Arizona Trip

I will post on this several times.  First of all, let me give the story about our trip.  It has been on my bucket list to see the Grand Canyon.  Jack and I thought about going to Las Vegas last summer and traveling over, but we just couldn't do it.  We also decided that this was a trip that we should really take the kids.  I thought it would be impossible.  The kids were out of school Thursday and Friday so we looked into going back to Disney.  A three day stay/park visit (even though there are 4 parks) would run us over $2600, not including the gas and meals.  I just couldn't swallow that.  We checked the GC, and at the time it was cheaper, but only by $600.  I prayed about it several times and asked if God would drop the price.  One time it did, but I would have to leave early Wednesday morning, and I didn't think we should take the kids out or use another vacation day.  I told Jack about it and he told me I should have grabbed it.  I can't believe how much trips vary from day to day or week to week.  I learned that you should look for trips on Tuesday afternoons after 3 because the rates usually drop on those days.  Every week I would check.  I played with so many variables.  One Tuesday afternoon the price dropped again and Jack told me to book it.  We got hotel and airfare for much less than the Disney vacation. The fun part was that the kids never had flown before!!  Jenna got caught through security for packing hair detangler and Jacob got flagged and needed special screening for his cast.  We flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, which was incredibly beautiful!!  We flew over to Phoenix, rented a car and went to our resort in Carefree, AZ.  These are just a few pictures of the resort area.

balloon day

Today was a half day at school and I was able to sub.  Sometimes being a sub has some benefits if things are going on.  Last week I subbed and got a free BBQ chicken plate and HUGE cookie.  Today was balloon day.  If the teachers signed a waiver, they could go up in the balloon.  Of course the balloon was tied down so it could only go so high, but now I can say I have been in a hot air balloon.  It was so cool.  Here are pictures of the balloon getting inflated, the balloon going up, the view of Jenna's class from the balloon (even though I didn't sub for her class)  and then the kids got to help take the air out (like squeezing toothpaste out of a container).  I was actually kinda dreading having to sub, but I am so glad I did. 

Running

Saturday was our "big' race.  I was looking for a race to run, and a friend told me about this one.  Our entire family could participate for $60, which is a steal for a family of five.  It was a church in Cary using the money to build a women's hospital in Haiti. It was my first 10k.  My dream (and maybe it is a dream) is to do a half marathon.  I see all these weight loss shows where the participants are able to do it, and I would love to scratch this one off my bucket list!!!..The trail was in Apex, but it was the most magnificent trail I have ever ran.  It was wooded and shaded (of course it was cool anyway in the morning) and COMPLETELY flat!!  Oh, how I wish we had a trail like this in our areas.  No hills whatsoever.....just miles and miles of this trail. (it is the tobacco trail).  Josh of course ran ahead of me and got a $20 gift card because he finished first in his age group (the only one in his age group:) ).  Jake and Jenna did a one mile fun run.  I don't know why I felt like such a failure in this race.  Maybe it was because there was not a huge number of participants and I finished toward the back of the pack.  Maybe it was because my sweet husband had to stay at my pace instead of going and perhaps getting an award himself. Maybe I feel like I disappointed him. I don't know what it was, but I didn't feel good.  Maybe I should just run by myself from now on and let everyone do their own thing and not feel pressure to keep up. 
     I ran the first 2.5 miles fine, although I couldn't believe it was only 2 miles when I hit the official sign.  In fact I am proud that I actually ran the first mile in 10 1/2 minutes (now I am showing how slow I am because I am going to show my honesty and admit I usually run 12-12 1/2 min miles).  The second mile I still was keeping an 11 min/mile pace.  After that my mind took over and I felt the task impossible.  My legs started hurting so I turned on my phone and started my run 3 min/walk 1 minute application.  I was hoping to make it 3 or more miles before that happened, but I didn't.  So, for the rest of the race I used my Jeff Galloway program and did my run/walk thing.
      Jeff Galloway has this program that he says is successful.  Supposedly runners are not as fatigued and also finish in better times.  I have used this for the past months and really like it.  It helps to have a minute to walk and catch my breath, but sometimes I wish I could reverse it and walk 3 min and run 1 minute!!  My next "dream" is to run/walk (I guess I can't say I run anymore) a 10 mile race and I still have my Big Dream of the half marathon in April.  Maybe it is just a dream, so stay tuned in the next several months to see if I am dreaming or if it becomes a reality and I actually do it in April!!

Parenting

Have you ever watched some families with kids?  Not all families but certain families.  I'm thinking of one or two at church.  I also am a big fan of 19 kids and counting.  Although we don't get cable, I have watched every episode I could and watch them on you tube and follow their blog every day.  The Duggers and some of these other families seem to just have it all together.  Although they don't have perfect kids and they are not perfect parents, these families seem to just have the "perfect" little families.  They have seemed to master the parenting techniques down.  They don't seem to "lose" it with their kids and the kids seem talented, respectful and put together.  I fall so short of these families.  I know we are not to compare to others, but sometimes there are times I wish I could go back and start all over again.  Since I fall so short, I'm sure most of this has been passed on to my kids.  Although I am far from Michelle Dugger and the other moms, I do hope that some day my kids know how much I love them and how every decision I make is what I think is best for them.  I hope they know I will stick up for them and defend them.  I hope they know that "Mama bear doesn't let people mess with her cubs".

Broken Bones and such

Thursday night the four of us went to the park for a run (Jack was out with a friend).  Jacob and Jenna are practicing for their one mile fun run.  When they were finished, they got their gatorade out of the car and headed to the playground and Josh and I continued our run.  When I came back from the run, Jacob was holding his arm.  Apparently he played Ninja Warrior and missed the bar:). I gave him ice and Tylenol but he woke me up at 2 am in pain.  Needless to say after multiple appointments on Friday, we found out his wrist was fractured.  First broken bone of the McLean household.  Neither Jack or I have broken a bone and my kids have made it free up to this point.  We got his temporary "plastic" splint yesterday.  I have a feeling insurance won't pay for this plastic thing and this little thing will cost about $500.
     Thinking of broken bones, I think of those who are broken in spirit.  Hurting just like Jacob, yet in other ways.  So many people are too eager to post their every need wanting someone to meet it (like begging for financial help) but so many people we have contact with every day have needs or hurts and never say a word.  My heart goes out to these people.  I had a friend at church share about how they were hurting, yet no one else knows. You never know how much just an encouraging word can do for a person.  You never know who is hurting.  Be a blessing to someone today!!  You may not be able to heal a broken bone, but you can help heal a broken spirit.

The Scale=Discouragment

So for the past 60+ days I went back to using "my fitness pal".  I decided my food handling was getting out of hand and I wanted to see what I was really eating.  A couple of weeks into summer vacation, I started really exercising more.  Two classes on Monday, two on Tuesday, and one on Thursday.  I also picked two other days to run.  Late July, I had to drop one of the Tuesday classes only because of my work schedule.  Today I continue to do 2 classes on Monday, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday and sometimes one on Wednesday.  I also run on Fridays and if I don't do a class on Wednesday I run then (or I try to fit in another one on the weekend).
     So after plugging in my numbers on my current weight and what I wanted to weigh etc  my fitness pal will give me the calories I need to eat per day.  Of course I get extra if I exercise, but it calculates all of that for me.  I would say 95% of the time I am in my range, except if there is a special event or we go out to eat.  My Fitness Pal always says....."if every day were like today, you would weigh ---- in 5 weeks".  I didn't weigh for 5 weeks and to my surprise, the scale had not moved.  What?  Are you kidding me?  Here I am at 60+ days and I might be down 2 pounds.  Talk about discouraging.  (Remember that I had gained some extra weight in the fall and around the holidays and did not get serious about taking it off until June).  I even measured myself thinking I maybe had lost inches from my previous MFP entries and to my surprise, they had not moved either.  I know people say you can't measure yourself by the scale.  In fact, I have one instructor who never weighs herself.  I'm not sure what I am doing wrong as I am exercising 5-6 hours a week plus staying within calorie limits, but it sure is discouraging that I should weigh "blah blah blah".  I will continue working out and I will keep logging in my food and maybe someday my work will pay off.

September is around the corner

I can't believe that September starts Monday.  Where has the time gone?  The kids seem to slowly be getting used to the new routine.  We've almost finished our 2nd week of school.  I'm looking forward to a long weekend getting together with friends on two separate days.
     I'm hoping to get into some type of groove next week.  I've been working T/W/Th full days, but next week I get cut back to part time.  In a way I am glad, but yet I feel that I am missing purpose.  I'm glad that I have more "me" time, but then I struggle with having free time.....does that make sense? I have several things planned.....I take class on Monday mornings and Tuesday mornings and I try to run Friday mornings (plus another run sometime in the week).  W/TH I usually do boot camp before school so that frees up my time.  Wednesdays is usually grocery mornings....but that still leaves a great amount of space, even with the classes.  I'm thinking about volunteering at school one day a week and maybe trying to get the chance to do lunch dates with some friends, but many of them work or homeschool themselves.
      I also struggle because it is really hard for me to form a bond with the new child.  He is really sweet and absolutely not a problem at all, but it is different that having Jack and Kara.  Jack and Kara were like my own children.  The parents are so sweet and kind (much different than the other boy I kept in the afternoons last year) but I can't tell if they are disappointed with the new sitter or if they don't like our house (it's not near as big as theirs or Jen's) or what.  But hopefully things will be better once the routine sets in.
    With time passing so quickly, Christmas will be here very soon!!!