Whole30-Day 6

I thought you might want to see some things I've been eating.  Day 6 has brought a little relief.  I don't feel like I'm going to kill my family anymore, and that's always a good thing.  I've run out of food, so I'm hoping to get some things made soon.  Without further ado...here's some food.

 I found this chicken sausage that actually has no sugar in it.  This is my latest go to meal.

This was supposed to be like a blueberry "tortilla."  It was good, but it was the same taste over and over again.  I've been eating well, huh?  All good stuff.  Only 34 days to go.

Fat Tuesday - Lent

It never fails this time of year, I get caught up in the whirlwind of everything I want to be.  I feel that Lent is the only time I am scrupulous enough to try and change things that just seem too hard during the normal seasons of the year.  Then I go too hard, get burnt out, and worry that I'm going to hell because I caved on a sacrifice.  True.story.every.year.

While I recognize this familiar rhythm about myself, I do nothing to change it.  I want it all, and I want it for Jesus..or so I say.  Unfortunately when I do this, Jesus is just an excuse, scapegoat, reason, scare tactic, etc.  I feel too weak to just change for the better because it will be good for me.  I need stronger motivation.  I'm hoping to change this since I'm realizing it, but I'm not there yet, so here is my launch into another 40 days.

I'm only doing one class at the gym tonight to come home and prepare the lenten wreath of toothpicks.  Our family will quietly remove toothpicks as they make selfless sacrifices.  For kids this might mean not whining or complaining when doing something, or doing a chore for their sibling without being asked.  For the grown-ups, it's a personal decision with each pull.  We don't share and announce our holiness to one another.  This year I will make the holes for the toothpicks bigger, so we can actually get them out of the hardened bread rather than break off the tips like last time.

Tomorrow will start my Whole30 journey of a stricter Paleo plan and prayer time in the mornings.  To make sure my morning prayer times happen, I'll have to be getting to bed earlier, so we'll have to see what that looks like.  The kids are starting a whole food journey that will be more of a sacrifice to Kevin and I than to them I think.  I've given myself some leeway on this one because I can see it turning ugly real fast.  I am striving to feed them healthier food than the box stuff I regularly provide out of convenience.  It would be so much easier if they liked my paleo food.  *sigh*

I will be attempting other personal things that I'm not going to share with anyone.  Not only so that if/when I fail, no one will ridicule me, but it's between  God and me.  Typing all this I can't help but feel failures coming on, but I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.  

I was going to type Happy Lent, but that doesn't seem right.  How about Welcome Lent!?

History Project - The Longbow

Yes, this is the latest project for Kevin from Rory's history class.  Lucky for me I get to make a cheesecake for Logan's history.  I'll get back to you on how that went.  His teacher talked to me about it, and she said I could buy one but that she thought the recipe was easy.  Since that sounded like a challenge, I accepted.  Now....scenes from a longbow in the making.

I'll have to show these videos to her teacher to prove she did some work herself!  Don't expect pictures from cheesecake!

Wordless Wednesday - Rory

Sickness Part II

This cold has long worn out its welcome.  It has hit Logan full force today to where his little nose and cheeks are bright red, and his eyes are glassy.  It doesn't stop him from being excited to get a fish though, so if a fish can be gotten, school can be attended tomorrow.  Poor kid!  
Rory and I are still coughing.  Bob didn't get much of it at all, maybe a day or two of under the weather sniffles.  Kevin's had a headache for a while, but he always has those, so I don't know if that's this cold coming or whatever the other reason he gets them.  
Honestly, I've just been tired and going to bed.  I have enough energy to veg out for a show right before bed, and that's about it.  Sorry for neglecting the blog.
I'm trying to think of some happenings.  Maybe I'll scroll through the most recent pics and call it a day.  I hope to be back in full force soon for you.  Don't worry.  You're not missing much.  ;)

This is our new addition to the family.  His name is Luke.  He is a joint effort pet for Logan and Bob.

Then...I was brushing Bob's teeth this morning, and this was what I saw out the window behind her.

It's a duck in the middle of the road.  People just drove around him.  They all slowed down because it's not every day you see a duck in the middle of the road.  I was going to quack crack a joke like, "Why did the duck cross the road?"  Haha.  

Then this evening...I'm standing in the kitchen talking to Kevin and I see this at the window.

He looked so sad, and I wanted to feed him, but I knew we couldn't.  We're under attack from wild animals!

Sick-Ness

STINK.STANK.STUNK

Rory was mad at me the other day and coughed directly in my face.  I'm going to say that she did it on purpose because I'm mad.  I know she didn't, but still, I'm sick.  It's not that bad.  I'm just making a big deal out of it.  I still made it to my gym class tonight, and I'm supposed to do two back to back tomorrow night.  That might be pushing it, but hopefully I'll be better by then.  

My friend, Megan, and I have been texting pictures after our workouts to keep each other motivated.  She lives in Kentucky, so it has to be pictures and texts.  Here's the one I sent her today after body pump.  Kevin says I'm doing a "duck face."  I've never heard of that but apparently all the teeny boppers are doing them.  I'll have to ask my resident x-teeny bopper.  Let me know what you think.

By the way, Kevin's sweatshirt means "Want those fries?" or "Why the frown?"  or "Where's the fire?"  or "What's this for?" Take your pick.

*Postscript* Kevin has informed me that his sweatshirt means "With the faith?"  The end.

Busy, busy, busy

Wow, I've been MIA.  Things are happening.  The weather is crazy, school is swinging, and my evenings are full of things and people vying for attention.  I've mainly been reading aloud to Rory.  I wanted to do it with all the kids, but I stuck to Rory.  We're trying to do a reading streak for 100 days straight.  The rules are that I have to read to her for 10 minutes before midnight for it to count.  It doesn't matter what I read, but I am trying to keep it good books.  

So...I've decided to go Whole30 for Lent.  I'm trying to get people at the gym on board.  I've got a couple, but I feel like a blind man leading a potentially angry mob.  

Tomorrow is the due date of the baby we lost before Logan.  We named him Reagan.  We celebrate his birthday every year even if it can only be something small.  Tomorrow we're going to see American Sniper, because that screams romance.  Eh, at least we're getting some time together, and we'll do a toast to him like we always do.

Geesh, that's enough of Debbie Downer.  The girls and I (except for Kaelyn) got our hair cut today.  Marley had been asking, and I was going to do it myself.  I used to cut my friends' hair all the time when I was a teenager.  I started with cutting Logan's, and that's all I'll say about that.  I lied.  I didn't want him to cut his hair, but alas, he succumbed to his dad's relentless teasing.  :(  Then Rory wanted her hair cut to her shoulders.  It wasn't as easy as I remembered.  I got through it, and it looks good, but then she wanted bangs.  I can't do bangs.  Marley got nervous and said she didn't want me doing her hair anymore.  I called a lady we had met at our friend's house.  She comes to you and cuts your family's hair at a discount.  She came by this morning, cut Marley's hair, trimmed mine, and gave Rory bangs.  First Rory wanted side bangs, and that's what she got.  I asked her if she liked them, and she said she was wanting straight across bangs.  She's been studying hair styles from books she check out at the library, so I thought she knew what she was talking about.  The lady cut her hair, and Rory doesn't like it.  She jumped in the shower, so we could style them differently.  When we were done, she still didn't like them.  I tried to put her hair up in a ponytail, and she said, "I look so cute!"  SCORE!  Now she just wants to wear her hair up until her bangs grow back.  This should be fun.

Logan before

Logan after

Bob's bob cut

Doesn't she look so different?  So much older!