Sunday Night Chit Chat

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!  And since it is Sunday, it is time once again for Sunday Night Chit-Chat...hosted by our friend Carla! 

 

To play along simply start your post with a photo or quote... Copy and paste the starters and link up to Carla so she and others can visit you and see what you've been up to!

So here goes:



 

Benjamin's new favorite game is to pick things up in the living and dining room and drop them over the gate into the kitchen!

 

• Reading?
• Listening to?  The TV is on to Paw Patrol (a kids cartoon). The kids being nuts!
• Watching? The kids are watching cartoons. I watched football with my dear hubby earlier. Unfortunately the Packers lost to the 49ers! :(
• Cooking/Baking? Tonight for dinner I made cheeseburgers and veggies. Really should make some muffins or bread soon, but have to get baking soda at the store first.
• Happy you accomplished this week? started the C25K training
• Looking forward to next week? This is going to be another busy, busy week. School pictures are tomorrow. Hopefully will get into a routine soon with life.
• Thankful for today? Simple Sundays spent with my family.   
• *Bonus Question* Do you have a celebrity crush? Ummm....Robert Downey Jr., Hugh Jackman, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers....

So there you have it. A little glimpse into my world on this Sunday night! Hope everyone has a wonderful week and remember to link up to our wonderful chat host Carla! :)

C25K...Am I insane??

Last March/April, I made a bet with my husband in conjunction with "March Madness." If I won the tournament bracket challenge, he had to give up all fast food. If he won the challenge, I would have to train and run a 5K. I HATE running! I will say it again, I HATE running! I am not built to be a  runner.

Well....I lost the bet......

Bill was kind enough to give me a year to pay off the bet.

Fast forward to the beginning of September. With hubby having trained and run in his half marathon, I figured I had better start training and getting ready to pay off my bet.

I decided that it was time to do this because I gained some weight over the summer and I just don't feel good about myself.

So I did some research, talked to some friends who are runners, and over and over I was given the "Couch to 5K" program to try.

I googled the program and decided to follow the training program here. Basically you start by interspersing walking and short running and then each week you run a little longer and walk less.

Last week I did the first week of workouts. For the first week, you are supposed to warm up for 5 minutes, then alternate  60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes (8 times), then do a cool down of 5 minute walking.

After workout #1 (Monday) I felt exhausted and I hated that I couldn't run for 60 seconds without getting winded . It was horrible! I felt like I wanted/needed to pass out! It was awful! But...I did it.

Workout #2 (Wednesday) wasn't much better.

Workout #3 (Friday) was better. My legs didn't feel like lead and were not as sore.

Today, I had to decide whether to do another week 1 workout, or move on to week 2. Week 2 is basically walk 5 minute warm up, then alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 6 cycles, followed by a 5 minute walking cool down.  When I headed out this afternoon, I decided to see when I got tired of jogging and if it was under 45 seconds I would repeat a week 1 workout, if it was after 45 seconds then I would do a week 2 workout. Well....the first time I looked down at my stopwatch for the run it said 92 seconds! So I decided to do a week 2 workout. Today's workout felt really good. I am beginning to think that I can do this.

My ultimate goal is to run most of a 5K in the beginning of November put on for the benefit of "Food for the Hungry" for our local county. I am hoping that I can do this. And as a side benefit I really want to lose some weight so hopefully that will happen as well.

I am not a runner, but maybe just maybe I can do this.

Are you a runner? Do you workout? Any tips for me?

Summer Bucket List Final Check-in

At the beginning of the summer, I made a summer family bucket list that listed things that I wanted to do with our family. I was doing this as a way to be intentional with how we spent our time over the summer and not just end up watching TV and lounging around. Well it is now September 6-- AFTER LABOR DAY, so after the end of summer...so I thought I would do a check-in to see how we did and what did we accomplish!

2013 Summer Family Bucket List

Visit the Zoo-DONE!

Wash the car/van by hand with the kids' help-DONE!

Play at the park at least once every 2 weeks--DONE!

Have a picnic on a blanket on the grass-- Nope--although we did have at least 3 picnics on picnic tables at the park.

Go to Chuck E. Cheese---DONE!

Catholic Kidz Camp for Rebecca (Vacation Bible School)---DONE! She had a blast!

Make Smores in the sun--NOPE

Pick strawberries---DONE!

Eat lunch on the porch---NOPE

Play tag in the yard--NOPE

Go to the library at least once every 2 weeks--DONE!.

Attend the Knox County Fair--DONE!

Go to Ye Olde Mill for Ice Cream--NOPE

Mini golf --NOPE, partly because there is not a mini golf place anywhere near us :(

Go to the Children's Garden---DONE

Take Rebecca to the movies--NOPE

Watch fireworks on the 4th of July---DONE, wasn't on the 4th, but the night of the 3rd when our town had theirs.

Overall not too bad! I am happy with the things that we accomplished this summer. I feel that it was a very more intentional summer and that is a good thing! :)

Now I need to look ahead to fall and see what I want to accomplish before the cold weather hits.

Did you have a good summer?

Lysol Power and Free Cleaners! (review)

One of the things that I hate the most about deep cleaning is the overwhelming smell of bleach and chemicals. I especially notice this now that I have kids. Well I don't need to worry any more...

Lysol^® Power & Free^™ delivers more cleaning power than bleach— without the harshness! The cleaners are powered by hydrogen peroxide (which turns into water and oxygen as it attacks tough stains), so you get a pristine home that’s free from harmful fumes and chemical residue.

I was recently given the opportunity from Bzzagent to try these wonderful cleaners. And I was impressed. I grew up thinking that the whole house had to smell like bleach in order for it to be considered clean. Well no more....

I took the Lysol Power and Free Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes and used them clean my stove vent. You know the vent...over the stove that gets icky with grease buildup and just dusty and gross.

Here is my before:

 

SO GROSS!!! It was sticky and the buildup didn't move at all with a normal paper towel. It was gross!

Wiped it down with the Lysol Power and Free Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes and the result was....

A dirty cleaning wipe....

 

And a nice clean stove vent!

I love the fact that it didn't smell like bleach. Instead it was a pleasant natural scent. I love the fact that I can use these in my kitchen around where I am preparing food. I love that I can use these around my kids without worry!

As a member of Bzzagent.com I was sent this product to try. As a result of my trial, I am looking forward to purchasing the other Lysol Power and Free Cleaners! They have many available including:

• Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Multi-Purpose Cleaner (Great for cleaning many household areas, including surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom )
• NEW! Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes  (Great for quick clean ups and disinfection of all kinds of kitchen and bathroom surfaces like counters, sinks, and more)
• Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Bathroom Cleaner (Cuts through stubborn stains like soap scum in tubs and on shower doors)
• Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Toilet Bowl Cleaner  (Cuts through toilet grime and even tough stains like rust and limescale)
• Lysol^® Power & Free^™ Toilet & Bathroom Wipes  (Great on a variety of surfaces, including: sinks, bathtubs, toilet seats, shower doors, and bathroom fixtures)

I love that I am now able to clean and keep my family healthy without having to smell chemicals and put my kids at risk of touching bleach! Lysol Power and Free Cleaners are my go to choice now!

Disclaimer: I received free product coupons for these items in exchange for an honest review from Bzzagent.com. All opinions expressed are my own.

A little bit of this and that.....

Sorry for the unannounced blogging break....life happens and time got away from me. At the end of the day I was just too tired to write.....I hope to get into a better routine this week. We will see....

My days have been filled with housework, being back to work, making sure Rebecca has what she needs done for first grade (book bag packed, lunch packed, gym bag packed, etc.), potty training Jacob (yes it is still on going), trying to get into a routine of when to go grocery shopping and when to go snack shopping for work, trying to get into a rhythm of scheduling with hubby's work schedule and my own schedule, etc.

We have also been spending a lot of time at the softball field with Rebecca. Last week she had 2 games and 2 practices....

Also I have decided that in order to pay off a bet with my dear Hubby, I began the "Couch to 5K" program yesterday.(Yeah, I am just a little sore today! LOL)

So life is going on...I have so much I want to do in regards to finances, working on my health, and just making our life better.....I just don't seem to have the time or energy to do it all.

Oh and I woke up this morning with a stuffed up nose....

Well I must go and fold laundry or else I will have nothing to wear to work....

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

He did it! He did it! He did it!

You might be wondering "what in the world is Rachel talking about? "

Well....

Sunday morning, my dear Hubby, ran in and completed a half marathon! That is 13.1 miles!!! Running! All the way!!! That is insane!!!

The race was "The Emerald City Half and Quarter Marathon." held in Dublin, Ohio.

Sunday morning, Dear Hubby and I were up at and out the door at 4:45am for an hour drive to Dublin for his first half marathon.

To say that Hubby was nervous would be an understatement. (In truth, he drove me nuts for the 2 days prior because he was so nervous). Upon arrival, we parked and walked to the starting line so hubby could pick up his shirt and bib. Then we stood around and waited for the start. (It actually was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic on one of the main roads that the runners would be running on....)

There was over 3000 runners there....

Hubby got off to a great start....

While he ran, I went back to the van and sat and read some of a library book. I then walked over the grocery store and got a frappucchino from Starbucks (not the brightest thing for me to get!) and a couple of donuts for breakfast.

Around 9:15am I went back over to the finish line to wait for Bill, as he said his goal was to run it in under 2 hours and 20 minutes. So I waited for him....I watched other runners come through. There was a couple who looked like they were in their 70s running hand in hand. It was really sweet! I saw a father and son duo who were running in the quarter marathon come through....Then I saw him coming toward the finish line.

He ran in 2:16:33.72! That is AWESOME for a first time half marathon!

After he was done, we went to McDonalds so he could change into non-sweaty (AKA- non-stinky) clothes for the hour long car ride home and to get him some food. Then we headed home. That night we had my family over for Ron's Pizza to celebrate Bill's accomplishment! And to thank my sister for coming over and spending the night Saturday night into Sunday and watching our kids so that I could be there for my husband.

Bill is 41 years old. He will tell you that he is overweight. He started running around a year ago. He has since competed in a 4 mile run, a 5K and now a half-marathon! He ran in this for himself and for our family. He ran this race in memory of our son, Travis, who was born silently into Heaven September 21, 2008 (he has Travis' name and date of birth on his headband). He ran in memory of a high school runner that he befriended named Nick who was a runner and who died in a tragic auto accident a couple of years ago. Bill is an inspiration to me and I hope to our children!

Have you or someone you know done anything recently that you are proud of?

Do you think you could run in a half-marathon?  

Softball

I was a soccer mom.....

Now I am a softball mom!

In the field for the first time

Rebecca is playing softball this fall in our community league. She is on a 8 and under team and is having a blast so far. She has had a few practices and a scrimmage, but last night was her first game!

Getting a hit!

She did great!

After getting a hit! On first base...

She had 2 hits, scored 2 runs and had a RBI! GO REBECCA!!!!

Scoring a run!

It made for a late night. She was in school from 7:45-2:15; in the afterschool care program with me until her dad picked her up at 5:10 to take her to the ballfield. I went straight from work to the ballfield. Her game started at 6. We got home around 8:10. Then snacks, bathtime and bedtime. She finally got to bed at 9:30. Makes for a long day. Thankfully at this age, there is usually only 1 game during the week, with the other game being on Saturdays.

Clowning around in the dugout with her teammates!

Overall, though Rebecca did great. She loves playing softball and gets along with her teammates! And it is a great experience for her.

Do your children play sports?

And we have a first grader!

Yesterday was Rebecca's first day of school! It is hard to believe that she is in the first grade! She was nervous and excited!

Well I am glad to say that she said she LOVED first grade and I think she is excited to learn all the new things.

I am so thankful to have a daughter who LOVES school!

Have your children started back to school yet (either in a brick and mortar school or homeschool)?

Do your kids like school?

I feel like...

....a chicken running around with my head cut off!

So much to do....getting ready for back to school, trying to eek out the last week of summer vacation, running to and from the softball field for Rebecca's practices, running to and from work when I can get Bill to be home, going through all the motions with potty training a boy (which is going to make me go grey!), and Bill just called to tell me that the transmission is acting up again in the car....UGGHHHH! .....LOTS going on and NO TIME for anything else!!!!

I hope to get back on track soon with blogging....trying to get into some sort of routine for back to school.....

Children's Garden with the Grandparents

I like my in-laws. I really do. They can be very annoying and very opinionated at times, but that is just who they are. I truly believe that our children need to be raised with the opportunity to have a relationship with their grandparents, even if Bill and I don't always see eye to eye with them.

They live over an hour away, are retired (my mother-in-law will turn 80 in November) and we see them maybe 2 times a month if that. Usually, it is easier if they come visit us...since it is hard to pack the 3 kids up for the full day that would be a visit and their house is NOT childproof at all!

Well yesterday, was one of those days. Alot of times they come up, will bring KFC for lunch and we will just sit around the house and talk. Well, I wanted to do something a little different so I suggested that we get lunch (NOT KFC!) and go eat at the Children's Garden. My mother-in-law agreed that that was a great idea! (Surprises do happen! Bill was certain she wouldn't want to do it!)

So we packed everyone up and headed out. Bill and Rebecca went with his Mom and Stepdad to Burger King to pick up lunch and the boys and I went to the Children's Garden to snag a picnic table.

It turned out to be a really nice afternoon with beautiful sunshine and a nice breeze....

 

The kids loved playing on the train. Benjamin even climbed up onto it for the first time. (It was also the first time he ever climbed up onto something, which means I need to figure out a way to block our stairs....)

We took lots and lots of pictures...

I even taught my in-laws how to use the timer function on their camera so everyone could be in the picture.

We saw LOTS of butterflies and some birds. The kids and my in-laws found a toad in one of the ponds.

Rebecca wanted to be the photographer so I handed over the camera and she took lots of photos of beautiful flowers.

Overall, it was a very nice afternoon spent with my family and my in-laws.

Do you get along with your in-laws? Do you do anything special with them?

School supply shopping

2 weeks from today, Rebecca heads to 1st grade! (Really, how did I become the mother of a first grader????) To prepare, we had to go school supply shopping of course.

When we picked her report card up for Kindergarten, they included the supply list for first grade so that we could shop all summer if we wanted. Well I wanted to wait until the back to school sales started.

Well, last week we went and did all of her supply shopping. And I found that items were not as cheap as last year, but that I still spent less than $100 on her supplies....

Here is her supplies for this year...

And I spent a grand total of: $67.22.

Not too bad. Some of the items were very specific and thus more expensive. For example the watercolors were $4.97 because the art teacher wants "Prang" brand. I understand because they last longer and are brighter colors. I would rather spend good money up front for supplies to last, than buy the $0.50 container and have them be no good.

One blessing this year is that we don't have to buy any uniform stuff, as she still has uniforms from last year that fit. I did have to get her a pack of white socks and shoes but I was able to find a pair of school shoes for $5 on clearance. Yahoo!

So Rebecca is all set for back to school. As for me, I am ready and I am not ready. It is a mix of emotions. Back to school for Rebecca means back to work for me, so that will be a change from summer. It will be nice to get a paycheck again (I don't get paid over the summer months).

Are your children ready for back to school? How much are you spending on supplies?

I went to the movies....

I am not really a movie person. I get in the mood to see one maybe once a year, if that. I have never really been a movie or TV watcher. However, my dear hubby is. He LOVES watching movies, even though he really doesn't have a lot of time to do that.

Well Thursday afternoon, I got a babysitter for the kids and surprised dear Hubby with a trip to the movies. We went to see The Wolverine....

What can I say...Hugh Jackman shirtless!!! I can say that he is an attractive man when he is cleaned up a bit...lol...hubby likes to tease me that I only went to see it so I can see the bathtub scene where Jackman is naked. Not really...

Anyhow, the movie was very good. I thought that there were maybe a tad too many fighting scenes, but it was an action/superhero movie so I should have expected it. I have read reviews on line that were complaining that there wasn't more grittiness and gore, but that is perfectly okay with me. I don't need to see a lot of blood to get the point across that people are dying or being killed. Overall, it was an interesting storyline and kept me engaged. There was moments of humor and heartbreak, along with romance and lots of intrigue. Overall, I would recommend it!

Are you a movie goer? What was the last movie you saw in the the theater?

Update on Summer Bucket List #2

At the beginning of the summer, I made a summer family bucket list that listed things that I wanted to do with our family. I was doing this as a way to be intentional with how we spent our time over the summer and not just end up watching TV and lounging around. Well it is now August 1...so I thought I would do a check-in to see how we are coming with our bucket list and to see what we still need to fit in during the next 2.5 weeks before school is back in session!

 

2013 Summer Family Bucket List

 Visit the Zoo-DONE!

Wash the car/van by hand with the kids' help-DONE!

Play at the park at least once every 2 weeks--went to the park 2 times in June and 2 times in July!

Have a picnic on a blanket on the grass

Go to Chuck E. Cheese---DONE!

Catholic Kidz Camp for Rebecca (Vacation Bible School)---DONE! She had a blast!

Make Smores in the sun

Pick strawberries---DONE!

Eat lunch on the porch

Play tag in the yard

Go to the library at least once every 2 weeks---ongoing, we have been going every week.

Attend the Knox County Fair--DONE!

Go to Ye Olde Mill for Ice Cream

Mini golf

Go to the Children's Garden---DONE

Take Rebecca to the movies

Watch fireworks on the 4th of July---DONE, wasn't on the 4th, but the night of the 3rd when our town had theirs.

 

Not too bad! We still need to go to the mill for ice cream, to the movies, eat luch on the porch, play tag in the yard, make smores, and have a picnic! We have done so much though! I notice that I have been more intentional with what we are doing and the plans that we are making. It has made for a great summer so far. Looking forward to seeing what adventures August will bring.

 

What have you been up to over the month of July or during the summer?