A day in the LIFE

So today I was thinking of what my life is like and how crazy I am about my scheduling sometimes and how so much of my time is filled with ADHD tendencies and procrastination. This month I have been ramping back up from Toby leaving and getting re-focused.

My day started, or day before it didn't end until 4 am. I was up doing homework and secretly hoping Toby would get online and send me a one line email like he usually does. (Those seem to make my days)...I thought to myself at 4 that I should get to bed or the next day was going to bite me. Doing this day after day you would think I would know that I can totally function but I have found more sleep does help with my recovery with my workouts so I gave in. I actually slept on the couch because I was restless.

7am kids get up and I am pushing them to get ready for their "storybook day" (different post) and had planned on making them a good breakfast but ended up making sure they had cereal and I think Cy had a piece of toast Grandma made him. Side note: I am a night person ok? I do a couple days a week get up to go to the gym early and that helps get me going, but most days it takes me about 30 minutes to suck it up and get going. Kids are off! Wait, no Courtney needs me to take her to school and wants some more info on the character that she is being for school.

Get back and am a cereal mom for the day. I even had cereal so that is not a good precursor to my day. I am excited however because it was a dress up day for Carmen also at her new Pre-school and she was really excited. I put big girl makeup on her and for a girly girl that is fabulous. I pick up the basement and out on some makeup and head to take her..now it is already 9:45. I am in my workout wear because I planned to work out first think in the morning! lol

With odds stacked against me on my morning cardio I decided to not try the gym without Carmen to help with Cera at the daycare. I pull out my trusty, awesome running stroller, grab some treats, my dog, Cera and head out to go on my run. I hear Cera screaming at the top of the street. Not a good sign. I turned around and brought her home and she went right to nap. It is now 10:30 and I have not ran more than maybe 1/8 of a mile.

My mom was home working on things in her office upstairs that thankfully she agreed to listen if Cera woke up and I took off! I ran about 1 1/2 miles and my body finally got in sync. I hate that it takes me awhile to get in the groove but oh well. I run past the house because I have to go to the bathroom and decide to grab the dog so she can get a workout also. Turns out she is afraid of leaves and it is fall in Utah. I ended up picking her up and carrying her home. Then I ran another 1 1/2 miles and decide that I am done. I am starting to be able to farther and farther because of the awesome interval training I have been doing 4 days a week.

I call my husband to talk quickly before I have to get Carmen from school. I of course talk to long and have to hang up on him to run in to get her. I feel bad because I am still dripping sweat, but just glad to have got to get out and run.

Now it is noon..I have not done my situps or pushups yet. I go downstairs and jam out a quick 4 minute of situps which included 100!!! yay.. I have to work on my pushups but can do 12 now, so that is exciting.

Time for us to have lunch. I have tuna mixed with cottage cheese (which is actually good after I broke my carb/sugar and addiction). I have an apple and some water. I wanted to get to more homework but had to get to Costco to get my protein and new turkey my sister told me about before the older kids are out of school and start that mayhem. Go get in the shower, be thankful for short hair that dries fast, and off we go! Oh yeah the girls had lunch and a bath in there somewhere after lunch.

Head to Costco but stop at payless to look at dance shoes for Carmen. Find nothing, talk her into maybe they have some at Costco..I really shouldn't lie to my child but it worked. I stop and get gas at 2.55/gal YAYAYAYAY!

Costco took too long and they did sell out of flaxseed! Get churro that is habit and head home. Churro stays uneaten in car as I type. I picked up a pizza for dinner so have to pop that in soon. Carmen is taking a nap so I check my email and classwork. I am currently taking 21 credits for school so I have to keep up or it will all unwind fast.

Dinner is done and we better hurry because break dancing starts in 20 minutes. Everybody in..drive and hear about everyone's day all at once, while younger girls are eating their pizza cut up out of bowls. Anyway, drop older kids at break dancing and head to a Downeast Outfitters to get two more tanks to run in. Walk through Mervyns and see they are on an ALL SALES ARE FINAL..status now. Anywho, go get Court from dance while Cy stays to do his boys club. Get a paper saying that costumes and travel sweats are being ordered for competition and I find out that they are 80/piece!

Take younger group home and get Cera to bed early. Mom is thankfully home again and we decide on our day out tomorrow with Grandma and Aunt Em and I take off to get Cy from boys club. I hear about all the new moves and fun party at dance and get home to get ready to go to gym. Make sure the kids are settled in and being quiet and I take off to try to catch 30Rock for my warm up cardio. I fell off the treadmill last time watching something funny on the TV so was taking it easier. I walked at an incline for 25minutes to get my heart rate up. Next went to do weights and was excited to curl the 50pd wacky bar 4 times. The manager asks me if I would want to do promotions for him again when it gets to be busy season and I shrug it off. I only did 20 minutes of intervals because I have to get home to have a late night with the kids before Halloween and promised to pick them up something at the store.

Showing back up with unhealthy soda and popcorn we watch the recorded office off DVR. Then it gets turned to Disney channel while I read Dr. Suess to Carmen.

Finally at 11:45 the kids start dropping off like flies and I can get to my homework. I have about another hour to go until finished but am excited about my day and all that was accomplished. I have to clean again tomorrow because we are webcamming with Toby and it needs to look like I am trying at least..lol

Have to have my morning workout done by 6 tomorrow or I won't get it at all. We are going with Grandma somewhere fun and then webcamming and homework and then the night festivities.

Well, that is a day in my life. Sometimes less busy, but I love it busy..Makes the days go by soooo fast.

Got to get to bed so I can start my craziness yet again.
LOVE IT

Gratitude

I know the past couple months have been doom and gloom for some folks, but what really tans my hide is that the news can only do negative.

I am in a state of gratitude and pray everyone will take the chance to look at all the good around us.

Local Price Snapshot
Today 2.969
Yesterday 2.983
One Week Ago 3.214
One Month Ago 3.631
One Year Ago 2.826
Trend
PRICES FALLING

I know that there are some that have been hit hard by some things but gas today was cheaper than a year ago. NO NEWS!

I live my life on a cash basis and my husband has a secure job with benefits and pay.

I am thankful for my parents letting me shack up at their house every couple of years for a couple months. I also am thankful that possessions don't matter to me, so I could care less where my things are stored.

I am thankful for our church and the teachings of being prepared and showing us in the scriptures the cycle of greed and poverty.

I am thankful for my husband who is setting a good standard for our family to meet.

I am thankful for being capable of living off a couple hours a night of sleep to accomplish everything on my plate.

I am thankful my body has finally come around to this idea of being fit and starting to really take to it.

I am thankful for some awesome kids that at the zoo today I got asked.."how did you train your kids to stay by your side and be so polite?" more than once

I am thankful for the Army life I live and the opportunities it gives me to learn and grow as a person/wife/mom/writer/student..

I am last but not least thankful for my Heavenly Father who sends help on days I really need it and makes me do it myself on days I ask because I am lazy. I am thankful he forgives me for all my shortcomings and recognizes my strengths. I am thankful he softened my heart in my marriage years ago when I was being selfish and almost ruined everything. I am thankful that he didn't put a cap on the feelings of love that we can feel. It really gets stronger everyday for Toby and I have often wondered how it can get deeper.

I challenge you all, because the media will not cover it, to think about all the good that is happening in our lives. It is the positive that gets us through!

Have you ever?

In all the times that you have gone to the movie theater have you ever gone to see a movie by yourself?

Well have you?

With Toby being gone this year, I have. I have actually a couple times but let me give you some insight of what it was like for me this most recent time.

My Mom and Dad were out of town. I decide I want to go see a movie and get a babysitter. It is late on a Saturday night. I get there and the theater is pretty bare. The movie I want to see is supposed to be funny and only been out a couple weeks. I thought it would be packed.

I get my lonesome popcorn and head to get my seat. I get in there and immediately feel creeped out! There is not one other person in there. Ok..so I am a little early. I sit down..that lasts about 30 seconds until I feel like a horror movie when you are yelling at someone for staying there too long in a scary situation.

I get on my phone and make a phone call to another Army wife I know will be up late. We talk for a minute and laugh at what a stupid head I am sometimes. I decide I will probably go get my money back and just go rent a movie.

Heading out, I decide that I really wanted to see the movie..I am just going to find people that are going in there and will go back in when someone arrives. Good plan right?

So, I stand right behind the guy taking tickets and listen like a creep at where people are headed. I felt weird, so instead I backed up a ways and started asking people where they were going... like that is not WEIRD! lol

I almost went to see Eagle Eye because that is where everyone was headed. I finally found this couple that was going to my movie and they said they would make sure I was not murdered during the movie. So sad.

I am sure I would have been safe to watch the movie alone, but just in case this couple was the only other people in there.

I guess I will go to a matinee during the day next time for some peace of mind and to not make a fool of myself looking for a friend when I get there.

The day has come!

October 24th has been on our calenders since June when they said the date that this movie would be out. The Tennyson's (except for maybe Toby) love High School Musical. I love musicals and am excited when the kids like them too.

More than just the musical, we had it on our list of time marks for Toby to return. It is so fun to see events come and go because that means time is going by and he will be home soon!

I actually loved this movie. Some parts were cheesy, but I actually cried in some of it. It took me back to when Toby and I were in High School and getting ready to go to different colleges and thinking we LOVED each other. GOOD Songs, Excellent choreagraphy. Sad to have the series come to an end.

GO see it!

If it smells like crap and tastes like crap, is it crap?

Honestly.. the other day I purchased a new protein shake. It is really good for you, but I put it in my shaker and was off to the gym. I pop it open to guzzle it down and it smells really bad. I thought it might be the shaker, so I go home and get a new cup. It still smells bad.

Like any new fitness fanatic, I realize that nothing good for you tastes good and start to drink it. IT WAS REALLY BAD! I have a weak stomach and had to hold down puking.

Fast forward to the gym.. start running, sprinting my first interval and what? Holy cow..my stomach hated this stuff. I threw it out so I cannot tell you what the brand was, but it was chocolate of some type and I am convinced they mixed it with manuer.

Sticking with safe Vanilla for awhile!

Debate

I cannot let it go. I watched the debate tonight. I went and ran at the gym while watching trying to get out frustrations while I listened. While there I found myself clapping, crying and being disappointed right there on the treadmill.

I am really upset about the spin afterwards. Most of it is being focused on how Obama's smile and looks makes him more favorable to be the President? What? How do your looks or if you can eloquently give a speech make you a good President? I am confused..isn't that what the past shows to calamity?

I just am sick about some of the similarities that this election is with a Hitler movie I saw. He promised everything to his people if He and the government could have the power. YEAH that worked out!

If we look at how our Heavenly Father set up His plan, why don't we follow it and do ours that way? Yes..there is someone to answer to and help guide us, but we make our own choices, we put our trust in God because he can be trusted and He is one man that knows all. No man on earth in Washington knows all. Why would he have all the power over what I want to do in my life?

I could go on about this for hours. Just please people..don't just listen to the media on this. Do your own research. Know that there is true danger if we make the wrong decision. I know that is kind of harsh, but it is true and I think some people don't want to believe it. This is not a call for people to be scared, because it can be changed. In the scriptures we have time and again of a people that becoming greedy and sinful and they change it and save their people by making the right choices and making changes in the way they live. Let us follow that example in this time of our lives.

Pray and Vote

I just wanted to take a couple minutes of anyone who takes the time to read my blog to mention something to everyone. I first want to come right out and say VOTE! I will be upfront and say you should be ashamed if you are not going to. That is right.. I will say it.

Secondly..some things I have some strong feelings on and it may just be the experience I have gained in the last 10 years or may have some merit..you decide. We as Americans can not continue to make bad choices and expect the government to bail us out. We cannot continue to think we are entitled to this lush livelihood that our parents worked their whole lives to get. I was called by many friends years ago that tried to talk Toby and I into getting into one of these "easy mortgages". That is one of the good choices that Toby and I saw as something too good to be true. But now many Americans are mad because their "awesome idea" didn't turn out. I feel for the people who can't afford their homes, but that is something you should think about is the future of your choices.

I will continue with the premise that most people should know that Toby and I in the past have not been too good with our money. We have made poor choices just like everyone. I know how it feels to go out and have a good time and then try to pay for it later..but this has got to stop.

Toby and I have also known the pressures it puts on a family to either get health care in a plan or pay for it later when you don't have it and go into some kind of of crazy coma. I know how it is. It devastated our family for years. Please hear my heart. I have government run health care and I am overjoyed that it is free. Some people however that dream of this would be sorely disappointed with the care we receive. I do have the opportunity to get a second and third opinion at no cost, but if you dream of this for health care, please know anything promised for nothing is just stupidity. I sacrifice my husband away at war to get this health care, so I kind of think I deserve it.

Lastly, I want everyone to know that my life is pretty much run by the government. They get to send us wherever they want, split us up, change things all the time when they want and provide all my livelihood. I can endure this life. I feel it is kind of something that I was being prepared for. I feel in my shoes taking this on. I do know however a lot of people that do not like the military life and get out. Please again.. lets not have the government run your life. Make a good choice with whomever you feel would steer us away from that.

Ok, so my last words on this are: Please Pray these next couple weeks and make the choice you feel is the right one. Please know that God wants to help us and wants to help protect us, but cannot take away our free agency. If we do nothing or make wrong choices we have to take the consequences for those actions.

I know I am not huge into politics, but I just want everyone to know that it is time to step up and make sure you we don't have a lion in lambs clothing. Let us not be easily swayed by easy promises. Let us do our part and make a good change.

I love you all!