Simple mathematics!

Here's a real kick in the pants. I learned that to gain 1 pound you have to eat 3500 more calories than you burn off in one day. On the flip side, to LOSE 1 pound you have to burn 3500 more calories than you eat in one day.

Simple math really, but I could have sworn to gain a pound it requires a sniff and to lose a pound you had to eat carrots and lettuce, workout all day, avoid all appearances of enjoying food, plug your nose whenever you saw something that might taste good, always walk everywhere you go, never sit down and stop thinking because your metabolism will shut down, sleep on the treadmill, then get off the treadmill, shower, and start your day all over again.

Who knew? All I have to do is burn 3500 more calories than I eat. Oh vey!!! I'm already behind.

Yeah!!! It's raining!!!

I woke up this morning to blessed rain. It isn't often that I get excited for cloudy skies and rainy weather. I mean, after all, the kids will be in the house all day driving me and each other absolutely crazy. But at this time, we are in desperate need of moisture. I realize that a couple drops of the wet stuff isn't going to do too much to nourish the parched earth, but we'll take everything we can get. When I look out my window and see the brown grass, the cracked dirt, and dying flowers I'm thankful that we are getting a small reprieve from the scorching sun.

Okay, truth be told, I am the one getting the reprieve. This means I don't have to water my garden, my flowers might have a fighting chance, and the dead "grass" (more like weeds) is getting the attention it deserves. Oh, wonderful rain!!! Now I can go back to bed and ignore my duties.

Sundays -- what is it about Sundays!!!

Now I realize this might come as complete shock to most of you, but I have to admit that I'm struggling with the whole "Sunday" thing. I know, knock me right off the pedestal.

Honestly though. I spend hours trying to prepare throughout the week. I read the lessons, try to think happy thoughts, get geared up and say this Sunday will be different, try to prepare the house, etc., etc., etc. Sunday morning rolls around and the circus begins. Our church doesn't begin until 1:00 p.m. Problem numero uno (I know I'm sinking to a Spanish low, but it doesn't sound as good in Portuguese). How do you keep the Sabbath spirit all morning with the kids? Then there is the bathing, dressing, making sure they have lunch without spilling on their clothes, changing the clothes, run out the door (you'd think we'd be on time . . . . after all we've had ALL morning), and rush to find our seats.

Next, show time. The kids are hungry (Did I bring snacks? No, we just ate!!), they don't like who they are sitting next to, musical chairs begin as they try and negotiate a new position on the bench, the bag that's packed isn't "interesting" enough and it is more fun to bother the closest sibling, they try and snag a "meal" from the sacrament tray, etc., etc., etc.

By the time the meeting is over, the parents look like they've been through a tornado. Forget any hairdo or make-up that might have been in place when you left the house. That is long gone. The clothes are a wrinkled mess and the bench looks like Hurricane Andrew crashed through. I look over at Karsten and wonder why in the world do I do this to myself every single week. Did we get anything out of that?

And it doesn't stop there. Oh, no. We still have the afternoon/evening to come home to. My nice clean house doesn't exist (I swear Gremlins live in my house and trash it while we are at church), the kids are too hungry to wait for dinner and therefore the dinner isn't eaten when it is made, all the pent-up energy explodes as we get in the door, and I'm thinking to myself, "Okay, the Sabbath is a day of rest, a day of worship, of recharging ones' "batteries", and gearing up for the following week." HOW COME IT KEEPS MISSING MY HOUSE?????

Out in the Wild!!!

The kids had their school camping trip this weekend at Whiskeytown Lake.

OOOOhhhhh baby! As Kaela said, "You look like a super model, Mom." Ignorance is DEFINITELY bliss.

Morgan in her painting class by the lake.

Morgan & McCade helping Daddy guide the canoe.

Drum roll please . . . . yes, that is me in the back of that kayak with Kaela and Andrew.

Andrew conquerors the lake.

Kaela taking a much needed rest on our hike of Shasta Bally
(1.5 miles with 2000 vertical feet -- and we that was only a 1/4 of the way up).

Our hiking group taking a rest with Shania in the long, sleeve red shirt.
She was worried about sunburn (according to her mom).

Logan is proof of a successful camping trip.

Diminishing mental capacity

I am really struggling with this whole "mind" thing. I h ave heard countless explanations for my lack of mental abilities. Everything ranging from age, kids, to "I didn't have it in the first place". But seriously, what is happening to me? I can't keep anything straight anymore. I can't remember something more than a few minutes. And forget about multi-tasking!!! I was queen at doing a million things at once. I am now doing the "pick something out of the refrigerator and can't remember if I was using it or putting it back" syndrome. I'm making light of the situation, but truthfully, it is exhausting me and making it very difficult to have a positive outlook on life.

No Dog = more work

Who knew??? I mean, here I was thinking that my life would be so much easier and have so much more time on my hands once Tasha found a new home. That is not so. What has occurred to me is how much Tasha really helped in the house cleaning department. Since she has been gone, I have spent more time sweeping my floors, vacuuming my rugs, picking up food items (which were never supposed to leave the kitchen), scraping dishes before they go in the dishwasher (just kidding!!!), and not to mention worrying about food dropped. Before I could just look at it and know that "hoover" would be along shortly to rake in the spoils. Albeit I now have more brain space in which my thoughts can get lost now that I don't have to constantly be on guard as to where Tasha is. I do have to say that I discovered the mystery of her incredible weight gain and dislike for her own food. So, thanks to the earthquake knocking all the dust off the ceiling, etc. I now have to wear goo-gone on the bottom of my feet to keep them from sticking to the floors. Where is Tasha now that I REALLY do need her????