.when time in the kitchen isn't well spent.

I'm not a chef by any means, but I do manage to make healthy and relatively tasty meals for my family.  Every once in awhile I'll even try something new and daring.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.  Tonight I attempted to make fish and chips.  I've been craving good authentic fish and chips for awhile now, and figured frying fish was as good as any method to get Roy to eat fish.  Alas, it was a devastating mess, and dinner ended up being wrapped up and thrown out into the dark confines off the outside trashcan.  So instead of Fish and Chips...

aahh Little Caesars comes to our rescue again.  In some ways it was a good thing dinner didn't turn out well, because it saved me from the high calories of fried fish.  Yes while the boys are downing the wonder of cheap pizza, I'm chugging down my healthy smoothie.  Now I have to find a place that makes really good authentic fish and chips because I won't be frying fish again.

.done.

With three days to spare I completed my 2 week triathlon.

I did the WHOLE ironman, not the half as the crossed out distances show.  Those were initially for when I was pregnant.

Did it jump start any weight loss?  Sadly, no, but that might have something to do with my level of intensity.  It's hard to really push yourself when you have to weeks to finish.  However, I've discovered that I actually like swimming in the morning.  It's relaxing and is a great way to wake up.  Another thing I've discovered...I'm not a fan of biking.  Seriously, it was so tedious pedaling mile after mile.  I was so happy when I finished all 112 miles and got off the bike knowing that I wouldn't have to get back on.  So after my one and half weeks I've decided my body must be more strength oriented rather then cardio oriented.  Meaning I'm prone to weight loss with strength training, so thats what I'm going to focus more of my workouts toward.  I'm also really focusing on my food.   I'm not dieting, because I absolutely hate that word...it implies too much restriction.  In reality, healthy eating means just being aware of WHAT your eating.  I'm hoping I can start seeing so more weight loss around here.  I really want to be back to 120-125, but will be happy with 130...that means 10 more ell bees to go.
In other non-vain news around here-it's date night with my boy tonight...YAY!

.muggy.

It's been one of those days...you know the kind that you feel sorta down and frumpy.  I'm usually not a downer, but I think everyone is entitled to a few of those days every once in awhile.  So today was mine.  I tried being productive to keep my mind occupied, but nothing seemed to help lift my mood.  I looked at myself in the mirror and looked every part of not putting myself together for the last two days.  Uggghhh, I not only looked gross, but felt gross...which is quite a bit worse.  After I got home from the gym last night at 9 I took a long shower and cried.  I cried out all my ugly feelings about myself,  about how my face is covered in blemishes, how my weight hasn't changed even after all the hard work, and just how generally gross I felt personally.  I cried, then shaved my legs, which always helps, and then slept a good long sleep.  This morning I'm not completely out of yesterday's funk, but it is a bit better.  I'm determined to get Finn and I put together and out of the house for some sun and fresh air.  Oh and that little child of mine who gets into EVERYTHING, is simply irresistible when he stands holding his hand behind his back.

.green & be careful what you wish for.

I was just commenting to Roy yesterday that I would just like to sleep in until 8, and that I just want to get away for a night so that I could sleep in. Well after a long and very sleepless Sunday, Finn just couldn't hack it last night.  I still don't know what happened to the little dude, but he woke up around 9:30 and cried off and on until 12:30 at which point I went and got him.  I thought if I brought him into bed with us he would fall to sleep.  This is usually my last step if Finn is not feeling good to help him feel calm and happy, but it didn't work either...he refused to be consoled.  Roy walked with him for a bit while I tried to run through my mind what could be bothering him.  He wasn't feverish, he wasn't rubbing his ears or acting like he had an ear ache.  The only thing I could think was that maybe his teeth were the culprit, so I grabbed the Motrin hoping that it would ease his pain.  He was furious after the medicine (he hates taking it anyways, let alone when he's tired) so Roy just said try lying him down again.  I wasn't hopeful that it would work, but he went right down and didn't make another peep the rest of the night.  I still don't know if his teeth were really bothering or if he was just beyond tired, but we were happy that he decided to sleep.  Roy fell back to sleep quickly, but of course my mind refused to shut off after that.  I just kept thinking, "I have to be up in a few hours to get my work out in for the day.  I'm already behind on my two week triathlon so I need to get it done."  Well after all was said and done, I did NOT get up at 5:30 and go swim and slept in until 8.  I'm now taking back my previous wish to sleep in.  I will gladly take a whole night of restful sleep and waking up 6:30 any day.

Besides our rough night on Sunday, we thoroughly enjoyed our weekend celebrating St. Patrick's day with family.  We wore our green, played Irish hot potato, ate cabbage & corned beef, drank our root beer, and talked the night away with my family.

Playing Irish hot potato while uncle casey changes a light bulb

Sully getting his groove on

Finn playing with his cars...he simple loves cars

.laps, new things, & old places.

Life has seemed to have slown down just a bit, which has been nice for a change.  I think with spring in the air, I've been more motivated to start and do new things..usually that's the sort of thing one does in January right?  Anyways, today I started a 2 week triathlon.  This is for people like me who have no desire to EVER do an Irionman, but feel motivated enough to do an ironman distance in 2 weeks.  Mostly, I'm just trying to plough my way through a platue that has plagued me at 139 for the last few weeks.  So today I got myself up and out the door at 5:30 and swam a half mile.  I use the term "swim" loosely here, because while their were about 10 people at the gym swimming this morning, I was not one of them.  I guess I must have managed some kinda of stroke as I made it back and forth in my lane, but I know I must have looked really pathetic.  After this morning, I determined that I want to learn how to freestyle.  I get the urge to learn something completely out of my comfort zone every 5 years or so.  The last one I had was when I wanted to learn how to drive a manual.  I bought a car with a stick having no clue how to drive one, and now I do.  So I guess my new uncomfortable goal is learning to actually swim without looking like an idiot.
Among the other new things around here is my church calling.  I was finally put into the primary for the CTR 4 class.  I have to admit I was nervous from hearing how people talk about primary, but I have to say I really enjoy my class...not at all what I was expecting.  Plus Finn just loves music time...which is a good way to distract him when he's so tired.
 I finished another small project this weekend too.  Remember that gold lamp a few posts ago?  Well here it is with a new coat of black .  So much better!

With the new lamp we decided to rearrange the living room.  It seemed like a small thing at the time, but it really has helped me be more positive and happy.  It took a few tries with the furniture layout, but I think we found something the feels right!

We finally decided to purchase a new entertainment center.  The old one was getting a bit unstable, and therefore no bueno for a toddler to be pulling on.  Thanks Ikea for making good furniture that's affordable.  Next up...painting that red wall.

With all these new changes we have still found time to play and enjoy the beautiful weather outside.

He was very interested in the fire hydrant

This is what Finn does all the time now...just waiting for some words to help understand his pointing

"The Hedgehog" formally known as the mole, is a new favorite around here

He can wrestle, and be wrestled in return

The hedgehog always gives Finn fantastic hair

As you can see we are enjoying ourselves around here.

.sick days & potatos.

Uggghh the dreaded cold finally found its way to me.  Yesterday I could tell something was afoot, but today I'm 100% positive I've got something.  It might have something to do with the fact that I'm still in my pajamas, bed head intact.  Or that I'm feeling all around yucky and just want to slip back into the oblivion of sleep where at least I won't feel like I want to die.  I must look as bad as I feel because when Roy came home for lunch he said, "you're making me depressed just looking at you."  Ha ha, if that boy doesn't know how to make a girl feel better, right?  He did make up for his off humored comment by letting me nuzzle into him and close my eyes for a few minutes...because when I'm sick I nuzzle.  For unexplainable reasons it just makes me feel better.
Being sick with children (I say children because today I have the girl that I watch once a week) doesn't give you all that much room to lay in your sick bed and just coast.  But as with the nature of being sick, I'm probably only giving it 65%.  Basically making sure that they aren't hitting each other or eating things out of the garbage.  Luckily they are great kids and are playing quietly and not getting into much trouble...mostly.

 Except for that one time Finn got himself stuck behind the couch...I'm the world class mom who grabbed the camera instead of freeing her crying child first.

Or that other time when I just let Finn gnaw on a nice ol' dirty potato from the cuboard.  The potatos are his new favorite thing.  He usually has one in each hand as he cruises around the house.  I find it irresistably cute and therefore have not moved them to a higher shelf.
But besides that we are hanging in there today.  In fact it's getting close to nap time for all of us, and that is sounding almost as good as a raw potato.
  

.cabin fever.

We've been stuck in doors for a bit with all these late winter storms. 

The snow is beautiful, but a toddler (I can't believe I have a toddler!) isn't much fun for playing in snow with.  Needless to say we have been tyring to find ways to while away the indoor hours with.  For me it was a chance to finally get some indoor projects done...the main one being painting our bedroom.
Our entire place is painted with a yellowy off white neutral that makes it feel more like dirty walls.  The fact that every crevice is painted in this color, leads me to believe that the previous owners must have got a bulk discount.  Along with the neutral they painted two accent walls in a red.  The red isn't as bad as the neutral in my book, but it's still not my favorite.  Since I didn't get a good before picture of the bedroom, I'll give you a taste with our current living room wall.

So imagine that red wall down in a dark basement room with yellow neutral walls to boot.  After the paint was purchased, the furniture moved around several times (that's what one has to do when you have no other place to move the furniture to), and three days of hard work, we have a new room that I love!

I know you are probably thinking grey is a much more dark and dreary color then red...and you're probably right.  But I promise with those white walls it feels much more open and light down there now, and I like grey better then red...so that makes me happy.
And maybe one day we will have a bedroom set like real adults do, but until then, I will enjoy all my hard work...oh and this little man with all of his long hair that moves when he walks.

My next project had something to do with that awful gold lamp you see in the background here.  Stay tuned to see what happens.

.neglectful.

It's been one of those really crazy weeks and it's not even over yet. I took on the challenge of painting our bed room finally after months of saving my pennies to buy paint. On top of that under taking I've got a sick baby boy, who passed on some germs to his mamma. Being sick and trying to get a room painted has led me to neglect pretty much every other space in my home. So here we sit in house that is in total disarray and smelling of paint fumes with runny noses and coughs...I'm exhausted and I haven't even undertaken anything big. Last night as Roy and I were pushing furniture to one side of our bedroom to make room for painting, I acknowledged that I couldnt remember when I had last showered. I laughed as I realized I must have looked like a greasy disheveled mess when I had ran to the store earlier. Oh well, what is one to do when you've got sick babies and paint on the mind. I'm pushing for a finished room by this afternoon so that I can hopefully start putting my house back together. Oh and don't worry I'm showered and quite a bit less greasy then yesterday...so there's an improvement.