Fit Friday

Sad. 

Pathetic. 

One good week, followed by one bad seems to be my pattern. 

I'm not even gonna give the excuses.  Here's to next week.

Cry for Help

Help me!  Has anyone else had the same experience as me and would like to share some words of wisdom?  I have a 7 year old boy in Grade 2 whom I have to FIGHT (literally) out the door to school pretty much everyday of his life.  It is draining.  For all of us.  Some background - his original grad 2 teacher just exited on a mat leave.  He had her last year as well.  He got along well with her, though she had a very literacy intensive class and he was getting bored with reading and worksheets all day long.  Not a lot of action there.  So this did not just begin with the new teacher (a big fat jerk, to quote my son) but has, obviously, intensified.

Some of his concerns:
- school is boring (read: no activity.  1/2 an hour of gym class twice a week at this school.  Not enough for boys by far.  Recess often cancelled due to rain so inside time in classrooms playing games or finishing work.  Yawn.)
- I hate reading. (He is very good at reading.  Just sick of it.)
- I have no friends. (He gets along with everyone.  I've never seen a kid invited to more birthday parties.  He just doesn't have any special friends that he looks forward to seeing, and definitely never sees anyone outside of school hours.)
- All I do is sit in a desk all day.  We never have hardly any center time.  (translation: my teacher does not make learning fun or motivate me to figure things out in new ways.)

My concerns:
- my child hates learning.  He already has a bad taste in his mouth for anything related to school or reading, which is a huge concern for boys anyhow.  He's only in grade 2.  Shouldn't school be fun?  Encouraging?  Exciting?  Confidence boosting?
- it is upsetting our entire house.  Tempers and frustration rule our morning hours and set the tone for the day.  Madison is late for school everyday and that throws her completely off kilt and she suffers for it.  I even started taking her, then coming home for him, but that just prolongs the agony and gives him another 1/2 hour of stall time.
- I am tired of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  Great, happy, easy going kid on weekends, transitioning to the nightmare on elm street by Sunday evening or Monday morning.
- numerous excuses for why he should stay home
- I am tired of trying to threaten him into school.  I think this just perpetuates the cycle and negates whatever feelings he has.  Are we hitting the problem head on?  Or are we skirting around real, big issues that he's not telling us? 

I wish he would talk.  I wish I had answers.  I need to make an appointment with the principle.  Maybe she has some suggestions.  I need to meet this teacher.  Three days into teaching and she hasn't even sent a note home letting us parents know her name.  Can I say POOR COMMUNICATION/TRANSITION.  For grade 2. 

Anyway, just venting, but if anyone has any brilliant suggestions, please let me know.

p.s. Tammy - how's that homeschool going?  I have never even considered it until this moment.  I don't think I'd do a good job.  I know I wouldn't.  But I see now that sometimes you just can't fight anymore and the concern for your child's happiness and love of learning overrules convenience and prior prejudices.  Arrrgh!

Circle of Life

Okay, so I know this is going to sound really obvious, but it's been in my mind.  Being the oldest of the cousins on both sides of the family, my memories of many of my cousins is of their younger years.  I suppose this is where they remain in my mind - the way they were when I babysat them or before I left home.  My other sisters were right in the mix and got to know these members of the family more as friends and, well, people.  Due to this, they keep contact better and have links to their blogs.  Every now and then I link to my cousins various online journals/newsletters just to see what's happening.  Last night, I was amazed how many of these "little" cousins posted pictures of their own babies.  I have to admit, there were a few where I instantly thought, "They have a child?  Heaven help us!"

Now, that is ridiculous.  The kids I knew have all grown up and become responsible, loving, caring adults.  I just never knew them that way.  It's all the circle of life.  And I can't wait for the next big family shin-dig so I can actually see with my own eyes how these cousins handle the little things their children do that are reminiscent of the things I remember about them....Hee hee!

Seven on Sunday

Well, the first list of the year and it is much needed after a somewhat frustrating, disasppointing week.  Better find the bright spots...

1. Bedtime went much better this week.  Even had time more than one night this week to straighten the kitchen and tidy the house before bed. 
2. Got up early every day this week.
3. Talked to two of my sisters in the past week, and my mom and dad.  Brightened my day.
4. Had to cover singing time in primary today.  I wasn't looking forward to it because it can be chaos when you're not in the groove, but we ended up having a lot of fun.  Had some good laughs listening to them sing Popcorn Popping like opera singers and Book of Mormon Stories in cowboy voices.
5. My kids helped clean the house yesterday with hardly a complaint.  We just gotter done.  I almost fell over.
6. Dan got to the temple this week, and we had a couple with no children ask if they could come next Saturday and watch the kids so we can go together.  I am really looking forward to it!  We have only been out once without kids since we moved here and have never been to the temple together. 
7. Got asked to work 3 days in February by an office I really enjoy.  I wasn't sure if it would work out, but my neighbor's daughter (who homeschools) is available to cover the afternoon when Dan heads out to school/work before I get home.  Not thrilled so much about working, but grateful to be requested and have things fall into place.  Extra funds are never unwelcome and I need to top up my hygiene hours before trying to transfer my license back to Alberta.

So, things really are better than they may appear.  Sunshine after rain and all that.

Fit Friday

I had a much more successful week, and I have decided I love walking.  I could walk anytime, much to my children's dismay.  I made the youngers walk to pick up the kids from school twice this week even in the damp cold and they were none too pleased - until they got outside and remembered they love walking too!

This week I basically did a combination of walking videos and the Wii.  I still cannot bring myself to thinking that the Wii alone will actually burn enough calories or break enough of a sweat to lose weight and get fit. 

Days exercised: 4
Total miles walked: 4
Time walking: 1 hour
Time on Wii: 1.5 hours
Calories burned walking: 500+ (based on 125 calories/mile walked at 15 min/mile or faster)
Calories burned on Wii:

Total calories burned:

Okay, that's not too bad to get started.  But I still feel like I will eventually have to find a way to do more.  I managed to get up nice and early every day which made me feel great and nice and tired for bed.  I still can't seem to beat my kids by enough time to really dig in.  Then again, I get the added bonus of extra weight for my leg lifts when my children sit on me.  Who needs free weights?  That's like 40 lbs. right there! 

I find I spend the majority of my Wii time in Rhythmic Boxing and Kung-Fu.  I think I just like the beat of the music and it makes me feel tough.  I did a boxing class years ago in Edmonton in a little hole-in-the-wall gym with an assistant from work.  Her husband was a P.I. and amateur boxer and he hooked us up.  It was dark and sweaty and I felt like Rocky-ette.  I really liked it.  Future exercise dream: boxing of some sort (kick maybe?) and trying out a martial art.  I have always wanted to do that.  Once the kiddies are a bit older and I have some personal time and money....



Although I enjoy walking and running outside the most, for any of you who live in Canada and are stumped by snow or rain all winter long, my sister turned me on to Leslie Sansone's walking videos.  They are fun, upbeat and not complicated AT ALL.  You can do them in your living room and she incorporates strength training and pilates to keep things mixed up.  I find they are just a great way to GET MOVING when you feel housebound.  I own two, but our library also carries some.  Check them out.  You might find they motivate you on those dark, dreary, sit and read a book days.  Like she says, "don't have time to exercise?  We just walked a mile in 15 minutes.  Forget the coffee break, give yourself a natural energy boost!"  Even the kids can do it.





Good luck, and here's to a healthy week!

Picture Updates

Here are a few little pics that I haven't yet posted...

Some of our very few pics I managed to take at Christmas



Spencer in reindeer earmuffs from Grandma

A sign of a truly wonderful Christmas!  Madi passed out upside down in the chair around 4:00 on Christmas Day.  She was up at 4:30 a.m. so it was no big surprise!

Clayton practicing his advertising photography.  These are his mini spoils from the big holiday.

Make-It Monday

Here's what the contributor called "Hawaii's answer to teriyaki chicken".  We tried it with chicken thighs (skin-off) and bbq-ed them.  Really enjoyed it.

Shoyu Chicken

1/2 c. soy sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1 1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
2 1/2 lbs. chicken thighs

Whisk everything together, add chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly (I use a ziploc bag).  Marinate in the fridge for at least an hour.  Longer is even better.  Preheat bbq medium heat.  Grill until cooked through, abt 15 mins a side.  You could also use your oven or broil them, for those in colder climates.


And, an old classic but I found a better way to make it.  My kids love Cream of Wheat but it always seems like lumpy paste to me.  I found this online and we have all been enjoying it, even Spencer who generally avoids C of W like the plague.

Yummy Cream of Wheat

1 c. milk
1 c. water

Bring to almost boiling then add:

1/3 c. of Cream of Wheat

Cook on low until desired consistency, stirring frequently.

Stir in 1 Tbslp butter, generous Tblsp of brown sugar and 2 tsp of cinnamon.

Scoop into bowls, add a bit more sugar if you want, and put a very little milk to ring the outside.  Enjoy!
We double the above to feed us all, in case you aren't sure.

Mallory

Always sees things turning out for the best.

Consistently amazes me with her "next big idea".

Loyal to her friends and family.

Makes her niece feel like a princess.

Always willing to lend a hand.

Does what she thinks is right no matter what the sacrifice.

Count on her to say, "Hey, why not?" when someone asks "Do ya wanna?"

Cooks like she lives her life - full of experiments and new ideas.

Loves Ruby, her puppy, like a child.

Put up with a lot being the last in a long line of sisters.

Happy Birthday, little sister!  I miss you.

Courage...

Courage is raising four boys.

Courage is joining the church in England, then deciding to move to Canada in order to give your family a better life.

Courage is leaving all your wordly possessions behind in order to fly across the ocean.

Courage is living without immediate family members anywhere nearby for 45 years.

Courage is spending 28 of those years without your husband by your side after he passes away.

Courage is getting your driver's license so you can work full time once your husband is no longer there.

Courage is living the gospel through all of it.

It took me too long to realize this.

Happy 82nd Grandma! 

Fit Friday

Okay, my second week has been a dismal flop.  I had migraines Monday which pretty much puts me out of commission for anything too strenuous for at least another day.  Snow day Wednesday, so no time for mom to used the Wii, and Thursday flies by recovering the house, now it's Friday.  Arrrgh!!  What a frustrating week.  But, I have made new observations and resolve.  I realize that in order to use the system without being interrupted a kazillion times by everyone else who wants to play I need to get up earlier - a lot earlier.  This is a surprising struggle for me, a natural morning person.  Out here with the gloomy weather my body just can't seem to agree with my alarm clock that morning has really come.  So, next week's goal: get up before everyone else and get my workout done.  That gives me more chance of actually doing it.  I guess that's the positive negative of the Wii - everyone wants to use it!

Well, I'm off to exercise.  It's been far too long in between and I have to get back on the horse before it completely dies.  Better report next week, promise!  Besides, that machine is gonna try and make me feel even guiltier than normal.  I'm ready for my thrashing, I can take it! 

Make-It Monday

This week I am featuring a somewhat healthier chocolate chip cookie.  I know, I know - if you wanted healthy you wouldn't make cookies.  Cookies are supposed to be buttery and creamy and, well, not good for you.  I have to confess, I am a cookie fanatic.  Not so much eating them (other than the dough), but making them.  Ask any of my family, friends, old roommates - I love to make them.  New cookie recipes give me a bit of a thrill.  But, in an attempt to begin improving our eating habits I came across this recipe that, surprise, surprise, actually tasted good.  The kids didn't even notice the difference, and I find the whole wheat flour gives them kind of a nutty flavor.  The original recipe calls for half oil, half margarine, but when I looked at my products the margarine actually has a lower calorie count per 2 tsp, so you decide.  All margarine would probably give them an even better texture.  I tried the following amount just to see how they were, but if you have a bigger family like us I would definitely double.  Good luck, and try something new!


Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 c. rolled oats - pulse in food processor or blender to make a flour consistency

Combine with:

1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

In another bowl, beat the following together til light and fluffy:

1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. oil
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
1 egg
vanilla

 Add the dry ingredients and mix.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Cool and try to get one before the kids.

Fit Friday

For Christmas the kids voted on getting a group gift - a Wii console.  They collected pop bottles and saved up to help alleviate the cost and then Dan and I found just the right system on Craigslist and, voila - Christmas.  Needless to say, it has been a big hit.  I must admit that if I gave in to it I could play MarioKart for a good portion of my day.  Anyhow, included in the package was the WiiFit Plus and board.  Although very fun, Dan and I began to wonder if you really can lose weight and get fit using it.  And a New Year's Resolution was born.

We have been feeling the need lately to get our fitness up to snuff.  Our stress levels have been far too high and struggling with the overcast weather of the coast has not helped our spirits at all.  We are also creeping up to the big 4-0, and I don't want to reach it feeling (or looking!) the way we do.  So the challenge to ourselves is to try using the WiiFit regularly and conduct our own experiment on the effectiveness on this exercise system.  I am not usually one to flaunt my attempts at exercise, failed or otherwise, for all to see.  But I have come to the realization that one of the reasons I usually fail is because there's no one holding me accountable.  So, Fit Friday will be an update on how we feel, how our workouts went and our opinion on the Wii.

My hypothesis is that doing anything active is better than nothing, but I find it hard to believe that the Wii alone can elevate that heart rate enough and burn enough calories to shed pounds.  I think it will be an excellent toning and strengthening program in conjunction with another cardio workout.  Oh, and of course eating right.  We'll see!

This week:

Used the WiiFit Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. 
Total time: 2 hours
Total calories burned: 450?  I need to keep better totals for next week.
Favorite activity: Rhythm KungFu and Boxing
Most sweat: Super Hula Hoop.  Oh, and I managed to set the household record of 779 spins of the hula hoop!
Best perceived workout: 10 minute run, even though I hated running in place.  A good, quick rise of the heart rate, but tough on the calves because you have to almost run on your toes.  Would way rather run/walk outside.
Best Bonus: Malcolm and Spencer work out with me.  Malcolm did a ten minute run and Spencer did my walking video with me.  Anything that encourages my kids to be active in the house gets two-thumbs up from me!

I did combine the Wii workout today with my Leslie Sansone Workout Video and found I enjoyed it more.  Got my heart rate up with the DVD, then switched to the Wii for some fun exercises and strength training.

Week 1 Opinion: This has potential.  The games keep me interested and the kids get involved too.  I was surprised to find myself actually breaking a sweat on a few of the circuits, something I was not sure would happen.  So far, so good.

Dan has yet to begin, but we'll cut him some slack because school's back in and, you guessed it, his school cold has flared up again.  I'll kick him in the butt and get him going for next week. The hula hoop gauntlet has been thrown down!!

Be careful, they really ARE listening...

Just when you think your child has paid absolutely no attention to you and your attempts at teaching the gospel they pull something like this:

Frustrated mother enters bedroom at 9:30 at night to find a wrestling match.  Mother orders son back to his own bed.  Son replies, "but mom, in the scriptures they get a second chance and we don't?  That's not fair!" 
     "Which scriptures are you referring to?" asks mom.
     "You know, the one about the prophet who gets swallowed by the whale and then God lets him try again.  The prophets get a second chance and we don't?"

Darn.  Shot in the foot with my own gun.  Anyhow, here's a great quote:

Sister Susan L. Warner, who served as second counselor in the Primary general presidency, said:


“In our family we have tried to hold early-morning scripture study. But we were often frustrated when one son complained and had to be coaxed out of bed. When he finally came, he would often put his head right down on the table. Years later, while serving his mission, he wrote home in a letter: ‘Thank you for teaching me the scriptures. I want you to know that all those times I acted like I was sleeping, I was really listening with my eyes closed’” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 109; or Ensign, May 1996, 79).

How true it is!