Running

I began four months ago with great advice from wonderful friends. I started walking two minutes/running two, and slowly increased to where I can walk one and run ten to get my mile in under 12 minutes on the treadmill. I also do circuit-type training. I lift weights, do 60+ inclined sit-ups and alternate between cycling and elliptical training for a total of 3miles. I have only lost four pounds, but am down a dress size and have lowered my BMI by one point. Yea me, right?!  Nope, too soon to tell.

This week I only ran once and opted to swim and do high intensity yoga instead... which concerns me. I am bored with running and have been choosing to tread water for 30 minutes and swim laps in place of running. I have been in the pool 6 days this week. I understand that exercise is good in all forms, but I really want to run Disney's Half-Mary in January. I am beginning to wonder if I  am disciplined enough to do it.

Nellie's Evolution

We are currently living in an apartment complex that boast this beautiful pool you see in the picture above. The kids and I use the pool almost every day relishing in the fact that we do not have to clean it or treat the water.... That was until yesterday.

I was laying out and reading my new teen fiction novel while my four kids splashed and played with two children who were visiting their great grandfather. These new kids didn't know how to swim so I was doing a lot of watching. I noticed the boy go down and come up sputtering. I got to the edge of the pool just in time to see him scramble near and puke right in the water. YUCK! For those who know me well, you may not believe the next part, but it played just as I am telling you.

My 3rd 30th

I recently celebrated the third anniversary of my 30th birthday. Confused? You need not worry. I will explain.

Three years ago, I decided that time was moving too fast. Questions were rushing around me like a tornado taking me to Oz. How is it possible that I am now considered middle aged? Where did it go? I felt like I went to sleep at 23 and woke up to a life that wasn't really mine. How did I get here? Who are these little people and why are they following me... and snickering? After making a mental journey down memory lane, I decided that I was going to stop growing up. After all, I'm not getting any taller! Delusional you say? Okay, I get it . I know.... Maybe. True I cannot stop time, but I don't have to celebrate it in traditional terms.

So for my 3rd 30th, I was awakened at 12 am with a Pull-Up to the face by my youngest child. We went to church that morning and spent the rest of the day relaxing at home...including cake and naps for everyone! I finally climbed into bed at 11:59pm and was able to count down to the end of my special day. Not very exciting you say? Well, I am middle aged after all. What did you expect, lollipops and emeralds?

NellieJune and theTerrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

A Parody Of Judith Viorst' s,

 Alexnader and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day

I went to sleep with my husband and now there is a kid where he laid and when I got out of bed this morning my hips and knees ached and the alarm clock read 5:00am and when I weighed myself I was up a pound and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

 At breakfast R. was crying and J. was mad because he couldn't open his yogurt and I opened my yogurt but it was spoiled.

 I think I will move to Australia.

After breakfast the dog ate tissue and bit B. and W. wouldn't stop playing his video game to get ready for school.

I said to brush your teeth. I said to get dressed. Put the dog up I said. I said, if you don't get ready for school this instant I will spank you. No one even answered.

 I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day.

 In the gym another lady was on the treadmill and I had to do my sit-ups first. While I was on the elliptical she told me how she was down two dress sizes and she farted while running. Who needs a treadmill?

 I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

 I could tell because R. said there were no boys allowed in her room. She said that J. took the toy and that he is no longer her brother.

 I hope you don't mean that, I said to R. I hope the next time you play you share. This is every one's home and all are allowed, I said. I said that J. will always be your brother, even if we lived in Australia.

 There were two untrained workers in Subway and they were out of kid's bags. B. got two sandwiches in her kids meal and W. and J. had pizza and soda and chips. R. had a sandwich with apples and sprite. Guess who's counting calories and gave up soda and chips?

 There are an abundance of fruit flies in our kitchen.
 My ears are pealing.
 And I found a gray hair.

 It was a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day.

That is what it was because later I began to feel like I had a UTI. If it continues I'll go to the doctor. If you have it next week you WILL go to the doctor my hubby said.
 Next week, I said,
        I'm going to Australia.

 At the table we read the Bible. "...from the abundance of the heart [your] mouth speaks." He said (Luke 6:45).

 Jeb prayed for the first time aloud asking "Dear God help me not to get in trouble." Bella asked, "God help our hearts be filled with you." Reagan prayed "Lord, don't let me pee the bathroom floor." and Wyatt asked "for the healing of our friends".

I tried not to cry and HE reminded me that I am his beloved child and called me blessed.

It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Call Now!

We recently purchased a cable TV package through our local provider after years of choosing to not have any access to network television. I am amazed by all the infomercials that I've been missing. How could I have survived these past few years without the gadgets, health supplements, and exercising programs!? Below are some of my favorites for your enjoyment.  :)

This is Sensa, a weight loss supplement that you just sprinkle on you food that is suppose to make you want to eat less of the food... I think sprinkling poop, hair or bugs on food would have the same effect. HAHAHAHAHA! Enjoy.


Okay, I feel like Beavis and Butt-Head watching this one."She said butt. ha. haha. ha." College students could play a drinking game while watching, just take a drink every time you hear the word butt. Enjoy!


HONESTLY! Who would do this for 60 days? It seems like a form of torture. These people are insane. I have no doubt it works but who in their right mind would go back for seconds? This reminds me of Stephen King's, Cats Eye, where the guy goes to extreme measures to stop smoking by using a company with 100% success rating, but uses unorthodox methods... TRULY INSANE, PEOPLE!


There are just too many to list them all, but follow this website to find more great as seen on TV products. Enjoy!

The Device

While here in Macon I have stumbled upon a device that seems specifically built to make cupcake loving 30 year old women weep like an infant and sweat like a prostitute in church...

Going on a Fair Hunt

Friday night the girls and I gave ourselves Irish manies and pedies complete with glitter, green polish and shamrocks. We were preparing for the Saint Patrick's Day Fair in Mercer Village, Macon. We woke early Saturday and I braided flowers and green ribbon in the girls' hair and put green shirts on the boys.

We left in search of the fabled Mercer Village at the corner of Mulberry and Spring, only to find ourselves smack square in the Cherry Blossom Festival. So instead of green we found pink... and had a great time. When all the mini's were sweaty and grumpy and we decided to leave, we found what we were looking for just three blocks down.... Typical. :)

Motherhood is Necessary for Invention

The saying is, "necessity is the mother of invention." However, I realized as I was cleaning the kids bathroom this morning, that motherhood was necessary for me to become the inventor. Mind you, I use the title inventor loosely.

I realized as I organized the soaps and loofahs that were soggily trapped at the bottom of the tub, that a shower curtain ring can serve nicely as a hook to hang the loofahs from. Viola! A Loofah Hook... for just two easy payments of, $19.95 you too can have your very own set of Loofah Hooks, and if you act fast I will throw in an extra set for free!

This new invention got my mind working. I began to think about how much my life has changed since I was blessed with these four precious babies. I always thought that my adult years would be spent wearing fancy clothes and working full time and traveling around the world. If that fantasy got boring, I dreamed I would be wearing bathing suits living on the water collecting liberal data on how the world ocean's are polluted beyond repair. Never in a million years would the obnoxious teenaged version of myself have dreamed that she would be a 30 yr old, stay at home, home-schooling mother to 4 kids.

As I am typing this I am reminded of the verse, "For I know the plans I have for you (says the Lord), plans to prosper you, not harm you." My plans were small, self-centered plans. God's plan was bigger and better than I could have ever thought of with my sinful, selfish mind. It's a good thing that we often don't get what we want. How very lonely my world would be traveling by myself or sitting on a boat in the middle of no where. What type of personal/spiritual growth is there in doing what you want and what is easy?

So today I don a new hat. The hat of an inventor. A mother who will create lesson plans and who makes up stories and games. A mom who solves the problem of bathroom clutter...One who will drop her drawers to get her kids to laugh. A wife who invents a recipe for her husband's favorite cupcake. No, I am not your typical inventor and my name will never be remembered as a top mind who changed the digital age, and I may not be of fancy dress or have a pet dolphin. But I will always be remembered as, Mom.

The Gyspy Life

My husband and I recently decided to quit playing part time spouses and to start living our marriage as the happily married couple we are. What does this mean you ask? It means that I have decided to cleave to my husband and travel with him. It means the kids and I now live the gypsy life that he has lived for over three years. It means that I get to live with my husband and my kids get to grow up with their dad. It means that I have withdrawn my kids from school and have begun to home-school them... and it equals 365 days a years of togetherness instead of the 104 we have been averaging.

This was not an easy decision nor is it an easy lifestyle. A change this great requires lots of prayer and many months of preparation. I now run two households complete with bills and have to provide curriculum and instruction for my children who are accustomed to being occupied by a classroom of 25 kids for 8 hours a day. I left my house intact only bringing half of it with us. We live modestly, but we live together.

Most importantly, what does this mean for the reader? It means I now have much more to write about. Stay tuned and keep an opened mind. I do not claim to do things perfectly but rather to the best of my ability. A lot of mistakes and experiences are to be had on this adventure I call the Gypsy life and I wish to share them with you.