Well, my throat has a sore spot on it but it's not getting worse. I'm worried that I'm taking Maddie's cold but maybe I'm fighting allergies. Taking my vitamin C for sure!


The kids took Tucker on his walk and will do fix pasta for us tonight since I'm feeling tired and "off."  I'm glad God has blessed me with such sweet children~well, they're sweet most of the time. :D


Today's workout:  Cardio day.  I did a 10 minute workout from Firm Time Crunch Cardio; 20 minutes of cardio from an Exercise TV workout; and 20 minutes of hip openers from AM Yoga For Your Week.

We did have a busy day but with an unexpected open spot in the afternoon.  I ended up not taking Maddie and Tyler to piano.  Maddie had not been practicing much due to her cold and Ty had been extra busy so I just kept them both out of lessons.  It was a nice change to have some extra time to do some fun things.

Tyler and I did his Story of the World lesson after the three kids and I did our Bible devotion and study. Then we did a very basic French lesson with greetings, etc.  The lesson included a picture of Joan of Arc and Napoleon.  Wes wanted to color Joan. It was so funny because he's not colored in years and never did much as a child.  However, he used some good colored pencils and enjoyed it. :D

We also got our regular math done. Wes has lately been doing his Algebra lessons without any help at all from me.  Such a huge advance over the beginning of the year. Prayer, time, and effort really do pay off if we can just relax and trust the process.

Wes had some some extra work for me so I took him to McDonald's and bought him a sweet after he and I walked Tucker for a mile.  It's a blessing to get to spend this time with my children for sure.

We got home from church and Maddie is babysitting right now. The dogs are lying at my feet and the two guys are enjoying a game together.  I am so blessed.

Today's workout:  Leslie Sansone Just Walk, blue mile; YogaWorks Body Slim; PM dog walk with Wes and Tucker.

Friday was co-op and then Tom got home and we had a full weekend.  Monday went by with us being busy trying to catch up from the weekend and fit in scouts, etc.  Today has been a bit easier on us but I've been tired lately and not feeling like blogging.


Monday the kids hit a full day of regular school work.  Today I told them to do their math and then they could "unschool."  I do that about once a month or so and highly recommend it. You get to see the kinds of things that interest your children that way.


Wes is reading Killer Angels by Michael Shaara and that's what he spent some time doing.  It's the first novel in ages he's seemed to enjoy.  Maddie and Tyler decided to do some home ec!  The cooked home made hash browns and pancakes~yes for lunch, lol~and then did some big time cleaning in the kitchen. They even made up a menu for each person who would be eating. Which, in this case, was only Wes. ;)


After that, they went out to run a bit (Maddie walked since she's got the cold) as they're going to do a 1/2 mile run (Tyler) and 1 mile run (Maddie and Wes) at our last co-op on Friday.  I walked Tucker and worked on dinner and they helped out a bit.  Now they're outside playing with a giant cloth frisbee type toy while Tucker cries inconsolably because he can't go out with them. But he bites the frisbee, tears holes in it, and runs off with it~not good for sure. :)


Workouts:


Friday~AM Cardio Burn Yoga, 30 minute practice:  PM Dog walk and Fit Body Yoga, Core Practice 


Saturday~Jessica Smith's 10 Pounds Down Cardio Abs, cardio ab portion; Fit Body Yoga, Upper Body; PM dog walk.


Sunday~short dog walk; Rainbeau Mars' Pure Tranquility (set on the beach in Hawaii, just a lovely, stretchy yoga workout, very gentle).


Monday~Jessica Smith's 10 Pounds Down Cardio Abs, 4 minute Tummy Torching Tabata.  If you've done tabata, try this 4 minute gem and you'll feel DONE. All out maximum effort for 20 seconds, rest 10 and do it again. 8 times total.  After that was Element Yoga Power Yoga.  PM dog walk


Today~Tracie Long Reboot Volume 2 (intense/recovery type cardio using body weight, light weights, and med ball).  Lots of fun. PM dog walk and Rodney Yee's Ultimate Power Yoga, restoration segment.


What I'm reading:  The Goddess Test (http://www.amazon.com/The-Goddess-Test-Harlequin-Teen/dp/0373210264/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335307837&sr=8-1) ; just started Goddess Interrupted (http://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Interrupted-Harlequin-Aimee-Carter/dp/0373210450/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1335307837&sr=8-4).  Great youth novels based on Greek mythology. Since I liked the Percy Jackson series and the Iron Fey series I knew I would enjoy these. I certainly do.

What a great day!  The sun was out and it was in the mid 70s. So nice after all the rain~and I think it may rain again tomorrow. 


We were hanging out, slowly doing work, etc.  Wes is nursing a bit of a head cold and fell asleep over his work~it was too funny.  One of the benefits of homeschool~you can stop work and take a nap.


It was errand day for me.  Post office, library, store.  Wes and I forgot to pick up his food for a co-op class tomorrow, grrr.....I guess I'll do that on the way tomorrow.


Maddie is getting ready for another debate at co-op so I need to spend some time helping her out with that.  And, I need to pick the questions out for the "game show" type quiz I'm doing in Astronomy tomorrow.


God is good!  That is my constant refrain.  Whether it's going my way or all against me, God sees and is good to me.  And today, that thought has just blessed my soul.


Today's workout:  Ellen Barrett Grace and Gusto; 1 mile walk with Tucker; Yoga for Stress Relief and Flexibility, Stress Relief practice.  You must hold all your stress in your back and hips, because most stress relief practices I have focus on hip openers and forward bends!  And yep, those are my tightest areas.

Today the kids finished up their reports on our trip Sunday to the Allatoona Battlefield.  Maddie's favorite part of the trip was hiking~and eating.  Hmm, why am I not surprised?  :D


Wes and I sat down last night and looked through some websites and looked at tutorials, etc. and picked out his math program for next year.  I think he's really excited about studying Geometry with Math U See.  I think Mary Madison will use the same thing for Algebra I.  They're both doing really well with the math they are doing now and gaining more and more confidence, which is a great thing.


Tom got off for his meeting that will last until Friday noon.  Maddie, Ty and I went to piano and the bread store and are hanging out with Wes now. 


It's been chilly and rainy all day and when there was a break in the rain, Maddie and Tyler decided to climb a tree.  Seriously, a wet tree?  One second Maddie was climbing, the next she was on the ground.  With scratches all over both legs.  I'm glad she didn't really get hurt and hope she has learned a lesson.  But, as she's an adventurer, probably not.


Today's workout:  Tamilee Webb Tight on Time Hot Spots:  warm up, cardio step (used a band and 2 pound weights); Element Yoga for Weightloss.

Today was kind of a crazy day here.  I had to make sure got done in between trips to pick up Maddie's contacts, get some things from Kmart, and a grocery run to get something Wes could cook for the men to eat tonight as Maddie and I had a Mother/Daughter Banquet to attend at church.  Of course, as soon as I came out of Kroger the rain storm started too!  Life's funny that way.


The only negative is that, because of the rain, Tucker didn't get walked. That means he's feisty and I need to cut this short so we can go tug on a rope or play ball. :)


Today's workout:  Punch Advanced (kickboxing flared workout with 1 pound weighted gloves); Crunch Pick Your Spot Pilates, Buns and Thighs.  Tonight  was  10 MS Yoga for Beginners, 2 segments:  Yoga for Flexibility and Balance and Stress Relief Yoga.

Spent the day getting back into the school groove.  I thought I'd share some snippets from our learning day with you guys.


Tyler:  He's been reading a book called Painless Vocabulary and he decided that he wanted to write a paragraph using 15 new words that he'd learned from reading it. It was very well done and lots of fun to read.  He simply has a passion for reading and writing and is really good at it!  


Wes:  He just loves Astronomy and History and spent part of his day working on that.  He also spent some time on Biology and regaled us all with tales of the diseases you can get from ticks and flies. We're all somewhat afraid to go outside now!  He has a gift for facts and a passion for seeking out the beauty in God's creation~and an excellent memory.


Maddie:  My gifted artist.  Drawing, journaling, piano, singing, painting, any sort of creative pursuit is "music to her ears."  She is also developing quite a passion for History and chose to spend extra time today on that.  She's also participated in a debate class this term at co-op and is developing her public speaking skills in a way that's exciting to see.


Yes, there was math, regular type chores and school work, etc. But when playing video games and watching TV isn't an option during the day, kids will learn things and find passions to pursue.  And when it occurs, I'm humbled to catch a glimpse of each of my children becoming the person God has gifted them to be.  


Today's workout:  1 mile from Leslie Sansone's 5 Really Big Miles; YogaWorks Body Slim (tough practice alternating cardio vinyasas and slow burns~something to grow into for sure); 1 mile walk with Tucker.

What a glorious weekend we had.  The weather warmed up and the kids spent some time outside Saturday. Tyler had a soccer game at 3 on Saturday and we all went to that.  We came home and I walked Tucker after I started dinner.  Tyler helped me cook, Maddie set the table and cleaned the table afterward, and Wes did dishes. It felt good to work as a team.


Today was Tom's last day of vacation so we left Rome about 9:30 am and headed to Cartersville.  We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, courtesy of my uncle who gave us a gift card there last Christmas.  Good heavens, my 14 year old daughter Maddie can eat!  After that, we went to Red Top Mountain to the Allatoona Battlefield, the site of a Civil War battle.  We hiked to various spots on the mountain for about an hour (it's the southernmost point of the Appalachians) and then went into Red Top mountain to eat our picnic lunch. After coming home Tom and I crashed, er, took a nap for a bit, while the kids relaxed, read a book, and played with buddies.  Now they're at a youth event (picnic and Ultimate Frisbee) at Berry College.  Tom will find it hard to return to work tomorrow and we'll probably be slowly making our way back to school after a great spring break.


Saturday's workout:  Shape Lean and Strong Yoga; 1 1/2 mile dog walk


Today's workout:  2 plus mile hike on the mountain; Element Am/Pm Yoga for Beginners, PM practice

I am absolutely flabbergasted by myself.  Here I had a week off and was restless, more stressed out, etc. than if I have a routine. That seems to be what usually happens with me.  It reminds me of what God says in Genesis.  Adam and Eve were given work BEFORE sin entered the world.  They were giving tasks to do and only after the Fall did thorns, etc. come along and make that work more frustrating and difficult.


We were born to work. We were born to move, serve, give, and live lives that bless others.  So, even when I'm on "vacation" I need to approach life with a mentality of serving.  Tom, my family, others.  In doing so, I find meaning and joy.


We had co-op today and I taught Astronomy class about Stars, Black Holes, Supernovas, Constellations, etc.  Next week is my last teaching gig for the year, thank goodness. 


Thursday's workout:  Karen Voight Ultimate Step workout, performed over a fitness band without the step.  Still did the plyos, etc. and my knees thanked me.  Walked Tucker for a mile too.


Today's workout:  Aim True Beginner's Yoga Practice (not beginner, definitely challenging and intermediate in level).  I'm getting ready to walk Tucker and then do Lower Body Pilates, Glutes.

I think I'm a wimp because it's been in the upper 80s for much of March and April.  When I got up today it was 42 and it only got up to about 66.  It was 65 degrees in my house~I set the heat on 67 in the winter, lol. Tonight the heat goes on as the temps are dipping into the upper 30s the next two nights.


Actually, though, it's been a lovely day.  True to form, March came in like a lamb so it went out like a lion and we've had a good bit of wind here in April~nothing like the wind tunnel that is Central Kentucky where my folks live though. Enough breezes to keep your hair messed up! ;)


Today I actually had a Cheri day, which was nice.  I went to Goodwill and got a great English Grammar book for Tyler's 6th grade year next year~looks new.  $2.50.  I :heart: Goodwill. I went to the grocery and bank, etc.  And, I got in a nice workout in the morning before getting ready to meet my friend for lunch.  She had to move it to tomorrow so I walked Tucker this afternoon and tacked on the 20 minutes of pilates I intended to do this morning but ran out of time to do.   Okay, truly, I slept in until 8am and that threw me off.  No regrets~I'm going to do that tomorrow too!


We have a church dinner and program tonight and sometime tomorrow Tom will meet my mother in law to get the kids.  I know they've not been gone long but it's been quiet without them and I do miss them.


Today's workout:  Leslie Sansone Just Walk:  1 mile as a warm up; Trudie Styler's Warrior Yoga.  PM:  1 Mile walk with Tucker; Lower Body Pilates, Thigh section.

What a crazy, wonderful weekend.  Church on Thursday, Friday, and, of course, Resurrection Sunday.  Sunday afternoon my in laws all came up and we had a picnic dinner at Berry College.  Mary Madison went to Atlanta that night and yesterday the boys had scouts so worked around the house with us during the day, got haircuts, etc.  Today we met Pat, my mother in law, in Cartersville to drop the boys off with her.  Tom and I had lunch together and then came home in time for the termite inspection. Yes, you heard that right.  Termites were found in the church so the Trustees wanted the parsonage inspected. We passed, yippee!


Tomorrow I'm having lunch with a couple of church friends and dinner at church. Thursday sometime we'll pick up the kids and then we have co-op on Friday. So much for a peaceful spring break, huh? :)


Saturday's workout:  Denise Austin Hot Body Yoga, Yoga Sculpt; 30 minutes of Petra Kolber's Cardio For Beginners, Dance Cardio; 1 mile walk with Tucker


Monday's workout:  Denise Austin Yoga Body Burn:  Yoga Burn, Lean Legs, Yoga Relax; Winsor Pilates Lower Body Pilates, Waist and Hips; 1 mile walk with Tucker


Today's workout:  10 Minute Solution Knockout Body (kickboxing), 30 minutes; 1 mile walk with Tom and Tucker in the evening after dinner.

Yesterday I sat in the orthodontist office for two plus hours.  It was nuts in there.  But, I got to catch up on some reading on my Kindle. And, we found out Wes is getting his braces off on May 8. He's asking for Bacon, Skittles, Popcorn, Peanuts, and all the things he hasn't been allowed to eat for dinner that night. ;)


Maddie and Ty got home and their friends hung out for a bit.  Maddie's friend went to church with us and spent the night.  She went to another friend's today and Maddie will see her at a picnic tomorrow.


Today I got my shopping done for Easter Sunday dinner~my in laws will be here for an early dinner around 4.  Maddie made a double layer heart shaped cake for the meal. We also went to our Good Friday Service, which I always love.  It ends in silence and darkness and is very moving.


Once I filled out our homeschool attendance on Wednesday, I realized we can take extra days off so we started our Spring Break yesterday. We're very excited to have a week off next week as well.


Yesterday's workout:  Ellen Barrett Fat Burning Fusion; 1 mile walk with Tucker; Gentle Yoga in the evening


Today's workout:  Fit Body Yoga, Lower Body Practice; Pilates for Lower Body, Glute Practice; 1 mile walk with Tucker and Wes; Gentle Yoga coming up now!

Early morning walk with Tucker:  check!
Wes running an errand:  check!
Post office:  check!
Grocery Store:  check!
School work done:  check!
Dinner on:  check!
Having a free night at home:  priceless. ;)


I pray God had blessed your day with love and learning too.


Today's workout:  Fit Body Yoga, upper body; Lower Body Pilates, Hip and Waist slimmer

Just so happy to be a Kentucky Wildcat fan. 14 years is a long time between Championships.  Wes had a great time watching the game and I had fun peeking through my fingers. ;)


Today Maddie went and had her follow-up contact appointment.  I picked up 6 months of my lenses and we ordered hers.  The kids also got their school work and chores done.  Maddie and Tyler left to go to Chattanooga to visit their friends and now Tom and Wes are watching the Women's NCAA Championship game.  Tomorrow I get a day off (except for school with Wes and grocery shopping) and Thursday Wes has an orthodontist appointment.  Then, of course, shopping for Easter dinner prep, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday.  God is good to bless me with people to love and work to do, isn't he?


Today's workout:  10 Pounds Down Weight Loss Cardio Mix (cardio, total body toners (body weight exercises), yoga stretch); 1 mile walk with Tucker at 7:30.  I like walking early much better since it's cooler.  Now I'm off to do Crunch Pick Your Spot Pilates, Abs and Yoga for Stress Relief, shoulders.

Getting ready for the big National Championship game tonight, woo hoo!  Very excited and very nervous~typical Cheri, lol.


Today was nuts.  I got the kids up early and they pounded out their school work.  Then it was on to cleaning the house a bit~dusting and bathrooms.  Tom was preaching at a Community Wide Service at First Baptist downtown at noon so we went to that next. Thank goodness they served lunch.


After we got home and took Tucker for a walk, Wes, Maddie and I headed across town to the bank and the theater.  They're watching The Hunger Games with some friends from our homeschool co-op. I buzzed by Sam's for a few things, got some gas in the car, and Tyler and made sandwiches, etc. so he and his dad could eat after his soccer practice on the way to his scouts.  At 6:45 I'll pick up Wes, get a burger for him and for Maddie, drop him off at scouts at 7, come home and prepare to watch (or hide my eyes) from the game at 9:20.  I'm gonna be honest here and say I probably won't get up before 7:30 tomorrow. ;)


In the midst of these busy days, I'm so glad God is with me.  I really have felt his presence today and I know a lot of is carving out that time EARLY to just be with him.  Thank you Father, for the gift of intimacy.  If my kids catch anything from their mom, may it be my passion and love for you, borne solely of yours for me.  You are SO good to me.


Today's workout:  Denise Austin Hot Body Yoga, workout 1; Ellen Barrett Pick Your Level Weightloss Pilates.  I'm doing yoga and pilates for my strength training this month and am really looking forward to doing something different than my usual weights.

Spent yesterday getting a haircut and hanging out with Tyler at a campout for his Boy Scout Crossover.  Kentucky won their semifinal game so it's on to the Championship tomorrow night. I sure hope the fans act better than they did last night in Lexington. I hate it when a few people give an entire group a bad name.


Saturday's workout:  walking at the camp trip; Winsor Lower Body Pilates, Thighs