What is next?!

That path is my life!    Twists, turns, dumped sideways, pull over for a rest, and keep trucking on!    

This picture was taken today.     I have never been brave.    I have never enjoyed the outdoors unless I was swimming, I was a camp girl to help with meals and watching kids so others could do this. 

This picture was after a tipped the 4 wheeler sideways, got back up and kept going, this was 1 mile before I finally said ok we can turn back.    This was me leading the way and my husband following questioning where all the energy and self confidence came from.

Yes I was nervous, scared to go higher, more scared to go back down (afraid of heights, narrow roads, and switchbacks), but determined to keep going.

In the last 45 days, I have gained back my self confidence, my drive, my sleep, my mood control, my patience, my health.     I have lost 10 pounds, 4 inches in my waist, 1 inch in each thigh, my sweet tooth (I enjoy a treat but not craving us all the time).    My depression, anxiety are better!    I am off and adjusting my meds for acid reflux, allergies, headaches, bowel issues.    I have gained better control of my HS (which is miraculous in the heat), crave water, and can stop eating when full.

Did you know you can do tough things?    Did you know that you can do whatever you want?   The last 45 days I have taken my life back, I don’t want to go back down now....I don’t want to repeat these steps!

Right now, you can get in on this for less than I can!   Meessage me so we can chat!

Some days are better than others

The title says it all......Have a good night and good rest of your weekend.   I have all the boys and my laundry and most the dishes done so going to enjoy some alone time and take a bath then early to bed so I can work tomorrow.

School Schedule for 2014-2015

Today was the first day of school year 2014!

So what is our new schedule going to entail?    Well here it is!

Monday - Thursday:
6:30am: Wake up for mom
6:35am: Wake up boys
6:40am: KaCe showers
6:45am: Everyone dressed
6:55am: Shoes, Coats, backpacks
7:00am: Ethan to school (he is wanting to get extra reading time)
7:25am: KaCe to school
7:30am: head to pick up Danica
7:50am: leave Danica's to take Aedan and Danica to preschool
7:55am: drop Danica and Aedan off
8:00am: back home to change laundry, dishes, and clean house then time for me to get dressed and ready for the day:)

12:00 noon: Aedan done at school
12:10pm: returns home (already having been fed breakfast and lunch)
12:15pm: Home work time, errands, Mommy and Aedan time:)
1:00pm: naptime for Aedan
2:30pm: Tumbling for Aedan (Wednesdays)
3:15pm: Older two boys arrive home from school via bus
3:20pm: Homework time for older two boys
3:45pm: Snack time for all 3 boys
4:00pm: Chores
5:00pm: Free time
6:00pm:: Dinner time
6:30pm: Showers and get ready for bed
7:00pm: Meds for Ethan
7:30om: bed time for boys

Friday:
6:30am: Wake up for mom
6:35am: Wake up boys
6:40am: KaCe showers
6:45am: Everyone dressed
6:55am: Shoes, Coats, backpacks
7:00am: Ethan to school (he is wanting to get extra reading time)
7:25am: KaCe to school
10:30am: Story time/Library time

1:15pm: Older two boys arrive home from school via bus
1:20pm: Homework time for older two boys
1:45pm: Snack time for all 3 boys
2:00pm: Chores
3:00pm: Movie Time or Electronics (if they have earned them this week)
7:00pm:: Dinner time
7:30pm: Showers and get ready for bed
8:00pm: Meds for Ethan
8:30pm: bed time for boys

Potty Training and back to school

Aedan is getting potty trained this weekend so that he can go to preschool next week!    He is so excited.   I was told he had most likely got a spot at Headstart starting the 2nd of September we are just waiting a few days so they can confirm since we have had an addition to our household.    It is always great to have our stranger from a far return to the house.   He loves to spend time with the kids, loves to help around the house, loves to be supportive of us as a 6 member family unit.    He counts as an important member of our family and we always miss him when he is gone.   I just hope he finally realizes that we are his family and he does not have to keep leaving us to re learn lessons......he has learned those lessons once he just needs to remember them:).  

KaCe has again go by Evan at school but has the really AMAZING first year teacher who is really really helping him keep on task.    She has send long notes home on what she wants to implement and how we can help with each transition at home.   She is very interested in his home life being as calm and productive as his school life.    She knows he has social issues but is willing to help as much as she can with those......and assist by placing him with others she knows has similar friendship issues.

Ethan, is well, Ethan.....although I don't know what to do about his teacher.    She has played a back and forth game in the first 3 days of school so we will be checking in with the principal and possibly getting him moved to a different class.    Yell at him just irritates him and makes his anxiety worse and based on what he is saying that is all she does.    We are also trying to work with him to sit still for longer periods but he has ADHD so taking his recess away and making him sit in a corner alone is not a positive way to restructure an ADHD child.....but she is not willing to listen to us as the parents, we must be coddling him, so we will be taking this issue up the chain tomorrow.

Travis is staying busy at work, and really loves his new truck.   We are talking and making sure we have date night weekly even if it is after all the kids are in bed.    We went to a movie together while a friend watched the boys last week, we watched a movie Friday night and Saturday night cuddled on the couch.

I have been staying busy at TA.   I am looking forward to my shifts most days as I get to work with a great group of people.   The management understands that family comes first and are working well with me to make both schedule work!   I am glad my parents are here for a few more weeks as we iron out the family and work schedules.

phone number change

Hopefully u have all gotten the notice that my phone number changed........but a few of u have changed your numbers and not told me so consequently you do not have the update of my phone number.     Travis did not chsnge his number so text or call him for an updatwd number for me and maybe call me every now and again........this is not to everyone because some of you do great at calling mr.....but there are a few who have not communicated since february.......so you have missed more than you know or can imagine!!!!!

Why I fail at Blogging:)

You would think that being a linguist as I often am and spending a majority of my day near the computer I would find time to update this on a more regular basis......Well we all know I have failed.   My last post was in January!   I am thinking I need to start setting an alarm for 3 days a week so that remember to update this with short and sweet messages instead of trying to catch up 6 months twice a year:).     So how have we been since January, is what I am sure you are all asking:)?    I have been crazy busy.   I have been working 30-48 hours a week at TA (6p-midnight mostly) plus I still have daycare kiddos 7a-5:30p, then I have added Grace Adele, a purse and jewelry company under scentsy, and most recently I added Scentsy.    I had all my teeth taken out in February and got dentures but they don't fit well so I can't wear them all the time:).

Travis has finally gotten his regular route back so he is usually home more often.   We went to SLC for Father's Day and Llewelyn family reunion and ended up getting a new truck for Travis.....speaking of truck did you know Travis crashed ours and it took Gieco (our previous insurance) 7.5 weeks to get it repaired.....and even though they said they would give us a rental for the whole time the only gave us one for 3 weeks:).   We are happy we have good friends who will lend us their extra vehicle!

KaCe is officially a 3rd grader and loves piano.  He prefers to go by Evan at school but is KaCe at home......nothing like confusing for mom:).   He still has glasses and ended up with another new set this year.    He has a few pressure issues in his eyes so we are watching his eyes closely.   He still is doing rather well with his PDD-NOS but some days are better than others.     He still has 1-2 meltdowns a week but that is WAY better than 2-3 a day:) so we take what we get and move forward.    Even though it is summer and warm most days he is still wearing long sleeves, 2-3 layers, and long pants....that is the one thing I don't interfere with is his clothes.....I don't see having more meltdowns just to see him not as hot.   He can learn that his own way!

Ethan is......well Ethan!    He has to take his 2 medications nightly or he does not sleep and has hyper activity issues.     We try to keep him going day to day but it is funny around our house because KaCe needs prep for any difference to the schedule and Ethan will get anxiety if we tell him ahead of time.    He loves to read, write, and build legos.    He is moving to 1st Grade but will be working on some 2nd grade items as well as he was that far ahead!   He is such a smart child and I am so glad he loves school!

Aedan.....oh man does he know way too much!    He can tell you anything he has heard, he will try to read, and he thinks and wants to be treated like a big boy.   If K and E can do it he is sure going to do it as well.    He and I had one on one time yesterday and he told he to call Grams (my mom), Nana (Travis mom), or Grandma (Travis' dad's mom) as they will get him a cozy truck by little tykes.....he knows they will spoil him:).   He is still having some issues with allergies (especially this year with seasonal allergies) so we are continuing to monitor those.

Finally our last member.....Maddie:)   Our sweet wonderful 4 year old black poodle:).  She is mine according to the state paperwork making her a service animal/companion animal for my depression.....but truly she LOVES Travis.    He walks in the door and she jumps for where ever to climb literally up his leg so he will hold her.   She loves car rides but thinks her spot is on the drivers (specifically if Travis is driving) lap!
Now what is happening this next few weeks......I will be in Billings this weekend, while the kids are in Casper with Aunt Kayla, and Travis works.   Our next big adventure starts July 2nd so I know I will update before then and definitely after that!

Meal Planning

I have had many crazy schedules over the last many years.   Trying to be mom, cook, cashier, babysitter, office assistant, Graphics Designer, wife, and a few others......but the one thing I have always had issues with is meal planning.   It is an amazing budget saver to plan ahead but we all have issues with time management or, in my case, it is often when I forget to take meat out to thaw (opps).   I wanted to give every one of you encouragement.   The encouragement to do what we all want.....healthier families for less money, less time, and less stress.   I had to search far and wide to figure out how to do this best.....and after reading many many articles I realized it is up to me on what I want this to look like.   You can take ideas from everyone but not everyone has the same issues, same life, same time restraints, or same food issues that your family do.  

 The 6 things I have found to be most important to me are:  1. Resolve to make the effort.   I find is odd that many people made new years resolutions but when we "fall of the wagon" on the first day we all say it is too hard.     I always say even a minor change is better than nothing.....but you have to put the effort into it.   2. Pick a planning style to suit your personality.  I am the plan for for 5 nights a week....never saying what days of the week they are...but that I will have these items ready to cook that week.    Other people are better at putting an exact day to a meal, and a third way I have tried and had mild success with is theme nights: ie, Monday: Italian, Tuesday: Leftovers, Wednesday: soup or sandwich.   3. Make a shopping list.   This is the most important to me...because other wise I wander the store and put miscellaneous things in my cart saying "well I need this and this for this" but when I get home I can't remember why I bought this and this.  This also helps with buying duplicates and makes you use what you have.   4. Shop strategically.  This applies to the previous one, be organized as you hit the store.  I also say this is when I plan my trip as far as when it is not busy at the store, when I have the least amount of kids, and when I am not hungry (or I make sure to take a granola bar and bottle of water because then when I say "Oh that sounds like a good snack right now" I don't open something before paying for it, setting a good example for what kids you have with you.  5. Cook perishables first.   I prep all my veggies as soon as I get home from the store.   This way it is all ready and save me time when it comes to prep.   So if you need to chop Celery and Onion you can chop and freeze then just throw it in.   It may add a few minutes of cooking time but the time is saves is more important to me.   6. Grade your efforts.   Ask for honest opinions from your family.   I hate when my hubby says "It was ok".   OK is not a grade.....is this something you would have again?  Did it cost too much?   Are you eating at 9pm because it took longer to cook than you thought?   You don't just want your family to say, "well it fed me....that is all that really matters right".    To me dinner is the time to chat, enjoy family time, and realize that nothing has to interrupt your life.

My final little tidbit that I always feel needs shared is: Put your family before your technology.   I know for some the TV, cellphones, doorbell, and iPods can take over the dinner table.    I have created a technology free zone.   When we sit at the table, the TV is off, cellphones are off or in the center of the table, we have the radio on low, and we all have to talk.   I have even created talking points; I have a jar of questions that I make someone pick from.   Often we only have to do this once a week but it starts conversations.   I have put many things in like: What was one good thing that happened today?, Did you compliment anyone today?, What do we want to do this weekend?, What was one bad choice you made or saw someone make that you would have done differently?.    It is amazing how even the 3 year old will jump in and say off the wall things....but it shows him how to participate, and we don't down play his comments because they often create new topics to spin to and shows him he matters in our family.

I want to encourage you to do what is best for your family.   I want to remind you that family is everything and meal time is often the best time to talk and catch up so that family remains important in all our lives.