Gratitude

So, for the past month or so I've been playing Mr. Mom. As the result of a simple Cost/Benefit analysis, it just made more sense for me to stay at home. I wasn't making what it would cost to have the girls at daycare, and then having them at daycare means both of us miss out on spending time with them and my travel time on top of that made it easy to see that Mr. Mom was the preferable option. And it's been a lot of fun.

However, at times it's been a bit of a struggle - for the both of us. For Julia, she hates being away from the girls. And at times the stresses of her job get to her. For me, trying to do all the things Daddy needs to do - whether it's cook and clean, getting kids dressed, trying to teach the kids correct principles... as well as be a husband - it's a lot of work. Then, too, there's a sense of fulfillment in providing for my family that I'm missing out on. I felt that way once - I had been working and Julia was off work for some reason or another. When I got home, she had cleaned a bit, and the girls were playing, and Julia was cooking dinner. I just had this deep feeling of "rightness". That this was how it should be. It's a difficult concept to communicate clearly, so you'll just have to pretend you know what I mean ^_^

Lately, though, I've felt like I've been slacking - I'm not able to get everything done around the house that I would like to/need to. And then when Julia gets home, she'll just randomly do something that would have taken me a while to get done, while she's doing something else. It makes me feel a little down on myself. For instance, the other day I cleaned the kitchen. Then I made some banana bread and it looked like I hadn't cleaned the kitchen in the first place. The very next day I took the girls out shopping and to give Grandpa his Father's Day gift, and got home, where Julia had cleaned the kitchen and had two loafs of banana bread in the oven - and the kitchen looked GOOD. Then last night when I was reading the girls some bedtime stories, she washed all the dishes in the time it would have taken me to wash some of them.

So I get this combination feeling of intense gratitude and worthlessness, because it feels like I'm not really contributing all that much.

Arduino Experimentation Kit

Arduino Experimentation Kit - ARDX [v1.0] - $80.00

This is pretty cool. I wish they had an option sans the Arduino and breadboard, because it's just the sort of kit I would love to have. However, it does have the guide and what-not available, so I'd just have to source my own parts, which isn't a huge deal, but I wouldn't mind paying a little or not just to have the convenience of all the parts in one place.

Stil, at $80 that's quite reasonable as the arduino is $30 already. Interestingly enough it seems that the Arduino is getting cheaper and cheaper. I personally recommend everyone get one :D

But maybe that's just me :P

Playing dress up!

So, wednesday night is girls night because my Geek has scouts. So wednesday morning I told my favorite girls that when I came home and daddy left that we would do something special! I whispered in KayLynn's ear that we would dress up like Princesses and thats all there was to it! When I got home and Daddy left that is exactly what we did!

This was the most fun we have had in awhile. My girls are growing up so fast! I am so glad they still want to play dress u with me!

My Weight Loss Journey

Hey everyone, I know it has been a lONG time since I blogged about anything. So, I thought I would take this opportunity, when I really don't feel like working, to take a few minutes and update.
So I think it has been about 2 months and I have lost about 11 pounds. That is a big accomplishment for me. I haven't gained any of it back so I know it's going to stay off as long as I keep maintaining after I am done losing. So, during this time clothes have looked better, my stomach is FLATTER( yes, very much flatter) and I feel better. I love how I feel after I go work out.
I am eating very healthy compared to what I was eating before. ANd even before I was eating way WAY better than I was before Wayne and I met. So I know I am doing superb in that regard. I have found new and healthier ways to have the things I want. I have also learned to portion out things so that I can have other things I want.
With work and excersise and a home to clean and a husband to take care of too life has been kind of hectic. I have pictures of me throughout this time but I am at work and the pics are at home. I will post the , later so you can tell me if you see a difference.
I have till november to reach my grand goal of 180. I am at 249 now and I AM going to get there. I have no doubt. Just need to be reassured sometimes that it's actually making a difference. LOL.
Thats all for now!
~Geekheart

-Me in the green was about March and the one of me smiling was tonight :)

Woah!

I want a flying penguin!

Kind Words

Last night Geekheart and I watched the video of this talk. It got me thinking a little bit about how often we as husbands, wives, and people, tend to speak unkindly to each other, and children, even in jest.

"Gosh," the husband says sarcastically, "Maybe if you weren't such a klutz you could make me dinner without spilling all over yourself!"

"You're such an idiot," says the wife, "I can't believe you didn't see that turn back there!"

"Kid! Why can't you do anything right? You're such a slacker!" says the irate parent to their child.

If you go pretty much anywhere, you'll find husbands and wives and parents all perpetrating pain on their loved ones. It's a difficult thing to honestly examine one's life and keep an eye out for the pain we cause. Most of the times we won't even see it, because we dismiss it as "oh, I'm just joking, and (s)he knows it."

The problem is that even if we know it's a joke, it doesn't make the words any kinder.

I think one of my favourite comics that sort-of deals with the subject is the Calvin and Hobbes where Calvin breaks his dad's binoculars. His dad starts yelling and screaming, and Calvin says, as near as I can recall, "Dad, here's an idea. Let's pretend I already feel bad enough and you don't need to rub it in anymore." I believe that most of us know when we make mistakes. We tend to feel bad about them. And at the very moment we need comfort from the ones we love, they get angry and disappointed with us.

It's not good for anyone. So let's resolve to speak kinder to those we love, and those who love us. I have a sneaking suspicion that we will find ourselves happier, and life will be a lot nicer.

Slowly but gradualy

Hmmm, I don't think I spelled gradualy right. Oh well. So an update on progress. This last week has been quite hectic. We were out busily searching for a car and not home enough for me to work out. I did work out monday and tuesday. I am proud I did at least do 2 days. My geek and I have decided since we saved money on the purchase of my car :) that we will buy a Wii with Wii fit. So excited for that!!! So now I have no excuses. So when I am at home I have something that will motivate and be fun to do. Plus the girls can do it with me too.
The girls have started going to a new daycare. It is in home and Ms.Peggy only has a son. So it's just 3 of them and she takes them to the zoo and to the Museum of Discovery. They are having a blast. They have also started doing baby gymnastics! I am so proud of them when they can do my stretches with me. I am very happy with this new babysitter.
So back to healthy me. My geek is such a goober. Every time I turn around he is commenting on the fact that my stomach seems to be dissapearing. This is good, but I still feel like the big girl when i look in the mirror. Im working on that and I know that it will get better.
Things are changing and I feel great!