The Royal Blog

To do today

I have already started and finished one load of laundry and started another, taken trash to the dumpster, taken outgrown clothes to Amvets, gone to Kroger's for stamps (no line! sweet!), gone to Krispy Kreme, gone to Tim Horton's and gone to the post office.  I think this is the biggest burst of energy I've had this year.  Now I need a nap. 

Still need to do more laundry, try and get E1 into the ortho, and take both girls to practice.

To-do Today

Buy ammonia to clean Pergo

Do Laundry: one load in washer

Card & goody bag for E1's big sis

Candy for CTOPs goody bags

Pictures to go in CTOPs goody bags

Birthday card for Head Coach at E1s's Gym

Sign E2 up for next session of gymnastics

Buy leo for E1 for Christmas

Snacks for E1's school party

Veggies for E2's preschool party

Buy World's Greatest Chocolate Milk

Ask B to print out form for Z's winter conditioning; send it in with payment

Indoor soccer shoes for Z

Mail out photos

Organize FSA receipts

Send in $ to cover Z's school party

Today's to-do

• CVS: prescriptions
• Target: Downy, stationery & document boxes
• Laundry: One load in washer
• Kitchen Counter: put school papers, etc. in document boxes.  Well I started the process. And they didn't have document boxes so I got stupid accordian files.
• E2: doctor's appointment
• E1: gymnastics practice
• Z: soccer game

Week Seven/Twenty Seven F day

• 20 minutes on the elliptical
• plank
• left tricep curl
• left side crunches bosu ball
• left calf raises
• skull crushers
• 2 minutes elliptical
• back extensions
• left bicep curls
• left leg extensions
• left lateral pulldown
• 15 minutes walk/jog/sprint on bicycle (5.6 miles?)
• stretches

Today's to-do:

• dental appointments for Z & E1
• house cleaning and laundry well, the kitchen/eating area are cleaner
• force kids to clean their rooms

B took the big kids to a late showing of Clone Wars last night; I really really really hope they sleep in today.  I am so not in the mood to deal with grumpy, surly children. 

Week Seven/Twenty Seven

• 35 minutes treadmill (3.5 mph at various inclines)
• jack knife crunches
• right tricep curls
• right side crunches bosu ball
• right calf raises
• chest press
• can't think of the name
• right bicep curls
• right leg extension
• right lateral pulldown
• stretches

It did feel good to get back to the gym and I think I'm over my "poor me" funk. 

Today's to-do

• Get a knee strap at CVS
• Get E1 a messenger bag at Justice

Week Six/Twenty Six

• 10 minutes on treadmill (5 walking 5 running no incline for either)
• cable pull right side*
• crunches*
• bicep curls*
• high step-up right foot*
• 10 minutes on treadmill (started at 6.5 and went up .1 every minute)
• right side crunches on ab bench*
• rower pull*
• chest press*
• lateral pulldown*
• 5 minutes on treadmill (6.5 mph)
• stretching

*Normally we do however many reps we can in a set time period.  Today we all had to do them in sync and hold for 3 seconds. I thought the chest press was going to kill me. 

My knee threatened me with grievous bodily harm if I went to the park (and it's now dark at 6:00) so yet again, no extra laps.  I am so bummed and I really hope this isn't a permanent thing.  Discovering that I liked running - something relatively easy that burns calories - was such a pleasant surprise.  To not be able to do it has been very disappointing.

Today's to-do:

• An email went out that E1's gym was looking for volunteers to help clean up the gym so I offered my services and also E1's and Z's (Z was thrilled, let me tell you).  E2 is going to the drop off place for a few hours.

Last night was Open House for E2's preschool.  I think she'll have a really good year and a lot of fun.  The space allocated to the preschool area is very small and there will be some distractions from the kids in the drop-in area.  So those are the negatives.  The positives are that E2 really likes Miss T (who ran the summer program), Miss T is very organized and has made the most of the space available, and E2 should have fun with the Skill Builder Curriculum but still learn a lot.

Week Five/Twenty Five

• 50 fun-filled minutes on the elliptical!

Did not go to the park afterward. The knee brace, heating pad, motrin, resting it, using it - nothing really seems to make my knee better.  I guess the good news is, it isn't getting worse.

Ordered E2's birthday cake yesterday.  They (Kroger's) don't have MM Clubhouse or Little Einsteins cakes, and they were out of the supplies for the Lego cake, so E2 settled on a Go Diego Go cake.  (She wanted pretty much every cake in the book.)  And then I had to explain about 50 times ("Where's the cake?") that we would be picking the cake up on Sunday.

I did not talk to E1 yesterday; she called after I went to bed. B said she got to go tubing a lot yesterday and she abruptly ended the call because it was time to play "capture the flag".

Today's to-do:

• Pack for trip

Aw crud. Just remembered that today is turn in all your school forms, pay your school fee, pick up your supply boxes, get your school picture taken, find out who your teacher is and sign up for back to school conferences day.  Bleh.  I hate filling out all the forms. HATE.   Nothing has changed since Z started kindergarten. Our address, pediatrician, cell phone #'s, everything is the same. Why do we have to fill out the same crap year after year after year.  Get computerized already people. 

Boo

My knee is still messed up; walking up stairs is particularly painful.  So, no, no workout or laps today.

Z & I are dropping off E2 at her summer program and then heading over to the dealership to get the van looked at. (Z was pretty grumpy about having to log off his Pirates game.)

E1 got to go tubing yesterday and (instead of vault) her group got to do the ropes course.  She hasn't made any new skills but she feels she is has nailed most of her level 5 skills.  I didn't get a whole lot of info out of her.  How was lunch? Good. How was open gym? Good, but I only went to part of it. How was the luau party? Good, but I got blinded. And so on.  She did call (sobbing that she wanted to come home :( )after I went to bed - apparently she and two other girls had a little misunderstanding; B gave her some good advice so I'm sure she's fine. 

Week Five/Twenty Five Cardio Week

• 15 minutes on the treadmill (5 walk, 10 run)
• 10 minutes on the bicycle
• 10 minutes on the elliptical
• 7 minutes/3 laps around strip mall
• 5 minutes on the bicycle
• 25 crunches/10 pushups/25 crunches/10 pushups/25 crunches/10 pushups/25 crunches/10 pushups
• Stretching

My left knee is really ouchy for some reason so no laps at the park today.

To-do Today

• More laundry
• Bag up clothes going to Goodwill
• Work on kids' closets - organize, start coming up with a list of back to school needs

Monday Monday

Stayed up last night til B got home so I was way too tired to get up and workout or run this a.m.

To-do today:

• E2 to summer program
• Z to soccer practice
• Laundry
• Bag up clothes for Goodwill

Not a good morning.

Up a pound.  I think I'm just going to lose/gain/lose/gain the same couple of pounds over and over and over.

After a 15 minute cardio warm-up, Coach S made us go outside to play a game.  It involved a big exercise ball, goals, and that horrible, horrible feeling of being back in elementary school gym class.  To top it off, one of the women rolled her ankle. 

I did not go to the park, but I did stop by Krispy Kreme.  That is definitely something I need to work on.  Whenever something happens, my response is that I deserve ________. And that _______ is never "broccoli" or "to run on the treadmill".   

Today's to-do:

• Kiss E1 and B goodbye; they're off to Tennessee. Double check spelling of Tennessee; it doesn't look right.
• Take Z to his soccer scrimmage.  Be a grouch and say "No" when he asks to stay and watch the other games. (It's our club's friendlies day - lots of scrimmages and spiritwear sales and rahrahrah and I totally do not feel like going.)  Hooray - he didn't ask.
• Decide to put off cleaning until tomorrow.
• Feel guilty about eating Krispy Kreme doughnut.  Eat another one. Or four.

Week Four/Twenty Four D day

• 12 minutes treadmill (walking on incline)
• chest press cable pull
• left side cable pull
• crunches on exercise ball using cable pull
• shoulder press with weights
• 2 laps around strip mall
• high step ups left foot on
• crunches on ab bench left side
• overhead tricep pull
• reverse flies
• 2 laps around strip mall
• chest press cable pull
• left side cable pull
• crunches on exercise ball using cable pull
• shoulder press with weights
• 2 laps around strip mall
• stretching

Today's bonus(es) at the park: a. it was deliciously cool and b. when I was in the turn lane, I almost got in the other lane and just went home.  SO glad I didn't!

I realized last night that over the course of the year, E1 had brought home not one, but TWO of those flexible ice packs.  My shins are being iced right now. 

Today's to-do

• Take Surly to soccer camp
• Take Cranky to her summer program
• Take Snotty to gymnastics conditioning
• Enjoy 45 quiet, child-free minutes
• Wonder when the hair minimizing shave gel I've been using is going to start actually minimizing hair
• Get a few more things E1 needs for camp

Week Four/Twenty Four C day

• 666 steps on the elliptical (no wonder my iPod ran out of juice...)
• lateral pulldown
• cable pull left side
• horrible crunches on this exercise disc thingy
• bicep curls
• 2 laps around strip mall
• high steps ups right foot on
• crunches on ab bench right side
• rower
• crunches
• 2 laps around strip mall
• chest press
• lateral pulldown
• cable pull left side
• horrible crunches on this exercise disc thingy
• 2 laps around strip mall
• stretching

Went to the park and did a lap. Planned on doing more, but without my iPod I talked myself out of it. Forgot to set my watch so I don't know how fast I went.  Today's bonus: nice & cool which makes the humidity way more bearable and it smelled really fresh out. 

To-do today:

• Z to soccer camp
• E1 to gymnastics practice
• I have GOT to do laundry today
• Clean bathrooms
• Mop kitchen/eating area/living room
• Wonder when E2 will quit acting like a colossal crabapple
• Figure out what E1 needs for camp and go to Target went to Meijers which was a mistake. I don't know where anything is there and I don't really like the Meijer shopping experience.

Bah. Cleaning can wait until tomorrow.  Chauffeuring and dealing with cranky kids all day has exhausted me.

Week Four/Twenty Four Cardio Day

• 20 minutes on the treadmill (10 walking on incline, 10 running on no incline). The last couple minutes I was going at 7 mph which was a mistake because we did a
• Triathlon: .5 mile on treadmill/300 steps on elliptical/2 miles on bike. I finished first but couldn't celebrate because it was time for
• Walk/Jog/Sprint for close to 15 minutes and I think only two or three of the intervals were walking and I was hoping we were done but no it was time to do
• 20 pushups and 25 crunches and finally!
• Stretching

After all that cardio I was considering skipping the park anyway; ended up gabbing in the parking lot for 45 minutes and came straight home.

To-do Today:

• Z to soccer camp
• E2 to summer program
• Take E1 to see Kit Kittredge movie?  Nah, no superfluous driving today
• E1 to gymnastics
• Start getting E1's stuff organized for next week's camp
• laundry
• bathrooms
• Sign E2 up for ballet

~*~   Please keep Grandpa B in your thoughts and prayers this week.  He will be undergoing tests to determine a treatment plan for the blocked artery in his leg :(    ~*~

Week Four/Twenty Four D day

• 20 minutes cardio (half walk on incline, half run no incline)
• chest press cable
• left side cable pull
• cable pull seated on exercise ball
• shoulder press
• 2 laps around strip mall
• left foot high step up
• crunches on ab bench left side
• tricep overhead pull
• leg curls
• crunches on mat
• 2 laps around strip mall
• reverse flies
• stretching

Did three laps at the park.  It was cloudy and dark but there were still quite a few walkers/runners and a dog that did not like me.  Today's bonus: the storms made it rather muggy but it still smelled nice & fresh out.

To-do today

• Z to camp unless it isn't done storming
• E1 to gymnastics practice
• clean a bathroom or three.
• signed E2 up for fall gymnastics class
• updated wall calendar with various goings-on
• signed up for membership at Urban Active (doesn't open for several months)

Week Four/Twenty Four C day

• 30 minutes cardio (5 minutes 3mph/15 incline, 5 minutes 3.5 mph 10 incline, 5 minutes 6.5 mph/0 incline, 5 minutes 3 mph/0 incline, 5 minutes 6.5 mph/0 incline, 5 minutes 7 mph/0 incline. or something like that)
• right side cable pull
• incline crunches
• bicep curls
• high step ups right foot
• 2 laps around strip mall
• crunches on ab bench right side
• rower
• chest press
• pulldown
• stretches

Did one lap at the park b/c my right ankle is tight and again being visited by *snap* *crackle* *pop*.  Today's bonus: it was cool out. Muggy, but cool.  I noticed the sun is starting to come up a little later.

To-do today:

• Z to club camp
• E2 to summer program
• Drop off E1's USAG membership renewal app and check at gymnastics; sign E2 up for a fall class?
• Stop by Urban Active's preview center and see if their new member special is still available.
• Do a load of towels.

Meh

To-do, today

• E2 to her summer program
• Z to soccer camp and conditioning
• email gym to let them know E1 won't be there (puked at practice yesterday)
• load of laundry
• mop kitchen

Skipped gym & park - decided to make today a rest day.

You know, I thought this summer was going to be full of fun activities, trips to the park & indoor pool, etc etc.  Instead it has turned into one long list spent at the gym or in the van. Boo.

Week Three/Twenty Three B day

• .5 mile treadmill 3 mph incline 15
• rower
• crunches on ball with weight
• rower
• crunches on ball with weight
• .5 mile treadmill 6.5 mph incline 4/3
• leg curls
• crunches
• leg curls
• crunches
• 2 miles bicycle
• left side bends
• outer thigh abductor
• left side bends
• outer thigh abductor
• .5 mile treadmill 6.8 mph incline 1/0
• crunches on ab bench
• tricep pulldown
• crunches on ab bench
• tricep pulldown
• stretching

Skipped the park today.  My shins are feeling better but my ankle sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies!

To-do today:

• finish up laundry Eh, quit caring
• van needs new tire Took two freaking hours
• z to soccer camp Yes, but he wasn't happy about it
• e1 to gymnastics practice Yes, but she wasn't happy about it

Week Three/Twenty Three A day

• .5 mile on treadmill
• lateral pulldown
• chest press
• lateral pulldown
• chest press
• .5 mile on treadmill
• leg extensions
• crunches on bosu ball
• leg extensions
• crunches on bosu ball
• .5 mile on treadmill
• right sidebends
• inner thigh adductor
• right sidebends
• inner thigh adductor
• .5 mile on treadmill
• reverse crunches
• bicep curls
• reverse crunches
• bicep curls
• stretching

Went to the park and did one lap. Today's bonus: had the park all to myself.

Today's to-do:

• E2 to summer program
• pry three days of mail out of mailbox
• laundry
• z to soccer conditioning

Week Two/Twenty Two

• 10 minutes on treadmill 3.5 mph incline 10
• 6 minutes on elliptical with incline
• lateral pulldown
• treadmill
• crunches on bosu ball
• jumping jacks
• right side bends
• elliptical
• inner thigh adductor
• stepper
• reverse crunches
• bicycle
• bicep curls
• rower
• leg extensions
• bicycle
• crunches
• sprints outside
• chest press
• boxing
• stretching

This is a bosu ball:

No one who uses it actually looks like this:

It is really, really nice out - cool and breezy - so I went to the park with the intention of getting a long run.  Ended up doing a measly half-lap.  My lower shins/ankles are bothering me and are super tight.  The rykä shoes I got back in February are for walking, which was fine when I stuck to the elliptical. Now however I think I need a bit more support & cushion. 

Today's to-do:

• enjoy the air-conditioning
• E2 to her summer program
• E1 to gymnastics maybe NOPE(she woke up in the middle of the night claiming she was puking.  B dealt with her - I fell back asleep as he got out of bed)
• laundry - got nothing done yesterday

Today's complaints:

• Soccer conditioning starts tomorrow so Z will miss several sessions of that and B is absolutely swamped at work; the timing of this weekend couldn't be worse.
• Unless it was E2's birthday weekend: E1 needs picked up from her camp on Friday, there's a soccer tournament in Cincy that weekend, there's a 5k run I'd like to do Saturday morning, E2's birthday is on Sunday, B *may* have to leave for L.A. on E2's birthday, and something else I'm forgetting.  *grumble grumble*
• PMS stinks.
• E1's attitude stinks.
• The area from my belly button to my knees still needs a LOT of work.   
• Humidity stinks. Literally and figuratively.

Week Two/Twenty Two "B" day

• 5 minutes elliptical
• 2 miles on bike
• 5 minutes on treadmill 3 mph incline 15
• rower
• treadmill
• crunches on ball holding weight
• jumping jacks
• right side bends
• elliptical
• outer thigh abductor
• stepper
• crunches on ab bench
• bicycle
• tricep pulldown
• rower
• leg curls
• bicycle
• sidesteps on treadill
• boxing
• 5 minutes on treadmill 6 mph
• stretching

Skipped the park - raining.  The storms blew through pretty quickly but brought NO relief from the mugginess.  Our air conditioner system is definitely goobered up - B found an ice blockage.  I didn't sleep well last night and E1 came downstairs after I got up and claimed she hadn't been to sleep yet.  It's pretty sad when you look forward to going to the gym to COOL OFF.

To-do:

• E1 to gymnastics
• laundry
• swelter

Week Two/Twenty Two "A" Day

• 5 minutes/300 steps elliptical
• 10 minutes on treadmill 3.5mph/Incline 10
• 1/2 mile on bike
• lateral pulldown
• treadmill 7.5 mph
• crunches on bosu ball
• sidestepper
• right side bends
• elliptical
• inner thigh adductor
• stepper
• reverse crunches
• bicycle
• bicep curls
• 5 minutes on elliptical with incline
• stretches

For the record, Z's traitorous coach (Coach S) took off his Crew jersey and sat with the West Ham fans at last night's game! Shocking! :P   And evidently, Crew Stadium personnel were not prepared for the 100 some West Ham fans that flew over for the game. I'm just wondering how many colorful phrases E2 picked up last night.....

Went to the park and did a quick lap.  Today's bonus: A biker and walker gave me a friendly wave as I trotted past them.  Most people won't make eye contact.  I'm guilty of that too so I always appreciate people who make the effort. 

Today's to-do list:

• E2 to her summer program.
• Get wipes.

I can't wait until today is over.

• 5 minutes on elliptical with incline
• 10 minutes walking on treadmill with incline
• bicep curl
• rower
• leg extensions
• bicycle
• chest press
• boxing
• lateral pulldown
• treadmill
• crunches
• side stepper
• right side bends
• elliptical
• inner thigh adductor
• stepper
• reverse crunches
• bicycle
• ladders/suicides
• stretching

Ran a lap at the park.  Today's bonus: the full? moon was very pretty when I left the house and right before it set, it was huge and a cool orange.

Today's to-do:

load up kids in car, get Gatorade for the camper and apple juice for E2, fill the van's gas tank, take E2 to her summer program, pick up Z's friend I and take them to soccer camp, fill the mom's gas tank (cappuccino from Tim's), take E1 to gymnastics, go home, get back in car, pick up E1, pick up Z & I, take I home, leave Z at I's for a few hours, go pick up E2 *IF* they were able to keep her an extra hour (if not, be in 2 places at once because E1 & E2 are done at the same time), go home.    FUN times. 

To-do, Today

• E1 to gymnastics practice
• Z to soccer camp
• bank
• stop by Dick's Sporting Goods - supposedly a ton of workout clothes are marked down to $10.  got some pink C9 stuff from target.com instead. 
• Z's closet/room
• laundry
• need Downy & Cascade
• clean this stupid mouse or beat it senseless

Week One/Twenty One

• 20 minutes elliptical/just over 1100 steps
• bicep curl
• leg curl
• crunches
• chest press
• lateral pulldown
• crunches on bosu ball
• right sidebends
• inner thigh adductor
• reverse crunches
• walk/jog/sprint on the treadmill
• stretches

And I went straight instead of turning onto the road where the park is, so here I sit.  No jog today, but I feel pretty good about the cardio we did this morning.

To-do

• E2 to her summer program
• E1 to gymnastics
• Z to soccer camp
• take big kids to see Surf's Up?? NO, Z doesn't want to see it again; not telling E1 about it
• closets  well, worked on E1's closet/room
• mopping

Argh!

Today the alarm didn't go off!  Grrrrr.  Decided to skip the park and try and do an interval workout on the treadmill later; hope I don't regret that decision.

To-do:

• Z to soccer camp
• E1 to gymnastics practice
• treadmill HAHAHAHAHA Yah, right.
• closets
• bathroom
• mop kitchen
• haircuts for all three kids

Bummer

Neither B nor I changed the alarm so I did not get up in time for Fast Track.  I did however get up in time to get my 3 miles in.

To-do list

• E2 to her summer program at the daycare
• Z to soccer camp
• mail forms to team admin
• schedule doctor appts
• schedule dental appts
• finish up kids' closets
• clean master bath
• send in Z's form/check for club camp

Let's try this again

Yesterday, battling with E1 took up most of my time and energy.

Today's/Saturday's to-do list:

• Z has soccer camp
• E1 has gymnastics practice
• schedule dental appointments Office closes at 2pm on Fridays Call Monday.
• schedule doctor appointments
• buy birthday presents/gift wrap/cards
• buy E1 pajamas at Justice and sleeping bag at Target
• figure out a training schedule for my four miler and the big kids 5k
• order Z's new soccer uniform
• mail Z's soccer forms to admin
• take E1 to slumber party, Birthday Party, and slumber party
• put away clean laundry and start another load or two
• unload and reload dishwasher

This, That and The Other.

No Fast Track until Monday.  So this morning I went to the park and managed to get in two miles.  A huge accomplishment,considering I forgot my heart rate monitor & watch, my leggings kept slipping down, my stomach was growling, I felt like I had to pee, and there were six! other people walking/jogging.  The things I do for fitness. Hrmph.

B & Z had two extra tickets to last night's Crew game, so E1 and her friend G got to go with and then G spent the night.  She was a little sad and nervous but I think she did okay.

Z won't be #8 anymore.  A silly thing to be sad about, but he's had that # for two years and I liked saying "8 is great!".   The really odd thing is he & his friend J were both assigned the same number, so I don't know what's up with that. 

Today's to-do list:

• Z has soccer camp
• E1 has gymnastics practice
• schedule dental appointments
• schedule doctor appointments
• buy birthday presents (E1 has three parties this weekend. Three.)
• figure out a training schedule for my four miler and the big kids 5k (Z & E1 have decided they don't want to get up and jog on the days they have soccer/gymnastics. *eyeroll*)

When are they going to invent disposable clothing?

One load of laundry in the washer, one load in the dryer, one load put away.

Oh yeah, it's going to be an exciting day around here.

One load of laundry in the dryer, five loads put away.

Master bed stripped and re-made.

To keep myself on track

1. Cleaned half-bath
2. Cleaned master bath
3. Cleaned kids' bath  yuck
4. Cleaned kitchen
5. Cleaned eating area
6. 20  minutes on treadmill

Decluttering

Decluttering

Went out for laundry detergent.

Working on Mt. Laundry.

Watched "Straw-buh-buh-buh-berry, Straw-buh-buh-buh-berry, Straw-buh-buh-buh-berry....Shortcake!" a bunch of times. For the second day in a row.  Custard the Cat is an annoying little snot. 

Decluttered a cabinet.

Toddler napping.

Mommy drinking a frapp.

Decluttering

Worked on the craft/school supply cabinet today:

Decluttering

After a two-week-why-bother?-pity party, I got a closet decluttered.  One bag of trash and two bags for charity.

Decluttering

 

Decluttering

Threw out 36 baby food jars, 2 empty boxes and a half empty Gatorade.

Decluttering

Baby steps. Instead of tackling the whole house at once, getting exhausted, and quitting after only 10% off the mess is resolved, I'm trying a different approach.  Bit by bit I WILL whittle away at the clutter. 

Done: Sunday

• Since I was out of frappuccinos, went to the Speedway that has the 13 1/2 oz. bottles; filled B's car up; went to the car wash to vacuum and wash it.
• Worked on digital layout.
• Scrubbed master bathroom.
• Vacuumed up the carpet powder in Z's room and made his bed.
• Finished digital layout. 20 pages done for E2's 2006 album!
• Started new digital layout
• Upstairs hall: scrubbed walls, doorframes and doors, vacuumed.
• Eating area: scrubbed table, chairs, walls, baseboards, sliding glass door and the floor.
• Finished digital layout.

Done: Saturday

• Started a load of laundry Load 1 in dryer load 2 in washer Load 1 put away load 2 in dryer load 3 in washer Load 2 put away load 3 in dryer load 4 in washer (doing towels, bedding, throws, etc. today) Load 3 put away load 4 in dryer load 5 in washer Load 4 put away load 5 in dryer load 6 in washer Load 5 put away load 6 in dryer load 7 in washer Load 6 put away load 7 in dryer final load (for today) in washer
• Finished digital layout; starting new one.
• Showered
• Tried to get mail, key won't open box.
• Wondered why the religious nuts were waving signs, esp on that corner?
• Got a haircut (all of them, yuk yuk) and highlights.
• Wondered why gas is so cheap today?
• Got prescription refilled and, since it's a block away, onion rings and a blizzard from DQ.
• Debating on housework, or the crummy movie marathon on the scifi channel.
• Made our bed.
• Finished digital layout.
• Starting new layout, watching the string of dreadful movies on the scifi channel.
• Loaded up trunk with trash and went to the dumpster.
• Finally got mailbox open AND ... it was empty.
• Car drove to Steak N Shake so I felt obligated to order something.

Done: Friday

• Frappuccino, shower, frappuccino
• Went to Target (8:00am is the perfect time to go) to stimulate the economy (it said it would call but we know it won't).
• Grumbled about the humidity (112%) and lack of actual songs on morning radio.
• Frappuccino
• Organized half of Z's closet
• Started a layout for E2's 2006 album
• Scrubbed Z's walls with cleanser and a long-handled tile brush (still look like crap), cleaned window/sill, cleaned door and closet door. Realized I may have overestimated how much I can accomplish this weekend.  Started cleaning Z's bunk bed. Realized there were blue marker Capital and lowercase a's (like Z needs the practice? grrr...) that I hadn't noticed before.  Got annoyed because they are permanent.
• Went to DQ.  Currently enjoying a Watermelon Arctic Rush and an Oreo Blizzard.
• Grumbled about the humidity some more.  It is like a freakin' sauna outside.
• Finished layout.
• Cleaned Z's loft system, finished his closet, bagged up all his size small clothes for donation, bagged up trash, vacuumed.
• 
• 
• Unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher.
• Cleaned the half bath.
• Cleaned the kids' bath.

Done

• Three loads of laundry, need to put them away.
• Two pages of E2's 2006 album.
• Stupid Dairy stupid Queen closes at stupid 10:00 on stupid weeknights so I had to have stupid popcorn instead of a blizzard. 

Today

Looked for camera to upload pics from Drama Kids last night (it was Parents' Night; E1 got  a Tshirt and Trophy for being in DK two years).  Did I leave it in B's car?

Put load of laundry in dryer. 

Rewashing  load of towels that smell very, very sour.

Put jeans for Z in shopping cart at oldnavy.com.  Saw dress shirts and realized I needed to make reservations for Longaberger's Bunny Luncheon.  Looked for wallet to find debit card.  Also found camera.

Made reservations for Longaberger's Bunny Luncheon.  Looked in wallet for debit card.  Not there. Held reservation with credit card.  Where is debit card?  Put in back pocket after getting gas yesterday.  (a bad habit I need to break.)  Hmm......

Huh?

B got the kids to school this morning, only to find out we were on a two hour delay.   Our street was a little icy but the main roads seem fine?

What I have accomplished today:

1. Got the kids BK french toast sticks (not exactly an accomplishment but Z reeeeeally wanted them) and to school.
2. Started a load of laundry.
3. Wrote check for soccer fees and got it ready to mail.
4. Got Gingerbread Man postcard ready to mail (for a Flat Stanley - like project).
5. Got Gman ready to mail to next person.
6. Put baby down for a nap.
7. Sent email to Z's teacher re: Winter conferences
8. Sent email to hospitality volunteers re: Winter Conferences
9. Showered.
10. Put away two loads of laundry.
11. Started another load of laundry.
12. Picked big kids up from school.
13. Dropped mail off at Post Office.
14. Put gas in car.
15. Ran car through car wash.
16. Put away a load of laundry.
17. Started another load of laundry.

Done, so far

As of 8:00 am:

• Fed the kids, packed Z's lunch (E1 is buying; she wanted to try the chicken patty sandwich), took the big kids to school in a downpour.
• Unloaded, reloaded, and started dishwasher.
• Swept eating area, AGAIN.
• Put one load of clothes away, one load in the dryer and one load in the washer. 
• Currently trying to decide which English Premiere League team I should support*.  Follow B's lead, and be a Tottenham Hotspurs fan?   Be predictably sheep-like and hop on the Manchester United bandwagon?  Support last place Charlton? Decisions decisions.

*FYI - this is sarcasm

As of 9:45 am:

• Tidied living room more and swept it.
• Tidied family room.
• Sneezed a billion more times.
• E2 just woke up from her nap (poor baby had a rough night.).  Going up to get her.

As of 3:15 pm:

• Sent out fundraising scam spam plea.  :)
• Gave baby a bath and took a shower.
• Put a load of clothes away, put another load in the dryer and put another load in the washer.  I think.  The laundry is becoming a bit of a blur. 
• Took 3 bags of trash to the dumpster and picked the big kids up from school.
• Listening to E1 read a book. 

Done, so far

As of 9:45 am:

• Got up, fed the kids, made lunches, dealt (poorly) with a meltdown (Z), dropped big kids off at school.
• Swept and mopped eating area.
• Unloaded, reloaded, and started dishwasher.
• Sorted most of the laundry, one load in washer.

As of 12:00 noon:

• Cleaned sliding glass doors and wiped off table in eating area.
• Went through school papers and misc. papers. (having trouble throwing away all Z's papers that say "super" and "excellent" and "very nice"!)
• Decluttered kitchen counter and cleaned it.
• Swept and mopped kitchen floor.
• Put load of clothes into dryer.
• Currently feeding the baby a banana.

As of 7:00 pm:

• Put away a load of clothes, put a load of clothes into the dryer and put a load of clothes into the washer.
• Picked the big kids up from school.
• Finally got an apology from Z over last night's/this morning's behavior.
• Noticed throat was starting to hurt.
• Listened to E1 read a story, helped Z review for a science test. 
• Sneezed repeatedly.
• Swept the eating area, AGAIN.  (And yes, trying to clean the house when you have young children is EXACTLY like trying to shovel snow during a blizzard.)
• Read the big kids the first three chapters of a condensed (i.e. sanitized) version of Tom Sawyer.
• Started coughing.  (The poor baby has a cold too and had a somewhat restless night last night.)
• Tucked all my sweet bunnies into bed and ate a bowl of Reese's Puff Cereal.  Considering doing the laundry or cleaning.  Considering NOT doing laundry or cleaning......

Done, so far

one load of laundry put away, three loads that need to be put away, one in dryer, one in washer.

made reservations for Longaberger's Boo Lunch. 

swept and mopped kitchen.

gave baby a bath.

showered.

picked up pta stuff for B from school office.

picked up big kids from school.

got treats from tim horton's.

unloaded, reloaded and started dishwasher.

took E1 to gymnastics.

What's weighing you down?

Emails, phone calls, letters that need to be returned,  or made/written/mailed?

Bills that need to be paid?

Projects that need to be started or finished?

Rooms that need to be cleaned?

Clutter that needs to be thrown out or put away?

Forms that need to be filled out?

Treadmills that need to be walked on?

Ugh.  Must.get.motivated. 

To-do Today/Tomorrow

• Laundry, laundry, laundry. well, laundry is never totally done, but several loads are completed.
• Finish filling out E1's back to school paperwork and do Z's bts paperwork.
• Schedule Z's annual checkup.
• Schedule our dental appts.
• Update the check register.
• Make sure wall calendar is updated for August's activities/events.  mostly done
• Figure out what the kids need for bts re: clothes, accessories, lunch bags, back packs.