Rice Box

Our sand box broke this year, so we decided to try something different. We made a rice box, which requires a small plastic swimming pool, fifty pounds of rice and toy cars. 

We actually keep this in the house and let Austin play in it while we are working on other things.  Yesterday I thought it would be great for him to play with his construction toys and watch Bob the Builder.  There were two mistakes with this:
1. Austin does not like TV
2.  He hates the feeling of rice on his feet

It worked out well, because I was able to play in the rice with him for almost an hour.  By the end he was much more comfortable with the rice and would actually let me cover his feet (just for a second). 

The older two kids love playing in the rice box.  One of the best things about the rice box is that we can pack it up in a big bin and keep it out of the way when it is not being used.  Also, rice is so much easier to clean up then sand.

Austin's Big Bed

Lately Austin has been having a hard time going to sleep.  He wants me to lay down with him to go to sleep, which does not work with a crib.  Yesterday, Thad took down the crib and put up his big boy bed.  Taking down the crib was a little sad.  This is the first time in eight years we have not had a crib set up in the house.  My family is growing up too fast.

Austin was so excited to see his big beg.  He would stand next to it to make sure everyone knew it was all his.  He does not miss the crib at all.

Yesterday was a busy day so I thought he would fall asleep quickly.  Around 9 pm I laid down with him in his bed, turned on the lullaby's and tried to go to sleep.  Austin could not get comfortable.  He had pillows and blankets that I did not allow in the crib.  It was an exciting new adventure for him. He tried laying down in every different direction possible including ramming his head into my back and kicking the wall over and over again. 

I was determined not to get out of bed with him still awake.  I figured if I got out of bed, he would think that was allowed and it would be an uphill battle every night.  I almost lost the battle when Austin head butted me and cut my lip open.  I had a fat lip and blood on my hands, but soon after her decided to sleep on the pillows that I placed between the bed and the wall so he would not get stuck there.  Kids are crazy, they can be going a million miles per second to crashing in no time flat. 

Being such a worrier, I got up several times in the night to check on him.  He hardly moved the whole night.  Around 4:00 am I heard the click of a door shutting and see my little man running down the hall to our room.  He climbed in our bed, wanted a drink and went right back to sleep.  He was still asleep when I left for work this morning. 

Thad gets to put him to sleep tonight.

Multiplication Tables

I distinctly remember learning multiplication in third grade.  I had Mr. Little for math and we had to be tested every week to see if we could pass off a new set of multiplication numbers.

I was shocked when last month Aiden, who is in first grade, brings home is math homework and is flying through multiplication problems.  He does not need help at all, he knows them perfectly.  I am so amazed at how quickly he learns and how much more advanced his school is compared to when I went to school.  I would not be surprised if he surpasses my knowledge in the next few years and I loved math.

I love you Aiden and congratulations!

Taylor's Cheerleading

We have a friend who is the cheerleading coach for Highland High School.  She invited Taylor to attend a kids cheerleading camp.  Taylor was so excited!  She wanted to learn cheers and dance with other girls her age.  As soon as we got there she became very reserved and quiet. 

When Taylor gets nervous she wants mom.  I sat behind her during the cheers and keep my hand on her back the entire time, except for this short video I tried to get.  I don't blame her for being scared.  She did not know a single girl there.  The poor cheerleaders had no idea how to help Taylor feel more comfortable.  I stayed with her and we had a good time. 

She learned a couple of cheers and dances.  At the end she even got a t-shirt and pom-poms.  She was going to perform at a basketball game but it was the same night as her Princess Ball.

Aiden and Austin came with us and sat and watched the whole time.  Actually Austin tried to join in so he could get more treats.

My Little Reader

Taylor is growing up so quickly.  I can't believe she is starting kindergarten in the fall.  However, Taylor can't wait to go to Kindergarten and get her own lunch box.

At preschool she has been working hard at learning all of her sounds and starting to read. Last week she progressed to bringing home books.  So far she has read six full books.  She does amazing!  After we read each word she gets a high five, and a great big hug and kiss. 

Yesterday was her Parent Teacher Conference.  Taylor has progressed so quickly the last few months.  She knows all the sounds for each letter.  She acutally calls the letters by their sounds then the acutal name.  She can count to well over 100.  She is playing violin so well at school and at home.  Taylor has always been a little more reserved.  At school she is opening up more and participating.

I love my Missy Moo, Princess, Baby Girl, Sweet Pea Taylor!

Week One a Success

The first week of my 29 day challenge has been a success.  I love my spinach smoothies every morning and I have some amazing snacks.  The kids and Thad have been eating them with me.  Lunch and dinner have been a little harder.  We have found a number of items that I can eat but full meals took a couple of days to figure out.

Here are some of my favorite snacks:
Larabars - I love the apple pie and the chocolate coconut
Funky Monkey - Freeze dried fruit
Beanitos - black bean chips, delicious with fresh salsa

Since I had melanoma a couple years ago and since then I had basal cell twice, I am really concerned about how my diet affects cancer growth.  I have never been a huge meat eater. I actually stopped eating all beef for about 10 years.  My reason was not as an animal activist.  I lived in England during the Mad Cow scare.  Ever since then I have not enjoyed beef.  I still ate chicken, turkey and fish.  After Aiden was born, I realized how my diet affected him.  He refused to eat meat.  This made me worried so I started eating beef again when I became pregnant with Taylor.

My downfall is dairy products.  I love milk and cheese.  I have missed these the most on my diet along with breads.  However, last night at my weekly 29 day challenge meeting we had a vegan mac and cheese.  It was really good.  They used nutritional yeast instead of cheese.  I am going to try and make it for my family this weekend.  I am not having the kids or Thad follow the diet as strictly as I am.  They both have daily products and occasionally chicken.

Last night I watched the movie "Forks over Knives".  It was very interesting.  It promoted a vegan diet to help prevent and treat a lot of diseases including heart disease and cancer.  FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. If you are interested the movie is streaming on Netflix. 

Week 1 Stats:
Lost 2 1/2 pounds
Lost a total of 2 inches

29 Day Challenge

I love Pilate's!  I feel so relaxed and refreshed after working out.  Thad has been so kind to let me go to a Pilate's studio three times a week.  He watches the kids for the hour I am gone and helps them finish their homework and even gets them ready for bed. 

Last week when I was finishing my class, they had a 29 Day Challenge planning meeting.  Without telling Thad that I was going to be late, I stayed for the meeting. Unfortunately, Thad became really worried as I was over an hour late returning home with no phone call.  I am usually really good at calling if I am late so this made him concerned. However, I am glad I stayed. 

For the month of February, I have committed to improving my overall health by changing my diet and exercising more.  I will continue to go to the Pilate's studio three times a week and run at least three times a week.  In addition to my exercise routine I am changing my diet completely. 

The challenge consists of changing to a plant-based diet.  This is a completely vegan diet.  I am not very well informed on vegan diets, but with this diet I avoid all meat, dairy, soy and gluten. This has been challenging.  I have lots of smoothies with pea protein mixed with fruit and veggies. Surprisingly, the kids really enjoy the smoothies.  They ask me to add spinach to every smoothie and they want it for breakfast and a snack after school.

The purpose of the 29 day challenge is not to lose weight, but to learn how to eat better.  The process should help me lose the belly I gained from having three kids. Two days in and I am down 2.5 pounds.  Thad is doing this as well and he is down almost 5 pounds.

After the 29 days I can start adding lean proteins and dairy back into my diet.