Family Home Evening Activity

Now that I finished my quals, I had time to set things up for this cool ball returner. (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa M). It was designed to return baseballs but the kids only want to throw tennis balls. Maybe it has something to do with them both getting hit by the ball the last time we played catch. Translation: I beaned both my kids.

:(

Here is a video of the returner in action.

The results are in!

I officially completed my 7 Day Challenge! Here are some of my results of my experience:

• My hips are 1 inch smaller
• I lost 4 pounds (which mostly came off my bust - I can button shirts again!)
• I started exercising regularly after a loooooong break
• When I eat, I have more controlled portion sizes, rather than just eating until all the food is gone.
• I'm much more hydrated, and Elizabeth knows how to ask for water using the sign. 

Was it hard? Yes. Was it worth it? Definitely. Am I going to keep going? That is my plan.

Homemade pitas

Mmmmm.... whole wheat pitas.....

Making homemade pitas gives me a certain virtuous feeling. After the dough rises, it is soft like newborn baby legs. My favorite part of the whole process is watching the pitas puff up in the oven. With my first batch, I was so delighted that I clapped my hands and called to my children to come see the amazing thing that was happening in the oven.

I made them 3x last week because we all love them so. The second time I made them, Ethan and Scott were the ones to roll them out! I was so proud.

If you need a good recipe, check out this one - I followed it pretty closely. I have made it using a blend of white and wheat flour AND using all wheat flour and gluten. Both are good.


As a side note, Elizabeth is now on double ear infection #3, as of last Friday. She is taking Omnicef this time. After #4, which I am certain will be here in not too long, she is a candidate for tubes in her little ears.

New day, new beginning

It's a new day, and like every day, a new beginning. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning last night getting ready for today - grocery shopping, doing laundry, getting the dishes into the dishwasher, and baking English Muffin Bread - and I am determined to be happy and cheerful today even though I am tired. So far so good.

Yesterday, Mr. M and I spent some time looking at our Quicken reports for last year. We have some savings goals, and in order to make them, we have decided to try two things for the next month: making homemade pizza on our weekly pizza night and baking our own bread. By my estimates, we will save at least $100 this month.

It's also Day 1 of the 7 Day Challenge from KristiApproved.com. I was inspired by another blogger's experience to check it out. The principles are sensible - nutrition, hydration, resistance training, cardio training, rest, supplementation, and accountability. Ideally, I'd have a friend or family member doing this challenge with me, but since I don't, I am sharing (some of) my experiences here. If you'd like to join me, leave me a comment or send me a note.

Catching up with 2011!

Time flies when you're having fun, and here is some of the fun we've been having:


We spent Thanksgiving in Houston with friends whose parents taught us how to make traditional Spanish dishes - paella, gazpacho, and tortilla (not pictured) - yummy!



We finally got a water softener from AWS. I also have to point out our epoxy-painted garage floor (I did it myself), as well as the lovely trim, which our amazing realtors and friends, Bill & Anna, put in.



The boys and I ventured out into beautiful Texas hill country to find a Christmas tree while Mr. M worked on his qualifying exams and end-of-semester things.



Elizabeth got a 2nd ear infection, less than a week after being done with the first. Here she is tearing around the doctor's waiting area. I think she looks just like my grandpa J.O. with that expression on her face.



Ethan sang carols at the Westin Legendary Holidays. There was bubble snow at the end, which Scott loved (the picture doesn't capture his glee. At all.). The boys also got to eat cookies and hot cider, color ornaments, and decorate gingerbread cookies.



Ethan turned 8 and got baptized. Here he is with his school friend, G.



My parents came for the baptism and stayed for a few days. We had a taste of the Riverwalk when it is crowded, the last weekend of carolers and lights.



Uncle Shaun came for Christmas. Somehow I have no photos of all our family feasts and gatherings, so here's The Girl, enjoying some spaghetti.



Here's our tree on Christmas morning. There are ornaments only on the parts of the tree that Elizabeth could not reach, although it didn't start out that way. Do you see those amazing balancing stocking hooks on the mantle? They were one of my favorite finds this Christmas.

2011 is already off to an exciting beginning. Mr. M is turning in his qualifying exam in 1 week, and I'm off to DC in 2 days to visit Neal and Candice before their move to Saudi Arabia.