Today was just one of those days. It's not that I was sitting on my butt, mind you. I ran early and then took the kids to the pool until 12:00. Lunch was at Cici's so at least there weren't MORE dishes. Came home and did some "stuff" just not dishes. I even worked with Hayden on his kindergarten workbook we bought at Costco at the beginning of the summer, that has way too many empty pages still. :) Finally, I realized it was time to make some mint brownies (thanks Natalie) for book club...but wait... I can't make another mess until the first mess is cleaned up, just can't do it. Now everything is neat and tidy and I've got some brownies cooling, waiting to be topped with some yummy mint frosting.

Some of the "stuff" I mentioned earlier was picking up the office. I walked in and it looked like a bomb had exploded in here. Hayden had been looking for something a little while ago and made a lovely little mess. He wasn't the only guilty party though. Hannah and Hunter had some junk to clean. But as I was picking some things up, I noticed a family picture (I had just taken down, and was waiting to file away...it was on MY craft table...my corner where nothing should be touched) that had two holes punched out of it. Right over Hannah and Hunter. Wait who could have done that? I asked Hayden if he did it and he said "yes". Why did you do that??? "I don't know". The thing is he doesn't know...no good reason...just did it because it was there. He did do some great coloring, cutting and kindergarten "handwork" though. But man oh man. That kid.

What a terrible way to go!

Poor frog! Look what we found this morning. What a terrible way to go-getting your head slammed in the door. Wow!

Happy 10 months Hope!

Why is it that kids LOVE the silliest of toys? Hope got a hold of a blue t-shirt today and boy did she have fun. She was playing peek-a-boo with it.

She won't hardly look into the camera EVER anymore. So, I grabbed that chubby little face and smooshed it.

Some things she did today:

*took a bite out of her Dove soap
*put Scout's (the dog) toy in her mouth

*played for 1/2 hour with a blue t-shirt playing peek-a-boo

*cried when her yogurt was gone-this she does everyday, but I'm evil and I like it.

Everybody likes a new haircut!

Hannah's new haircut. She felt these were "blog worthy". She makes me laugh.


Hunter making his "fan-tab-u-lus" potato creation, from start to finish-clean up IS included.

Haircuts are checked off my list. Yeah, one less thing to do. Now I need to get ANOTHER windshield and fix that hole in the ceiling. Scott and his friend David want to do it themselves...but there hasn't been any action. I told Scott he has this week-if I don't see any progress...I'm calling somebody. I even have a phone number, so I'm ready!!

I love me some good customer service-that was said with a nice strong Texas accent btw. When I went to Utah, I visited the Lifetime Fitness there. They had this one circuit class (hard athletic drills) that was not on the schedule here in Houston. When I came back, I asked the Group Fitness Director, Pamela, about it. She said she'd see what she could do about adding it to the schedule. WELL, I checked the schedule today to map out my weeks worth of exercise and guess what? She added a circuit class. I guess she added it last week and I didn't notice. But I took it this week and it was so fun. In a I want to die kind of way, but still fun :) But she saw me in there this week and got a huge smile on her face and gave me the thumbs up. In today's day and age, you complain/give someplace some "good" constructive criticism, and well...you just plain get ignored a lot of the time. Well not today.

A week from today the kids start school. I'm afraid Hope is going to get bored without the three older kids to keep her entertained. They really can be such a huge help. We had a fun time together this morning. BUT...with that being said..."somebody" is giving me a hard time about something so...I'm thinking the school thing isn't going to be so bad after all. haha Right? When they are being cute they are oh so cute, but when they are bad they are rotten. I think there is a nursery rhyme that goes something like that.

I loved to see the kids playing together tonight. Sometimes it took a little prodding, but mostly they were ALL having a good time together. They decided they were going to have a sleepover in the boys closet. I said, "Really?" Okay fine. So they (by they I mean Hannah) brought it just about any and all pillows "they" could find. Hannah's comment, "the boys set it up, but it was all nasty, I had to change it up and make it comfy". You go girl. Hayden and Hannah are both on top of toy containers...but with enough pillows even I thought it was soft, sort of. I'm not so sure they will make it there all night, but they sure had fun trying.

What a mess!

I didn't get to the grocery store yesterday, I almost went late last night just so I didn't have to go on a Saturday...but my laziness won out and I didn't go. I should have. Houston is under hurricane watch, so just about everybody and their brother was at Wal-mart today. You add tax free weekend to the mix and it was a big old mess. I was happy to get out of there in one piece.

Yesterday was Hayden's meet the teacher day. When did my little boy get all big enough for kindergarten? Hayden is a lively one and I'm sure he will keep his teacher hopping. I guess it kind of fits...her class mascot is a frog.

Some things that have been on my mind lately.

I have been mulling several things over for a few days now, and since this blog is titled Confessions of a Redhead...I'll just let it out. Blah here it is.

First of all (and this is related just hold on and I'll get to the point), I was getting my hair cut about 2 weeks ago now. And I noticed something, Josh is getting burned out. His passion for cutting hair is getting replaced by his new product line he is getting ready to launch. But even that seems to be taking it's toll on him. His step father is Farouk (maker of Chi and Biosilk hair care products).

So apply that to my own life. Running for instance was a passion of mine. By the time I got pregnant with Hope I was really getting pretty burnt out. My last marathon was just okay, I improved, but not by much. And the toll it took on my body was in another league entirely. I had been injured training for that marathon and had to take a month off training-the month right before the marathon. We are talking no road running, I did a few long training runs, jogging in the water. So, I needed a break. I really haven't even cared much about running until recently, and I feel like that part of me is waking up again. What's been fun to me is the "battling back" aspect of it all.

I'm still building to my point here...

You remember the "desperate housewife" comment from last week? You remember how it irritated me? I had to wonder why did that bug me so? Have you heard of that book Feminine Mistake? Again, I got my panties all in a wad when I heard about it. It's not that I'm looking for validation of what I do all day is important. I get it. I know that what I do all day is oh so important-and CAN be very fulfilling, but sometimes it's not. But that has to do with my attitude and my own feelings about my identity. I guess what struck a cord is that I don't want to loose myself, my own identity. I think I do a pretty good job, but there is always room for improvement.

I just started DVRing Oprah again, and I sat down last night to see what was on, and it was the one with working moms vs. stay at home moms. I really have no beef with working vs staying home. I stay home, it's what's best for me and my family, but that's not the point. This one particular stay at home mom was pretty self-righteous, but she did have a few good things to say and it got me thinking. It's about passion and bringing passion to whatever it is you do all day. Giving it your all. Not just going through the motions and getting through another day. I hate when life feels that way.

I like to feel like I'm actively engaged in my children's lives. BUT, I know I 've had days where I haven't really connected like I should with them. I've been mentally checked out. I can tell when I'm worn out, because I have a tiny little fuse. Things that normally don't bug me, drive me crazy.

But how to get to that point where you just aren't plain pooped out mentally...and it's only 2 pm? That's where finding things I love is important. Taking time out everyday to do things that I enjoy. I haven't played the piano for probably 6 months. That's going to change today. I work out everyday, but sometimes it's just going through the motions. Trying new things. Going back to some basic things that I really enjoy. I have been doing Yoga every night again and I'm really loving it. I love the way it makes my body feel when I'm done, but also I love being quiet and thinking about things. I like having some alone time everyday for a period of time. It's been harder lately because Scott has been gone a lot, but it can still be done. The kids are getting back on track with going to bed on time. Then "Heather time" comes in. I really do like to cook. Not the harried I've got 20 minutes to prepare a meal while Hope is crying and I'm trying to multi-task 10 different things. I'm talking, Hope is happily playing with Hunter, Hannah or Hayden (they really do that so well), I've got some music going that I like, I'm not rushing to get somebody off to practice, and I'm in the kitchen trying out a new recipe. Love that. But when you add the stress factor, a good thing becomes a chore again.

So, I guess we need to pay attention to ourselves first. Make sure we are doing what we need to be doing first. You know basics, scripture reading and personnel prayer, having meaningful conversations with our husbands, engaging in activities we love to do and then the meaningful relationships with our children, husbands, family and friends will fall into place better. I don't EVER want just an ordinary "desperate" life. Really, I feel sorry for the women that couldn't wait to get back to work because her life was feeling desperate. I like my life full of passion, excitement and connection, and that's what I strive for everyday. Now, with a renewed sense of well-being.