We're still going gluten free...

and I honestly think it is messing with her ability to bring her homework from school to the house.  I guess they had a ton of it tonight, but of course it's not here.  I told her I would still love her if she had to repeat 3rd grade.

Abs used to constantly make her own meals, and now I refuse to let her.  She has to eat what is served, which is what I used to do before Gunner deployed when I was pregnant with Junior and well, good intentions flew out the window.

We have juiced.

We have baked.  She loved the muffins I made.  The gluten free brownies out of a Betty Crocker box, were actually really good.

We still haven't stumbled on a mac and cheese that she's liked, but we are trying. 

Now The Mrs. is having a giveaway with gluten free lollipops.  It has to be better than what Abs was eating out of her Halloween basked in the fall!

This morning I heard the loudspeakers go off, and they kept going off repeatedly, but I just ignored them.  Abs was already at the bus stop, and it was a few minutes before her bus was to come and a siren went off.  I figured I would sit with her till the bus came, before I went to the gym.  I got in the car went out of the parking lot, and was met with dozens of little kids running around. 

The kids heard the word "Lockdown, lockdown, lockdown" and were running home.  Actually Abs was headed to her friend's house, where I would have never found her, and they all missed the bus.  I drove Abs to school and then went to hit the gym on post since I couldn't leave.  It was locked down.  Everything was closed, so I came home and took a nap.  It was too cold for my old bones to be running outside. 

Tomorrow is volunteer day, and I am looking into volunteering at a food bank.  I really need to focus on getting a job too.

Having problems with Abs and school again.  Apparently she is not doing her writing assignments--something she struggles with because of her fine motor skill delays.  Her teacher's solution is to give her zeroes.  Seriously?  She has tons to write about, but the problem is getting her to put it on paper, and her handwriting is already so far behind.  The teacher said she has too many students to worry about one.  My principal would have had my hide if I had ever said something like that. 

Anyway, I got an email from the counselor today about it, and I lost it.  I emailed her back and asked once again about the 504 that I requested back in October, that they have been dragging their feet on, and haven't received a response yet. 

Maybe I should homeschool her the rest of this year.  24/7 with Abs...I have to think on that.  I'm still going to work with the school and get them to provide her with what she needs. 

Gunner has training tonight, and we don't have Interactive Metronome training.  Yea!

I got tickets for Disney Live for Junior and Abs.
The new coffee pot arrived.
I am still trying to figure out a way to go to the Walking With Dinosaurs exhibit without it costing $400 for our entire family to attend.  That's crazy!

I found a cool place to go this weekend, we just need to fit it around Em's Forensics meet, training, gym, swimming, and everything else, like conquering that pile of laundry I have.

My next craft project is in the works...in the meantime, here's the finished nightstand.  We were going to distress it, but after the whole royal vs navy incident, we just wanted it done.  We bought new hardware and noticed that the holes weren't even, but at this point, we're calling it personality.

Not a great picture, but the end results were worth the effort.  There's two of them, and anything had to be better than the colors they started out!

Poor Gunner

He promised me tonight that next time I want to "paint and fix some piece of crap furniture" that he is out.  The chests were not as easy as they looked and required a lot of work to get the drawers back to working properly.  At least they look good painted navy blue.  :)

We hit the gym this morning and Abs was trained to use the equipment so that she could work out with us.  She pretty much flitted from machine to machine and yelled across the room each time declaring her love for me.  I did manage to get a 5 mile run in before we had to get moving though.

My neighbors are moving and I don't want them to go. 

I volunteer tomorrow.  I'm enjoying learning everything, and there are so many different things to see and do.  Maybe I have found a new career field.

I was going to take one class this term, but I can't manage to sign up for one reason or another, so unless I can get it straightend out after work, I think I will take a break.  I have plenty to keep me busy with all of Ab's appointments, and getting her squared away is the most important job that I have right now.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Another project completed, and a great, great, great recipe!

I loathe to run errands by myself most days.  Gunner and Junior joined me while we went back to Home Depot, so I could show my husband the difference between navy blue and royal blue.  I like navy, but Gunner managed to find a fluorescent blue that he thought was navy.  It was awful, but led to jokes the rest of the night and into today.

We finished one project. 

It's a magnet board for Junior's room.  It hasn't made it to his room yet, and we haven't moved all the magnets yet, but hopefully tomorrow.  It was soooooo easy!  I got it off a website, that now I can't find again.  We bought a frame from the Arc, spray painted it, took out the glass, put in sheet metal, and we're done.  I'm all about simple.

Em has requested one for her room to put up pictures (I'm sure of Mr. Beiber himself) and a Team Jacob sign.  The life of a tween.

We hit the commissary.

It had been a few days since we hit the pool, so we went swimming for almost two hours.  Waterlogged, we returned home so I could do the wii fit and Gunner made dinner.

We love PF Chang's, but I am hate to go out to eat since a family of 5 can cost and arm and a leg.  We do like Pei Wei, and it's somewhat cheaper, but I don't think we will ever eat there again after discovering this recipe for Mongolian Beef.     

Abs and Junior love the stuff, and the rest of us eat almost everything anyway.  We did make it with one flank steak, but I also put some tofu in there, and it was to die for.  It tastes just like the real version, but so much better since it is cheap to make!

The girls want it again.  I want it again.

Tomorrow is visual therapy, gym (hoping to make step and then run), maybe a bike ride after the house gets picked up, and we are hoping that the lego table will be completed so that they can start making the city that they are planning.  Have you ever been to Legoland?  We LOVE it, and I can't wait to go back to take Junior.

Trying to plan our summer trip, once Gunner can pin down block leave.  I can't believe January is half over already.  I sure hope Gunner's next deployment goes by this fast....I know, wishful thinking.

I have a problem...

Gunner and I hit the gym this morning after Ab's OT appointment.  A quick workout of Abs and legs (Gunner can barely walk so we didn't do any cardio) and we were on our way. 

We went to the Arc.  My friend Dave tells me to stay away.

I try, but there are always things that I need.

I got two of these:

Okay, okay, okay, so you have to look past the bad paint job and the ugly handles, but aren't they cute?  Of course they will be repainted and will look much better when I Gunner is done.  I like real wood.

Then I came across this:

Very rough, but I like the lines on it.  It will be stained or something by me Gunner and I see new handles in store.

We won't talk about the pyrex I found. 

Then I decided I was going to make a tutu.  It was soooooo easy.  Of course we have a huge static problem here, so it probably needs to go in the dryer a bit to make them lie down a little better.  I'll be making one for my niece next I think.

It actually looks cuter in person, and I straightened out the pieces afterward and it looked better and not so rough.  It took about a good 45 minutes to make from start to finish.

Em is making spaghetti for dinner tonight.  Yum.

Junior needs a haircut.  Em had Girl Scouts--anyone want Girl Scout cookies? 

Gunner and I had pho for lunch and some Vietnamese eggrolls that were the best I have ever had.  The eggrolls came on top of noodles with peanuts and green onions, lettuce leaves, a sauce, cucumbers, carrots, and bean sprouts.  We had never seen that before and guessed that we were supposed to make lettuce wraps out of the extras?

Yea for 4 day weekends!

I volunteered again today.  Very, very, very, interesting.  I think I know what I want to be when I grow up.  At least this week.

If you live in the Colorado Springs area and want your child to attend a brand new charter school for gifted and talented kids, go here.  I've reviewed the curriculum before it was submitted, and it is great.  Small classes that will meet the needs of Abs.  Perfect.

Metronome training tonight for Abs.  This three days a week business is killing me.  What's worse?  Gunner is going to the field soon.  Why is it I know I can survive with him gone, but when I initially here he is leaving, a bit of panic sets in?  Please tell me I am not alone.

Gunner had his first training session last night and a road march this morning.  He's covered in blisters and is sore.  Tomorrow we are hitting the gym and he is going to teach me everything he learned in the first training session.  Can't wait!  We are hoping to follow it up with a bike ride.

I guess the road marches for Gunner will continue since they are prepping for a 22 mile road march.  I want to do it! 

One of Gunner's friends gave him a wii guitar and more songs for our band hero.  I feel a wii tournament coming on this weekend. 

I want to get out and see something this weekend too, since we totally slacked last weekend.  A friend of mine from Texas is coming in this weekend and I am going to visit with her for a bit too. 

School starts up again next week and I decided to take a class.  One class.  I just need to decide which one to take since I want to take both of them.  With Gunner leaving I can't devote the time to two classes, not to mention I want to keep my sanity and my workout schedule.

Junior wants breakfast every morning before he goes to school.....where he turns around and eats another whole breakfast.  He's going to put us in the poor house when he's a teenager. 

My 20 year high school reunion is this summer.  I'm not sure if I am going to go, depends on what else we have going on.  Are they really worth going to?  I didn't particularly enjoy high school, and via facebook I can keep up with most of them, so what's the point?

I keep looking at all these crafty blogs, thinking "I can do that".  I've got big plans!  Time to pull out my sewing machine and get started!

Invitation

You're Invited!!!

What:  The party of all parties!

When:  Every morning at 3 AM

Where:  Our living room

Why:  Apparently everything is more fun at 3 AM

Who:  It's Abs being Abs

Don't worry, this morning she had pizza and a wii party.  Who knows what the future holds.  Maybe an ice cream party?  Sundaes?  Banana splits?

It is apparently always a good time judging from the mess that is left behind, so no worries, she apparently has a monther that is used to cleaning up after her and making her and only her join in the fun of cleaning up after the festivities.

Come as you are, pajamas welcome, bring a wii game as she is getting really good at the few that we have and is looking for some variety.

Be there.

P.S.  Don't worry about a clean bathroom, Abs has covered the toilet in green stars again, so make sure you don't have any breathing problems as it is overwhelming.

Why are Mondays always so hard?

After Gunner being off for almost a month, I didn't want him to go back to work this morning.  Not that I even woke up when his alarm went off.  I was out cold.  But I am sure I was thinking "Have a safe day sweetie". 

For some reason the girls both had appointments this morning.  I dragged Em with us to take Abs to visual therapy, and then raced Abs back to school, and took Em to the orthodontist.  Finished up there and raced to drop Em off at school, then go get Abs again to take her to a doctor's appointment.  Somehow that comsumed 5 hours of my morning.

Em's hair was looking kind of funky this afternoon and I asked her about it--apparently Abs used all of her shampoo so she washed her hair with shower gel.  Ewwww!  I assured her I would get her some real shampoo and conditioner.

Abs started her interactive metrenome training tonight and it went well, but that meant another hour and a half at OT.  I did finish a third of New Moon. 

Tomorrow I start my volunteer job.  Let's see if I can fit it in the schedule.

Tonight Gunner was running the tub for Junior, and Junior started saying he had to pee.  Gunner told him to go potty, and then turned around to see him not using the toilet but peeing all over the clothes that the girls had left on the floor after their showers.  Good times in our house.

Tomorrow we have another night of metronome training, and Abs has to miss her Brownie field trip.  She's fine with it though, so hopefully all these different treatements work.  The metoenome training is supposed to help her work on her impulstivity.  I can only hope!

The weather is beautiful here, and after my 3000 yard swim yesterday, I need to hit the gym tomorrow or definitely Wednesday for a long run.  My sorority in college is talking about meeting and doing a race together sometime.  I can't wait! 

More Junior

He thought I wasn't taking enough pictures of him in the snow. He gets his drama from his sisters.

730 in 365

Amy over at The Finer Things in Life is having a challenge to get rid of clutter.

I attract clutter.

I can't part with anything because I have the unfortunate sometimes amazing ability to remember the stories behind it.

Isn't it genetic?  It has to be.  My brother was here and walked into my basement over Christmas and told me I was just like our mother.  Seriously?

I can think of worse things to be, but I do save everything.  I have a ton of books.  Tons of toys.  Tons of stuff I don't use, so I am going to take Amy's challenge to eliminate 760 things in 365 days.

Can I do it?  I hope so.
It's only two things per day.  Do I really need to keep stuff just because so and so gave it to me?  Okay, honestly, it depends on who that so and so is. 

How hard can it be to get rid of two things a day?  (Might help if I stop bringing stuff in the house too, but that's a whole other issue.)

So, if it doesn't make me happy, doesn't serve a use, isn't functional, it is gone.

Don't worry mom, I won't get rid of anything too sentimental and if I find anything really good, I'll save my crap I mean treasures for you.  (Don't worry, my sisters and mom and I get together and call it the great "crap" exchange.  See, it has to be hereditary!)

More Sledding

Since our three inches never materialized we won't be doing any of this over the weekend. We bought these cheap sleds over Christmas and they work great!

Taken in St. Elmo, Colorado.

No more boxes

Gunner made boxed mac and cheese for Abs yesterday that was gluten free.  I couldn't even eat it, it was so horrible.

So I bought some gluten free noodles and some soy cheese and we will try it that way.  Maybe it is just the noodles?  Is there something else to use in place of noodles?

I bought the book The Kid Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook at the recommendation of her OT.  Tonight we are having meatloaf with veggie puree from our juicer.

Since we are just getting into this, I am realizing how much I don't know, and how much "crap" we have that she can't eat.  At least not yet.  Her OT, her pediatrician and her psychiatrist all said to get her going on this diet and then we'll add a few things back in and see how it goes from there.

Maybe it will make no difference.  Maybe all the difference in the world?  Even soy is controversial, but her doctor said to leave that in for now since we know she will eat cheese.  She ate chicken last night which is a first in a long time. 

Anyone have any good recipes?

We're off to hit the pool and the hot tub!

Priceless Gift

I know I have blogged before about my parents and their love of the Triumph car.  They had one when they were married, but you can't exactly cart around 4 children in the back of one safely, so they traded up for bigger (not better!) cars.  When I was in junior high my dad purchased another one and had it restored.  My mom and dad traveled all over the United States attending car shows in their speedy red car and collected tshirts at each event. 

When my dad passed away, we were sorting through his clothes and we came across the pile of tshirts.  We told my mom she should keep them and make a quilt out of them....someday.  When I was calling my mom before she left for The House of Love and Joy, she was madly sewing and wouldn't tell me what it was.  It drove me nuts! 

The four of us unwrapped a priceless gift from my mom this year.

She used all of my dad's tshirts to make the four of us each a quilt.

My brother holding up his.  One of the shirts used in his quilts was one that my dad wore to work on the car all the time, so there are even small spatters of oil on it.

I still miss my dad and think about him every.single.day.  I can't even put into words what this quilt means to me.  Thanks Mom, once again you have given us a priceless gift and I can't thank you enough!

Day 2

I am trying to kick my diet coke habit.  I was going to do it a long time ago, but sometimes I just need that pick me up.  I also drink too many monsters, so that's going to the wayside as well.  I'm trying!

Gunner and I hit the gym this morning, and he doesn't like me training him.  Can you imagine????  Maybe I am a LITTLE intense.  Just maybe though.

My gigantic blister prevented me from running, but I did hit the stair climber and did core and legs.  I also hired a trainer for Gunner while we were there.  He really wanted one, and the price at the Y is dirt cheap.

We've decided where we are going to visit this weekend, after my sister and my mom and nephews stumbled across it on their trek back to Texas. 

I hear music blaring from the basement, and since it is not Justin Beiber, I assume Gunner is working on the basement, which is where I should be. 

Yesterday Gunner and I stopped in this health food store that I keep meaning to checkout.  I have been doing a lot of reading about the benefits of a gluetin/casein free diet for children with ADHD.  I've started stocking up on things that I will need to make the conversion, and Abs knows that it is coming.  I bought a package of gluetin free/casein free/egg free/everything free package of cookies to try.  I showed them to Abs and her response was "sounds like taste free to me". 

This morning we didn't hear her get up, but we did find the entire package emptied except for 4 lonely cookies.  Gunner caught her before she managed to shovel those in as well.  Guess they weren't so taste free after all.

Whew

Found the best deal on the baseplates.  Best to go direct sometimes.

Left the kitchen for a second and Junior wandered in there and started mouthing raw porkchops.  We washed his mouth out with soap and are hoping for the best.

Abs was playing wii fit and I looked over at her, and she was doing the running portion by lying on the couch and shaking the wii remote really fast.  The wii fit can really help with her balance problems and core muscles--if done correctly. 

Sammy is getting groomed on Friday.  He's looking like a hairy beast.  I love the way he smells after he is groomed.

The dog threw up.  Fun times in the Gunner household!

Our hot water heater has to be the size of a small thermos.  It's getting old.

I will never be completely caught up with laundry in my entire life.  Ever.

Gunner and I are hitting the gym together tomorrow.  He hates to go with me because he says I am too competitive.  Whatever.  I.will.win!

Tonight I juiced carrots, part of a beet, part of a cucumber and some carrots.  I liked it.  Gunner couldn't get past the beet.

Just a few more days that the kids are home from school.  I can hardly wait.

I really hate when doctors cancel appointments.

Gunner will deploy this year.....he can't leave unless the basement is cleaned out.

I bought a pile of books today.  I'm addicted to military memoirs, books on the Middle East and women who live there, and finding Magic School Bus books for Junior.  Abs is into Animorphs, and Em is into....Twilight, what else.

I started reading Twilight.  I know there are a lot of people who love it, and a lot that hate it.  I'm afraid I am falling in love with the story.  I love how descriptive she is.  Last night our power went out and Gunner and I sat in bed reading....until the lantern went out.  Then we had no choice but to sleep.  It's the first time I have been to bed by 10 in forever.

A picture of my SIL Tia teaching Junior to ski.  My sister Kr took this photo.

Monday Musings

I hit the gym this morning and ran 3 miles, worked my abs, and my arms.  Tomorrow is legs day and a run or a ride, but I have a massive blister on my foot since I mistakenly wore my old running shoes instead of my new ones.  Never run in old shoes!  Maybe if I didn't continue to buy the same style, color, etc., it wouldn't be a problem.  I am a creature of habit.

I wanted to get a lego table for Abs and Andrew, since that is what they do all the time.  I decided to make one using a coffee table.  IKEA would have made my life easier.  So I sent Gunner out to the thrift store, and he stumbled on a new kitchen table for us in GREAT condition--our old one was half dead.  He brought that home and we decided to make our old table into the lego table.

Then my brother sent me a link to one made out of PVC pipe.  Looked much easier, but then I would be stuck with all these tables, and since I can't seem to purge anything (thanks mom!) we continued on our current path.  (Hint--Go for the PVC pipe one!)  So then we needed to find baseplates to nail glue to the table.  We can't find them.  The ones online are outrageously expensive.  I am a bargain shopper, so I will continue looking.  We actually have quite a few already, but not enough to do the table, so we will figure something out.

I did the wii fit, and it was so nice to remind me that it was 244 days since I last worked out.  It still groaned when I stepped on the board, and I got a little miffed, but then it did it when Abs hopped on, and I felt better since Abs is a little thing.

I actually remembered to take Abs to PT today.  We have missed twice, and are in danger of being dropped if we miss again.  I'm thinking about moving her to the location where she has OT so I have fewer things to remember.

Gunner actually took Abs to PT today and will take her tomorrow.  (I'm sure he'll find out by reading the blog!  Hi sweetie, thanks for taking her!)

I've been considering Crossfit after getting an email from Andrea. 

I did nothing productive today.

I really should cook dinner.

I leave you with a picture of this....I love Aspen trees....

Siblings

My brother.

My sister-in-law.

My sister.

I can't believe I didn't get any closeups of my little sister. She's in this one standing up to the left. Sorry shrimp!

Juicing Fool

I bought myself  Gunner bought me a juicer for Christmas.  Yesterday I had my children drinking celery, apple, collard greens, and carrots.  This morning they didn't want to drink my apple and celery concoction.  I thought it tasted better than the first one I made!

I haven't had a chance to research more, but if you have any passable recipes that my kids will choke down great recipes for drinks for kids....or for me...then I'm all ears. 

I was going to hit the gym this morning, but it doesn't open till 12.  I hate that.  I want to get in bright and early after I made myself get out of bed at the crack of dawn.  I have a meeting for a few hours this afternoon for one of my new "projects" that I am helping with for the new school that Abs will be going to, hopefully. 

I guess this means I will have to unpack today.  I'm out of excuses. 

Sledding

We did a lot of sledding, and even took a trip to checkout a sledding site at Breckenridge to see if it was worth the drive. We opted for something closer to home.

Resolutions--Did I complete my goals for 2009???

Heck yeah, I did a pretty good job!  Last year's resolutions are found here. 

1.  I lost the weight before Gunner came home.  Yea!
2.  I only wanted to do an adventure race, a triathlon and a 40 mile bike ride?  I did the urban adventure race.  I did two triathlons.  I completed a 50 mile bike ride with Gunner.  I also did 3 10 k's and 7 5 K's. 
3.  I only cleaned out the garage because we moved.
4.  I made straight A's in all of my graduate courses--5 of them.


Numbers 5, 6, & 7 never happened.  Oh well, I have this year, right?


Let's see....
1.  Get back in fighting form since I was drowning in school work this semester and let things slide.
2.  Do 2 triathlons and motivate at least two friends to do them with me.  I'd like to do at least one sprint, and one Olympic distance.  We'll throw a bunch of 5 k's and 10 k's for good measure.
3.  Another long bike ride.
4.  See at least 20 new things in Colorado.
5.  Clean out my basement, and since I am not moving, I will have to do this one.
6.  Continue making straight A's.  Wish I had made straight A's in my undergraduate career.  I'm sure my parents did too!
7.  Get Abs squared away and have her complete OT, PT, and VT.
8.  Learn a new skill.
9.  Use all this material and scrapbooking stuff that I have.  Heck, I need to polish off some of this yarn too!  (remember all that yarn we bought Erin?  I haven't touched it!)
10.  I have a bunch of other stuff that I want to accomplish and achieve, but I won't bore you with all of that.
11.  Survive & thrive during Gunner's 5th year long deployment.  Ugh.

So who wants to do the triathlon with me? 

Buena Vista & The House of Joy & Love

This was a great house to stay in, although it would have been nice if the upper two stories connected with the bottom floor. There were enough beds for everyone though and Gunner and I had a king size bed with enough room for Junior to flop all over the place between us.