Monday Musings

• We began our BIG swing set project yesterday!  It went great actually.  I was fearing the worst, but it was a calm, laid-back day.  No one got frustrated (well, too much), and it was actually filled with lots of laughs.  I have to say, if you've never attempted to put one of these monsters together, it's not for the faint of heart!  The bag of screws and bolts alone was HUGE.  It had to weight at least 10 pounds, and was the size of a 2-gallon Ziploc bag.  Then you move on to the lumber, and our yard ended up looking like a mini lumber yard.  Dustin was our leader, with my step-dad-Papa Blake and me as the "adult helpers" as we were called in the instructions.  My grandpa ended up doing a lot of smaller projects on the side, which helped tremendously.  He put together the swings, glider, and ladder while we worked on the main stuff.  I have to say, it was impressive what he was able to do because the set of instructions he had to work with were written in either Spanish, French, or Dutch maybe?   We had the only English set ourselves.  I'd say we are a bit past halfway through, and will work on it each night this week.  The kids are over the top excited, for sure! 
• Our chickens are doing great and laying well.  Carson's self-appointed job is to let them out each morning and collect eggs.  He comes to get me the minute he's awake and wants to get dressed so he can check on the chickens.  I have to get some pictures because if you've never watched a chicken take a dust bath, you are missing out!  It is hilarious and very entertaining, if I must say so myself.  (Spoken by the crazy chicken lady!)
• I began exercising again this morning.  I have been trying to get back into working out for some time, but I keep getting sidelined for one reason or another.  The Y has been a problem with Henry not wanting to stay in the kids area.  I can't depend on working out there because I don't know how long I'll get to work out before they have to come get me.  I decided I'd get up and walk each morning from 5:30-6:30 before my hubby leaves for work.  Well, I am not normally up that early and didn't realize, it's really dark then.  I'm sorry but I can't walk in the dark up my driveway.  It's just too scary.  Sooo....I decided today I would walk WITH the kids.  I got us all up and ready, and headed to get the double jogger out.  Well, the tires were flat.  I swear the devil doesn't want me to exercise!  I decided I'd just pump them up.  I cut on the air compressor (can you believe I figured that out?) and was going to do it myself, but couldn't get the attachment on the end.  Darn.  I had to regroup, and decided to call Dustin's uncle Rawhide and see if he was close.  He was and he came and got us ready to roll!  Literally!  I was going to wear Henry, but hasn't been worn in a while and didn't want to stay still in the carrier.  I ended up jamming all 3 kids in a double jogger and off we went.  I have to say- that was a workout!  I was pushing like 110 pounds of kids.  I was worn out when we were done.  I hope to add longer time each day and I think I'll lose all the weight I want to lose in no time flat!  Kidding.....but I think it will be a great workout for sure!