The Barber Shop

I was sitting at the computer one night a few weeks ago enjoying some much needed quiet time. "What's wrong with that?" you're wondering. "You work hard. You deserve it." You're totally right. I do work hard. I do deserve it. Something was wrong though...it was quiet...too quiet. You know the feeling, you're sitting there, kind of spaced out, enjoying the quiet when you suddenly realize that it has been too quiet for too long. So when I came out of my daze, I decided to investigate. I walked into the bathroom and literally shrieked as I saw Maya standing, looking in the mirror, the sharp scissors in her hand, a pile of her hair on the floor. She really thought she had done a good job, and it was pretty good, considering it was a first attempt. I tried not to totally freak out so she wouldn't get upset, but I did explain that we don't cut our own hair. The next day, I took her to a hair cutting place down the street and asked the lady to do what she could to minimize the damage. It is pretty short, but not boy-short and she didn't even really have to cut the bangs. She said Maya had cut them quite evenly herself. So here are some pictures of Maya's new haircut, which is actually growing on me:

Rick's First Week on Days

Rick and I have worked opposite schedules since before Shayne was born. The biggest reason for this was so one of us could be home with the kids all the time, which has thankfully happened for the past 8 years. In the summer Maya started all-day kindergarten, so no one really needs to be home all day anymore.

Last Monday Rick switched to working days instead of nights and we are all happy to be living with a more "normal" family schedule in which everyone is at home at night. Although we had time to do things each week as a family before, it is nice to have a lot more time now. In order to make this work, Rick has to get up at 3:45am most days to be out the door by about 4:00. That way I get the kids off to school in the morning and he picks them up. We are all home by 4:00pm or shortly after. So this week we enjoyed having dinner together every night and having Rick with us at Shayne's Running Club race and skateboarding class (more on that later...) So we are all very grateful to have had the flexibility in work schedules to be able to be with our kids a lot during their baby and pre-school years and we are very happy now to be seeing more of each other now.

Goodbye El Torito

Last Sunday, the restaurant that I worked at for almost 7 years from 1995-2001 closed it's doors for good. Some of us who worked there for a long time (several still were working there until Sunday) got together to have a last meal before it closed. I worked most of my way through college there and still worked Friday nights for the first 3 years that I taught. I have lots of fun memories of that place and met some wonderful people there who I still keep in touch with. It is a beautiful building and I am sad to say that they are planning to tear it down to build something else. Anyway, here are some pictures I took on Sunday.

How to Fail a Test with Dignity

A friend forwarded me some of these in an email. You should be able to click on them to enlarge them if they are hard to read.

Ringing in the New Year EST

I know this is a little late, but I just uploaded the pictures...

A friend of mine has had a New Year's Eve party for the past few years that is very kid-friendly and a lot of fun. We played games and made smores in the backyard (it was probably about 60 degrees outside that night) and had a great time together. Then, at 10:00 Arizona time, we watched the ball dropping in New York and celebrated the new year 2 hours early. We popped crackers and had sparkling grape juice and made it home in time for everyone to get enough sleep and before most of the crazy people were back on the roads. Rick always works on New Year's Eve because in his line of work it is one of their busiest nights of the year, but the kids and I had a blast.

Rope Yourself Into a Healthy Habit

My January goal is health and nutrition. One thing I have been very good at so far this month is eating a healthy lunch. Why that? I thought about it and realized that I chat away with coworkers pretty much the whole time I am eating anyway, and I hardly notice what I am eating. Also, whatever I bring is what I am stuck with. I can go out and get something if I really want to, but I don't if I bring a lunch because I don't want to waste it. What a great opportunity to eat better! So I have been preparing healthy lunches the night before and taking them to work with me, and that has been going great. I can actually feel more sustained energy through the afternoons and I know it is partially because I am eating better and drinking more water.

Health and Nutrition: The Specifics

Well, my big umbrella goal for January is Health and Nutrition. Why does this make me happy? Being in good shape and eating well makes me feel good for many reasons. Among them are, feeling more energetic, looking better and feeling more healthy. I also think it is important to set a good example for the kids that we take care one of our greatest gifts, our bodies. Here are a few specific steps toward making this happiness happen:

• Walk and/or run 5 days a week. Work up to a 5 mile long-run once a week and 2-3 mile short runs the other 4 days (I was up to 6 miles at this time last year, but then got shin splints and had to stop for awhile)
  
• Stretch a lot to feel better and avoid injury


• Get out of school by 3:40 as often as possible so I can get in a 45 minute work out and be home by 4:50


• Have workout clothes, water and lunch ready the night before-set up for success!


• Drink more water throughout the day


• Take vitamins


• Eat a healthy breakfast at least most days


• Plan better, more healthy meals, lunches and snacks for all of us


• Eat at least 5 fruits/vegetables a day-work toward ensuring that for kids also

So far this is going very well. I have realized that in order to make it really happen, the key is to be ready the night before. This takes a lot more preparation than just eating whatever is available and not working out, but it is well worth it, as I already feel more energy throughout the day.