Happy Thanksgiving

I was sitting here going through my inbox and I came across an email from The New Words of Wisdom (a LDS book store in Chicago). It had a thought for the day that I really liked and thought I should make sure that more people saw it.

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.



We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."



Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, May 1992, 54

Monday night, Kelly's lesson for FHE was on being thankful. After her short lesson we all sat around and made suggestions of things that we were thankful for while Kelly wrote them on the dry erase board. Megan counted later and we came up with 70 different things. We probably missed some that we take for granted as well.



Make sure to come back later to see photos of the huge pie that Kelly is making. You'll be thankful you did.

A Pain in the Bum

Why do muscles spasm and cause pain? Mine have started due to an old injury and then when I'm stressed they get worse. Exercise can also cause muscle spasms. According to this I should be in pain for the rest of my life. I'm in a vicious cycle. I get stressed (and my body really takes offense) so I want to exercise to reduce the stress my body feels. Then the exercise I continue to do over works the muscles causing more pain. So the next step is to not exercise but then I get stressed out again. (I'm sure I will especially with the holidays coming.) I know I should take up yoga but I don't have the patience for it. That means I really, really need to take up yoga.

Last week I had a lot of pain in my bum thanks to my piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is located in the bum running from the SI joint (bottom of the spine) to the hip. It gets aggravated when I bike, walk, drive, sit for long periods of time (like when I knit), and play the piano. All things I like to do. Last week I only walked two days and took the rest of the week off hoping it would help. No suck luck. Last night I laid on a tennis ball. (I found this home remedy on line. You put the ball under the sore spots and use it to massage the muscles.) I might be a little better. I walked today anyway, I don't think it's any worse. I don't want to undo whatever little improvement I've done so far. I go to the new doctor on Friday. I'm curious as to what he'll say. I want a good supply to Norflex. He may want me to have more therapy. Therapy does work but this last time I didn't stick around long enough to get it totally calmed down.

My total goal mileage so far is 72, almost half way. Good thing I got a good start in October or else I would be behind. I will give up my goal only if I have to. I can be so stubborn. Let's see, who do I get that from?

Keeping the Tooth Fairy Busy

For days or weeks Mattey has had a loose tooth just hanging. She could push it forward with her tongue and close her mouth leaving the tooth on the outside of her lips. It looked funny but she didn't want any pictures of it. Since it was so loose I asked her if I could pull it out. I don't get the honor very often. She said no. Later the kids went downstairs to play and the next thing you know the tooth is out. Then tragedy struck. She lost it. This isn't the first time either. The last one that came out got lost and was never found. Why must she play with it? This time I found it and put it up until bedtime. She was happy this morning when the Tooth Fairy had brought her a dollar.

Today Megan came home saying, "Look at this." She had lost a tooth too. I didn't realize she had one ready to come out. Come to find out she had worked on it during school. I'm sure the Tooth Fairy will visit again tonight. She may need a loan soon.

Kade has been wanting to get in the action too. He's been telling us he has a loose tooth also. I gave them a little wiggle and told him they won't be coming out any time soon. But he has gotten all four of his two year molars in the last few months. He has proudly showed them off to anyone who wanted to take a look.

Under Construction

We are working on a new look so please forgive the chaotic appearance.  The Colts game is a little more important than finishing the website.  GO COLTS!  Check back later to view the completed look.  Thanks for visiting.

Neighborhood Hawk

Today I was coming home from church and this huge bird flew off as I drove down a street. I recognized it as the neighborhood hawk. I have seen him/her several times in the last year and half or so. The first time I saw it was in our neighbor's yard. I was looking out my back door and thought I saw a penguin. Don't laugh. I knew it couldn't be one but the way it was standing and the coloring, dark body and light tummy, looked similar and it was big. I watched it for a while and then decided to try to get a picture. I might have got a few bad ones of it flying away. I've seen it a few times since then and every time I try to take a picture it flies off. Today I got one before it got away. (I got as close as our longest lens would get me. It's still kind of far away.)

I haven't taken the time to look it up on line to find out what kind it is. I'm glad there is something in the neighborhood that can keep the rodent population in check. I'll need to remember to keep the garage door open so it can hunt in there.

 

Goal Mileage

My mileage total for five weeks is 63 miles. Not bad. I am starting to notice very subtle changes in my legs. In addition to walking I do a few toning exercises to keep my knees happy. (I also do some weights for the upper body.) I've been using the elliptical a lot more than the treadmill. Mostly due to the fact that I can't actually get to the treadmill because of the kids' mess. And I don't want to clean it. I have found that the elliptical doesn't aggravate my pre-existing muscle problems like the bike and treadmill can. I have to show a few pictures of the toy room. Don't freak out. I have given up caring about it. One day I'm sure I'll get fed up and I'll put everything in the trash or a goodwill box

 

Halloween is FINALLY over

I have recovered enough strength to finally post Halloween stories. Three days of Halloween is too much. Are people trying to make it be drawn out like Christmas? I'll recap that Sunday night we carved pumpkins which leads us to Monday. We had a family home evening at Jan and Doc's with lots of family. I spent my day trying to get treats done but then ended up spending a few hours in a way I didn't plan so all my treats didn't get made. There were enough so I didn't need to worry about it. We had a quick dinner, got the kids in costumes, and drove over to the Kiester's. We had a good time there. The kids chowed down on all kinds of treats. Jenny and Tim had to leave early since Jack wasn't too happy. I think the mask that got passed around was Jack's. It was funny to see everyone trying it on and of course we got pictures.



On Monday I also wanted to get some cookies made for Mickey's Tuesday work party but that never happened. Mickey's entire department was transformed into a haunted hospital. With Mike's help Mickey was rather scary. I had to warn the kids he was coming home that way so they wouldn't be scared. Kade wouldn't go to him until he spoke, unsure it was really Daddy. Later Tuesday we had a Trunk-or-Treat at church. (We didn't get any pictures.) It went kind of late but the kids had fun. Mickey and I didn't go prepared with jackets. It was nice but a little chilly but it could have been a lot worse. The kids got a good haul from there and ate a few pieces of candy for their snack before bed.



Then the real Halloween came. I coordinated Mattey's class party and I forgot the camera. I don't know why I always sign up for these. I had to throw things together and make more treats. Then I had to pick Mike up from work because he watched Kade until Betty got home. Then I flew over to school. Really wish I had a broom to avoid all that traffic. Mattey's party was nice and mellow. They ate and then played a few games of Bingo. I think they had fun. Everyone got a goodie bag as well. I think that's the best part, taking something home. There was enough food leftover that they were going to use it on Thursday and Friday too. Meg had her class party too. I only did drinks for that. After school I took the girls to pick up Kade. As soon as I walked out of school my head really started hurting. I was also a little tired. After I talked everyone into leaving Grandma's we came home. Thanks to the teachers for not giving the girls home work. By the time Mickey got home from work I was laying in bed resting and the kids were already bouncing off the walls. We got them in their costumes and packed a bag and the bike trailer/jogger stroller in the van.

We ran over to my parents' and grandma's house before driving over to Jan and Doc's neighborhood for some good treats. We Trick-or-Treated for about an hour. Kade had a few meltdowns, he even tried to hit a lady with his bag because she talked to him while he was grouchy. How embarrassing! He was in the stroller for a while after that, not getting any candy. Every once in a while we would get a little sprinkle of rain and some wind but the weather wasn't too bad. The kids had fun and got a lot of candy. I need to go through it and take some out for lunches and get rid of the stuff they won't eat. I think the kids had a good Halloween. That's the important thing, right?