always nice

I am working on a project and it's related to my favorite project OF ALL TIMES (12 years running). Anyway, I had to email folks who do work similar to my fav project, and I didn't mention my fav project, but one person recognized my name and complimented me on favorite project.

It's always nice to get some recognition for your work. I am a little giddy right now. (Boy, it doesn't take much to make me happy, eh?)

Some of Today (in list form)

1. I felt like someone had kryptonite near me.... (That means I felt AWFUL and tired today.) I got 9.5-10 hours of sleep last night. I was exhausted. I still am... I hope to sleep a lot tonight too.

2. MWH and I watched this. I <3 TED Talks.

3. I think we're going to have to buy a trampoline at some point in the future. The little girls love to bounce.

4. For cheap entertainment, I'm having Three-a spell NERD with our magnetic letters. Heh. oNe just asked what a nerd was. I prefer being a Geek.

5. A friend has a new boyfriend... I'm excited for her, but I need details. She has withheld information.

6. Two other friends are starting to think about babies! Woo!

7. Must make dinner.

CrAzY.....

Just when I thought we'd get time to catch up a little, and I'd have n3nny work today (an extra day), her husband gets sick (pretty darn sick and she is taking care of him). I can NEVER account for all the possible contingencies that can affect life. I will stop making plans.

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Three-a is not wanting to sleep at night. I don't know how she does it. We've stopped letting her take naps, and she gets up around the same time as her sisters, but she wants to stay up until midnight. We put her to bed with her sisters, but she gets up, she plays, she keeps them awake... We're all tired of it. I guess I do have to put her in the other room to get her to sleep.

I was delighted when Three-a started sleeping in the room with her sisters. I hope we can get this sorted out and fixed soon. I need to make a plan. But, I'm exhausted right now. I was tired yesterday, but am more sleepy today. Maybe I'll try to do a short power nap.

Pretty fish

My friend posted this. I was with her witnessing the greater yellowlegs poop. I missed the octopus and the anemone. However, I saw a puffin poop and she missed it.

The kids were so excited by the puffin pooping (and it's fun to say!). Then the fish thought about eating it for a minute. Really, it doesn't get much better than that.

There may even be a fish pooping in the picture above. If you find it, let me know.

Navel gazing (or Ab gazing)

I hit a 15-year low on the weight today.... We had no AC in Zumba class today. It was hot. I was drenched in sweat. Seriously... (Ewww!)

I know the number I saw on the scale wasn't my true weight, it was about 2-3 pounds lower than the real number, but it was fun to see it. The numbers continue to SLOWLY go down. I am good with slow. Slow is working for me. It has taken a long time, but it feels right. Instant diets don't work for me. I feel AWFUL when I'm hungry. I get all low blood sugary and shakey.

In addition, I am going slow because I wanted to keep muscle....I've been working really hard to maintain muscle and just lose fat. Fat tends to jiggle... Muscle is solid and cool. As I age, I want to have as much muscle as I can on my body. I think it will help make the aging process a bit more graceful (that's just my own little pet theory). (Hey, did I tell you I have some abs you can SEE? Not a six-pack, but really cool. You can only see them when I move, they don't just "pop" out, but I like 'em!)

I don't know what my "goal" weight is now. I figure, at some point my body will stop losing weight and settle in to a good place. I figure if I start doing more weight training, I might even gain a pound or two. I am about 10 pounds lower than the original goal weight. Last summer, I wrote, "if I never lose another pound, I'm good with that." I could write that again, but I am guessing I will lose a few more pounds. I would like to lose another inch (or so) around my waist.

I wonder what happens when I reach all my fitness goals. Heh. I'm sure I set new ones. Note to self: I still need to do yoga and lift weights more often. This post totally feels like self-indulgent rambling to me, but I work really hard to stay in shape. I love it, and I think it's important. I think it helps me maintain balance in my crazy life, it helps with my mental health, and I think it helps with my physical life. I think we should feel exercise is important and maybe this post will help make exercise become more important to someone. (Is this rationalization for the self-indulgence?)

Back in the saddle?

1. The new proposal for work is done. We learned a lot, we'll see if we can get more funding to continue to do this new thing.

For June, I have 3 things scheduled. Yikes. I'm going to be busy--when am I not? A friend commented on this the other day... I am used to being busy, and if I'm not, I am bored, and slightly depressed. I am used to this crazy pace. Being busy is definitely cheaper than therapy (heh).

2. Traveling alone with twoK was good. She spent most of the trip trying to teach herself to read. She's making a lot of progress. For someone who has not yet gone to kindergarten, she's amazing! Her determination to figure out how to read is inspiring to watch. I wish every student had this kind of determination. She's spelling lots of words as well. Super fun.

3. I have a friend of a friend coming to our house to spend an hour a week working with the girls and teaching them Spanish. I wanted to get them in a class together, but I couldn't find a class that would do mixed-age like they are. I think having them learn together makes a lot of sense. They talk about the experience after together and they reinforce each other's learning. It's almost like how they acquire a first-language, except no one in the house is an expert (I don't speak Spanish--I wish I did!). I'm learning a little, but I figure if we travel to a Spanish speaking land one day, it will be great having 3 who can speak and help me learn! Someday, I'll take a class...

4. Speaking of classes, I got word that OLU, where I teach, won't need me this fall because they aren't getting enough students to hire an outside professor. I guess, there's a SMALL (heh, small written in all caps) chance that it will work out and I will get to teach the course, but, if it doesn't, it's okay. I spoke to the professor who hired me last fall and she reassured me it was just budgetary and that they wanted me. I felt better after that. The economy sucks. I have a day job, one that I like, so it's okay.

It's especially okay because twoK is starting Kindergarten and I will want to be in her classroom a few hours a week... and a few hours a week with oNe.... I'm going to be busy volunteering! And, maybe I can find the time to get certified to teach Zumba. I need to find someone to apprentice with after I get certified. I am sad about not getting to teach at OLU, but hopefully by fall 2010.... You know, now that I'm okay with NOT teaching this fall, it will probably work out that I'll get a class. (Murphy's law or something like it.)

5. What else....

6. oNe is taking a hip hop class. I love it!

7. We're on our way to go see our friends and hang with them in Seattle. Woo!

8. My supervisor and wonderful friend is going away for 3 weeks. We're gone this week so it's going to be mid-June before I see her... I'm gonna miss her! (And, how did it get to be ALMOST June??????)

9. How are you all doing? I haven't heard from some of you for a while. Update me on you!!

perhaps

Perhaps the funniest part of going through security twice was how mad twoK was. I wasn't happy, but she was downright furious. Heh.

We're home. It's good to be home. I asked Three-a if she missed me while I was gone and she said, "No, I didn't miss you, I missed you A LOT." Awww.

I'll have to write about the trip and my Mom later.

Twice

twoK and I just went through security for the flight home. We got to go through two times because I'd forgotten to dump out her Sigg water bottle and security can't dump them any more. Going through security one time is so much fun. Going through twice is just, um, yea, really one person shouldn't get to have that much fun in one day.

Keep your fingers crossed that we'll get on this flight. It's full and they are asking for volunteers. Ugh.

Highlights

I'm on a trip with twoK. Today we,

1. drove through a very scary thunderstorm
2. saw a VERY large cockroach crawl out of the elevator shaft of the hotel--she screamed, I gasped, it ran away...and I plan to tell the front desk--UGH
3. the hotel looks okay, but UGH...
4. I know they are ubiquitous, but UGH.
5. drank fruit shakes
6. hung with my Mom and one of my brothers
7. missed the rest of the family

I'm glad to get special time with twoK. She's having fun being the center of attention. It's also interesting because usually, she has oNe to help her do stuff, but on this trip, she has to figure stuff out herself. She's learning how to use the portable dvd player. It's really interesting to see how smart she is, but to realize how much she depends on oNe to help her. I love watching the sibling stuff!

Mother's Day

I have wonderful girls. They made me so many cards and fun art projects.

I got to go to Zumba--it wasn't my favorite Zumba class, but it was a work out. We went out and had yummy lunch (french fries and milkshakes), and then walked a lot. It was a good day.

Errr... well, we it was a good day until we had a twoK meltdown. We had one yesterday and today. MWH had to deal with her yesterday and he kind of figured some stuff out--or rather, he figured out what he didn't want to do. I didn't figure it out and I kind of lost it. Now I feel bad that I yelled and wasn't a very good Mother on Mother's Day. I haven't lost it like I lost it today in a long time. I do think his insight to twoK will help me, but it was so not fun. Moving on.

I am tired. We have a lot of work to do on that project. I go away at the end of the week. twoK is going with me. We'll visit my Mom and attend a graduation. I am stressed about both the project and the trip. It will be super fun to have some good quality twoK time. It's her birthday this week too.

Here's something fun if you need a last minute thing to send a wonderful Mom. You can personalize the video. Here, despite my lame efforts today, it's personalized for me, J____ K______.

It was yum.

I. am. so. full.

Next time, I think I'll make some without the cheese. It was really rich. MWH suggested adding mozzarella. I did. It was good, and very hearty. I think, I will make one pan with cheese and one without it next time. I can always add parmesan afterwards if I think it needs it. If there's no cheese, I'll probably be able to eat more of the broccoli and tomatoes! I'm going to classify it as "Favorite Recipe" now.

Super yum over pasta.

In to the oven

I put more of the broccoli and tomato mixture over the top. Baked at 400 for ~20 minutes.

Morphing

I didn't have fresh tomatoes.

I decided to cook the onions in olive oil instead of butter.

Lots of Italian spices (basil, oregano parsley, some red chili flakes and a little garlic)

I wish I would have caramelized the onions a bit more.

We'll see how it turns out. I'm planning to pour some in a 9x13 pan, then layer in parmesan cheese and then put more on and then bake. I'll let you know.

Craving...

I listened to this new "relaxation/weight loss" app I got for my iPhone. No, I'm not really trying to lose weight, but someone I really like (in the blogosphere) recommended it. We'll see what happens. It did give me a 10-15 minute bit of relaxation, so that's good. There was a problem, though... After I listened to it, I started craving pepperoni.

Hrm.... Not sure pepperoni will help me lose weight.

I haven't yet given into the pepperoni craving, but I realized I was also craving broccoli and tomatoes. I'm looking for a good recipe. I may try this:


From www.cooks.com:

-------------------------
BROCCOLI TOMATO CASSEROLE
-------------------------

2 pkgs. frozen, chopped broccoli
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
Sliced, fresh tomatoes, sliced thick
2 tbsp. chopped onion
3/4 to 1 c. sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese

Saute onions in butter; add sour cream and lemon rind. Cook
broccoli and drain well. Mix all together. Place in a 9 x
13 inch buttered casserole dish. Roll tomatoes in Parmesan
cheese. Place tomato slices on top of broccoli mixture. May
use 2 layers of tomatoes instead of 1 thick, sliced layer.
Sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese before baking. Bake 20
minutes at 400 degrees or until tomatoes are done.

I'll leave out the sour cream because I don't have any. I'll update add a "favorite recipes" tag if it's any good.

Just another Friday

I have come to the conclusion that I was EXHAUSTED yesterday. I went to bed kind of early, and I feel a teeny bit better today. I'd feel lots better, but I got up earlier than usual today. I needed to so I could work on the new thing for work.

oNe is a teeny bit sick today. I kept her home from school. She feels a little queasy and has a little fever. I sure hope the rest of us don't get this. Ugh. Our house has the potential for germs x 5. The good news is she has been resting most of the day and she seems a little better now (7:30 pm). And now, at 8:43, she seems a lot better. I guess it was a 24-hour kind of bug. Earlier this week, Three-a had a little something, but her nose ran a lot, and she slept a lot. She never complained of feeling bad in the stomach. Hrm.

Okay.... I'm tired. I'm boring. I've been working a lot and I could discuss it, but I think it might put you all to sleep.

This post is an attempt to cheer ME up.

I'm not sure why I feel so blah today, but I need to snap out of it.

I think I know why, we had this work phone call this morning. Argh. It's only work, but geez.

Basically, I worry that the work we've done will fade away to nothing and not have much impact. I shouldn't worry. The work we've has helped hundreds, if not thousands, of people. I need to snap out of it. I also get to teach and have impact on my students. I am LUCKY. I just wonder what the "next" thing will be.

Stop the feeling sorry for yourself, JK!

Also, I got complimented at Zumba by several folks--there are a couple of steps that I do excel at doing, but I can't ever think, that was good, I only think, geez, I should do better, faster, higher, etc. One would think the compliments would get me out of my funk, but no, I still think I need to work harder and do Zumba BETTER. I'm still all BLEH-like.

Maybe I ought to give myself a firm slap.

Hrm.

I made a few people laugh hard at a couple of my observations on the world around me today... that was good. (Sometimes my perspective does resonate with others.)


I'm slowly working on the new thing for work... I'm just having a hard time today. I'll work for a bit longer, then go hang with the girls for a while and that's the best I can do, right? It's okay.

More planning

First, a funny: oNe is very mad at our ISP (internet service provider) because it's SLOW right now. Her internet sites are taking too long to load. I am so laughing! I am so proud! My 7-year-old has opinions on technologies!

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Now another funny, Three-a fell asleep at the dinner table tonight. I think she's coming down with a cold.

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twoK wants "peanut butter pie" for her birthday cake. I'm good with that! It's EASY to make. It's kind of rich, but it's super yum!

First you make a cookie crust. What I do: Fill up the food processor with cookies (often chocolate wafers, but chocolate graham crackers or chocolate animal crackers work...banilla wafers or regular graham crackers work too).

Then add 2/3s or 3/4 cup of brown sugar and approximately 4 tablespoons melted butter. Mix them all up in the food processor. (I don't measure anymore.)

Bake at 350 for about ten minutes.

Let cool.

Now for the filling....

3/4 cup brown sugar
4 ounces low fat cream cheese
1/2 cup peanut butter (you can use low fat or regular)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix it all up


Slice bananas and place on top of cookie crust (I usually use 2 bananas). Fold in 8 ounces of whipped cream to the filling (use light if you want). Pour the filling on top of the bananas. Swirl with chocolate syrup. (Take your knife and make pretty patterns if you like.) Freeze overnight.

EAT!

Say YUM!

I originally got this recipe from Cooking Light, but over the years, it's become not so light. Exercise a lot so you can eat yummy foods is my philosophy!

Sidebar: The scale at the fitness center said 2.5 pounds away from my GOAL weight. My home scale says 5.5 pounds away. When I hit the goal weight (in about 30 weeks or so if I have 5 pounds to go and in ~15 weeks if I have 2.5 pounds to go) not much will change. I'll keep eating the way I do and I'll also keep exercising to stay toned. There you go!

almost 5

It's almost twoK's birthday!

She's making me plan some stuff. It might actually work really well. She really only wants to do something with her "best friend" who happens to be our neighbor and her sisters. It's great! I can handle small! If I feel up to it, I could even have a few others over for ice cream / cake, but probably not.

Today, twoK was super good in ballet. Last week, she threw an embarrassing (for me) fit. What's so hard with twoK is that when she is "on" she is VERY GOOD, but when she is not on, she is .... well, words escape me. We've had some not so good days lately. Turning 5 is hard.

She is reading though, now! Woo! She reads stories from Star Fall. We love that! She love to figure out words. She's really good at sounding words out. She's better at it than oNe at this age. oNe had an attitude though. oNe kept saying she didn't want to learn to read. (And then I'd get very sad and cry. but oNe learned to read this well before she was 6 and is a super reader now!)

Anyway, I think it's hard to be the oldest. I also think it's hard to be the middle child. So far, Three-a makes being the baby look easy.

I'm having trouble coming up with titles

1. Eight years ago yesterday, we found out we were getting a oNe! I just realized her nickname here is even more perfect because when she was a baby, I used to sing her this song.

(I love it when there are many meaningful reasons for nicknames!)

2. I've been obsessed with H1N1. Not too worried, but I can't stop reading about it and all things related to the flu. I have this book, and I've not read it yet. I'm thinking I need to. I've had it for YEARS, but I knew I couldn't read it while I was pregnant (it would get me too freaked), and then I've not had any time. Maybe I can read it soon.

3. I won't have a lot of time again until end of June probably. We're going to be starting up a new crazy time at work... for the next couple or three weeks I'll be consumed again (writing). It's good. Well, errr, the fact that we're entering this crazy period means we didn't get a project we thought/hoped we would, but it's good that we have another opportunity to jump on waiting for us.

4. I watched Groundhog Day last night. It really is funny! I highly recommend it. If you have netflix, you can watch it instantly too! Excellent.

That's it for now. We have a party to attend tonight and I have an article or two to read this afternoon.