New Year Food, Periods, School, and legos…

For my New Year gift (if there is such a thing) I got my period. Isn’t that lovely.

I got a new notebook for this upcoming quarter. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with taking three classes. I was really hoping I could get down to one class per quarter. Perhaps we can afford that next quarter. So, here is to hoping for less classes for me this year, yet please let that be one per quarter…not none per quarter =P

All my boys are playing with their Lego’s from Christmas. That includes Daddy.

And, yes the food. We had planned to go to a friends house tonight. But, alas my gift is not something I really want to share. I know I shouldn’t be such a weeny. But, I am. All these years of being at home have made me a total period weenie. I hate going out.

Oh…oooops I was talking about food.

We are having a lovely meal to let in the new year. The kind of mish mash Lewis dinner we all love. It’s like Tapas only Lewis style (snark, spiff, spaff)…

The parents will be enjoying beer (in the gluten-filled and gluten-free varieties).
Pistachios in the shell
hummus
gluten-free flatbreads
tortilla chips
salsa
black bean dip
pizza (in the gluten-filled and gluten-free varieties…I’m being rather lazy tonight. I bought frozen pizzas. I’ve had no luck with making a crust like Amy’s. I like that cornmeal action going on. So, until I figure that out I’m going to consider myself so lucky to live in a country with frozen pizza I can eat.)

Dessert will be Coconut or Strawberry popsicles, Pistachios in the shell, and dark Chocolate. We bought a giant dark chocolate bar a few weeks back from Trader Joe’s. My 4 year old picked it out and he was so happy. Today we went to the local market and found a 43.00 bar of chocolate. It was rather heavy, but my 4 year old really wanted to bring it home.

I pray your New Year is full of many blessings, surprises, ups and downs (which make all the ups so much better), adventures, new strengths, and much wisdom.

Heather

May I have your attention…this is a weekly update

Yes, I knew I would slack on this. But, I did put some effort into it. School has been keeping us busy or maybe it’s just life.

Life Sans Gluten

I’ve been focusing my spare energy on learning to cook and shop in a different fashion. I’m enjoying the energy and the weightloss! My boys seem to be responding as well. I just need to work on stocking our freezer with frozen GF pizzas. They love pizza. I’m really hoping I can start freezing some easy things. I didn’t realize how much I don’t like cooking anymore. I just get so busy and it always seems to take so long.

I’m trying to remember why it was so hard last time we tried this. I think it was because the boys were in public school and they thought eating school lunch was such a treat. And, the donuts my dh would hide in the garage.

But, as my dh was getting a snack for The Warrior he informed me I needed to get some rice crackers or something. Luckily I had bought some crackers for Thanksgiving. I had bought crackers, babaganoush, and beer to take with me. I hate missing cracker and dip time. I hate missing beer/wine time, too. I can’t have wine. It always makes me sick. So, beer it is. I chose the hazelnut crackers. They weren’t bad. Actually, they are like the little asian crackers you can buy. So, the texture threw me off a bit. But, they worked well.

For the Love of Mac

My sweet friend the iBook is getting ready for convalesence. My right shift key is broken and that is the one I use the most. Logically I can see why it broke, but still. The screen blacks out if it is placed in the wrong position. I don’t think it would be wise to put more money in it. But, I don’t know if I can afford another Mac at the moment. The horror. We have a PC in the house, but only because someone gave it to the boys to play with. I can’t imagine spending money on it.

New Classes

The boys are all signed up for their new quarter classes. The Prophet has added a Sports class into his schedule. We are amazed! I thought he was allergic to exercise. He is, also, doing a Lego Robotics class where they learn how to build and program little robot vehicles. He still has Chess and Martial Arts. In fact, he just got his uniform and he looks so handsome. The Peacemaker has added Pottery and Chess. They have a real artist, kiln, and wheels! It’s really exciting. He still has Science and Martial Arts. I’m happy we live close because we are there every day of the week this quarter. The families who are there every day and live farther away bring food and school work. As cool as it is that they can all be together for school, I’m too much of a homebody. I couldn’t spend my whole week there. I would go nuts. I need some PJ time ya know.

Singapore Math

My oldest is finally ready to get moving up in Math. I don’t have the money for a new level of Math U See right now. Although, it’s not expensive at all. I’ve used all the levels for both children so far. I don’t think you can beat that. We are going to give Singapore a try this quarter for him. I’m hoping it doesn’t mess up all the work we have gone through. I feel bad how many Math programs he has been through at this point. But, he isn’t using the Math U See DVD at this point anyhow. So, I thought it probably wouldn’t matter until we get him up to Grade level.  The point is I can check out Singapore for free from our school library and since he doesn’t seem to need the DVD’s right now then it should be fine.

My Thanksgiving was safe…

well safer. I did my best not to eat gluten anything. I figured I would just give it a try for Thanksgiving. I feel fine today.

My dh’s cousin is cutting into a pie and she says, “this pie is dairy and gluten-free.” My jaw dropped right that moment. Turns out she has been dairy and gluten-free because of how sick she has been. Her doctor’s found nothing wrong with her. So, after some research she gave it a try. She was better until she went back to the doctor and he made her go back on gluten for testing. She had tests on Wednesday and stopped eating gluten and dairy right away.

So, we got to talk all about gluten free and dairy free. We talked about the link to a gfcf for those on the spectrum as well. She knew the prophet had Asperger’s (she works with children) even though no one had shared his diagnosis with her. It was a great talk. And, it was one of those points in life where you wonder if you are going down the right path…and then some one comes along and reaffirms it for you.

I am officially Gluten-Free

Ok I’m not sure it’s official. There might be some contamination here and there.

But, I’m trying my best. My insane cravings for sugar and bread are gone. I’m back down to a normal caloric intake for my size! I feel wonderful and I really think the migraines I had recently were because I was letting go of the gluten. I’m not sure.

But, I feel so amazing. I’m sure it will be a process, but I feel amazing. We went gluten-free for our sons in the past. But, I still ate it when I was out or at school. I would down a pack of mini-pitas and hummus when I wasn’t home. Ugh.

I’m not puffy.

I’m not insane.

I’m not craving chocolate bars.

You will probably here more in the future about this. But, I had to share.

Tea, weightloss,

I love tea. Unlike coffee I can drink it all day long. It doesn’t intervere with my sleep patterns. It doesn’t leave my tummy upset and me running to the bathroom. Plus, there are all kinds of flavors and herbs. Since, my love affair with tea has begun I have yet to find the perfect tea pot. But, now I wonder if I have. If a beautiful red one good enough to make it own my wishlist?

I must loose weight. I feel so out of control. I feel blah. I’m hungry all day long. I want to sleep till an hour before noon. I’m considering trying Gluten Free again. I don’t know if I can. According to Prevention to get back to my ideal weight, why I should be consuming 1354 calories per day. What am I going to eat on that budget? I wish I was taller or just a wee bit less lazy. I’m shooting for around 1500 at this point. But, it’s so easy to go over that.