Another Fun Filled Saturday

We were up and running early. Both boys were playing ball hockey for Mindcare and #3 had a basketball clinic 1-4pm. All arrived home at the same time and starving. We all warmed up with Pizza and a movie. #1 son's team made it to the finals tomorrow and then we are off to volunteer at the Kids Help Phone Walk:) Time for Bed..

Really, Shall I? I'm not ready.....

I’ve been so so delinquent in posting and just a wee bit embarrassed to say here we go again. But then again, why not. Maybe this effort will provide some focus as I’ve been finding it easier said than done to commit to everything actually. From running, nutrition, blogging, drinking water, being grateful, family, work, friends, volunteering etc it all seems so much that I falter more than I would like to admit to myself. Sometimes I even feel like my efforts are not genuine in a sense that I just want to get what I can done and move on. It’s difficult to articulate exactly what I feel and I’m troubled that being rushed all the time is somehow having a negative impact on my children and me... or maybe just me...
Are our lives too chaotic? Are we really too busy? In the run of a day, does rushing our children from one regimented environment to another deprive the family of quality time that could be spent together? Sometimes these thoughts pop into my head, as I rush home from work to drive yet again, a child to hockey or basketball. I know that more is not always better and finding a quiet place to sit and enjoy each other's company is and should be equally important. So why is it so hard to fit in?

I have 2 April babies and celebrating their birthdays this month makes me realise that they are growing up, getting older, and becoming their own unique persons. No longer are any of my children in the single digits. All double digits. I think this has made me reflective somewhat in that I want to slow down, enjoy who they are more and spend some time with them not just with them. When did they become such individuals? How did this happen so quickly? All my life I have wanted to be a mom however, my vision never included my children getting older. So how do I accept my children growing up? I guess it is one of those things in life that I just have to accept and embrace each age that my children reach and not be wishing for the past or holding them in the past.
It is about acceptance, true acceptance of this precious gift of life on loan to me as a mom from God. I must let my children grow and become their own person it’s what I want in theory just hard to do. But the actual letting go is crushing to say the least. She is only 10, I still have plenty to teach her and many years with her but over the last month, I got a glimpse of the future and I guess I was not prepared for it. Who is prepared to watch their children really grow up? I know that God will give me the strength to be a good mom because no matter what their age I will always be their mom.

Can I Carry You ?
I guess that I can hold you
one more time before you grow.
And tell you that I love you
so that you will always know.
Please let me tie your shoe again.
One day you’ll tie your own.
And when you think back to this time
I hope it’s love I’ve shown.
Can I help you put your coat on?
Can I please cut up your meat?
Can I pull you in the wagon?
Can I pick you out a treat?
One day you might just care for me,
so let me care for you.
I want to be a part
of every little thing you do.
Tonight could I please wash your hair?
Can I put toys in the bath?
Can I help you count your small ten toes
before I teach you math?
Before you join a baseball team
can I pitch you one more ball?
And one more time can I stand near
to make sure you don’t fall?
Let’s take another space-ship ride
Up to the Planet Zoor.
Before our Cardboard Rocket
doesn’t fit us anymore.
Please let me help you up the hill.
while you’re still too small to climb.
And let me read you stories
while you’re young and have the time.
I know the day will come
when you will do these things alone.
Will you recall the shoulder rides
and all the balls we’ve thrown?
I want you to grow stronger
than your Dad could ever be.
And when you find success
there will be no soul more proud than me.
So will you let me carry you?
One day you’ll walk alone.
I cannot bear to miss one day
from now until you’ve grown.

Is it time for bed yet?

Do you have those mornings when you wake up and the only thing on your mind is going back to bed? I’ve been tagged by some bug and my throat is still sore and I’m so so tired. Yesterday, I really thought pushing through my workout would make me feel better but nada. Still feel like blah. Not a great way to start your day and a full day it was. No gym time today as I went to mass for Ash Wednesday, more on that later when I can think coherently. # 3 is also having a sleepover with 2 friends, and I’m on nails and cupcake duty, so much fun. Husband is with # 1 & 3 at the Saint John Youth Minor Hockey Skill Competition. # 1 is participating in the shoot out and fastest skater for his division. What is especially nice about the whole event is that Saint John Youth raises money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Although we all tend to get ourselves wrapped up in our desire to achieve success in sports, it is very important to remember that many, many people are struggling to beat a much more difficult opponent than any sport team. For people who have cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, every minute of every day is a tough battle. That's why those of us who have good enough health to enjoy a sport like hockey or running should do our best to have fun at it and be thankful for being able to do just that. Hats off to Saint John Youth who organize this event that supports the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and I am thankful that my boys have an opportunity to participate in such an event. Building blocks to what is shaping their character.

**

Pancake Tuesday :) Whoo!

The kids are on break this week and seem to have gone their separate ways. #1 Child is busy with friends, ball hockey, hockey and going to the gym. He joined a few weeks back and has been going quite regularly after school. The gym is close to his school and I pick him up on my way home. #2 Child is again busy connecting with friends and hockey. He is playing for an All-star team and they have their away tournament this weekend. The team has players from all across the zone so practice time together has been limited to basically this week to prepare for the tournament this weekend. # 3 Child has been away since Sunday with a friend. Spoke with her today and she is having a blast. Just a few years ago, I would never have been working over March Break but this week I’m taking 1 or 2 days off towards the end of the week when the majority of activities have slowed down and we can slow down as well. Dad and #2 will be heading away for the weekend and I’m not sure if # 3 and I will go as well. # 1 has a ball hockey tournament but can stay with my sister..... We shall what the week brings as I started to get a sore throat last night and today had a hard time breathing during my run at the gym. Still managed to get in just over 4 km Whoo!

Breakfast was fibre one, blackberries and strawberries with milk. I had a banana for snack and some pork and an orange for lunch. I am also drinking my water today.. Over all not so bad. For supper it will be pancakes as today is Shrove Tuesday. I love pancakes and it’s always fun to have breakfast foods for supper.

Quiet night for me tonight as both boys have hockey and Ry is still away at her friends.

Steps so far today, 7040. Will add in running for 30 minues and update total at end of day.....

On the road again......

Today was a great day in terms of exercise and food choices. At the gym today, I ran for 3.62 km in 30 minutes. Then I moved on to a bit of weight training, upper body only. My lower back is a bit sore so I’m wondering if I need new sneakers? I haven’t signed up for any runs this spring so my gym time/training has been lackadaisical to say the least. Having a training schedule works for me but I’m not too interested in signing up for anything. I’m sure why, just that I’m not. Our family schedule has been totally extreme this winter. Every day, we seem to have 3 activities and more to fit in plus work, school, family time and life in general. I think it's time to revaluate and call a family meeting over the next week to discuss. Where would I fit in time for an actual marathon? Really, I would just stress over my long run and drive myself nuts so I’m not setting a goal which I really can’t keep. But, I must say, the training widget is great motivation and will keep me on track. Plus, at work, I am involved in a pedometer challenge. Starting today for 7 weeks till Easter, I record my steps daily and may win a prize along the way. My goal is to obtain at least 10,000 steps /day to be Active. 10, 000 steps =approx 8 km. 10,000 steps burns 300 to 400 calories each day and 10,000 steps is achievable.
Steps per Day

< 5,000Steps Sedentary lifestyle 5, 000-7,499 Low Activity Level 7,500-9,999 Somewhat Active > 10,000 Active


> 12,000 Highly Active


(Sports Medicine, 2004)


20, 941 steps today in total. 20, 941.. I walked 8241 plus my activity which is a grand total of 20, 941 steps. Great day my friends. My pedometer is from stepscount and they also have a site that allows you to track your daily steps and walk around the province. I would like to find a widget to track my steps that I can add. Does anyone have any suggestions? Off to bed....

The Ipod has returneth...

So caught up in my chocolate tirade, I forgot to mention I rocked the gym today. So overdue for me. My tunes are back as my IPod went down and never came back so I’ve been without music for the last few weeks as I desperately, urgently tried to bring it back to life with no luck. I finally caved and now have another smaller IPod but was able to transfer all my music. Yeah! I was so lost without it which is another post but more importantly at this time, I ran and walked 4.3 km today in approx 43 mins and I’m happy with this. It’s been a long time...

Chocolate Rehab Anyone?

Yes, I love Chocolate. Yes, I crave Chocolate, Yes, I need chocolate at times and yes, admittedly, I have wrestled my 9 year old to the floor for the last piece. Ok not a shining mommy moment, but does that mean I’m addicted? It’s not like I gave my 9 year old away for chocolate. I’m not buying into the so called “Chocoholics” label as I argue with my husband over the last piece before I opened my blog, hence the chocolate state of mind.

Why can’t I just love chocolate and be done with it? In response, my sensible/rational self would answer, because we generally crave foods due to external prompts and our emotional state, rather than actual hunger. We tend to be bored, anxious, or down immediately before experiencing cravings, so one way of explaining cravings is self-medication in response to our feelings, positive or negative. Chocolate appears to be the most frequently craved food in women, and many women describe themselves as ‘chocoholics.’ Chocoholics insist that it is habit-forming, that it produces an instant feeling of well-being, and even that abstinence leads to withdrawal symptoms.

Well, back to my irrational self and my response would be simply, not me.. I’m not one of them. I could give up chocolate but ask you why? In moderation all is good and it’s not like I eat a carton of Easter Cream eggs every day people. In all honesty, I do love chocolate but I do have a limit and I try to hold fast to this limit. Sure the lines get obscured during seasonal times.. Especially Halloween but life continues healthy onward.. So, yes, I am a chocolate lover not a chocoholic. So, what about you? Are there are chocolate bunnies under your bed?

Did I hear blizzard? no I mean Spring ?

Really, I'm beginning to wonder who pissed off Mother Nature. Another snow storm. Come on, really! School closed at lunch for the kids and we came home to snow, snow, and more snow. Barely made it up our bleepin street. This is the first year that I can remember saying, I'm done with winter. Yup, completely, absolutely done! No more cold, no more freezing rain, no more fighting with my children and husband to shovel, no more cold frosty bone chilling mornings, no more cold period! Be gone arctic weather! I'm thinking only spring thoughts from this point forward. Do you think it will work? I'm picturing daffodils, Tim’s roll up the rim to win cups and Easter cream eggs....... Don't laugh; I secretly love Easter cream eggs:) Speaking of food, my daily choices were good, not great but a solid good. Gym time on the other hand, less than stellar. I'm crazy busy at work and got caught up in all things Wellness activities and let my time slip by.  My schedule is hectic because we are launching a new wellness program at work on Wednesday and it's just coming together. Ironic that I'm spearing heading it for my department and in the process, let my wellness must do’s slip on bye.. I know it’s kind of paradoxical, but today I'm blaming it on the snow. Again with the snow. Yup, I'm done with the snow. I'm doing winter anymore..... Yet I still need to finish shovelling, sigh...................... snow, snow, snow..

aahhhh.......

Well, things didn't quite go as planned for the day but I did manage 5 of the things on my list. I'm just not sharing what I did not manage to fit in.
#3 has 2 great games of BBall. She may be the smalllest girl on the court but she plays with the most heart and always with a smile. Her team won a game and lost a game. # 1 made it to hockey practice and cheered his on for her first game. # 2 won his game in OT and we all managed to meet at the rink at the same time to cheer him on. Overall, not bad for a Sunday and with a bit of prep work before leaving for the day we rocked our food chocies as well. I packed a cooler with apples, oranges, carrots, celery with PB, protein Smash cookies, (will post receipe) granola bars, chicken wraps, and lots of water. The only thing left in the bag is a few carrots::)  Everyone is off to the showers, while I heat up leftover pasta for supper then it's  homework time and maybe a bit of downtime before bed:)

Ready Set Go...

Church, 2 basketball games, 1 rugby practice, 1 hockey practice, 1 hockey game, and atleast a 30 min run for me, somewhere, anywhere, ......... Significant Other(SO), is off to work and I'm running solo today just for added excitment. What will the day bring.....

Definition of a habit= not my blog:)

If at first you don’t succeed try, try again... Well, here I go. To say life has been busy is an understatement. All activities are in full force with tournaments here there and everywhere and someplace between we try to connect as a family and of course work. Life in a family of five is all about juggling. We learn to roll with the unexpected and we definitely don’t sweat the small stuff. Moments when I question the insanity and wonder if I’m rushing through everything too quickly, the thought that my children will be adaptable, creative and flexible makes me feel somewhat better. It’s a good thing right? Number 2 and 3 are in bed and number one is with Dad at hockey. The weekend is once again full but we will manage. Life is good.

Reality check!

Let's face the facts, I've just restarted and it's been a week almost since my last post. Is my life too complicated for blogging? Or maybe I just have to find my groove?  maybe I'm lazy? I've thought of blogging, adding photo's ect, the past few days but trying to coherently put words together made my brain hurt. It's been a hectic week with schedules and kids still in vacation break mode which means numerous sleepovers, late nights, movies, skating, sledding and still running to hockey and basketball and somehow dragging my body off to work and fighting a cold to top it off.

Tomorrow, with the exception of me,  all return to normal schedules or normal to us anyways, ah, big sigh! I am off tomorrow as my Dad is having surgery but all my kidlings will be engaged in learning activities in their respective school environments. Yeah ! I have one in elementary school, one in middle school, and one in high school. Thinking I should have planned that a bit better. :)

Worked today and managed 35 minutes on the elliptical at lunch and then came home to a houseful of kids. Hungry kids who spent the afteroon playing pond hockey for 3 plus hours. Husband was home today and had his famous homemade spaghetti sauce on and whipped up supper for 8 people. Awesome! Love having dinner ready.

I was rocking my food choices all day till Ry and I reviewed place value tonight with different coloured Hershey kisses. I think I ate several bases of tens... maybe even a hundred or two... We had fun combining the different colors into numbers and even though I did eat too many it was fun spending alone time with Ry as the husband took both boys to hockey practice.

2 story books later and 3 badly sung songs, she is fast asleep and excited to return to school tomorrow as she is wearing her new "super skinny" jeans. They look so uncomfortable. Off to bed. Big day tomorrow for my dad.

Help! Jump start required here..

Where are you motivation? Dawn of new day and my drive, ambition, or lack thereof is already rearing its ugly head.  I’m in serious trouble. Day one and I want chocolate! Really who am I kidding that this blog is going to somehow ignite a kinetic chain reaction and all will fall into place. It’s like I just want to morph back into that happier, healthier, fitter person that I used to be 6 months ago. Today, my first day back to work after the holidays, and warning,  this requires you to sit down before reading, my fat pants (you know that pair of pants that you wear when you’re feeling larger than normal for whatever monthly reasons).  Come on!  Everyone has at least one pair in their closet. Well mine were tight! Really, my fat pants were tight! Can the universe be so cruel on my first day back? It’s day one people and I’m supposed to be thinking about positive changes and inspiring my family to keep on the same track and I’m fixated on my fat pants. Trying to move along when all I really want to do is fabricate every reason other than the truth as to why my fat pants do not feel right and shamefully blame it on my laundry detergent. It’s possible in my warped mind?

 Exercise: I did manage a work out at the gym during lunch. I was late leaving which cut into my time but I did Walk 3.20 Km in 30 mins on the treadmill with 5 incline. My butt is already sore J which, to me, is a good thing. When I work out, I want to feel that fatigue in my muscles afterwards.  This somehow validates that I worked hard.  As a busy mom, I need to get the biggest bang for my time when I work out and it has to count. If I do it, I do it so to speak. I guess this warped mind set comes from my time being limited and when you have to move heaven and earth to find exercise time, you make it valuable. My plan is to track how active we are as a family and post it regularly.  

Nutrition: On the food front, not too shabby... Started with my usual fibre one, ground flax, chia seeds, blackberries and blueberries. This is a stable in my diet as I am fanatical about fibre. I love all things fibre and quite often my family catches me adding fibre to whatever I can. Imagine being told by your 9 year old, that fibre one and ice cream do not go together! What? Are you kidding me? It’s a great combo and I love that crunch! Has anyone else tried this? Really missing out here people?  Give it a whirl next time with some fruit added in and you will not go back. Missed my snack due to work but managed to scoff down a awesome salad with greens, sweet peppers, broccoli, turkey and some light poppy seed dressing on the side. Umm delicious and filling for about 60 mins... moved along to a whey protein shake thinking it would curb my eat anything in site mind set and it worked till about the drive home at which time I ate my weight in almonds. Seriously, I was in control and ate only 10. I wanted to eat more but held back thinking about my fat pants.

Mental Health: I weighed in at the gym and that should about cover it all. I’m in shock! I was going to post it today but I’m backing out. Maybe tomorrow, next week, month? I have this innate terror of sharing my weight with others. Why? Intellectually, I realise that it’s just a number but really, it’s such a big number and one that comes with a lot of negative emotions that I’m not ready to put out there in blog world. I don’t even want to type it.

Responsible parenting is teaching your children how to lead healthy lives.

If you've have kids, and I have 3, of course you want to make sure they grow up fit and healthy. But as a parent, you also know it's hard to juggle work, family, proper nutrition and physical activity—for you alone, never mind for you and your family. An active lifestyle and a commitment to healthy living are fundamental in shaping the quality of our lives and in turn setting a healthy example for your children is crucial in achieving this goal. The secret to success is simple; practice what you preach. Just telling your kids what to do won’t necessarily work-they need to see you choosing healthy behaviours. I’m hoping this blog will keep me in line and track my progress as I practice what I preach. I’ve been meandering through other blogs for awhile thinking, I can do this? Why not?  It certainly will not hurt. Last August, I attempted to start and had all kinds of issues with posting personal information. I’ve decided to throw caution to the wind and be as free as possible with my posts. Huge step for me but I think this is the only way to make this work. OK, here goes. Why do I feel like a need a lifejacket all of a sudden and where was that &*^**Edit Button again?

               

Big breath, Hello! My name is W.  I have been married for 18 years. I’m 40 plus something years old and have 3 children, work full time and used to try to fit in some physical activity daily. Since the fall I have slacked off and easily find excuses not to hit the gym and really not surprisingly, gained 15 pounds in the process. Did I mention I ate and drink my way through the Holidays. Well, this stops today. Tomorrow I start back to work and will haul my plus 15 pound butt to the gym and set some goals for the New Year. Off to watch the World Junior Game with my daughter. Boys had to go to hockey practices and were not too pleased about missing the game and neither was the Dad happy about driving.

 Go Canada! OK, I didn't say my name but I'm working on it.