A good fitness ramble...feels good

I feel too good NOT to blog.  I am a firm believer of writing or recording thoughts in the moment, ESPECIALLY the good moments, because it reflects in your tone.  You choose words that convey the emotion much better than if you try to catch up later when the excitement has dwindled.  Even still, I wish I could have written an hour ago when I was at my highest high, but, I'm still feelin' awresome, so I'm not going to let this time pass me by.  When I write at times like this, and I read it back to myself on a low day, it inspires me and perks me up.  So, here's to my future self on a bad day : )

I was back in my groove today.  Once again, the perfect morning has come to pass.  Chad and I, well, our family, started a new nightly routine last night, and a new morning routine this morning.  He has already worked out, and so have I.  It's awesome.  He's already read his scriptures.  We had family prayer last night, we stretched together, we talked about the day, the house got tidied, etc.  All those little things that you put off because you don't want to get up, got done. 

This morning, we BOTH woke up early.  I kicked booty on my hiit workouts.  Honestly, I was dripping sweat, which I LOVE, because I know I pushed myself.  It's so funny how far I've come with hiit.  I used to be so nervous before each workout, I would lollygag until I finally got the gusto to just do it.  Then when I was doing it, it wasn't that bad.  Now, I really look forward to it.  It's still hard when you're getting warmed up, your body just doesn't want to do it yet, but once you get going, it's awesome!  Just fyi, the workouts are short.  Long workouts still intimidate me.  Then when you're done you feel like a stud, you're on an energy high, and you think so clearly, and you have so much more oomph to get things done.  It's like getting my batteries charged.  ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzttttttttt!  BOOM!  PuMPED uP!!!  I learned that after you exercise, more blood goes to the reasoning centers of the brain, so you think more clearly....that's why it's easier to make better choices (like healthy food choices) after your workout.  I am starting to write my workouts down in a journal.  I'm excited to look back and see my progress.  Fun!  I gotta admit, Sundays are tough because I don't workout, and I feel sluggish throughout the day, and I never feel FULLY energized.  I don't like it.  But, it's a day of rest and I do enjoy using that freed up time to read more scriptures etc.

Before I was done, Jet and Chad went golfing with Grandpa.  Lucky me, I've only had Aijah all morning.  EASY!  I took her for a 3 1/2 mile run.  Well, holy moly, pushing a single stroller is SOOO much easier than a double, at least the one we have.  I could actually get in a groove.  I didn't have to answer Jet's questions (not that I hate to, it's just impossible to get lost in the run, which is fine, I still really like taking him too) in between breaths.  Aijahlyn was laughing and looking all over.  She loved it.  I hadn't ever taken her solo.  I just told her, "Aijah, we are going to be soul mates."  Jet and I are adventure buddies no doubt, but Aijah and I, I can already tell, all going to be besties.  Let's face it, Chad has Jet wrapped around his finger, and I have Aijah around mine.  We love them both equally, but Jet clings to Chad, and Aijah clings to me.  I haven't run that long in awhile, so I felt proud, even got some good intervals in.  I got a honk...lol....Chad and I always tease our friend who has told us he runs purposely on busy streets with his shirt off so he can get honks.  "I need my honks, Durf!"  lol.  When I heard it the honk, I just laughed, because I was in really dorky bright running clothes because all my others were dirty.

Anyway, I haven't been able to get in a running groove for awhile because of my knee, but my knee is almost better!!!    There is something about running, that wakes me up in every way.  I have great thoughts, I'm excited about the day, about life, I get ideas, I let loose, I feel free.  Don't get me wrong, it's not always like that, but it's worth staying in running shape to get one of those runs once a week or more.  This may sound sad, but this winter we went sledding in the mountains.  It was a long drive etc, and when we were done I thought, "I would have had more fun running."  I still loved going, but running is funner!

I feel like me again.  The kitchen is very usable now, not done, but pretty much, and now I can run again.  We are getting our house in order in every way, budget, routines, organization, it is all just feeling great.  I might give my best effort at being Chad's personal trainer.  I have always helped him in the past, but this time, I think I will be toughter and pretend he's a client, not a spouse!  Ah haha!

I'm excited to reach new levels of fitness, I'm excited to teach my children, I'm excited for our family routines and fun things to do togeher (Chad canceled our tv service.  I'm ecstatic.  I have been hating tv lately.  Bleck) I'm excited to tackle each day.

PS I LOVE SUMMER.  Last week we had a wake-up call with overcast weather.  Boo!  I had started not appreciating the summer weather.  Oh, it's heaven.  It's so lovely to be outside and go on so many adventures, and lay in the sun, and soak your feet in water and eat watermelon and have a garden and pick blackberries and not have to bundle up and be scared to go outside.  I have been making these herb and citrus infused drinks, sometimes ginger herb with stuff from my garden ....so refreshing, but man, they aren't nearly as good on a cold day.  Nope.  

I have been recharged.  Good thing, because this is Chad's last day off in AWHILE.  Here we go.       

While Hubby's Away

What do you do when your husband earns a 3 1/2 day Alaskan fishing trip?  You pretend you're on vacation too....well, at least you figure that's the best way to do it 1/2 way through.

I originially thought I would have the dining room all beautified and complete by the time he got home, with a chalkboard wall (with an amazingly beautiful quote in the perfect font), new chairs, a table runner and perhaps a clock.  Well, I COULD have done that, but it would have involved ignoring Jet and Aijah more than they deserved.  C'mon, their dad is gone, the last they need is a busy, frantic mom saying, "Don't touch that, the paint is still wet," "I'm almost done, we can play later." etc etc.  So, I decided that I would focus on doing fun things with the kids.  We managed to...

-hike Mt. Baldy (up one way, down the other, back up another way, and back down the original way (I didn't drive 25 minutes to hike for 1 mile, no way, and unfortunately Jet was worn out after the first hike, but I was selfish and made him do the rest.  He did it.  I tried every inspirational idea I could muster.  At one point, I gave him a piggy-back while Aijah was in the Bjorn.  It wasn't that bad, but Jet didn't like it.  Boo.  I wanted to feel like Little Miss Powerhouse.  I'll never know how tired his legs really were, but he got back to his old self once we were in the shade going downhill, for the most part.)
-Have a pool party with some friends from church
-Pick lots of blackberries
-Run through the EWEB fountains
-Have 2 picnics
-Have a super fun night with Grandma, watering plants, reading books and eating strawberry shortcakes
-Go farther than we ever have at "the place with the hills," along with the dogs, who are always ridiculously giddy there.
-Jared and Hailey watched Aijah so I could take Jet to see The Kroods.  Going to the movies is a rare treat these days (that's a big chunk of time for babysitting etc) , and I probably enjoyed it more than Jet.  lol.
-Run some pretty lame errands....lol.....that was when I was in "dining room mode"

It was just some good, relaxed times.  All I told myself was, "keep up with the house, that's it."  It was vacation in a way.  I didn't have to cook for Chad ( I'm happy just picking through the fridge, concocting as I go), or do his laundry, or tell him to pick up this or that.  I only made the bed once.  Give me a blanket and I'm good.  Normally, I put more on top of my plate, because really, you have to.  There is just more to do.  But, I put it on the back burner and focused on being a little more chill and making sure Jet and Aijah got some good lovin'.  It was good bonding time.  I learned, well relearned, the best way for me to bond with Jet, is to just be silly.  It doesn't matter what we're doing.  I LOVE shopping with him because I just talk silliness to the kid most of the time.  I did this ever since he was a baby.  It's so fun.  Accents come out, giggles abound.  Sometimes I'll play the snob, or the grouchy old lady, or stuffy old man, or Gloria from Modern Family, or just be loopy.  I forget to do this sometimes because I'm stressed and in a time crunch, and it's lame.  Why not make it fun?  When Chad comes with us, he thinks my voices are a wee bit annoying.  SOWRY!  We's just bees havins some fun.  Ah ha ha!  Daddy thinks I'm embarrassing......lol.      

Unfortunately, this morning, it was back to real life.  But, I'm working into it.  Got Jet's room a little more organized.  I kinda....er.....fell asleep for 20 minutes while Aijah and Jet were playing.  Whoopsee.  Hurrah, Aijah didn't choke on anything, she's ALIVE!!!  Thank GOODNESS!

Why is the "don't want to do list" so long lately?  Ug.  One thing at time.  Chop away.  Chop.  Chop.  CHOP!!!!!!!  I'm sick of chopping.  See?  I'm still in vacation mentality.  Chad now has to work for 9 days straight.  Lovely.  Anyone want to take Jet shopping with them?  I promise he'll make you laugh.  : )
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Adventures

 We have managed to fit in some adventures over the past few months.  First, Aijahlyn and me at the "park with the big hills."  After a 1/4 mile walk, there are some hills we always run down, over and over. 

 Here we are, mid-downhill.  Obviously, she loved it.  Normally, Jet comes too.  I can't remember why it was just Aijah, the dogs, and me.

 This was a great outing.  It was in the late Spring, on a day that felt like Summer.    We rocked that tire swing.  Aijah picked a lot of grass.  : )

 Bless you!

 Found an earlier pic of the kitchen.  NBA playoffs...lol.

Tried a new spot.  GREAT!  I posted a city map in Jet's room, and we are writing down where we have been.  So far, we have been to 5 new spots.  Very proud of us.  He's always been my adventure buddy, and now Aijah is too.

I have been wanting to hike Spencer's Butte for a long time.  I told Jet I would take him once my knee felt better.  Well, I mentioned it a little too soon one morning, and I committed to it before I really should have.  I wasn't sure he could do it (I hadn't been for years, so I didn't remember how hard it was or wasn't), and it was getting hot fast, and it's a big chunk of time.  Well, I told him I would, so we did.  He did awesome!  Yeah....it's REALLY rocky at the top with serious drop-offs, not the safest place.  Ooops, bad mommy.  We went slow at that part.  Honestly, we just had to concentrate on one step at a time, or it would have felt like it was too far and too overwhelming trying to keep us all safe.  But, we did it.  We felt like such studs at the top.  I'm still so proud of him.  Aijah fell asleep on the way down.  It was a bit brutal on the recouping knee, but it was worth it.  He has total bragging rights now.

Kitchen Pics

 

All these pics start when we were already had taken the center wall from the house, and are taken over the course of several weeks.  Above, the peninsula is out, and Chad is demolishing the bulkhead.  And yes, we are great parents and kept Aijah there for a few minutes.  eek.

 Then we had to take down ALL the sheet-rock.  Chad and yours truly on duty.  This is where all the loads to the dump came in.  Piles and piles.  Where the dark couch is, there used to be a wall, from the far edge of the couch, to the metal wall.

 This was the kitchen for a few weeks.  That range wasn't operational.  The fridge was in the garage for weeks.

This is a few weeks later.  The main "kitchen" had been moved to the living room for another few weeks.  

 Some cabinets in.  New fridge actually in the house.

 

Here is the "cooking station."  Griddle, which Dakota would try to lick clean if I didn't keep the plates turned over.  Ug.  Toaster that only works if you still a rice-cooker spoon in it (thanks Miss Congeniality for the idea, worked like a charm).  Garbage and recycle.  Little dresser for towels, utensils, and a bread drawer.  Chad was living off homemade burritos and sandwiches in his lunch.  Mostly, things that could be packed in a baggy he could throw away, so I didn't have more dishes to do in the bathtub.  Several weeks without a kitchen sink.  Only a week w/o sinks in general.  Brushing teeth using the bathtub just feels wrong.   The place we got the granite, has a special deal where you get free granite for your bathrooms, minus install cost....so ofcourse we took advantage of that...but, just more to do on top of it all.  Then when the granite was in, it made everything else look bad, so I had to repaint the bathroom.  Then the windowsill was terrible, but I noticed all the sills in the house were bad, so might as well do them all while the supplies are out.  

 Finally, a kitchen-ISH.  A sink!  A SINK!!!!   A range!!!!  No more griddle.  During our weeks of griddling, I did manage to make soup in a pot on top of the griddle, but oi, we'll pretend it didn't take an hour.  A pot on a griddle only gets to about a medium-low heat.  Torture. 

Getting there.  At least the kitchen is very usable at this point.  So lovely!!!  So excited to get bar stools, and have floating shelves.  Still have to install, backsplash, pendants, rangehood, appliances, floor and some more.  Always more.  More, more more.  But honestly, we're over the hump.

OH MY GOSH.  Talk about your life being turned upside down.  This has been a challenge.  It has been 2 months.  I'm finally starting to feel like myself.  It just stinks when a big part of your life, (cooking for everyone in your house) turns into total chaos, and there is this constant project hanging over your head, and there is only so much you can do, there is only so much other people can do at certain times, and on and on. 

Somewhere in the middle of it I told myself, well, if I work REALLY hard on the rest of the house during this, then the whole house will be in great shape when this is done.  Bad idea.  Then I went even more crazy, feeling like there was too much to do all the time, and basic needs of every one were getting neglected.  So, I had to pull back and say, life is just gonna be about taking care of each other during this situation.  I don't need to be adding more to the plate in an effort to gain more order in other parts of the house.  Let's just focus on this right now.  So, we started doing more fun things, and went on some adventures, and the house just was a disaster.  That worked for awhile.  Then, the disaster was overwhelming.  People would stop by to see the progress of the house, and it would be a  embarrassing because of the mess.  Piles of various projects here and there; piles of floorboards, piles of items from Jerry's, dishes everywhere, Jet's robots everywhere, furniture in weird places, baby playpen and exersaucer in the middle of the living room etc. 

Needless to say, my life the past 2 months has been all about, what else do we have to get done?  What's next?  What do I have to get ready?  What do I have to clean?  What to I have to get out of the way?  This weekend, I couldn't even relax very well, because I've been in this constant, MUST-GET-STUFF-DONE mode.  But yesterday, after I got most of the whole house clean, and I was able to make a meal for my family, and take a shower and stretch and have fun with our kids, I felt great.  I remembered what it's like to just live like I used to.  It also helped reading my old blogs.  They helped me remember how I was before all this.    Oh yeah, I used to be fun, and not a stressed dorkwad.  I was so glad that I had written those blogs.  It feels so good having this project coming to an end. 

Thwarted

I have been wanting to do adventures.  I have been wanting to enjoy the oncoming of summer.  I have been wanting to be easy-goin' and chip-chip-chipper, but I've been THWARTED....obstacle after obstacle, tripping me up. 

Kitchen.  I spend so much time in the kitchen.  It's a source of peace for me.  It's a mess.  And, the remaining remodeling tunnel is LONG.  Must keep going.  The chaos has almost become a new normal.  Not cool.  I have this odd makeshift kitchen set-up on the fireplace bench....microwave, waffle maker, toaster, (that just broke, figures) and griddle (gotta have eggs).  A dresser for utensils.  Kitchen table for countertop.  A pile of cutting boards.  A big bowl for a sink (dirty dish pile). 

Water heater broke the day before yesterday.  Somehow.  Yes....no luxuries here.   No range, no kitchen sink, no dishwasher, and now, NO HOT WATER.  AND....NO HEAT!!! Because we had to turn the gas off.  So.....off to Grandma's for warmth, mac and cheese, and baths.  THANK YOU!!!  And yes, it's rainy and cold today.  Ofcourse. 

Knee injury.  It's pretty stupid to be reading an inspiring running book, when you can't run.  It's so frustrating.  The perfect summer was ahead with races and new trails.  No HIIT either.  Too rough on the knees.  That was my morning jolt.  Well, it will force me cross-train.  Learn something new.  But really, I want my faves. : ( 

Always another project.  Sheet rock comes out.  4 loads to the dump.  New drywall goes in.  Prime before bed.  Paint early.  Paint again.  Needs another coat.  Patch another part.  Do the same thing.  Stay up late putting in cabinets.  Well, Chad and friend worked on cabinets.  I watched 5 kids in a tiny bedroom.  Oh, it's the weekend?  Even more work!   

Keep up with the joke of a garden.  I feel so lost.  SO many things aren't growing.  So, I planted more.  Will those grow?  Who knows.  Then I look at all the work for two rows of lettuce and I think....what is that gonna make?  One big bowl of salad....that only I eat?!  I mean, I'll love it, but I just think I did the layout wrong or something.  How did people ever live off their own garden?!  I guess, I started from scratch.  I made long mounds, rotated, tilled (with a hand-tiller thingy), mixed in compost....all so I could plant the seeds and have them be really healthy.  So i thought.  But next year, there will be much less work.  A lot of the work has just been researching and trying to learn how to do it right.  I did start with some questionable seeds, so that doesn't help.  No LCC seed swap next year.  I'll preserve my own seeds this year.  But, there is another thing to research, learn, and do.

Then today, I had plans for getting lots of things done, but they involved the truck and dry weather.  No dry weather.  No chores done.  Dogs still couped-up.  Plans thwarted.   

Used the gym for the first time in ages, so I could use their shower.  Used the elliptical too.  It was nice to get some cardio.  It's been awhile.

Chad has longer hours for the next two weeks too.  Hurrah!  

But hey, none of us are sick!  Our family is great.  Aijah has learned to stand on her own.  Jet says great prayers.  Really, they are very entertaining and sweet, and quite long.  lol.  I've stayed in my sweats all day, but at least I'm clean, even my hair.  We'll pretend I didn't hoover crappy carbs all morning out of stress.  yikes.  My wonderful father-in-law came over to help me with the water heater guy.  Thank goodness.  I got to watch the last 1/3 of Wreck-it Ralph with Jet, snuggling on the couch w/a fluffy blanket.  At that moment, I just silently thanked the people who make happy movies, because it's just what we needed to chase the stresses away.

Perhaps I should have put this in a more personal journal?  I wonder sometimes.  Ol' well.  "Publish"

Well, how about a theme song for the rest of the day?

"Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride, nobody gonna slow me down, oh no, I've got to keep on movin'."

What are a few boulders down a path, but a few detours to make the trip interesting?  Nay? 
  

The Crazy Kitchen Lady

I really should get some cleaning done, but I'm going to do some mental cleaning instead.  That's what journaling and/or blogging is for me.  It just helps me sort my thoughts and find my mojo, like going for a run.  It's actually become a little afternoon routine for me.  Love it.  Though it normally ends with a baby waking up, and a torn feeling of, I should have gotten something else done, but I really needed that.  Normally, I drink tea too, but with the state of our kitchen, making a cup of tea involves 4 different rooms (bathroom for water, kitchen for cup, garage for fridge (need cream!) and living room for microwave).  Tea is SANI-TEA....as in, sanity!  Not sanitary tea....haha.  Decaf and herbal....alright....I'm kicking out some regular chai soon.  Honestly, I haven't bought any for a long time, and won't anymore.  I'm doing good.

Mental spew of BOOs (negative things)

-no sink, range, or dishwasher
-running injury that keeps lingering
-messy house
-precious seedlings getting eaten by slugs
-10% of seeds planted actually growing!!!  ug!  I suck at this!
-drywall guy bailing
-feeling like I have a limb cut off because I don't really have a kitchen.  I'm pretending we're camping.
-Having to go to my parents to cook a big batch of meatballs for the week.  Annoying my dad with a cranky baby, and loud dogs barking in the back of the truck (and the neighborhood, for that matter, oi)
-Doing dishes in the bathtub
-Working on ANOTHER load to the dump, because we took down two more walls of sheet-rock, thanks to the drywall guy who bailed.  
-I have eating issues and think about food way too much

HURRAHs (positive things)

-Getting a new kitchen...I really need to focus on WHY we are going through all this.  It will be worth it!  Really, it's not that bad.  Wah!!! Jessica, Wah!  You still have food and electricity and water.  Shut yo' yappa!
-Beautiful weather
-Lunch w/Jet on the deck, under the new umbrella.  I love eating lunch w/that boy.  So fun.  Today, he tried his first caper.
-ricotta has been rocking my world lately....and peanut butter.  and pesto.  Not together.  Well, the first and last
-Dean Karnazes books (Ultramarathon man)  So inspiring.  This guy makes you rethink some basic beliefs of pushing the limits.  Right now, I'm applying the principles to the kitchen, and not running.  haha.  "One step at a time....will eventually get you to run 150 miles."  "Pain is the body's way of ridding sissiness."  Those aren't real quotes from the book. 


Alright, let's cut to the chase.  The real reason I'm feeling like I'm running amok is because of the kitchen.  That's all.  It's bound to happen.  SO....I'm going to cut my self some slack, realize it's gonna be a bit chaotic 'round here, and go with it.  No big deal.  If I'm feeling off, I'm blaming it on the kitchen.  That darn kitchen.  Makes peoples get all crazies!  Cheese and Crackahs! Watch out for the crazy lady, she's kitchenless!  Bah!!!!

Let's ignore the house.

I'm so silly.  The other day I read a quote by Thoreau, basically saying that the less one has, the more free one is.  I remember learning that lesson when Chad was unemployed and we were living at his parents.  Stuff takes time and energy.  Caring for it, maintaining it, storing it, organizing it, etc etc etc.  Stuff can be such a waste of time.  So much of it is fluff, and not really important.  The kitchen will be wonderful, but really, it's stuff.  It's not that important.  The best part will be the new layout....being able to be WITH the family when I'm cooking, and having everything be open.  THAT, is a life changer.  Getting new cabinets? Nah.  It will also be wonderful to have people come over and spend time together.  THAT will be awesome.   

I want to simplify.  So much stuff.  Sometimes, it's a burden.  I want to purge.  Get rid of it!  Focus on relationships and living.  My relationship with my Heavenly Father, my family, my bigger family.  Family is the best.  Don't you love that quote in that mormon message, "Children are what God gave you time for."  What is life for?  To make it back with our families.  I love my family so much.  They are the joy of my life.  They are the hug, literally and figuratively, at the end of the day.  I love the brightness in Jet's eyes, Aijah's innocent excitement at the smallest things, Chad's willingness to listen to everything I have to say, even when it's silly, and still truly care about it. 

What's a few weeks of kitchen catastrophe?  Meh.....nothin'.  Bring it.

Heads on straight.  Isn't writing great?  Ha....baby just woke up.  Whudya know? 

  

Life During a Kitchen Remodel

We're in the thick of it.  Luckily, we're just hackin' away at a steady pace. 

Really, so far, it's been a series of tearing down various things (walls, cabinets, moldings, ceiling), cleaning up the mess (loads to the dump), and cleaning up all the debris to make the house livable, and then cleaning it more so a baby can actually crawl around safely.  Emptying cabinets.  Finding temporary places for all the stuff that was in the cabinets.  Sell this to make room for this.  Call this guy for this.  When will he be here? 

New fridge is the garage.  Luckily, still have all the other appliances in the house.  So many trips to the garage, especially for us food divas.   

Using our table as a kitchen island, a bookcase as a cupboard, and a hallway dresser for drawers. 

Always various 2 by 4s exposed somewhere.  Center wall, back wall, the whole center of the house. 

Temporary beam wasn't holding up the ceiling enough, and had an emergency beam install.  All is well. 

Accidentally chopped a wire.  No electricity in our bedroom and Jet's room for the past week and half. 

I have learned that I feel like a stud taking loads to the dump, just me and the kids.  I can heft huge pieces of wood and sheet-rock into the truck, and later throw them into a big pit.  It's a fun, vigorous, and makes me say, RAR! and flex my muscles...when I get home.  lol.  Who needs to wait for Chad for help?  I got this.

But honestly, I already love our kitchen so much better because of the open layout.  Life changing!  Tonight, Chad was watching NBA playoffs, and I was chopping some produce (my zen activity....I love to chop) and we were hanging out together.  He was feet away, and not behind a wall!  We could easily converse about the day.  No yelling, can you bring me this?!  More like, hand that to me, at a normal volume.  ok, no prob.  So, what was your fave part of the day?  Right now.  I know, this is so nice! 

Scared to be sinkless soon.  Yikes.  tehe