barefoot

this is a fun article if you're interested in beginning barefoot running. I'm more intrigued with this method more all the time.

my thoughts on calorie counting... and a run.

I think tracking calories is a pain. That is the weekly challenge this week in fitness challenge. Keeping a food journal is much easier, I'll be glad when we move to a new weekly challenge. I know it's good for me to be aware of how many calories I'm taking in, but I feel like I get a good idea of what's going into my body with a simple food journal. That helps me see how often I'm eating, how much and what kind of choices I'm making. I understand the need to be aware of calories, but it could potentially backfire. I mean, I want a sandwich with turkey, cheese and avocado on wheat bread... so I've got to figure each piece out when the alternative (let's just be honest) is a package of top ramen where the calories are already laid out there for me on the package! In fact, most packaged foods are much easier when counting calories because they are predetermined when fresh foods are not as easy to track. Anyway, I have a few websites helping me out and we'll survive a week. And it has been interesting, and relieving that at the end of the day my calorie count is not nearly as high as I think it will be as I keep adding things to my list through the day.

All in all, it's much easier to just eat ice all day long... no need to figure anything out there!

and in the exercise realm of things... I completed the family fun run at our family reunion this past weekend- three miles on a dirt road in my vibrams. I was concerned about the rocks and uneven surfaces, but after a quick trial the day before decided to give it a go. Running in them on that surface wasn't a big deal at all. There were, however, a few major hills. yes, major- for me. On our way into the property we noticed the mile markers and the hill that followed the turnaround point.

Denten said "you can run up this."

I said, "b.s."

He said, "you don't believe in yourself."

I took offense.

And I'll have you know I ran up that stinkin' hill with his 'you don't believe in yourself' in my head the whole time.

tohatchi: in words and pictures

first and foremost, I’ll have you know that for my children, sleeping in a tent was wildly successful.  they loved it and have been asking to go back to grandma bitsilly’s and sleep in a tent again since we got home.  me?  I spent a good portion of the first night composing a blog post in my head about how I could probably survive in antarctica in the mummy bag I was using, it was so bloody hot.  after I stole the kids’ quilt, I probably logged a good two hours of sleep before daylight arrived.  second night, much better.

 

grandma telling us the story of the cradle board.

the boys ready for the family fun run/walk.

cooper making sure landon does not get an unfair head start.

grandpa and beckham coming across the finish line.

celebrating at the finish line… three miles for me and my first race on dirt in my vibrams.  loved them.

pretty much my favorite pic of the trip.

 

mmmm… tortillas.

musical chairs.

a new cousin wrapped on a cradle board.  pretty much made me want to have another baby immediately.  I could have just taken him right home with me.

bitsilly siblings.

grandma and grandpa robinson with their grandkids.

elvis and his girls.

 

try as I might, I can not braid like the aunties.

rez ball!

cooper receiving his medal.  first place in the one-mile run!

 

denten after winning the shawl dancing contest.

barrel racing

she brought her dancing shoes!

pretty girls:  dianna, amberly, seneca, cheyanne, danae (and xander).

senny found a friend and danced the night away.

my dance partner got pretty tired and fell asleep sitting upright on a folding chair.

 

jace, beckham, cooper and landon.

the eltons stopped by on their way home.

silly cousins!

grandma looked strong and healthy.  the aunties delivered with a wonderful meal and awesome frybread.  it was fun to reconnect with cousins, young and old.  we enjoyed a trip to the flea market and found a few treasures.  the firework show put on by denten and winston was a great success.  I love my family.  I love this occasion that pushes us to stay connected and make great memories together.  totally worth a few sleepless nights. 

It's that time again...

for the Bitsilly Family Reunion! Three days in Tohatchi, New Mexico at Grandma's property. Bring tents, trailers, door prizes, lots of water and your dancing shoes and be ready for a party! JR will be on the loud speaker bright and early, so if the roosters haven't woken you up, without a doubt, he will. We'll start off with the family fun run/walk and then spend the day enjoying family, food, music and games.

costco- check
oil change- check
laundry done- check
packing- not check

Seneca has been asking all week if she can sleep in a tent at Grandma Silly's. I keep counting down the days for her. Coop can't wait for the limbo contest and the fireworks and Beckham wants to play basketball. what? that's what he said he was excited for. hey, there's a rez hoop there- maybe he has some undiscovered skillz...

Someone will braid Seneca's hair. DaNae will do someone's nails. Grandma will give a very long speech that I won't understand, but I will still be able to feel. Jo will make amazing frybread and I will eat too much of it. I will admire those eating mutton stew, but will not feel the need to participate in that particular tradition. We will go through lots of water, sunscreen and snacks and hopefully time with my book. I will sit and watch the dancing until I can't take it anymore and get up and participate even though I'm white and look ridiculous. We will catch up with cousins and enjoy the fact that all of my children are independently mobile and able to play easily. We will pray for no toads in the tent at night and no rattlesnakes in the hogan. The only thing missing will be uncle Drew, which is a major bummer.

so, until Monday... keep me in your prayers. you know, so I can get a little sleep and such...

Invictus

I spent two nights getting through this movie.  Two nights not because it was boring, but because it was so full that I couldn’t watch it half asleep.  My dad’s admiration of Nelson Mandela has rubbed off on me and I have gained my own full appreciation of this man and the things he was able to accomplish in one short lifetime.  He was a leader who was slow and deliberate, something leaders today around the world could learn a lot from.  No power trips, no decisions simply because they please the majority.  Having the concept of the national rugby team thrown in was also brilliant. 

There was a scene when Matt Damon’s character, Francois Pienaar, who is the captain of the rugby team, is having a retrospective moment.  When asked if he was nervous about his upcoming match, he replied, “no, I was thinking about how you spend 30 years in a tiny cell and come out ready to forgive the people who put you in.”  We see the cell where Mandela spent a good portion of his life and it is powerful that after having that kind of experience, he came out level-headed and ready to make changes in his country.  Without bitterness, without a hard heart. 

There is much to be learned from the line of the poem, Invictus:

I am master of my fate.

I am captain of my soul. 

Nelson Mandela was an inspired leader.  I won’t say the movie is incredibly dynamic or hugely entertaining by hollywood standards, but it was definitely cause for reflection.  When one man who has had incredible hardships can make such a difference, why aren’t more of us making one when our lives are such a dream?

recommended reading

do you have a free hour?

and some tissues?

and one million reasons to be so grateful?

catch up with this amazing little family.

press for joete's!

Wanna read about my awesome sister??

Check her out here!

Yes, she's completely extrordinary and yes, I'm related to her!

the best.

FHE on king benjamin where everyone participated in telling the story while dad sat on his “throne” wearing his crown made with love.

a few surprises were bestowed, including a shirt made at the primary activity and all the dark chocolate reese’s peanut butter cups within a 10 mile radius. 

then dad shared his favorite treat with us.  ice cream cones on the swing set… life just doesn’t get any better.

dad, look how happy you make us!  where on earth would we be without you?!

babe, you’re the absolute greatest.

we all love you like crazy.

 

*product placement:  colorstay really means it.  bex found lip color in the church bag.  it won’t come off.  still there today.  if you don’t want your lip color wearing off, I have just the product for you.

summertime.

swimming every single day. quick easy dinners. spending mornings in the pool with

friends. kids staying up late. lots of reading. diving board. mopping floors late at night

as to not waste daylight with such frivolous tasks. eating entire cartons of strawberries at

a time. sweating at weekly swim meets. crazy chlorine hair. popsicles. big swimming

arms. good books. making travel plans. straight-leg kicks. grilling with friends every

weekend. back floats. long naps. ice. swinging. apples with almond butter. flip-flops. air

conditioning. sun-kissed cheeks.

magic fairies, please!!

friends coming over swimming tomorrow, more friends coming saturday and my house is in NO condition for company! in fact, it looks like all we've done all week is come here to eat and sleep between swimming lessons, swim team and other summer outings!

it's ok to ask for miracles even if they are over trivial matters, right? I'd like a few magic fairies to come and clean this house for me so I can enjoy saturday morning with my family. I'll be gone a good part of the afternoon and evening, so feel free to come on in and get to work! floors need to be vacuumed, swept and mopped, especially the kitchen. bathrooms cleaned. I'm actually ok on laundry, so don't worry about that one.

I'm not kidding. I'll leave the back door open in case sneaking in through the walls isn't one of your magic tricks. Cleaning supplies are in the laundry room. If you happen to have an extra few minutes, you may blow the leaves out of the pool area... that would be great!

thanks.

oh, and do you have friends that grocery shop?? I've got a list and am not sure when in the world that is going to happen...

pronounciation: edited to add

We've been reading fairy tales around here lately. The latest is Handsome and Gretel. Oh, I mean Hansel and Gretel. No matter how many time I try to correct them, it reverts back to Handsome. It started with Cooper and Seneca quickly picked up the mistake. Even Bex calls him Handsome. Oh well, maybe he was.

Mom is doing fitness challenge and that means limited goodies in the house. They've finished off any cookies and such we had around a while ago and I haven't gotten any more so granola bars and popsicles are about as "treat" as it gets around here. One of everyone's favorites, however, is Patella. Oh, I mean nutella. we've enjoyed a little with strawberries and bananas and they think I'm the world's greatest mom. Doesn't patella mean knee cap? "mmm, mom, I love patella!"

Cooper's race suit came in the mail yesterday. Jammers on little boys legs may be my new favorite thing. And yes, of course they make him faster. edited: tonight when I was putting Cooper to bed, he said in his prayer, "and please help me swim super fast in my new black swimsuit." Then he told me that as he was swimming freestyle today, he wondered about the tempacles in the water. Tempacles? Chemicals. Another one I try to correct and it's always tempacels. Kind of a mash between tentacles and chemicals. Coop is always curious about the chemicals in pool water.

And an unrelated question of the day: we are in the market for a new vacuum. We've had a fabulous one for 11 years... aunt Mel gave it to us for our wedding and it has lasted and been great, but it's rebelling when it has to cover this much carpet. Do you have one you love? Suggestions please!

The Goose Girl

I finished it last night. Thank goodness for three-hour naps so I can read and not feel guilty for neglecting my children! As I stated before, I had my reservations about this book part way through, even going so far as to say I’d rather write the ending as it wasn’t going the way I hoped. Silly and presumptuous me! It ended better than I could have done myself in a million years!

I should have read this with a group available to discuss, because I want to discuss! Has anyone read it? Willing to share thoughts? Raynie?? This book had great girl power, the good kind. I love the good kind. It had royalty and mystery. Bad guys and good guys. Adventure and excitement and romance. Oh, the romance factor got me! Although so did the Bach last night, so maybe I’m just a little sappy right now! No, it really was good romance.

The author, Shannon Hale, is from Utah. LDS, perhaps? Anyway, she has a few more books in this genre, I believe following the same characters and I am excited to read them. I’m bummed that this book is over, but I’ve got a stack on my dresser to get to, so… moving on. If you’ve read this one, let me know, I have thoughts! If not, well, for heaven’s sake, swing by your library today and get it!