Things I learnerd at the gym

I recently rejoined the Y (well, if you want to keep tally- this would be time #3, but who's counting?) I always feel the best in my third trimester of pregnancy, so I decided to get a jump on that and start getting a little exercise.

There are several added bonuses to the reinstated gym membership. (1) my daughter spends time away from me, and gets to play with other children away from church or home (2) she gets to go to an hour long exercise class 2 days a week! (i LOVE this) (3) I learn a lot. No, really. and I am about to pass this new found knowledge along to you...so, crank up the treadmill to a whopping 3.0 mph like me, and get to learnin!

When you walk as slowly on the treadmill as I do (I said I felt the best in my third trimester, but, give me a break here, people, I'm huge!) you get to do some light reading. Not Tolstoy or anything, but decent stuff like Travel and Martha Stewart.

(1) Spring cleaning: take the sheets off of your bed and wash them. If the mattress pad needs to be washed, do it! (seriously- when was the last time?) Then, after it's dry and back on, sprinkle it with baking soda, and then put several dryer sheets on top. Put the fitted sheet back on, then finish making the bed. You will vacuum the baking soda from the mattress pad next time you change the sheets. The freshness is amazing, and I guarantee a peaceful nights sleep.

(2) Lunch: I have made this at least 10 times since reading about it: Mix Parmesan cheese and fat-free cottage cheese with a little Italian seasoning, and spread on a whole wheat pita. Slice fresh tomatoes and place on top of cheese. Sprinkle with a little more parm. Broil in toaster. YUM. I have also used different combos of feta, chicken, olives and turkey pepperoni. So good and the original recipe is super low fat/cal.

(3) Dinner: Grill chicken or fish (I think I used salmon for this one) take fresh spinach, blueberries, feta and your favorite dressing (I used Annie's ginger) and top with meat. Um, yum, again! Even my husband said, "That was a great salad." Since he has a large appetite, I served it with brown rice. Even 3y.o. loved it.

(4) Fedoras are out, wider brims are in......ok, I don't ALWAYS read the "better" magazines!

(5) Parenting mags are really stupid. Honestly- don't bother. I read something about people who refuse to let their children nap, others who dole out candy all day. I mean, scary stuff.

I decided that I am much too conservative for parenting mags, much to old and dorky for fashion mags, and- never thought I'd say this- but, pretty much right on target for MS living (where do you think I got that mattress tip, huh?)

Oh, and speaking of, here is how you make DIY pom poms: http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to

Enjoy! (the pom poms are a teaser for my next post: Z's 3rd bday party! get excited. We are!)

PLC

Whew! It's over. After months of planning...didn't we start planning before Lent?!...the Parish Life Conference is history. I personally feel like it will go down in history as one of the best in recent years. Ok, ok. I have only actually ever been to this one. BUT, it was really well done, and the speaker was quite something. Met. Kallistos Ware- check him out on www.ancientfathradio.com if you have never heard him. Incredibly intelligent, well spoken man of God. And, seriously, the best voice. Listen to him!

My small part in this huge conference of 400 people was to come up with the decor. On a pretty tight (but also generous- if that makes sense) budget. Thankfully, I had a partner in crime, and we worked pretty hard, but kept things very fun. We also had several volunteers through the weekend for set-up, clean up, cutting fruit, arranging topiaries, lighting candles, you name it. These pictures do not do our decor justice, but I wanted to share these anyway. I pray that God continues to bless all of our parishes.

These pics are in opposite order, so it will be a bit of a let down at the end of this post, but blogspot is not being nice to me today, and I don't want to spend any more time on this! OK, this is Saturday night...the big hoorah! The Grand Banquet:



This is Friday afternoon at the Women's luncheon (tea pots and local flowers from Whitton Farms):

This is the Men's brunch:

Ok, one last Women's lunch! We sold these arrangements, with tea pots, in order to raise funds for the Women's philanthropy. It was pretty successful!

What a wonderful weekend- I am still thinking about a lot of what Met. Kallistos had to say. thank God for him and his words.

Oh, and I want to do this for a career. Come on, Trish, Liz, Marj and Cait- you KNOW you want to!!!

Well, hello there

Not going to start in the typical way..."it's been a long time..." Y'all know how I operate by now.

So, let's get down to it. This will be a choppy, "nap time" post, with a little of this and a little of that so we can catch up.

The summer is here. So is the heat. Being pregnant in your second and third trimesters in the Southern summer is interesting. You don't want to complain all the time...well, you do, but you don't want to be "that person." But, man it is hot. Thankfully we have friends with pools and generous hearts!

Being pregnant while staying home with a toddler is also...interesting. I love it, but it is absolutely the hardest thing I have ever done. Trying to remember to pray! Pray, don't get mad. Pray, don't worry. Pray, don't lose hope.

My baby sister graduated (grad-u-ma-wated) from college. I know, I can't believe it either. Isn't she 13? Oh, 16? Hmmm...this is not going in a good direction for me, her 10-year older sister. While a lot of her friends seem to be moving closer to home, she is making her way in another big city. I desperately want her to be near to me, since we are the closest family we have, but we each have to make our own paths. I know I wouldn't move out there just to be close to her, so why should I expect her to conform to my life stlye and schedule? Well, the answer to that is actually quite easy. Beacuse I'm the big sister. and that's how we think. and act. Hmmm, better work on that one too, along with the praying. Perhaps those goals will go nicely together.
After 2 years of fairly steady work, we are enjoying our house. We have a table and chairs on the back patio, zinnias blooming almost daily, sunflowers towering near the fence, and several new plantings along the back. It has been wonderful to be outside as much as possible. One of my favorite times of day in late spring was after work. daddy's home, dinner is ready, and I ask, "Where do you want to eat?" "OUTSIDE!" comes the unanimous response. I love my outdoors folks around here.

As someone said: It's summertime, and the livin is easy.

Parenting isn't for wimps

Zoe is in tears. So am I.
Daily tally:
Hitting? yes
Pushing? yes
General sauciness? Oh, yes.
Kicking? Yep.
Corner standing- 3
Spankings- 3
Yikes.

It has been one of those days. I haven't had one of these in quite some time. Is it worse because I am pregnant, tired, and my patience is thinner than ever? I guess so. It's also the fact that parenting.is.hard. I have done some hard things in my life- this is by far the most trying thing I've ever been a part of.

I had that moment today where my kid- MY kid for heaven sakes- was the bully. She pushed, pulled, hit, and eventually kicked, this little boy today. Of course, HE was being a little angel. It would have been so much better if he was antagonizing her or SOMETHING! Nope. She was just being mean. I almost took her to our priest for her first confession- I needed to make mine too, of course, for my anger. After standing in the corner and getting a spanking, she went to the little bpy and said she was sorry. The mom didn't seen too impressed. Can you blame her?

I remember when Zoe was getting pushed around in the church playroom- I still keep a "hawk eye" on those kids when I see them in the playroom.

I know, I know. It's age...it will pass. Or so more experienced moms tell me. I cannot stand the obstinate disobedience that we have been going through lately, but I REALLY can't stand just plain, old rudeness.

I tell her, "We are kind to other people because we love Jesus, and Jesus tells us to love everyone else, too," or, "Mommy and Daddy have to obey God, and you have to obey us." I also try secular/social logic, "You don;t like it when people hurt you, so you shouldn't hurt other people," or, you have to be kind to your friends or they will not want to play with you."

I'm just making this stuff up as I go along. I mean, how do I know what I'm telling her makes any difference? or if it's sending the right message?

I don't think that every little thing I say will greatly impact her life, but we are at a whole new stage in parenting. I see her mimicking me constantly, yet I tell her to be kind and generous with people, and my temper flares up with her after 2 minutes of disobedience.

I try not to write this too often, but I am hormonal and feeling a semi-crisis coming on: Mom, I need your help! I wish you were here to give me parenting advice. How did you do it? Did you intuitively know the right things to say? Do I just remember all of the wisdom and none of the mistakes you made while parenting me? Does it get easier? (wait- don't answer that one.) And while I'm asking questions- how on earth did you always look so good and have 2 kids? Seriously.

I realize this is a little less upbeat than my usual post, but I thought I'd be "real" in the difficult moments as well as the joyous.

Lent is nearly upon us, so I hope to use this time of the Fast in practicing patience and love, being slow to anger and quick to prayer. I hope the same for you.