Adventures in Mommyland

It's been a crazy, but fun week in my house.  My sister-in-law, 2 year old niece and 6 month old nephew stayed with us from Saturday - today.  They are in transition of a move from Georgia to Iowa.  As my husband was gone the whole time, this meant two 2 year old girls, 2 babies, and 2 mommies together for five and a half days.  The mommies were majorly outnumbered and we could feel it most days! 

I had been looking so farward to Rylee having a friend to entertain her all week so I could have a break from that.  While the two of them did play together, I hadn't anticipated the sharing issues, the hitting, or the bossiness (that one was solely my child).  I think it's safe to say they were ready for a break from each other by today.  Overall though, they did very well together and I am looking forward to watching them grow up together and be the sisters neither one has. 

The babies required a lot of attention as all babies do.  We were busy feeding, changing and holding most minutes of the day.  Of course they always screamed the loudest when we were trying to make supper, eat, or calm down a fussy sister.  Luckily the girls quickly became quite fond of their male cousins and were taking part in giving them some attention.  It was adorable when Rylee was playing peek-a-boo with her little cousin and making him squeal! 

On top of the crazy drama the little ones presented, we had a cat to keep track of outside (making sure he didn't run away, making sure he stayed hydrated and had food), I got a major head cold and almost passed out in a lobby while both of my kids were crying (thank goodness for the super nice nurse having baby-fever who fed Wyatt for me), my poor little nephew caught the cold and we had to jump start my SIL's van....which we tried to do all by ourselves and had everything set up, but decided we better get help just in case since we had 4 kids inside the house.  Fortunately there were construction workers at the house across the road today. 

We survived everything without any meltdowns (my SIL and I, that is), and even had successful trips to the grocery store and splash pad at the park!  We also conquered a bottle of wine and carton of ice cream :)

We took turns making supper and because my SIL is so awesome, my house chores also got kept up with.  It worked out great that she is a night owl -- she cleaned house after the rest of us were in bed, including mopping my floors and washing windows!!  She can come over anytime!!!  Best House Guest ever!!! 

They have been gone for 5 hours and even though it is quieter in my house, I already miss the craziness and adult conversation.  I'm so glad to have them back in Iowa and look forward to sharing lots of experiences with them! 

A Hairy Decision

Hair.  Grow it or cut it?  I face this decision several times every year.  Today is one of those days. 

I got out of the shower and decided my hair needed a really good combing (I hadn't combed it in over a week since I was wearing it curly), so I headed outside with the comb like we used to do with the cats when we had them.  You see, I just knew it was going to be quite the feat to get all of the loose hair out of my head and didn't want to have a mound of hair to clean up off the bathroom floor.  It was WAY worse than I ever could have imagined.

I have very thick hair and have always been a major shedder, but add the post-partum hair loss to it, and I could have made a wig for another person today - no lie!!  First of all, my comb broke in half as I was trying to get the first curl out..awesome!  This is the 3rd comb I've had break on me this year alone.  I even buy heavy duty combs made for thick hair.  Then, after about 2 minutes of painful combing, I look at the comb and see that it is completely covered in hair..ugh!  I clean out the comb and go at it again....10 minutes later I was finally able to get the comb through my hair without it being covered in loose hairs.  I had a giant pile of hair on the ground that I really think could have been made into a wig for a small child.  I was disgusted by it.  What's worse though is that no one would even notice that I lost so much hair, because I have that much of it!! 

My least favorite thing about having so much hair is how long it takes to dry, and having to run the straightener through it every day to make it look nice.  In the summer it's too hot to blow dry and use the super-hot iron on my hair...I always feel like I need another shower when I'm done.  And in the winter, my hair is full of static when I'm done.  It's a lot of work, really, and I'm not so sure that it's worth it most days. 

I had long hair most of my life until my senior year in college.  I completely chopped it off.  I LOVED getting ready when I had short hair.  It was so amazing to just get out of the shower, dry my hair for 1 minute and have it looking great with no other grooming needed.  Sometimes, I would take a shower just because it was entertaining to me to see that I could have my hair done in such little time :)  I also got hit on way more when I had short hair in college (that's super important, right?), which leads me to believe short hair must be the appropriate style for my face shape.  My brother also told me I don't look good with long hair, and his opinion should be at the top of the list too right??

I know some people don't think girls should have short hair, but I don't believe that at all.  I think a person's face should be the thing that stands out, not your hair.  So a person's hair style should be whatever shows off their face best, in my opinion.  I'm thinking of Kelli Pickler and Halle Berry right now -- both much cuter with their super short hair -- you can see their beautiful faces as it isn't hidden behind long hair. 

I don't want to do the "mom" thing and cut my hair off just because it's more convenient now that I have limited time to get ready, but having it in a ponytail nearly everyday just isn't exciting either (anybody else find riding in the car with a ponytail super uncomfortable??).

I have been growing my hair out for 2 years and vowed not to cut it (other than the necessary trim) until it got to the longest point that it has been since I met James 7.5 years ago.  Well, it's to that point, and I'm proud of myself for making it this far, but I think it's coming to an end soon.  I just wasn't blessed with beautiful hair. 

P.S.  Is it okay to be really super jealous of my 2 year old daughter's hair???  Because I totally am!!  Oh, and speaking of my daughter...I asked her yesterday if I should cut my hair or keep it long.  I don't remember her answer, but today we were sitting at the table and I was staring into space thinking about cutting my hair, when out of nowhere she says, "should you cut it, or keep it long??"  SCARY!!!  She knew what I was thinking!!!  I couldn't help but smile really big and giggle a little...I told her, "How did you know I was thinking about that?!?!"  She laughed her super cute little laugh :)

How I Met My Dream Guy

I am currently reading a book called "50 Dates in 50 States" by Tiffany Malcolm who grew up in Iowa.  It's a pretty comical story about her blind dates as she travels to each state.  While I'm reading it I have been reminded of my past dating life and meeting my husband. 

People often ask how James and I met.  I admit, I ask this question to other couples all the time.  I think as females we want to hear a fairy tale story, and sometimes we get one.  Sometimes we get a comical story and that's fun too.  James and my story isn't either of those things, but we often get the wide-eyed "oh really??" look when we respond that we "met online."

It was a little awkward to say that at first, but now we know so many other married couples who met the same way, that we realize we are just part of this generation.  There are still lots of skeptics out there though and we know who they are by the look on their face when we tell them we met online.  It's okay; it's not for everybody.

So, here is our story.....

I would like to preface the story by saying that one night in college I thought about my "dream guy" and made a list of things about him.  Here are just a few of the more quirky items that were on that list:

1. Has a good career that doesn't require him to wear a suit and tie to work, or work at a desk.
2. Handy - be able to fix anything.
3. Drive a big truck - preferably a Chevy Silverado (that's the one I liked at that time)

In a nutshell, I was looking for a rugged guy with a brain and manners.  I bet not too many girls cared what kind of vehicle their dream guy had, right?  But I figured as long as I was dreaming, I might as well add it to the list. 

Okay, back to the story...

So I put my profile on an online dating site and set my preferences to the type of person I was looking for.  I checked my account the next day to see if I had any messages.  There was one.  It was from the site itself telling me it found a match for me.  So, I look at the picture...the guy is far away in the picture, but I could tell he was decent looking...and I start reading the profile.  Half way into it I think, "sounds like a guy I would date".   As I continue reading I see "I grew up in (enter my hometown here)".  What?!?!?!  I look at the picture a little closer....it is my first boyfriend from 6th grade - HA!!!!  How crazy is that?!?  Since I already "dated" this guy I figure this website must be pretty good at it's job! 

Anyway, I go on a few dates that never make it to date #2...nice guys, just not what I was looking for.  I then decide to take a break from the website for a little while. 

5 months later I sign back in and update my profile.  This time I get a message from James saying he would like to know more about me.  Side note: the website we used is free and you could send pre-written messages, like "tell me more about yourself", but once you want to write your own message you had to pay $25. I write him a novel back (I was apparently in a pretty upbeat mood or something -- never wrote that much to anyone else).  So he then pays his $25 to write me back.  We then exchange messenger names so we can chat somewhere besides the website. After several days of chatting James asks if I want to meet for coffee.  Uh.....coffee??  I'm 23 and a) don't drink coffee and b) that's the last thing I ever would have expected someone to ask.  (He later admitted he didn't want to pay for supper for me -- coffee was cheaper).  We agreed to meet one Thursday night. 

Thursday night arrived and I didn't feel up to meeting, so I called and left him a message.  He got called out of town for work anyway, so it was okay.  We agreed to meet Sunday night for supper instead. 

Sunday night arrives and I had an event to attend prior to meeting him at the restaurant.  I told him I would call when I left the event and that it would take me 15-20 minutes to get there.  Well, I really wanted to get to the restaurant before him, so I waited to call him when I was only 5 minutes away....that gave me 10-15 minutes to beat him there and go inside.  I did get there before him and went inside...and waited..and waited...and waited.  The hostess kept trying to seat me and said she would watch for my date, but since I wasn't positive what he looked like, I figured I better watch for him myself. 

I was beginning to think I got stood up.  Finally, I saw a very tall guy walking to the door and I knew it had to be him (he's 6'5).  What I hadn't known was that he was only 10 minutes away when I called and he wanted to get there first so he could sit in his truck and see me first (in case he wanted to turn around and leave -- nice guy huh?!?!), but after waiting 20 minutes he decided to check and see if I somehow beat him there and was already inside. 

Supper was great and the company was even better.  We sat in the booth and talked for nearly 3 hours.  I think we were the last ones in the restaurant.  He finally told me that he better get home because his parents were at his house visiting (if he would have told me that right away, I wouldn't have kept talking so long...guess that would have been good and bad).  He also told me that he sent me a message on the website 5 months ago and I ignored him.  I still don't think that's true.....

We walk out to the parking lot and guess what??  Yep, he climbs into a Chevy Silverado!!!  (and he didn't have a desk job and he is SUPER handy!). 

I could not wait to see him again!!  I don't think I made it out of the parking lot before I called my best friend to tell her all about the date.  I knew good things were to come with this guy; I could feel it. 

A week later we had date #2 where he made me supper and then we went out for a beer.  In hindsight I can't believe I went to his house when I barely knew him!  He lived in a dumpy basement apartment and says he wanted to have me over to see his place and knew that if I kept seeing him after that, I wasn't a materialistic person.  About 2 weeks after that we were seeing each other every single day......and he just couldn't.get.rid.of.me! 

We will be celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary this fall, but have been together for 7.5 years.  It's safe to say that I'm the Best thing he ever spent $25 on :) 

Back 2 School

I am enjoying all of the back to school pictures on facebook this week.  Man, I can't believe it starts so early!  It makes me feel like summer is over, even though I don't have any reason for it to be. 

I always liked going back to school.  It was nice to get back into a routine, see faces you didn't see all summer, and of course go shopping for new clothes.  In high school I was a football cheerleader, so I usually had to start going to practice before school actually started since the first game was the first or second Friday of the school year.  I have great memories of our home games.  We would meet at the school and walk down to the field with the team, behind a car blaring the song "We Will Rock You".  Fun times!! 

A few weeks into the year people started finding dates for the Homecoming dance and the girls started shopping for dresses.  I was on the Homecoming court my senior year, so I had even more events to participate in.  I wasn't even planning to go to the dance that year as I didn't have a date, but since I was nominated to be on the court, I ended up attending the dance with a group of girls and had just as much fun. 

My senior year of high school was a lot of fun; by far my favorite year!  There were so many things to look forward to.  From senior parties, to not having to make up snow days (we had A LOT of them my senior year), to visiting and applying for colleges, to planning graduation....it was a fun and busy year!

I even enjoyed going back to school in college.  That is, until the first week was over and I was drowning in reading assignments!  Meeting new people in the dorms, apartment building and classes was always exciting.  My junior year I moved into an apartment with someone I didn't even know -- she became, and still is, my best friend.  Going into my senior year of college I was lucky enough to already have a job lined up after graduation, so I didn't take that year near as seriously as I should have! 

Back to school, no matter which year of school it is, always brings lots of different emotions...excitement, nervousness, etc.  I remember always thinking that I couldn't wait to be done with school and have a real job - Ha!  We have so many years to have "real" jobs; school should be enjoyed while you are there! 

Good Luck to all of the students this year, and parents of students too!!  And to all of my teacher friends --- Thank you for having the enthusiasm and patience to do what you do each day!!  I'm so glad you get summers off to rest!! 

Nothing Compares

We conquered the Iowa State Fair today.  What a gorgeous day it was!  I love the fair; everything about it.  The sights, the sounds, the smells...and of course, the tastes. 

My usual favorites are the fried cheese curds, mini donuts and a root beer.  I did get all of those things, but my highlights from today were not food related at all. 

For the first time ever I went down the giant slide.  Holy Cow that thing is fast!!  I'm pretty sure I caught air a few times.  I had my 3.5 year old niece on my lap too (her first time as well), so trying to remember to hold on to her added to the fun!  We both enjoyed the ride and I'm glad I got to experience it with another first-timer :)

Another really cool thing today was actually not fair related, but the fighter jets flew over as we were looking at the tractors.  I always love the sound of a jet flyover, and hearing it at the fair was amazing!!  One of the jets "rolled over" as it flew above us, as if it were showing off for the fairgoers.

I also enjoyed the 4-H projects more this year than I have in the past.  I realized that we have some very talented kids in the state of Iowa!  I'm a little skeptical that a kid actually made some of those projects, but none the less, they are very creative ideas. 

We also made it through the Little Hands on the Farm exhibit, which is such an amazing way to introduce the concept of farming to young kids!!  I really just wanted the green Pioneer visor they were giving out, but took away so much more from the experience. 

The Animal Learning Building is also very amazing.  I just love that the public is able to watch live animal births.  Even if you aren't fortunate enough to be there as it is happening, you can watch the previously recorded videos of the births.  So cool and another great learning tool!

My other favorite thing today was running into so many people I knew.  I don't think it's possible to spend a day at the fair and not see anyone you know.  We had many opportunities today to catch up with people we hadn't seen in a long time.  Everyone's spirits are high at the fair and it's a great place to run into old friends. 

There are many other things I love at the fair, but these were the items that stood out to me today.  Each year I find new meaning to the fair and have different favorites than the previous year. 

My ideal fair experience would be one day with my family so I can see the fair through the eyes of a child, and then another day all by myself so I can sit and watch lots of shows.  We toured the fair with my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and their three kids today and that was really fun as well.  Rylee and her cousin have a lot of fun together and the pair of them added extra entertainment for us all!  I already can't wait for next year's fair!

Life with 2 kids

I have been asked this question quite a bit lately:  How is it going with 2 kids?
My answer is usually something like this:  Pretty good.  Wyatt cries a lot, but otherwise it's going very well.

Today I realized that I have had a beer or glass of wine almost every day in the past week, so I think I better change my answer to that question :)

So here's what happened today that caused me to buy a 6 pack at the store.  Our morning was wonderful (James let me sleep in until 8:00 for starters).  At 12:45 I loaded up the van for a trip to a 3 year olds birthday party.  Rylee was outside playing while I was throwing a couple of things in the van.  I told her I just had to go inside and get Wyatt and then we would be leaving.  While I'm inside for 2 minutes Rylee falls down and scrapes her leg up and is crying.  I give her a hug, tell her she's fine and throw her in the van.  Next I put Wyatt in the van...and then realize he is still in his jammies.  So I run him back in the house and change his clothes. 

We get to the birthday party and I think I'm going to be golden because it's Wyatt's normal nap time and he should sleep through the whole thing, and Rylee took a short nap on the way there, so she should be good to go too. 

NOT!  Wyatt cries the whole 2 hours we are there (I had to shove a bottle in his mouth right before the "happy birthday" song so everyone could be heard singing).  Then Rylee has a meltdown because I won't let her eat any of the very melted chocolate she got from the piñata.  Rylee and I both decide it's time to leave.  We hop in the van and everyone is finely quiet. 

Rylee tells me she doesn't want to go home, so I ask if she'd like to go to the grocery store as I had planned on doing in the first place.  This kid loves to go to the grocery store, so she's excited....until we get there....

The second we walk in the door Wyatt starts screaming.  Then Rylee gets upset because this store doesn't have any of the fun carts and has a complete meltdown.  I should have just left at that point, but we were already in the store and it's not exactly easy for me to get to the store living out in the middle of nowhere.  We get everything on the list while both kids are screaming and head home.  It's a very peaceful 20 minute drive home as Wyatt sleeps and Rylee looks at her book.

Right when I pull in the driveway Wyatt wakes up and starts crying again.  Once I turn the car off, Rylee starts crying because she wants to listen to her music (she never even asked me to listen to it).  OMG!!!!  I've almost had it at this point....but I'm really a pretty calm person so I just shake it off. 

Okay, so events like today are not the norm, but days like this are a true test of my patience.  I'd like to think I do a pretty good job of keeping my calm.  I have thoughts of screaming at my daughter when she asks for milk for the 20th time after I have been repeated telling her "I'll get it in a minute", but when I think of her crying because I screamed at her, I decide it's just easier to tell her "I'll get it in a minute" again instead. 

Poor Rylee gets told things like this a lot because I'm constantly having to tend to Wyatt who really does cry quite a bit.  I try to be conscious of her needs too and will occasionally give the "backseat" to Wyatt instead so Rylee doesn't feel left out. It's hard to balance their needs some days.  Luckily, Rylee has my patience and understands when Mom's busy most of the time.  I'm so grateful that she can play independently for a long time; and that she loves her brother so much she wants me to take care of him first.

Wyatt, my sweet handsome little guy, is going through a rough crying phase.  After several days of trying to figure out why he was crying and thinking of calling the doctor, I remembered the mandatory video we had to watch in the hospital on PURPLE crying.  I looked it up online and after reading the entire website, I feel comfortable in saying that's just what's going on with him right now.  I don't have that mom-instinct that something medically is wrong with him; I just think he's a crier.  We were so spoiled with Rylee who never cried, that having a crier is tough.  But knowing there isn't really anything we can do about it, makes it easier to deal with.

Some people run right to their baby/toddler's side when they are crying, but I get immune to it after awhile and don't even realize they are crying right away.  When Rylee's cry is due to a tantrum I just ignore her.  I apologize in advance to anyone in the same store as me when my kids are crying.  It's not bothering me and I have no plans to leave or hurry-up.  I'm sorry. 

Aside from the kiddos having rough days, things really are going pretty well.  We have a pretty good routine down during the day and Wyatt is sleeping 6-8 hours at night.  It probably could be a lot worse.  I didn't want to waste my summer away staying indoors, so we have been trying to get out as much as possible.  This helps the time go by quick too.  I mentioned it before, and I know I really shouldn't wish my baby to "hurry-up and get older", but I'm just not a baby fan.  I want to be able to laugh at all the funny things he says and exercise my right as a parent to tell him, "No, you cannot have that melted chocolate right now" :)

I LOVE MY KIDDOS -- they have taught me a lot about myself that I may not have known without them.  Being a mom is a (mostly) fun job!! 

P.S. My husband has been outside working on the farm all day and he sends me a text around 6:30pm that says "having lots of equipment issues; it's been quite the afternoon".  I responded with this message, "tell me about it!  My afternoon has been blog-worthy!"  :)  I love blogging! Thanks for reading :)

Girls Day Out

Wow!  What a fun day I had with my little girl today!  It was just what we both needed. 

Our day started off nice and early when Rylee thought we needed to get up at 5am!  At least we got some exercise in before the sun came up.  Around 7:30 we got all dolled up in skirts and headed out for a "day in the city". 

After a quick appointment with my most favorite doctor, we ventured through Target, where we bought more than double what was on our list...ugh!  I should really be banned from shopping there!  Anyway, she forced me to not only buy chocolate while we were there (okay, that was actually on the list), but to open and eat it while we were shopping...the nerve of that girl :)

Next we met a friend for lunch and had a nice visit.  Our friend brought Rylee a toy from her house that Rylee loves and her boys are "done" playing with (because it's too noisy for mom and dad- Thanks K! Can't wait to give it back - hehe).  Rylee was overjoyed!

Our next stop:  Jordan Creek Mall.  I have taken Rylee there before, but never realized just how much FREE fun we could have there.  First, we walked around the pond and watched the ducks swimming.  We sat for a little bit and enjoyed the sunshine and ducks swimming right beside us (next time we will bring food for the little critters -- not that they are needing more).

Then came my favorite part -- we went into Younkers and Rylee decided we were going to try on sunglasses and hats -- for real, this was her idea!  She was hilarious!  I was literally laughing out loud at her.  She would pick out the biggest, brightest sunglasses and come running up to me squealing because she knew she looked funny!  It was the cutest thing ever!  The hats she tried on were actually very cute on her -- she is probably going to be more into fashion than me.  The next thing I know, she is bringing me a hat filled with 5 pair of sunglasses and says, "Lets go pay, Mom".  It broke my heart to tell her we wouldn't be bringing any of those items home with us, but she took the disappointment just fine. 

Next, of course, we had to go to the play area.  I'm not really a fan of the mall playgrounds, but Rylee always has fun. 

Finally, as we were getting ready to leave, she had one more request....to ride the "stairs".  Who doesn't want to ride the "stairs"??  After a few rounds she can now say "escalator". 

This was such a simple day out, but one that I will remember for a long time.  Rylee has always been a pleasure to take out in public, but today she showed me just how much fun we can have together :) 

Should have worn a skirt

Most of you know that I was run over by a city bus.  I won't be mentioning it much in my blog as it is in the past for me (feels like a different lifetime ago), and I don't want it to define who I am.

However, as today is the 6th anniversary of the incident and I am reminded how thankful I am to be alive, I thought a few words on the blog couldn't hurt.  Here are my 'few words'.....

As I was walking down the sidewalk on my way to work that day, there was a very pretty girl walking just ahead of me.  She was tall, had long dark hair and was wearing a skirt.  She was hard not to notice.   I don't think the skirt was probably office appropriate, as I'm assuming that's where she was headed.

Anyway, in the police report the driver who ran me over stated that the reason he didn't see me was because he was looking at the girl in the skirt.

That day, from head to toe I was wearing a bright red headband, bright red dangly earrings, a bright red necklace, white shirt, and red pants.  You would think all of the red would have been eye catching (not to mention red means STOP -- even my 2 year old knows that).  I remember thinking as I looked in the mirror that morning that I looked pretty cute.  Apparently not cute enough -- I should have worn a skirt instead!!!


On a more serious note...
I am so thankful to have had so many people thinking of me during my time in the hospital and sending such warm well wishes.  If you sent a note (electronic or hand written), I still have it.  If you called, sent flowers, balloons, made a meal for my family, or any other wonderful gesture, I have it written down. If you stopped by to see me, even for 5 minutes, I haven't forgotten.  Knowing I had an abundance of people cheering for me made life worth fighting for. 

Have a WONDERFUL day!!!!! 

Yes, I drive a Mom-mobile.

Not too long ago I was anti-minivan and swore I would NEVER drive one.  In the past two and half years I drove a Jeep Commander and a Chevy Silverado....both vehicles are large and rugged.  The truck was a loud diesel, making it feel even more rugged.

I enjoyed these vehicles, but as we learned we would be having kiddo #2 I realized that the truck may no longer be a good fit for the family.  I could barely climb into the truck myself, let alone lift an infant car seat into it.  So began the search for the right family car for us. 

My husband kept pushing the mini-van, but I kept researching SUV's as I really didn't want to drive a van. As the search went on and I couldn't find an SUV with enough room inside (the commander had 3rd row seating but it was very crowded inside), I started looking at the mini-vans and opened up to the idea of owning one.

I am now a PROUD owner of a Toyota Sienna!!  I love my mini-van and here are a few reasons why:

1.  Diaper changing is a breeze!  I dislike using the changing tables in public bathrooms, so I change my kiddos' diapers in the van.  There is so much floor space between the middle and front seats for changing diapers.  And in the winter or the rain when I don't want to stand outside the van with the door open, I can even sit on the floor with them. 

2.  It holds an insane amount of stuff.  With the large amount of floor space (we have captains seats in the middle row leaving more floor space) and the large back end, you can almost pack your whole house!  Rylee even told me once, "Mom, we have a lot of stuff in here!"

3.  The back end storage is more useful than an SUV.  When I drove the Jeep I couldn't fit anything else in the back end once my large jogging stroller was in.  The mini-van is "family friendly", leaving plenty of room in the back end for a stroller plus additional luggage, grocery bags, etc.

4.  The large side doors.  Getting kids and/or bags in and out of the car is so much easier with the large side doors that slide open to give you more room.  The sliding doors also keep your kiddos from door dinging the car next to you. 

5.  It drives like a car and is easy to park.  I know many SUV's drive like a car as well, but after driving the truck, this was a great thing for me. 

There are many other things I love about my Sienna, but they are more optional things that aren't standard to all mini-vans.  I am very glad I was able to get over the hump of thinking that mini-vans were uncool and see all the conveniences of having one.  James loves the van so much that he says he would drive one even if we didn't have kids.  There are plenty of other vehicles I would rather drive if I didn't have kids, but for now, this is the perfect family vehicle for us and I plan to drive it for a long time.

So, the next time you say, "I will never own a mini-van", be ready to eat your own words after you try one out!  Sometimes convenience has to trump our dignity.

A Breath of Fresh Air

You know how you walk into the gym and it smells like sweat?  Then you jump on the treadmill and breathe in the hot sweaty air of the person running next to you??  I found a new gym that promises nothing but fresh air.  It's called Nature and has never let me down. 

I live in an amazingly beautiful place...the rolling hills of Southern Iowa.  The scenery is breathtaking, and the sounds are hypnotic.  I love going out for my walk early in the day, when the temperature is nearly perfect and the sun is shining on my face.  The only sounds I hear are birds chirping, leaves rustling in the breeze and an occasional "Moo" from cattle in the distance.  I rarely ever even see a vehicle.  This is also the one time that I prefer NOT to listen to music.  It's very peaceful and just what I need to recharge most days. 

Walking in the country is also a great stress reliever for me.  As soon as my shoes hit the road, my mind is clear of any stressors and wiped clean for the thoughts that will occupy my time as I walk.  One thought that always comes to me is that I can't believe I live in such a beautiful place.  This thought alone takes any stress away and puts me in a happy place.  I'm always reminded of the beauty of nature and how we rarely take the time to appreciate it. 

In addition to the serenity of walking the gravel roads in the countryside, it really is a work-out.  The hills are a killer if you're not ready for them.  Some are extremely steep and others are just really long and feel never-ending.  My husband always says, "who needs a gym when you live out here?"  That really is true.  It is great for cardio health and you can always get a squat and arms work-out by picking up rocks out of the yard or chopping wood (neither of which I do nor plan on doing).  Occasionally I will hike our property instead of walking the road.  This brings on new challenges, like stepping over tree limbs and watching out for snakes...eek!  If you ever need to train for a hilly course, the elevation changes out here are perfect.

When you need a change in your fitness routine, take a drive out to the country and enjoy the sights and sounds while treating your lungs to fresh air as you walk/run. 

Here are some pictures from my walk this morning.  The camera doesn't do the scenery justice, but I can see a long ways from the tops of some of these hills. 

What's for Supper?

Anyone else really dislike meal planning and grocery shopping?  After writing out my grocery list this past week I started to think about how we plan our lives around food and how ridiculous that really is. 

I am not a foody first of all.  I only eat because I have to.  Some days I don't even know it's lunch time until my stomach is growling and I feel really tired...and then I just grab a few items from the fridge and eat quick.  But when it comes to suppers, I always feel obligated to slave away in the kitchen to make sure my husband gets a good meal.  And when we are going to be having company over, the first thing I think of (usually far in advance) is, "what should I make them for supper?"  I usually try to plan something with a "wow" factor (i'm not a very good cook, so my "wow" isn't really that great).  The more I think about it, I don't know why it matters if we are good cooks or not....

I used to think that I wanted my kids to grow up saying "my mom was a good cook", or "my mom makes a really yummy (fill in the blank)."  But, all I really need them to say is "my mom made sure we ate reasonably healthy".  I have decided that from now on, most of my suppers are going to consist of a simple meat item and some produce.  This will save me so much time on meal planning and grocery shopping and take some of the stress out of it.  My pantry might also be a little more organized, as I won't have as many items in there.  And most importantly, we will all eat a little healthier.

The Paleo lifestyle is pretty popular right now, and really, it makes so much sense.  We only need to eat to fuel our bodies and the best fuel items are natural, non processed foods.  But I know I could never eat strictly Paleo...I love my ice cream, Snicker bars, and occasional fast food!!  ...and bread, and pasta, and the list goes on.  I will indulge when I want to, but try to stick to a "caveman diet" when I can.  Luckily, my Pinterest obsession has ceased, so I won't be tempted to try so many of the bad-for-your-body recipes that I pinned :)