Is It REALLY So Easy to Change?

New Year almost always equals new resolutions. Some may want a hot new bod, some want to be more frugal, others want to give more of themselves....Me? I want to be a better mommy and wife to those I see every day.

I will admit, I'm an angry person. When my kids do things they're not supposed to, I yell and lecture them. When I need them to do something, I usually yell it at them, or plead over and over....and then I get no results so I resort to yelling at them because I'm angry.

I'm SO tired of it.

Being angry so often is exhausting.

My resolution WILL happen...it must. I want a happy home. I want to be able to tell my kids things and have them obey quickly and happily.

So far today, I've already yelled at the boys (they woke up WAY too early, and fought for an hour, all the while banging and throwing things around and screaming and yelling...) BUT I've also tried to stay calm and talk to them instead of lecturing. I must learn to pick my fights well. I need to let the little stuff go and focus on the big picture.

I can do this....I MUST!

Where's The Love?

Lately I've been feeling like the internet is a huge waste of time. I've had some pretty fun places I liked to visit in the past, but lately I've felt like things have fallen too much into the negative. I have contemplated leaving the internet behind and living without it, but it IS a necessary evil. Bill paying has NEVER been better than before the internet.

Today I was talking about the bad feelings I've felt with my hubby, and he shared a pretty cool quote with me. I'd like to share it here, and vow to try and be MORE like my Heavenly Father.

“But while one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other half, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a Fatherly care and Paternal regard."

~Joseph Smith TPJS, pg 218

Where Has the Time Gone?

It really feels like it was JUST the beginning of 2010, and here we are staring down 2011. Time seems to fly the older I get.

Christmas was wonderful for us. The boys were spoiled rotten. And after we'd opened up the gifts Christmas morning, and they were playing with their goodies, Jake came over and said, "More?" Steve and I said, "No, you've opened it all...." Then Steve realized we'd forgotten a few gifts...some BIG ones. (Not the ones in these pictures....these pictures are of their Santa presents.)

We were able to see both Steve's parents and mine. We enjoyed our family time, and talked a lot.

With My family we played Just Dance....we ALL had a blast!

It just seems like it went by SO fast.

This new year, I have new hopes. I'm frustrated with my boys (but that could be Christmas break talking here...) and I hope to master The Total Transformation and exercise at least once a week.

Happy New Year to all!

Little Miss Homemaker?

Lately, I've been in a bit of a funk. Anything the boys do drives me crazy and I get the feeling that I've lost ALL control of my life and I turn into a screaming machine. I hate it. I'm pretty sure the boys hate it. And I've been trying to fill my life with busy things to keep me from getting depressed and REALLY upset.

Today I've been washing the blankets and sheets for our beds. It's SUCH a pain to haul all the bedding from upstairs to the basement, but it will be worth it to have yummy smelling blankies and sheets tonight. I haven't changed the comforter on my bed for a VERY long time. Now that it's fall/winter time I'm changing it to the darker blanket and the warmer stuff. I hope it will be worth it.

I'm also making HOMEMADE pumpkin pie. Okay, the only thing that ISN'T homemade is the crust, but I actually mashed the pumpkin by myself (this time using PIE pumpkins, so it's not nasty and stringy) and it smells SO heavenly. I can't wait to eat my hard work.

And with the cold weather coming I've learned a new skill. A long time ago, when I was 10 or 11 years old, I was taught a few crafty things in Primary. My sweet Primary teacher wanted us all to have the cutest things that we had created ourselves, and unfortunately for her, I was a bit of an impatient punk. We tried doing counted cross stitches, and I gave up on it before it was done. She sweetly took it and finished it for me. Then she taught us to crochet. I figured I would be FANTASTIC at this since my mom has ALWAYS been a crocheter, but it was NOT that way. I had no patience for crocheting. The only thing I ever retained from my crocheting experience was the hand hold and the chain stitch.

Fast forward to last week. I wanted to make my boys scarves for winter. I knew that I could do it, I have the determination, but I worried that I would give up like I had earlier in life. So, while I was at Cameron's annual genetics appointments last Tuesday, I had my mom show me how to make a simple stitch and a scarf. After several tries (pulling it all out after messing up) I got the hang of it, and had about a foot and a half of scarf for Mr. Jacob.

I took my crocheting with me to all of Cameron's therapy appointments, and began to get faster and faster. Then yesterday, after therapy, I finished a little scarf for my little man. I tied it all off and put strings on the end, and VOILA! I had crocheted AND finished a project!

I would LOVE to show you my craft, but sadly, my camera has decided to rebel against it's camera cord. I can't upload pics to my computer anymore, but I can upload at my mom's house. I just need to get over there sometime.

I'm just feeling SO proud of myself for accomplishing these rather homemaker-y goals! GO ME! :)

I'm Off....

My sleep schedule is thoroughly messed up. I have been staying up way late every night this week. It's starting to drive me a little crazy.

Then when I don't sleep at night, I end up napping through out the day...that doesn't help.

I really need to get back on a schedule....so starting tonight, I'm going to go to bed at a fairly decent hour and try NOT to nap after church.

Here's hoping I become *normal* after this.

If You Don't See Me Again....It's Because I've Gone Crazy....

The next two days are Cameron's days off of school. He's thrilled, I'm dreading it.

Being a referee was not what I thought mothering would entail. Cam will torment Jake to the point where Jake screams this shrill yell that sounds almost like a whistle. Then I turn into evil mama, and begin yelling and screaming for peace. (Yeah, that's NOT gonna happen that way...)

I do have a goal though: Have a good and enjoyable time with my boys and try really, REALLY hard not to yell or swear at them.

This is actually my overall mothering goal, but it doesn't hurt to take it baby-step by teeny tiny baby-step, right?

Wish me luck, unless you see my obituary in the paper next week....then wish my hubby well. ;)

I Need a Change

I've been stuck in a rut for a while. I've found myself getting more and more ornery and grumpy with my family and it's not fair to them. Saturday I had a complete break-down and lost my mind....and my poor children were there for it. Afterward, I felt HORRIBLE! I'd said things I didn't mean to say, and did things that I vowed I'd NEVER do (Cameron got the spanking of a lifetime....*blush*) I don't EVER want to lose it that bad, ever EVER again.

I need to do things that I don't normally do.

SO, I've made a few goals...

First off, I'm making the boys breakfast. I need to make sure that they're well-fed and happy in the mornings, that SHOULD help the day run smoother.

Secondly, I need to apologize to my boys for the upset that I've caused....it will be hard, but I HAVE to do it.

Third, I'm going to make up my mind to be happier and more calm with my rowdy boys. It's the least they deserve.

Wish me luck.

Jake's also been a bit under the weather lately, it's not fun, and he's just a miserable little poop. :( He fell asleep on Steve Saturday night, just burning up with a fever, but INSISTING on having his "bankie!"

Right now, he's up in my bed, cooling off with daddy....I should go and figure something out for the poor guy. Again, wish me luck!

I'm NO Maid...

For a VERY long time, I've wanted my house to be cleaner, but I am NOT, in any way, shape or form, a good housekeeper. My house has always been a little dirtier than I would like, and dishes and bathrooms were the BANE of my existence. I had just resigned myself to always having a messy house.

Then I heard about FlyLady, and I decided to give it a go, especially after one of my friends told me that after a week of trying this method she had a BUNCH of kids over to play and wasn't worried about cleaning or how her house looked. I WANTED that. I figured that if it didn't work, then I'd have at least tried.

So I went to the website and signed up. I have been trying this for about a month now, and even though my house isn't EXACTLY how I wanted, it is SO much cleaner than I had ever hoped.

Not only that, but I'm happier. I get up every day and get dressed (to the shoes, or slippers...I guess I'm not QUITE flying yet...) and I'm ready. Who knew that just a few simple things would make me happier.

My sink is shiny (a BIG thing for me) my counters in my kitchen are clutter and even DISH free. It feels GREAT to go in there and make dinner (which I have always dreaded...) or to do dishes. My bed is made and makes my room look WAY cleaner than it really is. I've even felt inspired to beautify my surroundings, even though I'm only renting. I've hung curtains on EVERY window in our apartment, and it feels more homey. I still have a long way to go until I'm completely flying, but for now, I'm doing VERY well, and I'm happy. Baby steps work! And I can DO anything!

An Experiment in Baking Bread

Anyone who knows me could tell you that I do NOT bake. If forced to, I may, on occasion, bake cookies or cakes, but they have to be THE easiest recipes. I am not good at it, nor do I particularly LOVE it. I only put up with it because I love to EAT.

Lately, I've been inspired by some friends who have been making their own food (bread, chili, cakes, suckers, treats of all kinds). I've felt like if I had lived in pioneer times my poor family would have starved, just because I dislike baking and cooking SO much. But, because of these friends, I've decided to try doing just a little bit more. I mean, making my home and family happy is my job as a stay at home mom, right?

So today I got up the guts to make my own bread. I have NEVER made my own bread before (except in a bread maker, but that doesn't really count, does it?) I've tried rolls and cinnamon rolls, but they never seem to taste as good as they do when other people make them. NO more leaning on other people's successes for me; I'm going to be a *real* woman.

After a quick call to my mom (who ended up talking to me for a while, putting me off of the schedule I had planned...no biggie, I love my mom and we can talk about nothing for a LONG time...) I got some courage and decided to try.

Instead of following a big elaborate recipe, which would NOT be me....I decided to take a recipe I've already used in the past (for cinnamon rolls) and try to turn it into a bread recipe. It's actually a roll recipe, but how different can rolls and bread be?

I followed the simple instructions (and ended up with dough clear up to my elbows....) I put the dough in my two bread pans, let it raise and right now they're in the oven.

Oh, it smells delightful.

The tops aren't pretty, but I'm hoping the end result will be a happy, and filled tummy.

Results to follow shortly....If it tastes as good as it smells, I will share the recipe....then you too can feel domestic! ;)(Recipe....)

After Dinner Rolls

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup sugar (it was a LITTLE much, next time I'm only using 1/4 cup)

3 Tbs. yeast (Saf Instant is BEST!)

2 eggs, beaten

1 can evaporated milk (12 oz.)

1/8 tsp. salt

5-6 cups flour

1 cup boiling water

Mix together. Form into balls and place on baking sheet and let raise. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

To make bread, follow the directions for rolls, except place half the dough (formed in a ball) into two bread pans (one batch makes two loaves). Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Rain, Rain, Rain, Hail

Today was um, FUN!?

This morning I realized that I spend WAY too much of my boys' awake time on the computer playing games and just being with my online friends, so I've decided that I will now only be online when the boys are sleeping. It cuts back on my usual time, but I'm SURE it will end up being a good thing. I won't just be there physically for my family, I will really BE there for them.

I decided that since Cam's developmental therapy place is just across the street from his school we'd walk, everyday. No biggie, it's MAYBE a 1/4 mile each way. Really, NO BIG DEAL! I would put Jake in the stroller, and get some exercise. It will end up being GOOD for me.

On the way to the Learning Center it was nice and pleasant. Cam was nervous about being left there (because he's in the new place...for the older kids), but quickly warmed up once we got there. On the way out the door, one of the little boys from his class walked up, knowing who I am said, "Cameron, here?" I said, "Yup, Cameron's in there." His face lit right up.

I went home and watched cartoons with Jake, then I decided to watch "mommy" shows....well, I hear NO noise, no banging pots, no toys, not even Jake's normal babble. I get up and look in the kitchen, no baby. I didn't put up the baby-gate, so I check the stairs, he is 3 steps from the TOP of the stairs!! I grab him, drag him down the stairs and quickly put up the baby-gate.

After watching my show for another 10 minutes while hearing the twang of Jake flipping the door-stop, it's silent. I peek around the corner and Jake is passed-out asleep in front of the door. I was tired myself, so I take him upstairs and we both nap for an hour-ish, and then it's time to pick Cameron up.

I get Jake buckled in the stroller, put his jacket on, slip my jacket on and as we leave the rain is just BEGINNING to fall. By the time I got to the Learning Center it's raining HARD!! Inter-mixed with hail. We walk in, get Cam, I warn him that it's raining...and then we leave.

Facing the opposite direction the rain/hail is bouncing off the little tray on the stroller and is pelting Jacob in the face. He's bawling, Cam's complaining, my glasses are so wet I cannot SEE. (We were QUITE the sight, I'm sure!)

I turn the stroller backward and try to pull it home, but the dang thing had a mind of it's own and did NOT want to go in a straight line. At the corner, flooding has started. There is, easily, 3 inches of water in a giant puddle on both sides of the street. Cam had worn his crocks, and complained, "Mom, I should have worn my tennis shoes, huh!?"

We hurry across the street and slow down a little because the water isn't pelting poor Jake. (We are JUST a street away from being home...)

A sweet lady in my ward drove us home. (Yes, it was just a street away, but it was a NICE thing!) When we get to the house, the rain stopped. Just my luck, right!?

We spent the day wet and trying to get dry. But it was good to spend time with the boys. I KNOW Cam liked it! I just hope over the summer I don't go crazy!

My Son is Taking Over my Life.....

Things are FINALLY falling into place....I've gotten back the okay for Cameron's medical things, and now we're off and running with setting up his appointments. I tried to schedule something with U of U Genetics early on Friday, but the lady in charge of setting up appointments didn't return my call until after 6:00 pm!! So, coordinating appointments will be my goal for tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that I can get everything scheduled for the same day or the day after his genetics check-up. I have yet to call the eye doctor and radiology. I'll also have to call Dr. S's, Cam's geneticist, assistant. Then I'll have to call my service coordinator and let HER know what's going on.....yeah, the joys of being the ONE in charge!! *sigh*

On a happy note, Cam is THRILLED to learn that his top front teeth are BOTH loose. The boy was completely terrified when I told him that they would fall out. (Since he was three, he's only had the DENTIST pull his teeth, so he hasn't known that it was "normal" for them to fall out on their own...) He's constantly in my face asking, "Mom, can you pull them out now!?" He's so cute!!

And on a slightly unrelated, but maybe it's VERY related, topic I've decided to make a few goals to make my life more spiritual than it has been. I had quite a personal epiphany today in church about things that I SHOULD be doing, but I'm not. My goal is to do better in preparing my son spiritually, and not leaving it ALL for his church teachers!

A World Free of Complaints

A LONG time ago I signed up to get these little purple bracelets for my family to help remind us not to complain. The idea is that when you complain, gossip, or say something that isn't nice that you take the bracelet and switch it to the opposite wrist. The goal is to have it on the same wrist for 21 consecutive days....in a way, making a new habit. Hard to do?? Yes, but it's possible!

So far, I have yet to find an HOUR when I don't need to switch my bracelet. Am I really that negative?? When I look at it I do think that I need to make more of an effort to speak kindly, and positively. It's SO hard for me! *switching the bracelet* But I can do it?? Right??

How wonderful the WHOLE world would be if we ALL could think about being more kind with our words. Hurt feelings would NOT even exist! We wouldn't be afraid to speak our minds, and when we DID speak our minds it would be with constructive advice instead of mean words.

I dream of a time when life can be like that, until then I will work on myself....

Faith

I've had a lot on my mind lately. It has to do with faith, and building my life on a sure foundation, which is Christ.

One of my dear cousins has decided that the Church is no longer true, and wants nothing to do with it. I guess I'm just having a hard time seeing how someone who I thought was SO strong, could fall so hard, so fast!

The last year of her life has been pretty traumatic. She's had a best friend commit suicide. I don't know if it started before his death, but she took it REALLY hard.

I guess when people are in shock, and don't know what to say, they can say some really stupid things. She was told over and over that her friend wouldn't be judged because of the state of mind he was in, but then she was told he'd go to Hell for some of the other bad choices he'd made.

My problem HERE is, no one is in any place where they can honestly judge this poor kid. NO ONE!! Not me, not his parents, not even his friends. God is the only one that I know of, who knows this young man's heart and mind so thoroughly, that HE can know what was really going on.

Anyway, she's had a bumpy road, and I just worry about her.

I know for ME that I would be spiraling out of control in a pit of depression, worldliness, and fear, hurt, and anger WITHOUT the gospel in MY life. My knowledge of the truthfulness of this Church, sometimes, is the ONLY thing that gets me through a rotten day. THE ONLY THING! I know that with God's help, that I can fix the mistakes I've made, and work harder at being the person I hope to become.
And I know WITHOUT a DOUBT that where I am, what I'm doing, and who I'm trying to be is in alliance with God's plan. I KNOW it. Nothing anyone around me will say can change my mind. I know!

Where did I get such a sure knowledge?? From my faith. My belief that things in my life are directly from God. Noticing the little things around me that I consider miracles. The budding of a flower. A beautiful sunset. A bird in flight. My son, picking up a new concept that has previously been hard for him. The love I feel for my husband. The love I feel FROM my Father. There are SO many things that I see that let me know that God truly is mindful of me.

I ache because my cousin no longer has the whole picture in front of her. I hope and pray for her constantly. I wish that someday, she will come back, and know, as I do, that her foundation can get her through ANYTHING.

I've been wondering, if everyone around me, my husband, my parents, my siblings, EVERYONE suddenly fell away from the Church. (Yeah, it's a LONG shot, but go with me on the mentality of the thought.) Would I be able to stand up for the things I've been taught and KNOW are true? Would I have the strength to continue on, ON my own, without any crutches to hold me up? Am I as SURE of my testimony as I should be?

After much thought, and prayer, I've come to the conclusion that yes, I can be that strong, but I must continue to cultivate and build up that foundation. I MUST! Just because I have this renewed determination doesn't mean that the path will be easy, but it's a road that I need to travel. Something that I must do, before the storms of temptation, doubt, and hopelessness come. It's like the song, "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man." I MUST build my house on the rock, so that when the rains come down, and the floods come up, my house on the rock will stay firm!

Combating My Addictions and Habits

What is it about chocolate that just turns me into a happy person? Lately, like for the past 2 or 3 weeks, I've been not just wanting a taste here and there...I'm wanting to eat nothing BUT chocolate. The craving is just BAD! My herbologist (when I went to see her the FIRST time) told me that cravings for chocolate is your body's way of telling you that you need certain vitamins or minerals. Whatever chocolate has...I'm seriously deficient. I NEED to eat chocolate, but I should cut back...."should" being the word there!

To help me out with this chocolate addiction, I've got a new tool. No, nothing I can eat, but something that encourages me to exercise: a treadmill. My Grandma was saying that she had a treadmill in the back of her truck. She was going to give it to her daughter, but her son-in-law vetoed putting it into their house. I mentioned that I was looking for something to get me moving, and maybe I could take it for her. She was thrilled to find someone who wanted it, but I told her that I'd have to talk to Steve about it before giving the go ahead. I called Steve and he asked me, "Is this already decided, or do I really have a say?" I tried to make it sound like it was all dependent upon his approval, but he was smarter than that! He said it was okay, and a few nights ago we brought it home. At first I knew that I needed to rearrange my living room, just to make room, so I did some moving, rearranging, putting away, and now we have a little spot for the new machine.

While talking with my grandma and mom, they said something about how they'd heard that it's better for you to walk backwards on a treadmill. I don't know if they were joking, but I've been walking backwards on it, and it really works my buns! (I also walk forwards...that works too!) I'm slowly working my way up from being a complete couch-potato to being more active. I've set a small goal, that one day, maybe not this month...maybe not this year, but someday, I'll be fit enough to run on my own...maybe doing a mini-marathon. It's going to take a lot of work, but it's something I'm excited to try for!

Christmas is Coming...the Goose is Getting Fat...

Cleaning is NOT on my "fun" list. Since today is "the day before Sunday," I'm attempting to clean up my house.

Last night our family slept downstairs by the lit up Christmas tree (one of our traditions) and I'm STILL in my jammies from that! I don't want to get all cleaned up only to find that I'm sweaty and stinky after cleaning. So I'm waiting. Sleeping with the Christmas lights around me was SO magical. Even more magical without my glasses on. The lights were blurry, but pretty! Now I remember why we do it every year!

Now I'll get on with my post. Yesterday's winner was Lynanne. She was a quick one! :) The answer was I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. I found that this song was VERY appropriate for what we had yesterday...our first REAL snowfall! It was exciting and frustrating all at once. After shoveling our sidewalk the neighbor kid kicked snow ALL over my clean walk. Let's just leave it with I WAS MAD! After fuming over it for a while we left and came home to find our sidewalk cleaner than when I had originally cleaned it. Boy, was I humbled. Anyway, it was a snowy day and I am just excited for a WHITE Christmas! YAY!

Here's the next song, after this there's only ONE more...how sad! Oh, well...Good luck one and all!

Obese personification fabricated of compressed mounds of minute crystals

GUILT!

I'm feeling awful right now! My house is a disgusting mess, and here I am, goofing off on the computer! My husband is a saint for putting up with my crap! (Love ya, honey!)

I think today is the day that motivation MUST set in. I MUST vacuum today...I MUST do the dishes today...I MUST clean up Cam's books....I MUST clean up old piles of mail....I MUST pay bills...I MUST make my bed with CLEAN blankets....I MUST do laundry!

Will this list help me? Who knows!

I should get as much done today as I can though...my family is taking a short day-trip to Logan, Utah tomorrow. We'll be leaving bright and squirrelly in the morning, so I'm sure I'll be exhausted when I get home!

Now about the winners from yesterday's game, we have 2...again, the hazard I get for putting up multiple songs! (Aw, you can probably tell, I really don't care HOW many people "win" my game...I just love the fun!)

Lynanne (a NEW friend) and Cat are the winners for correctly guessing We Three Kings, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Jingle Bell Rock. Silly, I know, but seriously, would you deny me my hilarity of the day?

For the rules (again and again and again...) You have the privilege of figuring out these mixed up titles of Christmas carols, and if you are the FIRST to correctly guess the songs I'll post your name and link in my next post...well, maybe not until Monday, but you get FREE advertising! :) Good luck, one and ALL!

Song #1:

Vehicular homicide was committed on Dad's mom by a precipitous darling

Song #2:

We are Kong, Lear, and Nat Cole

Song #3:

Cup-shaped instruments fashioned of a whitish metallic element

And I apologize to the winners for NOT having my little award posted, but Blogger is NOT being very nice today! I just need to figure out a way to outwit it! (Like I did with those of you who have switched to beta...mwhahahahaa!)

My Many Moods

I feel refreshed! I had NO kids today (well, other than Cam...) and I got to do whatever my heart desired! So, why did I feel so guilty?

I woke up at the time I would normally be getting up for my normal Thursday, and couldn't sleep. I began stressing about all of the things going on in my life, then I started to feel guilty over not having any real responsibilities today. Ugh! I tried and tried to sleep, but got nowhere, so I pulled out my most recent book, hurried off to the potty-room and read until my husband woke up for the day.

Soon after he woke up, I fell asleep, and didn't really want to wake up! But I did.

I have been feeling like I'm trapped in a swirling black hole and I can't find myself. I figured if I focused on my family, and more specifically on Cameron, then I'd be able to find myself again. So I made a plan.
I picked up Cam from school, and told him that after lunch I would take him to the park and then maybe we'd go for a walk and gather up fun leaves. The kid was THRILLED beyond belief. With me babysitting nearly everyday he's been feeling neglected, and has even been whining to just sit on mama's lap...just for a little while. After eating lunch, we were off to the park. I let him play on the toys, and just watched as I felt myself sink lower and lower into self-pity and depression. I then made a decision: I'm going to have fun with my son...whatever he wants me to do, I'm going to do it!

I had fun! Cam wanted me to slide on the slides with him, and I did...a little! I played monster with him...and spent a good majority of the time "in jail." We rolled and romped in the fallen leaves and had a leaf fight! After playing with him for a little while I felt better...not healed, but better! We had a fun walk home, and ended up making rubbings of our treasured leaves. He seemed to enjoy himself, and wants to do it again tomorrow...which we can't do, because I'm back to babysitting, but it was fun for the short time we did have!

Please bear with me...I don't know what's wrong with me, but I am determined to NOT let it take over my life. I know I am bigger and better than how I feel at the moment, so I'm seriously thinking about changing my life around...getting more active...and NOT feeling guilty for putting myself and family first! It's a change that will take time, but I'm determined to overcome!

My "new" Exercise Program

Okay, so I've been told repeatedly that I need to lose weight. After that last pic of me on my blog I was quite disgusted with my rolls showing and my butt taking up my "mommy chair." I admit it...I'm a disgusting blob! I have decided that I will try exercising at least once every other day. My doctor recommended running my stairs in my apartment, but I have one big issue with that....MY KNEES! I didn't notice it until we moved here, but my knees creak and grind as I go up and down the stairs. (Not so bad going down as up, but that's what defying gravity will do to you!) Sometimes if I want to bug Steve I'll lay in bed with my leg extended and slowly bend my knee. It makes him cringe, it's so funny. But I digress...so running the stairs is something I do anyway, but to add "exercise" to my routine I've decided to take up dancing, again.
For years and years I was a dancer. I was never one of those teeny ballerina types, but I was a rotund jazz dancer. I was in drill teams from age 7 until I was 16. I loved dancing, and I was really good at it (as long as someone else made up the moves for me, I'm not so good at choreography for myself.) So my youngest brother was shopping for his birthday last week and bought a CD with "Fishin' in the Dark" on it. I LOVED doing the line dance to that song. I used to be able to do it over and over and over and never tire of it. So when he played it for me last week I tried to do the dance to show him how it looks. (Here's the pathetic part of my story....) I was worn out and out of breath after 3 rotations. I couldn't believe it...my stamina had left COMPLETELY!! So I made him give me a copy of the song and I'm working my way up to dancing to that song for at least a half hour. Right now my short term goal is dancing through the entire song, but baby-steps...right? Speaking of which...I think I'll attempt it now...before I have to babysit. Who knows, maybe Cam will join me! :)

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Okay, for an update on how well my "new" excercise program went...I made my first baby-step goal! I danced thru the entire song without passing out or giving up! Now I'm onto my next goal of dancing for an entire hour! My husband seems to think that I should get out and walk around, but I told him I'm baby-stepping my way up to it. I do want to get out and be able to walk everywhere like I used to when I was younger, but I need to slowly work up to it. I don't want to get going and suddenly lose my momentum and give up! Baby-steps work for me! Tomorrow I hope to dance thru the song twice!

And for the changing comment thing...it's been taken care of! I love the comments, they're what keep me blogging! Keep it up!