On a mission.

I'm on a mission to get into shape...and lose about 5 pounds.

I've hit a brick wall weight wise and just recently pounds have started creeping back on.  It may or may not have something to do with the consumption of a lot of cake recently.  What can I say...I love my sweets!

So, lately I've been doing yoga twice a week and skiing once or twice a week, crunches every night, and the occasional running up and down the stairs...but I need more.  So, this morning I attempted to go for a jog. 

My jog turned into more of power walk instead...unfortunately, my knees can't handle jogging very well.  But then again, I probably walk faster than my lame jog anyway.  Either way, it felt good to get out in the crisp morning air.  

I want to be consistent with my new goal of getting some type of physical exercise everyday...that's right, everyday!

Do you think sex can count?

Just wondering.

Antibiotics anyone?

We have our supply right between the sour cream and yeast.

I took Morgan to the doctor today.  She has not only strep throat, but a virus of some sort as well giving her an awful cough and running nose.  She's been hit extra hard.

That's Morgan under there.

I feel the same way Morgan...honest, I do.  All I want to do is curl up on the sofa and feel sorry for my little sick family.  I'm tired, frustrated and extremely discouraged.

Here's to a healthier tomorrow.

Strep

Another one from the Barrett household, sick again.  What's new right?  This time Haley and Piper are suffering from Strep throat.  Unbelievable.  I'm feeling very discouraged this season.  I feel like we have become the "sick family"...I hate being that family.  You know those families...they always have a kid with a runny nose, or the kid with a cough that never goes away.  I don't want to be that family!  But alas, here we are.

Let me just add (in case you forgot) that we suffered from some type of illness from the middle of November until the first week of January...kid you not, someone was sick that entire time with colds and/or barfing...oh and don't forget the pink eye.  Then, we got a couple of weeks where everyone was healthy (that was nice) and now, here we go again thanks to strep throat.

Give me strength.

Weekend Review

We had a pretty nice weekend.  

Unfortunately Ryan had to work Saturday, but the girls and I stayed busy that morning making cookies.  It always amazes me the mess we can create when all the girls are in the kitchen!  But the cookies turned out cute and pretty darn good.

As soon as Ryan came home that afternoon I hit slopes.  I was able to meet up with my brother Jeff and skied a couple of hours with him.  Not sure if I mentioned it, but he's a ski instructor at Sundance and a pretty amazing skier.  He's been working with me on my technique...and I will say this...it's really hard to break bad habits!  But I'll get it...eventually.  He's a great teacher!  If you ever want lessons at Sundance, make a special request to get him, Jeff Wilson...you'll be glad you did!  

That evening after the kids were in bed Ryan and I watched Beasts of the Southern Wild.  Another movie up for Best Picture.

Honestly, I wasn't big on it.  Didn't make a whole lot since to me, or perhaps my brain just isn't big enough to understand the deep meaning of it all.  Basically...I didn't like it.  Not my vote for best picture.  Next week we'll try another!

Sunday evening we celebrated Jeff's birthday!

It was fun to have everyone together...and to have an excuse to eat cake!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Everyday Life

Don't you just love how kids always stand to do their work.

Here is Haley doing her homework...standing of course.  Kids are always in a hurry...itching to move on to the next thing...in her case she's slamming this out to go play Barbies no doubt.

Look at what I found when I was cleaning out my cupboard.

 My beloved coffee scooper spoon.  It measures about 2 Tbsp...perfect for measuring coffee.

Isn't it pretty!  I have to find a new use for it so I can see it often again!

And last...Piper...with fangs.

Happy Weekend!

An Afternoon Craft

Morgan got this really cute book for Christmas from her Grandma and she's been chomping at the bit to make something from it.

 The girls have early out this week for parent-teacher conferences so I decided it would be a good time filler for a cold afternoon.  They chose the "Darling Dachshund".  

I think they turned out pretty cute!  

Can you tell which one is Haley's?  I love her creativity and I love that she does the crafts HER way!

When we started Piper was in a mood...a terrible mood, that is.  Screaming that she wanted to cut, she wanted to trace, she wanted to glue...but nothing really made her happy.  I ended up putting on a movie for her so we could finish.  30 minutes later I find her like this...

...yep, sound asleep.  I guess someone was a little tired.  I paid for that nice 30 minutes too later when it was time to go to bed.  I spent an extra hour rocking her and trying to get her to fall asleep!  Darn that 30 minutes!

Acts of Kindness this week.

Life is not perfect.  I get frustrated as a parent.  My kids bicker.  My kids fight with one another.  Haley and Morgan sometimes exclude Piper...the younger siblings always get pushed out of the fun...do you get that too?  I yell...sometimes too much.  My kids yell.  Messes surround me...and sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in it all.  

But yesterday all was quiet before dinner.

I look over and see three of my girls cuddled on the sofa, Haley reading to them.

I love when I get to witness acts of kindness between my girls.  

Yesterday when I picked them up from school, as Haley was getting into the car she said "Wow, I really like your hair!"  Morgan immediately responds, "Oh, thank you!"  But...Haley wasn't referring to Morgan she was actually talking to me (what a sweetheart, huh?)  But anyway, I thought Haley was going to say something kinda mean back to Morgan...like "NOT YOU MORGAN!"  But instead she said, "Oh, I was talking to Mommy, Morgan.  But your hair is so pretty too!!"  Morgan was delighted.

Or the other day when Haley and Morgan set up a "tea party" with a bunch of stuffed animals.  They welcomed Piper to join them.  I love when they willingly involve Piper...and Piper loves it too!

Or when I go into Haley and Morgan's room to check on them before I go to bed and I see them both snuggled up on the top bunk together.  They most likely fell asleep telling each other stories as we can usually hear them chatting away.

Siblings bicker...siblings fight...siblings yell at each, this is true.  But it's the moments like these that remind me that they do love each other...a lot.  They ARE listening when I teach them how to be kind to one another.  This helps me me feel that I must be doing something right. And I NEED reassurance that I'm doing something right when most days I feel as though I'm doing everything wrong.